The massacre in Carne Village had just begun, and the meeting in the Throne Hall was already over. Along the way, except for one fool who merely listened with a blank expression, the remaining Guardians who had been summoned exchanged opinions on the meeting under the leadership of Albedo and Demiurge.
This included the Floor Guardian created by Walton—Khadgar, the Archmage responsible for guarding the Violet Mage Tower.
Khadgar was an NPC created by Walton using the special racial talent "Void Beast," possessing two races: "Human (Level 0)" and "Void Bloodline (Level 10)." However, his appearance was identical to the Archmage Khadgar from a certain world, including the staff he carried on his back—Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian.
Khadgar, the staff on his back is Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian.
This staff was one of Walton's proudest creations. As someone capable of crafting "replica World-Class Items," Walton naturally experimented many times, and Atiesh could be said to be the closest to his ideal item. Not only could it strengthen magic casters, but it could also grant them an endless power to fight to the death, and even defend against attacks from World-Class Items. It was incredibly powerful.
"Old friends, I feel I need your help," Khadgar, with the voice of a young man but white hair, requested of the Floor Guardians beside him.
Khadgar's position was somewhat awkward because, although he was also a Floor Guardian, he was not located in Nazarick's underground floors. It was well-known that only the underground was Nazarick's true core; everything else was dispensable. Furthermore, Khadgar was in a frozen standby state during the transmigration, missing out on the first wave of building good relationships with colleagues, and thus could only speak to others with a requesting attitude.
"Khadgar, as a Floor Guardian, can you not even eradicate mere natives?" Demiurge turned his head, carefully scrutinizing his colleague. He did not use the term "humans" because just now, Lord Flying Squirrel and Lord Walton had reached a consensus—humans could also provide assistance to Nazarick. And Lord Walton had many "children" who were in human form, so Demiurge would not be foolish enough to touch the Supreme Being's sensitive nerves.
"No, eradication is absolutely no problem. The main issue is secretly sending the villagers away…" Khadgar sighed, "Although I possess the Planeswalker profession, the villagers are too scattered, and some have even run into the forest. To perfectly complete the Supreme Being's mission, I'm afraid I'll need everyone's help…"
Khadgar's personality, by design, was that of a wise man with a strong sense of responsibility and clear self-awareness. Even presented with a good opportunity to earn merit, he would not blindly take on unnecessary risks alone—only the perfect completion of the Supreme Being's mission was paramount.
"Hmm…" Demiurge pondered for a moment, "Then let Shalltear dispatch the Vampire Brides. They are numerous, move like ghosts, and have an advantage in reconnaissance and enemy tracking. As for the issue of resettlement…"
"Resettlement is not a problem. Lord Walton has already restarted the operations of Joy Fortress, and everything is arranged," Khadgar bowed slightly to Demiurge, then looked at Shalltear, who had a bewildered look in her eyes.
"Then, Lady Shalltear, I'll trouble your subordinates for their assistance."
"Eh? Ah… Alright, since it's Lord Walton's mission, I will naturally help," Shalltear traced an arc on her cheek with a fingernail, responding with a smile—it was her first time being addressed as "Lady," truly befitting Lord Walton's child.
"Without further ado, Lady Shalltear, let us go," Khadgar said, opening a portal before everyone. The destination was the floor Shalltear guarded; they needed to pick up the Vampire Brides first.
This scene made many Guardians look on with envy—being able to open a portal freely within Nazarick was a privilege granted by Walton to Khadgar, the Planeswalker. Others could only watch longingly, hoping that one day they would be granted the "Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown" with the same function by a Supreme Being.
Of course, it was just a thought, after all, the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown was a symbol of the Supreme Being's status. Compared to its function, this symbolic meaning was far more significant. If any Guardian were to obtain the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown, wouldn't the others be consumed by Jealousy?
Just as Khadgar and Shalltear were preparing, Hank's army, disguised as Imperial Knights and beginning a massacre of the villagers, clashed with the Warrior Captain's legion, which had rushed straight to Carne Village.
"Damn… Damn it! Why did this guy arrive so quickly?" Hank's hand, holding his longsword, trembled. Just now, he had dodged an arrow shot at him with his keen intuition, but had lost his warhorse in the process. Moreover, his soldiers were no match for these commoner knights.
In the past, Hank would have immediately "bought a subordinate's warhorse with heavy gold" to escape, or turned to use money and verbal attacks to beg the Warrior Captain to spare him. As for everyone else, they could all die.
But today… Hank gritted his teeth, looking at the purple eyes that seemed to be slowly approaching him. Ambition surged forth, and he unhesitatingly pulled out a flare from his waist and shot it into the sky.
In the distance, the regular army of the Sunshine Scripture, who were wondering why a Swamp had suddenly appeared in the forest, saw the signal in the sky.
"Red… Did they directly clash with the Warrior Captain?" The commander of the Sunshine Scripture, Nigun, frowned, feeling that things seemed a bit complicated.
The sudden appearance of the Swamp, the purple eyes suspended in the mist, the suggestive charm magic… This land seemed to be in some kind of crisis? Had the Demon God revived early?
If possible, Nigun would have preferred to continue investigating the anomaly of the Swamp rather than helping that fool who had messed up the plan!
But for this operation, Theocracy had even used hidden operatives that had been dormant for many years, bringing many of the kingdom's pawns into the open. This was equivalent to directly abandoning these hidden pieces, and the cost was quite significant. However, as long as they truly succeeded in killing the Warrior Captain, the kingdom would collapse, right? Then these costs would no longer matter.
The kingdom was like a leaky house; just a kick… hmm?
Just as Nigun was contemplating what tactics to use to ensure the Warrior Captain could not escape, a portal opened before everyone.
"Uh, pardon me, though it's a bit abrupt…" Khadgar emerged from the portal, slowly raising Atiesh, "But please, everyone, obey the will of Nazarick, and do not resist…"
"Distance yourselves! Summon angels!" Nigun's alarm bells rang, and he immediately cast several layers of magical protection on himself, while simultaneously issuing an attack order.
Battle was imminent.