If you notice any errors, please feel free to give me constructive feedback. English is not my first language, so if you notice any mistakes, please mention them in the comment section at the end of the chapter. I do not own Overlord. All property rights belong to their respective creators. Let's begin the story!
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Chapter-42
Abelion Hills,
New World – Present Time;
Overlord Verse;
In the wide expanse of the dry valley, where countless sinkholes marred the land, Adrovath descended upon the enemy ranks like a storm. His spear carved through the bodies of the bear beastmen, splitting torsos and tearing limbs, leaving half-cut corpses strewn across the dirt. There was no hesitation in his movements, as he unleashed his prowess upon the invading tribe. His body glowed faintly with the overlay of many martial arts, as he invoked numerous martial arts simultaneously, dragging his body to the very limit that he could.
The Four-Clan Alliance had held their defences with measured strength until now, the elders cautious, and unwilling to spend everything on the northern borders, by risking thinning the defence line everywhere else, or to have their resources exhausted. They remained cautious, using bare minimum of strength to defend the area. The death of the Goat Beastmen Chief, and the disgrace of his stolen body – weighed heavily upon them, and the thought of the humans' return kept them on the edge.
The massacre was absolute one-sided, as rivers of blood flowed through the sinkholes. Waves of panic swept through the invaders, the cries of the dying echoing across the valley as their formation shattered. Fear overtook them, and the many tribes who had invaded their land, left with hopelessness, as they now scrambled in desperation, abandoning the battlefield.
Adrovath hovered above the carnage, eyes narrowed, watching the chaos unfold from the various invading tribes' fleeing.
It was then another figure descended to the air beside him. A Griff clad in ornate armour, crafted by the Dark Dwarves, etched with numerous runes, flapped his wings to keep his eye level with his Chief. The armour, grand and formidable as it was, still paled in comparison to the one worn by Adrovath.
Adrovath remained gazing at the fleeing demi-human tribes who had dared to invade the land of The Supreme God, when the armoured Griff bowed low to his Chief, his wings folding slightly for a second.
"Lord Adrovath," The armoured Griff spoke, his tone steady despite the lingering stench of blood rising from below.
Adrovath's gaze did not shift from the battlefield. "Rad, I am sure you felt the tremor from the City of Dor."
The Griff in ornate armour nodded firmly. "Yes, my Lord. The shockwave rattled even the Goat Beastmen during their clean-up of Orcs. A pulse of mana… strong enough to be felt this far…. To think it came from the City of Dor." He muttered, before continuing. "Is everything alright milord?"
"The situation still remains unknown…"
Rad lowered his head. "Then, what are your orders, milord?"
Adrovath finally turned his gaze, his tone sharp and commanding. "Everything here now falls to you. Clear the land of the invaders and secure the region. The battlefield is yours to command, Rad. I'll be returning to the City of Dor."
The armoured Griff bowed deeper, wings spread in acknowledgement. "As you command."
Before another word could be spoken, Adrovath's wings unfurled wide. With a single beat, the air cracked with force, and in the next instant, his form vanished into the distance, heading straight toward the City of Dor.
******
The Temple of the Supreme Lord – The Omnipotent God;
The Divine Hill,
Abelion Hills;
New World;
The Golden Door had remained closed for centuries since it appeared in the Abelion Hills, leading to the formation of the Four-Clan Alliance. The Temple built around it birthed a new religion in the New World. Its miracles had been the source of the Alliance's prowess, granting them the strength to rise above the other tribes of the Abelion Hills and claim their place upon the land. Their might rivaled, if not surpassed, many kingdoms on the continent.
Now, the members of the Alliance waited with bated breath, gazing at the Divine Door. Adrovath, Chief of the Griff tribe; Zeni, Chief of the Dark Dwarves; and Ogorth, Chief of the Turtle Clan, were seated before it, each accompanied by the heirs of their tribes—Adravth, the young Griff; Zorak, the young Goat Beastman; and Zenith, the young Dark Dwarf.
It had not been long since Ogorth took on the mantle of Chieftain, and he had fathered a child only a week before, leading to his late arrival after the Divine Door released its burst of magic.
Now he sat with the other Elders of the council, who oversaw the various affairs of the Alliance – a system that functioned somewhat similar to that of the Dwarf Kingdom in the Azerlisia Mountains.
The Divine Door, in all its glory, opened – shocking the current occupants of the Temple of the Supreme Lord. A radiant golden light blinded their vision for a moment before they could glimpse the structure once more. Through the brilliance, they saw the silhouettes of three figures stepping forth from the door.
As the golden radiance gradually dimmed, the features of the three figures became clearer. Yet, to them, the brilliance of their Supreme Lord remained far more divine and commanding, compelling all present to bow abruptly before the Divine Door. None dared to gaze directly upon the abode of their God.
The three figures descended the steps that led from the platform, upon which the Door to their Guild Base stood. Though the platform itself was nothing more than soil, carved out when the Alliance had dug into the earth to raise their temple, as they had been powerless to move the Divine Symbol of their Lord, and so built their divine sanctum, A Temple to worship their Supreme Lord around it.
The three guardians of Avalon were surprised by the sight before them. They had been commanded by their Master to survey the surrounding land of their guild base, which had been brought into a different world after the fall of their previous universe and the World Tree, Yggdrasil. Yet, to their expectations, when they stepped out of their guild base only to find weak demi-humans bowing before them, it left them quite confused.
******
The silence of the hall deepened, to only be broken by the faint sound of footsteps descending from the Divine Door. The Chiefs of the Four-Clan Alliance, along with the rest occupants of the hall, kept their foreheads pressed against the floor, their breaths shallow, their bodies trembling under the strong oppressive aura of the three mysterious figures, descending from the Divine Door.
Adrovath's wings quivered from fear and from awe, as he clenched his talons against the stone floor to steady himself. Beside him, Zeni pressed his hand firmly on the ground, to not lose his grip from the oppressive pressure of the three figures. Even the stoic Ogorth, remained prostrate without a word. As the young heirs continued to fight their urge to give-up, their bodies strained to remain steady.
Yet even in that silence, the thoughts of the Alliance members ran wild. Had their years of prayers been answered? Had their God chosen to descend upon them at last, to grace them with his presence. None moved, awaiting the first word, the first command, the first sign that would confirm what their trembling hearts already believed. Yet, those who had glimpsed at the vague silhouette of three figures, chose to remain silent, from the powerful aura of the divine figures walking down the aisle, from the Divine Door's throne to the temple.
Noticing their struggle, the long-robed mage, the floor guardian of Agartha and one of the Children of Yggdrasil – World Item. Merlin rested his long staff on the floor, and tilted it slightly, his usual half-smile not leaving his face as he glanced at the bowed demi-humans. With a soft sigh, he spoke, his voice calm yet carrying command.
"Now, now… perhaps it would be kinder if we did not suffocate them with our mana. Let them breathe."
At his words, the dense aura receded somewhat, enough for the demi-humans to stop trembling. Medea, standing just behind him, lowered her gaze, lips pressed thin in faint annoyance. She obeyed without question, pulling back the vast torrent of mana, though her contempt for those from outside Avalon remained prevalent.
"Hmph… fragile creatures," she muttered under her breath, her tone laced with distaste for those outside Avalon.
Alucard, on the other hand, only chuckled, his wide grin revealing far too many teeth. He leaned slightly forward, his red coat swaying with the motion, amused by the pitiful sight before him.
"How quaint," he drawled, crimson eyes gleaming as if enjoying the discomfort of those bowing at their feet. His amused smile, never left his face, as if reliving a certain past.
Merlin spared him a side glance, then shook his head lightly, as if humouring a troublesome child. "Regardless, our Lord asked us to survey the surrounding land, not terrify the residents of these lands. Let's proceed."
Medea gave no answer, only folded her arms and kept her silence, while Alucard's smirk persisted as they turned their attention back to the temple grounds. Though, a thought remained in the minds of the guardians, as they guessed the identities of the ones prostrating before them.
Despite the suffocating pressure that pressed on them lifted, giving them a moment of relief. Yet, they refused to gaze at the Divine Beings standing before them. Though doubts stemmed in their belief for three unknown divine beings to step out from the Door, rather than their Supreme God, they suppressed both doubt and curiosity. Awe-stricken by the three mysterious figures prowess, they dared not rise. Fear had already taken root in their hearts, born from the crushing presence those beings exuded. To them the guardians were no less than divine beings, with their supposed power they emitted, they all couldn't be anything other than a divine being, a God.
The Guardians of Avalon, however, remained just as uncertain. For all their poise, they too were oblivious to the emotions and thoughts of the Demi-Humans, much less than identity.
Merlin tilted his head, gaze sweeping across the prostrated Demi-Humans without a trace of hostility. His usual smiling eyes was evident, as the faintest smile tugged at his lips.
The demi-humans remained pressed to the ground, the silence stretching heavy in the temple hall. It was only when Adrovath, the Griff chief, slowly lifted his head that the others dared to follow. With Zeni, being the first to address the guardians of Avalon.
"Great ones… your arrival has been long awaited. The Divine Door has at last opened."
Merlin's eyes narrowed with quiet curiosity, though his expression never lost its mild charm. He leaned slightly on his staff, as though more interested in watching than answering.
"Hmm.", 'Our arrival was long awaited…' He mused, addressing the Demi-Humans, after sending a message to his fellow guardians of Avalon, <"Let's listen to their side of the events, before we make any decision.">.
"Great ones, is it." He muttered, gazing at the Dark Dwarf, before continuing. "I am sure, it must be tiring for you all to remain prostrated on the ground. Let's take it easy, shall we?" He conveyed his wish, for those still prostrated.
The demi-humans lowered their heads once more at his words, their devotion only deepening, for the humble characteristics of one, who could possibly be a servant of their Supreme God, that they had one-sidedly assumed with the fear of unknown.
The silence was heavy once more, broken only by the rustle of feathers and faint click of armour. Adrovath aiding his fellow Chief, stepped forward and pressed his arm against the ground, lowering himself even further until his beak nearly touched the stone floor.
"We… the Four-Clan Alliance… swear fealty to the Supreme God who resides beyond the Divine Door." His voice wavered, but the conviction within it rang clear. "Our blades, our blood, and our lives are His. We have sworn to serve the Supreme God, from the day we were born, awaiting to be embraced by his divine aura. But please forgive us, for our lack of greeting… We were too shocked by this sudden blessing that the lord has blessed us with, by gracing us with his divinity."
One by one, the others followed. Zeni, the Dark Dwarf, pressed a gauntleted fist to the floor and bowed. The Turtle Clan Chief Ogorth, slower and more ponderous, lowered his head as well. Even the young heirs of the Alliance mirrored their elders without hesitation, bowing, as they gazed at the divine figures, despite the childish doubt they deliberated within their minds about the Divine Door – In their heart, they served and breathed every second of their life, with their utmost belief towards the Supreme God. His Divine Symbol, that healed their wounds and worries in every situation, had stood with them throughout their life. Their devotion to the Supreme God, had what motivated them to better themselves.
Medea's expression softened for the briefest instant, pondering on the possibility of those lowly Demi-Humans serving her master. With their swearing allegiance to her master, lessened her wariness of the Demi-Humans, and the same could be said for Alucard and Merlin. Though, the latter two still remained vigilant, as Alucard disregarded the Demi-Humans and concentrated on other possible external threats to their Guild Base, while, Merlin communicated with the Demi-Humans. All three guardians of Avalon, silently communicated through message and distributed the tasks among themselves.
******
Merlin, ever the aloof mage, lowered his staff as he regarded the bowing Demi-Humans who had supposedly pledged their devotion to his Master. Though countless questions swirled through his mind, he knew he had to steer the situation forward. He silently cued his fellow guardian, <"Alucard, be sure to read someone's memory before we report back the situation to the other guardians.">
<"I'll look into it."> Alucard replied.
Then, without so much as a backward glance, the guardians turned, their steps carrying them toward the crowd of Demi-Humans.
******
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**The End**
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