"Alright, we've played enough. It's time to deal with Sumeru's mess."
Jesse, who had been lying on the grass basking in the sun, sprang up in a carp flip, dusting off the grass clippings stuck to his cloak. His tone was so relaxed it was as if he were going on a picnic rather than overthrowing a nation's ruling class.
"Have you figured out how to solve that mess in Sumeru?"
Lumine also sat up, adjusting the hem of her skirt that Matt had accidentally wrinkled, as she questioned the "Idea King" of the group.
Paimon flew nearby, nervously munching on a Sunsettia, her small face filled with the excitement and apprehension of "Are we causing trouble again?"
"Of course I have a plan! And that is..."
A mischievous glint flashed in Jesse's eyes. He suddenly darted forward toward Nahida, who was interacting with Paimon. Before the Little God of Grass could react, he lifted her high up, as if holding a banner symbolizing justice, then, gathering energy in his core, he shouted in a voice loud enough to shake the entire Liyue Harbor:
"CLEANSE! THE! RULER'S! SIDE!!"
The booming sound echoed in the air, startling a flock of pigeons into flight.
"Cleanse... the Ruler's Side?"
Nahida, held mid-air, looked back blankly at Jesse's Hilichurl mask below her, her little head filled with massive question marks.
She quickly connected to the Akasha Terminal's knowledge base, only to find that the database contained no concept of "Cleanse the Ruler's Side."
Was it because the Akademiya thought the term was too dangerous and blocked it? Or did the continent of Teyvat simply lack this tradition?
"It means eliminating the corrupt officials and villains surrounding the ruler!"
Zane stood up and pulled out an ominous-looking ebony box, radiating an unsettling aura, from some extra-dimensional pocket.
The box had no elaborate decorations, only a simple yet awe-inspiring emblem—"Overlord."
"This is a very legitimate and classic reason for war."
Zane opened the box. Inside, countless miniature skeleton chess pieces, glowing with a faint dark light, were neatly arranged. He picked up one finely carved skeleton knight piece, holding a massive axe and shield, and calmly explained.
"And coincidentally, you, the Dendro Archon of Sumeru, Buer, the God of wisdom, were imprisoned for five hundred years by a mere Grand Sage, stripped of your clearance, and your people were deceived. There is no more perfect or just reason to launch an army."
His tone carried a hint of cold mockery, his gaze sharp as a knife.
"The Great Tomb of Nazarick..."
Matt, standing nearby, saw the box, and his massive body couldn't help but shiver, causing the ground to tremble slightly.
"Is, is that the series of chess pieces? Th-that seems a bit too brutal..."
He recalled how previously in Inazuma, using Hilichurl chess pieces had thrown the Shogunate Army and the resistance into chaos.
But the power contained within the Great Tomb of Nazarick series of chess pieces... was completely incomparable to the Hilichurl pieces!
According to the information Zane shared with the group, the scale and strength of the legion to be summoned this time referenced the incident where "Ainz Ooal Gown" displayed his military might before the Lizardmen in that otherworld story.
This includes:
· Nazarick Veteran Guard: A staggering three thousand in number! These elite skeleton warriors are covered head-to-toe in heavy armor shimmering with magical radiance, wielding rune-inscribed magic greatshields and sharp battle axes, longswords, war hammers, or longbows.
They are the Core Personal Guard who were once willing to lie on the ground to serve as stairs for the Bone King—possessing extreme loyalty and combat effectiveness! Excellent in both offense and defense, suitable for both close and long range, they are a steel torrent capable of crushing mortal soldiers!
· Nazarick Experienced Guard: Two thousand in number! Clad in shining silver armor, they hold a shield in one hand and a gleaming longsword in the other.
They form the backbone of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, strictly disciplined and perfectly arrayed, serving as the absolute main force for tearing through enemy defenses.
· Nazarick Master Guard: One thousand in number! They are clad in more magnificent, higher DEF golden armor, wielding magic spears.
Each one possesses strength comparable to a veteran Millelith soldier from Liyue's ancient legends! These one thousand golden skeletons are enough to form an invincible spearhead formation!
(In fact, there are even more terrifying entities in the box, such as Necromancers capable of summoning undead armies, and even the Floor Guardians of each level... But in Zane's words: "To deal with the Sumeru Akademiya, where even the God is imprisoned, there's no need for such a massive mobilization. Why use an ox-cleaver to slaughter a chicken?")
Nahida, clearly perceiving everyone's thoughts, looked at the dense array of skeleton chess pieces in the box, representing death and war. Imagining the scene of such a terrifying undead army descending upon Sumeru City... her large emerald eyes instantly welled up with tears, her little mouth flattened, and she nearly burst into tears!
"No, don't!"
She cried out, her voice choked with tears.
"Th-that is my country, and there are many, many innocent people there! They will be scared! Many people will die! We can't do this!"
Although she wanted to change the current situation, it definitely wasn't through a method that brought war and destruction!
"Don't worry, Little God of Grass."
Elliot squatted down, offering comfort in a rare, relatively serious tone, even though his Crab helmet still looked ridiculous.
"We know what we're doing. This is merely a 'show of force' and 'precise elimination.' The target is the stubborn faction within the Akademiya, not the common people. Furthermore..."
He flashed a (self-proclaimed) reliable smile: "Even if someone is accidentally affected, once we conquer Sumeru and clean up the mess, we will revive everyone who was unfortunately caught up and died unexpectedly, just like we did in Inazuma! We guarantee that not a single person will be missing, and they will be perfectly restored!"
(Zhongli, standing far away, paused again, the hand holding his teacup freezing. He began contemplating whether crossing the boundary of life and death so casually aligned with the Heavenly Principles... then decided to continue drinking his tea, as retired old men don't intervene.)
Hearing the guarantee of "revival," the tears in Nahida's eyes finally did not fall.
She looked at Lumine, whose eyes were resolute, at Jesse, who wore a "leave it to us" expression, at the calm Zane, at the honest Matt, and finally at Elliot, who was usually unreliable but seemed very serious at this moment.
She sniffled, wiped the corner of her eye with her small hand, and finally nodded firmly. Though a hint of worry remained in her emerald eyes, there was more trust and determination.
"Mhm... I trust you."
Nahida said softly yet firmly.
"Please... cleanse Sumeru of its 'source of sickness.'"
"Got it!"
Jesse excitedly placed Nahida back on his shoulder.
"Target Sumeru! Let's go! Let those bookworm sages witness what 'Dimensionality Reduction Strike from another world' truly means!"
Zane closed the Great Tomb of Nazarick box, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
A grand army of six thousand high-level undead skeletons was about to make a spectacular debut in Sumeru City! And the audience would be the stunned Akademiya sages and the people of Sumeru.
This grand drama of "Cleanse the Ruler's Side" was destined to unfold in an extremely hardcore and outrageous manner!