Chapter 21: Thunder's Mercy, Judgment's Price
COCYTUS: "I stand opposed—opposed, my lords—to this annihilation of the lizardmen. I beseech you both: grant them mercy."
The words hung in the air like frost crystallizing mid-fall.
THOR/AINZ:(Intrigued, speaking in perfect unison) "Hmm?"
Twin gazes—one skeletal and hollow, the other storm-blessed and ancient—fell upon the insectoid guardian with renewed interest. The very atmosphere seemed to thicken, pregnant with possibility and peril in equal measure.
But before either supreme being could voice their thoughts, another presence shattered the fragile silence.
Albedo's eyes—those golden orbs of calculated devotion—narrowed to slits sharper than any blade forged in Nazarick's darkest foundries. Her voice, when it emerged, carried the chill of winter's cruelest hour.
ALBEDO: "Cocytus. Dear Cocytus." (Each syllable dripped with venomous honey) "Do you comprehend—truly comprehend—the magnitude of your words? To oppose the judgment rendered by Lord Ainz and Lord Thor themselves... Tell me, brave guardian, does fear flutter in that frozen heart of yours? Do those insects—those primitive, scale-covered wretches—inspire such terror that you would defy divine decree?"
The silence that followed pressed down like a tombstone.
Cocytus, for all his martial prowess and warrior's pride, found himself paralyzed—not by fear, but by the sudden realization that his words, however sincere, might appear as treason in this hall of absolute loyalty.
He remained silent.
Stone-still.
Statuesque in his uncertainty.
Albedo's pristine features twisted, beauty warping into something altogether more terrifying as frustration bloomed like blood in water. Her fingers twitched, yearning to summon her bardiche and split this fool from crown to thorax for his disrespect—his audacity—
ALBEDO:(Voice rising, composure cracking) "SPEAK, YOU PATHETIC—"
THUMP.
The sound was not loud. It didn't need to be.
A single hand—calloused from epochs of battle, marked with scars that told stories of slain giants and shattered gods—descended upon Albedo's left shoulder with the weight of a mountain settling into place.
The Guardian Overseer froze mid-breath, her rage evaporating like morning dew beneath a merciless sun. She turned—slowly, tremulously—and found herself staring into eyes that had witnessed Ragnarok itself and emerged unchanged.
THOR: "Peace, Albedo. Peace." (His voice rumbled like distant thunder, deceptively gentle) "Your fervor honors us both, but passion without precision serves no purpose."
ALBEDO: "B-But my lord, he dares to—"
THOR: "I. Shall not. Repeat myself." (Each word fell like a hammer striking an anvil). "We shall conduct this interrogation. You—beloved as you are—will maintain your silence and bear witness. Do. Not. Interfere."
The final two words crackled with barely-restrained electricity, ozone suddenly sharp in the air.
ALBEDO:(All color draining from her features, voice reduced to a whisper) "M-My deepest apologies, Lord Thor. I... I overstepped."
She bowed—deeply, properly, her spine curved in perfect submission—before retreating three measured steps backward. Her hands trembled ever-so-slightly as they clasped before her, knuckles white with the effort of restraining herself.
Thor released her shoulder, turning his full attention upon the silent Cocytus with the inexorable certainty of a storm front rolling across the plains.
THOR: "Now then, Cocytus." (His voice softened, but only marginally) "I expect—demand—that you possess sufficient justification for such a proclamation. A reason that serves not your own conscience, but the eternal glory and prosperity of the Great Tomb of Nazarick itself."
Cocytus straightened, mandibles clicking in what might have been nervousness or determination.
COCYTUS: "They possess... potential." (The word emerged carefully, deliberately) "Great potential, my lords. Warriors of considerable caliber shall emerge from their ranks, given time, proper cultivation, and correct guidance. Rather than extermination, I propose subjugation. Loyalty forged through strength and wisdom, rather than extinction purchased through overwhelming force."
THOR: "Intriguing. A perspective worth consideration." (He glanced sideways, crimson eyes finding skeletal sockets) "Ainz? Your assessment?"
Ainz shifted in his throne, robes whispering secrets in dead languages.
AINZ: "Hmm. An interesting proposition, Cocytus, but let us examine the practical applications." (His skeletal fingers steepled thoughtfully) "I attempted to create undead from these lizardmen—experimentation, you understand—but they proved disappointingly ordinary. No different from human corpses in structural integrity or magical capacity. Yet consider the alternative you propose: Undead servants require no sustenance, no water, no rest. Their loyalty is absolute, programmed into their very essence. Tell me, what do these living lizardmen offer that justifies the risk of betrayal? The cost of feeding them? The possibility of rebellion?"
The question hung like an executioner's blade suspended by a single thread.
Cocytus's mandibles worked soundlessly, clicking and clacking in search of words that refused to materialize.
AINZ: "Well? Speak, Cocytus. Surely you possess some reasoning beyond emotional sentiment?"
COCYTUS:(Internally, a desperate mental scramble)"I cannot simply confess that their warrior spirits move me—that I see in them a reflection of what combat should be: honorable, desperate, magnificent in its futility. Such sentimentality would be dismissed, and rightly so. But what other justification exists? What practical benefit..."
The silence stretched.
Lengthened.
Became uncomfortable.
AINZ: "So you possess no concrete reasoning? No strategic advantage to present?"
More silence—damning, dreadful, decisive silence.
THOR:(Internally, a whisper of disappointment)"A pity. I had hoped for more."
AINZ:(Audibly sighing, the sound like wind through a graveyard) "I see. Most unfortunate indeed, Cocytus."
The pronouncement felt final, absolute, a door closing with echoing finality.
But before either supreme being could elaborate upon Cocytus's failure—before judgment could descend in all its terrible certainty—another voice interjected itself into the proceedings with impeccable timing and calculated subservience.
DEMIURGE: "My lords—both Lord Ainz and Lord Thor—I must humbly beg your pardon for this interruption, but might you deign to hear a suggestion from this unworthy servant?"
Twin gazes shifted, settling upon the demon with renewed interest.
AINZ: "Speak, Demiurge. Your counsel has proven valuable before."
DEMIURGE:(Adjusting his spectacles with theatrical precision, light glinting off the lenses) "You are both, I am certain, acutely aware of our need for... experimentation. Testing hypotheses. Gathering data. The scientific method applied to conquest and dominion." (A pause, perfectly timed) "These lizardmen—primitive as they are—present a unique opportunity. A laboratory, if you will, for future endeavors."
THOR:(Leaning forward fractionally, interest piqued) "Elaborate."
AINZ: "Yes, continue. This has potential."
DEMIURGE: "In the fullness of time, Nazarick shall command vast territories—must command them, for our glory demands no less. These lizardmen villages can serve as a proving ground. A test case for governance without the crude instrument of terror. Can loyalty be cultivated through means other than fear? Can subjugated populations become productive assets rather than merely cowed slaves? The answers to such questions will prove invaluable when our dominion expands beyond these swamps."
The logic was impeccable.
Undeniable.
Brilliant.
Ainz's skull swiveled slowly toward Thor, empty sockets somehow conveying inquiry. Thor responded with the barest inclination of his head—permission granted, agreement rendered.
AINZ: "Exceptional reasoning, Demiurge. Wouldn't you concur, Thor?"
THOR: "Aye." (The word rumbled with approval) "Most exceptional indeed."
DEMIURGE:(Bowing with fluid grace) "Your praise honors me beyond measure, Lord Ainz. And your endorsement, Lord Thor, validates my unworthiness."
AINZ: "Then it is decided. We shall adopt Demiurge's proposal in its entirety. The objective shifts from extermination to occupation. The lizardmen shall live—shall serve—shall become the first subjects in our grand experiment of enlightened conquest." (His gaze swept the assembled guardians like a searchlight) "Does anyone possess objections to voice?"
Silence.
Perfect, absolute, unbroken silence.
AINZ: "Thor?"
THOR:(Relaxing marginally into his throne) "You possess my complete support, Ainz. Let us proceed."
AINZ: "Excellent. Demiurge, your strategic acumen continues to impress."
DEMIURGE: "Ah, but Lord Ainz—and Lord Thor as well—surely you both had already conceived this very strategy? I merely voiced what you were graciously waiting for Cocytus to articulate himself. Testing him, as it were. Measuring his capacity for independent thought and moral courage."
Cocytus, who had been listening with mounting horror at his own inadequacy, felt something crack inside his frozen heart.
COCYTUS:(Internally, self-recrimination sharp as razors)"How... how could I have failed to see it? They were TESTING me—evaluating my capacity for strategic thinking—and I nearly failed them entirely. What kind of guardian am I? What kind of warrior?"
AINZ: "You overestimate us, Demiurge." (A trace of amusement in that skeletal voice) "We simply desired to see Cocytus think independently. To speak his conscience rather than blindly executing orders like some mindless automaton."
Ainz rose from his throne, robes cascading like shadows given substance, and addressed the assembled guardians with the weight of absolute authority.
AINZ: "Guardians. All of you. Inscribe this upon your very souls: Blind obedience possesses its place, yes, but thoughtful service—service that comprehends the why behind the what—proves infinitely more valuable. Consider the intentions underlying your orders. Contemplate what best serves Nazarick's eternal prosperity. And if you perceive a flaw—a miscalculation—a potential catastrophe lurking within a plan—you are commanded to bring it before me, Thor, or whoever conceived the strategy. Is this understood?"
A chorus of affirmations echoed through the throne room.
Thor nodded his approval, crimson eyes gleaming with something that might have been pride.
THOR: "Now then. Let us address the matter of consequences." (His gaze fixed upon Cocytus with laser intensity) "Ainz, I believe punishment remains appropriate, though modified to fit our revised objectives."
AINZ: "Agreed. Cocytus."
COCYTUS: "Yes, my lord. I was ordered to exterminate the lizardmen. I... I failed."
AINZ: "Indeed. But as our objectives have evolved, so too must your punishment transform into something more... productive. You are hereby assigned rulership over these lizardmen. You shall cultivate their loyalty—forge them into devoted servants of Nazarick—without employing fear as your primary instrument. This shall serve as our model for future subjugations. Succeed, and prove your worth. Fail..." (He left the alternative unspoken, but its presence loomed like a guillotine)
COCYTUS:(Straightening to his full, impressive height, all four arms crossing over his chest in salute) "Understood! I, Cocytus, swear upon my honor as a Floor Guardian and as a warrior—I swear—that I shall deliver results worthy of the mercy you have shown me, Lord Ainz! I shall not—will not—fail you again!"
AINZ: "See that you don't." (Turning to address the others) "All Floor Guardians shall sortie as a unified force—a demonstration of overwhelming might to witness and record. Show these lizardmen what Nazarick can unleash. Let them see despair given form. However—" (And here his voice sharpened) "—should your actions threaten our ability to rule them afterward, should you slaughter indiscriminately or inspire such terror that governance becomes impossible, you will cease immediately. Is this comprehended?"
COCYTUS: "Perfectly, my lord. I perceive no complications with this strategy."
AINZ: "Then prepare yourselves. Dismissed."
ALL FLOOR GUARDIANS:(In perfect synchronization) "Yes, milord!"
But before anyone could depart, Thor's voice cut through the shuffling of preparations like lightning splitting an oak.
THOR: "Albedo. Remain a moment."
She froze mid-step, turning with barely-concealed eagerness.
ALBEDO: "Yes, Lord Thor?"
THOR: "Prepare our military contingent. Ainz and I shall personally participate in this demonstration. We require an appropriate escort."
ALBEDO: "Understood completely, my lord. Am I correct in assuming that potential observers—third parties monitoring this conflict—should receive a carefully curated impression of our strength? Show enough to inspire terror, but conceal enough to ensure underestimation?"
THOR:(A ghost of a smile) "Precisely. Though we do intend to leave them trembling in their boots—or scales, as the case may be."
ALBEDO: "In that case, might I suggest a force centered around our Nazarick Old Guarders? Their reputation precedes them, and their appearance alone should suffice to—"
COCYTUS:(Internally, educational observation mode activated)"Old Guarders... level 63 entities, each one capable of decimating entire battalions. As expected of the Guardian Overseer—she thinks three moves ahead in every engagement."
THOR: "Quantity assessment: How many Old Guarders do we possess?"
ALBEDO: "Three thousand, my lord."
Ainz re-entered the conversation, skeletal fingers drumming thoughtfully against his throne's armrest.
AINZ: "Hmm. Insufficient for our purposes. We require at least double that number to properly terrorize the opposition. The psychological impact must be overwhelming—absolute."
ALBEDO: "If additional numbers are required, Lord Ainz, we could mobilize both the Nazarick Elder Guarders and the Nazarick Master Guarders. Furthermore—" (Her eyes flickered toward Thor with calculated deference) "—if Lord Thor permits, we might also deploy his personal forces: the Thor Warriors, Thor Guards, and Thor Footmen."
AINZ: "Thor? Your consent?"
THOR: "I possess no objections. Rossweisse can coordinate their deployment."
Both supreme beings turned their attention to the valkyrie who had been kneeling throughout these proceedings, silent and statuesque in her devotion. Now she raised her head, silver hair catching the ambient light, and smiled—truly smiled—with fierce pride illuminating her features.
ROSSWEISSE:(Voice ringing with battle-joy) "It shall be my honor and privilege, my lords!"
THOR: "Excellent. That matter stands resolved—"
AINZ: "What of Gargantua, Albedo? Status report."
THOR:(Interested murmur) "Hmm."
ALBEDO: "All systems optimal, Lord Ainz. Gargantua stands ready for deployment. No complications anticipated."
AINZ: "Splendid." (Turning to another guardian) "Shalltear, you shall transport all forces simultaneously via Gate magic."
SHALLTEAR:(Hesitation creeping into her usual confidence) "That would... that would exceed my mana reserves considerably, Lord Ainz. Even with optimal efficiency, the drain would be catastrophic."
AINZ: "Request mana transfers from Pestonya. If her reserves prove insufficient, supplement with Lupusregina's power as well."
SHALLTEAR:(Bowing deeply, relief and determination mingling) "Understood, Lord Ainz!"
Then Thor rose—truly rose—from his throne, and the very air seemed to compress around him. His presence expanded, filling the throne room with the weight of divine authority, the scent of ozone and storm-winds and ancient battlefields where gods had fallen.
When he spoke, his voice carried the promise of thunder and the certainty of lightning.
THOR:(Each word resonating like a death knell) "Now then, guardians. All of you. Tomorrow—when dawn breaks upon their primitive villages—the lizardmen shall bear witness to power beyond their comprehension. They shall see Nazarick's might made manifest. They shall understand the mercy we extend by offering servitude rather than extinction."
CRACK.
The sound of thunder—actual thunder—rolled through the throne room despite the absence of clouds or sky.
THOR: "Make. Them. Tremble."
And with that final pronouncement—that terrible promise—both Thor and Ainz simply ceased to exist in the throne room, teleportation magic whisking them away in pulses of energy that left afterimages burned onto the guardians' retinas.
Silence descended like a curtain.
Then, tentatively:
COCYTUS: "Demiurge. I owe you... gratitude. Profound gratitude."
DEMIURGE:(Waving dismissively) "Unnecessary, Cocytus. Truly."
COCYTUS: "No. No. I must express it. Without your intervention—your brilliance—I would have been compelled to commit genocide against warriors I respect. You saved them. You saved me from that dishonor."
DEMIURGE:(Adjusting his spectacles, light obscuring his eyes) "Cocytus, I believe—no, I am certain—that Lord Ainz and Lord Thor orchestrated this entire scenario specifically to elicit your objection. They wanted you to speak against the slaughter. Lord Ainz seemed genuinely pleased when you opposed him. This was a test, you see. A test you passed, albeit imperfectly."
AURA:(Bouncing on her heels with childish enthusiasm) "See? SEE?! Lord Ainz is absolutely brilliant! He predicted everything—everything!—down to the last detail!"
SHALLTEAR:(Grudging admiration) "A strategy that required intimate knowledge of Cocytus's character and moral code. Impressive psychological manipulation, even by our lords' standards."
DEMIURGE:(Voice lowering to reverential tones) "I recognized Lord Ainz's transcendent genius after the incident with Shalltear—that masterwork of strategy and contingency planning. And Lord Thor's absolute confidence in Lord Ainz's brilliance only confirms what we all know: we serve beings so far beyond us that we can only marvel and obey. Their combined intellect is... is... sublime."
Meanwhile, in a chamber far removed from throne rooms and guardian worship, Thor entered his personal quarters with Ainz materializing moments later in a shimmer of arcane energy.
Thor moved with the easy confidence of a god in his domain, crossing to his bed and simply falling backward onto it with a grunt of satisfaction. The mattress compressed under divine weight as he sprawled like a warrior after battle.
Ainz, by contrast, drifted toward an overstuffed armchair positioned near the room's window and settled into it with considerably more dignity, skeletal frame arranging itself into a posture of relaxation.
AINZ:(Sighing, the sound hollow and echoing) "Exhausting. Absolutely exhausting. I envy you sometimes, Thor—the ability to simply drink away stress. My undead physiology denies me even that small pleasure."
THOR:(Chuckling, the sound rumbling from deep in his chest) "Overrated, Momonga. Truly. This divine constitution possesses tolerance levels that render most alcohol effectively pointless. I drink for taste now, not effect. The buzz that mortals chase? Gone. Vanished. I might as well be drinking particularly flavorful water."
AINZ: "I suppose that's some consolation." (Pause) "Today surprised me genuinely. I never anticipated Cocytus would voice that objection. Completely blindsided me."
THOR: "Agreed. But consider the implications—the valuable implications. We've confirmed that the guardians can mature. Can develop beyond their initial programming. Can grow. That knowledge alone justifies today's theater."
AINZ: "Yes, but... but what if..." (His voice dropped, uncertainty creeping in) "What if they mature too much? What if continued development leads them to question us? To see our flaws? To eventually... abandon—OWW!"
THWAP.
The pillow struck Ainz's skull with considerable force, knocking his head sideways and interrupting his spiral into anxiety before it could gain momentum.
THOR:(Sitting up, expression thunderous) "STOP. Stop that immediately, Momonga. Never—never—permit such poisonous thoughts to take root in your mind."
AINZ:(Clutching the pillow defensively) "I apologize, I just—the possibility that they might—"
THOR: "There IS no possibility. None. Their loyalty is absolute—forged into their very essence by our friends' own hands. They would sooner unmake themselves than betray us. So cease this self-destructive speculation before I'm forced to throw something heavier than a pillow."
AINZ: "You're right. Of course you're right. I just sometimes—"
But his self-recrimination cut off abruptly as his nasal cavity (despite its lack of actual nose) detected something peculiar from the pillow he still clutched.
AINZ: "Thor... is there some reason your pillow smells of flowers? Do your servants perfume your bedding?"
THOR:(Puzzled) "What?"
Thor reached for his spare pillow—the one he'd thrown moments earlier—and brought it to his face. His enhanced senses immediately identified the scent: jasmine and honeysuckle, with subtle notes of vanilla and something uniquely, unmistakably Albedo.
His eyes narrowed.
THOR:(Internally, amusement and irritation warring)"Albedo, you cunning succubus. Scent-marking my sleeping quarters like some territorial feline. How delightfully audacious. How completely inappropriate. This... this requires correction*. Punishment, even. Something suitably... memorable."*
Elsewhere, in a corridor deep within Nazarick's labyrinthine passages, Albedo walked with her usual grace and poise, mental checklist running through troop deployments and strategic considerations.
Then—without warning—a shiver raced down her spine as ice water poured directly onto her nervous system.
She stopped mid-step, wings twitching involuntarily.
ALBEDO:(Whispering to the empty corridor) "What... what was that?"
The sensation faded as quickly as it had arrived, leaving her confused and vaguely unsettled.
Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled.
TO BE CONTINUED...