Overlord: Blue Citadel Alternate

A day later and the wall was partially built by dawn, the first layer of black colored concrete had been laid down and the second was on its way. This alone would slow down just about any ground going hostiles from immediately entering the Village. Ten feet of concrete and cement getting in their way.

About a day ago, the Black Scripture had been dispatched according to the scrying tools.

Their assignment was clearly to subjugate the new threat which had emerged in the Northern outer reaches of the Re-Estize Kingdom. However, something very menacing had been noticed when the newly named Vertum saw an extra-member of the group.

It wasn't the half elf, the extra-seat of the Scripture, it was an elderly woman in a dress. A dress that he knew, the Downfall of Castle and Country, also known as the Ruiness Beauty.

It was the item used to mind control any being, no matter their living or undead status. While he had no idea if it would work on a player, he was sure his NPCs would be at risk.

They needed to take that woman out before they could be seen, before they could assume control of them. Vertum knew exactly who and what he needed, a long range attack from the Honor Guard Marksmen Corps.

However he had no idea how strong they really were. He only knew that the only strength that the woman had was the World Item she wore. They had to take her out and the others would likely fall in line... Right?

Vertum c.a.r.e.s.sed his chin as he looked over the Mirror of Remote Viewing, whilst sitting in this throne.

Under the advis.e.m.e.nt that this had to be finished with by the time they decided to go to E-Rantel later this day, he continued to observe.

There were only eleven original members of the Black Scripture, as he had one in custody and it seemed the other wasn't being sent out. That must be because of the pressure from the Platinum Dragon Lord.

He knew plenty of the political landscape by now as he continued to study the world from his underground lair as well as the village above ground.

The night before, Vertum had ordered to have the Villagers evacuated into the underground City for their own protection. This was also to make sure they didn't get in the way.

So as he was watching, he took note of the one moving in the front of the group along with the other Knights of the Scripture. The Captain had a very androgynous figure, despite being heavily armored and carrying what appeared to be a spear.

They were using player made items, that was clear as day. The quality was unmistakable, which made it so he couldn't underestimate them either. Could it really be that they were descendants of players?

Waving his hand, using silent magic, he called forth a larger screen which showed the area between the half-built walls and the Black Scripture who were entering the effective range of eight hundred meters.

Lying prone on the flat surface of the currently ten foot high wall, forty Honor Guards took aim with their magic sniper rifles. It seemed the Scripture hadn't noticed them just yet, but he was sure they'd catch on soon enough.

"Vertum-sama, we have our target locked in our scopes. We are awaiting for further instruction." Silva who was seated behind the wall, watching the scene, sent a Message to their beloved creator and leader of the Guild, the Empire.

"Understood, Silva. Our immediate target is the woman in the tan outfit, it's the World Item. We have to eliminate her before attacking the rest. Otherwise we'd be left open to her ability."

"The Honor Guard has their target selected."

"Good, fire at six hundred meters, insync."

+ + +

The Captain shielded his eyes from the morning sun as he looked off into the distance at the edge of the plains bordering the Great Forest of Tob. "They started building a wall?"

"There wasn't a wall in the last report of that place." The Second Seat scratched their chin curiously, looking over the black structure which still seemed under construction. "It doesn't seem as if they used chrono-magic."

"Time Turbulence, are you sure? Then, how are they building it so fast...?" The third seat looked side to side, not seeing any Kingdom troops around. They were currently unable to see the soldiers who were lying prone on the dark surface of the wall.

"It seems a bit too quiet..." The Captain commented as the flatlands made it so they couldn't see over the wall from where they stood. His eyes drifted along the sky, no Dragon in sight.

The fourth seat also looked about from where they were situated, now seven hundred meters from the wall. She was hovering ambiently. "I'm going to see if I can get a clearer view of the village from a higher altitude."

She ran a hand through her long blonde hair, her fingers running over her wing-like headdress.

"You do that, but be careful!" The Captain ordered and watched as the Fourth Seat, the Divine Chant, begin to elevate in position. However as she was raising well above to Village, she narrowed her eyes.

She saw no one in the village, but before she could report this, a bolt of magic ripped through her forehead. She had been shot and hardly had enough time to react.

"Divine Chant?" The Captain stared at the female form which seemed to stay floating in the air for a few moments after seeing the mist of blood. That was when her body came plummeting toward the ground.

Cedran, a hulking brute and the Eighth Seat, moved to catch her frantically. Yet when she came crashing down into his arms, his jaw nearly dropped... She was already dead. They all seemed to group around as he went to shout, "Captain, we--!"

From the corner of his eye, the Brute could see a wall of magic bolts, and entire wave of them. "CAPTAIN!"

All of the Scripture members turned their heads from their fallen colleague only to furrow their brows. What was this? It wasn't just one wave either, there were several more shots following. They didn't even hear magic being cast, and there was no time between shots that indicated spells being cast by incantation!

"Ta--" The first wave of bolts whizzed passed the group, towards the one target behind most of the members. Within an instant, blood came spewing upon the squad of elites, the wielder of the World Item had been immediately beheaded!

"We're retreating! Collect their corpses and re--" The next wave would clash with their armor.

As the ninth seat went to help her back up, a bullet ripped through his skull.

Anyone who chose to try and help another, was immediately exposed. There was no cover out here, only plains and the ever so cleverly placed shrub. They were out in the open.

Just when the third seat was about to use a shield creation spell, a number of bolts tore through his own personal protection. His buffs almost meant nothing as he was continuously hit by barrages of magic attacks. "WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!?" He spat just as he was sent to the ground, crippled by the attacks and in critical condition.

The fifth seat, Quaiesse Hazia Quintia, was beginning to panic. "My summons won't do anything against these attacks!" He looked to the Captain who was orc.h.e.s.trating the evacuation efforts of the lesser knights accompanying the Scripture.

"We need to go, now!" The Captain's eyes darted to Quintia before narrowing his eyes on the dead which were piling up. They hadn't even direct contact, but it seems they knew enough to take out their magic users and ranged attackers.

"Captain!? Look out above you!" Quintia pointed at the sky above the Captain, a portal had opened and a ten foot long dragon came dropping down on top of the First Seat.

"By the Six--!" He held his pole arm in both hands as to defend himself, dirt and dust raising into the air as Vertum can crashing down on top of him.

Vertum's large sharp talons curling around the weapon, he grinned down at the Captain. "Nice eyes," the Dragon leaned its face down towards the Captain, a menacing look in his eyes. "Captain."

The Captain shoved the Dragon off, though barely, and pointed his pole arm at it as the dragon stood a few feet away now with its wings spread out. The magic attacks weren't stopping, digging up the ground if it didn't take out their intended targets.

Wave after wave, he watched as his surroundings and grass plains were exploding into brief explosions of blue flames. "Who are you, Beast!? You are no Dragon Lord I know of!"

The Captain knew that this being was stronger than any Dragon he encountered, probably stronger than the Platinum Dragon Lord if not at the same height of power. It was likely even the Extra-Seat would have a problem facing this Dragon.

"Who am I?" The Dragon laughed aloud and shook his wedge shaped head, his colorful mane of feathers spreading out widely beneath his chin. "My name is Vertum, Dragon Emperor."

It didn't take much for the powerful Captain of the Scripture to take a step back. His people, they were all but dead now, if not fleeing. His eyes flickered to the side and he noticed that the corpse of Kiare was still lying in the grass on top of one of his teammates.

A sweat drop appeared over his brow. "...How much do you know about us?"

Snickering at the Captain's question, the dragon phased into his human form, his sleek black guild weapon his hand. "How much do I know about you? About the Black Scripture? Well... Enough to say that you have an Extra-seat, an extraordinarily power half elf..."

"If that's the case... I can't let you live. You're a threat to my country, and unless I fight you, my people won't escape." He pointed his pole arm towards the man who was before him.

Just then the second seat sprung out from behind Vertum, "TAKE THIS!"

『Time Stop』Vertum would execute a spell which froze them immediately, turned around and stabbed his guild weapon into the Second Seat's face, before reciting "『True Death』."

As he pulled the weapon out of the small boy in green, he turned to face the Captain, time unfreezing. As the body dropped dead to the ground, the Captain's eyes widened.

"What just happened...?"

"I hold prowess over magic of time..." The Dragon stepped forward, walking casually towards the Captain, even though they were only a few feet apart.

The Captain would begin to step backward, avoiding getting so close to the man. "What kind of dragon can turn into human!? Are you related to the Brightness Dragon Lord!?"

"Oh heavens no, that pervert is no relative of mine." Vertum simpered at the thought of being related to a Dragon Lord. However he had already placed his backstory as being sealed away underground for the past six hundred years. "Though that shouldn't matter... As you're die here."

His eyes traveled towards the girl with light brown hair and orange eyes struggling to breath on the ground. She had taken considerable damage, but she was now dragging herself towards him.

"It is best that you don't move, God-kin." The man uttered.

The Captain blinked a few times hearing the Dragon advise the girl not to move. Why did the enemy care what a member of his forces did? It didn't matter, he lunged forward seeing what he believed to be an opening...

In the next few seconds, he could see the sky, the clouds... Then he saw a headless body standing up right, its weapon held forward. The Dragon was walking passed it, catching what appeared to be the Captain's head, his head. His red eyes faded of life, stared at the being.

Blood spewed from the corpse like a fountain, his body had died standing.

Vertum stared at the deadhead in his hand, grinning a bit before casting 『Devour』, the head was immediately crushed and absorbed. The information, memories and skills of the Captain who hardly was given a chance to show his true power, were processed into Vertum himself.

He didn't kick her off, he didn't tell her to let go. The man just stared at the girl in the School Uniform with that black rabbit-like ribbon in her hair. She even had a pair of purple framed glasses over her eyes.

The firing had stopped as the surviving hostiles reached past eight hundred meters away.

"Three survivors, one prisoner," Vertum proclaimed quietly as he knelt down to her, prying her arms off of his leg. He then laid her out on her back, watching as her c.h.e.s.t heaved slowly up and down, her life force slowly draining as she became paler and paler. "Thank you for delivering what I wanted," his hand rested on her cheek, his thumb playing with her quivering lower lip.

She couldn't even lift her head to bite his finger, she was too weak.

As he waved a hand over her face, she lost the sensation of pain, but her body still wouldn't move the way she wanted it to. She was crippled, any movement was clumsy.

"Serve me on your own accord, or be used in experiments like your Astrologer." Vertum lightly tapped his fingers against her cheek as she tried to turn her head away.

"I..."

"Your life is a secret existence... What if it didn't have to be?" Vertum leaned down towards the girl as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, she coughed, blood splattering against his face.

"Freedom...?" Her eyes trailed from him to her dead comrades which stained the green plains, then back to him, her orange eyes shaking. "Why me...?"

"A whim... Make your choice before there isn't one." The Dragon stood over her for a few seconds before turning his head to look at the old woman's decapitated corpse. The World Item still sitting there, with a flick of his wrist, the body disintegrated.

Placing her hand on his ankle, grasping at his foot, "Fr...free..do..." Her hand immediately lost any pressure it could emit, her consciousness was no more.

Grinning down at the unconscious member of the Scripture, swiped her frames from her face and put them in his item box. "So be it."