Chapter 5 - 『From the Heavens』

The sun was setting and the villagers have since dispersed from around the Village Chief's residence. They were rebuilding, paying respect to the recently deceased, but the atmosphere has yet to loose its tensions as their potential death was just beyond the horizon.

Jack was still in the air, tracing over the parameter. His eyes caught a glimpse of Momonga, and the item which he was cradling in his robes. A Resurrection Wand? A small smile curved over his lips, though it melted away as he noticed another group of knight-like people encroaching on the location of Carne Village. "Hm…?"

He also noted some villagers which were rushing over after Momonga and Albedo, whom were conversing with the Chief moments later.

"It appears to be a different group," Jack uttered under his breath, altering course and heading directly to the airspace above the incoming Warrior troop. He had to admit, he wanted to know more about this world and there were only fifty of those troops down there.

From what he could tell, they were either the same level if not lower than the ones which were attacking the village. In a way, he found that rather depressing.

Hearing the crack of someone's reigns, his eyes rested on that of the Royal Head Warrior Gazef whom was the target of the Theocracy.

"Oh?" He cocked his head slightly, similar to an ever so curious pigeon, before lowering his altitude. However, he didn't dive directly towards them. His descent was cautiously subtle.

As he was closing in, he could see the head warrior waving him down. Flailing his arms above his head as if to catch his attention. Maybe he thought he was just a Winged Human? From the memories of the Knight he had consumed, he had briefly thought Jack to be one.

『Teleportation』

He vanished from sight for a split second, using a fifth tier transportation spell. So as he resurfaced in front of the men on horses, many of the riders clung to the necks of their mounts as they became startled and raised their front hooves in panic.

"Woah there!" Gazef was calming his horse down, before his brown eyes rested on the armored individual with dark Turquoise wings. His mouth opened slightly, that's when he felt, holy radiance, the mesmerization kick in. "You're… You're not a Winged Human, are you?"

All of the men in the Warrior Troop formed around the Angelic being in a semi-circle as not to trap him. A person who could teleport was someone who likely had power behind them.

"Perhaps not," Jack stared through his visor towards the human mortal, before taking in the faces of the others around him. They appeared to be on serious business, but if they were coming to fight the Theocracy, they were too little in number. It was clear they'd be wiped out by the Sunlit Scripture.

Gazef's lids closed partially, narrowing his eyes and furrowing his brows. "You came from the direction of the village up ahead. Is it under attack?"

"The first wave was fought off hours ago, but there are hostiles still in the area, Gazef-dono." Jack used the man's name on purpose as he hadn't even introduced himself yet.

The Royal Head Warrior's furrowed brows, furrowed even more. "Identify yourself, friend." The honorable man spoke, grateful for the news, but curious of how the man knew him by name as he had never seen or met him before.

"My name is Cipher, tsk." Glancing over his shoulder towards the direction of the village. His eyes were resting on Momonga, Albedo and the Chief of the Village standing in the square. "Your reception awaits," his eyes moved towards Gazef before vanishing once again on his own before the man could respond with a 『Teleportation』.

"That… Was interesting," Gazef ran a hand through his brown hair, then looked towards his Adjunct. A younger blonde man who was looking dumbfounded at the boot prints on the path ahead of them where the Angel once stood.

"Not something you see everyday… Even on the Frontier," The Vice Captain concurred with Gazef on their uncanny experience from the situation and what had just happened.

They would begin to resume their route towards the village, cautiously watching their surroundings. They took the warning of enemies still being in the area very seriously. There was nothing to gain from warning someone of a probable ambush, so they trusted Jack's vague information.

As they entered the village, Gazef raised a brow as he rode up towards the three strangers, including Momonga Albedo and the Chief. His eyes wandered about until he noticed the Angel standing on the roof of a house where all of the current villagers were positioned.

His eyes then shifted down towards Momonga, "I am Chief Royal Warrior of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Gazef Stronoff." He was curious of the 'sorcerer' who was standing there in the mask. "I have received orders from the King to hunt down the Knights of the Empire that are wreaking havoc in the area by visiting all the villages."

"Royal Head Warrior..." The Chief spoke, he was surprised, but his eyes were filled with admiration.

"You must be the Chief of this Village. Who is the one standing beside you?" Gazef asked with a more than ever serious tone. Caution was greatly on his side, though he was doubting this man was a hostile. The Angel didn't seem bothered by the presence of the robed man.

"Do not worry, it is nice to meet you, Royal Head Warrior," Momonga decided to introduce himself with a polite tone. He couldn't be dismissed as a mere third party. "My name is Ainz Ooal Gown. I am the Magic Caster that came to help this town while it was being attacked."

Gazef hopped off the side of his horse on the opposite side in which Momonga stood, letting the tame mount walk off, leaving an empty space between them.

"Thank you for saving this village," Gazef said as he walked towards the masked Magic Caster. His eyes flickering over towards the Angel once more. He could feel those blue hues from his armor resting on him like that of an eagle guarding its nest from predators. Or was his eyes guarding the Head Warrior himself? He couldn't quite tell.

As he came to a stop, his eyes centered on Momonga once more, "Mere words cannot fully express my gratitude." He was sincere about the man helping the people of this village. He himself was once a commoner and living in a village on the frontier was like living with a chance to die at any minute.

"Head Warrior!" A voice interrupted their conversation, the Head Warrior glanced over his shoulder towards one of his men who was approaching them.

Gazef's mouth was partially open, revealing his upper teeth as his brow was cocked.

"Unknown figures have been spotted in the area, Cipher's intelligence was correct."

"Hm?" Momonga turned to the side, looking towards Jack who was standing on top of the building, who gave him a slight wave. He swore he could see Jack smirking under that helmet of his. "Oh?"

"It seems they've surrounded this village and are approaching as I speak!" The man finished his report, it was beginning to feel like a trap, an ambush.

"Eh?" The Head Warrior then looked towards the winged man on the roof of the house. Then toward the Magic Caster who was looking towards Jack. "I see you know him."

"Yes. He's an... Old friend."

Gazef went to look to Jack only to watch him as he vanished again, teleporting from the spot he was perched upon and disappeared from sight. Where had he just gone?

…

A man with blond hair and black eyes stood there in his signature black and white silvery robes. He had a scar over his face, something that distinguished him from amongst those who stood below his elevated position.

"Attention All Units!" He shouted to gain their attention, as they were all facing him.

His name was Nigun Grid Luin, leader of the Sunlight Scripture, a special operations group within the Slane Theocracy's Military forces.

"Our Prey has..." He slowly turned his head to the side, the flapping of wings could be heard above and behind him. Before he knew it, all of his men were looking through him and to the towering armored figure with wings standing behind him silently.

"Become the Predator?" Jack's voice echoed from his helmet, a halo becoming brighter behind his head. He curled in his lips slightly looking at the religious zealots before him.

"A-an angel?"

They had all the same thoughts as the previous Knight he had consumed. Their first thoughts were that of a Winged Human, but the moment they became aware of his radiance, they KNEW he was an angel.

Tempted to use his assimilation magic, Jack paused and looked up towards the sky. They were being watched, no, this man in front of him was being watched. "Hm… Interesting."

『Anti-Information Magic Wall』

Suddenly the magic being used to watch the man known as Nigun shattered up above. The Cardinals who were watching in, were now blinded by the magic he used to halt their sight.

"I'll think I'll only take you..." Jack uttered as the Devour spell's cooldown was already up. He didn't want to wait thirty days in order to use his assimilation magic again should he really need it.

"What?" Nigun turned around to face the 'blue eyed' angel. It was as if he was staring into the eyes of a messenger to his god. HIs god was granting death? But why?

『Devour』

Nigun erupted into screams of agony. His arms and shoulders, legs and shins, were all becoming compact and misplaced. The cracking of his bones and rupturing of his fleshy interior fill the air.

They could hear the screaming from the Village which caught everyone's attention.

So within a few few seconds, he who was once a human being ready to assassinate the Head Warrior of the Re-Estize Kingdom, turned into a cube of gelatin which Jack would squish in his hand. Closing his eyes as he absorbed the data, it was like receiving a high dose of dopamine, at least to him.

The other warriors could hardly move, their leader who was supposed to be strong, had been crushed without as little as a fight. Do they continue their mission without him? Or do they retreat?

It was too late anyways for them to make up their minds. Jack wasn't going to just let them go after attacking a village full of people. The last thing the Cardinals would ever see of their Sunlight Scripture, was the approach of an armored being with angelic wings and what appeared to be a holy radiance.

So as the group regained their composure just enough to yelp and try to run, in order to escape from Jack, the angel couldn't help but laugh.

"Maximize Magic『Gate』!"

The moment he recited this spell, a massive portal opened up beneath the feet of the fleeing soldiers of the Scripture. They were too slow, and while it was a pity they wouldn't be going down before they could summon their mighty angels to combat him, Jack didn't seem that all fazed by his own actions.

Turning his head towards sky above the Village, a portal appeared somewhere between where he was and the village edge. Soldiers of the Theocracy began to rain from just below the clouds above, coming crashing into the grassy plains… They were falling to their deaths, none of them being able to think or speak fast enough to cast a flight spell.

Gazef, Albedo and Momonga watched as the soldiers fell from the sky. Even the Warrior Troop were amazed. Watching as those who had defiled so many lives in the course of days, were being dropped from on high.

Jack would look to the ground at his feet, noticing the sealed crystal just laying there and various other items which Nigun had on his person. "Hmmm..." Kneeling down, he would pick up the items and place them in his inventory before stepping off the elevated position and walking back towards the village.

When he returned, the sky had become darker with beautiful pink hues and a purple blanket with stars poking through directly above.

Gazef and the others were there to meet him, as he had sure taken his time on his way back. Mostly because he went around taking the armor and personal effects off of the Slane Theocracy folks.

To him at the moment, it was just loot. Plus, at the same time he didn't really care that they died either. They were evil, they killed villagers for a selfish cause, to kill one other person. Probably the only warrior in the Kingdom that could be considered a Hero.

"Cipher-dono, did you..."

Hearing the honorifics come off of Gazef's tongue, Jack looked over towards the Head Warrior and raised a brow as he stood there. There wasn't a scratch on him. There wasn't even any blood on the staff known as Seraph.

"Drop them from the heavens?" Jack finished Gazef's question for him, to him. "Yes, yes I did." He chuckled to himself a bit, tapping the side of his helmet. "Your men are welcome to take what's left of their items."

Gazef blinked a few times hearing him say this so casually. As if taking a life was an easy thing to do. He then smiled awkwardly however at the offer that his men could take what they wanted from the dead. "You… Have my thanks, Cipher-dono, if there is anyway I can repay you. Let me know."

Jack's eyes flickered to Momonga who nodded.

"I would like a letter of introduction." Jack said with a polite tone, though didn't address him by name.

Gazef could hardly believe his ears. Most people would ask for Gold, or something of more material worth. Yet, this man asked for a Letter of Introduction from a mere commoner such as he. However, he was famous amongst those whom weren't necessarily nobility, and trusted by the King.

This Angel, he could use this letter to walk right in through the front doors of the Valencia Palace and gain an audience with the King.