The crushing pressure that had forced every Guardian to their knees dissipated as suddenly as it had appeared.
The suffocating weight—one that seemed to press upon not just their bodies but their very souls—faded into nothing, leaving behind a hollow silence that filled the grand chamber.
No one moved at first.
No one dared to.
Even after their Lord—Alastor—had departed, the Guardians of the Great Tomb of Nazarick remained motionless, their heads still bowed, breaths uneven. The echo of his overwhelming presence lingered in the air like the remnants of a storm. It took a long moment before anyone dared to breathe properly again.
Then, a quiet sigh broke the silence.
The first to rise was Albedo, the Overseer of the Floor Guardians. Her black dress, which shimmered faintly under the chamber's light, bore faint stains from where her knees had pressed against the polished floor. She didn't even glance at them. Her golden eyes shone with a mixture of awe and reverence as she looked toward the throne where her master had sat moments before.
Seeing her rise, the others followed. No one spoke—no one wanted to be the first to break the sacred quiet that Alastor's mere existence had created.
Finally, Aura exhaled and rubbed the back of her neck, her tone light but nervous.
"That was scary. I thought I was gonna be squashed flat."
Her brother, Mare, nodded timidly. "Y-Yeah… it felt like my knees were going to crack."
Demiurge adjusted his glasses, the faintest smile curling his lips. "As expected of Alastor-sama. His mere presence can overwhelm even us. Truly, his power is beyond our understanding."
"Indeed," Cocytus rumbled, his deep voice echoing like a distant avalanche. "As. A. Supreme. Being. His. Might. Overmatches. Ours. But. I. Did. Not. Expect. Him. To. Be. This. Powerful."
The Guardians began sharing their impressions, their words filled with reverence and unease. None could deny the terror and majesty that radiated from their Lord. The aura he exuded—unintentionally—was a by-product of one of his job classes, {Evil Incarnation}, a class that projected raw, oppressive malice without restraint. Even with their maximum levels, they were merely tasting a fraction of its effect.
For lesser beings, that same aura would have induced madness, illusions, or sheer agony.
But to the Guardians, it was a display of power so vast it only deepened their faith.
"Alastor-sama must have displayed his authority as ruler of Nazarick," Demiurge mused, his tail flicking in quiet admiration.
"Indeed," Shalltear agreed, fanning herself slightly though her pale face betrayed her excitement.
"Before, he was gentle… but once we knelt before him as his loyal servants, he revealed his true majesty."
"In. Other. Words," Cocytus added solemnly, "Our. Lord. Acknowledged. Our. Loyalty. By. Revealing. His. Power."
Aura crossed her arms and tilted her head. "He didn't act that scary when he was with us before… Alastor-sama was kind."
The words, innocent as they were, caused a visible ripple in the air.
A suffocating tension spread among the Guardians.
Jealousy.
Fierce, unrestrained jealousy.
Albedo froze. The soft smile on her lips twisted ever so slightly. Her gloved hands clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms.
Shalltear's crimson eyes narrowed, and the corner of her mouth lifted in a dangerous smirk.
"My, my~" she cooed. "So he was kind to you, was he, Aura? How enviable…"
Albedo's wings flared slightly. "Do not misunderstand, Shalltear. Our Lord's kindness is limitless—you need not envy others for receiving what you can never fully comprehend."
Shalltear giggled, covering her mouth with her fan. "Ara~? It sounds like you're claiming to understand him better than the rest of us, Albedo."
"I do," Albedo replied sharply, her golden eyes blazing. "Because I am destined to stand beside him as his wife."
The room stilled again.
Shalltear's smile thinned. "His wife? Oh, please. If anyone is fit to be by his side, it's me. My devotion to him runs deeper than your schemes, Overseer."
The air between them crackled with hostility. Aura groaned softly, stepping back while Mare tugged nervously at her sleeve. Cocytus watched in silence, unsure whether to intervene or let the two battle it out.
Just as the tension peaked, Demiurge stepped forward, raising one hand.
"Enough."
His voice was calm, yet it carried the quiet command that made both women pause. His smile remained composed, though the gleam in his glasses concealed a sharp edge.
"Before we indulge in petty rivalry," he said smoothly, "perhaps we should remember that our Lord has entrusted us with a mission. Surely, proving our worth through devotion to his command would please him more than childish bickering."
Albedo's jaw tightened, but she exhaled slowly and nodded.
"Very well," she said, her voice regaining its commanding tone. "You are right, Demiurge. Our Lord's orders take precedence over all else."
She turned her gaze across the gathered Guardians—each of them straightened instinctively under her stare.
"Let us move on to our plans for the future," Albedo continued. "We must act swiftly and complete the tasks Alastor-sama has given us. Nazarick must stand ready for whatever world he intends to shape."
Her authority as Overseer returned with full force. Even Shalltear, though still glaring faintly, lowered her head in acknowledgment.
Albedo continued giving her orders, her tone sharp and precise:
Demiurge was to ensure Nazarick's defenses were at their peak.
Cocytus was to review the readiness of the armies stationed on the lower floors.
Aura and Mare were tasked with overseeing environmental management and maintaining surveillance across Nazarick's perimeter.
Shalltear was to ensure the security of the outer regions and eliminate any potential intruders who dared to approach.
"Let none of us falter," Albedo concluded, her voice echoing through the hall. "We shall fulfill Alastor-sama's will to perfection."
The Guardians bowed deeply, voices rising in unison.
"By your command."
~~~
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