Chapter 30: Treacherous Dead

The skeleton brothers formed a large line of box formations, blocking off the entire street. Wishing due time, The Re-Estize forces had arrived, the kingdom's men marched with their pitiful weapons and subpar armour, without noticing the large force that had gathered just ahead of them. By the time they would notice, it was already too late. The force of 5000 soldiers marched down the street, only to find hell on the other side.

"We have spotted a strange group of adventurers up ahead!" A scout yelled to his general.

"Great! We will meet up with them and take on the remaining demons in the area!" The General yelled joyfully.

The army quickly marched towards the skeleton encampment, totally oblivious of their fates. The General moved towards the front of his army, getting ready to boost the army's morale with a speech.

"MEN! TODAY WE FACE THE DEMONS OF JALDABAOTH! WE WILL MAKE SURE TO DESTROY THE DEMONIC PRESENCE AND FREE THE CITIZENS-"

FLOP

The scout stabbed the General through the back of his head, dropping him straight to the floor. The army watched as their General was instantly killed before a battle had even started.

"MUTINY!"

The scout grabbed his own face with his hands, pulling it off to reveal a skull with no eyes.

"Destroy these pitiful humans." The scout spoke.

The scout morphed fully into a black armoured figure, armed with a black hammer.

Suddenly a formation of armoured figures rushed from behind the figure, completely blocking the army's path. A second formation came out from the alleyways from behind the Re-Estize forces soon after, completely blocking off the escape route.

"Greetings trash. I am Corvus, I am pleased to see that you are nothing but weaklings." The figure said with a sadistic voice.

"You see, we cannot let any of you pass. So do us a favour and KILL YOURSELVES."

Immediately a grand aura of death and despair moved through the ranks of the Re-Estize army, causing mass distress of sinister proportions.

FLOP FLOP FLOP FLOP FLOP...

Roughly half of the Re-Estize army fell to the ground, motionless. The remaining forces were in utter shock, still not understanding what was happening to them. The figure moved forward with his forces moving in to trap them in a tight formation.

"They are dead, trust my words. But then again, they will rise soon enough."

Atlas pointed his hammer towards the remaining men of the kingdom, and only said a few words.

"Kill them all."

The scene was characterised by the swift overrunning of the remaining army as they were pierced with arrows and slashed with axes. Not a single soul was left alive from the kingdom's forces. The skeletons feasted on the supply of souls, joyful for their victory. Atlas simply sat on a barrel at the side of the road and watched his brothers celebrate the swift victory. Even an army of 5000 was not enough, the humans of this world a truely pitiful.

"Brother, are you not joyful for our victory?" Skullbane asked.

"Of course I am...but this is just too boring." Atlas remarked.

"The humans of this world are nothing but insects, only a few can actually fight like warriors. This battle is nothing to be proud of, we completed the task; that is what we should be proud of."

"I still remember the worker raid, brother. That day was the day you shone bright, you were destined for greatness ever since that moment. That day you proved yourself." Skullbane spoke.

"Thank you Brother."

"ENOUGH OF THIS! WHERE IS THE 1ST INNER PILLAR? I WILL KILL HIM!!" A loud voice shouted.

A hulking skeleton approached Atlas, brandishing metal gauntlets on each hand, ready to fight.

"I am 2nd Inner Pillar, Necrosis. I challenge the 1st Inner Pillar to a duel to the death for the title of 1st Inner Pillar. No resurrection." The skeleton announced.

"2nd Inner Pillar, you are aware this is treason. I was given this title by Lord Ainz Ooal Gown." Atlas responded as he stood up.

"Have I not already proven my power?"

"Nonsense, you used a cheat to kill those humans. In a duel, I can easily kill you!" Necrosis announced.

"Do you dishonour me?" Atlas asked in a more serious tone.

"Yes." Necrosis replied.

Atlas stepped forward so the now large crowd of skeletons could see him.

"Do any of you agree with the 2nd Inner Pillar?" Atlas asked the crowd.

There was no response, as everyone chose to stay silent, implying that no one truely supported the challenger.

"2nd Inner Pillar, I accept your challenge."

The crowd formed a large circular space for the two skeletons, awaiting the start of the duel.

Atlas picked up a small brick from the ground, discarding his hammer in the depths of his abyss. The skeleton did not feel the least bit afraid, already knowing that Necrosis would die.

"1ST INNER PILLAR! YOU WILL DIE TONIGHT! NO ONE CAN PROTECT YOU FROM THIS DISHONOUR OF FALLING TO MY FISTS!"

"I cannot believe that my home housed a heretic that would dare go against the words of The Supreme Beings for his own personal vendetta. From this day forward, Necrosis is no longer a brother of the Reserve Tomb!" Atlas announced.

"ENOUGH. FEEL MY FIST!"

The skeleton rushed towards Atlas, launching a falcon punch.

CRACK

The skull of the attacker shattered into thousands of shards as Atlas' brick crushed Necrosis' skull with no resistance. The skeleton's body fell to the ground as the head was no more, leaving the challenger dead in the confines of a split second.

"Brothers,let this be known! Necrosis is the name of a traitor! Let his name be be never spoken of in the presence of any brother!"

"To make sure he never returns, I will take his soul."

Atlas pulled the traitor's soul out his body, absorbing it without any resistance.

"Weakling."

Atlas phased out of the area leaving his brothers to tend to the mess that had been created. After that duel, no one dared to challenge Ainz' chosen 1st Inner Pillar, to do so would lead to a fate worse than just death.