103 Ladros

"The fight against the dragon was underwhelming," said Vritra feeling a bit dejected.

'Well what can they do, they were facing the dark lord. No way that they can overwhelm me.' replied Sekke as put Fana down.

"...If not for my sacred gear you could not have done anything," said Vritra

'...Now that we don't know, who knows I might have a secret move that I could have used to deal with the situation.'

"You don't have a secret move."

'Huh? No, I have a lot of secret moves. Why do you think that the dark lord doesn't have secret moves?'

"Huh? Really? Why haven't I heard of them?"

'Duh, they are my secret moves, why would I tell my secret to others?'

"...I am your other half. So I should know about them."

'And ruin the surprise when I decide to use them, no way that's happening. A part of being the dark lord is making my comrades and opponents surprised by my amazingness.'

"...That reasoning doesn't make any sense."

'It does to me thought Sekke when he suddenly got attacked by his fellow black bulls.

"You stupid idiot! What the hell were you thinking by fighting her alone?!" complained Noelle.

"Ow! Hey everything was under control!" retorted Sekke.

"Were you born just to kill yourself?!" complained Finral.

"The situation was not even that serious!"

"You barely have any clothes on!" complained Vanessa.

"That's barely an issue!!" complained Sekke back.

"Sekke!! You were totally awesome in that fight!!" cheered Asta from the side.

"But you were way too reckless," commented Ainz those words came out of the parrot that was sitting on his shoulder.

"Hey stop it! Stop it!" said Sekke as he tried to block the incoming hits.

Even Secre was packing the hell out of him with a slightly angry look on her face.

'Idiot! How dare you make me worry about you...And why were you being lovey-dovey with that elf!!' thought Secre as she started pecking harder.

"Ah! That's it!"

[Bronze Magic: Bronze Body]

Sekke who had enough used his magic and not even a moment later all the people who were hitting him stopped and started writhing in pain.

"That's what you get for hitting the dark lord," said Sekke as he stood up and looked around.

He soon noticed that Fana was now conscious and just as he predicted the elf Fana was gone. Mars and Fanzell we're talking to her asking what happens to her after the final training at the diamond kingdom.

Seeing that it was a bit important, the black bulls stopped their bickering and focused on what Fana was telling them.

"...They really are a troublesome bunch, to be able to find Fana who was under a top secret project led by the diamond kingdom. Their intel and spy network are very strong," commented Sekke as he sat down on the ground with his legs crossed.

'But despite all that they have still not got wind of my magic stone...are they delaying it or they seriously don't know about it.' thought Sekke as he caressed Secre's head who was sitting in his lap.

While Sekke was in his thoughts Mars and Fana were having their small lovey-dovey moment making Vanessa comment about them.

Finral got emotional after hearing about the tragic childhood friend story while Asta got smacked by the royal tsundere for mentioning that he had a lot of childhood friends.

Seeing them bicker Sekke chuckled as Asta landed in front of him and asked, "What about you Sekke? Do you have any childhood friends?"

"Hmm...I guess not. But if you consider Secre then yeah, I too have a great childhood friend. The best one I could have hoped for." said Sekke with a smile as Secre jumped on top of his shoulder and nuzzled her cheek with his making the dark lord happy at the sudden display of affection from Secre.

"Alright, everyone the situation here is clear. Let's go and help Domina and the other witches."

"I understand Domina-san and Mariella, but the rest of the witches too....they are going to curse at us for being a man anyway," commented Sekke making the others gave a wry laugh at his words.

But all of a sudden the mana and ki around them changed as Sekke immediately got up with a serious look on his face.

"...That man really survived that?!" asked Sekke feeling a bit amazed at the outcome.

"I-Impossible! His magical power should be gone... Everyone, run!!" warned Fanell as he saw mana beams being shot at them from various directions.

Seeing that there was not enough time to cast a spell, Sekke grabbed Secre and jumped to the side to protect them from the incoming attack. He took out Extase and charged mana into it.

<Extase: Magic Cutter>

He then fired a mana slash at the beams that were coming toward him cutting them in half as he covered Secre to shield her from the explosions that were happening near them.

The dust covered the surroundings making Sekke close his eyes.

"Secre, don't move away from me," ordered Sekke to which the anti-bird nodded her head. She knew that the situation was dangerous and that staying near Sekke was the best decision.

The dust soon cleared as Sekke noticed that all of his friends were not seriously injured but were still down because of the impact of the explosions, though he could see that Ainz's bones were scattered all around the area and that the parrot that he had with him was dead.

"...Don't even think about leaving my side Secre," said Sekke as he looked toward the bird in his hand with a serious look on his face.

Secre who looked at the scene nodded her head once again as they both felt a person with a large amount of mana coming towards them.

"...Seems like it was not a good idea to fire those attacks at a person who can absorb mana from attacks. My mana might have made this situation even more serious," said Sekke as he looked at Ladros who although injured had a smile on his face.

"Man, that was some intense magic. It even injured me quite a bit and took forever to absorb it all. Thanks for the meal! I must admit, I barely made it alive." said Ladros as he looked at Sekke and the others.

"L-Ladros...But your magic power should've been depleted," said Fanzell.

"I emitted it all and then took it back in. You rely too much on your magic detection, Teach," explained Ladros.

He then glanced toward Mars as a smirk appeared on his face.

"Really, though, why do all of you keep putting your own lives in danger to protect others?" said Ladros as he pointed his hand in Mars's direction and charged his mana to fire his attack at him.

Seeing that Sekke got ready to interfere, but before he was able to Asta rushed toward Mars and started deflecting the mana bullets with his anti-magic sword.

"Well, well, the anti-magic weirdo showed up. This doesn't concern you, so could you get lost?"

"It's got lots to do with me! He's my friend!" said Asta as he took his stance.

"Just hang on! I'm gonna pound this guy!" declared Asta as he rushed towards Ladros.

"Asta, phrasing! Also, want my help?" asked Sekke as his grimoires started floating beside him.

"No! This is my fight. Let me handle him." said Asta confidently as he tried to slash Ladros.

Seeing that he was about to be hit, Ladros jumped back and started talking to Asta telling him about his situation being an attribute-less person and how he got made fun of. He then started making fun of Asta irritating him in the process and then asked if he would like to join his side and that he could put a good word for him in the diamond kingdom.

Knowing full well what Asta will say Sekke didn't think much of the situation but was prepared to strike Ladros down if the situation got out of hand.

And just as Sekke expected Asta rejected his offer and started attacking him once again.

Seeing how the battle was going on Sekke sighed and felt that it was taking too long.

'And that bastard is trash-talking too much.' thought Sekke as he narrowed his eyes.

But Asta soon found an opportunity and threw his demon-dweller sword at Ladros, piercing his shoulder and making the diamond kingdom mage fall down.

Asta then prepared his demon slayer sword to attack him while Ladros was falling.

Seeing that it was dangerous Ladros used his remaining magic which was being drained quickly to fire a magic bullet to propel himself away from Asta and soon landed in front of Sekke.

"...Wow, that was the worst move that you could have made," said Sekke as his grimoire started flipping.

[Bronze Magic: Bronze Body]

"S-Stay away from me."

"Too late for that," commented Sekke as he clenched his hardened fist and punched Ladros in the gut send in him flying.

Seeing him flying towards him Asta gripped his sword tightly once again and used it as a bat to hit Ladros with full force sending him crashing through the ground.

"Never use your friends as a stepping stone!" said Asta as he glared at Ladros.

Dust arose along the path that Ladros was thrown along, but after a while when it cleared Sekke's eyes widened in surprise as he mentally cursed Asta.

'Shit! You had to send him flying there haven't you Asta!' thought Sekke as he saw Ladros use reinforcement magic to pull the anti-magic sword out of him and then use his remaining magic to attack Mars and cause Fana to release her magic power.

Salamander came out of Fana's body making Ladros smile as he started absorbing the spirit.

"...This really is getting out of hand," said Sekke as he noticed the spirit getting absorbed into the man and soon Ladros who appeared back to his full health.

He then started monologing about how great the mana he absorbed just now was making Asta jump back at him to attack, only for Ladros to fire a strong mana bullet at Asta sending him flying.

"...Sorry Asta, but looks like I need to intervene. But first off," said Sekke as his grimoire started flipping. He was about to heal Asta using his [Body debuff magic: Damage tramsfer].

But before he was able to do that blood red threads appeared around Asta and entered his body and started healing him.

'...That damn, witch bitch....well in a way it's good that he unlock his devil powers.' thought Sekke as he noticed black sparks coming out of Asta's body.