31 The Goal of All Death is Life
Ainz's POV
It's been a few days since my friendly relations with the Giant Apemen came to be. And let's just say, things didn't turn out well as I initially thought.
Turns out, Apemen and Humans living together? It's going to take a while.
At first, I wanted to invite the Apemen tribe to join with my settlement. So I asked Harambe to come with me to test things out. He agreed.
But once we got near the settlement, he stopped for a moment, gave a strong series of sniffs, and then rushed towards the direction of the settlement.
I was curious about what he was going to do, so I followed him at a decent pace, only to see him being knocked down by my angels because he tried to eat the little children nearest to him.
Only then do I remember that Apemen eat humans.
*Smack* I slapped my forehead for that mishap. I forgot, you see hehehehe
I dragged the unconscious Harambe back to his tribe through [Gate]. And the moment he woke up, I told him not to harm any humans under my protection. He disagreed but a little smack on his head changed his mind.
'I'm quite persuasive, you see'
The day after that, I asked Harambe why they'd been staying near Yeen and how long they'd been there and all I got was...
"Harambe not know" he shrugged his muscular shoulders.
"What do you mean you don't know?" I asked bewildered as to how he didn't know.
"Past chiefs no tell me why. Harambe only knows dark place keeps Apemen safe. Dark place keep noisy insects out" He told me as he too thought of the reasons why his predecessors chose to stay.
That is when it dawned upon me. Perhaps the reason why they chose to stay near Yeen is because of its "Death-like" properties.
No vegetation exists in Yeen, no matter if they are trees, flowers, and even grass. So that also extends to animals, parasites, and insects. No life can be seen within its ruins.
And as of what the Angels have told me about the creatures that inhabit this land, from carnivorous plants to blood-sucking bats, it is no wonder they stayed near where death reeks.
"Hmmmm..." I contemplated with myself as I flew from the tall tree I frequently relax on and into the horizon to see Sothoryos at its whole.
A huge landmass, surrounded by the sea. Thick green jungles at its northern edges, wild rivers at its center, tall mountain ranges separating the jungles to the plain lands that eventually lead to the desert where I once came.
Series of islands beneath me, but one particular island caught my attention.
I didn't see to it properly all this time because I was too preoccupied with the liberation of slaves and partying with apes.
I set my destination to see it more clearly and I was disgusted with what I had discovered.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
"Bones..."
More particularly, Skulls.
"Is it an Island, that is filled with it? or was the island itself formed with skulls? Hmmm," I continued my descent as I gave it a thought.
This Island is where nature thrives from the nourishment of the dead.
I scanned through the area. Picking up one skull that has been exposed to nature for how long.
It was brown, mossy, and brittle.
I was looking for its other skeletal parts and found no other bones aside from the skull.
"How did this place come to be?"
I was just contemplating if it's a good idea to cleanse Yeen now from its necrotic energy. But now I see this.
"[Elder Sage, bring Albus and Gandalf to me, please]" I asked one of the Elder Sages in the camp through [Message].
"[Of course, Lord Ainz. As you wish]" answered the Elder Sage.
After a few moments, with a flash of golden light, the Elder Sage I communed with teleported to my location, along with two old men that are sweating bullets.
"I have brought them to you, Lord Ainz. Just as what you've instructed" Said the Sage as he bowed.
"Mi-Milord A-Ainz! How may we serve you?" Asked the two old men as they knelt in reverence. Unaware of a child's skull being crushed upon their knees.
I stood there for a while as I was still examining the skull on my hand. And then turned to Gandalf and Albus.
"Do you know what this is?" I asked them as I stared them down.
"Uhmm a skull? Milord? Ah-Aahhh!" Both of their heads raised and their eyes opened to inspect what I was holding and bowed once again after their answer, only to come face-to-face with a skull with its gaping jaw staring at them.
I rolled my eyes at the scene.
"I know it is a skull, but why is this island filled with it?"
Calming down once they had balanced their breaths, Gandalf answered.
"This island is called, Skull Island, Milord"
"Skull Island? How very creative." I told the men sarcastically.
"Do you know more?" I pressed for more information.
"I-I have heard t-that this is where the pirates dump their dead slaves and enemies, Milord. It has been their favorite sport since times of old and umm" Gandalf said and was hesitant to continue.
"And? Go on..." encouraged him to speak with my brow raised in curiosity.
"Although it was rumored that the beheading is a ritual to please some unknown god. Where they throw the heads here whilst the bodies are used to feed the fishes at sea." Albus answered as he continued what Gandalf was hesitant to say.
"Hmm. I see... Very well, I thank you for your input. You may go and return to whatever you are doing" I said as I dismissed them and turned to the skull at hand.
Just as the Elder Sage was about to teleport the men back to the settlement, I called to him.
"Elder Sage, call all your brothers and tell them to meet me here. I have things I wish to discuss"
"It will be done, Lord Ainz" He bowed and once again teleported the men back.
A few moments later, numerous flashes of light occurred, and all my summoned Angels since the very beginning, began to appear.
"We greet you, Lord Ainz" All of them bowed and kneeled with grace. One of their hands is placed upon their chest area where the heart is, showing reverence to me.
"Thank you for heeding my call, you may rise," I said with a voice that sounded magnanimous and regal, as all of them stood firm and erect in front of me, giving me their full attention.
"You all are aware that your stay here in this plane is definite, yes?"
"Yes, we do know this, Lord Ainz," Said the Elder Sage whom I summoned first into this realm.
"We are so sorry, Lord Ainz! It is our incompetence that we cannot serve you well in all your days on this plane. If you are displeased with us Milord, feel free to dismiss us! You can summon more worthy Angels to your service" They kowtowed in surrender.
*Sigh* Not again
They have been doing this ever since I started feeding the connection between all my summons and me with my Mana.
You see, their time of existence in this plane, as I've said is not permanent.
So I have to keep on feeding them the same amount of Mana as I've summoned them every time I feel our connection waning, mind you I could have just let them disappear but I didn't want to.
It's a hassle to check out whether I will summon the same Angels I did the last time or not.
I couldn't risk the knowledge that the Angels acquired during their stay after the time of summoning being erased once they're gone.
I'll try it on other summons but not right now.
Maintenance is key.
"Arise, all of you. How many times must we get through this? It is fine! You all are not lacking. It is simply I who does not have a way to make it happen. At least... Not yet"
"But now with this!" I spread my arms to refer to the whole Island, as I faced their eager faces.
"With this! We can make it possible!" As I raised the skull on my right hand for all the Angels to see.
"We will be together!"
"For the goal of all Death... is Life!"
-----
Hi! (◍•ᴗ•◍)
I know you guys missed me ( ꈍᴗꈍ)
I missed you guys too! ( ˘ ³˘)♥
For this whole week, I'll try to upload 1 chapter per day. ✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧
This can be considered as a flood update right? (・_・;)
I mean, if you compare daily updates for a week to a month with no updates, it can be a flood if you think about it ( ´◡‿ゝ◡`)
Besides, I don't have many drafts to work on so I have to think on the spot (≧▽≦)
Anyway, thank you once again to you all that has been stoning me all this time!
Especially you, Cuslto! I'll definitely #&$81 your ✓€™`¶¢✓| if only I could ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ
Special thanks as well to Unpaid_FoxGod for this! 👀✨
See you in the next Update! Have a great day!
