As soon as Marco and Alice turned back, they head to the conference room, outside of Tamamo, the other three Heavenly Knights are already here. Marco laid the Doomblade at a nearby wall and sat somewhere.
Erubetie came near him and said.
Erubetie: By the way, Marco, I made Jelly earlier… Would you like to try some?
Alice was shocked at Erubetie's words and Marco answered.
Marco: Sorry, if you were some time earlier then I might accept it, I already ate at San Ilia before going at Hellgondo. But I really appreciate the thought, thanks.
Erubetie: I see....
She started to act suspiciously, then Marco turned towards the one who got the most beatings.
Marco: Granberia, how are you feeling?
Granberia: ...I'm in perfect condition. It's the first time I've been defeated and forced to recuperate. But fate is strange, isn't it? To think we would be fighting together…
Marco: Psh… Try to find a mythological being in the basement, then let's see how strange things get…
Granberia: ...Anyway, I'm expecting great things, from what you showed me before.
Alma Elma: It's so nice to have a rival, isn't it? Aww… Little Granberry isn't going to challenge me anymore? That makes me so loneeeely.
Marco: You two fight often? I thought that Tamamo would fight more with Granberia… 'That's surprising, maybe I need to refresh my memory…'
Alma Elma: Until just recently, Granberry used to challenge me quite often. But I kept winning in victory after victory. Once she realized the difference in our power she stopped challenging me.
Marco: Ehhh?
Granberia: Wh… What are you saying!? I never once admitted defeat!
Marco: Tell me about it…
Alma Elma: It's simple, she can't beat me, never.
She said with a smirk, and Granberia answered with anger.
Granberia. ...Foolishness! If that's what you're claiming, then prove it right now!
Granberia risen from her chair with her greatsword in hand. And then Tamamo entered from the main doors.
Tamamo: What, what… Infighting right before our meeting? I like your energy, but don't you think you have the wrong opponent here?
Granberia glared at Alma Elma and said.
Granberia: Alma Elma. Nine o'clock tonight. The Practice Grounds.
Alma Elma: Hehe… So you want to be beaten down again? I accept your challenge…
Tamamo sat on the chair and looked around to see that everyone was here, before her sight stopped on the Doomblade and her fur stood straight.
Tamamo: WHY THAT SWORD IS HERE!?!?
She jumped out from her chair and pointed at the Doomblade, everyone stood silent and turned around, seeing the creepy sword on the wall. Marco raised his hand and said.
Marco: I found it, my katana was broken and I needed to get another sword…
Tamamo: Y..You… How did you get that?
Marco: I became the new Doom Overlord by winning a challenge against the predecessor, I survived an hit at his 100% and I won, so I took his place.
Tamamo: ...Where did you find the Doom Overlord…
She started to calm down, and her face turned blank when she heard Marco's answer.
Marco: In the basement…?
Tamamo: ...We had that in the basement…?
Marco: Not yours. Now let's start the meeting.
Tamamo: Right…
Alma Elma: Ehhh? What caused you to be so scared of that sword?
Tamamo: You don't know… I saw the Doom Overlord with my own eyes, even though he was far from his prime, he had the capabilities to take all four of us without getting serious and with one hand behind his back…
Alma Elma: *Whistle* He must be a strong man.
Marco: Technically, he was an undead.
Alma Elma: Yeah… Turn me off like that, won't you? Party-pooper.
Alma Elma had a sad face when she heard that he was an undead.
Tamamo: Ahem… Now, let's begin the strategy meeting. First, I'll go over the summary. We want to utilize the four towers situated around the world to enact our own seal. With that, we'll make it so we can directly attack the angels.
Alice: So even us monsters can attack them back?
Tamamo: Not only that, it will allow us to interact with everything created with pure holy energy. "The Gate of Heaven" is no exception to this, since the only one capable to interact is Marco, if he charges the sword with pure darkness.
Alma Elma: So we'll be able to pass through the "Gate of Heaven"?
Tamamo: Yes, that's right. It will let us attack them directly. And if there are other things like the device that sealed Alice before, we can destroy them too. We'll be able to drastically alter the course of this war, very quickly.
Marco: Neat.
Tamamo: With the summary over with, now we need to go over concrete details. We have here a CD with the method of sealing away holy energy, but we need one installed in all four towers. Right now, there's a CD with the method for sealing the spirits installed. We just need to exchange that one for ours.
Marco: Well, where's the trap?
Tamamo: The exchange is simple, but getting it there isn't. The enemy isn't going to just let you switch it out, after all. The security on these CDs is also very troublesome. We need to switch all four at the same time.
Alice: At the same time? Does it have to be simultaneous?
Tamamo: That's right, there's a three second grade period. If they aren't all shifted, then the ones that haven't switched will overwrite the ones that were, rendering the exchange useless. In other words, a big failure.
Erubetie: Putting all four in place at the same time, while under threat from the enemy… That seems like quite a difficult strategy to pull off.
Tamamo: ..Which is why an appropriate level of power is required. Thus, one Heavenly Knight will go to each location.
Marco: And us?
Marco called for both him and Alice.
Tamamo: Your roles lie elsewhere, as detached forces. Marco, you know the location of the "Gate of Heaven", right?
Marco: Aye, finally I can visit every place in this world…
Tamamo: But only pure holy energy or pure darkness can pass through. So only your sword can interact with it. The moment the Four Heavenly Knights place the discs… As soon as it happens, you two invade their territory, a blitzkrieg assault they won't be able to defend against!
Marco: Alright, finally I can use "That"...
Alma Elma: But… Isn't it dangerous for Marco and Alice to go alone there?
Marco: Hoho, are you underestimating me?
Tamamo: You don't need to worry, I saw the power of a Doom Overlord at the first hand, and even though he was far from his prime, he was really strong.
Marco: Yeah, and I have an ace, since we work together, I don't see any problem to tell you about it… The Nine Tailed Chakra Gates are made from 3 gates, not 2, and my power gets exponentially bigger.
Alma Elma: Oh? I want to see it.
Marco: Not now, I want to hold it as a secret from the angels, I will attract Illias' attention if I use the Bijuu Gate.
Tamamo: Good… That's it for the major details. I'll go over the smaller details with each of you individually later. That's it for the meeting. All of you, rest up so you can be at full power tomorrow!
Marco: Alright…
Marco stood up and walked to his Doomblade, but Tamamo stopped him.
Tamamo: ...Wait a moment. There's one more important meeting after this. The Four Heavenly Knights and the Monster Lord should stay, of course. But so should you, Marco. You can just sit and watch, if you'd like.
Marco: Then I'll take the opportunity to stay here.
Marco left the Doomblade at the wall and sat back on the chair.
Tamamo: Messages have been sent all over the world, inviting our guests. They should all be arriving now.
Then, a magic circle of teleportation suddenly appeared. The first to come out was the King of San Ilia.
San Ilia King: Hrm… Transportation magic? This isn't good for my heart…
Marco: Yo!
San Ilia King: Ah, if it isn't Yahweh. I am reassured by your presence here. I was worried I wouldn't recognize anyone here...
Marco: No… Stop with that. I am Marco, not Yahweh.
Then the king gazed around the room.
San Ilia King: ...Hmm, the decor reminds me of the Classical period. The lighting isn't so good, but the craftsmanship is excellent. I was expecting a more bizarre furnishing style here… Perhaps an oppressive design to strike fear into your heart.
Tamamo: Why would we want to live in a place like that? Welcome to the Monster Lord's Castle, I am Tamamo of the Four Heavenly Knights.
San Ilia King: I am the King of San Ilia, Peter the Fourteenth. It is a pleasure to meet you, my young lady.
Marco: 'Huh… So he's Peter?'
Tamamo: ...Young lady, is it? I'm more than twenty times your age, you know?
Then she laughed, meanwhile, another magic circle appeared in the corner of the room, and the Sabasa King stepped out.
Sabasa King Hmm, so this is the Monster Lord's Castle?
The King looked around, and saw Alice.
Sabasa King: ...I didn't believe you to be a normal monster. But the Monster Lord herself? It seems as though introductions between us aren't necessary…
Alice: Haha… This time, I welcome you to my Castle.
As the King sat down, maids of the Castle came to give him a drink… Wait, is that Sara?
Sara: Please, have so… F...Father!?
Yep, it's Sara.
Sabasa King: Sara!?
Sara: E… Excuse me…
Then she ran away from the room. Dumbfounded, the King sat back down.
Another magic circle appeared, and the Queen of Grand Noah appeared.
Grand Noah Queen: Attacked by angels, then invited to the Monster Lord's Castle… The world is turning into a strange place, isn't it?
Her eyes scanned the room and stopped on Alma Elma.
Grand Noah Queen: Oh my, another strange thing. If it isn't the undefeated Queen of the Colosseum, Kyuba. I strictly forbade contestants from entering under false names, but…
Alma Elma: ...You aren't going to stop me from participating?
Grand Noah Queen: Though I'm concerned about the continuation of the Colosseum… There are more important things here.
With that, she sat down next to the Sabasa King. And someone else arrived with a magic circle, revealing the Grangold King and the Queen Ant.
Grangold King: That's quite something… Long distance transportation magic? Our Magic Science researchers can only manage things that are within their field of view…
Queen Ant: The Monster Lord's Castle… It has been a while. The last time I was here was during the election for Queen Insect.
The King glanced at Alice and said.
Grangold King: Oh my, the traveling Gourmand. So I take it there is something delicious here?
Everyone: Pffft…
Alice: I am the Monster Lord, Alipheese the 16th.
Grangold King: Yes, I know… I am in your debt for what occurred before.
He nodded respectfully and turned to his seat with the Queen Ant next to him.
Marco: Anyone else?
Tamamo: There are still more to come. This meeting would be incomplete with only the human leaders.
Then, from the doors of the room, the Queen Elf and Queen Fairy entered.
Queen Elf: Oh, so others have already arrived? I am the leader of the Elves, Queen Elf.
Queen Fairy: I'll join in, too. I represent the Fairies of the world…
The Queen Elf eyes the Sabasa King as she sat down.
Queen Elf: So you are the King of Sabasa. This is the first time we have been face to face.
Sabasa King: Yes… I was thinking we should meet together formally one day. But to think this would be the situation in which we met…
The next ones to come were the Queen Harpy, Lucretia, and the new Queen Alraune, Alra Priestess, who had a new style.
Lucretia: Forgive me for keeping you all waiting. I am the leader of the Harpies, Queen Harpy.
Alra Priestess: I represent Plansect, I am Alra Pri… No, Queen Alraune.
Since the previous Queen Alraune was too weakened during the fight with Marco, she couldn't act as the leader anymore and gave her place to Alra Priestess. The next ones are Shirohebi, the younger one, and the chief of Succubus Village.
Shirohebi: I come as the head of the humans and monsters of Yamatai Village, Shirohebi.
Succubus Chief: I serve as the mayor of Succubus Village, Succubus.
Marco: Wait, your name is Succubus?
Succubus: Yes, I know it's strange, but this is how it works.
Everyone gathered on the conference room.
[SPECIAL QUESTS]
1st. Achieve coexistence between Monsters and Humans
2nd. Kill Illias
3rd. Return to Lucifina's grave
4th. Visit every places in Illias Continent, Sentora and Hellgondo
5th. Make Alice happy
[EVENT QUEST]
1st. Kill Illias
2nd. Save as many people as possible: [27832/???]
3rd. Defeat or Kill Promestein
4th. Defeat or Kill Black Alice
5th. [Optional] Kill as many angels as possible: [105/???]