"You know the ancient legend of the 7 Demon Lords and the 12 Demi-Gods? It's not merely a tale; it's the ancestral history of mankind," Ainz explained with a solemn tone.
Five thousand years ago, the uncharted lands, now overrun by savage beasts, were once dominions ruled by the Demon Lords and the Demi-Gods. These titles were bestowed upon individuals born with extraordinary, inhuman powers possessing strength far beyond that of ordinary folk. However, the Demon Lords and the 12 Demi-Gods were not allies; their powers were exact opposites, maintaining the natural balance of forces in the world.
The conflict between the 12 Demi-Gods and the Demon Lords plunged the world into chaos. It culminated in a final confrontation where the 12 Demi-Gods used their combined strength to seal the Demon Lords within what are now known as towers and dungeons. They succeeded in confining them, but the exact details of this ancient event remain shrouded in mystery due to the passage of time.
Despite the ages that have passed, this tale likely holds some truth—a reminder of our past and the extraordinary beings who once shaped our world.
"Father," Nox asked, intrigued, "how does this relate to me?"
Ainz responded gravely, "You seem to be the incarnation of one of the Demon Lords."
"How?" Nox inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"You were born with pure dark energy, surrounded by dark mana from a young age. The mana became so overwhelming that it began to tear at your flesh. Your mother and I were afraid it might consume you entirely, so we decided to intervene. However, by the time you were 12 years old, my spells could no longer contain it."
"We had no choice but to seal it completely," Ainz continued, his expression grave. "For that, I used an extremely dangerous artifact called the Locket of Mordrak. It was an ancient relic I found in the depths of the Mist Forest during my travels as a wanderer. I hesitated to use it because of its unknown purpose. No book or ledger contains any documentation of such an artifact or its existence, and it required a tremendous amount of mana."
"Can I see the locket, father?" Nox's voice was filled with longing and curiosity.
"It disappeared, and somehow, the dark energy that surrounded you also vanished with it," Ainz's voice echoed ominously in the dimly lit chamber. "You can join the Exploration Squad and uncover the truth for yourself, delving into ancient legends and mysteries."
"ok, father," Nox replied, his voice steady but tinged with apprehension.
"But always remember, son," Ainz's tone grew somber, "Whatever secrets you uncover or knowledge you acquire, survival is priority in the unforgiving realms of battle and dungeon. The one who returns alive is the true victor. Prioritize life over curiosity," Ainz cautioned, his words hanging in the air like a chilling warning against the unknown.
"I will keep that in mind, father," Nox replied solemnly.
Nox retreated to his room, processing the overwhelming information.
"It seems things have become more complicated, and the old legend likely holds the truth behind it. Over time, much of this history has been lost or altered through word of mouth. Ah, this is frustrating," Nox muttered to himself.
Days later, Nox embarked for Nebula Academy alone. The academy did not send their ship for him during this session, and he couldn't use the Teleportation Gate due to restrictions. Instead, he decided to travel on a ship headed in the same direction.
The ship carried only a handful of passengers, and Nox sensed an uneasy atmosphere throughout the journey.
That night, as Nox lay sleeping in his quarters, he was abruptly awoken by a deafening explosion.
"What was that noise?" Nox jolted awake, his senses heightened.
He smells blood. Reacting swiftly, Nox rushed to the front deck of the ship, where he witnessed a gruesome scene: three individuals, drenched in blood, one of them wielding a large sword and a severed head.
"It looks like we missed one more rat here. You didn't do your job properly, 001," remarked the man with the big sword.
"Kill that kid as well," commanded another of the assailants.
Nox couldn't comprehend what was happening, but a surge of excitement ran through him, his instincts awakening.
Without hesitation, the man with the sword lunged at him. In a split second, Nox used his Shadow Step technique, swiftly dodging the attack. Drawing his dagger, he struck the man from a blind spot, causing him to stumble. Nox then pinned him down, unleashing a flurry of brutal strikes. It was as if he was consumed by death and madness, relentlessly tormenting the man with a flurry of stabs.
As the other assailants tried to intervene, the area suddenly became enveloped in a dark fog, obscuring the scene.
The remaining attacker, paralyzed by fear, stood frozen in place, unable to intervene. Suddenly, one man disappeared into the fog, leaving the other in a state of utter confusion and terror.
Suddenly, Nox stood before him, exuding an aura of impending doom.
"Who are you, guys?" Nox questioned the man.
Terrified and unable to resist Nox's menacing presence, the man spelled everything.
Nox contemplated, his head pounding with adrenaline. It felt as though he had finally embraced a long-awaited destiny. In the midst of danger and bloodshed, a rush of exhilaration surged through him as he confronted and vanquished the threat before him. What disturbed him most was the realization that he had reveled in the violence without relying on a single magic spell. Instead, he had relied solely on ruthless, close-quarters combat, a testament to his own capabilities. Despite the darkness of the situation, he couldn't deny the twisted satisfaction he felt. This encounter had been far too exhilarating, awakening something unsettling within him.
After dispatching the assailants, exhaustion and overuse of mana overtook Nox, causing him to become unconscious. This was his first true experience of combat or life-threatening danger since his memory had been wiped.
Hours later, Nox awoke with a sense of unease.
Nox pondered the unsettling atmosphere aboard the ship ever since he had come aboard. Despite there being only 15 people on board, each face was bored with terror. These individuals clearly wanted some items belonging to the old man in the main quarters. If what 001 said was true, they had ruthlessly slaughtered everyone on board."
Continuing his thoughts, Nox mused, "This was my first time unleashing my full power. Even though they were seasoned swordsmen, it felt strangely unchallenging, despite exhausting all of my mana."
Afterwards, Nox ventured to the old man's quarters to search for the coveted item. Inside, he discovered a crystal stone containing a ring, securely locked within. No matter how hard he tried, Nox couldn't open the crystal, so he stowed it away in his bag.
"I am the sole survivor of this ordeal. It may cause me problems, but no one witnessed me boarding this ship, and I bypassed all registration procedures by embarking alone in regular ship. I'll incinerate this vessel and depart in a small boat," he resolved.
With his plan in motion, Nox retrieved a small boat and proceeded to carry out his intentions. After setting the ship ablaze,.
As Nox sailed away on the small boat with essential supplies, he soon became aware of a troubling realization: the attackers had altered the course of the boat while he wa, leaving him disoriented and unsure of his location.
"Ah, I am doomed," Nox thought grimly as he surveyed his surroundings, realizing he was now adrift in unfamiliar waters. Despite the gravity of his predicament, Nox's resolve remained firm. He knew he must navigate these unknown waters, relying on his instincts and resourcefulness to forge a path forward amidst uncertainty. With the weight of the unknown pressing upon him, Nox steeled himself for the challenges that lay ahead.