"Let's begin," Nico announced, his voice crackling with barely contained excitement. He stood outside the base, surveying his assembled forces—Donna Beneviento clutching her eerie doll, Karl Heisenberg spinning his hammer like a baton, and a pack of restless Lycans pawing at the ground, their yellow eyes gleaming like molten gold. Nico's hands twitched at his sides, his mind racing with possibilities. "Remember! No killing, no eating—just injuries. The more people hurt, the better our plan works." He flashed a grin, his eyes alight with manic energy. "Let's give them something to scream about."
He released an infected crow he'd borrowed from the first floor. The bird looked ordinary enough, but its secret infection made it the perfect spy. As it took flight toward the village, Nico activated his Hive Mind connection, the virus linking their senses. The village sprang to life through the crow's eyes, and Nico's breath hitched. "Perfect," he muttered, his voice trembling with anticipation. "Just perfect."
In the village square, Miranda—disguised as a wild-eyed hag—was already causing a scene. "The bell heralds danger! They're coming!" she shrieked, her cackle echoing across the square. Villagers shot her disgusted glances, exactly as planned.
"Mother Miranda is angry! The bell tolls for us all!" she ranted, spinning in circles like a dervish. "They're coming again!"
A group of men walking past burst into laughter. "Mother Miranda, huh?" one jeered, scooping up a pebble. "Does she accept devotion in gold coins, you crazy old hag?" The stone struck Miranda's temple with a sharp crack.
Her eyes flashed crimson, and Nico's voice cut through the Hive Mind like a whip. *"Do not engage!"* His tone was sharp, urgent, and Miranda's fingers twitched as she fought to control herself.
"May I have the Lycans tear that particular man apart?" Miranda's voice seethed in Nico's mind.
"Just that one man—nobody else," Nico agreed, his voice tinged with dark amusement. The crow watched as Miranda glanced upward, gave a slight nod, and released the creepy porcelain doll from her gnarled hands.
"That's our cue!" Nico shouted, his voice rising with excitement. "Wait for the doll's return! You've got a special target!" The Lycans growled hungrily, their claws digging into the dirt as Nico planted the disrespectful villager's face in their minds.
Minutes later, the doll returned, giggling as it swooped through the air and latched onto Donna's shoulder. The Lycans let loose bone-chilling howls before charging toward the village, their claws kicking up clouds of dust.
"Hold back, Heisenberg," Nico said, grabbing the man's coat. "Let fear take root first. Fear is the key—it'll make them pliable, like clay in our hands."
Through the crow's eyes, Nico watched with glee as the first Lycan burst into the village and made a beeline for the marked man. Its jaws clamped around his neck as he screamed. Chaos erupted as fifteen more beasts swarmed through the streets—clawing, biting, and tossing villagers like rag dolls while the hag danced and laughed in the center, mysteriously untouched.
"Look!" Nico exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. "They're starting to pray!" Through the windows of nearby homes, terrified villagers had fallen to their knees, begging whatever gods might listen as they noticed the Lycans avoiding the cackling hag.
"Not enough believers yet. Heisenberg—you're up!" Nico clapped the man's shoulder, his grin widening.
Heisenberg tipped his hat with a wolfish grin. With a flick of his wrist, a sheet of metal ripped from a nearby structure and hovered before him. He jumped aboard, riding it like a surfer toward the village.
Nico watched eagerly as Heisenberg arrived at the chaotic scene. The man strode into the center of the square, hefted his massive hammer, and swung it in a devastating arc—catching a Lycan square in the chest and sending it flying.
"Everyone!" Heisenberg's voice boomed across the village. "Pray to Mother Miranda! Only she can save you from these hellish creatures!" His theatrical gesture drew all eyes.
On cue, a Lycan leapt at him from behind. Heisenberg spun, dodging the attack with practiced grace, and brought his hammer down on the creature's back. The Lycan crashed through a house wall in a shower of splinters.
"Please!" Heisenberg dropped to one knee, arms spread wide. "This is your last chance! Mother Miranda awaits your devotion!" His performance was masterful—the perfect blend of desperation and authority.
Village men and women, clutching bleeding wounds, began to kneel one by one, whispered prayers on their lips.
"Brilliant work," Nico praised through their mental link, his voice tinged with satisfaction. "Just brilliant."
With a sharp mental command, Nico called the Lycans back. The two that Heisenberg had struck shook off their daze, skulking away with their pack as the village chief scrambled forward on his knees.
"What now?" Heisenberg murmured as the man groveled before him. "Offerings seem too aggressive this soon."
"Start with the wooden goat," Nico instructed, his voice calm but firm. "Ease into the offerings talk. Remember—subtlety is key. We're not barbarians; we're architects of fear."
Heisenberg lifted the grateful chief to his feet. "Your newfound faith called to Mother Miranda herself," he announced, pressing a wooden goat figurine into the man's trembling hands.
"Create more of these and distribute them throughout your village," Heisenberg explained, gesturing dramatically. "They will serve as wards against the creatures." The simple carving was nothing special—just carved wood—but the chief's eyes welled with tears as he clutched it to his chest.
"How can we ever repay you and Mother Miranda?" the chief asked, his voice breaking with emotion.
"Perfect," Nico murmured, his grin widening. "Just perfect."
Heisenberg stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Mother Miranda requires offerings as signs of devotion—fruits of your harvest and healthy livestock will suffice." He said it casually, as though suggesting the most reasonable thing in the world.
"It shall be done, for Mother Miranda," the chief vowed, bowing deeply as cheers erupted around them. The terrified villagers now believed they'd found salvation.
"Like taking candy from babies," Nico chuckled, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
Heisenberg turned to leave when the sudden clatter of hooves caught everyone's attention. A group of knights in blue-accented armor stormed into the village square, their horses snorting clouds of steam in the cool air.
"Looks like we have company," Nico whispered through the link, his voice tinged with amusement. "More test subjects, perhaps? Don't kill them—bring them back alive."
The leader dismounted, ripping off his helmet as he marched toward the village chief. "Mother Miranda?" he spat. "Another false deity challenging the Slane Theocracy?" He snatched the wooden goat from the chief's hands.
Through the crow's eyes, Nico watched Miranda approach, her disguise melting away to reveal her true, imposing form.
"Time to welcome our guests properly," Nico told the others, retreating inside the base. He watched the confrontation unfold through the crow's vision.
"There are no gods but ours!" the knight roared, smashing the wooden goat beneath his boot. "The Six Great Gods are the only divine powers in this world—not this wretched Miranda!"
The knight jabbed a finger at Heisenberg. "You! Disciple of this harlot! Take us to her so we can slay your deity and show these fools she's nothing but a whore and a—"
"Enough," Heisenberg cut him off, his voice cold and dangerous. "You want to meet her? Follow me." He snatched up his hammer, knuckles white with restraint.
The journey back was tense—the knights couldn't stop themselves from mocking Miranda and Heisenberg with every breath. Had Nico not ordered their capture, they'd already be corpses cooling in the dirt.
"Here we are," Heisenberg announced at the mountain base. The knights laughed, seeing nothing but stone.
As Miranda prepared to emerge, Nico stopped her. "I'll handle this," he said, his voice calm but laced with anticipation. "Time to test some powers." He felt the mold shifting within him, rearranging his features.
The knights jumped back as a hidden door slid open in the mountainside. Heisenberg dropped to one knee as Nico strode out, pristine in his white lab coat.
"You're not Miranda!" the knight leader exclaimed, eyes darting in search of hidden weapons.
"Indeed not," Nico said, his voice smooth and unruffled. "Mother Miranda has more important matters than dealing with insignificant insects like you."
"It doesn't matter who you are," the knight sneered, drawing his sword with a metallic hiss. "We'll cut you down, then your false goddess."
"U̸̩̅r̴̬̉o̴͉͠b̷͍͠o̴̳̓r̷̟̓o̸͍̚s̶̫͠," Nico growled, his voice crackling like static. The virus surged through him, his eyes blazing crimson.
The knight lunged forward, sword flashing in the sunlight. Nico didn't flinch—he simply caught the blade between his fingers and bent it like it was made of clay. Before the knight could react, Nico's hand shot out, seizing his throat and hoisting him off the ground.
"Your lords are nothing compared to ours," Nico snarled, bringing the choking man close to his face. "Your weapons bend like twigs against our power. Go! Tell your masters what happened here today!" With a casual flick, he hurled the knight through the air far beyond his comrades.
The remaining knights wheeled their horses around, but Nico's voice stopped them cold. "Sorry, but that invitation wasn't for all of you." His laughter sent chills down their spines.
"Ṁ̴͖e̵̙͛ģ̷̌a̸̛͈m̴͈̉y̶̨̿c̸͇͋ě̸̙t̴̲̅e̶̛ͅ," he hissed, switching viruses like changing clothes.
The earth beneath the knights exploded upward in a tangle of writhing, root-like tendrils. The men screamed as the growths wrapped around their limbs, dragging them down into the soil while their leader watched in horror from where he'd landed.
"Run!" Nico called out cheerfully. "Tell everyone what you saw here today!"
The terrified leader scrambled onto his horse and galloped away as if demons nipped at his heels.
"Have fun with your new toys, Heisenberg," Nico said, the mold reshaping him to his original form. "Build more of those mechanical soldiers. Just ask if you need Cadou."
Heisenberg bowed deeply. "Thank you, Creator." After a pause, he added, "If I may ask—won't this bring armies down on our heads?"
"Let them come," Nico laughed, strolling back into the base with Heisenberg at his side. "We don't need to fight when we can turn them all against each other."
Reckless? Perhaps. But Nico understood what the viruses could do in this world. No mind-control spell could penetrate the Hive Mind's defenses.
Their mutated skin repelled both blade and magic—a gift from the game developers who never truly grasped what they'd created. The viruses couldn't use magic themselves, but that made them immune to its effects.
"Trust me, Heisenberg," Nico said, slapping the man's shoulder. "I know exactly what I'm doing."
The developers had fallen into their own trap, unwittingly creating the perfect organism. Even world items struggled against these magnificent creatures—viruses had no magical essence for such items to target.
Ouroboros could theoretically create a virus-killing weapon if someone wished for it. World Savior might eventually grow powerful enough. Avarice and Generosity could drain levels, but viruses could do the same without relying on items. The Caloric Stone could enhance anti-viral weapons. Depiction of Nature and Society might work briefly before being overcome.
"Our race is truly magnificent," Nico mused, mentally checking off the World Items possessed by Ainz Ooal Gown. At least he wasn't here—or was he?
"Prepare, Heisenberg. These humans may be weak, but they're clever pests. Make more Soldats while I instruct the other Lords to bolster their forces."
Heisenberg nodded and departed for his floor, leaving Nico alone at the top. Slouching into his office chair, he kicked off the control panel and spun in circles, contemplating his next move.
"Wait—there's something else I need to check," he remembered suddenly, hopping up and catching the elevator down to the twelfth floor.
Once there, Nico tapped into the mold's power again, willing it to form wings from his back. The transformation was seamless—leathery appendages sprouted from his shoulders. With a powerful thrust, he soared over the countryside toward the magnificent castle in the distance.
Landing at the entrance, he was startled to find the Duke sitting comfortably in his carriage, puffing on a cigar.
"Duke?" Nico blinked in confusion. "You're actually here?"
The Duke had been hotly debated during development—many wanted him as the fifth lord before the idea was scrapped. Somehow, his guild members must have secretly added him as a parting gift.
*Best farewell present ever,* Nico thought with a grin as the Duke tipped his hat.
Before he could strike up a conversation, the castle gates creaked open, revealing the towering form of Alcina Dimitrescu.
"Creator," she said, eyes widening slightly. "Is there something you need?"
"Step on me!" Nico blurted before he could stop himself. He bit his tongue hard enough to draw blood. "I mean—sorry, something came over me. Could you show me to the castle crypt?"
Alcina tilted her head, studying him with confusion before apparently deciding to ignore his outburst. "This way," she said simply, turning on her heel.
Nico followed, giving Duke a sheepish wave before ducking into the castle.
"I sincerely apologize for... whatever that was," Nico muttered as they walked the ornate halls. "I don't know what came over me, and I promise it won't happen again."
Their footsteps echoed in awkward silence as they traversed the castle—Dimitrescu seemingly afraid to speak lest she offend her creator. Finally, they reached the ancient crypt.
"The Dagger of Death's Flowers," Nico announced, pulling open the heavy stone lid and retrieving the weapon. Alcina immediately recoiled, dropping to her knees with panic in her eyes.
"Forgive me for neglecting your request, Creator!" she cried. "I'll step on you immediately if that's what you desire!"
"What? No!" Nico sputtered, nearly dropping the dagger. "I'm here to destroy this thing! And I told you—forget about the stepping comment!"
"Oh..." Alcina's shoulders sagged with relief. "I thought you planned to eliminate me, Creator."
"Not at all," Nico assured her, snapping the dagger in half and flinging the pieces through the nearest window. "Now, can we please never mention this again? I'd like to see your daughters."
They made their way to the library where the three sisters lounged among towering bookshelves, engrossed in various volumes.
"Creator!" Bela exclaimed, the three instantly abandoning their books and dropping into graceful curtsies. "Do you have orders for us?"
"Not orders—improvements," Nico grinned. "You all struggle with cold temperatures, and I want to fix that."
The sisters exchanged excited glances, their smiles revealing sharp fangs.
"Bela, stand under the skylight," Nico instructed. Though apprehension flashed across her face, she trusted him enough to comply.
Nico cranked open the skylight, allowing frigid mountain air to rush into the room. Daniela and Cassandra darted behind their mother as Bela grimaced in pain, fighting to remain still. Nico quickly closed it again.
"Still vulnerable to cold, as expected," he nodded, touching Bela's shoulder appreciatively. "But I have an idea."
He paced the room, thinking aloud. "My Uroboros virus is vulnerable to extreme heat. If we combine it with another virus—perhaps your Cadou—we might create immunity to both temperature extremes." Every successful viral strain had been a fusion of the progenitor virus with something else, after all.
"U̸̩̅r̴̬̉o̴͉͠b̷͍͠o̴̳̓r̷̟̓o̸͍̚s̶̫͠," he intoned, activating just one of his many viral strains. Like a living catalog of diseases, he could switch between them at will.
Grabbing a nearby letter opener, he sliced his palm open. "Drink," he offered to Bela. The four women shuddered with anticipation at the prospect of tasting their creator's blood.
Bela didn't hesitate—she grabbed his hand and pressed her lips to the wound. As she drank, her eyes widened. Something strange but not painful coursed through her body as the Cadou and Uroboros merged within her cells.
"Ready for another test?" Nico asked, reaching for the skylight lever. At Bela's nervous nod, he flung it wide open again.
The cold wind rushed in—but this time, Bela stood tall, completely unaffected. A smile spread across her face as she realized the transformation's success.
"It worked!" she squealed, twirling beneath the open skylight. "I feel nothing—no pain, no weakness!"
"Who's next?" Nico laughed as Daniela and Cassandra practically fought each other to be second. Soon, all three sisters had received his gift.
Standing apart, Alcina watched her daughters with pride—but Nico caught the flash of envy in her eyes. Deactivating Uroboros first, concerned it might react differently with her unique physiology, he approached her.
"You're welcome to partake as well, Lady Dimitrescu," he offered softly. Her eyes lit up as she stepped forward eagerly.