Looking for a fresh clean scent and something leaning towards more fall time, any recommendations? i highly appreciate it.

This week I adopted a cat from a shelter (total days she spent at my place: 4). She is 7, she had a harsh life before which brought her to being very anxious and nervous. She is really clean, healthy, but it is taking plenty of time for her to adapt, as I expected. Every now and though, then she sends me signals of validation that she is trying her best to adapt. In these occasions, I admit that I get overly excited by her getting close to me, and I try to let her sniff my hand from a distance, but sometimes she just politely goes away. A couple of times she really accepted me and wanted cuddles though, and it was so amazing to see her letting herself go. However, in these occasions, she sort of understood that she overshared, so she went back to her hiding spot. Today, she did something new: she went twice on my bed spot (the bed is double-sized, I live alone and I sleep on one side only) and she stared at me sitting there. She did it both when the bed was not tidied up yet (I thought she wanted to try out the fabric of the bed cover at first), and when it was. She went on my bed before, but not so specifically in that spot and two times in a row in this way. I interpret this in an extremely positive way, with her trying to bond with me at her pace, really pushing her boundaries. How do you interpret this? What should I do in these very special bonding occasions, if you see it in the same way, to solidify her trust in me?

So my snake is kinda chunky. On the chart he sits in the "overweight" category. He's approaching 900 grams and his rats range from 70 grams to 85 grams. I don't really want to order any different ones right now since I still have quite a few that size, which he gets every 2 weeks atm. How much farther should I space it out? For the future, should I downgrade on rats? Also, he's still quite far from being an adult, so I was wondering if switching him to like once a month will mess with growth at this point in an attempt to get him to lose weight? Thanks for any input!

Introduction
A living room makeover can breathe new life into your space and create a fresh and inviting atmosphere. It allows you to update the aesthetics, improve functionality, and enhance the room's overall ambiance. It creates a gathering spot for family and friends and provides visual and physical comfort.
Assessing the Current Fireplace

1. Evaluating the condition and functionality of the existing fireplace:

Check for structural issues like cracks, leaks, or damaged components. Ensure that the chimney and ventilation are working properly. Consider the size and heat output of the current fireplace to determine if it meets your needs.

1. Determining desired changes or upgrades:

Decide what changes or upgrades you would like to make to the fireplace. It could include altering the design, improving energy efficiency, or enhancing the overall aesthetics. Assess if you need additional features like a mantel, surround, or hearth to complement the desired look.
Fireplace Design Inspiration

1. Researching different fireplace styles and designs:

Find inspiration from various sources, such as interior design magazines, websites, and social media platforms. Explore different styles like traditional, modern, rustic, or contemporary. Take into account your home's architectural design as well as the living room's overarching theme.

1. Gathering inspiration from interior design magazines, websites, and social media platforms:

Create a mood board or gather images of fireplaces that catch your eye. Pay attention to the materials, colors, textures, and overall design elements that appeal to you. It will help refine your vision and communicate your preferences to professionals when shopping for materials.
Choosing the Right Materials and Finishes
Exploring various fireplace materials: Consider different materials such as stone, brick, tile, or wood. Each material offers a unique aesthetic and can set the tone for the entire room. Consider the durability, maintenance requirements, and compatibility with the existing living room decor.
Considering the compatibility of materials with the existing living room decor: Consider the style and color palette of your living room when selecting fireplace materials. Choose materials and finishes that harmonize with the surrounding elements, such as the flooring, walls, and furniture. Strive for a cohesive and balanced look.
Fireplace Surround and Mantel
Selecting an appropriate fireplace surround design:
The fireplace surround frames the firebox and can significantly impact the overall look. Consider options like a full wall surround, a stone veneer, or a combination of materials. Consider the room's dimensions as well as the intended focal point.
Choosing a mantel style that complements the overall living room aesthetics:
The mantel is an opportunity to add character and personal style to your fireplace. Decide on a mantel material (e.g., wood, stone, metal) and design (e.g., simple and sleek, ornate, and traditional) that complements the overall living room aesthetics.
Fireplace Hearth and Backsplash
Deciding on the type of hearth material: The hearth is the area below the fireplace that extends into the room. Consider materials such as stone, marble, tile, or a raised platform for a modern look. Choose a hearth material that is visually appealing and practical for the space.
Adding a decorative backsplash to enhance the fireplace focal point: A decorative backsplash behind the fireplace can enhance its visual appeal. Explore options like mosaic tiles, textured stone, or a painted accent wall. Ensure the backsplash coordinates with the surrounding materials and complements the overall design.
Fireplace Accessories and Decor
Selecting fireplace tools and accessories: Choose functional and aesthetically pleasing fireplace tools and accessories. Look for items like log holders, screens, firewood baskets, and fireplace tool sets that match the style of your fireplace and living room. Consider both practicality and visual appeal.
Incorporating decorative elements: Enhance the overall ambiance of your living room by incorporating decorative elements around the fireplace. Consider adding artwork, mirrors, or candles on the mantel or adjacent walls. These elements can elevate the visual impact and create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
Functional Upgrades
Consider adding a fireplace insert or gas logs if your existing fireplace could be more energy-efficient. These options can improve heating efficiency, reduce heat loss, and provide more control over the flames. They can also be more convenient and eco-friendly. Plan for storage solutions to keep firewood and fireplace accessories organized and within reach. Consider built-in shelves, cabinets, or decorative baskets that blend with the overall design. It will ensure functionality and contribute to a clutter-free living room.
Hiring Professionals or DIY Approach
Consider your DIY skills, available time, and the project's complexity when deciding whether to hire professionals or take a DIY approach. Hiring professionals ensures expertise and quality artistry and saves time. However, a DIY approach can be more cost-effective and provide a personalized touch. Certain aspects of the fireplace makeover, such as gas line installation or major structural modifications, may require professional expertise. Consult experts to ensure safety, compliance with building codes and properly install complex components.
Budgeting and Timeline
Determine a budget for the entire project, including materials, labor, and any additional expenses. If needed, research prices, obtain quotes from professionals, and allocate funds accordingly. Be realistic about your budget to avoid overspending. Outline a timeline for the fireplace makeover project to keep it on track. Consider factors such as ordering materials, scheduling professionals, and allowing time for unexpected delays. Setting deadlines and segmenting the project into manageable pieces can help you stay organized and guarantee timely completion.
Countertops4less is specialized in the installation and fabrication services of Granite & Quartz Countertops based in Montreal with over 25 years of joining the hands of experts. A family-run business that places a premium on craftsmanship and quality. With bespoke orders, Countertop4less offers a wide range of materials for residential and business spaces, including granite and quartz.
Conclusion
By assessing the current fireplace, seeking design inspiration, choosing the right materials and finishes, and incorporating functional and decorative elements, you can create a stunning focal point that enhances the overall ambiance of your living room. Take inspiration from the ideas discussed and embark on your fireplace makeover journey. Take advantage of the chance to add your touches to your living room and make it a welcoming place to unwind, host guests, and create lifelong memories.
Learn more About us At Granite & Quartz Countertops Montreal, Laval Countertops4less

/NintendoSwitch's Daily Question Thread

The purpose of this thread is to more accurately connect users seeking help with users who want to provide that help. Our regular "Helpful Users" certainly have earned their flairs!

Before asking your question...

• Check out the wiki pages listed below. - (If you're interested in becoming a wiki contributor, message the moderators.)
• Perform a quick Google search. - Sometimes it is actually quicker to search for something than to wait for someone else to answer.
• Search the subreddit. - Many questions have been asked before! reddit's search functions a bit differently than Google.

Helpful Links

Wiki Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions - Our FAQ has answers to many questions about the console system and controllers.
• Lost & Found Guide - Did you lose your Switch, or are you someone who found a Switch? Info on how to get it back!
• Tech Support Guide - Info on how you should react in case you discover a technical issue on your Switch.
• Error Code Lookup - Nintendo's Error Lookup System.
• Digital vs Physical Games - Listing the pros and cons of both formats to help you decide what will work best for you.
• Game Share Guide - Info on how you can share your digital games across multiple Nintendo Switch consoles, including playing on both consoles at the same time.
• Other Switch Related Subreddits

Wiki Accessory Information

• Accessories - Starter information about controllers, chargers, cables, screen protectors, cases, headsets, LAN adapters, and more.
• MicroSD cards - Some more in-depth information about MicroSD cards including what size you should get and which brands are recommended.
• Carrying Cases - An expanded list of common carrying cases available for the Switch.

Helpful Reddit Posts

• The /NintendoSwitch Best of 2017, Best of 2018, Best of 2019, Best of 2020, and Best of 2021 Award Winner Recaps - A good place to start when you're looking for a game recommendation.
• The Switch is not USB-C compliant and overdraws some USB-PD power supplies by 300% - Why you shouldn't use just any USB cable, should research portable power banks, and avoid using third-party docks or wall chargers.
• Choosing Your Nintendo Switch Charger: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Options - What sort of wattage you should look for in a battery bank or wall charger to get the best charging speeds.

Third Party Links

• Benson Approved USB Type-C Cables
• Benson Approved USB Type-A Cables

Reminders

• We have a #switch-help channel in our Discord server.
• Instructions and links to information about homebrew and hacking are against our rules and should take place in their relevant subreddits.
• Please be patient. Not all questions get immediate answers. If you have an urgent question about something that's gone wrong, consider other resources like Nintendo's error code lookup or help documents on the Switch.
• Make sure to follow Rule #1 of this subreddit: Remember the human, and be polite when you ask or answer questions.

I'm working on a .pptx file created by a friend. When trying to edit any text boxes, even those created by me since receiving the file, whenever I attempt to adjust the text box size the program crashes after 2-3 size edits, as shown here. Immediately after this clip the program crashed completely, forcing a file recovery.
I found old threads that recommended turning off anti-aliasing, so I've turned off that setting in both "Graphics Output" and "Screen font anti-aliasing" but it has made no difference in the crashes (the above video is with both settings turned off). Other threads I found were all 10+ years out of date, so I've now hit a wall.
Does anybody have any guidance or troubleshooting ideas to share?
LibreOffice Info:

• Version: 7.4.7.2 (x64) / LibreOffice Community
• Build ID: 723314e595e8007d3cf785c16538505a1c878ca5
• CPU threads: 12; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19045; UI render: Skia/Vulkan; VCL: win
• Locale: en-US (en_US); UI: en-US
• Calc: CL

About Us
Shikoku Ken are the loyal protectors of the Japanese mountainous island of Shikoku. They are agile and tenacious, and our $SHIKOKU community is the same.
$SHIKOKU is a decentralized experiment, launched on the 7th of November 2022, by the founder, Shikoshi, as a fresh opportunity for those who were struggling in the midst of the biggest bear market since. Born out of trials and tribulation, the $SHIKOKU community is the strongest community you'll find, supportive of one another, and pushing each other towards success.
$SHIKOKU has no allotted owner, rather, it is owned by whoever wishes to own it. The private key for the original $SHIKOKU deployer is available for all to add to their custodial wallets and join the army. (Please read Page 6 of Whitepaper).
By the development of the SIDE (Shikoku Inu Decentralized Ecosystem) with #SHIK being the centerpiece and store of value, we aim to create a thriving community full of creators, investors, developers, and holders, backed by $SHIKOKU.
Donations
Dear #SHIK army:
We have completed four donations so far.

• Donation 1 (givewell.org): transaction hash
  
• Donation 2 (mfoundation.org): transaction hash
  
• Donation 3 (Ukraine donation wallet, for relief efforts.): transaction hash
  
• Donation 4 (aforementioned charity drive with $DTOOLS!): Thread Link
  

Helpful Links: https://linktr.ee/ShikokuOfficial

is not giving a single fuck about people's feelings anymore. Nurses, old people at Costco, whatever.
Background: my baby's cancer makes him off the chart in every metric at 18 months, PLUS gives him teenage hormones (precocious puberty) in a baby body. He's a regular 18m baby in terms of development, but he's the size of a 4-year-old with the approximate rage of a 14-year-old.
ALSO he is deaf and the chemo intensifies his existing hearing loss! Did I mention he has some sort of chemotherapy-related neurological dysfunction causing his eyes to be asymmetrical AND that he broke his leg from being insane? How about that we almost got kicked out of the Ronald McDonald House because of his insatiable desire to clog toilets, likely due to his underveloped prefrontal cortex compared to his weight/size/strength?
"How old is he?! Wow, he's gonna be a big boy!" Yes, he has a rare type of cancer that comes with a growth disorder! Thank you for noticing. We are trying to slow it down with hormones and literal poison that we inject directly into his body!
"His signs are so good!" or "I can't believe he tolerates those hearing aids!" Yes, that's all he has to communicate.
"I'm praying for you/him!" Okay cool, to the same God that gave him cancer?
"What are you feeding him? Whatever it is, I need to tell my daughter-in-law!" Maybe if she simply births one million children, she, too, could have a child whose cancer presents as a growth disorder!
"Well, you look great," gesturing broadly at me because I've lost 50 pounds in 4 months. Who knew that all along, all it would take is stress and hospital food! If only I could sell the "Oncology Mom" diet!

I have a 10 year old male neutered chihuahua mix. He developed his like bumps on just the top of his head. It was similar to bug bites in size. Maybe like goosebump size. I first thought heat related possibly an irritant of some kind. Gave him a bath to cool him off and to clean the coat/skin incase of an irritant. Almost immediately, I am talking Holy Mose miracle they disappeared fast.
Next day it happened again out of the blue. I grabbed a cool washcloth and lay it on top of his head and they disappeared again. Nowhere else is there a rash, hives, he is not trying to itch or rub the top of his head. I am thinking allergic reaction to something, hives, or a high fever? I don't know. Any ideas.

AMD Ryzen 5 5600 6 core 12 thread unlocked + TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS + MSI ‎Optix G24C4 + Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM DVD 64 Bit + Cooler Master Hyper 212 black edition 42 CFM CPU Cooler + Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory + Crucial P3 Plus 1TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
Also-What size of Tower would I need? This is my first PC build and I'm just trying to figure out if this would work effectively and last long. I'm brand new to the world of PC specs and Whatnot,Please let me know kind redditors.

Today was the anniversary of Bud’s passing again. Momma and I went out to replace the flowers with fresh ones. Plastic - they look nicer longer. But really pretty ones, you know? Still like to take fresh ones sometimes, too, even if they don’t last long.
Cool story about those. Went out in the later or very early part of the day once, and a doe was eating the fresh flowers we’d placed there for him just a few days previously. Didn’t disturb her. Just watched. A beautiful place, it is. Out in the country, surrounded by brush country.
New owners have really done it up nice. The old original wood frame buildings replaced by new, very attractive ones. The mausoleum building with its perpetual faint smell of death when you’re inside it refurbished. On-site chapel now that’s very nice. One-stop shopping, you might say. Handle the entire process right there. Preach and plant, with no need for a caravan from one site to the final one.
Should have picked a spot for him still further out, though. He had plenty of breathing room when we first put him there. Pretty much all by himself.
Nice spot under a young shade tree that’s grown considerably now. We wanted him to have some nice shade. Sun gets fucking Hot here in the summertime. Shade is an important thing.
Got a nice bench under it so we can sit and visit when we want to. Black Italian marble, with a nice carved-in inscription done in white. Words from a poem. Set on a thick concrete base, so it won’t settle.
Got a lot of neighbors now, he does, though. Place is getting fucking crowded. Two new holes in the ground with awnings over ‘em, waiting for soon upcoming occupancy. Not anyone I know this time, so……..
But the bench? Tree has grown. You can sit back at your ease, use the trunk for a back rest. Stay as long as you like. Visiting hours, of course. Restricted after dusk. But fuck that, too. I like to go at night sometimes. Place is pretty and peaceful at that time, too. And who’s gonna make me leave?
That bench was one of the first ones there. Folks would ask where we’d gotten it. There are a lot of them now. Guess we started a trend.
Lights everywhere, too. Fairie lights sprinkled all through the darkness. Stars fallen from the sky. Those photosensitive ones that soak up sun during the day and shine at night. Saw a nice, big carriage light there when we went today. Gonna get one of those for Bud.
So we cleaned the bench and plaque up nice, put some fresh flowers for him and our daughter-in-law. Glad now that we bought that adjacent, connected group of plots, as fast as that section is filling up. They better not screw up and use one of ours for someone else, either. Make ‘em dig their dead ass up and plant ‘em somewhere else. Ours are fucking Reserved.
Going back tomorrow to set some flags out, what with another Memorial Day upon us. Stars and Stripes and Navy ensign for Bud. Stars and bars and USMC for his friend Sal.
Sal was killed in Iraq just before he was to rotate home. One last patrol that he shouldn’t have gone on. One shot from a sniper, and he was gone.
Bud was home on leave at the time. He and a bunch of other of their friends were planning a welcome home party to celebrate his imminent safe return. He came home as scheduled, but not the way he was supposed to. So they helped bury him instead.
Our State Senator attended that one. Well-respected man who’s been re-elected repeatedly. Mostly because he remembers what some others have forgotten, and actually fights for the rights of the people who’ve elected him.
He gave a good eulogy, you know? Respectful, and maybe a little bitter. About how the working class people of this region had lost more of their sons and daughters in every war we’ve fought than can ever be seen as their rightly share. But that a thing of lasting pride to us all, as well, in a place and among a People who still remember what it is to Have pride in who they/we are.
Bud and Sal - they’re close to each other still. Stand over one, you don’t have to look but a little way to see the other.
Bud? Sometimes when we go see him, someone else has left fresh flowers. And to this day we still don’t know who.

=> 40 488397088 da2 GPT (233G) 40 2008 - free - (1.0M) 2048 488394752 1 freebsd-ufs (233G) 488396800 328 - free - (164K) [email protected]:~ # mount /dev/da2p1 on /media/ST925041_0AS_2FBB17C39C0E_p1 (fusefs) [email protected]:~ # df -hT Filesystem Type Size Used Avail Capacity Mounted on /dev/da2p1 fusefs 233G 97M 233G 0% /media/ST925041_0AS_2FBB17C39C0E_p1 [email protected]:~ # mount /dev/da2p1 on /mnt/temp (ufs, local, soft-updates) [email protected]:~ # df -hT Filesystem Type Size Used Avail Capacity Mounted on /dev/da2p1 ufs 226G 14G 212G 6% /mnt/temp 

this is THE SAME physical device! you get the idea? obviously the OS does not allow them to be mounted at the same time, but you can unmount one, and then mount the other - they report correct information about filesystem usage, and UFS one has data on it. it's copying out as i type this.
i think it happened when i tried to create UFS filesystem on a device that was already mounted with NTFS. as far as i can explain this weirdness, the physical location of filesystems' data structures differs so much, that they both coexist on one disk at the same time (they were not overwritten by following mkfs). obviously i am wiping this drive clean, because they eventually will overlap and start overwriting one another which will inevitably lead to data corruption. but this is one of the strangest things i'v ever seen, and didn't hink even was possible!
conclusion? check for mounted drives when creating new filesystems :D

✨ Sunday Vibes

Vibe check! How’s your week been? What are you reading, watching, or listening to?
During Sunday Vibes, members share what they've been up to and other media they're enjoying. It's a space to get to know one another outside of romance books.

📰 Sunday Gloss

Here in the Sunday Gloss, we highlight the sub’s vibes each week, including announcements and great discussions.

✍🏼 Regular Features

😱 WTF Wednesdays - A weekly feature posted Wednesdays to share the stuff in Romancelandia that makes you go WTF: bad takes, questionable metaphors, anything that left you speechless.
🍿 Fresh Faves Fridays - A weekly feature posted Fridays to share your 4- and 5-star reads and favorite quotes. Think of it as a What Did You Read This Week? thread, but with only the best books.
💩 Shitpost Saturdays - On Saturdays, we loosen the discussion-based requirement to allow for memes, shower thoughts, silly posts, etc. All other rules still remain.
⭐️ Our April Monthly Reading Recap is up here! Members share their top/bottom 5 reads of the month on first Tuesdays. Next Recap is on Tue, June 6.

💬 Discussions We Loved

We encourage you to create stand-alone posts for your thought-provoking questions, so they get more visibility and engagement. As a reminder, posts here do not need to be a dissertation, only discussion-based (aside from Shitpost Saturdays). Book requests should remain in the Daily Chat unless they are part of a discussion post.

• u/napamy prompted a discussion on the worst “_____ meets _____” marketing blurbs for romance books.
  
• u/DrGirlfriend47 crowdsourced reciples vital to the plot of romances.
  
• u/OrdinaryDust195 started a discussion on books you simultaneously enjoy and are frustrated by
  
• u/WhatWhoNoShe asked us What bad and weird anatomy have you read in romance?
  
• u/1028ad shared a meme Mood readers leaving for a trip before ebooks were a thing
  

These are my beginner fanfictions! I tried to keep these as congruent with the portrayed personalities/actions of Overlord(tm).
The first is set sometime around the Re-Estize Kingdom destruction, while the second is set right after Pestonya and Nigredo get released from Ice Prison.
These feature Mare, Pestonya, and Cocytus mostly.
Please enjoy them!
---
The shadow demon whispered into Ainz' "ear" which was met with a heavy sigh. He had grown tired of this fight, his enthusiasm for the following battle was sapped- all due to a certain individuals' actions.
"I tire of this. Cocytus, do as you will."
Cocytus thumped his chest with the pride not only of being chosen by Ainz-Sama but at the incoming chance to prove his worth to his God.
"Yes! Ainz. Sama. Will. I. Be. Providing. Back. Up. For. Your. Commands?"
Ainz propped his chin on a knuckle, and with a regal wave of his hand stated his decree.
"This war is with truly worthless, as well as anything that might be here. Truly worthless creatures." A chill seeped over the ground as Cocytus and the other retainers within the splendorous tent realized- Ainz-sama was angered by the Individuals' previous actions. The chill spread through their feet and crawled up their backs, like a horrid ghost which wished to whisper sweet nothings of despair into your ear. Slowly, it retracted, yet all in the tent continued to shiver. Such was the wrath of a Supreme Being. "Except for "that individual" do as you must, this was a waste of time. Everyone you shall be placed under Cocytus' direct orders as needed- assist him as you must."
Ainz-sama leaned deeper into his fist, lost in thought and perhaps tired from having to deal with this skirmish- far beneath need to waste his time. Cocytus and the other retainers bowed and briskly left the room. Walking with pride- Cocytus was trailed by footsteps, one step of clicking heels behind him drew his notice.
"Cocytus."
Albedo, the Overseer of Nazarick gently but firmly gripped one of his arms causing him to stop in his tracks.
"I apologize for touching you, but I don't need to exp-"
Cocytus waved two of his opposite arms, opposite from Albedos' retreating grasp.
"It. Need. Not. Be. Said." Cocytus puffed out "To. Not. Only. Waste. Ainz. Samas'. Precious. Time. But. To. Also. Not. Even. Reach. The. Standards. To. Meet. His. Expectations. Is. Worthy. Of. Eradication."
The other retainers- the Floor Guardians nodded to his statement in agreement.
Shalltear piped up" Ahhh~ We don't even need to show them true despair, this will simply be an execution." With a shake of her head and an expression which read "It can't be helped."
With resolve tempered, Cocytus began his task.
---
The Hydra was a creature well known not only in Yggdrasil, but in the New World as well. Capable of casting not only magic of the 5th tier, but sometimes able to cast martial abilities. This was, however, entirely dependent on the luck of said hydra from birth. They could have anywhere from 7-9 heads and each could be skilled in magic or martial abilities, what it knew however was random- one could cast up to 2nd Tier but another on the same body could cast 5th tier. Its' heads would act in unison, with a "main head" being chosen by one which displayed their dominance by fighting the other heads and helped by slight telekinesis which allowed them to sense the leaders' whims.
Pelgraya-Nurm was proud of her shiny scales, which she frequently rehydrated to keep their glistening texture possibly to appear alluring to the humans. Their approval was below her, but who wouldn't appreciate praise no matter how insignificant. She shook her golden brown mane, large and fluffy she would easily be lauded by these humans as the softest cuddling partner if only she was nicer. She was not however.
Pelgraya-Nurm was different however, instead of heads it had been born with a plethora of arms. These arms, while not adept at martial kills, could cast 6th tier spells and along with improved dexterity, she could wield weapons if needed. This could be the reason she was cast out and viciously chased off by her kith and kin, probably not wanting the weakness a mutant would bring. She also had a talent, for mana, which increased her mana regen by absurd amounts the lower her mana. She was currently leading the contingent of her mercenary group which while called "The City Guard" were nothing more than thugs.
Pelgraya-Nurm had taken a name in part of jealousy of dragons (but partially from being shunned by her kin) but also to make her stand out among humans. While she easily towered over humans, however, the creatures she saw across from the battlefield shook her even now and made her feel insignifigant. She looked to her adjutant, Papaya, an elf she had bought to handle any affairs of human relations.
"Papaya" Pelgraya-Nurm muttered "What is that contingent of undead? Why have we not heard of such a thing before?"
Papaya rocked with her masters' obvious displeasure.
"I-i'm not sure. We haven't heard anything from scouts or even from the kingdom- they simply appeared P-Pelgraya-sama."
Papaya was consequently splattered across the floor, nearby soldiers, and part of the wall Pelgraya-Nurm was stationed on. Wicking off her claws with a flick of the wrist, she voiced her displeasure.
"You can all be replaced, you are nothing to me. I own you." Pelgraya-Nurm stated matter-of-factly. Simply put, this was how Hydras' and even most monsters behaved- rule of the strong. However, this was not usually the case for humanoids. They had "laws" and "good samaritism" they usually reacted negatively to being pasted onto their nearby surroundings.
Out of the corned of her eye, Pelgraya-Nurm saw a twisting of her humongous shadow- a small offshoot which seemed to sputter and slink off. Only for a second, she must have been seeing a trick of the light. She turned towards her opponents and grinned, they stood no chance.
Across the battlefield, after being reported to by that shadow demon, someone stamped the seal which would seal their fate.
---
Cocytus had prepared a map of the village they stood before, which had been prepared by the shadow demons beforehand. It was largely unremarkable, but being a ragtag mercenary group this could easily be all of their mustered forces. The shadow demons hadn't been scouting for long but they would more than likely bring forth confirmation to this point. Cocytus would not be swayed by this, already tempered by previous expectations.
"Shalltear. May. I. Leave. Mopping. Up. Escaping. Troops. Or. Those. Running. Away. To. You?"
With a dainty curtsy, Shalltear silently left with an expression of relish. Now, what to do about showing the true wrath towards someone who wasted the precious Supreme Ones' infinite mercy of a quick death?
"Do. We. Have. The. Troops. Ready?"
"Yes, Cocytus. I have a suggestion to showing off our Supreme Ones' beauty in rule." Demiurge responded with a slowly growing grin.
Then. I. Shall. Leave. That. To. You."
---
Pelgraya-Nurm was the first to hear it. A slow repeating stomp followed by a short break and then repeating. It quickly grew and inversely morale quickly shriveled.
STOMP STOMP STOMP. Silence.
STOMP STOMP STOMP. Silence.
This continued for a short while, as the undead which comprised the enemy forces- stomped in time, a truly jaw-dropping event. Undead could be coordinated so? In this number? Pelgraya-Nurm was growing uneasy, her surrounding contingent had long passed this.
STOMP STOMP STOMP. Silence.
The undead knelt and bowed, all centered on the tent in the distance. A chill was growing like a pillar of ice in the human army. No longer centered around Pelgraya-Nurm, but on this unknown force which had appeared.
STOMP STOMP STOMP. Silence.
The army split neatly in two as the undead smoothly, rised, slid away from the center, and resumed kneeling. A golden embroidered flag, with a black seal upon the purple midnight fabric. It slowly approached the middle grounds between the two armies and assumed a straight backed stance.
STOMP STOMP STOMP. Silence.
It began hoisting the flag straight up on every stomp, down in between. With a voice unnaturally loud for a sinle creature to have- and to be heard over such a distance. A voice which while holding a degree of self-importance rasped with the clear hatred for the living. It interrupted between the stomps.
STOMP "Ainz!" STOMP "Ooal!" STOMP "Gown!". Silence.
STOMP "Ainz!" STOMP "Ooal!" STOMP "Gown!". Silence.
STOMP "Ainz!" STOMP "Ooal!" STOMP "Gown!". Silence.
This continued until they saw creatures slowly walk from both sides of the army, chilling them to the bone even more somehow. Towering, black, and wielding swords in twisting patterns with paired great shields. Adorned with red veins which pulsated and seemed to draw the viewer into their grisly visage, a face which begged for them to approach and be rent. Death Knights.
These creatures lumbered in a roundabout number as the contingent shuddered in fear, no doubt a rout was being concocted simultaneously by these non-connected creatures. As the realization dawned on them for what was happening- they were being boxed in. Those horrid creatures had spaced themselves enough to easily be able to catch them if any tried to run.
It was a do-or-die situation. And if they got resurrected it might just be a die-or-die situation. Suddenly, gripping her superiority and strength- Pelgraya-Nurm commanded these rowdy people together.
"We have no chance of running, this is truly ride or die! Keep them at bay and I'll blast them to death!" she smirked despite her creeping fear.
The soldiers prepared themselves, maybe some of them would make it out alive if they fought to either their teeth or nails.
---
Shalltear skipped along the streets, a strong undead following in tow. It was called a Living Hunter, an undead of the 50s level. It hungered for the living as its' name foretold, it however was adequately skilled for this task. It grew stronger in proportion to the living around it, which increased the radius of those included which could swell to absurd ranges depending on deployment. As well as that, it grew faster movement speed and attack speed the longer it chased an individual living creature. It towered over its surroundings and it could be slowed by those running into or hiding in buildings. This was also tempered by the fact it was sometimes unable to control itself from brutally devouring victims alive in brutal and sadistic fashions. While it could be a dangerous foe for attackers, it could easily be countered by simply sending in weak merc. NPCs to distract it or, even simpler just having a tank which had any taunt skill to constantly reset their passive.
Shalltear had been dragging along several human corpses in one hand while her umbrella was twirled in the other, snacks- not for her of course. They had easily accomplished their task, Living Hunter chasing stragglers and scaring people while Shalltear threw rocks to smash them into pieces. While its disgusting nature could never be mistaken for cute, the growl it made was of pleading. Shalltear stopped in place, sighed in an exaggerated manner, and spun with a childish waggle of her finger said-
"I GUESS you receive a treat for your good work.."
-she smiled and tossed corpses up to the Undead Hunter not unlike how one would toss treats to their pet dog. It snapped them up and smashed them like balloons between its teeth, chewing them up as if relishing a delicious piece of bubblegum.
"Gruuuu..!" it rumbled, shaking the surroundings.
"Okay, you continue with the pincer attack while I watch over this city, arinsu~."
It lumbered off as Shalltear sauntered up a walls buttressed stairs, before shortly perching herself to watch the ensuing battle, kicking her feet, and cutely twirling her umbrella.
---
STOMP "Ainz!" STOMP "Ooal!" STOMP "Gown!". Silence.
STOMP "Ainz!" STOMP "Ooal!" STOMP "Gown!". Silence.
STOMP "Ainz!" STOMP "Ooal!" STOMP "Gown!". Silence.
Suddenly, it stopped. Jolting the mercenaries to attention. The undead chanter turned itself to the side and took steps back. A towering creature stepped forth from the tent and walked down the alley towards them.
As a slow frost gently billowed forth from the enemy side, the soldiers teeth began clacking. Pelgraya-Nurm, being cold-blooded, especially. The creature walked forth, eyes glinting in the dwindling sunlight and planted itself where the chanter had been. It slammed its weapons- a giant curved sword with a long hilt, a halberd, and an oddly small thin blade. The halberd and large sword had their hilts planted in the crackling, dry earth.
Silence. No one dared breath. The battlefield had shrunk and the contingent realized this. They were audibly shaking now, armor clinking over armor. Pelgraya-Nurm moved to say something was cut off by a shriek from behind them. A shriek which sounded like souls whining to be realsed from eternal torment.
Rubble came crashing down around them, slushing some of them and maiming others. Pelgraya-Nurm was struck by a huge chunk of wall directly in the face as she looked up, knocking her out cold. She was unable to witness the creature which had crumbled the walls from behind like a child might crush a graham cracker in their hands. It lurched over, so close it could look some of them face to face. It rasped a disgusting swathe of undead stench over them and seemingly chuckled. It- counter to its' size, grasped several soldiers with its armored mitts and tossed them into the air. The resulting crunch of the bone heralded the beginning to the skirmish.
As the undead began marching towards them, their attention was diverted between the encroaching mass of dead and the fact this creature summarily had grasped Pelgraya-Nurm and slowly dragged her with them. Their trump card removed, they were finished in barely ten minutes.
---
Pelgraya-Nurm awoke slowly, her vision blurry and ear-holes ringing.
"????? ??????? ?? ??? ????..." something murmured. She did not know or care whether this was directed at her, and she was focused on simply getting up and wreaking havoc among these filthy peasants. She toppled over, due to her weight and a force pushing her down.
"??! ??? ????? ? ??? ?????? ??? ? wonder ?? sama ??? ???????? ?? ?????" failed to breach her head and report anything communicable to her brain. She was slowly coming to and realized she was surrounded.
A silver haired thing, a creature in orange vestment, and the tall white thing from before.
"Waking ??? ?? ???? ?. Good. ??? ?? ?? begin."
The silver-hair and white- thing stood with smug(?) looks (she had never cared to learn human expressions) as the orange-suit walked forward.
"How would you ???? do this?" the orange-ones' movement was making her dizzy again, however she had the upper hand- quickly she cast a [Silent Magic: Ultra Fireball] in a deft motion. Before that she was struck across the head which sent her reeling and slightly rolling. The fuzziness returned-
"No." orange-suit said, muffled by her newly made brain fog.
"A bit gentler ???? ?????? Ainz-sama ???? ???? this one ??? all." the silver-hair piped up
"Indeed. It. Will ????. ?. ??????. Prize. For. ???. Ainz. Sama. ????. It. Would. Seem. ???. ?. ??????. Bauble." white-thing responded.
Her vision returning, she weakly lifted her head and was promptly struck again- she had been bitch-slapped. It wasn't as forceful as before, which allowed her to go all out and cast [Maximize Magic: Ultra Fireball], [Maximize Magic: Magic Arrow], and [Maximi-
She was bitch slapped once.
She was bitch slapped twice.
She was bitch slapped a third time.
Her head was whipped around comically with the applied beatings.
"????. ??. ????. ???. Awaits." the white-thing stated
"??????." the silver-hair responded
"??. ??? ????? ????." the orange-suit concurred.
Pelgraya-Nurm was gripped by her throat as she was recovering from this. The orange-thing gripped her throat with a single thing, threatening to crush her windpipe. Slowly she started being dragged along behind them, at a brisk pace. The cobblestone of the city around her and the subsequent rocky ground, for the first time hurt as she was roughly dragged along it.
She struggled, and was thrown onto the ground and bitch-slapped again, gripped by the throat, and dragged along again. This continued two more times, but Pelgraya-Nurm was exhausted, not only from her large size' energy need, the beatings, and an unknown exposure to the sunlight. She felt weak and the fight left her. She was dragged along the long, slow, path towards that tent.
---
They finally arrived in front of the tent and she was again slammed into the ground, this time in a much harder throw. The wind and tears were knocked from her, the ground cracking underneath this crushing blow. The white-thing, silver-hair, and orange-suit all prostrated themselves towards the tent. An encroaching fear was growing over Pelgraya-Nurm and she bowed her head to the ground (again, partly from exhaustion and the beatings).
"Ainz-sama! We have brought this disgusting specimen before you as you have asked!" the three spoke in unison. Pelgraya-Nurm understood. Ainz Ooal Gown was not a country or a simple fief but someone these things bowed before.
As the aforementioned one fluttered the tent flap open, a finely decorated skeleton thing- followed by a demi-angel(?). Fear pierced her through like a harpoon, and felt as if it was being pulled through her guts. She openly shook and hoped maybe since they had brought her forth, they might allow her to at least live. Undead were known to hate the living, but maybe since this one surrounded itself by the living it would be merciful.
---
Ainz flapped open the tent, and was greeted with Demiurge, Shalltear, and Cocytus. He received their gift of this prisoner-of-war, and consequently praised their efforts. This praise made them seemingly shiver with delight. But to Pelgraya-Nurm, it was unnoticed- she was too focused on this one called "Ainz."
"A-Ainz-sama?" She spat up as she pressed her head into the head indent she had made earlier. "I-"
Ainz sliced his hand horizontally as if to cut her in twain.
"Silence." it commanded.
She began tearing up, how could fate deny her strength. She had made herself a slowly growing land, full with servants, and glory to her. Why had this thing come here? Why her?
"To viciously murder ones followers, loyal beings- is a sin I cannot abide. To do so, is to be scum of the worst kind. I do not normally do this, but I shall relish this. Cocytus lift her."
Before she could run, white-thing grabbed her by the forehead and lifted her straight up. This painful grip denied her any chance to pull free, her large body squirming halfways upon the ground. Her arms pulled and scraped the ground and attempted to pull herself free by pushing against Cocytus. She was like a child being lifted by the leg, helpless against her coming doom.
Ainz flicked his wrist and a magic circle appeared before his bony hand. With that he made a faux-gripping motion and she could no longer move her body and some of her arms. It felt like she was truly being gripped within his grasp. Her arms now flailed uselessly and she screamed and cried as she too flailed. Her last thought was that she had never found a mate, maybe a human HAD been her only chance.
With that flick of the wrist, she was summarily twisted around, multiple times, in a quick clockwise turn. Cocytus' grip being the axis of this sickly pirouette, evoking the look of a ballroom dance. Cocytus subsequently dropped the head.
"Send it to be picked clean, and Living Hunter to patrol."
​
Much later, after confirming everything was razed and destroyed- the Living Hunter gleefully engorged itself among the feast of the battlefield.
​