After laying in darkness for what seems to an eternity, Shiro slowly opens her eyes and found Hela herself patiently awaiting for her vessel regain consciousness. The lady in an elegant yet battle suited dress curved a smug on her lips while Shiro blinked her eyes, confused.

"Why the hell are you looking at me like that?"

"I just saved your ass and made my bitch of a sister run away like a coward. You're welcome, by the way"

"..."

Hela acted with an elevated pride and ego which slightly irritated Shiro.

"You should be thankful I chose you to wield my power in all its glory...sort of"

"What...?"

"If I were to use my current full power, it would have destroyed your puny body"

"Well you're not stupid enough to do that. I don't really understand what's my role to you, but I know you need me or you wouldn't have gone to the trouble of using my body to fight Eryan"

"You've become less stupid. Impressive"

Before drifting into the darkness, the only time she had spoken directly to Hela is when the Goddess of Death herself convinced Shiro to "surrender" which allowed Hela to gain physical control over her current vessel. Hela swept her long dark hair, acting as the "dominant" of the two.

"I felt it. The surge of your power..."

"What you felt is the power of the Goddess of Death itself" Hela proudly referred to herself

She was shook at the instant flow of untamed magical energy right through her very core, but she wanted to question - about Hela's nature. The power she felt is more than a mere player could handle. It would break a mortal physically, but with Shiro's [Immortal] status, she is mostly immune to the side effects of being the vessel of one of the Nine Gods.

"All this time you were inside me, so why come out now...where I had a spear to the heart"

"Because you can't win against Freyja and her host. Not to mention, Freyja is my sister so I wouldn't miss a chance to fight her"

Freyja the Valkyrie Goddess and Hela the Goddess of Death are unexpectedly sisters, but they dislike each other and great each other as enemies. Both parties wouldn't hesitate to strike the other down which tells how negative their relationship is.

"There are a lot of things I don't understand. First these...visions, now...you"

"You don't have to understand me, you just have to accept me. We need each other in order to defeat the likes of Freyja. Besides, we're bound to each other...one way or another"

Hela implied Shiro has no choice but to cooperate with her since they are stuck with each other with Hela being bound inside Shiro and Shiro having Hela inside her. Hela needs Shiro since without a vessel to physically manifest, Hela's powers is limited. On the other hand, Shiro benefits from Hela by being able to wield her powers, capable of surpassing players.

"Honestly, why do I have to deal with these kind of things? Then again...we both don't have much of a choice. I wonder what would Surtr say if he's still alive?"

Hela crossed her legs, moving the frills of her dress and looked down at Shiro with her red eyes filled with the countless death of mortals.

"This is what I can all say to you for now. You need to recover your strength since I overworked your body during the fight"

"Wait-"

Shiro wanted to know more, but Hela quickly ended their conversation with a literal snap of her fingers. Shiro is forced to return to the waking world where she found herself lying on the ground, surrounded by a luxurious scenery.

"Ugh...this headache feels like it's splitting my head"

Hela did overwork Shiro's body as she raised herself, her entire body aching in pain. On Hela's part, she still had to limit the amount of magic she releases as she doesn't forget she is bound to a player.

"How long was I out? I hope Hela didn't do anything stupid"

She tightened the grip on her sword, using it like a balancing stick as she stands on both feet. Currently, she is drained of strength so if another player were to attack her in her current state, she would risk being defeated.

Later...

Shiro limped back to Eljudner, unable to use Gate with most of her mana drained. Garmr, the werewolf ranger and the guardian of the entrance and the outer area, rushed to her weakened master.

"Master, you have returned. Are you alright?"

"I feel like a mountain just fell on me. Either way, I'm doing fine"

A few steps inside the castle and the rest of the guardians greeted her, kneeling before her. While she viewed as the kneeling part as rather unnecessary most of the time, her guardians insisted it is to shoe their respect to their creator.

"Akane, you've finally recovered" Shiro nods and faintly smiles

"Yes. I am deeply ashamed for being defeated. I failed you, Shiro-sama"

It's clear how ashamed Akane felt. The vampire blade master couldn't bear to even look at her creator, lowering her head as she apologized.

"You fought Eryan, a Realm God whose power is equal to mine. She's more powerful than you and Tremor, so there's no need to be ashamed"

"Master..."

There's no reason for Shiro to be disappointed at Akane. Whom she encountered is a player who has the Valkyrie Goddess Freyja inside her. Shiro has Hela, but in a fight of raw strength, Freyja has the clear advantage.

"Same goes for you, Tremor, so you don't have to bury your head in the ground"

"T-thank you for your kindness, Shiro-sama"

Shiro sighs at the sight of Tremor almost burying his head to the solid ground. Though his head wouldn't fit easily in a hole with his beetle horn.

Throne room...

Alone inside her room, Shiro lazily turned her eyes towards the mirror where instead of her own reflection, there's Hela.

[Should you really be relaxing? Freyja managed to escape, you know]

"I know that. I'm not an idiot"

May not be on the same level as Odin, Freyja poses a threat to both Hela and Shiro.

[I talked to the one called Ainz Ooal Gown. He's a friend if Touch Me, the man you looked up to]

"That's why I view him as an ally"

[What a stupid reason. Then again you're a stupid devil]

"That makes you a stupid Goddess for choosing a stupid devil like me as a vessel"

Shiro retaliated to Hela's words which she rarely does to anyone.

"I still don't understand why me of all people you chose to be your vessel"

[You're just but a speck among the hundreds of players who tried to defeat me]

"Talk about being honest..."

[Shiro, you proved to be viable enough to sustain me. That's all the reason you need to know]

"It's unsurprising. You're Tue Goddess of Death and I'm just a player. There's nothing special about me, but I'm thrown into this shithole"

[We're both in this shithole now, Shiro. Don't forget that]

Hela's way of comforting her is telling her she's not the only one who's going to suffer in the situation. Then again, Hela is bound to Shirogane so she will suffer either way.

[That wouldn't be the last time we will see Freyja. Knowing her, she'll definitely exact revenge since she hates being forced to retreat more than anything]

"I know..."

The only thing Shiro can do now is to prepare for Freyja's revenge and knowing their enemy's capabilities, Shiro knew she must never underestimate a Goddess the same way she does to humans.

Great tomb of Nazarick...

After the conversation with Hela, Ainz searches the tomb's library on more information about these Gods. Fortunately, he found one, or at least the closest one he could find.

"Nine Realms, nine Gods. Each of their abilities matching their respective worlds"

It was a book he remembered Touch Me added to the collection. Ainz recalled telling him it was a 'gift' from a devil warrior whom he occasionally trains. Ainz never met this devil, but the way Touch Me speaks of this person, he was somewhat fond of them.

"I expected Hela to be a necromancer such as myself, but she's more of an unholy mage and warrior hybrid"

Ainz rubbed his chin, theorizing it's due to Shiro's warrior class, an opposite to Hela's magic based abilities.

"Nine Gods. While they existed as bosses in the game, I never thought they are all players with beings like Hela inside them"

He flipped a page and his hollow eyes vacantly gazed at unclear depictions of the Nine Gods. Ainz isn't entirely sure if the pale woman with flowing dark hair and white streaks is Hela's true appearance.

"Hmm..."

Then again, the intricate markings running from the right side of her face right to her right arm matched the ones he saw in Shiro's transformed state.

"Hela. If she was just a boss programmed inside the game, how was she able to possess Shiro? That woman isn't letting on everything she knows..."

Ainz suspected Hela have hidden motives due to how little she spoke about her origin and her connection to Shiro. She even avoided to answer Ainz when he asked about how bounding herself to Shiro and making her a vessel back in the game even possible.

"Since she possesses no threat for now, I have no reason to raise this concern to Shiro"

Other than that, Ainz thought Hela wouldn't take suspicion lightly. While he can't accurately estimate Hela's full power, he knew he can't turn Hela hostile to him.

"Besides, Hela doesn't seem to be doing anything that would harm Shiro. Then again, Shiro is her vessel and she scant afford her only available vessel to die"

It's due to Hela why Shiro has an "immortal" status and immense strength, a necessity to keep her vessel alive. Hela has no physical form and without a living vessel to reside, she would be nothing but a mere 'ghost'.

Re-Estize Kingdom...

While the emergence of a castle with a wide territory had recently reached Marquis Boullope, one of the "Six Great Nobles" in the kingdom, but the most aggressive one.

"Even after it was attacked by kingdom troops, the castle hasn't taken any action for a week" Count Lytton spins his wine glass

"Surely the castle's master is going to plan their revenge. I just know it!" Marquis Boullope hit the table, almost knocking down his wine glass

"Perhaps. If my territory were attacked, I'd surely exact my revenge"

Well they started with Edward"

The count at the marquis stares at each other, wondering what action they shall take next. They waited for an entire week, but neither Shiro nor her guardians had made a move.

"The castle and its surrounding territory appeared out of nowhere one day. Then there's the fact that its inhabited by monsters"

"..."

"Even if the castle's master hasn't made a move after that...massacre, you still feel threatened"

"..." The marquis impatiently taps his foot

"In my opinion, there's a possibility the castle's master would make hostile moves. If possible, I want to prevent that before it could happen"

"Are you saying we should attack the castle?"

"If possible. I only worry this castle master would pose a great threat not only to our kingdom, but to us as well. Remember what happened to Edward"

"That bastard! We can't have a menace showing up out of nowhere and ruining our lives"

"Then, you agree with my idea?"

Count Lytton raised an eyebrow, but for a brief moment he curved a victorious smile on his lips.

"It was the same person who killed Edward. They even slaughtered everyone in his estate" Boullope stood up, furiously

"What if we failed the same way Edward did and suffer the same fate as him. Surely you considered that, marquis?"

"Hahaha! Are you forgetting I have more troops. Not to mentions, my men are well trained to be the elite they are" Marquis Boullope boasted

"You sound confident" The count chuckled

Count Lytton inserts his hand to his coat and brings out a surprisingly accurate sketch of Shiro. The Marquis tilted his head, puzzled to why he is shown the image of a girl he never saw before.

"Who is this girl?"

"The one responsible for the massacre of Edward and his men"

"Huh?! This girl? Are you serious?!"

The overconfident Marquis Boullope burst out in laughter, while the count rolls his eyes at disbelief.

"Yes. I'm being serious, marquis Boullope"

"...?!" The Marquis ceased laughing

"This girl is no ordinary or human. She is a demon in a human skin"

The lack of horns, tail, or even pointy ears made it initially unbelievable for anyone without experienced in dealing with powerful beings.

"Edward underestimated her and look where it got him"

"..."

"Unless you plan to suffer the same fate...I suggest we must stop this menace...before it could do further damage"

Count Lytton's eyes blazed in determination, persuading the Marquis to agree in eliminating a "menace" in the kingdom.

"Of course. Because my troops have never known defeat at the hands of puny monsters and some puny girl"

"Then in that case, I shall support whatever you have in mind"

"I'm counting you to help me rid our kingdom of possible menace"

"Yes. We will save not only this kingdom, but ourselves" The count smirks

After leaving the marquis' mansion, count Tyllon enters deep within the moves and giggles. He removes his human disguise and reveals his other Doppelganger form which is of a man with a large scar running down to his neck.

"The first part of the mission is a success"

A slime in the form of a tanned skinned man in a rugged attired appeared to free the doppelganger who has completed a part of a unknown goal.

"Freyja and Hela's fight the other day was a sure surprise, but at least we known now those two terrifying Goddesses are here too"

"Which makes things worse since Hela and Freyja are both powerful" The doppelganger raised the problem

"Yeah. Taking both of them at once isn't an option. That's why our goal is to take on Hela who's currently weakened"

"Weakened?" The slime raised an eyebrow

"Hela's power is drained after the fight with Freyja. Master aims to kill Hela while she's not on full power yet"

"That's right. Master wants this newfound world and we can't have any threats"

Their master wishes to rid of any possible threats, primarily other players such as Shiro and Eryan. The two nodded, agreeing how they need to eliminate any threats and targets as part of confident,