...
E-Rantel Cemetery
Letting the stars guide the way, a young girl sprinted across the streets as she looked back for any pursuers. Her short-blonde hair twirled with the wind as her head spun around. Once she confirmed no-one was trailing her, she relaxed a little and walked into the main Mausoleum.
As her heels clicked on each stair, her unique armor let out the clanging of metal. She entered the building and headed for the stone statue in the center. Crouching down, she traced her fingers along the rim of the stone-base, feeling for the right spot.
Her fingers swatted away the dust collected and she pushed into the stone. The Statue's base reacted and turned, splitting down the middle and forming a staircase made of unrefined rocks.
She followed the stairs down, going deeper into the hidden place.
"It took you long enough!" The man said as he noticed she arrived... "While you were having fun, I was busy preparing." His words spat at her.
"Hmm~ And that's why you don't have any friends, Khajit~" She replied.
She reached behind her back and pulled a rope leading behind her. As she tugged it, a sack fell from the top of the stairs, tumbling down vulgarly until it crashed to the ground and halted. If someone was inside those sacks, they would have gotten brain damage. But-
There actually was someone inside of it.
Khajit's eyes narrowed at the sack, assessing if it's the correct one. He walked to it and tore the top off. Seeing the correct body inside of it, he smiled with pleasure.
"I guess you were busy too, Clementine" Khajit admitted reluctantly. He rose and took the boy's body and placed him in the center of the ritual lines he made. He took out the crown Clementine gave him earlier, and he placed it onto the unconscious boy's head.
When the crown was placed, the boy's eyes widened. His gaze was filled with knowledge surpassing everything humanity knew, but he couldn't move or say anything.
Such was the trade for knowledge.
His body became nothing more than a tool to be used by his peers.
"Behold! The power of the [Orb of Death]!" The Frail man exclaimed. In his hand, a purple translucent orb glowed and the ground began to shake.
"Hey, Hey! Khajit, are you sure you can control this?" Clementine asked. She knew the power Khajit spoke of, but no human could use the magic of that caliber. Even with the [Crown of Wisdom, she doubted if his ability was up to par.
The last thing she would want is to die in a swarm of undead that they summoned.
"Hmph! Know you who you're talking to, girl." Khajit rebutted. "[Summon Undead Army]!"
He cast the 7th tier spell, only possible because of the relic from Clementine.
As the words rolled off his tongue, cracks formed in the ground around them. Hands reached for the air once more, as the bodies of the dead regained an animated life. Zombies, skeletons, and other types of Undead all climbed out from their graves.
But it wasn't only here.
The whole cemetery quaked as decades of the fallen had risen once more.
In that one instant, Khajit Dale Badantel had control over the entire Graveyard- roughly one-fourth of E-Rantel.
"Hahahha! Amazing! This!... This is the true power of the [Orb of Death]!"
"Well, let's have some fun, shall we~?"
Clementine's eyes filled with desire, lusting for the hunt. However, Khajit didn't hear her. The only thing he was focused on was the power he now held- something he would have deemed impossible in the past.
"My army! It's time to invade!"
Khajit ordered the Undead, feeling invincible with the power he wielded.
Cemetery Gates
The wall guarding the entrance in and out of the cemetery was patrolled by a handful of guards. There wasn't a need to station more than a few. The men working weren't to keep the citizens out of the graveyard; more so, it was to keep the undead from roaming into the city.
With the annual war with the Empire, the Kingdom needed to expend a lot of soldiers- peasants who were conscripted -to survive and not get conquered. Such a high casualty count meant that as the bodies were retrieved, Re-Estize would have to invest more into purifying them.
It was common sense that the undead would spawn where death was concentrated, and even more, common sense that the stronger undead would spawn where the lower-undead was concentrated. If it wasn't for this, both nations would have left the deceased on the Katze Plains, where the wars occurred.
However, the reality wasn't as nice. If they did that, legendary Undead would spawn and none of them would have the national power to kill it.
But who would've thought that tonight of all nights…
"Hey… This is a dream, right? RIGHT!?"
His fellow guard could only gulp as a response, staring into the dark sea of the undead.
Thousands upon Thousands of Undead were marching to the gates, totaling roughly a Hundred Thousand. Multiple types of Undead were in the fray- Skeletons, Zombies, Wraiths, Ghosts, Gravekeepers, and more all lined up ready to assault the living.
It's impossible. That was what everyone thought. There was no way simple city guards could defend the city from this. If they could, they would have been recognized a long time ago and not deployed in a low position.
They knew their fate.
"Hold the Line!" The Unit Chief said. He took up a spear and ran up the stairs, stabbing the zombies trying to climb the walls.
Even if they knew they couldn't win, if they defeated as many of these abominations as they could, then perhaps E-Rantel would have a chance at surviving.
He used all his strength to kill the undead as they came.
"What are you ladies doing!? Get yer asses ov-"
Interrupting his order, a pack of Bone Vultures flew over the wall and tore at his skin. Their bony claws laced with negative energy shredded into the Chief's body, tearing him to confetti.
He didn't even have a chance to scream before he died.
The other guards despaired and fled, running as far away as they could. But it didn't take long for the Undead to burst through the gates and pursue them.
"Arhhhh"
"Warrrhgh"
"SAve MEeE!"
They all begged the gods for mercy as the swarm consumed them all.
With nothing but the cold air stopping them, the Undead marched deeper into E-Rantel, claiming a piece for themself with each step. Civilians, merchants, shop owners, kids, families… Nothing escaped the impending death.
As long as it had life, it would be swallowed whole.
Guards? Warriors? Magic Casters? Nobody could face the onslaught. People rose up and attempted to fight back, but all it got them was a couple of kills and then they would die.
Against such numbers, defeat was inevitable.
Flying to E-Rantel
Momon and Nabe traveled through the sky, riding on top of B-Drag- the name he gave to his mount. B-Drag flew to E-Rantel as fast as its wings would permit, but Momon wasn't too hasty about arriving.
If he wanted to get there faster, he could just use a simple [Gate] or have Nabe teleport them.
What he was more concerned about was: Why hasn't Demiurge told me anything!?
He cast [Message] and connected to Demiurge.
"[Demiurge...]"
C'mon, answer me, dude... How could you not know about an invasion in the city you're working in!? Are you that swamped with work?... Hah, I made sure to not overload him but I guess it was still too much-
[Ainz-sama, what can I do for you?] The Archdemon said, interrupting his thoughts.
"[Demiurge, are you aware of the situation E-Rantel faces?]"
[Situation? Did something hinder your plans Ainz-sama?]
No… I counted for all the variables and executed it perfectly… But if that's the case, then Ainz-sama wouldn't sound so… caught off guard…
"[Ah, it seems I was right… I apologize, it seems I gave you too much work and overwhelmed you.]"
[A-Ainz-sama, it's my duty to carry out your will. I could never be overworked by you. I would even beg to differ, to be so is a great honor.]
"[No, no, it's fine Demiurge. I'm not angry at you for your blunder, but rather at myself for not considering all the tasks I've pulled on to you. I'll assign you an assistant to help out so this doesn't happen again.]"
[...A-Ainz-sama, please tell me where I went wrong so I can correct my mistakes!]
The Archdemon couldn't understand what mistake his master was talking about, he ran everything in his head countless times and found no flaws. But if his master said there was one, then there was one.
"[It seems E-Rantel had been invaded by an army of Undead. I don't have all the details about it so Narberal and I are going to investigate it]"
[Ah! So that's what it was! I'm ashamed to say that this humble one hadn't thought of your motives behind your first orders to me all that time ago.]
What is he talking about? First Orders? E-Rantel being taken over has nothing to do with ANY orders I gave!
"[Hah?]" In his confusion, he accidentally showed it, letting out a sound unbefitting of his persona- the Overlord.
[How foolish of me… Of course, you would've wanted me to inform you when the next part of your plan had been set-]
"[Demiurge! You knew about this!? Why didn't' you tell me?]" Ainz was getting nervous now. Not only did he low-key throw some shade at Demiurge for 'failing', but it was his own fault for it in the first place.
"[Everything was going according to your plans, so I didn't feel the need to waste your time on such trivial matters. But I see my errors now, to think you had seen this flaw of mine when you had us establish a communication network… Your intellect is truly unfathomable.]
"[...]" How does that have to do with THIS?
[...It's such a blessing to serve a wise master. Unfortunately, this lowly servant of yours can't even figure out the most basics of your thoughts. Do forgive me Ainz-sama.]
Ainz was shocked, no, he was more than just shocked. He was so bewildered with the way his conversation went that he unconsciously tugged B-Drag's neck, causing him to spin and both riders to fall off.
As Ainz and Nabe were falling, Ainz dispelled his armor and equipped his usual attire.
"[Fly]"
Following his lead, Nabe dispelled her [Quick Change Cloak] and her Adventurer attire disappeared. Now, she is equipped and wears her Battle Maid clothes.
"[Fly]"
Just like Ainz, she cast the same spell and hovered next to him.
Ainz couldn't understand what Narberal was thinking and why she changed out of her disguise. If she wanted to Fly, she could've cast it in her Adventurer's Clothes. After all, it was only a Tier 3 spell- one he didn't prohibit her from using. Though he didn't mind it since they were flying over 10 Kilometers in the air, and so nobody could see them…
...Unless if someone was watching from afar with a telescope and directing it in their direction right at this moment...
But such a thing didn't happen.
Still, falling off his mount in front of his maid was embarrassing, and it forced him to focus on the sudden change. One moment they're cruising through the clouds, and the next? They're free falling!
Greeaaat! I didn't even get the hear what Demiurge was saying… Ainz thought as he and Narberal were watching B-Drag try to regain his senses and stabilize his flight.
The two of them watched as B-Drag spun around in the air as he fell, reminding Ainz of a video he saw from one of his co-workers in the old world- A cat pawing at a hamster wheel, so the hamster could only hold on for dear life as it spun around in circles.
"[Invisibility]" Ainz cast a simple spell, and so did Narberal. He wanted to follow the falling Dracolist and watch the amusing scene. The two of them descended, removing the cover the night clouds gave them. But-
"Damn, if I'd known it would be that stupid, I wouldn't have registered it as my pet." Ainz lamented, watching as B-Drag fell helplessly to the ground.
He watched his mount crash into the carriage of an unfortunate High-Class family that escaped the treachery of E-Rantel. The unlucky family of three was crushed and the impact killed them instantly.
"HAahahahaHA!" Ainz laughed like a madman, Now that wasn't something the Video had!
While he pitied the people in the carriage, it certainly wasn't enough to stop this moment of pure joy.
But his emotional suppressor was.
"Shit!" He cursed as his emotions dampened. One second, he's having the time of his life, feeling all the stress and burned of being a phony ruler go away. The next second, his happiness is completely abolished.
Similar to the dead people below.
They escaped the city, thinking they were safe.
But NOPE!
They ended up becoming the seat cushion for a beast they'll never know about or even hear about how they died since they're all dead now.
But really? What's up with that guy? He couldn't even fix his flight? I guess I'll send his remains to the Laboratory. I'm sure Argent or the 7 Craftsmen can make use of it... Ainz thought how useless and a waste of his personal YGGDRASIL gold it was to summon it.
What's even more unfortunate, is that he has to summon a new one. It's not like he could go back to the Guild and say 'Sike! That beast was only pretending to be my pet' or 'Turns out it died!'. Who would believe such a beast could be bested? It would only raise suspicion about Momon actually taming it, and end up tarnishing the name he built up so far.
Ainz let out a sigh, thinking about how he has another petty thing to do.
Little did he know, the Dracolisk was perfectly capable of regaining its flight pattern, it's just that this one, in particular, couldn't. When Ainz pulled its neck on accident, he ended up crushing the beast's trachea and forced it to die of suffocation.
He also didn't know Demiurge had been talking to him via [Message] this whole time, explaining how he would fix mistakes and confirming what he thought was Ainz's future plans all along. It was only till he heard his voice in his head that he focused again.
[...And that's what I had deducted from your Master Plan so far… were there any parts that my guesses didn't align correctly?]
"[...N-No! Not at all! Good Work Demiurge!]"
All Ainz could do was pretend. But it was only after he replied that he caught onto the last words Demiurge said and replayed in his head loud and clear.
Was he telling MY plan? The one HE came up with and I have absolutely NO IDEA about!? How could I miss such a golden opportunity!?
He was busy scolding himself in his head when he came up with a great idea.
"[-Umu. It seems I still want to know more about the situation in E-Rantel, meet me back at the Throne Room.]"
[Very well, Ainz-sama.]
That was all he said, before terminating the [Message]. A rush of everything that occurred left Ainz feeling the overwhelming pressure of being at the top.
Nazarick Throne Room
Ainz and Narberal arrived after sending B-Drag to the 9th floor and were strolling past the grandeur doors. When they entered, Demiurge was already there waiting for them. Ainz took his rightful seat on the [Throne of Kings, and Narberal stood to the side.
His gaze fell over Demiurge, realizing he won't speak till he's spoken to first.
"Hmm. I have to apologize for summoning you here despite your busy schedule."
"What are you saying Ainz-sama? It's a servant's role to head their master's call."
"Is that so... Then, tell me about what you have planned to achieve for E-Rantel so far. If anything goes wrong, it could deviate our plans by a couple of years."
The two crystal eyes widened in shock, hearing his master's words.
"Y-years? That much?" Demiurge asked.
"-Umu. My plans aren't simple. The slightest misstep will cause further problems in the future."
"I-I see."
Demiurge crinkled his brows, attempting to align his calculations with his master's. It's so frustrating! A servant who had been created for intelligence can't even scratch the surface of his mind...
Gottem! And my Bullshit hit its target! Ainz thought, seeing Demiurge didn't have an immediate response.
Giving up on his personal game, Demiurge didn't waste time to explain.
"Well, the Undead invasion is a premise to set up 4 points for the future of your Grand plans. Although, you've probably already seen the infinite possibilities of this scandal..."
"F-four points!? Hoh? I only guessed two of them." Ainz said. I have no clue what any of those points are! I only said two because I didn't want to seem dumb but if I said any more, I'd feel like I'm defacing Demiurge's hard work. Uwahh! So Pathetic!
"Kukuku… There's no need to humble yourself Ainz-sama. I can only dream of stepping closer to your unfathomable wisdom."
'No, you've actually far surpassed me already.' is what he wanted to say, but since he's the absolute ruler… He had to force another lie through.
"Umu. Don't worry Demiurge, you'll catch up one day."
"Your praise is wasted on me Ainz-sama." The Demon bowed once more.
If he could, Ainz would have sworn Demiurge bowed even lower than before.
"Now then, tell me about your two points I haven't seen through. But since I don't know which two points those are, I guess you just have to explain all four…. Of course, it's to make sure we cover everything…"
Yes, to cover EVERYTHING. Ainz thought.
Demiurge nodded and pushed his glasses up as if it wasn't already perfectly placed onto his face.
"The first point is a bit personal. It's simply to acquire more 'sheep'. I found a nice ripe flock of them, ready to be collected. With the Invasion as a diversion, I'll be able to acquire them with no resistance or suspicion of their disappearance. After the devastation the city will go through, a couple of missing livestock won't be their main issues…"
"Hmm? Sheep? Well, whatever. As long as it's for the good of Nazarick. That's very cunning of you Demiurge. And what of the next point?"
If I remember correctly, Demiurge brought up a farm project… Could this be related to it?
"The second goal is to acquire more resources. As our tasks begin to sustain longer terms away from Nazarick and the cost of running it remains rising, by plundering the city of their wealth, we'll be able to upkeep the funds for our expeditions and also initiate more operations earlier than planned..."
Ainz rubbed his bony chin, putting on 'Contemplating Ruler' pose number 2.
"I figured as much…" He said. Yet, in his mind, he was rolling around on the floor screaming. Waahhhh how didn't I think of such a brilliant plan!?
"So… what's the next one?
"The third goal is one I've come up with since you and Narberal have become adventurers. To raise your reputation higher, you two will be the ones to save E-Rantel, showing your prowess and becoming the savior of the city. Since E-Rantel is a pillar for the Economy, having a savior will come in handy later on when we move onto the next phase…"
Ainz had already given up trying to guess Demiurge's plan. He was good at following along, but when he starts to mention 'the Next Phase', his mind instinctively shuts down and goes on vacation.
All he could do was a motion for him to mention the last part. But his Undead mind had already been fried.
"It was unexpected since originally the plan was to use one of my Evil Lords as the villain, but I came to learn about an organization called Zurrenorn. Their roots are spread internationally, and by spreading their infamy, we'll be able to root them out and choose whether to use their reach… or, if they don't fit into your vision, we can get rid of them. But it all starts by making their deeds reach the ears of the public in every nation." Demiurge concluded.
Ainz's red eyes flickered as he regained his consciousness. Although he missed the last part, he knew what he needed to: Rush in and save the day. Easy Peasy.
He noticed Demiurge on standby, waiting for his insight.
"It seems I was wrong about overworking you Demiurge. You've done an exemplary job." He said, and he was sincere too. Demiurge did far exceed his expectations. But when has he never?
"Your words are wast-"
"However…" Ainz cut him off, making his body stiffen. "...I still think having a person to assist you will help you accomplish greater things. It'll also serve as a way to expand the growth of those who aren't currently operating outside of Nazarick."
"I understand."
Ainz's eyes shifted over to Narberal, recalling how she fared outside of Nazarick. Maybe I should send those who actually can handle working with humans on espionage missions… And leave the others for things like assisting.
As he recalled all the names of the denizens of Nazarick, looking at Narberal made him remember the Pleiades maid who wasn't human, albeit they all weren't, there was the one who looked the most 'inhuman'.
Entoma Vasilissa Zeta.
"Narberal, go and inform Entoma that she'll be working under Demiurge. She's to help assist him with his tasks."
"Yes, Ainz-sama," Narberal said and left to carry out her instructions.
"Now then… I believe that's all I needed for now. Demiurge, wait for Entoma to join you before going back out."
Ainz was met with a confirmation, and he strode out. Now that he was finally alone, his destination was the one place he didn't want to go to.
12th Floor The Treasury
Ainz activated his ring and teleported into the entrance of the 12th Floor. It was a simple and straight walkway that leads the 13th Floor with barely any traps or hidden features. The only 'fight' invaders would have to take if they made it this war was the summoned trio of Cerberus, Hydra, and Eagle monsters. They were level 95 but could defeat a party of level 100 players with their equipment and synergy bonuses.
However, this easy path was only if they took the straight route.
Although the 12th floor wasn't grand, that was only because the actual Treasury was sealed up. It was completely encased, with the only way to enter is the [Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown]. That or Pandora's Actor would have to activate the teleportation pad from the inside.
The Treasury was one of the only places in Nazarick that nobody could disarm the teleportation ban, not even Aureole Omega. Due to this, when someone attempts to teleport into the Treasury from anywhere outside of the 12th Floor, they'll be sent straight to the entrance of the floor.
Since Ainz had the ring, he didn't need to contact Pandora's Actor, something he was more than willing to do.
He activated the ring once more and was sent into the Vault.
It was a long and wide hallway, reaching as high as the heavens. But every spot along the wall was protected by translucent glass, encasing hundreds of thousands of items inside.
If the tomb was described as dark and evil, this place was the complete opposite- bright and holy. Everything was gold and shined with a lure capable of seducing a blind man.
As he walked through the halls, he came into the first main room. Inside of it, it opened up and the grand space held even more items. But what stood out to anyone who first entered, was the abundant pile of gold lying in the middle of the room.
Gold coins, weapons, armors, and jewelry all slept together in this heap.
It was quite a common sight, after all, there wasn't any space left along the walls and storage on the whole floor; that's how rich Ainz Ooal Gown was. Even after dedicating a whole floor to it, there were still things to spare, and not a little- it was a pile overflowing with each new thing added onto it.
However, seeing this scene from a screen and video game was completely different from being here in real life. The smell of riches, the fell of cleanliness and purity, and the glory of the Guild that no screen could capture fully- he stood at the center of it all. Then-
Sitting on top of a couch was an Undead. He had regal clothes on and if he stood directly next to Ainz, it would be a complete mirror.
He rose and walked directly in front of Ainz. And then-
"Meine Creator! It's been so long since I've last seen you! How I missed the company of the Supreme Beeeeeiiiiing!" It said in an unusual voice, one that was completely different from the regal and noble voice the leader of the Supreme Beings spoke with.
Ah! And that's why I've not come here since we were transported to this World…
"Pandora's Actor, you can revert to your original form," Ainz said.
The Undead Overlord's body ripples, shifting, and pulsing. Eventually, it transformed into the body of someone wearing a mustard yellow military uniform- the ones old Germany wore in the era of WWII. He had high boots on that overlapped the pants tucked into it. And over it all, he wore a coat draping down to his calves.
But what stood out was his four long fingers and his egg-shaped head with three holes, acting like eyes and a mouth.
"Ahhh, Meiiiine Creator! What can I do for you today?" The Floor Guardian of the 12th Floor said enthusiastically.
"I came here to summon a Beast. Aura should have come here recently to do so too." He said.
"Ahh Aura… Yes, she was here too. Is it the same Beast? It would be my pleasure to show the Führer of the Supreme Beings the way." Pandora's Actor clicked his heels and bowed in deeply.
Uwahh! Cringe… Why did past me have to be like this!? But… the military uniforms are sick.
"N-No, no, no. There's no reason for me to trouble you. I'm more than familiar with- WHAT IS THAT!?" Ainz burst out.
With his embarrassment of Pandora's Actor, he completely failed to see the Humungous golden statue built behind the Pile of Gold.
It was shaped to be an angel… And he knew who exactly it was.
"Lucifer-san! W-when did…" His voice was cut off when he noticed the statue better.
"Holy… Shit…"
Ainz's red lights landed onto the staff, but when he looked back at the pose the statue was doing, it made him want to claw his eyes out.
The Statue of his friend was completely naked and with his right hand raised as if he put the first flag onto the moon. And his left hand was resting on his hip.
But Ainz's eyes landed on the massive thing between its legs. It wasn't that he wanted to stare at it, but rather it was sharp and twirled, making his former male self cringe at such a sight. But what made him want to claw his eyes out was that it was an exact replica of the Guild Weapon.
His friend had used the image that symbolized the Guild… as his manly part.
Bruh…
His non-existent eyebrows furrowed, trying to figure out when his friend had the time to build this. Ever since he was the only person logging on to the game, he'd constantly travel to the Treasury to pay the upkeeping fees and to dump all the earnings he gathered from dungeons and PKing. Not once, had he seen this statue before.
If it was there, he would have noticed it without a doubt.
"...Pandora, when did…" was all he could get out. As far as he knew, Pandora's Actor had been here the whole time and since the NPCs could remember things that happened before the transportation, he too should be able to recall when this statue was built.
"Ah! Das! It was quite a work of art. Lucifer-sama had been working on it for quite some time. I do admire his love for Magical Items. He even made a perfect replica of the Guild Weapon to replace the one on the 8th Floor!" He brought his hands in the air, shaking them wildly to emphasize the feature.
"Wha-" Was all Ainz could get out of his mouth. He realized his friend created a statue for a last-minute prank that he didn't know about, which meant that he logged in on the last day to set it up.
Grief and remorse washed over him, thinking that perhaps he too could've been transported to this New World. If only… was the words he could think of.
But then-
Ainz recalled what Pandora's Actor just said:
'He even made a perfect replica of the Guild Weapon'
He didn't want to think it was what was being implied, so he pulled out the [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown] from his personal inventory and looked at it. He inspected every inch of it…
And it was normal.
He let out a sigh of relief, knowing it was the real deal. But-
Those words stuck out again:
'Perfect Replica'
He had to be sure. Ainz cast [All Appraisal Magic Item] and his jaw dropped as the knowledge filled his skull.
The item he held onto wasn't the Guild Weapon. It was: [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown - Gottem!]
Ainz didn't know what to say. This whole time, he's been sleeping with this staff, only to find out it wasn't the original.
How stupid...
Now that he knew it was a replica, it made him recall the events when he first arrived in this New World: The staff and how it fell when he let it go, summoning weaker monsters, and not fully containing the abilities the Guild Weapon had. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense it was a fake.
Ainz felt a last bit of admiration the more he thought about his friend, and how he worked secretly- logging on and gathering the items to create this item. Although the weapon wasn't as strong as the Guild Weapon, it was still a Divine Class Item and a strong one too.
But then, his gaze lifted to the statue of Lucifer. More specifically, the real staff used as such a prop.
How disgraceful… Ainz thought. He raised his hand and cast another [All Appraisal Magic Item, confirming that this was the Guild Weapon. He could have Pandora's Actor retrieve it, but even he wasn't that cruel.
He grabbed onto the staff and pulled it out. He then placed it into his personal Inventory to place it back on the 8th Floor. If there was something he enjoyed about this last prank, it was the free Divine Weapon he could use, and the memory of all those pranks the Guild Members would pull off with each other. Even if it was a replica, it would be nice to hold on to outside of the Tomb and take it wherever he went as a testament to his memories with his friends.
Pandora's Actor, who had spent the most time with Suzuki Satoru, before turning into the overlord, knew what his creator felt inside. From all the monologues and words he spoke as he used Pandora as a model for his Friend's avatars, Pandora knew the loneliness his creator felt deep inside.
"Momonga-sama…" He said sympathetically.
It snapped Ainz out of his memory lane, returning to what he had to do now.
"Ah! Pandora, I go by the name Ainz Ooal Gown now… so just refer to me as Ainz."
"Oh, Ja! Albedo had informed me a while back. Vergib mir for forgetting." Pandora gave another dramatic bow.
But somehow, Ainz knew the truth. Despite his shame in Pandora's Actor, he felt a connection to him that he didn't have with any other NPC. He knew Pandora let it slip and he sensed Ainz's true emotions. But it was only a hunch he had, and he wasn't going to pry to know more.
Ainz took one more look at the Staff and then headed to the section with the Summoning Books in the Treasury.
Pathway to E-Rantel
The members of Swords of Darkness had all heard the commotion caused in E-Pespel because of the Undead swarming E-Rantel. Like humans, they feared the sheer number of Undead reported. But when they heard Momon and Nabe were on their way to face this calamity, they had to go. How could they let those two be the only ones to attempt and help the people in danger.
With the new gold they earned, they all bought new weapons and replenished their stock. Peter bought a lightly enchanted sword and Ninya got a new staff, one with a better affinity to the user's magic. Lukrut got a new bow with stronger arrows and bought a new short sword. Dyne decided to skip any changes, but instead, he got a bunch of potions.
They were heading to the city, all thinking about how they could test out their new weapons on the swarming undead.
"Ha! Hopefully, we can live to see the results…" Lukrut joked, but in reality, he was scared out of his shoes.
If it wasn't for the beautiful Nabe risking her life to save E-Rantel, he would've turned tail and flee.
"C'mon guys, we can do this! Remember, Momon-san and Miss Nabe defeated 50,000 Goblins and Ogres… I'm sure if we meet up with them, some skeletons won't be a big deal." Peter said. He was trying to boost their morale despite not feeling all confident himself.
"Mm, Peter's right. We should look for Momon-san first-"
Dyne's words went silent as Lukrut raised his hand for their group to stop.
"What is it?" Ninya asked.
"I smell blood nearby."
Peter took the front and they formed a circular formation with Dyne in the center. If they smelt blood, then that means the Undead might've already finished off E-Rantel and were heading to E-Pespel. But what was worst, was that none of them could see or hear the enemy.
Nobody had any idea of where they could be attacked.
Swords of Darkness slowly moved along the pathway, making sure to carefully observe the slightest of changes in the wind.
Then-
Crunch
The cracking of wood could be heard as Peter stepped on a frail piece of wood, breaking it in two.
The group's formation changed and focused their attention on the direction Peter was moving in.
When they all caught met up… their eyes widened with shock and their jaws dropped to the ground.
Standing before Peter, a dent in the ground was caved in, and in the center of it was a bunch of wood and metal crushed. Everything was engraved into the ground like a work of art. All of the Swords of Darkness would be amazed at such a sight… if only it weren't for the blood splattered all around the crater.
Blood decorated the dented ground like dye splattered on a canvas. Simply put, it was everywhere- as if someone took a juicy orange and crushed it, causing the juice to splash all around.
"Who could've done this?"
"More like 'what'..."
The Carriage was in the middle of the road, with nothing nearby that could pose an open threat. If it were undead, there would be swarms of foot tracks in the dirt and they would've encountered the Undead on their way here.
Whatever did this… sent a chill down all 4 people's spines.
Every one of them gulped and questioned whether they should continue onwards or not.
...