Voracity
Chapter Eleven
Purpose
***V***
"Shalltear has been taken."
Those were Momonga's first words to me. Cocytus and I met him and Albedo in Nazarick's throne room. He was pacing back and forth, robes billowing and staff ticking on the floor. I could probably count on one hand the number of times I had seen him so agitated. He looked and sounded like a ruler should. Authoritative, even in crisis. Facing him so soon after my... After... Fuck. After everything I'd done was made so much easier by the oppressive circumstance and his professionalism.
"That's... What? I just saw her. Just yesterday. Or the day before, I think. Before..." Before. Rage, indignation, and a slurry of other emotions in a self-loathing cocktail bubbled to the surface before subsiding back into the muck. Torque tightened around my bare arms. Better than any security blanket, his pressure on my body and mind soothed me enough to function. For the sake of my dignity, I had taken a moment to clean myself in Tabula's bathroom and throw on some simple clothes before meeting Momonga.
"A World item was used on her." There was no guesswork in his tone. His pacing slowed somewhat. Albedo's mouth tightened into a worried frown and I heard Cocytus' breath hiss beside me. Their presence helped me maintain composure as well.
"How do you know?" I asked. I didn't doubt him. I just wanted to know how he came to that conclusion.
"Wish Upon A Star had no effect on the mind control. The only thing that could have done that is a World item." Finally he stopped pacing, holding up one of the many rings that never left his bony fingers.
Ah, that's right. That Gacha game Divine class ring that-
"Mind control? Shit! What's she doing? Did she attack you?" From inside his sheath, Torque rattled with his desire to spring forth. My adrenaline spiked. This was a threat. This was a real threat. This was worse than if a hostile squad of max level players suddenly knocked on Nazarick's front door. Tabula's Tarot called to me. Reality was thin. The urge to look was sorely tempting.
"No, she did not attack. There was no one I could detect around her. It's most likely that without anyone directly ordering her into action that she will only fight to defend herself." Momonga dragged down one of the few menus that still functioned, then flipped it around for me to see. Shalltear's name was a damning red. "She's hostile on the guild roster. Whoever did it to her did not stick around. She appears to just be waiting for instruction. Unless that was what she was ordered to do, in order to lay a trap for Nazarick and lure us out. Possibly for more Guardians to take control of."
I eased back my instinct to tear through probability, though it left my fingers itchy. By working my hands over Torque's chains, I eased some of that discomfort. I couldn't help but glance at Albedo, then to Cocytus when Momonga mentioned other Guardians being taken. Albedo had her head down, looking off to the side, hands clasped as if in prayer and held tightly against her chest. Cocytus' lower arms were crossed over his stomach. My gaze lingered long enough to see the fingers of his primary hands twitch a little. I wasn't the only one wanting to come to grips with an enemy that seemed unwilling to fight personally.
"Do you think whoever did this wasn't strong enough to control her?" What had we missed? What was in this new world that was capable of such a thing? This land of level zero farmers and level ten adventurers fighting goblins and slime and other such beginner monsters.
Momonga shook his head. "If they used a World Item, then it does not matter what level the caster was. Whatever the case, it means that the threat to Nazarick is as grave as I feared. The only thing that can counter a World Item is another World Item. We have no choice but to kill, then resurrect her."
"Will that work?" My blood ran cold, then hot, then cold again. Different stress responses were triggering in my brain with Prophet of Evolution adapting to keep me fit for a fight. My own practice bout with Shalltear flickered through my head.
"It has to. Even a World item has some basic rules it must adhere to. If Shalltear dies, then it should clear the mind control. That is our best chance. Our best hope. If I had more foresight, this would not have happened." Huge and regal as I'd ever seen him, Momonga turned to face the Throne of Kings, releasing the Guild Staff to let it float by his side. His skeletal hands tightened into fists before unclenching one and placing it over his face. "This is my failure. I should have foreseen this."
Albedo spoke up first.
"No, Lord Ainz! The failure is ours. Shalltear should have known better. She should not have gotten herself into a position to be captured. As Overseer, her mistake is mine. Let me face Shalltear."
"Shalltear. Can. Be. Too. Arrogant. Too. Confident. In. Herself. Regardless. It. Is. Our. Duty. To. Rectify. This. Error. Albedo. And. I. Can. Bring. Shalltear. Back."
"No!" Momonga did not quite shout, though his volume caused both Guardians to drop to one knee. I held my tongue for the moment. "No," he began softly, "I have a plan. Cocytus, please head to the first floor to aid the others. All the other Guardians have already been recalled from their external missions, excluding Sebas and Solution. Be ready for a possible assault. The Tomb is on maximum alert as of this moment. Tyrannica, Albedo and I must retrieve items from the treasury that will be of vital importance to our defense."
"At. Once. Lord. Ainz." Cocytus sprung back to his feet. I wasn't sure if he was running. Long legs certainly made it seem that way.
As if he was connected to the Guild Staff the same way I was connected to Torque, Momonga called the item to him just by holding open his hand. An invisible tug came from the finger with my guild ring on it. Still below Death's Affection. Enough changes had been made to my brain's chemicals that melancholy did not weigh me down from following Momonga in teleporting to the treasury. Only those wearing the Guild Ring could enter. Any guild who didn't want to be robbed blind by anyone with enough patience and lockpicking had their treasury put behind some mechanism whose access was strictly controlled. Our tour never made it this far, despite Momonga talking about wanting to show me all that he had built.
Mountains made of actual gold pieces stretched on seemingly forever. As an extra-dimensional space, I knew it could expand or shrink to fit virtually any amount of that precious currency. I wonder if that still held true. Once, I might have been awed at all this gold being a reality. Even taken into context of YGGDRASIL it was an impressive display. While the game's numbers could sometimes get absurdly large, some guild assets climbing into the trillions, it did do one thing right. Being able to physically stand among an actual representation of the wealth at least gave an appreciation for its scope.
Momonga spoke a call and response type passcode to the one doorway with nothing but a deep abyss. I glanced at Albedo. While she stood straight, her dress still flawless and waterfall of ebony hair groomed to perfection, there was a watery glisten to her eyes. Was she worried about Momonga? Shalltear? Nazarick? I wish I knew what to say. A better person would find the right words to comfort, to inspire.
The blackness blocking the doorway shrank into nothing. Without waiting to see if we were following, Momonga set off. For a while, Albedo and I stuck to his heels in silence, broken only by Momonga's robes and Torque's gentle music. Hundreds of weapons or other pieces of gear were on display in recessed cutouts in the stone. The lighting was from dim strips along the walls, placing further emphasis on each brightly lit display. The Tomb seemed to live up to its title quite well. I was reminded again of Momonga, wandering its halls when all the others had gone. That lonely vigil.
"Beyond the Armory is the Mausoleum. That is where we are headed." Though he had spoken suddenly, Momonga's voice did not disturb the reverence that pervaded the place.
"Mausoleum, Lord Ainz?" Albedo asked. I was curious too.
"Ah, neither of you would know. Albedo, do you know about the Guardian down here?"
"Yes, as Overseer, I am aware of Pandora's Actor. Though I have never met him, I know he is the treasury's administrator. That he rivals the rest of the Guardians in intelligence and cunning. And that he was created by you, Lord Ainz."
"You created an NPC?" I asked. Strange that he hadn't mentioned this until now. Watching over the treasury was definitely important. I guess we've been so caught up in things it was low on the priority list.
The hall of the Armory opened into a well lit square room. If we had been playing a game ourselves, I would guess this to be a boss arena. Only a small sofa occupied the otherwise empty space. I expected someone to be sitting there, I just wasn't expecting exactly who that someone was. Albedo gasped.
Tabula? For a bare sliver of time between heart beats, I almost believed... False Face. Skin Wearer. Body Double. Doppelganger.
This was not Tabula.
"You're not Lord Tabula! Even if you copy his aura, I know my creator." Accused Albedo. Hm, I wonder how she figured it out? Interesting. What was more, Albedo was obviously pissed at the deception.
Imposter could not intimidate Mistress. Would know. Even perfect double cannot be perfect Mistress.
Albedo could tell because she knew Tabula so well that even a Doppelganger could not fool her.
"That's enough, Pandora's Actor." Momonga ordered.
In a rather disturbing display of bubbling flesh that Tabula himself no doubt would have been proud of, Pandora's Actor changed into what I assumed to be his default appearance. A hand with four long fingers came up in a crisp salute. Booted heels snapped together. An impressively authentic military uniform draped over the blank-faced figure.
"A Greater Doppelganger. Impressive." With limited shapeshifting abilities myself and their importance to the role I often played in YGGDRASIL, I had researched other racials as well. Momonga was not the sort to do things partway. "What can he do?" Any Doppelganger's effectiveness relied on the forms available.
"He can transform into any guild member of Ainz Ooal Gown with close to eighty percent combat effectiveness, including myself." Momonga was clearly proud of what Panadora was capable of. "After most of the others were gone, I needed someone to help me manage Nazarick's finances."
I definitely couldn't fault Momonga for his choice in Pandora's creation. Woe unto the fool who saw a single protector of the treasury and thought to take him on. Pandora was a one man army. Yet I wondered if Momonga had chosen Pandora's programmed forms for another reason? Having maintained Nazarick, did Momonga ever get so lonely that he would come talk to some of our friends who had left? Even if they couldn't answer back? It'd be a chance to have those conversations that he'd always wanted to have. Really though, I doubted that was the case. Momonga was too professional, even when no one was around. It was probably just me projecting.
The Weeping Girl. Major Arcana. A girl is kneeling in her bed, clutching a doll that she thinks of as herself. She speaks to it quiet as a whisper, but harsh as a scream. She berates it, shakes it, strangles it little throat, telling it what a bad girl it is. How disappointed it makes every-
Fuck! Now is not the time. I pinched off a few more nerves to stay in the moment, letting the part of me that still cares wash away in my connection with Torque. He grabs that piece, wrapping it in a protective cocoon of chains. He knows what I want even before I do sometimes. For that, I'm forever grateful.
"Oh damn. With rapid transformation, can he layer class abilities?" Even though it was impossible to fully separate myself from the crisis, a momentary diversion was welcome.
"I can indeed, Tyrant of Chains." Pandora answered, even putting a bow into it for added deference. I guess it was rather rude to talk about him like he wasn't there.
"You know me?" That did surprise me. Maybe just because in the back of my head I was conflating Momonga's rejection with him not caring about me. That part was still crammed into its little corner of my head, telling me it was impossible for Pandora to know me because Momonga would've had no reason to talk about me.
"Of course! I know all of the glorious Supreme Beings as well as I know myself! I suspected your return, Lady Tyrannica, when Lord Momonga retrieved your gear from the Mausoleum. There didn't happen to be..." Pandora's Actor trailed off, placing a long-fingered hand over his breast pocket. "Anyone else who perhaps returned?"
"No, Pandora's Actor. Tyrannica was the only one who stayed." Momonga remained composed. I wouldn't have blamed him if he added an 'unfortunately' to the end of his statement. I'm sure my outburst was only getting in his way of effectively running the Tomb. But I couldn't delve down that pit, no matter how warm the static seemed. Though really, the static was not warm, it was just noise and pain.
Whatever the case, Pandora recovered quickly, shooting back upright and striking a pose with one arm outstretched in askance. "I see. Lord Momonga, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
Momonga cleared a throat he didn't have anymore. "I have come to retrieve some World Items. Billion Blades. Depiction of Nature and Society. Avarice and Generosity. Those three for now, but be ready in case we require any of the others."
My eyes nearly burst out of my head. How many World Items did we have? I was about to ask when Pandora's Actor shouted.
"World Items!" Pandora proceeded to go on a tirade about the magnificent sleeping wonders resting in the deepest vaults. He even twirled in place, striking various poses as he did so. For all his antics, Momonga seemed to be taking things in stride. At least until I saw him physically cringe at the embarrassing display, turning away to compose himself a moment. Albedo's mostly unreadable expression seemed like a disappointed supervisor.
Momonga tried to wrest back control. "Yes, and I go by Ainz Ooal Gown now."
"Of course, my creator! Your word is law, Lord Ainz." With a sweep of his leg and a tip of his cap, Pandora dipped into a bow that would've put a million dollar maitre d' to shame.
We walked by the still bowing Pandora in order to head into the Mausoleum itself. The last thing I was expecting was for him to nearly leap forward, boots skidding on the floor as he came so uncomfortably close the brim of his cap nearly touched my forehead. Behind him, Momonga's jaw dropped open at his creation's audacity in such short order I wondered if it would fall off entirely.
"Lady Tyrannica, would you do me but one small, no, enormous favor! A boon? A blessing? A singular iota of succor?" Even though he was already six feet inside my three foot personal bubble, Pandora leaned closer with
"Uh, what is it?" I didn't want to be mean just because mister world war three was a bit eccentric.
"May I... May I... May I! May I touch your weapon! May I lay but a finger upon the majestic Torque now that he has awakened? I must confess an insatiable curiosity. When he was dormant, I could see nothing inside his sheath. But of what I could discern, of what I had heard! A creation of singular craftsmanship. Forged of spoils won. Heated in the fires of battle and quenched in the blood of your foes!"
If nothing else, he was certainly flattering. I leaned Torque forward and used the motion to free up a little personal space.
Strange imposter man is strange.
A jolt ran through Torque as Pandora used some kind of appraisal skill to find just how deep my Living Weapon went. At least until a foreign mind almost brushed against my own and Torque locked me behind an impenetrable wall of Fatemetal, Slyphsilver, and Deadlead. Torque was not about to let anyone or anything touch me in the way that only he could and made it very clear to Pandora that was as far as he was allowed to go. To his credit, the Guardian took the hint, even offering an apology to my blade.
"My deepest apologies, Torque, I would never infringe on the sacred trust between you and Lady Tyrannica. I simply cannot resist lovely blades or lovely ladies. The two of them together? Irresistible is not a strong enough word!" The Doppelganger put one hand on his chest while the other reached straight up in the air, as if making his proclamation to the heavens.
"Okay, come here a moment." Momonga dragged Pandora off to a side hall. I couldn't entirely fault him. Everyone's made things we thought were cool only later to reflect and wonder what we were thinking at the time? Style and fashion was certainly at the top of that list. Though if Momonga thought I wouldn't hear most of what he was saying, then he was quite mistaken.
"Right, let us carry on." Momonga tried again to regain control of the situation, proceeding as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"Hey, Pandora, I think your coat's pretty cool too." I had to do it. The temptation, the opportunity, was too good to pass up.
"You do?"
"You do?"
I glanced between creator and creation, not quite sure who had spoken first. A real smile teased the corners of my lips. The moment of levity faded along with the light as we entered the Mausoleum. Momonga instructed Albedo and I to take off our guild rings lest we trigger a final defense mechanism. I gathered Torque's chains more tightly to myself to keep him from making quite so much noise. Honoring the lost was important. Even if it was just the three of us.
My feelings at the moment were... Complicated. A tangle. Mostly somber. For the short time I'd known her, Albedo never seemed sad. It was disconcerting to see it then.
Momonga stopped in front of the golem wearing Pero's gear. "These are the Avatara. I couldn't bring myself to sell anyone's gear. So I thought what better resting place than one where they might still defend the Tomb." He trailed off, saying nothing more. What was going through that bony head of his? As much as I wanted to delve down the rabbit hole of reminiscing, there was work to be done.
"Ainz, talk to me. What's the plan? Albedo's already got a World Item. Who's going to wield the other three? Cocytus? Demiurge? A small strike team would probably be best. A group that can get in and out before the fight draws too much attention." Even the best of the best players could only hope to fight a few opponents at once. And that was with luck, surprise, and intimidation.
"No, that would be an unacceptable risk. Shalltear's weapon, Spuit Lance, heals her when she does damage with it. Fighting her with a group presents greater danger."
"Holy shit, okay. I thought they perma-banned all direct lifesteal weapons?" I was still bitter about the lifesteal rune I had to destroy rather than imbue Torque with. I'd ask Momonga about how Shalltear had one after business was done. I was already turning over effective tactics in my head to produce maximum damage in as short a burst as possible. "So, just you, I, and Albedo?"
"No, I will fight Shalltear alone."
The words hung in the air like a discordant bell toll. Albedo and I glanced at each other. I think both of us were waiting for the punchline to his jest.
"You're kidding, right?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Lord Ainz!" Albedo exclaimed. It seemed I wasn't the only one trying to grasp Momonga's insanity.
Rather than answer, just kept staring at the Avatara. "Would they be proud? Would they condemn me? There's an empty spot in the Mausoleum for me. That I planned on using. But I wonder if I am still worthy of such an honor."
His brooding was infectious.
"You're one that deserves his place among the remembered. I wonder where mine is." I muttered, not really meaning to phrase it as a question. Or say it out loud for that matter. It was rather discomforting. I didn't want to see my own Avatara. Even if it was just a vague golem shape. It would be like reading my own headstone.
"Down near the end with the first of Nine's Own Goal." He pointed with all the portentous seriousness of the ferryman across the river Styx.
"Why?" Albedo wailed, dress bunching up in her clenched fists. "Why are you two speaking as if you're going to leave? As if you're already gone? Have we displeased you? You just need to say what the problem is and all of Nazarick will eliminate it." The tears that welled up in her eyes shimmered with the gold of her iris. "If the fault lies with my existence, then I will remove that too!" Tears poured from her face. Somehow she was still beautiful where most other women would be a mess.
I turned away. This was out of my depth. I could only clutch Torque tighter as the beauty sobbed. Momonga did not share my hesitation. He bent down, lifting up Albedo's chin and using his robes to wipe away her tears.
"Please, Lord Ainz. Please, let the Guardians help. I am your shield! I can do nothing if you leave me behind. We were created for a purpose.
Purpose. That word struck a nerve, reverberating between the many strings of my hearts.
"I agree with Albedo, if we want Shalltear taken care of quickly, then the safest way is to overwhelm her with a coordinated attack from several max level Guardians."
Helping Albedo to her feet, Momonga remained adamant. "As I said, the risk of more of them being taken by whatever affected Shalltear is too great."
"But you said yourself that the whole reason you're taking the World Items out of the vault is so that the Guardians won't be vulnerable to them." I was getting frustrated. Why wouldn't he listen to reason? Was it me? Had I broken his trust with my confession? No, no, no, there had to be something else. Some other strategy. He was always so clever. Whatever the case, Momonga didn't seem like he was going to budge. This required a different approach.
"Albedo, could you give us some privacy, please?" I left Torque standing upright in his sheath to wrap my hands around hers. Hopefully she knew what I was going to try to do. Some of Torque's more delicate chains wound down my fingers to give Albedo's wrists a squeeze. She gave me a pleading look. One I think I understood. Neither of us wanted Momonga to embark on a suicide mission. After I released my grip on her she gave a bow of such ladylike poise the simple gesture was more feminine than I'd ever been in my entire life.
I waited until she was gone, then waited a moment longer.
"Momonga, you're too clever for this. If..." Oh this was going to hurt to say. "If my actions have made you think less of me in any way, then I understand. But don't let that affect your decision to let the Guardians help." There, I said it. Even though it carved into the place between my hearts, I said it. I wish I could take it back.
"It's a trap. Shalltear is too prime as bait. I do not like being forced to battle on the enemy's terms so we have to fight smart. There are going to be observers. We know too little. Our enemies know too much. We have to only let anyone watching see what we want them to see." Confidence. Certainty even in the face of frustrating or hopeless scenarios.
Completely avoiding the subject of my feelings for him hurt worse than an outright rebuttal. I powered through. No matter how small I felt before his stature and mantle of authority.
"Why not send the others, then? Make a group of Albedo, Cocytus and other max levels who synergize together. They can kill her quickly without risk of a prolonged battle. The faster it is, the less our enemies know. Deploy scry counters. Erase all evidence we were even there. Plant false information around the site."
"What if that World Item user is lurking nearby and takes one of the ones we send?" Even though he no longer needed to sleep, he sounded tired.
"Albedo already has a World item, and wouldn't be affected. Besides, what if they use it on you, Momonga? You are the one irreplaceable piece. I don't know the Tomb. I don't know its secrets like you do. I can't use the guild item. You've said the same damn thing three times now and it's made less sense each time you've said it. Why are you so set on doing this? It's stupid. This isn't like you!"
Rather than answer, he once again looked to the Avatara wearing Pero's gear. I wanted to believe he was doing all this for a reason. He seemed to need a moment to collect his thoughts. When he did, it was so quiet that only my sharper senses caught his words.
"I don't want to watch them kill each other."
"What?" I stupidly blurted. That took me by surprise. I didn't quite understand. Momonga was quiet for a bit longer before he turned to me.
"The Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick and its inhabitants are all that I... All that we have left of our friends. Before, the NPCs were just data. Many of them labors of love in the same way that paintings or sculptures are, but still just data. Now they are alive." He turned his head to Pero's likeness, then back to meet my stare. "And I think of them as our guild's legacy. I cannot shake the impression that they are now in a way, the children of our friends. Because of that, I cannot order them to kill Shalltear. What would Peroroncino say if he knew? Blue Planet? Whitelace? Bukubukuchagama? They cannot say anything. Because they are gone. They entrusted me with everything. Everything."
As soon as he said it, I could see it too. Short of another miraculous world shift, the guild of Ainz Ooal Gown was effectively just the two of us. Momonga had been in mourning probably since he built the Mausoleum. Since the reality of everyone leaving and never coming back really sank in. It was where he buried the digital bodies of his friends. Then the game ended. That world was essentially dead to us. All he had is what they left behind. Now that what has become a who. Who do people leave behind to remember them? Most of the time, it's children. I'd be a liar if I pretended not to see a lot of each creator in the Guardians.
I couldn't imagine the pressure he was under. Not just to rule. Not just to keep the Tomb running, let along functional with how willful the Guardians could be. But to also live up to the expectations he believed were given along with the gear that now adorned the Avatara along the Mausoleum. None of that changed the fact I needed to convince my guild leader not to do something stupid.
"But they wouldn't be killing her. We have the means to resurrect her. It'd be setting her free. If it were me, I'd rather you kill me than be trapped with my body as an inescapable prison." That thought made me shudder. When there were rumors of dive gear bug that made people into vegetables still able to think and see the world around them but disconnected from their bodies permanently I'd been too afraid to use my gear for a week.
"Even assuming you're right, we take that risk and it turns out to be correct, it's still not something my conscience will allow. Not if I have the means to avoid such a scenario. What if the Guardians grow beyond our control? If the idea that killing each other is a solution, what happens if they suddenly decide to go their own way? I could not stop them if they all decided to abandon the Tomb." Momonga placed a hand over his ribcage. "Let me be the target of possible aggression if it's possible that might result in a more peaceful outcome."
"Damn, I..." I couldn't fault his logic. His foresight was superhuman. I held up a hand to acknowledge my defeat. "Okay, okay, you've convinced me. Sending the Guardians to kill Shalltear is a bad idea. It might put ideas in their heads we don't want." I drew in a heavy breath, feeling Torque against my chest and let it out slowly.
"Tell me about her build then. What did Pero cook up? I know she's got Valkyrie." As soon as I said it, a lead weight dropped into my stomach, dreading what the answer might be. Torque remembered her raw strength, being a better judge of how hard her lance hit better than me.
"Well, she has holy magic for one thing. Cleric not only allows her to cast offensive spells, but protection against an undead's natural weakness in return and a few rare healing options that actually work on undead. I told you about how her main weapon heals her based on the damage she does. Cursed Caster and True Vampire gives her a quick, rotating selection of blood magic able to distract and isolate targets. Her longevity in fights is one of her greatest strengths. You know about the Valkyries ability that creates a clone with her stats and equipment?" Even in a life or death situation he still sounded impressed by what Shalltear was capable of. I'd be a lot more sympathetic towards that sentiment if that weapon wasn't pointed at our throats.
"I don't remember the name, but I know what you're talking about. It's a single daily use, but still."
"Yes, Einherjar. She's likely the most experienced player killer in all of Nazarick. She could repel whole squads on her own. And she did so on many occasions. Oh, and Pero left her with one of the Phoenix event gacha items. If her health depletes, she gets one free top off back to full health." Momonga mentioned this last bit as casually as one might remark on the weather.
The what! Ex-fucking-scuse me? Phoenix event for a full health revive? A muscle above my left eye twitched in agitation as my very biology rebelled against the concentrated bullshit I was hearing. Of course Shalltear had rage-inducing, game-breaking, please-just-set-me-on-fire-it-will-be-less-painful gear and abilities baked into her character. Peroroncino was one thing before any other, a min-maxer. Though I did have the sudden urge to stab the Avatara wearing his gear. I quickly told Torque that I didn't actually plan on stabbing the Avatara. Even if I really wanted to.
"Let me... Get this straight." I pinched the bridge of my nose, holding up my other hand as I ticked off all the fuckery I had just heard. "So she's got holy magic. She's got crazy blood magic along with a Divine lance that also drains health. That stupid Valkyrie class clone skill that creates a duplicate of her gear along with limited skills. And something that even if by some miracle someone were to deplete her health, would completely refill it. Am I missing anything? Does she know pyromancy too?" I asked the last bit sarcastically.
"Yes, normal pyromancy and some under her blood magic. A particularly effective combination is for her to use some of the resistance lowering curses followed up by an attack of the appropriate element. I'll need to watch out for the bludgeoning vulnerability hex she has being followed up with a strike from Spuit Lance."
"It's like she's purpose built to kill you!" Shouting wouldn't get me anywhere. "Let's pretend for a second you do go fight Shalltear by yourself." Even though I wasn't going to let that happen. "What's this plan you keep telling me you have? Are you going to use the staff? That would certainly even the odds a bit."
"No, no, I cannot risk the staff. In fact, I'm not going to be bringing much of any equipment."
"Okay, why? Momonga, this is real. You're not speedrunning this. You're not going after a trophy to beat the boss without armor or weapons."
"It will be simple enough to see how she reacts to spells in her proximity. Ideally, I can buff and cast a Super Tier spell as my opening salvo. I'll wear her down with magic. If everything goes according to my plan, I can draw out Einherjar. Only then can I cast the Goal of All Life is Death. And I do plan on bringing weapons and armor. Just not my own." Momonga produced half a dozen wooden sticks inscribed with equipment loadoats. He swept his arms out to the Mausoleum. "Our friends will help us through this crisis. And to anyone watching, they won't know what my true capabilities are."
"I still don't like it. You're assuming a perfect outcome. She's not an NPC anymore. Shalltear especially is unpredictable. And you're planning on fighting her alone, unarmed and unarmored. No rings. No staff. No potions. You've got a few cash shop items to use a bunch of different equipment. But it's stuff you don't have experience using, Momonga!"
"By the end of the fight, I will be at the end of my resources. As long as I am conservative and my timing is correct with the Goal of All Life is Death, all it will take is one more Super Tier." Before I could ask how he planned to use something that couldn't be interrupted in the middle of a duel when he held up a miniature crystal hourglass. Its almost bluish hue danced with the lighting in the Mausoleum.
I sucked in air through my teeth. A Super Hourglass cost... I didn't even want to think about it. They were only used in the most desperate, most dire of circumstances. The fate of the guild itself had to hang in the balance to warrant use of such a grotesquely expensive consumable. I guess if anything, the current state of affairs warranted it.
"You still haven't answered the most important question. Why are you fighting Shalltear? Why haven't you asked me to do it? It just makes sense." Stepping closer, I could almost reach out and touch his robes.
"I could never-"
I cut him off.
"Yes you could! You're many things, but illogical isn't one of them. Momonga, what would you do if I attacked you? Right now?" I would never do that, yet a point needed to be made. I tamped Torque's sheath on the floor.
"I would teleport away to a more advantageous position." Momonga came back instantly. I knew he would say that. Feathers or Lead?
"You don't remember what my Wraith Brood can do to someone teleporting, do you?"
"Hm, it has been a while, but if I recall correctly..." He clicked a finger against his jaw. "Ah, yes well, perhaps... No, that would not work. Your ability to follow through rifts left behind by teleportation spells is problematic."
"You've changed. You don't eat or sleep. I still do, yes. But I'm not slowed down by a human brain anymore. I can think as fast as this body can move and I can use my abilities as fast as I can think. My speed isn't limited by menus. I'm not weak to magic. Since you told me what Shalltear uses, I can change myself with Prophet of Evolution to be resistant to her specific elements. I'm not a tank so I won't be feeding her health constantly." I pointed right at his face. "Did you also forget that Torque is alive? Living Weapon is literal and he can do things I never imagined."
Just as I promised, Torque knew what I wanted. My blade brought forth fans of chains. All different material. All tipped with hooks, blades, or spikes. Despite the snarl, interweaving around me, not one snag or kink appeared in the procession before retracting back around his sheath or my limbs. It was something that the game could never have rendered. There was always clipping from imperfect collision models or slowdowns where local systems struggled to simulate all the physics.
The Overlord was unmoved. Imperious, regal, royal, and so very sad standing among a reminder of all he had lost. I was running out of options.
"Nazarick can't lose you, Momonga. Please, not just as your friend, but as a fellow member of Ainz Ooal Gown, listen to me!"
When he still didn't answer, it felt as though my chest was about to cave in as realization struck me. Needles pierced my heart.
"You don't trust me." It wasn't an accusation. Just a statement.
"No!" He reached a hand towards me, but I moved back out of his reach. "No, that's not it at all. If something happens to me, I need you here. I need someone who will lead the Tomb if I am gone. You are the only one I would entrust with that. You being here makes it easier on me. For that, I am grateful. As leader, it is my shortsightedness that led to this situation. Therefore, it is my responsibility to correct it."
"I'm not going to stay behind because you tell me to." A spark of anger illuminated my soul. Kindling that threatened to catch fire.
"By the same token, it is then my duty to order you to stay." In what he probably thought was an authoritative gesture, he faced me square on as the staff crackled into life.
Now I was angry.
"You aren't the only one with power, Momonga." I growled, letting my combat form come out slowly. My legs lengthened. Chitin cracked. Skin split. The simple clothes I wore fell away in rags to reveal my Doomleech underarmor. My bone dreads lengthened and I could feel parts of myself slipping in and out of the physical realm. As they emerged, I fanned out my rending claws and Scythe Wings to display their magnificence. Torque wrapped around my extra arms. In a few seconds, I stood taller than Momonga, looking down my short muzzle in the best imperious glare I could muster. "You are not the only monster, Overlord." My voice resonated off the walls, larger lungs fueling two hearts. I bared my fangs, making sure he could see their serrated inner edges. Without any vision augments, my eyes remained glossy black. If he was moved by my attempt at intimidation, he showed no sign.
That wasn't my plan. Instead I dropped to my knees, lowering my head in deference, laying Torque's body on the floor and letting his chains settle around me.
"Momonga... Please. Let me do this for you." I implored, trying to let my voice convey my desperation.
"Stand up, Tyrannica. Don't do that. You don't kneel. You don't beg." Now it was his turn to step back, having never seen me do this.
"This time, I do. If that's what it takes for you to see reason. Please," I pleaded, lowering my head down almost to where my nose touched the floor.
"I... I don't-"
"I've spent a lot of time now wondering why I responded to your email. Why did I do it? Why did fate place me here? Now? Out of everyone, why was I all that came with you to this new world? Now I know. This is the reason I came with. I was never supposed to be here, Momonga. You got me to log on. Without you, I never would've gotten this chance. To live, even for just a little while. Let me do this. Let me do this for you. You say you've made mistakes? What about my mistakes?"
I looked up at him. There was panic in the way his red pinpricks of light darted around. He didn't know how to handle this. If logic wouldn't get through to him, I'd do whatever I had to. For him, I'd do anything.
"I finally have a purpose, Lord Ainz. Please don't take that away from me."
Maybe what I was doing was cruel. Our relationship would be forever changed by pushing him so far. Things were already different. Part of me wanted to hurt. Wanted to suffer. Part of me knew I wasn't worth loving. If I had to hurt Momonga to justify those feelings, to make him see that, then so be it. All that mattered was that it worked.
***V***
Even though I'd managed to convince Ainz, he still hovered around me like a mother hen until I told him to give me some peace while I prepared. Without knowing how big my window of attack was, I got my stuff together quickly. Torque was a great help, going over the list of things I'd want for the fight.
"I will be watching. If at any point things look like they are going poorly, or if the enemy springs their ambush, I will intervene." Was what he said to me as I dug through the treasury, retrieving various potions and other consumables. Not knowing how to answer that without insulting him for implying I was some idiot new player who didn't know their ass from a hole in the ground, it was my turn to give him the silent treatment.
"Good luck, Tyrannica."
He finally left me alone. Honestly, it was easier that way.
After checking and re-checking, I returned to the lobby. Pandora's Actor gave me a sharp salute that didn't quite make me smile, though it did lift some of the dead weight off my hearts. I gave him a nod of gratitude and put my guild ring back on to teleport out.
Natural light was almost blinding, streaming in through the arched doorway leading outside the Tomb. The weather was quite incongruous with what I was about to go do. But I didn't mind. At first it was painful after so long in the deeper dark. I wanted a bit of time to clear my head. State of mind mattered. With my back to the Tomb, looking out at the shafts spilling their glory so casually along the quiet stone, it felt like I was going to be protecting something. Doing something bigger than myself. More important than just sitting in my room feeling sorry for... All that I had done wrong.
Was this my penance? My atonement? Did it even matter to anyone but me? I breathed in deeply, my armor moving easily with me, tasting dry stone, grass, and air so mild it ought have come from a summer night spent napping under a tree.
Matters. Mistress/Goddess deserves happiness/glory/sanctuary. Sun is warm. Mistress was cold. Pretty Vampire Lady taken from herself. Will be set free. Will be saved. Mistress will be warm again.
Even though I went all the way to the first floor, Albedo found me almost immediately. It was clear that Momonga had told her the plan.
"Lady Tyrannica! You did a wonderful job getting Lord Ainz to agree with your plan. Now you can take me with you." I couldn't tell if she was doing it on purpose, but the way she held her arms definitely pushed her boobs up. No matter how jaded I felt, that cleavage was a dangerous weapon. Even in the face of her pleading, sweet as butterfly wings dipped in honey, I would not be dissuaded. And I knew just where to attack to get her to see my way.
"Do you not have faith in me? In Ainz?" A low blow perhaps, judging by the way her golden eyes glistened. I knew it would be simple to convince her.
"Of course I do!" Her wings drooped. "I just... I feel helpless."
I knew that feeling all too well. However, I had a job to do, and so did she.
"I need you to do something very important, Albedo. I need you to be with Ainz. Keep him company. I know he's going to be watching. This is very important, and I'd ask it of no one else. Can I trust you to do that for me?"
Rather than speak, Albedo threw her arms around me. I could feel her boobs through my armor. Gods above and below, she had no right being this soft. Somewhere in the outer reaches where Elder Gods dwelled, I was certain Tabula was still laughing at me. Though in keeping with the best deities, everything he'd left for me was a boon in disguise one way or another. Albedo was no exception. Prophet of Evolution still had me largely detached from shame or affection. Without that, I would not have been able to separate myself from the Succubus.
"You'll come back, won't you?"
"Of course." No hesitation. I even faked a smile for her. Enough to convince her to return. My false expression dropped as soon as she left.
I was under no delusion that this was an enormous risk. There were no second chances. No extra lives. This was going to be the fight of my life. I should have been afraid. Enough of me was numbed and the rest still nursing self-destructive tendencies that I could not find the room to harbor anything other than grim determination. Failure was death. And if I failed, I wouldn't be around to worry about it. Torque washed away the chaff, cobwebs, and dust, leaving only the result. The focus.
Albedo wasn't the only Guardian who found me. Scarcely had she left that Demiurge appeared in a wash of black flame, standing just to kneel as I knew he would. After our night together, Demiurge had left to attend Tomb related business. Someone must have let him know what was going on as well. He might have been waiting to see if Albedo could get through to me.
In fact, I was certain that's what he'd been doing.
"Yes, Demiurge, this is something I have to do."
"Lady Tyrannica, if Lord Ainz will not see reason, surely you will? You have but to give the order. Shalltear is fearsome, but she is still alone. Lady Tyrannica, Great Reborn One, Tyrant of Chains, please. Please don't do this. It is the duty of all the guardians to protect the Supreme Beings." His voice grew softer. "It is my duty to protect you."
I looked down at him and sighed. Demiurge turned his head sharply to one side, refusing to meet my gaze. Much like Albedo, Demiurge wasn't going to be easily dissuaded. Both of them were demons of deals in their own way. Albedo of sex, lust, and beauty. Demiurge of domination, cunning, and masculinity honed to a lean razor's edge. Just like her, I knew the Devil's weakness.
Walking past him out onto the clean stone steps, I sat, leaning Torque against my shoulder and indicated for him to join me. He didn't. Not at first.
"Let me tell you a story, Demiurge. Let me tell you about when I saved Ulbert Alain Odle."
That got his attention. However reluctantly, he sat beside me to listen.
"Once upon a time, there was a person who called himself King Richard Richardson. He was said to be one of the wealthiest in the nine worlds. Back then, anything that Richard couldn't buy with money he could pay others to go get for him." Rumor went that Richardson was the son of a CEO and had shelled out real world cash to purchase in-game currency in such quantities. I always liked killing those types of players. YGGDRASIL may have had very unfair advantages that could be paid for, but those players were always shit as far as actual combat was concerned.
"You know about Ulbert's ultimate skill and the special job class, right?" I glanced his way, admiring the way the light caught his eyes.
"Of course, Lady. World Disaster and Grand Catastrophe." He nodded.
"Well, did you also know that if he fell in battle, the one who did so would steal World Disaster from him?" Now that was a hardcore mechanic of the flagship full dive game if ever there was one. The ten or so people who had it were hot topics of online forum arguments.
Demiurge stiffened.
"I heard it in passing once."
If Demiurge researched Ulbert as thoroughly as he did me, he knew all about it.
"Well, Richardson heard about it too. And he wanted it for himself. So he placed the largest bounty YGGDRASIL had ever seen, promising that whoever killed Ulbert would receive double that if they then gave World Disaster to Richardson. Now, the kind of bounty Richardson placed on Ulbert was a rather double-edged sword. Anyone with such a bounty could not hide. All invisibility or camouflage spells or items would stop working. No matter where they were, they could be tracked and killed. But it only lasted so long. If the person survived for long enough, they would be rewarded with double the value of the bounty as reward. Though the one who put up the bounty could keep it going if they increased it."
Torque clinked musically as even he remembered some of the most gruelling fighting of our time in YGGDRASIL. No one fight was particularly hard. It was the quantity of players coming to kill us. The nonstop hours and hours that stretched through the night into the next day.
"The bastard was clever, and had been spying on Nine's Own Goal, waiting until everyone but Ulbert and I had logged off before putting up the bounty. Every hour that went by, Richardson kept increasing the amount. Higher and higher until he had spent nearly all of his guild's gold. What mattered was our win state. We had to stay one-hundred percent focused on that victory. Nothing else mattered. So we just kept saying 'what gets us there?'. There was no way we could fight everyone in all the nine worlds. We had to run. We had to be faster and smarter. Every battle we avoided was one less we could lose. I fell a few times, racing back to his side no matter what.. So long as Ulbert survived, we would win."
It was a gross oversimplification of the whole ordeal. As much as I would've liked to give Demiurge a recounting of all the individual times that Torque and I saved Ulbert from a messy digital end and vice versa, there wasn't time.
"In the end, Ulbert survived." It felt good to be in a body that could smile about that victory. No sweeter balm after such a trial. I took a break from staring into the horizon to see Demiurge staring quite intensely at me. "Would you like to know what Ulbert did with those riches?"
"Of course, Lady."
"He took all the winnings. The largest bounty in the history of the nine worlds that had been doubled due to his survival. He could've bought two more Nazaricks with all that he had. He took it all and used it to put a bounty on King Richard Richardson." I laughed. I couldn't help it. That mad goat demon had never given a more perfect evil cackle than when he pushed that little button with all those zeros attached to it.
"All that gold..." Even Demiurge was awed by the actions of his creator. I couldn't blame him. I thought Ulbert was going through a mental break because of sleep deprivation at the time.
"I thought he was crazy too. But do you know what it did? King Richard Richardson was the leader of a guild all focused around money. It was huge. Within minutes of Ulbert placing the bounty, the entire leadership of Richardson's guild turned on him and he was assassinated, the guild item broken in the process. With so much gold up for grabs, the guild tore itself apart in a matter of hours. Everyone who didn't directly take part in the coup broke off what wealth they could steal and fled. Of course it wasn't Richardson's name remembered. It was Ulbert Alain Odle. The demon who in a single day crippled the wealthiest guild in YGGDRASIL just by being himself."
"And he could not have done it without you, Lady Tyrannica. He would not have survived." Sharp as ever, Demiurge knew where I was going with the tale.
"Demiurge, what is your purpose?"
"To serve the Supreme Beings." He answered quickly, without a moment's hesitation. Just as I knew he would.
"In what way? What do you do, Demiurge?" I pressed. He sat straighter than he already was, crystal eyes set ahead.
"Whatever is required. I protect Nazarick from threats. I help its denizens. I determine valuable resources, individuals, and information."
How nice it was to be so certain of purpose. I knew that I wandered through life until then, aimless and rudderless. Demiurge was a creature of conviction. Faith unshaken that his every action was in service to his greater purpose. A dangerous thing, faith.
"What would happen if you had no use? If your service availed Nazarick nothing?"
"I would have no reason to exist." Certainty. Demiurge answered as fast as he breathed.
"What is my purpose?" I asked. This seemed to startle him. He looked at me in confusion, brow knitting together above his glasses.
"Your purpose? As a Supreme Being, your purpose is just to be. Your existence alone is our reason."
"I protected Ulbert through Richardson incident. Now I have to protect Nazarick. I have to protect Ainz. That means fighting Shalltear. I serve him just like you do, Demiurge. Do you understand?" My voice was gentle.
"I..." He wanted to argue more, but doing so would undermine his belief about serving. "I understand, Lady Tyrannica. Forgive me for keeping you from that duty."
Demiurge stood, bowed, and vanished without further argument. He faked being convinced almost as well as I did. The Devil wasn't one to waste resources in an unwinnable situation. He was probably going straight to Ainz to plead his case. Appeal to a higher authority.
Cocytus was the last to see me off. I heard him before I saw him, such a heavy body moving so lightly producing a unique sound coming down the steps. Using Torque to stand, I waited until the towering Knight of Niflheim stopped on my level.
"You're not going to try and stop me too, are you?" I couldn't keep all the exasperation out of my voice.
He shook his head.
"If. Lord. Ainz. Has. Faith. In. You. Who. Am. I. To. Second. Guess. Our. Lord's. Decision?" He blew out a blast of steam, nodding in a very Takemikazuchi sort of way. "Besides. I. Understand. Why."
Cocytus held out an arm. I clasped it, behind the wrist as warriors did.
"Soul. Of. The. Blade. Be. With. You. Tyrant. Of. Chains."
"He is, Cocytus. He always is."