Overlord: Abyssal Tale (on hiatus)

by Seereni

Generic "what if another guild member instead of Ainz got stuck in the New World?". OC-centric, obviously enough, and rated M because this is, well, Overlord. Still, I plan to write a much more approachable OC than Ainz, so the NPCs are going to be taken aback by how open and genuine OC is as the one big difference from canon. PS: Demiurge's world comes crashing down.

7. Chapter 7

And Chapter 7.

Took a bit longer despite being focused on just one scene but that's just how it is when you try to write fanatical devotees in a semi-realistic way.

That's about it, not a lot more to say.

And leave reviews with your thoughts, complaints or suggestions, would you kindly? (anyone get the reference?)

I did say that unlike my other works I'm accepting ideas for this fic specifically and will try to implement them into the story if I like them well enough, after all.

So yeh.

Enjoy the read.

Kay bye.

XXX

'Well...Slap my ass and call me sexy, this is grand if there ever was anything worth calling it that…'

The man whose world got turned upside-down just a couple of hours ago thought to himself as he stared blank-faced at the sight before him.

True to his word after roughly ten minutes passed following Albedo's departure from the Throne Room Eidolon also used his Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown to teleport to the 6th Floor, where Demiurge said he would be needed.

Once he arrived at the Colosseum his brain stopped functioning and he simply allowed himself to be guided upon a wooden podium by the Guardians. Having climbed up the structure which elevated him above anyone else present he crossed his arms across his chest and simply stared at the sight.

Everyone was present.

And by that he meant everyone.

The first row, the closest to his podium, was composed of the Guardians. Closely behind them were the various Area Guardians, at least the ones who could be moved across Floors. Guren of the 7th Floor for example was not present, as it's enormous body and AoE passive fire damage would no doubt prove tricky when part of a group.

Behind the various Area Guardians were the high-ranking vassals and aides of each Floor Guardian with Shalltear's harem of Vampire Bribes being the lowest level ones present yet also the most numerous at the same time.

Further back were most of Aura's Beasts with the tallest one among them easily a couple of meters tall. Mare's level 90 Dragons were positioned to the left side of the boy himself and slightly outside of the gathered group of servants, their large frame having otherwise obscured those in the back lines.

'...Oh. Victim's kinda cute, isn't he?' Eidolon thought as he spotted the pink angelic fetus in the front row with the other Floor Guardians. Naturally, he knew that a flying embryo was not exactly what people would consider cute in any sense of the word, but his oversized head, round eyes and small arms and feet simply managed to imprint that idea in Eidolon's own mind.

For a single moment Eidolon wondered if his new body somehow affected his aesthetic taste but soon realized he had always been messed up to begin with.

Gazing upon the nigh one hundred servants gathered he realized something: he was calm.

Of course he had kept true to his personality even in the real world, a decision which won him many enemies to be sure, and he was not afraid to say what was on his mind or gather negative attention to himself because of his inability to fit in, but Eidolon knew that standing in front of this many people would usually result in stomach pains at the very least.

But he was calm.

And that was frightening in it's own way.

'I mean, Demiurge is literally big Satan and his Evil Lords are literally small Satans. And they are all looking at me...Huh. Wonder why I'm this calm?'

"Eidolon-sama, allow me to extend our gratitude for taking the time to come here at our request." The Archdevil was the first to speak, bowing his head towards the Supreme Being.

"Don't worry about it, Four-Eyes. So, what's the big idea? I take it there's a good reason so many strong individuals are gathered here in one place instead of protecting Nazarick?"

"Of course, my Lord. Please rest assured, I have left enough forces to defend Nazarick while we are here."

"That's good, then. So what's the reason for this meeting? You all wanna go at it or something?"

What Eidolon meant to ask was if the servants desired to slug it out with him, his mind only able to come to up with this sole explanation for the gathering of such a large number of strong servants. Granted, he had no illusions that he could win if they wanted to fight him but he knew he would manage to last a good twenty or thirty seconds thanks to his slippery fighting style.

The servants on the other hand, unable to come to the same conclusion as Eidolon as a reality where they would ever fight him was far removed from the realm of possibility, simply stared blankly at him for a long, silent second.

"...Our apology for being unable to comprehend Eidolon-sama's profound words, my Lord. The reason for this gathering would be for us servants to pledge our loyalty to the last Supreme Being of Nazarick: Eidolon-sama himself."

Eidolon shook his head, the next words coming out as a blur from his mouth."Thewhattothewhonow?"

"Albedo, if you will." Demiurge, his face but a big, large smile now, looked over to Albedo. As the Guardian Overseer she was the one most qualified to start the ritual of fidelity.

However, only silence followed as the woman stood still and said nothing in response to Demiurge's words. "Albedo." Another call and still nothing. "Albedo! You are being rude to Eidolon-sama!" The Archdevil shouted at the Succubus, the other Floor Guardians all staring at their Overseer with confusion and suppressed hostility.

Then she sighed and took a knee followed closely by everyone else. "Then, to the pledge of loyalty."

'Wait what is going on here?'

One after the other, starting with Shalltear and going up by their assigned Floors the Guardians began to name themselves before dropping the line of 'I bow to the Supreme Being'.

While this went on Eidolon silently observed them, his mind not far away from being as blank as vacuum itself.

"Overseer of the Floor Guardians, Albedo. I...bow before the Supreme One."

Noticing the abrupt end of the ritual Demiurge quickly took it upon himself to continue where Albedo left off. "We Floor Guardians swear our undying loyalty to you, my Lord. Please accept our pledge and guide Nazarick as it's supreme ruler from today onwards."

"…"

"...My Lord?"

"…"

"My Lord, what is wrong-?!" The Guardians were just about to stand up from their kneeling positions when Eidolon lifted a hand and made a downwards gesture for them to stay where they are.

Crossing his arms again he lifted his masked face and looked at the fake sky above his head.

'...That's a pretty nice effect, with the stars and all…'

The situation got out of hand far quicker than he could have ever anticipated.

Pledge?

Loyalty?

Ruling as a supreme ruler?

It was too much, too sudden.

'Ok. Ok, I've been mostly trying to avoid thinking about it simply because of how messed up it is and probably to try and protect my sanity, but an assessment of my situation is long overdue. So, let's see…'

Hearing the long 'Hmmm' sound escaping their Master's throat the gathered NPCs began to dread at the lack of response from the individual they have bent the knee towards. This worry became visible as well, the servant who were capable of it starting to sweat.

The lack of response from their Master did not bode well and each and every of the gathered servants understood this much. Ideally he would have accepted their pledge by now but he neither replied to their desire nor voiced his thoughts on it.

'Ok, so: I was playing the game on it's last day.'

'I also had some fun killing human Players. Good times.'

'Then I came back to Nazarick, Momonga was already here. Dude seriously needs hobbies besides YGGDRASIL.'

'I decided to keep my Stealth activated and engaged in some role-playing and keeping true to my role and character.'

'Then we headed to the Throne Room after HeroHero logged out. I also logged out for a couple of minutes to drink my poison.'

'Then Momonga decided to mess around with Albedo's background, an action I supported on the basis of the game shutting down in mere minutes, anyway.'

'Next, the last minute came and I'm sure I started to feel nauseous just around that time.'

'I exchanged some words with Momonga and then I started counting the seconds left to midnight. Following that my UI disappeared and I heard Albedo scream at the top of her lungs.'

'That's when I first noticed the NPCs gained sentience and that Momonga was gone while I somehow did not get forcefully logged out of the game as the server shut down.'

'And now? Now the NPCs of Nazarick have gained sentience, I can't access my Menu, I have working legs once again which I am not complaining about, the game somehow turned to reality and I'm really calm despite all of this. Not to mention, I survived despite yeeting myself off a cliff, I can use my Skills simply by thinking of them, my senses are so sharp I can think faster than a stone needs time to fall to the ground from my palm, a test I already tried out and I'm pretty sure I was able to see the souls of the soldiers stationed at that fort, something I just tried to outright ignore. And that about sums up my situation.'

'How the hell did it come to this? What are the chances, even? And what's this? Pledge of loyalty? To me? Geez, no pressure huh? At least let us discuss my yearly salary before you come on to me this strongly.'

Eidolon shook his head, unaware that his gesture almost gave the gathered NPCs a heart attack as they believed the gesture to be directed at their pledge, Demiurge's face by now sweating bullets.

'No, let's put the bullshit to the side for now. You can manage to be serious for one minute, me. Ok, now: those guys are kneeling in front of me. They want to pledge their loyalty to me? Why? No, that's a question I already know the answer of. Probably because they are created of Nazarick, they see us members as their Masters. It's also why they call us something as edgy as Supreme Beings. Urgh...But then again, why would they want to pledge said loyalty to me specifically? Because I'm the only member present? Then what if say, Momonga had also been here with me? Would they still do this oath thingy directed at me, or would they choose my Skelly boy instead? Or would they split off in half, some pledging their loyalty to Momonga and some to me?...Nah, I doubt they'd choose me with how messed up I am. I gave up trying to be a respectable person a long time ago. At least my homeboy Momonga tried his best.'

Next came a thoughtless nod, one which lifted the spirits and hope of the gathered NPCs for they believed Eidolon to make up his mind and accept their oath of loyalty.

'No, before that: What even do I want? I'm a selfish prick so logically I need to go with what I want. But what do I want? It's barely been a couple of hours since this clusterfuck of a situation came to be so I actually just want to go to sleep and call it a day with the hopes something will start making some sense when I wake up. So this pledge of theirs, do I even want to accept it? What even is the implication of such an action? Do I just go something like: "I accept your oath my heteromorphic spawns so let us now partake in the art of being evil together, with me as the leading figure! Muhahahaha!" or something along those lines? Ain't that corny as hell, though? Haaa, this is all such a pain in my ass...How did an attempt to end it all bring me to where I am right now…?'

Eidolon sighed, dropped his head, then sighed again. Finally he raised a hand at the servants as he made up his mind. "It sounds like a pain in my butt so I'll have to decline. Sorry and thanks."

Deathly silence followed as the gathered servants became unable to form any words in their mouths. The man himself was unaware of just how much damage he had dealt to them.

After all, he had just denied the whole point behind their existence.

"Have we...Have we displeased you in any way, my Lord?" Asked the older of the twin Guardians with a hurt look on her face. Eidolon would be lying if he said that look did not make him feel bad, but unfortunately feelings mattered little in this situation.

"...Look, we barely got acquainted a couple of hours ago. I don't know you all well enough to be disappointed or pleased with any of you."

"...Then. Why. Won't. You. Accept. Our. Pledge. My. Lord?"

"It's that, you know?" Eidolon responded. "Like, what's even the point? In the end all this would result in is me gaining responsibilities I don't desire and no benefits in return whatsoever. Not to mention it's not even what you all want but just what you feel obliged to do, am I right?"

Of course he was mostly just speculating this claim based on the information he had gathered on the now sentient NPCs alone, but he was not far off from the truth.

Shalltear the True Vampire however failed to understand the meaning behind his words. "Eidolon-sama, how could we as servants not desire wholeheartedly to dedicate ourselves to-?"

"Would you still bend the knee to me specifically if Peroroncino was standing here on this podium with me right now?"

The petite Undead immediately lowered her head in shame and fear, alike.

Shame because the answer to his question popped up in her mind immediately with no hesitation and fear because she dreaded what repercussions answering said question could have. "It's the same for you all as well, ain't it?" Eidolon questioned as he now had prove thanks to Shalltear's reaction that his speculation was on the right path. "You guys are too hasty you know?"

None of the servants dared to answer the follow-up question, their heads bowed down in shame.

'Uhh, when did this become a funeral service…? Haaa…'

"Look, I don't even understand why you are making such a big deal out of this." The man stated bluntly, oblivious to the needs of the servants. "We now find ourselves in a strange situation, right? So as we all belong to Nazarick we need to stick together no matter what, right? Since we don't know what dangers are out there. As long as you are loyal to Nazarick as a whole I don't really give a damn about anything else. So can't we just go with that?"

Of course, the Floor Guardian of the 7th Floor was the first to speak up. "Forgive my insolence but that is unacceptable, Eidolon-sama!"

'Ahh, of course it's the Four-Eyes...Haa…'

"While I understand your point, my Lord, we are servants of the Supreme Beings! If we cannot pledge ourselves, body and soul, to the service of our Masters then there is no point in our existence! I beg of you to reconsider your decision, Eidolon-sama! Our last Master who gracefully choose to stay with us when all others left!"

"Now hold your pointy ears for just a moment, Four-Eyes." Desperate as he was to see their last Master accept their pledge Demiurge lifted his arms ever so slightly, ready to grab and hold his ears as instructed. Only the index finger Eidolon pointed at him kept him from doing so. "I don't know what kind of impression you have of me, but I didn't 'stay' here willingly. Just like how Nazarick got unexpectedly transported, I'm also still unexpectedly here all the while I should not be. It's weird like that, you know?" He shrugged.

For the second time within mere minutes the oblivious man dealt a great amount of damage to the gathered servants with his words alone, for his words implied that he remained within Nazarick against his will and if a way for him to leave became possible…

'We will be abandoned.' The thought echoed in the mind of the NPCs, a thought most frightening and hopeless.

"So anyway, that's about it. Get back to your posts ya all. It would suck if anyone managed to infiltrate Nazarick while our strongest forces are gathered in a single place, no?"

"My Lord, please wait-!"

"Sorry, dude. This is about as much as I'm willing to put up with at the moment. [Abyssal Cloak]."

"My Lord? My Lord!"

And so Eidolon disappeared from the sight of the NPCs as he allowed himself to be engulfed in the veil of the Abyss and walked away from the podium.

The servants did not speak nor stood up from their kneeling position for they were unsure if their Master was still within the vicinity or not. Only when a full minute had passed did they dare to rise again.

The large insectoid Guardian let out a wheeze of cold breath, his head hanging low. "How. Did. It. Turn. Out. Like. This…?"

"S-Sis, are we going to...be a-abandoned?" Mare asked his sister with a voice even weaker than usual but his twin could not answer him, simply placing a palm on his shoulder in response instead.

Demiurge stood up next, his face betraying no emotions the Archdevil might have felt on the inside. He straightened his back and pushed his glasses up. "Albedo." The addressed Succubus did not respond, she did not even rise from her kneeling position. She simply remained silent. "I have kept quiet as Eidolon-sama did not instruct any of us otherwise, but...Why have you hesitated to start the ritual of fidelity?" Silence fell over the Guardians as the others had also wondered about the same thing.

Though he did not use a [Message] Demiurge felt his Evil Lords shift behind him. They felt his intention and would be ready to assist their Floor Guardian if he so desired.

Cocytus and the twins simply watched from a distance while Shalltear glared at the Succubus with obvious malice in her eyes. She too, like Demiurge, felt that their Overseer had overstepped her bounds one too many times.

A couple of painfully long moments passed and Albedo rose to her feet. Then she turned to face the Archdevil, a most benevolent smile plastered on her face. "What might you be referring to, Demiurge?"

Her reply left the Archdevil stupefied and she simply made to leave the Arena. "Where are you going, Albedo?" However, she did not bother to reply. "Albedo!...Haaa…"

'She's not herself. I need to keep an eye on her least she does something which could anger Eidolon-sama, her actions in turn reflecting on all servants on Nazarick...'

Allowing an unusual sigh to escape his lips, Demiurge ran a hand through his hand before turning to the other servants. "All of you, return to your assigned areas. The ritual of fidelity is over."

"Demiurge. Is. This. It?"

"You heard our Master, Cocytus. The words of the Supreme Beings are absolute. That applies to their rejection of our oaths, as well. We have tried, and we have failed. Shameful as that is we still have our assigned duties."

Suffice to say the Archdevil was as crestfallen as anyone else present.

They had been rejected by the last Supreme Being left within Nazarick and should an opportunity arise for him to leave as well, Eidolon had been subtle yet clear through his words that he would leave as well.

This realization brought forth the first blasphemous thoughts in Demiurge's subconsciousness.

'We just have to make sure such an opportunity does not present itself before Eidolon-sama, then.'

XXX

"You guys are killing me over here...Haaa." Eidolon muttered as he had reached his room and cancelling his [Abyssal Cloak] threw himself on the bed.

In truth he knew he should be out there scouting and making sure no threats are in the vicinity of Nazarick, but the events on the 6th Floor had exhausted him mentally.

'Not to mention our defences are strong enough to repel an invading force of 1500 Players and Mercenary NPCs so I actually doubt anyone could push us too far. Still, we can't become too lax, either. There is no guarantee things stronger than Level 100 don't exist in this new world...Haa…'

Taking a moment to sink into the large bed Eidolon was surprised by how soft and comfortable it was. To experience such comfort was a pipe dream in the real world, not unlike the drink he had been offered earlier.

'Damn this bed is soft as hell...Ahhh, I feel my exhaustion slipping away from my body…'

The comfort could only distract him for a couple of moments however, the memory of the kneeling NPCs popping up before his eyes.

Too familiar.

It was too familiar for comfort.

Eidolon closed his eyes and curled his toes, making sure his legs were still there. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he buried himself deeper into the pillow, slowly drifting off as a question of the past echoed into the depths of his mind.

"It failed, Rei! Your goddamn plan failed! What do we do now? Hey, what do we do?!"

'...Hell if I know you stupid cunt.'

Then he fell asleep and his room slowly became engulfed in a dark blue miasma emanating from his body as apparitions took form within his four walls, and beyond.

XXX

Not all was lost.

As Albedo made her way through the 10th Floor of Nazarick those words gave her the strength to maintain her smile.

She had paid little attention to what that man was saying, at least until he spoke the words that immediately got Albedo thinking.

"I didn't stay here willingly."

It was vague, yes, but Eidolon's statement was also more than enough to light the spark of hope in her bosom.

If that man did not stay willingly, then it could safely be assumed that Momonga had not left willingly, either.

This much she was certain of.

She needed to be certain of.

'Our current situation might be reason for why my beloved disappeared from Nazarick while that man remained behind. If I can find out what caused our transportation to this place then a way to bring my beloved back is not out of the question. Ahhh~, to gaze upon your exquisite form once again~ How I dream of the day…'

"Even if all of Nazarick becomes my enemy, I will bring you back, my beloved. Even if I have to..."

XXX

Tried to fit in some juicy intrigue with this Chapter, as Ainz's lack of presence obviously already throws off a lot of things from the canon into chaos.

The effects will of course not be felt immediately, and the funny stuff resumes in the next Chapter.

Ah yeah, and some background on my main man himself, vague as it was.

Still amazed that I managed to stretch a simple rejection over 3.6k words in all honesty.

But yeah, that's about it.

Leave your thoughts on it and see you next time.

Kay bye.