For a moment, time just seemed to stop, sheer relief drowning out all other concerns and making them minuscule in comparison. If not for the emotional suppressants that Ainz's undead body granted, he could fully picture himself laughing uproariously or throwing himself forward in a fit of euphoria.
Obviously, he didn't.
In fact, any indication that he recognized the item in Shirou's hand for what it was, was entirely absent as a precaution. Wouldn't it have been too suspicious if he and Narberal immediately knew the exact item Shirou had just recreated with his unfeasible magic? If they did end up giving anything away, it likely would have led to questions being asked that Ainz would rather avoid for the time being.
Where did you see this weapon before?
How do you know of this weapon?
Do you know what it does?
The answers to any of these questions may lead to further inquiries that may expose the existence of the Great Tomb, or that Ainz and the others weren't exactly 'from' the New World. Lies would give birth to more lies, and the trust Ainz felt he'd built with Shirou would surely crumble given the righteousness of Shirou's observed character.
"A dagger?" Ainz asked, simultaneously trying to play the matter off and give an air of confusion. It only helped that without any skin and flesh, it was hard to make out any expression even if he took his helmet off.
The same couldn't be said for Narberal.
"Um, ah yes, as if such a twisted blade could be useful- ouch," Narberal blinked, feeling Ainz nudge her on the side and her face colour at her blunder. "I-I mean a dagger?"
Narberal's face was incomprehensible at the moment, twisted from equal parts astonishment, hesitancy, and grudging acknowledgment. As an NPC created in YYGDRASIL, she, like the others in the Great Tomb, had a general overview and understanding of YYGDRASIL's various items including the latest additions. That dagger was something coveted even by the Great Ones, which went to show her Lord's eye for people. Still, he was a bug- ack, human. Narberal silently amended.
In summary, she didn't know how to act anymore let alone how to treat Shirou.
To Narberal, Shirou was still human, so on some level, her bias and preconceived notions had her at odds with how she was feeling. As proficient as she was with keeping her features dull and listless, hearing the last of the Great Ones praising a human actually made her think better of said human and that...disgusted her?
At this point, Narberal could feel her senses tingling. She didn't know how to explain it, but the impression he gave, and the sensation of his magic, it felt like steel.
A steel human? How could that be a human? Was he also secretly of the Heteromorphic races? G-Golem maybe?
At least that would make him qualified for her acknowledgment. Alas, perhaps it was all just wishful thinking.
Well, she could dream.
Fine, honorary human he'll be, but it didn't change that she had to put up with him.
She craned her chin up, arms crossing, but a glance from Ainz had her wilting. It wasn't as if Narberal couldn't understand the gravity of what Shirou had just done, but it was just too hard for her to accept right away, let alone act nice after her prior indifference. It all seemed so two-faced to her.
For his part, Shirou said nothing when Narberal ended up hiding behind Ainz's bulky armor, trying to make herself as small as possible by tucking her head into her shoulders.
Was she feeling self-conscious for how she treated him earlier? It wasn't difficult for Shirou to infer, but he wasn't one to hold things over people's heads. He grinned good naturedly, Narberal's brow twitching, until Shirou once again brought attention back towards the weapon he'd Traced.
Channeling magic energy through to the edges of his fingertips, a faint glow began to exude from the dagger in his hands, creating an air of mystery and intrigue.
"It's called Rule Breaker," he began to explain under the 'curious' stares of the other two. "I won't go into the specifics, but it's a dagger that can nullify all magics, status effects, and contracts. If your friend is under the control of a curse or is moving against her will, then this dagger will surely dispel it all."
Shirou solemnly offered the dagger, holding the hilt towards a stiff Ainz.
'Hold it in. Dammit hold it in!'
"Really?" Ainz replied, careful not to show the trembling of his hands as he reached out and successfully took hold of one of YYGDRASIL's most sought after items. If it was ever auctioned in an in-game shop, the value would have been priceless. In fact, what fool would even try to sell it?
'Calm. Keep calm. You are a skeleton.'
In all honesty, it was Ainz's first time ever holding Rule Breaker, having only ever seen it in the in-game description after the siege on Medea, a witch hiding in the Oceanus expansion. It spoke volumes for the weapon's effectiveness when Magic Casters were generally excluded from Medea's Raid parties for how useless they'd be, especially if they had any summoning skills as Rule Breaker had the added effect of transferring contracts for Medea's use. Hence, Medea was only ever subjugated by parties of melee and ranged physical classes.
The lucky bastard who obtained the rare drop in the game would never stop bragging about it. Then again, the guy was apparently hunted down and cornered by the crew of the Argo at Circe's island, and was never really seen again. Apparently, his character was polymorphed into a pig indefinitely, which forced the guy to make a new account.
Nevertheless, Ainz wouldn't dwell over past events in YYGDRASIL at the moment. What mattered now, was that Rule Breaker was truly in his possession.
"How can you be sure that its effects work?" Ainz carefully kept Rule Breaker in his grip, inspecting it with a critical eye.
Shirou long since had an answer, considering Team Darkness's party composition. "Ms. Nabe's a Magic Caster, you guys can test it for yourselves."
With her name being called out, Narberal craned her neck up to see both Shiruo and Ainz staring at her. Of course, Ainz and Narberal had no doubts about Rule Breaker's function, but that didn't mean that they could just act too eagerly. Instead, it was best to play along.
"Nabe," Ainz coughed in prompting, noticing Narberal staring in a daze.
To be honest, she was conflicted over the concept of performing for a human, but she had to remember, this was the honorary human. Therefore, he was different.
"Understood," Narberal replied, having found a way to justify herself.
Under careful scrutiny, Narberal activated a simple Tier Magic.
"Fly," she whispered, moderating her control of the spell such that she was just lightly levitating a foot or two off of the ground. "Dagger?" She reached a hand out tentatively towards Ainz who relinquished his grip on Rule Breaker to Narberal.
Holding Rule Breaker in hand, Narberal gently nicked the tip of her finger before a cracking noise echoed and she was suddenly dropped to the ground. The abruptness of it all left her disorientated and frankly moved. If a Magic Caster was rendered without his or her magic, then they'd be no different from beginner knights assuming that they kept themselves physically in shape.
The magic of Narberal's spell had been directly disrupted and dispersed.
"...It works," Narberal said flatly, pausing only to maintain the evenness of her tone. In the same instance, she solemnly returned Rule Breaker to Ainz who was still barely suppressing his elation at present developments.
"Thank you," Ainz could only express his gratitude in the only way he knew how to express the depths of his feelings, and bowed his head at Shirou. Even then, this action was only conceivable because he was under the guise of Momon the Adventurer. He would never have been able to bow his head in the name of Ainz Ooal Gown.
Smack!
Ainz and Shirou turned Narberla's way to see a glaring hand print over one of her cheeks, her face forcefully kept neutral. "Is there something wrong?"
Narberal's eyes had widened at the sight of Ainz inclining his head, her mouth opening and closing in distress at the perceived slight, but she strongly deluded herself into believing that she didn't see anything by knocking some sense into herself.
Shirou was the honorary human, and Lord Ainz was also under a different identity. She could, ugh, let this one go. It didn't help that Narberal had the distinct impression that she'd be scolded by the Supreme One if she made an outburst and ruined relations with such an important individual.
"With this, all we have to do is draw in close and get a good hit in on your friend," Shirou nodded, his arms crossing as he grew more serious. "The problem is, I have no clue about your friend's capabilities in her present state, nor do I believe it would be so easy as walking up to her. In the words of someone that I used to know, don't be a Shirou- I mean don't be a fool. We should come up with some sort of plan, right?"
Ainz and Narberal glanced at each other, troubled with how Shirou could involve himself in this confrontation. The risk of sensitive information being leaked in the midst of battle wasn't zero. Without ascertaining Shalltear's present mental state, who was to say that she wouldn't just blurt out Ainz and Narberal's real identities?
"About that," Ainz scratched the side of his visor with a finger and lightened the tone of his voice. "This is a personal battle."
Shirou frowned, silence stretching, but soon he softened his features when he considered that 'Momon' was likely just following the Knight's code. Arturia would never have accepted aid in a promised duel or personal battle. None of the Knights of the Round would ever accept such a thing either, so why should he force others?
Growing awkward in the silence brought about by his request, Ainz felt jittery, but was still adamant on the issue that he thought it worth it to risk a slight offense. "If you could just leave it for Nabe and I to handle, we would-"
"I understand. I'll leave her to you two," Shirou cut Ainz off, having already come to a decision, a compromise. He'd seen stubborn people too often to know that even if they were put in a tough spot, they'd rather die than ask for aid. Momon had the same sort of feeling. Hence, Shirou decided to put out a condition of his own. "I won't actively interfere, but I'll provide ranged support if need be."
He was basically saying that if anything unexpected occurred, or if Ainz or Narerbal's situation turned for the worse, he was going to intervene.
Narberal knit her brows, skeptical of how Shirou could help them as a human, but she quickly pursed her lips and thought better of it. Considering Shirou's prior display, what if he could create other stronger weapons aside from Rule Breaker?
Ainz in comparison just blinked, staring at Shirou up and done and only getting the impression of a close-quarters knight.
Ranged support?
Did he even have a bow?
At the very least, wouldn't that mean Shirou would be out of earshot? In the end, that was really all that mattered.
"Fine," Ainz agreed.
Wind blew across a forested zone, moonlight spilling into a clearing of toppled trees surrounding a petite pale-skinned figure at the center.
Shalltear Bloodfallen.
Seductive crimson-red eyes appeared dull and listless as they stared off into space, but the closer Ainz and Narberal neared, the brighter those eyes became. Shalltear's fine facial features remained set in a blank slate, but Ainz figured that everything would change once he'd entered Shalltear's aggro range. Her silver hair which was tied in a ponytail through a large ribbon atop her head, swayed in the breeze.
The soft black evening dress with a big heavy skirt adorned over her body seemed exceedingly out of place for a girl out in the woods, but eerily, there was not a blemish to be seen on it. On her top, the lace embellished ribbon and her short-tailored jacket showed signs of wrinkles as if she'd been in some sort of battle against enemy's she'd underestimated. Further proof was found on her long lace gloves that revealed smidgens of dried blood on her finger-tips.
"Nabe, prepare yourself," Ainz advised sternly as he and Narberal stopped just at the edge of where Shalltear would react. "I'm counting on you."
The difficulty of this matter was that Ainz would have to fight not with his most proficient class as a Magic Caster, but as a Knight in the guise of 'The Perfect Warrior,' skill. Moreover, he was practically a novice as a Knight and as a swordsman, possessing none of their most useful class skills. However, the absolute worst part was that Shalltear's skill set countered Ainz to a degree as an undead.
Shalltear was no easy opponent as a Floor Guardian, and aside from her creator, Ainz knew her best.
This was going to be a tough battle.
With Shirou around, there was no way Ainz was going to risk revealing himself to be an undead without gaining some semblance of trust.
Shirou's magic was just too valuable to forsake it just because of a difficult battle. Moreover, with Shirou creating Rule Breaker, the difficulty wasn't as high as the goal of eliminating Shalltear in pvp battle.
Hearing Ainz's words, Narberal tightened the grip she had on her summoned staff.
"I won't fail." Narberal hardened her features, resolution bleeding into her eyes. "In the name of the Great Ones, I will succeed or die trying."
That's exactly what Ainz didn't want to see or hear the most.
Enough delaying.
Ainz clenched his teeth, his jaw tightening before he resolutely pulled out his twin Greatswords, one in each hand. Rule Breaker itself was secured under a cloth to prevent Shalltear from noticing.
Boldly stepping forward, he directly entered Shalltear's aggro range while Narberal took to the skies for support with her Tier Magic.
"It is I, Momon!" Ainz declared, watching life enter Shalltear's dull expression.
For a moment, a look of confusion passed by Shalltear's face when she noticed Ainz across from her. As it would turn out, her character and thoughts were largely identical to how they were before. Shalltear enjoyed battle, a sadistic gleam entering her eyes as she panted for breath. And yet, perhaps in some deeper part of her, her loyalties remained intact despite the overpowering inclination to strike overriding her personal judgements.
Shalltear played along.
"Ah? M-Momon, yes," she stammered before grinning brightly. It was as if Ainz's presence alone was enough to lift her mood.
For a second, hope at avoiding a confrontation blossomed.
"Shalltear, stand down," Ainz ordered sternly.
"How strange, why am I fighting your lordship?" Shalltear tilted her head to the side, but all the same, she crushed whatever hope Ainz had with her next sentence. "What a treat this will be! I get to enjoy killing a powerful man like Lord Momon with my own two hands. How wonderful!"
"Shalltear Bloodfallen, how dare you!" Narberal's eyes were practically spouting fire in their sheer ire as she activated her Tier Magic. Lightning danced around the magic circle before her, before violently striking down without warning.
Glancing up at the attack, a glow encompassed Shalltear's form as she equipped her battle gear and raised an arm up.
"Negative Impact: Shield."
An explosion ripped across the already desecrated landscape, arcs of electricity buzzing over the ground before dispersing to reveal a cloud of smoke where Shalltear stood unharmed. Around her was a type of crimson winged-Valkyrie armour, and a lance that had Ainz grimacing.
It was called the Spuit Lance. It had the appearance of a giant, bizarre-shaped spear, similar to a dropper with the ability to heal a portion of the damage dealt to the wielder. She had sustain, damage, and high vigour. Coupled with the range of Shalltear's other abilities, and she was the strongest of Nazarick's Floor Guardians in one-on-one.
"Nabe, remember the plan! Subdue! I need you to limit her movements while I get in close!"
"Yes," Narberal echoed, the staff in her hands flourishing before stopping horizontally before her. "Electrosphere, magic arrow, Chain Lightning," she incanted.
Balls of electricity descended over the area around Shalltear and Ainz, magic arrows following soon after and detonating each sphere into bands of arcing electricity. Subsequently, chain lightning prolonged the effect, creating a cage that wasn't so easily breached.
Shalltear may be able to break her way out, but it would certainly need time.
"Two on one?" Shalltear's smile crept up from ear to ear, revealing fangs beneath. "You wish to fight in a game of numbers? Raise Kin."
Shalltear activated one of her summoning active skills. From the shadow stretching behind her back, several types of monsters, including 7th tier Vampire Wolves began to emerge in bulk.
Ainz took in a breath. The time had come for his part of the plan with Narberal kept busy maintaining a lockdown on the area.
It was just…there was a lot.
Ainz counted dozens blocking his way from him to Shalltear. This wasn't even considering that Shalltear herself could take action or heal from killing her own summons.
"Shalltear Bloodfallen, what do you say to a duel?" Ainz goaded.
"Would you agree in my position?"
"…"
Ainz had no answer to that. Shalltear had the advantage, but a single touch from Rule Breaker would spell the end of everything as she could have never expected it. He just needed to get close, but the problem was how?
Resigning himself to force his way through with physical strength alone, Ainz charged forward much to Shalltear's delight, a sadistic gleam in her eyes.
Yet it wasn't meant to be.
A voice whispered in the wind beyond the crackling of electricity and the roars of summoned monsters.
"Step aside."
A shudder went down Ainz's back, not out of fear or trepidation, but something much more engraved into memory.
"Trace. On. Barrel Lock."
The words were different, the air far from stifling, but all the same, the whistling sound of hundreds of metal objects sailing across the horizon would never be forgotten.
"Fire!"
Instinctively, Ainz shifted his grip on his swords from a forward stance, into a backpedal before he pressed himself onto the ground.
Bang. Bang. Ting. Bang. Bang. Ting.
Bang. Bang. Ting. Bang. Bang. Ting.
Bang. Bang. Ting. Bang. Bang. Ting.
Bang. Bang. Ting. Bang. Bang. Ting.
Oh my Gods, t-this feeling!
It was absolutely deafening, an unending mass of steel like rain, never erring, never wavering. Dust and debris were immediately kicked up, mixing with blood and minced flesh, as anguished howls reverberated through the night.
Flashbacks of pitiful wails, and incessant cursing came to mind, but by then, Ainz's visions cleared to see all of Shalltear's summoned monsters reduced to paste disappearing into smoke.
The landscape itself was mottled with holes, hairline cracks leading to gaping crevice, and then bottomless fissures where remnants of weapons were fading away in motes of light at the sides. Looking closely, Ainz was dumbfounded.
Those weren't just any weapons disappearing. Those were his weapons disappearing. To be more specific, countless copies of the Greatswords in his hands. It was no wonder they could penetrate and annihilate the defences of Shalltear's summons. There was no doubt about the quality of Ainz's own sword, let alone an insurmountable number of them raining down from the sky at break-neck velocities.
Standing completely alone, and practically shell-shocked, Shalltear couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Then again, Narberal was still gawking up in the air, so this said something considering how level-headed Narberal generally was.
"What the fu-?!"
Contrary to belief, Ainz did not waste the opportunity at Shalltear's carelessness. He closed in, his physical speed and ability in 'Perfect Warrior' allowing him to cross the unobstructed distance between them in seconds.
If Shalltear was smart, she would have used her wings to fly out of range, but as far as she knew, Ainz was trying to contest her in a one-on-one. She'd never shy away from those, as her confidence in them was second-to-none in all of Nazarick. She also knew that Ainz himself was no Warrior class.
Gaining her composure and choosing her priorities, Shalltear cockily braced for impact. To feel pressured and retreat at Ainz's advance wasn't something that Shalltear would do.
Just like planned.
If Ainz was truly fighting a battle to the death, then his current tactic was practically suicide and both sides knew it-
["Purifying Javelin," Shalltear curled the fingers of her left palm, and formed a deadly spear of light at the center.]
-However, it was never about fighting.
Ainz tossed both his Greatswords, Shalltear reacting on instinct and blasting the swords away with her javelin. However, this obstructed Shalltear's view of Ainz long enough to create a window of opportunity to draw the hidden weapon beneath.
"You wish to face me in close quarters? What a glory this will be to bring a Great One to his knees!"
"Not quite."
"Huh?"
At the same time Shalltear stabbed her Spuit Lance forward, Ainz had also struck out with Rule Breaker in a mutual exchange of blows. With the durability and quality of the Spuit Lance, it punctured a hole directly through Ainz's black plate armour, the holy attribute eating away at his bones. If Shalltear just pushed a litter harder, Ainz was sure that she'd be able to shatter his sternum…but she didn't.
Looking closely, the tip of Rule Breaker had stabbed into her upper shoulder where it stuck in place.
A choked breath, and hurried gasps were all that Ainz could hear thereafter.
Suddenly, the Spuit Lance was drawn back, and Ainz used the opportunity to hurriedly repair his armour.
Meanwhile, Shalltear took one step back, then another while Narberal's frosty expression reflected off of Shalltear's eyes. Then again, Shalltear remained too fixated on Ainz to care.
She looked like she was about to cry, her features distraught with self-contempt. Gone was the thrill of battle, and the pride in her own ability.
"W-What was I?! No, I-I, this can't be true! Aaaaaaaaa!" Shalltear cradled her head with both hands, swaying on the spot. However, the most damning shock to her mind was the sight of Ainz standing opposed to her.
There was only a single outcome left.
Shalltear was destined to fall unconscious the moment that the spell on her mind dispelled under Rule Breaker's blade. Her eyes rolled up, the drain from forcibly removing her status effects, and the shock of what she'd done, all catching up with her at once. Immediately after, her winged valkyrie armour began to fade into motes of light, while her equipped Spuit Lance clanged over the ground when she lost her grip on it. Her knees buckled, her feet staggering for a balance that she couldn't hope to find.
Running up to her, Ainz caught Shalltear before she could fall forward onto the ground, her eyes pressed tightly closed.
"Lord Momon," Narberal quickly appeared next to them, eyes still boring judgingly at Shalltear for her transgression. "Did it work?" She still asked though.
"We got her. She's alright," Ainz said, doing a quick diagnostics check and finding no abnormalities.
Relief flooded through Narberal's features easing somewhat as a breath escaped past her lips. Ainz hardly noticed anything else but one thing after recovering Ruler Breaker, and verifying Shalltear and Narberal's safety.
Ainz now had the time to process and address a different matter, his emotions swelling from within him.
As Ainz saw Shirou nodding at him from a distance while making his way over, he couldn't help but recall the prior scene.
That fighting style - it was all too familiar.
-A clear disregard for the use of weaponry.
-Steel showered like an endless torrent of rain, violently impacting the ground and churning out blasts of dirt and debris until there was nothing left.
-All that was missing was the obnoxious laughter of a legitimate in-game hack.
"I am the rules!"
Ainz shuddered, past traumas and headaches suddenly surfacing from deep within him.
"Mongrels, you dare rebel against the rule of your King?!"
Shirou's figure overlapped with a golden one in Ainz's mind.
A-A dollar store knock off? A Faker. No.
Ainz was no fool. As a Player and Guild Master, he'd learned to understand and comprehend the value of things.
Shirou's magic seemed capable of copying anything, which meant growth. If he was already at this level with just the swords created to match with 'Perfect Warrior,' then what of the other items in the guild storage?
Moreover, if that raid boss was in this world, then, the only one who may be able to contend against him was…
'I'll raise him. Power-level him. He's the only counter.'
By now, Shirou had returned to Ainz and Narberal's side while looking no worse for wear. Like he'd promised, he'd provided ranged support and allowed Ainz and Shalltear to engage unimpeded.
Nevertheless, Shirou felt something kind of off when returned.
There was a glint in Ainz's eyes that intensified as he gradually understood the depth of the strategic value Shirou imposed as a resident of the new world.
"Is something wrong, Sir Momon?" Shirou asked, feeling a tad perturbed at the stare Ainz was directing at him, and wondering if there was a deeper meaning.
Ainz snapped back to attention, unable to accept anything going wrong at this moment. "You have my utmost gratitude," he said in earnest, using sincerity to get his thoughts through. It only helped that he was truly grateful. This alleviated Shirou's confusion, the oddness of Ainz's gaze replaced with overflowing sentiment.
"To team Darkness," Ainz proposed while offering his hand to Shirou. "Where most would condemn Shalltear for what she has become as a vampire, you chose to look beyond that. I couldn't have saved my friend without you. If there's anything that I can-"
Shirou frankly shook his head. "It's not wrong to help others. There's no need for any of this."
"Oh, but there is." Ainz insisted, standing to move closer to Shirou and stopping once he was a foot or so apart, Shalltear cradled with one arm given her short stature and weight. "Words can't express how indebted I feel, but I can see that you aren't the sort to seek out rumination. Therefore, how about a promise?"
"A promise?"
"I promise that we'll become the best adventurer team throughout the kingdoms. Our names will spread throughout, and act as deterrence for anyone seeking to do undue harm to others. So…to a beautiful partnership?"
Ainz extended a hand forward in a symbolic gesture of cooperation and friendship. "To Team Darkness."
Shirou hummed, glancing at Ainz's outstretched hand before decisively clasping it in a firm hold. "To Team Darkness," he reciprocated. There was no doubt that being an adventurer and exploring the new world while aiding others in their requests was a good occupation in line with his ideals, especially if his name could be used for the sake of stability.
Ainz's eyes were practically shining behind his visor as they shook hands and eventually let go. However, Team Darkness wasn't just a team of two any longer. One person still needed to participate if only for a representative stand point of unity.
"Nabe?" Ainz's tone was resigned by this point.
Narberal started, having not even registered Shirou extending a hand towards her. Her cheeks puffed, her teeth biting down over the inside of her lips. She kept glancing from Shirou's outstretched hand, to Ainz's intense stare, then back to her own hand by her side, obviously undecided.
"D-Do I have to?"
Ainz inwardly smacked a hand over his face.
This was going to take a while.
Thanks for reading, and thanks to my newest patrons: Dark, Forge SteelHeart, and Sang N!
Next update: Huntsman V2
P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious
Book links:
Fatedlegacydark. ca
The Lonely Peak
New Book: Out on Amazon (Remove dash on link)
Survivor's Log Reflection: Amazon.c-om/dp/B08VDDGN7Z?