Chapter 10: Stepping Stones
Rewritten
"Tell me more about this Ainz Ooal Gown." A lavishly youthful male voice spoke out, commanding the attention of all within the room. Yet instead of naivety, it spoke of great experience and intelligence.
"Our latest report says he has begun an open conflict with the kingdom, stating that all land near E-Rantel shall be given into his custody." After the emperor's advisor spoke, small laughter followed from behind. A man in full-plated black armor with blonde hair, somewhere in his mid-thirties.
"If you ask me, this is nothing more than a joke made by a jester!" The laughter persisted, infectious enough to entice a chuckle even from a somewhat younger Knight sitting beside him.
"With that, I have to agree." Nimble interjected, restraining his amusement before the Emperor. Never before had he heard of an individual laying claim to a kingdom, especially someone who was a nobody.
"I know that much, but I want to know more about this person. Who is this Ainz Ooal Gown? From where did he come? Why does he do this? What reason does he have?" Again he questioned the advisor standing before him in those elegant halls of the Imperial Palace of the Baharut empire.
"Your Imperial Majesty, there is not much known, only that he saved the Warrior Captain from certain death and a village from getting slaughtered by what seemed to be some unknown troops posing as our knights. That is all which our spies could gather." Confessed the advisor, admitting defeat in his search for more information. Surprisingly, the Emperor seemed calm, contrary to Vermillion's anticipation.
"Mmh, a strange phenomenon considering nothing comes out of that area except that it's the traditional place for the empire and the kingdom to clash. But we can use this to our advantage. We only have to wait out what will happen next." The Bloody Emperor replied, somewhat raised from his bored attitude. Still, the knights posing as his own, a plot to shift blame for the Warrior Captain's demise onto the empire, had been thwarted by Ainz's intervention.
"But that is not all. The reports say that the envoy sent by Ainz Ooal Gown was guarded by strange knights riding on even stranger horses. Every person near them could feel some dread, horror even. No regular knight could do that." The Scribe continued, telling more reports from what his spies gathered. Though skeptical, he couldn't dismiss the credibility of multiple witnesses.
"Maybe they just dressed extra dark?" Baziwood jested, downplaying the significance of these knights.
"Is that going to be your guess? I believe these to be mercenaries hired by that magic caster." Nimble said to the strongest Imperial Knight, who seemed little moved by the question.
"You don't have to be all that stiff, you know?" Baziwood tempted the noble-turned Imperial Knight. For him, a little competition was always a great way to have fun in his position.
"Isn't it etiquette? You should at least try." Nimble countered, well-versed in courtesies due to his noble background before ascending to the rank of Imperial Knight.
"Nah, I prefer to focus on combat and guarding instead of following courtesies." And he was right Courtesy aside, Baziwood's perspective aligned with the needs of the Empire. And in doing so earning him the Emperor's utmost trust.
"Enough with the chatter, you two. Vermillion, I want all upcoming information about this Ainz brought to me. Nimble, I was hoping you could prepare the frontier for the annual war on the Katze Plains and make them attack sooner. I have a feeling this time, it will be different. Prepare to leave tomorrow."
"As you command. But, I have a question, if I may ask?" Nimble sought permission, granted by a casual wave of the Emperor's hand. "Why continue this tradition? It hasn't led to the empire's victory in a very long time. Shouldn't we at least try new ways to invade the kingdom?" Nimble's proposition was somewhat logical, though not one unexplored by the Emperor.
"Truly, I think about that every day. Still, that is the most efficient way for us to go on. Risking a different maneuver could make us vulnerable to foreign attacks, even from the kingdom. The annual war stays until I have found a safe strategy to invade Re-Estize properly." The quick explanation made sense. Being the empire was nearer to non-human nations, they had to be extra careful in how they would spend their resources.
"I understand. Thank you for answering my question." Again, the Emperor shrugged it off with a simple hand gesture.
"Now that I counted, where are Leinas and that other guy?" Baziwood asked, prompting Nimble to follow suit.
"Leinas is currently visiting her parents, and the "other guy" is probably training as always." Baziwood, musing over the fourth Imperial Knight's absence, found his question answered.
"Well enough with the pleasantries. My schedule is a bit filled today, so why not rush the meetings a bit." Jircniv instructed his Scribe, who promptly complied.
"Of course. There is a possibility to re-schedule the meeting to an earlier date, as the "person" in the interest of you meeting him is already in the palace." Vermillion proposed.
"Good, let's not keep him waiting all too long." With that, the Emperor rose from his crimson-hued sofa, prompting everyone else to stand as well. "Follow me. I need you two today." He gestured to the two Imperial Knights, who complied without hesitation.
Barren Wasteland, stretching seemingly to an infinite scale if observed by a mortal eye, covered the land. The sky above was a dark tapestry, adorned with abnormal clouds that whispered of demonic entities and certain death. At its center hung a vortex, an enigma of unknown essence, defying gravity and stirring the very air. Yet this place was no simple desert traversed by man or woman. This was one of the realms in the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Specifically the 8th Floor, home to the most formidable entities.
Among them stood Rubedo, renowned among Floor Guardians and denizens as one of the Supreme Beings' most powerful creations. Yet none have truly seen her in their life. But she was not the only creation that overcame the strength of the Supreme Beings themselves. Several more entities, created and formed to be pure powerhouses, stacked with the most valuable equipment and abilities, lived on the 8th Floor for only one purpose. To destroy invaders with all their might.
Among them was Rubedo, crafted from the essence of a World Item, a Caloric Stone. With that, her status wasn't entirely known to Nazarick. Most knew she was of the holy attribute, but the rumor of her being a golem also wandered the halls of Nazarick. Only the Supreme Beings held the truth, yet Ainz remained tight-lipped about the 8th Floor, leaving the Guardians pondering the horrors concealed within.
The guardians obeyed their masters' orders but couldn't stop thinking about what horrors were on the 8th Floor for Ainz to hinder them from traveling there. Were they stronger, more powerful than the Floor Guardians? Possibly yes, from what they heard from the Supreme Beings themselves, that the 8th Floor was the last stand against the outer world if Nazarick was to be invaded.
Beyond Rubedo, there was Victim and Aureole Omega. Yet the rest of the names that inhabited the 8th Floor were unknown. Yet in a concealed enclave, away from the surface, stood [The Trio of Mockery], a triumvirate of unparalleled power, holy, unholy, and monstrous. These beings, aptly named, were replicas of Yggdrasil's World Enemies, their abilities replicated to create potent NPCs. Even with the raid of 1500 players on the Tomb, these three fought beside Rubedo and others of the 8th Floor Hierarchy against the remaining players. Many called out that this was a cheat, yet the Devs themselves inspected the 8th Floor and found it rather amusing, seeing Ainz Ooal Gown made their own versions of bosses in their guild base, yet far away from the original's level of power.
But they lacked a detailed biography, as they were mainly designed for battle. Still, with them becoming real, their personalities could unfold to greater roots, but their race decided a lot of how they began to see life itself.
All three didn't move a lot, but Ainz at least told them to do something fun and gifted them a set of cards to play with. Poker, as he called it. He even gifted them a manual for them to learn the way to play it. And they made sessions for hours, as they didn't have anything else to do. What the rest of the hierarchy did on the 8th Floor was not in their interest, not even speaking of the Floor Guardians. The hierarchy thought themselves to be higher in rank than the Floor Guardians, as their power surpassed most of theirs. Yet they still obeyed the orders that Victim gave them, as he is the key to most victories once sacrificed.
"You always cheat! Don't think I won't see it!" Declared one of the trio, its voice commanding respect and exuding a divine aura. Its radiance alone could blind simple imps with ease.
"How can I even cheat? We are shuffling the cards three times! Maybe you are just not good at playing it!" The second one spoke, calling out the first one for its inability to be good at the game. Retorted the second, its voice laden with malice and dread
"Please stop this infight. We won't finish this round if you two keep doing this." Interjected the third, its deep and neutral voice concealing a hidden beast.
Ignoring the third's comment, the first and second exchanged heated words until the third took control, shuffling the cards and redirecting the conversation.
"Have you heard the recent news from Victim?" Inquired the first, momentarily forgetting the prior dispute.
"Of course I have! We are in a new world according to our Lord. Much more I didn't hear." The second responded.
"I wish to see this world for once. We have been here our entire life since we were created. Maybe Lord Ainz will allow us to see the overworld soon." Expressed the third, prompting confused looks from the others.
"Our duty is to protect the heart of Nazarick! If we leave, we essentially betray our purpose!"
"Right! What he said!"
The two responded in unison, diverging from the third's desire. Despite the longing to explore the world, the duty of safeguarding Nazarick's core remained the most important aspect of their lives.
"You are right. Now, let's continue playing."
Countless hours had he spent testing the staff in his hands. The guild/world item still amazed him, and the abilities it brought with it. Now he had the ability to create anything with magic, go beyond level 100, transform into a deadly World Enemy, and travel to the Throne Room if his hp dropped too low. All in all, it wasn't understandable how a single-world item could wield all these skills. But it could be the cause of the seven divine orbs fused into the guild weapon early on.
Yet still, the status as a guild weapon seemed to make this even possible, as no other item in his possession had yet revealed the potential to transform into a world item.
'The next ability I'm going to select should be chosen carefully. I don't want to waste the next spot with an ability I can achieve in the future. So I should be careful from now on. Maybe I should hire Demiurge. No, not a good idea. Knowledge is power. To let them know the guild weapon is an actual world item... better to keep it a secret.' He mused.
'Should I create another leaf? No, the kingdom's forces arrive at my doors in one week, and I have to prepare for it. Still…' He took a similar object out of his inventory, one which resembled the golden leaves on his staff. 'Not here. I don't know what will happen if I fuse even more power into the staff. Last time it blinded me a bit. Next time the effects could be even more drastic.'
Consequently, he used his guild ring to transport himself to the 8th Floor, a realm full of mysteries even among the residents of Nazarick. The least visited Floor was called such for a purpose. Because of the strength of its inhabitants, of course. And Ainz thought, what better place to fuse the leaf than on the 8th Floor? If something terrible happens, the NPCs there could come to help him, and none of the Floor Guardians would know about it.
Upon arrival at a sanctuary reminiscent of a Grecian temple, Ainz was greeted by the Floor Guardian of the 8th Floor.
{Greetings, Lord Ainz. How can I assist you?} The slightly distorted appearance of an angel greeted him, bowing briefly and awaiting his answer.
"Hello, Victim. Don't mind me. I have come to do a short experiment. Nothing grant, I just need some space where I can conduct it."
{Of course. Please, let me know if there is a need for me.}
Ainz proceeded to a quiet area adorned with violet-hued trees bearing golden fruits. The grass, tinged with turquoise, created an otherworldly ambiance.
'Now to the test.'
Engaging the staff's internal menu, he sought an ability on the second page that would suit his long-term goals. Now finding himself on the second page, he found an ability that interested him the most. It was not oriented to deal much damage or anything fancy. But its effects were simple and effective.
'[Time Defiance]. An interesting ability considering its effects. Allows the caster to remove any cooldown from skills, spells, abilities, etc., for the mana cost of a tier 10 spell. This is one of the devs' most useful abilities in this file. I'll choose this!'
He forced the golden leaf onto one of the free orbs of his staff, making a harsh yet blinding light emitted from the fusion.
'Something isn't right!'
His skeletal hand vibrated like a force repelled the leaf from touching the orb. The light emitting from it grew tremendously, and the ground shook. Wind traversed around the happenings predicting the upcoming disaster. The unexpected resistance thwarted his fusion attempt, propelling him away with a force akin to a celestial body colliding with him. Recovering with a skillful [Fly], Ainz pondered the mysterious occurrence.
'What was THAT?! It just sends me off flying!' In seconds, Victim and several angelic guards rushed to his side.
{My lord, are you alright?} Victim asked, worry filling his celestial voice.
"I am fine. Thank you for your worries, but nothing happened. Just an experiment went wrong. You can resume your duties." He told the angel, who seemed somewhat relieved after he said that.
As Victim left, Ainz returned to see his staff floating where it stood before, emitting a dreadful aura of disaster and horror.
'What happened? It repelled me somehow, not letting me fuse the [Leaf of Yggdrasil] with the staff. But why? Why am I met with resistance? Could it be that it can't hold any more leaves onto it?' With a motion of his hand, he called the staff to him. Nothing seemed odd. He went to pick up the leaf he left on the ground and put it back into his inventory. For now, he had had enough of it.
'Seems I do have to ask Demiurge about this. He surely will find the cause and a possible solution to this problem. I didn't want to do that. But I have no choice but to reveal it to him.' With that said, Ainz bid farewell to the NPCs and headed to his office. He found several Eight Edge Assassins awaiting his presence and greeting him once he teleported there.
He found a pile of paper stacked with precise accuracy on his desk. Yet as he took the first paper of it, he destroyed the masterpiece, made with the utmost dedication by one of the maids.
'Maintenance cost, Floor reports, Mercenary NPC cost, Carne Village, Kingdoms Revenue, Baharut spies, Momon, and many more documents. It seems the rest of my day won't be as pleasant as before.' Methodically, he scrutinized each report, anticipating Demiurge would later review and correct them, turning it into a subtle test for the devil. One time Demiurge completely changed one decision Ainz made on a subject. Of course, he felt some embarrassment from it, as much as his undead nature allowed him to do.
The peaceful night draped the city in a slow embrace, putting most of its inhabitants to sleep. However, amidst the silence, one Princess remained wide awake, gazing at the stars from her balcony. Not that she harbored any interest in the celestial bodies. She maintained merely a facade for the maids, who essentially spied upon her.
After months of this routine, she had learned their patterns, granting her precious moments of solitude. She had to endure a few minutes of stargazing tonight before her mind and body could truly wander.
Yet, the exercise left her weary, with eyelids gradually descending. As if on the verge of sleep, her vision succumbed to darkness for seconds before reopening to an unexpected sight. Before the Princess stood a mysterious figure, masked and featuring three enigmatic holes in place of a face, adorned in an unconventional suit.
Surprisingly, the Princess responded with a radiant smile rather than succumbing to fear.
"Breaking into the Royal Palace wasn't probably the best idea. Whatever you want, you won't find it here." Her tone conveyed a mix of fearlessness and nonchalance. As she analyzed her guest, noticing peculiar three-fingered hands hinted at a non-human origin.
"Cooperate, or you die." The stranger declared. The gravity in the voice left no room for doubt. This intruder was serious, showing confidence from his words alone. Meaning this was a planned operation.
"What do you mean? Do you want to kidnap me? A Princess? What a tragedy, oh my." Feigning amusement to buy herself time, the Princess replied.
"You are nothing more than a monster under humans. Don't try to hide beneath that facade. And don't believe we don't see through that act. Show yourself and comply." The stranger asserted, piercing through her composed act with a single sentence. The regal countenance faded instantly. The beautiful and elegant face was replaced by another. Nowhere was the Golden Princess anymore, but a hidden monster awakened from the depths of her soul.
"So you have seen through it? I might have to perfect it even more. Then tell me, what does your master want from me?" The Princess asked. Unfazed by the imminent threat to her life, the Princess surveyed her room, noting more of the mysterious intruders, one even defying gravity by standing on the ceiling. These invaders displayed a level of professionalism and skill that hinted at inhuman origins, the horns sprouting from the heads of the being's companions hinting at that.
"You don't love this kingdom, you only love that certain boy, am I right? Obey my master, and he is all yours." The stranger proposed, eliciting an even broader smile from the Princess. A restless witch, now trapped in the guise of a princess, found herself swayed by the stranger's word, a promise too good to believe.
"How does your master seek to accomplish such a thing?" Her thoughts drifted to the orchestrator behind the scenes, but no noble seemed the likely culprit. The Theocracy? Perhaps. Yet, these "beings" defied the typical image associated with the Theocracy. She struggled to identify the mastermind orchestrating this elaborate scheme, making her trust the master behind these begins even more if he could hide from her.
"Soon, you will receive a second visitor, he will explain all you need to know. But not today, not tomorrow, but soon. Just when you won't expect it. Until then, be prepared." With that, the mysterious figure vanished in an instant. The room returned to normal, leaving the Princess alone once again. Just as the door creaked open, the Princess adjusted her expression.
"Is everything alright, your Royal Highness?" The maid inquired. However, the Princess saw through these noble-born maids from the start, recognizing them as spies.
"Actually, I never felt better." She replied with a smile that could enchant anyone.
"Very well then. Have a good night, your Highness." The maid left, closing the door behind her.
As soon as the door sealed shut, Renner's smile disappeared. She approached her mirror, placing it before her, and began to laugh, refining her expressions to perfection.
"Mmh, not like that." She experimented, adjusting and improving her act. "Hello Climb. That's not it. Hello, Climb..." She repeated the phrase numerous times before the mirror, determined to perfect her facade. The need for improvement consumed her. Who else might know of her act if this messenger could see through her? Perfection was now her next goal.
In the frigid northern reaches of the kingdom lay a humble village inhabited by simple folk. They didn't have the best life, but they were happy. Until now.
The sky itself seemed to bleed crimson, heralding the arrival of unholy, deformed creatures that mercilessly hunted the villagers. Fire raged, screams echoed, and tears of children formed pools upon the ground, drunk up by the demons like nectar.
"No! Plea-" That was the last thing the man ever said. He begged the demon for his life, yet the demon didn't care. Its claws deep into the man's chest, and in one sweep, it took them out, licking the stained blood on them as if it were sweet chocolate. This was the fate of many villagers in this small settlement. They tried to run, but slowly the ground turned dark, and the hope of life perished as they were surrounded from all sides.
In the skies were imps, alone they weren't truly dangerous, but in masses, they could skin an adult alive quicker than one would believe. On land, multiple hellhounds seek the blood of the innocents inhabiting the village. More creatures were present, but these were the most numerous that night.
Amidst this carnage, a devil of peculiar demeanor was observed with a malevolent grin, almost as if he gained excitement from the deaths of so many peasants. His joy was filled to the utmost, yet he still had a duty to do. Several days ago, he had been tasked by the Supreme Being to find a way for summoned entities to gain levels, and what better way than to send them out and kill whatever they could find? Indeed, it was a simple strategy. Yet soon, he would attract adventurers to the destroyed village that aim to eliminate the threat, creating a source of experience for the demons. A simple method, yet he was sure no ties would be found to himself or his master.
"I almost feel empathy for them. Oh, what am I saying? I am incapable of that!" With a twisted laugh, he moved on to his next task, ensuring no traces led back to him or his master.
Shortly after he disabled the mirror, he received a [Message]. He stood straight up, preparing himself to talk to his master.
{My lord! How can a servant such as I serve you?} The devil answered quicker than Ainz could, so beginning the communication between the two.
{Demiurge. How's the experiment going?}
{Just as planned. I just have to see if my summons indeed reached another level.}
{Very good. I hope the animals you kill aren't near extinction. It would be a shame to wipe out an entire species.} This put a wide smile on the devil. He knew Ainz understood his humor, but to share it, he was truly happy this was the Supreme Being that stayed with them.
{Oh no, my lord, they are very numerous animals. They are everywhere and breed like rabbits. They won't be extinct so fast.} Unknowningly to Ainz, Demiurge was having the time of his life, speaking about these "animals" in such a way. Humans were animals for him, as they didn't seem much different from them except for their intelligence. He only finds use for them to produce scrolls out of their skin.
{That is good to hear. Now, to the purpose of calling you. I have a different matter with which I would need your assistance.}
{I am all ears, my lord.} Demiurge was ready for everything that would follow. A new task was a thing that made him even happier than watching miserable humans die.
{Good. Mmh, it would be better to discuss this in private. Come to my office as soon as you are available. I will be waiting there.}
{Of course. I will delay any further tasks immediately.} Demiurge couldn't wait to hear his master in person. It was a thing he put above hearing him only in his head. He could learn much from him in his presence alone. He didn't have such a connection from telepathy, so he preferred the visual method.
{Thats no-, nevermind. I'll see you soon.}
The [Message] concluded, and Demiurge hastened to Ainz's office. Of course, without a guild ring, it would take him some time, but he hoped to earn one someday, as his master had already given one to Mare. Still, he thought giving away a Supreme Beings property so easily was inappropriate. But what could his thoughts hold on to his master? If he deemed it necessary, then it was.
Using the various portals to travel from Floor to Floor and finally reach the double doors leading to Ainz's office. He slightly adjusted his tie, put his glasses back on, and put a smile on his face. Soon, the maid waiting for him opened the door upon his arrival, showing Ainz sitting at the back at his office table.
"Welcome, Demiurge." Ainz greeted, the sight of a devil becoming a routine occurrence.
"Lord Ainz." The demon bowed with precision, almost impeccable in his demeanor.
"I have something to give you." Demiurge's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he joined Ainz at the desk. A piece of paper lay in Ainz's hands, which he handed over to Demiurge, who read the contents carefully.
"Ah, I see. A splendid plan, my lord. Truly, its effects will bring us 50% closer to world domination. Your foreshadowing is truly miles above mine." The words that left Demiurge's mouth only caused Ainz to raise an invisible brow. He simply didn't truly understand what the devil was talking about.
"Yes, exactly. But that is not the only thing for what I have brought you here." With a motion of his hand, Ainz retrieved the Staff beside him, gripping it firmly. Demiurge's attention followed suit.
"The most powerful weapon of Nazarick besides the world items, made by the Supreme Beings themselves to honor their strength respectively. The [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown] is truly a guild weapon equal to world items." Demiurge recognized the significance of the staff, but his knowledge appeared somewhat outdated.
"Correct, to some extent." Ainz's brief statement disrupted the facade Demiurge had maintained. Something seemed amiss. Did he miss something? What was his master talking about? He couldn't understand it for the first time because the knowledge needed to understand was in his master's mind.
"My lord. I don't follow."
"Huh?" For the first time, Demiurge uttered a perplexed expression, defying Ainz's expectations. "Surely you know what I am talking about." Ainz assumed Demiurge would have deduced the truth by now.
"Wait, I believe I see it now. The Staff is the main weapon of Ainz Ooal Gown. From what I can understand, if it gets destroyed, then Nazarick will be no more. Yet the free use of this Staff you have shown tells me there is more to the Staff. If I had it, I would hide it in the depths of Nazarick, guarded by the strongest beings inhabiting it, probably the 8th Floor, yet you, my lord, did no such thing. This makes me believe there is something more to the Staff, something I do not understand." Demiurge's swift transition from confusion to unraveling the enigma impressed Ainz. The devil's insight reached the point where Ainz acknowledged it was not a lack of intelligence but a lack of information.
"I see. You have almost solved the puzzle. Yet you lack information. I was foolish to think you could open a door without the proper key." Ainz's words unsettled Demiurge. Falling short of the Supreme Being's expectations pained the devil.
"My Lord, forgive me for this mistake I made I have committed! If only I were intelligent enough to catch onto your words better! Forgive this simple servant for not living up to your expectations." Demiurge bowed deeply, his head low and his heart drenched in guilt.
"No, please, Demiurge. I didn't mean that way. You didn't have the right knowledge to know what I was talking about, as I tried my best to hide this information from all of you. There is no mistake on your part." Ainz clarified, acknowledging that if a Supreme Being chose to conceal something, it would be hidden well enough to escape the Guardian's eyes.
"Still, I could not find it out even when you asked me to, a direct command from you, my lord, and I didn't fulfill it."
Ainz grappled with finding words to lift up the demon's demoralization. The devil had taken his words literally, yet unintended.
"I knew you wouldn't know it, so it was a test on my part to see how much you would find out. Please, don't make yourself suffer too much from my commands. That is not my wish, and you know it." Ainz's words gave the demon an understanding, prompting Demiurge to lift his gaze and regain some measure of confidence.
"I will try my best to improve my cognitive skills, my lord." Demiurge pledged to improve, recognizing the need for growth to serve his master better.
"A good choice. Improvement is always a thing one should strive for. Thinking oneself is perfect is the greatest mistake one can make. Yet back to the topic. The Staff, you know of its abilities, I presume?" Ainz inquired, expecting Demiurge to be well-versed in the staff's powers.
"It is a mighty weapon, and as implied, it is a Staff with tremendous powers, holding many powerful spells bearing dominion from each of the divine orbs embedded into the staff." He looked at the orbs attached to the Staff by seven snakes. Yet some difference was visible on the orbs. On some, golden leaves surrounded the orbs, going from the middle of the Staff around the orbs, slightly covering them. "But, it seems my knowledge is outdated, as there has been some improvement made on the staff." Demiurge observed the golden leaves surrounding some orbs, their radiance exuding a power that could blind simple peasants.
"You are right. In old times, this was but a simple guild weapon. But somehow, I could transform the guild weapon into something greater."
As if his vision was first blocked by a fog, now he saw beyond it. The answer descended into his brain in an instant, knowing which powers were beyond a guild weapon.
"A world item?! But, with all respect, my lord, how?" Demiurge's bewilderment was understandable, prompting Ainz to explain himself.
"You see these leaves. These are each a [Leaf of Yggdrasil], basically a world, as it is implied that a leaf of Yggdrasil is a realm, and if fallen off the tree, the world is forever lost, yet its powers remain in the leaf. And with these powers, I transformed the Staff into a world item." Ainz explained, revealing the evolution of the guild weapon. Though deeming it somewhat impossible, the evidence was right before him.
"By my speculations, this means that Nazarick is now indestructible? Is that true, my lord?" He had to ask. With this knowledge, how could Nazarick ever lose to something, or dare say, get destroyed by something if the guild weapon couldn't even be destroyed?
"You are indeed correct, Demiurge. In theory. That is why I use it so openly. I even took it to the fight with Shalltear. If it was still a destructible object, I wouldn't even take it out of the Tomb, let alone fight a level 100 vampire with it. So why not explain how I did it."
"I am all ears, my lord," Demiurge said with a knowing smirk, eager to unravel the complexities of Ainz's plan.
"It is simple. I fused the leaves with the Staff one after another. Currently, there are four leaves on each divine orb. Yet three remain free. And that is where I need you. The last time I tried fusing a leaf with it, it repelled me, sending me flying away from the Staff. As if a force didn't want to allow me to put even more power in one object. Here, take a look yourself." He removed a leaf from his inventory and put it near an orb, yet an invisible force wouldn't let him place it onto the Staff. Demiurge watched with keen eyes, inspecting the phenomenon carefully.
"As you see, it doesn't allow me to fuse it anymore. And that will be your task from now on. You will find a way to, let's call it, stabilize the Staff so that the leaf can be fused with it properly. I don't expect you to be successful, yet your intelligence tells me you will find more than I could until now." Ainz praised Demiurge's intelligence, acknowledging the devil's potential to uncover more than he could.
"Please, my lord. I am sure with your wisdom you could find the reason in no time! But I will be glad to take this task upon myself."
"Then I may give this into your care." Ainz presented the leaf, allowing it to float toward Demiurge. The devil took it gently, examining the intricate details before placing it in his inventory. "But that is not all. You will need something else to accomplish your job. Here, take this." With an unexpected move, Ainz removed a ring any NPC would recognize. A [Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown], with it, one could freely teleport in Nazarick wherever he wanted to go.
"My lord, to receive such an honor is unfathomable. I will work my best to use it to its fullest extent." Demiurge accepted the ring with a mixture of gratitude and awe, feeling an overwhelming surge of emotions as he was presented with something most precious to the tomb.
"Use it well. You have certainly earned it. But now let's get to the important part. The place where you will conduct these experiments. I don't want any other guardian or inhabitant of Nazarick to know about its existence. That's why you will work solely on the 8th Floor from now on." Ainz had never allowed any of his NPCs to access the 8th Floor. But to receive such trust meant that if he was to fail, it would be even more catastrophic.
"There, you will work undisturbed, yet I must solely ask you not to interact with the beings living on that Floor except Aureole Omega and Victim. Even traversing beyond the Bossom Sanctuary is forbidden. There will be a sufficient place for you to conduct your experiments, and I allow you to take up to three subordinates to the 8th Floor, no more." The strict instructions were a mystery to Demiurge. He didn't know what was on the 8th Floor exactly. Yet to even traverse to it was a privilege the other guardians didn't have.
"I will follow these rules with all my being, my lord."
"Good. I will send the Staff once you are ready. Be free to begin experimenting whenever you want. The farm you made can be run by one of the Evil Lords for the time being."
"As you wish. I will begin right away." Demiurge's dedication was noticeable, eager to fulfill his master's command.
"Mmh, very well. You are dismissed for the time being."
Parting from his lord was not a choice Demiurge made willingly. He would have gladly listened to Ainz's wisdom for eons. However, duty called. Bowing respectfully, he left Ainz's presence, bound for the 8th Floor with his newly acquired guild ring. Ainz, in turn, sent the Staff through a gate to the designated location.
'I informed Victim about Demiurge's arrival, so I hope it won't be a problem for him just to pop up there. Maybe I should've said he would arrive through a guild ring. Well, even I make mistakes.' Finally, it wasn't his task anymore, and he could focus on the other things he had to do. 'Right. Back to the papers.'
"What did you say?" Evileye asked Lakyus, completely flabbergasted by what she had told them before. All eyes in the inn focused on her for a fleeting moment before returning to their own affairs as she settled back into her seat.
"As I said, This Ainz has threatened the kingdom to such an extent that the king sends a force commanded by the Crown Prince personally to deal with him." She repeated her words, but disbelief still lingered among the group.
"So this unknown dude suddenly appeared, saved the Warrior Captain, and now believes he can threaten the kingdom? I would certainly like to meet him!" Remarked the half-orc woman.
"You know what worries me? These knights he had sent with his envoy. Being undead and all, they could potentially be a threat. And then so many..."
"Your right, Evileye. Such evil shouldn't roam freely, not under the command of this magic caster. But we still have a quest, that is, to fight 8 Fingers in the capital. We got three of their headquarters down. Still, I got the feeling we aren't genuinely progressing." They all knew it. It was impossible to kill ants on their own hill. They would just find another spot to live and avoid danger if possible.
"We need more muscle, some equal to us in skill." Tia suggested, receiving a nod of agreement from her sister.
"True, but where are we going to find someone to help us?" Lakyus posed the question, expecting no immediate answer.
"Have you heard of Momon the Black?" Evileye inquired, raising eyebrows within the group.
"The hero that saved E-Rantel from an undead invasion, sure I've heard of him." Replied Gagaran.
"But what about him? He's a great warrior, but we need someone who knows how criminal organisations work." Lakyus pointed out. Evileye, however, was more interested in merely meeting Momon, harboring suspicions about his rapid ascent in ranks, a sentiment shared by Gagaran, who sought to test his strength.
"I heard Brain Unglaus is currently in the capital, training with Gazef Stronoff." Tina interjected.
"He certainly was in that kind of business for a while. He would know how to properly defeat 8 Fingers, let alone his strength is almost as great as the Warrior Captains." Evileye added. "But from what I know, he is already on it with the help of Princess Renner's knight, Climb."
"If that's the case, he will be a great help at the final fight with 8 Fingers. We know of the location where one member will be present. So we need all the help we can get."
"Your right, leader. Let's give them hell!" Exclaimed the towering woman.
Meanwhile, hidden deep beneath the capital, a meeting of a different nature unfolded in a concealed room where the vilest criminals gathered.
"So what! We gonna kill them all if they continue! Not that they can stop us." Proclaimed a more refined and muscular man named Zero, a monk who had somehow found his way into the criminal underworld.
"We need to be careful. There are other forces that are fighting against us. We don't know who it is, but they don't leave a trace of them." One hidden member said.
"Whoever they are, I'm sure they won't be able to reach us." Assured Cocodoll, only to be taken aback when another voice chimed in.
"Are you sure about that?" Suddenly, ninja-like warriors surrounded the table, holding daggers that exuded a poisonous aura that promised certain death. The man speaking remained hidden in the shadows, his features carefully concealed.
"W-Who are you!? How did you get in here?" The Leader of 8 Fingers demanded, yet he was only met with a dagger near his neck.
"You don't need that information. You only need to know that you're under new management from now on. If you don't comply, you will be replaced instead. And I wouldn't do what you think you're going to do, Zero, but since you won't change your mind, you will be the first example for the other seven." Just as Zero wanted to stand up, he was met with a silhouette of a man. Muscular, tall, and with no visible hair. Yet, as the man closed in, Zero couldn't believe his eyes. It was as if he was looking at a reflection without a mirror.
"H-How? What is this!?" Before Zero could begin panicking, a dagger met the side of his skull, piercing his brain and killing him in an instant. His body fell to the ground, shocking every member of 8 Fingers. With a simple gesture, one of the ninjas had thrown the dagger and called the weapon back into its hand.
"How are there two Zero's..."
"Wha- But he was right there. Is this an illusion?"
"This can't be... Zero was the strongest of us..."
The circle panicked, not knowing what just had happened as the strongest member of their organization died before their eyes, yet somehow he stood before them, unfazed.
"Hello there. I am your new Zero." The doppelganger announced, sitting down as if nothing had transpired, gaining many spooked faces at his appearance. The lifeless body of the original Zero was removed, leaving the 8 Fingers in a transe as they watched the happenings unfold. Their gaze alternated between the new Zero and the vacant space where the corpse had been, their confusion noticeable as they said nothing in the next seconds.
"As we said. Just like that monk, you will be replaced if you don't comply." The man threatened, all looking back at him from the massacre they witnessed. They didn't think he meant that literally. He slowly approached, entering the light illuminated by the chandelier on top of the round table. And he was nothing like they expected. Instead of a face, they were met with a mask with three holes. Behind those holes, they could only see darkness, as if there wasn't even a face behind it.
"You won't resist the subjugation force made by the Princess. Rather, I want them to think you were defeated once and for all. Send all your elite mercenaries to the location of the last raid. They need to believe that you're done for good. And all the nobles you have in your palm. They shall follow our orders or be executed. Do you all understand?" Silence filled the room, broken only by their collective nods.
"Good, here's a paper with all the necessary information and the commands you must follow. You will receive an envoy from us every time you meet here, who will relay further instructions once the time has come. And if one of you doesn't come…" He made a gesture with his hand, pointing at the new Zero. "Well, I believe you understand all what that meant. Farewell, for now." With a snap of the man's fingers, he and all the surrounding assassins disappeared. Only a paper moved, slowly descending onto the table, landing just before the Leader of 8 Fingers. They didn't dare to say a word, only staring at the new Zero the whole time, who was smiling back at them.
"Now, let's continue our meeting." The 'Zero' said.
Five hundred soldiers marched purposefully down the road, their disciplined ranks followed by a motley assembly of a thousand levies, which were composed of farmers, smiths, and other peasants united for a singular cause.
Their destination was Carne Village, where they sought to bring Ainz Ooal Gown to justice. Leading the charge was Crown Prince Barbro, the heir to the throne of the Re-Estize Kingdom.
"Your Royal Highness, we are nearing our destination." Declared the commander, a noble entrusted with aiding the Prince in the subjugation of the rebellious magic caster.
"I hope so! I want to get this over quick and make a name for myself once I collect this magic caster's head. But how long exactly will it be until we finally arrive?" Inquired Prince Barbro of his advisor.
"A single night's rest away, your Royal Highness. As the captain mentioned, we will set up camp in an hour, near midnight, and tomorrow evening, we shall meet the village." Reassured the advisor.
"Good. But We will cut the sleep to 4 hours. We don't want to leave our enemy waiting for us." Declared the Prince with a confident grin.
"Shouldn't we send a scout force first, your Highness?" The noble suggested. Everyone in his right mind would seek out the enemy, spying on him from afar to see his capabilities.
"No need for that! We're dealing with just one magic caster. I'll be back in the capital in no time!" Proclaimed the Prince, though the noble remained unconvinced by the heir's bravado.
"As you wish, your Royal Highness."
The procession eventually came to a halt in an open field, where tents quickly rose, with the Prince's tent taking priority. Unbeknownst to them, two green-hued creatures observed from the forest's edge, assessing their numbers and sizing them up.
"We need to tell the boss about this." One of the creatures remarked. The other nodded, and they promptly set off towards their village, their swift pace belying their seemingly diminutive stature. It was a long walk, but running half the way would allow them to reach Carne in two hours instead of the 8 hours the army they spied upon needed. They seemed to be slow with their little legs, yet as they possessed not as much weight as an adult human, they were undoubtedly fast for their size.
Little did they know, these goblins were not alone in their observation. Unseen to them, a servant of Ainz Ooal Gown monitored their every move, from their own shadows to be precise. Though rare, the distortions in the shadows betrayed their presence, yet the goblins, with their modest level of 15, could not detect those beings.
Ainz had personally stationed the Shadow Demons at Carne, accompanied by Lupusregina Beta, tasked with improving relations between him and the villagers.
Yet he didn't often use these demons for other purposes, as their low level could be used against them. He didn't know what adventurers were 'skillful' enough to detect them, but he guessed there was a chance for them to exist.
Through the forest, the goblins hurried back to their master, none other than Enri Emmot. The summoning of these goblins followed Enri's use of the goblin horn provided by Ainz, a strategic move that even Ainz didn't know he had done.
"C'mon, we gotta run faster! These bastards will probably march towards us when the sun rises." Urged one of the goblins to its companions.
"So the culprit that is probably behind the disappearance of Nigun has finally shown himself openly." The Cardinal of Earth, Raymond, disclosed this information to the other Cardinals, who were already informed of this before this meeting. He simply stated it to begin a conversation about the topic.
"The evidence is clear, somewhat. From our reports, this Ainz Ooal Gown has saved the Warrior Captain from a group of "uniformed" magic casters, that is, our Sunlight Scripture, and somehow survived as well as the Warrior Captain. And all the members of the Sunlight Scripture went missing from that point on. A decent enough argument to tell that it is the work of this magic caster. How he did it is still unknown." Berenice, the Cardinal of Fire, informed the council. The notion of a single individual defeating an entire Scripture was beyond belief.
"We should send a force right at him! We need the artifact back that Nigun lost. This magic caster surely has it in his possession. I'm sure if Nigun used its powers, he would kneel before us and not be dead or gone missing." Proposed Yvon, the Cardinal of Light, with a forceful approach.
"Exactly! If we do nothing, what would the gods think of us? Letting some magic caster attack their heralds and get away with it!" Maximilian, the Cardinal of Darkness, exclaimed angrily, his wrath unrestrained in such matters.
"We have to consider the strength behind this Ainz Ooal Gown. Defeating an entire Scripture shouldn't be achievable by most magic casters, let alone warriors. I doubt he managed to fight our Scripture alone. We have to consider that he has allies and will make use of the environment. This could be the only way I would think one could take down the Sunlight Scripture. With surprise." Explained Raymond, prompting nods of agreement from the others.
"Information is what we are lacking. We should have sent the Windflower Scripture after this individual long ago. By now, we would have valuable information if we did so." Zinedine, the Cardinal of Water, contributed to the discussion. His words held truth, though the necessity of the Windflower Scripture elsewhere was a prevailing concern. "But we cannot afford to prattle about the past, whereas the future is everchanging. We should vote to send the Windflower Scripture now, let it gather enough information about this magic caster, and then retaliate with force."
"I believe this to be an excellent moment to attack right now. Of course, we would have to teleport our Scripture to the location, but the fact that a small army from the kingdom marches to capture this magic caster could be used to our advantage. I propose we should vote to use force from the beginning. There is no point if the kingdom reaches there first." Proposed Yvon, echoing sentiments shared by the Cardinal of Wind and Darkness.
"Are there any other proposals we should vote on?" With no additional suggestions, the voting process commenced. "Good. First, we vote upon if we send the Windflower Scripture for intelligence gathering. Raise your arms if you are for this proposal." Raymond and the Cardinals of Fire and Water raised their hands, resulting in a tie. "Very well. Now, raise your hands if we should use force from the start, attacking the magic caster in an attempt to retrieve the holy artifact." The Cardinals of Light, Wind, and Darkness raised their hands, creating another tie. Raymond sighed. "It seems this council couldn't find any solution, meaning we need to find a middle ground." Now each member prepared to present arguments to sway the others.
"Attacking now would be good if we knew our enemy, for example, his numbers and what weaknesses he possesses. Retaliating now would be a mistake. Let the kingdom weaken or imprison this Ainz Ooal Gown, and then we can decide further. They would make the process easier, and if they lose somehow, the sorcerer will still be weakened." Reasoned Zinedine, appealing to the Cardinal of Light's efficiency-oriented mindset.
"But what about the artifact? If the kingdom gets its hands on it, its powers could get into the wrong hands." The Cardinal of Light countered, expecting a solution from the opposite side. If the kingdom retrieved the artifact, who knew what the corrupt nobles of that country would do with its powers? They would have to speed up the process of conquering the kingdom.
"Until that point comes, our forces will be ready. Who said the Windflower Scripture couldn't fight? Their scores rank higher than the Sunlight Scripture, so I doubt they will have problems reclaiming the artifact once it comes into the kingdom's possession." The Cardinal of Fire argued.
"Correct. There will be no need to utilize the other Scriptures. That was the plan all along." Raymond confirmed, receiving nods from his fellow voters. The Windflower Scripture would serve as both spies and attackers. The Cardinal of Darkness wore a surprised expression, while the Cardinals of Light and Wind did not.
"If that is the case, then I change my vote." Conceded the Cardinal of Light, followed by the Cardinal of Wind.
"I will change my vote as well."
Only the follower of Darkness chose to stay on his side. Never had he changed his mind before, and never will he. He had never wavered before, and he wouldn't start now. His decisions were guided by his god.
"Very well. Then we have come to a conclusion. Send the Windflower Scripture for intelligence gathering and possibly interact personally to secure the safety of the stolen holy artifact." Raymond declared, finally garnering a majority of votes to conclude the meeting.
"May we consider this matter resolved?" The Cardinal of Darkness inquired.
"We are all free to go. All has been discussed. Praise the Six." Raymond conveyed, and all repeated the prayer. Most left, leaving only two behind.
"How is the boy progressing? I hope you're not treating him too harshly." Berenice inquired of Raymond, raising an eyebrow.
"He is receiving the formal training which even I passed. I believe he will suffice, even when his body isn't as strong, his mind certainly is, and of course, his sacred talent." Both acknowledged the unique abilities the boy possessed. He could wield any weapon, perhaps even the artifacts of the gods.
"That is good to hear. Still, he will need to replace Lady Kaire soon. Age is slowly getting to her." Now that they had found a boy with the talent to replace the woman, they didn't have to fear the unusability of the item anymore.
"The boy is still far from ready. To our luck, the [Crown of Wisdom] made the damages necessary for him to join our ranks. Yet he lacks knowledge and skill. He is still naive." The reports indicated improvements in his physical abilities, reaching peak human levels, yet his combat approach remained textbook.
"With time comes change. Well, that was all that I wanted to hear. May the six guide you, Raymond."
"And you, Berenice." They exited in opposite directions, leaving the chapel devoid of any presence.
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That was it! The next chapter will show how everything unfolds, how Ainz manages the small army of the kingdom sent after him, and much more! Write a review and tell me your ideas of what the future of this fic could look like. I welcome any support!
The Theocracy now knows what Ainz did. 8 Fingers and Renner were "enlisted" by Ainz, and the Empire will soon follow their lead!
Not as much action in this chapter, but I hope it was enough to foreshadow what's coming next!
You surely noticed the small interaction on the 8th Floor with three of the inhabitants there. Well, these are my OCs, DO NOT think of them as characters from Overlord. They aren't! The design is based on three bosses from Yggdrasil. As they are called: The Trio of Mockery
That's because they are literal copies of bosses, weaker yet still improved versions of the bosses. Ainz Ooal Gown used the same concept on the Evil Lords, so why wouldn't they do the same for some other NPCs? The characters they are based on are: First One: Celestial Lord of the Sixth Heaven, Second One: Cainabel, Third One: Behemoth.
They have actuall character sheets that I made and names, but I want to keep the 8th Floor Hierarchy still a mystery for now. Actually, their names aren't that different from the original ones. But these aren't the only characters I came up with. There are plenty to discover on that Floor, ones which Im still hiding for now.
If you're wondering about what boy the Cardinals are talking about, it's Nferia. He was not saved by Momon but by the Windflower Scripture. The damage by the [Crown of Wisdom] wasn't fully healed, just so that he was sentient, but didn't have his past memories.
His new name now is Helin Gaillard Lauransan, adopted by the Cardinal of Earth, Raymond.
Here is his sheet, as I believe I can give you at least that much:
Name: Helin Gaillard Lauransan
Alignment: Neutral Good
Race: Human
Lvl: 23
Job Classes:
-Alchemist(Genius) 7 lvl
–Pharmacist(Genius) 5 lvl
—Doctor 2 lvl
-Wizard 6 lvl
-Ranger 3 lvl
Weapon of Choice: Bow, Throwable Potions, Magic
Talent: [Restriction Evasion] Allows use of any equipment, disregarding all requirements needed to utilize said item.
Nferia, or rather Helin being in the wrong hands, could become an issue for Ainz, as his staff can only be wielded by him, now a world item. If Helin(Nferia) gets his hands on that, nothing good will come out of it.
Hope you liked reading this chapter and are happy to read even more in the future. As to what directions I want to take, let's say this universe will be expanded into multiple crossovers. With time, of course. Want to finish this story first. If I finish this story even.
Current Ainz sheet because why not:
Name: Ainz Ooal Gown
Alignment: -500 Extremely Evil
Race: Undead
Lvl: 100(+)
Racial Level:
-Skeleton Mage 15 lvl
–Elder Lich 10 lvl
—Demi Lich 10 lvl
—-Overlord(The One) 5 lvl
-⋏⟒ ⍀⍜⌰⍜⍀⎅ - 54/160(54'872/160'000) lvl
Job Classes:
-Wizard 15 lvl
-Sorcerer 10 lvl
-Chronomancer 10 lvl
-Necromancer 10 lvl
–Ruler of Death 10 lvl
—Eclipse 5 lvl
-⏁⏃ ⏁⟟⏁⟟⏃⋏ - 51/120(51'346/120'000) lvl
-⏃⍀⋔⍜⍀⟒⎅ ⋔⏃ ⟒- 47/120 lvl
-⎍⋏⊑⍜⌰⊬ ⋏⟟ ⊑⏁ - 33/120 lvl
- ⊑⏃⋔⌿⟟⍜⋏ - 23/120 lvl
-⎅⟒⟟⏁⊬ - 12/200(12'967/200'000) lvl
Equipped Weapon: [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown] World-Item/Guild-Weapon
As you see on his racial and job levels, there are some mysterious classes that are hidden/encrypted. That is because in my fic Ainz does not receive classes normally, like in the game, but he has to actually do these things personally, like the people of the new world. Of course, as an avatar, some other rules apply to him, such as that he can gain much more exp by killing other entities and gaining these said levels. This means he would speed up the process of gaining these said levels, and by using his world item to gain experience, the xp will be divided by the number of hidden classes he has.
Ainz gains 60 xp:
60 divided by 6 mystery classes= 10 xp per class 1/10 lvl-2/10 lvl…
Note: EXP gained by learning or practicing(or by a world item) instead of killing will result in a boost applied, multiplying the gained xp by 2/4/6/7/8/9/10, based on what level the class is at:
0-2 lvl=2x
2-4 lvl=4x
4-6 lvl=6x
6-8 lvl=7x
8-10 lvl 8x
10-13 lvl 9x
13-15 lvl 10x
And then multiply that again with the new ring Ainz made:
[Ring of Greater Experience] Divine Class
Gives users the constant effect of getting double the amount of experience points received.
Plus a spell:
[Greater Experience] 8th Tier - Gives the user the effect of doubling their incoming experience points for a set duration.
All in all Ainz needs 120.000 experience points to reach the next level, a lot but possible with buffs and Ainz killing a lot of people sadly.