Chapter 7: Careful Planning
"Dialogue"
'Inner monologue'
[Yggdrasil Spells]
{Elden Ring Sorceries/Incantations}
{Message}
Through the plains of Limgrave, a powerful force made its way through, killing any resistance when met. The bulky creatures reeking of death cut down their enemies while ghostly horses sucked out their souls.
This happened all around Limgrave en masse. The soldiers of Godrick continued to protect their castle and lands, yet the forces of Ainz Ooal Gown slowly pushed them back, mere humans having no chance against the abominations of evil.
Though sometimes they met forces great enough to defy them. A golden knight, mounted on top of his steed, fought back against the Death Knights, his agility higher than their own. With his horse, he could attack the Death Knights with speed, while his halberd allowed for extra reach.
The Death Knights had it hard landing a hit on the knight, yet slowly they surrounded him. Patience was the one thing the undead were most proficient in. Thus, the knight found no exit as Death Knights formed a shield wall around him.
Looking for an exit, he tried to use his halberd to reach over one of the shields, trying to stagger a Death Knight or knock him away. Yet, as he performed his strike, the Death Knight foresaw it, raising his shield to block the attack.
Quickly retreating, the Tree Sentinel searched for any other way to exit, but he found himself drowning in a sea of death. There was nowhere to go, no escape as the Death Knights took step after step toward the mounted knight.
Soon, the Death Knights thrust their weapons toward the knight, piercing his horse as it fell to the earth. The last thing he witnessed was the rotten corpses stabbing him until he found himself in darkness.
'It seems the Death Knights are doing a good job.' Ainz thought as he hovered above the massacre. Descending to them, he neared the corpse of the Tree Sentinel, deciding to try something out he hadn't done before.
"[Create Mid-Tier Undead]"
A dark goo descended upon the knight's body just before it could disappear. Ainz's skill worked, chaining the soul to the body before it could escape toward the Erdtree. The knight stood up, motioning in a way unnatural for a living being.
His armor, which was once shining, seemed dark and worn. The once proud Tree Sentinel was no longer a servant of the Erdtree, having betrayed his cause and call. Now, he was part of a force thought to be eradicated from the world, an undead.
Using the skill without the purpose of creating a certain type of undead resulted in an undead made from the corpse itself. A copy of what it once was in life.
'It seems it lost all its previous abilities, but he still kept his stats, somewhat.' Ainz thought as he looked at the newly formed undead, contemplating what to do with it. 'He will act as a commander. He is stronger than a Death Knight, and it seems intelligence of summons scales with level, especially in undead.' Ainz knew that if he were to meet a professional army that was well-equipped and under good leadership, he would need more than just Death Knights, or he would lose more troops than expected.
"Continue with your mission." Ainz said to the remaining Death Knights and the raised Tree Sentinel.
With a flash, he was gone, back in his tower, where many reports awaited him. Approaching his desk, he went through each of them.
'The Hanzo's have explored the upper parts of Limgrave, and it seems they found some individuals worthy of attention. Most hide in catacombs and caves, while others seem to wander the outsides. Mmh?' The next report was something Ainz found quite interesting. 'An undead-type ghost? I should check that out. I wonder if I can take control of it like the Deathbird. I believe there is a limit to how many undead I can control with my skill at a time, so I should be careful.'
Turning to the next report, Ainz carefully read its intel.
'Ah, finally, an explanation for these circular stone structures. Evergoals seems to be their name. A prison of sorts, trapping someone in an alternate dimension?' Something sparked in Ainz's empty skull as an idea popped up. 'I could use an Evergoal as a storage room for my troops. If I knew how an Evergoal works, I could alter its primary function, making it so that the one trapped inside is able to leave. Or I could use it as a place for a safe escape.' Ainz theorized about the usage of such prisons.
There were similar traps in Yggdrasil. Ainz had even been trapped in one. But to his luck, he was able to teleport out of it.
'I think my troops have it under control for now. Still, there is this dragon in the middle of Limgrave, right where the small lake is. The Hanzo's spotted him flying high in the air, but from the descriptions, it seems more of a wyvern than a real dragon. But they didn't mark him as dangerous to a group of at least five Death Knights. I think they will be able to handle him.' Ainz had complete trust in the Hanzo's ability to gauge the strength of any enemy. That is why he used them so often, even more so in this world. The intel they gathered was worth the cost he had to pay to summon them.
Just before he wanted to leave his desk, Melina appeared before the Overlord.
"While you were away, your troops have found this while defeating an enemy." Melina took the item out of her robe, revealing a golden arc of light.
"A rune arc?" Ainz questioned.
"Yes. This will allow you to unlock the power of the Great Rune you received from Godrick." Melina stated as she offered the object to Ainz.
Carefully, he took it into his hands, scrutinizing the arc from all sides.
'So this will allow me to use the strength of the rune I got from Godrick? I suppose it should. But how do I use this?' Ainz asked himself. He didn't think he had to break it, so rather than do anything, he mentally thought to utilize said object.
The rune arc felt his attempt, raising into the air as it disappeared, not before it flashed brightly, the light emitted by it entering Ainz's body.
Then he felt it. Ainz didn't see any change, but still, he knew what happened. His stats increased, something that should only be possible when gaining a level.
'My mana, health, and pretty much everything has increased by a certain percentage. Even if it isn't much, it's still more than gaining ten levels here in the Lands Between.' In Yggdrasil, it wasn't uncommon to get an item that increased certain stats. But to increase all of them was pretty rare, with only divine-class weapons, armors, or armaments being able to do that.
"Incredible. I can feel the rune's power." Ainz commented, and Melina, watching the Overlord, felt that he was joyful about it. But she couldn't tell much more from his fleshless visage. "Is it possible to use multiple runes at once?" He asked.
"I am not sure. You will have to search for another rune if you seek to find out." Melina answered.
"Fine then." Ainz said as he stood up. "I have already set my eyes on the next Great Rune I want to obtain." Ainz didn't reveal which one, yet Melina had a feeling of what rune he was talking about.
Ainz seemed like a person who didn't like risking much if victory wasn't guaranteed. That is why only one specific rune came to mind.
"You are after Rykard's Great Rune, aren't you, Ainz?" She asked. The Overlord turned rapidly, being silent for a moment.
"I had thought of that, but no. I have set my eyes to the east, the land of Caelid. Starscourge Radahn, the most powerful Demi-God in these lands. I would pick Rykard, yet the location of his manor is too far away from here. My spies have yet to uncover all of Limgrave, which is why Caelid will be the very next option. It is close and easy for the Hanzo to access." Ainz explained. Of course, she had to consider that the being before her held knowledge before anything else.
"I see. But Radahn is not an easy opponent. He is extremely powerful. He conquered the stars and fought against Malenia, ending in a draw. Are you sure you want to approach him?" She questioned Ainz's decision. Not that she believed he was incapable, but she simply knew of the general's vast amount of power.
"I know, Melina. That is why I'm trying to increase the number of undead under my command. With every coming day, my army grows in numbers and power. Even then, I know Radahn won't be an easy beat." Ainz admitted, having read of the feats the general did in his prime. Even now, a shell of his former shell, the Demi-God still held much of his power, even in a state between life and death.
'There is also another reason why I want to fight Radahn for a Great Rune.' Ainz was a collector at heart. If there was a way to keep the general for himself, it would greatly benefit him and his army.
'[Message]'
Connecting with one of the Hanzos, the summon quickly addressed him properly.
{My lord!} The Hanzo replied.
{Have you scouted the surroundings of Caria Manor yet?} Ainz asked.
{Yes, my lord. We have found out there is a dragon similar to the one in Limgrave guarding it. Yet, it seems to have a slightly different appearance. Otherwise, it scales slightly higher in strength. Also, there seems to be a strong presence in one of the towers, similar to your own power.} The Hanzo answered, explaining any little detail he had found out. And the last thing he mentioned seemed most important to Ainz.
{Then, that individual must be as strong as a level 100.} Ainz stated.
{Not quite. We weren't able to pick up much, but it seems the individual's power varies from time to time. So, level 100 would be an estimate.} The Hanzo explained.
{I see. Continue with your mission, then. I need you and your group in Liurnia at the moment. Report anything out of place to me or Melina.} Ainz ordered.
{As you command, my lord!} The Hanzo replied, and Ainz cut the connection.
'Sooner or later, somebody will interfere with my plans. This 'Golden Order' probably won't take it lightly that I'm taking over a part of their world. But I don't think they have noticed yet.' Ainz was sure his Hanzo hadn't been spotted for now. He only hoped this would continue.
"Melina, I will leave you in charge of the place until I return. I want to check on something." Ainz said before disappearing to his private room.
He grasped into a void, retrieving an item not many have laid eyes upon.
'The Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown. I haven't really taken it out of my inventory out of fear, But to look at it simply makes me remember the good times I had with my friends and with their creations as well. Pandora's Actor, Shalltear, Aura, Mare, Sebas, Demiurge, Cocytus and Albedo. I could list more, but that wouldn't matter. I always lose them one way or another. First my friends, and then all of Nazarick.' He took a seat at the edge of his bed. He seemed no longer a powerful and elegant ruler as he was but more of a sad and sorrowful old man. A man who had lost what was once dear to him.
'Why do I even do all this? This new place, new people, new enemies, it's a cycle that repeats itself all the time with no end to it!' He was sick of it, to lose everything that he had worked for. The Sorcerer Kingdom, a kingdom he built and made prosper, seemed invaluable now, inaccessible from where he was. There was always someone or something hindering his plans.
'All because of that stupid dragon!' Ainz's aura darkened as negative energy spread from his body. 'No, it was my fault as well. I was overconfident, cocky. I thought I would win easily, yet that bastard had a card up his sleeve.' He still remembered the day, the person that sent him into the Void to be trapped there forever. A world between worlds with no escape, or so they said.
'I will return, and I will make everyone remember the legacy of me, my friends, and their creations! Everyone will know the name Ainz Ooal Gown! That I swear!'
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Next chapter will be released on 21st of March.
About Ainz vs General Radahn. Since there isn't a lot of hax in Elden Ring, Ainz could turn out to be victorious. Not alone. If we take lore-accurate Radahn, he should have the power of a World Enemy, if not all of the stronger Demi-Gods and bosses. This means he doesn't have to hit Ainz many times to kill him. Of course, there's instant death magic. But I believe most Demi-Gods are immune to it. Especially Radahn, who is in a state between life and death and is rotting endlessly.