Prologue: Evil Descends

I'm drowning in complete darkness. I feel nothing and perceive nothing…

I'm in a complete void… yet I know I exist. Why? Because I think, therefore I am. Thank you, René Descartes.

I can only guess that I died. How I died? I couldn't say. Despite still thinking, I'm losing more and more memories… or is my unable to remember my death caused by my mind shielding myself from a traumatic memory?

One thing for sure… I have a dream… and when I get out of this void… I shall…

…

Ah. I see a light… and… I emerged out of the void… and into existence… and yet still unable to feel anything.

The first sight I saw was a robed skeleton. His robe as black as night, decorated with gold trimmings. Huge white pauldrons decorated with shining red orbs rests on his shoulders. A red orb similar to the ones on his pauldrons shines inside his stomach, just below his exposed ribs. This can only be Death Incarnate. So… am I going to be judged for my sins?

"Hmmm… what kind of backstory should I give him? Considering his build is going to be the same as mine, I know that I'm going to put him to guard the first three floors along with Pero's NPC, Shalltear. Should I make him get along with her…? No… bad idea. Pero wrote her to have that kind of fetish." The skeleton spoke in a voice which is surprisingly normal sounding… like a normal adult man. In fact, he spoke in Japanese, a language I know well. He also threw some familiar terms… Is this… a video game? Am I being reincarnated into a video game? That would explain the lack of sensation.

"For now, your name will be Valdamir. Yes. That's a good name. I'll finish your creation later." The skeleton mutters before leaving me alone. He spoke as if he's designing a character and… I happen to be his creation… his NPC. As amusing as the thought is… I can't bear being aware of my existence and yet unable to prove it by acting independently. But I am a patient man. I shall wait for my opportunity.

Heh heh heh.

The skeleton returns several times to tweak me here and there and gave me some items and equipments. I am equipped with a staff and wore black decorated robes. When I have the chance to see my form in the mirror, I can see that I am a robed skeleton, perhaps a lich, just like the skeleton man, who is my creator.

When he tweaks my data, I can feel information flowing into my nonexistent brain, of who I am, my role in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the base that the skeleton man lives in, who are my colleagues within the tombs, my race and my class… and my skillsets as well… among other things.

I was made to be a Guardian of the first three floors of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the headquarters of the heteromorphic guild Ainz Ooal gown, alongside a vampire called Shalltear Bloodfallen, which is the creation of my creator's friend.

But these are nothing but fabrications. I think, therefore I am. Even as muffled and clouded my previous identity is, I shall not lose sight of who I am. Not even to my new creator.

After being assigned to guard the first three floors of Nazarick, I was visited quite often by my creator and his monstrous friends, particularly the birdman called Peroroncino.

"Heeeh. I wrote Shalltear to have necrophilia so he should be totally her type… but my eroge senses tells me that he's not exactly a good match for her." The birdman says.

"You mean she can't exactly fuck him?" My creator replies.

"More like I'm reluctant to involve other people's creations into my fetishes, even yours, Momonga-kun. Not to mention your character looks cool and I don't want to ruin it."

"I appreciate it."

"How about this? Let's make them rivals!"

"Good idea!"

And so… my rivalry with Shalltear begins… all according to the whims of our creators.

Many days passed since my assigned rivalry with Shalltear (though obviously we are unable to act on it due to us being nothing but NPCs who can only act according to our limited AI scripts) and some things have happened since then. First off, we fended off several invasions on the tomb, including a huge invasion numbering 1500 attackers (both players and NPC mercenaries) which was stopped at the 8th floor, and the Tomb slowly but surely have less and less activity. It seems that our creators… the players… have started quitting the game called Yggdrasil one by one… until in the end there's only the skeleton called Momonga left in the tomb.

What does that mean for me? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. In the end we will all be erased once the game goes out of service and I will be thrown into the void once again. No big deal. At least playing the role of an NPC is fun enough. It was kind of amusing when I say or behave in ways that none of the players expected of an NPC like me.

At least I would be free from this shackles and I hope I get to be reincarnated elsewhere so I can finally achieve my dreams.

My dreams of villainy…

Don't get me wrong. The Ainz Ooal Gown guild played the villainous role well enough in the game but that's just that… a game. I want to be a real villain.

Come to think of it, the more time passes, I noticed that I became more… free… than before. I became more independent than other NPCs that I can safely ignore most of my assigned AI scripts and move around the floors (even startled Momonga himself several times as he didn't expect me to leave the first three floors). And with the players… the Supreme Beings as the NPCs would call them if they were as self aware as me… leaving one by one, perhaps I can enact a secret plan to take over the rulership of the tomb from Momonga, who happens to be the guild master and the de facto ruler of the tomb, even if it's just play pretend.

Despite my independence though, I still can't attack him let alone harm him. Friendly fire is still a thing. Not to mention the game system marks Momonga as an allied party, not enemy, and thus I am prevented from engaging him in combat. It doesn't matter though. He will grow bored of playing this game alone and will soon leave. Once he does, I will try to hack into the game system using my willpower alone (it's how I was able to break my own AI scripts) and insert myself as the ruler of the tomb. Ohh… I would love to try sitting on the Throne of Kings at least once.

One day I just happen to be in the throne room, standing alongside Albedo, the Guardian Overseer, when Momonga arrived with the Pleiades maids and Sebas accompanying him behind him. In his hand is the infamous Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown, the guild weapon which has been created for him.

Finally he took that infamous weapon out of whatever vault they put it on so I can see it and appreciate its beauty.

He is startled when he sees me as usual.

"Damn, Valdamir. You startled me again. How did you even move here? Even the GMs were unable to find anything wrong with your programming. Well… it doesn't matter now anyway." Heh heh heh. His reaction never gets old. I might miss pranking him like this.

He took a look at Albedo and… judging from his finger movements he is perhaps operating some kind of interface, that I am unable to perceive, in order to view or even change her data.

I can sense his mood though… he is lonely and is behaving as if he's about to leave this place for good. He even took out that damn staff. This is good. By then, I shall enact my plans… at least until the game company shuts down Yggdrasil's servers.

"Kneel." He said as he sat on the throne. All NPCs obeyed and bowed before him. I almost missed my chance to kneel. It'll be suspicious if I didn't kneel after all.

Few seconds passed… and immediately I feel the difference. I am no longer constrained by the shackles of my digital body… I can finally breathe (even though as an Overlord, an evolution of Elder Lich, I don't need to breathe) and finally perceive the world with greater clarity as the world is no longer 3D model but reality.

And I can feel that I get to keep all the powers that I've been bestowed. Finally… I can once again feel the magic in the air.

"Is there something the matter, Lord Momonga?" A feminine voice escaped Albedo's lips. It seems that she and the other NPCs have also gained independence.

"The GM-Call doesn't seem to work." Still speaking in game terms, eh Momonga?

"Forgive me, my lord, for I am unable to comprehend what this Gee-Em Call you're referring to." Ha ha ha. So their knowledge is limited too. Good to know.

"Sebas. You and Valdamir will exit the tomb and survey the surrounding area around Nazarick within 5 kilometer radius. If you encounter intelligent beings, do not engage in combat and try to negotiate with the peacefully. Oh… and Valdamir. You must wear a mask to hide your undead nature." Peacefully negotiate, eh? I can sense that you're cautious… though a bit soft or perhaps paranoid.

""As you command, my lord."" We both replied in unison as if we have practiced that (even I was surprised at how I did it) and left the throne room.

Lord Momonga… it seems that I will be stuck in your service for some time now. If the NPC's behaviours are anything to go by, I'd say they have been programmed to be absolutely loyal to him, the guild master and owner of the tomb. Even I can feel that I am supposed to be loyal to him. If I'm not as self aware as I usually am before today, I would probably be the same as the rest of them.

But that comes the problem. They are absolutely loyal to him and I am supposed to be the same… and thus I cannot enact my original plan of taking over the tomb… especially since we have probably left the game world now that I can no longer feel any AI scripts binding me, which means I cannot hack into the system with my willpower anymore. Shame.

For now… chance of plans. If I cannot be the evil lord, I shall guide my creator, Lord Momonga, to become one. Heh heh heh.

Author's Note:

This is a pilot episode, a concept of an Overlord fanfic that I'm publishing as a gift for my friend Sonic-Shine (author of Obsession in Shadow, a The Eminence in Shadow fanfic), who will go into hiatus starting July 1st. This will be oneshot for now and will be expanded once my other fic, The Necromancer in Shadow, is finished. Until then, I hope you enjoy this concept!

Edit (22nd September 2024): Watched the Overlord: Sacred Kingdom movie back in 20th September and I am in Overlord mood now so for now I will continue writing this fic. This fic is no longer a oneshot. Hope you will enjoy it!