'This is… bad.' Ainz winced as another of the powered suit pilots was shot by a laser beam, the scream of pain belonging to the poor victim cut short by the near instant destruction delivered by the attack.
The Guildmaster of Ainz Ooal Gown and his maid were currently tailing the group of pilots at a high speed while under the influence of the [Perfect Unknowable] spell. While it was because he didn't want the two of them to get found out, now, it's so they don't end up under the line of fire like their targets.
{"Lord Ainz. Multiple machines are currently closing in on the targets."} Shizu informed the undead using the [Message] spell, the telepathic message instantly reaching the overlord as he looked at the machines of similar design to the friendly one they encountered a while back.
Except these ones were outfitted with flight devices of sorts, and large firearms that seem to launch slow moving spherical energy pulses of two differing colours at the powered suit pilots. Which they either attempted to dodge, fire at to cancel them out, or rotate a full circle to attack them with blades outfitted at the back of the mech units.
'Hmm, the spheres seem easy to dodge at first, but as each machine launches multiple at the same time together with one another, it becomes difficult to maneuver with incurring damage… These guys, they're professionals it seems, soldiers perhaps?'
Alas, before Ainz could dwell on it more, of the three remaining mech suit pilots, the unique white one was shot down- exploding to smithereens with its pilot - before one of the remaining two's units turned the same white colour as the now deceased unit, taking the lead like its colour's predecessor, before the last two unknown users had their suits, that previously only resembled tiny aircrafts, transformed into mech suits with four limbs as they engaged once more with the attacking machines.
{"Shizu."} Ainz spoke telepathically to the Automaton. {"It seems that the white colour is reserved to the higher ranks of whatever organization these powered suit pilots belong to. We will follow that one for now, be prepared."}
And just as he said that, the last remaining black mech suit was annihilated, before the surviving pilot sped up once again towards the factory-like structure in the distance, with the Overlord and Automaton in tow.
Ainz hummed as he saw the white suit defeat one of the flying machine units, which this time, was much more complex than its tinier compatriots, having not only pod and pulse rifle installed, but four more pods connected to it as the central unit of the structures each was outfitted with more firearms, giving a grand total of five.
'Curious, it seems to me there's got to be a greater intelligence behind these machines, outfitting something so simple yet so complex on units like these, perhaps they're also the cause behind the network?' The undead hummed as the pilot turned its white mech suit back into the aircraft mode.
Unfortunately, he couldn't dwell on his theories for longer as they reached a point in the metal tunnel where automatic doors began closing in front of them, as if to keep them outside.
As the suit user began speeding up to not get shut out of the building, Ainz and Shizu began tailing her at even greater speed to ensure they are not detected if they crash with the doors.
'Ah, dammit, the last one is about to close!' Ainz clicked his tongue as the door at the end was about to shut them out, though thankfully it didn't get caught up either by his maid or the target, courtesy of [Perfect Unknowable] cutting off all sound.
As the trio almost reached the last gate, which had only enough space to allow for smaller sized folks, the white mech suit user suddenly began speeding up at maximum velocity, and figuring out what the they intended to do, Ainz cast a spell to ensure he and Shizu are given ample time to make their way first.
'[Silent Magic: Time Stop!]'
And just as instantly, the world lost its colour, the door was stuck in place, and so was the mech suit pilot, the flames from their thrusters frozen in time, appearing like beautiful grey statues.
{'Come, Shizu.'} Ainz spoke, his speed decreasing as he made his way in front of the pilot, who was merely a finger away from the small opening of the doorway.
His loyal maid was immediately behind him, following behind the undead with her guard up, when she was about to cross the door as well, her eyes suddenly scrutinized the user of the suit for a moment before speaking to Ainz using [Message].
{'Lord Ainz. The suit user, I can now confirm that she is not a human, or any humanoid race known in YGGDRASIL. She resembles a humanoid automaton in appearance. Theory: She's one of the androids that are in opposition of the machines.'}
The undead blinked for a moment before nodding, an expression of clarity on his face as he digested the latest piece of information. 'This does align then with what Leo said, that androids and machines are not on good terms with one another. But what I saw wasn't mere disagreements or disputes, but an outright fight with the goal of destroying the other side. This isn't a mere skirmish, but something much more grave.'
The man, though he didn't show it outwardly, wanted to cringe at his latest deduction. 'I just hope we aren't getting involved in some war of sorts now.'
As the two of them got far away enough from the door, they found themselves in an arena of sorts. With numerous machines, littering the floor below. Some of them resemble Leo, except with their eyes brightly shining red, unlike his passive green. And some were a meter or so taller than their smaller counterparts, with bulkier arms, legs, and torso.
{'Shizu, be on your guard. Our 'friend' there may end up in a fight with these machines down below. Prepare your rifle in case she requires our help.'}
The Automaton nodded as she summoned her silver futuristic rifle, the weapon glowing with ethereal magic emanating off of it as Shizu began surveying the whole area with complete scrutiny.
'I'd prefer if we didn't intervene like before, but since this android is the last of the group, we need her alive for now.'
As the two of them were prepared, Ainz then dispelled the temporal spell, allowing for the world to gain back its colours.
And as soon as that happened, the suit exploded into fragments as it was only halfway through the open mass of the metal doors, causing an explosion of numerous broken and dented metal sheets and destroyed artillery which fell to the floor along with remnants of the destroyed metal doors.
And out of the mass of destruction, a figure clad in a black dress emerged, swirling in the air before landing on the ground without so much as a tumble.
'So this is the android. Huh, she's quite beautiful.' Ainz noted to himself with a hint of nonchalance as he also eyed the flying familiar of hers, who looked like a large cuboid with tiny metal arms. Her mature appearance reminded him a bit of Albedo, who his friend Tabula Smaragdina designed meticulously, though it piqued his curiosity if the android was similar in any other regards. 'Hmm, since the machines seem to have fathers and mothers, could the androids have them too, or did they just have creators?'
He unfortunately couldn't dwell on such thoughts any longer as the android began fighting with the machines, curiously, while he expected her to use firearms or the likes like both Shizu and the flying machines she previously, the white-haired android was using a pair of white large katanas; with one being larger than the other akin to an uchigatana to a wakizashi.
And contrary to his previous worries, the android was quite proficient in her elimination of the machines, disposing of them one after the other with her swords. And to those out of her reach, her robotic familiar would attack from long range using what seemed to be energy bullets of sorts.
'How curious,' he thought. 'Whenever she switches between the two swords, the one she doesn't use is being kept afloat behind her back using those strange circles… Is this also the result of technologies present in this world, or its own form of magic?'
Ainz hummed as the woman disposed of the last of the machines, tearing it in half as it exploded. However, just as she lowered her weapon, the entire building shook violently, loud noises erupting from the other side of the large arena.
{'Shizu, we'll fly higher for now.'} Ainz sent the automaton a [Message] spell as she nodded, her weapon still in her hands as the two of them got ever farther farther from the floor, the entire arena now appearing within their sites easily as the opposite walls crumbled like paper.
Ainz's eyes widened with shock as the perpetrator behind the attack, a massive rotating buzzsaw made up with numerous giant excavation buckets.
The giant excavation device didn't hesitate as it began attacking the android using a powerful vertical strike, which she thankfully dodged at the last moment before attacking the bucket wheels with everything she got.
This process continued for several more moments, with the giant enemy performing multiple vertical and horizontal attacks to try and destroy the android, who dodged, jumped, and evaded them with grace.
{'Shizu.'} Ainz spoked shortly, the maid perking up upon hearing her name. {'Could this large machine, be one of the machines, or just an old piece of technology from this factory?'}
Shizu stared at him for a moment before extending her arm as multiple arcane circles of white and blue, that seemed to resemble the cogs of machines more than regular magic circles, rotated in front of her hand.
As they dissipated, she bowed her head slightly as she presented her findings to her master. {'No, Lord Ainz. It is in fact one of the machines, of those that are connected to the unknown network at that.'}
Ainz hummed for a moment as he mulled over this newly found fact. 'If there are machines of that design and appearance, then there are much more than that, maybe there's aquatic and winged variants too.'
The possibility brought forth a kind of childish curiosity lost within him, perhaps there'll be robot sharks, or even robotic knights.
Yet at the same time, it worried him, after all, there may even be machine dragons or things on the same level as the World Enemies as well. And worse yet, he still doesn't understand what is the purpose of this network of theirs, and what dangerous possibilities it presents.
'I just hope that fighting one doesn't mean that the network would suddenly cause all the machines in the network to start hunting for us. That would be as bad as the heteromorph bounty hunting system in YGGDRASIL.'
'Actually, I haven't yet used that spell on them yet, have I? Now's as good a time as any I suppose. [Discern Enemy].'
As the spell took effect, the information
In the meanwhile, the android woman has nearly defeated the giant excavation buzzsaw machine, the last of its bucket wheels was removed by the swordswoman's robotic assistant.
Alas, contrary to her expectations, and to her surprise, the machine pulled back for one final attack, the main head rotating extremely fast as it aimed at destroying the remnants of the arena.
As she readied her sword and prepared to strike again, a series of explosions caused by multiple missiles firing to the side of the massive machine occured, the giant didn't have a chance to defend itself before it collapsed, disassembled right then and there.
The female android sidestepped as the machine's bucket-less wheel rolled towards her, before collapsing as it got rebounded off of the wall with a massive thud.
Soon, a flying unit, likely the perpetrator behind the machine's 'death', came into view in its mech suit form.
Ainz's curiosity peaked as he looked at the pilot of the mech suit. He was an adolescent boy, with a blindfold over his eyes like the android woman and his own similitude version of her clothes that share the same symbolisms, hinted that the two belonged to the same organization, whatever it may be.
"Better make sure he's actually dead next time. That was dangerous, Ma'am."
As the woman stepped closer, dusting her clothes off, the young android spoke up again. "You're 2B, right? My name is 9S, I'm here to provide support."
"Copy that." The woman, 2B, responded professionally, showing none of the familiarity or warmth that 9S greeted her with.
'Is he an intern of sorts?' Ainz pondered curiously. 'She kinda resembles those seniors who would treat their kouhais without much warmth since they wouldn't gain anything from teaching them the ropes, aside from being forced to get held back from leaving work early.'
And despite the Undead's curiosity, 9S didn't seem unfazed by 2B's coldness and professionalism. "So… was that big ol' buzzsaw the Goliath you came here to take out?"
The woman answered curtly as she shook her head. "No, just another defensive system."
"Oh, well, uh, guess we have to find the target then, huh? I've got a flight unit, so I'll take a look around the perimeter." 9S responded, his voice betraying a hint of shock at the realization that the giant machine wasn't the instead target, before flexing the arm of his mech suit ('Or flight suit, as they call it,' Ainz thought) as he prepared to fly above again.
"Alright, I'll work my way inside from the ground." As 2B answered, 9S began to fly high in the air as the woman went towards the sole remaining operational bridge towards the heart of the factory.
{'Shizu. Go and follow this 9S, report to me whenever you can about whatever happens on his end. I'll keep track of that 2B android.'} Ainz ordered Shizu through their telepathic channel of the [Message] spell as he prepared to tail the blindfolded woman.
{'Lord Ainz, please reconsider, you require protection.'} The undead suddenly halted as he felt the maid's gloves hand on his robes, her voice betraying none of her emotions, while her visible eye hinted at worry for him.
'Huh… Never had someone care for my safety before, at least aside from my friends from Ainz Ooal Gown and my mom when she was still alive.'
The undead, after this realization, brought his hand to her head, patting her gently with his skeletal hand as he tried to assuage her worries.
{'Don't worry. I will be careful and won't take much risks, should there be anything that might threaten my life, I'll evacuate immediately. But until then, you should hurry up and catch up to the boy in that 'flight suit' as he called it, do not take any unnecessary risks and retreat if something beyond your capabilities comes up.'}
Shizu was hesitant at first, visible by her slightly shaking hand before letting go of him, bowing her head in recognition of his orders for her as she holstered her rifle on her hip once more and took off towards the male android's location.
With her out of sight, Ainz went up high in the sky above the factory, and with a simple cast, a large ornate mirror was created right in front of him, showcasing the blindfolded android slashing another group of enemies.
Shizu… wasn't impressed, to say the least.
Not impressed at all.
'The enemy machine units are taking turns to try and shoot down their target in waves, instead of focusing all their firepower to destroy him immediately. This is pointless.'
The flying rusted units, who she can consider as cute despite their hostility to her target of surveillance, were making it quite easy for their foe to dispose of them.
'If they were soldiers of Nazarick, lord Demiurge would've turned them to scrap because of their wastefulness.'
Still, despite how disappointingly boring watching the fights between the android and the machines, one thing perked her interest.
Hacking.
Every so often, she could sense the adolescent-looking android as he would hack into one of the machines and cause them to self-destruct, destroying themselves and others of their kind in one fell swoop.
'Hmm, I should try.' The automaton thought to herself as she looked at the incoming drove of machines, while it would be easier to just dispose of them using her rifle, or her new abilities that she gained through lord Ainz granting her the chance to use the World Item, she wants to tests how it feels to hack into the machines of this world.
And just like that, while her target was distracted and wouldn't notice her actions, her eye shifted hue for a split second as the process began.
Instantly, the YGGDRASIL automaton found herself in a basic shaped room of multiple shades of grey. With a large grey ball inside this space with her.
Suddenly, the ball began moving as it shot smaller spheres of orange and dark blue towards her, which she was able to dodge easily.
'This must be the machine's core. I should destroy it.' It didn't take long for Shizu to acclimate in this new environment as she unholstered her rifle, which turned into simple shapes resembling the outline of the forearm and fired.
The bullets tore through the spherical ammunition of the enemy before connecting with the core, tearing a hole into it as it disappeared into the ether. And with that Shizu could feel the machine falling under her full control.
"Uwaah." Shizu gave an unenthusiastic gasp of shock as she felt everything that the machine had to offer. From information on the network it was on, to the machine itself and some of its allies.
Yet, even so, she could feel an invisible force, weak as it may be, attempting to invade this space in response to her actions, and while the automaton would've liked to test it out, Ainz's orders were clear in her mind, and instead focused on the machine under her control for now.
'I can't access much from this one, it's not important enough on the network's totem pole.' Shizu blinked with a hint of disappointment in her eyes as that realization came to be.
'Guess I'll need to search for more machines later for lord Ainz. Though… maybe I can use one of my new skills here?'
While the machine wasn't noteworthy in both appearance and strength, it served as a perfect test dummy for Shizu, who was eager to test out the effectiveness of the abilities granted to her by her master.
And thus, Shizu raised her hand, multiple circles resembling gears appearing from it as she cast one of her new skills on the mindbroken machine.
"{Databank Absorption}."
'So if that 9S wasn't lying, there were humans here…' Ainz thought pensively to himself as the automated voice recording of a woman declaring the end of a daytime shift kept repeating on the loudspeakers. The voice echoing across the entirety of the factory without pause, looping for quite a while.
'What exactly happened here? Did some robotic invasion happen and AI annihilated the human race or something? Were these androids and machines the cause.' He thought to himself with heavy concern, seeing the android woman dispose of another group of machines before making her way towards another circular room.
'Haaah… I'll think about that later, for now. I should just keep a record of what is happening.'
He folded his arms as the mirror shifted and showed 2B walking outside, talking on the comms with 9S as a flock of birds was flying nearby.
"What is that Goliath machine they're looking for exactly? And how big is it exactly that the biggest buzzsaw was just considered as part of the security detail of the factory?" His lips were pursed as he kept mulling over it, as the woman in the mirror was busy walking towards the large bridge.
Suddenly, two of the large buzzsaw machines that 2B fought in the beginning began to immediately move towards her on the massive conveyor belts on each side of the bridge. The woman had no time to escape as the machines destroyed the two sides of the bridge's section she was on, stranding her on it.
"There's definitely intelligence behind these machines, this was without the shadow of a doubt a trap they've been laying out for her." Ainz softly muttered to himself as he watched her dodge and attack the two large buzzsaw machines on her own.
'Hmm… now that I think about it… [Widen Magic: Discern Enemy].'
The disguised Overlord expected for the giant enemies to have high levels, but to his surprise, they barely reached-
'Level 28… Seriously? These giants are only just level 28? I mean, I suppose it makes sense they rely on easily destroyed buckets to dish out damage and only rely on brute force, but that's a bit disappointing, isn't it? At least this 2B woman is a bit higher than that, being level 40 isn't so bad, especially since it doesn't seem like she has any noteworthy skills to speak of aside from being extremely proficient in combat, though it seems that the high level differences in this world don't mean a fight will be easy or difficult… I wonder how she would have fared against Shizu before and now after her upgrade?'
The skeletal armed mage suddenly felt a ping as his spell reacted to even more entities, giving him estimates on these mysterious strangers' levels as well.
'Level 70?! Wait, where?!' If he was still alive, his neck would've broken from the whiplash as he looked behind him and below, only to find nothing more than the factory and the building from which the buzzsaw machines were lying around, and the sea floor beneath him…
'Wait a minute…'
His eyes widened with shock as the realization hit him like a freight truck. 'The entire building… is a machine? And the ones below are the same?'
It didn't take long for the still invisible Overlord to take to the skies even farther, giving him ample view of both the fight and the camouflaged machines.
'Seriously, I almost got a heart attack! …If I still had a beating heart that is… Thankfully it doesn't seem like they're going to reawaken anytime soon, which is good considering that the android 2B still hasn't finished off those two, who are barely level 28.'
'Hmm, let's help her for a moment.' Ainz thought to himself as he began to silently cast a spell on the two excavation machines turned hostile enemies.
'[Silent Twin Magic: Clockstop].'
As soon as he finished casting the spell, the two giants halted moving as they fell to the sides of the collapsed bridge 2B was on, who didn't hesitate to continue her attacks on the machines, seemingly oblivious to the source of the machines' sudden movement issues.
'Hmm, [Clockstop] is supposed to be only viable against automatons or other artificial lifeforms, since it disabled their inner workings momentarily… At least now I know for sure now that my spells aimed at targeting automatons and the like are still viable against the machines… Wonder what would happen if I used it against an android too?' The undead pondered on the intrusive thoughts as he looked at the blindfolded woman, his skeletal fingers cracking with a curiosity unavailable in his left fleshy one.
'...Nah, I'll find someone else to test it on. Would be a bit problematic if she dies now.'
As 2B was busy attacking the machines, suddenly fire burst out of their bases as they began to move, or rather, forced to move on the conveyor belts towards a certain building in the distance.
"So those were its arms. I wonder if the rest of its body is the combination of more machines as well." Ainz muttered to himself in awe and curiosity as the secret of the building was revealed to him and the woman below, with the giant machine's 'head' appearing from within the large construct, its eyes glowing an eerie red.
The machine didn't waste any time in moving towards 2B, missiles firing from its back at her location, which was she barely able to escape by a hair's breadth.
Her robotic familiar was firing yellowish white bullets at the machine's head. With 2B would attack the battered upper limbs from her previous assault each time they swung in her direction.
'She's not gonna get very far like that.' He winced as the machine finished firing a laser from its head before diving beneath the waters, only to destroy part of the bridge the android was standing on, forcing her to run and avoid being caught up by the attack.
'Should I get involved again? It would blow my cover though if that happens…'
Fortunately, it seemed that it was unnecessary, as a familiar mech unit flew rapidly fast towards their location with his maid in tow, the former firing multiple missiles of its own at the hostile machine.
{'Shizu. How were things on your end?'} Ainz asked the automaton maid as she hovered near him, her head bowed as she reported.
{'Lord Ainz, no major discovery found, factory was devoid of any of the targets that the androids were following. However, I have been able to test one of my newly gained skills and now have a rudimentary understanding of the hacking methodologies of this world.'} Shizu reported to the man with professionalism, her hand in front of her and head still bowed.
Ainz blinked in faint surprise as a pleased smile appeared on his face. {'I see, that is amazing news then. You can inform me later about what your findings, for now, we should observe.'}
It didn't take long for the situation to turn on its head. The young android in the flying suit attempted to defend his comrade, only to end up being seated away by the buzzsaw and landing on top of the giant monstrosity, with an arm and a leg missing, revealing the wirings and artificial platings beneath his 'skin'.
If Ainz still had his full emotional spectrum, he might've felt pity for the poor boy and assisted him, alas, all that he could think of, all that he was capable of at this very instance, were cold calculations and ruthless pragmatism.
'It's a shame. They will die right here it seems.' He thought to himself as the taller android, 2B, finally defeated the giant machine, at the cost of the flying suit that she took from the now wounded 9S, who's own robotic familiar was defending him from the ensuing waves of machines attempting to prey on his temporary moment of weakness and destroy him.
Only for three more of those steel and metal monstrosities, all in near pristine condition, arising from the seafloor to complete the mission of their now destroyed brethren.
'I don't have anything to gain from helping those two. At least with that small machine, I was able to glean proper information on this world, but here, I only tailed them to find out about their mission and capabilities.'
He saw as 9S gave 2B a small smile, a small black box in his hand as he motioned for her to do the same, the woman bringing hers out from her chest.
'...That should be how I do this, still...' Seeing the two exchange what seemed to be final farewells, it reminded him of bitter memories. Of his friends who left YGGDRASIL one by one, of his mother who passed away right in front of him while he was just a child.
Living or nonliving, human, undead, or android. He's seeing a repeat of those memories right in front of him.
'No… if I have the chance to make sure it doesn't happen again, I'll do it. I can't ever look any of them in the eye again if I let tragedies like this happen.'
Ainz was not naive, he understood the sheer brutality and cruelty of both the world and humanity, having experienced it since he was an elementary school student, forced to work in an environment that would be a crime against humanity all on its own. There's no such thing as a fairytale-like happy ending for all beings in existence.
And yet…
{'Shizu, you said you now have a basic understanding of how to hack into these things, right?} The automaton nodded with confidence to her master's query.
It's his duty as someone who lives in the present to work to make sure the past wrongs never happen again.
{'Shizu. Infiltrate one of these machines and help dispose of the other two. And if you can, dig up any and all information from them, but prioritise your safety above that and retreat before you're caught by the machines on the network.'}
And he'll be damned if he doesn't do anything to show for it in this world when he has the power to change what happens in front of him.
"The one who cries over the past, without ever working for the present, is not practical. Crying would not help him."
- H.H Pope Shenouda III
A.N: So, how was it? Good? Bad? Meh? Tell me down below.
I know this chapter was a bit annoying to read, but at least it's done.
This is the last 'prologue' chapter, the next technical chapter after this is the very first one of the fic, you can reread that after this one later. And we'll be moving forward now to when 2B and 9S are going to earth.
So yeah, thanks for reading, and leave me your thoughts down below.
Discord link: discord .gg/ JKyec4q7
P.S: To glaks4407: Ainz is undead, that didn't change, he's simply stuck in the form he got from using a disguise item in YGGDRASIL that made him look humanoid to enter Midgard without facing a hassle.