In the previous chapter: Ainz, Six, and Narkhan met with the Guardians to arrange their departure from Nazarick as adventurers. Each Supreme chose a representative to remain in charge, including the arrival of Zhou Fan, the enigmatic guardian of the Eleventh Floor. Meanwhile, the Supremes took on new identities and departed for E-Rantel with Narberal Gamma.
Once in the city, they joined a group of adventurers and accepted an escort mission to Carne Village. During the journey, they faced an ambush of goblins and orcs, demonstrating power far above average. Upon arriving at the village, Ainz was recognized by Nphiria, who thanked him for saving Enri, the woman he loves.
Now, with new allies, enemies in the shadows, and a world to discover, the real journey has just begun.
At this moment, everyone could be seen gathered at the entrance of the forest, ready to enter and begin gathering herbs. Nphiria, carrying a basket on her back, looked at the group of adventurers beside her and spoke in a determined tone:
—Well, from here we'll enter the forest. I'll count on you to protect me.
Peter, the leader of the Dark Swords group, smiled confidently and said:
"We don't have to worry too much. With Momon's group accompanying us, we'll be fine."
Nphiria nodded and looked towards Ainz's group.
—Excuse me… If the Wise King of the Forest appears, please don't kill him.
Six raised an eyebrow, curious.
—Hmm… Why do you say that? Wouldn't it be easier to just take him out?
The Dark Swords group was surprised by the coldness of the question. Nphiria explained with some nervousness:
—Well, the truth is, his presence keeps many dangerous monsters away from the village. That's why it's best not to eliminate him…
Ainz nodded calmly.
—I understand. We won't kill him if he shows up.
The Dark Swords group opened their eyes in astonishment. Lukrut, somewhat skeptical, commented:
—Can you really kill him? He's a legendary beast… He's lived for hundreds of years.
Ainz replied calmly:
—Some members of my group have alarm and tracking abilities. I'd like us to investigate that matter ourselves.
Nphiria smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
—No problem, I really appreciate it.
Suddenly, Narkhan yawned reluctantly. He took a few steps forward, stretching as he walked toward the forest.
—I'm getting bored now… I'll skip ahead a bit.
Everyone looked at him, and the moment he set foot in the forest, his figure disappeared in a flash.
The Dark Swords group gasped. Nphiria was also stunned. Ainz just sighed in resignation.
—Forgive my partner… He likes to move around almost always alone.
Peter asked, still surprised:
—What was that… a special ability? Stealth?
Six looked at him sideways and replied with a half smile:
—No… It's just speed. He hates being bored, so he goes ahead on his own. I hope you can forgive him.
Peter regained his composure and replied:
—Don't worry. If it's that strong, it's nothing to be alarmed about.
Narberal, who was still looking in the direction where Narkhan disappeared, thought silently:
"What speed… I couldn't even see a trace of him. It's incredible."
The mood became more serious, and with the group ready, they began to head deeper into the forest. The mission had just begun.
Deep in the forest, sitting on a thick tree branch, Aura swung her legs in the air as she muttered impatiently:
—I wonder when Ainz-sama will come… hmmm…
At that moment, a deep voice appeared at his side without warning.
—So you're waiting for Ainz…
Aura's eyes shot open in complete surprise. She quickly stood on the branch and assumed a combat stance, ready for any threat.
Narkhan looked at her indifferently and commented coldly:
—It's too late. You would have died by now. You're neglecting your training.
Aura froze for a second, her eyes wide open. Then, recognizing him, she immediately composed herself, lowered her gaze, and bowed respectfully.
"Narkhan-sama… he scared me. I didn't notice at all. Not even when I sensed the others entering the forest…" she said, now looking at him with a glimmer of admiration in her eyes.
Narkhan gave a short laugh.
—So, what are you doing here, Aura? What's the plan?
—Well… I think the goal is to find the Wise King of the Forest, she replied, regaining her cheerful tone.
—I see… Let's go find him right away. The others won't be long in coming. Let's take our time, hahaha.
Aura nodded enthusiastically. Without warning, Narkhan leaned over, picked her up with one arm, and placed her easily over his shoulder.
—You better hold on.
Aura blushed slightly at the gesture, and just as she braced her hands to avoid falling, Narkhan disappeared in a quick flash, just like before.
While the others were exploring the forest, Ainz's group had split up, walking calmly through the trees. The atmosphere was peaceful, only the crunching of leaves beneath their feet breaking the silence.
Ainz, walking in front, turned his head slightly towards Six and commented in a calm tone:
—Do you know where he went? It's hard to keep up with him like this.
Six shrugged indifferently.
—I only caught a glimpse of him, but following him… is almost impossible.
Ainz let out a slight sigh, somewhere between frustrated and resigned.
—Where could he have gone...? Well, let's move on.
The group continued walking for a while in silence. After a while, Ainz stopped for a moment, looked around, and said:
"Will that be okay?" Her voice sounded thoughtful, yet calm. "Anyway, changing the subject... let's talk about how to spread our group's name around the world."
Everyone looked at each other, but no one responded immediately. It was then that Six, in his typical nonchalant tone, asked:
—Have you called anyone?
Ainz sighed once more, as if it was something he had already expected.
"I called Aura... but apparently, she was taken by Narkhan. I guess he decided to move on his own." I sighed again.
Six gave a small laugh and spoke naturally:
—Don't worry too much. I don't think they'll be long. Who knows what they're doing ? But don't worry.
Elsewhere in the forest, Narkhan stood perched on a tree branch, gazing at the entrance to a cave in the distance. In his usual tone, he spoke calmly:
—That's it, isn't it, Aura?
Aura continued to sit on his shoulder, holding on firmly as she looked in the same direction. She nodded confidently.
—Yes, I think that is what Ainz-sama is looking for.
Narkhan gently lowered Aura onto the branch. Then he looked at her and said:
"You'd better welcome the visitor. If you take him to Ainz, he'll know what to do next. I'll leave now."
Aura nodded seriously, nimbly climbed down the branch, and descended into the cave. Upon reaching the entrance, she moved cautiously, tiptoeing to avoid making a sound.
Inside, the creature slept soundly, its heavy breathing echoing in the silence. Aura looked at it curiously, sighed, and thought:
—I want it, but… I have to take him to Ainz-sama.
He took a deep breath and, without hesitation, blew it toward the beast. A thick, magical mist erupted from his mouth, enveloping the creature. At that moment, the beast abruptly awoke, its body bristling, and its eyes widening in fury.
"Job completed!" Aura shouted, running out of the cave without looking back.
The beast roared loudly and charged after her. As she ran through the trees, two figures emerged at her side: a huge, brown-furred wolf and a large, lizard-like insect.
The wolf stepped forward, picked up Aura, and lifted her onto his back without stopping. Aura laughed happily.
—It's you! Hahaha. Well, since you're here, let's go with Ainz-sama!
The trio charged into the forest, moving at high speed as the beast pursued them, roaring with every step, making the birds tremble and the trees shake.
Elsewhere in the forest, Ainz and his party continued to wait peacefully. The silence was comfortable, until suddenly, a gust of wind crossed the area. Narkhan appeared beside them in a flash, his cloak fluttering as the air still vibrated with his arrival.
Six looked at him sideways with a slight ironic smile.
—So you finally arrived... What did you do this time?
Narkhan crossed his arms and replied in his casual, confident tone:
"I'm just following Ainz's plan: to further our reputation. The so-called 'Wise King of the Forest' will soon arrive, so... what's the problem?"
Ainz watched him calmly, his gaze shining beneath his mask.
—So you went with Aura… and brought him here. I understand. I'm curious to see how legendary he is.
Narberal, who remained silent, analyzed the interaction. Although she said nothing, her attention was completely focused on Narkhan.
He turned around and lay down casually next to his companions. As he did so, he murmured in a relaxed tone:
—I don't think that thing is that strong. From what I felt, it shouldn't be a problem.
Ainz nodded, not taking his eyes off her.
—Everything is weak to you, Narkhan. But still… I want to see it for myself.
Narkhan just shrugged.
Six made a thoughtful expression, then turned her gaze to him curiously.
—Hey… what level are you on now?
He glanced at her, tilting his head indifferently.
—And why do you ask that?
"Well," Six shrugged, "you're also using a different class than yours, just like us. So... what are you using now?"
Narkhan gave a small laugh, as if amused by the question.
—If you want to know about me… you'd better first tell me what level you're on.
Ainz intervened in his calm tone:
—I'm using an item I created by adjusting my stats, but if we had to compare ourselves to the game system... I'd say I'm between level 80 and 90, more or less.
Six smiled slightly and added:
—I'd say between 90 and 100. Although my damage did go down a bit.
Narkhan nodded slowly and responded with a smile under his mask.
—I see… that's how things are. I'm at level 100.
In his mind, Narkhan reflected with a slight smile:
—So Ainz has already far surpassed his version from the series… he used to be between level 50 and 70, but now… he's quite high. Not bad. And Six… as expected of the one below me.
Six frowned upon hearing this and retorted in a defiant tone:
—So you're at max level, but you won't be using your full power, right? You can change classes whenever you want... that doesn't count.
Narkhan shook his head, responding calmly.
—You're right. But it doesn't work that way. When I adopt a specific class, like "Assassin," my overall power is reduced because it limits my access to magical and racial classes. When I'm in my normal form, I have access to all those abilities… but in this form, I only have the Assassin's.
He was silent for a few seconds, then smiled slightly.
—Still… that's more than enough.
Ainz looked at him sideways and spoke calmly:
—So it's like that… But even capped, you have a maximum class level. That's surprising.
Narkhan replied with a carefree smile:
—Well, it's not that bad. After all, you're also only using five or ten percent of your power.
Six crossed his arms, studying Narkhan closely.
—Hmm… so with your current form, how much power are you actually using? It must be only a small fraction compared to your full form.
"More or less," Narkhan replied calmly. "It's hard to estimate, but I don't think it's more than five percent. I don't know for sure… since I can't see the statistics in this world."
Six nodded and spoke with a provocative smile:
—So in this form… I can easily crush you, huh?
She looked at him with a defiant expression, as if she already tasted victory.
Narkhan looked back at him, raising an eyebrow, and gave a dry laugh:
—Crush me? Please… you couldn't beat me even with cheap tricks. I don't know defeat.
Six narrowed his eyes and replied with disdain:
—Of course you don't know her, if you're always using that absurd force to compensate for your lack of style.
Narkhan clicked his tongue with a crooked smile:
—Style? You're a toaster with wings. You're in no position to talk about style.
—And what are you? A clown with the grandeur of a god? You only look good when you're quiet.
Narkhan looked at her mockingly and spoke in an ironic tone while his eyes shone:
—You're right, I do look good being quiet... especially when I'm ignoring you.
Six came a little closer, a vein popping out on his forehead.
—Ignore me? Please, you're dying to spend the same time we had before when we were in Yggdrasil. Accept that you can't resist my presence.
"Your presence?" Narkhan laughed. "The only thing I have trouble resisting is the temptation to laugh every time you speak."
They both held each other's clothes, bringing their foreheads together, tension thick in the air. They began to unleash their auras, which clashed: Narkhan's blue and imposing, Six's pink and vibrant like a contained storm.
Ainz watched them silently, a smile on his face.
Narberal, somewhat worried, approached and whispered:
—Ainz-sama… shouldn't we stop them?
Ainz looked at her sideways and replied, amused:
—You're right... If I leave them, they'll tear out their circuits and their egos.
He raised his voice, addressing his companions:
—That's enough! Save that energy for when it really matters.
Narkhan dropped Six's clothes with a snort, turning his face away in annoyance:
—Tch… I understand.
Six let go too, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes:
—Yes, yes… for now.
Ainz turned around looking in one direction.
With the Black Sword group gathered, Nphiria silently gathered some herbs, while Yu observed the surroundings attentively. Suddenly, a flock of birds shot out of the trees, flying into the sky as if something had startled them.
Lukrut frowned, crouched down, and placed one ear on the ground.
"This is bad," he murmured seriously. "Something's coming... and it's coming full speed."
At that moment, both Liam and Yuri appeared from the side and Yuri raised his voice:
"Something's coming very fast. It's best to retreat. Momon can take care of the rest."
They all glanced at each other briefly and nodded, understanding that it was best not to take any more risks. Without another word, they began to move quickly, leaving the clearing behind as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
When everyone left the forest, they stopped at the entrance, waiting at a safe distance. Liam and Yuri watched the forest calmly.
Ainz and Narberal were already waiting for them. Both stood at attention, their gaze fixed on the trees. Ainz slowly drew his swords, his presence growing denser and more oppressive.
Narberal, at his side, watched silently, cold as steel, ready to act if necessary.
Silence reigned for a few seconds… until a cloud of dust began to rise in the distance. Something was approaching at full speed.
Suddenly, a projectile shot out from the trees like a living root. Ainz reacted instantly, creating a shield with one of his swords. The impact was brutal, but his body didn't even move an inch. With a firm gesture, he forcefully deflected the attack, forcing the creature back into the forest.
The enemy's voice echoed throughout the place, deep and distorted, as if speaking from everywhere at once:
—You are capable of blocking my attack, gozaru. But I will not grant you respect for that. You have invaded my territory… and you will die for it.
Ainz looked in all directions, calm, and replied firmly:
—You don't show your face... don't you trust yourself?
"How brave," the creature replied. "Then I will grant you a feast for your eyes... by revealing my true, imposing form."
The creaking of trees echoed as a colossal figure emerged, crushing branches beneath its weight. It walked on two legs, its body enormous, covered in fur, and its expression fierce and savage.
Ainz watched him closely and muttered in surprise:
-It just can't be…
The creature showed a smile disfigured by the monstrosity of its form and spoke mockingly:
—I can see the fear in your eyes at my terrifying form…
But Ainz, instead of backing down, spoke with more interest:
—I want to ask you something… aren't your kind known as… Siberian hamsters?
The creature stopped, confused, and replied in a deep voice:
—How do they know my race…?
Ainz replied calmly, still holding his sword:
—Yeah, you could say I know them. One of my old friends… had one as a pet.
Narberal, at his side, looked at him in surprise, slightly raising an eyebrow.
The giant hamster blinked a couple of times, visibly moved.
—Are there really more of my kind…? I'd like to know where I came from. If I can't leave offspring… then I've failed as a living being, gozaru…
Ainz watched him for a moment before speaking:
—Well… considering your current size, leaving offspring is… complicated.
Then he thought to himself: Although, on second thought, maybe there is some magic solution…
The hamster lowered his head, discouraged.
—I see, gozaru… How unfortunate… gozaru…
But he immediately recovered his spirits, shaking his body with energy:
—Okay! It's time to continue our fight! I'll put all my strength into this, gozaru!
Ainz sighed and lowered his head slowly. Then, with a sharp clap, he brought the tip of his sword crashing into the ground.
"I'm not a fan of unnecessary battles... but I must admit you had given me certain expectations. The so-called 'King of the Forest'... Narkhan must have known, that's why he didn't say anything... aaaah..."
The hamster prepared to launch itself at him and roared:
—By invading my territory, you've become my prey! I'll devour you, gozaru!
Ainz looked up in disappointment and muttered:
—How annoying…
He raised one of his swords and declared in a low but commanding voice:
—Skill: Aura of Despair – Level 1.
A dark wave, almost imperceptible to the eye but as dense as night, slowly expanded around him. The giant hamster was immediately paralyzed. He trembled… and then fell backward with a resounding thud.
—I-I give up! I've lost! —he moaned—. I can't… resist that fear…! gozaru…
Ainz watched him silently for a few seconds before speaking in a resigned tone:
—Well… I guess he's still a beast.
From the top of a nearby tree, a female voice was heard:
—If you're going to kill him, at least leave me his skin. I could use a blanket made of that fur.
Ainz and Narberal looked up at the same time. The hamster, hearing those words, opened his eyes in panic.
—"It can't be…!" she screamed, tears welling up in her eyes.
After the meeting, everyone waited at the entrance to the forest. Suddenly, Ainz appeared between the trees, walking calmly. Beside him, Narberal walked with the same elegance as always… and right behind them marched the gigantic creature: the enormous bipedal hamster that now followed them like a faithful servant.
The Black Swords group and Nphiria opened their eyes in disbelief. They all exclaimed in unison:
—That's… the Wise King of the Forest!
Ainz looked at them calmly and spoke in a firm tone:
—Don't worry. It's under my control now. It won't cause you any harm.
The hamster nodded enthusiastically, puffing out his furry chest.
—That's what my master says! This Sage will follow his master wherever he goes. I won't cause any of you trouble, gozaru!
Niya, still with her jaw half-dropped, murmured:
—Amazing… what a gigantic magical creature…
Ainz looked at him out of the corner of his eye and thought to himself, "Did he say amazing? Is this really that impressive…?"
Dyne, with one hand on his chest, spoke respectfully:
—I can feel a mixture of strength… and wisdom.
The others began to make admiring comments. Some approached timidly, marveling at its size; others smiled at it as if it were a mythical beast. Even Peter whispered,
—That fur looks… so soft.
Ainz, somewhat overwhelmed by the exaggerated reaction, turned slightly towards Narberal.
—And what do you think?
Narberal looked at the hamster with a smile and replied:
—Putting aside his… strange form… his eyes flash with great power.
Ainz slowly turned to the hamster… staring at it.
And he thought:
"That's impossible."
Six approached the giant hamster curiously. He bent down gently, touched its head, and murmured in a warm voice, a gentle smile forming beneath his mask:
—Not bad… it's quite soft.
The hamster closed his eyes, enjoying the touch, as if he'd never been petted before. Six smiled even wider, hugged him briefly, and then let him go.
—It's very soft and squishy... Well, it seems we have a new pet for the group —she said playfully as she sat up.
Then Narkhan approached. The hamster stared at him, innocent. Narkhan looked back and reached out his hand, calmly placing it on its head. But in that instant, something changed.
Narkhan's eyes shot open. So did the hamster.
Before him, in the depths of the creature's mind, appeared an immense, enormous eye. So large it looked like a speck of dust in the blazing sun. A red and gold eye… staring directly at him with unfathomable intensity.
The hamster opened its mouth slightly, paralyzed. Its body didn't even move. Narkhan slowly removed his hand from its head. Ainz, who had been watching him, spoke in a calm but curious tone:
—Is something wrong, Liam?
Narkhan replied without taking his eyes off the hamster:
—What an interesting little animal… very interesting. I suppose it can't hide from beings with true instinct. It was able to see me.
Ainz and Yuri widened their eyes in surprise. They both nodded wordlessly.
At that moment, Nphiria took a step forward, somewhat nervous:
—Momon-san… if that magical creature is taken out of this area… monsters might start attacking Carne Village.
Ainz turned his gaze to the hamster, which still seemed to be in shock. But before he could say anything, Narkhan approached again, gently placed his hand on the animal's head, and spoke in a calm voice:
—Don't worry, little one… I won't hurt you.
The hamster blinked for the first time in several seconds, took a deep breath, and slowly turned its head toward Nphiria, as if responding to her concern with a simple gesture.
"How interesting… he was able to see me. Unlike humans, who need to follow paths to approach the impossible… the top of their food chain. Some become gods of death, like Ainz. Others, gods of life, like Six. To them, Ainz and Six are extremes, symbols of an inevitable final destiny. But animals… creatures… do not follow such paths. To them, there is only one top of the food chain: the dragon. My power is so immense that even fully comprehending it is difficult. And those with true instinct… can sense me."
As the conversation between Nphiria and Ainz continued, the young alchemist summoned his courage and asked to join Momon's party.
However, Ainz shook his head and calmly replied:
—I can't accept that right now… but whenever you need help, just ask. I'll be there.
Nphiria smiled, relieved and happy, nodding enthusiastically.
—Then we have an agreement, Momon-san!
After that, they said goodbye to the town with cordial words and grateful glances.
The group set off for the city of E-Rantel, arriving just as night was falling. The city lights illuminated the path, welcoming them.
Ainz, riding the giant hamster, entered through the main gate as the others followed. Upon reaching a side street, Peter, the leader of the Dark Swords group, approached and spoke:
—Momon-san, we will accompany Nphiria to her house to help her with things.
Ainz nodded.
—I understand. Once I register this beast with the guild, I'll catch up with you.
Riding in the chariot, Nphiria spoke animatedly:
"I was able to gather a lot of ingredients thanks to you. You'll surely get some extra pay for this, Momon-san!"
The hamster raised his head proudly.
—Much of it was gathered by me, gozaru .
The group said their goodbyes as Lukrut turned to Narberal:
—Nabe-chan, we'll be separated for a little while. I hope you don't feel lonely… we'll have a party afterward!
Narberal looked at him out of the corner of her eye, without any emotion.
—I'll crush your filthy heart, insect.
The group merely sighed and dragged Lukrut along as they walked away.
The other group, along with Ainz, continued walking. At that moment, Narkhan turned to Narberal with a mocking smile:
—Apparently… you have a suitor, hahaha.
Narberal replied coldly:
—That insect is nothing more than that. An insect.
Narkhan burst out laughing.
—Hahaha, well, that's to be expected. You are quite beautiful, after all.
Narberal blushed slightly, but said nothing.
Six, who was walking beside them, sighed, held her head, and spoke:
—Don't pay attention to him, Nabe... he's just messing with you. But it's true, you're beautiful.
Narkhan added with a laugh:
—Good thing you're wearing that mask, Six, otherwise that guy would be chasing you too, hahaha.
"Shut up, you annoying bastard!" Six replied, laughing as she nudged him with her elbow.
As they continued walking through the city, several people watched Ainz in amazement: a warrior dressed in black, riding on a huge furry hamster, accompanied by figures as imposing as they were mysterious.
Narkhan, seeing the scene, smiled sideways and commented mockingly:
—Hehe… how does it feel to be a public disgrace like this?
Ainz looked at him with resignation and replied:
—Shut up... this is... aaaaah.
Narkhan just kept laughing out loud.
As they walked through the city, amidst the dim light of lanterns and the nighttime hustle and bustle, Narkhan narrowed his eyes and shifted his gaze in a distant direction. He stared coldly, as if seeing something the others couldn't. He thought to himself:
—"Those who are destined to die... let them die. After all, they don't matter that much. Hahaha..."
Then he looked back at the front, as if nothing had happened, and continued to mock Ainz shamelessly.
—Hey, Ainz, next time you should wear a flag on your back that says 'The People's Hero and his stuffed animal.' I'm sure you'll get a medal.
Ainz let out a forced laugh while maintaining his composure on top of the hamster.
—Hahaha… What do you think? Maybe even a hamster statue in the main square.
"With the face of an ancient sage and all!" Narkhan finished, laughing again.
Narberal watched silently from the sidelines. Her eyes scanned every gesture the two Supremes made with seriousness, but she couldn't help but let a slight smile spread across her face at the strange camaraderie between them.
Six, walking alongside, gave an amused chuckle.
—Not bad, Narkhan… but I think you'd look better as a statue. That is, if all that arrogance can be captured in stone without it exploding.
"Hahaha!" Narkhan laughed, not the least bit offended. "How cruel, Six... and to think I only speak the truth. Although... now that you mention it, if I were a statue, I'd probably be honored in temples."
Ainz added in a dry tone:
—Yes, temples… in bad taste.
Laughter erupted among them, and for a moment, amidst the jokes, sarcasm, and cutting remarks, the group seemed like a true unit. A strange, powerful, and, above all, completely unusual group.
As they continued walking through the brightly lit streets of E-Rantel, the curious glances of the villagers fell upon them… though no one dared to say a word.
As night fell in E-Rantel, horror took over Nphiria's pharmacy.
Clementine, with her extravagant clothes and a demented smile, walked among the mangled bodies of the Dark Swords group. She had tortured them one by one, enjoying every scream, every broken bone.
"That's all? How boring... I thought at least one of us would last longer," he said, laughing as he stepped on Dyne's face.
Sitting silently, Khajiit watched without intervening, as if the suffering of others meant nothing to him.
Nphiria, bound and paralyzed with fear, could only sob as Clementine approached.
"Relax... it won't hurt that much," he whispered before digging his fingers into her eyes.
The young man's scream tore through the night.
With Nphiria's eyes in her hand, Clementine sat up with a grim laugh.
—Perfect. We now have what we came for.
Khajiit nodded, and before leaving, he cast a dark spell over the place. Then, alongside Clementine, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving the pharmacy a silent hell.
Some time later, Ainz's group approached the pharmacy, accompanied by Nphiria's grandmother, who had joined them while Ainz was at the guild. Upon arriving, the woman opened the door and entered, calling out to her grandson in a worried voice.
—Nphiria! Are you here?
But there was no response.
Ainz looked around carefully, then looked at his companions. Six spoke in a serious tone:
—Something's wrong…
Narkhan nodded silently, and at that instant, Ainz drew his sword and strode forward toward the grandmother standing near the counter. She turned around at the sound of him and was startled to see Momon, but Ainz turned toward a side door next to the counter, having seen her.
"What's beyond that door?" he asked calmly.
The grandmother responded nervously.
—The warehouse… that's where they should have left the merchandise
Ainz commented seriously.
-I see…
Ainz walked down the corridor until he reached the door at the far end. He opened it without hesitation, and as he did so, everyone was shocked. Inside were the bodies of the Dark Swords group… lifeless.
At that moment, the corpses began to move. Blood coursed through their bodies, and suddenly they screamed loudly, in a grotesque and unnatural image.
"Zz-zombies!" Grandma screamed, recoiling in horror.
Ainz, without wasting any time, launched himself at them with superhuman speed and, with a single clean movement, cut off all of their heads.
The grandmother was frightened by the sight and asked, looking around desperately:
—Where is Nphiria?
Ainz replied coldly:
—It's not here.
The grandmother ran out of the room to look for him. Six, Narkhan, and Narberal stepped aside, letting her pass. Then Ainz spoke firmly:
—Nabe, go after her. Protect her.
Narberal nodded silently and followed the old woman out. Meanwhile, Narkhan and Six approached Ainz, who had moved to a corner of the room where a young woman covered in bandages lay.
Six looked at her and murmured in a serious tone:
—So she was a woman… She covered herself up to avoid causing trouble, but she was still tortured to death. How disgusting.
Ainz nodded slowly and commented coldly:
—This doesn't look like a trap, but it's definitely something repulsive.
After a while, everyone piled the bodies in the center of the room and lit a lamp, illuminating the room with a dim but sufficient light. Ainz knelt beside the corpses and examined them carefully.
"Apparently, they were tortured with a piercing weapon," he said calmly, showing no emotion.
Six, observing the bodies from a distance, added in a cold tone:
—They also took his license plates... Could he be some collector? A psychopath, maybe?
At that moment, Grandma rushed into the room, her face distorted with worry. She cried out in anguish:
—My grandson is gone! Nphiria is gone!
Ainz slowly sat up and replied calmly:
—Nothing is amiss or out of place… His target was Nphiria.
The old woman, trembling, asked in a low voice:
—So… who are these people?
Six, crossing his arms, intervened bluntly:
—A group that joined us to complete their grandson's mission.
The grandmother whispered, shocked:
—So... they were your companions?
Ainz calmly shook his head and clarified without hesitation:
—They weren't. I only worked with them once. Nothing more.
The woman lowered her gaze, unable to respond. Then Ainz approached, looked her in the eyes, and spoke firmly:
"You're in luck. Right now, you're standing before the strongest group of adventurers in this city. And while this isn't ideal… it's the perfect time to make a request. We're the only ones capable of bringing your grandson back safely."
The old woman looked up and, after a few seconds of hesitation, declared resolutely:
—Then… I'll hire them.
Ainz narrowed his eyes and said in a serious tone:
—But we're expensive... Are you willing to pay the price?
The grandmother did not flinch and asked firmly:
—What is the price that will satisfy you?
Ainz looked at her without hesitation and answered, directly and bluntly:
—Everything. I want everything you can give me.
The old woman's eyes opened wide.
"You... you..." she whispered, her breath leaving her. "They say demons will do anything if you offer them your soul... but I didn't think you were one."
Ainz simply replied in a cold voice:
—You want to save your grandson? Then it doesn't matter if I'm a demon. There's only one answer.
Grandma clenched her jaw, took a deep breath, and nodded.
—Okay. I'll hire you. Please save my grandson.
Ainz nodded calmly and spoke:
—Leave the room.
The grandmother nodded again and left, leaving Ainz and his group alone. Narkhan leaned against the wall while Six and Narberal gathered around the table. Ainz also approached, reaching for a dark portal from which he pulled out a map and unfolded it: it was the map of E-Rantel.
"It's time to begin," Ainz said, looking at the map carefully.
"If you want, we can do it my way," Narkhan said with a smile as he crossed his arms.
Ainz glanced at him.
-Do you know something?
Narkhan nodded, pointing to a direction on the map.
—Dragons, by nature, are sensitive to mana , just like spirits. —Lenato pointed in one direction. —I sense a dark-type magical power. They're probably around there.
Ainz looked at the place in the direction he was pointing and then looked at the map and spoke in a low voice:
—That way... it must be the cemetery. I understand. But it's best to act carefully. We can't be careless; there could be beings in this world capable of threatening us.
At that instant, a message reached Ainz's mind. A voice echoed in his head.
—Ainz-sama...
Ainz placed his fingers on his temple, concentrating on communication.
"What's wrong?" he replied calmly.
"There's something I must tell you," Entoma replied.
"I'm busy right now, I'll contact you later," Ainz replied, interrupting the communication for a moment.
"So, can you communicate with Albedo-sama?" Entoma insisted.
Six, noticing Ainz's change in attitude, asked:
—Is something wrong, Ainz?
Ainz gave him a quick glance.
—Entoma called me, apparently she has something to tell me, but we don't have time for that now.
Six nodded, understanding that the matter could wait. Ainz took some scrolls out of his magic bag and spread them out on the table.
"These scrolls are for searching for information and protecting ourselves," Ainz said as he organized the scrolls. He took out a few more and set them aside, then put the bag away.
"Nabe, use the item location scroll to find the adventurer's badge," Ainz ordered.
Narberal nodded determinedly and began using the scrolls, tossing them into the air. As they burned, the magical energy dissipated throughout the room. Finally, after using almost all the scrolls, Nabe pointed to a spot on the map.
"It's the cemetery," he confirmed.
Ainz nodded and quickly ordered:
—Nabe, use clairvoyance and the monitor crystal simultaneously so we can see what's happening.
Narberal threw another scroll, and a portal appeared, showing a clear image. In the vision, Nphiria could be seen surrounded by undead.
Ainz looked at the image seriously and spoke:
—A bunch of undead...
Narberal, analyzing quickly, added:
—The one with the plates must be nearby.
Ainz nodded, confirming:
-That's how it is.
The portal slowly closed after revealing the vision. Narberal turned to Ainz and asked:
—What do we do? Do we teleport in and attack right away?
Six approached, gently stroked Narberal's head and said firmly:
—We won't do that. We have to prioritize the rescue.
Ainz, in a measured tone, added:
—The enemy has prepared a large number of undead. They're planning something big... they're looking to spread our name.
Narkhan, impatient, took a step forward and spoke in an amused tone:
—It's time to go. I'm getting bored of all this planning.
Ainz and Six nodded immediately. Without wasting any more time, Ainz walked toward the door. The grandmother, who had been waiting anxiously, looked at him and asked with concern:
—Did they find my grandson?
Ainz looked at her straight in the eye and replied seriously:
"The graveyard is their base of operations. Furthermore, there's an undead army. Please inform the guild immediately. My companions and I will go ahead."
Ainz turned around to join his group, but the grandmother, with a trembling voice, asked:
—Is there a way to defeat that army?
Ainz glanced at her and, with imposing calm, replied:
—That's what we're here for.
Elsewhere, on the walls surrounding the cemetery entrance, a group of soldiers stood guard, chatting among themselves to pass the time. The night was peaceful… until a strange sound broke the silence.
One of the guards frowned and muttered nervously:
—Did you hear that?
Before they could react, everyone on the wall opened their eyes wide at what was approaching: an army of undead advancing slowly but steadily, filling the air with an eerie aura.
The soldiers became alert and shouted in alarm:
—They're attacking us! They're undead!
Wasting no time, the soldiers began launching arrows and spells, trying to stem the onslaught of creatures. But the undead continued their relentless march, scaling the wall without showing fear or pain.
The battle erupted into absolute chaos. The soldiers fought desperately, some managing to bring down several creatures, while others fell beneath the claws and fangs of their enemies. However, no matter how many they brought down, the undead continued to advance, unstoppable and relentless.
The squad leader shouted at the top of his lungs:
-Withdrawal!
Wasting no time, he hurried down the stairs, followed by the few remaining soldiers. Upon reaching the ground, they began running toward the city, panting and panicking. But just at that moment, an unexpected group appeared on the road: Ainz, imposingly mounted on Hamsuke, accompanied by Six, Narberal, and Narkhan.
The soldiers stopped dead in their tracks, staring at the badges hanging around each of their necks. The leader, still agitated and visibly frustrated, spoke disdainfully:
—Bronze rank? You'd better retreat. You'll die in that hellhole.
But before he could finish his warning, a shuddering sound was heard from the wall. Everyone looked up… and saw a giant made entirely of bones appear, roaring as he towered over the defenses.
Without losing his composure, Six raised his bow, aimed straight for the skeletal colossus's head, and fired with lethal precision. The arrow pierced cleanly through the skull, creating a perfect hole, and the enormous creature collapsed with a crash, shattered instantly.
Ainz, unfazed, spoke firmly as he looked at the soldiers:
—You guys back off. We'll take care of this.
Without wasting another second, his entire group nimbly leaped over the wall, passing over it in a synchronized movement and heading straight for the battlefield.
At that moment, on the other side of the wall, the group was quickly surrounded by a horde of undead. Narkhan, a defiant smile tugged on his mask, stepped forward and muttered in an amused tone:
—It's my turn.
He moved his hands back, firmly gripping the enormous daggers hanging from his waist. The chains connecting the hilts tightened and latched onto Narkhan's wrists, clinking with a menacing, metallic sound.
In a swift motion, he drew his weapons with lethal fluidity, and everything around him transformed into a whirlwind of death. The undead were instantly torn apart, their bodies ripped mercilessly as the sharp, slashing sound of chains echoed loudly in every direction.
The daggers floated in the air as if alive, swirling around Narkhan with absolute control. He moved his arms with precision, guiding the blades at high speed; they slid like wild beasts, slicing and dicing everything in their path, carving furrows of relentless destruction. The chains elongated violently in all directions, extending from his wrists with brutal force, unleashing total chaos.
In a matter of seconds, the threat was completely annihilated, and the countryside was left clear, a silent and desolate landscape.
From the other side of the wall, the guards could only hear that chilling, high-pitched metallic sound… and, after a brief moment, absolute silence.
Anxious and confused, they began to climb the stairs to see what had happened. When they peered over the wall, they were paralyzed with astonishment: Momon's group had already left, disappearing as quickly as they had arrived. But the most shocking thing was the scene... The entire undead army had been completely annihilated, leaving behind only a desolate wasteland, covered in wreckage.
The soldiers looked at each other, in disbelief at the devastating scene they were witnessing.
The leader of the guards, who was watching everything from the top of the wall, murmured in amazement:
—That power… This group is incredible. We just witnessed a group of legends… a true group of heroes.
Meanwhile, Momon's group continued to advance steadily. Narkhan, who was in the lead, had completely destroyed all the undead in his path. The chains floating beside him clinked softly, and after a few seconds, they began to retract, sliding back into his wrists. With a deft gesture, Narkhan took the daggers and calmly placed them back in their sheaths.
Hamsuke, who was marching beside Narberal, spoke in an excited voice:
—This is incredible! In a single instant, he stopped them all… his movements are on another level.
Narberal nodded slightly, giving a proud smile as she responded with satisfaction:
—That's right... I feel honored to serve such a great master.
Ainz, who was walking behind Narkhan, commented in a somewhat mocking tone:
—As always, so exaggerated…
Narkhan, without turning around, replied with his typical coldness:
—This will only make it easier for our name to spread throughout the world.
The group looked up. There, before them, stood the chapel. At the entrance, a group of hooded figures gathered in a circle around a man dressed in red, who held a shining gem in his hand.
One of the hooded men spoke:
—Khajit-sama, here they are.
Hearing this, Ainz muttered disdainfully:
—An idiot…
Narkhan gave a short laugh, while Ainz raised his voice:
—Hello… not a good night, is it, Khajit?
Khajit barely turned his head, looking at him out of the corner of his eye, when Six intervened in his usual tone:
—Ruining the night for a ritual… you are quite impertinent.
Khajit frowned and replied coldly:
—I'll decide if tonight is good or not.
Six smirked:
—I see… just look, how proud.
Khajit snorted, irritated:
—And who are you?
Ainz, unfazed, replied:
—We're adventurers. We'll accept a request.
Narkhan took a step forward and spoke sharply:
—You'd better hand over the boy you have. I won't repeat this twice… I'm already bored enough with all this.
Ainz added, in an icy voice:
—And you'd better come forward, he who wields the piercing weapon… or are you afraid to show yourself to us?
From the entrance of the temple, a female voice resounded, full of mockery:
—Not bad, hahaha… so you examined the bodies. Not bad, but oh well… I guess it doesn't matter.
Khajit sighed heavily as Clementine came into view. With a cheeky, amused smile, she said,
—Well, since they realized I was here, there's no point in hiding anymore.
He crossed his arms, showing a playful expression:
—So… will you tell me your names?
Ainz replied without hesitation:
—It doesn't make a difference. After all… you will die. I am Momon.
Narkhan spoke indifferently:
—I'm Liam.
Six raised his hand with an icy smile:
—I'm Yuri.
Narberal remained silent, as did Hamsuke, who didn't say a word.
Clementine adopted a thoughtful expression and asked, curious:
—So… how did you find this place?
Ainz narrowed his eyes:
—The key is in your body… under that layer.
Clementine looked surprised for a moment and then burst out laughing mockingly:
—Perv… er… t! Hahaha… lie.
While laughing, he opened his cloak, revealing the grotesque garment made entirely of adventurer plates, and added with amusement:
—These things… they gave me away, huh?
He turned to his group and ordered in a cruel tone:
—I'll take care of that woman. You guys take care of the others.
Narkhan let out a bored sigh and muttered:
—I don't think that's going to be possible. Let's do this quickly. I'll be done with you in a second.
Ainz glanced sideways at Narkhan and commented:
—If you want to do it this way… fine. But don't overdo it.
Clementine made a nimble leap, landing next to Khajit, and shouted with amusement:
—You're really arrogant, hahaha! I wonder how you'll end up after all that talking…
Ainz slowly took a step back, followed by Six and the others, who did the same.
Narkhan, without taking his eyes off his enemies, muttered in a deep voice:
—There's no point in showing them something they shouldn't see... but it doesn't matter.
Narkhan grabbed his daggers, and in an instant, a thunderous sound echoed in every direction. A massive bone hand suddenly appeared in front of Khajit, while the point of Narkhan's great dagger was thrust right into his face, pointing straight for his head. The dagger's chain extended from Narkhan's wrist, vibrating in the air.
Clementine and Khajit froze, their eyes wide, as the other hooded figures took a step back, overcome with fear. Narkhan smiled beneath his mask, and in an instant, the other dagger, guided by the chain, arced forward, decapitating several of them in a single blow. Another crash shook the air as, to Khajit's side, another bone hand emerged, acting as a shield, halting the dagger's brutal force.
Khajit clenched his jaw, sweating, and thought, There's no point in holding back... if he's this strong, the others must be the same. The sphere in his hand vibrated violently and began to glow. From the ground, two enormous bone dragons emerged at great speed, breaking the earth, sending wind and dust flying in all directions.
Narkhan's daggers returned to his hands in a flash. Looking at the dragons, Khajit shouted:
—Idiots, it's over for you! Attack!
The dragons rushed towards them with great speed, roaring with fury, but Narkhan watched them unfazed and spoke in a deep voice:
—Can't you tell... where you stand?
The dragons raised their heads and launched themselves with force… but suddenly, Narkhan raised his dagger and ordered in a commanding tone:
—Kneel down now!
At that moment, the dragons stopped in their tracks, and slowly lowered their heads, prostrating themselves before him.
Clementine and Khajit froze, their eyes wide. Khajit tried to send his magic back through the sphere he was holding… but nothing happened. He stared at the group, uncomprehending, and cried out in despair:
—Who are you guys!? What the hell is going on!?
Narkhan, smiling under his mask, calmly replied:
—Don't you understand? They're bowing down... because they recognize their true master.
Clementine adopted a combat stance, grinning with a wild expression:
—You're strong! When I kill you, I swear I'll remember you... and keep your badge in my best place, hahaha.
Narkhan looked at her and let out a mocking laugh:
—Hahaha… I wonder if you can even… touch me.
Khajit watched him, becoming more and more agitated, and shouted louder:
—Who are you?! You're not human, what are you!?
Ainz sighed heavily and said:
—People at your level aren't worth fighting seriously… but if you want to watch… that's fine.
Ainz's body changed completely, revealing his true form: the imposing skeletal figure, overflowing with power.
Khajit and Clementine gasped, instinctively stepping back, completely surprised.
Six also changed form, returning to his normal appearance: white hair, a white cape billowing as his celestial aura expanded like a silent storm. Both were even more shocked… but that wasn't all. From Six's back, wings appeared… not directly connected to his body, but extending out like pure formations of luminous feathers, floating in the air and vibrating with divine power.
Clementine stammered, her eyes wide:
—H-how is this possible...? They're different... what's going on...? An angel... and a high-level undead...
They both slowly turned their gaze towards Narkhan, still not understanding what they were facing.
Narkhan smiled beneath his mask, and in that moment, his body began to change completely. His armor faded away, revealing his true self: twisted horns emerged from his head, his black hair with red streaks fell messily, slicked back, and a new mask now covered only his nose and mouth. A black cape trimmed in red billowed behind him, paired with a sleek, dark suit that radiated power. The aura surrounding him was suffocating, absolute. His eyes, a deep gold and red with slitted pupils, glowed as if they could pierce one's soul.
Clementine, feeling a chill run down her spine, quickly positioned herself behind Khajit and shouted tensely:
—We'll go all out! I'll have your back!
But at that very moment, Narkhan took a single step forward… and disappeared.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Clementine. At the same time, Khajit and the bone dragons were brutally ripped apart in the air, exploding into a thousand pieces. However, everything remained suspended: their body parts floated as if time had frozen. Khajit's blood floated beside Narkhan, the drops motionless, not even touching him; the dragons' bones remained suspended in the air, completely frozen in space.
Clementine, breathing heavily, drew her weapons and launched herself straight at Narkhan, activating all her abilities. Her movements were swift, precise, trying to pierce him… but when her weapon struck Narkhan's body, it didn't even penetrate. A burst of flame erupted from her own weapon, as if she had violently repelled it.
Clementine took a step back, changing tactics. Her hand dropped the first weapon and grabbed another, surrounded by sparkling lightning. She swung it with brutal force at Narkhan, aiming to finish him off in a single blow… but the electric dagger hit… and did absolutely nothing to him.
Narkhan didn't even move.
Narkhan spoke, in a mocking tone:
"Do you understand now? You had no other choice from the beginning... they shouldn't have crossed us. What a shame..." He let out a dry laugh. "Hahahahaha."
Clementine took a few steps back, dropping her weapons, her breathing ragged. Narkhan continued:
—Death isn't painful... what hurts is senseless hope, like the one you have now... waiting for someone to save you, looking for a way to survive... hahaha.
Clementine took another step back, terrified. Narkhan bowed his head slightly and spoke implacably:
—Your face… shows the same fear they showed… hahaha. How funny. So… it's like this.
Narkhan slowly raised his hand and murmured:
—Just die.
Clementine's body exploded instantly, disintegrating in a shower of blood and debris, but just as before, everything remained suspended in the air, floating as if time had stopped. Narkhan stepped back, calmly returning to his place, and in that instant, everything fell heavily to the ground… as if nothing had happened.
Ainz calmly observed the scene and spoke:
—It's all over now… it's time to end this. But tell me, Narkhan, was it really necessary to destroy them like this?
Narkhan shrugged and laughed from under his mask:
—Hahaha… if you need their bodies, no problem.
He raised his arm, and in that instant, Clementine and Khajit's shattered bodies began to magically reassemble, joining their parts together until they returned to their original forms. Narkhan smiled.
—There they are… hahaha.
Narberal nodded and spoke in a respectful tone:
—Ainz-sama, let's take the bodies to Nazarick for study.
But Ainz shook his head:
—No… we need them here, so they can be blamed for what they did.
Narberal nodded again, serious:
—And what do we do with this pet? Do we kill it? It's no longer necessary.
The Haster, upon hearing those words, began to tremble with fear, staring at the group with wide eyes, paralyzed with terror.
Ainz looked at the little boy and spoke calmly, almost indifferently:
—There's no need. After all, thanks to him… our name will spread even further throughout this world. So, let him.
Without further ado, Ainz began walking towards the temple, escorted by his group.
Narkhan calmly returned to his cloaked assassin form, while Six resumed her archer appearance, her hair fluttering slightly in the breeze. After a while, Ainz left the temple with Nphiria in his arms, carrying him easily as he walked toward the city, closely followed by the Haster, who accompanied him trembling and in complete silence.