"Raise your heads." As he spoke, the skeletal frame of his body unconsciously emitted despair-inducing black spiritual power, causing everyone present to feel a wave of oppression. "Thank you for gathering here."
Hearing his words, the guardians paused for a moment, then raised their heads to look at him.
Albedo revealed a smile and said formally, "You overpraise us. We are all servants who serve Lord Momonga; to Lord Momonga, we are merely insignificant existences. Here, we swear that we will never commit any act that would damage the dignity of the Supreme Creator."
After hearing her words, the other guardians followed and said, "We swear here!"
Seeing this scene, Momonga raised both hands slightly, his body still emitting black mist and appearing extremely imposing. "Very good. Guardians, I believe you will not lose your composure. Currently, the Great Tomb of Nazarick has been drawn into an incident of unknown cause. I have already dispatched Sebas Tian to the surface to investigate..."
As he said this, he turned slightly and looked toward Sebas Tian, who was standing behind a stone pillar. The butler immediately bowed seriously upon seeing him, came forward to his side, and reported on the surrounding situation.
Chu Lian listened to their conversation together with the guardians, but her thoughts were elsewhere. "There are many unexplored places in this world. Other players have crossed over here before; perhaps they left behind something useful. Now that Nazarick is trapped in this place, who knows how long exploration will take... I need to find a suitable opportunity to go out."
"However, for now, before this place is discovered by other powerful beings, it should be absolutely safe... probably. I don't know what this world will become in the end, but Nazarick absolutely cannot run into problems like this. This not only concerns my mission, but would also disrupt my future plans."
After arriving in the dungeon world, perhaps because she knew these people were not her real relatives or friends and this world was not her original one, Chu Lian—who often acted alone—began to regain the caution and needs she ought to have.
Although she knew her delusions might require a long time to achieve, she had already regarded these people as something within her grasp and would not allow them to suffer harm. Therefore, the safety of the Great Tomb of Nazarick must be ensured. The question was, in what way should she remind them?
On the other side, after listening to Sebas Tian's report about Nazarick's current location, Momonga summarized, "It seems that the Great Tomb of Nazarick has, for some reason, been transferred to an unknown land."
He then called out, "Overseer of the Guardians, Albedo, and Demiurge, who is responsible for the defensive line."
The two who were called raised their heads and responded, "Yes!"
"Under the leadership of the two responsible parties, establish a perfect intelligence-sharing system and strengthen security."
"Understood."
After giving instructions to Albedo and Demiurge, Momonga asked Mare, "Mare, is it possible to conceal the Great Tomb of Nazarick?"
Mare hesitated slightly before replying, "Using magical methods would be rather troublesome, but if we cover the walls with soil and then disguise them with plants..." Before he could finish, Albedo interrupted in a low voice, "Using soil to dirty our glorious Nazarick?"
Seeing this, Momonga interjected, "Albedo, do not interrupt."
"Understood. My deepest apologies, Lord Momonga." After being reprimanded by Momonga, Albedo immediately fell silent and resumed listening quietly.
Chu Lian blinked lightly at her, as if offering comfort. Seeing the small fox girl like this, Albedo's face regained its usual gentle smile. This girl was truly likable.
"Is the soil-concealment method feasible?" Momonga asked Mare again, needing a definite answer.
"Yes, if you permit it," Mare replied with certainty. However, he soon seemed to think of something and lowered his head. "But..."
"Heh, would an abruptly overgrown area instead look unnatural?" Mare's attitude made Momonga immediately understand what the issue was. He turned to Sebas Tian and asked, "Sebas, are there any hills nearby?"
The butler raised his head, his single eye looking toward him, and replied apologetically, "Unfortunately, there are no hills here. There is only flat land stretching into the distance."
"Is that so? Then include the surrounding area as well and disguise everything as a region lush with vegetation."
Hearing him say this, Sebas Tian nodded. "In that case, it should not appear so conspicuous."
His words made Momonga decide on the deployment, and he said with satisfaction, "Good, then we shall proceed like this. As for the sky above, which cannot be concealed, we will later deploy illusions to obscure it."
Hearing him speak, Mare understood that this task could only be accomplished by him and responded, "Understood."
At this moment, Momonga's attitude became even more serious. "Then, I have something to ask the guardians of each floor. To you, what kind of existence am I?"
Seeing this, Chu Lian already knew what would happen next. Not wanting to watch a certain shameless skeleton enjoy others' praise, she chose to shut off her senses and wait quietly for this scene to pass.
After waiting for a while and sensing that it had reached the final question directed at Albedo, she reopened her senses and opened her eyes to look at the succubus.
She really wanted to know what Albedo, whose setting had been altered by the system from "loving Momonga" to "loving Deloris," would say.
"Lastly, Albedo..."
"The highest ruler among the Supreme Beings, the Supreme One whom I have always been willing to follow, and the source of our fearlessness." Her expression was no longer infatuated or blushing, but gentle and serious, just as she usually behaved.
"It really has changed, Albedo. Although I don't know whether this is a good thing for you, I hope you can become better." A faint, barely noticeable smile curved at the corner of Chu Lian's lips, and she felt relieved. The plot had changed from the very beginning, hadn't it?
"I see. I already understand your thoughts. From now on, you must remain loyal and give your utmost effort." After receiving their answers, Momonga felt a sense of relief inside, though his tone remained as imposing as ever.
"Yes!" The guardians responded together, leaving a certain skeleton feeling somewhat hollow yet filled with an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
According to the original plot, he would have returned to his resting quarters at this time. However, after Chu Lian intervened in the storyline under the identity of Deloris, there was now one more matter that had yet to be resolved.
"Since I am your Supreme One, will you obey my words?" Hearing this, the guardians raised their heads to look at him. "We will obey without fail." Chu Lian also knew in her heart that it was now time for her to step forward onto the stage.
"Deloris!" Momonga called out. Chu Lian, who had been standing at his side, immediately stepped forward a few paces and stood before him with her hands lowered, awaiting instructions.
"By order of the Master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, from this day onward, Deloris shall become the highest authority after me. In my absence, she will have the right to issue commands in my stead. Furthermore, her identity will be my younger sister, and also your master." His solemn tone, the black aura rising skyward, and the words he spoke shocked not only the floor guardians, but even Chu Lian herself.
"Please retract this order, Lord Momonga. This responsibility is far too heavy for me to bear." Chu Lian knew that among these NPCs, only the forty-one players who created the guild were their true masters and the only Supreme Beings they acknowledged. Anyone else did not count.
Not only was she an outsider, but her strength was also far inferior to theirs; she was completely incapable of commanding them. She could accept the title of princess of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, but she could not accept the responsibility of becoming these people's master.
Not only her, but after exchanging glances, the other guardians also said, "Please retract this order, Lord Momonga."
It was not that they were unwilling to obey Momonga's words. It was simply that this matter was too important, and it conflicted with previous commands. This outsider nine-tailed little fox becoming their master? This was something they could not accept.
Only Albedo looked at her with concern, yet she had no way to explain anything on her behalf, because this was her duty. With so many people opposing it, forcibly agreeing would only make things extremely difficult for Deloris afterward.
"My words are commands. I know that in your hearts there are only me and my companions, but now only I remain here. If one day I am no longer here either, who will lead you? Believe me, Deloris will not disappoint you." Momonga's firm attitude and the words he spoke caused the guardians to fall silent.
"Very well. If Deloris displays her potential, will you acknowledge her?" Although Momonga could forcibly make this a reality, he still had not fully understood what was happening and did not wish to exercise that authority so directly.
From what they had just said about how they viewed him, he knew they were sincere and understood that they would carry out whatever he ordered.
However, if he made Deloris his possible successor without giving the guardians sufficient confidence, Deloris herself would have no way to establish authority.
He was not paving a path for himself, nor preparing a future for Nazarick. He simply wanted this matter to unfold naturally.
Seeing the two crimson lights in Momonga's eyes gather upon her, Chu Lian knew that if she did not display some of her strength, even if Momonga forced this into reality, she would certainly have a difficult time afterward.
After all, the only person they truly respected and served was now Momonga. Naturally they would obey his commands without question, but that did not necessarily mean they would obey her.
This was clear from the original novel and anime. Although they shared camaraderie among themselves, when Nazarick or Momonga's safety was threatened, anyone could become someone who must be eliminated.
"Under Lord Momonga's care, Deloris accepts the order." After giving a graceful bow, she slowly turned around. Her eyes blossomed with a bewitching azure glow—the color of her magic power.
"Honored guardians, Deloris knows this matter has placed everyone in a difficult position. Therefore, if I can satisfy all of you, I hope you will no longer cause trouble for Lord Momonga." She nodded lightly toward them, then walked past them with gentle steps and stood at the center of the arena.
Momonga waved his hand, and only then did the guardians stand up, watching together with him to see what Chu Lian would do.
"Lord Momonga, if I destroy this place, can it be repaired?" From afar came the light, agile voice of the little fox girl, easing the tense mood of those present.
"Destroy it as you wish. I will have it repaired afterward," Momonga agreed, even though he did not fully understand what she intended to do.
"MP recovery is 63 per second. Mystic Eyes of Death Perception consumes 500 MP. Ordinary Punch uses a fixed full MP value of 1800. That means once I activate Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, by the eighth second my MP will be fully restored, and I can use Ordinary Punch." Chu Lian silently calculated the MP she needed to consume and let out a quiet breath. The calculation was sufficient.
"Mystic Eyes of Death Perception..." The bewitching azure light in her eyes vanished, replaced by a special set of pupils capable of perceiving the life and death of all things—a skill that could kill even gods.
At the same time, every powerful figure present, including Momonga, heightened their vigilance to the extreme, staring at the small figure in shock. Could this killing intent—one that seemed capable of slaying even them—really come from that level 45 little fox girl?
Aside from Momonga, whose skeletal face revealed nothing though he was inwardly shaken due to his position, the guardians had already unconsciously assumed defensive stances.
Meanwhile, Chu Lian silently counted the seconds. "1... 2... 3..." With each count, her aura surged higher. By the eighth second, a torrent of magic power shot skyward, stirring even the gray sky above.
Within her sight was a certain weak point of the arena. Raising her fist, she condensed a skill that converted a fixed 4000% output of power into a fixed 4000% attack damage.
Chu Lian gave a soft shout. "Disappear..." One punch descended...
It was as if time itself had frozen. Even the wind dared not roar. A shockwave of overwhelming energy spread outward from where Chu Lian stood, forcing the guardians to abandon caution and leap backward onto the steps, each deploying protective barriers to resist the aftermath.
Only a boom~ resounded as the ground of the entire arena suddenly collapsed at the point where Chu Lian's strike landed...
Endless dust filled the sky as the arena crumbled piece by piece, collapsing and sinking until it was reduced entirely to ruins.
Especially where Chu Lian stood—it had now become the center of a meteor-like crater. The small figure standing at its heart seemed like an incomparably towering giant, shaking their very souls.
"Is this Lady Deloris' strength? At merely level 45, she possesses the talent to wield abilities beyond the tenth tier and produce such destructive power. Once she grows further, she will surely become a powerhouse not inferior to any Supreme One." At this moment, even Cocytus began addressing Chu Lian with the honorific "Lady." Though her current strength was still far below theirs, her terrifying potential allowed them to glimpse the future of a supreme powerhouse.
"Deloris..." The worry weighing on Albedo's heart finally eased. Regardless of everything before, achieving such a level at only level 45 already surpassed everyone's imagination. It proved that Deloris would certainly become someone they acknowledged.
"Deloris, I find you even more interesting now." The last to speak was Shalltear. She extended her tongue and licked her lips, eyes filled with desire as she stared at the little fox, nearly unable to resist the urge to thoroughly "train" her.
Only Momonga seemed to perceive some deeper insight. Activating the ability of the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown, he teleported behind Chu Lian, shielding her with his body as he spoke. "Now then, do you acknowledge her?"
"We obey the will of the Supreme One. From this day onward, Lady Deloris shall also be our master, the highest authority after the Forty-One Supreme Beings." Chu Lian's performance had been too astonishing; the guardians had nothing to object to. They all knelt down and accepted.
Momonga gave a simple "Mm," then disappeared from the spot together with Chu Lian, leaving behind a group of guardians staring at one another in astonishment...