Chapter 24: Last World
Standing before a machination of great complexity was a skeleton clothed in twilight robes, its fleshless hand grasping around a golden staff while the other held a golden leaf, shining with the power of a world.
'The last ability, huh. Which will I choose, and which will I disregard forever?' Ainz pondered.
He narrowed his options down to three abilities, each good in their own field.
[Timeless Spells]-Grants the owner the ability to not use any mana over time for spells like [Control Amnesia] or [Gate]. A one-time cost of mana will be the only thing the player has to pay.
[Touch of Erasure]-While holding the world item, the owner can kill one entity a day by touch. The strength of the enemy is irrelevant. Doesn't apply to World Enemies and targets with world items. If it fails to touch the target, the ability can be reactivated in 24 hours.
[Neutral Invincibility] - The player possessing the world item cannot be injured while not attacking himself. Doesn't apply in other guild bases, boss arenas, and tournaments. After the player has gone into combat, he can only reactivate the ability after 12 hours.
All three options intrigued him.
'A utility, offensive and defensive ability. Which will I choose? It has to fit in with my other quirks. [Timeless Spells] could greatly increase my ability as a magic caster, letting me save some MP to use for other spells. [Telekinesis] could be used indefinitely. Same with [Control Amnesia] and [Gate]. Mmh…' Still, he wasn't sure to pick this one. Since his mana reserves were rather large, he would not think to need such an ability in the first place.
'[Touch of Erasure] sounds powerful. Perhaps it has a similar effect to [The Goal of All Life Is Death] but without the cooldown. Meaning I could simply stop time and activate the ability, walk to the enemy, and, once the time resumes, kill the target. But that means my target has to have no immunity to time manipulation, and if it is dumb enough to let me activate the ability on them. It fits in with my other abilities as an Overlord and would give me even more power as an Overlord of Death.' He deduced, his orbs lighting up as he thought of how he could use the ability.
'At last, [Neutral Invincibility] sounds good, seems good. Only when I attack do I lose my invincibility, which means I can still use utility spells like [Gate] or [Teleportation]. If I am close to having no MP, I can use this battle ability to give me time to regenerate. Also, it gives me a tool to withstand the trump attacks from enemies, withstanding them with no issue. At first glance, it doesn't seem that overpowered, but it has no cooldown. I have to simply activate it, and I am immune to everything. Doesn't work in guild bases, boss arenas, and tournaments, but I don't think I'll meet many of them here.'
Ainz sighed, not out of necessity but due to the weight of his decision.
'Perhaps the choice is still the most potent thing I have. But I think I have decided which I want to choose.'
As he inserted the final golden leaf into the machine crafted by Demiurge, it sprang to life, its surrounding crystals radiating an unprecedented heat.
Swiftly, Ainz positioned the staff beneath the construct, stepping back and anticipating the fusion process.
'Now I have to wait.'
Gradually, the leaf drew nearer to the staff's last unoccupied orb, creating a mounting repulsion between the two. Yet the energy emanating from the encounter was harvested by the empty crystals nearby, causing them to crack from the intense power.
Silently, a blinding light erupted from the staff, enveloping the 8th Floor before subsiding slowly.
'It is done.'
Ainz extended his hand toward the staff, commanding it to return to him mentally. As expected, the staff obeyed, soon resting in the bony grasp of its master.
'Now for the final touch.'
He selected the ability that would grant him an advantage over any player or non-player, an ability capable of instantly shifting the tide of battle. It would solidify his identity as an all-encompassing Overlord, embodying the essence of death.
"I choose [Touch of Erasure]."He declared, his voice resolute as the staff heeded his command.
The weapon now stood complete, seven world items consolidated into one, bestowing seven powers upon a single entity. It was the most remarkable weapon Ainz Ooal Gown, or rather, Momonga, had ever possessed. A sham that his comrades were unable to witness this momentous event.
"For you, I will carry the symbol of our Guild to the ends of the world. In the hope of finding even one of you…"
As he gazed skyward, he beheld the swirling maelstroms of energy that dominated the heavens. Such was the nature of the 8th Floor, a realm where calamity reigned supreme, inhabited by beings surpassing even the Floor Guardians.
'The most powerful forces even I cannot defeat are here besides Rubedo. The Trio of Mockery, and the others of the hierarchy. Truly a cheat. Still, I can't believe the devs really allowed those NPCs to stay after the invaders reported us. Perhaps it was just their sick humor that we somehow pleased. Maybe seeing players complain somehow feeds their thirst for happiness. But enough about that.'
[You have completed the collection for Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown]
"What?"
In the vicinity of Raevens Manor, an array of faces, spanning from the youthful to the elderly, had assembled for a singular purpose.
"Alright!" A commanding voice resounded, prompting all present to turn their attention to Gazef Stronoff, who stood alongside the renowned adventurer, Brain Unglaus. "First, I want to thank all the adventurers who want to partake in this mission, and, of course, the adventurer team of Marquis Raeven and adamantite team Blue Rose." Gazef declared, his gaze sweeping across the teams in question.
Blue Rose, to his surprise, decided to help as well. But Gazef knew their leader and the Princess were close, so she must have sent a message to them to come here.
"Now, you all know why you are here. Every one of you will have a specific task that you will fulfill in your respective teams. Now, may I ask the leader of each team to follow us to discuss what aspect your team will take over." Gazef continued, and five individuals, two of whom he recognized, stepped forward. Lakyus of Blue Rose and Lockmeier, a retired adventurer now serving Marquis Raeven.
Together, they entered the manor and convened in a chamber. The Marquis already engaged in discussions with others. As they entered, he welcomed them warmly.
"Welcome to you all. Greetings, Lockmeier." Raeven said, and Lockmeier replied with a respectful bow.
"Now, let us discuss what our plan is." Gazef asserted as he approached a table, upon which lay a map of the capital city. "Here is the Valencia Palace. It is heavily guarded, and to my knowledge, even the Elite of Eight Fingers are present there now. It seems Barbro has somehow convinced them to work for him if he wasn't already a partner with them." Gazef reported.
"That is where you come into play. Under the city, there are six secret tunnels leading out of the castle, it may sound easy to get in, but it is actually a labyrinth that only the ones closest to the king know how to get through. In this case, we have Gazef with us, who will lead Team A into the castle, together with Brain Unglaus and Blue Rose. The stealth capabilities of the two members of Blue Rose, Tina, and Tia, will be helpful in infiltrating the castle first, then returning to notify the rest if it is clear to enter." Raeven explained, with Gazef continuing.
"Simultaneously, the rest of you will form Team B, the team that will be the distraction for us to enter without much resistance. You will enter the city normally as adventurers. No one will suspect what your actual goal is. Then, when it gets dark, you will use grappling hooks to climb the walls, exactly here, here and here." Gazef pointed out, identifying three vulnerable points they could exploit. "Then, inside, you will throw smoke bombs in the court, causing a ruckus until Six Arms arrive. When they do, you will throw specialized bombs with potent gas at them, which should eliminate a normal human. We thank Marquis Raeven for giving us these bombs, from which the substance has been extracted by one of his mines." Gazef explained, casting a grateful glance at Raeven.
"Following this, Team A will infiltrate the castle, as said, find Barbro, and either capture or kill him. Perhaps capturing him would be better, but accidents may happen." Raeven suggested with a knowing glance at the assembled adventurers.
"Now, any questions?" Gazef inquired, and Lakyus raised her hand, her concerns weighing on her mind.
"After we have done this mission. What exactly will happen? The other nobles who support Barbro won't take this lightly and will retaliate with force. Their numbers aren't exactly small." Lakyus pointed out, prompting Raeven to offer a reassuring response.
"Our primary objective is to restore His Majesty, Rampossa the Third, to the throne. Among the nobles, allegiance to the king is paramount, particularly one who has ruled for such a prolonged period. As a result, some nobles will rally behind the king, while others who still adhere to Barbro will find their support waning as he loses his grip on power. This strategy should avert the onset of a civil war." Raeven explained, though Lakyus remained skeptical.
"But what if King Rampossa the Third is not alive anymore?" She pressed, and Raeven had already pondered that possibility.
"A good question. I have no answer for that, I am still contemplating what would be the best course of action to take. But rest assured. We will find a perfect solution shortly." Raeven assured Lakyus. "Any more questions?"
No more questions were raised, and Raeven moved to conclude the meeting.
"Good, then, I wish you good luck on the mission to come." Raeven stated, and Lakyus, Lockmeier, and the three other team leaders exited the room.
"About when His Majesty does die, I have an idea what to do then." Raeven said, piquing the interest of Gazef and Brain. "The Princess is next in line, but as you know, I doubt she will have much control over the nobles. They won't accept her as their monarch, meaning there is a need for a king." Raeven suggested, and Gazef seemed to get the hint.
"You mean-"
"Yes, I know it is not exactly ideal for anyone. I have a wife and a child, yet it seems that is the only way to soothe the nobles and keep them at bay. As a great noble, they will respect my authority. The political marriage between me and the Princess will be our best option for now. Or, if somehow I get to power without asking for her hand." Raeven explained, the pain in his voice hearable as he spoke those words. He would never want to be married to that monster. But he had no choice. First, she wanted his child, and now it is he who will ask for her hand.
'Perhaps this way, I can also save little Rii-tan from her grasp.'
"If His Majesty…is no longer with us. Then we have to consider it. I am in no place to say yes or no or hinder this marriage. If the Princess agrees, I won't stand in your way." Gazef affirmed.
"Things may change, so nothing is certain yet. Let's hope His Majesty is safe and sound." Raeven remarked.
"I hope so as well." Gazef replied, recalling his early days in the king's service and the monarch's respect for his abilities. He was kind to him, even if he was a commoner. The king was the only one who respected his strength, not caring about his status.
'I will protect you one last time, Your Majesty.'