[a/n: In the official Overlord Light Novel, Aura actually does own a World Item called the [Picture of Mountains and Rivers].
Maruyama (the author) used the Japanese name "Sansui Sanheki Zu." But I'm gonna use the eng sub. I'll also use the sub names and the names I got from Wikipedia for other world items.]
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Lord Helant and Lord Momonga flashed to Demiurge's side in an instant.
Helant lifted his gaze to the Zy'tl Q'ae sprawled across the torn earth and nodded with quiet approval. "You are beginning to fight as a true team. Momonga and I are pleased."
At those words, the Guardians' eyes lit up with unrestrained joy. Smiles they could not hide spread across their faces as they turned eagerly toward Helant.
Last night, aside from Albedo and Mino, the rest had studied coordination with the Pleiades through the entire night. Every drill, every formation adjustment, had been driven by a single desire: to earn the approval of the two Supreme Beings watching them now.
Helant and Momonga exchanged a brief glance. Then, with deliberate slowness, they drew forth an ink-wash scroll from the Heart of the Sanctuary.
The silk unfurled smoothly. Ink flowed and shifted across the surface as though alive, painting mountains and rivers, sun and moon, scattered stars, distant capitals, and ancient ruined sites in vivid, breathing detail.
"This is the World Item, [Picture of Mountains and Rivers]!"
Demiurge and the others crowded closer at once, scrutinizing every delicate brushstroke with reverent intensity.
"One of the fourteen World Items possessed by Nazarick!"
"Yes, Aura, you will activate [Picture of Mountains and Rivers]." Helant rolled the half-height scroll carefully and handed it to her.
"Eh, me?" Aura's large eyes sparkled with disbelief. Her voice trembled slightly as she looked up at Lord Helant.
A treasure only Supreme Beings were worthy to wield, and now she could use it!
With Lord Helant's confirming nod, Aura accepted the scroll under Shalltear's openly envious stare. She held it reverently against her chest, small hands almost shaking with excitement.
"Aura, seal the Zy'tl Q'ae inside as well." Lord Momonga pointed toward the still-struggling evil tree. Since they were testing a World Item, a suitable target was required.
"Yes!"
With a lively shout, Aura leapt high. The scroll opened fully in mid-air. Radiance spilled outward in soft waves, enveloping everything around the Zy'tl Q'ae.
Within that glowing light, reality itself began to twist. Colors bled into ink, lines softened and reformed. The air carried a faint scent of fresh ink and distant pine.
Aura and the others felt their minds blur for a heartbeat. When clarity returned, they stood in an entirely different world.
A vast prairie of sweet-scented grass stretched endlessly in every direction. The fresh green expanse contrasted sharply with the rotting, fungal stench of the earlier forest. Gentle wind rustled the blades, carrying the clean smell of open earth and wildflowers.
On the limitless plain, the hundred-meter Zy'tl Q'ae appeared no more than a dark, insignificant speck.
Next to it, Helant's group seemed like tiny ants.
Mino wrapped her arms tightly around Helant's waist and gazed around with wide-eyed excitement. "It is like your Heart of the Sanctuary. Its own world?"
"It differs from Father's Heart of the Sanctuary." Aura hugged the scroll protectively against her chest and explained patiently. "[Picture of Mountains and Rivers]'s main purpose is to seal foes inside pocket realms."
The moment she took possession of the item, its knowledge had flowed directly into her mind.
The World Item contained a hundred distinct pocket realms, each designed to imprison enemies.
Every realm generated forty possible escape routes at random.
Without prior knowledge of the correct path, a prisoner could be trapped forever.
Aura frowned slightly and glanced up at Helant with caution. "Father, we will not use this lightly… right? After all…"
"Shorty, spit it out," Shalltear interrupted impatiently.
Every Guardian's gaze turned toward Aura, curiosity plain on their faces.
"Because the item has a flaw." Helant pinched Aura's cheek lightly, unconcerned. "If the prisoner escapes, ownership passes to them."
He continued calmly. "Relax. I will only use [Picture of Mountains and Rivers] when victory is certain."
This time the World Items had been brought out solely so the Guardians could familiarize themselves with their handling in preparation for any future contingency.
Helant swept his gaze across the assembled Floor Guardians. "Among Nazarick's World Items, only four may be entrusted to Guardians: [Picture of Mountains and Rivers], [Billion-Blade], [Hygieia's Chalice], and [Avarice and Generosity]."
Together with his own Heart of the Sanctuary and Faith Pool, Momonga's Red Orb, and Albedo's equipped [Ginnungagap], eight World Items had been brought on this expedition.
The newly acquired Downfall of Castle and Country remained half-crippled, as it was still needed to maintain the charm effect within the Ancient bloodline.
"Helant-san, let us begin." Momonga produced [Hygieia's Chalice] and handed the antique golden goblet to Shalltear.
"This World Item fully restores health, resets special skill uses, and removes all status ailments. Try it on the Zy'tl Q'ae."
The goblet bore delicate reliefs of the god of medicine along its sides. It was filled to the brim with a bewitching, blood-red liquid that shimmered faintly in the prairie light.
The vampire Shalltear could hardly tear her eyes away. She swallowed audibly, as though tempted to drain the cup in a single gulp.
Seeing this, Demiurge's expression darkened. "Shalltear…"
"Ugh… ehm."
Startled by the warning, Shalltear snapped back to herself. She walked awkwardly toward the Zy'tl Q'ae, the chalice held carefully in both hands.
Activate, she intoned silently.
Crimson liquid poured upward in thick coils, sketching the portrait of the god of medicine against the sky.
The portrait burst apart in a shower of blood-rain that drenched the prairie and soaked the evil tree.
Vast vitality surged forth in waves. Grass at their feet shot upward to man-height in seconds.
The grievously wounded Zy'tl Q'ae regenerated roots and branches at impossible speed; even the hundred-meter crater Mare had smashed beneath its crown closed in an instant.
"Roar!"
Now several hundred meters tall, the colossal tree thrashed its roots and limbs like frenzied tentacles. It brandished claw-like branches across the open plain.
With little intelligence, it felt only one overwhelming sensation.
"I… live again!!"
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