Visit of Stormveil Castle Part 1

Wind bruised around the Lakeland's up to the small hill where Ainz's tower lays. Yet, the aerodynamic structure of the building split the wind in two, allowing it to pass around it and creating a mild howling. But in the tower, there was silence, just like in space. Nothing was heard except the master's footsteps. He had been sticking around and waiting for a message to arrive, yet the underlings of the so-called "Godrick the Golden" took their time too freely.

'Where are they? I've waited for nearly two days in this tower!'

He walked in circles, squares, and many other forms. He was tired of waiting any longer, and just about then, Ainz heard the grunt of a Death Knight from down the tower.

'Are they finally here?'

He levitated to the entrance, passing all the stairs that had been built only to decorate the building as to actually being used by him. And as he exited his home, he found himself in front of the company that had visited him the last time. Some other faces were around this time, but the same Captain still greeted him with a nod. Now, they had a message ready from their lord.

"I welcome you back, captain."

The commanding soldier neared the entity called Ainz Ooal Gown, yet even on friendly terms, he was always ready to draw his sword. The Captain thought not much about winning, as his life was nothing but pain and misery. He would be glad if the person before him would actually kill him. Yet his duty to Limgrave didn't allow treason without death.

"Mmh. Our lord has permitted you to meet him at Stormveil Castle. Make your way steadily; our lord doesn't torrent waiting too long." The Captain answered in a passionless tone.

"I understand. Then I shall make my way, Captain."

"You do not wish to carry a guard with you?" With that, he implied the ugly monster near the tower should follow him. But he wouldn't let the tower be unguarded.

"I believe your lord wants to meet me on friendly terms, am I right? So why should I need protection if your lord has invited me?" A critical question, the Overlord pierced right through the Captain with his charisma, still how he became so good was even a mystery to himself.

"Uhm, I.. Uh. You are right. There is no need."

"Then it is fine. Now, if you excuse me." Ainz began walking towards the mass of soldiers. The Captain was the first to step aside, and slowly every other did as well to let the Overlord through. Even without seeing his face, they could feel the danger the man emitted. However, after passing the Captain, Ainz turned around to say one last thing.

"Ah yes. And have a splendid day, Captain."

"Mmh… Likewise…"

Then the robed man left, left towards the heights of the castle. He entered the Lakelands from the tiny island where his tower stood. Yet the water did not stick to his clothes. Instead, they were as clean as ever. Ainz wondered if this could even be called a lake, as it was never steep or deep. Not even fish life was visible in these waters, but still, it was called a lake.

'I could just fly there, but it would probably let them think I would be hostile. So walking it is.'

After a while, he stepped on dirt and grass again. And before him was a way to higher ground. He took the path, and on top, he found a road leading towards the castle to the left and somewhere else to the right side. There were small patrols of levies walking the road up and down. But no hostility was seen as they noticed the robed sorcerer.

So he went left, towards what would seem to be a ruin filled with many soldiers. They all saw Ainz and knew he would come. But they acted peacefully, only staring at the Overlord as he traversed through their layer. He looked at some of them and only saw depressed humans with hollow souls. And he could feel they would hold some distance from him as if they somehow sensed his power.

'Can they sense my undead nature? That isn't possible. Do I just intimidate them alone from my looks? I mean, I am a very tall person, but I thought warriors always looked down on magic user. Maybe because I seem noble, they don't dare to attack me. Well, I could always read their minds.'

As he passed the post, he found himself before a vast fortified wall, with only one entrance leading towards the front. He saw that a few soldiers were preparing themselves for an attack with ranged weapons. But they weren't for him, that he knew. And on the top of a giant rock, creating a sort of small tunnel in the canyon, a creature stood, one of immense size and heritage of the ugliest appearance Ainz ever saw.

'What is that? Doesn't look like a giant, but it could be a subspecies. Seems more of a troll to me.'

Now he was hesitant. He waited, checked on the being above him, and finally was relieved.

"Huh, so it's just a starter enemy. I guess it's safe to pass then."

He entered through the gate towards the giant, who looked at the Overlord with its blank mimic. It had a sword, a giant one at that, on his back. But no clothes, really.

Ainz wandered and stepped until he left the small canyon behind him. There were many fortifications on his way, and he had to pass each one of them. Yet the guards stationed there did not help him in any way. They were keen on keeping this spot protected at all costs. And he thought from what they were even defending this position.

'I would think the same when it comes to this position. Because after the enemy got past this, the way to the castle was practically wide open. But from what guard this?'

Out of the valley, he felt a bright object on his right. He looked closely and found it to be a golden tree or a bush, counting its size. And it was the same one he found in the cave. As he guessed, there was a golden seed resting there.

'These look important and rare. Doesn't hurt to collect them.'

He picked the seed and stored it in his inventory. Then he moved again. And some meters away, he thought of seeing a wooden hut. But before reaching it, he heard a howl from above. It was a pack of wolves with gray fell. Each one looked the same, but that didn't change their destiny. Mid-air, Ainz shot a flaming ball toward the bunch, torching them alive until the life faded from their eyes. Only dead bodies dropped to the ground. They didn't even make one attack on Ainz and died instantly. Pathetic.

'That was surprising. I just got surprised by some low-level wolves. How unsought of me. I should be more careful with my next steps.'

He continued and strolled up to where the hut was now positioned to his right. His gaze turned to the building after feeling a presence, and he saw a woman lying inside the house. It didn't look very well built. It was not even sealed from the outside. But the woman was of more interest to him. So he turned his path towards the girl in a red coat and white dress.

"Everyone's… been grafted. Everyone who came with me."

Suddenly she started talking, as to notice the Overlord's arrival. The sorrow could be heard in her voice, as soft as it may be. He entered the hut, and the girl began to look at him directly.

"Hello there, I was just passing through and saw you lying here. Are you perhaps alright?"

She didn't seem to be all right at all. Out here is coldness and nothing worth staying. But she was not complaining that much.

"You're all on your own as well, are you? And heading to Stormveil Castle? Enticed by the one in the white mask, I suppose." Rather direct and forward was her question. Yet it surprised Ainz how she completely ignored his question.

"Well, not exactly. I am to meet with their lord, nothing hostile. But why are you here? Why won't you find a safer place to stay? This here is barely a house."

The wind blew through the hut; it bent the wood slightly. And every time, it made a creaking sound uncomfortable to the ears.

"I am just too scared. It is scary, you know. Having your arms cut off. Or legs. Or your head. Yet I want to be like everyone else, but I'm just too scared." She told him things he found rather horrifying. But why would she tell him these things out of pure nothing?

"Scared about what, young girl?" He asked. "This is good. She gives me some depressing vibes, but information is always gold for me."

"Scared of Stormveil Castle. Scared of being torn apart, grafted, and attached to Godrick's body. That is why I don't have the courage."

She was right to be afraid, as most Tarnished didn't dare to face the Lord of Limgrave. They would only end up being used by him, forged into his body by the arts of grafting. But the Overlord had no plan about such practice, yet now he was keener to hear more of it.

'Am I hearing that right? The lord of this place really does such things? Then this could be a trap, just to get upon my strength. I should reconsider...'

"Well, it was a pleasure to see you. Oh, can you pass on a message for me if you see the little chrysalids in Stormveil Castle?" The maiden disturbed Ainz's thoughts, but not on purpose.

To ask a stranger for a favor was something only a person with a naïve mind does. Yet Ainz was not counting mistakes but trying to gain as much information out of the people of this world.

"I could surely do that. But what might this information be?" Ainz asked the young girl.

The Overlord came closer to the girl to hear her better. The wind got stronger and louder. It felt as, at every moment, the force of nature would blow the hut away.

"Tell them I love them. And that, despite my craven heart, I'm sure I'll be joining their club soon enough. I'm finally getting the hang of this whole "pain" thing, you know."

"Sure… If I see them I will tell."

The Overlord was just about to leave, but the girl intervened in his thoughts with another sentence.

"Oh, I know. Can you take this little one along with you?"

She gave Ainz something he couldn't receive. Yet he felt he had gotten something new. He looked upon his spirit summons to see a Spirit Jellyfish added to his own summons.

'A jellyfish summon? Doesn't seem very strong. But don't complain about getting something for free is what Ulbert said all the time.'

"The poor thing deserves someone braver than myself… And take care, stranger."

"Likewise." He replied.

After the talk finished between the two, Ainz continued his journey. He went uphill where the road led, walking past a patrol. They were tense, ready to strike the stranger. But eventually, even they made way for him. They wanted to scare him, no doubt unsuccessfully.

'The nearer I get, the stronger the enemies seem. If this doubles when I'm in the castle, I might have to deal with level 40 enemies.'

Level 40 was nothing to him, but the increase in strength was something he worried about. If he goes too far, he might deal with creatures of his level.

After passing the guards, Ainz made his way higher, seeing a high road towards him, going from left to the right, where a sort of tower stood. The tower itself was something extraordinary. It had no light, so it wasn't a light tower. It was in no position to defend the castle, so it wasn't for defense. But for what is it, then?

'Why would someone build a bridge all the way from here to that tower? It seems inefficient. Just make a bridge right at the tower!'

It was probably for the looks that it was built this way. And Ainz wasn't an architect, so he didn't criticize it further. Instead, he walked upon what seemed to be a crossroad. He could choose to go forward or left.

'The castle is that way, so I'm going left.'

He turned to the chosen path, encountering even more fortifications on his way. Simple wooden walls and ranged weapons were placed before him. Then it happened.

A bolt flew at him, shot from a wooden siege weapon. And its target, Ainz. The slug was aimed for the head, but instead, it bounced off a barrier just before it could hit Ainz.

'Low-level weapons can't harm me. But who would shoot me? Aren't I invited?'

"It is I, Ainz Ooal Gown! Is this how you treat a guest?"

No answer, but Ainz noticed this to be a signal. That they, by now, recognized who stood before them. And they just disobeyed a command from their lord, which wasn't taken lightly.

"But do not worry. Mistakes happen, so I will forget this."

The guards were somehow relieved about hearing this and looked at the stranger with different eyes than before. If he had told the lord about that, they would lose their head faster than lightning.

So Ainz continued again. His journey wasn't the most interesting so far. But he would like to keep it that way. Nothing would ruin a peaceful trip than having to enter combat.

'Is this a tunnel? But where does it go? Seems like a weird entrance to a castle.'

He walked through the tunnel until he saw the light again. He arrived on a half-destroyed bridge leading to the grand castle of Limgrave, Stormveil. As he leaves the safety of the tunnel, he senses something. Quickly, the Overlord turned around to see nothing, but there was a change he felt.

"Not good."

He looked upfront; there, he felt the same thing. His eyes scanned the area. On the sides, many swords were resting on the ground with their sharp edge sticking to the surface. Maybe as decoration, or to show how many fell at this place. But still, someone had to place these swords to look like this, but nobody tried to repair the bridge.

'They want to scare anybody off from entering the castle, it seems so. But I think I'll have to insist.'

The Overlord made further steps towards the center. Even so, nothing happened. Until…

"Foul Tarnished…" A voice appeared out of thin air. It was old and filled with disdain, only understandable to itself, and it was calling out the intruder. Ainz looked to the spot where he heard the voice coming from, only to see the light appear on top of a tower. Ainz recognized what it was: teleportation. But not as instant as his own. Racing through his mind were several spells he was ready to use at any moment, but he waited. "... No, not a Tarnished. Something greater. But still in search of the Elden Ring. And now, even with that mad god…"

The light faded, replaced by a grotesque silhouette that was to be called a monster. Its gray skin and a head full of horns on one side, but not on the other, were not ringing any bells in Ainz's head. It held a staff made of wood. Perhaps he was a magic user or just an aged man needing a stick.

'How did he know I was coming? Shit, I should've watched out for alarm traps! This dude probably was waiting for some challenger, but by the looks of it, his equipment doesn't seem very high.' Ainz cast a detection spell on the appeared man, and what he found out was most enjoyable. 'His wooden staff is not a staff? Is it a sword? Maybe it's an illusion; it must be. But everything else is just as how it looks. Yet his level is especially high, probably the highest level entity I faced until now. Being about level 40, not bad, but not enough.'

"... Emboldened by the flame of ambition." He continued speaking but stopped. Then he placed his staff on the ground. His actions weren't foreseeable, but he knew he was coming for him when he showed up to make a leap toward Ainz.

"Hrah!" And the man was in the sky, and what an impressive jump. Yet Ainz was ready for his arrival.

And as he landed on the ground, a big wave of dust covered the place; nothing could be seen for a while. The unknown entity was still in one pose until it spoke. "Someone must extinguish thy flame…" He rose, looking towards where Ainz was last, but he found no trace of the Overlord. He looked up in the air and saw his target hovering above him. "... Let it be Margit the Fell!"

He seemed unimpressed by the feat that Ainz simply could fly away and jumped towards him, piercing his staff towards the Overlord. Yet the Overlord avoided the attack by merely teleporting to the ground.

'Fast.' "Let us speak!"

Margit was confused for a short duration but spotted the Overlord quickly after. He infused his landing with an attack on Ainz, but the Overlord had already predicted that much.

'So he's not trying to talk things out. A shame.'

"[Grand Fireball]"

A huge mass of fire flew toward the incoming enemy. Margit couldn't avoid it, only grunt before the hot flames engulfed him. For a second, he wasn't visible, hidden by the effects caused by the spell.

'That wasn't all, was it?'

But out of the sparks, he came again, landing near Ainz this time. He didn't want to risk such an attack again. This time, he appeared to create a magical hammer in his other hand, making a wide swing toward Ainz. But Margit took his time, allowing Ainz to dodge the attack and fly behind the Omen.

"[Reality Slash]"

An invisible force cut through the Omen, cutting him in half. Margit didn't even notice it until his body separated itself in two. Both parts fell soon after, fading into dust slowly. He looked at Ainz, only to see the face of Death behind that mask. Was it over so quickly? The surprise was too much for the Omen.

"...Well, thou art of godly might. I shall remember thee, in what name?..."

"Name? I am Ainz Ooal Gown, Overlord of Death."

"Mmh… Then that it is. I shall remember thou strength, Frenzied Undead Lord, Ruler of Death, Bloodless Sorcerer, Keeper of the Unliving…"

Then he was gone, gone into dust, back wherever he came from. Ainz was left alone. But the yellow barriers finally disappeared at both entrances.

'That was it? My first boss fight? Relatively easy. I mean, it's the starting area. I would be surprised if not. But really, I expected more.'

The Overlord continued to walk, but he thought to himself, how did that person know he was in contact with the Frenzied Flame? Was it because of his appearance? Could he guess that much just from his looks? A mystery to the Overlord, indeed. But these people could somehow feel his presence even when concealed. He had to find a way to stop this.

Soon, Ainz was before the gate of Stormveil Castle. It was closed. Yet he was invited and expected.

'Uhm, should I wait or invite myself in? Maybe there's someone at the side entrance. I could just look in there for a second.'

On the left side of the grand gate was another room open to anybody. He entered it and found it to be in a horrible condition as if a fierce bear fought a wicked crocodile, but that wasn't of concern. On his right, he noticed a person wearing some clerics' attire, probably a servant of this castle.

"Uhm, hello there. I came here to meet with your lord, Godrick?"

The man only stood there, looking at the Overlord and his intimidating mask. The smile sickened the old man. Did he feel fear? Yes, of course, he did.

"Our lord is awaiting you. I will open the gate for the honorable guest."

The man moved, much like a cripple, but he kept going. He left the room, leaving Ainz alone in it. But then, he could hear gears being moved slowly. When going back, he saw from where the noise came. The main gate of Stormveil castle was finally open, letting him enter immediately.

"It seems this is only the beginning. But if everyone is as strong or similar to this, Margit, I shouldn't have a problem."