Shalltear 2

"Healing while battle is still going on, your arrogance is to big sometimes."

…..

Akabaru had finally reached the battle ground, the teleportation was really getting annoying to someone who didn't have that spell, he could use the ring of Ainz Ooul gown but it wasn't accurate enough to be useful.

The healing Shalltear was doing was interrupted all the while Ainz continued and seemed to finish back at full health. With not being able to fully heal Shalltear was around the halfway point of her HP and on her last remaining MP.

Still, her aim was to deplete Ainz's MP, so the plan was not yet ruined. Akabaru hadn't healed since the beginning of the fight so he should also be in similar range of HP points.

"[Body of Effulgent Beryl]."

—After healing his wounds, Ainz cast a defensive spell on himself.

Shalltear was a divine magic caster, and she had not received much knowledge from Peroroncino. Thus, she did not know what the [Body of Effulgent Beryl] spell did. However, the green radiance that surrounded Ainz appeared once more, so Shalltear concluded that it must be some kind of defensive magic. All the while running from Akabaru.

"Stop this tomfoolery and fight me Shalltear!"

Shalltear had not expected this, and she loosened her grip on the Spuit Lance. She was about to say, "Do you think I am dumb?"

Well, she wanted to say that, but Shalltear concluded that it would be disrespectful to mock Akabaru.

Having made a decision, she sensed that her masters actions lacked consistency. Thus, in a casual tone which did not belong on the battlefield, she asked:

"Why not stop this battle, your both weakened?"

"Mm, well, she does have a point…"

Ainz's skeletal face could not show any expressions, but for some reason, she had the feeling that he was smiling bitterly.

"I… yes, that's right. I'm very stubborn, Shalltear, and it is the same for Akabaru. we don't want to run from this."

"We stand her for the sake of the Guild, we shall not retreat even if it is our last!" Akabaru added

"Is that so? Is that what they call a man's imperative?"

...

Akabaru studied Shalltear, she had gotten away from him after using the momentum of a punch to escape.

He witnessed the back of her armour bulged out, and a pair of bat wings burst forth, as though going straight through the plates. Ainz knew what would happen next.

Several giant bats flapped out from behind her to the sky. These were Elder Vampire Bats summoned through her Household Summons skill. In addition, she continued summoning Vampire Bat Swarms.

They were not strong monsters, but they would interfere with the battle.

Ainz cast "[Sharks Cyclone]"

A tornado, one hundred meters high and fifty meters across appeared before him. The black funnel cloud engulfed the bats before they could flee, trapping them within the vortex.

Fast-swimming shapes could be seen within the rapidly-spinning tornado. These creatures were six meter long sharks, and they moved as though they were in the ocean. The desperately fleeing bats were like bait which had been dropped into the water, and the sharks sprang on them. This spell showed its true potency against flying creatures, and the proof of that was adequately shown as the sharks ripped the Elder Vampire Bats limb from limb in an instant.

Just as the Vampire Bats were vanishing after being torn apart — a shadow broke free of the tornado.

It was a crimson shadow, bursting out of the tornado at top speed. The lance it thrust before itself left an afterimage in the onlookers' eyes, like the fiery plume of a rocket.

Ainz could not react in time but Akabaru could, blocking the trust with his forearm braces mitigating most of the damage.

The strike still hurt but it didn't pierce trough his arms so it would only be the bludgeoning damage that affected him, the drop in health was still substantial leaving him on just above fifty percent but rising because of the health potion he took before the fight started.

Shalltear did not cease her attack

Having her attack blocked the first time she came for seconds and thirds, each time ramming into the braces that Akabaru used to block. The bludgeoning damage still came trough, damaging him with each trust, The pain Akabaru received felt like his arms where tearing from his body, as well as bursting from the inside, accompanied by the sensation of his health depleting further.

Thus Ainz decided to strike while she was occupied with a [Maximize Magic - Reality Slash] cutting straight through Shalltears side.

After casting [Reality Slash] Ainz cast [Wall of Skeleton] to separate the two opposing people

A wall composed of numberless armed skeletons erupted between the two of them. The skeletons in the wall attacked Shalltear, chopping, stabbing, and slashing at her.

However, none of them managed to hit Shalltear's body.

Akabaru took a healing potion In the brief moment of cover that the wall provident, restoring part of his lost health.

"[Maximize Magic - Force Explosion]."

An invisible shockwave exploded from Shalltear. The wall of skeletons buckled under the invisible impact, and then completely disintegrated.

The pulverized chunks of bone pattered like rain as they fell. Still, it had bought some time for Ainz, so it had been worthwhile.

"Release!"

n accordance with Ainz's command, the 「Triplet Magic Greater Magic Seal」 triggered three magic circles, each of which released thirty streaks of light, for a total of ninety. These white bolts of light were non-elemental 「Magic Arrows」. The dazzling afterimage left behind as they travelled through the air were like the spread wings of an angel — an angel of death.

First tier spells could not breach Shalltear's magic defenses, but Ainz had cast that spell anyway. Sensing something odd, Shalltear desperately tried to evade them, but the ivory bolts of light turned a full ninety degrees in mid-air and chased her down, falling on her like hail.

The ninety magical bolts scored hit after hit on Shalltear, rapidly dropping her health.

The reason why they could pierce Shalltear's defence was because Ainz had used a skill to temporarily boost the magic arrows to the equivalent of tenth tier spells.

Akabaru had healed the lost health and was already nearing her ready to strike her into the next attack of Ainz.

"[Triplet Magic - Obsidian Sword]."

Three longswords appeared in mid-air, their black bodies gleaming. They streaked after Shalltear, as though they had a mind of their own.

Shalltear was not able to deflect the attack without suffering equal amounts of damage from Akabaru. She decided to deflect the weapons because it could interrupt her blocking Akabaru but the obsidian swords continued attacking her even after they were deflected. These weapons, created as they were through magic, were very difficult to destroy through physical means.

Getting strook by Akabaru and the cut by the swords, damaging her greatly.

"[Magic Destruction]."

Shalltear used her scant few remaining MP to cast a spell which dispelled other magic.

Two obsidian swords vanished from that spell, cast with no regard to her remaining MP. However, one had not vanished, and it continued attacking Shalltear. The success rate of [Magic Destruction] was directly dependent on the spellcasting ability of its caster, and this was conclusive evidence of which magic caster was superior.

"Ahhh, how annoying!"

Shalltear paid no heed to the longsword attacking her and pressed onward to Akabaru. Damage like that was barely a scratch to Shalltear. Striking Akabaru she sent him flying to the side. With no way to resist bludgeoning, Akabaru decided to retreat.

"Dammit!"

Akabaru had enough health to weather an attack like that, but the problem was right before his eyes. This was because the health lost had been used to restore Shalltear's own health.

The health regeneration received from the lance was directly corelated with the damage done so striking Akabaru didn't have much impact but the speed of her attacks were not slowing down. Her recovery rate was enough to surpass the damage done by the obsidian sword, so in order to cut down her rate of healing and help Akabaru out, Ainz cast an attack spell.

"[Triplet Maximize Magic - Reality Slash]."

The three dimension-rending slashes drew gouts of fresh blood from Shalltear, but she paid it no heed and continued pressing forward, the implacable obsidian sword at her back.

Ainz continued attacking.

"[Triplet Maximize Magic - Reality Slash]."

Shalltear saw Akabaru retreating and took the change to attack Ainz. Having the same tactic as Akabaru, Ainz used the [Fly] spell to retreat, all the while still attacking.

Even as he kept backpedalling, the distance between them shrank with each passing moment. This was the difference between the speed of a 「Fly」 spell and a fly speed which had been augmented by skills.

Shalltear pulled herself before him, spurting blood as she did. Then, she suddenly curled herself up. The air distorted — and a massive shockwave erupted from Shalltear's body.

The shockwave generated by the skill shattered the obsidian sword and smashed into Ainz, sending him flying into the distance.

Akabaru was heaving his chest, he wasn't a undead and so he did have stamina to keep up with, a genie didn't need to sleep but stamina was a factor that they did have to account for. His health was also lower than expected, Shalltear was tactical and Unpredictable at the same time,

"Guwaaargh!"

Perhaps the Impure Shockwave Shield had been enhanced by another skill, but Ainz ended up tumbling several times along the ground.

Seeing his friend get hurt while he recovered Akabaru steeled himself for more pain, just like the stamina, pain was a thing that existed even if dulled by his body it would never be the same as the undead ability to ignore most of the pain.

Using one of his only movement type skills Akabaru charged [way of the fist – Bulls rush]. Just as he was about to activate the skill and rush forward a white light coalesce in front of Shalltear, which slowly shaped itself into a humanoid form.

Ainz had informed Akabaru of this. [Einherjar] ,her trump card. The white light fully resolved itself into the shape of a person.

If one ignored the bleached-white armour and the glowing skin, it was the spitting image of Shalltear.

Akabaru knew the resemblance was not merely cosmetic.

it lacked Shalltear's spellcasting ability and several skills, and had no magic items, its weapons, armour, and stats were otherwise identical to Shalltear's. It was not undead, but a golem-like Construct. The two creature types had nearly identical resistances and immunities.

In other words, there was another Shalltear, who could only fight in melee combat.

Thus a creating a two against two, in addition, Shalltear had summoned countless minions, like wolves, bats, rats, and the like—

These summoned minions were not as powerful as the Einherjar, but he could not discount their power in a group.

Just as Akabaru was doubting his plan to charge back in.. the Einherjar moved and left the pack leaving Shalltear with her summons, attacking Ainz.

Seeing Shalltear not moving from her spot, Akabaru decided to use [way of the fist – Bulls rush] on her.

The rush had a side affect of pushing others out of the way, it wasn't useful for higher level beings but the minions could die if they were in the way.

Akabaru activated the skill, charged faster than a bullet trough the air killing some of Shalltears minions and pulling her away from the group that she was beginning to kill herself.

Shalltear was killing her summoned minions with the Spuit Lance to restore her health.

It went without saying that the amount of health restored by the Spuit Lance depended on the amount of damage it inflicted. When she attacked Akabaru or Ainz — who was of equal level and had a high defence — and her weak summons, it was immediately obvious which would give her more health in return but before she could kill more than two minions she was taken away, interrupting her health regeneration.

"Guwaaargh!"

The expressionless Einherjar continued attacking, the blows knocking Ainz back.

Shalltear's summons were not unlimited. Still, it would be bad to let Shalltear heal herself by using the surrounding monsters.

The original plan was to use the trump card once the Einherjar appeared. That plan did not account for Shalltear healing herself luckily Akabaru was able to interrupt the healing process and killed half of the minions that she had summoned.

Before he could continue the onslaught he heard Ainz voice;

"Its time!"

Hearing the prompt Akabaru used the ring of Ainz Ooul gown to teleport to the room in which some of the guardian's were remotely viewing the fight.

....

luckily Akabaru was able to interrupt the healing process and killed half of the minions that she had summoned.

....

Ainz had sixty levels of job classes, and one of them was quite special.

It was a class that was very rare even in YGGDRASIL, held only by a small number of players.

Ainz could enter this class because he was not fixated on pure power, but had instead focused on roleplaying a necromancer to the hilt. Had he pursued character power, he would not have discovered this class — which required a very unorthodox build — by chance.

This was because the class's entry requirements were five levels of Overlord, a focus on necromancer-type job classes, as well as an overall character level of ninety five.

In normal games, most people would spread the news of a newly-discovered class on walkthrough sites to share with others. However, games like YGGDRASIL put a very high premium on information. For instance, few people would share news about a World Class Item with others without charge. This was especially true for classes with trump cards.

The class in question was called "Eclipse."

The class description stated, "Only an Overlord who is truly dedicated to the pursuit of Death may enter this class, which swallows up all life like an eclipse."

The move Ainz was planning to use was one which was only available after reaching the maximum level (fifth) in Eclipse, a skill which could only be used once every hundred hours.

It was the trump card of the Eclipse class.

That skill was called [The Goal Of All Life Is Death].

In that moment, a clock face appeared behind Ainz, its hands indicating 12:00. Then, he cast a spell:

"[Widen Magic - Cry of the Banshee]."

A woman's wail echoed through the air. This cry carried with it an instant-death effect.

Ainz had used various skills to augment this spell, so its potency was greater than normal and harder to resist. Still, it was useless against Shalltear and the Einherjar construct.

Oddly enough, Shalltear's summoned minions — who had no resistance to instant death — did not fall.

This situation was quite bizarre, but Ainz remained unmoved. Rather, one could say that things were going as planned.

Tick.

The clock face behind Ainz ticked, and its hands slowly moved as the spell took effect.

Ainz glanced at Shalltear in the distance as his health dwindled under the onslaught of the Einherjar, and at the same time he felt quite disappointed.

...So I can't finish this cleanly, huh? Damn you, Peroroncino, did you build her specifically to counter me? To think you actually gave her a resurrection item! Dammit!

Ainz cursed his guildmate within his heart.

Ainz frantically struggled to avoid the attacks of the Einherjar. After twelve seconds had passed, the hour hand had completed a full circuit, and it pointed to the heavens once more.

Then, Ainz's trump card took effect.

In that moment — the world died.

This was not metaphorical.

Everything died.

The Einherjar evaporated into white mist as it couched its lance, and dispersed before Ainz's eyes. Even a homunculus with no concept of life died instantly. Shalltear's familiars shared the same fate, unable to resist the destruction which overtook them.

That was not all.

Even the air — which was not even alive to begin with — fell into death. For over one hundred meters in all directions, the air was no longer breathable. If any living creature tried to respire within that area, their lungs would be corrupted by the deadly air, and they would die.

Neither did the land escape the embrace of death. The terrain in a hundred meter radius was instantly transmuted into sand. The sad part would be paying for this to be repaired or leaving it long enough to repair on its own.

Only Shalltear and Ainz could move in this world, where only death remained.

Ainz's trump card, [The Goal Of All Life Is Death] strengthened the effect of instant death magic and skills. Thus augmented, those instant-death effects could bypass any immunities or resistance and kill their targets after a certain amount of time had passed.

One could resist it by using a resurrection effect on themselves within twelve seconds, as Shalltear had.

The air and the land had also died because of that effect.

In YGGDRASIL, the environment would not have succumbed, but in this new world, the effects were quite appropriate to the skill. All things were equal in the face of Death.

Ainz himself was taken aback by this strange effect. The land had not died like this in YGGDRASIL. He could not help but shake his head after witnessing the effects of the game's powers in the real world.

However, Ainz swallowed back his surprise. The pride in his heart would not permit him to show any sign of shock. Instead, he acted as though this had been part of his plan. Carrying himself with the arrogance that befitted a ruler, he gently asked the sole survivor:

"What do you think, after experiencing the power that can slay even the unliving?"

The wind blew, dispersing the dead air between them. That wind carried his words to her.

"Incredible, I would expect nothing less of you, Ainz-sama. My household summons are dead to the last. However, your MP is almost depleted and Akabaru seemed to have left, while my health… is still at maximum."

In Shalltear's eyes, Ainz's MP was nearly zero. It was not completely gone, but he would probably only be able to use two or three more spells. With his MP so low, there was no way he could finish off Shalltear, no matter what spells he used.

Not even that super tier spell which could grievously damage the undead — [Fallen Down] — could do so.

"I believe you only have two more tenth tier spells in you? You had too much mana, so I can't really judge how many more spells you can cast, but it when Akabaru-sama will come back it will already be to late."

"That's correct. I should only be able to cast about two more spells, I believe?"

That was not a lie.

She had won.

Shalltear quirked up the corner of her mouth in a knowing smile.

There was no longer any doubt that Shalltear Bloodfallen was the victor, Akabaru-sama could not immediately know that it had failed and by the time he would be back Ainz would already be dead.

Shalltear patronizingly congratulated the loser, who had struggled so bravely until now.

"Truly magnificent. I had to deplete my MP and use up all my skills in order to drain your MP to that level, Ainz-sama. You are to be praised for lasting this long."

Shalltear tightened her grip on the Spuit Lance. Now, all that was left was to deliver the fatal blow in melee combat.

"You are correct. Thus, I shall humbly accept your praise."

Shalltear's forehead twitched.

She was very annoyed.

She was very annoyed at Ainz Ooal Gown's nonchalance. However, in the end Shalltear managed to swallow her rising uneasiness.

No matter how she pondered the situation, Shalltear could not think of how Ainz could turn the situation around. Even if Akabaru immediately came back it wouldn't stop Ainz MP to go back up.

Ainz did not flee, but merely stood proud where he was. She could sense his determination from his stance, and so Shalltear asked:

"Any last words?"

"Well, hm… Since you felt that I was a disadvantage, that without my MP I would be nothing more than a mook… You came at me with everything you had. For that, I must thank you, Shalltear. If you had fought more carefully, things would not have gone so smoothly."

"...Wha?"

Shalltear doubted her ears. It would seem she had heard some nonsense.

Ignoring Shalltear's confusion, Ainz continued evenly:

"The most crucial thing in PVP is to deceive one's enemy. For instance, pretending that you're vulnerable to holy-elemental attacks when you're largely immune to them after swapping out your gear. On the other hand, there's the fact that you're still weak against fire-elemental attacks. However… I seem to have miscalculated. I used [False Data: Life] because I thought you would use [Life Essence]. It would seem that was a waste. If there is a next time, do remember to check your opponent's health. That's the difference between the theory and practice of tactics."

This was not what Shalltear wanted to hear.

Shalltear could not understand the meaning of those words. No, she did not want to understand them.

He did not want to admit his defeat — no, she could feel his strong will. More than that, he sounded like victory was at hand for him.

Shalltear continued closing the distance, but the thoughts welling up inside her checked her step.

'...Why isn't Ainz-sama backing off? As an arcane magic caster, he can't possibly beat me at this range. This must be a bluff, a way to buy time!'

"My friend Peroroncino told me a great many things when he was making you. After I came to this world, I took the liberty of memorizing everyone's information. However, aside from my black history (Pandora's Actor), you are probably the NPC in Nazarick with whom I am the most familiar."

"Didn't you say… you didn't know my skills…"

Ainz smiled.

"I was lying, of course. Wasn't that obvious? I thought that perhaps if I said so, you would take the bait. That's because it would be quite hard to win if you saved your Impure Shockwave Shield until the end."

The flow of blood meant nothing to the undead, but Shalltear could feel hers draining from her face. In exchange, a wave of agitation spread through her entire body.

That was not a lie.

Nothing he was saying here was a lie.

Ainz Ooal Gown was standing before her without running away because he was confident of attaining victory.

...

"Should you not return Akabaru-sama?"

"Why would I do that, it seems to me that the battle is complete?"

"But Ainz-sama is still fighting."

"NO ALBEDO, AKABARU SPEAKS TRUE, THE FIGHT HAS GONE TO THEIR EXPICTATIONS PERFICTLY. AINZ-SAMA CAN FINISH THIS ON HIS OWN."

"Thank you for the warriors insight Cocytus."

"But while both have full HP, Ainz-sama is completely disadvantaged without any MP left."

"Albedo, Don't you trust the man, I understand your love for him is great but he makes his own decisions, your concern is restricting yourself."

Albedo looked kind of embarrassed

"Do you understand the art of love, Akabaru-sama?"

"I know more than Ainz, but my knowledge is limited, the best dating advise came from Peroroncino, the creator of Shalltear."

"Really, was Peroroncino good at romance, I know he had written some books and stored them in the library?"

"No he wasn't good at it, probably the worst, but that's why he had all the tips a man could need."

"What kind of tips would he give?"

Albedo had a notebook in her hand wish seem to appear out of nowhere.

"We will discuss this at other times Albedo, its not the right time."

"Yes of course!"

Albedo sat down again appearing as if nothing happened.

Cocytus and Demiurge seemed to be confused by the whole situation, albedo had flipped from concerned for the safety of her love to making her love fall for her to paying attention to the screen back to the safety of her beloved Ainz-sama

On the screen Ainz could be seen wearing the armour of Touch me.

It was a set of pure white armour, with a huge sapphire set into the breastplate, which radiated a pure, holy light.

That suit of armour was on Ainz's body, and it had repelled the thrust of the Spuit Lance.

From his superior height, Ainz looked toward Shalltear.

No… he was probably looking down on Shalltear.

"IMPOSSIBLE! THAT ARMOUR BELONGS TO THAT SUPREME BEING!"

"…You mean Touch me?"

"CORRECT, MY LORD."

Cocytus seemed very excited — no, in truth, he was very excited — as he exclaimed.

The pure white armour which Ainz wore belonged to one of the nine people in YGGDRASIL who possessed the class of World Champion.

Only the winner of the developer-sanctioned tournament could possess the class of World Champion, and the company awarded a special piece of equipment to the champion as a prize.

Touch Me had chosen that suit of white armour. This specially-made armour complemented his status as a World Champion, and its abilities exceeded those of divine class items, putting it on par with Guild Weapons. Of course, since it was a gift to the champion, only the World Champion could equip it. However—

"By using the warrior transformation spell — [Perfect Warrior]... it would seem… he is no longer bound by any job-related penalties, and can make use of warrior equipment."

Demiurge's tone was filled with respect, and Albedo murmured in awe.

"He is fighting worse than I expected, it seems that it will not be enough."

Akabaru distributed the praise

"What are you talking about, it was all planed so how would it fail here?"

Albedo asked full of doubt

"He hasn't had enough combat experience, from what I know he fought goblins and ogres but they are also unskilled, he hasn't fought a true warrior."

"I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN AKABARU-SAMA, HE IS NOT BALANCED AND IS ONLY RELING ON HIS STRENGHT WHICH WILL NOT WORK AGAINST SHALLTEAR."

'it seems he will need combat training after today, maybe Clementine could be useful, she isn't too powerful so attacks wont hurt but openings could be spotted without looking foolish before a guardian.'

"So you will leave to support Ainz-sama?"

"Yes, I have already regenerated enough health to be of assistance."

With those parting words Akabaru teleported back to the arena where Ainz was struggling with Shalltear.

….