Shalltear

Akabaru entered the arena on the fifth floor of the tomb, looking around he spotted a somewhat roaming Shalltear.

He had changed his outfit to one better suited for the situation, a vampire hunter robe, that he had won at a christmas event, with some jewelry that boosted agility and attack strenght..

Akabaru looked at the undead overlord.

"It took longer than expected but I managed, even having unexpected interference, but did everything go well with the guild?"

"They didn't feel confident I could do it alone, they said something about sending a group of high class adventurers but they will find nothing. It will seem as though we have scared it of, or even killed it if we have proof."

Ainz seemed to ponder for a moment.

"How would we confirm the kill if we don't have a body?"

"A similar looking vampire will do, from what I have heard they only have one witness that informed the guild, with a description of a vampire in a blood frenzy."

"perfect that means not having to recreate Shalltear after her death…."

"You sure you are ready for this Ainz?"

"It is our duty to lead the guardians and do they justice, I would be ashamed of myself if I wouldn't take responsibility."

"Serious as always. Then we ready?"

"let me get prepared."

...

Akabaru was standing before Shalltear, behind him Ainz was still preparing with spells.

It would be Akabaru's job to keep Shalltear busy while Ainz was protected behind a layer of magic defences and poked her with his spells

[False Data – Life], [See Through], [Paranormal Intuition], [Greater Resistance], [Mantle of Chaos], [Indomitability], [Sensor Boost], [Greater Luck], [Magic Boost], 「Draconic Power], [Greater Hardening], [Heavenly Aura], [Absorption], [Penetrate Up], [Greater Magic Shield], [Mana Essence], [Triplet Maximize Magic Explode Mine], [Triplet Magic Greater Magic Seal], [Triplet Maximize Boosted Magic Arrow]—"

This seemingly endless stream of spells surrounded Ainz's body.

All the while Akabaru was taking potions of strength and extended health regeneration as his part didn't need preparation but concentration.

"You ready?"

"Lets do this.."

Ainz cast one of the ultimate moves of magic, those spells which surpassed the tenth tier of magic.

These spells were known as super tier magic

A gigantic dome-shaped magic circle appeared around Ainz, extending about ten meters away from him.

The magic circle shone a brilliant white, and translucent diagrams of characters and symbols appeared. These images changed ceaselessly, with kaleidoscopic speed, differing from second to second.

Akabaru knew that Ainz could have used a cash item to instantly cast the super tier spell, but using it would be a waist.

The wait was agonising Ainz couldn't move and Akabaru couldn't engage or he would be in the spells effect.

It was not certain if he would take damage from the spell as Ainz an he were technically on a team but this wasn't a game anymore, so friendly fire might be a issue.

"Super tier spell - 「Fallen Down」!"

Ainz shouted out as the spell was complete.

….

—There was the sound of sizzling, as though someone had thrown a burning torch into water.

The spell which surpassed the very definition of tiers went off — and it looked as though the sun had risen on the land, dying everything in his field of view a brilliant white.

The exothermic conflagration generated a rapidly-expanding wave of heat, which greedily consumed everything within its radius.

This hell of a vision lasted only five seconds, but it felt dozens of times longer than that.

Eventually, the brilliant white world disappeared. In the wake of the vanishing pulse of superhot energy, because they were on the fifth floor the ground wasn't impacted much. The only observable difference would be that the middle of the arena had sunken in, creating a slope that wasn't to steep to manoeuvre on.

"Kakahaaah~ Kahaaaah~"

Akabaru heard strange laughter, accompanied by what seemed to be a gnashing of teeth.

Looking at the source, he Shalltear with wisps of smoke trailing off her body, and a look on her face which seemed to say, "not enough gun." Her crimson pupils, filled with hostility and bloodlust, primarily focused on her attacker named Ainz.

"That really hurt!"

Shalltear slowly walked forward, Step by step, she shrank the distance between Ainz and herself, the Spuit Lance in her hand cutting through the air with a whoosh which indicated that she was still able to fight.

Arcane magic casters could only show their true ability at long range. That's why Akabaru stood in her way.

"Move out of the way Akabaru-sama!"

"-Sama, you say. Why do you address me as -sama?"

"What a strange question. Is it not natural to address a Supreme Being like yourself with -sama? As for my present master…"

Shalltear's face scrunched up, as though confused.

"...Why do I have to fight Ainz-sama? ...Ah, is it because you attacked me? But why would Ainz-sama attack me… I need to destroy anyone who attacks me with all my strength? Why is that?"

Before long, Shalltear seemed to have come to a conclusion, and her smile from earlier returned to her face.

"Well, I'm still not too sure why, but since Ainz attacked me, I must destroy Ainz-sama! So move out of the way!"

"...Is that so… I understand…" Akabaru moved to the side, appearing to leaving Ainz to defend himself.

"Oho, how do you feel without your protection, Ainz-sama? You look a little weak there. How can you beat me like that?"

"Hmph, aren't you getting something wrong? Do you think someone like you can defeat me — defeat Ainz Ooal Gown? The name of 'Ainz Ooal Gown' is invincible. Shalltear, you will kneel in submission before me."

"Ahahahaha! Ooooh, how scary~"

Before she could charge, she received a punch to the back of the head.

"You did hear that you would be facing the whole Guild, and while most aren't here, I am part of it."

Shalltear spun around striking the place where Akabaru stood.

"I know you are faster than that."

Akabaru taunted Shalltear, to keep the focus on him.

Enraged Shalltear Charged at Akabaru, aiming the tip of her lance at his chest and trusting forward. The lance charge was originally a technique used by mounted knights and made with the speed and weight of their mounts behind it. However, Shalltear's strike — made with her extraordinary strength and her awesome speed — easily surpassed that attack.

However, despite the ever-approaching tip of the lance, Akabaru remained unmoved.

In a gentle voice, he said:

"It's dangerous to turn your back to a magic caster."

The warning referred to the fireball that Ainz had cast, heading at breakneck speed to her.

As Shalltear attacked the fireball struck, blowing her body away.

Immediately after Ainz threw another attack, this one clearly said to be [Maximize Magic - Gravity Maelstrom], the attack was a black sphere. More specifically a spinning vortex of hyper-intensified gravity that could significantly damage a target, even one of Shalltear's level.

As Shalltear stood up she cast "[Wall of Stone]"

A vast wall of stone emerged from the ground, completely enveloping Shalltear, the spell collided with the wall destroying both in the proses, but more importantly a window of opportunity, as the wall left some smoke obscuring the vision of Shalltear.

As Ainz cast a spell to trap her with [Maximize Magic - Hold of Rib] Akabaru charged readying his [Way of the fist – Sky swallow] a attack of similar affect to [Gravity Maelstrom] Ainz had cast.

Massive ribs erupted from the earth and closed in on Shalltear like a bear trap. The sharp points of white bone bit deeply into Shalltear's body.

"Kah!"

Normally, this spell would have continued holding its target after damaging them, but Shalltear easily shrugged free. Becoming open to Akabaru's attack. As he punched forward the air ribbed creating a black hole, damaging Shalltear and leaving her armour dishevelled.

Coughing up some blood Shalltear looks angrier than before.

"That's just cruel, ganging up on me…"

"Sometimes thing have to happened Shalltear, it's the way of the world."

As Akabaru was close to Shalltear after preforming his attack she decided to charge Ainz, who seemed to be left undefended with Akabaru gone.

Her speed was higher than that of Akabaru but he didn't seem to concerned about his comrades safety. Ainz didn't seem to react to Shalltears attack and just before she would hit and replenish her health the [Triplet Maximize Magic - Exploding Mine] activated.

Blasting her of in another direction.

"...Shalltear, I forgot to tell you, but I've already set mines around this area. How about attacking me from the air instead?"

"—Ainz-sama, I won't take the bait. You've put traps in the air too, haven't you?"

"Was that so obvious?"

"Yes, I saw through it long ago."

She chuckled, and the red flames in Ainz's eyes dimmed.

There was nothing of the sort. The mines Ainz had laid just now were the only set. Neither had he set traps in the air. This battle was not an easy one even with two players fighting.

"Talking is a distraction Shalltear, I thought we thought you better!"

Akabaru stood behind her, standing in the sky charging a skill that increased damage the longer he stood still.

Shalltear turned around and pierced Akabaru's body with her spear, absorbing some lie force, but leafing her open to the more powerful attack that he was charging

"[way of the fist – Phoenix Punch]"

A explosion happened in the wake of the punch, the image of a phoenix could be seen inside of it.

The charged attack punched her into the ground skipping over the floor and landing back into the mine field, causing a chain reaction of explosions damaging her even more.

…..

Shalltear stood up and braced the Spuit Lance, narrowing her eyes at her two masters.

She had no idea why they had attacked, or how she got to the arena on the fifth floor, but her mind told her that it was not an important question. All she had to do was kill them.

As she calmly considered this, Shalltear reassessed the current situation – a two on one fight, against a undead and a genie – while she was at the disadvantage in numbers she did have type advantage.

The undead overlord was a magic caster and they were incredibly powerful, but that power derived from their MP. Once their MP ran out, they would naturally lose their fighting ability.

The genie was a warrior with magic skills, if they were in a one verses one than it wouldn't be a problem, she could cast spells and reflect his attacks with her fighting prowess.

The problem was that for one she had to keep distance and for the other was fighting in close range best, the only solution was letting Ainz deplete his MP, and letting her household keep Akabaru busy.

She did not think that she would lose. She had been the guardian of the first to third floor and had repelled bigger parties than two.

Shalltear decided to recast regenerate some health, with [Regenerate] a spell that could recover the health of the undead. Currently, it was still restoring the health lost from the super tier attack spell and was now being used for the flaming attack.

The only reason she was at a disadvantage was because of their preparation.

These favourable circumstances were due to their extensive preparations and the many spells which Ainz had cast beforehand. The power of magic casters varied greatly with their preparations for any given situation, and the same applied to Shalltear.

'Why would they not be using scrolls, staves, or wands; are they trying to preserve their strength? Or did you know they weren't effective against me?'

Ainz's magic resistance completely negated the effects of low to mid-tier spells, regardless of how powerful their casters were. In contrast, Shalltear's magic resistance was affected by her opponent's stats and levels. Even a tenth tier spell by a weak magic caster would not be able to breach her resistance, but against a powerful magic caster — like Ainz — first tier spells were the limit.

Some scrolls were affected by their creator's skills, but for the most part, they were made at the minimum possible level that allowed for their creation, which also meant that they were fixed at the lowest possible caster level. Thus, there was a high chance that scrolls would not be able to breach Shalltear's defences.

Deciding to protect herself while regenerating health she cast.

"[Force Sanctuary]."

White radiance filled the area around Shalltear, a defensive barrier made of pure mana. While this barrier impeded the caster's attacks, it would also completely negate her opponent's attacks.

As Shalltear analysed the combat conditions, Ainz continued casting a spell. While Akabaru circled her location, trying to attack her from the side.

"[Maximize Magic - Thousand Bone Lance]"

Countless — well over one or two thousand — lances of bone erupted from the earth around Ainz. The ivory spears assailed the defensive barrier from all directions. Soon, she heard the sound of what seemed like glass cracking, and Shalltear's protective barrier shattered with it. Scattered chips of bone flew in all directions, melting away into nothingness.

"Cheh!"

She had not expected this magic barrier — upon which she had spent a significant amount of mana — to be broken in one move. Shalltear was unable to believe this as the attack on her continued.

"It's not over yet! [Maximize Magic - Thousand Bone Lance]!"

"—[Greater Teleportation]."

Her teleport destination was an open space in the air, one of the only save places outside the range of both enemies.

"Don't think you can get away.."

Akabaru charged as Ainz was focusing on his spells

"[Maximize Magic - Gravity Maelstrom]."

Shalltear had expected them to follow up with some kind of attack against her. Ainz spell came flying over, as though aimed at the place Shalltear would appear after teleporting.

"You seem to be taking this quite easy Shalltear." Ainz asked

"Why is it that you are so at ease while fighting us? We are all on the same level, but it is two against one, but I can sense the confidence from you, your belief that you have the advantage and that victory is assured."

A sense of superiority filled Shalltear.

"Ahahaha, then I shall show you the one of the reasons why I can take it so easy. Did you know I had a skill like this?"

With a smile of victory, Shalltear evoked an Impure Shockwave Shield. A wave of force — colored reddish-black like clotted blood — spread forth, disintegrating the gravity orb upon contact and blocking Akabaru from attacking.

This was one of Shalltear's skills, which combined offense and defence.

"Cheh!"

Akabaru clicked his tongue. Thing were going to plan but attacks still hurt and he had to maintain a façade.

"Aha!"

Shalltear laughed and then she showed off another special skill of hers.

A gigantic divine lance appeared in her hand. It was well over three meters long with an especially large head. The aura of purity it emanated proved that this was no ordinary weapon. It reflected the rays of the sun in its silver radiance, producing a beautiful and eye catching display.

"Oh… I've never seen that before. Did you summon it with a skill or something?"

"It should be a Skill."

"Ahahaha. Since you don't seem to know this weapon, allow me to introduce it to you. Its name is the Purifying Javelin!"

Shalltear released the platinum lance as she laughed at their ignorance. She did not throw it like a javelin, but instead it rose by itself and darted out. This was a weapon which was guaranteed to hit if she spent additional MP.

"Guwaargh!"

—And hit it did, piercing Ainz's chest. In Shalltear's eyes, that unmoving skull seemed to twist in pain.

"Ahahaha! That's a holy-element weapon for you; it seems like it was quite effective!"

Shalltear summoned the gigantic lance to her hand again, and cast it forth once more. The lance travelled at unavoidable speed, Akabaru tried to block the lance with his body because it would be less damage to him, but the lance dodged and piercing Ainz's shoulder.

"What?!"

"Kuh! Don't look down on us! [Maximize Magic - Reality Slash]!"

Ainz cast a powerful spell.

When one reached the highest level of the strongest warrior class, World Champion, one would learn the supreme, ultimate skill called 「World Break」. This tenth tier spell was merely an inferior copy of that skill, but it was still among the most damaging spells in the game.

It cleaved through the very fabric of space, and fresh blood fountained from Shalltear's chest.

A hit from this powerful attack spell could disregard virtually any form of magical defense, but the damage dealt converted back into health and flowed back into her body, as though time itself had reversed to render the attack completely ineffective.

Ainz howled at this:

"What did you just do!?"

"There's no need to get worked up, Ainz-sama. That was a skill too," Shalltear answered as she gloated

"Its fine, she is still weakened, just focus!"

"Hahaha, do you really think focus will win this battle, my skills are to great to be beaten with focus!"

"Here I come, Shalltear! I'll show you that no matter what skills you have, none of them can hold a candle to my magic!"

"Aha! You want a showdown of firepower then, Ainz-sama? Don't think I'll lose to you!"

A [Maximize Magic - Reality Slash] spell crossed paths with a Purifying Javelin, each tearing into the bodies of their targets.

As the two of them traded attacks again, Akabaru charged Shalltear, all the while Shalltear laughed.

Shalltear narrowed her eyes and focused on Akabaru, Ainz was still casting big spells but the attacks slowed down, likely to preserve his MP and not hit his ally.

Shalltear's skills were divided into the at-will and limited use types. Turning back time to recover damage could only be done three times a day. The Purifying Lance was also only usable three times a day, while the Impure Shockwave Shield could only be used one more time today.

Still, there was no point in being miserly about them. Shalltear's plan was to end the battle in a melee fight. Her MP and skills were essentially tools to deplete Ainz's MP and chunk away at Akabaru's health.

After throwing her final Purifying Javelin towards Ainz, Shalltear tried to doge Akabaru's strike, she decided that she needed to move into the second phase of the battle.

"How about this, then? [Summon Monster Tenth]."

"As if I'd let you! [Greater Rejection]!"

The summoned monsters were dispelled in an instant, and Ainz's smug laughter reached her ears.

"We won't let you draw out the fight, Shalltear."

Akabaru shouted as he strook Shalltear up to preform a combo

"[Greater teleportation]"

Shalltear teleported to the other side of the arena leaving Akabaru alone and attacking Ainz.

"[Maximize Magic - Vermilion Nova] !"

"[Triplet Maximize Magic - Call Greater Thunder]"

The crimson blaze — one of Ainz's weaknesses — engulfed him, while three gigantic strokes of lightning earthed themselves through Shalltear's body.

This was the second time in this battle that she had felt her health drop like a rock, which put a look of displeasure on Shalltear's face. Shalltear looked at the unfazed Ainz and thought

'Did he make preparations to resist fire?'

No matter how powerful one was, one could not prepare to resist all elemental attacks. There was a limit to that, even if a heteromorphic character combined their racial resistances with job classes that granted resistances and outfitted themselves from head to toe in resistance-granting divine class gear. However, by focusing on specific resistances, a character could make themselves immune to elements to which they should have been weak.

In other words, Ainz had forsaken his other resistances and focused on raising his fire resistance.

Shalltear didn't know what resistance Ainz had, the only way to discern Ainz's elemental weaknesses was to use 「Life Essence」 to check his HP and barrage him with attacks of multiple elements, then see which one hurt him the most.

'I'm not going to do something tedious like that. I'll target an element which he should be weak against.'

"—[Maximize Magic - Brilliant Radiance]."

"—[Maximize Magic - True Dark]."

Holy-element light wrapped Ainz, purifying his body, while Shalltear's body was corroded by non-elemental darkness.

In this moment — Shalltear did not miss the fact that Ainz had flinched.

Although he was trying to cover it up by changing his stance, there was no way he could cover up the fact that he was trying to remain stoic in the face of pain.

Shalltear smiled inwardly, because she had found his weakness.

The two of them locked eyes, and Shalltear cast her next spell.

Naturally, the spell Shalltear had chosen was still 「Brilliant Radiance」

They exchanged magic in this back-and-forth fashion for some time. Even Shalltear had lost a sizeable amount of health. In fact, her HP (health) might well be zero had she not secretly used MP on skills which defended against spells and persistently activated [Regeneration].

From what she could see, Ainz's MP was greatly reduced from how it had been when they had first started out. The endgame was near..

'It's getting hard to take, I want to break Akabaru's will and make him serve me while Ainz-sama is my dog.'

Shalltear forced herself to ignore the sensations welling up from her lower belly. If she were in her room, she would have called a Vampire Bride over, but she was on the battlefield, much to her regret. And of course, she could not comfort herself on the spot to slake her desires.

That being the case — she would satisfy herself through combat.

Shalltear looked at her masters with lust-moistened eyes, as she licked her lips. If she continued being beaten she might get to exited.

"Then, time to recover. [Maximize Magic - Greater Lethal]."

Positive energy restored the health of the living, while negative energy would damage them. However, the opposite was true for the undead. Thus, [Greater Lethal], which channelled vast quantities of negative energy, was the most powerful healing spell that Shalltear (one of the undead) could cast.

"I see. It would seem I've lost quite some health as well — [Greater Lethal]."

Shalltear blinked several times, unable to believe what was happening before her eyes. However, she had to accept the fact that Ainz's wounds were recovering before her eyes, even if she could not quite believe it.

"...Eh? Why is it that you can cast the divine spell [Greater Lethal]? Was it on your class's spell list?"

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

…..