Rebuild the Lost

"Ahh, and then I remember Touch Me saying, 'If you won't fight for your life, what are you fighting for!' Hah, those were truly profound words..." Murmuring to himself, he revisited memories of his comrades. This was his way of seeking solace, a brief respite from the burdens now resting upon his shoulders as the Ruler of Nazarick.

The next task on his agenda involved delving into a book on finding inner peace. From its pages, he distilled the idea that achieving peace needed maintaining a perfect life balance.

"What's that supposed to mean, balance? I got a whole tomb of monsters to control!" He disdainfully discarded the book, frustrated by its philosophical musings without practical guidance. Perhaps he simply couldn't decipher the messages embedded within.

"I guess happiness is something only the joyful know. But whatever, I think I've spent enough time by myself." He had dedicated four hours to his solitude, a period during which he found respite from his worries. It was a time of tranquility, perhaps akin to what the elusive book had intended.

Within the confines of these chambers, he attained silence, but beyond, external forces continually disrupted this balance. Alas, he had yet to discover a clear resolution to this dilemma. His gaze shifted to a massive mirror within his suite, revealing a commanding Overlord with a dark halo hovering just above his head.

"Still, this is what I am now. Just before I was still in a game, damn..." With those thoughts, he promptly teleported to the throne room, leaving his ponderings behind.

Upon arrival, all the guardians were already assembled, kneeling before him.

'They definitely just arrived, Ainz. Don't make yourself more trouble than you need to.'

"My guardians, you may raise your heads." He instructed, addressing them with due respect. At his command, the guardians looked upon him not merely as a master but as a deity, a sentiment that was not entirely misplaced.

Prior to this, they had discussed Ainz's battle with Shalltear. Albedo and Demiurge had regaled them with tales of their lord's magnificent display when dealing with the rogue guardian. To them, every account of the encounter sounded like the most riveting tale ever told.

"I think Shalltear has waited enough. It is time she returns to Nazarick." He summoned his staff and struck the ground, resulting in a mound of Yggdrasil gold coins poised to meld together and resurrect Shalltear.

Ainz focused the energy, causing the gold to lose its solidity and transform into a fluid substance. It flowed toward a single point where a body gradually took form. This revival required a substantial amount of gold, albeit only a fraction of what Nazarick still possessed.

Following the resurrection, a petite figure lay before him, unclothed. With swift grace, he conjured a blanket and approached her, draping it gently over her form.

"Lord Ainz? W-What happened? And why am I in the throne room without any clothes on?" She grew increasingly perplexed, and Ainz intervened before her agitation escalated.

"I had to resurrect you, Shalltear. I am sorry." He spoke with a heavy heart, prompting her to gaze at him with a mournful expression.

"Please, Lord Ainz! Don't feel saddened by whatever I did! You cannot!" Her voice teetered on the edge of tears but remained sufficiently subdued not to offend the Supreme One.

"No, Shalltear. It was all my fault. I let you leave and get mind-controlled by a world item. Something not even I foresaw being in this world. Then... I had to kill you for this. Something I didn't really want to do."

His words pierced the young vampire like a barrage of daggers. She could scarcely fathom that her lord had personally executed her for her disobedience. "Please, Lord Ainz! Forgive me for this sin. I won't allow it to happen again! I won't allow even world items to control me from now on!" She spoke earnestly, though she understood that mental resolve alone would not render her immune to such artifacts.

"You're right. This won't happen again. I have already thought about that." He said as he returned to his throne, but before taking his seat upon the world item, he turned to address them once more. "I will give each of you a world item so that this may never happen again!"

The guardians were taken aback. Receiving even a single world item as a gift was a tremendous honor, especially considering that Albedo already possessed one. Bestowing such treasures from the Treasury of the Supreme Beings was an act of unparalleled significance.

"As you see, to counter a world item, you either have to be a World Enemy or need one yourself. And Shalltear had none. But with one, none of you will ever fall victim to their power." He explained, his gaze shifting among the guardians as he settled into his throne with a gentle grace.

"As the Guardian Overseer, I thank you on behalf of all the Guardians present. We won't fail you again, my Lord!" She declared, eliciting cheers from her fellow guardians. Cocytus released a puff of cold air from his nostrils, seemingly approving.

"No thanks needed. And another thing has come to my mind. It seems we cannot stay hidden forever, as we have already been found out. These humans Shalltear encountered are still alive and probably told whoever they work for about her, as everyone would when encountering a level 100 enemy. Therefore, I have decided to speed up the process of creating a sort of kingdom for us where we can be unhindered by the likes of this world and spread the name of Ainz Ooal Gown to all ends of the world. More will come if we don't proclaim ourselves; it will bring challengers but also respect and fear toward us. And maybe even a friend of mine could be found..." He whispered, ensuring only he could hear.

"Then, my lord, I would be honored to begin planning if you would bestow this task upon me, your lowly servant." Demiurge offered, and Ainz regarded him with an inscrutable gaze that even the guardians could not decipher.

'Can I even say no to this guy? Well, he is the most intelligent out of us all, so why not.' Ainz pondered.

"Demiurge, I will allow you to make multiple plans for our grand introduction to the world, but don't make them too brutal. We don't want any holy wars being declared against us. Is this clear?" He directed the devil, who wore a smile that even Ainz found unsettling.

"As clear as night and day, Lord Ainz." Demiurge replied, his smile evolving into a grin. Ainz dismissed Demiurge's unnerving demeanor and continued assigning tasks to the guardians.

"And you, Albedo, you are responsible for distributing the world items to the Guardians. I will give you a list later on about who will receive what."

"As you wish, my lord." Albedo responded with grace.

"Good, any questions?" Ainz inquired, and Cocytus appeared eager to pose one. "Yes, you may speak Cocytus." With a chilly exhale, Cocytus posed his inquiry in a warrior's tone.

"I thank you, Lord Ainz. And my question is about the fight against Shalltear. We were watching through the mirror, and suddenly you transformed into this... being. If I may ask, what was that? It was interesting to see the difference in the strength between you and Shalltear while you were in this form. But this is only a request of mine. If you wish not to answer, I will be equally happy."

Ainz knew that this question would eventually surface. Cocytus's curiosity had driven him to ask directly, while the other guardians preferred to believe that the transformed state was simply their lord's true form. Ainz deliberated on how to respond, aware that any misinterpretation could have far-reaching consequences for them and their future.

"Ah yes, about that... That was a form I chose to test in combat against Shalltear. But I do not wish to use it again anytime soon. If that answers your question, then we are finished here."

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The scene shifts to the bustling streets of the kingdom's capital, a sprawling metropolis with the royal family's castle as its centerpiece. At this moment, the members of Blue Rose were en route to the palace, with the exception of the twins, who occupied a carriage. Remarkably, Gagaran managed to squeeze herself in and find a seat.

"So, what does the princess want to know?" Inquired Evileye, addressing their leader.

"About that thing you felt yesterday. She said a similar case also happened to her, and even Gazef Stronoff was seen running to the king's chambers. She wrote in the letter that part of the castle even got destroyed in the earthquake." Lakyus explained briefly, though Gagaran appeared more engrossed in gazing out the window, likely preoccupied with thoughts of her next meal.

"The only thing I know is that it wasn't anything natural. But I don't know what's powerful enough to cause such a huge earthquake everywhere." Evileye replied.

"But you have a guess what it could be, do you?" Lakyus pressed Evileye, who appeared hesitant.

"I can imagine the legendary Catastrophe Dragon Lord being the culprit. He's the only person living in that region who could pull off something like this. But if he were to wreak havoc, we wouldn't be able to stop him." Evileye finally conceded, prompting Gagaran's full attention as she comprehended the gravity of their potential adversary.

"That old lizard should just come already and fight us! We don't have all the time in the world, and who knows, maybe I'll even be an old geezer when he finally comes out of his cave or whatever!" Gagaran retorted.

"I like your spirit Gagaran. Hopefully, you bring it with you when we're gonna that dragon already, or are you just gonna chase some virgin boys hehe.." Evileye quipped, alluding to Gagaran's fondness for younger suitors.

"Shut your mouth, shortie, or I'm going to chase you and put you down like I put that damn war troll we killed a week ago!" The two women squared off, with Gagaran's imposing stature trumping Evileye's, though that didn't necessarily equate to superior strength.

"We are here now, so behave yourselves." The leader interjected, causing Evileye and Gagaran to cease their argument.

Upon exiting the carriage, they fell into silence. They were guided into the palace, eventually entering a familiar room where they had met the princess on previous occasions. However, on this particular day, the princess was absent. They waited patiently, but she did not appear until the door finally swung open, and Climb formally announced.

"Entering is Her Highness personally, the Princess of Re Estize!" Climb proclaimed, ushering in a young girl dressed in a resplendent blue gown. Her golden hair flowed like silk, and her eyes exuded an angelic purity, though appearances could be deceiving.

"I welcome you, Blue Rose. Lakyus, Evileye, Gagaran." She greeted them. They all rose and respectfully bowed. They followed suit once she sat at the table, except for Climb, who remained standing.

"I heard you have some news you could tell me?" The princess inquired of Lakyus, who quickly caught on to her meaning.

"Oh yes, about yesterday. Maybe Evileye should explain that. She's the one that got a guess." Lakyus suggested, gesturing toward the miniature mage, who cleared her throat and began to speak.

"Well, we believe it to be the work of the Catastrophe Dragon Lord. He's a legend, to be real, but it is the only solution we have come up with. I surely felt the magical intent that caused this catastrophe. But if the dragon decides to return to the surface, we might not stand a chance against him." Evileye revealed. The princess remained impassive upon hearing this, calmly sipping her tea and returning the cup to its saucer.

"Then it is true. But I don't think the kingdom will do much against him. But I heard about a rising hero in E-Rantel, Momon, was it?" The princess inquired, a name that struck a chord with the adventurers.

"Yeah, the adventurer who reached Mythril in just under a week. He and his companion Nabe are certainly a strong pair. They defeated an entire undead army and members of Zurrernorn by themselves. Not even we managed to climb the ranks that fast. But what about them, your Highness?" Lakyus queried, perplexed by the princess's line of questioning.

"I just wanted to know, nothing much." The princess responded, leaving Lakyus further puzzled. However, she refrained from pressing for additional information. "But, I called you here because of the 8 Fingers slowly getting too powerful in the kingdom. They are like a separate government from the monarchy as if they are slowly conquering our cities just by corruption. I would like to call for Blue Rose to clear most of their headquarters here in the capital." She boldly requested, asserting her importance as the Princess of Re-Estize.

"But the last time you tried this, Your Highness, the nobles disbanded the quest. Even the 8 Fingers influence them. What do you plan to change now?" Evileye inquired, her curiosity piqued by the entire situation.

"You will act on a mission that is nowhere near the 8 Fingers, yet only on paper. And yes, the nobles will still check up on this, but if it's a quest, for example, you are going to help some orphans, my father would certainly not command me to take back that request just on behalf of the other nobles." The princess explained.

"So we can go to work then?" Lakyus asked.

"Of course, you have all the freedom to exterminate every bit of scum in this city." The princess replied with a smile as radiant as gold. Yet, beneath that facade lay a complexity none of them could have anticipated.

"Then it is official. You are now working under my orders. Perfect, then this discussion has been settled successfully." The princess declared, rising from her seat. The others followed suit out of respect, and after exchanging pleasantries, both parties took their leave.

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In a vast expanse, a majestic dragon adorned in glistening scales akin to polished platinum fixated its gaze upon a peculiar suit of armor. Bearing a noticeable dent, this battle-worn relic bore witness to the dragon's clash with a formidable vampire in the heart of the forest. The dragon had pursued the Black Scripture during their search for the Catastrophe Dragon Lord, when he met the vampire.

"She was too strong for me to handle in that form. But I believe I could beat her with my true appearance after all. She is just an undead, nothing more." He muttered to himself, though uncertainty lingered. The vampire had toyed with him, granting neither the opportunity to strike nor a chance to withdraw. He had been compelled to teleport back to this very spot.

"But that other thing I saw...just what was it?" It was the undead-looking being he encountered while flying with the vampire. It looked at him with those crimson orbs, piercing through him with the stare of death himself. He couldn't guess how powerful or why it was even there. But he assumed it was a powerful Night Lich.

"But who was it? Why did it come? Was it associated with the vampire? It could be. And then there was that force I felt, pure power emanating from exactly where the battle had happened. It could be the fault of the Catastrophe Dragon Lords, but nothing is really certain. Knowing these two entities, I now have to be more wary. And I think it's about time they returned."

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World Enemy Name: Avatar of Death

Epithet: True Form of Ainz Ooal Gown, World Enemy, King of Death, Monarch of Despair

Race: [World Enemy]-Undead

Estimated Level: 100-120

Abilities:

[Greater Soul Manipulation] Can consume weak souls to recover HP

[Negative Energy Warping and Manipulation] Can manipulate and form negative energy at will

[Death Manipulation] Does inflict instant death with normal attacks in choice

[World-Item Immunity] The power of an entire world is deemed ineffective

[High Tier Physical Immunity IIII] Nullifies all physical attacks under lvl 80

[Body Transformation] Can change his form, as it is more of a mist than a physical body

Skills: Note that these skills cannot be cast again for a set period of time

[Surrounding Darkness] Encompasses the surrounding area and transforms into a void-like dimension for a certain time period. None can enter or leave this dimension until the timer is over.

[Darkfire Beam] A negative energy based attack that creates a beam in the selected area which destroys everything in it

[Timeless Duel] Allows to rewind time until the battle had started when needed

[Seven Divine Snakes] Activates the seven golden snakes of the staff to become more aggressive and attack the enemy instead of circling around the 7 orbs

[Seven Divine Orbs] Activates all orbs at the same time, summoning all the primal elementals of their element

[Orb of Momonga] Activates the secret orb that creates a red burst that inflicts much damage against dragons

[Rite of Nazarick] Summons varying monsters from Nazarick to aid him over time