28. Rise of Evil

When he first arrived at the location where the gala was to be held Steve had been expecting many things. Hideous monsters and gaudy displays of power, as beings like Canada's new King loved to display, to highly militaristic decoration and oppressive shows of force. What had welcomed him instead was quite different.

"Pleased to welcome you." The voice was melodious, like a perfectly tuned musical instrument and came from the unlikeliest of sources.

She was beautiful, like a classical sculpture or an angel. Her features were perfect in every way or form, it was almost unnerving how symmetrical, how lacking in any flaw she was. Her light blonde hair, of a colour almost, but not quite, like green was kept short and perfectly combed. It was almost too perfectly set, but to Steve's eyes, which could see much more than a regular human's, there were none of the common telltale signs of hair care products. Much like how her beautiful emerald eyes, their gem-like quality a breathtaking affair, were clearly not artificial either. Of course, while her dazzling appearance was eye-catching in an almost mystical way, that was not what had confused Steve so much. She was, after all, wearing an honest-to-God, maid uniform.

"Good evening, may I presume you are here to lead us to our seats?" Thankfully, the ambassador was not taken aback by the strange sight as much as Steve was, calmly answering the beautiful maid as if it were the most common sight in the world. If one could say anything about Ambassador Lilian Craft it was that she was not one to lose her calm when presented with something unexpected.

The maid just smiled at them "I am Foire, one of the maids in service of the Supreme One and I will be in charge of you tonight. Now, if you could please follow me?"

Ambassador Craft, Steve and one of the ambassador's aides quietly followed after her. Steve could hear the ambassador try to strike up a conversation with the beautiful maid, asking a number of questions whose answers he was sure would be in a report to DC before the day was over. Steve on the other hand had more important things to worry about. Like the security.

The incredibly extensive and heavy security.

The gala was being held in the Château Laurier. The beautiful Gothic Revival building was both adjacent to the government headquarters in Parliament Hill and of enough class to be worthy of hosting such an important event. Normally it would not be strange to see discreetly armed guards and maybe even a few military men for a political event of such magnitude, but that was nothing compared to what was really going on.

While traveling to the gala, the ambassadorial limousine had passed by no less than 3 different military units. Mostly those of the newly formed 1st Royal Division, which from what Steve understood, consisted of loyal mutants with military experience directing a number of 'skeleton' foot soldiers alongside a good number of 'Liches' and 'Death Knights'. They had been an obvious measure and one that Steve wasn't surprised to see a brutal dictator like the one that had taken over Canada implementing. It was a crude but effective strategy that both assured the fears of the usurper and capitalized on those of the populace.

Of course, that is when things started getting strange.

Once they entered what he assumed was a security perimeter around the Château Laurier, things had changed. While his companions did not seem to notice, Steve had felt similar things before and was thus much more attuned to them. The tingle in his skin, the feeling of a soft pressure on your eyes, the slight delays in your thoughts. There was no mistaking it.

Someone had just cast magic on them.

Steve had wanted to warn the ambassador, but he knew that giving up the fact he knew they were being influenced by magic would only expose him and the ones accompanying him to more danger. Whatever sorcerer or creature had done that it was better for them not to know of Steve's awareness until he could do something about them.

Once their car had reached the hotel the magical influence had suddenly disappeared, as if whatever had bewitched them had decided there was no more need for it. But Steve had no time to ponder on this new development.

Something was watching them.

There was no proof to base this assumption on. He had not seen someone, had not heard a sound. The SHIELD-built ECM suite hidden in his uniform had not activated. Nevertheless, Steve felt something was watching them and whatever it was, it was not far.

After a short walk they arrived at the room where the gala was to be held. The beautiful decor and soft bustle of the gathered dignitaries giving the place an aura of elegance. If one were to ask Steve that is what he would imagine a royal party from a century prior would look like.

There were around fifty to a hundred people inside, most of them wearing expensive suits and dresses, with a few men and women in military dress uniform like Steve. While he could not recognise everyone from sight alone, he figured out representatives from the most powerful, or at least most relevant to Canada, countries were present. There were also the unmistakable cameras from various news networks, most of them from Canada and the US but quite a few from Europe and elsewhere too. Of course the most eye-catching thing were the two dozen or so maids, equally beautiful to Foire, who were standing beside the seated dignitaries.

"These are my sisters," explained Foire as if sensing Steve's curiosity. "We have all been tasked with making the experience as comfortable for you as possible and to answer any question you may have. As the Supreme One says, 'knowledge is the noblest of pursuits'."

Steve simply nodded as she guided them to their seats. One sitting he noticed they were seated beside the Israeli and British embassies. While the Israeli people were visibly relaxed, the British were clearly on edge, though Steve could not blame them for it. Even if it was mostly in name only, Canada was under the British crown.

"I need to report your arrival but I will return shortly. If the need arises, please feel free to talk with one of my sisters instead, they will inform me immediately." After a softly lowering her head the maid was gone.

"Did you notice?" suddenly asked Ambassador Craft.

"Sorry, notice what?" Answered Steve, somewhat confused. While the night had been everything but normal so far, he did not know what the ambassador was talking about.

"The Latverian and Genoshan groups, or rather their absence," was her answer as she softly gestured to the side.

It was true, there were many countries represented at the moment, but both Latveria and Genosha, who were the reason for this event, were absent. Steve did not know what that could mean but he knew it was not going to be good, whether for the world or for Canada's new regime it was still not known.

Not much time passed before Foire came back. A smile plastered on her beautiful face.

"Appetizers will be served shortly, meanwhile please feel free to ask any question you may have." Said the woman as she took her place one step to the right of Ambassador Craft.

"Then Foire dear," said the ambassador as she smiled at the maid, "could you tell us more about why we are gathered here today? While the invitation we received said it was to 'honor' the rulers of Genosha and Latveria, I feel that is not all there is to it."

"It is as you said. I don't really know what it is that the Supreme One plans to say, but I have been told something of great importance will be announced later. That's all I can say on the matter."

"Hmm. Thank you, dear."

"Do any of you have any questions?" Foire said, looking at Craft's aide and then at Steve.

Against all chance, the woman had given a straight answer when asked and now was offering even more information. Steve knew that he was taking an unnecessary risk, but the chance that the woman before him was actually just a beautiful, naive, servant meant there was probably no subterfuge behind her words. "Yes, actually I have a doubt. Is magic being used for security?"

Foire seemed perplexed at first, as if Steve's question made no sense. Eventually, realization dawned upon her.

"Of course. The Supreme One has used every resource under his control to guarantee the safety of this event. There are dozens of spells to help with security at this very moment. You probably felt the [Detect Intent] spell when coming in, didn't you?" she asked them as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

While the others were confused Steve's eyes widened. So they were the ones behind it and they are admitting it?

"I am sorry, but what is that supposed to be?" Asked Ambassador Craft.

"Ah, well I don't know that much about magic but [Detect intent] makes it so that anyone preparing to attack another people inside the area of effect is surrounded by a powerful red glow. I heard quite a few enemies were caught trying to sneak in." The way she explained the usage of such specific magic as something common deeply unnerved Steve. The usage of a spell that would expose people's intentions in the same manner as a radar lock on a military vehicle would was something completely alien to Steve.

"Oh but I shouldn't distract you. Food will be arriving shortly."

And arrive it did. Before long a number of waiters, this time regular humans, came by carrying small apperitives as they served each table. People started eating and exchanging small talk as time passed by. Their host was still nowhere to be seen.

It was before the first course was served that it happened.

The air seemed to still, as if made solid by some outside force. Conversation died and the lights appeared to weaken, overwhelming darkness crushing them.

Steve went into overdrive, his eyes tracking the entire room and searching for the source of the disturbance. Finally he found it, the area around the central table, the one that had yet to be filled was host to a strange phenomenon.

An oval of deep pure darkness, as if a piece of the night itself had been ripped from the heavens and brought to the Earth. The oscillating hemisphere radiated power as it simply was, its inexplicable existence crashing against Steve's human perception.

And then, from the portal, for it was clear that is what it was, emerged people.

The first one was clad in armor and a green, richly made tunic. His footsteps were powerful, like a modern knight and power radiated from his entire being. Anyone could instinctively know that he was not a man to be trifled with.

The second to come out was more normal, wearing a red and purple ceremonial attire. His silver hair and handsome features striking for most women and quite a few men. his smile was disarming yet reserved. But even then, for all that he appeared normal there was no mistaking the soft vibrations from everything metallic in the area as he took his first steps inside the room.

The last to come out was both the most expected and less so. He was tall, taller than almost anyone. He wore a black and white tunic with a red mantle on top. Tasteful jewelry and the high quality of the clothes dispersed any doubt about their worth. His face, or lack thereof, a constant grin of white bone and empty sockets full of fire. If the other two had had almost-palpable auras his was a full force pressing down on everyone. Steve could feel a chill going up his spine and more than one of the gathered dignitaries whimpered out loud. They could not help but fall prey to the atavistic impulse. The instincts of 2 million years of human evolution screaming at them that death lay ahead.

They were who everyone had been waiting for, the three people who were the center of today's events. Dr. Doom, Magneto and Ainz Ooal Gown had finally arrived.

---​

After the grand entry of the three super powered rulers and a short apology for their 'lateness' by the self-proclaimed king himself as he asked the attendees to continue with their meals.

It was a relatively normal affair and while the skeleton radiating death gave it quite a special feel, it was nothing noteworthy.

But then came the first course.

Steve was not knowledgeable as far as meat went. He could defend himself if in presence of more 'reputable' individuals, but he was not going to be comparing wines or fancy meat cuts any time soon. Even then he did not need to know anything to notice the food was unusual.

The best way to describe it would be to say 'more'. The smell was more, the colours, the sights. It was as if someone had taken a common dish, in this case steak served with some unidentified tubers and made it greater.

Just the smell alone was enough to make Steve's mouth water. Every primitive part of his brain pushing him to consume it as fast as possible. It was almost as if he were under another spell.

But he was not the only one in such condition. He could see the ambassador and her aide in a no much better state of disarray and while the ambassador was, barely, keeping her composure the man was openly drooling.

"I… ah, I mean. What is this dish's name, Foire dear?" asked Ambassador Craft after finally managing to peel off her eyes from her food.

"Oh yes! I really like this one," stated Foire enthusiastically. "It is a fire dragon hatchling steak with Mandragore as a side dish. All with a nice spice from one of southern Muspelheim lava fields, it gives it quite a spicy flavour if you ask me."

Ambassador Craft simply looked at her and nodded, her trademark smile plastered on her face.

Seeing this Steve could only sigh. If only half the things Foire had said were true then things were getting more complicated by the second.

Maybe I should talk to Thor, I mean 'Odinson' about this later? Steve thought as he unconsciously, almost driven by instinct alone, took a bite of his food.

The experience that followed could not fully be put into words.

Steve could feel as if his mouth, throat and stomach were on fire, one strong enough to melt steel yet it did not hurt. He felt such fire as if it were a pleasant heat. The way it spread all over his body something enjoyable rather than painful. Steve felt his aches and old wounds, still with him even with his superhuman physiology, fade away. Muscle cramps that had been with him longer than he could remember and the pain when he tried to flex his left hand in a certain way, a reminder of a time he had punched through something his Super-Soldier Serum reinforced bones could not handle, faded away. Steve felt his body strengthen, his heartbeat stabilize into perfect harmony, little deviations in his back bones realign and his sight become even sharper. It was a magical experience, for there was no other word for it and he was not alone.

He saw old men and women, weighted by years and toughened by age, stand taller and prouder. Military men well past their prime regaining the vigour of their youth. Women whose best years were a decade behind them regain that glossy tone they had so longed for, as their skin tensed and their eyes became brighter. The change was clear, undeniable.

"W-what happened?" The ambassador's words had none of her usual charm, she was too surprised for that. Her pupils were dilated and her breathing ragged.

"Sorry, I don't understand," Foire answered, her tone one of confusion. Something which Steve believed was true.

"Th-the effect! What did that food do?" Finally regaining her wits the ambassador asked what was needed even as her usual facade of tranquility cracked.

"Ah, that? It's only the standard buffing. Heightened regeneration, strength enhancement, vitality enhancement and I think some more? I'm sorry but I have never much cared for what exactly it does." Foire finished with an apologetic smile.

Seeing as the ambassador was in no state to continue the conversation, and to avoid making a scene, Steve decided to intercede. "Then, is this a regular thing?"

"Yes, it's just buffing. I think all our food has it."

When compared with the rest of the things they had learnt about Ainz Ooal Gown ever since he had revealed himself, this was nothing, yet Steve could not help but worry. He, better than many, understood how power resided not on the big things, not on wunderwaffe, but on the small things. It was not a tank that won wars, it was the nation with the factory capable of building one part of said tank more quickly. Maybe on its own the food with seemingly magical properties was nothing groundbreaking, but when combined with everything else...

Carefully and with no telltale signs of it being done on purpose Steve made eye contact with Ambassador Craft. While he did not know how much she knew about his mission, he was sure she at least knew who he was.

As his eyes met hers, she came back into focus and blinked once, then once again, faster this time. It was the pre-arranged signal for 'understood'.

"Ah, Foire dear sorry for my outburst. The food was quite delicious, care to tell us more about it?" The ambassador was once again the perfect picture of serenity, the effects of the food only making the image she presented more perfect.

"Yes, of course! It is made by Nazarick's chefs after all. It's only the best of the best."

Nazarick? That name again? It comes up in the briefings but no one seems to know what it means. Steve was not sure, so he decided to file the detail for later as he listened on the ambassador's conversation with the maid.

Like that the meal continued, the rest of the food they were served was equally impressive and the effects even more varied. By the time Ainz Ooal Gown stood up, the soft background music taking up as he started walking from table to table and greeting everyone present. There was no flesh on the monster's face, but even then Steve could not shake the feeling that he was smiling. Every action, every step and every word was measured to maximum effect. It would have been enough to charm too many of the present people in normal circumstances and after the veritable heavenly banquet everyone had enjoyed, it was working better than Steve could have ever feared.

The representatives of the Free World laughed as a creature that stood anathema to liberty joked with them. Women reddened slightly as he complimented them and men stood a little straighter as he praised their persons. It was inconceivable, it was madness.

And it was happening right in front of Steve's eyes.

Slowly but inexorably the tyrant got ever closer to the American table. Other dignitaries were also walking around as drinks were distributed. Steve knew that the sensible thing to do would be for him to get away and observe the enemy from the metaphorical shadows, but he could not do it. The need to learn more about the one they opposed pushing him to take risks.

"Good evening Ambassador, Captain and Mister." The tyrant's voice was deep and full of strength, both commanding yet not forceful. A voice of someone powerful yet not prone to flaunt said power. As much as it pained to admit it, it was the voice he had always dreamt of having as a young sickly boy.

"Good evening Your Majesty," answered Ambassador Craft, her business smile plastered on her face. "This has been a lovely evening."

"Oh, thank you. I am happy to hear you have enjoyed yourselves." The creature looked at all of them, stopping a little longer than necessary on Steve before continuing, "While I had little involvement in organising it, I will be sure to tell Albedo that her efforts were appreciated."

The name instantly rang a bell in Steve's mind. The Prime Minister, or 'Guardian Overseer' as she was usually referred to as, had garnered quite the interest since her first appearance during the proclamation of 'The Supreme King' Ainz Ooal Gown. Her unnaturally beautiful face and well known superhuman abilities had meant SHIELD considered her one of the highest threats after the King himself, be it from a diplomatic or physical viewpoint.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. But if you don't mind me asking, why isn't Overseer Albedo present?" answered Ambassador Craft.

"Umu, well the truth is that she is much more important to the day to day running of the country, so she can hardly be absent from her position more than a few hours and sadly this event didn't coincide with any of her rest days. Of course she is doing a delightful job and I can hardly complain she has no time to go to parties and such, if anything I should be the one apologizing." The dictator sounded regretful at the absence of his minion. The way the Tyrant said it it almost sounded as if he honestly cared for her company, something which Steve had to admit was a possibility. Even the worst of monsters had friends and loved ones.

"Don't you think people should rule their own country?" The one who blurted out that compromising question was none other than Steve.

The ambassador froze, her face a rictus of a smile while her aide's heartbeat exploded into arrhythmia. The temperature seemed to lower below freezing as everyone present had to force the air to enter their lungs.

"Is that so?" asked the king, almost amused.

Many would have backed down there and then, but Steve had never avoided a fight, no matter how unwinnable it may seem. Once he had set out to do something he would either accomplish it or die trying, for his beliefs were more important than anything else to him. "Yes, I feel that maybe the workload wouldn't be so hard if you had let the people of Canada alone. The freedom to choose and the freedom to act are paramount for a society to exist."

"Ah, I see. Please tell me, who should choose then?" continued the monarch.

"The people of course! A government chosen by them will reflect their views and beliefs and properly represent them," continued Steve angrily "It is how the world is meant to be and-"

"Please let me stop you there Captain, I may not know a lot about many things but I do know this," spoke the king as he held up a hand to silence Steve. "A long time ago I had a friend who liked this particular subject and never lost a chance to talk about it."

Steve was surprised by the tyrant's easygoing manner. There was none of the anger he would have expected, nor the blind pride that many similar beings would have been ruled by. The skeleton was talking with Steve as if it were a common discussion and not a diplomatic incident in the making.

"Do you know what the social contract is?" But the skeleton continued before Steve had a chance to answer. "Well, simply put it means the people give up their freedoms to someone with the monopoly on force and it is then expected for that someone, be it a king, a president or whatever may be, to enforce rules to assure the people's remaining freedoms are protected. In your country it would be the right to private property, freedom of speech, personal freedom and other similar things, right? Well then let me be as clear as possible. I am the Monopoly of Force, it was not given but taken. I will assure my people's rights no matter what but they are that, my people. If they or anyone else wants to contend this then I do welcome them to take my right by force."

By now the jovial tone was gone and while there was still no anger on the King's voice, a certain contempt or maybe annoyance was more than obvious.

"I hope you can understand this?"

Steve wanted to argue, for he knew that not to say anything would be to accept him as right. But he could hear the ambassador's heightened heartbeat, the irregular breathing of her aide and the eyes of everyone in the room set on them. Steve could also feel the raw power brewing behind the king's deathly visage, how it was only waiting for release and how Steve was about to give him an excuse for it.

Eyes full of fear set on Steve, their worry and fear a weight upon his soul. Steve had to make a choice. He breathed deeply and consigned himself to his fate.

"Yes." The word came out harshly and full of anger but it was unmistakable. He has capitulated.

Steve's beliefs may have been worth more than his life, but never would he make the same choice for everyone else.

"Good then," Ainz Ooal Gown patted Steve affectively on his shoulder, any trace of animosity gone. "I hope you will continue enjoying the night... Captain America."

Before Steve could say anything the undead monarch was gone, leaving him alone with his open-mouthed fellow Americans. The fear in their eyes redoubled.

The silence lasted for an entire minute, everyone too surprised by the sudden development. At least until Foire decided it had lasted enough.

"I'm sorry but… who is Captain America?"

---​

He knows, he knows who I am!

Both SHIELD and the American government had always known sending in Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, had been a risk. He was a public figure and a well known one at that. But his face had only rarely appeared on-screen and while he was remarkable in some ways, he had no real feature worth remembering.

It was for this reason that it had been decided that it was a worthy risk to send him as SHIELD's eyes and ears. An agent beyond reproach who could be counted on to act with not only the United States' best interests in mind but the world's. It was presumed that the chances of Ainz ever finding out were minuscule.

And they had been wrong.

He always knew.

Ever since the skeletal tyrant had left them Steve had remained silent. The knowledge that they had always been dancing at such a monster's whims, like puppets waiting for their strings to be cut when they were not useful anymore. The monster had played with them and enjoyed doing so. They had thought themselves smart but had fallen right into their enemy's trap.

The inhuman monster now stood back with his fellow rulers. Magneto remained inescrutable, but there was a sense of weary satisfaction in his movements. It was as if he had gotten something he had longed for yet was not sure he was completely happy with it.

Doom on the other hand was visibly happy, or at least as much so as such a being as Doom could. His ever-present armour obscured his features and masked his body language, but Steve's intuition had not failed him before. Doom was radiating a kind of smug satisfaction, as if every last piece of a grand puzzle had fallen into place.

Steve knew something suspicious was going on, everything from the organization of the gala to the very secretive talks with Doom and Magneto had hinted about it. Ainz Ooal Gown had a plan and Steve was sure it was about to be revealed.

And he was not wrong.

"If I could please have your attention!" The voice of the self-proclaimed king of Canada cut through all other sounds. His powerful varitone demanding silence "I, we, have an announcement to make."

As the tyrant spoke so did his two companions stand with him. Doom, Ainz and Magneto stood side by side, their auras of command overlapping with each other and giving Steve a foreboding of terrible things to come.

"When I first came upon this land I found a nation oppressed and a fearful people. It was not my plight to attend to them but I found myself embroiled on their affairs nonetheless. And once their affairs became mine my priorities changed." As he spoke, Ainz Ooal Gown raised his hands, causing the sudden appearance of an enormous holographic display.

In the air hung the perfectly realistic representation of something Steve was intrinsically familiar with. The details had changed, old wooden guard towers replaced by high technology cameras, dogs complimented by tracking devices and soldiers wielding sleek rifles. Yet Steve could not confuse it for anything else, for he knew too well what it was. The cruel sneers of the guards, the emaciated faces of the prisoners, the screams, the filth, the suffering. Steve had seen one too many of them during the war.

But these were not the camps in Poland or Germany. It was not the Black Forest that surrounded them, but coniferous trees up to where the eye could see. It was not people whose skin colour or religion which were trapped inside, but people with characteristics that could only be defined as 'mutations'. There were no German soldiers dragging bodies to mass graves, nor where the tears of their still living captives paid any more heed. It was not the Swastika which flew produly from the flagpole, but the Maple Leaf.

Steve did not want to believe it, Steve would not believe it.

But the king had continued speaking, unaware or uncaring of the effect of what he was showing. "I am a person of my word, once a deal has been struck and an oath given I will abide by it. Be it the smallest of favours of the greatest of undertakings I will make it happen as long as it has been sworn upon the name of Ainz Ooal Gown, that I assure you. So once my people came into danger I had to act."

"So act I did."

"Many have wondered why I destroyed the previous government of Canada and now you have my answer. They tried to harm those under my care and paid the consequences." The flames in his empty orbits seemed to brighten as he spoke, his emotion clear to all.

The room was silent, there was nothing they could say. Steve wanted to speak, to scream out. He could not believe it, believe that the country of the people he had fought besides against pure evil so long ago. Nor would he accept his own country could have stood besides such evil and not noticed. It was inconceivable. It had to be a lie.

It had to be.

"But enough of the past. It is time to speak of the future. Doom, Erik, if you would please explain to them what I have proposed to you." He spoke as he gestured to the two rulers standing at his sides, both of whom promptly took a step forward as Magneto began speaking.

"For too long my people have languished. The boot of uncaring governments stomping on their face for what seems like an eternity," said Magneto, his words full of passion. "But the time has come to show the world we will stay silent no more. When His Majesty destroyed the monsters that ran Canada's government he proved to me he is a friend of the mutants."

"Yes, Gown has shown the world he has no fear of others and that he will act as needed. Like Doom, Gown understands that power is not given, power is owned!" continued Dr. Doom, his words literally brimming with power.

"It is for this reason that we have accepted his proposal, from this day onward Genosha."

"And Latveria," finished Doom "stand side by side with the New Canada. Our countries are bound by alliance of world and deed."

"Ours will be a pact of steel and blood. We will show the world how to accomplish true greatness, so says Doom!"

"So says Genosha," echoed Magneto.

"So says Nazarick and Canada," finished Ainz, his voice almost a soft whisper.

It was then, when things had reached the point of no return, when the watching dignitaries of the world could only stare in terror as their greatest fears materialized, the terrors the world had thought long forgotten had suddenly resurfaced. The Free World was once again in peril. It was then that it happened.

A screech resounded over the entire room, as if a thousand nails were scratching on an equal number of blackboards. The air seemed to ripple, as if solidifying before melting again. The smell of ozone and the feel of wrongness forcing itself upon everyone present.

The three leaders stared at the same point in space, a new wariness replacing their previous confidence. Something was coming and three of the most powerful beings on the planet were afraid of it.

Finally whatever it was seemed to assert itself upon reality, a strange sense of warmth permeating everything as a literal rip upon the fabric of the universe spun open. Eldritch energies bleeding from the open wound in the universe. Whatever was coming before was finally here.

A hand crossed the threshold, then an arm and a foot. Blue fabric was followed by red and a handsome face with a head full of black and pepper hair made itself known shortly after. The being's, the man's, face was handsome even after leaving behind his youth. Power radiated from every pore of his body as the world trembled due to his sudden entrance.

"You have much to answer for," was all that the intruder said.

Doctor Strange had arrived.

---

AN:

Man, this wasn't hard to write but boy did it take time. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. With this we can conclude Ainz's "introduction to the world" arc and now we can do even more stuff, like pick up on those many many plot threads I presented or simply hinted at (eg Shalltear and Wolverine, the rest of the Pleiades, Ainz's takeover of the country, etc).

Also, you finally got to see Dr. Strange, are you happy?

See you next time

EDIT: Also, this is yesterday's chapter in case you are wondering. Remember, one chapter per week.