Intermission

Ainz returned from his short journey. Now imbued with the power of the Frenzied Flame. He still couldn't believe how it went so fast. But just as he was about to return to his fortress, he saw something peculiar.

A small army of what seemed to be dirty and weak humanoids was currently standing before his temporary base. Their poor equipment was the first Ainz noticed, and only some knights and soldiers had efficient equipment to be considered a 'real' threat. Yet nothing to the ones he faced at the tree.

Most only had a stick or a cub, and their clothing was nothing more than simple peasant wear.

The army's banners were clear; they belonged to Godrick, lord of this land, on which Ainz was currently uninvited and unappreciated. Yet the Death Knight he left still stood near the tower, as the assaulters were too frightened to attack the monstrous undead. To Ainz's luck, they hadn't charged at the Death Knight and didn't trigger a massive slaughter with it. The Death Knight wouldn't know that it would cause a huge problem for Ainz, but it wouldn't know better.

'I should've been more careful. Now I have to deal with this.'

Ainz hovered in the air just about in front of the challengers. All looked upon him, only seeing a dark figure that screamed Death all over itself. But when it talked, its voice was not as they expected.

"Where is your leader? I wish to talk to him."

The heads of most soldiers turned back to one person, who wasn't thrilled about being exposed. But he was still standing out as he whore additional armor and was generally taller than the rest. It would've been only a matter of time until Ainz had found him, so it wouldn't make a difference if he were found now or later.

"You are the commander of this troop?" Ainz asked while floating to him. The tension in the air just got denser. Nobody felt safe anymore.

"Ay. I'm the Captain. And by the command of Lord Godrick, we are here to investigate the new building and kill any unwanted guests." After the Captain said that, he gulped several times. What would happen next? Now death was just meters away. Would he survive? He looked brave to the other soldiers, but that was just the long servitude that let him work under a lot of pressure.

"I understand. And I apologize for my rudeness. If I could, I would've looked for a way to talk to your lord first. But I am somewhat lost in these lands. So I made myself at home without knowing that I am in your lord's domain. If I could still speak to your master, I would appreciate it to express my apologies to him." Still, the dulled voice behind his mask had enough strength to reach all soldier's ears.

Confused, the Captain looked around at his fellow soldiers, who all had the same expression. They knew the harsh monsters that existed in this world, but this one was acting differently, almost humane.

"I guess you can? May I ask your name?"

"Forgive me for not telling earlier. I am Ainz Ooal Gown, Master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick."

The Captain was now even more confused, as he had never heard of such a tomb before. And if he was the master of such a tomb, why was he not there and instead here? But he didn't bother to overthink.

"We will retreat for now and tell our lord about this. But I cannot guarantee anything."

"Of course. I will wait here until your return. May we meet again under the same circumstances."

Then the Captain gave the signal, and all the soldiers retreated to the castle. Now, after five minutes, the Captain shook uncontrollably. He could no longer hide the fear he felt even when he was far away from Ainz. The metal surrounding him shivered; even the soldiers around him had the same feeling, some even worse.

Ainz only watched the men leave. He was reasonable, so he didn't seek any conflict head-on. If he could just talk with this Godrick, he could find an appropriate agreement with him. After all, this person could be stronger than him.

"You should've destroyed them. As you did before." The same voice as before rang out in his head.

"I don't think destruction will bring me to my goals. Maybe this Godrick can defeat me. Then I would've him chasing me around. If I don't know my enemy, I do nothing. Simple."

"But you are… me. And I am you. My champion."

Furiously, Ainz answered the entity. "I have sought this deal only to be reunited with my friends once again! I don't have any goodwill to work for you with no other motive! And something else. You said you would free me from the curse the Greater Will forced on me. But I still don't feel it worn off. My stats are still locked. Care to explain why this deal of yours didn't even lift the curse?" He asked the Frenzied Flame, it being relatively quiet for a long time after hearing this.

"It is not that easy. That fellow did rather a dirty trick on you. But, with the help of some great runes, it could work. And with that, I will gladly assist you; killing the remaining demi-gods will surely be... fun."

'So it's crazy, great. But this is the same thing Melina told me about the curse. "Seek the great runes, and you may free yourself." I suppose I could do it. I don't have anything else I could do at the moment.' He thought. "And what about Nazarick? You said you would do things so that they may be in my grasp again. Did you ignore that as well?"

"I see your view, as we are one now. But this is not done with a flick of your fingers or mine. Not even I know the extent of the cosmos, but how to get your tomb back would be rather easy." He told Ainz.

"And how is it that easy? Care to explain."

"I could send you back in time, force you into your old body, and allow you to change fate once. But that would get the attention of the Greater Will, and that is something we won't have! But, with time, I can slowly transport your tomb into this world, not as quickly as you arrived but unnoticed by the Greater Will." The Flame of Frenzy explained to him, and it seemed somewhat rational.

"If this does not work, I will break our pact," Ainz told the Frenzied Flame, which just gave a devilish laugh.

"And how will you do that? We are now one. I myself imbued into your power, your soul." With that, Ainz looked down, feeling his Orb shifting.

'To manipulate a world item is a feat only a World Enemy could pull off. So this means I'm dealing with one. Maybe if I could destroy a world item, but how do I do this.'

"Now, will you execute these peasants already?" The Frenzied Flame said, desperate. It wanted blood so severely, but Ainz refused.

"No, away with you!" With a swift motion of his hands, the scorching flames in his mind stilled down, and he had peace again. Then he looked at his staff. The Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown. Even it came with him to this world.

'Nazarick, the NPCs, the memories of my guild mates and me, could they be here?! I have to find the tomb! But how!? I mean, without a staff, there is no guild, and with no guild, there is no staff. The two are clearly connected. But does the Frenzied Flame know about this? If he did, he would've told me, wouldn't he? Or maybe not. I would give the tomb all my attention and ignore the Frenzied Flame's wishes. Maybe that's what's all about!'

His mind found a message he didn't know before. Now he was warier of the Frenzied Flame than ever, and his mind still didn't understand why he accepted the deal in the first place. But if the tomb was here, he still didn't know where. He would have to find the Great Tomb himself. Yet that was easier said than done. As this land was still unknown to him, the Tomb could be everywhere he wasn't.

'I must explore this world, it seems. To find the Tomb would be my very first priority. And maybe staying undercover would get me some privacy from any challengers. I do not doubt my abilities, yet I don't know if this world holds more powerful beings than me. I would bet 100 % this to be the case. Ignorance is the belief of fools. I rather am cautious than destroyed. That being said, where should I start looking? The levies of this Godrick surely take their time. But if I finished talking with their lord, I will start my adventure. The adventure of Ainz Ooal Gown in the Lands Between!'