the reason that raid had failed is because the enemy had wasted a large amount of its disposable mercenary NPC's in the lower levels, not expecting the improved tomb of Nazarick to be so vast and intricate. if those guys had been around they would have probably advised a more conservative approach. which could have meant that the enemy would have had enough reserves when they entered the eight floor.
They could only be said to have one flaw.
They had no lives whatsoever…
Even Ainz - who spent most of his time in YGGDRASIL - could be considered a casual player compared to them. The six of them were online nearly 24/7 and almost always out grinding.
Due to this they had earned a nickname amongst the rest of the community:
"The Six Addicts."
The Floor Guardians looked at Ainz in puzzlement as they did not understand the title.
Seeing this, Ainz regained his composure and organized his thoughts once more.
"Ah, uhm, basically the problem lies with the other items that the enemy is likely to possess. We have to deal with this rabble quickly and investigate the hidden crypt of the capital."
"Yes!"
The shouts of approval unified into a single response of the guardians.
"Shalltear you stay here and monitor the situation. If the need arises, join up with us and assist in the battle. Meanwhile, I want you to recall all members outside Nazarick without a World Class Item."
"Eh, but Ainz-sama, I finally have the chance to take revenge against the vermin that brainwashed me. Surely I deserve to join the fight as well?"
Although she was not one to go against her master's orders, Shalltear still felt wronged if she could not exact her revenge when her prey was within reach.
"Don't worry Shalltear. I don't plan on killing them any time soon. We will capture them alive and then you can pick them up to play with them as promised. if they saw you then their will to fight might hit absolute zero and they could end up running for the hills. Although that would not change their fate it would be much more boring."
Even though Shalltear still felt like she should go she swallowed her dissatisfaction and obeyed her master's orders without a word.
"Well then you two, let's call for Cocytus and Mare and set out. Let's finally put a rest to this meddling foe once and for all
"Yes!"
Part 4
"It didn't work! Something interfered with my power! Retreat immediately!" Kaire screamed as loud she could. She was already an old woman but the terror she felt caused her to still scream at the top of her lungs.
At the moment that her item's power should have activated and tried to take control of the foe's mind she felt it. A strange item in the possession of this skeleton sorcerer was blocking her power from working.
This item was one of the twenty strongest items in YGGDRASIL, and Ainz had given to Pandora's actor as a counter to the enemy's weapon. [Chalice of Ponce], the ultimate survival item in YGGDRASIL that could even resist the effects of other twenty type world class items that could destroy players completely. Once consumed the user was immortal for 48 hours. No force in the game could kill an object or creature with the immortal status and had very few counters.
This was also the reason why Ainz gave this item specifically to Pandora's Actor. Even if it turned out that in this world the effects of World items could no longer be blocked by other items of the same level than the damage to Nazarick was still kept to a relative minimum.
Although Ainz felt pained that he had to use his own creation as bait, using any of the other NPCs was even worse to him and furthermore impossible since they could not change appearance.
Ainz had gambled big but won and now thanks to that the Slane Theocracy had found themselves in quite a predicament.
Being the trained and disciplined warriors that they were, the Black Scripture immediately assumed the formation to retreat and tried to get a certain distance between them and the skeleton before they would activate the recall spell and teleport back to the hidden crypt.
They ran expecting a magical counter of some sort. A fireball spell or other type of magic attack that would come their way any second.
The entire scripture was focused on Ainz but to their surprise he did not budge a single inch, instead he just kept looking at them with his hollow eyes while they ran.
They hoped that perhaps Ainz had not designated them as a threat or simply chose to ignore such a small group of enemies, perhaps escaping was not impossible after all...
"Good day to you proud warrior vermin of the Slane Theocracy!"
All the members of the Black Scripture blinked in surprise as they imagined that the image in front of them had to be an illusion of sorts.
The sorcerer known as Ainz Ooal Gown that had withstood the power of their nation's treasure now had appeared in two different places at the same time.
"It has to be an illusion!" the Second Seat shouted as he kept looking back at the figure of Ainz Ooal Gown that was standing behind him.
One of their members could see through illusions so they knew that the one on the behind them was the genuine Sorcerer King.
Ainz calmly raised his bony hand as a gesture to calm down as he began speaking.
"I can assure you that I'm not an illusion and neither is the one on the hill. But first let me introduce you to my fellow comrades."
As soon as he gave the word four figures emerged from the dark space behind him, one more out of place then the next.
A human dressed in formal butler attire, a tailed humanoid wearing what looked to be a suit, a cyan insect that stood upright, and a small dark elf girl that was holding a large wooden staff all appeared.
"Well then, you filthy rats have caused me no end of trouble so I hope that you're prepared. But first let's make sure that we are not seen by the populace. Demiurge!"
As if waiting for his master's command, the one with the spiked tail spread his arms and emitted a vile and dark energy.
"Maximize Magic: [Greater Circle of Hell]!"
Instantly the ground beneath his feet lit up as an enormous fire flared up and stretched into two opposite directions.
Encircling both him and everyone else, it formed a fire circle of approximately three hundred meters in diameter. Once the circle was complete the flames flared even higher and formed a literal fire wall that stretched dozens of meters into the sky.
They had been surrounded with no chance of escape!
Sylvan bit his lip in frustration. From the start their odds of escaping once uncovered had been slim. But now that this had happened they could only fight.
"Well then, now that the trap is complete we can begin the hunt. Ah, but first. Pandora's Actor, return to Nazarick and deposit your world item. After you're done, go back to Albedo, I've heard she is in need of your assistance!"
To the surprise of the Black Scripture they saw how the Ainz Ooal Gown that was standing behind them seemingly changed shape and color as a completely different creature answered to his master's orders.
A person with no apparent facial features who was wearing a strange uniform greeted his master with a proud voice.
"As you wish Ainz-sama! I apologize that I need to leave you again so quickly and hope you will call me if you need my help again. My Master Ainz-samaaa!"
Ainz pretended not to notice the exaggerated reply of his own creation and thanked his passive skill which had prevented him from screaming out in embarrassment just now.
"No... think nothing of it. If anything I need to apologize to you for using you as bait. You will be rewarded later but for now you have my praise. Shalltear, open a gate for him!"
As another black space appeared behind this strange creature, the Black Scripture looked anxiously as they saw the one they thought was Ainz Ooal Gown leave without a trace.