“「Triplet Maximize Magic Vermilion Nova」!”
Ainz used the highest level ― super tier magic notwithstanding ― single target fire-element attack spell that he knew on Yuri.
It was only to be expected that there would be tenth tier spells that could do fire-element damage.
For instance, 「Stream of Lava」, 「Uriel」, and the like. However, the use of those presented problems for Ainz.
First off, Ainz could not cast 「Stream of Lava」. It was a divine spell which was only usable by a druid like Mare.
「Uriel」, on the other hand, was a spell that could be learned by a magic caster of any type as long as the requirements to learn it were met, but it only did its listed damage when cast by a magic caster with a maxed-out positive karma value. Its damage decreased as one’s karma value decreased, and for someone like Ainz, it would do less damage than a first tier spell.
Therefore, this spell was Ainz’s only choice when it came to usability.
Yuri’s health dropped drastically.
“「Perfect Unknowable」.”
“He disappeared again!”
“That’s unfair!”
“If only Ainz-sama would fight us fair and square!”
No, no, you’re in the wrong for not even thinking of a way around this.
“And besides, I have no idea where CZ is! You three never said anything about who was taking part in this battle! Now who’s being unfair!?”
Ainz shouted, even though he knew the opposition could not hear him.
After coming to his senses, the Evil Lord charged at the place Ainz had been.
“Too bad, I’m not there anymore~”
Ainz had begun moving, so he was no longer there. However, he would still be within the area of effect if the Evil Lord decided to cast area-attack spells, but just as Ainz thought that, the Evil Lord suddenly changed direction and came straight at Ainz.
“Hah?”
Was he not invisible? That question was soon pounded out of existence by the pain he felt.
The Evil Lord sent Ainz flying back. Since he was much more serious than just now, Ainz found it hard to defend against or evade the attack. No, Ainz had been too relaxed ― he had not even thought of evading.
Fortunately, the 「Fly」 spell helped control his posture and spared him the ignominy of rolling across the ground. It was just like how it had been during the battle with Shalltear.
The Evil Lord jumped over, hot on Ainz’s heels, and his line of sight was most definitely tracking Ainz’s flight path.
…The Evil Lord of Wrath shouldn’t have the ability to see through it… Ah, he used it! His trump card, 「Soul-Bought Miracle」!”
Inspired by stories of selling one’s soul to the devil to fulfill one’s wishes, this ability was truly miraculous. While he was not sure how the procedure worked, once one used this ability, one could use any one spell of under the 8th tier once.
Normally, when Evil Lords used this ability, they would almost always use healing spells ― that was an unwritten rule. However, this time he had probably used a spell to see through 「Perfect Unknowable」.
Ainz silently gave thanks that the Evil Lord had used the ability of which he was the most wary, even as he felt the pressing need to formulate a new battle plan.
As the Evil Lord closed in and punched him again, Ainz began to get worried.
While there was quite a large level difference between the two and he still had some room for laxity, he could not simply allow himself to continue getting beaten up like this.
“Cheh. Here, have some back. 「Triplet Maximize Magic Call Greater Thunder」.”
High level demons had very high elemental resistances. While their exact resistances varied between type, electricity was one of the more effective energy types against them. After taking three hits of a maximized-damage elemental attack spell, the Evil Lord’s body trembled.
Ainz cast another spell.
“「Perfect Unknowable」.”
“Cheeeeeap! Ainz-sama, you’re so cheeeeeeap!”
“Ahhh, seriously!”
Entoma stomped in frustration, while Lupusregina rolled around on the ground. Solution was the only one who was surveying her surroundings with a razor-sharp gaze.
In theory, each individual mercenary vassal should have been identical, yet they had developed divergent personalities like this. Was it because they had copied the relationships between the members of the Pleiades? Or had their personalities changed over time? The Evil Lord before Ainz followed his movements closely and shouted:
“Here! Use area attacks here, hit me with it too!”
Entoma did not hesitate, but breathed a black cloud from her mouth. It was her trump card, her Fly Breath.
However, it was useless against Ainz, because that move did piercing damage. In addition, Ainz was a skeleton; what would the flies eat? In the end, it only served to annoy the Evil Lord.
“Hey! It didn’t work on him! It only works on me!”
“Eh!?”
Being able to copy an ability and use it well were two different things altogether. Surely the real Entoma would not have made such an amateur mistake.
“I don’t have any area-effect attacks, how about you, Yuri-nee?”
“I’ve got this!”
Yuri gathered light between her palms.
The Kibakushou was a technique that acted as an anti-individual attack when it touched the enemy, but which became a spreading shockwave if it did not make contact. Naturally, as an attack intended for direct contact, it became very weak when dispersed. Since monks were a class focused on fighting individuals, they had very few area-effect attacks ― practically none, in fact ― therefore one could say that it was completely useless.
“There! He moved!”
“Here?”
Yuri launched her area Kibakushou at the location where Ainz had been. Ainz wrinkled his brow ― despite having no brow ― as he saw this and reached a hand out.
“…No, no, you should have prioritized healing.”
Yuri could have healed herself with her ki.
After making his jab at Yuri, Ainz cast his spell. Needless to say, it was a spell that he already knew to be effective.
“「Twin Maximize Magic Vermilion Nova」.”
Having cast an attack spell, Ainz came into view. He looked at Yuri, who was wreathed in flames, and made a cold pronouncement.
“Yuri, out ― 「Perfect Unknowable」.”
Now then, things will get bad if I don’t look for CZ in earnest. Having made that decision, Ainz began making a big detour as he kept an eye on the Evil Lord.
Part 3
Many people stood on the city walls with Neia, watching the battle unfold.
While many of them were people who had been swayed to the Sorcerer King’s side after he had rescued them, they were not the only ones here.
There were priests and paladins here as well. Neia could not see Remedios from where she was standing, but she was close enough that Neia could hear her speak.
The only members of the command staff who were absent were Gustav and Caspond.
Everyone watching the battle was silent ― no. It was simply because there were no words to describe the battle.
They should have known this.
The members of Blue Rose had said that Jaldabaoth’s difficulty rating was above 200. In other words, this was like fighting a huge dragon in the form of a human. Just fighting said battle in the land of men would lead to a great tragedy.