Shalltear wondered at the word that had surfaced in her mind several times already throughout the fight. She wanted to know why she had to point her blade at her master, Ainz-sama. But it was like that. There were plenty of things in the world that she didn’t understand. This was just one of them.
Even when she determined it to be such, Shalltear thought her actions against Ainz were not consistent with that line of thinking. That’s why, with a calm voice that couldn’t have come from the middle of a battle, she spoke to him.
“If the battle is unfavorable, maybe you should run?”
“But, about that….”
Something similar to a bitter smile seemed to flash across Ainz’ face; on the skeleton face that should not have been able to move.
“I am…. yes. I am very selfish, Shalltear. I do not wish to run away.”
Ainz stared at his empty, skeletal hand. As if she was drawn to it, Shalltear’s vision also moved to that spot.
“Though I doubt anyone will understand, even if others think of me as a fool, in this moment, as a Guildmaster, I feel satisfied. How should I say…. I…. even though I held the position of Guildmaster, in truth, all I did was regulate and handle menial tasks. Ultimately, I did not lead from the front. However, right now, I am fighting for the sake of the guild at the forefront….though it may just be for my self-satisfaction.”
“Is that so? Perhaps that’s what they call a man’s pride?”
“That.… is that what this is? Perhaps…. it may just be out of desperation. It seems I’ve ruined the mood with such a boring story. Forgive me. Shall we continue?”
Part 2
Ainz calmly stared at the figure of Shalltear holding her Spuit Lance. In order for him to seize victory, he had to get through this melee.
The equipment around Shalltear’s back swelled, and as if bursting through the armor, sprouted the wings of a bat. Ainz knew what would come next.
Countless large bats flew into the air from her back. They were Elder Vampire Bats created from the ‘Raise Kin’ skill. They were also accompanied by Vampire Bat Swarms.
Although they weren’t that strong, they still couldn’t be ignored. Ainz immediately cast his magic.
“「Shark Cyclone」.”
In an instant, a tornado that was 100 meters high and measured 50 meters in diameter made its appearance. It tore through the land and lifted the earth into the air. Darkened by the debris, the tornado swallowed the fleeing bats into its body.
Within the raging cyclone, numerous shadows could be seen slowly moving about. The shadows that were swimming around as if inside an ocean— sharks measuring around six meters. They flocked in groups to the swarms of bats desperately trying to fly against the tornado, like bait thrown to the surface. While the spell effective against airborne creatures displayed its strength, much like how the sharks were tearing through the Elder Vampire Bats, there was another who was tearing through the storm.
The crimson figure pierced through the tornado head on and charged at high speed. With the tip of her lance pointing forward, the figure left behind a trail of heat like a jet.
Unable to react in time, Ainz felt a sharp pain all over his body. Crack, he felt every bone in his body fracture.
The instant he had lowered his guard, Shalltear moved right up to his eyes and had pierced through his sternum with her murderous weapon. The tip of the lance crushed his bones and shot out of his back.
“Ugh!”
He cried out in pain. Shalltear had used her skill to give the lance a striking property and delivered a blow to his HP.
The undead Ainz was strong against pain. Like his mind, damage that exceeds a fixed threshold was suppressed. That was why even a complete novice of fighting like Suzuki Satoru could keep his composure without losing himself to the pain.
But this was intense.
The feeling of his life being carved away. A feeling similar to your vision darkening from losing most of your blood, it violently rattled Ainz’— no, Suzuki Satoru’s weak mind.
But Ainz’ will surpassed it.
The man fighting here was not Suzuki Satoru. It was the Supreme Ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown.
Even as Ainz was searching for his next course of attack, Shalltear’s assault did not stop.
With the end of her lance still penetrating through Ainz, she pushed forward again and again. As the blade stabbed deeper, the thicker part of the lance continued to dig into his body. The feeling of his body splitting in half and the pounding pain, along with his rapidly deteriorating health.
It triggered the activation of his 「Body of Effulgent Beryl」.
The green sheen that hugged his body shattered.
The 10th tier magic, 「Body of Effulgent Beryl」. For its duration, it had the passive effect of reducing damage from strike attacks. When activated, it had a one-time use of completely nullifying strike damage.
The damage dealt by the lance was absorbed by the 「Body of Effulgent Beryl」. As if time was reversed, the lance was pushed out of Ainz’ body.
Pushed away by the lance to his location, Ainz launched his spell at Shalltear who didn’t seem to understand what had just happened.
“「Wall of Skeletons」!”
A wall of bone made of countless skeletons wielding weapons appeared between the two figures. The skeletons that formed the wall swung and stabbed at Shalltear.
However, not a single one reached Shalltear’s body.
“「Maximize Magic: Force Explosion」.”
An invisible shockwave burst out with Shalltear at its center and crashed into the wall of bone. The wall bent, and unable to withstand the force of the shockwave, exploded.
The scattered bones showered down with the sound of rain. But it had proved useful in buying Ainz time.
“Release!”
Following his command, 「Greater Magic Seal」 released three magic circles, each firing 30 shots of white arrows of light, for a combined volley of 90 shots. What was released was normal attack magic, 「Magic Arrow」. The beautiful afterglow from the flying arrows resembled the wings of an angel. However, this was an angel that signaled death.
Magic of the 1st tier cannot penetrate Shalltear’s magic resistance. Sensing the danger behind the fact that Ainz used it regardless, Shalltear hastily tried to dodge to her side. However, the white arrows made a sharp turn and perfectly lodged themselves into the target, like a shower of rain.
The damage from 90 consecutive white magic arrows instantly destroyed Shalltear’s health.
The secret behind how they managed to pierce through her magic resistance was because he had used a skill that temporarily brought up their power to rival that of 10th tier magic.
His assault did not stop there.
“Dance! 「Triple Maximize Magic: Obsidian Sword」!”
Three swords that gave off a black light floated in midair. As if they had a will of their own, they immediately flew straight towards Shalltear.