Demiurge spoke in a voice filled with awe while Albedo muttered under her breath.
“He’s thought this far ahead….”
Albedo hugged her body with both arms and trembled.
Turning into a warrior through magic allowed one to wear equipment even if was restricted to a special class. It was a measure by the administration to give a way for players to enjoy the more obscure equipment like the shuriken, vajra, or the monk robe. However, this measure of ignoring class restrictions ended up also including the equipment given to the World Champion for winning the official tournament.
“I. can’t. believe. it… to. think. this. was. all. part. of. his. plan… I. can. only. give. my. admiration.”
The winner of the battle still hadn’t been decided. But seeing Ainz, with his resourcefulness, and the smooth way he carried out his plan that showed his experience in battle, the gathered Floor Guardians couldn’t help but express their awe.
As the Floor Guardians looked upon their master with a gaze of both delight and admiration, they heard the sound of the table being slammed a second time.
“That. is!”
Once again, it was Cocytus who shouted.
Part 3
— A slashing noise.
“Kyaaaaaaa!”
Absent-minded from witnessing an impossible scene, Shalltear screamed. The blade entered through her shoulder, cleaved her sternum and stopped at her unmoving heart.
With faltering steps, she retreated. Her crimson armor now dyed in a deeper shade of red, Shalltear glared with shock.
Ainz held a sword in his hand. A sharp and huge katana wrapped in lightning. It had cut through her armor like paper.
Even amongst Divine Class items, there were few that could so easily cut through Shalltear’s Legendary Class armor.
Then— the answer could only be that ‘few’.
Indeed.
The weapon that Ainz held in his hand was one of them—.
Along with her blood, Shalltear coughed out the name of the weapon.
“Takemikazuchi Mk 8!”
Once again, the blade hurtled towards her, causing Shalltear to retreat a great distance in order to avoid it. Her large distance outside of the weapon’s range showed how much she feared it.
No one could fault her, especially if one was a Floor Guardian of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
Because a weapon wielded by ‘Warrior Takemikazuchi’ — one of the 41 Supreme Beings, had made its appearance.
“As I have already said, Shalltear. There is no defeat for 『Ainz Ooal Gown』.”
Ainz advanced forward one step, and Shalltear retreated two.
“Realize now, Shalltear. You face Ainz Ooal Gown, with the combined might of all 41 Supreme Beings. From the beginning, you had no chance of victory. “
Then— the tide of battle was no longer the same as before.
A low voice rang out, one belonging to a man who has blown away his overwhelming disadvantage.
“Shalltear Bloodfallen. Engrave into your eyes the power of the one whom you all call and revere as the Supreme Ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, leader of the Supreme Beings.”
It was a signal that he was now going to switch to the offensive.
Ainz stepped forward, raising his two hands high above his head and brandished his katana.
Ainz spoke quietly.
With absolute conviction and an unbroken confidence.
Like walking on thin ice, it was a battle where even the smallest mistake would have sent him plummeting down a bottomless lake. The current Ainz was now closing in on the heart of his enemy.
Both of their MPs were at zero. In HP, Shalltear held the advantage.
However, Ainz, who was now a level 100 Warrior thanks to [Perfect Warrior], surpassed Shalltear who was not of a pure warrior class. Even in equipment, Ainz held the advantage.
Shalltear took a step back and readied herself to charge in at the same time. She was planning to attack during the opening after the blade was brought down. In reality, Takemikazuchi Mk. 8 was considered a large weapon and, like the Spuit Lance, incapable of nimble movements.
Wrapped in lightning, Takemikazuchi Mk8 cleaved through the air— and stopped right at the edge of Shalltear’s chest, who was in a stance ready to charge forward. What followed was a god-speed thrust.
No matter how physically strong you are, it is difficult to stop a swing brought down in full force in midair. Even more so if the weapon is of a considerable size.
The reason such a thing was possible was because Ainz did not swing with his full strength. In other words, it was an attack with the assumption that it will not hit, purposefully creating a weak spot.
Planning your attack while thinking several moves ahead, it was an obvious tactic for a warrior.
All Ainz did was to put it into practice.
However, he would never have thought of it if not for the battle experience he got in Re-Lantier. He would simply have swung aimlessly and be met with Shalltear’s counterattack.
There was no doubt that he, despite becoming a level 100 warrior, would have ended up in a situation where he was unable to bring out his full strength and wasted away the treasure. It was similar to driving a car. Even if one had a license and knew how to drive, the difference between a beginner and an experienced driver becomes incredibly apparent when faced with a difficult situation.
This— was experience.
What Ainz believed to be his greatest ‘weapon’ in his battle against Shalltear.
Dodging it will be difficult.
Shalltear calmly judged it as such while staring at the incredibly fast thrust heading her way. However, a thrust was a risky technique. Exploiting its weakness will give her a great opportunity.
Then… I have no choice.
With the determination to sacrifice an arm, Shalltear squeezed her left hand into the trajectory path of the thrust.
The instant the katana stabbed her; Shalltear slightly moved her left hand and averted the force of the thrust to veer off to her side.
Piercing through her left palm rather than her chest, the katana lost none of its momentum and cleaved through both the flesh and bone, tearing through the inside of her left arm. The lightning riding through the blade pierced Shalltear’s body from the inside.
Even for an undead, the feeling of having one’s flesh torn apart gave her goose bumps. However, a corner of Shalltear’s lips twisted upwards.
That was a smile— it was not an expression that should have been on someone who had just received such damage. But it was not a bluff either. This was what Shalltear had been aiming for.
Shalltear flexed her left arm with the katana lodged inside. Her muscles grabbed on to the blade and stopped its movements.
It was common that a thrust would often miss its mark or become stuck because of the muscles. That was why it was considered difficult to use, in other words, it had a weakness. Because Shalltear knew this, she gave up her left arm to create such a opening.