Chapter 399: The person who falls into darkness
At the northwest end of the continent, the Re·Yestijie Kingdom, the Bahar Empire, and the Slane Theocracy converged at a vast prairie.
This prairie that Reiger had visited twice before was now very different from what it was over two months ago.
Instead of boundless flat terrain, many raised mounds of earth had appeared, adorned with plants similar to the low, pointy leaves found in the prairie, as though they had been part of the landscape for ages, making it seem as if this land had always been this way.
But naturally, this wasn’t the case.
The landscape had been deliberately shaped by the magic of those from the Nasalik Underground Tomb, all to conceal the very existence of the Nasalik Underground Tomb on this prairie.
Because of these mounds, what had been a vast prairie turned into a land filled with countless covers, completely obscuring any buildings that lay there.
Thanks to this, the surface parts of the Nasalik Underground Tomb were now shrouded by these mounds, hidden within, invisible unless viewed from the sky above.
Of course, even if one were to look down from the sky now, the surface parts of the Nasalik Underground Tomb would still remain unseen.
The reason was simple, an Illusion Barrier had long been deployed over this airspace, making it impossible to see the Nasalik Underground Tomb unless one was within a certain proximity.
Under such layers of concealment, perhaps only those affiliated with the Nasalik Underground Tomb would know what lay here and how to enter their stronghold.
Therefore, when two figures appeared here at the same time, their identities were almost certain, definitely not anyone other than those from the Nasalik Underground Tomb.
"Cough cough...!"
Demiurge, covering his bleeding chest, could not help but cough the moment he appeared.
"Are you okay?"
Cocytus, supporting Demiurge, whose armor, reminiscent of an insect’s carapace, was also thoroughly destroyed, a sight pitiful to behold, though he still seemed in a better state than Demiurge.
"I’m fine." Demiurge wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression somewhat somber as he said, "It seems I have underestimated the power of Reiger Brillhaut. His strength does far too much damage to a demon like me, making it impossible to fully heal in a short time."
"...I’ve used the scroll I carried with me on you, a scroll that sealed the high-level Healing Magic, ’Great Healing,’ of the sixth tier," said Cocytus in a grave voice. "That was the best healing magic scroll I had on hand."
"I know, it’s alright, Cocytus," Demiurge responded in a gentle tone he reserved only for his own people, addressing his colleague, "As long as it’s enough to get me out of a near-death state and give me the ability to move, that’s all that matters."
"Compared to the current situation, such injuries are nothing."
Recalling the grave situation at hand, Demiurge’s face darkened further.
"Let’s go," Cocytus, understanding the gravity of the situation, didn’t waste more words and simply said, "We’ll head back first."
Demiurge nodded.
The two immediately entered the Nasalik Underground Tomb, passing through the Illusion Barrier, arriving at a section of the cemetery.
Their goal was the largest and most solemn central spirit temple within this cemetery – the only entrance to the inner parts of the Nasalik Underground Tomb.
And when the two arrived there, someone was already waiting.
"Demiurge!"
"Co, Cocytus!"
The ones calling out to them were the dark elf twins, guardians just like them, who together with Albedo, Shalltear, and others had surrounded Reiger in the great prairie — Aura Bella Fiora and Mare Bello Fiore.
Currently, the guardians of the sixth floor of the Nasalik Underground Tomb bore tense expressions, clearly aware of the incident that had transpired.
Seeing this, Demiurge did not bother to explain further, simply asking them, "Has the Master returned?"
Upon hearing this, Aura and Mare nodded in succession.
"He has already returned."
"He’s, he’s in the Throne Hall."
Their words prompted a relieved expression from both Demiurge and Cocytus.
Their greatest fear was facing the situation where their lord hadn’t returned.
"Come, let’s go to the Throne Hall," Demiurge quickly made his way into the Nasalik Underground Tomb, and the rest followed him in a row.
This time, their destination lay at the bottommost tenth floor of the Nasalik Underground Tomb.
After being transported through several teleportation circles, they smoothly arrived at this level, and then to an extremely spacious, intricately designed high-ceilinged room.
True to its grand title as "Throne Hall," the room was not only spacious but also dignified.
The ceiling was exceptionally high, the walls were primarily white with touches of gold decorations, and there were several dazzling crystal chandeliers made from colorful gemstones emitting dreamlike, resplendent light, illuminating the forty large banners each bearing different patterns affixed to the walls.
In this hall lavishly accented with gold and silver tones, there was a staircase about a dozen steps high, at the top of which sat an enormous throne crafted from a huge crystal, its tall back reaching to the heavens, behind which a large red banner bearing a symbol was hung on the wall. This banner was even larger than the forty on the walls, evidently much more significant in importance.
This was the Throne Hall, situated at the deepest part of the Nasalik Underground Tomb, the most crucial location of all.
Here, not only could one manage the numerous affairs of the Nasalik Underground Tomb through the system provided by the "Ainz Ooal Gown" guild, but also manage the NPCs that resided here. Should any NPCs die outside, they would ultimately be resurrected in this place, and returned to the Nasalik Underground Tomb.
Last time, after Shalltear was dominated mentally and defeated by Ainz, she was resurrected here as well.
When Demiurge and the others arrived, many high-level NPC characters from the Nasalik Underground Tomb had already gathered here, and even some servants with extraordinary combat abilities had been summoned.
They all knelt on one knee, facing towards the direction of the throne.
On the throne, holding a golden scepter, Ainz sat there.
Yes.
Ainz had been resurrected.
Demiurge and Cocytus, their faces filled with excitement, hurried to Ainz’s side and knelt on one knee.
"Lord Ainz!"
"It’s truly wonderful that you are unharmed!"
Both were so emotional and moved that they almost seemed as though they were about to cry.
Red light flashed in Ainz’s eye sockets, as if he had only now noticed the return of Demiurge and Cocytus, and he lifted his head.
"...I suppose I’m unharmed, for the most part," he said.
Ainz spoke in a tone that suggested he had narrowly escaped catastrophe.
"It’s fortunate that I had a transfer item that could be activated instantly upon resurrection. Otherwise, I might not have made it back this time."
For this, Ainz was indeed grateful.
Before setting out to intercept Reiger, Ainz had taken two precious items with him.
One was a resurrection item that could be triggered immediately upon death, and would not reduce the level of the possessor.
The other was a transfer item that would activate in tandem with the resurrection, teleporting the possessor to a preset location.
Both items were purchased with real money, also known as pay-to-win items.
Ainz, just before departing, carried both items as a precaution, and they wound up being used, allowing him to safely return to the Nasalik Underground Tomb without truly dying.
"However, Shalltear and Albedo have died."
Ainz’s bone hand, resting on the armrest, started to clench into a fist.
"They were killed! By that damned human...!"
Rage uncontrollably erupted from Ainz’s heart, the outpouring relentless even under forced calm, causing Ainz to unconsciously release the effect of the "Despair Spirit Energy," and a ominous black spiritual energy rose behind him.
"————!"
Faced with this suffocating terror, everyone present lowered their heads in fear, not daring to take another breath.
Demiurge and Cocytus were filled even more with guilt and remorse.
"It is due to our incompetence that we failed to protect you, Lord Ainz."
"Even with four Guardians accompanying you, it has come to this, and Lord Ainz even died once due to this. We truly deserve death."
"Please, Lord Ainz, punish us."
"If it would appease the righteous anger of the Supreme Sovereign, we are willing to suffer any punishment," they said in voices close to crying.
At those words, Ainz finally overcame the state of being consumed by his seething rage, and the forced calm effectively soothed the intense emotions in his heart.
"Forget it, this is not your fault," Ainz shook his head and said, "This time it wasn’t that you were inadequate, but the strength of Reiger Brillhaut far exceeded our expectations, leading to this outcome."
"That human’s power was too great; to have such level of power and still fight Shalltear to a draw twice, it’s clear he had been intentionally concealing his strength to mislead us."
"Therefore, our priority is not to punish you, but to hasten arrangements for Albedo and Shalltear to be resurrected and to re-evaluate our strategy."
At this point, Ainz turned his gaze towards Demiurge.
"Have you managed to get the situation in the Kingdom under control?"
Ainz’s question finally allowed Demiurge to lift his head.
"Yes, we have successfully taken control," Demiurge replied respectfully. "Even though we all were severely injured by Reiger Brillhaut, our plans proceeded smoothly. With the secret support of the third princess of the Kingdom and the damning evidence obtained from the ’Eight Fingers’ against the nobles, it’s only a matter of time before the Kingdom’s upper echelons are misled into hostility towards the Holy Kingdom."
"Additionally, as a bonus, we have also brought back some individuals related to Reiger Brillhaut."
Demiurge summoned several servants, who threw a group of people into the hall.
There, unmistakably, were the members of the "Blue Rose" and Brian.