Ainz Ooal Gown opened his eyes, blinking slowly. For a moment, everything was a blur—shapes, colors, the sensations around him. His skeletal fingers twitched as he instinctively tried to adjust his robes. Something felt... off. The weight of his magic, the aura of supremacy he carried as the Overlord of Nazarick, was still there, but it was tinged with something different.
"What… happened?"
He stood still for a moment, focusing inward. Ainz could feel his body—the imposing figure of his game character—yet something was strange about his surroundings. This wasn't Nazarick. This wasn't Yggdrasil. He took a few steps forward, the sound of his skeletal feet clacking on an unfamiliar surface. The world around him felt oddly real, far more vivid than any virtual simulation could replicate.
As his mind raced, he realized the truth. This wasn't the game anymore.
The realization hit him like a tidal wave. He wasn't just inside the game—his body, this world—it was all real now. He wasn't controlling an avatar; he was Ainz Ooal Gown. His breath—or what would have been breath—caught in his throat as he tried to make sense of this impossible situation.
Could it be another world?
He stood in silence, processing his thoughts for what felt like hours but was only minutes. Slowly, his magical senses kicked in, probing the fabric of this new reality. His mana was intact, though weakened for reasons he didn't fully understand. His magical abilities were still within him, but the effort of summoning powerful spells felt... heavier.
Then, a thought occurred to him. What about Nazarick? The guild? His mind reached out, searching for a familiar presence—the place that had always been his stronghold.
He could feel it, distant, yet close. The Great Tomb of Nazarick, his guild base, still existed—floating in another dimension. But he couldn't reach it. He lacked the mana to summon it. Yet, with a small mental push, he discovered something new—a fragment of power that he hadn't possessed in Yggdrasil. This new world had bestowed upon him a small, personal dimension, tethered to his will.
His mind reeled at the possibilities. A personal dimension. A new layer of power.
He stood there, contemplating his next move, weighing his options. Nazarick is safe—for now. But what is this place? He looked around, the unfamiliar landscape stretching out before him.
After a few more minutes of silent calculation, Ainz finally moved. His decision was made. He couldn't stay here and ponder forever. There were answers to be found, and perhaps, new allies—or enemies—to discover. With the confidence befitting the Overlord of Death, Ainz began walking forward, his mind already strategizing for what might come next.