Ainz Ooal Gown sat upon his throne in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, his mind swirling with thoughts of his recent conquests and the ever-expanding reach of his dominion. The devices to copy skills had already begun to bear fruit, but something strange gnawed at his consciousness. Something new… foreign, yet not unwelcome.
Suddenly, a pulse of unfamiliar energy coursed through his form, and Ainz's glowing eyes flared a deep red as the realization struck him. There was something different—something stronger within him. It was a unique skill, but he had no recollection of acquiring it.
"What is this?" Ainz muttered to himself, his skeletal fingers tracing patterns of mana in the air. The skill felt distinct, powerful, but also something more—a reminder of his days as a player in Yggdrasil, where such abilities were coveted and extremely rare.
He called forth a panel of magic, focusing his mind to trace the origins of this newfound power. As the intricate web of magical sequences began to unravel before him, the source revealed itself: it wasn't through his own efforts that he had obtained the skill. One of his summons—one of the lesser undead tasked with scouring the land for resources and information—had been involved in something far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
His summon had encountered an otherworldly being.
---
The Encounter: The Loyal Summon's Struggle
Far from the kingdom of Nazarick, in the sprawling wilderness bordering the kingdom's domain, one of Ainz's undead summons had been quietly moving through the underbrush. This creature, not as powerful as his floor guardians but immensely useful for reconnaissance, had been operating under Ainz's orders, gathering information from remote regions.
It had moved through forests, past mountains, and through settlements, unnoticed and undisturbed—until now.
From the shadows emerged a tall figure, his body radiating power unlike anything the undead had encountered. This was no mere mortal; it was an otherworldly warrior, summoned from a distant realm. His presence was overwhelming, and though the undead creature had no real fear, the raw energy radiating from this being sent tremors through its core. The figure was cloaked in energy unfamiliar to this world, yet unmistakably dangerous.
The warrior's eyes gleamed as he studied the undead. "You are not from this world, are you? Neither am I. But I have no time to play with the likes of you."
With a flick of his wrist, the warrior sent a wave of scorching magic hurtling towards the summon. The undead recoiled, its body nearly disintegrating under the sheer force of the attack, but it stood firm. It had no choice but to engage.
The undead lunged forward, its claws gleaming with dark energy, aiming to retaliate. The clash was violent, fast, and brutal. The otherworldly warrior's strikes were devastating, but the summon was resilient. Ainz's energy fueled its every move, allowing it to withstand far more than it should have. The undead summon fought with a savage, mindless determination, clawing, slashing, and biting at the warrior.
For a brief moment, it seemed as though the undead would be overwhelmed. But then, in a sudden twist of fate, the undead managed to land a critical blow—draining the very essence of the otherworldly warrior's magic. In its last effort, the summon devoured the warrior's soul, taking his power and life force.
As the light left the warrior's eyes, the skill embedded within him was transferred through the undead's connection to Ainz, resulting in Ainz's acquisition of the unique skill. However, the undead had little time to celebrate. From the sky, more otherworldly beings descended.
They had been watching. They had been waiting.
---
The Pursuit: Fleeing the Otherworldly
Ainz gripped his throne, feeling the rush of events as they unfolded through his summon's connection. More otherworldly warriors had arrived, and the undead was now being hunted. For a moment, Ainz considered recalling the creature, but the thought quickly dissipated. It had to finish its mission, whatever the cost.
The summon's vision blurred as it raced through dense forests and across plains, with the warriors in close pursuit. They were relentless, their eyes burning with fury as they chased the creature through the wilderness. The undead's body, still crackling with the energy it had absorbed, was growing weaker. It could feel the relentless pounding of magic behind it, strikes meant to obliterate it entirely.
The first of the pursuers struck. A wave of blue fire engulfed the ground where the summon had stood moments before. The creature narrowly dodged, feeling its flesh sear from the heat.
"They will not let this one go easily," Ainz thought, his mind now fully focused on the battle.
Another blast of magic, this time a spear of lightning, shot past the undead, tearing through the trees and splitting the earth. The ground shook as more attacks rained down. The undead summon was not equipped to handle this kind of sustained onslaught, yet it continued to push forward, its body healing from the stolen energy with each step.
Suddenly, one of the warriors appeared in front of the undead, sword in hand, glowing with otherworldly power. The undead had no time to think, only react. It lunged forward with its dark claws, aiming to tear through the warrior's defenses. The clash was intense, the sounds of steel and bone meeting in violent harmony.
The warrior swung his sword, narrowly missing the summon, but in doing so, left a small opening. The undead struck with all its might, hitting the warrior's side and absorbing more of his life force, causing the warrior to stumble back. But the victory was short-lived.
The undead was struck by a powerful spell from behind. One of the otherworldly warriors had caught up and unleashed a torrent of magical energy, sending the summon crashing into the ground.
Ainz gritted his teeth. He could feel the connection weakening.
---
Ainz's Intervention
Without hesitation, Ainz acted. He closed his eyes and chanted a spell, channeling the full force of his magic into his summon. With a wave of his skeletal hand, a barrier of protection enveloped the undead, shielding it from the onslaught of attacks. For a moment, the warriors were confused, their attacks bouncing off the shimmering shield surrounding the summon.
"Your fight is with me now," Ainz muttered, summoning his power through the summon. He knew he couldn't risk exposing himself too much, but he also wouldn't allow the summon to fall without a fight.
The otherworldly warriors hesitated for a brief moment before retreating into the shadows, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.
---
Returning to Nazarick
The undead summon, though battered and nearly broken, began its long trek back to Nazarick, protected by Ainz's barrier. As the connection between them stabilized, Ainz felt the full weight of the unique skill solidifying within him. It was a powerful ability, one that had belonged to a mighty foe, and it was now his to command.
Sitting back on his throne, Ainz pondered the events that had transpired. His caution had paid off, and now he had gained something far more valuable than expected. But his mind remained sharp and wary—if one otherworldly warrior had been summoned, there would undoubtedly be more. They were becoming aware of his presence.
"This is only the beginning," Ainz thought, his eyes glowing with ambition once more.