"Ainz-sama!"
The floor guardians were startled by Ainz's sudden declaration. Their first instinct was to protest, how could their supreme lord be the one to fight while they stood idle? The thought alone felt unbearable. But before any of them could speak, Ainz raised a hand in quiet command, his tone calm yet absolute.
"There's no need to say anything. Besides… this is merely a spar, not a true battle."
Without sparing a glance at his subordinates, Ainz fixed his hollow gaze directly on Shido. The empty sockets of his skull radiated an oppressive weight, but Shido did not flinch. His swirling crimson eye locked onto Ainz, silently studying him, wondering what had driven the undead overlord to suddenly issue such a challenge.
However, Shido didn't particularly mind. On the contrary, his pulse quickened with excitement. A battle with Ainz meant he would most likely witness an array of spells, and if pushed far enough, perhaps even super-tier magic.
For Shido, that was an opportunity far too precious to waste.
Once Ainz casted his spells, Shido could take his time to copy every spell Ainz used with his perfect copy. After all, it would be a waste if he just let this chance pass by and also, Ainz's skill while not being the most powerful, it was still unique and extremely versatile in battle, so Shido had already made up his mind.
"Are you serious?" he asked, his crimson eye slightly narrowing.
"Of course," Ainz replied, his voice calm, almost casual. "It's been a while since I've had a proper PvP. I want to see if I've gone dull."
Despite his composed tone, the dark miasma of death seeping from Ainz's body betrayed his anticipation. For all his calmness, the Overlord was just as eager as Shido for the clash to begin.
While Ainz had once extended an invitation for Shido to become his subordinate in Nazarick, their relationship leaned closer to that of business partners. Even though Shido held the formal position of an area guardian under Shalltear, Ainz still regarded him as an equal.
"…Is that so?" Shido chuckled softly, his tone was casual, but the shift that followed left everyone unsettled. His crimson gaze sharpened, locking with Ainz's hollow sockets, and in the next moment, a massive surge of Reiryoku burst forth from his body. The oppressive force spread across the chamber, pressing down on all present and even equally matching the despairing aura of Ainz.
"Shido" 3x
Albedo, Shalltear and Aura was stunned when Shido see that Shido accepted their Master's challenge.
They couldn't bear to watch, the person who stayed behind for their sake and the person they loved standing opposed, about to clash. Yet, no matter how their hearts resisted, both Ainz and Shido seemed already determined to fight.
"What are you all so worried about? This is just a spar, not a fight to the death."
Shido was speechless when he saw all of them didn't want the two to fight. None of them wished for this match to happen, their unease written plainly on their faces. Still, he could understand their hesitation. Unlike Demiurge, Ainz possessed a vast arsenal of spells, many of which were capable of instant, unavoidable death, so their concern wasn't unjustified.
"But..."
Albedo wanted to say something, but the moment her eyes met Shido's deep gaze, her words faltered. A shiver of excitement ran down her spine, and the worry that had clouded her expression vanished. The proud, calculating overseer of Nazarick softened in an instant, appearing meek and modest, like an obedient housewife under his gaze.
"Tsk."
Shalltear clicked her tongue in irritation, jealousy flaring within her. Watching Albedo act so well-behaved under Shido's attention made her burn with envy. She too longed for his sadistic gaze like when he used to her when they were having sex.
Thinking of this, Shalltear's breathing turned rushed, heat surging through her chest. But forcing herself to remain composed, Shalltear swallowed her desire and instead put on the act of a delicate, proper young lady before Shido.
"Shido, please be careful. I know this is just a spar, but… don't hurt yourself, okay?"
Shido didn't know what Shalltear was thinking but he knew that it was definitely not something decent especially when he saw the strange glint in her eyes making him speechless.
"...Un."
Shido could only nod his head when Shalltear acted this way. He choose not to say more as to avoid triggering this pervert. At least Albedo, standing beside her, was easier to handle, like an obedient wife faithfully following her husband wherever he went.
Watching the scene unfold, Ainz felt a strange irritation stir within him. For some reason, seeing Shido so close to Albedo and Shalltear sparked an unfamiliar annoyance in his chest. Yet, this feeling suddenly disappeared when his emotional suppressor was triggered causing a green light to envelop his body.
While he was confused why he felt annoyed, he knew that it wasn't the time for that and his fight with Shido takes more priority.
Unlike his floor guardians, who believed he had some grand purpose behind this duel, Ainz had no such elaborate plan. In truth, he simply wished to have a PvP match with Shido, nothing more. After all, Shido was also a player, and that alone made the idea intriguing.
"Let's head to the Amphitheater."
"Understood."
In the next instant, their forms vanished from the throne room and reappeared within the grand arena, the Amphitheater where Shido and Demiurge once faced off.
...
As Shido and Ainz was facing each other, their duel was about to start.
"A spear?" Ainz asked, his hollow voice echoing through the Amphitheater.
"Yes." Shido gave a firm nod, gripping the weapon in his hand. "I am quite confident with my spear."
"..."
Ainz fell silent, his gaze lingering on the weapon. A spear… for someone who should also be a magic caster? The choice seemed unusual, enough to stir doubt within him.
Still, he didn't dwell on it. Using world items in a spar would be absurd, so perhaps Shido's decision to wield a spear was simply his way of setting boundaries. Regardless, Ainz had already steeled himself, once the duel began, he would respond immediately with magic.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Then… let's start!"
"Grasp Heart!"
The instant the duel began, Ainz extend out his arm and made a clenching action with his skeletal hand to crush the virtual heart in his hands. Yet, the spell had no effect, just as he had anticipated. What he didn't expect, however, was Shido's sheer speed.
In the blink of an eye, Shido closed the distance, his spear already thrusting forward, its tip aimed straight at Ainz's chest.
"Shit!"
Ainz cursed as Shido's blinding speed closed the gap in an instant, far faster than he had anticipated. The distance between them was reduced to nothing, Shido's spear lunged straight for his chest.
However...
'Stab!'
The weapon struck him… yet it did not pierce.
"Hahaha…" Ainz's hollow laughter echoed as he looked down at Shido. "Do you understand now, Shido?"
Shido's eyes widened, disbelief flickering across his face. His strike, despite its speed and precision, hadn't even managed to scratch the Overlord.
"Skeletons are normally weak against physical attacks. But do you think I would be foolish enough to ignore such a weakness?" Ainz paused, his hollow sockets fixed on Shido. Then, with a resonant tone, he declared, "In other words, physical attacks have no effect on me!"
Ainz pounded his chest as if to show how tough his impenetrable defence.
"I didn't think you'd be so kind as to explain your ability to your enemy. I have to say… you're quite talkative in a fight."
Hearing Ainz's words, Shido simply smiled and said. Others might be enraged or irritated by Shido's words, but Ainz felt something wrong with it and turned vigilant. However, before he can react, Shido had already attack again.
Gae Dearg suddenly covered with white Reiryoku concentrating it on the tip of the spear before it was unleashed in a energy beam that pierces through Ainz's skeletal body.
"Pierce (Rakan)."
"BOOOOOOOOM!!!"
"Ainz-sama!" Demiurge and the others cried out, worry flashing across their faces. Yet, they didn't dare to interrupt the battle lest to anger their master.
A massive cloud of dust swallowed the arena, concealing everything within. The guardians held their breath, straining to catch even the faintest glimpse of their lord. Seconds later, the haze dispersed, revealing Ainz's towering figure standing amidst the wreckage.
Seeing this, the floor guardian's worry lessen, but they were still a bit dissatisfied with Shido's surprise attack especially Demiurge.
As for the girls, while they were worried about the both, they were more concerned with Shido.
When Ainz's figure fully emerged from the dispersing dust, the arena fell silent. All eyes widened in shock, there was a gaping hole carved straight through his supposedly indestructible body.
"…I let my guard down."
Ainz's hollow voice carried a wry tone as his skeletal hand touched the void in his chest. He had spoken too much, underestimated Shido once again and paid the price.
"But be prepared… I will take you seriously from this moment onward." As he said that, Ainz had already healed his wound and closed the hole in his ribs.
"You should," Shido replied with a faint smile, shifting back into stance. "After all, you never know when you might be defeated again."
"Hahaha… arrogant, but I like it!"
Ainz's laughter echoed through the Amphitheater. Rather than finding Shido's words offensive, he welcomed them. It reminder him of those days when other players invade their guild. However, Ainz's laughter didn't last long as he started casting multiple buffs and debuffs.
"Body of Effulgent Beryl."
"Bless of Magic Caster."
"Life Essence."
"Infinity Wall."
"Magic Ward, Holy."
One after another, Ainz layered protective and empowering spells over himself. Yet, Shido didn't interrupt Ainz and simply watch him cast different spells. However, he was already smiling inside his heart as Shido continued to copy all the spells that Ainz cast.
The more Ainz cast, the richer Shido's arsenal became.
'Yes, that's it. Keep going… cast more, more!' Shido cheered inwardly.