Chapter 38: Strongest vs. Strongest (8)
Silence filled the room.
Everyone who had watched the battle—every single guardian present—fell into a heavy, wordless stillness.
That Shalltear would lose…
Ainz had already considered that possibility.
Surely Albedo and Demiurge—both more perceptive than even Ainz himself—and Cocytus, who had crossed blades with Kaiser personally, had also expected it.
Even if not certain, the possibility was always there.
So the result itself—the fact that Kaiser won—was not shocking.
That alone could be brushed off with a simple:
"As expected. We must be wary of him."
No—the problem was everything else.
Kaiser hadn't just defeated Shalltear.
He had defeated her overwhelmingly.
Casually.
As if playing with her from the start.
The doubt as to why he didn't unleash his strongest attack early had now been answered: He wanted to defeat Shalltear at full power.
That was the truth.
"…Ah. Yes… I see."
Ainz muttered weakly.
The result itself had been within expectations—
"But a grave, unimaginable miscalculation has occurred."
Demiurge said this in a hollow voice, as though his soul had left his body.
Realizing where he was and who stood beside him, he quickly straightened his posture.
Demiurge was the first to recover.
Albedo—following his example—steadied her breath, regaining composure.
Ainz alone…wanted to sigh deeply.
But as the absolute ruler, he could not show such weakness.
Maintaining his regal stillness, he spoke to Demiurge:
"Demiurge… I would hear your honest assessment."
"As you command, my Lord."
Demiurge bowed deeply, then began:
"First, all of us sensed something wrong..Unless Shalltear is attacked, she does not react to anything done directly before her. Thus, that moment was the greatest opening possible. Yet Kaiser discarded that opportunity himself."
At first, they assumed it was due to his warrior's pride—a desire for a fair match, like he had shown with Cocytus.
Demiurge had even drafted several strategies to counter Kaiser based on that premise.
But now… all of those plans were meaningless.
"Kaiser concealed his true strength and still achieved an overwhelming victory. Shalltear revealed all her cards… but Kaiser's remain hidden. We have no idea how many more he possesses."
"So the match— was always meant to be a demonstration for us."
"Precisely, Albedo."
If no one had been watching, Kaiser could have simply killed Shalltear instantly with full power.
There would have been no reason to hold back.
But this match occurred before:
—Ainz
—Demiurge
—Albedo
—Cocytus
And indirectly, before Aura and Mare as well.
The collective intellect and combat insight of Nazarick's frontmost elites.
"And assuming he hid his power… let us list what he did not use. First—"
"—He. Did. Not. Use. The. Black. Power. He. Tried. To. Use. Against. Me."
Cocytus spoke stiffly.
Everyone in the room knew:
The black strike Kaiser had tried to unleash on Cocytus was entirely different from the radiant blade he used in the end.
That black aura was sinister—not awe-inspiring.
Demiurge nodded to Cocytus.
"Thank you, Cocytus. Yes, he did not use the black power he showed during his fight with you. Second—Kaiser used 'martial techniques.' Among those labeled with 'Fold,' he showed only three:
Eightfold, Threefold, and Fourfold. If the names represent numbers…then at least eight techniques exist."
Each one had been exceptional.
—Threefold: Moonlight Slash
Even Shalltear had difficulty reacting to its speed.
—Fourfold: Dragon-Tail Slash
A blade that extended unnaturally long and even bent mid-air.
—Eightfold: Ghost-Hunter
Weak at the start, but by the eighth strike…
powerful enough to nearly kill Shalltear instantly.
"Indeed. However, they might have simply been the most efficient against Shalltear. Perhaps the other techniques were ineffective against her."
"Correct. Those techniques—and the black aura—may have been poor choices specifically against Shalltear, hence unused."
If Kaiser's suppressed strength were limited only to those two points, it would have ended there.
They would simply increase their vigilance and wait for Shalltear's resurrection.
But this situation demanded more.
Ainz felt something like a phantom headache—
as though his nonexistent brain and nonexistent stomach were throbbing.
"For him to be that strong. This is bad. VERY bad!
He seems stronger than me! If he used his full power, would he be on Touch-Me-sama's level!?"
To be comparable to the World Champion—Ainz felt a burst of instinctive fear telling him to run away now.
He needed countermeasures.
But how did one prepare against an unknown force?
Was even this situation part of Kaiser's plan?
"The third issue—He did not use the sword that sealed my movement during the Carne Village incident."
Right. There was that too!
Ainz remembered clearly.
Even after being hit by Albedo's attack, Kaiser had moved faster than Ainz's and Albedo's perception, appearing behind her and completely sealing her movement.
Yet he did not use that weapon against Shalltear.
As though he didn't need it.
"It is only my hypothesis," Demiurge continued, "but that sword seemed to work exclusively on non-human races. He tested it on Albedo while she was armored—likely to confirm whether she was truly non-human."
"Then. That. Sword. Would. Have. Worked. On. Shalltear. As. Well."
"Yes. And yet, he chose not to use it."
Ainz felt his panic begin to stabilize.
After all, Kaiser was not currently hostile to Nazarick.
Was there any way to win his goodwill…?
But then he remembered what Albedo and Nabe thought of humans.
An undead stomach he didn't even have twisted painfully.
This is what happens when you create a heteromorphic evil guild…
No regrets, but… gods, did it have to bite me THIS hard!?
"And Kaiser wore no armor," Albedo added. "Only a plain black gi."
"Easily torn by Shalltear's blows, and even burned by magic. Clearly ordinary clothing."
He was an immortal wanderer, so perhaps he preserved his clothing with magic to prevent decay.
But as armor, it was worthless.
Yet he fought the strongest guardian of Nazarick like that.
He knew nothing of Shalltear's skills, spells, or abilities…
But still fought with absolute confidence.
And he chose to hide his power specifically for Nazarick to witness.
"To show us his unknown strength," Demiurge concluded.
"Furthermore," Albedo continued, "Kaiser did not use any self-buffs. The only defensive technique was 'Adamantine Body,' and he claimed he couldn't move while using it."
"That may have been a bluff meant for us," Demiurge replied calmly.
"Indeed, it is possible."
Ainz grimaced internally.
Kaiser hadn't prepared a single buff pre-battle.
A warrior of his level undoubtedly had them.
Not using them could only mean one thing.
As a YGGDRASIL player, Ainz understood better than anyone:
Buffs make all the difference.
"Most importantly…" Cocytus rumbled.
"The final. Blade. He. Drew. The. Six-Paths-Divine-Sword. He. Never. Needed. It."
"Quite right, Cocytus," Demiurge said. "If he had fought seriously from the start, that strange red lightning alone could have killed Shalltear."
"That red lightning… what is it?" Ainz muttered.
He had no idea.
It did not exist in YGGDRASIL.
This meant it was either an ability of this world…
Or a unique technique belonging solely to Kaiser.
It worked perfectly on Shalltear—despite her innate lightning resistance—and even inflicted paralysis.
Meaning resistance simply didn't apply.
A curse-type lightning? Something ignoring resistances?
If so… that would work on me, too… wouldn't it?
But the most unsettling part was not the lightning.
It was the last sword Kaiser used.
The one Ainz recognized.
"…Do any of you know the Six-Paths-Divine-Sword?" Ainz asked carefully.
Shalltear's resurrection chamber was silent.
"…Forgive us, my Lord," Albedo bowed. "We are woefully ignorant of that weapon."
"Ainz-sama," Demiurge asked, "do you know anything of it? No—Cocytus. You possess countless weapons and their data. Surely you would know?"
"No. Sadly. I. Have. No. Information."
Of course.
Cocytus only knew of weapons one could acquire.
The Six-Paths-Divine-Sword was different.
It existed in YGGDRASIL…
But could never be obtained.
It was not an item.
Not something players could loot, craft, or equip.
And that was precisely why Kaiser having it chilled Ainz to the bone.
How… HOW does he have that sword!?
Where did he get it?
It was impossible for any player to bring it into this world.
Not even a World Champion could.
Did this mean the being associated with that sword came to this world?
Or was there some secret method of acquisition Ainz never learned?
Ainz swallowed his rising dread and finally revealed the truth.
"That sword…"
He paused, then spoke clearly:
"Is a weapon from the Six Realms, from the world of the God-Devourer. It is the blade wielded by the final boss of YGGDRASIL."
Instantly—
The room trembled with pure, unfiltered fear.
------------------
[Kaiser — Profile]
Name: Kaiser (Real name: Unknown)
Age: Over 100 — stopped counting long ago
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Racial Levels: None (Human race has no racial levels)
Class Levels
Forger of False Myths (10)
World Warrior (5)
Sword God (10)
Weapon Master (15)
Karma Slayer (10)
Berserk Brave (10)
Area Master (10)
Martial God (5)
Striker (10)
Hunter Expert (5)
Soul Hunter (5)
Last Guardian (10)
Total Level: 105
....
Talent – "Eyes of Truth"
Originally a talent that allowed Kaiser to visually see an opponent's Karma value.
However, as decades passed, it evolved alongside his natural instincts—eventually allowing him to read the intent, malice, and true nature of others.
It offers no direct advantage in battle, but it is invaluable for:
Detecting hostility
Reading the hearts of humans
Evaluating the morality and nature of non-human races
A highly practical ability for a man who has survived centuries of combat.
....
Armament List
•World Blade – Six-Path Divine Sword
A weapon from the final boss of YGGDRASIL's main scenario: The Ancient Six-Realm Deity.
Effects: Unknown
Acquisition: Unknown
Even by the time Kaiser became a "legend," he already possessed the blade.
Not obtainable by players in YGGDRASIL.
....
•Sword of Will – Palanite
A sword Kaiser has wielded since his early adventurer days.
Its ability: As long as the wielder possesses unbroken will, the blade can never chip or break.
If wielded by someone with weak resolve, it becomes brittle and may even snap against enemy weapons.
Of the three "Set Swords," it is the most modest in power.
....
•Sword of Emotion – Overnite
A paired sword to Palanite.
The stronger the user's emotions, the more their physical abilities rise.
Also increases perception, mana, and bodily functions.
Kaiser rarely uses it now; after living so long, he no longer experiences strong emotional fluctuation.
....
•Sword of Resolve – Ruanite
The last and strongest forged among the set.
Grants the user the ability to ignore all enemy passives, including:
Instant death
Curses
Mental interference
Can release shockwaves equivalent to the damage Kaiser receives.
.....
•Sealing Blade – White Magic-Binding Sword
Seals all spells of 9th tier and below for 24 hours.
During the seal, the enemy is incapable of casting that spell again.
After one day, the seal fades.
....
•Silver Spear – "True Ancestral Hunt"
A divine anti-vampire spear.
The stronger the vampire, the greater the damage inflicted.
Against a vampire in Blood Frenzy, it can reduce them to near-death in a single blow—unless they possess absurdly high defense.
Against non-vampires, it is nothing more than a finely made silver spear.
.....
Other Equipment
(Not yet revealed)
....
Appearance
Neatly arranged white hair
Eyes black as obsidian
Youthful, almost delicate-looking face
Slight, unimposing build
Gentle expression—difficult to imagine him as a warrior
Wears a black gi reinforced only by preservation magic; otherwise ordinary and lacking any protection
.....
....
[Arche — Profile]
Name: Arche
Age: Late teens
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Racial Levels: None (Human)
....
Class Levels
High Wizard (10)
Brave (2)
Elementalist: Air (10)
Battle Wizard (3)
Elementalist: Fire (2)
War Wizard (4)
Electric Wizard (2)
Blood Queen (1)
Total Level: 34
....
Talent – "Evil-Seeking Mystic Eye"
A Talent identical to that of Fluder Paradyne, the Imperial Court Wizard.
Allows her to precisely determine the tier of any magic-caster unless they are using concealment magic or anti-detection items.
Originally usable only against magic casters, but recently…its range of detection appears to be evolving.
...
Equipment
•Guardian's Cloak
A mantle formerly used by Kaiser.
Pale crimson color with an upside-down shield emblem on the back
Nullifies weak physical attacks
Reduces damage from strong hits
Can generate powerful barriers when invoked
....
•Lion's Bracelet
Grants:
Absolute immunity to mental attacks
Courage enhancement effects
Stabilizes emotions, suppresses fear and confusion
.....
•Staff of Yggdrasil
A staff resembling an ancient, withered tree branch.
Effects:
Absorbs one enemy spell
Unlike the Magic Sealing Sword, absorbed magic becomes Arche's own mana
Grants absolute resistance to that spell type for one hour
.....
•Sage's Rosary
A magical item crafted by Kaiser's mage companion.
Provides numerous passive buffs:
Increased spell power
Increased magic defense
Reduced mana consumption
Increased mana capacity
Enhanced mana regeneration
And when incanted: All magic-related abilities (including effective magic level) are doubled
....
•Ring of Growth
Lowers all stats
In exchange, dramatically accelerates growth rate
(Originally created for young trainees)
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