hotmtlnovel Page 79
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Chapter 176: The Old Bones with a Exploding Mentality
"No, Cocytus!!!"
With Cocytus's death, Ainz Ooal Gown's mind was once again shattered. He had received reports of his own men being killed one after another today, all before his very eyes. A second after Cocytus's death, Shalltear, one of the Guardians of the First through Third Tiers, perished once again.
Fear, astonishment, shock, and anger appeared in Ainz's head. Ever since he traveled to another world and the NPC in the game became a real person, everything went smoothly for him. But after meeting the [Human Alliance], he had to fight against the wind everywhere and lose every time.
If it were still a game, you would lose if you lost, but this is reality, and if you lose, you lose your life.
He decisively spent the gold coins stored in the Great Tomb to resurrect the fallen Demiurge, Cocytus, and Shalltear between the thrones.
"Everyone, the situation facing the Great Tomb today is even more severe than the invasion of 1500 enemies. Even if Victim self-destructs, I may not be able to win."
Yes, the Human Alliance has a large and strong army. Even if they eliminate this group of invaders, there will be a steady stream of 28 armies coming up. The Great Tomb of Nazarick cannot stop them, and neither can the other branches that have been established.
We must find a way out, or Nazarick will be destroyed.” Ainz Ooal Gown’s voice echoed through the empty throne room, its voice carrying undeniable resolve. His gaze pierced the empty hall, as if piercing through space, capturing the advancing enemies. Demiurge, Cocytus, and Shalltear, revived, stood beneath Ainz, their faces etched with an unprecedented solemnity. They knew this time their adversary was unlike any before. The Human Alliance was vast and tightly organized, each member possessing a power that could not be underestimated.
"Ainz-sama, perhaps we could try to utilize the traps and mechanisms within the Great Tomb to deplete the enemy's manpower as much as possible."
Demiurge spoke first, his voice calm and rational, attempting to find a tactical breakthrough. Cocytus clenched his fists, a fighting spirit glittering in his eyes.
"Yes, as long as we can delay long enough, perhaps we can wait for a turning point. Moreover, I also believe that there is no difficulty in the Great Tomb that we cannot overcome!"
Shalltear snorted with disdain, "Those humans are nothing but ants. As long as we work together, there's nothing to fear."
Ainz nodded slightly, acknowledging the three's suggestion, but his heart was weighing even more heavily. He knew that simple defense and attrition tactics wouldn't fundamentally solve the problem. Nazarick needed a pivotal moment to turn the tide of battle, a chance to deliver a decisive blow.
"Demiurge, you must immediately organize manpower to strengthen the Great Tomb's defenses. At the same time, seek out all possible sources of intelligence to understand the movements of the Human Union." Ainz gave his first order.
“Yes, Master Ainz.”
Demiurge retreated in response and sprang into action. "Cocytus, lead a group of Guardians and set up an ambush on the seventh floor of the Great Tomb. Delay the enemy's attack as much as possible."
Ainz then addressed Cocytus.
“As you command, Master Ainz.”
Cocytus also obeyed without hesitation. "Shalltear, you..."
Ainz was about to give Shalltear an order when he suddenly paused. He gazed at the former vampire progenitor, a strange trust welling up in his heart. "Ainz, I understand what you mean."
Shalltear seemed to see through Ainz's thoughts and volunteered:
"I will sneak into the rear of the Human Alliance, find their commander, and kill him in one fell swoop!"
A hint of admiration flashed in Ainz's eyes, and he nodded slightly:
"Well, Shalltear, your courage and determination are exactly what Nazarick needs. But remember, safety comes first. Be sure to take care of yourself."
Shalltear smiled slightly, turned and left. Her figure gradually disappeared between the thrones, leaving only a faint smell of blood.
With the three men gone, Ainz sat alone on the throne, his gaze once again deep and resolute. This war was not just to defend Nazarick, but also to prove the loyalty of these former NPCs in the game.
"No matter how many difficulties lie ahead, I will lead Nazarick to victory."
Ainz silently swore an oath in his heart. Although his voice was weak, it was filled with unquestionable power.
But the coolness only lasted three seconds, and the Great Tomb of Nazarick was shaken again.
Albedo hurried to Ainz and said:
"Lord Ainz, the 6th floor has fallen, and the Human Alliance is advancing towards the 7th floor."
"Tell Cocytus to set the ambush location on the 8th floor. All forces on the 7th floor should buy as much time as possible for the 8th floor."
To be honest, the 7th floor is a magma hell. If a terrain like magma cannot resist the invasion of the [Human Alliance], then the wilderness on the 8th floor is even more unstoppable. The 9th floor is the royal suite where the companions once lived and enjoyed. The 10th floor is between the thrones, where many guild artifacts are buried.
Now, even if the guild artifacts were distributed to every class guardian to fight, they would not be able to stop the attack of the [Human Alliance].
"Albedo, notify the Pleiades maids to join me in the battle."
"Lord Ainz"
"Now that things have come to this, I can no longer sit on the throne and wait for your news. Only by personally taking the field can I defeat the invaders."
Ainz's words were filled with unquestionable determination. His figure appeared particularly resolute under the dim light, and his deep eyes shone with an unprecedented light. It was the determination to defend his homeland to the death, and the fearlessness of facing unknown challenges.
"Lord Ainz, your safety..."
Albedo's words carried a hint of worry, but more so, respect and understanding for Ainz's decision. She knew that in this critical moment, any words of dissuasion would be futile.
"There's no need to worry about my safety, Albedo. As one of the masters of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, it's my responsibility to stand at the forefront and face this battle alongside my subordinates. Furthermore, I still have one last resort."
Ainz gently patted Albedo's shoulder, gave her a reassuring look, and then turned, his cloak drawing a decisive arc behind him.
Albedo took a deep breath, a flicker of determination in her eyes, and then sprang into action. She issued instructions to Cocytus via the magic communicator, ensuring the ambush plan on the 8th floor was foolproof. She also urgently summoned the Pleiades maids, each dressed in combat fatigues, their faces etched with determination and loyalty. They were Ainz-sama's most loyal servants and an indispensable force in Nazarick.
At the same time, Ainz entered his personal armory, where a wide variety of equipment was displayed, each piece holding the memories and power of the guild members.
He chose a set of mixed equipment that was most suitable for melee combat and magic. After putting it on, the staff of Ainz Ooal Gown in his hand emitted a faint blue light. It was one of the most powerful magic items in the guild, which could amplify the holder's magic output and release devastating attacks at critical moments.
"It's time to show real strength."
Ainz whispered, a fighting spirit gleaming in his eyes.
Chapter 177 Ainz Dies!
When Ainz arrived at the 10th floor from the 8th floor, he saw that demons such as Albedo who had arrived at the battlefield earlier had already been killed or seriously injured.
Ainz had already found the best time through his previous silent observation. As he arrived at the center of the battlefield, he began to buff himself layer by layer.
Flying Magic
High-level full-ability enhancement
Advanced defense enhancement
Triple Strengthening Magic.
Ainz was about to show off his impressive skills with a series of fancy magic, but suddenly his magic was rudely interrupted and he could no longer feel the connection with the magic.
Shangguan Wen intervened directly, not giving Ainz time to buff
"Do you really think I will give you time to cast the buff? What do you think of the battlefield, Lich King?"
Ainz couldn't help but get furious.
"Despicable! You attacked me before my turn was over."
"idiot"
Shangguan Wen sneered, leaving behind a shadow as he appeared not far from Ainz. A brilliant magical light condensed in his hands, as if it could be turned into a devastating attack at any moment.
"On the battlefield, there are only wins and losses, no rules. In my eyes, your little tricks are nothing more than clown acrobatics."
Ainz's face darkened as he realized the enemy before him was far from the easily crushed foe he had faced before. He quickly adjusted his mindset, suppressing his anger and examining Shangguan Wen with a calmer and more cunning gaze.
Ainz knew very well that in the face of absolute strength, anger would only put him in a more disadvantageous position.
"Very good, it seems I underestimated you, [Human Union]. However, you think you can defeat me like this? Ainz Ooal Gown will not give up easily."
There was a subtle chill in Ainz's words as he began to rapidly formulate a countermeasure in his mind.
Without giving Ainz time to think, Shangguan Wen swung his fist towards Ainz's face.
There was a click.
One of Ainz's life-saving gadgets was shattered, and the powerful gale from his fist destroyed the ninth floor behind it.
"How dare you destroy my beloved guild!"
"It's going to be destroyed anyway, so it's just a matter of time."
Without giving Ainz time to breathe, Shangguan Wen's fists came down like a violent storm, each punch shattering Ainz's most proud artifact armor, causing unnatural cracks to appear on the bones underneath the armor.
The other surviving class guardians screamed:
"Lord Ainz"
"Stop it! You rude intruder!"
Albedo, clad in tattered black armor and wielding a longsword, rushed forward, attempting to block Shangguan Wen's attack, her eyes filled with anger and resentment. However, Shangguan Wen's strength far exceeded their expectations. With a simple sidestep, he easily dodged the hasty attack. With a counterpunch, he sent the guardian back several steps, nearly embedding him in the wall.
"What you call the Great Tomb of Nazarick is nothing but a pile of scrap metal in my eyes. If it weren't for those valuable world items and magic atlases, I would have switched to more lethal weapons and bombed them directly through, rather than pushing through layer by layer like this."
Shangguan Wen's voice was as cold as the wind, penetrating the ruins of the ninth floor and reaching the depths of the hearts of everyone present.
"Today, I am here to put an end to all this delusion."
Ainz's face darkened. He had never imagined facing such a formidable foe. As the King of the Undead, he found himself in such a desperate situation. He rapidly formulated a strategy, but the damage to his body made it impossible for him to delay. With each collision, he felt his vitality drain away. The defenses he had once prided himself on seemed as fragile as paper before Shangguan Wen.
"Why are you here? There is no deep hatred between us!"
Ainz tried to calm the other party with words, buying him time to recover or find an opportunity to counterattack.
"There's no such thing as deep hatred. There's only the law of the weak. If I were weak, I'd be kept captive, skinned, and used as magic materials, just like you rule the world now."
Shangguan Wen's voice was sonorous and powerful, and every word was like a hammer, hitting Ainz's heart.
"Die!"
Before Ainz had a chance to fight back, Shangguan Wen set his bones on fire with flames, purifying Ainz's soul.
"No, Master Ainz!"
Albedo reached out her hand, wanting to save Ainz. But before she could act, her vision went black and she lost consciousness.
The other class guardians were killed one after another. Even Victim, who could self-destruct to protect the Great Tomb of Nazarick, was detonated by Shangguan Wen in the other dimension.
During this time, Ainz's soul left his skeletal body and hid somewhere between the thrones.
"Erin, look for any hidden lich boxes or similar items between the thrones that could save your life."
Ailin, who had sneaked into the 10th floor with the help of Shangguan Wen during the battle, replied amidst the dazzling array of equipment:
"Okay, I have to say, the Royal Treasury storage room here has a lot of variety. Some of them are props I have never seen before. I made a profit this time!"
There was a hint of excitement in Irene's words, but in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, which was about to fall into silence, this excitement seemed particularly inappropriate.
She moved between shelves filled with rare treasures, her fingers gently sliding over each treasure emitting a mysterious glow, her eyes flashing with identification and analysis.
"found it!"
Irene's voice suddenly rose, a tone of unconcealed surprise in it. She clutched a seemingly ordinary wooden box, yet it exuded a special aura. The box was engraved with intricate runes, and faint magical fluctuations emanated from it.
"This is a lich box recorded in the Great Tomb of Nazarick. It is said to protect the holder's soul from a single fatal injury and transport it to a safe place for rebirth. It seems this is what we are looking for. Destroy it, and Ainz Ooal Gown is dead for good!"
Shangguan Wen heard this and a cold smile appeared on his lips. The fatigue brought by the battle seemed to be relieved at this moment.
"Very well, Irene, destroy him."
"okay!"
Irene used the magic of additional light to purify the soul in the lich box, and the shadow of Ainz Ooal Gown emerged from the soul.
The staff in his hand increased its power, causing him to scream in agony.
As the light magic deepened, Ainz's shadow was tormented by the struggle of his soul. His screams pierced through the constraints of space, echoing in the quiet space illuminated by the magical light, carrying with them endless pain and unwillingness.
The light of light magic in Irene's hands gradually gathered into an unstoppable torrent, once again increasing its strength, washing every dark corner in the lich box, trying to burn the imprisoned soul completely.
Ainz's screams of pain gradually faded, and his soul image gradually weakened until it disappeared and died.
Chapter 178 Ainz Green, the Anti-Chinese Hero Begins
"Lord Ainz, Lord Ainz."
Albedo looked at the disappearing Ainz Ooal Gown, and her whole succubus mentality exploded. She ignored the pain in her body and walked towards Ainz who had turned into ashes.
"Oh, I didn't expect that I would become a super villain"
After saying that, Shangguan Wen walked over, knocked Albedo unconscious, used the blood on her finger to force her to sign the [Book of Girl's Contract], and directly took possession of the succubus matron.
Using the stolen Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown, he altered Albedo's memories, turning her into an undercover spy.
After a while, Albedo woke up slowly and saw Shangguan Wen. Her face flushed with joy, and she hugged Shangguan Wen excitedly. With tears in her eyes and dirty cheeks, she said:
"Sir Shangguan, I miss you. Do you know how hard it is to stay in this big tomb without you? Woo woo woo, why did you come so late?"
Shangguan Wen felt a mixture of emotions as he watched Albedo, her memory completely altered. The succubus before him was no longer the headmistress loyal to Ainz Ooal Gown, but now one who loved him. Gazing into her sincere and passionate gaze, Shangguan Wen stroked Albedo's head with one hand, and she leaned affectionately against his shoulder.
"Ahem, it didn't affect you guys, did it?"
Just then, Aelin returned from the throne room, still holding the destroyed Box of the Lich King.