Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"So this is it, huh. The end of Yggdrasil…"

Momonga, guild master of Ainz Ooal Gown, sat atop the Throne of Kings, the very symbol of his guild's former glory. It was a world item they had gotten gifted for conquering the dungeon on their very first try.

There was a time when the nine realms knelt before them. Not even a force of 1500 players, NPCs, and mercenary monsters could breach the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Thus, their guild name was well-known as an infamous group of heteromorphic villains.

But those days were now nothing more than memories.

23:58:33

His glowing crimson eyes drifted across the throne room, taking in the banners of his departed comrades, their symbols adorning the throne room left and right, each different in their own way.

"Maybe we'll meet again in another game..."

He stood up, holding in his hands the guild staff, a powerful weapon forged out of the best materials Yggdrasil had to offer. Yet, in all his years, he had never wielded it against another player. It was far too valuable to be destroyed, and if it did, the whole guild would disband and, with it, everything they built in Nazarick.

Some claimed that in moments like this, time seemed to slow down.

For Momonga, it did the opposite.

Even as an Eclipse, a master of time, he could not halt the inevitable countdown and the deletion of the Yggdrasil servers.

23:59:55

"It was fun…"

He closed his eyes, prepared to wake in his chair, back in the real world. He already imagined what he'd do next; go to the toilet, sleep, wake up, and go to work. But his thoughts always drifted back to what he would be without Yggdrasil, a game he had played most of his adult life.

It was a part of him; without it, something would be missing in his life—a void would remain, one that nothing else could ever fill. If they did release Yggdrasil 2, they should do it soon, or he wouldn't know where to escape from the real world anymore.

00:00:00

…

'Huh?'

The familiar sensation of disconnection never came. No login screen. No return to his mundane reality. Instead, he was faced with something completely different.

As Momonga opened his eyes, he found himself above an unknown city. It was not a place he recognized from Yggdrasil.

'This city doesn't look like any architecture from Midgard. Seems like 21st-century-type buildings. Did the devs make a new kind of game? Is this the beta?' Momonga frowned. Normally, they would inform the players if they did something like that.

"[GM Call]"

He tried, but didn't see himself connecting to a Game Master.

'Wait, I don't even have a HUD anymore?'

Typically, any virtual dive game had a user interface. Not having one would be rather dangerous, as it could trick the brain into believing the virtual world to be real. Many had died from dehydration because they played a game without indications of it being a program. A game like that could only be gotten illegally. It was for the lowest of the low who found no joy in life, trying to end their suffering with a pleasant view.

'Wait! I'm still in my Yggdrasil avatar!' He realized his hands were made of bones, his rings each shining bright like a miniature star. 'And I got to keep all my items? Maybe this really is some early access to a new game they're releasing, which only the most loyal players of Yggdrasil can test!' He almost wanted to praise the devs for giving him such an opportunity. But then he remembered what they had done, or better, what they hadn't done. Update the game in years.

Still, it was late. He needed to log out, sleep, and wake up for work in the morning. He didn't want to be tired, which would decrease his work performance. If he didn't reach a minimum of customer interaction, he would get on 'the list.' Once on the list, you can get fired without cause, instantly.

'Now, let's see what I can do here.'

The city's skyline was unlike anything he had seen, even in the most advanced VR environments. The level of detail was unsettlingly realistic; birds flying around, clouds moving.

Then it hit him! He was exposed for far too long. A veteran player like him should've noticed this from the start.

'Shit! I forgot [Perfect Unknowable]!'

It was a spell that completely erased one's presence. It was the best concealment spell he possessed. He would typically have it active most of the time when traveling the realms of Yggdrasil. Nowhere was safe, not even for him. There were always players ready to pk(player kill) someone. Momonga wasn't innocent of that, as their guild was also famous for pking.

'Let's get a closer look.'

He descended closer to the ground, passing the towering buildings of different shapes and sizes. He could see people working inside, probably a pre-recorded video that would loop repeatedly.

'How many NPCs are there? They don't seem to stop!' He carefully watched what he thought to be cars travel the road, stop at red lights, and wait until it turned green to continue driving. Pedestrians drank coffee, talked to each other, walked into stores, and so on.

He even witnessed a man running away from the police, only to be run over by a car.

'I never thought they would make something as realistic as this. It's as if this here is real…' Yggdrasil was one of the best DMMORPG's he had ever played, but its NPC capacity and action was nothing compared to what he saw right now.

These NPCs were behaving oddly for programs—flawed.

'Still, I wonder why I'm wearing my Yggdrasil items. It's not like this is based in a medieval setting—'

BOOM!

Momonga's head darted behind him as he heard a massive explosion, smoke rising into the sky, screams echoing through the city as a crowd of people ran away.

'What? Are other players already fighting each other? Or maybe a special event?' Momonga's thoughts raced through the possibilities of what went on in the distance.

He wouldn't want to meddle with their fight if they were enemy players. If he heard it, other players did as well. Meaning, he wouldn't be the only one seeking an easy kill. There would always be another player to third-party him. As much as he played Yggdrasil, he was not a top-tier player.

However, the lack of special skills and effects made him wonder if it could be an event. Even in that case, players would be drawn to it.

'It's not like I have anything to lose.'

He increased his speed, moving toward the commotion. Whole buildings were laid to ruin, streets torn up, and corpses were scattered everywhere. But he barely spared them a glance.

Soon, he found himself in front of a plaza, portals disappearing right as he arrived. He could see some defeated green-colored creatures lying around with rifles in their hands.

Guns weren't rare in Yggdrasil, but not as popular as magic or warrior skills. Playing in classes other than Gunner was more fun since they didn't have many special abilities.

'Doesn't seem like the [Gate] spell to me.' Momonga narrowed his eyes.

These portals were different. They were dark red, its edges glowing yellow, not the purple portals he knew of. Perhaps an enhanced version of the spell or a similar version developed for this new game.

But he had no time to focus on those as his attention was drawn elsewhere.

Five figures stood amidst the chaos—four humans, no older than twenty, and a mechanical being that looked like a rust-colored automaton.

'From the looks of it, they seemed to stop some sort of invasion.' Momonga went closer to scrutinize them further.

Their attire was bizarre.

They were kids no older than 20 in costumes he had never seen before. While wild-looking items existed in Yggdrasil, their clothes seemed more like uniforms than armor a warrior or robes a mage would wear.

The first, a boy in a blue-yellow suit with shattered goggles, was covered in bruises. Blood trickled from his nose, yet he stood defiantly. His face was covered, so he couldn't discern more about him.

To his right, another boy in a yellow-orange suit with odd glasses. He strangely reminded him of the police uniforms back in his real world. However, those glasses were out of place, and he looked more like a ski instructor from those ads he hated. How was he even able to afford a ski weekend on a floating space station?

Behind them, two girls—one in a pink costume, her long red hair flowing, and another with black hair, clad in purple.

And finally, the robot. His first thought was whether it was an automaton or the only armored person in their party.

'They're a colorful bunch… Wait! Suits, an alien invasion, a diverse team; they're superheroes!'

Momonga was never one to play games that involved heroes with superpowers. He preferred fantasy worlds' rich, complex mechanics, where strategies revolved around item builds and class synergies. He loved to equip his persona with enchanted items, each granting him a unique ability he didn't have before. The thought of leveling up your character and selecting your desired racial and job classes was thrilling for Momonga.

In superhero games, you start with one or two abilities and would not grow much further from there. Also, you would only go out to fight villains, doing nothing else. In Yggdrasil, fighting was only one of many things you could do: Crafting, brewing, customizing NPCs, customizing your character, customizing your guildbase, trading, exploring, looting, and at last, fighting. There was so much content that you could play the game for ages without getting bored.

'[Mana Essence]' '[Life Essence]'

'Huh, no mana at all. And their HP doesn't seem that high.' Momonga used spells to identify a target's mana and hp, which is a good way of gauging one's opponent's strength and level. The problem was, if they were high-level players, they would hide or falsify their stats to confuse their enemies. But they hadn't even noticed him casting the spells on them, so he didn't have to worry about that.

'Probably because this isn't a fantasy setting.'

Then, an idea struck him, and a grin formed in his mind.

'Maybe I was put here in this city for a reason. They're heroes… I'm from a guild of villains. I could fight them for fun. Maybe they drop some rare item I get to keep when the game fully releases.' Momonga still had his staff in his hand, wondering if he should use it. 'Meh, Why not? It's not like Nazarick exists anymore. Probably deleted right away.'

His crimson eyes blazed with dark amusement.

Ainz Ooal Gown was also a guild notorious for their roleplaying as villains, Momonga being one of them who optified his build for that purpose and not PVP. He could've improved his avatar with better classes, but chose not to.

His best way of beating a stronger opponent was to learn from their first interaction, develop a counter, and beat them with summons and Super-Tier spells. There was also his special skill, [The Goal Of All Life Is Death], but it barely worked against high-level players, as most had auto-resurrection items. The most he could do is make them spend one of their lives and try to kill them once more with spells and traps.

For years, he had roleplayed as the ultimate villain, embracing his guild's infamous legacy as an undead Overlord.

Now, in this unfamiliar world, that legacy could begin anew.

Momonga straightened, power surging through his undead body at the thought of it.

'Time to spread the name of Ainz Ooal Gown in this new game.'

"Oh, woah, woah, woah! Omni-Man's your dad?"

"Yeah…"

There was nothing more to say. Mark's father had disappeared into a portal, not something he would do every day. He even asked himself if his father would find a way back. But he always did. So, he would return this time too... right?

"Alright, let's go back to headquarters—"

CRACK!

The sky darkened in an instant, swirling clouds forming above them like a storm summoned by an angry god. A blinding lightning bolt ripped through the heavens, aiming straight for the Teen Team.

"Watch out!"

Atom Eve quickly created a forcefield, and right after, lightning struck with the force of a bomb, destroying the barrier but leaving them unharmed. A shockwave sent dust and debris flying, and their ears rang from the impact.

"What was that!" Rex had already jumped to the ground with his hands over his head. "Is god mad at us?"

"It seems a paranormal cloud loaded with lightning has formed above us. It… just disappeared." Robot asserted. He didn't have time to analyze the phenomenon, for it vanished as fast as it appeared. "This was not a natural occurrence."

"Oh really?" Rex scoffed. "No way I would've figured that out."

Before they could say another word, a deep, commanding voice echoed from above.

"So… you survived my first attack. Impressive."

Their heads snapped upward.

The one to whom the voice belonged was not someone they had expected to see.

A figure descended from the sky, bathed in an ominous presence. He was death itself, clad in flowing black robes that billowed unnaturally. His form was that of a skeletal creature, a smile upon its skull no one could ever forget.

Rings adorned each of his fingers, glowing ominously.

And in its hand, it held a golden staff of immense beauty and dread.

Two huge shoulder plates of some creature's bone rested on the side of its head, each with a giant red orb inside.

If one looked closer, there was a pulsing red sphere in its stomach, at least where a stomach would be. There was nothing human about its appearance except for its two legs and arms. The amount of ribs did not match up to a regular human, nor did the extremely sharp edges on its chin.

A human skeleton would have round edges, as it would not damage the skin. Whatever creature this was, it never bore flesh to begin with.

It was being of pure dread. A presence that demanded reverence—or submission.

There was a pause. Then—

"Who's this supposed to be? Skeletor? The Grim Reaper?" Rex managed to blurt a sentence out. And, of course, it was a joke, which eased the tension a bit.

"Who are you! What do you want?" Invincible demanded, fist clenched. He was exhausted, still sore from the fight against the Flaxans, but this wasn't over. Not yet.

"I am…" The figure began, but then hesitated.

'What name should I use? Moonga sounds ridiculous, it's the name of a squirrel! Should I use the name of our guild? Maybe they'll remember me as some great villain forever engraved into this game's lore.'

"I am… Ainz Ooal Gown!" He continued, speaking the name as if it weighed a thousand and one suns. He spread his arms for dramatic effect, and the wind started to move his robe as if on command. And then, as the final touch, he activated his Disaster Aura.

They watched, mouths agape as he proclaimed his name, the light around him distorting as he excluded an intimidating presence.

'Got them!'

"Weird name." Rex muttered, already reaching for one of his explosives.

Ainz felt something snap inside him.

'It's a normal name!'

His nonexistent eyes locked onto Rex instantly.

'These NPCs are rather reactive for mere programs. But they will regret disrespecting the name Ainz Ooal Gown.' He recognized he could actually talk to them like real human beings, and they would talk back. It felt, weird.

"Enough talk! Perish!" Ainz raised his free hand.

While he wanted to make a good act, he didn't feel like using much mana to defeat them. An army of undead would do.

"[Undeath Army]"

The ground beneath them darkened, as if a shadow had encompassed them all. But it did not harm them. A sickening crack echoed as skeletal hands burst from the asphalt, clawing their way up.

"Uhm, guys? What's happening?"

From the ground, skeletons emerged, pulling themselves up, swords and shields in hand as they growled and snarled at the superheroes. They moved with unnatural precision, a grotesque parody of human soldiers.

"From an alien invasion to a zombie apocalypse. Oh, come on!" Rex let out an exasperated groan. and prepared his explosive projectiles. "What's next, vampire cowboys?"

He didn't wait for another second, throwing one of his projectiles at the next skeleton, pulverizing it instantly.

"Kate, Rex, and I deal with the skeletons. You two should fight him." Robot ordered Atom Eve and Invincible, who nodded despite being hurt a little.

"On it!"

'Interesting. They're really planning how to take me down! I loved to have NPC's like this in Yggdrasil! Huh—?'

Before Ainz could muse further, he was interrupted by a flying fist about to crash into his skull.

'[Teleportation]!'

He teleported some meters back, seeing the yellow-suited hero having his arm extended to form a punch.

He was surprised to be able to react to such an attack. He might have seen it coming if he hadn't been distracted by himself.

Maybe it wouldn't have hurt him, but Ainz wasn't ready to sacrifice his face to find that out.

"Insolent hero!" Ainz yelled, a lightning bolt emerging from his fingertip with the shape of a dragon aimed at Invincible. He barely had time to throw up his arms before the electric current surged through his body, sending him crashing into the side of a building.

"Invincible!" Eve screamed, but turned her attention back on Ainz as she was about to face her back to him. The first thing she learned was never to turn from your enemy. "You'll regret coming here." Without further warning, she shot a burst of energy at Ainz, planning on pushing him back until Mark could recover.

The pink-hued projectiles soared toward him—only to crash against an invisible barrier, shattering harmlessly like glass.

"I can't hit him! He's got some sort of barrier, like mine, but way stronger!" Eve shouted down to Robot, hoping he had any other plan to beat 'Skeletor.'

Perhaps Invincible could do something against him. Or they could find a weakness to exploit. But they had no way of knowing what worked and what didn't. Their enemy was unknown and powerful. Maybe even above their league. Where were the Guardians of the Globe when they needed them?

"Your attempts are futile. You are too weak to hurt me." His deep voice reverberated through the battlefield, commanding fear and respect. "I will ensure that heroes become a thing of the past."

"Shut up!"

Invincible came flying out of nowhere, sucker-punching the Overlord in his ribs and sending him flying away, following suit. Seeing this

Eve stood there frozen for a second before she turned to the group beneath.

"I'll help you out!" Eve focused on the undead horde, creating energy waves that pulverized rows of skeletons into ash.

"You were unable to harm him, but Invincible wasn't?" Robot inquired, curious to know what exactly transpired.

"I don't know, okay! Maybe he can only react to things he sees or knows are coming!" Eve said back.

"That means he either has reaction limits or doesn't register certain attacks as threats!" Robot theorized.

"Can we talk about how we went from fighting green aliens to literal skeletons? Isn't this crazy?" Rex jumped over one skeleton, exploding it from the back. "What does this guy even want with us?"

"Further information about him is required. We need to find a weakness or a way to beat—"

Before Robot could continue, they saw a flying Invincible heading their way, landing straight before them, forming a crater and crushing any skeletons in his way.

"Invincible!" Eve rushed to his side. "Are you okay?"

He didn't seem to be able to move at all.

"I... hate... skeletons..." He muttered weakly.

"What happened to him? I thought he was invincible?" Rex asked, but it wasn't really a question to begin with. But Eve had no time for his jokes.

"Robot, can you come over here?" Eve called him over as she fended off skeletons left and right.

With a thud, Robot went to one knee, measuring his pulse.

"He seems fine, but unable to move. No signs of toxins or poisons." Most of the time, that would be a good sign. However, now he had no methods of ascertaining what would be able to help Invincible get out of this state.

"Strong, but not strong enough."

"[Shockwave]"

A burst of wind pushed all of them off their feet. It was as if an invisible force pushed them back without a way to resist it.

The mysterious villain now hovered directly above them, looming over the team like a deadly shadow ready to consume them all.

"I could smite you with my foot. There are more ways I could kill you than known colors! But I will pick the worst one for you for slandering the name of Ainz Ooal Gown."

A kick came flying by, aimed at his head. However, instead of doing any damage, the attack did nothing to the Overlord.

"Ow!" One of Dupli-Kate's clones touched her shin in pain. "His bones must be made from met—"

A hand encompassing the clone's head interrupted her. She tried to resist, to get out of the skeletal grip, but to no avail. It's as if a statue had grabbed her head and wouldn't let go.

Ainz swung her onto the ground with one sweep, not expecting the force behind his move.

Her body collided with the road head-on, blood splashing from her in all directions.

"Shit!" Kate exclaimed, slowly getting up. While alive, she could feel her clone's pain in real time.

'This can't be…'

Ainz froze. No, he couldn't believe his eyes. Such a thing was impossible.

'Gore is prohibited in any kind of dive-virtual game.'

He continued to stare at the mess he just made. It was not a pretty sight. Her body was smushed completely.

While he had seen his fair share of corpses in the real world, he never imagined he would cause such a scene himself.

Teen Team had thought their time had come. Nothing was able to stop the monster Ainz Ooal Gown. The two strongest fought against him and could do nothing to halt the Overlord.

But then, something unexpected happened.

"Huh, where…where did he go?" Rex said, massaging his arm on which he landed.
The air was still. The battlefield eerily quiet.

"Did we win?" Kate asked, barely standing.
It seems they had survived another calamity out of sheer luck.

"He…vanished. No traces left of him." Robot had put himself back together. But not even he could find where their mysterious villain had gone.

"Maybe… Maybe it's for the best."

"Where exactly am I?"

Ainz had teleported himself ten kilometers away at random. Accidentally, he landed in an apartment home, materializing right into an elderly woman. Sadly, she did not survive having a seven-foot Overlord teleport into her.

Ainz stared at her corpse with much contemplation.

'I do not feel a thing. I killed her, but I have no regret. Nothing.' She had likely lived a full life, had family members who loved her, children or grandchildren who would miss her. But now she was gone, and the one responsible for that a monster in every word.

"...I need information."

Ainz began searching the apartment, looking for any means to access the internet. He didn't know what kind of technology people possessed in this kind of age, making it somewhat difficult.

The most he could find were books and radios.

His gaze, however, landed on something promising—a calendar hanging in the kitchen.

'2022…That's over a century before my time.'

Ainz furrowed his nonexistent brows. 2138 looked nothing like the world he was in right now. it was a dystopia ruled by greedy corporations and governments that did not have the well-being of their citizens in mind. Yet, from what he had seen so far, this world looked… normal. Almost too normal.

'Could this really be a game? No, that doesn't make sense…'

The thought had been gnawing at him since his encounter with those so-called "heroes." Their reactions, their emotions, the way they strategized—everything felt too real.

If this wasn't a game…

'Am I in another world?'

He had read manga's where people would be reincarnated into fantasy worlds, but he had never expected to be the one experiencing it firsthand.

'If this is true, I must think some things through.'

He was no longer an office worker, an ordinary human scraping by in a dying world. He was now an Overlord—a supreme undead being wielding unimaginable power.

'But what am I gonna do now? My life just changed from office worker to an undead with incredible powers.' He glanced at the staff, realizing his vision had become truth. Finally, the name of Ainz Ooal Gown would be known by everyone in infamy.

A sudden noise plucked him from his thoughts as a rectangular box lit up in the living room, portraying a live video.

'So this is where they get their information. This must be a screen.'

What he saw on the TV appeared to be a news broadcast.

"I'm-I'm at a loss for how to report this, but the Guardians of the Globe are dead."

Ainz's eyes gleamed with interest.

'Guardians of the Globes? Sounds like a guild name.'

Soon, pictures of the fallen heroes appeared on the screen, all wearing superhero costumes, erasing the suspicion that they were fellow players.

'Someone killed them. If this is a real world, as real as the one I came from, I can't be careful enough.' He quickly put his staff away, storing it in his inventory.

'Magic still works, and I know every spell I have in my possession to the very last. I also feel extremely…calm.' In any situation like this, a normal human would not be able to think straight. Being taken from your original world and put into another was not something the regular Joe would expect.

'I need to make a base first. A place where I will be safe. Then, I need to make some cash. Or maybe that first.' His looter instincts kicked in. While he wouldn't rob the home of an old woman usually, she wouldn't need her money anymore to begin with.

'Now, where did she keep her money? They still use paper money here, right?'

He quickly found a leather bag with a wallet inside. There, he found 200 dollars, which wasn't much.

'I don't know the exact worth of dollars in yen, but 200 dollars are nothing to fund me some sort of apartment.' He continued his search, which made for an odd picture: A skeletal undead rummaging around the home of an elderly woman.

Inside a closet, he finally found a simple safe. He ripped the front part open with his fingers, revealing a stash of money and a golden watch.

'I'll let them keep the watch.'

All in all, he had looted 2400 dollars from the woman's apartment—a success in his eyes.

Suddenly, he heard a knock on the apartment door.

"Grandma?"

Ainz froze. Without hesitation, he activated [Perfect Unknownable].

There, a young woman entered, no, a girl, probably not even 18 years old, her voice filled with concern.

'She's gonna see the mess I made of her grandmother. I should fix this.'

'[Restore Corpse]'

Before the girl entered the room, the elderly woman's mangled remains slowly reconstructed, her body resetting to an undisturbed, lifeless state with her face pointed to the ground.

"Grandma!"

The girl gasped, rushing to her side as tears welled in her eyes.

Ainz observed from the shadows, unmoved.

If he were still human, perhaps he would have felt sympathy for her.

But now, there was only calculation.

'They'll notice the cash missing and believe a robber saw the opportunity to rob the old woman. My job is done here.'

Still, he hesitated.

He could've revived her, but his inventory didn't have infinite wands for resurrection. And with her low level, there was no guarantee she would survive the process.

It wasn't worth the risk.

Ainz turned away.

'Time to go.'

The air inside the Global Defense Agency was suffocatingly tense. The Guardians of the Globe, the best superhero team to exist, were wiped out, slaughtered in the dark, only discovered when they failed to return to their civilian lives.

"Get an extraction team out there now." Cecil ordered, the rapid clicking of keyboards following. "Tell the French President we have it covered. And pull up the picture of the new villain the Teen Team fought."

"Sir, we weren't able to make any pictures." Cecil's gaze snapped to Donald, his ever-reliable right-hand man. "Our drones simply…exploded."

A beat of silence.

"You're telling me our state-of-the-art, high-speed reconnaissance drones just malfunctioned?" Cecil narrowed his eyes.

"No, sir. There must have been something—some force—interfering. It's possible the entity noticed them and destroyed them."

"All thirty-two of them, invisible, able to make pictures in less than a nanosecond and send them to us per satellite?" Cecil's tone shaprened.

"Yes…" Donald confessed, and Cecil let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"What about Robot. If electronics don't work around our new enemy, why didn't he get fried?"

"I was about to mention that. Robot was able to manually sketch an extremely detailed image of the target. The quality is about twenty-five percent lower than what our drones would have captured, but it's enough." Donald injected a USB stick into a computer, and an image appeared on the huge screen before them.

Cecil's expression darkened.

"You could've just started with this, Donald, really."

The figure on screen was draped in flowing midnight robes, a skeletal visage leering back at him. It was like staring at the embodiment of Death itself.

"We know its name is Ainz Ooal Gown. Abilities shown are: Teleportation; can freely teleport to a different location, range is unknown. Weather Manipulation; was able to create a dark cloud over Teen Team. Electricity Manipulation; was able to hit Invincible with lightning that sent him back. Presence Concealment; did appear out of thin air, and we were unable to trace it anywhere. It can also create copies of itself, "zombies" or "skeletons," that can attack independently. What Robot also described was that it possessed a forcefield and regular attacks did not hurt it at all and he could paralyze Invincible for a certain time." Donald surmised, keeping it as short as he could but not overlooking any details.

Cecil remained silent, absorbing the information. His fingers drummed against his arm in contemplation.

"As if dealing with regular villains wasn't enough, now we have this thing walking around." He exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the mounting stress. "No… everything has a weakness. I don't care if we have to dig through ancient tomes or long-forgotten scrolls—find me something on this guy."

Before he continued, he noticed his breath growing visible.

"I need the room, now! Let the screen on."

Except for Cecil and Donald, all the personnel left the room, leaving the two alone.

"Well? Enlighten me."

He spoke, knowing that a third person had joined them a while ago, undetected.

"Know one thing for sure." A deep, gravelly voice rumbled. "No one else at scene of murders. Only Guardians. Omni-Man. Which means killer is one of them." The figure was a red-colored demon, clothed in detective robes and a hat.

"One of them? There's a hundred supervillains who don't leave a trace. Who turn into smoke, living electricity, or only exist in dreams." Cecil paused. "Or seem untraceable…Can you tell me what you know about this guy?" Cecil pointed to the picture of the skeletal figure. "One of your guys?"

For the first time, Cecil saw Damien Darkblood be mildly curious as he focused on the mysterious figure.

"Can't say. There are many demons. I have sensed a presence before. Could be him." Damien analyzed the figure deeper.

"Maybe…Maybe he could've killed the Guardians. We aren't able to trace him at all as if he's a ghost. No, even ghosts we can find. He's just gone." Cecil informed the demon.

"From his own words: I will ensure that heroes will become a thing of the past. This could be a confession." Donald supplied, repeating what had been recorded from Ainz's encounter with the Teen Team.

"Could be. Cannot investigate him. Something blocking me. If I pushed further, he would find out." Damien answered.

That got Cecil's full attention.

"…Blocking you?"

"If I push further… he will know."

A tense silence settled over the room.

"So he can't be surveilled… Can you tell me anything more about him?" Cecil tried getting even the last drop out of the demonic detective.

"Not human. Uses magic. Extremely powerful. But suspicion still on Omni-Man." He persisted in his investigations that the surviving hero was the cause of their murder, which Cecil didn't want to believe.

"Alright. Don't mention what you said here to anybody else. If you do, I'll send you to hell myself. Got it!"

The demon only grunted before he vanished from sight.

"Put an A-6 surveillance team on the Graysons."

"Sir?"

"The killer's still out there, Donald. If this 'Ainz Ooal Gown' wants to finish the job, he will want to kill Omni-Man next. Even if we can't see him on our cameras, we will know if he's there when they malfunction."

Chapter Text

"And this here is the living room. Plenty of space for a couch and a TV with a great view of the city. It's not big, but at this price, it's a real bargain."

The woman speaking stood in the empty apartment, dressed in black trousers and a turquoise buttoned shirt. Her stance was confident, professional, yet relaxed.

"It's quite nice, Ms. Grayson." Another voice chimed in. Behind her stood a man who towered over her by at least two heads. Even with her high heels, she still seemed quite small compared to his height.

He wore a plain black suit, nothing impressive to Debbie's eyes. Still, it showed that he cared about his appearance.

Yet, it wasn't his clothing that caught Debbie's attention. His face was striking. A sharp chin, prominent cheekbones, and cool gray eyes. Like her, he appeared to be of Asian descent, though it wasn't that obvious. If his features hadn't given it away, his name certainly did.

"I am pleased to hear that, Mr. Suzuki." Debbie always appreciated good manners, and this man embodied them. However, she felt him being a little out of touch or always holding an extremely neutral expression. He remained unreadable, his expressions minimal, his smiles barely a flicker. Perhaps he had been raised under strict discipline?

He reminded her of her husband, who also carried a stern appearance. Until he met her, that is.

The thing that bothered her was his age. He wasn't a teenager, but he was far younger than her. Nineteen, maybe? And he wasn't married. That was the first thing she had checked.

There were only two possibilities. He was either a student or way older than she thought. Renting this place was far from cheap. It was pretty expensive, given its prime location. If he was a student, then he had to come from money. Normally, students would live in dorms, but the more privileged usually had their own place.

"I am convinced. This is the place I want." Suzuki Satoru said, scanning the room with an intense gaze.

"Great! The only thing needed is for you to send us the appropriate documents."

At her words, Suzuki Satoru, or Ainz, froze for a brief second.

'I forgot that renting a place was much harder in this century! How am I gonna provide all those documents in time?' Ainz needed a clever solution before the real estate agent discovered he had nothing to offer.

"Forgive me, since this is the first time renting an apartment, I'm unsure of what documents to provide." He said smoothly, maintaining his neutral tone. His youthful appearance wasn't by accident. It might have raised suspicions if a 32-year-old man had asked the same question.

"We will need personal identification, proof of income, credit and financial information, and rental history. But in your case, I suppose the latter would fall out." She explained kindly. It seemed she didn't take it badly that he didn't know these things after visiting the apartment.

"I see." Ainz rubbed his chin in contemplation. These terms were not unfamiliar to him.

Personal identification was probably in the form of a national ID card, which he didn't have. In his future version of Earth, most of this stuff was digital. Even then, he couldn't bring any of that to this Earth.

Proof of income was probably the hardest. It would require him to find a job, get to work, and have documents showing he worked there long enough to regard it as a stable income. Basically impossible in his situation.

He also didn't have a credit card to show his credit score or a bank account with any money. The only thing he possessed right now was what he 'looted' from the old lady's house and the rubies he sold at a store. All in all, he now had about 84'000 dollars cash in his inventory.

Still, he couldn't continue to sell stuff he had from Yggdrasil. That would draw attention. The ruby he had sold was the lowest-quality one he owned, and even then, it had required him to cast [Charm Person] on the jeweler to secure a deal.

'What if I use that spell on her as well? No… she wouldn't be able to fabricate financial documents. Those would have to come from a bank. I can't provide those documents myself.'

Even as an undead god-like being, he wouldn't manage to do this alone. Perhaps there was a class in Yggdrasil that would be proficient in handling such situations. But that would have been a waste of a class since it wouldn't attribute to combat strength at all. Charisma was probably the most important aspect in this scenario. Luckily, Ainz had enough to talk through the most bizarre situations. Well, not always.

"What if I'm not employed but wish to rent this apartment with my own money?" He asked.

Debbie was waiting for Suzuki to ask that. Since he never rented an apartment before and seemed quite wealthy, it was like putting two and two together.

"In that case, we will need bank statements from the last 6 to 12 months and probably ask for you to pay rent upfront for security reasons. If you have a passive income, we should know about that too." Ainz praised her professionalism. She didn't hesitate and didn't leave any details out.

"I can do that." He replied.

"Great! I am sure you will enjoy this place. Though, I have to admit, I was surprised to see someone as young as you looking for an apartment like this. Most of my clients are newlyweds or future landlords." She wasn't wrong. He did seem too young to be doing this, especially considering the $2,000 monthly rent.

'I wanted to look that young to see if there's a possibility of getting into high school. From what I learned, everyone that graduates from elementary school goes there.' He remembered how expensive his education was. His mother had worked hard to provide it for him, and in the end, it paid off. If he hadn't graduated, he would have been forced into hard labor. Luckily, he had managed to secure a desk job as a salaryman.

"Yes…circumstances forced me to move here." Ainz answered.

"I also noticed this place to be near Reginald Vel Johnson High School. Are you planning to go there?" She asked. It was a detail that Ainz hadn't even considered. He didn't even know that there was a school in the vicinity. But she would be inclined to ask, given his age.

'That seems random. But, I guess it's to my advantage, really.'

Ainz had no reason to deny it. He was curious to see how school life was at this age. He had to go to school to learn more about physics, mathematics, and chemistry. Sure, he could spend his days in a library, but he wouldn't have a teacher who helped him understand functions or variables. For him, such words seemed mythical.

"es, I will. But since I'm new here, it will take some time to adjust." He gave a straight answer. She guessed he must've attended a private or different school outside the States. The name gave it quite away.

Still, she wondered why someone of that age was here all alone.

Debbie smiled. "You know, my son goes there. Maybe he could show you around once you enroll." Ainz had no interest in making friends. However, he wondered if her son could help him adjust to a teenager's life. This way, he could blend in much better.

"I would… appreciate that."

"He's also about the same age as you, so he wouldn't mind."

Ainz wasn't sure why she was so welcoming. He simply wanted to rent an apartment, not gain a teenage friend whose mother is his real estate agent. Or perhaps it was because of his lack of humanity that he didn't understand her at all. Or were humans, in general, much more nicer in the past?

His mind then wandered to a whole other idea. What if this was a trap to lure him with kindness and strike him from behind? But that wasn't possible, as he had checked the surroundings before entering the apartment. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Why don't you come over to us, and you two can visit the high school on your own?"

"Eh—, sure…" Was it because they shared an ethnic background? Or perhaps, as a mother, she felt compelled to look out for someone who seemed alone? Did he appear that helpless? He made himself a suit he saw in a store exactly for this situation: That he wouldn't look like someone who didn't know what he was doing.

No, he knew the suit sat perfectly. Maybe she was simply an unusually kind person. Still, he would try to make the best out of this situation. Perhaps having some ties to the local community wasn't that bad.

Before he could dwell on it further, she gasped, glancing at her watch. "I forgot I got to be on the other side of the city in ten minutes!"

"No worries. I was about to leave anyway, Ms. Grayson." Suzuki replied as he took a last look at the apartment.

"Just call me Debbie. Hearing that from you makes me feel old." She chuckled.

Ainz managed a faint smile, the most he could come up with. His illusion wasn't the best, and he tried to minimize facial changes.

"Then call me Satoru." It was only polite, after all.

Shortly after, they left the apartment and parted ways as Debbie rushed to her car. Satoru watched her drive off, his mind already drifting to his next course of action.

'I can't drive. I don't have any proof of identification. I don't know anybody, and to top it all off, I'm an undead!' It didn't bother him that much. But it would make things more difficult. He noticed that nothing did, unlike when he was human. If someone threatened to sue him, he could just kill that person. His only real concern would be making sure no one witnessed the murder and linked it to him. Even then, he wouldn't dwell on the consequences—just the inconvenience of covering it up.

If the government ever found out, he might have to silence multiple people to erase unwanted attention. Or he could resort to a spell he had rarely used in Yggdrasil.

[Control Amnesia] allows one to mind-control a target and delete or create memories. In Yggdrasil, the spell removed known locations or spells from a target player. But here, the possibilities seemed endless.

'I'm not going to live a regular life. As I am now, it would be nearly impossible.'

He had no clue of the power dynamic that existed in this world. Superheroes existed, but they weren't particularly impressive from the footage he'd seen. Most relied on brute strength, something he could counter in various ways. He had yet to encounter any magic users.

His thoughts were interrupted by a nearby shop screen broadcasting global news.

HONORING THE FALLEN GUARDIANS

—I've battled alien tyrants, defeated nightmares from the deep, gone toe to toe with ancient gods…but no matter what threat I faced, I knew I wasn't facing it alone.

Ainz watched as the unfamiliar superhero delivered a speech at what appeared to be the funeral of the Guardians of the Globe—a team of heroes killed around the same time he arrived in this world.

'If someone killed the strongest superheroes on this planet, I need to be cautious. The team I faced seemed like amateurs, probably superheroes still in training.'

He wondered how strong the white-red-suited superhero was. His age showed he must have some experience. Perhaps the greatest threat to Ainz, but he wasn't sure about his overhaul level.

This world didn't work on Yggdrasil's rules, and they couldn't be applied to the inhabitants of this world. Ainz could try to find a reference and give each individual a precise level, but that would require much effort. For now, he would simply gauge them as low, mid, or high-tier beings.

'Most of the people on this planet are human, so there's their weakness to poison, sickness, mind-control. Maybe these 'superpowers' could give me some trouble. I have to look out for the most dangerous ones.'

Before he could continue to ponder the possibilities of threats, his eyes and ears focused back on the TV.

We—or rather, I—have identified the murderer of our beloved Guardians of the Globe. You all know I was there that night, but at the time, I couldn't remember exactly what happened. We were attacked from the shadows... But hearing that name, I remembered. The one responsible for the massacre was the villain known as Ainz Ooal Gown.

…

"WHAT?"

Ainz's emotional suppression went into overdrive, keeping him calm. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. It had to be a dream!

'How does he even know my name?' He traced back to when he first introduced himself to the group of teenage superheroes. 'Was this all a setup? No, they couldn't have known about me before I arrived.'

Ainz wondered if others from his guild had arrived in this world before him, using the guild name as a nickname.

'I didn't kill them, so they probably went on to gather all the information they had about me. Man, I didn't think this through at all!' A sudden realization took over him. 'They probably saw me appear and disappear out of thin air, and [Perfect Unknownable] being able to remove any trace of me, I would be the prime suspect for an untraceable murder!'

Ainz cupped his head, knowing he should've killed that superhero team on the spot. Now, they already have some information about him. He didn't know how far magic or technology was in this world, but he wasn't 100% sure they wouldn't find a way to detect him through [Perfect Unknownable].

'They either believe I am the killer or they are trying to frame me, and the government was the true perpetrator. Or someone else entirely…'

In his old world, it wasn't rare that the government killed people because they feared what they would do, either leaking information or having knowledge of important secrets. Nobody would leave alive if they went against them.

'I just got the whole world searching for me. What should I do?' He wasn't intelligent enough to remove the suspicion on him from everyone worldwide. He wasn't even sure he could do it with magic. [Control Amnesia] only targeted one person at a time. He had no other spells that could mind-control the whole world, only a Super-Tier spell that could do it in a small area. But that spell was not for removing or making memories but putting the affected entities under his command.

'I need to clean the name of Ainz Ooal Gown from these allegations! I can't just let them disrespect my whole guild like that! Just accusing me of murdering some superheroes because they couldn't find a different scapegoat!'

Lost in thought, he barely noticed when someone from a nearby alley called out to him.

"Hey! You wanna buy?"

Ainz turned, taking in the speaker—a lanky man with long black hair and a teardrop tattoo beneath his eye. The type that loitered around shady apartment complexes.

He was a bit perplexed by the man's remarks. He was just walking down the road like a normal person until he spoke to him. Perhaps this was a spot for drug dealers? He had seen many people sell drugs in his old world and knew which spots to avoid. This could be one of them. And since he wasn't from this place, he was unaware of it.

"If you don't, get the hell out of here!"

"What do you have to offer? A job? I'm not in need of drugs." Satoru asked. He wasn't thinking much about it, and if things turned hostile, he could always just knock this guy out.

The man sneered. "Are you messing with me?" He pulled out a small knife, barely the size of a finger. However, it was still a deadly weapon. Not to Satoru, of course.

Before the man could react, Satoru grabbed his wrist, squeezing his arm so hard that it slipped from his fingers to the ground.

"What the—"

He tried punching Satoru with his free hand, but the blows he landed did nothing to move the 7-foot giant.

"Tell me, how did you know I was about to walk through here? Were you perhaps spying on me?" Ainz pinned him to the wall. While the man tried to move, he was unable to. Whoever the mysterious person before him was, he was incredibly strong.

"You're crazy! Who do you think you are—" Satoru's hand went for his neck to silence him, allowing him one last breath before the hand around his throat tightened.

Ainz was worried if his suspicions were right. If this weren't a coincidence but a setup, he would be attacked any second now.

'[Life Essence]'

He cast and scanned for enemies. However, there was nothing suspicious.

As his face slowly turned red, he reached for Satoru to release his grip, seeing he wasn't playing around.

Ainz removed his hand with one fluid motion, letting the man drop to the ground.

"Aghh! Alright! I'll…tell you whatever you want!" The man breathed heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead as he looked at Satoru with fear in his eyes.

"Tell me, were you sent to spy on me?" Ainz inquired with a threatening tone.

"N-No! I don't even know who you are!" His reaction seemed genuine. So it was a coincidence, or this man was an excellent liar.

"Tell me who you work for."

"Are you crazy! They're gonna kill me—" A sudden shift in the atmosphere stifled his words, cutting them off mid-sentence.

"You think I won't?" Ainz's deep voice reverberated through his entire body, making him shiver like a leaf.

"A-Alright. I answer to Larry Brox. Just please don't tell him I said that; he's gonna kill me!"

"That burden already befalls upon me." Before the man could react, Ainz shot his hand out toward his forehead.

"[Control Amnesia]"

'Let's see how this works.'

A swirl of images filled Ainz's head. At first, it felt slightly disorienting and different from how the spell functioned in Yggdrasil. There was no way of telling which memory was from where, no time clock to indicate when that or this happened in the man's life.

'Maybe I need to concentrate on what I want to see.' He concentrated, forming a mental image of the man's superior. Then—Bingo!

A vision solidified. He saw a building, its exterior seedy and worn, unmistakably their headquarters. And standing at its entrance—a tall, imposing African-American man, gold chains hanging around his neck, a deep scar carved over his left eye.

'Weird. I know exactly where this is from here on out. Maybe its because I gained the memories of this man, that knowledge transferred over to me as well.' He had to experiment with this spell further another time. He canceled it before snapping the man's neck.

'I should get some support first.'

Ainz was a necromancer. It would be unwise for him to go somewhere without his summons, especially in unknown territory.

'I don't have access to any good concealment monsters. Death Assassin is pretty bad at that, and an Eternal Corpse would be a waste only for it to disappear right after…' Ainz contemplated, going down an invisible list as he pondered what creature to summon. He wouldn't want to use a Hanzo scroll this early.

"[Create Mid-Tier Undead: Corpse Collector]"

He expected the usual—his familiar summon appearing before him, not a slimy black substance to appear in his hands, dropping to the ground as it went toward the dead man's body. It slithered, spreading across the dead man's body like a living parasite.

"What the…"

The symbiotic-like goo engulfed the corpse, slowly forming a tall figure, its features slowly resembling the undead Ainz intended to summon.

He almost found it disgusting.

The newly formed Corpse Collector stared at him with his hollow gaze and grunted.

'That was weird. So that changed as well from Yggdrasil.'

Normally, a summon would simply pop into existence before the summoner. However, that wasn't the case anymore.

'It also fuzed with the guy's body. What's that about?' With every day he spent in this world, Ainz had more questions than he could answer. 'Alright. Focus back on what I wanted to do. Find these criminals' hideout.'

Ainz wondered if criminality had taken a toll because of the huge superhero community in this world. Yet, he doubted that. Superheroes were not detectives or investigators. If the crime happened in the dark, he was sure not even the strongest beings on this planet could stop that.

There was a question that gnawed at him. Who came first, heroes or villains? There had to be a change in society that allowed superheroes to be recognized as saviors, not outcasts.

'Even if I hadn't acted as a villain, from my appearance alone, they would've thought me a threat and attacked me based on stereotypes. Can't say whose worse, these heroes or the players that actively hunted heteromorphs.' Ainz couldn't believe he would face the same problem as in Yggdrasil, being hunted for his appearance. That was one of the reasons they founded Ainz Ooal Gown, a guild that stood for heteromorphs and fought against the ones that sought their downfall.

'I'm getting carried away. Gotta find this hideout.'

You will have moments of doubt…

[click]

We are left to wonder…

Nolan watched himself on the TV, delivering a solemn speech at the Guardians of the Globe's funeral. The words felt distant now, like an echo from another life. His attention shifted as his son, Mark, suddenly raised his voice at his mother.

"Hey…Watch the tone." He interjected. Before his wife could say something, he continued. "This is new, I get it, but you need to keep that separate from your normal life."

He didn't expect his words to have much impact. Mark merely shrugged, turning to walk away—until Nolan's hand closed around his arm.

"Okay?" It sounded less like a question and more like a command. He hadn't meant it that way, but it came out naturally.

"Can I go to my room?"

Suddenly, Nolan's expression softened. "Sure…Hey, we'll do some more training tomorrow, okay? Just you and me."

Mark didn't respond as he walked upstairs. But, after a few steps, he stopped, turning back to his father.

"You said you recognized the guy I fought… the one who killed the guardians. So why didn't he kill us?" Mark inquired. If someone so powerful could kill the greatest superhero team on Earth and escape, why did a third-rate band of teenagers survive against him?

Mark watched his father's face shift, searching for the right answer. He hesitated, just for a moment.

"As I said before, he only managed to attack us from the dark. If we had known, we would've beaten him." Nolan responded. And it made sense. He had told Mark and everybody he knew what he saw:

They were attacked from the shadows, and one by one, they were all dead except Nolan. When Mark mentioned the villain he fought, his father immediately recognized him as responsible for the massacre.

"Do you think you can beat him all on your own?" Mark asked, genuinely curious about his father's answer. When he fought Ainz Ooal Gown, he first thought he had the upper hand, punching the villain left and right. However, his attacks did not seem to do much against him; they only pushed him back. Then, his body suddenly stopped moving. A skeletal hand had seized his face and hurled him across the battlefield like a ragdoll.

"Really, Mark? Starting to doubt your old man now, are we?" Nolan smirked, attempting to lighten the mood, but Mark didn't look amused. "Don't worry, he's not a threat to me." His father proclaimed, his words undoubtable. After all, he was Omni-Man, Earth's strongest hero.

Still, why did his father only now remember who attacked him? Nevertheless, if he said that he was the one who attacked them, it had to be true.

"Oh, Mark—I showed an apartment to someone today. He's planning to enroll at your high school soon. He's new in town, so maybe you could show him around?" Debbie remembered their conversation from today's morning.

"Uhh, sure." Mark's eyes quickly darted back to his mother. "Wait—you're saying some kid my age wanted to rent an apartment? Who is this guy?" Mark knew the buildings her mother toured weren't exactly cheap. Thinking of renting one at his age gave him quite a headache.

"I don't know. But maybe you'll find out. He seemed pretty disciplined. Maybe he can help you get your stuff together." Her lips curled into a playful, remembering the mess in his room. While she did love him as much as a mother could, he was lazy, and she couldn't deny that. Then again, he was at an age when teenagers tend to have the most difficulty keeping responsibilities in check.

"So… when is he coming over?" Mark asked. He wasn't really in the mood for anyone right now.

"I'll give you his number later. I'll be home tomorrow afternoon—how about then?"

"Alright. I'll be upstairs."

While his eyes could pick up even the quietest leaf drop, Nolan found the conversation extremely senseless. In the years he had been on Earth, he had learned that this was how these people lived. On Viltrum, no such trivial dialogues existed.

He kept his anger hidden for now. His son could do so much more, be something much greater than a 'superhero.' For now, this sufficed. His cover was secured, and the blame was put onto someone else.

The elevator doors slid open with a whisper, revealing a room that hummed with quiet menace. Two wooden doors made of Italian maple slid open with a finger's ease, quite out of place given the surroundings.

All around were windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering a breathtaking, almost oppressive skyline view. The city lights reflected off the polished black floor, absorbing the light within.

At the center stood a rectangular wooden desk, dominating the room like a throne. Its surface was devoid of clutter—no papers, no pens, nothing suggesting actual work was ever conducted here. No, this desk wasn't for business. It was for power.

A rhythmic mechanical hum pulsed through the space, emanating from the sole figure seated at the table. Under ambient light, one could see his smooth, expressionless face, a metallic surface devoid of skin and flesh. While the back of its head was a light grey, the front was painted black with golden lines to accent the mouth and eyes, which shone purple.

People called him Machine Head for obvious reasons.

Behind him stood a slim man with green-colored hair knotted in a ponytail, clad in a purple suit. The I on his shirt stood for Isotope, a name he had given himself for his superpowers. Around them, figures built for violence lurked in the shadows, waiting for a command, for a reason to strike.

"So you're the guy who took out one of my drug dens. Quite impressive." Machine Head's voice, metallic and laced with autotune, cut through the tension like a blade. Given the large amount of protection, Machine Head seemed to know the danger the person in front of him possessed. It was quite a contrast to his relaxed posture. "However, I know you're not here to kill me. No, you want something else."

The intruder finally stepped into the light.

Even from across the room, his presence loomed. A towering figure, clad in a sleek yet imposing navy-blue suit of armor, traced with golden accents. The armor had a smooth pattern of interlocking plates without excessive ornamentation. It was made for function rather than flair. A crimson cape billowed behind him, secured at the shoulders with golden clasps.

Beneath the deep hood that shrouded his head, a skeletal mask glared outward, almost lifelike. It had a defined bone structure with jagged edges, resembling a grim reaper's face from fairy tales. The most intriguing part was the glowing red eyes, burning like an eerie fire.

He had two massive swords on his back, which seemed too tall and heavy to be held in one hand. However, the figure seemed confident in being able to use them.

The man stood tall and silent. No insignia marked his armor. No words escaped his lips. He needed none. His presence alone was enough to instill fear in his enemies.

"Oh, come on. You have a mouth under that mask, don't you." Machine Head pressed on.

Besides the mysterious figure, suddenly, two more appeared, putting Machine Head's men on guard. Even Isotope tensed up, ready to use his powers to bring his boss to safety.

To his left, a hulking brute stood tall and broad, his body wrapped in bandages, leaving only his rugged pants and monstrous physique exposed. His posture was curved, reminiscent of a gorilla, and his sheer size made the air feel heavier.

To his right, a slim, almost spectral figure stood—a stark contrast to the brute. This one wore a white jester mask, his wild green hair twisting upward like flames. His pale, sharp ears peeked from beneath the mask, his skin as white as bone. A black overcoat with purple outlines draped over him, its white buttons fastened neatly. But the most unsettling detail was his fingers, each tipped with razor-sharp blades, poised like a predator waiting to strike.

Machine Head was unaware that more than one culprit was responsible for ruining one of his operations. Even more alarming was how the two newcomers appeared—no sound, no warning. Either they could teleport, or they had evaded even his advanced security systems and could turn invisible.

"Alright, you got my attention. If you don't want my underlings to finish you off, you better tell me what you want." Machine Head leaned closer, his impatience growing with each passing second.

"I believe we can solve this matter peacefully. Besides, I am not here to antagonize you." The mysterious newcomer spoke for the first time. And it was nothing Machine Head had expected. A deep, commanding, fearless voice that almost made him envy the man before him.

"You could've said that BEFORE you wrecked one of my facilities!" Machine Head slammed his hands on the desk but forced himself to calm down just as quickly.

"I had to get your attention somehow." The armored man replied. "Besides, I wanted to demonstrate how easily one of your drug distribution centers can be dismantled."

His plan was simple but effective. While it was a gamble how the mob boss would react to his aggression, if what he learned from criminals' memories was true, he was a businessman besides a crime lord.

The first thing he did was find one of his locations. There, he first asked to get inside and speak with their boss. He was firmly rejected with a fist to his face. Ainz then went to plan B, destroying the place and making quick work of everyone who stood in his way.

He had decided to wear a suit similar to the heroes of this world, yet still influenced by Yggdrasil's appearances. It was a redesigned armor he had once seen, but it was much more slick and modern. He had retained the hood and added a skull mask beneath it. What surprised him most was what he could create with magic alone.

Then, he noticed the time for the Corpse Collector to disappear had run out. However, to his surprise, his undead creation remained among the living. It had puzzled him at first, but then he recalled how his summoning spell had absorbed the body of the man he had killed. Perhaps that was a way to make permanent undead?

He tried it on another corpse and created a Jack the Ripper this time. He also remained indefinite. The conclusion: Corpses can make permanent undead.

Now, the sheer number of possible ways to enlarge his army skyrocketed. Cemeteries and morgues stored bodies, but most were incinerated before they could be of use.

So, another plan formed in his mind. He would have his undead teleport into the morgue, steal the bodies, bring them to him, and then revive them as his undead. The only problem was that this would get the attention of the government. If thousands of bodies disappeared, there was no way he could do this forever without getting caught. He needed a more discreet method.

For now, he set that plan aside and instead focused on his current goal. He had read the memories of the location's leader, seeing that he answered to a cyborg called Machine Head. He discovered that he was a powerful individual who controlled most of the areas in this city. This meant he also had lots of connections.

One way or another, he had to find allies, or at least associates. Becoming a hero was out of the question. There would be many inquiries about his origins, and he knew what a headache he would get from trying to create the perfect backstory for his character. He was undead, which made it difficult for him to work with a human team.

Thus, his natural decision to make money was to side with the opposition. While he was not inherently drawn to evil, he simply thought it would make much more sense for him to work for money instead of saving people and acting as a hero. And it wasn't like he had a sense of morale and doing bad things bothered him. He still had some sense of justice, but only if it was in his interest.

So, his next plan was to try to get to work for this Machine Head. It wasn't that difficult to find him. And, as expected, Machine Head seemed to know or predict that he would come for him next.

What he was about to offer the crime boss was protection, which is a little ironic as, most of the time, it would be the other way around. However, Ainz had his reason for taking the two undead with him. He knew they wouldn't immediately know they weren't human, and maybe they didn't even care. He knew that Machine Head saw value in its purest form, disregarding race or gender.

"This way, I could offer you something you won't be able to deny." Ainz spread his arms slightly, motioning to his two companions. "Protection."

A silence followed before Machine Head burst into laughter, his autotuned voice fluctuating wildly.

"You? Offer me protection? That's a joke, right?"

"No." An immediate answer followed. "We are mercenaries. Good one's at that. If you hire us, you'll never have to fear heroes again. We don't care about morals. We simply get the job done."

Machine Head leaned back, considering. The offer had merit, especially when presenting it with that much courage. "Mmh, what about the place YOU destroyed? You could've compromised one of my operations. I can't let that slide. And then hiring you, I would just look weak." He picked his nails.

"We cleaned up the crime scene. There is no trace of your involvement or any kind of drug activity. And to compensate for the loss of your facility, we would either pay you the owed amount, or you could deduct it from our first paycheck." Machine Head's non-existent brows furrowed at his words.

These were some good points. He was almost impressed with how he was able to change his mind from killing to even hiring them.

"That's quite the talk. Can you prove that you even have that much money? That location made hundreds of thousands of dollars a month! You would have to pay me for every month until we find a new location or rebuild it."

Ainz took a step forward. The guards around Machine Head tensed up. He raised his hand to put them to ease.

"If you wish a one-time payment, we will pay with gold, diamonds, rubies, or other expensive materials." Ainz grabbed into his cloak, taking out a shining crystal that shone brightly in his dark grasp. Its illuminating presence caught everyone's gaze until he put it back.

Machine Head's interest was piqued. Perhaps they were exactly what they appeared to be. A mercenary group ready for hire. They just decided to make an entrance.

"Alright, I'll give you a chance to prove yourself." Machine Head mused. "So, how do you call yourself? I never heard of a group such as yours, and I know most of the ones on the market."

"I am Momon, the Dark Knight, this is Corpse Collector, and to my right is Jack the Ripper. Together, we are Darkness, a mercenary group ready for hire."

Chapter Text

A tall young man stood before an unremarkable suburban house, which seemed no different from the others lining the street. However, the ones who lived inside it were anything but ordinary.

Before stepping any closer, Ainz cast [Life Essence] and [Mana Essence]. The latter showed no results, but the former made Ainz raise an eyebrow and tense slightly. While his HP was still greater, he wondered if he had been led into a trap. Yet, he had sensed no malice from the woman who had shown him the apartment, Debbie Grayson, as she had introduced herself.

Still, he prepared himself with some buffs and made seals with spells he could release instantly, just in case he was attacked. He reached for the doorbell, stepping back and waiting for a response.

"I wondered when you would finally show up." Debbie's familiar face greeted him as she opened the door, and a scent of freshly made cheesecake entered Ainz's nostrils.

"I had some trouble finding the right house." Ainz replied truthfully, scratching the back of his head with a faint smile. He winced slightly. He had to relearn how people acted when embarrassed to react this way. It felt almost alien to him. However, after much exercise in front of a mirror, he managed to get some facial expressions right. He only hoped he didn't come off as creepy.

'The difficulty I have with portraying emotions can be because it's a low-level illusion. Or, because I'm an undead that normally can't show facial expressions.'

There was no in-between when smiling or having a neutral countenance. Either he smiled, or he didn't. While he could find other expressions in between, it was much harder, as if trying to find something that almost didn't exist. Like trying to cut a blade of grass just enough not to sever it completely. Only the most skillful gardeners could manage that.

"Call me next time. I could've come out and waved when I saw you. But, come on in." She invited him in and Ainz stepped inside, the door tall enough for his two-meter frame not to cause discomfort.

"Mark! Satoru is here!" She yelled up the stairs. As Ainz entered, he was taken in by the house's interior. It wasn't like the small apartment he'd lived in back on his Earth. No, this was what the middle class offered in this world, a rather spacious living room with an open kitchen. Much more lively than his old place.

"Coming!" A young voice shouted in reply. Stomping down the stairs, Mark approached the two of them. He was around 17, average height, with brown eyes and hair, looking like any other teenager. Yet Ainz froze when he saw him, or rather, what surrounded him.

'He's not human.'

[Life Essence] was still active. While Debbie had an almost pitiful amount, Mark was the exact opposite. This was the intense life force Ainz had sensed from a distance.

'Again, it can't be a trap. I'll just play along for now. It should be fine if they don't know that I know.'

"Hey, I'm Mark. Nice to meet you." He gave Ainz a hand.

"Suzuki Satoru, but just call me Satoru." Ainz shook it with a sturdy grip.

"Why don't you go to Mark's room while I finish preparing." Debbie glanced at Mark, who seemed momentarily distracted.

"Oh–right! C'mon man. Hope you like comics."

The two of them headed up to Mark's room. As Ainz glanced around, his mind wandered back to his childhood. Mark's room was colorful and lively, starkly contrasting the cold, industrial walls and repetitive holograms of his boyhood home. The only way to pass the time was to sneak into his father's office and play games on his dive chair.

But those memories faded as he remembered where he was.

"Nice room." Ainz complimented. He wouldn't have thought that he, an undead of the highest order, would come to visit a 'human' to 'hang out.' But here he was nonetheless.

"Thanks. So, I hear you're new to town?" Mark offered Satoru his desk chair while he leaned back on his bed.

"Yeah, your mom helped me find a nice apartment. She's quite professional."

"Hey, you gotta invite me to your place sometime. I know what apartments my mom tours. They're expensive." Mark half whispered.

"Well, can't deny that. But it's in a pretty good location. Almost near everything."

"Ah, yeah, it's near my high school, right? Mom told me about it." Mark sat up. "You're a fourth year?"

Ainz nodded. "I just need to get into your school to graduate, but I haven't even talked to the principal yet." He confessed.

"Wait, shouldn't your parents do that?" Mark asked, confused. Ainz's mind scrambled for a response.

"They're not here." He said after a moment. "I'm currently alone. So, naturally, I have to do this on my own as well."

"That's tough. But it's also kinda cool. And don't worry, our principal won't cause you any problems." Mark reassured him.

'Oh, he's not going to be a problem.' Ainz knew he had to use magic on the school principal to get enrolled. He got no papers, nothing that proves he was a student elsewhere. 'Maybe I should get a lawyer to handle stuff like that.'

"I hope so."

"Mmh, why don't I show you our school? I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind." Mark hopped from his bed, and so did Ainz from the chair. He wished to leave this room since he entered. It was pretty embarrassing to talk to a stranger while pretending to be a teenager. He almost felt disgusting.

"Mom, I'm showing Satoru the school!"

Before they could leave, a shadow blocked the doorway. The door creaked open, and Ainz found himself face-to-face with a middle-aged man.

"Dad! You're back?" Mark asked, surprised by his father's early return.

"Sure am." He replied, his eyes flicking to Ainz with a quiet scrutiny.

"Dad, this is Satoru. He's new in town; he's gonna attend my high school soon."

While his father wasn't as tall as Ainz, he gave quite a commanding presence. His mustache certainly helped in that regard. If he had to guess, his father worked in construction; his build was rather muscular for an office clerk. However, the house they lived in was too much for a simple construction worker to afford, meaning, the wife was the one earning the big cash in this house.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Grayson." Ainz extended his hand.

"Likewise…" Mark's father eyed him with a neutral facade. Ainz, however, had a strange feeling that something wasn't right. The man's gaze felt too sharp, too knowing.

'My illusion shouldn't be discernable unless...' Luckily, his shock wasn't portrayed on his face, or he would've been exposed right away. 'If Mark isn't a normal human, surely his father isn't as well! His mother is a regular homo sapiens; I should've already thought that his father's race is the cause for his high HP!'

He hadn't thought about that at all. If that were true, then his father would be stronger than Mark, meaning he could even be a 'threat' to Ainz. A threat to him can undoubtedly see through or at least recognize low-level illusions. Something like [Perfect Unknownable] should still work however.

'I can't show any signs. I need to stay focused! How do I get out of here?'

"I was just about to take Mark for training. Isn't that right?" He glanced over to Mark while putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Ah, yeah, training. I play baseball, and my father trains me on his own occasionally. Forgot about it today." Mark made a sighful expression before turning to Satoru. "I'll have to show you the school another day. Sorry about that." Mark apologized.

"No problem. I got time, you forgot?" Ainz chuckled slightly.

"We got to go, Mark." Nolan addressed him once more.

"Sorry, man. See you next time." He stormed out of the house, followed by his father, who didn't turn around to give Satoru a glance or a goodbye.

'That was close.'

"Oh no, they didn't!" Ainz almost jumped at hearing a voice appear behind him. "They left you all alone! I'm sorry, Mark's still trying to get himself together. Hope you won't take it too seriously him ditching you like that. He should've known his schedule wasn't free." Debbie sighed.

"It's fine. Maybe it's better that way."

"Huh?" Before Debbie could react, Satoru raised his open palm toward her.

"[Charm Person]"

A light-purple aura enveloped Debbie before she could react, her expression softening as a smile settled on her lips. "What can I do for you, Satoru." She asked in a dulcet tone. The spell had worked.

"Tell me about your husband and your son." Ainz didn't spare any time and got to the point.

"Well, my son is 17 years old. He is still in high school but will graduate next year. He's a good boy—"

"Not like that. What makes them special?" Ainz rephrased.

"Special?"

"They aren't human, or at least, not ordinary humans." Ainz hoped she knew something about it. He only wished their 'training' would be more than 2 minutes since that would be enough for him to get the needed information from Debbie. He had never used this spell in this world, but it worked just like in Yggdrasil. The target would believe the caster to be their friend and spill even their darkest secrets when questioned.

"That's what you mean! Yes, you're right." Ainz's eyes lit up, his curiosity piqueing. "Nolan is a viltrumite; so is my son." She answered with a word alien to him. However, his suspicions were confirmed.

"A viltrumite? Can you clarify what that means?" Ainz inquired further.

"From what I know, Nolan is a viltrumite, a race living far away on a planet called Viltrum." She explained. What agitated Ainz was that he had to ask more questions every time, since she only answered precisely what he asked for without further information.

"What makes them different from humans?"

Debbie took a deep breath. "They're strong, fast, can fly, live in space, have a long lifespan, and are extremely resilient."

'Incredible. It's not any race I know of, but like in Yggdrasil, they have their own racial abilities, like flying, etc. They're probably the ones I have to be wary of the most. I'm not a physical fighter, and if what I hear is true, they are. I don't know if they need enchanted equipment to hurt me, but a strong enough strike could bypass my physical immunity.'

He had seen many superheroes use their fists, rarely any weapons like swords or spears. This wasn't ideal since fists do bludgeoning damage, to which undead are weak to. He had spells against that kind of damage, but he would rather spend his mana on offensive spells.

"Tell me, is your husband and your son a hero?"

Her face lit up at his inquiry. "Yes! Nolan is Omni-Man, the planet's greatest hero, and Mark is Invincible." She spoiled without hesitation.

Ainz froze at her words. 'I knew I recognized that face! He was the one who blamed that murder on me! Which means…' Ainz put one and one together. Either he was in collaboration with the government to hide their involvement, or he was the one responsible for their deaths. 'Why would the government even want to kill Earth's strongest heroes? Doesn't make sense. He killed them for some unknown cause. And he sullied the name of Ainz Ooal Gown.' A dark miasma rose around him; however, after a second, a green light calmed the growing darkness.

His trip had taken a dark turn. Something far deeper than he had anticipated was unfolding, and whatever conspiracy was in play, Ainz knew he had to get out before it swallowed him whole.

Just then, movement flickered in the corner of his vision. It almost slipped his sight, but something was inside the house now. He couldn't deny it.

"Who are you? Show yourself." Ainz said aloud, his voice fearless as it cut through the silence like a sharp blade. From the dark, a red humanoid figure emerged, draped in a gray futuristic suit, complete with a hat and mantle.

"Finally, we meet." It said, its voice dark and raspy, as if the creature had a permanent sore throat. Clearly, it wasn't a human to begin with.

'[Discern Enemy] [Life Essence] [Mana Essence]'

'Not much, but I am intrigued why he's here.'

"Finally? So you know about me?" Ainz asked, his tone unwavering. Debbie still stood beside him motionless. One could see the tension in this room growing rapidly. One wrong move and

"No, felt you. A wave of darkness. Of evil." He spoke, his every word igniting Ainz's fears. If he knew of him, others could as well. His face darkened when the realization hit him.

In an instant, Ainz's grip was around his throat, tight to not even let the slightest of oxygen molecules through.

"Why shouldn't I kill you right now?" Ainz threatened, his face shifting from his illusion to his skeletal countenance, glitching in between, giving him a menacing appearance. The demon shuddered.

"I can solve murder! Guardians of the Globes!" The demon's voice faltered, its fear palpable.

In an instant, Ainz let go of his throat.

"Elaborate." The demon in front of him knew much; it almost frightened him. But then, there should be people investigating this case. But Ainz wouldn't have expected someone like this to solve a murder involving a group of heroes when he's clearly a villain.

"Omni-Man is suspect, you, scapegoat. I can prove it." It massaged its neck, still adjusting to Ainz releasing him. Physically, it was much weaker than Ainz.

'It's a demon of sorts. Don't know what kind exactly.'

"You're investigating their murder then. What do you know?" Ainz sent another question in his way, a command more than anything else.

"Reason, still unknown. Proof, still searching." He confessed, knowing the entity before him wouldn't be pleased. After all, 'it' was blamed for their deaths. Anybody would be furious.

"You don't need a reason. My involvement in their demise was absent. So naturally, he's their murderer. What do you need more?"

"Not so simple. Most powerful man cannot be taken so lightly. But, you're not to take lightly as well." It glanced at Ainz maliciously as if he had done something wrong. If it had activated a stare-ability of sorts, Ainz didn't feel a thing.

"Are you some kind of demon investigator?" Ainz hadn't ever seen something like that. Usually, demons were the ones who were being investigated, not the opposite. Yet this world was full of surprises.

"Damien Darkblood, detective." He lifted his hat as a sign of courtesy. He wasn't obligated to, but he did it nevertheless.

"Mmh, seeing you already know who I am, your employer surely does too." The demon gave no response. "Mmh, too risky. I cannot trust you. I don't even know you."

Before the demon could react, a hand surrounded his head, and before he knew it, he was unable to move.

'So [Paralyze] works. Good.' From what he had seen, the demon possessed some invisibility and teleportation ability. While not the same as he knew from Yggdrasil, it would be best for the demon not to be able to move to keep him here.

"What—"

He suddenly heard someone approach from the main door.

'They're back already?'

He had no time. If the door opened, whoever did so would see him surrounded by a hypnotized Debbie and a motionless red demon on the ground.

The door handle pressed down, but before anything else could happen, the world turned black and white.

'[Time Stop], one of my favorite spells. So nobody in the vicinity is immune.'

While most high-level players had resistance or immunity to time manipulation, this was not Yggdrasil. And it seemed to work fine. He quickly dispelled the charm spell on Debbie and grabbed a hold of the demon. As [Time Stop] ran out, he disappeared without a trace.

'That was close.'

He found himself in his newly acquired apartment, Darkblood lying beside him. If he could sweat, he would be drenched in it.

Suddenly, an idea formed in his skull. His hand vanished into his pocket dimension, grabbing for one particular item, a round red sphere with a dot on it. It did not seem as impressive as other things in his inventory, but it could be useful in this singular scenario.

'Let's see…'

Pressing the butting, the sphere started to glow, ready for use. Without hesitation, Ainz threw the sphere at the demon, and on impact, its body got enveloped by a bright light before he disappeared completely.

The [Sphere of Containment] was a low-level item used to contain monsters and familiars. Ainz had never found a use for it until now.

'I'll keep him in there until I might need him. Killing him would be a waste. I'm sure he won't be able to escape.' The sphere itself was a pocket dimension. Only through teleportation and breaking the sphere's imprisonment enchantment can somebody escape its confinements.

'I hope Mark's father hasn't seen through my illusion. More likely suspicious of me. It happens regularly when someone uses illusions. People who aren't at a high enough level but near it just get confused or angry at the one using a low-level illusion. It was the same with NPCs in Yggdrasil.'

He had luck that Nolan hadn't seen his real face, or he would've been punched in an instant. What damage an attack like that could cause to Ainz was still unknown to him. And he hoped to never find out.

'I have to be wary of their attack speed. My distance to him was enough for him to land a couple of good hits if I consider him a monk-type attacker.'

If Ainz wanted to conceal himself in this world, he had to get something different than illusions to hide his appearance.

His phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He wouldn't have a phone if Machine Head had not provided one. It wasn't traceable and worked over private antennas owned by his criminal organization.

So, I finally found a good first task for you. Took me long enough.

Ainz heard the familiar robotic voice on the telephone. Not a day passed before he received a call from this cybernetic criminal.

"What is it?"

I need you to be somewhat discreet about this. Surely you can do that?

"Of course."

There is this guy, Mister Liu. Big shot. However, he's a rival. I need you to cripple one of his operations. I'll send you the details over the phone.

He soon received a text message with a GPS location attached.

Take that down, and don't leave anybody alive. Is that clear?

"I understand."

The call ended, leaving Ainz with a new mission before him.

'Not exactly close, but I can teleport.'

Whatever he was about to bust up was in China, quite far from Machine Head's location. Either he was an international criminal with a global reach, or he was using Ainz to reach people he couldn't before.

'A test to assess my abilities. But it's not my place to pry further. Let's get to work.'

Cecil leaned back in his chair, staring at the multitude of screens in front of him, each one filled with streams of information that seemed more ominous than helpful. His mind was whirring, piecing together the puzzle fragments, but it wasn't adding up to anything definitive.

"Are you sure our surveillance system malfunctioned?" Cecil asked, agitated as he glanced at the surrounding screens used for reconnaissance. Each showed static where there should have been a clear view of the Graysons' home.

"Yes, sir. The only thing we have is that Debbie seemed to expect someone, but, after that, nothing. As if the person that entered shut down our cameras, microphones, everything."

Cecil rubbed his temple. This could only mean one thing. "So Ainz Ooal Gown visited the Graysons. How am I not surprised." Donald jumped in surprise upon hearing those words, his face going pale at the mention of the villain they had almost zero information about.

"Are you sure, sir? That would mean—"

"Yes, Nolan could be in great danger. Who knows, maybe he's here to finish his work. But then why didn't Nolan attack him…" Cecil went dove into his thoughts, remembering what Donald had told him.

"Debbie was expecting someone. Surely not an undead villain. Undoubtedly, it's him since he shut down our whole network. The only explanation is that he's not as he appears or has changed his looks." Cecil surmised.

"A shapeshifter? Like Martian Man?"

"Who knows, Donald. You could also argue that his appearance with Teen Team wasn't his true one as well. But what we know is that he's trying to get into the good graces of the Grayson family. If Omni-Man didn't kill the Guardians, it was him." Cecil stated.

"Shouldn't we do something? If Nolan is innocent, we're letting him alone with someone who went up against all of the Guardians and won." Donald panicked a bit.

"If he goes for the kill, we'll rescue Nolan, no problem. But we have to be sure it's not the other way around. If we go after the wrong monster, who knows what's gonna happen."

"So you bet on them fighting each other?" Donald asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"We both know what Omni-Man is capable of. Ainz Ooal gown is probably in the same league. Nothing much we can do except try any chance at survival."

"And what happens when only one is left?"

Cecil turned to him with a stern look. While he wanted to say some words of wisdom, he had none left.

"Always see the good in things, Donald. At least one of our problems is gone then. You only have to worry about who's left. We know Nolan isn't a god. He's not invincible. Can't say the same about the other guy." Cecil had quite the data on Nolan; however, who's to say that he hadn't always held back? Yet he didn't strike Cecil as a man who would go to such lengths holding back for a whole 17 years. "Anything from Darkblood?" Cecil asked, switching the screens to anything demon-related.

"Not really. We haven't been able to track him for a while now. As if he's just… gone." Donald informed, forcing Cecil to widen his eyes for a second.

"Gone? No, don't tell me…" Cecil went for a computer, typing something up quickly before taking some steps back. "His last location was near the Grayson's household, or at least into that direction based on his office..." He muttered.

Donald gasped. "Sir, you mean the two met? That's why Darkblood disappeared?"

"I'm sure of it. Ainz Ooal Gown probably killed him. After all, he was trying to solve a murder, which he was one of the main suspects of. Having him out of the picture…means he could be our killer." Cecil deduced. "But, it could also be a coincidence. Even when I didn't permit it, Darkblood probably went there to investigate Nolan's house for clues. It matches with the time Nolan was away training with Mark. He waited for him to leave before going inside the house."

Cecil paused, his mind wrestling with the possibilities. He had once been sure that Nolan was responsible for the Guardians' deaths, but now, that certainty was slipping away.

"At this point, it could be both of them, sir." Donald seemed confused to the end, not able to put one and one together as he couldn't put a face to the Guardian's murderer.

"We need to retrace our steps. The Guardians get killed, and then Ainz Ooal Gown appears to fight Teen Team. He disappears because, why not? Then, Omni-Man tells the WHOLE world who the attacker is. Obviously, everyone believes him. He's our great hero! The saviour of Earth!" Cecil mocked, his tone bitter. "But, there is no proof. Nothing to indicate Ainz Ooal Gown attacked them. Only Omni-Mans word." Cecil summarized. "Note that down." He said to a nearby office agent.

"And now, he comes to their house disguised as someone else. If I were Ainz Ooal Gown and I didn't murder the Guardians, I would try to find whoever blamed their deaths on me—"

Donald was then interrupted by Cecil. "Meaning, he could've gone to Nolan's house to confront him, not to finish his work! Good work, Donald. That's one scenario. The other option is that he is the killer. But then, why is Nolan still alive?" The giant screen portrayed a son and a father flying in the sky alive and well.

"Maybe he was trying to kill him without any witnesses. Our reports show that all the Graysons were at home when Ainz Ooal Gown was there. Well, Nolan joined later, but he wasn't killed on the spot." Cecil's right-hand man replied with a plausible theory.

"Or, he was afraid. Nolan's strong; maybe he underestimated him. And once he saw him in person, he canceled the idea of killing him." Cecil wasn't even sure a being like that could feel fear or any kind of emotion. But if it did, Nolan should be a rather significant threat to it, and a threat is always something feared.

"Did you utilize those telescopes we developed?" Cecil changed the topic.

"The spyglasses? Yes, they seem to work around that surveillance distortion. One of our agents managed to get a pretty good look at him. Young male, tall, muscular, short black hair, sharp and wide chin. About 2 meters tall. The agent also noted that he looked at each of the hidden cameras we had at the entrance. It seems he can 'feel' when he's getting watched. But the ability to disturb any surveillance isn't active. It happens automatically if he's on the picture or the target." Donald explained in short words. The GDA had to even develop precise spyglasses that harbored no technology. And it seemed to work. However, it was challenging to gather information from an individual like that. Apart from his appearance, they couldn't determine things like the density of his 'skin' or 'muscles.'

"He could be onto us. Let's call it a day and disappear from here."

"Yes, sir."

"Sorry honey, I forgot something." Nolan said as he entered the house. His other hand was clenched into a fist, prepared to strike. He could've sworn he heard more than one person inside.

The door swung open to reveal his wife, standing there somewhat confused as if she had just woken from a strange dream.

"Everything okay?" Nolan noticed her disorientation immediately. His instincts flared, and he quickly stepped towards her, his senses alert, but she seemed to recognize his presence like nothing had happened.

"Uhm, yeah, what's up? Did you guys come back already?" She asked casually. For her, they had only left for about a minute.

At first, Nolan didn't respond, scanning the room for any trace of disturbance.

"Wasn't Mark's friend with you here a second ago?" His face tightened, the suspicion rising.

"Oh, Satoru? I guess he left." Debbie replied, seemingly unaware of the shift in Nolan's demeanor.

"You guess? Weren't you in the living room with him the entire time? You should have seen him leave!" Nolan's anger spilled into the room, his posture rigid with suspicion.

"What's wrong with you? You're acting weird!" Debbie stammered, confused, and startled by his change in behavior.

"You're the one who forgot there was a person in our house a second ago!" Realizing he had frightened her, Nolan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. This situation had to be handled carefully. He wasn't about to lash out at his wife. "I'm sorry. Forget about it." He decided not to escalate the situation further. Either Debbie was lying, or she genuinely hadn't noticed the presence of another person, which was even more troubling.

Nolan paused, his gaze sweeping the house one last time. It was empty now, just the two of them. Yet, that was what disturbed him. There was no sign of anyone leaving, no trace of movement. He should've seen someone slip out when he entered, but he didn't.

When he saw Mark's friend, he couldn't stop being suspicious of him. Every instinct inside him had screamed that something was wrong with the young man. His face just gave him a foul sensation, something he would only have when he was about to get ambushed by someone who pretended to be a good guy but, in truth, was about to attack him at any moment. That was the exact feeling he had. And he would never have expected someone like that to be in his home.

'It can't be a coincidence.' He wondered who that person could have been. The GDA wouldn't dare send an undercover agent into his home. So, who else would have the audacity to come this close to him, knowing who he was and what he could do?

A deep frown spread across his face, his eyes hardening. His thoughts turned darker.

'Was it him?' A surge of realization struck Nolan, and a sense of unease washed over him for the first time. That look, that stare from Satoru—it had been more than just a glance. There was something behind it, something Nolan couldn't quite place.

"Where's Mark?" Nolan was pulled from his thoughts as his wife spoke to him.

"He's waiting outside. Don't worry, we'll be back for dinner." Nolan replied, forcing a smile, though his mind was elsewhere. He gave a quick thumbs-up to reassure her before he stormed out of the house, his thoughts still racing.

Whoever that young man was that he met, he was sure this wasn't the last time they met.

Chapter Text

Ainz found it oddly satisfying using his new smartphone. It had features he never expected to exist in this kind of age and things he had never heard of. The apps were strange and unfamiliar, yet weirdly intuitive. There was even one that cost 999 dollars, which served no function but to display the words "I am Rich" on the screen.

"Where is she…" He grumbled, searching his contacts for Debbie after having no luck calling Mark. "There."

Debbie answered almost immediately, her voice bright and warm.

Hey, Satoru! How are you?

"Can't complain. The apartment's better than expected." Ainz replied with a neutral tone. "And you?"

Doing just fine!

"That's good. Can you tell me if Mark's there? I've been trying to reach him."

He's…currently busy. He will be away for a while, likely for two weeks. Really sorry if he didn't tell you anything! I'll remind him, don't worry!

Ainz's sockets narrowed. The cheer in her voice was forced, carefully painted over something deeper. Knowing Mark was Invincible, it had to be something with him being a superhero. But what mission takes two weeks?

"Alright. It would be nice if he said something. But it can't be helped. Hope he comes back safe and sound." Ainz played his role. However, he wondered how long his nerves would let him act this way. It took a toll on his patience.

Thanks, Satoru. You know you can always come around anytime.

"Of course. Thanks for the info, Debbie. Nice talking to you." Ainz started the epilogue of the conversation, slowly drawing it to an end.

Take care, Satoru!

Ainz hung up, a sigh escaping his mouth as he fell back on his couch. It wasn't just any couch, but one made from pure magic, soft and comfy like none of the other couches he had found in furniture stores.

As long as he didn't invite anybody to his home, he wouldn't have to buy any furniture to decorate it. He could always create some decoration with magic if an emergency visitor came around.

He saw the moon shine right into his apartment as he looked outside. Without it, he couldn't tell if it was day or night. Everything seemed clear to him.

'I need money…'

There was one number on his phone he didn't save as a contact; he couldn't. It always returned an error: too many digits.

'Time for a job.'

As he pressed the number, his phone suddenly went black, as if it had died on the spot. However, after a few seconds, he heard the familiar mechanical melody speak to him.

So, you're ready for another gig. Don't worry, I've got just the thing for you.

Ainz didn't even have to ask. Machine Head already knew the reason for his call. Though that was to be expected, since there would be no other reason to call him except for work.

Satoru didn't say anything, waiting for the cyborg crime lord to continue.

There's an important piece of technology I need. I'll send you the coordinates. It's a chip you need to retrieve. Don't. Break. It.

Machine Head didn't need to say anything more. Retrieve a chip; that was all Ainz needed to know. He knew that not everything was explained or clarified in these kinds of businesses. And if he delved deeper, he could harm his relationship with his new boss.

'I still dislike working for another corporate slash mob superior.'

"Understood." Before he wanted the call to end, he remembered something he had on his mind. "Wait, do you know someone capable of creating organic bodies?" He knew this was a long shot, asking a mob boss; surely he would ask for a favor or compensation for this kind of knowledge.

Strange question you ask, Momon. If you mean cloning, you should go to that maniac, the Mauler Twins, as they call themselves.

Surprisingly, there was no catch attached. If Ainz were in his position, he would demand something in return for this information. Even in Yggdrasil, information was sacred and traded with in-game money or even real currency. Perhaps Machine Head was playing a game not even he himself could understand.

"That is all. Thank you."

As his phone returned to normal, he knew the call had ended. A new message popped up, a link for the GPS app he had pre-installed on his criminally produced phone.

There was a time stamp at the top right.

'It's tomorrow…' He wanted to do something right now, to be active, not rot in his apartment any longer. There was a wide-open world for him to explore, and yet, he felt so lonely and bored.

"Mauler Twins…"

He searched the name. Two blue humanoids in some spandex clothing appeared, rampaging through Washington as they tried to attack the White House.

"Villains then… Naturally."

He still wondered why Machine Head addressed them as singular, then plural.

"He did mention cloning, meaning one of them cloned themselves to become twins." Cloning was nothing new on his Earth. However, it was incredibly expensive to keep the elite from staying, well, young. The bottom class did not have the means to afford a clone. A single clone was more expensive than the lifetime salary of a salesman. If you do the math, it's easy to know what the rich preferred.

"But how to find them…" He had no means to track people digitally. He had no classes or skills with computers. He was probably incompatible with anything that required more expertise than the normal human could offer.

Using a smartphone was considered standard, but anything beyond that would probably end in failure.

'I can always use scrolls to find them.'

He had a limited number of scrolls he could use, meaning he shouldn't waste them without care. However, this could be his only chance of getting a real body, which would save him a ton of mana. Now, he made just a little more mana than the lesser illusion around his body needed to sustain itself.

He reached into his inventory, picking up one peculiar scroll. It was one imbued with [Locate Creature].

'Would a person still count as a creature? I could try.'

He had no idea how this would work. In Yggdrasil, he would get a camera angle on the creature, together with a dot on his map.

"[Locate Creature]" He cast the scroll as it disappeared into thin air with a flash of light.

The feeling he got next was weird, not in a disorienting sense, but because he had never felt something like this before. It was similar to when he used [Control Amnesia] on Debbie. If he were a human, he would probably feel some nausea from the effect.

However, the spell didn't fail. showing him what he wanted to see.

He knew exactly where one of the Mauler Twins was, and he found it weird that he could detect someone while only knowing their name.

Ainz could see the location clearly: a warehouse filled with all sorts of machines and a giant tube in the middle, green glass covering the inside. Beside it was one of the twins he searched for.

'Good, now to make an appearance.' He quickly shifted into his Momon persona, a black suit of metal and leather surrounding him, two giant swords appearing on his back. His red cape started to float unnaturally, while the two red dots in his skull mask made any onlooker feel filled with pure dread.

"[Teleportation]"

"See you soon…"

A blue, bald-headed giant spoke as he touched the cold glass of the chamber. He stood there for a while, unmoving, his eyes fixated on the accumulation of cells in its midst.

Then, metal. A noise too deliberate to be anything but a threat. His head spiked toward the entrance.

He had taken good precautions to prevent unwanted guests from entering without hindrance. However, it seemed someone had already made it inside. It was difficult to decipher someone from afar in the shadows surrounding him.

He turned to his right, a gun hidden beneath his desk. If someone were to kill him now, they would do so for good, as there was no clone to secure his legacy.

He jumped for the gun, aiming it back at the entrance. However, no further sound escaped from the mysterious newcomer, nothing to indicate his position now.

"Who's here! Show yourself!" The Mauler twin shouted, aiming left and right.

He wished he had never said that. As he moved in circles, suddenly a figure appeared, standing right in front of him.

Dark plates intertwined perfectly to create an armor of art and dread. A red cape hung behind the person, a hood covering a skeletal mask with two glowing red dots that served as eyes.

He hadn't heard or seen the person move there. They suddenly just appeared out of thin air, if he believed his eyes. Either an invisibility, teleportation, or extreme speed superpower. He couldn't say for good until he saw more.

Two giant swords hung on his back. However, the Mauler twin was unable to identify who this was.

"I could put a hole through that skull right now if you don't tell me why you sought me out. You haven't attacked me yet, so you clearly want something." The Mauler twin smiled. It seemed the cards were in his favor. His intellect was not for nothing.

"I was told you were twins. Where's the other one?" The person spoke for the first time, their voice a commanding tone of someone who could be considered a ruler of a bygone age.

"He's…not here." He raised his gun back up. "What. Do. You. Want?" He asked again, his finger on the trigger, tired of getting no action, twitching with anticipation for the newcomer's next moves.

"I am in need of your expertise. Organic fabrication." The dark warrior spoke in a neutral tone. "I am Momon, leader of the mercenary company Darkness." Ainz introduced himself.

"Never heard of you."

Momon snorted. "We try to keep ourselves as secretive as possible. But let's move to what I'm here for." He stepped closer, the Mauler twin already having dropped his gun. If this were just an irregular customer, he would have nothing to fear.

"What can I do for you?" His tone was somewhat pissed off, yet didn't try to show it very much, gritting his teeth instead.

"I need a skin—no, a muscle AND skin suit. Forget the bones or organs; I just need a suit that acts like a normal body, looks like a normal body, and feels like one as well. Something human enough to pass inspection. I'll pay well." Momon presented his request, not forgetting the part where they would get paid.

Of course, he wasn't about to pay them in dollars; no, rather in gold coins or highly prized jewels, depending on their price.

"We will need some down payment for this." Before he could continue, a bag slid toward him from his new customer, by the looks of it, quite heavy. He unzipped it, and a great amount of various gemstones blinded his vision. "Seems enough. But your next payment better be in good old dollars. Takes time to sell this stuff." He tried to lift it, seemingly much heavier than he believed. He wondered how this Momon could slide it perfectly right before his feet.

"Can I ask why you need something so specific?" The curiosity got the better of him.

Momon's stare simply continued to peek into his soul.

"Do the job."

In one smooth motion, Momon turned around and walked toward the entrance, his cape flowing behind him. His steps slowly became more silent until they completely vanished.

Twenty steps, the twin counted. Not enough to even leave the area before Momon disappeared.

"So a teleportation superpower, huh."

Doors flung open, folded like a piece of paper as they flew off their hinges. The alarm long rang in the background, the scientists sprinting along the edges, their faces visible with fear.

A man with skin made of rock entered, his pants the only thing he wore as clothing. However, it was enough, as his skin was extremely resistant to most types of damage.

He walked toward a table in the middle, which seemed out of place, extremely futuristic in comparison to the design of the building and the interior he was previously met with.

With the press of some buttons, a clear glass sheet was lifted by two hydraulic presses, a small, green object shimmering golden in the middle of it.

With extreme care, the man picked the chip up before a group of guards rushed in, blocking the entrance. He could hear the gun's safeties getting switched off. However, he had already heard their ragged breath and how shaky their hands were.

"Freeze!" One of them gathered the courage to speak.

The man made of stone, however, did not even turn his head fully to them.

"Your life's worth minimum wage?" It wasn't a question, more like a reminder of how easily he could eliminate them. Sweat dripped down their faces, their hands sticky, the finger on the trigger feeling heavy.

Before he could continue, two wet, deep cuts could be heard, followed by screams of anguish, something liquid hitting the back of his head like a splash.

He reached for his neck, feeling the thickness of the substance, something he had felt one too many times on his fingertips.

He closed his palm around the chip before turning around, sensing the group of guards already dead. And he was right.

The four of them were cut in half in a vertical motion. All in two cuts, no movement wasted, no mercy given.

Even Titan stepped back after seeing such brutal efficiency.

And the worst of it was, the perpetrator didn't even try to hide himself.

There he stood, all proud and mighty, suited in a tactical armor of plates and dark cloth, a red cape floating behind him while a black hood covered his head. Beneath it was a golden mask, portraying a menacing skeletal face with two red dots for eyes.

"Who the fuck are you?" Titan shouted, clenching his fists as he readied himself for a confrontation with this mysterious attacker.

Both stared each other down, knowing full well why they came here. The reason was in Titan's right hand.

"Who I am isn't important." The warrior said, his voice as deep as Titan's but with a more commanding presence. His eyes turned to Titan's fist. "Give me the chip, and I will let you go unharmed."

"Fuck you!"

His answer was a clear no. Titan prepared himself, raising his fists. He had never fought against a superhero who used swords. Luckily, he was made of stone. He knew for a fact that cuts alone would not be able to harm him.

In a flash of black and red, the warrior was upon him, both swords colliding with his forearms with immense velocity. Titan's eyes widened at the speed and strength his opponent possessed, almost getting knocked back by the attack alone.

'Who the hell is under that armor?'

He didn't have time to think about such things. Instead, following up with a punch to the face. Yet, his speed was not quick enough, getting blocked by the flat side of his blades.

With a kick to his stomach, Titan was flung against a wall, trying his best to keep his grip on the chip secure.

The warrior stuck one of his swords into the ground, grabbing Titan's right wrist as he clenched it harder and harder. Titan's stoneskin showed small cracks, forcing him to punch the mercenary in the face.

It was enough to get him to let go of his wrist, allowing Titan to continue with a shoulder bash, grabbing his opponent and forcing him through the next wall into another room full of chemicals. He smashed Momon into the cabinets full of containers, all sorts of mixtures splashing onto them, some more lethal than others.

Before Titan could react, Momon struck Titan's left shoulder with his elbow, forcing him to his knees as he felt the pain spread through his torso.

'He hits hard!' Titan noticed. However, now that his swords were gone, their fight turned into fist against fist, something Titan knew he was good at.

He struck first, this time for the gut. Rock hit metal, yet it didn't bend. The punch was absorbed by the armor. The next punch was completely evaded as the warrior stepped back before going for a chokehold on Titan.

Surprisingly, Titan felt it had an effect on him. Truly, his opponent's strength was something he had never encountered before.

"Let me go! Or I'll destroy the chip!" Titan managed to say, noticing how the warrior froze, almost lifting his chokehold completely. He sighed internally. He was right to use the chip as leverage, even if he needed it more than anyone else.

"Put it on the ground. Slowly." Momon said, keeping his arms around Titan's neck as he watched his right hand closely.

"Before I do that, I have a question." The prolonged silence meant he could continue. "Did Machine Head send you to kill me?" At that, the warrior seemed to stiffen up a little. The name meant something to him.

"My task is to acquire that chip, nothing else." Momon stated coldly, neither denying nor confirming Machine Head to be his contractor. However, for Titan, this was a shimmer of relief.

"That is exactly what I'm supposed to do for Machine Head. Same as you." He went for a long shot, hoping it to be true.

"If that's really the case, then give me the chip, and we will clear this incident with the man himself." Momon said, and Titan realized he would not let him move until he gave up the device.

With a sigh of defeat, he raised his hand, opening his palms, presenting the chip to the man behind him.

"I will keep this for safeguarding." The warrior grabbed the object, finally letting go of Titan. Finally, he could catch his breath after what felt like an eternity.

Using his right leg as leverage, he stood up, face-to-face with the warrior in black. The hostility between them seemed to disappear in an instant.

"If you're not lying, you're going to accompany me to his headquarters." Momon's words seemed like an order. Titan didn't know if he could even refuse.

"Sure, but give me the credit for getting the chip if he confirms that I work with him." Titan made an unusual request, to which Momon turned his head a bit.

"Why so?"

"I'm not sure what kind of deal you've got going with Machine Head, but I'm forced to do his dirty work." Titan gritted his teeth; while not visible, Momon did hear it.

The raven-black warrior stood there for a moment, probably contemplating Titan's appeal.

"What will you give me if I do that? I will likely not get paid if you take the credit for the retrieval of the chip. I require that payment." Momon answered with his own counteroffer. While not unexpected, it was a disappointment to Titan that this man wasn't easily convinced, unlike the superheroes of today's age.

"I can give you 1,000 dollars by tonight. More, I can't do." Titan's amount wasn't even close to the one Machine Head was ready to pay. Both knew that.

"Mmh, what about a favor? Whenever, whatever. You're obliged to fulfill it." Momon said, his figure darkening, red dots showing beneath the helmet.

For Titan, there weren't any other options.

"Alright, you win. Just let us get out of here." Titan just now noticed how long the alarm had been ringing. Surely more backup was on the way, potentially superheroes.

Before Titan could object, Momon grabbed him by the arm, and with one sweeping motion, jumped through the window up into the sky some hundred meters away, landing safely in an alley.

While Titan crashed into the next brick wall, Momon silently glided onto the ground.

"Can you warn me next time you do that?" Visibly upset, he shouted at the warrior. "What's even your name?"

"Momon, leader of the mercenary group Darkness." The warrior introduced himself. Titan didn't know much about mercenaries, but for Machine Head to hire one, he must be damn good.

"Titan, not really a pleasure to meet you." The rocky skin around Titan seemed to disappear, leaving a dark-skinned bald man behind.

Momon only nodded as he heard a group of police cars drive along, closely hugging the wall.

"Let's use the sewage canal. The ones in this area are abandoned and will lead us near Machine Head's building." Titan proposed as he pointed to a nearby manhole.

"Take the lead."

With one swing, Titan removed the manhole cover, jumping in with one fluid motion. Momon waited until it was clear and did so as well.

There wasn't much light to go around. For Titan, the path ahead was barely visible. But Momon saw just fine.

"It's quite a walk. Better we hurry." Titan jogged along the railing, and Momon followed.

'How does a man like that make so little sound?' Titan could audibly guess the size and weight of a person by hearing their footsteps alone. But if he only heard Momon approach, he wouldn't guess him to be about seven feet tall.

"How did you get into working with Machine Head?" Titan asked, trying to break the tension a little with what was theoretically his work colleague. Momon did not seem like the usual scum Machine Head kept around. He was professional, well-spoken, maybe even honorable. How did a person like that get into the criminal business? However, he did seem ruthless, doing everything to accomplish his goals, as shown before. Perhaps he was simply a more professional thug than himself.

"He pays us; we do the job. Simple as that." Momon did not seem one of many words, not that Titan minded it. He had had enough of people who loved to hear themselves talk. Especially one with a metal head.

"How long, tho? I have never seen you around Machine Head's place."

"Just recently." Momon answered, seemingly more interested in his surroundings than the conversation. Titan didn't take him for a paranoid guy.

"What, something got you scared?" Titan inquired; however, after he heard a sound in the distance, he too became more cautious of his surroundings.

"Something is in here with us." Momon unsheathed both of his swords, prepared for an attack. Titan did the same as he turned back into his rock form.

A low growl came from in front of them. Just inches away from his head, he saw an afterimage of an object flying by, thundering into the dark. A screech followed. As Titan turned around, he saw Momon missing one of his swords.

"You could've warned me." He growled at the warrior.

"I wouldn't have missed." Momon responded, going past Titan as he retrieved his sword. It was stuck in a grotesque, lizard-like creature, about the size of a small dog. For now, it didn't seem that there was anything else down here.

The next couple of turns went fast and silent. It didn't take long for Titan to find the right exit, right in front of the luxurious skyscraper Machine Head used.

There were no guards since there was nobody who came here without being invited. Cameras covered every part of the premises. It was a highly secure building that not many could afford.

Momon and Titan did not even need to do anything, as the doors opened up automatically, the elevator awaiting their arrival.

The two of them entered, and while harmless music played in the background, Titan wanted to go over the plan once more.

"You say I got the chip from the building; you just weren't sure we were working for the same guy."

"Of course." Ainz answered.

It didn't take long for the elevator doors to open once more, this time in front of a waiting room, two Italian wood doors awaiting them. Ainz waited until Titan took the lead, gaining a nod from the enforcer.

"My two favorite employees! I hope you got what I sent you for?" Machine Head's melodic voice rang out as he sat behind his desk with his arms resting atop the luxurious item. To the left sat Isotope, making himself comfortable on the couch.

Titan stomped forward. "You didn't tell me one of your other henchmen would also participate in this job." He put his fists on the table, slightly deforming the wood.

"I must've forgotten. But you two seemed to get along. I just didn't expect you to be here so fast." Machine Head answered. "Now, where's my chip?"

Momon stepped forward, chip in hand, laying it on the table.

"Titan was the one who secured it. I just wasn't sure we were working for the same guy." Momon added, turning to Titan with a nod.

"So you had to take it from him like a toy from a baby. Impressive that you managed to overpower him." Machine Head teased, sensing Titan's blood boiling slightly. He just knew where to pinch and twist.

With a subtle push, Machine Head put the chip into an opening on the side of his head. His eyes flashed with light as he grabbed the chair, feeling the intensity of the capabilities he could detect with the help of the chip.

"Oh yeah…That's nice."

Titan leaned closer. "That's the last of it. I'm done, paid in full." He turned and walked away, yet as Machine Head's voice rang out, he stopped in his tracks.

"Mmh, nah."

"Nah?"

Machine Head stood up, Isotope standing next to him now. Perhaps as a security measure, if Titan dared to attack him.

"Your problem is, you're too useful. You take bullets like a champ and don't even whine about it. Maybe sometimes you let people live when they need to die. But, hell, do you make an impact! If you didn't just finish paying off your debt, we'd be talking bonus time."

Momon watched the conversation from the side while Isotope smirked behind Machine Head and was probably getting paid for it.

"I don't need your money anymore." Titan spat at Machine Head.

"Sure you do. What, you think you're gonna go clean? Work at Burger-Mart? That ship has sailed, amigo. This is your life now. This is what you do." Titan didn't want to listen to his crap anymore, deciding to leave once more.

"No, it's not."

"You're a walking pile of rocks. You break necks. That's it. Own it already. And I know you're gonna keep working for me. Question is, how painful do you want it to be?"

At that, Titan turned around in a storm, his body covering itself with stone as he neared Machine Head.

"What do you think you're doing? You think you can just punch your way out of this? I know where your family lives, and that means you work for me until I say you're fucking done!" Machine Head pinched his chest.

Titan clenched his fist, but before he could explode and make a mistake, he felt a hand on his shoulder, cold and heavy.

"Best you go now." Momon's words were more of an advice than an order. Titan let go of his anger, deciding it best to leave as he turned around once more.

"You should listen to your pal, buddy." Machine Head said to his back. "Don't forget, I'm never. Letting. You. Go!" His words echoed in Titan's head, but he continued, having had enough of Machine Head's charades.

Machine Head then turned to Momon, who watched Titan walk away.

"I'm still deciding between the two of you. Who's better? Or you know what, I'll just keep you both! Two top enforcers! What better could a boss dream of?" Isotope laughed, yet Momon remained unfazed. "C'mon, smile. You're almost too serious."

"I'll be going now, if that's all." Momon said, and Machine Head nodded.

"You think it's smart to keep him around? Titan is way cheaper." Isotope said into Machine Head's ear.

"I can see thousands of probabilities. Momon is a good investment, a great one even! He's stronger than Titan and has other enforcers working under him. If there's trouble, he's the one to call. And besides, he loves money."