It didn't take long for Ainz to understand the situation and come to terms with the guardians' betrayal. It may have been in good faith, but they had acted against him and might as well lose their life in the process. Ainz couldn't allow that to happen. If that happened, then he couldn't face his comrades once he attains the power to find their soul and pull them into his realm.

Ainz didn't waste any time as he teleported out and returned to the battlefield. At least that's what was supposed to happen, instead he found himself unable to leave the frozen prison, chains binding his body.

A singular thought orbited his mind; how? What could possibly stop him from escaping? The prison was designed for lvl 90 players, this was enough given that they executed them a couple of times to drop levels, it shouldn't be able to hold him, much less now at the power level he had attained.

As his frustration grew black miasma oozed out of his every bone, an aura of despair enveloped his surroundings, this as many of his skills, abilities evolved over time.

Black flames gnawed at the frozen chains, melting them in a matter of seconds, the walls also all but crumbled. Nigredo took a few steps back, but she refused to leave the chamber. She was given a task by Albedo, the guardian overseer herself, although that wouldn't be enough to defy the Supreme one's will, Albedo was also her dear sister and after her sister's explanation she agreed that the Supreme one must be kept from harm, and thus she had accepted the task.

Ainz's crimson orbs travelled to a delicate hand grasping his gown. He would've cursed already if not for the fact that he was mentally overwhelmed and all his processing was preoccupied, coming up with a way to reach his guardians, the children of his comrades, his friends in time.

While Ainz could safely ignore Nigredo, as she was nowhere near at a level which could potentially hinder him, there was a big problem.

The one grasping his violet gown was no other, but Rubedo herself. An NPC, an area guardian of the 8th floor. The floor where no players managed to push through in time of the epic raid.

In and on itself, it wouldn't have been a problem, as even though a World Class Item was used for Rubedo's creation, Ainz had long since ascended to a higher level. The challenge arose from the fact that Ainz had cast {Blessing of Ainz Ooal Gown}, a Super tier spell he had come up with, which deeply reflected a saying that stick with him through thick and thin, 'there is no greater love, than to sacrifice oneself for another'.

The spell basically allowed Ainz to stack job classes, and raw stat bonuses upon already max level beings, such as his guardians to whom he had gifted over 5% of his excess levels. But Ainz had also considered that should he fall, then Nazarick would be all but defenseless, to counter this he had decided to empower the already strongest of the guardians, an area guardian whose base was a World Class Item, thus making her the only other whose essence was fused with world level powers.

An ideal candidate she was, but now Ainz whipped himself mentally. He had given her over 40% of his excess levels which he had gained using various versions of {Energy Drain} throughout the years. Adding to his troubles there was a faint glow surrounding Rubedo, which could only mean one thing.

Victim was dead, the floor guardian of the 8th floor had sacrificed his life so that Rubedo may have the power to contain Ainz Ooal Gown. It was truly frustrating, poetic even.

Ainz wasn't stupid when he gave away his excess levels, and jobs. He had specifically given every guardian the jobs that suited and empowered them the most, and most prominent example of this was Rubedo.

She was a catastrophe when faced with a large number of players and unbeatable in duels due to her being excessively strong. Now, in the new world faced time and time again with such strong adversaries, Ainz opted to empower Rubedo in a way that would allow her to go toe to toe with Elder Gods, maybe even Outer Ones if the fight took place on the Eighth floor.

Adding Victim's boost, a 300% buff to her fighting powers she was truly a monster now. Now with his blessing, those affected by Victim's sacrifice would keep their buffs in the entirety of the tomb and would also gain an instant death probability to every attack.

Ainz realized he got himself in trouble yet again, how unlucky one must be to face such odds? Created by them in the first place? Ainz wondered absentminded, as his gaze focused on Rubedo.

In retrospect it may have been hasty of him to gift away such a sizeable number of classes.

"Rubedo, stand aside." Ainz commanded firmly, but Rubedo remained unmoved by his words.

"Rubedo, please I do not have the time for this, Stand aside now!" This time the crimson aura flared alive, and the gloom of his despair aura was enhanced.

"Under Albedo's orders, you are to remain in safety." A monotone voice, which held no emotion echoed in the chamber as the hand grasping his gown clenched further but made sure not to rip the cloth.

The crimson orbs dancing in Ainz Ooal Gown's eye sockets dimmed, realizing what he must do he resolved himself.

Rachel stood unmoving on the courtyard of the elven castle. Her eyes glued to the sky she witnessed a legend born.

The Word Serpent, devourer of worlds, rained down acid, and other corrosive compounds, charged into utterly dark breath attacks. Its range of attack spanned an incredible distance as it came down, spanning from horizon to horizon.

But that was when her vertically split pupils dilated and focused on a single spot high above the heavens. A violent aura spreading, a figure floating and meeting the attack head on.

Great swirling masses of darkness came into existence all over the skies, joined together they weathered the terrible attack of the serpent, as Rachel watched something caught her attention.

Light gleamed on the golden staff, held by the mysterious challenger.

She recognized who that was… her master, Ainz Ooal Gown.

She fell to her knees, eyes watering as she recalled the past centuries.

Although, Master Ainz was scary, but he wasn't a bad person. To Rachel, he was more akin to a God, a God that looked down on mortals, and gave them the means to better themselves. The means to strengthen oneself. She realized that all those hours of harsh training were to prepare her for the cruel world that surrounded them, to prepare her for the challenges that she may face in the future.

She recalled the many times — that was in fact few and far between — they had spent together, specifically the demon hunts — in the times of the Demon Gods — stayed with her to this day. How easily he had dispatched those monsters, how nothing seemed impossible before the might of her master. The thought that one day she may achieve such a height inspired her every day.

Dragons valued power above all else, and as a Dragon Lord Rachel also had attraction to those with power. To those who realized their weakness and acted to correct them.

She had to act, she had to help, she decided as she pushed herself to her feet.

Just then, a sonic boom shook the sky and Ainz Ooal Gown was no more, he disappeared never to be seen again.

Rachel frantically looked around, hoping to find her master. Their reunion was close, and that… that damned serpent stood between them.

Her eyes dangerously narrowed, sizing up the large creature.

Her body tensed, ready to break its limits, ready to launch into the terrible skies above, but just then the ground shook. The ground reverberated on command, as hundreds of soldiers marched out of the elven capital, where they were hiding up until now? Rachel had no idea.

Led by Gabriel, and the rest of the Sacred Flames Rachel looked on flabbergasted as she recognized several faces in the crowd of neatly packed soldiers.

They were… they were the children the Supreme One's minions deemed unworthy, too weak to stay with the group. Hundreds of children, they were never killed.

A stone fell from Rachel's heart as she realized this. Her master, Ainz Ooal Gown… how could she ever doubt him? He was a shining light in the darkness of the night, all should aspire to be like him.

Rachel wished that one day she could become like him, a force that cannot be opposed, yet still regaining sense and acting with kindness and mercy towards his own, and cruelty delt to enemies.

A voice called out to her, breaking her stupor. "Hey Rachel, we are marching on that thing," one of the Sacred flames, dressed in orange leather called out to her, "wanna come and join us? Beat the hell out of that thing?"

Rachel needed no more rallying, she nodded her head before staring up at the skies and seeing that new challengers, new guardians arose she sped her steps.

The Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick was shaking, as the walls dubbed undestroyable by those shitty devs simply crumbled when Ainz was flung into, no, through them.

Although, it repaired itself automatically and within a minute and no evidence of a fight was visible, it still agitated Ainz. They had been at it with Rubedo for half an hour now, and she showed no signs of exhaustion. Maybe, he had designed her extra levels too efficiently.

The guardians however had been fighting the World Serpent, how long they can hold up, how long until they fall is only a matter of time, and Ainz didn't want that to come to pass.

He had to wrap things up here, but Rubedo proved to be a challenge. It was like he was fighting a level 90 player back in Yggdrasil while said player was immune to any crowd control effects and Ainz had to defeat her without actually hurting said player.

It was truly a challenging task. But Ainz had no time for this now. He had enough of this and simply decided that if Rubedo wouldn't allow him to leave the tomb, then he would be left with no choice.

He pointed the tip of the staff of Ainz Ooal Gown at Rubedo and ordered her to stand down, why didn't he start with that? Ainz disliked compelling his guardians, the 'children' of his comrades that way, but when push comes to shove, he would not hesitate.

Then… a boom shook the entirety of the tomb, and debris fell from the ceiling. "What th-" Ainz was cut off as another tremor shook the tomb, this time spider cracks spread across the walls.

He didn't waste any time and activated his {Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown} and arrived before the double gates of the throne room. He rushed inside, not caring about appearances as the cleaning maids gasped at his sudden arrival.

Boom.

The maids fell over, and the chandeliers of the throne room dislodged themselves from the ceiling.

Surprised yelps, and shrieks of terror rose as many lvl 1 maids ran around the room, taking cover.

Ignoring the turmoil Ainz moved to his destination and ascended the stairs.

He finally took his place upon the {Throne of Kings}.

He had to figure out what the hell was going on.

…

Ellee was sleeping peacefully, next to her Aureole Omega watched silently, she had been given a task by her lord and master Ainz Ooal Gown. She was to watch over Ellee, while this disaster passed.

As the tomb's defenses were gradually weakening, she was ordered to retreat inside the treasury with the Pleiades. Here the tremors weren't present, after all the Supreme Ones have seen fit to storing their treasures in a whole other dimension. Truly, such foresight. Only a Supreme being could have foreseen such an incident.

She shook her head; this wasn't the time for this. She should be out and fight for the tomb like the rest, but Lord Ainz was adamant she stays with Ellee. Thankfully, the Lord's charm worked wonders, and the elf was put to sleep without a hinge.

…

Ainz used {Ultimate Clairvoyance} a spell he created in the past and surveyed the surroundings of the tomb. Nothing, there was nothing but death and decay wherever he turned his vision. Up in the skies, there was no trace of the guardians ever being there. 'No! No—no this can't be! This can't be happening!' A skeletal fist impacted the throne, sending shards flying everywhere, before the WCI gradually repaired itself.

Ainz brought up a screen, displaying the guardians' statuses.

There was nothing, their name had disappeared.

This could only mean one thing.

Ainz gripped his staff, it groaned under the force and the imprisoned souls wailed in torment.

He couldn't lose his guardians, he had already lost his comrades, his friends. Hasn't this world taken enough from him already?!

"Guardians! Albedo! Shalltear, Mare, Aura, Demiurge, Sebas, Cocytus! Resurrect and return!"

Ainz called out, with each name more and more desperation reflecting in his voice.

Nothing happened. No gold was summoned, no Guardian was resurrected.

The crimson flames crackled intensely as the world cut out in front of the eyes of Ainz Ooal Gown. Everything ceased to exist for a moment, then at the end of the white tunnel he could see something, he could see someone. Feminine features, generous curves, a golden tiara.

He would recognize her anywhere, she was his refuge, she was his partner in the trying years. She was the Queen and Sovereign of the strongest nation this continent, this world had ever seen. But to him, she was just 'Ellee.'

The raging black inferno around him subsided and became much more controlled as the black flames ate away at the {Throne of Kings}. The entirety of the tomb continued to shake as the endless waves of darkness sieged its defenses. The World Class Item known as the {Throne of Kings} had erected a barrier around the tomb, and currently this barrier was the only thing that separated this place from the withering world outside.

Ainz's eyes crackled intensely as he pulled upon his magical reserves.

Never, never before had he considered that there would come a day when he'd be short on mana. Not after everything he had learnt, everything he had absorbed. The time was nigh, it has come.

The moment when he would invoke the pinnacle of magic.

He would have to summon the 14th tier of magic, the Supreme tier.

If he had to catalogue all magic, then below 10th was the magic of mortals and Demi-Gods.

The 11th was Super tier or God tier, a level of magic only players could cast. Then there was a select few, one could count them on one hand that could use a single specific spell of the 12th tier, Ainz Ooal Gown could pride himself that they had such a member once, The Keeper of Great Catastrophes, The World Disaster Ulbert Alain Odle.

And then there were world items which held magical spells, and wild magic, these could potentially reach a level — given that certain conditions are met — that could be identified as the 13th tier of power.

And then, and then there was the level he was ready to execute for the first, and hopefully last time in his long life. The 14th tier, or the Supreme tier. He had only created formulas for a handful of such spells, as there was no need for more. A single spell of this caliber could affect the universe as an entirety. A spell that allowed its user to impose his will onto reality itself, and this unlike Super tier spells had an everlasting effect.

The chaotic aura condensed around Ainz as he got ready to cast the spell.

The Supreme tier held such mighty power that it could no longer ignore the laws of the world, for it to work it needed the universe to accept, to recognize its existence as its own decree and thus it had to abide by the one and only most fundamental law, that although may be broken by Wish Upon a Star, it couldn't be broken by something so superior, something so sublime.

The law of equivalent exchange.

Ainz had to sacrifice something that held the same amount of power, the same amount of influence over reality. And thus, Ainz's mental eyes burst open and took inventory.

Several dozen World Class Items neatly placed next to each other on an unremarkable shelf materialized and Ainz knew what he had to do.

…

The barrier erected by the {Throne of Kings} shattered as darkness overwhelmed the light.

It rushed inside the ancient tomb, consuming anything and everything in its pass.

The floors drowned in darkness and the denizens of the tomb fell one after another, unable to withstand the corrosive nature of nightfall. It didn't matter what resistances, immunities they have held, they all perished without exception.

…

Fifth, a maid in service to the Supreme one regained consciousness. Her whole body ached as she pushed herself to knee. Debris covered the majestic hall of the Supreme beings. But as she looked around, she realized that there were more pressing matters to attend to. Her fellow maid sisters were unconscious, laying on the ground, many heavily bleeding.

Her eyes unconsciously strayed to the obsidian throne, to Ainz Ooal Gown's form.

The great Overlord's form shivered uncontrollably, as the bones gradually lost their luster and subtle cracks appeared throughout every bone.

Dark greenish flames flared inside the hollow sockets of the Undead God, and Fifth felt her soul grow cold.

The Golden Staff groaned under the pressure, as slowly even the shaft started to melt.

{The Throne of Kings} slowly crumbled away into dust under the Supreme one as a singularity formed around him. Fifth didn't know much about magic and power other than the fact that the Supreme Ones stood at the top, at the apex of power. But now, even she realized something. At this point in space and time, the Supreme One's power shed all limitations, and bore its true face upon the world.

Surprisingly, there was no pressure bearing down on her, breaking her body. Had Ainz meticulously paid attention to his surroundings so that they, the maids don't suffer? Even at times like this their master is as thoughtful and merciful as ever.

She could hear a rumble dangerously closing in on their location but the Supreme one didn't react. Fifth tried to call out, but her voice was lost in the rumble as the double heavy doors burst open, allowing the all-consuming darkness to invade the throne room, the last stand of the Supreme beings.

Fifth even with her broken ankle pushed herself and jumped in front of Ainz Ooal Gown.

Even if she was nothing but a maid, she had a duty to uphold. She wouldn't forgive herself if the last of the Supreme beings was harmed, even if she could do nothing else to aid him, at least she could do this much. She threw herself in the path of the darkness, it should consume her instead of her lord. She shut her eyes tightly as she fell through the air… and impacted the ground harshly.

She waited and waited… her heartbeat sped up… awaiting the inevitable demise that never came.

She allowed herself to peak, and she was met by a wall of darkness. An invisible barrier kept the forces of darkness at bay, although trembling slightly it gave no ground for nightfall to pass.

Fifth turned her head slowly and saw that a slowly crumbling skeletal hand was outstretched and her master's eyes lost their earlier intensity. They crackled ever so dimly, ever so slowly. All life draining away, all power leaving his ancient self and entering a vortex rotating behind his back. A clockwork encompassed the infinite mass of energy and the hand of the clock slowly ticked forward.

Tick, Tack… Tick, Tack… Tic-

It gradually slowed, threatening to stop, but nevertheless it pressed forward.

Fifth watched in horror as the Master she had served all in her life slowly withered away.

He had expanded his sphere of influence just to shield her in a final act of kindness.

Tears escaped Fifth's eyes, as she cried out for her master, but Ainz had no answer for her. The jaws of the undead fell to the ground as he whispered his final words before the lights ultimately gave out.

Supreme tier magic was invoked.

The barrier keeping darkness at bay shattered and nightfall rushed forward. The desperate cries of Fifth were silenced as the world lost its colors and the clockwork stopped ticking.

Then, a screeching noise filled the void, devoid of time. The hand groaned on the clockwork behind Ainz Ooal Gown as the {Throne of Kings} ultimately crumbled, and World Class Item after World Class Item was erased from existence as their energies were channeled into one intent. To one end. To fulfill the Supreme One's wish.

Countless Eyes of the Unspeakable opened wide and monitored Ainz Ooal Gown, as the pinnacle of undeath forcefully grinded back the hands on the clock, forcing time to march backwards, erasing reality as we know it, and creating it anew.

At an impossible point in space, where all of time conjoined together and existed simultaneously, The Lurker at the Threshold watched with interest. "Ha-Hah-AH-AaH! Intriguing, I didn't see this coming... Ha-hA-Ha-Ah! Fine, I'll allow it!" The Key and the Gate released his absolute control over all of creation for a split second, yielding to Ainz Ooal Gown to bend space-time to his liking. "Ha-AhH- HAhA! I didn't think you had it in you Ainz Ooal Gown… I can't wait for out fated meeting! HaH-hA-aH-ah" Yog-Sothoth cackled madly as the galaxies trembled in his vicinity.

…

As the last of the bones withered away there was nothing left of the Supreme One, Ainz Ooal Gown.

Nothing but a ghost, an astral projection of his inner self, his soul. A memory.

The astral body was promptly swallowed up by the singularity and hurled backwards in time.

Before Ainz's very eyes all of creation played out, abstract forms contorted and stretched seemingly into infinity as his astral form was warped beyond recognition, and then… abruptly everything had come to a halt and Ainz found himself in a world devoid of time and matter. A world that operated on laws unknown to man.

Ainz kept a tight grip on his consciousness as it tried to slip away every now and then. He wouldn't allow it, there was just too much at stake here.

He had a goal, a mission to save his guardians and the world, the world he had grown to love. He concentrated on his goal, on his mission and space warped.

Ainz was propelled forward and entered the horizon. On the other end an infinitely massive wormhole spewed out his very soul right where he wanted.

The world was colorless, frozen in time all around him as he slowly levitated in the air.

A giant serpent loomed high above the clouds, threatening to split the heavens and consume the world. Ainz Ooal Gown looked down and found his skeletal body unmoving, empty eye sockets staring up at the night sky, or what was left of it.

He let out a sigh, he had done it. He has achieved the impossible. He has travelled back in time.

He found himself right before the arrival of the World Serpent. This time he would not be contained, this time he would not give a chance for the guardians to stand in his way and sacrifice themselves. He would stand tall and protect what is his.

The spiritual form of the salaryman slowly descended, warped beyond recognition ethereal bones impaled his astral flesh and blackish green flames danced around every inch of skin and bone.

This was the soul of Suzuki Satoru, aka Ainz Ooal Gown. Perverted by his time spent in the new world, further disfigured by his meddling in eldritch magic it was a truly horrific sight.

The moment his soul made contact with his physical body a flash of light launched the world into motion and time resumed its march, ever pressing forward.