When Ainz heard the news, the deeply coveted report that someone was out there, that some of his family might still be alive, he threw aside everything, and hurriedly teleported to the location.

He was deep under the Earth, somewhere in the lower reaches of the Mantle, however to the Overlord that he was now, the pressure and heat governing here could not hope to impede him.

The Wrath that informed the Overlord dispersed within the shadows, and went on his way searching for others, meanwhile Ainz came upon a gigantic dragon that laid on a sizzling island surrounded by an ocean of fire. It was familiar, yet a stranger at the same time.

The dragon was comparable, if not larger than the Dragon Emperor of his memories, however that was a long time ago… he might remember it wrong. He silently cast a few magic aimed at appraising the dragon, and soon the wisps of flames furrowed unceremoniously.

Abilities like Limit Break, and Overdrive were among the Dragon’s repertoire of combat, abilities that were given to a certain dragonoid so long ago. Could it be…

“Rachel…?” He called out hesitantly.

The platinum scales moved, and gave way as the massive lizard unwrapped itself, and platinum pupils examined the undead. There was uncertainty in those eyes for but a moment, before recognition gleamed, and the massive dragon quivered.

“A- Ainz… Lord Ainz…” It rasped, its voice cracking. “Yo-you are back!”

Ainz merely nodded, the pale orbs, scrutinizing the dragon further, found several deep marks of battle that never healed on its massive scales, and he couldn’t help but furrow his nonexistent brows.

“Take it easy Rachel, yes I am back. I’ve returned and I’m never leaving again.” The Overlord spoke those words with affection, yet at the same time backed with an iron will. A verdict that the world must follow, that reality must abide by. “{Perfect Condition}” Ainz cast a Supreme spell that restored Hp to 100% while removed any status inflictions as well. A slight glow enveloped the dragon.

“Th-thank you...”

“Don’t mention it, it was my fault in the first place that you’ve ended up like this.” The Overlord said, “Now, please tell me what has happened while I was gone,” and settled down.

“As you wish, but it will be a long story.” Rachel began, and a ball of light appeared before the Overlord, and images began materializing within. “It all began when you disappeared, over millennia ago…”

(…)

“Those that hid in fear of your shadow resurfaced and tried to conquer the world. Villages, cities, countless lives were lost, but it wasn’t something that could directly threaten us.”

Ainz gave an approving nod, and Rachel continued.

“Then came the forgotten rulers of the past, a few dozen Dragon Lords had survived the ages, hidden from your sight. Albeit only a handful of them were true Dragon Lords, they still managed to cause massive casualties thanks to their wild magic, and horrid sacrifices.”

“Around this time an uncanny demon declared itself as the New Ruler of the Lands, and began its rampage on the East, while a powerful Necromancer rose to prominence on the west. However, through Ellee’s insistence Nazarick had intervened and lent support to the chosen few before greater destruction could be wrought upon the lands.”

Ainz merely nodded, while the orbs surveyed the brief flashes of light.

“Several vassals of the human empire took advantage of the turbulent times and grabbed power for themselves. The Holy Empire was entangled in a brutal civil war and the emperor was ultimately dethroned. In the end power was concentrated in the hands of Ellee as she already had dominion over half the world and the support of Nazarick. They could not oppose her.”

While Ainz was relieved, he readied himself. If it were the end, then the land would still be covered in lush green, and civilization would flourish. He knew Ellee, she would do everything in her power to make it so... Ainz clenched his fists. Something came to this land, something scoured the earth, and exterminated everything alive and dead. Something utterly blasphemous.

“This period was followed by a few centuries of peace. Ellee was a just ruler, and the people loved her, however nothing lasts forever. One day a stranger came upon the Land. The Black Man, he called himself.”

Shadow fell over the elongated skull. “The Black Man?” Ainz asked, Hastur mentioned that name.

“Yes. He shared knowledge with the Guardians, forbidden knowledge that had them at awe for years, but soon the man showed his true colors. My senses screamed at me when I first met him, however I was brushed aside along with Sebas due to the knowledge this man could divulge. Demiurge and Albedo had believed that HE was the key to bringing you home, Lord Ainz.”

Ainz shifted from side to side uncomfortably as he listened to the past.

“The stranger stopped at nothing to corrupt our minds, first those in our area, and soon the whole world. The Tomb’s sturdy walls held for decades, the {Throne of Kings} providing a barrier that commanded stop to all madness and insanity. However, it had failed at last.”

“Before long The Black Man had twisted the land to his image and brought abominations to scour the earth. No one was safe anymore. No one could hide, no one could survive… That year the first floor of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick fell.”

The Overlord listened intently; the orbs shifted uneasily in the hollow sockets.

“The denizens of the Tomb, along with the army that you’ve provided fought bravely, and fiercely for every step of the great halls, but it was not enough. Gradually, they were slain and the enemy advanced. Roughly one floor fell every decade, before we eventually managed to stop them at the 8th floor.” Ainz stood rigid and unmoving, as the wisps of flames swayed ever so slowly.

He didn’t interject and allowed Rachel to continue. However, the Ancient Dragon Lord could feel the aura around the Overlord twisting, changing, malforming. It was not how she remembered. It was wrong somehow. Corrupted, evil, and weird. She quickly pressed on.

“Pandora’s Actor and Albedo authorized the usage of the treasury, and they called on reinforcements ceaselessly. Demiurge directed the armies, the Pleiades and Sebas protected the commander, while Shalltear rampaged on the front lines along with Cocytus. Mare and Aura provided support, Mare always focused on AOE spells to wipe out great chunks of enemy, while Aura ordered her beasts always in a way to shield those most in need, but it was not enough, not nearly enough.” Rachel spoke, resentment began tainting her words as she neared the end. She spoke with a shaken tone.

Ainz watched as the projections faltered, and were overwhelmed, when the scene suddenly changed.

“Rubedo’s, and Victim’s continuous sacrifice provided a much-needed respite for the rest, for when Rubedo fought on full potential no terror could stand in her wake. She was akin to a Goddess, brilliant and unreachable.” Rachel said, heaving in a heavy sigh before carrying on.

“However, after decades of standstill the Black Man had changed tactics, and he himself invaded the underground floors. Rubedo could not stand up to that monster, neither could the others.” Rachel recalled that fateful moment, and her words turned into venom as she continued. “Rubedo was blown aside, annihilated within minutes, and despair grew,” she spat, and she could feel the Overlord’s gaze linger on her eyes, before it returned to the ball of light, “but no Guardian has given up, they retreated as always, and took up another line of defense.”

The aura around the Overlord became visible to the naked eye, and the unadulterated despair distorted the very air around Ainz. The pressure radiating off the undead was heavy and palpable.

“They were unwilling to yield any ground.” She said resolutely, almost proud. “Only relenting at the thought that their master may one day return, the sole thought that kept the soul in them. However, within decades they were trapped inside the treasury, and the Black Man came once more. And all hope was lost, Nazarick fell.” When Rachel finished, she dared not look up at Ainz Ooal Gown.

Deafening silence descended upon the cavern. Then a silent voice, barely a whisper echoed.

“What of the Guardians? What of Ellee? What had become of them?” Ainz asked, a faint line of hope, barely visible, yet still there. A lifeline he desperately wanted to grasp and hold onto. But Rachel crushed his naive optimism.

“Gone.” She said softly. “They are all gone.” She whispered back. And as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized the weight of her words, and she trembled uncontrollably.

She had not seen Ainz angry many times. But the rage, the despair, the silent fury that the Overlord gave off was stifling, an unnatural wrath that began seeping through the surface. He was starting to scare her. It had become hard to breath, and the pressure soared around the Overlord.

She finally blurted out. “Some of them managed to escape the tomb with me, however through the past millennia I’ve lost contact with each of them… but that doesn’t mean they are gone!” She cried, trying to salvage the situation. If the pressure built up anymore, she might faint.

Abruptly, the pressure dispersed as if it had been a lie. “I see.” Ainz said. In truth, he already knew. He checked the guild systems, all his NPCs were greyed out, that could only mean one thing. Still, he had hoped that it may be broken, that it may not work as intended, but now…

“Rachel, maybe it’s best that you stay here hidden for now. Don’t worry, I’ll be back.” He offered, although it sounded more akin to a stern command before he cast {Greater Teleportation} and reappeared within the throne room of Nazarick. Rubble laid all over the place, but that could be repaired, however if all his guardians were gone, if she was gone, how could he cope with that?

Would he simply accept it?

(…)

Ainz made his preparations, the Black Man as Rachel had referred to it could not be allowed to live, not after everything he had done. Checking with Hastur once more, he confirmed that the Black Man was indeed Nyarlathotep, aka the Crawling Chaos, or at least one of its Avatars.

While he would appreciate the help, he didn’t trust the Yellow King to have his back. What would stop Hastur from backstabbing him yet again? No, this fight, he would have to win on his own.

He took inventory and prepared several items in advance.

Ainz glanced at the {Throne of Kings}, then at the {Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown}. The latter had a sentimental value to it, and it would be a vital component in the next fight. He concentrated, and grabbed both items with zeal, and cast a custom spell he made a long time ago.

“{Transfer Data}” He invoked, and the air visibly shivered in the boiling heat as the two items glowed, and twisting energies left the obsidian throne, which the staff sucked in hungrily. The spell itself was quite self-explanatory, a spell that imparted the item’s abilities and parameters to another. That day the {Staff of Ainz Ooul Gown} had truly become a World Item, one catered to the Overlord, one to buff the mighty undead, one that if wielded by the Lord of Death would double his power.

Above the golden scepter where the seven snakes intercepted with different divine gems within their mouths, an eighth gem floated, far bigger than the rest. The obsidian gem floated gently, held up by a cloud of souls in torment billowing ceaselessly as they overflowed from within the staff.

A skeletal hand grasped the shaft, and twisted pale flames crackled intensely.

A plethora of glows passed through the skeletal frame, a rapid invocation of magic. The change was palpable in the air, as the Overlord’s visage visibly swelled, and a constant aura of madness seemed to envelop the timeless Undead.

“Time to move out.” The Overlord disappeared in a flash of light.