Her steps as she approached Ainz felt heavy, weighed down by something rising in her heart.
“My friend Peroronchino has told me quite a bit about you, back when he was still working on your design. Ever since first arriving in this world, I have memorized the data of all of my servants. Still, if we were to exclude Pandora’s Actor, whom I created personally, among all the NPCs of Nazarick, you may be the one I understand the most. “
“A moment ago, you said that you didn’t…. know about my skills….”
Ainz laughed in response.
“Is it not obvious that it was a lie? I thought it would make you more confident. But if you had saved your Unholy Shield, then I would not have been able predict the outcome of this battle.”
Although blood coursed through her veins, as an undead, it was useless to her. Shalltear felt that same blood drain from her body, coupled with her swelling anxiety.
It wasn’t a bluff.
His words just now did not carry a single trace of falsehood.
Standing before her, the reason that Ainz Ooal Gown did not retreat was because he was sure of his victory.
“Ahhhhh—!”
Shalltear opened her mouth wide and screamed. She was venting the emotions surging within her as noise.
Shalltear was supposed to be the lion while Ainz was the rabbit. He should have been her prey. – No, that was never the case.
From the beginning, this was a battle between lions. Shalltear had just thought on her own that he was a rabbit—.
Filled with apprehension, Shalltear resolved herself that even if he resisted the first attack, she would not stop her assault until he was dead. With the intent of ending everything, here in this moment, Shalltear thrust her Spuit Lance—.
A step faster, Ainz cast his spell. At the same time, moved his hand as if he was trying to tear off his robe.
The sound of impact rang out.
Shalltear doubted her eyes.
It just wasn’t possible.
The Spuit Lance had been deflected by a bright white mass.
If it had been a spell, Shalltear would have immediately prepared herself to receive an attack. All the while thinking how it was only a useless struggle because of the low amount of MP that Ainz had remaining. However, Shalltear, unable to comprehend what had just occurred before her very eyes, felt her mind go numb for an instant.
The bright white mass was not magic.
— it was armor.
A white armor. The huge sapphire embedded in its chest radiated a pure and divine light.
The armor had protected Ainz’ body and repelled the attack from the Spuit Lance.
Due to their difference in height, Ainz, whose field of vision was higher, was looking down at Shalltear.
No…. he may actually have been looking down on her in earnest.
Although the situation was enough to make her furious, the current Shalltear could not afford such a luxury. It was because she had heard a chilling voice.
“From the beginning, I too wished to end this battle in a melee.”
♦ ♦ ♦
The battle up to this point was being observed from this room.
Although the sound of the table being slammed had rung out several times already, this was the first time he had touched it.
“Impossible! That. is… that. person’s. armor!”
“…. Touch Me–sama?”
Without taking her eyes off of the crystal screen, Albedo muttered the name of one of the 41 Supreme Beings.
“That’s. right! That. is. Touch. Me–sama’s. armor!”
As if he was agitated — No, it is likely that he was agitated in earnest — a shout escaped from Cocytus’ mouth.
The armor that Ainz was wearing belonged to a certain person who had managed to obtain the World Champion class, of which there were only nine in YGGDRASIL.
The World Champion was a special class granted only to the victor of the official martial tournament. As for the prize, the champion was given one piece of special equipment from the administrator.
Touch Me had chosen that white armor as his prize. The power of the armor suited for a World Champion surpassed that of Divine Class items, rivaling even Guild weapons. Of course, since it was a reward for the winner of the tournament, only the World Champion could equip it.
“Warrior transformation magic— 「Perfect Warrior」 …. Definitely, if you were to use that…. You would be able to ignore the class restrictions on equipment.”
Demiurge spoke in a voice filled with awe while Albedo muttered under her breath.
“He’s thought this far ahead….”
Albedo hugged her body with both arms and trembled.
