When Death Walked the World

Chapter 18

The voice originating from the shadows were otherworldly, cruel and unforgiving. They didn't catch much of it, but they didn't have to. The intent to kill was conveyed clearly.

The greed kings finally gathered the courage to meet the gaze of the monster. Cold sweat ran down their backs, their body shivered. When they met the adamant stare, they realized something. This monster they feared was nothing more than a heteromorph like Surshana, the same bone structure, the same crimson orbs, and yet so different. He exuded a pressure unlike anything they had ever felt.

They nodded to each other. They wouldn't dare attack a true monster, but if it was a heteromorph from Yggdrasil, a player like them, then they would finish him off. Their moral compass demanded it.

They instantly moved into formation, the 5 warriors rushed the skeleton, while the 3 mages in the back line readied their spells. They would eradicate this monster, as they did with Surshana in the past. They would not fall for such an obvious bluff like that. They knew the power of a level 90 Overlord. Even if this one was level 100 they could manage.

Abruptly the air changed, and despair overwhelmed them. Their bodies quivered, and were unable to stand straight, much less move. Something is not right, wh-why won't our bodies move? They stared deep into the abyss that was Ainz Ooal Gown. The dancing crimson flames only promised suffering.

They soon felt it. Their battle-hardened high-level bodies started to shrink, their muscles dissolving, their mana depleting. In no more than 5 seconds, they were nothing more than a husk of their old selves. Each of them had become a level 1 human. No muscles were visible under their skin, and that was saying something, considering 5 of them were bulky warriors just a moment prior. Their bones were only covered by a sickly pale, grey skin.

Looking over their frail selves, realizing what is lost, despair overwhelmed their senses, and they lost consciousness.

...

Ainz was hovering over a girl in lavish clothing. He had learned to call her Ellee, though naturally she couldn't hear him. He spent long hours by her side, learning about the elven customs, and a ruler's duties. He didn't aspire to become a King of course, but after he thought on the matter at length, he had realized that in the end someone will place him to a ruler's position due to his power.

He didn't like the sound of that, but he thought that if he could effectively outsource his obligations to his vassals, then there would be no problem, and he could confidently pretend to rule, while minding his own business behind the scenes. He grabbed every opportunity to learn from the young elf. She was a queen, a leader of a nation after all.

Time flew by in a hurry, and before he knew years passed. At this time, he had already observed the ruler persona closely, and he was confident in his ability to imitate if the need ever arised. Today, he was hovering over her when she met the so-called Greed Kings. He already knew about their arrival, as his loyal minions had already reported their approach. However, he didn't feel the need to act. He would remain in the shadows as always, and observe.

...

He felt anger boiling inside of him. The kings were the kind of people he hated the most. Arrogant, vain, and straight up disgusting. They had already massacred a good chunk of the common people and the entirety of the military, yet they still wanted more. They wanted the live elves to serve them as slaves. He was disgusted with the idea of slavery, he still recalled the painfully long days in the office. He worked day and night without rest, in addition for a shit salary to top it all of.

He was so consumed by rage, that by the time his emotional suppressor managed to calm him down he noticed that his spell {invisibility} which he swapped with {perfect unknowable} after confirming that it is enough to evade the eyes of the people was fading due to his earlier outburst.