"These guys are so annoying..."
Twisting her body to avoid a reaper's scythe, Chu Lian tightened her grip on the Senra Longblade. She truly hated fighting opponents that flitted around in the air like this.
Her own flying ability had always been mediocre. Most of the time she could only hover. Previously, she had relied on the power granted by Inori Yuzuriha's Void Greatsword to walk upon the air. Now that she had learned magic, she at least possessed the Flight spell.
But aside from the ability bestowed by the Void Greatsword, any other form of flight she had simply wasn't on the same level as these undead that were born aerial combatants. Trying to chase them down in an air battle was almost impossible.
And to make matters worse, she had already used Mystic Eyes of Death Perception three times today. She didn't dare to waste the remaining two uses recklessly. There was no way she could just instantly kill them all. The situation was still unclear. If she squandered her trump cards on these minor enemies and something worse happened later, she would regret it. Better to wait.
"Damn it..."
With another slash, she split a reaper cleanly in two. Yet before she could follow up with her next attack, the creature vanished into the shadows. When it reappeared, it was completely unharmed.
She understood they couldn't possibly recover forever. But watching them get injured, recover, and then reappear over and over again was already wearing down her patience.
Realizing that such agitation was dangerous, Chu Lian took a deep breath, calming her restless heart. She stabbed the Senra Longblade into the ground. The pattern on her left hand lit up, and the Seven Illusions Bow materialized in her grasp. She looked at the ghosts before her and began calculating their attributes.
"Reaper: Formed from the soul and bones of a human who died harboring resentment. The scythe in its hand possesses the power to reap the enemy's life. Ignores level, ignores resistance, ignores defense. Upon striking, there is a 1% chance to instantly kill the target. This ability is ineffective against Heaven-tier and above, and against targets immune to instant death."
"Attributes: Strength 30, Agility 65, Constitution 45, Spiritual sense 48. HP: 1200, MP: 900, Defense: 30, Magic Resistance: 30, Physical Attack: 40, Magic Attack: 25. Talent: Shadowed Spirit Body (can merge into the Shadow Plane to move, each merge costs 50 MP), Undead Regeneration (after taking damage, enters stealth state and consumes 100 MP to restore the damage taken)."
"Then go to hell."
Dodging three scythes in succession, Chu Lian wiped the sweat from her forehead. These enemies were ridiculous. They could hide within the Shadow Plane and emerge from any direction to strike.
"Don't think I can't kill you."
Gritting her teeth, she evaded several more scythes. Just as she was about to draw the bowstring, several sickly green rays suddenly shot out from the lich hidden within the dark mist, interrupting her attack.
"Lich: In life, a pursuer of the magical path. After death, transformed into a lich through unwillingness and obsession with knowledge, gaining the possibility of further advancement. The green glow upon its staff contains deadly poison. Once irradiated, the body will gradually be corroded, eventually transforming into an undead. The poison's effect decreases based on personal resistance, immunity, and magic defense. Each green ray deals a fixed 200 damage. Multiple rays can stack. After being poisoned, HP decreases at 1% per second. When HP falls below 30%, the target transforms into an undead."
"Attributes: Strength 20, Agility 20, Constitution 40, Spiritual sense 75. HP: 1000, MP: 1200, Defense: 25, Magic Resistance: 25, Physical Attack: 15, Magic Attack: 45. Talent: Dark Magic Mastery (Fifth Tier), Undead Magic Mastery (Fifth Tier)."
"Damn it..."
Staring at the lich that had retreated into the black mist, Chu Lian wanted to eliminate them, yet she didn't dare to use Teleport. She knew that if these reapers suddenly lost sight of her, they would focus all their firepower on Narberal. That would be disastrous.
Even now, despite her drawing most of the reapers and liches toward herself, a small portion was still attacking Narberal. The maid's situation was already precarious. One careless injury and she might revert to her original race.
"Narberal, retreat first. I'll deal with them."
There was no choice. Even if she didn't want to compromise, she had to. No matter how many enemies lurked outside, they couldn't possibly be more dangerous than those here.
And if her guess was correct, Yukari Yakumo had likely already won her battle. The terrifying energy fluctuation that had come from outer space earlier—if it wasn't her doing, Chu Lian wouldn't believe it.
Since she had resolved her opponent, she wouldn't randomly attack others. Ainz Ooal Gown was safe.
The one who wasn't safe was herself.
Because her target... was me.
"Lady Deloris, no..."
Narberal barely blocked a scythe strike. For the one slashing at her back, she could only roll aside to avoid it. With the situation so dire, she was already considering unleashing all her power regardless of the consequences. How could she abandon Chu Lian and escape alone?
"If you don't go, neither of us will make it..."
With a Teleport, Chu Lian appeared in front of the maid and gave her an apologetic smile.
"Even if you end up resenting me, I will never let you fall into danger."
Narberal's eyes widened. Realizing Chu Lian was about to act, light flared around her body as she prepared to revert to her combat form—Doppelganger.
But since Chu Lian had already made her move, she had no intention of allowing Narberal to rejoin the fight. They had been hiding well enough, yet these enemies had tracked them down so quickly.
She understood clearly that she had become the absolute focus of firepower. With Narberal by her side, all it would do was increase the danger and restrain her actions.
Wrapping an arm around the maid's waist, Chu Lian lifted her head and saw Ainz Ooal Gown slowly rising in the distance. She knew this was the opportunity.
Sidestepping a reaper's scythe and a lich's ray, Chu Lian looked into Narberal's eyes, which were fixed stubbornly upon her, and gently kissed her forehead.
"Forgive me..."
Then she activated Teleport again, appearing directly beside Ainz Ooal Gown.
"Big brother, take Narberal and go. As far as you can. These enemies are not something we can handle anymore."
"What about you, Deloris?"
Ainz Ooal Gown was startled. If he left, what would happen to Deloris?
"I'll stay here and draw their attention. This all began because of me. It should end with me."
Shaking her head lightly, Chu Lian revealed a relieved smile.
"I hid so many things before. Now... it's time for me to repay them. I'm sorry, big brother."
"I don't care about that. Come back to Nazarick with me. At worst, I'll use a World Item. No matter what, we should be able to repel the enemy."
Ainz Ooal Gown reached out, trying to grab Chu Lian, but she stepped aside to avoid his hand.
"That's impossible. The woman who was holding the parasol just now is not someone we can contend with. Even if the entire Great Tomb of Nazarick united and we used every World Item we possess, if she wished to annihilate us, it would still be effortless."
"Th-this... why would such a powerful being appear in this world?"
Ainz did not doubt her words. After witnessing their battle just now—every move and every strike far beyond his comprehension—he already understood that this was an existence he could never oppose. What he had said earlier was merely a desperate hope.
"She came for me..."
Chu Lian revealed a faint smile that was neither entirely happy nor entirely bitter.
"The trouble I brought upon us, I will bear myself. But you cannot. Big brother, you are the Supreme Being of the Great Tomb of Nazarick—the true pillar that holds everything together. If I disappear, it doesn't matter. But you absolutely must not come to harm."
"One day, when I am able to return, I hope to see Nazarick standing whole and intact—not scattered into chaos because it lost you."
Behind her, the sky was already filled with reapers descending upon them. Chu Lian knew she could not hesitate any longer.
"Even if you won't think of yourself, think of all the subordinates of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Don't you still have your dreams? For the sake of an outsider like me... it isn't worth it."
At that, she ignored the stunned Ainz. Gently placing the tearful Narberal on the ground, she softly wiped away the tears welling in her eyes. She pressed a light kiss to her forehead, then looked into her eyes and spoke with utmost tenderness.
"When I return, I will hold the grandest wedding and marry you. So, Narberal, live well. Wait for me... to come back."
After saying this, she no longer looked at them. Slinging the Seven Illusions Bow across her back, the Senra Longblade reappeared in her hand where it had been planted earlier. Turning her back to them, she strode toward the endless tide of enemies.
"I will return. Go into the city and help them eliminate the undead that have wandered inside. By then, you should be able to receive the highest commendation. What happens here will ultimately become an unknown legend."
The moonlight was cold. Chu Lian's figure looked solitary and desolate as she walked into the boundless swarm of enemies. The final words she left for Ainz and Narberal were:
"Oh, right. Remember to come tomorrow. By then, everything should be resolved. You can take Nfirea Bareare away."
"Deloris..."
The tears she had just wiped away filled Narberal's eyes once more. A surge of magic flared around her body as her Doppelganger form manifested. Weapon in hand, she prepared to rush forward.
From behind her came Ainz's stern shout.
"Narberal Gamma, in the name of Ainz Ooal Gown, I command you—cease your actions."
Her advancing steps halted.
Narberal turned around, tears still glistening in her eyes, and looked at him in confusion.
"Ainz-sama, we should go help Lady Deloris..."
"I command you—return to Nazarick with me! Everything here will be handled by Deloris herself. We are leaving!"
The armor covering his body vanished, revealing the form of the Overlord of Death. Ainz looked at Narberal seriously.
"We have to believe in her."
"Ainz-sama..."
His words left her momentarily stunned. Not knowing how to respond, the maid could only listen as he continued.
"If you truly want her to return, then believe in her. Believe that she won't deceive you..."
After saying this softly, Ainz tore open a Gate behind him and stepped through.
"Lady Deloris..."
Turning back, Narberal took one last look at Chu Lian, who was already surrounded by countless undead. Biting her lower lip, she followed after Ainz and departed.
Just as Ainz had said, she chose to believe in Deloris—believe that she would not lie to her.
For now, they would return to Nazarick to prepare certain things, then come back to E-Rantel. Outside the city, they would eliminate the scattered mid- and high-tier undead to gain immense prestige.
No matter what had happened here, what needed to be done still had to be done. That was the best repayment they could offer Deloris.
"Goodbye..."
Sensing the two of them leave behind her, Chu Lian pressed her lips together, lowered her head, and murmured softly...