"Hey, hey, hey—this really isn't the time to be chatting about that, is it? Because of his class and the elemental disadvantages, Lord Ainz is being completely suppressed by Shalltear right now.
"If Lord Ainz were to lose—or worse, if something were to happen to him—do you understand what that would mean for the Great Tomb of Nazarick?"
Watching the conversation drift off-topic, Demiurge adjusted his glasses, his expression tight with worry and unease.
"You're letting your concern cloud your judgment, Demiurge."
Cocytus exhaled a plume of cold mist as he spoke, his tone steady.
"Setting aside the fact that Lord Ainz clearly has a strategy in mind—the outcome is still uncertain.
"And even if Lord Ainz truly were to be placed in danger… Lord Ren would not simply stand by and watch."
"While it's true that we didn't realize before just how many powerful special abilities Shalltear possesses… even so, her chances against Lord Ren are still extremely low."
"If the odds between Lord Ainz and Shalltear are three to seven… then Shalltear's chances against Lord Ren would be, at most, one to nine. A mere ten percent."
Cocytus spoke with absolute conviction, as though the conclusion required no further debate.
"The same Shalltear who is currently overwhelming Lord Ainz… the strongest Guardian in Nazarick, with such an arsenal of special abilities…
"And yet, she would only have a ten percent chance against Lord Ren?"
Albedo's brows furrowed, her expression tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Wouldn't that mean Lord Ainz wouldn't even have a ten percent chance against him?"
Though she spoke carefully, there was an unmistakable edge in her voice.
"Cocytus… aren't you overestimating Lord Ren a bit?"
As someone deeply devoted to Ainz—and equally respectful toward Ren as a fellow Supreme Being—Albedo found it difficult to accept such a disparity.
"…No."
Cocytus shook his head slightly.
"When I said Shalltear has a one-in-nine chance against Lord Ren… I was speaking only of her."
"If it were Lord Ainz, the odds might be closer to two to eight."
"Shalltear's three-to-seven advantage over Lord Ainz stems from attribute and skill compatibility—not because Lord Ainz is weak. That distinction must be made."
Hearing this, Albedo's expression softened somewhat.
After a brief pause, she asked again:
"Then… Cocytus, just how much do you truly know about Lord Ren's strength?"
Everyone present—the Guardians and the Pleiades alike—had been created by the Forty-One Supreme Beings.
Through their creators' conversations, they all knew that Ren stood among the strongest of them.
But as for just how strong he truly was…
Almost none of them had ever witnessed it firsthand.
After all, their duty had always been to guard Nazarick. Opportunities to see Ren fight were exceedingly rare.
"…I cannot claim to know everything," Cocytus admitted.
"But I do know more than most of you."
"My creator, Takemikazuchi-sama, was a true warrior. His greatest passion was challenging the strong."
"And once… on the floor I was assigned to guard… I had the fortune of witnessing a battle between three Supreme Beings—Takemikazuchi-sama, Touch Me-sama, and Lord Ren."
"That battle…"
Even now, Cocytus's voice carried a faint tremor of reverence.
"…remains unforgettable."
"Even against fellow Supreme Beings, Lord Ren fought two opponents alone—and did so with ease. In fact, he suppressed both Takemikazuchi-sama and Touch Me-sama."
"And then… even Nishikienrai-sama joined the fray."
"In a one-versus-three battle, Lord Ren revealed only two of his forms… and still fought all three to a standstill."
"Though it was merely a sparring match, make no mistake—Takemikazuchi-sama and Nishikienrai-sama were both among the most combat-oriented of the Supreme Beings."
"And Touch Me-sama… was a 'World Champion.'"
"And yet—even the three of them combined could only suppress Lord Ren. They could not defeat him."
"It was after that match that Touch Me-sama said…"
"…that to defeat Lord Ren, one would need at least a full party of equally powerful fighters."
"Takemikazuchi-sama also mentioned a rumor—that Lord Ren's class, 'Lord of Yokai,' possessed four enhancement forms… along with a single, overwhelmingly powerful special ability."
Cocytus's gaze swept across the stunned faces of the Guardians.
"So now you understand why I have such confidence in Lord Ren's victory over Shalltear."
"Because his strength… may very well stand at the pinnacle of all Nazarick—"
"…no, perhaps even the entire world."
"To this day, not even the other forty-one Supreme Beings know the true extent of Lord Ren's power."
"No one has ever seen his limit."
"…Perhaps the only one who knows even a fraction more is Aureole Omega—the youngest of the Pleiades, and Lord Ren's own creation."
The Guardians of Nazarick had never heard such detailed accounts before.
Now, listening to Cocytus's words, they were all left utterly stunned.
And while they spoke…
The battle unfolding on the projection screen had reached its conclusion.
Before his MP was completely exhausted, Ainz activated his trump card:
『The Goal of All Life is Death』.
With that, he annihilated Shalltear—whose HP had already been significantly reduced.
However…
Because Peroroncino had cherished Shalltear like a beloved daughter, he had equipped her with a resurrection item.
And so—
The moment she fell, she rose again.
Fully restored.
Within the screen, Ren—who had been silently observing—finally stepped forward.
He looked at Ainz and spoke calmly:
"Even if she revived, you still managed to defeat Shalltear once. That counts."
"As a magic caster, continuing to fight with depleted MP would be too dangerous."
"So… I'll take over from here."
Ren knew full well that Ainz had been prepared to go all out for this battle—
Even to the point of using World-Class Items and paid equipment to forcibly break through his class limitations and wield the gear left behind by their former comrades.
But Ren saw no need for that.
This was no longer YGGDRASIL.
Every World-Class Item and premium artifact used was one less they could rely on in the future.
These were no longer things that could be replenished with money.
How many resources the so-called "Six Gods" of the Slane Theocracy had left behind…
Ren didn't know.
But if they were to become enemies one day—
Then conserving high-tier items now was the wiser choice.
Step by step, Ren walked into the battlefield—
Now reduced to a barren wasteland by Ainz's devastating ability.
He slowly drew the blade at his waist.
Back in Nazarick, every Guardian stared at the projection screen without blinking.
At last…
They were about to witness it firsthand—
The overwhelming power Cocytus had spoken of.
The true apex of Nazarick.