The Bloody Valkyrie

The YGGDRASIL World Tree was once covered with countless number of leaves, but one day a gigantic monster appeared and devoured these leaves. As such, the leaves were destroyed one by one, until only nine were left. These nine leaves became the world’s predecessors, called Asgard, Alfheim, Vanaheim, Nidavellir, Midgard, Jotunheim, Niflheim, Svartalfheim, and Muspelheim.

However, the monster which devoured the leaves of the World Tree relentlessly pursued these remaining nine leaves. This was the background story of the game: Players would step out into the unknown and face dangers in order to protect their own world.

What then, did these World Class items represent? They are equivalent to those leaves——that is to say, each World Class item equals one world. Therefore, it was set up so that each World Class item possessed an enormous amount of power. In fact, many World Class items had extremely abnormal amounts of power.

There were many player opinions on the topic of whether or not such items were too damaging to the game’s balance. However, the game development company issued the notice ‘The possibilities of the world are not that small’ and had no plans to update these Balance Breakers.

As if the game development company placed a lot of sentiment on the phrase ‘World’, whether it was a player class or an enemy, those with the word ‘World’ in the name would be set up to be much more powerful than normal.

The final boss of the official campaign, ‘Devourer of Nine Worlds’, a beast that gained tremendous power from consuming the leaves and became the designated ‘World Enemy.’ The class granted only to the winner of the tournament, ‘World Champion,’ the one chosen by the nine worlds.

Just as Ainz was explaining, the two people arrived at a place with neatly arranged armed statues placed in cavities on both the left and right sides.

This room had a similar atmosphere and magic as Lemegeton, the room before the Throne Room. However, golems in Lemegeton did not carry any weapons. In contrast, the statues here were all wearing super-powerful equipment, and their inherent strength was no less inferior than Ainz’ main equipment.

“You’ve noticed. Correct, the Avatara are sculptures based on my past comrades. However…… just how did you recognise them? Their appearances are quite lacking. I don’t think I’ve managed to capture even ten percent of their charm..”

“There is no way that a creation of the Supreme Beings would fail to recognise them.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, that is how it is. However Ainz-sama…… the name of this location, even these statues…… could it be that the other Supreme Beings have passed away?”

“That…...isn’t quite it.”

No, perhaps this really was the correct answer. Ainz stopped walking, silently gazing at these statues in contemplation.

Not knowing how to interpret Ainz’ silence, Albedo revealed an uneasy look.

Seeing a beauty like her displaying such a look of grief, no man would be left unshaken. Moreover, since it was the face of one of his past companion’s creations, even the undead Ainz would feel guilty and become anxious.

However, Ainz who neither had friends nor interacted with women in real society before, could not think of any words of consolation. Feeling lost, Ainz frantically looked around him, searching for something to talk about.

At this moment, having found something, Ainz spoke without giving much thought:

“L-Look over there. Do you see those four vacant spots?”

Confirming that Albedo had turned to look in that direction, Ainz began a simplified explanation of why those places did not have statues.

“One of those four is where I intend to place my Avatara.”

That was not true.

The one who created and placed these Avatara here was none other than Ainz himself. Because of this, if Ainz retired from the game, the fact that no other guild members remained meant that there would be nobody to place Ainz’ Avatara here.

His guild members said “It’s for you,” and transferred their own equipment and cash items to Ainz before retiring from the game. In memory of his retired comrades, and so that their gear may be worn once more, Ainz used cash items to create golems that were capable of donning equipment.

This is also the story behind why the Avatara looked so ugly.

The information regarding the external appearances of the guild members was still saved within Pandora’s Actor. However, by himself, Ainz did not have the ability nor skill to use this information to create decent-looking golems.

Hence, he purchased the external appearance data and forcibly installed it on to the golems. The end result was that the limbs either grew fatter, or became shortened. The heads grew massive and clown-like, like monsters from nightmares.

However, this lack of cohesive unity in their appearances exuded a kind of strange atmosphere which gave people a strong sense of unease. Because of this, if Ainz kept in mind that they were meant to act as the final gatekeepers, he should consider it an unexpected stroke of luck.