"Ainz Ooal Gown contributed greatly to clearing the dungeon, and that is an undeniable achievement."
The third speaker was a representative of another top guild from a different world region, his whole body shrouded in a white, gold-trimmed priestly robe. Judging from the buff effects on him, his class was Divine Exorcist.
His words were polite: "I believe everyone here will agree with this decision."
The other guild strategists present were all shrewd individuals and nodded in agreement.
"Adams is right. Although Ainz Ooal Gown arrived the latest and with few members, each one of them is equipped with artifact-grade armaments. Among them are countless special classes and top experts, such as the 'World Disaster' Ulbert and the 'World Champion' Touch Me. Both are renowned figures, and their participation is indispensable to us."
Bukubukuchagama clicked her tongue softly, using her webbed hand to pull out a handkerchief to wipe at the digestive fluids dripping from her tentacles, then casually incinerated the fine cloth with an alchemic flame.
Anyone who knew her would recognize this as a sign of displeasure.
"As far as I know, the Great Tomb of Nazarick once suffered the largest-scale assault in 'Yggdrasil's' history—eight guilds joined forces along with other associated guilds, mercenary NPCs, and in total 1,500 participants. Yet Ainz Ooal Gown, with only 41 players and several hundred NPCs, defended using the terrain advantage. The result was total annihilation of the invaders, creating a legendary tale."
The final representative of a top guild stood to speak, his words equally laced with hidden sharpness: "Though that war did not involve top guilds, it still showcased the terrifying strength of Ainz Ooal Gown. Considering that today, one of your members casually used a world-class item, I believe what we have seen so far is only the tip of the iceberg. In principle, I also support Ainz Ooal Gown's participation in the loot distribution."
"These fellows… not a single one is easy to deal with." Punitto Moe forwarded the attitudes and statements of the other guild representatives into the internal guild channel.
Peroroncino: "Eh? We're also taking part in dividing the loot? I didn't know that. I thought after the GM promised rewards, we were just here to play the hero and enjoy the spotlight. I already made friends with a few people—they've got some good stuff. Once we log off, I'm adding them to my friend list so we can check things out together."
Bukubukuchagama: "Tch. When will that H-game-filled brain of yours start working properly? It's because you always focus on your lower half that your career has gone nowhere."
Peroroncino muttered softly: "Voice acting in H-games isn't career progress I want at all. It's too embarrassing. I'd lose years off my life."
Bukubukuchagama: "What did you just say!!"
Peroroncino: "N-nothing! I mean—long live Nee-san, Nee-san is the best, Nee-san's voice acting is the most wonderful 'Yamete' ever!"
Ignoring the antics of these two clowns, the rest of the guild members discussed seriously.
Punitto Moe: "The meaning of those two guilds' words is clear. They don't object to Ainz Ooal Gown sharing in the loot, since our contributions are undeniable. They can't brush us aside."
Tabula Smaragdina: "But they raised several conditions: 1. Equipment—priority distribution to them. 2. Special-class materials—priority distribution to them. 3. Guild-upgrading items—priority distribution to them. 4. In future raids, we must act as the main force."
Warrior Takemikazuchi: "I did not sense such conditions from their words at all… it seems my training is still far from enough."
Nishikienrai: "The ninja's way is to hide the deadliest trap beneath the most beautiful flower."
Touch Me: "In my view, it doesn't matter. There's plenty of equipment and materials. Plus, we have the GM's promised rewards. Giving up a little isn't a big deal."
Self-Destruction Maniac: "Same here." (Not an official guild member, prohibited from speaking)
Ulbert: "Hmph, what right do a bunch of ants have to claim loot? With one cataclysm, I could turn them into loot myself."
Variable Talisman: "Well, my attitude is more or less the same as Touch Me-san's, but I still feel uneasy about accepting such conditions."
Herohero: "Though I, as an ancient black ooze, have no real right to demand equipment, I still want some special-class advancement materials."
Herohero's words prompted others in the guild to stop hiding their true thoughts as well.
After all, the internal power distribution within the Great Tomb of Nazarick was extremely uneven. While being heteromorphs gave them a certain unity, the vast gap in strength among members inevitably corroded their bonds.
From Bukubukuchagama unleashing a Depiction of Nature and Society that cleared the battlefield, it was clear: the gap between those who had world-class items and those who didn't was like a chasm.
And although Nazarick held the greatest number of world-class items, not just anyone could use them—their ownership was restricted to core members only.
Now, back to the matter of the demand itself.
To be fair, Ainz Ooal Gown's demand was not excessive.
Objectively speaking, the role their world-class items played far outweighed the contributions of several raid groups and the magic chanters who had cast hundreds of super-tier spells daily over the past three days.
Without the Self-Destruction Maniac's explosions, and without Ainz Ooal Gown's Depiction of Nature and Society, the situation would likely still be the same as days before, with players barely managing to hold the line. Progress would have been impossible.
However, this demand was far from pleasant for the other guilds.
Yes, undeniably, Ainz Ooal Gown had turned the entire battle around, and it was no exaggeration to call them the greatest contributors.
But the top strategists of the other guilds were thinking far more long-term.
They could see it clearly: through this display, Ainz Ooal Gown had instantly become the most sought-after heteromorph guild in all of YGGDRASIL. In the future, countless heteromorphs would flock to join them. Would such a guild remain content with just one Great Tomb of Nazarick?
Even if guildmaster Momonga promised so, would his members agree? To put it bluntly, the Great Tomb of Nazarick was a guild base with a fixed level cap, and a guild could hold no more than 100 members. How would they allocate internal benefits then—such as NPC creation rights? What if applicants exceeded the 100-member limit? And so on…
Moreover, every player who saw Momonga instinctively regarded him as a sort of "Overlord." Having lain low for so long, only to suddenly rise so prominently in this operation, surely there must be a meticulous plan behind it. Such a man would never settle for mediocrity if conditions allowed.
Thus, these top guilds—who had been opposing each other for years—instantly reached a tacit understanding. Since they could not confront this rising star guild head-on, they would instead obstruct Ainz Ooal Gown in subtle ways.
And just as everyone was still discussing the details of loot distribution, Bukubukuchagama suddenly exclaimed in the guild chat: "Crap, I can't retrieve the Depiction of Nature and Society!"
Bukubukuchagama's message made every member of Ainz Ooal Gown's heart sink.
As a world-class item, the Depiction of Nature and Society had already shown its immense power during the raid. Yet, when Bukubukuchagama had introduced this prized item, she had deliberately concealed one critical fact.
The Depiction of Nature and Society could forcibly imprison opponents into alternate dimensions during battle. These dimensions numbered in the hundreds, very similar to Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's 'Kekkei Mōra' Amenominaka. In terms of variety alone, it even surpassed it.
However, the Depiction of Nature and Society had a weakness. There were forty different ways to break it, and if even one method succeeded, ownership of the artifact would immediately transfer to the one who solved it.
Back then, Ainz Ooal Gown had acquired this world-class item precisely by exploiting that weakness and seizing it from its previous owner.
Thus, having once experienced this themselves, they instantly realized the gravity of the situation.
The thought of monsters within this dungeon being able to break free of such a world-class item was unimaginable. Worse, there was no time to complain to the GMs.
The quickest to react was Momonga. As the very person who had once cracked the Depiction of Nature and Society, he immediately grasped the severity of the danger.
He planted the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown into the ground, and a massive magic circle spread outward from him.
[Maximized Magic · Forced Expulsion]
The surrounding players who had been cheering in celebration didn't even have time to react before the enormous circle forcibly ejected them from the dungeon.
Only a handful remained: four members of Ainz Ooal Gown, and just two others from the coalition guilds.
Among them was the World Champion commander himself.
"Guildmaster of Ainz Ooal Gown, what is the meaning of this?"
Another guild leader, the Divine Exorcist, drew out the enormous cross from his back, radiating with holy power. Simply gazing at its light filled Momonga's system log with warning messages. Golden light flowed across the massive cross, covering its wielder with the protective buff known as 'WORLD.' This was unmistakably a world-class item.
"Stop this!"
Even as he spoke, Peroroncino, Touch Me, and Nishikienrai stepped forward in unison to shield Momonga. Though avatars could not display facial expressions or tone, the World Champion and the Divine Exorcist could feel the undeniable fighting spirit emanating from the three.
A flash of green light ran across Momonga's form as he lifted his gaze toward the Depiction of Nature and Society in the sky, clutching the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown tighter than ever before.
"Those without world-class protection have already been expelled by me. Soon, you'll understand why I did this."
In an instant, a suffocating pressure crashed down upon everyone present.
The ground beneath their feet sank several inches.
And within the system, every single player's status bar now displayed the same debuff:
Instant Death Domain (Duration: N/A): The target will be instantly killed if struck.
"What is this?!"
Before anyone could recover from the sudden turn of events, the Depiction of Nature and Society trembled violently in the sky and unleashed an overwhelming suction.
But because of Momonga's foresight in expelling unprotected players, everyone still present was equipped with world-class items, nullifying the artifact's pull completely.
The World Champion and the Divine Exorcist both noticed the system prompts, immediately realizing the true meaning behind Momonga's earlier actions. And more than that—they grasped the terrifying implication:
The dungeon's monsters had broken free of the Depiction of Nature and Society… and seized control of it!
As the artifact failed to absorb its intended victims, a soft "hmm?" drifted out from the scroll.
Moments later, a crimson silhouette stepped leisurely out of the painting. At the sight of this figure's face, both the commander and the Divine Exorcist cried out in shock.
"Red Phoenix GM?!"
"What?!"
The four remaining members of Ainz Ooal Gown were stunned by the name they had just heard. Even with the restrictions on world-class items lifted, making them the peak among players, compared to a true "god"—a GM—they were still far from qualified.
When they turned back to look at the crimson, red-named target, the signature scarlet wings and handsome features were identical to the Red Phoenix, ranked eighth on the official website's list of most popular GMs.
"What is going on? Why has a GM become our enemy?"
Seizing the moment before battle was joined, Momonga immediately questioned the figure.
"I don't know, but I have a bad guess." The Divine Exorcist gave a bitter smile emote. "There were three GMs participating in this raid."
The members of Ainz Ooal Gown recalled the earlier explanation when they had accepted the commission outside: with GM support, this raid had seemed certain to succeed. But now, they were facing one of those very GMs—one who had somehow "betrayed" them. Such a shocking development might never occur again in all of YGGDRASIL's history.
In the sky above, the "Red Phoenix" waved a hand. The massive Depiction of Nature and Society instantly rolled back and shrank, becoming a one-foot-long scroll that he slung behind his back. Then, as if no one else existed, he slowly descended toward the ground.
"Troublesome. With the Depiction of Nature and Society, he also has WORLD protection. World-class items will no longer work on him." Touch Me's gaze was fixed grimly on the opponent, his hand tightening on his artifact Earthly Cover. For only the second time in history, he sent out a grave emote. "From the earlier debuff, it's clear—we cannot withstand even a single strike from this GM. Everyone must rely on teleportation magic to evade."
Peroroncino drew his golden Houyi Bow, behind him manifesting the blazing "Sun-Shooting Arrows." His hawk eyes locked onto Red Phoenix with innate precision.
"This is the first time I've felt such an intense thrill. I suddenly think this game has something that rivals H-GAMEs after all."
Meanwhile, Nishikienrai had already slipped into stealth without a word, vanishing so completely that even guildmates could no longer sense his presence.
At the center, Momonga followed the steps he had learned from Punitto Moe's "Easy PK Ritual for Anyone," joining the Divine Exorcist in casting a relentless barrage of buffs.
"Glorious Verdant Body, Blessing of the Caster, Infinite Barrier, Holy Magic Ward, Essence of Life, Greater All-Stats Enhancement, Freedom, False Data: Life, True Sight, Extraordinary Instinct…"
All the non-caster classes stared wide-eyed at the two of them: "Momonga-san, Adams-san, you two could be rap artists."
Even Red Phoenix, not far away, twitched his brow at their drawn-out preparation. If not for being transformed by his master into a raid boss and bound by AI limits that prevented him from striking first, he would have acted already. As it was, he had no choice but to watch them rap out buffs for two whole minutes.
By the time they finished, their status bars were packed with buffs. The surge in power was unmistakable—their combat strength had doubled, if not more.
Normally, Ainz Ooal Gown's raid strategy began with Ulbert's World Disaster, instantly driving bosses into execution range and then chaining other skills to finish the fight. That strategy had once allowed them to defend the Great Tomb of Nazarick with only 41 people.
But now, since Ulbert had been forcibly expelled by Momonga for lacking world-class protection, the opening strike would fall to the guildmaster himself.
Vast magic power coiled and roared around Momonga, rising skyward. At his command, countless blue magic circles manifested, overlapping in an intricate structure that nearly covered the entire sky.
"[Super-Tier Magic · Fallen Down]!!"