If you notice any errors, please feel free to give me constructive feedback. English is not my first language, so if you notice any mistakes, please mention them in the comment section at the end of the chapter. I do not own Overlord. All property rights belong to their respective creators. Let's begin the story!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter-16
Alfheim,
Yggdrasil,
Earth – Year 2129,
Overlord Verse;
Midgard – A bit more than a Month Ago;
On the floating island city to the south of the world, beside the glowing waterfalls, a tower rose into the clouds like a spiraling cathedral of skyglass and white marble that could be rented by players stood beside the Waterfall. The players could rent the place to host auction or parties and gatherings of clans or guilds. On this particular occasion, an auction was taking place in this building, conducted by a union of guilds.
The auction where they could barter their items and the seller could decide the buyer from the wares presented to him or her. Players from various worlds teleported in, from guild masters to clan leaders and solo players, all had come to visit the auction happening in the hall of Valmaris.
The buzz across forums was immediate.
"XYX: Rumor: Ignotus clan has registered a World-Class magic scroll?"
"XXX: Confirmed: They cleared a Raid Boss in some undisclosed dungeon?"
"XZY: Red Order and Shining Knight are co-hosting?"
Kai, however, knew none of this.
While, he had been invited by Red Order and Shinning Knight to attend the event with special divine tier items registered for the auction, gaining Kai's interest. Kai had been online in the game for more than 3 hours before the appointed time for the auction, as he remained oblivious to the happenings in Yggdrasil forums.
xxx
One Hour Earlier to Auction:
"It's time, huh?" Kai leaned over the chair inspecting his console.
Shining Knight and Red Order stood to the side, trading glances.
"You're coming, right?" Red Order asked. "I heard they have many divine-tier items on auction this time."
Kai nodded. "Yeah. I'll attend. What about you guys?"
"Yes," Shining Knight said quickly. As Red Order, continued. "Also, I heard about a secret auction taking place this time after the main auction with only guild masters and members of some major guilds allowed."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Secret Auction?"
"Exclusive bidder event," Red Order said with a nod. "Private and guess what… This honourable member of this clan managed to get us into the invite list of the auction."
Shining Knight nodding in agreement.
"But they have a condition of maintaining secrecy, and we should all wear masks of Incognito." Spoke Red Order.
Shining Knight handed him a sleek, black mask.
Kai
[Incognito Mask]
A ceremonial mask for hiding identity. Inspect disabled.
(Only World Items may reveal identity of the wearer.)
The mask looked identical to the ones being passed around to the other guildmates. He saw Wandering Soul take one with a shrug. Shouko accepted hers too, while Silent Witch twirled and laughed with dramatic flair, as she tried it. Everyone accepted one.
Everyone... but only Kai's had been subtly altered.
xxx
The Tower of Valmaris:
The tower rose into the clouds like a spiraling cathedral of skyglass and obsidian. Its main hall glittered with shifting constellations and floating platforms.
Red Order, Hitoshi and Kindred Star led the auction by buying items from legendary ores, Spirit Knight set pieces, a rare drop scroll labeled Song of the White Dragon to many divine-tier items with Kai's assistance. Kai stood on the private balcony with his arms crossed, watching the crowd quietly.
The auction passed uneventfully.
After the last item was sold, Red Order clapped his hands loudly gaining his clanmates attention. "And now, as promised… the secret auction!"
These kinds of post-auction events weren't uncommon. Rare boss drops with unusual and rare effects or cosmetic illusions were sold in private auction to hide the buyer's guild or clan identity – protection against theft or raid and attack on the player or his guild.
The guild members followed the two conspirators through a side door, across the bridge path of floating marbles, to the back of the tower where a shimmering waterfall flowed upward toward the clouds.
"I think I've seen this backdrop in a gacha game," Hitoshi muttered.
Red Order turned, lifting a hand.
"Everyone—put on your masks. The auction house is just past this waterfall."
As everyone slid their masks back on, the clearing dimmed.
Then came the sound—soft, lilting—followed by a sudden rush of music.
From the trees and waterfalls stepped a dozen NPC Bards, clothed in frilly uniforms of pink and violet. Glitter exploded from magic sigils underfoot. Their instruments shimmered.
The music was played—an orchestral cover with lyrics of an old anime opening: A 2000s-era magical girl series whose copyright had expired years ago.
Then came the spotlight.
Floating crystals redirected light toward the center of the clearing, where Kai stood, now frozen.
The others turned.
Kai's mask shimmered and vanished—replaced by a full cosmetic override. His black coat had transformed into a shining battle-dress of pastel violet and crystalline ribbons. Magical energy pulsed with every step. A glittery staff topped with a heart and crescent moon replaced his weapon and stuck to his hand.
A title hovered above him: [Kawaii Overlord: Demonic Princess of Pain]
With it, a single bard stepped forward singing a personalised song written by Red Order and Shining Knight in collaboration with Zaroth.
{ "The Demonic Overlord came with doom and destruction,
But now she rides a sparkly broom~
With hearts and stars and mighty flair,
She fights with love—and perfect hair" }
A flash blinded him. Wandering Soul had used her camera.
"THIS IS GOING ON MY WALL."
Red Order bowed theatrically. "Presenting our beloved raid leader, and clan leader, the Kawaii Overlord: Demonic Princess of Pain herself!"
Shining Knight, failing to breathe from laughing too hard, wiped a tear from his eye. "You look great."
Kai gritted his teeth. He couldn't dispel the override. Neither could he teleport with dimension lock and delay teleportation and many scrolls they had used.
Silent Witch walked forward slowly. "Kai… you look… precious."
Even Shouko was doubled over.
Then came the final blow.
The NPC bards burst into synchronized motion, forming a half-circle. One by one, they began singing – adding magical echo effects and fireworks with every chorus.
{ "She brings justice with a sparkle!
Evil trembles at her glare~
With ribbons sharp and shining heart,
She casts her love into the air." }
Fireworks were released at the last stanza of the lyrics, as a pink coloured heart shaped firecracker bursts behind him, illuminating the waterfall.
While, Silent Witch shouted, "You're going viral…"
Wandering Soul: "OMG YOU LOOK SO CUTE RIGHT NOW LOL"
As, Shouko laughed and spoke in-between her fit of laughter with others. "You better let me screenshot this. Please. For educational purpose."
Kai glared down at the crowd. Then at the two bastards below.
His usual dark coat had been replaced by—
Pink, lacy armour. With frills. Sparkles. Butterfly motifs. And a comically oversized heart-shaped staff that replaced his weapon entirely. And worse?
The staff squeaked every time he moved.
Squeaked.
Shining Knight, raising a finger to his lips, tried to suppress laughter. "Ladies and gentlemen, our auction overseer for tonight—none other than the beloved tyrant of demons… now in all his glory…"
Red Order solemnly added, "The [Kawaii Overlord: Princess of Pain~] title is part of an extremely rare drop. Only one exists per server. Fans can queue up and remember it costs 1,000,000 Yen per picture."
Red Order made his announcement while, trying hard to control his laugh, was froze to see Shouko raise her hand, willing to pay. Shocking the rest of the clan at the absurdity.
Kai tired of this charade, retrieved
Kai vanished from their sight, as they calmed themselves down.
"...Do you think we went too far?" Shining Knight asked, finally catching his breath.
"He's not going to kill us till we lose all our levels now, would he?" Red Order said plainly.
xxx
Kai sat alone on a chair, in his coat, arms folded, face unreadable. As he observed the mask placed in his inventory. He stared hard at it – he wished to destroy the abomination and be done with it, his instincts told him, but the collector in him refused to destroy the item.
He sat alone, contemplating today's events. It made him smile at the incident and angry at those two at the same time. He remained in impasse for his emotions that remained conflicted with joy at having friends who would joke around and have fun with him, not exactly bully him. Which was quite different from the relation they shared, while indifference or superficial relation being closer to the relation built on bullying.
It was neither them getting back at him, but a prank to have fun, similar to the ones Wandering Soul pulled on Nameless Shadow and Indomitable Wall.
He sighed, while he remained unsure of his emotions.
Just then, Wandering Soul entered, holding a framed screenshot in her hands while, Shouko stood, leaned against the door frame.
"I brought you something," Wandering Soul said, setting it down.
It was the exact moment of the bards' chorus. His glittery staff mid-swing. Pink aura flaring. The title floating proudly above.
Kai stared at it.
"…Burn it."
"Never," she whispered, and left.
Alas, Kai did not sit quiet after the incident and tricked Red Order into wearing Bunny Girl Set with head band and tail included upon his samurai armour set and Shining Knight into Cat Maid Uniform.
******
Present;
The Flying Castle of Avalon:
They ventured deeper, finding the castle filled with grand decorations and admiring the architectural marvel of the castle. The castle's halls were wide and quiet. The walls glimmered faintly with embedded light stones, their glow shifting gently like candlelight in water.
Kai let his eyes wander as they moved deeper inside. Vaulted ceilings stretched far above, supported by columns carved and adorned with spiraling stones and precious materials.
A ceiling dome came into view further ahead. It captured the light from above and reflected and refracted it across the walls and floors.
"They really went all out," Shouko said under her breath, her tone more thoughtful than impressed.
Kai nodded, as he observed the place.
For a raid dungeon, this wasn't normal.
This wasn't designed for namesake dungeon with the amount of detail that went into it added with the better texture used inside and outside the Castle. This was built with an idea of perfection. A place built to turn heads, not just for its functionality.
Red Order broke the quiet with a scoff. "Are we sightseeing or clearing? Let's keep moving."
Still, none of them moved right away.
Kindred Star lingered by a window cut into the wall. On the other side was a narrow courtyard with suspended bridges, glowing moss, and lanterns that hung from nothing at all.
******
Small skirmishes dotted the crystal-floored corridors, forcing the party to rotate leaders as they fought through an army of fairies and walls that rearranged themselves.
Separating to better explore the castle to find their way to the Boss of this Raid Dungeon. They moved along the hallway, inspecting the items, hoping to find a secret pathway or a valuable item.
One hallway led them up a spiral staircase to a wide terrace near the highest tower. Kai and Shouko stepped out alone.
Before them stretched the full view of Avalon. The gardens below shimmered in hues of gold and violet. Off in the distance, other pieces of small floating island drifted like slow-moving ships, each adorned with temples, groves, or small castles – visible and they remained accessible only through the garden of Avalon and not from outside – distorting space-time, with a white tower standing out among the other structures.
******
Eventually, they descended to the castle's lowest level—a massive hall flanked by giant white marble columns. At the far end stood a monumental pair of golden doors, inscribed with mysterious patterns.
A lone fairy stood – unlike the tiny ones, she looked similar to an elf, if not for the wings. The fairy stood before them, clad in armour made of stained-glass wings. Her voice echoed like bells.
{"You shalt pass this door, for a dragon of destruction [World Enemy] remains sealed beyond the doors. You intrusion would disturb the slumber of the dragon – bringing catastrophe on these lands. Turn around and begone from this place young ones. Lest you wish to face death and destruction and plunge these lands into calamity once again."}
The battle began immediately after she made her announcement.
She moved like light—teleporting mid-cast. Red Order took a grievous hit early, nearly dropping to zero HP – as Indomitable Wall failed to reach him in time. Wandering Soul revived him mid-combat, while Kai used
The fight continued, while she remained nimble for magic to target her, turning most magic cast wasteful.
Shouko delivered the finishing blow, leaping overhead and driving her spear through the fairy's crystalized heart.
The fairy cried a final note—and vanished.
The doors creaked open.
Beyond them was not another chamber, but the stars.
A swirling expanse of galaxies and nebulas—space itself, suspended like a backdrop of infinity.
Kai and Hitoshi stepped forward, looting the rewards carefully, while clanmates observed the view beyond the door.
Kai and Hitoshi after sorting and storing the drop loot, joined other to inspect the door and the space beyond it. Then Kai stepped into the starry void. And vanished.
Surprising his clanmates, but one by one, the rest followed.
******
-----------------------------------------------------------
**The End**
Drop a comment and leave a review. Be it negative or positive but make sure to give constructive criticism. Also if you think you can add anything of value to the fic, then you are more than welcome to comment. Any thoughts or questions, ask them in the comment section. I'll try to answer them as soon as I can.