OVERLORD: The Second Supreme Being

"Peroroncino, where exactly are you?"

Ainz had already sent people to search every corner of the Holy Kingdom, but nothing had been found.

"Ainz-sama, we've managed to contact Albedo," Demiurge said to Ainz.

"Where is she? Is Peroroncino with her as well?" Ainz asked hurriedly.

"Ainz-sama, Albedo said she wants you to come over. She'll explain everything to you face-to-face," Demiurge replied.

"Albedo is in the Slane Theocracy…"

Momonga, along with many of the guardians, teleported to Albedo's location.

What everyone saw was Albedo, covered in blood, her armor tattered and broken. One of her wings had been snapped, one eye was completely blinded, and one of her arms was severed.

All around, there were signs of intense battle.

"Where is Peroroncino?" Ainz asked as soon as he saw Albedo, without saying a word of concern for her condition.

His first question was about Peroroncino.

Peroroncino, as Momonga's closest friend, held the most important place in his heart. Even if it had been Tabula Smaragdina before him instead of Albedo, Momonga would still have asked about Peroroncino first without hesitation.

Peroroncino was the person who had the most communication and interaction with Momonga in the game. They understood each other deeply. He was unquestionably Momonga's dearest friend. In Momonga's heart, no one was more important than him.

"Ainz-sama, Lord Peroroncino is over there," Albedo said, pointing to the lifeless body of Peroroncino lying in the distance.

The moment Momonga teleported over, he had seen it. But he deceived himself, convincing himself that it wasn't Peroroncino. (That's not Peroroncino...)

Albedo's words crushed his last shred of hope.

Momonga flew over to Peroroncino's side.

"Resurrect!" Momonga pulled out the most advanced resurrection item.

"Resurrect! Bring Peroroncino back to life!"

"Resurrect, hurry and resurrect him!"

A massive, visible aura of black energy emanated from Ainz's body (this was Despair Aura Level 3, the highest level). The surrounding guardians all felt an overwhelming, bone-chilling sense of dread.

The resurrection item was activated, but nothing happened.

"Star Ring, resurrect Peroroncino!" (The ring could cast super-tier magic Wish Upon a Star three times.)

The magic was triggered, but again, nothing happened.

Peroroncino remained in a state of death.

"Why? Why can't he be resurrected? Bring him back to life!"

Momonga activated the power of the Star Ring once more, using up two of its charges, but still, Peroroncino could not be resurrected.

"Resurrect him!" The power of the ring activated one final time, but despite the magic being cast, nothing changed.

"Damn it! Damn it all!!!!" Momonga erupted with an overwhelming aura of Despair, its level nearly breaking past the LV3 limit and approaching LV4.

The forced calm effect triggered within him, reminding Momonga of the player resurrection method.

Momonga picked up Peroroncino's lifeless body.

"Return to Nazarick!" His voice was chillingly cold.

Upon returning to Nazarick, Momonga went straight to the Treasury.

"Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown, resurrect Peroroncino!"

This was one of the methods to resurrect players after a normal in-game death. Players could choose to revive themselves or be resurrected by the guild leader within the guild hall. (Resurrecting within the guild hall didn't result in any level loss, but the materials required were exceedingly expensive.)

But nothing happened.

"Damn it! Damn it all!!!!" The overwhelming aura of Despair emanating from Momonga broke through the LV3 limit, reaching the unprecedented LV4 level.

When the game transitioned into reality, many of the game's restrictions disappeared. The previously nonexistent Despair Aura LV4 now came into being. However, breaking through skill level caps, much like creating original martial arts techniques, was an extremely difficult feat.

The guardians silently watched Momonga, not daring to speak.

Mare couldn't hold back his tears, which flowed uncontrollably.

"Lord Peroroncino… sob… sob…" Mare tried his best to keep his voice quiet so as not to disturb Momonga.

Demiurge clenched his fists tightly. (As a guardian, I allowed one of the last two Supreme Beings to perish. I am unworthy! I am utterly unworthy!) But he refrained from taking any action, knowing that this was not the time or place.

The others lowered their heads, remaining silent.

Albedo was the last to step through the portal. As she did, a faint smile crossed her face.

"As expected of Lord Ainz, he easily grasped my intentions and immediately played along with my act. So realistic—this will surely fool the other guardians," Albedo thought to herself.

(In Albedo's mind, Ainz was supremely intelligent, so she arrogantly assumed he understood everything—the entire sequence of events—and had tacitly approved of her actions.)

"What exactly happened, Albedo?" Momonga finally broke his long silence, his voice icy as he addressed her.

Before Mare entered the portal, he cast a healing spell on Albedo, restoring her external injuries. However, her health had only recovered to a mere 10%.

At this moment, Momonga felt an intense urge to grab Albedo by the neck and demand why she was still alive—why she had survived while a Supreme Being had perished. Yet the forced calm effect suppressed his emotions, making him abandon the thought.

From the moment he saw Peroroncino's corpse, the forced calm effect on Momonga had been triggering repeatedly.

However, for the current Momonga, the forced calm effect was practically ineffective.

"It's like this," Albedo began. "I was originally working in E-Rantel when I suddenly received a mysterious message.

"The message contained the sounds of Lord Peroroncino and Shalltear battling. The sender demanded that I go alone; otherwise, they wouldn't disclose the exact location.

"I agreed, and a portal appeared. Just as I was about to report this to you, a hand suddenly emerged from the portal and pulled me through.

"After being transported, I discovered that both Message and teleportation skills were unusable.

"Lord Peroroncino was already engaged in battle with eight black-clad individuals. At that time, he was clearly at the end of his strength."

"I didn't hesitate to step forward and help.

"Even with Shalltear and me protecting Lord Peroroncino, we were ultimately no match for those eight black-clad individuals.

"In the final moments of Lord Peroroncino's life, he unleashed an immense power in a desperate last stand.

"All eight of the black-clad figures were severely wounded and fled.

"Shalltear and I flanked Lord Peroroncino, standing guard for a long time, ensuring they were truly gone. Eventually, we confirmed they had left.

"Shalltear was then able to use a portal again.

"When she opened the portal and Lord Peroroncino was about to step through, one of the black-clad individuals suddenly appeared from the portal Shalltear had summoned.

"They cast a spell that struck Lord Peroroncino's heart… and then… Lord Peroroncino…"

Albedo's voice trailed off, heavy with emotion.

"Shalltear and I pursued them to avenge Lord Peroroncino.

Shalltear was killed, and I fought with all my strength but was severely wounded. However, they didn't wish to continue fighting with me and chose to leave instead of killing me.

It's all my fault. It's my fault I couldn't protect Lord Peroroncino. Please, Ainz-sama, kill me!"

After Albedo finished recounting everything, everyone fell silent because her actions hadn't involved any mistakes.

Momonga didn't strike Albedo down but instead began to inquire about the details of those individuals, their combat tactics, and their origins.

Albedo had already prepared answers for all these questions and responded one by one.

End of chapter

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