Chapter Text
The loud thunking of the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown echoed through the very halls of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
Momonga, escorted by Sebas, was on his way to his chambers.
It’s been roughly 48 hours since the tomb was teleported into an unknown location near the plains. As the guild master, Momonga had to ensure that none of the residents of the tomb were affected by the matter, he had to make sure no one or nothing was out of place(besides the tomb). The elder lich decided to send one of the floor guardians to inspect every floor and area to warrant the safety of the denizens that dwell within the great tomb.
Albedo insisted that she stayed with the skeleton lich to protect him from any dangers. Giving the task to Aura and Mare wouldn’t be so bad, but he wasn’t sure if it was appropriate. Shalltear has other matters, as she has to double the security of her floors. Cocytus also had to backup Shalltear with defenses and security...that leaves Demiurge, 7th floor guardian, the Commander of Defenses. But that made him the busiest of all the floor guardians as he had to, well, command the defenses. Nevertheless the overlord suggested the task to the archdevil. Being the loyal guardian he is, of course he didn’t hesitate to gladly accept.
To ensure the errand wasn’t tasking to complete for the archdevil, Momonga gifted him the guild ring of Ainz Ooal Gown. It allowed the user to teleport anywhere within the tomb as teleportation spells were disabled, making escape a somewhat difficult task for outsiders that dared to step their very foot in the Great Tomb of Nazarick. The devil of course declined, deeming himself unworthy of such a thing. The skeleton lich had none of that, so he encouraged that once the demon finished his duty, he can return it back. The archdevil reluctantly accepted, and went off to survey each nook and cranny of the tomb.
Reaching his designated area, Momonga reached to open the entry to his chambers,
“Allow me, my lord.” Sebas insisted, as he opened the doors for the elder lich.
Stepping inside the chambers, he spotted a red clad devil, who on cue, swiveled around to give a deep bow.
“Lord Momonga,” the devil greeted. Lightly raising his head, he spotted the butler next to the Supreme ruler.
“Sebas.” The archdevil’s grin did not falter, but his crystalline gaze seems to look coldly at the butler.
“Lord Demiurge.” The butler gave a curt bow to the devil.
Noticing the tension between the two, the elder lich dismissed the butler and sent him off to patrol the tomb with the Pleiades.
Walking himself further into the room, the lich seated himself upon an armchair accompanied by a colossal desk.
“So, Demiurge..” the skeletal lich started, letting the staff drift away not too far away from his reach.
“You’ve come to bear some reports for me?” The ruler questioned.
“Indeed I have, my lord.” His tail waved to and fro, indicating the archdevil’s excitement.
“Excellent. Now, tell me what you’ve gathered.”
“Right away,” the devil adjusted the spectacles on the slope of his nose.
“All floors are doing well, I have surveyed all the floor guardians if anything was out of place, everything seems well...but”
Momonga turned his head towards the red clad devil at his sudden hesitation,
“Umu? What is it Demiurge?”
“I can’t seem to gain access to the area guardian of the hidden treasury on the 4th floor.” The demon finished, looking somewhat displeased with himself.
Area guardian of the Hidden Treasury? The undead ruler raised his skeletal hand to his mandible in thought. He felt like he knew, a deja vu. It was then he was struck. 4th Floor. Hidden Treasury. Area Guardian .
Without warning, Momonga got up rather in a dramatic manner, the armchair’s legs scraping against the floor, making an uncomfortable screech against the marble flooring, startling the archdevil.
“Demiurge, accompany me to the 4th floor.” Momonga took the staff into his possession and ventured to the door, Demiurge following behind.
“Is the ring still in your possession?” The elder lich inquired of the demon.
“Yes my lord.” His hand hovering over his breast pocket, pulling the priceless jewelry out.
“Good.” Was the only reply the skeletal mage gave before teleporting off to the designated area, the 4th Floor.
Demiurge slid the band on his ring finger, following behind his supreme ruler.
. . .
The smell of wet soil after rain was the first thing that wafted into their noses. Despite being undead, Momonga has enhanced senses, including smell, it was an unexplainable matter, considering he didn’t have a nose, but it was insignificant right now.
The 4th floor was a giant underground lake, surrounded by caverns. The sky itself looked like a sunset after a rainy day. Many hues of pastel yellows and oranges painted life into the pewter grey sky. It was mesmerizing, he has never seen such a calming sky. Gentle cobalt blue waves danced under the setting sky, as the sun reflected twirling lightnings onto rocks. The stratosphere on the sixth floor created by Blue Planet-san was impressive, but the calming hues of yellows, blues, and grey were just as alluring. This world never seized to amaze him.
The ground soon began to rumble and quake, the soothing water then began to abruptly ripple in disturbance. That’s when a giant golem rose from the depths of the lake. Its colossal mass towering above Momonga and Demiurge. Water seeping from every cut and corner, sunlight shone through many waterfalls that slid down the golem’s form, creating rainbows on their way down.
It was the 4th floor guardian, Gargantua. Unlike other NPC floor guardians, Gargantua wasn’t created by the supreme beings, rather he was gifted with the tomb. Ah the fun times Momonga had with his friends...when the guild was blossoming at its highest...No, this is not the time, he must focus on what’s in front of him.
Gazing up at the golem, Momonga spoke,
“Greetings Gargantua. I apologize for my short and unnoticed visit, but I require an audience with the area guardian of the hidden treasury, Anazur.”
The golem gave a low rumble of approval, his colossal arm cracked, many chipped pebbles falling as it pointed towards a certain rock with runes engraved on it. The elder lich turned his head to where the golem was pointing.
Ah...the rock with engraved runes are on the other side of the lake, what a pain.
Before the elder lich could complain any further, Gargantua approached them, waves clashing against the golem’s lower half, ground quaking and rumbling with every step the colossal giant took.
When close in range, Gargantua then lowered himself closer to his supreme ruler, holding out its enormous palm out. It took seconds for the skeletal lich to realize what the golem was doing.
Reluctantly, Momonga stepped upon the ginormous hand, Demiurge following in pursuit.
The skeletal lich steadied himself using the staff as a leverage while they ascended above the cobalt waters.
The rock giant began to trudge across the lake. Gargantua’s immense mass disturbed the calm waters, waves lightly striked one another as the colossal continued his jaunt.