Tears of Nazarick

"The Guardian Overseer Albedo has betrayed her role, and thus, all of Nazarick. She prepared an execution squadron to hunt down other Players, but really intended on using such force to find and kill any Supreme Being to cross into this New World."

The air grew thick in the Twisting Nether. The sole being residing there, a Succubus denied her God-Given purpose laid still, watching as her beloved tore her faults apart in a Tomb-wide broadcast.

Draped only in the silken white dress her creator left her with, she silently tried clutching the ghost of her indestructible wand, the Ginnungagap, only to remember it was taken from her. It was entrusted to her by her creator-

'The one I wanted to kill.'

And now, that sole belonging was also stripped from her.

"H-How?! She's the one that loves Momonga-sama the most, isn't SHE?!"

"Narberal…"

Albedo looked down to her feet. The irradiated landscapes around her remained unchanged, yet she still found it more and more troublesome to breathe.

'Is this a status effect?'

She didn't pay attention to the Doppelganger's revolt being played in the Seraphim's screen. Her wavering mood continued as a violet thunderbolt struck near her, making her flinch and clutch the wand ever tighter.

'It's just Narberal, why should I care about what a maid, about what any of them think-'

"I don't understand! How could she?! After everything-"

The raven-black wings suddenly wrapped around Albedo, the Succubus making herself smaller while the chaotic world that unraveled against her.

She didn't care.

She didn't care as the rocks of the Twisting Nether kept pelting at her.

She didn't care…

"I hope you all remember how Pandora's Actor fought Riku Aganeia in my stead... I'm deciding to raise Pandora as Overseer!"

"Tch."

She pretended she hadn't grit her teeth.

Overseer of the Floor Guardians was meant to be her role. Her divinely appointed duty, now it was given to the one whom she had misplaced her trust on in the past.

'Pandora's Actor… What did you see in Lord Ainz back in the Throne Room?'

'Pain. He was in pain, Albedo.'

The lilac streaks continued raining down behind the golden screen displaying the Throne Room's communication. She wondered now if laying witness to this was her ultimate punishment. Why, after all, had the Supreme One spared her of her certain death? Did he really want her to suffer?

'Did… Did I really make him hate me that much?'

Another mountain split off in the distance, hit by a natural violet thunderbolt. Feeling a big hit incoming, she readied her bardiche to strike the stone in half.

She closed her eyes, gripping the newly-formed weapon in her hand as the massive rock was nearly to hit her and-

"Indeed! It had been a long time coming for me to choose. Since you Floor Guardians decided to make me King, I think it's only right to raise a Queen inside Nazarick as well!"

She hesitated.

The massive debris hit her before she could turn back. It didn't do any real damage to the LV. 100 Succubus, but it still was a heavy blow to her back that landed her on her knees.

Before she could even consider getting up, the gilded monitor now towering over her cowed her further in.

She wouldn't dare wish that it was her name being called. Could she stoop so low after all she's done? After hurting her beloved so?

She cursed. She cursed that immutable part of her that still dared revolting while she laid down there, hands drooped low on her knees.

All that was left was to listen.

"I have made my choice, Shalltear Bloodfallen will be Queen of Nazarick, head wife of the Overlord!"

She heard something crack beneath her.

Looking down, she realized the bloodied state of her fist. Her right hand had been grasping onto her dress so tightly, her nails were starting to dig under her skin enough so that she unknowingly summoned the gauntlets of Hermes Trismegistus.

'Automatic defense…'

It was as if the world around her had stopped. The cheers of the Guardian's on the new queen's ascension, even the thunderous crashes of violet mana had grown numb to her. She only stared down at the obsidian gauntlet while a torrent of thoughts went unrestrained through her head.

"A kiss on the mouth seemed too much, so one on the cheek will have to do."

"Sorry. Your happy expression looked so cute. It's hard for me to explain my feelings now."

"Your newly-wed role-playing was quite appealing, Albedo.

Her vision became blurry. A tear dared escape her eyelids, but…

"Ainz-sama. Please rule us forever!

What are you dissatisfied about?!

If you say I am the one in your way, I would kill myself immediately!"

Before her marble-like dress could be stained, the darkness of her armor assimilated the Succubus' body before her tears could even reach down on it.

Albedo's soul was at unrest, still gazing at her trembling hand, now covered in outer armor.

"If… If that's the case, I will go!

I will kill Shalltear!"

Another violet ray struck past her, sending more debris heading in her direction.

This time, she wasted no time picking up her bardiche and shredding the forsaken geode about to hit her, the following dust barely scraped by her now fully-covered body.

…

"Can you win?"

No. She couldn't.

She couldn't fight against Shalltear back then, and she couldn't win Ainz-sama's heart now.

No longer Guardian Overseer.

Never to be head wife.

She was nothing.

"Momonga-sama, I…"

Albedo held her weapon high, staring herself down in the blade's obsidian reflection.

"...I'm sorry."

The wind howled against the succubus, revealing the pristine-black feathers she had now unfurled.

Ready to take flight.

"But I just can't stop loving you!"

With a determined step that cracked the ground beneath her, Albedo broke into flight ready to wreck anything that stood in her way, clutching tightly to her weapon in hand.

Still on the barren wastes of the 8th, secluded and hidden away in a dark enclave, an unparalleled Triumvirate discussed the recent news witnessed on the Seraphim's screen.

"Well, it appears our great Lord has finally chosen to take a bride."

The regal voice sounded all too pleased with himself. It's tone was filled with darkness, and absolute respect for the Supreme One.

"I have to say, I'm more than content with his choice. Shalltear Bloodfallen should make a great Queen to serve."

"Of course you say that, mockery of Cainabel!"

The second's voice boomed with a divine radiance. Although it's tone was accusing, the title of 'mockery' was not. They all took great pride in the ingenuity of the Supreme Beings who designed them as facsimiles of the World Enemies from YGGDRASIL.

"You are of the same racial lineage as her! Does your shared blood not cloud your judgement?"

The Vampire could scoff, but he wouldn't deny the Angel's accusations.

"Isn't that obvious? I'm just complimenting the Supreme One for his own choices. We vampires are the apex race, after all."

"Apex race?! You should keep that tongue still, Cainubel, or are you claiming you are superior to Lord Momonga?"

The blood-drinker seethed at his comrade's accusation, not willing to admit his slip-of-tongue.

"Don't put words in my mouth, Celestial brute!"

Watching his fellow guardians engage in another futile struggle, the Second of Mockery put forth a menacing hand on the table, drawing attention and recalling their Poker cards for a future shuffle.

"What matters now is Lord Momonga's proclamation for the future. We see now a new era for the Great Tomb of Nazarick."

With the discussions ended and the tense air defused, the Vampire and the Angel only nodded at the Nephilim's words.

"Indeed. A new era of power for our Lord, with his own creation as Overseer."

"And a new era of judgement upon the natives of this New World!"

Satisfied with his comrades resolutions, the mockery of the Behemoth continued shuffling down the cards for another game.

"And another era we protect and oversee the magnitude of Nazarick. Though it is a shame it took a betrayal to finish off our previous chapter."

The Trio all sighed together and, as if on cue, their new game of Poker was suddenly intruded by a new presence materializing atop their table.

"Another interruption?"

A bothered Cainubel raised an eyebrow at the miko-wearing maid who had so rudely transported herself atop their card game.

"My sincerest apologies, great Cainubel, Celestial Duke and Behomot." Aureole started, her true expression inscrutable behind her kitsune mask. "But I must humbly advise you three that our guest here at the 8th Floor has left her station in a rampage, and is currently heading right...here."

"The Traitorous Overseer has gone berserk?!"

It was the Duke who surmised the situation. Aureole only lifted an arm up in a shrug.

"It would be best for you three to deal with her and pacify her before she can cause more damage to the 8th. Balrigg's workshop could also come unto harm, and I believe the Supreme One would prefer that this situation is resolved swiftly."

Seeing the Trio still laid half-unconvinced, Aureole looked down wistfully and called upon her Cherry Blossom Staff.

"...Here, I hope these serve as motivation."

In mere moments, the three beings bodies glowed in an array of different colors as Aureole cast various high-tier buffs at them. The Nephilim was the first to rise, followed by the Celestial Duke whose divine aura ringed out menacingly as he floated. Finally, Cainubel shook the dust out from his robes before emerging to face the Succubus.

The Trio stared in silence as Aureole nodded, vanishing from the table as suddenly as she first came.

"Well, too bad it's up to us to clean up her mess. Though I don't believe the demoness will prove too much of an issue-"

The Mockery of Cainabel barely had time to scoff at his enemy before the raging Succubus emerged from the irradiated shadows, moving as fast as her wings allowed her to to deliver a vengeful blow at the True Vampire's face.

Maybe he was just the closest to her.

Maybe he was just the one closest to Shalltear in looks.

Regardless, she did send him flying some distance afar.

After returning some of her senses, Albedo turned defiantly to the two other beings looking down on her. She recognized them as monsters of Nazarick, but much like the rest of the 8th Floor, their exact identities were unknown to her.

"Come on, aren't you going to fight me?"

The two massive beings stared down at her, ignoring her taunt. The Behemoth-lookalike remained silent to much of her unnerve, but the Angel was far more talkative.

"Traitorous Overseer! I won't overstep into Cainubel's turn, but know I'll deliver judgement unto as soon as he's finished with you."

Albedo couldn't help but scoff. 'Turn? Tch, they're not taking me seriously.'

"Well, if you'll treat this like a game, don't think I'll play by your rule-"

"[Unfading Amaranth]"

A dark voice boomed out from the shadows where she had sent Cainubel to.

Looking closer onto her target now, she could see the True Vampire slowly emerge from the hole she had punched him into. Besides dusting off his divine robes, the Third of Mockery came out unscathed.

'Not even a scratch. I'll have to believe he had [Body of Effulgent Beryl] readied under his sleeve, otherwise I'll be in a lot of trouble.'

Indeed, Cainubel looked furious. His eyes shined a menacing red as the space around him seemed to distort at his beck and call. Before Albedo could even rationalize it, all four of them had been ensnared in a bloody-red dome, whose walls simmered and writhed in a waterfall-fashion.

While Albedo readied her bardiche in a counter-attack stance, she couldn't help but feel weakened inside the area-of-effect spell.

As if to confirm her worst fears, the Nephilim spoke to her for the first time.

"[Unfading Amaranth], the calling card of Cainubel's classes. An area-of-effect spell much like the Overlord's [Energy Drain], feeding of his foes strength while further empowering himself."

Behomot finished with a glance that bared no pity. "You know what this means for you… You must really have roused his anger."

Albedo grit her teeth. If the other two weren't going to fight her now, she wouldn't pay them any attention either.

'Just focus on the vampire… If things get as bad as they look, I still have my Ginnungagap-'

She bit her tongue, realizing she didn't have the WI after all.

"[Boosted Magic: Exorcist's Plight]"

The ground between Albedo and Cainubel shook as the vampire's magic made ripples throughout the arena. The Succubus could only raise her wards against the phantoms homing-in to obliterate her.

Inside Nazarick

Throne Room.

As the vows of loyalty from the Floor Guardians came to a close, Ainz Ooal Gown stared down his subordinates with the two pinprick flames that ever burned behind his eye-sockets. Once again, he's met with the burden of leading his savage children through this New World.

Now more than ever, his infinite wisdom would be called upon to act.

'Right, what the hell do I do now?'