The morning sun cast long shadows across the construction site as Nico surveyed his budding kingdom. After returning from E-Rantel with Alcina, he'd wasted no time launching the construction project with Neil Fisher and Pedro Fernandez. The air resonated with the rhythmic clanking of tools and the grunts of laborers as J'avos hauled massive concrete blocks quarried from Heisenberg's mine. The wall, once just a sketch on parchment, was finally taking physical form—though so far, the excavation had yielded no precious minerals.
"Make a wall around the farm! We're going to make this like E-Rantel!" Nico's voice carried across the site, his eyes gleaming with the vision of layered defenses like those he'd admired in the ancient city. Each concentric barrier would serve a distinct purpose—farmlands protected by the outermost wall, residential quarters within the second perimeter, and deeper still, the critical facilities, all spiraling inward to the Laboratory at the heart of his domain.
Pedro strolled beside him, sunlight glinting off the juice of a ripe pear as he took a bite. "The person you took this architectural knowledge from was a professional, Creator," he remarked, wiping his chin.
Nico's laugh echoed across the construction site. "Too bad he won't be using it anymore," he quipped, watching the J'avos haul massive stones into position. Their inhuman strength made short work of what would take dozens of human laborers' days to accomplish. The first section of the wall was already taking shape, rough-hewn blocks stacked with remarkable precision.
"Have you begun work on our trade center?" Nico asked, turning to Pedro as a cloud of dust billowed across their path.
Pedro bowed slightly, his expression businesslike. "Neil has already drafted the initial plans. We'll break ground by week's end."
Nico nodded approvingly. "This will be the economic foundation of our kingdom... for now," he said, his mind already calculating how to make the Slane Theocracy dependent on them for sustenance. Control their food, control their fate.
"Creator! Creator!"
The urgent cry cut through the construction noise. Nico and Pedro turned to see Lucas sprinting toward them, dust kicking up behind his heels. His face was flushed with excitement, and clutched in his outstretched hands was a chunk of dark blue stone that gleamed even in the shadow of the rising walls.
"Adamantite!" Nico's exclamation came out almost as a gasp. His eyes widened as he delicately took the precious ore from Lucas, its surface catching the light with subtle blue-black iridescence. The rare metal seemed to hum with potential in his hands. "This changes everything," he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.
Thanking Lucas profusely, he instructed him to convey his gratitude to Heisenberg and to accelerate the mining operation immediately. Lucas nodded enthusiastically before dashing off, his footsteps leaving small clouds of dust in his wake.
Nico turned to Pedro, unable to contain his excitement. The rare ore seemed to pulse in his palm, as if alive with possibility. "Luck truly is on our side, my friend," he laughed, holding the adamantite where Pedro could examine its mysterious luster.
Pedro leaned in, eyes narrowed with professional curiosity. "I've never seen anything like it," he murmured, not daring to touch it.
"Would you continue overseeing the farm wall construction while I explore replication methods?" Nico asked, already mentally calculating the potential of such a discovery. Pedro nodded, and Nico strode off toward the Laboratory, his pace quickening with each step.
The Laboratory's entrance loomed before him—a stark contrast to the rustic construction site he'd left behind. The elevator hummed to life as Nico stepped inside, the doors closing with a soft pneumatic hiss.
"Twelfth floor," he commanded, pressing the button. The elevator descended smoothly, a slight sensation of weightlessness in Nico's stomach as it dropped to the lower levels of his underground complex. His fingers drummed against his thigh, impatience building as the numbers on the display panel ticked downward.
Upon reaching the twelfth floor, Nico reached out through the Hive Mind, the mental connection buzzing like static electricity in his thoughts. "Mother Miranda, would you kindly meet me in the village?" he requested, his mental voice echoing through the collective consciousness that bound his creations together.
The village square stood eerily quiet when Nico arrived, the statue of a warrior woman casting a long shadow across the cobblestones. The figure, forever frozen in bronze, clutched a shield in one hand and brandished a sword with the other—a silent sentinel watching over the deserted streets.
Within minutes, Miranda appeared, her black robes swirling around her ankles as she approached. Her face remained partially hidden beneath her ceremonial headpiece, but her eyes—keen and ancient—fixed on Nico with reverence.
"What do you need of me, Creator?" she asked, her voice like dry leaves rustling as she sank into a deep bow.
Nico whistled sharply, the sound ricocheting off the stone buildings. A nearby Lycan's ears perked up, and it loped toward them, muscles rippling beneath its coarse fur. The creature's breath came in hot pants as it crouched submissively before its master.
"You see this, Miranda?" Nico asked, holding up the adamantite ore so that it caught the light. "Do you know a way to replicate it?" Miranda's eyes narrowed behind her mask, confusion evident in her gaze.
Without warning, Nico seized the Lycan by its throat. The creature's startled yelp cut short as Nico wrenched its head from its shoulders in one violent motion. Miranda flinched, fear flashing across her normally composed features. Blood spattered the cobblestones, but Nico focused only on the severed head as its flesh rapidly deteriorated, sloughing away to reveal something unexpected—a skull that gleamed with crystalline formations.
"Crystals!" Nico thrust the macabre trophy toward Miranda. "Crystals grow in the bones of both your Lycans and the four Lords. How does this happen?" His voice grew intense. "If crystals can form in Lycan bones, perhaps other minerals could replace them—minerals like adamantite."
Miranda took a step back, her composure returning gradually. "My apologies, Creator, but I have not studied this phenomenon thoroughly. If I were to hypothesize, it's likely an effect of the Cadou enhancing their durability—or perhaps an after-effect of the death process." Her brow furrowed beneath her headpiece. "The Megamycete does have remarkable adaptive properties."
Nico nodded thoughtfully, dropping the crystallized skull with a clatter. "Follow me," he said, already striding toward Dimitrescu Castle. Miranda hurried to keep pace, her robes whispering against the ground.
The castle's massive doors groaned open at Nico's approach. Within, opulent hallways stretched before them, chandeliers casting dancing shadows across ornate wallpaper. They passed the Duke in his ornate carriage, the rotund merchant barely acknowledging them as they hurried by.
"Do you think another material could replace these crystals?" Nico asked as they wound deeper into the castle's labyrinthine corridors.
Miranda's silence suggested deep thought. Meanwhile, they entered a chamber that had once housed the Duke in the game—a room with peculiar mechanical contraptions built into the wall. Nico located the minigame mechanism that concealed the crimson skull.
"Consider your answer while I retrieve something," he said, forming a ball of Mold from his own body. The substance glistened wetly in his palm before solidifying into a perfect sphere. With practiced precision, he manipulated the puzzle, finding it significantly easier than its virtual counterpart.
The hidden compartment clicked open just as Miranda found her voice. "I don't think substitution is possible, Creator," she began, but stopped short when Nico extracted a blood-red skull from the secret niche.
"Then what is this?" he challenged, holding the crimson skull before her. The ruby-colored object caught the lamplight, sending scarlet reflections dancing across the room's gloomy interior.
Miranda leaned closer, her scientific curiosity piqued. She examined it carefully, tracing its contours with a slender finger before meeting Nico's gaze with newfound understanding.
"If this exists," she said slowly, "then the Megamycete must be capable of gathering different materials and incorporating them into its host organisms. The crystalline structures could serve as both protection and camouflage for the Megamycete itself." Her eyes widened with the implications. "A biological transmutation process!"
"But where does it gather these materials?" she asked, almost to herself. Miranda had never ventured into the deeper territories of her creations, too consumed by her obsession with resurrecting her daughter to notice what lay beyond her immediate concerns.
"Follow me," Nico said, his voice charged with excitement. Wings erupted from his back in a spray of viscous fluid, the membranes unfurling like dark sails. He seized Miranda around the waist and launched into the air, her startled gasp lost in the rush of wind.
They soared over treetops, the landscape blurring beneath them. Minutes later, they descended into the Lycan territory. The creatures scattered from their path before recognizing their master, then prostrated themselves as Nico and Miranda passed through their midst.
The ruins of what might once have been a fortress loomed ahead, now a jumble of crumbling stone overtaken by moss and lichen. Deeper they went, into the heart of the Lycan stronghold, where the massive Uriaș dwelled. The gigantic creature inclined its misshapen head in deference as they approached.
Nico guided Miranda past the behemoth to a narrow entrance on the right. The passage opened into a breathtaking cavern where countless crystals jutted from the walls and ceiling, their facets throwing rainbows of light across the rocky chamber.
"Fascinating!" Miranda breathed, her voice hushed with awe. "A natural geode... I never knew such a source existed within my territory." She moved from one crystal formation to another, fingers hovering just above their surfaces. "The Megamycete must draw from these deposits during the transformation process."
Nico approached her, the adamantite ore heavy in his palm. "So? Do you think we can replicate the process with this?"
Miranda accepted the ore, turning it over in her hands. The blue-black metal seemed to drink in the crystal-scattered light. "I believe we can," she said thoughtfully, "but we'll need more adamantite to create our first host capable of generating it."
Nico's heart leapt into his throat. He immediately reached through the Hive Mind, his mental call tinged with urgency. "Heisenberg! Has all the adamantite been mined already?"
"Unfortunately not, Creator," came Heisenberg's gravelly reply. "These deposits are significantly harder to extract than normal metals. The J'avos are making slow progress."
Relief washed over Nico. "Good. Halt all adamantite mining immediately. Mother Miranda and I are conducting experiments that require intact deposits. We'll meet you there shortly."
"Understood, Creator." Heisenberg's acknowledgment carried a hint of curiosity, but he didn't question the order.
Nico withdrew from the mental connection and turned to Miranda, who remained enraptured by the crystal cave. The multicolored light played across her ceremonial garb as she studied the formations intently.
"Good news, Miranda. The adamantite remains largely untouched. Shall we proceed with our experiment?" Nico's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Miranda nodded enthusiastically. "The scientific possibilities are extraordinary. If the Megamycete can indeed adapt to incorporate adamantite instead of crystal..."
"Then we'll have created a renewable source of the rarest metal in this world," Nico finished for her. "This world has witnessed numerous breakthroughs—humans engineered from the C-Virus, accelerated botanical growth from the G-Virus. Now it's time for the Megamycete to demonstrate its true potential."
"Go to Heisenberg's mine. Prepare the site while I handle some final arrangements," Nico instructed. Miranda bowed deeply before departing, her excitement palpable in her quickened stride.
Alone in the crystal chamber, Nico sank onto a rocky outcropping, the dancing lights around him contrasting with the darkness of his thoughts. His mind turned to the power he'd sensed in Ainz during their brief meeting—and to the even greater powers that might lurk unseen in this world.
"I should have done this long ago," he muttered, rising with newfound resolve. The display of confidence he'd maintained before Ainz had been mere theater. Deep inside, fear gnawed at him—not of Ainz specifically, but of the unknown forces that might dwarf even his considerable abilities. Other players, perhaps, with powers beyond his comprehension.
He wouldn't wait passively for destruction to find him. He would consolidate his strength and secure his position.
"These viral agents are far too dangerous to leave accessible," he said, his voice echoing in the crystal chamber as he strode toward the exit. Even a single drop in the wrong hands could unleash devastation beyond measure.
The Megamycete chamber hummed with latent energy when Nico entered. The massive fungal network pulsed with bioluminescence, sensing his presence. Nico approached the central mass and pressed his hands against its surface. The membrane yielded under his touch, and he began to absorb the entire structure into himself. Tendrils of the fungal root system writhed and then flowed into his body, merging with his cellular structure.
Pain lanced through him as his body accommodated the vast network, but Nico persisted. When the process was completed, he had become the Fungal Root itself—the living source of both Mold and Cadou.
Not yet satisfied, he moved to the adjacent laboratory where vials of manufactured viruses gleamed under sterile lights. One by one, he absorbed them all, trusting in the Megamycete's ability to replicate their DNA and cellular structures should he need them in the future.
Finally, he reached the parasite storage unit. The Cadou specimens floated in their preservation fluid, while the Las Plagas organisms pulsed in their containment vessels. Nico absorbed them all, completing his transformation into a living repository of every viral and parasitic agent in the facility.
"Alright," he gasped, steadying himself against a wall as waves of nausea crashed through him. The competing pathogens warred within his system before the C-Virus established dominance, integrating the others into a complex symbiosis. "Let's see what I can do with this."
He rode the elevator back to the Laboratory level, the car seeming to crawl despite its rapid ascent. Inside the mouse enclosure, Nico selected a specimen from the cage, its tiny heart racing beneath his fingertips.
"Time to test if I'm truly the incarnation of these viruses," he murmured, carrying the mouse to an operating table. His index finger elongated and transformed into a syringe, the tip glistening with Mold as he injected the rodent with enough to match human biomass.
The mouse convulsed as the transformation began, its tiny form swelling grotesquely. A second finger morphed into another syringe, this one delivering the C-Virus. The combination triggered an explosive metamorphosis—fur sloughing away, bones cracking and reforming, organs liquefying and reconstituting.
When the process was completed, a perfect duplicate of Nico lay on the table, naked and disoriented but unmistakably human in appearance. Like previous test subjects, the clone had taken Nico's form because it used his genetic template—the key difference from earlier experiments that had incorporated other donors' DNA.
"Now, to the mines," Nico said, helping his doppelganger to its feet. The clone stared back with vacant curiosity, conscious but lacking true sentience. They exited the facility together, and once outside, Nico's back split open as massive wings erupted from his shoulder blades. He grasped his clone by the ankle and launched into the air, the duplicate dangling unceremoniously below him as they soared toward Heisenberg's mining operation.
Lucas awaited them at the mine entrance, his lean figure silhouetted against the glow of lanterns that illuminated the tunnel. He bowed as Nico landed, then glanced at the naked clone with raised eyebrows before wisely choosing not to comment.
"This way, Creator," he said, leading them into the mine shaft. The air grew noticeably cooler as they descended, the rough-hewn walls glistening with moisture. The rhythmic clank of pickaxes ceased as they entered a large cavern where Miranda and Heisenberg already waited.
Unlike the crystal cave in the Lycan territory, this chamber gleamed with veins of adamantite—midnight blue streaks running through the stone like frozen lightning. The metal reflected the lantern light with an almost sentient gleam.
"Here!" Nico announced, shoving his clone into the center of the chamber. "This will be our first test subject." The clone stumbled forward, regaining its balance and standing placidly amid the startled glances of the three subjects.
Miranda stepped forward, concern evident in her eyes. "But Creator, that's... you," she said hesitantly. "Are you certain about this? Experimenting on your likeness could be... psychologically traumatic."
"Yes!" Nico snapped, impatience edging his voice. "Now let's proceed. Is there a chair available?"
Heisenberg gestured, and a metal chair materialized from scrap components scattered around the mine. The metallic parts twisted and reformed under his power, creating a sturdy seat. With another flick of his wrist, he guided the clone onto the chair and bent two steel rods around its wrists, securing it in place.
"Step back," Nico commanded, waiting until the three subjects retreated to the cavern's perimeter. He extended his hands, and Mold flowed from his fingertips like living mercury, spreading across the floor and climbing the walls. The substance enveloped the exposed adamantite veins, extracting the rare metal from the surrounding rock.
The process took several minutes, the Mold pulsing as it absorbed the metal's properties. Finally, the substance retracted, flowing back into Nico's body like a receding tide.
"Good. Now for the Cadou," he continued, holding out his palm. A small parasite materialized in his hand, writhing slightly—a Cadou parasitic organism created from his own body. He approached the clone, which watched him with empty eyes.
Nico grabbed the duplicate's jaw, forcing its mouth open. His movements were rough, betraying his discomfort with experimenting on his image. He shoved the Cadou into the clone's throat, stepping back as the parasite took hold.
The transformation began almost immediately. The clone's body contorted, bones cracking as its form expanded. Fur sprouted from its skin, limbs elongated, and its face stretched into a bestial muzzle. Within moments, a standard Lycan crouched where the human duplicate had sat, straining against its metal bonds.
Nico frowned, disappointed but not surprised. "My genetic structure only produces a common Lycan," he observed. "If not for Yggdrasil's game mechanics forcing the Virus to adapt to my body, I too would have become nothing more than this."
He paced before the creature, which snarled and lunged against its restraints. "Let's wait for the adamantite to incorporate into its skeletal structure," he said, though his tapping foot betrayed his impatience.
After several minutes with no visible change, Nico's patience evaporated. He approached the Lycan, which snapped at him futilely. With surgical precision, he transformed one finger into a needle-thin blade and plunged it into the creature's chest, directly into its heart.
The Lycan stiffened, then went limp. Almost immediately, its flesh began to decompose, the accelerated decay revealing the skeleton beneath. The bones, normally crystalline after a Lycan's death, now gleamed with the unmistakable blue-black luster of adamantite.
Miranda gasped with delight, and Heisenberg gave a low whistle of appreciation. Lucas darted forward for a closer look, his scientific curiosity overcoming his usual restraint.
"We've done it!" Nico announced, his earlier frustration replaced with triumph. "The Megamycete has incorporated the adamantite into the skeletal structure. We now have a renewable source of the rarest metal in this world."
He gestured toward the decaying Lycan corpse, where every bone—from the skull to the smallest finger bone—glimmered with the precious metal. "But we're not finished yet," he added, turning to his subjects.
"We need to find DNA that produces a Uriaș, or better yet, an Urias Străjer," he explained. "Their larger bodies would yield significantly more adamantite per subject. For now, we'll proceed with Vârcolac specimens."
Miranda stepped forward, her posture formal but her eyes alight with scientific zeal. "If I may, Creator, I would like to oversee that research personally."
Nico laughed, scratching his head. "I was planning to assign you anyway, but I appreciate your initiative," he said, genuine warmth in his voice. Miranda bowed deeply, clearly pleased with the responsibility.
"You may begin immediately," Nico said. With another reverent bow, Miranda excused herself and swept from the chamber, her mind already cataloging potential DNA donors.
"Good work, everyone," Nico said to the remaining subjects. Heisenberg acknowledged the praise with a tip of his hat before returning to direct the mining operations. "Lucas, you'll manage the current operation—converting clones into Vârcolacs while Miranda identifies suitable Urias DNA," he instructed.
"Once Human Creation is fully operational, I'll ensure Simmons and Radames provide at least fifty human subjects weekly," Nico continued, already calculating how quickly they could scale production given the reproductive rate of the mice.
"For technical guidance on Vârcolac creation, consult Dr. Moreau through the Hive Mind," he added, feeling the title was well earned by his subordinate's scientific acumen.
"I'll leave you to it, then," Nico concluded. Lucas nodded and raised a hand in farewell as Nico turned to leave. Heisenberg had already disappeared deeper into the mine, his voice echoing as he redirected the J'avos to new excavation sites.
Outside, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the land. Nico blinked against the sudden brightness, his eyes adjusting after the dimness of the mine. Before him, the farm wall stood complete—a testament to the J'avos' tireless efficiency. Beyond the wall lay miles of wilderness, and somewhere in that direction, the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
"Now to secure our final protection," Nico murmured, his resolve hardening. Pride would need to be swallowed if he wanted to ensure his kingdom's safety. Wings erupted from his back once more, and he launched himself skyward, banking toward Nazarick's known location.
The wind rushed past his face as he flew, his mind racing with potential strategies. Ainz was notoriously busy—he might not even be present. And even if he was, would he grant audience to an unexpected visitor?
Minutes later, the imposing edifice of Nazarick came into view. Nico descended, landing softly on the grounds outside the main entrance. The massive structure loomed before him, its architecture both beautiful and intimidating—a perfect reflection of its master's power.
"Now," Nico mused, surveying the entrance, "do I attempt the floors or simply create enough commotion to draw attention?"
His deliberation was interrupted when he spotted movement—a maid emerging from the tomb. Nico slipped behind a pillar, watching her with interest. She was elegantly dressed in a classic maid uniform, her movements precise and professional.
"Complete Invisibility," she incanted, and before Nico's eyes, she vanished from sight.
He stepped out from behind the pillar, feigning confusion while inwardly amused. His enhanced senses—particularly his acute sense of smell—made her spell largely ineffective. He could detect her presence easily, tracking her movement as she circled behind him.
The invisible maid rushed forward, her attack silent but swift. Nico's hand shot out, catching her fist mid-strike.
"Too slow," he taunted, gripping her arm tightly. The maid's invisibility wavered momentarily with her surprise, but she recovered quickly, thrusting her other hand into his abdomen with inhuman strength.
Her fist penetrated his flesh, and Nico saw triumph flash across her features as she momentarily believed she'd landed a decisive blow. "Oh no, no, no. Not that fast, lady," Nico laughed, his body already regenerating around her embedded arm, effectively trapping it.
"What!?" the maid exclaimed, shock evident in her voice. "Regeneration? But I sensed no magic from you!" She struggled fruitlessly to extract her arm from his body.
"Call Ainz," Nico ordered, his tone shifting from playful to commanding. The maid growled in defiance and struck him with her free hand. Nico caught it easily, encasing it in rapidly hardening Mold.
"Call Ainz," he repeated, his patience wearing thin. Movement at the entrance caught his attention—another maid had emerged, likely sensing the disturbance.
"Maybe this one will be more reasonable," Nico whispered to his captive before raising his voice. "Hello, young lady! Would you kindly inform Ainz that he has a visitor?" His tone was deliberately polite, almost cordial.
The second maid—a Dullahan, judging by her distinct features—assessed the situation with cool professionalism. "Iron Skin! Impact Blow!" she incanted, her body glowing briefly with magical enhancement.
She charged forward, and Nico, deciding to make a point, allowed her attack to land. Her fist connected with his face with tremendous force, exploding his head in a spray of viscous fluid and tissue fragments.
Both maids paused, believing the threat neutralized—until a new head began forming from Nico's neck, features coalescing from the churning biomass.
"Wow! A Dullahan beheading someone—classic move there, lady," Nico teased, his laughter echoing across the courtyard. The second maid recoiled momentarily before her features settled into professional detachment.
She attempted another attack, but Nico caught her armored wrist and immobilized it with a cocoon of Mold. He sighed dramatically, releasing both maids from their restraints and taking a step back.
"This is getting us nowhere," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "I merely wish to speak with Ainz. I come in peace... relatively speaking."
The maids exchanged glances, clearly unconvinced.
"What do you want, restraints?" Nico asked mockingly, forming manacles around his wrists. "A gag, perhaps?" He manifested a ball gag in his mouth before dissolving it with a laugh. "Too kinky? Tough crowd..."
"A Doppelgänger?" suggested the bespectacled maid, studying him suspiciously.
"Not even close, dear," Nico replied with a dismissive wave. "Please, just take me to Ainz! I have more pressing matters to attend to than trading blows with the cleaning staff."
The tomb's entrance darkened as a third figure emerged—a woman whose aura of power dwarfed that of the maids. Elegant wings stretched from her back, and she carried herself with the confidence of someone accustomed to authority.
"What's happening here?" she demanded, her voice melodious yet commanding.
"This intruder demands an audience with Lord Ainz," the red-haired maid reported, her tone respectful but tense.
The winged woman's expression hardened. "Eliminate him immediately," she ordered. "Anyone attempting to infiltrate Nazarick or possessing knowledge of our lord's name is a threat that must be destroyed."
"We apologize, Lady Albedo," the bespectacled maid replied, her voice betraying a hint of frustration. "We cannot destroy him. His regenerative abilities exceed our capacity to inflict lasting damage."
Nico's patience, already stretched thin, finally snapped. He crossed his arms, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Is that so?" Albedo's eyes narrowed as she summoned a gleaming black axe, its edge humming with deadly enchantment. "Then I shall handle this myself."
She launched herself at Nico with blinding speed, her weapon arcing toward his neck. Nico, however, moved even faster. He sidestepped her attack and, in one fluid motion, caught her in a tight headlock. His right arm transformed into a wickedly sharp blade that he pressed against her throat.
The maids froze, horror evident in their expressions as they watched their superior struggle futilely in Nico's grasp. Although powerful, Albedo hadn't expected such speed or strength from the intruder.
"Last chance," Nico growled, his earlier playfulness replaced by cold determination. His blade-arm pressed just hard enough against Albedo's throat to draw a thin line of blood. "Take me to Ainz, or your mistress here loses her head—and I suspect she's far too valuable for that."
The maids exchanged desperate glances, weighing their limited options. Albedo's furious eyes commanded resistance, but the blade at her throat left little room for defiance. Finally, the bespectacled maid nodded reluctantly.
"We will escort you to Lord Ainz," she conceded, her voice tight with displeasure.
"Excellent choice," Nico purred, releasing Albedo and allowing his arm to revert to normal. "See? Diplomacy works wonders."
Albedo stepped away, her hand instinctively touching the shallow cut on her neck. Her eyes burned with barely contained rage, but she recognized the tactical necessity of retreat—for now.
"This way," the red-haired maid said stiffly, gesturing toward the tomb's entrance. "Our lord will determine your fate."
"I'm sure he will," Nico replied with a confidence he didn't entirely feel. As he followed the maids into the Great Tomb of Nazarick, he couldn't help but wonder if his bold gambit would pay off—or if he had just made the most dangerous enemy possible in this new world.