Dragon Tribulation of All Realms

Chapter 137 The Dark Hero
This was somewhat unexpected.

Wu Chen recalled that he still remembered the last words of Preya's remains: as a user of willpower, he was destined to be an enemy of the Dragon Kings. And in the past, he was certain of this.

Because the Dragon King truly understood, and should understand, the power of will—because the projection of the decaying coffin on Earth exhibited the characteristics of a deity. Whatever is spoken will be known. Wu Chen was certain that his last perception when escaping Earth was accurate. And as a mere Lv2 juvenile god, he hadn't even yet come into contact with this ability.

too weird.

He was already recklessly using his willpower to do all sorts of things within the Holy Kingdom's territory. Yet, even with the Platinum Armor appearing before him, it offered no opinion, not even a word of reminder or warning.

Could it be because the original body is absent? Or is there some other special reason behind the events? Wu Chen couldn't find the answer yet. But at least, he knew that he didn't need to face the world's full-on attack for the time being.

He breathed a sigh of relief, at least for the time being.

The fight didn't break out—which meant that he had probably passed the World Guardians' scrutiny, and the crisis on Ainz Ooal Gown's side was also advancing rapidly.

This is also a matter of course.

Because when he appeared on this land, actively participated in everything on this land, and made no attempt to conceal his origins, everything was already destined to happen.

After all, there's a comparison.

This era, this land, is no longer a stage for the one-man show of 'The Dark Hero Flyff'. Instead, it's an interactive arena with the addition of the character 'Regent Dust'. The more Wu Chen does, the more Ainz's flaws will naturally become apparent. Because, objectively speaking, Suzuki Satoru is an incompetent person.

They have power, but no ability.

If he were to delegate all authority, allowing intelligent beings like Demiurge and Pandora to plan for it, then Wu Chen would truly have no way to deal with it. However, as long as it doesn't retreat into the Great Tomb, but instead becomes somewhat envious of 'Dust's' activities and actively interferes in the world, then the more it does, the more mistakes it will make.

Wu Chen didn't even need to deliberately target it, slander it, or entice it. The flaws would naturally be noticed by the world guardians who had been drawn in by the clash between the 'two protagonists.' Perhaps sooner, perhaps later. But the outcome wouldn't be too far off.

after all……

—It was the large tomb that made the first move.

They were the ones who deliberately provoked the Green Dragon Thorn to come and test the waters, and now, the Dragon King's Rotten Root should also be on its way. And the actions of the Great Tomb of Nazarick are naturally also the actions of Ainz, because it is the master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.

Judging from Ainz's behavior at this point in time, once the mystery is finally solved and Dust's identity as an outsider is confirmed, the relationship between the two sides will most likely be one of mortal enmity.

Because Wu Chen possessed magnanimity. He could tolerate and forgive the slightest offenses of the ignorant. But Suzuki Satoru… or rather, Ainz Ooal Gown at this moment…

..............................

—I recognize these guardian statues.

—This is a low-level dungeon guard in Yogg-Trasil, but with localized improvements.

Ainz did not encounter the container of the Witch Dust.

Or rather, it didn't encounter a vessel truly inhabited by Wu Chen's soul, a vessel that wielded the Demon Soul Pot spell—it merely encountered a swordsman with a golden crown, whom it quickly and swiftly defeated, befitting the combat prowess of a 'Dark Hero.' And as the swordsman with his shield crumbled, it heard a 'qualified' sound emanating from within the statue.

"As expected of Mr. Fei Fei!" Nabeul was always one to praise, and she always gave Ainz his full approval. "They defeated that guard so easily. It should be easy for them to win the World Championship now."

“Don’t be careless, Nabe.” Ainz waved his hand. “We might encounter a formidable opponent in this tournament.”

He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was filled with worry. The presence of the dungeon guards of Yogg-Trasil was no small matter. Coupled with the actions of the regent since his arrival, a gradually emerging suspicion began to take root in his mind.

—Are they not players who appear alone, but rather the type who have strongholds or guild headquarters?

—Or perhaps there are hidden support players lurking behind the scenes. Or at least a cluster of multiple players? The problem becomes complicated. A lone wolf and a complete guild are two completely different concepts. With the former, defeating them isn't a big deal. Even if enmity is formed, as long as the power of the Great Tomb of Nazarick is properly demonstrated, the opponent can naturally be suppressed and won over. If things get out of control, dealing with them is relatively easy.

But guilds are different.

Players in guilds have immeasurable potential. However, if the opponent is not acting alone, attacking them will likely result in equally retaliatory consequences.

No, it's not "I'm afraid." It's "inevitable." Because our side has already made the first move.

—This is troublesome, that green dragon…

The poisonous thorns could be considered an accident, but the rotten roots cannot be ignored. Clearly, this could almost be seen as a provocation by the Great Tomb of Nazarick against that unknown guild. Without a reasonable explanation, the possibility of it escalating into a guild war cannot be ruled out.

Even his non-existent heart trembled slightly. It was a fighting spirit, but also a worry—as a player skilled in PvP strategy, Ainz was not afraid of guild wars. But he also had to consider the possibility that world-class items, such trump cards, might not only exist in the Great Tomb of Nazarick's vaults.

Shalltear, who was controlled, is a prime example.

However, if the opponent possesses a high-level world-class item like the 'World Will,' which even the Great Tomb of Nazarick at its peak could conquer single-handedly, then the situation will be extremely dire.

Should we take a step back and apologize to the other party?

But what if the other side demands that the mastermind behind the attack be handed over?
distressed.

Giving away Demiurge as compensation for his sins was something Ainz could not accept at all. Demiurge was Ulbert's child, and he had a responsibility to take care of him. Furthermore, his authority within the Great Tomb of Nazarick was not yet secure; sacrificing one of his own men would likely cause his reputation to plummet, and even Albedo might feel threatened, potentially leading to her betrayal.

So, what would happen if a randomly summoned high-level mercenary monster were used as a scapegoat?

No, that won't work either. Even if memory weaving is used, it would be easily seen through by a guild with high-level spellcasters. Perhaps the only feasible solution is to immediately order Demiurge to stop the Green Dragon King Corruption's attack. But I just gave him the order not long ago; if I change my mind now, my reputation will suffer.

—Is there no other way...?

—Damn it, I'm not very good at this kind of thing.

Its steps never faltered, yet its mind grew increasingly turbulent. The majesty and honor of the Great Tomb, the lives of its subordinates, and the hidden crisis lurking deep within the Holy Kingdom clashed within its heart. In the end, it was unable to make a decision.

At its core, it is still a corporate slave adept at obedience, or rather, execution. At least, it is now. Making decisions in a very short time, decisively choosing one side and sacrificing the interests of the other, is simply too difficult for it. And ultimately, this can only lead to self-deception.

Its gaze casually swept over a broken stone statue.

His steps faltered. His gaze settled on the edges of the mangled body, where signs of weathering were visible.

—Wait a minute, while these dungeon guards might very well be from Yggdrasil, don't they look a bit old? Maybe King Dust found some treasure in some ruins, who knows? Didn't Demiurge scout this out? It seems like ancient players once roamed this land…

—Phew... I'm saved. Was I just scaring myself?

Beneath the armor, the body disguised by the illusion silently tensed, then relaxed. Although there was still some unease, at least it was no longer as wary as before.

That makes sense. If it were truly a powerful guild possessing world-class items, then my brazen activity while wearing Yggdrasil's equipment for so long should have been discovered long ago. Besides, Demiurge didn't say anything. This proves that my earlier alarm was completely false!
Thinking of this, Ainz breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed. It was all Dust's fault! Holding a martial arts tournament with Yggdrasil's inheritance, almost making him lose face. If he could seize the opportunity, he would definitely teach him a lesson, at least make him kneel!
The thought gradually eased. It couldn't help but imagine itself defeating Dust at the martial arts tournament, then stepping on the regent's head and saying something cool like, "You shouldn't have used those dangerous legacies; it was an evil act." Then the regent would be there, weeping and apologizing. And then, it wouldn't be impossible to forgive his offense; after dominating the Holy Kingdom, it wouldn't be out of the question to give him the position of Grand Eunuch.

No, that's not right. A steward or something like that might make Albedo overthink things… a court jester, or a court jester, would be better. That way, the guardians of the Great Tomb of Nazarick shouldn't have any objections, right?

This is for his own good.

His steps became lighter again, and Ainz couldn't help but look forward to what was about to happen.

(End of this chapter)