[The Outskirts of New York, A Deserted Forest]
Moonlight filtered through the dense canopy like torn gauze, casting skeletal shadows across the underbrush.
Two young men crunched through the dry leaves, their phone flashlights cutting through the gloom.
"Liam, seriously... I don't think this is a good idea."
"Relax, Ethan," the boy in front scoffed, not looking back. "There are no such things as ghosts or monsters in this world. Those are just stories made up by cowards to keep people in line."
Ethan stumbled over a root, his eyes darting nervously into the darkness. He didn't share Liam's bravado.
The forest was too quiet. Aside from the wind rustling the dead leaves, there were no crickets, no owls... nothing. It was dead silence.
"Come on," Liam urged, holding up his phone to record. "If we get footage of this place, we'll be legends at school."
Rumors had been spreading like wildfire through their campus for days.
The Forest is haunted.
The Supernatural Club had come here a week ago. They were found the next morning, dumped by the roadside, catatonic. When they finally woke up in the infirmary, they all screamed the same things:
"Ghosts floating in the air!"
"Skeletons crawling out of the dirt!"
The School Board had suppressed the news and banned entry, but that only acted as bait. To teenagers like Liam, a ban was just a dare.
They moved deeper into the woods, unaware that the darkness was staring back.
[Location: Unknown - The Temporary Tomb]
"Truly annoying flies..."
Deep within a concealed pocket of the forest, a skeletal figure sat upon a makeshift throne. He watched the two teenagers on a floating magical projection.
Ainz Ooal Gown.
Or, as he was known in his past life, a simple salaryman named Satoru Suzuki.
Draped in divine-class robes, with dark red orbs glowing in his empty eye sockets, he tapped his bony fingers against the armrest.
'I haven't even figured out the details of this world yet,' Ainz thought, his internal voice weary. 'If I kill them, their disappearance will attract the police—or worse, this world's heroes. But if I let them run around, my location will be exposed.'
Ainz sighed—a phantom sensation, as he had no lungs.
He was alone.
He had arrived in this Marvel Universe with nothing. No Great Tomb of Nazarick. No Floor Guardians. No Battle Maids.
Just himself, his inventory, and a strange "System" that allowed him to purchase his lost legacy using Emotion Points.
"It's so troublesome being solo," Ainz grumbled. "If only Demiurge or Albedo were here, they would have already handled this."
He waved his hand, dismissing the Mirror of Remote Viewing, and turned his attention to the glowing blue system interface floating to his right.
It displayed a list of exchangeable assets and his current balance.
[Current Emotion Points: 23,156]
[Shop - Buildings]
Great Tomb of Nazarick: 1,000,000 Points
[Shop - Characters]
Sebas Tian: 200,000 Points
Shalltear Bloodfallen: 200,000 Points
Cocytus: 200,000 Points
Demiurge: 200,000 Points
Albedo: 200,000 Points
Gargantua: 100,000 Points
[Shop - World Class Items]
Downfall of Castle and Country: 5,000,000 Points
World Savior: 5,000,000 Points
[Special Item: 90% Discount Coupon (x1)]
Ainz stared at the coupon. Since he had scared off that first group of students (the Supernatural Club), his Emotion Points had been steadily trickling in.
He had enough.
With the 20,000 points he had saved, plus the 90% discount, he could summon his first Floor Guardian.
The question was: Who?
He narrowed his choices down to two candidates.
Demiurge: The supreme strategist. In this unknown world, Ainz desperately needed a brain to help him plan. Ainz wasn't stupid, but he knew he was just an average guy roleplaying an Overlord. Demiurge could do the heavy lifting.
Sebas Tian: The Dragonoid butler. He was the only high-level NPC who looked completely human. He was steady, righteous, and could infiltrate human society without drawing attention.
Ainz leaned back, resting his chin on his skeletal hand.
'Information is the lifeblood of warfare. Right now, I am blind. Demiurge is brilliant, but he stands out. I need eyes and ears in the human cities.'
He made his decision.
"System. Exchange for Sebas Tian."
[Confirming... Consuming 90% Discount Coupon... 20,000 Points Deducted.]
A vortex of starlight erupted in the center of the gloomy cavern. The magic density in the air spiked, causing the very ground to tremble.
As the light faded, a figure stood in the silence.
He was an elderly gentleman with an immaculate posture. He had silver-white hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore a traditional butler's uniform that seemed tailored by the gods themselves. His face was rugged yet kind, exuding an aura of rock-solid reliability.
The moment his eyes landed on the skeleton before him, the gentleman dropped to one knee. He placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head low.
"Ainz-sama."
His voice was deep and resonant.
"The Head Butler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Sebas Tian, answers your call."
Sebas looked up, his eyes filled with absolute, unwavering devotion.
"To the Supreme Being, I offer my life and my loyalty! Your will is my command."
"The name of Ainz Ooal Gown shall surely resound throughout this new world!"
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