The Meeting of Guardians
Using the guild ring of Nazarick, Ultron teleports from the throne room on the 9th floor to the 6th floor: the battle arena. There, he is set to meet the floor guardians. Ultron was present during their creation and contributed to the design of some of them. Albedo, Shalltear, and Demiurge are his personal favorites.
'Good. Magic still works. The ring's teleportation function will be useful for traversing this place,' Ultron thinks to himself, looking down at his index finger where the clan's insignia is encrusted.
The sound of his heavy mechanized steps echoes through the tunnel leading to the stands as he walks. He holds his head high, with his chest puffed out. The red inlets along his body shine in the dark halls.
The soft light from the moon in the arena's skybox is the first to meet his red triangular optics before the rest of the Romanesque Colosseum comes into view.
'Albedo and the others in the throne room appear to be as loyal as their default settings suggest, which is reassuring. However, I need to consider where the rest of the group stands regarding my position as guild leader. I must gauge their loyalty; I can't afford any dissent within the ranks. I bet that if Mugs were in my position, he wouldn't be dealing with these concerns...'
"LORD ULTRON!"
Before he realized it, he found himself in the center of the sandy arena. A young female voice interrupted his thoughts as he seemed to have zoned out. Looking towards the source of the voice, he saw one of the dark elf twins, Aura.
She shouted his name in excitement as she leaped from the upper balcony to the ground in an impressive fashion. This display showcased her strength, skill, and durability, proving that her small body could withstand a significant amount of force. She wore more masculine clothing than her male twin brother, and both of them had blond hair and darker skin.
Once she landed, she immediately sprinted to Ultron with a happy smile on her cute little face. Skidding to a stop, she exclaimed enthusiastically, "Welcome, Lord Ultron! Welcome to the floor that we guard!"
"Wow, that was seriously impressive..." Ultron remarked, a hint of astonishment in his voice.
Aura blushed at the compliment. "Thank you so much, my lord! Receiving praise from the lord of all Nazarick is such an honor!" she exclaimed, raising her arms in excitement.
'Word spreads quickly... She doesn't appear to mind my ascendancy to the throne... She seems quite enthusiastic about it.'
"Where is your twin?" Ultron asks, looking around for her crossdressing twin brother. She looks shocked for a moment before turning back to where she fell and yelling.
"MARE! Show some respect for Lord Ultron! We need you down here, pronto! Let's not keep the master waiting!"
"I... I c-c-can't do it, sis!" a timid young male voice quavered, revealing the uncertainty that weighed heavily on him. It belonged to the young Mare, whose hesitant words hung in the air, a mix of vulnerability and unease.
"Mare!" Aura shouted in a scolding tone.
Mare responded timidly, "F-Fine..."
He then jumped down from the extremely high ledge, handling the fall with extraordinary skill, just like his sister. However, he got some dirt on his skirt and began brushing himself off while pulling the skirt down to ensure no one saw anything they weren't supposed to. After that, he started running slowly and in an exaggeratedly feminine manner.
Aura, clearly impatient, yelled after him, "Hurry up!"
Finally, when he arrived at his lord and his sister, he was severely out of breath and looked adorable with his heterochromatic eyes and more feminine features. He performed a little curtsy and said, "I'm so sorry for making you wait, Lord Ultron!"
"Yes... I came here to test a few things. Do you two mind?" Ultron says, summoning the staff of Ainz Ooal Gown and making the gems on top shine.
"Woah!" they both exclaim before Mare asks, "U-U-um is that the staff that only Lord Momonga could use before you?" very shyly.
"Correct. It is the strongest guild weapon that the others and I all contributed to constructing," he says with evident pride.
'Though this staff looks a little awkward in my hands... Hmm, maybe I should try that Molecular Rearranger I built a long time ago?' he thinks to himself, weighing the staff in his hands.
The Molecular Rearranger is the name he gave to the magical artifact he created and installed inside his body as an upgrade; it's how he's able to resemble Ultron. Most magical automatons typically look different.
Not many players are interested in playing as this race because they don't find it particularly intimidating or visually appealing. Although players can customize the body color and shape, those who choose the MA race often resemble characters from "Destiny." However, Ultron recognized its potential and became one of only 45 players out of millions to select this race. He is considered the strongest user among them, and perhaps even the most powerful within Nazarick itself. Although he has never faced Momonga in any PvP matches, he is confident that he could give Momonga a tough challenge.
"Would you both like to help me with a little experiment?" Ultron asks as he turns back to the twins. Their heterochromatic eyes sparkle in anticipation.
"Absolutely! Whatever you wish for, my lord, we're thrilled to assist!" Aura exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.
"I should also mention that I had the other guardians summoned to your floor. They'll arrive within the hour," he tells them as they walk to one side of the arena. Aura takes up a cute little pout.
"Huh? Is Shalltear coming as well?"
Ultron tilted his head to the side in a questioning manner. "She is one of the floor guardians, isn't she?" he said casually as the arena's beasts brought out a dummy and placed it about 50 yards away from him, while the twins stood beside him.
'My character belongs to a race that allows me to utilize both mage and warrior classes, maintaining balance between mana and stamina for attacks. As a machine, I don't have stamina, which allows me to operate almost indefinitely in combat. However, mana is a limited resource for me. I can sense how much mana I have, and while it's substantial, it is still finite. I can also feel the recharge times for my spells and have access to all my upgrades and attachments, which I can activate at any time.'
Ultron held the staff before him, its elaborate spider-like design glinting in the artificial moonlight. The intricate golden structure had served the guild well, but in his mechanical hands, it seemed... unfinished. A relic of another's rule rather than an extension of his power.
"Observe," he commanded softly, his voice carrying a note of anticipation.
The crimson inlets along his metallic body began to pulse with increasing intensity. Starting at his core, waves of scarlet energy surged outward through his frame, converging at his fingertips where they met the ancient weapon. The twins' eyes widened as they witnessed the spectacle unfolding before them.
"Molecular Rearranger: Activate," Ultron intoned, his voice resonating with authority.
A blinding flash erupted where metal met gold, forcing Aura and Mare to shield their eyes. When they looked again, they gasped in unison. The transformation was still in progress—the staff's ornate lattice structure liquefying as if made of molten gold rather than solid metal. The gems that had been suspended in the web-like configuration now orbited around Ultron's hand, pulsing with arcane power, before being drawn into the reforming weapon.
The staff's form flowed like liquid mercury, its particles rearranging at Ultron's will. The spindly spider web design collapsed inward, the gold compressing and elongating into something sleeker, more purposeful. The transformation was completed with a flash of energy that momentarily cast Ultron's imposing silhouette across the arena floor.
Where once stood the elaborate Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown now gleamed a weapon truly worthy of its new master. The scepter retained its golden brilliance but had been reforged into a sleek, elegant instrument of power. The god-class gems that had been scattered throughout the original design were now unified into a single, pulsating crystal near the blade-like end of the scepter. The crystal, a mesmerizing blue that seemed to contain swirling galaxies within its depths, cast ethereal patterns across the arena sand.
The weapon balanced perfectly in Ultron's grasp—no longer a borrowed symbol but a true extension of himself. Its form seamlessly blended a magical conduit with a melee weapon, reflecting the dual nature of its wielder: part spellcaster, part warrior. The rearranged molecular structure gleamed with deadly purpose, promising both arcane devastation and physical might.
Aura and Mare stared at the scepter in awe. "H-How did you do that, Lord Ultron?" Mare asked, still gazing at the scepter as the bright blue gem glistened and shone with power.
"Behold my Molecular Rearranger!" Ultron proclaimed, raising the transformed weapon so it caught the light dramatically. "All I aimed for was to transform the staff's look—its power remains untouched, but now it boasts a sleek, polished design. It's not just a tool; it's a statement!"
The reforged scepter hummed with contained power, the crystal at its tip pulsing in rhythm with Ultron's energy signature, creating a visual harmony between master and weapon that had been absent before. The staff was no longer Momonga's legacy—it was Ultron's instrument of will.
"It's beautiful, my lord!" Aura shouts, her eyes reflecting the weapon's azure glow.
"Thank you, Aura," he said, a spark of excitement in his eyes. With a determined flick of his wrist, he pointed the scepter at the dummy. "Now, let's see what you're made of! [SUMMON: PRIMAL FIRE ELEMENTAL]!"
The gem in the blade section changes colors, shifting spectacularly from serene blue to wrathful crimson. The dummies set up by the beasts suddenly burst into a small tornado of flames, sending whips of fire and wind everywhere. They are stopped by a shield automatically activated by Ultron, while Aura and Mare hide behind him, staring in awe. The beasts suffer a few first-degree burns but are otherwise unharmed. As the torrent of fire dissipates, the beasts charge forth from the flames.
"Neat... Do you want to fight it?" Ultron says, looking down at Aura, who is hopping in excitement, and Mare, who is hiding behind his 7-foot-tall mechanical lord, shaking.
"Oh boy! DO I?!" Aura exclaims happily.
"I-I uh just remembered something I need to do..." Mare says, turning and trying to walk away, before Aura wraps an arm around his neck and pulls him with her as he moans in complaint.
"Primal Fire Elemental! Attack the twins!" Ultron commands over his shoulder as he walks to the side of the arena to watch.
As the activity continues—though it's not exactly a fight, more like a light exercise to get their blood pumping—Ultron thinks it's the right moment to explore some options. "Okay, so the Molecular Rearranger is functioning as intended, along with teleportation and basic spells. But what about player options? Let's see... how about messaging?" Placing his fingers on his temple, he attempts to use the instant messaging feature.
"Yes, Lord Ultron, is something the matter?"
'It went through! Yes! It works!' "Sebas? Status report," Ultron says, removing his fingers from his temple. The twins are doing well, complementing their weaknesses with the strengths of the other. It's beautiful to see.
"I have completed my perimeter, and no sentient organic life forms have been seen," the dragonoid butler says from the other end, though his tone indicates he's confused.
"Excellent work, Sebas. I have called for the floor guardians to meet in the 6th-floor arena. Return here and give your report."
"Yes, Lord Ultron, right away."
"ETA?"
"Five minutes."
Just then, the connection cut off as the fire elemental was vanquished. The twins grinned at their victory. Deciding to embrace the role of the older brother figure he always adopted when addressing the guardians and NPCs, he brought his hands together and began cheering for them. "WOO!" CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP Ultron clapped, holding the scepter in his armpit as he did so. The twins ran up to him excitedly, their big smiles widening with every bit of praise they received.
"Excellent performances from both of you. Your fighting styles complement each other well... Perfectly balanced, as all things should be," Ultron says, balancing the scepter on his finger.
"Thank you so much, Lord Ultron! It's been a while since I've exercised like that!" Aura says, wiping the sweat from her brow. Ultron chuckles lightly in response.
"It seems you need a small training regimen; we wouldn't want the Guardians of the 6th floor to become complacent, would we?" Ultron asks, and Aura ponders for a moment before smiling again.
"It will be done, my lord!" she replies.
"Of course, it must!" Ultron's voice dripped with a sugary charm. "You both look a bit parched—how about some refreshing water to quench your thirst?"
Snapping his fingers, cups appear in their hands. Using the blade of his staff to cut into reality, he pulls out a pitcher of iced water. He bends down to pour each of them a cup before putting the pitcher back. The twins look at the cups of water in their hands, filled with shock and awe. After exchanging glances, they both chug their drinks.
As soon as they finished, Mare couldn't help but chuckle, glancing up at Lord Ultron with a playful grin. "I expected you to be terrifying," he teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "But you've turned out to be surprisingly... less menacing than I imagined!"
Ultron looks down at him and places his hands on his hips. "I can be scary if that's what you desire?" he asks in a sweet, yet somewhat menacing tone, his triangular optics narrowing.
"How you are now is simply the best!" Aura exclaims. "It truly is the best!" Mare adds happily, as he and his sister remain largely unaffected by his attempt to be frightening.
"Hmmm," Ultron hums, nodding his head, enjoying his time.
"Am I the first to arrive?" A feminine voice cuts in as the short pale girl wearing a soft black evening dress with a laced ribbon on her head, a tailored jacket on her back, and in her gloved hands is a parasol. Ultron looks over and opens his arms in a hugging fashion as he approaches her.
"SHALLTEAR! How's my favorite, cute, little, blood-sucking parasite doing!"
Her smug smile transforms into an ecstatic grin, and a rosy blush spreads across her cheeks as she dashes towards Ultron, dropping her umbrella in her haste. "Ooh! My beloved!" she squeals joyfully, leaping into his mechanical embrace and wrapping her arms around his neck. Giggling to herself, she buries her face into Ultron's chassis while he wraps his arms around her, hugging her back.
'She seems loyal... A little like Albedo, in a sense. Hmmm, wait a minute, since Mugs and I were maxed out, wouldn't that make us something like gods to them?'
As their mechanical master became lost in thought, Aura and Shalltear began bickering about something trivial after he had set the vampire down. Both of their short tempers flared, leading to a playful argument typical of small individuals with big personalities. Their creators, who were siblings, used to bicker similarly. It was never dull, and Ultron always observed with keen interest, though he recognized that this wasn't the right time for distractions. What were they even squabbling about? It seemed to revolve around Shalltear stuffing her bra, but ultimately, it didn't matter. Regardless of the context, breasts are breasts, and Ultron would uphold that belief until the day of his second death.
"You two are playing too much before our new master. Present yourselves as the guardians that you are, instead of children," Cocytus announces as he arrives in his frozen blue glory, his beetle-like carapace shining in the moonlight of the skybox. 'Couldn't have said it better myself, to be honest... he shows no active hostility... And even called me his new master. Good. Maybe I worry too much.'
"This little bitch slandered me!!" Shalltear accuses.
"I merely told the truth!" Aura defends. Both NPCs are powering up their abilities, about to throw down over their little disagreement. Seeing the inevitable conflict to come, Cocytus slams his ice Halberd into the ground in an attempt to stop them.
"ENOUGH!" Ultron exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention as he looked at them with disappointment. A black, sickening aura swirled around his body, his optics and inlets glowing a deeper shade of red as the tension in the room increased. "Aura! Shalltear! Stop your pointless arguing. As entertaining as it has been in the past, I am not in the mood for it now. Do I make myself clear, ladies?"
"I'm so sorry!" they both shout, bowing down 90 degrees.
"It is quite alright," Ultron said, his intensity easing. "In a normal situation, I wouldn't mind, but this situation is not normal, and we have no time for childish things at the moment. I also apologize for yelling at you." The two looked up at him in awe, surprised by his forgiveness. He then turned his attention to the bug who embodied the essence of a warrior, acknowledging his presence with a nod. "Welcome, Cocytus! You are right on time."
"I will always respond immediately to your summons, my master," Cocytus says proudly, pleasing Ultron as his optics narrow into a delighted expression.
"Apologies for making you all wait," a smooth and deep voice comments from the southern side of the arena. Turning his head, Ultron is met with Albedo, and behind her stands the originator of the voice: Demiurge. Ultron's favorite among the guardians, besides Albedo and his own. Demiurge is a tall, bespectacled demon wearing a stylish red suit and tie. An evil grin is plastered across his face, and he carries himself with a refined demeanor, his tail wagging subtly behind him.
"Now everyone..." Albedo begins, pulling Ultron from his thoughts, except for one guardian still missing. "To our new Supreme Leader: the Ritual of Fidelity."
They all kneel before Ultron, while he looks around, noting the absence.
"Albedo, dear?"
Albedo looks up at Ultron with a hard blush and a questioning gaze. "Yes, my lord?"
"I had asked you to gather all but the fourth and eighth-floor guardians, correct?"
"Yes, you did, my lord. Is something the matter?"
"Albedo, there are 12 floors in Nazarick. You guard the 9th floor, while Victim oversees the 8th, Demiurge the 7th, and Aura and Mare share the 6th floor. The 5th floor is managed by Cocytus, the 4th by Gargantia, and the 3rd to 1st floors are under Shalltear's watch. The 12th floor doesn't have a guardian, but my floor, the 11th, does."
Albedo understands now that she made a mistake and looks wide-eyed.
"So Albedo..." he said her name with a tone a father would give when disciplining his child. All the Guardians got chills at the aura he's letting off. It's not one of anger but disappointment. "...Where is Abraxas?"
She was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by fear and shame for failing her new lord. She immediately dropped to both knees in a pleading gesture. "My deepest apologies, my lord. I did not mean to make such a blunder! I only wish to bring them here as quickly as possible."
She was cut off when she felt a cold mechanical hand on her head, rubbing it gently. "No need to apologize. I'm not mad. I merely want to know where he is..."
"Here, my lord!" A distorted voice came from the other side of the arena.