Chapter 1565

"「The view here isn't bad. I'll leave it to you, Screw. 」 Black Tower said."

"「Please wait a moment. 」"

"Looking at the Identification Anchor planted directly in front of the two, Zandal gave a slight nod: "Ah, I see. It seems your 'backup plan' requires a scepter, and the skull of a genius."

"「Anyone with eyes can see that. 」"

"「Black Tower, you know my stance: whether you succeed or fail, your plan plays right into 'Destruction's' hands. 」"

"Zandal: "Screw Gum, can't you see? Her chances are slim, but not impossible."

"Black Tower turned around, her gaze sweeping over the two, and she snorted impatiently: "What is that gurgling muttering about? If anyone still wants to stop me, hurry up—I'm in a rush."

"「…」"

"「If you don't speak, I'll take it as consent. And you, Zandal?"

"「As an adversary, I sincerely hope you halt your steps. But as fellow 'Seekers of Knowledge,' if your flash of insight could introduce more variables into the argument…… I wouldn't mind witnessing it firsthand."

—

Overlord.

"Heaven, that thing in the heavens……"

Shalltear felt her fingers going numb.

As the strongest Guardian of the Underground Great Tomb of Nazarick, she had faced countless enemies, especially among humans, and had tasted too much fear. Yet, this fear now made her feel unfamiliar……

A scream.

The instinct of the vampire progenitor within her seemed to be screaming.

This was a feeling utterly different from that of the Destruction Herald Phantasm; the red sun in the sky seemed to ignite into raging flames, and through the burning black hole……

"Thud——"

The clear sound of the staff striking the ground echoed within the Throne Hall.

Yet Shalltear seemed oblivious, frozen like stone in place, until a moment later——

"Shalltear."

Ainz's voice rang out from the throne, and the latter's shoulder twitched slightly as she lowered her head in shame and unease.

"In, in!"

"Were you just…… in the Fear Iron Tomb?" Ainz's voice showed no emotion, but precisely because of that, Shalltear at the foot of the steps grew even more tense.

"Ainz-sama…… yes, yes. I am truly sorry; please be sure to punish me! Though I am a Guardian, I have been negligent toward Ainz-sama due to the monster on the sky curtain……"

"No, Shalltear, you need not be tense; what we are about to discuss is precisely this matter."

Ainz's gaze shifted from Shalltear's face toward the other guardians kneeling on one knee. Prior to the birth of the Iron Tomb, although we had some understanding of its appearance, we had never before seen it so directly——

So directly that upon looking up and seeing the black form within that red sun, even the usually talkative Demiurge fell silent. All prior speculation and analysis regarding the Iron Tomb's strength ended at this moment, and there is now no further need for discussion.

Unknown, suffocating, terrifying…… as if the embodiment of all dangers in the universe. For a moment, Ainz even felt that the black goat kids he had summoned had become bright-eyed and adorable.

(Are we supposed to fight that kind of monster?)

(Can we really have a chance of victory……)

—

One Punch Man.

"Is that…… God?"

The Wandering Emperor trembled all over like a sieve, cold sweat instantly drenching his sportswear.

That terrifying aura, as if it wanted to make every cell in his body tremble…… the greatest difference between it and the god who granted him power is probably that it cannot communicate directly with him?

"God? That monster is the Iron Tomb, and what's wrong with you, you bastard?" Black Sperm glanced casually at the Wandering Emperor, suspecting that if this guy kept trembling at this intensity, his bones would all fall apart.

Still, Black Sperm could directly feel the terror of that black giant in the red sun—the oppressive pressure from that lifeless body…… completely different from when he faced Phantasm.

Although Phantasm, after combining its power with the Mu Jian, had constructed a body just as huge, compared to the Iron Tomb, it simply cannot be compared.

(This guy's power should be able to wipe out all of humanity on Earth…… even those idiots in the Hero Association might be killed on the spot by the Iron Tomb.)

(No, even if he can't wipe them out, inflicting heavy casualties on humanity is still possible. Though he would also kill me, the number of 'me's is a full 54 trillion—could the Iron Tomb possibly kill all 54 trillion of me?)

Thinking this, Black Sperm's mood suddenly lightened.

Let the Iron Tomb kill the troublesome guys in the Hero Association and Monster Association; he could then exploit his trait to sit back and reap the benefits. As for the Iron Tomb's coronation…… Black Sperm isn't worried at all, he believes those big shots in the universe will absolutely not stand by and let it happen.

—

"「You will trigger the chain reaction of 'Destruction'……」 Screw Gum said."

"「But you will also become the 'Perfect Scholar'——」 Zandal paused, then said: "Probability: one in ten thousand."

"Black Tower gazed at the Identification Anchor before her, and for a moment, countless thoughts surged through her mind."

"（Curious. ）"

"（Even after all this time, after enduring countless failures, even when the irrevocable 'moment' arrives in the wretched Machine Head Calculation……）"

"（The 'darling of Knowledge,' the genius in people's mouths…… is 'curiosity' the only feeling we harbor in our hearts? ）"

"「……」"

"Black Tower's lip corner turned up slightly: "Not bad at all. Now, let the 'Lock' become the key."

"Black Tower slightly raised her head, facing the ominous red sun and black form in the high sky, her eyes sank, and she spoke solemnly:"

"「Geniuses wandering the stars, the Galaxy has reached a life-or-death crossroads! I, Black Tower of Genius Club #83, summon you——I demand, immediately convene a club meeting——with the most macroscopic thought, serve the most magnificent undertaking! 」

"Before the words faded, eight dazzling streams of light already lit up in the sky."

"Then, after the streams of light lit up, they indeed lasted long……"

"Silence."

"「As far as I know, the club's charter has never contained the word 'unity'. 」"

"Screw Gum nodded: "Indeed. Throughout history, meetings have only been held three times. First time, two participants; after the Emperor's assassination, seven participants; during the Second Great Prosperity, five participants. This time, how many will respond?""

"While speaking, three streams of light had already vanished before the Black Tower. This meant that three geniuses had refused to participate in the meeting."

"The Black Tower's gaze fixed upon the leftmost stream of light, until a familiar melody emerged from within it."

"#81 Ruan Mei spoke slowly: 'I thought you wouldn't drag me into this 'Topic,' Black Tower.'"

"#23 Cha Cha Pu burst out laughing: 'Really, this little witch. Had I known, I wouldn't have made a bet with you, Polka.'"