Transmutation

[Quest Complete!]

'That's always nice to see.'

Derek thought, seeing the screen before him. He ignored his assassins dragging the bloody Malcolm away as he focused on the dozens of screens appearing before him.

"Your fight was admirable."

But before that.

[Narrative Viewpoint]

Derek turned to face the bowing Nyssa, her eyes facing the ground.

'She's just like her show counterpart. She captured the hearts of many horny men who watched the show.'

'She was considered to be on the same level as Felicity and even Kara Danvers. And I see why.'

Derek was starting to notice that seeing these characters on screen and in real life were two completely different experiences.

Despite never having any fantasies about Nyssa particularly, not like most others would, he couldn't help but admire her up close.

"It was thanks to your hint that I was able to make quick work of him in the end."

Derek stepped forward, towering over her.

"You bow so easily. It was less than an hour ago when you were reluctant to do so for Merlyn." Derek stood over Nyssa, her eyes moving up to lock with his as he addressed her.

"I'd rather you than him." She claimed without hesitation.

"Is that so? Despite just meeting me? Would you not rather take the throne for yourself?" 

Nyssa paused for a second, contrary to her confident answers prior, breaking eye contact for a split second.

[Your presence has caused Nyssa to slip]

"Unlike Malcolm, you need not worry about my greed. It is not something which overpowers me." She answered, regaining her composure.

'She's supposed to be a world-class assassin yet she's a poor liar.'

Derek could only think this was a combination of his charm stat and the facade of mysteriousness and power he had made for himself that caused her to be like this under his gaze.

Maybe it was because she knew he could kill her instantly with just a thought.

Or maybe because she needed something from him.

But Derek knew what it was that made her this way. So much so that it made the corner of his lips curl upwards.

[Your understanding of Nyssa Al Ghul has Increased]

'Hm, I can pretty much farm understanding with just regular conversation if I leave Narrative Viewpoint active.'

'Though, it might be a little exhausting having to focus on every detail when someone is speaking.'

"How will you deal with him…what do I call you?" Nyssa asked, raising her head. 

Now that she mentioned it, Derek couldn't help but wonder.

He obviously couldn't use his real name. 

His initial thought was to choose the name "Kered". Simply his name spelt backward.

'No, Team Flash and Team Arrow are dumb sometimes but not that dumb.'

He thought for a second before replying.

"Ainz"

"Ainz?"

"Yes, Ainz. It's an old legend of a Doctor…"

"A Doctor banished from his kingdom due to his maniacal and dangerous pursuits for science, only to return and reduce the kingdom to ashes with an army of monsters he'd created. I'm familiar." 

Derek nodded, pleased at her knowledge.

"Exactly. As for your first question…"

Nyssa was taken aback slightly as the sword Derek used in the battle was suddenly brought before her.

"You had your own qualms with Merlyn, no?"

Her heart leapt as she looked up at Derek.

"I no longer have any use for him. Do with him as you please."

It was true. There wasn't much more Derek needed from Malcolm. 

'Might as well let her torture him a bit so I can have an easier time stealing an attribute later.'

He thought, knowing Nyssa wouldn't want to kill him quickly.

Nyssa rose to her feet, taking the sword. She could tell from Derek's tone and body language he was being genuine.

So after a moment of silence, her expression returned to its stoicism as she sheathed the sword. After all, it was hers in the first place.

"I am grateful."

Nyssa wasn't one to express her emotions much, in words or actions. Knowing this, Derek understood this meant a lot coming from her.

"Now, let's attend to our first order of business. Take me to the Lazarus Pit."

***

Nyssa led Derek through one of the many stone hallways as they cut corners and turned frequently.

Derek was sure to memorise the layout of the palace, as well as spreading his Eclipse far throughout it.

Because of this latter point, he could spare his attention elsewhere as they went.

[You have levelled up]

[You have levelled up]

[You have levelled up]

[You have levelled up]

[You have earned 12 unallocated stat points]

[You have earned 15 Sp]

[You have unlocked the new fable "Ruler Overnight" (Legendary)]

[You have earned 10 additional Sp for such]

[Your Villain Status has increased from D- rank to B+ rank]

[You have earned 25 additional Sp for such]

[Your Villain Persona has been given a name: Ainz]

[You have unlocked an innate ability from the Philosopher's Stone]

[Ability: Transmutation]

'Oh?'

Excitement filled Derek as he went through the screens. Without wasting a second, he immediately scurried to his status to witness his new ability.

'Finally! I was starting to forget I even had this Philosopher's Stone inside me.'

But as he stared at it, his excitement quickly turned into confusion.

[Transmutation: You can change minor substances into anything you please. However, anything more complicated requires prior knowledge of what that substance can become.]

'...Huh?'

He couldn't help but scratch his head, slightly pissed off that these abilities were never simple.

He couldn't begin to understand what this was talking about…

'Oh shit…I remember.'

Season three of the Flash.

Alchemy started the season by giving abilities to random thugs to trouble the Flash.

However, the Flash was quick to notice there was nothing random about the thugs or their abilities.

Instead, there was a pattern.

All these thugs were villains in Flashpoint.

Flashpoint, a timeline Barry created after saving his mother.

After returning, Alchemy was somehow able to replicate these abilities with the Philosopher's Stone, giving them to their original owners.

'That's what it means and that's how they used it. Savitar had the knowledge of Flashpoint and Alchemy had the Stone.'

If his theory was correct, the last part of the ability meant he could turn substances into what they are in different timelines. 

Only, he had to be aware of what exactly their form in said timeline was.

Though this didn't seem like the best ability since different timelines weren't common, since most of them were wiped from existence, Derek's mind went elsewhere.

'What if I can replicate the substances from different Earths?'

For example, if he were to find a random Earth in the multiverse where Nyssa was a Metahuman, couldn't he Transmute her into such, giving her said Metahuman powers, the same way Alchemy was doing with villains from Flashpoint?

'It's only a theory, but if it works, it truly will be overpowered.'

This was because there was an infinite number of Earths in the multiverse. 

Theoretically, he could find an Earth where Nyssa was a Kryptonian. Allowing him to copy her attributes and become one too.

Or an Earth where she was a world-class Magician. He could then have her teach him.

The possibilities were endless.

Even with these low-class assassins, there was theoretically an Earth where they could be the same.

'But to truly get the best out of this ability, I need something first.'

That was Cisco's "Vibe" ability.

He'd rather not have to travel to different earths himself, search for who or what he needed to Transmit and hope it was something useful. 

With Cisco's ability, by simply focusing on who or what, he could Vibe them in their respective Earths.

'It's a little more complicated than that, but my point still stands.'

With this, he had the opportunity to be on a whole new level.

'Until then, this ability will be useful to transmute compounds of the serums and drugs I plan to make in the future, making my life ten times easier.'

Derek smiled.

'Haaa, I love being a genius.'

He thought, remembering a time when this plan wouldn't have come so easily to him.

With a chipper feeling in his gut, he turned to the new Fable he attained.

[Fable: Ruler Overnight (Legendary)]

[Result:...]

'I get a "Result" this time instead of an "Effect" like with my Mythical Fable?'

Though he asked, he could understand it. 

It seemed like Legendary was of a lower class than Mythical. Despite this, a part of him really didn't care.

Unlike the rest of the system, he still didn't know what the significance of Fables was.

Sure, he didn't mind the title he'd get, but as far as he knew, it was meaningless.

But as he read the result, he couldn't help but pause.

[Result: You have created a new Plotline]

'Interesting.'

A plotline created by him becoming the Demon's Head. He couldn't help but be intrigued as to what exactly the Plotline could lead to.

But his eyes skimmed over the second source of income in Sp he was getting as a so-called "Villain", his original goal being achieved.

'B+, huh? I guess I can understand. The villain in a story is ultimately determined by his Hero counterpart. The only people who know me are fellow Villains.'

"We're here."

Derek banished the screen before him upon Nyssa's soft voice snapped him out of his trance. 

As it did, he set his eyes on an expansive throne room. Though hints of being in the heart of a mountain were still noticeable, it was far less barbaric than the rest of the palace.

With smooth floors and tall windows along both walls to the left and the right, Derek stepped through the large twin doors, into what was now his.

With a large Throne sitting at the back of the room, a purple carpet lay outward before it, as if it were welcoming the next ruler.

Dozens of candles lit the area and most of the light came from the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, basking the room in a natural orange hue.

But none of this mattered more than what lay off to the side.

'Finally.'

He stared at the deep, circular pool of glowing green water, surrounded by rough stone walls. The stone walls were more than tall enough to comfortably hold the water, yet low enough for the light of the water to bounce off Derek's similarly coloured eyes.

Derek wasted no time, walking toward it as his Eclipse once again converged onto his face, forming a familiar phantom mask.

"Wait, there's something you should know about the Pit…"

"It chips away at your soul when used?" Derek interrupted her, causing her to be taken aback at the fact a seemingly random person she'd never even heard of knew of the Pit.

"I'm aware."

Though this was true, the risk to your soul was directly proportional to the damage the pit healed.

Because he didn't possess any fatal wounds, he didn't expect to come out soulless after this.

'I don't know how the Pit will affect me, but I'm hoping it merely sustains my current body condition, preventing it from deteriorating long enough for the Regenerative factor of the Mirakuru to kick in.'

Thinking this, he removed something from his Eclipse. A syringe with a green liquid, and a different purple substance floating within it, the two mixing poorly.

"What is that?"

[Nyssa's curiosity about you increases drastically]

"I'm surprised you don't know." 

Derek didn't wait for her to reply before sticking the needle in his neck.

And before he pushed…

"Wait, I have something to tell you before this…"

"Save it for later. I'll leave it to you to watch over me while I'm under, Nyssa."

Nyssa furrowed her eyebrows as she heard this, a mumble escaping her lips.

"I…didn't tell you my name."

"KHRM!!!"

Derek injected the serum into himself, causing him to instantly seize as he stood, a struggling grunt escaping his lips.

-SPLASH!!!

Derek's body gave out as he plummeted into the water, sinking to the bottom, and laying in the pit unmoving.

With this, Derek's eyelids shut as his world turned to darkness.