Chapter 128: Please Show Compassion to the Empty-Nest Old Bones

Chapter 128: Please Show Compassion to the Empty-Nest Old Bones

Slogans are just slogans. In the original plot, even by the very end, Yamcha was still only evaluated by Dr. Gero as the pinnacle of human potential—his strength never surpassed Frieza's.

Whether he even surpassed Frieza's first form at 530,000 power level is debatable in the original story. Only in Toei's anime-original plots did he perhaps show some promise.

Fortunately, Yamcha has now embarked on a completely new path. Across the myriad realms of existence, there are always ways to become stronger.

Even endlessly traveling back to YGGDRASIL's shutdown timepoint and performing bug-like fusion is one such method.

"The Great Tomb..."

At this moment, Yamcha had already arrived in the skies directly above the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Glancing down at Ainz chatting warmly with the NPCs, a trace of envy involuntarily flickered across his heart.

In fact, Yamcha had once considered mass-producing YGGDRASIL game NPCs too. These NPCs would undoubtedly be absolutely loyal. But because the final goal was fusion, he didn't go through with it.

These NPCs were absolutely loyal to the game character Yamcha, not the real Yamcha.

You tell them about fusion?

They would most likely think you're killing the one they're loyal to. Even betrayal wouldn't be surprising.

Unless Yamcha was willing to always maintain a duplicate body state.

But he didn't like that. It might be fine short-term, but long-term it would hinder his training.

Wanting it both ways depends on the situation.

"Swoosh!"

Ainz, now clad in full knight armor, suddenly shot into the sky, immediately spotting Yamcha already floating above.

Their eyes met.

Ainz was dumbfounded—he truly hadn't expected anyone else to be up here.

Looking at the blue martial arts uniform the other man wore, Ainz felt an intense sense of déjà vu.

Wait… isn't that Yamcha's outfit?

"Ainz," Yamcha spoke, "as a former opponent, let me give you a piece of advice."

"Do whatever you want in this world—conquer it, rule over it, even break it if you must. But..."

He dragged out the "but" deliberately.

"Please don't lose yourself. And more importantly, don't forget who you are."

"I hope you remember that you were once human too—just another among the masses."

The whole Overlord story is actually quite thrilling—it's pure power fantasy, after all. But in the latter half, when a certain someone started that "happy farm" (where humans were raised like livestock and their skins turned into magic scrolls), it became truly disturbing.

If there's hatred, just kill them. But raising humans like livestock... that's something that made Yamcha, as a fellow human, feel deeply disgusted.

Even King Piccolo, the incarnation of pure evil, would never do something like that.

Although the anime version toned it down, this is the reality.

This tone... is this really not Yamcha?

"Do not disrespect the Supreme One!"

Demiurge, who had just arrived, happened to overhear Yamcha's conversation with Ainz.

He immediately rushed to Ainz's side, black, damp leathery wings emerging from his back, his face transforming into that of a frog.

Demon form.

"Who gave you the courage to speak to me in that tone?"

Yamcha cast a calm glance at him. "Even your creator, Ulbert Alain Odle, wouldn't dare speak to me like that."

Enraged by Yamcha's disrespectful tone toward his "father," Demiurge prepared to strike back.

"Prostrate yourself!"

A Word of Power—an ability from YGGDRASIL used mostly by demons, capable of forcibly controlling an opponent's actions and even compelling them to do what's said.

The higher the power level, the stronger the effect. As a top-tier demon, this was one of Demiurge's specialties.

But the skill had no effect on Yamcha.

Even after Demiurge uttered the command, Yamcha remained completely still, floating in mid-air.

Another trait of Word of Power: it only works on those weaker than oneself. If it could affect stronger beings, it would be the ultimate control skill.

Demiurge's Word of Power didn't work on Yamcha—meaning Yamcha's power far exceeded his.

And that was indeed the case.

Yamcha now wasn't just a mere level 100 mage. Even as a game character, he wouldn't have lost to Demiurge.

Yamcha slowly responded in the same tone:

"Prostrate yourself!"

In the next moment, unimaginable power engulfed Demiurge's body. He felt like his body was no longer his own, instantly restrained. But the Word of Power wasn't just about restraint—when Yamcha commanded him to kneel, he had to kneel.

So Demiurge, who had been floating mid-air, involuntarily plummeted straight down, kneeling upon the ground.

A level 100 top-tier demon, defeated by his own signature ability.

Ainz blurted out instinctively: "Are you really Yamcha?!"

The scene reminded him of when Yamcha first invaded the Great Tomb and clashed with Ulbert. Back then, it was also a battle of Words of Power—Ulbert had been thoroughly crushed.

They had several more PvP battles afterward, and Ulbert lost every single time.

The title of "World's Number One Mage" was no joke.

Eventually, Ulbert began deliberately avoiding Yamcha.

Seeing Yamcha offer no denial, Ainz was overwhelmed with emotion. In this strange world, there was actually someone he knew! Even the thought of Demiurge possibly being injured was momentarily forgotten.

"Whether I am or not doesn't matter."

Yamcha had no intention of continuing the conversation. He simply waved to Ainz:

"Ainz, remember what I told you."

Having obtained what he came for, Yamcha had no intention of staying longer.

He was leaving—leaving this world.

Returning to the world that belonged to him.

"If fate allows, we'll meet again!"

Yamcha gave Ainz a final farewell.

They likely wouldn't meet again.

"Wait… Yamcha, wait!"

Ainz shouted after him, filled with countless questions:

What happened?

Why didn't YGGDRASIL shut down?

Why were NPCs acting like real people?

What kind of world was this?

Were there other YGGDRASIL players here?

Was this real or an illusion?

Why had Yamcha's appearance changed?

Question after question spun through Ainz's mind—but the only one who could answer them was already gone.

"Heh… I really am alone now, huh?"

Ainz's words were filled with endless desolation.

Empty-nest old bones.

(End of Chapter)