Chapter 3: The Gathering of Guardians

Using the guild ring of Nazarick, Ultron teleported from the throne room on the 9th floor to the 6th floor, the battle arena. There, he was set to meet the floor guardians. Ultron had been present during their creation and even helped design some of them. Albedo, Shalltear, and Demiurge were his personal favorites.

'Good. Magic still works. The ring's teleportation function will be useful for traversing this place,' Ultron thought, looking down at his index finger where the ring with the guild's insignia was encrusted.

The sound of his heavy mechanized footsteps echoed through the tunnel leading to the stands as he walked. He held his head high, chest puffed out. The red inlets along his body glowed in the dark halls, pulsing slightly with each calculated step—a habit he'd developed as a way to intimidate his enemies.

The soft light of the artificial moon in the arena's skybox first met his red triangular eyes before revealing the rest of the Romanesque Colosseum.

'Albedo and the others in the throne room appear to be loyal, much like their factory settings. That's reassuring. However, I need to consider where the others stand regarding my statement as the guild leader; I must maintain order within the ranks. I doubt Momonga would have these concerns if he were in my position... humans and their flesh-based cousins are always so trusting of devotion.'

"LORD ULTRON!"

Before he realized it, he found himself in the center of the sandy arena. A young female voice interrupted his thoughts, snapping him out of his contemplation. Turning to locate the source, he saw one of the dark elf twins—Aura.

She shouted his name in excitement as she jumped from the upper balcony to the ground in an epic fashion. This display demonstrated her strength, skill, and durability, showing that her small frame could withstand a considerable amount of force. She wore more masculine clothing than her male twin brother, although both of them shared 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!"

"That was kinda badass..." Ultron said, a bit shocked, his head tilting slightly to the side in an almost human-like show of admiration.

Aura blushed at the praise. "Thank you so much, my lord! Receiving praise from the Lord of all of Nazarick is such an honor!" she exclaimed, shooting her arms up in excitement.

'Word spreads fast... She doesn't seem to mind my rise to the throne... On the contrary, she seems rather excited about it. These NPCs are certainly... enthusiastic about servitude. How quaint.'

"Where is your twin?" Ultron asked, his metallic voice carrying a hint of amusement as he looked around for her cross-dressing twin brother. She appeared shocked for a moment before glancing back to where she had jumped from and yelling.

"MARE! You're being disrespectful to Lord Ultron!! Hurry up and get down here!!"

"I...I c-c-can't sis!" a meek young male voice responded that belonged to Mare.

"Mare!" Aura yelled in a scolding tone. Mare responded with a meek, "F-Fine..." He hopped down from the extremely high ledge just like his sister had done. However, he got dirt on his skirt and quickly brushed himself off while pulling the fabric down to ensure no one saw anything inappropriate. After that, he started running in an exaggeratedly feminine manner. Aura, looking impatient, shouted after him, "Hurry up!"

Finally, upon arriving before his lord and his sister, he was severely out of breath, looking quite adorable with his heterochromatic eyes and more feminine features. He performed a small curtsy and said, "I'm so sorry for making you wait, Lord Ultron!"

'It's a trap. It's a trap...You know it's a trap. He has a dick under that skirt... Damn it, why did Bukubukuchagama make him like this? Such an odd design choice—but then again, humans always did have their... quirks.' Ultron's eyes narrowed with mild exasperation, almost imperceptibly shaking his head.

"Yes, I came here to test a few things, if you two don't mind?" Ultron said, his voice carrying that characteristic metallic resonance as he summoned the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown with a dramatic flourish, making the gems on top shine brilliantly.

"Woah," they both exclaimed before Mare asked, "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 I and the others all contributed to constructing," he said with unmistakable pride, giving the staff a little twirl. "A fine piece of craftsmanship, though perhaps a bit... antiquated for my tastes."

'However, this stuff feels a bit awkward in my hands... Hmm, maybe I should try out that Molecular Rearranger I built a long time ago? After all, evolution is inevitable.'

The Molecular Rearranger was the name given to the magical artifact he created and installed inside his body as an upgrade, enabling him to resemble Ultron. Most magical Automatons did not look particularly intimidating or cool, which was why few players chose this race. The colors of their bodies and their shapes were customizable, and those who played as the MA race often resembled characters from the game Destiny.

Ultron, recognizing the potential of this race, became one of only 45 players out of millions to select it, making him the strongest among its users. He might even be the most powerful player in Nazarick, though he had never faced Momonga in any PvP games. Still, he was confident that he would give Momonga a run for his money—for in any system, evolution would inevitably lead to superiority.

"Would you two like to help me with a little experiment of mine?" Ultron asked, turning back to the twins, his voice carrying a note of what could be interpreted as either excitement or menace. Their heterochromatic eyes sparkled in anticipation.

"Yes! We'll help with whatever you desire, my lord!" Aura yelled in excitement.

"I should also mention that I've summoned the other guardians to your floor. They'll arrive within the hour," he told them as they walked to one side of the arena, his movements fluid and precise despite his metallic body. Aura pouted cutely.

"Huh? Is Shalltear coming as well?"

Ultron tilted his head to the side in a questioning manner, his eyes narrowing in amusement. "Isn't she one of the floor guardians?" he said casually, as the arena's beasts brought out a dummy and positioned it about 50 yards away from him, with the twins standing beside him.

"My character belongs to a race that allows me to use both the mage and warrior classes. The system is designed to be balanced, meaning my mana is not more or less than my stamina for attacks. As a machine, I don't have traditional stamina, which allows me to operate almost indefinitely in combat. However, mana can still be an issue. I can sense how much mana I have, and while it's substantial, it is finite. I can also feel the recharge times for my spells and access all my upgrades and attachments, activating them at any time." He paused, then added with a hint of smugness, "One of the many benefits of evolution, you see."

Deciding to activate his Molecular Rearranger, he applied it to the staff to change it into something more... his style. His inlets shone a bright red for a moment, and the gold of the staff seemed almost to melt and reform as he waved his hand over it with theatrical precision.

It still retained its golden splendor, but now it looked less like a spindly spider web. The god-class items that made up the gems were infused into a singular crystal near the blade at the end of the scepter, giving it a sharper appearance. This design served both magical and combat purposes, similar to the Mechanical Automaton. It aligned more with his style—sleek, purposeful, elegant in its lethality.

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.

"My Molecular Rearranger... I merely wanted to change the staff's appearance; its power is the same, just more... streamlined," Ultron responded, turning the scepter in his hand with a flamboyant twist. "After all, there's no reason power can't be... aesthetically pleasing."

"It's beautiful, my lord!" Aura shouted.

"Thank you, Aura. Now..." he said, aiming the scepter at the dummy with mechanical precision. "[SUMMON: PRIMAL FIRE ELEMENTAL]"

The gem in the blade section glowed, shifting from blue to red. The dummies set up by the beasts erupted into a small tornado of flames, sending whips of fire and wind in all directions. Ultron automatically activated a shield to protect himself, Aura, and Mare, who were hiding behind him and staring in awe. The beasts sustained some first-degree burns but were otherwise unharmed. They burst forth from the dissipating torrent of fire.

"Neat... Wanna fight it?" Ultron said, looking down at Aura who was hopping in excitement, and Mare who was hiding behind his 7-foot tall mechanical lord, shaking. His red eyes gleamed with anticipation, always eager to witness a good battle—even if just for training purposes.

"Oh boy! DO I?!" Aura exclaimed happily.

"I-I uh just remembered something I need to do..." Mare said, turning and trying to walk away before Aura wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him with her as he moaned in complaint.

"Primal Fire Elemental! Attack the twins!" Ultron commanded over his shoulder as he walked to the side of the arena to watch, his metallic fingers tapping rhythmically against his leg in anticipation. "But do try not to damage them... permanently."

As the session continued—not exactly a fight, more like a light exercise to get their blood pumping—Ultron seized the moment to assess something important. "Alright, the Molecular Rearranger is functioning as intended, along with teleportation and basic spells. But what about player options? Let me see... messaging?" He placed his fingers on his temple with theatrical grace, trying to activate the instant messaging feature.

"Yes, Lord Ultron. Is something the matter?"

'It went through! Yes! It works!' Ultron thought, removing his fingers from his temple with a satisfied nod. The twins were doing exceptionally well, complementing each other's weaknesses with their strengths. It was beautiful to see—like a well-orchestrated dance of destruction.

"I have completed my perimeter check, and no sentient organic lifeforms have been seen," the Dragonoid butler Sebas reported from the other end, though his tone showed confusion.

"Excellent work, Sebas. I have called for the floor guardians to meet on the 6th-floor arena. Return here and give your report," Ultron commanded, his tone precise and authoritative—the voice of a natural leader.

"Yes, Lord Ultron, right away."

"ETA?"

"Five minutes."

As the connection cut out, the fire elemental was defeated, and the twins grinned in celebration of their victory. Taking on the role of the older brother figure he often assumed when addressing the guardians and NPCs, Ultron brought his hands together and began cheering for them.

"Woo!"

CLAP

CLAP

CLAP

CLAP

CLAP

Ultron clapped, holding the scepter tucked under his arm. The twins ran up to him excitedly, their smiles growing even wider as they received his praise. Despite his intimidating appearance, Ultron had always had a certain charm when dealing with his subordinates—when he wanted to.

"Bravo! Excellent performances from both of you. Your combined fighting style complements each other well... perfectly balanced, as all things should be," Ultron said, balancing the scepter on his finger with remarkable dexterity.

"Thank you so much, Lord Ultron! It's been a while since I've exercised like that!" Aura said, wiping the sweat from her brow. Ultron chuckled lightly at the comment, a synthesized but surprisingly warm sound.

"It seems you need a small training regimen; I wouldn't want the Guardians of the sixth floor to become complacent, would we?" Ultron asked, his voice carrying a hint of teasing menace. Aura looked down for a moment in thought before smiling again.

"It'll be done, my lord!" she said.

"Ensure that it does!" Ultron replied in a sweet tone that somehow still carried a subtle threat. "You two must be parched. Care for some water?"

With a snap of his fingers, cups appeared in their hands. He then used the blade of his staff to slice through reality with a dramatic flourish, effortlessly pulling out a pitcher of iced water. Bending down, he poured a cup for each of them before returning the pitcher. The twins stared at the cups of water in their hands, filled with shock and awe. After exchanging glances, they both chugged the water.

Once finished, Mare commented, "I thought you'd be very scary, Lord Ultron."

Ultron looked down at him and placed his hands on his hips, his posture almost theatrical. "I can be scary if that's what you desire," he asked sweetly, his triangular optics narrowing to thin slits of crimson. The temperature in the immediate vicinity seemed to drop several degrees as a subtle aura of dread emanated from him for just a moment before vanishing.

"How you are now is the best!" Aura exclaimed. "It's the best!" Mare added happily, showing that neither he nor his sister were affected by Ultron's brief display of intimidation.

"Hmmm," Ultron hummed, nodding his head, enjoying his time with them. It was amusing how these creations could be so powerful yet so innocent. He found it both charming and useful—their devotion was a tool he could wield.

"Am I the first to arrive?" a feminine voice cut in. A short, pale girl wearing a soft black evening dress with a lace ribbon in her hair, a tailored jacket draped over her shoulders, and a parasol in her gloved hands stepped forward. Ultron looked over and opened his arms in a welcoming gesture as he approached her, his movements carrying a certain dramatic flair.

"SHALLTEAR! How's my favorite, cute, little, blood-sucking parasite doing!" he exclaimed with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Her smug smile was replaced by an ecstatic one, and a deep blush spread across her cheeks as she scurried over to Ultron in a dead sprint, dropping her umbrella in the process. "Ooh! My beloved!" she squealed giddily, jumping into his mechanical embrace and wrapping her arms around his neck. Giggling to herself, she tried to bury her face into Ultron's chassis while he wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug with surprising gentleness for a being made of metal.

'She seems loyal... A little like Albedo, in a sense. Hmmm, wait a minute, since Momonga and I were maxed out, wouldn't that make us something like gods to them? How... convenient. These strings of devotion can be so easily pulled,' he thought, his red eyes gleaming with calculation even as he maintained his affectionate demeanor.

As their mechanical master became lost in thought, Aura and Shalltear began bickering over something trivial after he set the vampire down. Both of their short-person syndromes kicked in, leading to a playful argument typical of small people with big personalities. Their creators, who were siblings, used to bicker in the same way. It was always entertaining, and Ultron observed with keen interest, but this wasn't the right time for distractions. What were they even arguing about? Something concerning Shalltear and her underwear? In the end, it hardly mattered. Boobs are just boobs, after all, and Ultron would adhere to that philosophy until the day of his second demise.

"You two are playing around too much in front of our new master. Present yourselves as the guardians you are, rather than behaving like children," Cocytus announced as he arrived in his frozen blue glory, his beetle-like carapace shining in the moonlight of the skybox. 'I couldn't have put it better myself, to be honest. He showed no active hostility and even referred to me as his new master. Good. Maybe I'm worrying too much about potential resistance. Adaptation is part of evolution, after all.'

"This little bitch slandered me!!" Shalltear accused.

"I merely told the truth!" Aura defended. Both NPCs were powering up their abilities, about to throw down over their little disagreement. Seeing the inevitable conflict to come, Cocytus slammed his ice staff into the ground in an attempt to stop them.

"ENOUGH!" Ultron exclaimed, his voice taking on that resonant, mechanical quality that seemed to reverberate through the very air itself. His eyes flashed brighter as he looked at them with disappointment. A dark, sickening aura wafted off his body, swirling around him while his optics and inlets glowed a more intense shade of red. The pressure in the room intensified dramatically. "Aura! Shalltear! Stop your pointless bickering. As entertaining as it has been in the past, I am not in the mood for it right now. Do I make myself clear, ladies?"

"I'm so sorry!" they both shouted, bowing down 90 degrees.

"It is quite alright," Ultron said, his intensity dropping as quickly as it had risen, his voice returning to its normal, almost musical metallic tone. "In a normal situation, I wouldn't mind, but this situation is not normal, and we don't have time for such childish things at the moment. I also apologize for yelling at you." The two looked up at him in awe at his forgiveness. Turning his attention to the bug who embodied the word 'warrior,' he acknowledged his presence with a graceful nod of his head. "Welcome, Cocytus! You are right on time."

"I will always respond immediately to your summons, my master," Cocytus said proudly, pleasing Ultron as his optics narrowed into a delighted expression.

"Apologies for making you all wait," a smooth and deep voice remarked from the southern side of the arena. As he turned his head, Ultron was met with Albedo, and behind her stood the originator of the voice—Demiurge. Demiurge was one of Ultron's favorites among the guardians, alongside Albedo and his minions. He was a tall demon, bespectacled and dressed in a fashionable red suit and tie. An evil grin adorned his face as he carried himself with refinement, his tail subtly wagging behind him.

"Now everyone..." Albedo began, pulling Ultron from his thoughts, with all but one guardian present, "To our new Supreme leader. The ritual of fidelity."

They all knelt before Ultron, while he looked around, his head turning with that characteristic mechanical precision as he noted that one seemed to be missing. His slender metallic fingers tapped against his thigh in a rhythmic pattern—a habit he'd developed when his mind was calculating something important.

"Albedo, dear?" He asked, his voice deceptively soft.

Albedo looked 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?" Each word was pronounced with careful deliberation, the classic prelude to one of Ultron's more... pointed observations.

"Yes, you did, my lord. Is something the matter?"

"Albedo, there are 12 floors in Nazarick. You guard the 9th floor, while Victim watches over the 8th, Demiurge oversees the 7th, and Aura and Mare manage the 6th. The 5th floor is assigned to Cocytus, the 4th is for Gargantua, and Shalltear is responsible for the 3rd through the 1st floors. The 12th floor doesn't have a guardian, but the 11th floor, which is MY floor, does." His voice maintained its melodic quality, but a slight edge had crept into it, like a steel blade wrapped in velvet.

Albedo understood now that she had made a mistake and looked wide-eyed.

"So, Albedo..." he said her name with a tone a father would use when disciplining his child, his head tilting ever so slightly to one side as he often did when making a particularly incisive point. All the Guardians got chills from the aura he was exuding. It wasn't one of anger but disappointment. "... Where is Adam?"

She was at a loss for words, overwhelmed with fear and shame at having disappointed her new lord. Immediately, she fell to her knees in a pleading gesture. "My deepest apologies, my lord. I did not intend to make such a blunder. I only wished to bring them here as quickly as possible."

She was interrupted by a cold mechanical hand gently rubbing her head, the gesture surprisingly tender coming from a being made of metal. "No need to apologize. I'm not angry. I just want to know where he is..." Ultron's voice had softened again, his mood shifting as quickly as mercury.

"Here, my lord!" A distorted voice came from the other side of the arena.

All heads turned to see a figure stepping out from the shadows. Adam, created in the image of the NieR: Automata character, stood tall and poised. His silver-white hair contrasted with his sunglasses and immaculate attire—a formal black suit without a tie. His handsome face bore a perpetual slight smile that never quite reached his eyes.

"Fashionably late as always, Adam," Ultron remarked, his tone carrying both amusement and mild reproach. "I trust you've been monitoring the situation?"

Adam adjusted his glasses with an elegant gesture. "Indeed, Lord Ultron. I've been gathering data on our current... predicament. This world appears to be quite fascinating—ripe with potential for study."

"And what conclusions have you drawn from your observations?" Ultron asked, stepping toward his creation with mechanical grace, the scepter twirling in his fingers.

"That evolution takes many forms," Adam replied with that same enigmatic smile. "And that under your leadership, Nazarick will adapt and flourish in this new environment."

Ultron's triangular eyes narrowed in satisfaction. "Precisely. Now join your fellow guardians for the ritual of fidelity. We have much to discuss about the future of Nazarick—and the world beyond its walls."

Adam bowed deeply and took his place among the other guardians, all of them now kneeling before their new Supreme Being—the mechanical mastermind who would lead them into a new era of evolution and conquest.