He waved at Ainz.
"You go first, I'll leave in an hour."
Ainz was actually quite surprised that he had rolled a slightly higher number than Higashino Makoto, since his luck with the lottery in the game had never been very good.
But winning is always a good thing.
"Then I'm off."
Watching Ainz leave, Higashino Makoto took out a timing device.
He spoke to Nabe.
"This hourglass completes one cycle in exactly one hour, and I'll set off when it's finished. Of course, you can use other methods to time it; I have no objection."
He stopped paying attention to Nabe and started checking his own equipment.
There was one thing he didn't tell Ainz: although the puppet was destroyed immediately, Huginn didn't die instantly.
Or rather, as a level 100 intelligence defense-oriented structure, even if it dies, it can still continue to provide some intelligence to Higashino Makoto.
He knew that in addition to spatial attacks, there were also temporal traps inside.
Huginn's death made Higashino Makoto somewhat uneasy, even though he knew it would be reborn the next day.
We should try to avoid exposing it to risks as much as possible in the future.
However, the most important thing now is to make good use of the intelligence it brought back at the cost of its life.
First is space resistance.
My current race is the Space Devourer, which has strong resistance to spatial attacks and allows me to walk in the void.
However, attacks inside the palace may have the effect of overcoming resistance, so more preparation is needed.
He took a ring out of his backpack and put it on his finger.
The ring is silver-white, with intricate runes engraved on its surface and a transparent gemstone set in its center, inside which spatial ripples seem to flow.
Spacetime Guardian Ring.
A divine artifact that greatly enhances resistance to time and space.
He then took out a cloak and draped it over himself.
The cloak was dark blue, embroidered with star patterns, and shimmered dimly in the sunlight.
Starry Cloak.
Although it's only a legendary item, it's crafted from "Sand of Time" and "Stone of Space," which are dropped in special dungeons, and it still provides a lot of resistance.
Secretly using the "Seed of the World Tree," the "Primal Earth Elemental" race is transformed into the "Time-Eroding Insect," a special monster around level 80 in the game.
It possesses absolute resistance to time and various forms of time magic.
"It should be fine now. At least we can use the Space Devourer's talent to break through the blockade and escape."
Tingyun chuckled softly from the side.
"Your Excellency has made thorough preparations; my previous worries seem somewhat unnecessary."
I never fight a battle unprepared.
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"Moreover, this palace gives me a bad feeling. Not of danger, but of the unknown. I don't like the unknown."
Tingyun nodded.
What else does the adult need?
"It's nothing, just remember to remind me when the time is up."
Tingyun stood to the side, her fingers gently pressing on Higashino Makoto's head.
Kohaku eyes gazed at his retreating figure, fox ears stood erect, and tail swayed gently behind him.
"Grown ups..."
She spoke in a low voice, her words almost swallowed by the sandstorm.
You must come back safely.
"Certainly--"
As Ainz passed through the last wall of wind, the deep purple sky spread out above him.
The turbulent airflow inside the storm disrupted even flight magic; his body tumbled through the air several times before crashing heavily onto the roof of a building.
Gravel slid down beneath them with a clatter, raising a cloud of yellow dust.
He lay there for a few seconds to make sure he wasn't injured, then stood up and dusted off his robe.
The skull's face was expressionless, but its crimson eyes gleamed with vigilance.
"Nabe, can you hear me?"
Silence.
The communication magic has been cut off.
It wasn't just interfered with, it was completely blocked.
It was as if the interior of this storm was an independent world, completely disconnected from the outside.
Ainz's red eyes flickered for a moment, then he abandoned his attempt to communicate and began to observe his surroundings.
The city was bigger than he had imagined.
The ruins stretched from beneath our feet to the horizon, their architectural style ancient and unfamiliar, the walls covered with runes that gleamed dimly against the deep purple sky.
The streets were deserted.
No, it's not that there's no one there, it's that there's not a single living person.
Earth element.
They rose from the ruins, their bodies made of yellow sand and rubble, their eyes a deep yellow that gleamed with a dim light.
They watched Ainz, but didn't attack; they just stood there, as if observing or waiting.
Ainz ignored them.
He raised his hand and summoned two Death Knights.
Black armor, a massive shield, and scarlet eyes.
A level 35 undead, loyal and powerful.
"Go ahead."
The Death Knight strode heavily toward the city center.
Ainz followed behind them, maintaining a safe distance.
The earth elements made way.
It's a more subtle attitude, more like disinterest.
They watched the Death Knight walk by, then sank back into the ruins as if nothing had happened.
This unusual situation only heightened Ainz's vigilance.
He walked through several streets and squares, arriving at the city center.
The earth elementals here are of a higher level, larger in size, and their bodies shimmer with a metallic sheen.
They stared at the Death Knight, a certain light gleaming in their deep yellow eyes—
Then, they moved.
Dozens of high-level earth elementals emerged from the ruins and surrounded the two Death Knights.
Their movements were coordinated and orderly, like a well-trained army.
The Death Knight drew his longsword and charged toward the nearest earth elemental.
The sword blade struck the earth elemental's body, producing a crisp metallic clang, leaving only a shallow scratch on the surface.
The earth elemental swung his arm, and his massive fist slammed into the Death Knight's shield with a dull thud.
The level difference was too great; the Death Knight only managed to withstand two hits thanks to his passive ability.
It was then buried in yellow sand and gravel, and the black armor deformed, cracked, and collapsed under the immense force.
A few seconds later, the two Death Knight turned into fragments and scattered on the ground.
Ainz stood still, his crimson eyes watching the scene unfold without any emotional fluctuation.
"Levels approximately fifty to sixty. Number exceeding thirty."
He was calculating silently in his mind.
"It's not worth it to force your way in."
He raised his hand and released the "flight" magic, his body slowly rising into the air.
Then he unleashed "Perfect Unknowable," utterly erasing his own presence.
The earth elementals raised their heads, their deep yellow eyes scanning the sky, but they saw nothing.
They hesitated for a moment, then sank back into the ruins.
Ainz hovered in mid-air, looking down at the city below.
From the air, the layout of the ruins is even clearer.
The buildings extend outwards radially from the center, becoming more densely packed and magnificent the closer to the center.
At the very center stood a massive sand fortress, its surface gleaming with a dim golden light against the deep purple sky.
That is the goal.