"Maximize Magic - Vermilion Nova!"
"Triplet Maximize Magic - Call Greater Thunder!"
On the scorched earth, a magic combat was raging that could send the natives of this world into a panic, making them tremble in fear as if they were in the age of gods.
As soon as Ainz and Shalltear fought, both of them immediately and instinctively unleashed their magic at each other, casting magic with incredibly high tiers—each of them at least a 7th-Tier Magic.
Regarding this, Ainz's actions were, in fact, completely normal.
As a pure magic caster, magic combat was Ainz's specialty, while physical combat was only something he could show off in front of this world's natives with his maximum level and status.
Against opponents of the same level, though, Ainz's level and status were essentially meaningless to them, which was why he was never going to show any physical combat abilities when fighting someone of equal strength.
Meanwhile, Shalltear seemed to be a master of close-quarters combat at first glance, but in reality, she was also a magic caster—specifically, a divine-based magic caster. Consequently, she had access to many magic spells that could counter necromancy, so her best method of combat when facing Ainz was naturally to use magic as well.
For a moment, wildfires spread, lightning danced, and dark and crimson magical energies constantly appeared and collided, canceling each other out while occasionally striking their target.
"Lord Ainz..."
On a small hill, Albedo's attention was completely drawn to Ainz, and she seemed to have forgotten about Riezel's existence. Gazing toward the battlefield, her voice was laced with uncontrollable worry.
Demiurge and Cocytus were also concerned about Ainz, but at least they remembered their duties, so they still kept a watchful eye on Riezel, closely observing his every move.
Riezel ignored the gazes and vigilance of the two of them, focusing on Ainz and Shalltear instead, observing the magic spells they were continuously casting, his expression thoughtful.
'Are those… skills that could enhance magic?'
Riezel was paying particular attention to the special terms used when Ainz and Shalltear cast their magic, which were 'Maximize Magic' and 'Triplet Maximize Magic.'
In fact, those weren't magic themselves but more like skills that magic casters could learn after reaching a certain level, designed to allow them to be cast alongside Tier Magic, adding some sort of enhancement to the magic they cast by using more magical energy.
For example, Maximize Magic was an enhancement that made the fluctuating damage of the magic, also known as the RNG damage, reach its maximum potential. In game terms, when a magic spell's damage was set randomly from 10 to 30, using this enhancement would guarantee the maximum damage output, which was 30.
Another example, Triplet Maximize Magic, allowed a magic spell to be cast three times at once, turning one magic spell into three with the added enhancement from Maximize Magic.
In YGGDRASIL, these enhancements were called 'Metamagic Enhancements', and each of these enhancements could be stacked.
Like the previously mentioned Triplet Maximize Magic, it combined the two effects from Triplet Magic and Maximize Magic, resulting in tripling the magic while also guaranteeing its maximum damage output.
Besides these two, there were actually many more Metamagic Enhancements like them.
For example, 'Silent Magic' allowed for instant-casting magic without the need for gestures, time, or chants.
'Widen Magic' expanded the range or area of effect beyond what the magic would normally possess.
'Over Magic' allowed low-tier magic to be boosted to a higher tier, significantly increasing its power.
All of these Metamagic Enhancements were something that, by adding extra magical energy, allowed a magic caster's magic to become stronger and more versatile.
Needless to say, the main reason Riezel came to observe the battle between Ainz and Shalltear, aside from learning the Super-Tier Magic, Fallen Down, was to actually see Metamagic Enhancements in action.
'Since they're just classified as skills in the original work and not really tied to magic itself, Almighty probably won't let me learn them...'
Riezel, lost in thought, inwardly sighed with pity.
'Still, if I think about it... even though I don't have any skills that can enhance my magic, I've got a development ability that can, right?'
'Mage can boost the power, effect, and range of my magic, so it's kinda like what Metamagic Enhancements do.'
'Wait, if that's the case, could I develop Mage and, by combining it with the magic memorizing effect of Almighty, pull off Metamagic Enhancements through Mage?'
'Since I already have Mage, which is basically like Metamagic Enhancements, doesn't that mean I've kinda learned it already?'
'If that's the case, could I use Almighty to copy the effects of Metamagic Enhancements?'
Riezel's idea was basically like the blacksmiths in the world of Danmachi who had learned 'Blacksmith' as their development ability.
After learning Blacksmithing, they could imbue their crafted weapons with all kinds of effects, depending not only on the type of material but also on their expertise, intent, and the kind of effect they wanted to produce.
In other words, the blacksmiths in the world of Danmachi used their expertise and intent to control the additional effects that their development ability, Blacksmith, could grant to a weapon.
Based on this theory, if Blacksmith could do that sort of thing, there was no reason why Mage couldn't, right?
'Well, let's give it a try.'
Riezel immediately acted, reaching out toward a tree nearby before a magic circle suddenly appeared in front of his hand.
"What are you doing?!"
"What?!"
"Hey!"
Riezel's actions instantly triggered an overreaction from Albedo, Cocytus, and Demiurge, who thought that Riezel was finally about to attack.
In the next instant, Albedo raised her battle-axe, Cocytus began radiating cold air from his body, and Demiurge's face puffed up, turning into a frog-like form as they all assumed an offensive stance.
Yet, Riezel paid them no mind and focused solely on his own idea, casting a magic spell.
"Twin Magic - Magic Arrow."
As soon as these words resounded, two sparkling arrows shot out from Riezel's magic circle and hit the nearby tree.
*BANG!*
*BANG!*
Two muffled sounds echoed as both sparkling arrows struck the tree, leaving two holes in it.
Seeing this, Riezel's eyes lit up.
'It works?'
Indeed, it did work.
When Riezel cast Magic Arrow, he hadn't intentionally increased its number to two but had meant to release just one. In other words, only one Magic Arrow should've appeared, but instead of one, two had been created.
Clearly, this meant that Riezel had cast Magic Arrow twice at the same time, having the same effect as one of the Metamagic Enhancements, Twin Magic.
Needless to say, Riezel's idea had worked, and it had gone much smoother and easier than he had expected.
'Another huge gain...'
Riezel put down his hand, feeling pleased.
It was clear that the success of this experiment would have an even greater impact on his magical ability. After just a little practice, he would be able to use any Metamagic Enhancements with ease, and at that point, the power, effects, and variations of all his magic would be multiplied several times over, making the improvement enormous.
'Once I get the hang of it, my magical ability might even surpass my swordsmanship...' Riezel thought with a somewhat amused feeling.
Of course, on the outside, he appeared calm and indifferent, not even bothering to pay attention to Albedo, Demiurge, and Cocytus next to him, who were baring their teeth in a clear display of hostility.
In the next moment, Riezel simply turned around as if ready to leave without saying a word.
"Where do you think you're going, Riezel Brynhart?"
Demiurge, standing behind Riezel, immediately questioned in a heavy tone.
At this moment, Demiurge no longer looked like a gentleman but resembled a humanoid frog with damp, membranous wings spread out behind him.
As for Cocytus, he not only lifted his silver halberd but also held several other weapons in his remaining hands, ready for combat.
Albedo's battle-axe even began to emit a black aura—an ominous energy signaling to Riezel that this weapon was the greatest threat to him now.
Riezel glanced at Albedo's battle-axe for a second, then casually tossed out a remark.
"You won't let me get close, fine, but are you seriously not going to let me leave?"
Riezel's remark made Albedo and the other two glance at each other.
"Leave? Aren't you here to watch the battle?" Albedo asked coldly.
At this question, Riezel's response was simple and straightforward.
"I'm done watching."
"Huh?" Albedo was stunned.
"Yeah, I'm done." Riezel continued with a faint smile. "I've seen what I wanted to see, gotten what I wanted, so this battle is pretty much over for me."
Upon hearing such an absurd reason, Albedo and Demiurge frowned, staring straight into Riezel's eyes as if trying to figure out what he was thinking.
It was Cocytus who suddenly spoke up.
"Lord Ainz and Shalltear haven't decided the outcome yet. Don't you want to see the end?"
Hearing this question, Riezel smiled—a smile with some meaning behind it.
"What's the point in watching an outcome I already know?"
Indeed, the outcome of this battle was inevitable, unshakable.
Maybe the Floor Guardians, or even everyone in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, thought Ainz didn't have much of a chance against Shalltear, who was practically the strongest Floor Guardian.
However, what did they know?
How could they know how much real money a game-obsessed otaku like Ainz would spend on the game he liked?
Although the way of calculating combat power was usually straightforward, little did they know that in any live-service game, especially in competitive MMORPGs, there were always things designed to tempt players into spending money.
In games like this, one thing was certain—only players who spent the most money would always be at the top.
Riezel knew that Ainz had plenty of cash items, so in game terms, this battle was basically a classic situation where a pay-to-win player crushed a free-to-play player.
"Hmph, even real life is pay-to-win."
Leaving these words behind, Riezel immediately left using Greater Teleportation, leaving Albedo, Demiurge, and Cocytus standing in place, staring at each other for a long time without saying anything.