For twelve years, the virtual world of Yggdrasil has served as the playground and battlefield for the skeletal lord Momonga and his guild of fellow monsters, Ainz Ooal Gown. But the guild's glory days are over and the game is shutting down permanently. When Momonga logs in one last time just to be there when the servers go dark, something happens-and suddenly, fantasy is reality.

Lord Ainz has made great progress moonlighting as the indomitable hero Momon, but what should be a moment of triumph is shattered--by news of rebellion. He vows to find out what has happened and to defend the honour of his guild and home--Ainz Ooal Gown.