Overlord (novel series)

In 2138, the Full-Dive Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, Yggdrasil, is shutting down despite its high interactivity with players. In-game, there is a guild known as Ainz Ooal Gown, one of the strongest in the game. In addition, the lich guild leader, Momonga, maintained the headquarters of the Great Tomb of Nazarick and was still online during the game's final minutes. However, when Yggdrasil shuts down, Momonga realizes something wrong as the NPCs act like people; he can't get any of the game's functions, and he is his character. He later learns he has been transported to another world similar to the MMO. He renames himself Ainz Ooal Gown as a message to other players from Yggdrasil. There is also how he accidentally starts a reign towards the goal of world domination.

Overlord started as a web novel published by Arkadia and Shosetsuka ni Naro on May 9, 2010, and ended on March 30, 2012. It was turned into a light novel and published on July 30, 2012. An anime adaption produced by Madhouse aired the first season on July 7, 2015, and is still having seasons produced, with the fourth season starting airing on July 5, 2022.

Tropes used in Overlord (novel series) include:

Alternate Realm Boon: For around 600 years, Players from YGGDRASIL have been transported to the New World. The Six Great Gods were the first players teleported to this world. These players protected humans from monsters using Tier Magic, equipment, and skills and thus were viewed as gods. More players have appeared throughout the New World as the phenomenon still occurred until the game shut down.
The Church: The Slane Theocracy is one of the strongest countries in the region and one of the three neighboring Nazarick. Their faith revolves around the Six Great Gods, and its doctrine is divided into six sects. They also preach human supremacy while persecuting other races. Its military power is based on the God-kin, the Six Gods' descendants, and the Six Scriptures, units that specialize in different forms of military actions.
Church Militant: The Six Scriptures of the Slane Theocracy are six secret military forces with different beliefs and expertise. These attributes are based on one of the Six Great Gods. The units are specialized in a specific military:
- The Sunlight Scripture are armies that specialized in suppressing and annihilating Demi-Human and Heteromorphic Races.
- Black Scripture is a force for fighting powerful beings like Dragon Lord and taking on missions with a high fatality risk.
- Holocaust Scripture is a national security and defense force against assassinations, terrorists, and infiltrators.
- Windflower Scripture is the espionage and foreign information gathering squad.
- Clearwater Scripture is tasked with enemy infiltration and foreign information gathering.
- Ashendust Scripture act as guards for the Slane Theocracy's secret shelter that acts as a contingency for potent threats to the nation's and its people's survival.
The Empire: The Baharuth Empire is a human nation established after the defeat of the Evil Deities. It was a feudal state, but the current Emperor, Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix, established his absolute monarchy. This involved purging most of the nobility based on the emperor's judgment of being capable. The action led to commoners being able to rise in status. Still, nobles who were loyal to the empire were restricted on a short leash but spared execution.
Functional Magic: Different magic in the forms of Wild Magic, Device Magic, and Tier Magic are available to anyone, unlike the other two where there is an Inherent Gift determined by race. The three magics described here:
- Wild Magic was a form of magic that was dominant in the New World around 500-600 years ago. It is a type of magic powered by souls to cast a spell, meaning living sacrifices are needed to make it. Wild Magic was used and mastered by the Dragon Lord, leading to them dominating the world until Players from YGGDRASIL started transporting to the New World. Players brought Tier Magic, which corrupted Wild Magic and led to the Dragon Lord's defeat by the Eight Greed Kings.
- Runecraft is Device Magic in the form of a magic art used by dwarves where runes are inscribed onto an object. When Tier Magic was introduced to the New World, Runecraft dwindled in use due to how Tier Magic can enchant items instantly.
- Tier Magic has been used by many people of the New World ever since the Six Great Gods used it to defend humanity. While Tier Magic is still experimented with, it has four general categories of spells: Arcane, Divine, Spiritual, and Alternative. It is also divided into 10 tiers of power, but New World inhabitants haven't been capable of going past 7th Tier magic.
The Kingdom: The Re-Estize Kingdom is one of the human nations neighboring Nazarick. It is considered a failed state due to the conflict between the Royalty and Nobility factions. There is also how it's affected by a criminal underworld and annual wars with the Baharuth Empire.
RPG Mechanics Verse: The New World's inhabitants have levels, classes, magic, skills, etc. Levels are a form of strength that can be gained through training past limits, battle experience, and class attributes.
Supernatural Martial Arts: Martial Arts of the New World are fighting skills that do not exist in YGGDRASIL. They are, however, similar to skills from the warrior classes of the game. Techniques from this art are used to boost physicality, sharpen the mind, etc. It is gained from intense training and has a vast application. The limits for Martial Arts are based on the user's physical and mental stamina, while its strength is based on mental focus.