Bab 23: 23. The Last Feast
Hello, this is my first time writing a fanfiction. If you notice any errors, please feel free to give me constructive feedback. English is not my first language, so if you notice any mistakes, please mention them in the comment section at the end of the chapter. Let's begin the story!
Word Count: 4910 Words approx
Note: Just a reminder that I've changed the Guild Auxiliary chapter. I've made some changes to it. I've removed a couple of NPCs and added a few.
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In the Great Halls of The Castle of Arcadia, the Protagonist appeared as he logged in to the game.
It was just like every other time, right after entering. He entered and looked around the Throne Room, the giant Pillars supporting the roof. The hall was adorned with flags at each interval between the pillars.
All of them were the same. They were the flags representing The Lord of the Mysteries.
Except for the Flag hanging down in the back of the Giant Throne reaching to the top.
The Flag represented The Fool.
Bruce walked as the LordofTheMysteries towards his throne as he admired the throne room. It was big enough to host Fafnir and still have a bit of space left.
Fafnir was one of the biggest Boss after World Devourer that Bruce had faced in this game Yggdrasil.
Cthulhu was a formidable enemy and was big but would still not compare against Fafnir or World Devourer.
He walked reminiscing every second he had spent in the game. Exactly thirty days were left after which the Yggdrasil was going to shut down.
He walked calmly and slowly enjoying every moment. He inspected the details and the exquisite work done by World to design the Guild.
He neared the steps as he looked up to see World standing on one of the steps leading to the throne.
He was silent as he climbed up the stairs. As stepped on the stair World was standing on, he kept moving but not without relaying it to her.
He conveyed the message.
"Thank you, World."
"It is my duty, S. I do it not because I am forced to do it. I do it because I want to do it. I will serve you till the day, I meet my end.
You are everything there is to me. I am just an empty vessel without you, S."
Bruce slowed down as he listened to everything she said until he stopped to listen to it fully.
He kept his silence after listening to everything she said. He was in a pickle.
He felt guilt, and sadness and was also happy for everything World did for him.
He was unsure of himself.
He was in a conundrum. Not quite sure where he stood in all this.
He had planned on taking in the New World with the World. But now things were complicated.
He was unsure of his feelings and emotions.
He resumed his walk, climbed up the stairs and sat down on the throne.
After making himself comfortable, he looked World in the eye, as he said.
"Thank you for everything, World. I am what I am all because of you. I would not be here if not for you. The Root wouldn't exist or I wouldn't be here. Even if it existed, it would be a shallow of what it is today."
'These past few days, I'm enjoying playing the game a lot. I am playing with real people, raiding Bosses with real people and not bots. And so has my dialogue or communication with World cut short. We are talking less and less with each passing day. We are only talking when there is a job to be done, unlike in the past. Not to mention we are bound by soul, which makes it even worse.'
"Enough of these boring talks. World, I think we should enjoy today."
"How do you say we do that, S?"
"Let's do some renovation to our Guild. It has been the same since the day it was built."
World hearing him talk about renovations, climbed the stairs to come close to him to continue their talk further.
"It is true that it has been the same. So what do you suggest?"
Seeing her walk towards and stop in front of him as she asked him. LordofTheMysteries got up as he walked towards her and stopped in front of her.
"Let's start by increasing your height. I'm not sure what we both were thinking when you created this body. I will be honest, you are very beautiful and attractive. You are supposed to be my right hand, left hand and leg. When you stand beside me, the difference in height between us will stick out."
"True"
Seeing her nod at his appraisal, Bruce continued.
"Increase the height to 180cm. I'm 186, it will be a good combination."
"Consider it done. So what's next?"
"Good."
He replied as he watched her grow taller.
"Say what do you say, we break some rules. Unlike every other time, we do it brazenly."
"I see no problem in it. So what do you have in mind?"
LordofTheMysteries walked down the stairs as he started talking to create a more dramatic effect.
"Let's add another floor to this Guild."
"That's possible. So what do you suggest we do with it?"
"Since you have already created temples dedicated to my avatars. Let's create castles, shrouded in mist separated by each other via mist and any other means we can think of.
For example, we can make a Giant King's Castle from lotm for my Giant Avatar, To'kustar.
A Castlevania-styled Castle for Cadis Etrama di Raizel and a Giant Tree Castle like those shown in anime where Elves or High Elves stay for Kakparuksha.
There's also Vishanti, for him we can try creating something similar to The Tower of the Invoker from Dota Dragon's Blood.
We can insert the floor after Arcadia.
It shall be the Floor Twenty Seventh. What do you say?"
"It shall be done."
"Great."
After conveying his wish, he returned to his throne.
"So what's next?"
"Aren't we going to work on it? Spend time designing it?"
Bruce asked her as she mulled over his last request.
"These brainstorming sessions are what we used to do. We think and I work on it. I am already working on it as we speak. It will be done by the end of today."
"Okay."
'Can't fault a man for trying. I would hope for nothing less than for us to get back to what we were before. She reminds me of Domitor in a way, or better to say Domitor reminds me of her.'
"Is there anything else that you would like to be done?"
"Anything else huh? Now that I think of it. Just the other day when facing Fafnir I got to thinking about lore and flavour text.
So, I was thinking how about we create a forbidden or hidden library consisting of books. Like the ones from the Novel, I'm not the Demon King's Lackey.
Ordinary books from our world, but in the other world after being corrupted by an Eldritch God. They turned into those forbidden books. Books that inflicted curses and instilled forbidden knowledge of the Universe.
Normal high school textbooks from Earth, through normal in Earth but after Eldritch God's influence. In the other world, it turned into Forbidden Books containing knowledge of the untold universe. Books that taught magic.
It instilled knowledge of the workings of the Celestial Bodies and the laws of the world. Which enabled her to use magic. The truth of fire.
The Red-haired girl in the novel did become a Patreon of the Book Store after purchasing high school textbooks, maths and science textbooks to be precise.
I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. Also, make it so that only you and I are allowed to enter the library."
"It will be done."
"Anything else?"
*Ting
"It's BabaYaga. He wishes to meet. I will have to take my leave now."
"It's understandable."
"I'll get back to you about it at a later time. See you later, World."
"Your order is my command."
Bruce disappeared as he cast a teleportation spell.
---
In the halls of Valley of Myths
"Fall back"
"Cover Me"
Fafnir roared as he struck the players that had invaded his abode with lightning and fire.
"We are low on HP. It's inevitable, we will lose."
Amane spoke as she conjured a shield to defend herself.
"Today is the last day. We are playing, we can't lose."
BabaYaga rushed Fafnir as he erratically slashed at Fafnir.
'I understand that he has to leave for Gotham today. So he won't be playing from tomorrow. His wish to fulfil his wife's dream is great. It isn't just his wife but also Akane who wishes to beat Fafnir.
We are still in this because of my holding back.
I'm tired of these repetitive fights and the losing streak that we are on World. What do think I should do?'
Vishanti stood at the back as he watched Domitor and Amane rain down spells on Fafnir as BabaYaga slashed at Fafnir as he circled Fafnir.
Fafnir still stood with 77% of HP.
<There is only one month remaining for the End of Yggdrasil. Sato and Amane will keep quiet with whatever you do in the game. As for Domitor, it will depend on you. Do you trust her enough to give it your all? At least put enough strength to beat Fafnir?>
'I..'
'F*ck this!'
Vishanti retrieved a grimoire from his storage as he got ready to cast a spell.
"Get back BabaYaga."
"What is it?"
Without turning back BabaYaga replied.
"Get Back"
"Fine"
As BabaYaga retreated, Akane and Amane also backed off.
They waited with heated breaths as Vishanti teleported himself right in front of Fafnir.
{Spell, Grand Catastrophe}
"How?"
"He isn't a World Disaster Class Caster. Then how?"
Vishanti did not wait for the effects to finish. He retrieved a Spear from his inventory or storage.
{Activate, Spear of Yggdrasil}
He held Gungir the World Item. After activating it to use it's special skill.
Vishanti threw the Spear at Fafnir.
The Spear travelled at breakneck speed as it pierced Fafnir and penetrated his body.
The Grand Catastrophe and Gungir drained a lot of his HP. The Fafnir lost nearly 36% of his HP, it was mostly Gungir that damaged Fafnir the most.
Fafnir withstood the attack, as he finally activated his special skill,
{World Apotheosis}
Chaos ensued but before it could deal real damage to them, Vishanti teleported back to his teammates.
They had been too shocked to make a move.
It was easy enough for Vishanti to get them all together.
Vishanti dropped the grimoire as it disappeared after leaving his hands before it hit the ground.
He retrieved a shield from his Inventory.
'Aegis'
Aegis has the power to reflect all types of skills and Spells.
Aegis is a special World Item. It can reflect almost anything but not an attack from a World Item or reflect an attack from World Enemy back to it.
'Usually, that is the case. The special skill of a World Enemy or any attack from a World Enemy can't be reflected back to World Enemy.
But it's different now. There's always a loophole.
When they weren't looking, in the middle of the chaos that had ensued earlier, he had sneaked in Doramu Dolls.
A cash shop item that is used as a substitute for any attack from the enemy. A skill or a spell.
It will tank the damage for the player. But it has a limit, of only being able to take damage up to 8th tier spell and level 75 fighter's prowess.
Unlike what players usually use it for, I'm using it to reflect the skill to it. It would absorb the power till its end but this skill is an AOE skill.
The dolls are planted on Fafnir, I would be happy to give damage from HIS skill back to HIM.'
The skill revealed itself to them.
The shield was a World Item, and instead of holding it himself, he threw it at Domitor.
No words were spoken, only a sidelong glance but they knew it. Both understood what the other had to say.
She held the shield, and Vishanti threw himself to the skill.
But not without an assurity of his own.
'The rules of Yggdrasil are confusing. World Items that Affect Status or play with the concept do not affect World Enemies. But attack-type World Items that only cause damage are allowed.'
Vishanti used Lopt to teleport above Fafnir.
The skill's effect.
Moments before it affected him, Domitor threw the shield towards him.
The effect of the skill strikes Him, but before the doll's damage is overcome. Vishanti caught the shield.
Using the shield, he reflected the damage to the doll.
World Apotheosis is a special skill that when activated creates an apocalyptic environment.
Dark Red Clouds gather above, and Storm blaze as red and blue lightning strikes.
With the black orb forming in the skies.
It rotated as it, pulsated.
Every pulse of it invoked instant death to all those present. Each pulse, shot spikes from it to the ground. The spikes exploded after making contact with the ground or any other obstacle.
Lava burst open from the underground as the black orb exploded at last.
Vishanti took lightning damage but when the orb was about to explode, he took the shield back.
While Domitor and others defended themselves from the lightning, storm and spikes.
The spikes were too powerful for even Vishanti to take on.
Last he used it against Fafnir, the spikes and orb managed to eat away 38% of Fafnir's HP.
Using the shield he reflected the spikes to the doll.
They penetrated the doll and exploded while aftermath later affected Fafnir also.
It was not just one doll that he had planted on Fafnir.
Every doll exploded unable to withstand the blow.
At last, the orb exploded which he directed towards a doll on Fafnir. The whole damage from the attack was transferred to Fafnir.
Though Fafnir was not part of the initial damage he had to bear the brunt of the aftermath.
After all, Vishanti threw himself to the Orb, it was going to explode at point-blank range to him had he got the shield back a second later than he did.
Unlike last time, Fafnir only suffered 26% of the total HP with this roundabout attack.
At first, he suffered the attack damage from lightning and transferred it to the dolls. Later when it was turn for spikes, he transferred it to dolls though he wasn't hit by many of them. He still did lose quite a bit of his HP.
Later he used the shield to reflect the attacks to the dolls rather than transferring it through him. If he did so, he would have to bear the brunt of the attack.
After all the dolls weren't strong enough to take the damage from spikes.
Luckily the dolls were treated as player replacements in the game. A bug to be precise, which could only be misused in raids.
The dolls not being able to bear the attack transferred it to the closest game entity, Fafnir. It would have transferred the damage to Vishanti had been holding them. To the system, Fafnir was no different from Vishanti. Due to the bug, it considered dolls to be something that Fafnir was equipped with.
Vishanti was playing the game exploiting every bug he could find. He had also planted some of them himself with World's help.
He retreated a bit to observe Fafnir.
'I am not left with many options now. If I don't press on, HE will recover. I've still not pulled all the stops. What do you think I should do now, World?'
<Do what your heart desires. It's unlike me to say that but I leave this decision in your hands.>
'I always find my way to you whenever I am in trouble, World'
"Let's go."
Vishanti radiated light after it subsided, and a man wearing a suit stood in his place.
The spectators were too shocked to react.
BabaYaga was shocked by the outcome and Amane was speechless. As for Domitor, she stood showing no reaction.
{Skill, Summoning of The Dark One, spawn of Yog-Sothoth}
It's a skill or the super-tier spell he unlocked after defeating Cthulhu.
The Dark One rushed at Fafnir, and the battle between the two extraordinary monsters began. Though the Dark One was huge, still the Dark One was dwarfed by Fafnir.
Both the monster surpassed the level 100 mark.
He had not wished to resort to it but he had to. He had used the World Item, Jewel of Souls to summon The Dark One.
After all, he had to still use his super-tier spell to put an end to this farce.
{Super Tier Magic: The Promised Star Fall, Stella}
A White being appeared in the sky as it shot the arrow at Fafnir. Fafnir was having trouble concentrating between LordofTheMysteries and The Dark One.
As Fafnir tried to shake off The Dark One, Stella pierced him.
LordofTheMysteries stood there as he watched Fafnir tank the Arrow and at the same time wrestle with The Dark One.
To not waste time, LordofTheMysteries retrieved the Bow of Artemis pulled the string and shot multiple arrows intended on causing Fafnir constant harm.
After the rustle, Fafnir crushed The Dark One. Given no other choice, LordofTheMysteries activated his trump card.
{Activate, The Star of Yggdrasil }
A special skill of the bow, A World Item.
A long arrow that radiated golden light, formed on his bow. As he pulled the string, the space vibrated between the bow and the string.
Fafnir who had been distracted all along, went distraught as it sensed the attack.
But it was too late, the arrow was more powerful than Stella. It was obvious as it is a special skill of a World Item.
The Arrow brought Its HP down to zero. Without wasting his time BabaYaga ran through the remnants of his attack. He stabbed the Fafnir's heart with the Sword. The Sword that he and his wife had built.
'World?'
<Congratulations, you won the match.>
"Fafnir Fell."
---
Amane and Domitor did not move an inch the whole time.
BabaYaga came to his senses after The Dark One was summoned. He had seen it before.
It was the skill of a very famous player.
One of its kind, belonging to a special and unique class.
BabaYaga watched as the sword infused into the Heart of the Fafnir, as it melted and turned into an orb.
The orb was a magical item. It could be used as a special catalyst in staff or magic items for casting spells. It could also be turned into a weapon or a Staff.
BabaYaga picked it up as he walked towards Vishanti or his Boss.
"Thank you for doing this for us, LordofTheMysteries. The Guild Leader of The Root. Thank you, Boss."
Relaying the message, he left the orb in LordofTheMysteries's hand.
He teleported to his wife before she could open her mouth to say. He teleported out of the Arena holding her hand.
He had seen it.
He had seen Domitor's reaction throughout the match.
He had also seen them together. Their friendship.
He knew it by reaction Domitor was shocked.
It could only mean that she was unaware of his identity.
So did he, neither he nor Domitor knew of this.
He was sad, the match hadn't played out as he had hoped for it.
It felt anticlimactic.
But he knew it, he had been there before.
When he lost his childhood crush.
It was unlike his situation but he still felt he needed to give them some room.
---
LordofTheMysteries stood there as he watched Domitor walk towards him.
"You are the LordofTheMysteries."
He couldn't refute her, she said it with conviction.
It would have been a happy moment if not for how relationships are complicated.
It was not a matter of how he had come out now. How he had rescued their party. Not like in those anime or novels where after the MC shows his true or hidden self the FMCs fawned over him. It was a matter of trust. This was a game in the end.
It could mean a lot to Bruce but to anyone else, it was just a means of entertainment.
"Akane."
"Yes."
They both stood there not sure of their stance.
"Congratulations, Vishanti. We won. We beat Fafnir."
"Yes"
There was no mention of his avatars.
They collected the loot, Domitor transferred it all to Vishanti or LordofTheMysteries and was leaving.
"You've earned it."
Before she logged out, she expectantly looked at LordofTheMysteries.
Seeing her look, he spoke.
"Akane we are friends aren't we."
"Yes, we are, Vishanti."
"Good"
He responded as he watched her use her console to log out, just before she hit log out.
He heard her,
"I'm sorry, Bruce"
He couldn't stop her. She was already out of the game. Unsure of why she was sorry.
He tried talking to World, but even she did not respond to him.
It was a first.
He sat there on Fafnir's corpse unsure of it.
"World, World, World... World.."
It was not until ten minutes later did World get back to him.
<I'm right here, S>
All this time, she had been calling him Vishanti and he without realising it himself had started calling her by her name.
He realised it.
He ended it.
He was caught in between.
In the end, he had made his choice.
He had live by it.
---
3 Days Before Yggdrasil's End
Not a lot of things had happened at this time.
Bruce logged in to the game, as usual, every day. He had kept his routine and followed it.
He had got all the paperwork ready as the end neared.
He had transferred all his property to Alfred's children.
They earned it. Well, Alfred had earned it.
Rather than transfer it to Alfred he had transferred it to his children and made Alfred the decision-maker for the Wayne Enterprises.
There was only one condition in the Will.
The Name, Wayne Enterprises would never change.
Also, to make it easier for them to uphold it.
He had adopted them to his family.
Though he had not informed Alfred of it.
It is something that would make anyone furious.
To not hurt them more than he already had. He allowed them to choose their last name themselves.
They had a choice between their old last name or Wayne.
Also, BabaYaga aka Sato and Amane had left for Gotham. Before leaving they had transferred all their in-game items and everything they had in-game to Him. They had sent it as a gift.
They had heard him say numerous times how amazed he was by their clothes. Their cosplaying in-game had fascinated him a lot.
---
Bruce as usual logged in to the game.
LordofTheMysteries appeared in the throne room of Arcadia.
He walked and sat on the throne as he observed the room. It was empty.
World had done her job.
There were now 32 floors in The Root with a forbidden library.
She was busy with the twenty-seventh floor when he had called for her after Domitor left.
He nodded at World as relaxed on the throne.
His gaze turned to his console as looked at his friends section.
"Still not active."
After Fafnir's battle, it was the last time he had seen her. It was also the last time Domitor had logged in to the game.
'I've got to move on.'
To not let the past hold him back.
'It's nearly been a month since I last saw her.'
"World, let's move on with our feast."
"I guess it's finally time."
"Yes."
Bruce and World both had not been in the best of their mood for the past month. They were not themselves.
Fafnir was holding them back, dragging them.
He was the Immortal pain of a Dragon.
LordofTheMysteries with World teleported to Sefirah Castle, the twenty-ninth floor of The Root and formerly the twenty-eighth floor.
---
Sefirah Castle, The Root
Bruce after teleporting to the floor.
He admired the floor design. He walked past the table as he walked to his seat at the table.
LordofTheMysteries sat at the table as World stood behind him.
Soon one by one Multiple players teleported to the floor and walked to the table.
There were the bots that World had created to assist him in the Guild.
It was Primal, the Dragonoid player bot who walked in first and took his seat at the table.
A handsome guy.
Bruce did not react much.
According to World, she had created a program and created it to function without her input.
They had created a personality for themselves.
They are AI lifeforms. Quite an accomplishment from the World but sadly they are destined to die today.
The summoning might not have the power to take 100 players and Bruce was not willing to risk it.
Also, he did not need any hindrance in his rule.
They could very well stage a coup for all he knows.
Following Primal, a Demon walked into the castle.
'He is Noir if I am not wrong. A daemon. An unusual class as most chose Devil or Demon. I guess World was trying to be as diverse as possible.'
<I only thought of how best to assist you in your raids while building them.>
'Thank you for your consideration, World'
Following Noir, a little kid with green hair and grey eyes walked in.
'A child! Wait she's!'
<She is Yuna Gido, from the Greater Gashadokuro race. It's a race inspired by Japanese Mythology. Her true form is very hideous. To not scare off people she has donned this look.>
Following behind Yuna Gido, a male human walked in. He looked to be around 21 years old.
'He's?'
<Micar Draven. A Human and a Drow. He's a Warlock. >
Following them, an automata entered the castle.
Scarcity was its name. It walked in as it bowed towards LordofTheMysteries and took a seat at the table.
Following it, Shadow and Grimm walked into the hall.
Grimm is an assassin while Shadow is a Caster and a summoner.
They were soon followed by Bard Leon a human, Not_Just_a_Kat and Dream.
They walked as they took their seat at the table.
Not_Just_a_Kat is a Nyan Race player. A cat-related class specialising in ranger activities.
Bard Leon is a high human, who's a warrior. A Swordsman on journey to find himself.
Dream, a cloudy-shaped being with no ethereal body. One of the stronger guild member.
Following them the rest 89 players of the Guild entered the Sefirah Castle and took their seats.
Seeing everyone gathered, LordofTheMysteries stood up as he welcomed them all with open arms.
LordofTheMysteries raised his right arm as a fine glass materialised in his hands. With it, the table was filled with plates covered by a cloth.
They materialised on his cue to World.
Not wasting any time, they uncovered the plates.
A pill lay on the plate.
No words were exchanged, the bots picked up their respective pill and dropped them in the glass resting beside their plate.
All of them at once following LordofTheMysteries picked up their glass and drank it.
No words were spoken from the moment plates were placed in front of them.
"Do it World."
All the bots fell on the table as if their strings were cut off. Their marionette had abandoned them.
Bruce dropped his glass taking their fall as his signal.
The sound of glass falling echoed throughout the Castle. Though the floor was cloudy and it would have been impossible before but Bruce had asked World to make an exception.
He retrieved the Guild Weapon as he commanded World.
Opening his console he watched at their Guild Settings.
Players dropped from his guild in minutes.
When all was said and done, only he remained as the sole player of The Guild, The Root.
The lone player and the Guild Master.
"You can finally join, World"
*Bing
"I've only done what I should have done a long back, World. Accept it."
"Yes, S"
Though the player accounts were deleted, their bodies still lay on the table.
"Do it, World."
"Yes"
As they had agreed beforehand, all 99 player bots were turned into Golems of different races.
World stepped forward as she looked at the bodies.
Bruce stood at his place, he observed World.
He knew it, it was not an easy task to do what World did for him. They were in a way her children.
She had killed them to please him. Yet she did it in a heartbeat.
He was too lucky to have her.
He sat on his seat as he kept looking at World, worried for her.
World without wasting any more time, completed her task.
All the bodies disappeared as they were sent to the last Floor of The Root.
The Thirty Second Floor of The Root, The Arrow of Time forever to guard the treasures stored there as the Vestiges of the Past.
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**The End**
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