Chương 15: 15. The Raid Part-II

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: 3900 Words

Note: Just a reminder that I've changed the Guild Auxiliary chapter. I've made some changes in it. I've removed a couple of NPCs and added.

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Sefirah Castle:

'What do you think about it, World? How is their performance?"

"That's harsh, but still this has gone on for a long now. If it weren't for my Guild and my isekai plan, I wouldn't have decreased the difficulty level of my Guild. If I were to go by those average isekai Guild rankings, from G to S. Here my Guild is SSS, better than the rating that's provided by those guilds. Now my SSS Guild dropped from SSS rating to D."

'Hm! I even had to take out most of the Area Guardians from their floors to reduce the difficulty and turn off most of the traps.'

*sighs

"I have to say, it was a good guess from his side. With Five Elements Overcoming, I've made some good changes in my Guild base."

---

Floor 16: Atlantis

It was a tough fight but they still managed to beat it.

After they had slain the Floor Guardian, they stopped in the city to heal.

They didn't lose as many players as they had imagined. They had just lost 49 players on this floor.

"Areos I've settled all the work here."

"So have I. Let's wait for others. We can all go in at once from now. It's the sixteenth floor now, so the next floor must be the last one or we are near the end."

"Fine, Darkstar should be on his way."

"Oh! The Guild Master of The Son. Didn't his guild get annihilated on the ninth floor? It was their sacrifice that let us clear the floor."

"No, he along with another player from his guild survived it."

"That's great, Sakura call all the group leaders. We can have a meeting before we march into the Castle."

"Okay"

Answering his call, the leaders marched into the Fortress, created using a 10th-tier spell.

There were multiple hideouts laid out on the floor for players to rest and recover. They were healing themselves and others.

Waiting for the orders. Getting these many gamers to follow along is very difficult. Most of the players are rebellious and don't care much about anything.

They play to experience freedom, to escape reality. Just like they escaped from The Root Guild or were kicked out after getting killed.

Trinity or any other guild participating in this raid wasn't a god. Their decision wasn't absolute.

They were also players sitting with the console playing the game for their own reasons. They didn't have much power over others. They could leave anytime they wished.

Players were prideful and egoistic. They didn't give a damn about the game.

But still Areos, Sakura, Rak, Rokka and Kage did their best to guide the players in the raid.

Expecting social outcasts, NEETs, real-life winners, overconfident, Lazy Ambitious, etc. Expecting these people to follow rules, and maintain discipline for raids in a game was too much to ask for. They are selfish.

Everyone is busy thinking of themselves as the main character of the story. The dream is to come out and save others from crisis. To turn the tables and become a Hero.

It was a difficult path but the raid team had managed to come so far.

Areos and Sakura with DarkStar held the meeting with each of the leaders of all the groups. They decided on their next strategy in the meeting.

They have had a kind experience since they initiated the raid. They had been cut off from the outside. They couldn't contact others. The message wasn't usable.

They couldn't revive players killed by NPCs in the guild.

Though they could revive those killed by summoned monsters and mercenaries.

Still, they had persisted throughout their battles till this point.

Still, players could log out of the game, but in Yggdrasil when a player exits the game while in a raid, or battle and when in a quest or mission. It results in player death.

This also played a huge role as many players after getting tired of the raid and those who had work were left with no choice other than to quit the game.

After the meeting, they waited till everyone was together.

The Number of Players left is 580+.

---

After everyone had gathered together, the army moved forward.

With Areos in lead followed by other remaining Guild Masters.

They entered the giant Castle at the centre of the city.

Areos was in the lead, while the rest followed. As they had to still find their way to the next floor, they divided into groups to search the whole floor to find the exit.

Areos and Sakura were in charge of the Castle, in case other NPCs were lying in wait for them in the castle.

As they walked through the halls of the Castle, they had yet to find a single NPC or monster.

"It's awfully quiet here"

"We have defeated the Guardian of this floor. But I have to say, he sure has spent a lot of money to build this place. The work and the details are just amazing. Every floor is big."

"Yes, he sure is very rich. Oh! Are you having second thoughts now that you know exactly how rich he is and you have confirmed it yourself?"

"Oh! Please, I hate those rich bastards. We common people aren't even considered as humans in their eyes. We are no different than animals to them."

"Interesting, so who hurt you?"

"Why do you think that someone has hurt me?"

"You may not notice it but you spoke with high pitch while b*tching about rich people."

"Just ignore it."

"Fine"

They walked while admiring the works and details of craftsmanship used on the walls.

"This Castle is huge. It is big enough to fit 100 players."

"Yes, Sakura"

Areos and Sakura were each leading 49 players in their team. The rest of the players were evenly distributed across the whole floor, in their search for the way to the next floor.

They roamed the Castle while talking about the game and sharing some information that they deemed appropriate to share.

"So what's up with your Guild The Dragon Spirits?"

"I don't quite understand your question?"

"I've heard rumours that you guys aren't online most of the time. The time you spend on the game is also decreasing."

"Oh! It's just that, unlike this dude, we don't have as much free time as him. My parents are also pushing me to work in the family business to get some experience before I take over."

"Hmm! What's the difference between you and him? Both of you are from rich families aren't you?"

"That's true, but I think you are mistaking something here. Just look around, I'm in no capacity as rich as him. Yes, my parents own a small business, that I would possibly inherit but that's it. I don't have a lot of money to throw around like him."

"Yes. Yes. I get it. All you guys are the same."

"That's hurtful but I'll let it slide this time."

"I am not asking for forgiveness."

"Neither am I asking for it."

"Then why bother"

"True, so is life. So, Sakura what about you?"

"Sorry?"

"Well, you are asking about my life irl, I grew curious about yours?"

"I am living off my parents' money currently."

"What about finding a job? You are complaining about rich people, while you are jobless"

"I am job hunting but.."

"What they aren't hiring you because you are old"

"Who are you calling Old."

"I am sorry"

Areos saw a magic circle forming around her, and sidestepped to avoid the attack.

The place he was standing on had sustained damage.

"Hmph! I am 28 years old For your information."

"Oh! Just a year older than me"

"So, 27"

"Yes, what were you saying about Job Hunting?"

"Hmm! I don't usually like to share my story but whatever. I was harassed at my previous job by my boss. So I had to quit, now no companies want to hire me."

"Sorry"

"It's fine, I am tired of people looking at me with those sympathetic eyes. If you do feel so bad then why can't they just hire me."

"Well, I'll see if there are any vacancies in my company."

"I wasn't saying it to you. I meant it for those people who rejected me after hearing about my previous workplace situation and the company name."

"If you don't mind, what company did you work for?"

"It's a big company you would have at least heard about it. It's YXZ."

"Hmm!"

"What is it?"

"Nothing, I'm just surprised. A company with a good reputation as theirs would have such a dark side."

"Which doesn't?"

"What is it?"

"Schhh! Can you hear the sound of the baby crying?"

"No"

Sakura was enjoying her time talking with him but suddenly saw him get serious. She switched gears and grew serious too. They were in a raid now. They had a lot running on this raid, they couldn't mess this up.

The sound he talked about, she could hear it now. It got louder with each passing second.

"I can hear it."

"It's coming from there, let's go"

"Wait!"

"What? Are you scared?"

"No"

"Then what's the problem? This is just a game."

"I know that. What I meant is, aren't you rushing in blindly?"

"Well, that's the fun part here. What use is it, if you are in a game where you don't have to worry about recuperation your actions have. Well, most of them aren't important from a bigger perspective. You are playing it for enjoyment and fun. I am sure even this guy is playing it for fun and enjoyment. Just look at these places. I can't think of the fun he must have had while building this Guild. "

"Let's go"

"That's the spirit"

Seeing her follow along, both of them rushed down the hall. The sound they heard was coming from downstairs.

They moved with their speed, with Areos in the lead because of his monstrous stats as the World Champion.

While Sakura was a Magic Caster.

They arrived at an empty hall, and when they looked around they found other players to have also arrived at the place after hearing the sound.

With nearly 60 players out of 100 already arriving at the hall, they quickly got to work to find the source of the sound. But to not find anything.

They looked around and all they could hear was the sound.

They assembled at the Centre seeing Areos with Sakura to discuss about the sound.

It was when they heard it.

The sound of footsteps.

*Footsteps

From a passage connected the hall, to deep within the castle. A man wearing a suit was walking towards them.

In his arms was what looked like a baby wrapped around in a piece of cloth.

He walked at his own pace. His steps though small, so was his speed. But here, he was near them.

As he closed in on them, they grew nervous.

Though no one said anything, there was one question in everyone's mind.

"What was a baby doing in a game?"

Soon he entered the hall, he walked till he was a good distance inside the hall.

Seeing him stop, they grew tense.

Readying their weapons to attack at the earliest.

He was wearing a suit with a long coat and a hoodie attached to it. It covered his face with the mask he was wearing.

It was a Fool's Mask that he had designed from Lotm.

Everyone grew curious about him.

He who walked through the passage, suddenly started singing a lullaby to soothe the baby.

They were on guard against the Mysteries foe.

Especially since they couldn't use appraisal on him. Usually, appraisal indicates whether the opposite person is a player or NPC, if not the stats when he or she has not taken countermeasures against it.

But here they couldn't get anything from him.

Unknown to them, it was God's title at work preventing others from using divination against him.

He came to a stop, after getting to the Centre of the hall. Standing there, he swiped one of his arms through the air, corresponding to his action, an obsidian altar materialised in front of him.

"Create Greater Item"

"What?"

"He used a spell to create a greater item for it. But it's not one of the items you can create using it."

"Yes"

"It can't be Creation, a super tier spell. Hmm!"

Everyone was on guard.

Ignoring the other occupants in the hall, the masked Fool, set the infant down on the altar.

His every action made others nervous.

With another swipe from his arm, a giant magic circle formed on the altar, with the baby at the centre.

After the magic circle formation was completed, he clapped his hands together and started a ritual.

The players grew more nervous than ever.

Unable to handle the situation, many players lost their calm seeing a scene that would have come straight from a horror movie.

Areos himself was unwilling to take the risk of letting the masked man complete the ritual.

The words were spoken in an unknown language, the foul tongue that caused damage to the players after every stanza.

The decreasing HP, wouldn't have made much difference to the max-level players.

Seeing it, he with others attacked the masked man.

It was the casters who got to him first, spells were rained on him. The warriors slashed him.

Despite the attacks, the masked man refused to budge or defend.

The air crackled with forbidden magic as The Fool chanted in a cursed tongue. The infant's cries echoed, morphing into guttural sounds that twisted the mind.

The damage had been done, with the last strike from Aroes, The Masked Man was on his last leg. A single attack could kill him.

Just when they slowed down, they saw him weakened. They were sure of their victory. It was not until they heard his voice.

The Man who had been silent the whole time when they attacked, except for chanting.

"With this treasure, I summon thee, The Dark One."

Their danger alert from all the battles they had fought, the stories they had read, the movies they had watched. They knew it, it was going to be a tough fight.

Areos unable to stop the process, rushed to The Masked Man and cut him down.

The slash reduced what little HP he had left.

The Masked Man was gone, his body was left of him.

Before they could rest, they saw it.

The body of the infant convulsed, and from its belly, dark tendrils burst forth, growing and writhing like serpents seeking prey.

The Dark One, Yog-Sothoth's spawn, emerged in a maelstrom of shadows and tentacles. Its many eyes, glowing with malevolent intelligence, fixed upon the intruders. The members of the alliance readied their weapons, spells crackling at their fingertips, but a palpable dread filled their hearts.

The battle was swift and brutal. The Dark One's tentacles lashed out with unnatural speed, impaling warriors and mages alike. Each fallen member was consumed by the darkness, their screams fading into a chorus of despair. It remained stronger despite many attacks used against it. As it killed players, its HP and MP recovered.

The guardian's many eyes wept tears of black ichor, which burned the ground and flesh alike.

One by one, the players fell, their spells and steel no match for the eldritch might of the Dark One. The last to stand was the World Champion, Areos, who faced the horror with a defiant glare. But as his sword struck true, the Dark One simply absorbed the blow, its form unyielding.

With a final, soul-shattering roar, the Dark One enveloped Areos in a mass of tentacles, dragging him into the abyss.

As he was dragged, Areos using World Break cut off the Dark One. Using the World Item he had been carrying on him, he killed him. The Dark One was slain.

{The Endless Abyss}

A World Item, one of the twenty. A single-use type, will consume any target and seal them in the Abyss. When sealed in the Abyss, the player or target dies. The only possible means to revive is to use a super-tier spell corresponding to it. Equivalent to the True Death spell but a higher version of it with 100% accuracy. With the penalty of setting the level of the target as 1 after revival. However, the character may lose any one job class and a piece of equipment. Plus the curse of requiring twice the experience to progress each level.

World Enemies are immune to the effect, while World Item holders experience death but are immune to the other effects of the item, nor would they be considered defeated by the opponent.

The guild's assault ended not with a triumphant cheer, but with the haunting silence of total defeat.

Areos alone stood in the now silent halls. He had used up the World Item on him. If not for the teleportation banned in the Guild, he would have never used it.

"Shit Shit. Curse him."

He was the God of the Demi-Human race. Similar to Bruce, he was the first player to have created a Demi-Human race. The God title by itself has no limitation but Areos wasn't just that.

He was more, he had killed another God title player. The Human Player with the God Title. When a player with a God title is killed, he usually doesn't receive any penalty but when killed by another God Title User.

He loses the Title.

The Winner of the match receives an upgraded title. It's the only title available in the game. The title affects the lore of the player. There are no other titles in the game except for the special God event title planned by the developers at the start.

The upgraded title is The God of the said race. This title comes with its negatives, if a player were to die outside of any Boss fight, event, or tournament then the player is to lose the title.

The title grants the user a domain. The player according to their race and class can choose any. A domain in simple terms grants you the skills and abilities of anyone God of Norse Mythology.

That meant if he were to die in this raid, he would lose his title of The God of Demi-Human and return to being just The God. While the first Human Player would receive his title back.

"I should just return. I can't risk to move ahead after this."

He had enough of the raid for now. The rest waiting outside or those remaining in the Castle could continue the raid if so they wish.

"Where are you going The God of Demi-Human?"

Areos hearing it, turned around to only find the Masked being he had killed waiting for him in the same passage he had walked in earlier.

"So you're the Lord of The Mysteries. A God is what you call me huh? Interesting, so that should make you the other player to hold The God title."

"Perhaps, perhaps not. What do you think?"

"So what was that old horror scene before? Don't tell me, you like to role-play. Let's fight, one on one."

"If I may ask, what does this fight entail for me? Why should I fight you alone and not just call my friends?"

"Because even I have The God title and not the one you have. I guess that I don't have to say it out loud to you. You already know about my God of Demi-Human title."

"Yes"

"But I am sure you wouldn't know about this one. There is a quest or a hidden challenge in this event. If you defeat another God title holder you become the God of your race. Similarly, if you kill the other two players with God's title, you get the domain that I have but you can now choose between Thor, Odin and Loki. These three had been locked before but now they will be open."

"Interesting, but how do you know about it?"

"They said it to me when I received the title, God of Demi-Human, they contacted me, after all, it was an event that started back in the beta testing phase. We had a chat and they said it. So what do you say?"

"Let's do it. You can heal yourself, I will wait."

"Aren't you worried about other players of the alliance waltzing in here?"

"My guildmates are taking care of them now."

"Fine, that's some confidence you have. I guess it is our loss. The raid has failed?"

"Yes, but let us not let it disturb us. Let's begin the match."

Areos rushed in to finish the fight as soon as possible. He had chosen Viddar for his God Title. It gave him more boost in the physical aspect of his stats.

Bruce kept dodging his relentless attacks.

He used multiple defence spells when he couldn't make it due to the speed difference between them. After all his opponent was a God and a World Champion.

They clashed, while he used spells on him and Areos attacked him with his sword. The sword from the WorlTournamentnt.

Bruce after a couple of minutes in the match, stepped back to make some distance.

Areos, taking advantage of the situation tried healing his HP. It wasn't until he saw him again for the second time today.

"With this treasure, I summon the... Just kidding"

Instead, he retrieved a purple orb from his inventory.

Areos was getting a headache thinking about facing Him once again. So as soon as he saw him using the same skill again, he moved in to intercept but was intercepted by a sword.

A flying sword that was attacking by itself, with no owner. A self-fighting sword.

"It's a World Item, Sword of Freyr. It can fight by itself."

"Just another weapon, that will join my collection."

"Are you sure?"

"The summoning you used earlier has its limit, doesn't it? Summoning a monster of that calibre is not simple."

"True."

The Dark One was a strong monster summoned using a skill from Lord of Interstellar Spaces:The Shepherd class. It could be used only once a week.

A great spell, that summons a monster of level 108. A superior version of Dark Young summoned using the super tier spell.

"But I wouldn't be as confident as you just yet."

Since he couldn't let him about his other avatars. He decided to use it again.

"Jewel of Souls, a World Item for summoning magic spells and skills.

It lets the player use summoning magic or skills without any payment, a costless summoning and those summoned don't use up the player's space.

If a player has already summoned the maximum number of summons he can, then with this item he can still summon more. Though it has a limit, what is it to you? Enjoy the game now."

{Skill, Summoning of The Dark One, spawn of Yog-Sothoth}

The monster under his control brought Areos down to his knees. With little to no HP left, Bruce with a single 10th-tier Summon Meteor spell ended his life.

[God Slayer]

[You have been promoted to God of Heteromorphic Race]

[Domain: Choose a God whose skill and abilities you wish to inherit]

[~ You have completed the Hidden Event, Now you have unlocked Odin, Thor and Loki]

[Thor: Have the power of Lightning and strength boosted and skills related to Thor's legacy]

[Loki: Have the power of Illusions and defence stats boosted with skills related to Loki's legacy]

[Odin: Have the power of Magic, Death, War and Divination. Plus the Stat boost and buffs your talent in Arcane. The Master and The God of Runecraft]

"The decision is simple. I choose Odin, The All-Knowing Father. Master of Runecraft, that's a crazy title right there."

'Hmm! I had been jumping around collecting World Items, it was bound to happen. I thought it would be fun to play with them a bit. Also, to leave a legacy. I wish to let the gamers of Yggdrasil know that I was here. They already know me from the Guild rankings but that's not enough. It should be something more memorable.'

"Yes, speaking of World Items, World locate the Endless Abyss. I want it."

While conversing with World, Bruce returned to Sefirah Castle to plan his revenge arc.

'It wouldn't do right to let them be after they have had the guts to attack my Guild. There should be a revenge arc, more so because I get to loot a lot of weapons, items and gold.'

The Avatar that was killed in the hall, wasn't his main avatar. It was a skill from his Vampire avatar.

The skill allowed him create a single perfect replica of his avatar. Same stats and skills. Access to all Avatars.

The replica had taken it upon himself to bring the infant to the Hall. Though it wasn't required but he felt it is needed.

---

In Asgard

"So what of it?"

"Don't you two have something to say to us?"

"What is it?"

"How come 600 players who had managed to ascend 16 floors get wiped out in a single floor."

"Most damage was done by the players of the Guild. The amazing coordination and prowess. It was amazing. They fought with better coordination than NPCs."

"Is that it?"

"No, it was the Dark One."

"Who is the Dark One?"

"It's a summon monster, summoned using a skill of some strong rare class. It was able to kill more than 50 players all alone. That includes Sakura and I."

Everyone at the table turned silent. The meeting continued between the players involved in the raid. They had a final meeting before they departed.

Everyone had left except for Areos and Sakura. They were standing outside the meeting room inside their guild. The Guild of The Holy Spirit.

"Let's go for now. We can think about it later."

"Yes", Sakura replied to Areos.

"So, Sakura I was thinking about your problem. It's not out of pity and you shouldn't feel that you need to accept the offer."

"What job is it?"

"Among all the job opportunities that I am aware of, it's my assistant post.'

"Why am I not surprised? You wish for me to become your assistant. Doesn't that sound suspicious?"

"You can think what you wish to think about it. I had a great time raiding that Guild. We could cooperate. We didn't fight much. You are also smart and those are the qualities that any person would look for in their assistant. Also, I promise to pay you well. "

" What is the name of the Company? "

" YXZ Corp. I know that you didn't have good experience in my company and I promise to remove the guy who gave you tough time, but this time you are here as my assistant. It will be different, you'll only be answering to me and no one else. "

"Yes, but.. "

"Just give it a try. We will meet on Monday morning at 9. Be there on time."

"Wait.."

"Don't worry, I will be there. Others wouldn't have the courage to speak or do anything to you."

"Fine, I'll give it a try"

"Good, then see you."

"Then what about Yggdrasil, Areos?"

"I'll be quitting the game. I've had my fun. It was great till it lasted. I'll delete my account. I need closure from it. After all, I have my life to concentrate on."

"Okay, I think I'll do the same. If your job doesn't come together for me, I'll still have to go about job hunting. I can't waste my time here."

"Then what about the Guild?"

"I'll let others take over it."

"Hmm! I'll quit now. I have work to do. Good night"

"Good night to you too."

In the year 2132, A World Alliance had been formed in Yggdrasil of 3672 players and with NPCs they numbered 4700+. A raid was conducted on the Guild The Root by the alliance.

The raid failed.

It was a humiliating defeat, despite the difficulty level of the guild being reduced.

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**The End**

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