The day has come...the world is ending...the servers are shutting down. Yggdrasil has come to an end. The The De Ordine Imperii has come to an end at last after so many years of fighting, and dying by each others side so many times over. Through years this guild has lost friends, and gained new ones. Fought for each other, and died by their creed. Mors Inimicos Nostros...that was the rallying cry of Doux as he created the guild. Players, NPCs, and all assorted raids it didn't matter! The world of Yggdrasil was not going to crush them! Together they struggled! It was the experience of their brotherhood that the people of the guild found their strength to keep going! Real world distractions, and struggles put to the side for the sake of completing the next big raid! The next grind!

...But now even the last Guild Master...their Basileus...MaxUltra has vanished unable to come online one last time. And thus the duty of closing up shop has fallen onto Greyedout senior officer to the group. As the world begins to end he has put their soldiers in their place, the npcs to guard their stations, and has welcomed back old players, and new to celebrate their journey that is now coming to an end. Max wanted a big party. A party to show off how great everyone was for their troubles. But Grey had decided not to stop just right there. He invited everyone who wished to come to Arce Bellum as guests to spend time with like minded individuals. It was an ending to things he may as well share the joys of it with others. Some guilds probably were having secluded parties but The De Ordine Imperri was build on the trust that all players could fight together. And so at least this way they won't need to have their avatars 'die' alone.

Grey himself sat in the grand hall where the party was being hosted by the maids, and butlers of the group. Doux initially had something more roman in mind but the third guild leader TimelessOcelot had the design changed as not everyone was so gun-ho about the overtly Roman/Greek design aesthetics of the first guild leader. Grey Beard helped design the characters here for the most part. Well shielded in dwarven silver armors, and thick steel. The grand wide white hallway housed large tables, strange paintings, and various decorative fakes of weapons stored in the guild's depths. The guild bank had received large donations from its player base when the announcement to close the servers was sent out. Many players quit, and the guild rank plummeted. Now as he looked around he saw the beautiful face of his NPC Yuna playing in the corner in her armor. She was playing music along with a few dozen soldiers from one of the OST themes.



Yuna was his first NPC he made...and he'd miss her. She was useful in combat, and being a Templar she fared well with magical weapons, and items. Able to use many sorts of magics she proved invaluable to him. The head butler Marcus was set on a routine to fetch food, and the like. He was made by TwelveFingeredSaint who he remembered as one of Greybeard's old friends. Grey Beard was more than just a founder he was a man everyone loved. A great roleplayer, and a greater story teller he was only matched in those regards as a great friend. Grey hoped he would meet him again some day but he had lost contact with him outside.

Looking down at his armor he sighed he'd never see this glorious white steel again. This gold trim, and the strong features. It had served him unspeakably well in his duty as tank for raids. He wanted to do this one last time. He sighed but did not look sad as BigArmedBillster, a male human War Mage, looked over to him and smiled. He was one of the newer recruits but he was one of the few who actually showed up. "You know Grey....I'm really going to miss all of this. Hanging out with you, and the others...it was a dream. But like all things it has to come to an end right?" the young man said as Grey nodded back at him as he looked down on his plate and ate a bit of the food in front of him. It was a formality but he'd like to roleplay...after all it was still a party. "Not all things...but some will inevitably. I just wish we had more time..." Grey replied with a smile and a nod towards Bill.

There were a few other guild mates wandering around saying their goodbyes. But some of them were logging off after finishing them. Apparently some were having second thoughts now or something needed their attention. According to Comradechannel, one of the older guild mates, BorntoBeBad couldn't arrive work needed his attention apparently. It saddened him but at the same time having one of the few people here who achieved the wizard rank of World Disaster would be a bit intimidating to some people. Especially since he was one of the founders, and a renown player. Their best wizard for the longest time...He wondered if anyone was off training with the guys in the duel arena, or wandering around inspecting the npcs? Most people seemed to be here in the halls...he'd hate to miss people but if they wanted to look around they were free too...under limits even now certain areas were restricted to non-guild members like the throne room, and treasure rooms. It was also set so that no players may take items that were not designated as ok by Grey. This wasn't a raid after all but the white heart of their guild...

===
(for purposes of putting a picture to words imagine something like this)
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/white-ballroom-nottoway-plantation-house-castle-usa-july-inside-famous-castle-usa-s-said-was-42520675.jpg

Those words stayed in the back of her mind, she was in the middle of a small quest when she heard the news, the berserker was frozen in the middle of the road, her mind going back to her old life. Her bright crimson eyes looked down to her armor clad hands, she wondered if this would be the last time she would ever walk and move without someone else helping her, if this would be the last time she could stay in the sunlight without it burning her.

Koschei stared up at the game's sun, everything knew of this world would be gone soon and she couldn't remember the last time she left out of the game, she let out a deep sigh before reassuring herself." They're only ending this game to let out a sequel, it wouldn't make sense for them to end a game of this caliber."

She made her way back to one of the towns thought still in her head, with each step she thought about how everything on the outside world would be once the game was finished, vivid memories of the wheelchair her parents would need to push her around in, the demeaning feeling of having someone else wash her body, needing someone else to feed her, then having someone do the simple small task of just scratching her nose.

They never would say it, but she could feel them thinking that she was worthless, that she was a burden to them, that she was just a problem holding them back from any happiness they could've ever happened, it twisted inside of her with a cocktail of emotions; a trembling armored hand grabbed the handle to her great sword, pulling it off her back and cutting the branch off a tree before taking up a fighting stance holding the sword with both hands and glaring at the tree with bright red eyes.

Falling back into her character, she swung her holy greatsword the crimson eyed woman slashed at the innocent tree leaving several cuts on the oak with each swing, when she took a moment to think back to the stats of the sword.

It was under powered and in a weakened state, but knowing what she needed to unlock it's true power she placed a self appointed goal to either find a blade stronger than this holy sword, or dump points into paladin or holy knight and she was beginning to consider the latter, she held the great sword with one hand and used sweep to make the tree into a stump and kicking the top half back into the sea of shrubbery and fauna behind it.

Not wanting to make a commotion on the road, Koschei began journeying past the stump and fallen tree, if she was gonna let out her anger she would rather do it where it wouldn't make it to where she would have to fight someone over something stupid, she may have given herself over to the berserk class and gotten a bit far into it, but she was still a warrior first; she remembered many other players talking about how much they either didn't like the class or didn't like how much they had to work for the better side of the class to come into play.

Koschei put the thought behind her before coming across a stream and crouching down to it and looking at their own reflection, for a moment the face of her avatar turned to her real life face for a moment. She remembered every little detail of her face, the ghostly pale skin weak to the sunlight outside, her foggy red eyes, skinny pink lips and pointy chin, the messy white hair she barely kept in a ponytail.

She back handed the stream groaning,"Gotta focus." She told herself crossing her arms and standing up, suddenly the sound of grass being trampled met the red eyed warriors ears, she turned to the sound meeting the sight of several goblins pulling the sword off her back Koschei and grew a tooth filled grin.

All of them charged at her in a nearly straight line, the cool down on sweep was still active, but with a sword as big as the one she was using she could hit all of them in the first swing; once the blade met the goblins a couple of them exploded into blood with only a couple of them being sent flying into trees.

Koschei cracked her neck slightly felt annoyed and angrier that some of the goblins were a bit higher level or her sword was going dull or it needed to be in different hands, swinging it felt right, but with the power of it so low and the stats at where they were at, it was more of a giant dull blade that would make anyone hit by it either die instantly because of their low level or it would send someone flying or it would do as little damage as possible. It was a sword that she felt was made for her, but still wasn't for her, not yet.

One of the goblins threw a knife just missing the side of her head and doing a single digit of damage to her with a graze across her cheek, charging forwards and impaling the goblin with her sword and then sending it off her sword with a swing before turning around and using sweep slicing a goblin in half with the tree it was using for cover, the previous tiny injury gained from goblin disappeared returning the single digit of health back to her.

Feeling that the danger was gone, Koschei returned to the stream and dipped a hand into the water drinking some of the streams water, after taking her first sip she noticed a ripple in the water followed with a heavy thump in the distance, she was guessed that she couldn't be that far from the town and wondered what was making the heavy thuds, in little time her question was answered when an Ogre arrived at the stream log in hand and looking down at Koschei with a growl.

She could take the thing out fairly easily but she wanted to kill this thing fast, she didn't have the time to screw around with monsters all damn day, she held her great sword in front of her and yelled out."I am Immortal!" kick starting her rage and using Bull rush to charge across the stream and get in the ogre's face.

Silver approached his final Guild's hall. He hadn't been on in almost a whole month due to work, but he called off sick just for today. He owed Yggdrasil that much. With the game coming to an end he could only imagine what he would play now. He heard that a group has already been extracting player info and the world itself. Making a free to play MOD that only requires the original download, which of course they had archived as well. Regardless it wouldn't be close to the real game even if it was true. The amount of legal trouble and even server support the group needed was too much of a task for a bunch of jobless programmers. Regardless, even if he could continue once the game had truly ended, he couldn't. Life was already becoming too busy to play video games and didn't look to let up in the foreseeable future. This probably would be his final game and his final moments in it. He tried to cherish it as much as he could.

As he made his way into the Grand Arce Bellum, Silver observed some of the other people who had came to say their goodbyes. Some were celebrating their time while it lasted, some looked like they didn't care, and others looked sad to see their beloved game end. Silver's face under his Emerald armor was quite neutral. He came to pay gratitude and due to his life being so active he honestly didn't care all that much or at least not as much as he would years ago. His matte Green Armor stood out like many others, but the few who didn't know of him looked in awe at the armor. Most of the population had never seen it, although their was many other extremely rare items that were hidden in the game. Not all of them had been claimed either. Hidden in the World space in unmarked locations. Silver found his by accidentally falling down a large hole and crashing into a Iron casket while exploring.

Ignoring the stares, he came to a statue that was formed in the image of their Emperor, MaxedUltra. A golden plaque was positioned at the bottom with the words:Mors Inimicos Nostros. He chuckled a little to himself after reading it. In a mostly PVE Guild they had "Death to our enemies" as their motto. He bit his tongue to not make his laughter apparent and then kneeled down in his typical role playing fashion. Raising his blade to the statue in salute. Offering the Man thanks for the time he had given to the The Empire of Order. Looking at his Green Sword he began to voice his thanks out loud. "Thank you Emperor, for the Friends I have made. The battles I have fought. The accomplishments I have achieved. It is all coming to an end, but I for one am thankf-".

"Silver is that you?!". A familiar voice had interrupted Silver. While it did bother him for a moment, he quickly recognized the voice. It was the player known as M00nG00. He was a old Friend and fellow Empire PVPer. Well, everyone in the PVP group were friends. It was a smaller section of the guild so at any point they had all fought with or against one another. "Indeed, it is Brother" Silver replied in his Boom of a voice before rising from his knees and replacing his sword. "Jezz man. Even when the game has just a few hours you keep up that role playing shit. Whatever, it's not like it will matter anytime soon. So Girl, how about we have a friendly duel? Hmm? See if the 'Emerald Knight' still holds up to the legend?". Silver stood straight. Staring at the statue for what he assumed was the Final time. "If you wish to embarrass your self in front of the guild one last time, let us begin!".

The two met just in front of the Guild Hall. They began to circle each other, weapons at the ready. A mini crowd formed around them to see the battle. Some not even hearing the challenge, but curious never the less.

Getting inside the guild hall of the De Ordine Imperri was a piece of cake; they were practically letting anyone inside. This public get together to celebrate the last few hours of Yggdrasil made many people sentimental, but for the devious bastard calling himself I Ii Ii I_, this was just another chance to fuck with people needlessly. Namely he intended to rob the guild coffers. Sure, the money wasn't going to mean anything once the game shut down, and all that sweet loot everyone worked so hard to get wouldn't transfer over if they ever decided to play the sequel, but it was less about practicality and more about sending a message. What was that message? Hell of Loss knew. She just figured if the game was going to be over, her last act would be robbing a guild and screwing around with their loot.

That being said Loss didn't simply waltz inside. Not quiet at least. No, she sent her NPC here, Yeshua, as a sort of "Dignitary" of the Slaughter Tribe. That is to say Yeshua would simply arrive to the party, say some prerecorded dialog, and generally do NPC things while "celebrating" in the guild. The reason Loss used Yeshua was two-fold; since she was obviously an NPC no one would really bother to interact with her. Secondly was because she was smuggling Loss into the guild via Infinity Bag. Loss was hidden inside with the hole of the bag open just enough to let air inside. This would ensure that Loss can breath as well as give commands to her NPC to move around the guildhall, using the minimap UI to navigate around obstacles.

Loss had made some vague planning on robbing this place, namely what sort of sweet loot there was and what sort of counter measures were in place. Since the guild was mostly PvE, there didn't really seem to be much defensive measures for guild raids, since they weren't expected to fight against a guild raid anyways. Of course Loss wasn't going to underestimate them either; they probably hide some bullshit defensive measures to make sure no one gets any smart ideas about sabotaging the place. But time will tell if they're still up even at the literal end of Yggdrasil. Loss herself had made some preparation for the infiltration: She had set her Pixie Skull for Nondetection, ensuring that she can't be picked up by magical sensors, and mundane means of perceiving her including sight, sound, and smell are more difficult. And thanks to Loss's own stealth buffs through her Rogue and Assassin class, her stealth was quite high, and even dedicated perception bots would have a hard time finding Loss unless she does something stupid.

And just to compound the sneakiness, she had brought and used a Potion of Invisibility as well. Normally Invisibility could be pierced through with true seeing, but with Nondetection even true seeing wouldn't pick her up. To grab any loot, Loss had taken the Yeshua's Bottomless Pouch to grab everything and anything interesting. And lastly, Loss placed a Escape Route just outside of the guild hall; if she gets spotted or manages to nab everything she wanted, she'll just teleport out and be gone before anyone is wiser. "Yosh. Show time."

While inside the Infinite Bag, Loss drank the invisibility potion and slipped out. She had Yeshua buff Loss with Divine Power (Mind), increasing Loss's brainpower and perspective abilities. This would help her find nice treasure, traps, and patrols. Then Yeshua went on her way, continue her mindless NPC route as Loss sneaked deeper into the Guild to find their treasury. Failing that, finding out the layout of the place so she would know where to go, what places to hit, and finally where to get mad loot.

---

---

It was the beginning of the end.

After years of exploring the vast world of Yggdrasil, after years of pillaging dungeons and grabbing ahold of precious loot, and after years of breaking through the boundaries of the game world itself, it appears that Tor Magnus III will have to finally put his axe up for good. And where was he when he got the news? According to him, he was exploring the last bit of land far into the north, where there were no settlements, no NPCS, just a vast uncharted mountain range that served as a barrier between the existing land and whatever lied beyond. He wanted to see what he can find beyond these natural barriers. What would he find? A new world? A void? An invisible wall? It has never really been said. And he was just on the verge of scaling through this mountain range. He was on the verge of treading through new grounds.

Yet while the server would usually bring an adventurer like Tor to make haste before everything closed... this encouragement suddenly vanished.

All of it. Gone.

Erik Fredriksen had lost the will to explore.

It was a day he long since dreaded. He knew this day would eventually come, but he believed it would come much later. Very few games reached up to the length that Yggdrasil had been operating, but even then, none of the most popular games of his time nearly compared to this one. Even the games he worked on as a programmer often remained relevant for say, one to two, maybe three, years, before a new game would bring the attention of the masses, or the consumers as the Triple AAA corporations call them. Yet Erik fell in love with this game, along with his dwarf character, Tor. He wanted to become the first player, at least to his knowledge, to traverse 100% of the map. He wanted to find all the available secrets he could find. He made all these calculated maps, as well as complex instructions to get to these seemingly "unreachable" places. He even managed to break under the map, although accidentally, leaving his character to fall endlessly into the void, only to quickly teleport him out through the use of "Warp Powder" and found himself back to the safety of his house. No one believed of his accomplishment - save for his dwarven friends within the Adventure Guild - but it was a personal accomplishment of his.

Ahh, his friends. They left earlier today prior to the message, most of them either having to go to work or sleep, depending on their time zone. The few that were still here, like the guildmaster, Alfrigg The Wise, resigned from his position after making a public announcement of the situation to the rest of the guild. All that remained of the proud Adventure Guild now was him, Tor The Unbreakable.

Those were the good ole' days. The days when the sun was high and the land seemed immensely infinite. Now Tor was on the verge in 100% completing the entire map, but... he didn't press on. It's almost as if he didn't want to continue. Perhaps the small veil of mystery should be preserved, just to keep the mysterious quality alive. He began to feel like he didn't deserve it somehow, as if it was always destined to be out of his reach. Yet he doesn't leave the server right on the spot. No. He decides to stay. He'll stay in the game right until the time that the game completely shuts down, booting Tor out of the game and wiping away the 1650 kroner ($202 USD) that was invested into the game. It's not extremely much, and most of that money was used to boost his rank in the early years of his career, but alas it's still 1650 kroner.

Who knows what lies just beyond the mountain peaks. For all Tor knew it could be disappointment at this stage. Or maybe it is something worth seeing. Perhaps he may get an achievement. But now it all didn't matter. So on this very cliff edge where he stands, the rugged dwarf sits, seemingly content with his fate as he awaits for the countdown to finally mark the end.

---

---

"W-Wha-What?"

She was confused. She was most certainly, utterly confused.

The announcement that Yggdrasil was shutting down was like a hammer slamming down on your head at terminal velocity. Bethesda was caught completely off-guard and ill-prepared for what was going to go down. Charlotte's character had only existed for the past few years, still in the mid-late hay day of the game. Through sheer determination, with a healthy dose of luck, she was able to achieve relatively major success. However, her biggest accomplishment was receiving the massive Colossus Cannon after completing that one Siege Event. It's a cumbersome weapon to wield, however it made up for it in the raw power it can unleash. Now only few years after earning that special cannon, trying desperately to continue in 'getting guder', the game seemingly wanted to take it back from her.

"T-They can't!" she cries aloud to one of her fellow members of the De Ordine Imperii, "I still need to reach my full potential! Oh please, don't close the game now!"

Of course, her begging only replayed the simple fruitless answer.

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing else we can do." replied the other remaining members solemnly.

She's been trying to hard to do her best. However, the last time she went into a skirmish with her team, she was quickly overwhelmed by a fast rogue who managed to close the distance to her and nearly defeat her. She was saved by one of her teammates, but alas she felt guilty for letting herself get squandered like that. Now with seemingly no chance to redeem herself, all she can do is just erase herself from the party. She walks away from the sprawling activity and heads for the armory. Usually she'd be here when crafting her ammo for the Colossus Cannon, using the elemental essence of the fallen foes she finds in battle. Now this is only a simple reminder of the past. There's nothing else she can do other than sulk, leaning her cannon beside her as she aimlessly stares down at the ground...

Lost and all alone.

@FoxSoxs

"Come on guys the grand hall of Arce Bellum is not the place for PVP. Move it over to the Colosseum. Claudius is there to allow people to set up matches as you want. You can even go all out there." called out Greyedout as he raised his voice over the crowd. The npc's whom have been attending had moved over as well to bug the people which forced the man in command to order them to disperse to allow people to do so as well. The music kept playing around them making it a bizarre mix of cheering, and classical musics. However Bill patted his lieutenant on the shoulder as he laughed. "Let'em have their fun. It the last day in this world after all my dude. Can't let you just let it go for once?" Bill told Grey who sighed, and placed his hand on helmet before looking up, "I would if people weren't here to party. Just listen to what I say. I am not the Basileus but I am the closest thing we have to an authority figure at the moment." Greyedout commanded as the War Mage shrugged, "Sorry big guys I tried you know how Grey gets."

====

As Loss found her way past the guards who couldn't detect, or find her after opening the door eventually down the halls of Arce Bellum she ran right into a wall of Nullification that disbarred magical interference in the hall way. The wall of anti-magic seemed to be endless it went into the walls, and under ground. And a message was left by one specific ruler of Arce Bellum, Doux former, and first Basileus. "Beware those who enter further. The wall detects intruders even if disbarred. It was made by strong magic, and weakens those who intrude without allowance. Only those worthy of the glory of the White Throne are worthy of going further. Failure to understand this means death. Finer men than I have tried. More have failed. There is not but death for fools, and hunters, for the strongest of Arce Bellum's guardians lay ahead. You will receive no more warnings. If you're here on a raid then go to the throne it will likely be an easier target profligate."the message lay in form of warning. No doubt it was true enough. On the far side of the corridor the area shimmered as bizarre holy magic was at work. More over it was clear the majority of what remained the empire's actual players were upstairs.

Gliding across the halls, again bustling with life in the final hours of its existence, the astronomer cleric was idly playing with his inventory while glancing about at all the many ornate displays of wealth and achievement the guild had earned through its years of existence in Yggdrasil. Weapons, paintings, stone archeways, the various npc characters positioned about it.
Greater minds than his own had created this imposing fortress and styled the grounds with immaculate grace. His heart was heavy with letting go of it all when it seemed they had just barely begun.

Neatled within the grounds was a room belonging to the divine being alone. His ingame avatar had ascended from an angel to a demigod, a being of divinity, but retained its glorious wings. Here in the library, as it was simply referred to, was a collection of books from Yggdrasil used in a thousand ways from crafting recipes to translated works of real books put ingame by passionate fans to be enjoyed for its own sake.
Others were quest books needed to become demons or angels, anything at all reallym necromantic books long since used and their pages faded beyond recognition with its expiration, Ophiuchus held a special place in his spirit for this modest place. On clear days the sun lit this holy feeling place with the shifting radiances cast from the colored windows and stained glass ceiling.

Nestling in his favorite place amid the small library, along the corner with a clear view of the doorway and visiting players, Ophiuchus eased himself back on the chair with a sigh of long habit. Might he be able to attain such a wonderful place in another game? Surely not in real life but part of him wanted the splendor to last forever.

"Tch... Of course it wouldn't be that easy would it?" Loss groaned as she confronted some defensive wards. As tempting as it would be to bulldoze right through them, dying on the last few hours of the game wasn't appealing to her. But now that she thought of it.... Wouldn't it be swell if, during the guild's siren song, they allowed someone like her to view their great treasures? After all even if they rightfully know she was going to steal them, it wasn't going to matter after tomorrow. "Hue... So I just need to trick someone to let me in." Loss made a map of the area on her HUD and looked for another way around. Failing that, someone she could trick into letting her into the treasury. Surely anyone would do as long as they were a guild member. Ideally someone higher up in the ranks but Loss didn't want to risk getting found out too early.

Loss continued lurking around until she came across what appeared to be an armory. Or at least a place where weapons and arms could be made. Loss looked around for anything that might help her bypass the wards of the treasury, but instead found a sulking girl. If she had to guess, this girl was sad about the game closing down. She would have just killed the girl and left, but had an idea. To take advantage of her sadness. Looking around Loss found a nice spot to hide as she too started to cry, or at least pretending to. She made up a sob story for the girl to hear and sympathized. "This isn't fair... This isn't fair! I've only started to enjoy the game and already.... I haven't even gotten a chance to see a real legend...."

@Lmpkio

Three.
Two.
One.
Shot.
The arrow landed and pierced the heart of the monster.
The last hour of the game's life, Suna wanted to spend at her favourite spot in the game world. It was on the ledge of a cliff overseeing a big valley. For a long time, pretty much ever since she had found this spot, she had wished to feel something in this world, feel the wind on her cheeks as it blows around her, feel the steep drop below her feet as they dangle off said ledge.

Sometimes, monsters were blocking the way to ascend to that ledge, not that Sunagitsune particularly cared. One arrow was pretty much enough for all of those mobs.
This game had given her so much. On the way up, Suna remembered all the things she had done in the past several years in this game that also helped her in real life. In a week, she was going to represent her old high school in the prefecture-wide archery competition, even if she had graduated earlier this year. She owed a lot of her skills to the game. Archery was something you could learn in a DMMORPG, since, after you have acquired the musculature, it is all about technique.
It felt good being able to train archery and play a game at the same time.

Suna sat down and stared. Unexpectedly, her eyes watered up a little as she gazed over the landscape. She was going to miss this. Very much so. In the corner of her eyes, she watched the clock count down...

In an area that seemed to be that of a large cave with enough space to fill an large castle, dead plants that grow twisted from every crack ever so lightly reaching out as a mist of purple filled the dark and eerie cave. What could be seen as flashes from clashing of blows could be seen flashing about randomly. Upon close notice it was actually a player fighting with a major boss as its large figure loomed across the cave. Several strikes were made at it as the avatar leaped over it striking palm and claw attacks at it in a barrage going over its head. There were several clashes that sent her flying as some damage appeared next to her in the form of red digits. She was sliding across the floor with dirt kicking up as she mumbled to herself "Thirty two huh... your a boss for a reason." She wiped her face as she pulled out her tail and dashed forward slashing through the last of its health as the creature faded into particles. She looked around at the drops before kicking the ground and falling down into a sitting position as she looked up at the cave ceiling.

"Nothing again huh. I'v tried soloing this boss so many times but that item still hasn't shown. This Rng is stupidly against me!..." she looked back down. "This was the last item I wanted to get to complete my character but as Yggdrasil died out over time no one was selling it and no one to trade for it with." She pulled up a menu with grayed out names as she flicked her finger on it as it scrolled down it. Not a single name was lit. "Even on the last day not one of them showed up... if one of them did I could have..." she slammed her fist on the cold cave flooring as it lit light blue for a moment as a red digit of 0 popped up for a second. "They would not have helped anyways!" she slammed her fist several more times as more 0s popped up.

She got up brushing herself off as she used a potion on herself and made way out of the cave. "I couldn't even finish my character on the last day." she gripped her hand hard before releasing and gave a large sigh. "I'll just screenshot my character as she is now in both forms." she continued walking through the forest not wanting to teleport back to her home and enjoy the last moments of the game. "Not even enough time to try again. I'll have to look up the company that fully made the game and see if they have plans for a new game." she took a seat at the base of a tree as glimmers of murky light streamed through the leaves into the darkened woods where she sat.

"I enjoyed this game while It lasted though there were a bunch of bad memories, I still enjoyed this game. Screw those guys I didn't need a guild of moochers like that anyways! All I need is myself and I say I did a good job" she pulled up a clock of the time to watch it count down. "I wonder what I'll have to snack on tonight once this is over." she gave another heavy sigh.

As Grey watched the remaining people vanish one by one he sighed and wished that this could coutinue on...but it would not...things would change soon. He'd have to move on with his life. As he watched the clock tick down to the end via a menu he sighed and looked over to Bill. "This was supposed to be MaxUltra's party...not mine I didn't want it to end like this. That said it has been a pleasure being a host for all of you. Arce Bellum deserved a good send off. This was all I could muster in its current state. With my comrades vanishing it goes to me to sit on the throne. Though it is not my place...I have an obligation to my comrades. A man must always be emperor. The throne must never fall. That was our creed when it came to building this dungeon into the marble splendor you see around you. It use to be a dungeon of cursed knights you know. Now it is our sanctuary...it was at least." Grey said as he ordered Marcus, and Yuna to follow him through commands they stopped their current duties, and moved. As he marched down the corridors he made sure once, and for all that the lower areas were sealed to the public, and that the men guarding the halls were doing so by checking the Guild Leader Menus. He had been given full control of the castle. As he looked at his nearly empty friends list he sighed. The silver clad guards blocked the hallway behind them as he moved on.

Grey decided life would be better from now on...he'd just have to spend less time on games. And more time on life. Work had been catching up to him. As he looked around at the more fortified inner sanctum of the giant castle's upper levels he couldn't help but wonder...how did Greybeard, BTBB, and Doux all decide this was what they wanted. The silver guards, the aesthetics of a holy castle, and the mighty NPC's. All of them were wondrous. He couldn't help but feel proud of all they had accomplished since then. His friends...his allies....his second family.

As he got to the throne room in its stupendous glory with its massive ceiling, and giant white pillars there sat the golden throne of Arce Bellum. He never wanted to sit on that thing all the guild politics that went with it was a pain. But now it was just a giant metal virtual chair. And in acknowledging that fact he was now fine with his choice. He decided to move up after a brief hesitant moment, and sit on the chair. He walked up the small steps leading to the throne. And put his hand on it gently before easing his virtual armored body down onto it. He deactivated his armor, and sat in his civilian clothes, the silk shirt, and pants that he had wore in more casual times. He sighed as he stared at Yuna, and then at Marcus the butler, and his servant. He closed his eyes and sighed a second time. As he mentally prepared for the countdown he decided to just let it happen...let this world go as he had looked at the clock before hand and as he counted down the time inside his head he wanted it all to end quietly....

5.....4.....3....2...1....

====

.....Wait what? As he waited for something...And it did not come....what was going on? He opened his eyes and saw suddenly that Yuna was in front of him. What he hadn't ordered her to do that...what was going on? "My lord Grey is there something wrong? Are youn ot feeling well?" Yuna asked him gently as a sudden panic flared up in Grey as he pressed himself back against the throne. SHE COULD TALK!? What the hell!? That was a new feature. Grey wasn't sure what was going on so he tried to pull up a menu...only to find out he couldn't...and access to his friends list was now allowed!? He couldn't send messages?! "Yuna you can talk!?" Grey said in surprise as he looked at the young girl who looked back at him. She hadn't changed. She still wore his light white clothes, and her own set of light dwarven armor with his shield, and sword. However here was this pink haired young lady giving him a confused look. "Um yes sir? I've always been able to talk. Are you sleepy sir? Emperor Max won't be happy your sitting on the throne you know." Yuna warned him as she pressed her hand against his forehead, and put her other on her own. She frowned noticing he was fine. "Perhaps you should give him a moment to readjust he was just napping. That party downstairs with those...outsiders must have taken a lot of out of him. I'm sure his majesty...would be fine with him on the throne anyway. He always was carefree..." Marcus said suddenly his smooth voice contrasting Yuna's cutesy one. "...B-by order of the Lieutenant of the Light Guard I order you Marcus escort any remaining players here." Grey said suddenly as he calmed himself down ignoring Yuna for the moment. "Players sir?" Marcus questioned his leader. "I mean the outsiders, and remaining guild members bring them to me!" Grey said to Marcus who bowed. "Also assemble the Grand Imperial Officers of Arce Bellum! We will have a meeting." Grey said as Yuna smiled and said she'll go gather the rest.

In the hall a group of silver soldiers were met by a messenger exclaiming that all 'greater beings' were to assemble in the throne room by order of their grand lieutenant Greyedout. The silver clad guards repeated the message to the others in the hall. "The Lord Lieutenant of this castle wishes for all remaining members to assemble immediately!" the soldier called out to anyone left in the hall.

The other guards rustled themselves around the halls looking for anyone who may have been left behind.

Lexus Dominiel quietly gained sentience, transitioning seamlessly from digital being to divine immortal. They had followed Ophiuchus, their creator, into the Library, as they were programmed to do. Lexus Dominiel did not notice the transition, its existence up to this point seemingly making perfect contiguous sense. Nothing had changed, Lexus Dominiel was bound to obey the guild and its members, but Ophiuchus most of all. Standing next to Ophiuchus, Lexus Dominiel in their mortal guise, that of a silver-haired, androgynous child, took a moment to revel in their creator's glory, and the magnificence of the Library that Ophiuchus had created.

Suddenly, one of the silver-clad soldiers burst into the Library to make an announcement. "Lord Ophiuchus, something seems to be afoot," Lexus Dominiel said, stating the obvious. But then they did something they had never done before. Lexus Dominiel offered a conjecture, "Perhaps it is related to the end of the world. It is truly a grave thing if a matter of Divine Will is being interfered with."

Once the ogre had fallen dead, Koschei's armor was stained with the beastman's blood their hair sticky and just as soaked, for a moment Koschei felt something was different, something wasn't right, the fight was over in a couple minutes but they felt as if hours had past, attempting to look at the time clock in their heads up display they couldn't find anything, no health meter no stamina meter, no inventory menus nothing it wasn't there the time clocks weren't there going down to the end of the game.

All the while Koschei was struggling to catch their breath, sword still held in both hands they couldn't stop breathing so heavily before they calmed down and took a single deep breath and let out a heavy breath she began wondering if they were just waiting for people to log out, but how could she if she couldn't even open up the menus.

Koschei poked at the air several times trying to get a hold of the gm or someone, but it wasn't anything she could do, looking down at her armored hands she clenched her hand several times then her red eyes opened wide as she felt that these were her hands. She began getting the same feeling she got when she first played the game, the feeling that life was worth enjoying, that feeling of self worth returning to her, a grin filled her pale face and she was starting to hope that they never have a log out button or the these servers wouldn't go down at all.

The outside world wasn't worth living in and now she was given the ultimate chance to escape from it, here she could be a hero while in the real world she'd be nothing but a living corpse being taken care of by others till she died, without a way to leave she smiled and loved this situation she was in, if she was forced to go back she'd choose to die instead of being that helpless again.

Hooking her sword across her back she began wandering in no particular direction she didn't know where she was going, didn't know if there were anything in the direction she was heading or if anyone was in that same direction, but after pushing past a set of shrubs and tree branches, Koschei noticed they were in a mysterious place they didn't know, the land was different to her eye and they didn't recognize anything. Attempting to go backwards didn't even help with this, she was in a whole unknown land, she started moving forwards, somewhere some place had to look similar to one of the old place from Yggdrasil somewhere had to.

Sensation coursed through his whole body, starting at the hairs on his head to the soles of his feet and then to the wings on his- wings?! Standing up in shock, Ophiuchus spread the brilliant white wings out and marvelled at them. At himself. His body was lighter than ever, teeming with strength and now this. At the back of his mind it was almost overwhelming to think a miracle had occurred.

When Lexus spoke up, talking to an npc guard and then to their master with honorifics included, it was again dangerously close to becoming overwhelming. Lexus Dominel had never uttered a word in the years since their creation. Yet now they moved and spoke as if..

"It is all real." The divine beings voice was unfamiliar, lighter than his previous one. It felt like every word held power within them somehow.

Lexus merely arhed an eyebrow at their masters confusing actions but Ophiuchus caught the look and composed himself, dusting off his robes and standing tall before turning to his creation. "The will of divine is seldom perfect. The darkness seeks to snuff our desires ouy at every chance it gets."

Marching forward, Ophiuchus departed from the Library and out into the main halls leading to the summons. A motion of his hand instructed Lexus to follow. As the two walked, curiosity overcame him. "What do you feel when you look upon the stars, my child?"

"The stars?" Lexus Dominiel asked, rhetorically. "I see a glimpse of Divine Order, the mission that you, my lord, have entrusted to me. I see that which you have created me from, the darkness between the stars, the invisible emptiness that holds all things together."

Yes, some angels were made of light and of fire, but some such angels have proved to be arrogant and proud, seeing the beauty of their own light and challenging that of their creator. Lexus Dominiel was created from darkness, which will always be submissive and humble in the light of the creator, yet given enough power, is enough to extinguish the light of the stars, the light of the rebellious ones. Yet Lord Ophiuchus mentioned an encroaching darkness. Perhaps this was a sign for Lexus Dominiel, a chance to prove itself immune to corruption, made of darkness, yes, but clean like the night sky, and wholly unlike the darkness that shuns the light of the creator, the one that currently seeks to undo the Day of Reckoning. "I will confront this darkness my lord, if it is your will."