Destian lazily approached his throne. It was the last day that the servers of Yggdrasil, his favorite game for the last 10 years of his life, would run. His brother, Jacob, had initially introduced Destian to the game, and then they started a guild together. Jacob already had a human character, and yet Destian decided to be an angel. Destian recalled the time when he found his younger brother in the game for the first time.
"Ha! Quite a contrast between looks and character!"
"This is a role playing game, right? I can act good and stuff."
"Oh really? You're not going to try and get revenge when you get PKed?"
"What's the problem with revenge?"
Jacob sighed. "Technically, revenge is not 'good'. Also, PKing is just part of the game, and a good way to get items."
"It is still a pain."
"Of course, just playing the devil's advocate here."
Destian was not evil, but he certainly wasn't a saint. Things such as charity were the same as just burning the money. He would often think things such as, It's not like I would make a difference anyways or I only have so much money. Even then, he would spend a noticeable amount of money on ingame items.
This game was quite amazing.
He looked around the throne room. His royal guards were still there. The walls, the six columns, the dome ceiling with intricate drawings, the floor, and the stairs leading up to the throne, all of these were various shades of gold and silver. This was the Throne room of Destian's guild base, Olympus. Olympus did not look much like it's namesake. Instead, it was more of a floating city above the clouds with numerous golden towers.
The guild itself was known as Celestials. It was a angel and human only guild that had been created by Destian, the angelic paladin, and Jacob, the human mage. It had mostly been a roleplaying guild. They would only participate in events if it fit the guilds lore. For this reason, any member caught PKing another player was removed from the guild, although eventually Destian got revenge on some players that killed him when he was a low level. While the guild was open to both angels and humans, angels were lorewise higher in standing. In practice, this only translated to human NPCs only being allowed to be up to level 60, while angels could be any level. The guild never had many members, but now at the end of the game, only Destian remained in the guild.. Even Jacob, who had introduced him into to game, had left a few years ago. However, since Yggdrasil had announced it was coming to a close, Jacob created a new character.
I wonder how he is doing. I haven't really talked to him in a while. With that, Destian put his index and middle finger to the side of his head. "[Message]"
"Hey, this is Destian. I'm surprised you're still on. It's 23:00."
"Well, I did play this game for a while. I wasn't able to play much in the last few months, but I still got my character to level 76."
"What kind of character did you create?"
"I'm a demon. I went for more of a summoning type build now though. I use fire magic and I summon more demons."
"A demon huh? That contrasts your personality nicely."
"Well, thanks. I would head over to Asgard right now but I am having fun in Muspelheim."
"The land of fire? Well anyways how long are you staying logged on? I'll probably be off in a few. I've done my final goodbyes and explored Olympus one last time."
"I'm staying till the end. I mean, why not?"
Destian thought about that for a few seconds. "I suppose you're right."
Why not indeed? Well, I need some sleep, but this is the last hour of Yggdrasil.
"Also, you may as well try out the guild weapon?"
"Really?"
Typically, guild weapons were never used, despite the many hours or work needed to acquire one. The reason for this is because if the guild weapon fell, the guild would likely fall as well. Destian looked straight up. At the top of the dome ceiling and in the center was the Shield of Midgard. It was the shield that would protect the weak from the forces of evil. While technically a shield, it was still a powerful weapon capable of emitting a holy beam that did bonus damage to evil aligned characters. It could also raise a powerful and large defensive barrier that could even defend against most super tier spells. Around the center of the shield were five white gems that seemed to flow with energy inside. These were each powerful gems, taken from various demons, that were purified. The shield itself was gold.
"Go ahead. Even if it gets destroyed, everything will end in an hour anyways. Well, I guess this is goodbye for now. I'll try to keep in touch, assuming my job doesn't get in the way. Maybe there will be some other game that we can play together soon."
With that, the message ended. Destain flew up to the shield.
"Only the Ultimate good can truly protect the weak."
With the passcode spoken, the shield fell down into his hands. He equipped it. Well, I don't really want to leave Olympus… I guess I'll use the beam in here. Destian looked at one of the six pillars in the room.
"[Final Judgement]."
A beam of pure white holy light shot out of the shield. Because destructible terrain was not a feature in Yggdrasil, it did nothing to the pillar. However, it was still impressive. He flew back to his throne.
I've already checked on the various NPCs. I suppose I can sit here for the next 45 or so minutes.
In the throne room, there were seven level 85 angelic royal guards. These were each designed to be embodiment of one of the Seven Virtues. Then there was Castian, a level 100 angel that was assigned as the captain of the royal guard. He and the other royal guards were made by Destian. There were some other members that made NPCs, but Jacob primarily made human NPCs and Destian created angel NPCs. Destian had acquired a full set of divine-class equipment through his time spent in the game. He chose to have the gear resemble golden angelic armor. However, once he got certain angelic racial levels, his entire body radiated a golden yellow light. This was togglable, of course, and it was currently off. Angels also possessed an ability called [Change Shape] which allowed them to take to form of any humanoid creature. After a while of sitting on the throne, he changed into a human form. Normally as an angel, he possessed golden eyes with white hair, and had six large silver wings. However, in human form, he had brown hair and blue eyes.
I wonder if I was too obsessed with the color gold. Everything here is gold or silver, and all the angel's armor was like that as well. Well, I guess there isn't a point in doing anything now.
There was one minute left. One final minute until everything would vanish.
How will I fill the void? Hopefully something else will come out someday.
There were now ten seconds left.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
0.
Destian closed his eyes. Goodbye. Seconds passed. Nothing happened.
What is going on? Did I have the wrong time?
He opened his eyes. He was still in the throne room. However, something seems to have changed. The silver armored anti-sins and Castian seemed more alive. Actually, Castian was already walking towards Destian.
Castian was an angel with golden plate armor. His eyes were silver, and his hair was white. He possessed 4 silver wings. As captain of the royal guard, he was supposed the embodiment of all of the seven virtues.
"Lord Destian! I have felt the air change. Something certainly has happened."
What? He is speaking, and moved without commands?
"Ah, I see." I guess I don't have time to think. "Tell one of your subordinates to scout our surroundings, including under the cloud layer. Meanwhile, I would deeply appreciate if you called the High Cardinals from the Priesthood as well as the Archangels Iris, Raemond, and Elisa."
"At once, my lord! Although, there is no need to be so polite. I am undeserving."
Does he really think that? Wait, I would be able to tell if he was lying.
Angels, at a certain level, unlocked a passive called [Discern Lies]. While it was not perfect, it could tell if someone was deliberately telling a lie. Considering nothing triggered, that was what he believed.
"You are quite humble, but I do not believe what you just said even if you do."
Since Castian also possessed the same passive, he smiled. "Forgive me for wasting your time."
Castian sent the angel of charity, Lucy, outside. Castian soon followed to contact the others.
Destian slouched in his throne. I have successfully bought time. Now what? Surprisingly, I am no longer tired. Also, being so good all the time is a pain. It was fine in a few role playing conversations every now and then, but not everytime I talk.
The reason that Destian was concerned was because of the lore and settings of the various NPCs. Roleplaying wise, the guildmaster was the Ultimate Good. While normally being truly good was impossible due to the many different perspectives of the world, the Ultimate Good had the power to make truly good decisions. This knowledge, as well as other things, were programmed into the NPCs.
Why did I make myself such an impossible character? Wait, maybe I can just log out? Destian tried to access his console, but he had no luck. He then tried the GM call function, but that also failed. A part of him hurt inside. What if the people here needed me and I just left?
He paused for a moment.
Maybe I am a good person. Ha, didn't know I would think about the NPCs in that way, even if they seem alive.
A few minutes passed. Then, Castian arrived, as well as the four High Cardinals and the Archangels Iris, Raemond, and Elisa. The High Cardinals were level 60 human magic casters, each with a different specialty. They wore white robes and possessed silver staffs with white gems embedded at the top. The designs on their robes varied slightly, but they were mostly similar in appearance.
Iris and Raemond both had golden plate armor, but Elisa had a golden robe was well as staff similar to the priests, but golden. While Iris and Raemond were more focused more on warrior and paladin type classes, Elisa was a pure priest and thus equipped like one.
Iris had blue eyes and long blond hair. She was based of of the valkyries of Norse Mythology, and had two white wings. She normally looked over the Valhalla section of Olympus. This was the only place with undead, as the undead spirits lorewise were fallen champions picked up by the valkyries as they died. They had a positive karma value, which was unusual for undead. Iris was the leader of these valkyries.
Raemond had silver eyes with short brown hair. He had two silver wings. He was the governor of Olympus. He was in charge of things such as finances and laws, and carried a gavel as a weapon. It was not actually a gavel, but it was a high level item made to look like one. It was his duty to make sure that the laws were just and helped the people, and he leads a group of level 1 human judges.
Elisa had gold eyes with long white hair, and two golden wings. As a priest, she leads the angels in worship of the Ultimate Good, Destian. Humans could not worship the Ultimate Good directly, but they worshiped the archangels.
Those three, as well as Castian, were the 4 level 100 NPCs of Celestials. Each High Cardinal led a division of priests who each worshipped a certain archangel. Upon arriving, they formed two lines of four, with the four High Cardinals behind the Archangels. Both lines kneeled simultaneously. Castian spoke first.
"Lord Destian! Those you have requested have heeded your summons!"
"Ah, good. You may all stand up now."
No one moved.
Elisa raised her head. "Excuse me, but allow us to simply raise our heads. Standing up is too disrespectful."
"I suppose you can do as you wish."
"Thank you. Now, what have you called us for?"
Luckily, with the time he gained, he thought of a legitimate reason.
"As Castian, has noticed, it would seem that we are in an unknown situation. As we speak, Lucy is scouting out our surroundings. She should be here soon."
As if on cue, Lucy entered the room. In truth, she was likely waiting to not interrupt an important conversation.
"Lord! There is something very important to discuss!"
"Perfect timing. Go ahead and give your report."
"Naturally, Olympus is still floating above the clouds. However, the clouds and air were different than those of Asgard. More importantly, the land below is completely different. There were miles of plains with no intelligent life that I could detect."
"Very good. Now, based on the facts that have been gathered, it is safe to assume that Olympus has been transported to another world. Whether this word is one we know of, or something completely new, is not known. For now, we will not send angels to the surface. High Cardinals, I would like you to use divination magic to try to find civilization. Then, we can make contact. You are dismissed."
All of them shouted in unison. "Understood!"
Destian stood up and teleported to his room. Acting can be tiring. I hope lived up to their expectations. With that, he lazily fell on his golden bed.
In the throne room, those who were kneeling stood up. The High Cardinals headed back to their individual Cathedrals in order to use their divination magic. Meanwhile, the Archangels gathered in a circle. The object of discussion: The Shield of Midgard. Destian had it equipped.
Raemond spoke first. "Elisa, what does it mean? I am not as well versed in the faith of our Supreme one as you are."
"According to what I know, the shield is a last resort against the Ultimate Evil. To have it equipped means that we are in dire straits indeed."
Iris spoke up. "He seemed rather calm, though."
"I was in the throne room for the time." Castian looked down. "My memory is fuzzy, but I remember the attack feature of the shield being used. How powerful is that attack Elisa?"
"It is supposed to be able to purge all evil. It's exact power though is only something the God Angels would have known."
"Perhaps the threat is gone."
"Still, we should be vigilant. Everyone, for now, we should just go to our areas."
With that, Iris, Raemond, and Elisa exited the throne room. Only Castian and the royal guards remained.