DISCLAIMER: I do not own Overlord or Fate/stay night. Both works belong to Murayama and Nasu respectively. This story is a work of fiction. Any relation to characters and events are purely coincidental.
2030 AD.
Gaea was on its death throes. Magic has all but depleted, and the world has descended into unstable politics. Magecraft itself has seemingly died, and with it, the so-called ethics of the magus.
To adapt, magus forsook what they knew. They turned to technology and became Spirit Hackers.
As the plutocracy that dominated Western Europe grew in power, a discovery was made. A powerful artifact, hidden in the shadows of the moon.
It was a Holy Grail, one the likes of which none had ever seen.
-Thus, a Holy Grail War, one waged within the moon itself, was waged. 999 Masters were summoned to the Moon, yet only 128 were accepted into its embrace.
And at the end of this bloody conflict, one man alone stood as the victor. But this victory was short lived, for this man was not a proper Spirit Hacker, or even a magus. He was a "ghost" in an otherwise perfect machine. An error that must be corrected.
This man must be erased, but the machine had also recognized him as the victor of the conflict. Though his time would be short, the Moon Cell followed its rules and bequeathed to him the object that allowed him to avert his Fate.
...2138 AD.
The world was slowly dying at the hands of mankind. Earth, once over 7 billion strong, was being choked by 25 trillion.
The air had become polluted, the seas turned dark, and many animals became extinct. The sun was forever shrouded by smoke.
Human greed and ambition dominated the will of the people. Corporations overthrew the governments. And thus, society had fallen apart into something unrecognizable by modern standards.
Through this tribulation, man had sought to escape this grim reality. But where could they escape to, one may ask.
And the answer...was "Yggdrasil."
This is the story of a Sovereign who hailed from another world, and would yet again traverse into a new one.
SOVEREIGN
PROLOGUE - The Man Who Hails From The Lunar Ocean
Hakuno Kishinami did not exist in the real world. This was an indisputable fact to any that would discover his history.
Once, there was a person by the name of Hakuno. Who this person was, what sort of life they led, these questions were all mysteries that surrounded his life. In truth, not even Hakuno Kishinami himself knew the answer to these questions. because to him, there was no past to recall.
-Amnesia Syndrome.
It was a relatively new disease that had begun to appear in the late 2000's. Patients of the disease would suffer memory loss of various degrees. Some would forget trivial things, like what they had been doing for the past hour or what they ate earlier in the morning. Others would suffer serious memory loss, like who their parents were or where they were. But this was not the worst of it. The brain itself would begin to forget how to function. It would forget which organs the human body needed to function properly. It would forget to supply oxygen to the heart. Eventually, it would forget how to do anything.
Total brain death was what would occur next.
In the hopes that one day a cure could be found, Hakuno Kishinami was put into cryogenic stasis.
...however, this story was not the story of the Hakuno Kishinami who played the DMMORPG called Yggdrasil.
It was his story, yes, but at the same time, it was not. This was a past that Hakuno could not remember. Instead, what he could remember was his most recent memories.
From his time as a Master in the Moon Cell Holy Grail War.
A self-aware NPC, that was what some believed him to be. Others thought he could otherwise be a cyber ghost - someone who's soul had found their way into the vast digital network that was information that flowed to and from the Moon Cell.
Hakuno's story was a long one, but to make a long story short, he had been thrown into a conflict he knew nothing about. He was forced to fight for dear life, killing Master after Master in order to survive. And even when he had won, and by all rights emerged victorious and have his wish granted - as was the reward for becoming the victor of the war - he was going to be erased by the Moon Cell itself.
The only reason he survived was because the Moon Cell, despite recognizing him as an error, had also recognized him as the victor. It was this paradox which gave Hakuno Kishinami the opportunity he needed to survive.
As he descended into oblivion, a wish had been made then and there, with the item the Moon Cell bequeathed to him as his answerer.
And now, here he was, a "ghost in the machine" once again. Only this time, he was now a cyber ghost that inhabited a video game of all things.
At first, Hakuno had some difficulty acclimating to his new environment. Yggdrasil was different from anything he had experienced, and the experience itself was not very pleasant. For starters, players who chose avatars that could only be described as monstrous, like skeletons or werewolves and etc, were hunted down relentlessly. The game recognized these players as "monsters," and so they were targeted by other players to gain experience points. This wasn't an uncommon sight in MMOs he was told, especially since Yggdrasil had a heavy PvP emphasis.
Of course, this also meant "human" players would hunt down other players aside from the monstrous avatars, either for sport, pleasure or simply to gain some rare loot. Hakuno had been forced to adapt quite quickly, and thankfully the Regalia - the item he received from the Moon Cell - had provided him the means he needed to survive.
The passing of time was very odd. Some would leave the game for countless hours, maybe even days, on the extreme occasion weeks before returning. This was because they had actual bodies in the real world to return to. Hakuno lacked any of these, and spent every waking moment in the game. As a "digital human" - a person that existed in human form but only as data - Yggdrasil and the network itself was his world.
It must have felt like a lifetime, spending his life in a way he thought was normal whereas others simply thought he was a hardcore gamer. Every day was like an adventure to Hakuno, partnering with groups that either welcomed him with open arms or accepted him because they needed manpower to go on quests and adventures, obtain loot and so on. He even made a few friends along the way.
They were truly fun times, but...every good memory needed a bad one.
"Haaa..."
Hakuno Kishinami sighed listlessly.
His body in Yggdrasil was the same as his body from the Moon Cell. A Japanese youth with brown hair and eyes, his entire appearance completely ordinary and unassuming to the point of average. His attire, however, was anything but. Silvery-white robes adorned his form, designs colored in a mixture of red, blue and green. Beneath his body was a golden throne, apart of a large spacious room with walls segmented into black glassy tiles, some seemingly floating in mid-air. Golden metal swerved along the walls, circling around until reaching the steps that led up to the throne. Behind the walls and through the gaps, an azure sky could be seen.
The Throne Room of the Sovereign. The key center point of his base of operations.
Seraph - the Kingdom beneath the Lunar Ocean
There were a variety of names Hakuno could have chosen from. In fact, Seraph had been the last thing he wanted to call it. He consulted with several people, but the names they offered him were...well, they were better left forgotten.
Seraph was a dungeon, located in the very heart of Jotunheim, one of the Nine Realms players could explore. Hakuno had earned the rights to the Dungeon the day he arrived in Yggdrasil, strangely. He had no idea what he had done to earn it or why, but all he really knew for certain was that he was the official owner. It wasn't much when he got his hands on it, but the countless years he spent out on adventuring had given him some great income.
To put it into perspective, Seraph was originally nothing more than a floating castle keep, populated by Angels, Gargoyles and Knights. Its Boss was none other than Sutr, a fiery giant capable of wiping out a whole party with a powerful spell, if left undisturbed for a period of time. Of course, Hakuno only knew this based on the accounts of other players who attempted to raid the Dungeon when he inquired about it. It was notorious for its difficulty, to the point where some were just content on using it as a place to grind for materials.
Many expressed shock and awe and filled the forums when it was discovered that someone had managed to conquer the Dungeon and make it their headquarters, much less the fact that they poured no expense in remaking it. The castle keep had expanded into something truly gargantuan. A castle that floated in the sky, separated into three discs floating atop each other.
The lowest layer, containing the entrance to Seraph, was the Zero Dark Floor, populated by all manner of powerful undead. A barren landscape made of metal and earth, guarded by a maiden in white.
The middle layer, a testament and love letter to the Japanese culture of old, was the Millennium Capital. Youkai, ogres and spirits patrolled its streets, led by a foxy vixen.
The highest layer, where the Throne Room of the Sovereign was located, was the Golden Capital. Armored men, expert marksmen and beasts prowled the floor for any intruder, while standing ready at the Throne Room was a beautiful red swordswoman.
Each floor was home to unique NPCs, pain-stakingly crafted in the likeness of the Servants that Hakuno Kishinami had met in the Moon Cell. Some were his enemies once, but others were comrades. A few had even been under his command at one point.
The player base of Yggdrasil knew not who commanded Seraph now, but what they did know was that they were truly passionate. Someone in the online forums by the name of Tabula Smaragdina had even taken inspiration behind their designs and applied them to their current project.
No one would ever believe that it was all being commanded by a ghost.
Hakuno Kishinami was not a very talented "gamer." Even so, he liked to believe that he experienced something truly beautiful in Yggdrasil. So why was this person, who had achieved what he wished for, now sighing?
The answer was simple.
By this time tomorrow, Yggdrasil would shut down its servers for good. The world where so many new memories were made would be gone, and he along with it.
The thought was more depressing and bitter than it had any right to be. Hakuno had accepted that he would be deleted by the Moon Cell and only used the Regalia was a momentary burst of emotion - a sudden rush of desire to live. And now he would be undergoing deletion again, this time permanently. Oddly, this didn't worry him. Rather, what made the realization worse wasn't that he was going to die, but the NPCs he crafted and Seraph would vanish from this new world. And with, all those wonderful new memories.
Each NPC was designed in a way that they resembled the Servants they were based on. Their backstory, personality, fighting style and even the weapons and spells they had at their disposal. No expense was given at recreating the legendary heroes Hakuno Kishinami both fought alongside and fought against. In many ways, they were also testaments to the Holy Grail War and the participants. Each NPC was a memento and reminder of the Masters that he had fought and killed. Some NPCs were also designed as "what-ifs" based on what the Moon Cell records had shown him in the core as he attempted to learn more about himself. Chief among those was the maiden in white that defended the Zero Dark - a Servant from a time where Hakuno Kishinami reigned as ruler.
"I wonder if there's any way to postpone it?"
It was an innocent thought that Hakuno paid little mind to. Instead, he sighed again and looked at the corner of his vision, seeing the clock slowly approach what would be the designated time of deletion. He then looked at the NPC that sat at his side, a beaming smile staring back at him. Sun-kissed golden hair that framed a heart-shaped face, emerald eyes that dazzled like gems and a crimson red dress that hugged her form nicely. The very first NPC that Hakuno created.
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. Saber. The Emperor of Roses.
His Servant.
Designing her had been a monumental task, almost as much as it was to design her equipment and character, all from memory of how he remembered her and what he knew about her history. She was a near perfect replica of her, yet Hakuno despaired slightly when he realized that she could not speak. At least not naturally. Even if she could speak, it was only in scripted lines. It took him a while to get over this, and a small part of him was still disappointed.
He wished he could hear that wonderful voice again.
Hakuno smiled back at her, otherwise grateful for her continued presence. He took another quick glance at the clock. If he was going to disappear, then should he say goodbye to the NPCs? No. For some reason, his stomach lurched at the thought. Though they could not demonstrate any personality of their own, he didn't want to possibly ruin them by giving them such sad news. Even so, he wished to see them. A quick use of [Message] was all it took before the NPCs gathered in the Throne Room of the Sovereign.
Truly, the NPCs were like a menagerie. Each was so radically different from the other, it was like they hailed from different eras. There were over twenty in all, but the most noteworthy were the ones that stood at the foot of the stairs. One was the beautiful maiden in white, her skin the color of bronze and her eyes like rubies. Another was a woman in a blue kimono, the ears and tail of a fox adorning her features and possessing a smile equal to Nero's. The third was a young male with black hair and white streaks, eyes the color of azure and dressed in white garb.
Attila the Hun. Altera. Saber. The Scourge of God.
Tamamo-no-Mae. Caster. The Avatar of Amaterasu-no-Ookami.
Charlemagne. Saber. The King of the Franks.
Together with Nero, they were the most powerful NPCs at Seraph's disposal. The NPCs that stood behind them all followed their orders without fail, for each group was led by one of these lieutenants.
Some of these NPCs brought back memories of the Masters that Hakuno had fought. The Archer that stood behind Charlemagne brought to mind an old man wielding a musket. The pirate also beneath Charlemagne's command reminded Hakuno of a seaweed-headed teen with a smug grin.
Bittersweet, but fond memories.
Hakuno smiled at them. "Thank you for all your hard work, everyone." he said sincerely, even if they couldn't respond to him. He looked at his clock again.
Only a few more minutes before Yggdrasil and him were gone.
Content as he was to wait for the end, together with the fruits of his labor, Hakuno couldn't help but feel a bit restless. He nearly jumped out of his throne when he received a message from another player. One of the few that was logged into the game, no doubt to remain here until the end.
HAKUNO KISHINAMI: "Momonga-senpai?"
MOMONGA: "Oh, you are online after all, Hakunon!"
A little chuckle escaped Hakuno. How long had it been since someone besides Rin or Rani had called him by that old nickname? Oddly, though, the one who christened him with that nickname here was a little bubbling pile of liquid by the name of Bukubukuchagama.
MOMONGA: I wasn't sure whether or not you were. Actually, now that I think about it...aren't you always online? Are you actually a hikkemori?"
HAKUNO KISHINAMI: "I am nothing of the sort. Anyway, what's the matter?"
MOMONGA: "Well, I was wondering if you were free to watch some fireworks with me."
HAKUNO KISHINAMI: "Fireworks?"
MOMONGA: "Yeah. I bought some at a small market. Since the game's ending and all. I thought that if this was how things were going to end, why not do it with style?"
HAKUNO KISHINAMI: "I see. Did no one from your guild come by?"
MOMONGA: "Hero Hero did, but he had to leave a little while after. He and two others came by."
HAKUNO KISHINAMI: "I'm sorry, Momonga-senpai. I'd like to watch the fireworks, but..."
As much as he would have loved to spend time with Momonga, he wanted to stay here and await the end of the world with his creations. It wasn't that he didn't like Momonga, far from it. He and his fellow guild member had been the ones to help him a great deal after he had done a favor for them. In a way, they were the ones who helped him get his feet into Yggdrasil in the first place. However, they weren't very close. At best, their relationship was just teacher and student. From Hakuno's perspective, anyway. Perhaps Momonga had also seen him as a close friend? If so, then he felt a little bad for crushing Momonga's hopes like that.
MOMONGA: "I see... Sorry to bother you, then."
Hakuno winced. Momonga sounded so dejected.
HAKUNO KISHINAMI: "...we had a lot of good memories here in Yggdrasil, didn't we?"
MOMONGA: "Yeah, we did. Lots of them. They were a blast."
They had been indeed.
The message ended shortly afterwards. Hakuno sighed dejectedly, wondering what he would be able to do to apologize to Momonga before he glanced at the clock. The game was going to end in a minute.
"These times...they really were fun." Hakuno muttered sadly as he closed his eyes.
23:59:17
"Being able to experience something new like this... It was more than I could have ever asked for."
23:59:34
"It's selfish, but..."
23:59:37
"I wish Saber and the others were here with me at the very end."
23:59:44
"...it was a blast."
23:59:52
"These times... I wish they would never end."
23:59:59
REGALIA COMMAND RECEIVED
TRANSMIGRATION PROGRESS: 36%
TRANSFERENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS: 89%
PROBABILITY OF ERROR: 18%
...
...
...
REGALIA AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED
SERVANT MATRIX UPLOAD: 97%
TRANSMIGRATION PROGRESS: 88%
TRANSFERENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS: 92%
PROBABILITY OF FAILURE: 37%
...
...
...
REGALIA COMMAND AUTHORIZED
SERVANT MATRIX UPLOAD: 100% (complete)
TRANSMIGRATION PROGRESS: 100% (successful)
TRANSFERENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS: 100% (complete)
"...Praetor? Why are you trying to sleep on the throne? Surely, that must be uncomfortable!"
A beautiful voice beckoned Hakuno to rise. His eyes fluttered open, unsure. The voice sounded familiar to him, but he couldn't place it. Where had he heard it before? Actually, when had he fallen asleep? True to the voice's concern, his neck felt uncomfortable. As he shifted, a series of cracks and pops reverberated from his neck, providing a sense of relief and discomfort. As he reoriented, Hakuno realized that he was still in the Throne Room of the Sovereign, with the NPCs all staring at him with a mixture of expressions.
Was he dreaming?
"Praetor?"
The voice called out to him again. A gear clicked into place inside his head.
Praetor. Only one person had ever called him by that title. But that was impossible. That person was gone. Away in a place that Hakuno could never again reach. And yet, he heard their voice call out to him loud and clear.
Slowly, almost afraid to believe it, Hakuno Kishinami looked at Nero. She was staring at him, head tilted and smile gone.
"Is something the matter, Praetor?" Nero asked in concern.
A lone tear streaked from his face. "...no." he replied as a smile threatened to break his face in half. "I just had a wonderful dream is all..."
WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD
Hakuno Kishinami
Epithet: Sovereign, Praetor, Husband, Master
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Affiliation: Seraph
Karma: Positive 500 ~ Extremely Good
NPC: The Servants of Seraph
Total Level: 100
Class Levels:
-Sovereign (10)
-Master (10)
-Mage (?)
-etc (?)
HP: 80
MP: Exceeds Limit
Phy. Atk: 15
Phy. Def: 60
Agility: 60
Mag. Atk: 70
Mag. Def: 75
Resistance: 100
Special Ability: 100
AUTHOR'S NOTE: ...I couldn't help it. This idea had been stuck in my head ever since I discovered the existence of a certain side story in Overlord.
Speaking of which, people who are expecting this story to be Momonga taking the role of villain or obstacle to Hakuno should expect something else. Keen-eyed readers will know what I have in store for Momonga.
Small update for Fate/VRAINS. The upcoming chapter is going to be long as heck on account of the duel being a Battle Royal, so please be patient. The poll for Digital Drifter has also ended, and the choices have been locked. The Servants won't appear for a while, however.
Also, if the Overlord Bonus Volume ever gets translated, can somebody tell me where I can read it? No, really. I've been looking all over for a translation and I can't find one.