Let's get this out of our way, everyone. I'll keep this short and clean so everyone can understand clearly! Yes, I did in fact borrow some text from the LN, well only for a bit, for the use in this chapter temporary. I'll only say this once, my version of Overlord will not follow the same repeated path as the LN or anime. Different various of elements from video games and other animes will, somewhat, appear in this story. As well few crossover. Characters from the Overlord universe will still appear, of course.
Huge changes you'll notice further in the future of this story. One little spoiler ahead, Momonga will remain as an undead skeleton, however, as time proceeds, he will gain his physique form back as his secondary. I'll just leave it there.
Hope you understand. New story plot, settings, characters, enemies, expanded universe, and so on.
So calm your titties down and don't jump into conclusion. Geez. I have ideas in stored right now, but I have to figure a way to bring them together, I'll take my time with it.
Enjoy the story. Or not. Either way...
The conference room; silence lay like a down-filled duvet over the area, muffling the slightest sound and creating an atmosphere of total tranquillity.
The quietness was almost tangible, no rustle of clothing, breathing slow and barely audible, even the once creaking of the building settling was stilled as though to order.
Formerly, it was a room that was filled nothing but excitement, overwhelmed enthusiasms that dominated the room. A room where mostly schemes occurred, meetings, and exaggerating, yet comical, tales were told. A few rounds of friendly bickering and provocation leaving behind a group of individuals into hysteric laughters of jovial.
Pleasant memories to be sitting in front of your computer, playing your favorite personal computer purchased, online role-playing game. With friends that you'd never met outside in reality, never came across face-to-face, but yet acted so familiar with one another, an entire group of friends in online. Bringing blissful, genuine moments and feelings. Such fortune to be grateful and to be able have a chance to meet and establish strong friendship.
Now, all evaporated into the mist. All those moments they share together, experiencing the warmth feeling he formerly had, the adrenaline that rushes through his blood system when ever all his friends are on and prepared to gather. All went fainted.
It's understandable.
Reality is the main priority. Games existence are only for entertainment, hobbies and, obviously, for fun. Including a way to cope your way through from life and relieve your stress and frustration through video games. A way to pass by.
They all have plans for their own future. Everyone does. It can't be helped.
It can even provide benefits too for people. Gamers have the ability to connect with players locally or team up with people from countries around the world. A large proportion of people playing multiplayer games have developed good friendships with people they met online. Video games have created a fun and engaging way of connecting with people and can act as an important teaching tool in developing social skills.
Develop cooperation skills and supporting skills as players have the option to work together to form alliances and create teams working cooperatively. Many often result in better outcomes if players work together, encouraging players to be social. Video games also provide the players with the opportunity to take a leader's position, which requires greater social networking skills and team work to keep other players delighted.
I'll admit one thing... it's quite lonely. Days after days.
Though, sometimes, those bonds you've created can be easily severed. Forgotten. As those bonds continues to proceed, time itself slowly intervenes, gently departing them. In the end, leaving a huge gap between.
Blissful memories consume by a fogged mist. Gone. Only to be recall and be labeled as the good old days, and longed to travel back to relive those memorable events.
I kept imagining the same thing over again, a paradise being taken apart at its will. This place, of an entire tomb, our own little kingdom being ripped apart piece by piece.
In this case, a lone man who dedicate his time on his own personal computer, hours of time and days, playing his favorite, valuable treasure game that he is glad to purchased.
A fictional online game; dive massively multiplayer online role playing game.
YGGDRASIL.
Spending majority good amount out from his own hard working payment to a game he is so attach from. While the rest goes off from spending necessary needs, bills and rents.
This place. It's my mind, our mind. It's our entire conscience being torn out of place, and being tortured until it bleeds out and gives up. Only here, I can't give up. I don't want to give it all up and abandon it.
Nothing much occurs in the man's life. Days when he comes back home to his own sanctuary nothing awaits him. Only reside emptiness and silence is at presence every twenty-four seven. Leaving him with a ping of desolations.
The feeling of loneliness is a vice on his heart, squeezing with just enough pressure to be a constant pain. It kills the man every day just a little bit more, taking what was once inner light and replacing it with darkness that overshadows each moment.
Logging into his favorite DMMO with such anticipation and anxiety in high spirit for his friends to be on, at least even a few. It didn't matter to him. As long his friends are right beside him in the game to ease his struggles against solitary.
Unfortunately, each time he logs on, nothing awaits him. Even staying firmly idle in-game while waiting for anybody to arrive, or maintaining the headquarters, but always ended in the same results.
Fighting against his dark conscious, planting seeds of hope in his mind that soon, or some day, his group of friends reunite and rejoice. Although, Suzuki continues to encourage himself, and reminded, that his friends have a life outside away from the game with so much potential that could be put in such a good use. Each and every one of them possess unique talent, unlike him.
Therefore, putting up, and copping, any sort of negative thoughts and emotions. He began to pour every bit of his frustration into the game, specifically, lashing against players of YGGDRASIL.
All the while he was sticking to his true character as a true role player.
When his friends were still at presence, all together as a group come into an agreement to take over, and be casted, the role of the antagonists of YGGDRASIL gaming community.
They played as villains.
While he patiently awaits the day of reunion. He took upon himself to provide care and continue on his task as a promoted guild leader while his friends were gone. Even taking up a position, and took responsibility, as a guardianship of their own guild; The Great Tomb of Nazarick.
Many times when he logs on alone.
Many times he unleashes his true emotions within the game; lashing against players. And thus, earning an infamous reputed title of YGGDRASIL.
But now, none of those matter. His own desire will never come true.
It comes down to this.
YGGDRASIL coming to see its end. The end of its line. I only wish anybody would've showed up, and join me, in a last moment.. first and final reunion together.
There is a silencer in Suzuki's soul; fall leaves under frost, chills in his flowing blood, coldness bringing synapses of his brain standing by. Part of it is pain, yet one he definitely can endure, one can go through the day, without the anesthesia of false hope.
Then, anger boiled deep in his system, as hot as lava. It churned within. The pressure of this raging sea of anger would force Suzuki to babble his true concealed feelings, or to express thoughts he had suppressed them for years.
As things took a sudden turn, the lone man finally unleashes his inner rage that were shackled for so long, his anger made its way through the surface.
A violent, thunderous deliberately slam that reverberated around the circular room with a diameter of ninety-nine feet conference room.
Th-This is the Great Tomb of Nazarick that we all built together! H-How can you all... Nothing is okay! People walk around this world each day and pretend that everything is okay, and it always will be. Why can't we all just admit that we are just hollow plastic dolls with a painted happy face revealing no guilt, sadness, emptiness!
I-I... I...
The emptiness is always there. Suzuki have always consider himself decent at hiding it, masking it with normal human emotions. No one is going to ask why he keeps on smiling. It hides everywhere, the feeling of emptiness in the closet. There isn't anything to get away from it. Not much to offer.
A sole player who was technically left behind in a temple that was previously filled with joy, warmth, and enthusiasm. It was welcoming. But now empty, leaving the lone skeleton mage to be a single function pillar that holds Nazarick alive.
He heaved out a sigh with a heavy heart.
What am I saying? Allowing my anger get the better of me. I'm getting off topic.
In reality, in front of his computer, in a hunched position. Suzuki takes a hold of his temple. Though, the sensation he mostly grasped was the side of his purchased virtual reality headset he ordered about a year before. Virtual reality allowing, Suzuki, to have totally control his computerized character. Every action he makes is imitated by the character and instantly displayed for him. Living and experiencing YGGDRASIL environment felt like home.
Suzuki was definitely grateful and jovial that he bought a pair of VR on sales, allowing him to have such a wonderful experience to escape from reality temporary, and bringing him tranquility.
I should be rather grateful. I was given an opportunity, and met good people through this game. Built a strong unexpected bonds with them.
Consciously regaining his senses and reasons back. Suzuki sat idle in his chair while his mind previously drifted off to oblivion, but later return. All this occurs as his own character stands by in a empty large conference room waiting for his maneuver to continue and proceed control over him.
They're not coming... none of them are. Everyone's livelihood were held close dearly to them. Dreams they've desired. But, there were others, among the guild, people have achieved their dreams and made come true.
In the virtual world, the skeleton mage stood to his feet, slip his way out of his assigned chair away from the grand obsidian circular table.
I don't blame them. I don't hold any sort of grudges against them. It can't be helped that they all chose to leave and took the alternative route. Based on their personal reasons or circumstances.
Behind him, the most valuable, gravely and significant item, where he strolls towards to, a receptacle made gap from the wall confiscate the most precious thing to Suzuki.
An hardened yellow precious metal of entwined-seven serpents, in each of the squirming, intertwined serpent's mouth's wields each jewel of a different color. Its grip, in a shape of transparent quality, highly transparent glass with a high refractive index of azure crystal that were attach to the staff's grip.
The staff of Ainz Ooal Gown; named after our guild. It's our symbol. Everyone geeked out in a making of this staff. So much of work and process occurred. But it was fun. No doubt.
Examining the guilds artifact creation that took a whole man squad to complete it, members of Ainz Ooal Gown put so much blood and sweat into the making. Not just adjusting and building the guild itself, but the staff too. Many of them quibble with their relatives, many them even skipped vacations and called in work for one day just to get much done as possible with the guild and staff. Even some decided to push their meals up until later than their usual routine hours.
We definitely were hardcore gamers. Small sacrifices we've made.
Hesitant at first, but reminding himself that today's the last day of his endearing game coming to end. Everything they've built and create was about to be extinguished into oblivion, once all the servers are about to be shut down.
This has been rarely used. I can't just let it sit there and neglect it, might as well roam around the tomb one last time with the staff.
Bringing his attention to the golden staff as he reaches his hand out to grasp the weapon. The moment his skeletal fingers closed itself around and equipped the staff, it radiated a nimbus of mystified light on top of the serpent's. Tormented faces of souls occasionally coalesced out of the roiling light, wailing in agony. Then, they extinguished and vanished from sight.
With the infamous staff in his hands, the skeletal mage proceeds for a stroll to the only doubled-exit door of the conference room. Not before his view shifts back to the empty room once more, a last look before leaving, memorizing every detail, briefly seeing familiar apparition figures that occupied and sat all forty-one chairs within the room.
But soon, they'd all disappeared.
Of the forty-one members of the guild, thirty-seven of them had quit. The other three were still registered as members of the guild, but Suzuki had already lost count of the number of days since they logged on. Assumingely, they, too, had quit.
Once an infamous guild, now a hollow shell of ghost town, a relic of past glories. But the symbol of Ainz Ooal Gown continues to breathe.
I can't allow let this weapon and its memories of our golden days stay here to be a painful reminder of the past, nor let it rot.
Without any further delay, with the prized staff in his hands. Soon emerge his out of the room, what was known as the round table room that only members of the guild have access to enter.
Let's go, symbol of the guild... my symbol of the guild.
The sound of Suzuki's character footsteps and the tapping of his staff rang through the luxurious, holy sanctuary. After turning several corners in this vast hallways. All while he tried to suppressed his emotions that were rising like a tide, and walked through the halls.
Ainz Ooal Gown headquarters was like a castle built of alabaster, a magnificent world suffused with a regal atmosphere, crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling at fixed intervals, radiating a warm light.
The broad hallways had brilliantly-polished stone floors, which reflected the light from the chandeliers in a way that made it seem like twinkling stars were embedded in its surface.
The Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick was no stranger having intruders, or had been attacked by the largest invading force ever assembled in the game's history a few rarest of time. When eight guilds banded together with their allies to bring a force of grand amount of players, mercenaries and NPCs to bear on Nazarick, but in the end, their attempts to overwhelm Nazarick failed. Thus, the legendary and strongest renowned for being an unconquerable dungeon throughout YGGDRASIL.
After a while digging through his fond memories he'd spend time in YGGDRASIL, a gigantic staircase appeared before Suzuki's eyes. A luxurious red carpet lay on the steps. His character slowly descended the stairs, until he reached the lowest floor — the 10th floor of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick.
The place where he had arrived was a large receiving room, with several figures within, standing by.
The first to enter Suzuki's line of sight was a distinguished elder gentleman in a profession, high-class butler's uniform.
His hair was pure white, even the beard and moustache near his mouth. However, the old man's back was ramrod-straight. His face was deeply wrinkled and gave onlookers the impression that he was a kind and gentle person, but his keen eyes were permanently sharp and calculated.
Sebas.
Standing behind the butler were six maids.
The maids wore gauntlets and greaves of gold, silver, black and other colored metals. Their armor was designed to look like the outfits of maids. All wearing white headdresses. But, every each of the six maid were different from one another, some were armed with different own respective weapon. They were the picture of battle maids.
Their hairstyles were also varied; they wore their hair in buns, ponytails, long and straight, French curls, and so on. The one thing they had in common was that every single one of them was attractive. The exact way in which they were attractive also varied within them; one was sporty and athletic, one resembled a demure Japanese maiden, one of them had a seductive allure. Each of them are beautiful in their own way.
Pleiades sisters.
All six maids, purposely made to be battle maids and sisters, were loyal to Sebas. In addition to these battle maids, Sebas was also in charge of the Tomb's manservants.
As an aside, all the NPCs apart from the maids were also very well fleshed-out. During in the making of NPCs of Nazarick, guild members were all fans of complex backstories and details. Many of the guild members were experienced artists and programmers, and a game like this which emphasised the customization of appearances granting them to indulge their desire to create and design.
They went overboard in their own creations.
Originally, Sebas and the combat maids were intended to be a last line of defense against invaders. However, if enemy players could penetrate this deeply into the tomb, they would be able to handily defeat Sebas and the maids, so they were little more than speedbumps to buy time for Suzuki's guild members preparation for a final stand, as a final boss fight. However, no player had ever made it this far, so they had been waiting here for orders.
Without orders, all they could do was wait for a chance to be of use.
They'd been here like an eternity.
Suzuki knew it was quite ridiculous, yet odd, to feel pity for NPCs. They were nothing more than a collection of electronic data, and the closest they could come to real emotion was a very skilled set of AI routines. But, people often get attached to a fictional character they've seen on television or any other video game character and developed fondness over them.
As the twelve year guild master of Ainz Ooal Gown, I must put NPCs to good use. Just like this staff, I can't leave them here to rot.
Feeling quite flushed, as an embarrassment emotions swirls within Suzuki core, but nonetheless, he gave them a command. A final order.
"Follow me."
Sebas and the maids bowed respectfully, signifying their acknowledgment and respect of their high-ranked superior.
Leading them away from their idle place, was not what the guild members had intended for them. Ainz Ooal Gown was a guild that respected the will of the majority. It was forbidden for an individual to selfishly manipulate the NPCs that everyone had made together.
Suzuki character, Momonga, continued moving forward, followed by the sounds of many footsteps.
Momonga led the servants behind him in a straight flawless line and soon laid eyes on the giant doors before him.
The majestic, intimidating set of double doors were over five meters in height, and covered in intricate carvings. The left side was shaped into a beautiful goddess, while the right was made to resemble a cruel demon. So realistic was their design that even from across the room.
Momonga's hand stretches in reaching for the doors. As he made physical contact with them, they automatically opened by themselves, although in a slow manner, did so slowly, in deference to their massive weight.
The air changed.
Although the atmosphere from earlier was filled with quiet solemnity, the scene before his eyes now exceeded that by far. The air became a pressure that weighed heavily on the entire body.
It was an exquisite piece of work. The horizon could be inspirational for artists to bear and witness.
And in this wide, high room packing several hundred people inside the sacred room would not make the room feel crowded. The high ceiling and the surrounding walls were a predominantly white color, with golden decorations as highlights.
The numerous chandeliers which hung from the ceiling were made in precious stones of all colors of the rainbow, and they emitted a fantastic, dreamlike radiance.
Numerous flags emblazoned with different symbols hung from flagpoles sunk into the walls. A total of forty-one of these flags swayed gently in the wind, from the ceiling to the floor.
In the center of this room that was tinted gold and silver, there was a flight of stairs about ten steps high. Atop these stairs was a gigantic throne, carved out of a single piece of crystal, whose back was high enough to touch the ceiling above it. A huge red banner hung down behind it, proudly displaying the symbol of the guild.
This place was located in the deepest reaches of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. It was also its most important place — the Throne Room.
Unbelievable.
Even Suzuki could not help but feel awe and breathless at the sheer breathtaking of this room. The second most impressive location in YGGDRASIL, if not the first. As Suzuki commence his character to advanced through the room that seemed to absorb the sounds of his footsteps, his eye fell on the female NPC that stood by the side of the throne. Yet, another of Suzuki's guild member creation.
She was a beautiful woman who wore a pure white dress, and the faint smile on her face was that of a goddess. In stark contrast to her dress, her hair was a flowing, lustrous jet-black that reached down to her waist.
Although her golden irises and vertically-slitted pupils were somewhat odd, apart from those she could easily be considered a world-class beauty. Outmatching any models of Suzuki's world. However, a pair of curled horns sprouted from the sides of her head. In addition, a pair of black-feathered wings emerged from her waist.
She wore a golden necklace that patterned after a spiderweb. It extended from her shoulders down to the tops of her breasts.
Her slender wrists were covered in a pair of lustrous silk gloves, and in her hand she held a strange weapon that looked like a wand of some sort. In a vary length long, and a black orb hovered at its end, floating lightly in the air but holding its position at the end of the wand.
Albedo.
She was the Overseer of the Floor Guardians of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. She was in charge of the seven NPC Floor Guardians. In other words, she was the highest-ranked character in the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick.
Because of that, she was permitted to await orders within the Throne Room, in the deepest reaches of the Tomb.
A great last stop... to be in.
Diving deep into his memories of time when he first took sight of the throne room, he began climbing the stairs, but stopped when he heard footsteps behind him.
Ah! I almost forgot that they were still behind me, following me, this entire time.
After his guild members left, Momonga had begun solo hunting by himself to a nearly ridiculous degree in order to earn the gold needed to maintain Nazarick. He did not build friendships with other players and avoided them, as well as the high-difficulty areas he used to visit when his guild members had still been around.
Then, he would deposit his earnings in the Treasury before logging out. This had been his routine for almost every day. As such, he did not have much contact with other NPCs.
Um, let see, the command was-
"Stand by."
The sound of numerous footsteps immediately falls into silence.
After Momonga gave the mandatory command, he ascended the final steps and arrived at the throne.
He stared openly at Albedo, who stood by its side. Though he had entered this room before, he did not recall her eyes tracking him in his memories.
"What kind of backstory was she designed with?"
All Suzuki knew about her character was that she was the Overseer of the Guardians, as well as the highest-ranked NPC in Nazarick.
Driven by curiosity, Suzuki opened up a console and began scrolling through the details of Albedo's flavor text.
A flood of densely-packed characters filled his vision. It was like reading an ancient epic poem. If he took his time to read it in detail, he would probably still be reading until the game ended.
Suzuki felt like he had stepped on a land mine. If he could move, he would be trembling now. He wanted to scold himself for having forgotten that Albedo's creator was obsessed with this sort of thing. However, since he had already opened it, he had no choice but to abandon his resistance and continue scrolling.
Oh dear god, Tabula. You literally wrote full paragraph into this, feels like I'm reading a textbook.
He didn't even skim the text for the important points; he simply scrolled to the bottom as fast as he could while looking at the title.
After skipping past vast expanses of maniacal text, Momonga's mind settled on the last line.
She is also a slut.
...
...Is this...Is this really necessary, Tabula?
Outside of the virtual world, behind Suzuki's VR headset, his eyes squinted and inspect those words over several more times, eyes filled with suspicion, but in the end, he could not find any other meaning to them. After several rounds of thought, he could only come to a conclusion.
A slut… Tabula wasn't really taking it serious at the end, and left it as that. Or, at least that is what I think.
Each of the forty-one guild members had designed their own NPCs, so he could not understand why anyone would want to treat the NPCs they had designed themselves in this manner.
However, there were guild members who would come up with these unconventional designs.
Tabula Smaragdina, was one of those people.
I shouldn't be surprised, to be honest. This is Tabula I'm thinking about, of course he would've done something like this. But, Isn't a backstory like this far too much?
Suzuki could not help but think that. All the NPCs made by everyone were an inheritance of the guild. Designing the highest-ranked NPC Albedo in this manner made him think that Tabula Smaragdina was beyond saving.
Would it be fine to change an NPC's backstory based on a personal decision?
After thinking about it for some time, the guild leader who remain in Nazarick till the end, came to a conclusion. With the guild weapon in his possession, his character Momonga could be said to be the master of the guild, have complete authority over everyone and everything within his guild. It should be all right to exercise the guildmaster's authority he had never used before.
Suzuki's doubts extinguished, as he steeled himself to right and wrongs of his guildmate.
He extended the staff of Ainz Ooal Gown that he was holding. Normally, one would need developer tools to change a character's backstory, but by through his power as guildmaster, he could directly access her settings and edit them.
Suzuki thought a bit more, and looked at the gap in Albedo's flavor text.
I should probably fill that up. I can't allow it to be empty.
"This feels a little silly."
Although he was laughing at himself, he still typed out a few words on the console keyboard.
She's deeply loves in with Momonga.
Oh god, how embarrassing. If my friends were here to witness this, constant teasing would erupt non-stop. They will never let it go. It'll be the end of me.
Neglecting a ping of pain that erupted inside of his chest, once recalling blissful memories of his friends.
Suzuki covered his face, VR headset, with his palm. It felt as though he were designing his ideal girlfriend complete with love events for himself.
Uwah! No. No, let's put, at least, something nice.
Hmm.
She's very affectionate towards her beloved love interest.
I guess... this is fine. Better than the previous description, but this will do. Heh, whoever caught her maiden heart is a lucky guy... or girl... if she were to be real instead of a fictional structure.
Momonga sat on the throne, scanning his surroundings with eyes filled with satisfaction and a little embarrassment. He noticed that Sebas and the maids were still standing by in a dormant state. It seemed a little lonely, and a little odd, to have them standing motionless like that.
It's a bit awkward for them to stand there like that. Let see...
Suzuki recalled the words to command, and extended a hand before lightly bringing it down.
"Kneel."
All together, Albedo, Sebas and the six maids, who were all on the right side of the sacred room, fell to one knee in obeisance.
There.
Momonga leaned against the back of his rightful throne, and slowly raised his head to look at the ceiling.
I actually though some invaders might come to Nazarick, as an a last attempt to overthrow and conquer it in the last day before servers shutting down.
He would've waited for them. He would accept any challenges in his position as guildmaster. One last time. He had sent emails to all the guild members, but none showed up. He would have waited for them. He would welcome his friends back in his position as guildmaster.
Damn.
Momonga buried deep into thought.
Even if the guild now was just an empty shell now, I've enjoyed my time with it.
He turned his eyes to look at the huge flags hanging from the ceiling. There were forty-one of them in total, the same number as there were guild members. Each of them displayed the personal symbol of each guild member.
Thank you, everyone. You done more a lot for me than you think. Before you came to my life, I've desired something for a long time now. Even if it was temporary, but all of you delivered it.
In reality, Suzuki sprawled listlessly on his chair.
Even though the game did not have any subscription fees, Suzuki had still spent a third of his monthly salary on it to continue playing. It was not because his hard earning salary was high, but because he had no other hobbies, so he funnelled all his income into YGGDRASIL.
Almost all of Ainz Ooal Gown's members were productive members of society, most of them were willing to spend money on this hobby, and among them Suzuki was one of the bigger spenders.
That was how dedicated he was. Playing the game was the fullest, but his greatest joy was found in playing with his friends.
To Suzuki, whose parents had passed away so early in his life and who had no friends, nor have any interaction with anyone besides online, in real life. Ainz Ooal Gown was a shining memory of the good times he had had with his friends.
And now, this guild would soon be obliterated.
In that moment of loss, his world would soon collapse. Where there was light became shadows, the pain coming and going like waves on frigid sand. Though his mind called out for connection was gone. And finally, he knew that his time to be alone will resume.
You all were my family. And still are, each one of you filled a gap in my heart. And I thank you for that.
[23:59:10]
Suzuki's mouth gapes open and inhaled deeply due to tiredness. His head has become foggy, like that time when alcohol took him into oblivion. It's as if every eye lash weighs more than it should and gravity has been turned up ten fold. In moment, he could acquiesce and lie on the dirty ground, brain checking out as he slide into instant slumber.
I have to get up directly at four in morning after this.
Night rolls around and after a time the sandman comes to heavy Suzuki's lids. The shuttering of his synapses, the quite lure into sleepiness. As each limb becomes heavy and my heart slows to a more peaceful beat, the comfort of bed calls.
I had fun... It was fun.
His head lolls and the muscles of his face relaxed, releasing the tension of his day. Though, the equipped VR blares his eyes, are almost closed and from his chest comes the first snore.
"...Mgh-"
He grimaced and squeezed his eyes shut, seeing spots on the back of his eyelids. After a few tense seconds, he dared to open them again by a narrow slit. Through his eyelashes Suzuki couldn't see much.
As if, his dream ended abruptly, and was shaken back into reality. The man's eyes blinks, eyelashes faintly batting against his lids.
Awareness came in the form of touch first. His limbs felt like lead. And his 'pajamas' seemed really thin against his skin. The air was unusually warm.
He reverently rubbed his fingers along the silken mattress. He pressed his cheek to the cool, velvet pillows. The comforter was thick and irresistibly soft, like a billowing cloud. Suzuki toppled into it, relieved to rest his weary feet.
When did I... How did I even end up here, on my own bed?
The sweet smell of jasmine lingers in the air so that when Suzuki inhale the threshold, it's like a shot of adrenaline right to his heart. Silence crashes down around the man.
It was then, an experience of sudden and striking realization. His heart slowed, the realization of his current environment. Something out of the ordinary was caught on. With a sudden rush of a 'wake up call' came to his realization dissolves his drowsiness.
Hold on, wait!
Like a bolt of lighting, awareness struck Suzuki.
In a haste motion, go from a lying position to a sitting position, granting Suzuki a perfect view of his current surrounding. Scanning left to right, around of a luxurious high-class room. A room that is too rich for his own blood.
Th-This-What?!
A feeling of rush adrenaline activated his sympathetic nervous system, making the man's heart beat faster, diverting blood to his muscles and away from Suzuki's gut.
Fear sits on him like a pillow over mouth and nose. Enough air gets by it, allowing the body to keep functioning. Suzuki constantly glances upward, his mouth pursed, but slightly open and loose. Eyes are fixed.
Fear and confusion overwhelms him.
Nonetheless, an idea, or perhaps conclusion, comes way through Suzuki's mind. The senses of a familiar, close atmosphere enters him. The small horizon was undoubtedly recognizable. Throughout the years playing YGGDRASIL, even though his character rarely comes here-
This is-This is... My virtual in-game room!
And here we are, ladies and gentlemen! This is where the first chapter ends and soon will be taken another different route of from this story when the second chapter is posted. So expect a few new characters making their appearance, at least for a bit. Nothing too big to overestimate. Anyways, whether be a potential antagonist or an ally, or neutral. We'll see.