Chapter 1 - Last Days of Yggdrasil

In the year 2138, there exists something called a "DMMO-RPG." This stands for "Dive Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game." While connected via an intracranial nanocomputer network called a "neuronano interface," which combines the best of cyber- and nanotechnology, players experience physical sensations as if they were really inhabiting an imaginary world. In other words, you play as if you're actually in the world of the game. And among all the various DMMO-RPGs that had been developed, one stood above the rest.

Yggdrasil.

It had been released twelve years earlier, in 2126, by a Japanese developer who had been waiting for just the right moment. Compared to other DMMO-RPGs at the time, Yggdrasil gave players an incredible amount of freedom.

For example, consider the class system, a fundamental element of character customization. Counting the advanced classes as well as the base ones, there were well over two thousand. Each player could choose as many classes as he liked. Since each class could have only 15 levels every level 100 player had at least a few of them. Additionally, there were over 200 different races with their own levels plus many of them were so-called advanced races, and players needed to max out base race to evolve and into it. Thus each level 100 player ended up with multiple races and classes making it almost impossible to have two identical builds. 100 was the normal level cap but there were few ways to work around it. Some items gave additional class and race levels. But one of the most sought-after ones was a world item that let increase level cap by 20 once and then it disappeared into the world again only to be found by another player. In fact, all one of twenty world items did that. After each use, they just disappeared in the world. Due enormous size of the world very few players ever found and used it.

Then, by using the creator's tool kit—sold separately—players could edit the appearance of their weapons and armor, as well as the advanced settings of their in-game residences.

The environment awaiting players who ventured into this world was enormous. In fact, there were nine worlds: Asgard, Alfheim, Vanaheim, Nidavellir, Midgard, Jotunheim, Niflheim, Helheim, and Muspelheim.

A vast world, a staggering number of classes, and graphics that could be tweaked to one's heart's content—it was precisely the amount of customization that poured nitroglycerin onto the Japanese creative spirit and led to the game's explosive popularity. It got to the point wherein Japan the word DMMO-RPG was practically synonymous with Yggdrasil.

But it all has come to an end, in just two days servers will be shut down permanently and everything inside Yggdrasil will be gone. A new era of VR technology was approaching and Yggdrasil was losing popularity over the last 2 years due to being a bit outdated by most modern standards. The vast majority of players quit during this time leaving only a small minority of enthusiasts that kept the game alive, if barely.

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Suzuki Satoru arrived home beat. Another long day at work as usual. He goes through his home routine in an almost robotic manner. Doors locked, not that the old and run-down lock would protect anything, but he didn't have anything of value anyway. His apartment holds only the bare minimum needed for living. Besides, he was spending money only on necessities and pouring about a third of his salary into his only hobby - Yggdrasil, he didn't spend it on anything else and just saved it up. Satoru didn't have any family left. He never knew his father and his mother died about 14 years ago from working herself to death. He didn't have a wife or girlfriend either, in fact, he never has had one. In his 31 he was still a virgin, not that it bothered him much, but sometimes he felt very lonely.

After putting aside the breathing mask, that was needed to even go outside, the earth was turned into a toxic hellhole in name of progress and corporate profit, with the profit part being the main reason. Saturo ate a quick and tasteless meal. One of those ready to eat reddish goo things that provided most of the needed base nutrients. Real food was expensive and working-class like him didn't eat it daily. Next was quick to shower and then his so-called 'real life' began as he injected nanomachines and set up the VR gear. After few short moments, he logged into Yggdrasil and stood as his avatar Momonga a skeletal mage with Overlord race and specialization in necromancy and time magic. As support caster, he had the most diverse cast of spells to use and he was the only player who could use 713 spells instead of the usual 300. He had managed to get that much by careful choosing of races, classes, items, and cash shop purchases.

A guild leader of the most infamous guild in all the Yggdrassil - Ainz Ooal Gown. At this point, he was the only one left. Out of 41 original members, 37 just quit. Giving him all their inventory and saying one final goodbye and remaining 3 besides him hadn't been online for over a year.

Momonga was used to this already. He always greeted guild NPC's when he walked past them and sometimes even pretended to keep short conversations with them to amuse himself. He had kept up an e-mail correspondence with few people like Peroroncino, Bukubukuchagama, and Ulbert. He considered them his friends with Pero being his best friend for a long time. But lately, life got in a way more and more. Daily e-mail exchanges had become a weekly one at most.

Once it was announced that Yggdrasil is being shut down, he had planned to invite all the former members to one last gathering on the last day to say goodbye to their home. But most didn't even bother to respond. Some had replied that they didn't have time out of politeness. He got a few positive responses though. His best friend Pero with his sister Buku had promised to come. Ulbert and Herohero had given a vague answer but hoped they could come, but what surprised him the most was that player named Tabula Smaragdina had replied with a long letter promising to come in the last days and asked if Momonga would permit him to change his creations for some bizarre reason.

'Last two days of Yggdrasil servers,' Suzuki somberly thinks. In two days his true home will be gone. Place where he found his friends, made the strongest guild, all gone. He checks the friend's list out of habit and guild list after that but sees only his name as usual. No one else has been online for more than a year.

"What to do today?" his avatar Momonga asked himself loudly. He has used to speak loudly to himself in-game since no one else was around.

"I could make the trip and go look at floor guardians one last time, or maybe raid another empty guild base. Although there is no real point doing that anymore." Momonga pondered loudly.

After some thought, a decision was made to visit floor guardians. After all, the last 4 raids on abandoned guildhalls had left him with over 800 unsorted items in his inventory alone not to mention about 6000 various items in treasury, which he couldn't bother to sort anymore. Since the announcement of the server shut down there weren't many people left bothering to come online, leaving many guild halls, save from NPCs guardians that could be countered if approached carefully, almost unguarded. Momonga had hoarded tens of thousands of various items including 9 new world items, and one, he couldn't almost believe to have found, was the "Endless Strive." One of the twenty most powerful world items that disappear back to the world after each use. Same item, that 4 different world champion class players had used to bump their level cap to 120. At first, he was tempted to just use it but his hoarder nature prevented him from doing it.

Momonga made treasury his first stop. A figure in a yellow uniform with a long coat sat on the couch. On its round featureless head sat a military hat and 3 black holes where eyes and mouth were supposed to be. It was pandora's actor, his own creation. Although Momonga cringed a bit, remembering his phase when he was obsessed with World War II and Germany in particular. Still, he was proud of his creation. Pandora's actor's backstory was written with him having an obsession with sorting items and considered him being a treasuries guard, a best possible profession.

"Doing a good job Pandora's actor?" Momonga asks loudly and sees a small nod from the figure. He had already used to such small occurrences as figments of his imagination as he believes it happens so he could get at least some response from NPC's.

Next was the guardian of the first 3 floors, Shalltear Bloodfallen. Created by his best friend Peroroncino as a very kinky flat chested vampire who stuffed her bra to appear more mature. A red-eyed beauty of age about 14. She walked the usual patrol route and when passing Momonga she stoped and curtsied as she was programmed to do. Momonga patted her head saying,

"Keeping our home safe as usual." with her eyes seemingly glowing in happiness and her lips curled in a barely noticeable smile.

Momonga sighed and admitted to himself that he is slowly losing it.

He visited Gargantua, the 4th-floor guardian next. A stone golem of immense size stood motionless. Momonga saluted it but got no response as it was made without sentience, and had a backstory of only a construct.

Cocytus, the guardian of the 5th floor was after that. Stationed in the heart of frozen glaciers he stood motionless with a weapon in each of his four hands. An insectoid-like creature with a light blue carapace.

"Happy to see you Cocytus, keep on the good work," Momonga said as the figure seemingly straightened out and noded.

Then came guardians of 6th Floor Aura and Mare. Crossdressing elven twins, that looked to be about 11 years old, were stationed in a house, made inside a huge tree. Both had golden hair and mismatching blue and green eyes. They were creations of Bukubukuchagama. He patted their heads and complimented them on their good job as their faces lit up in glee.

A wave of sadness hit him as he recalled Buku playing with them, decorating their home, and trying out various costumes on them. He waved them goodbye and then went to visit Demiurge on the 7th floor. A demon, in a formal orange suit with white vertical stripes. With facial features of an Asian man, jet black spiked hair, round glasses, and a long spiky tail. Created by Ulber Alain Odle as one of the evilest NPC's in Nazarick.

"Plotting evil things for the betterment of Nazarick, eh?" Momonga says with a little chuckle and then he could swear he heard almost inaudible. 'Yes Lord Momonga, everything for Nazarick.' he shook his head in disbelief and went to the 8th floor where Victim an embryo looking angel was set as a living bomb that would spread debuff on every enemy upon its death. Victim was instrumental in stopping the largest invasion on Nazarick ever when over 1500 players teamed up to invade Nazarick and ultimately failed with large thanks to the Victim.

Up in hill, Rubedo stood. She was the strongest NPC of Nazarick. Only her Creator Tabula Smaragina knows how she was made, and for now was in an inactive state that only Momonga, as guild leader, could activate.

His final stop was the Throne room. Momonga sits down on the throne and activates Nazarick's control consoles and goes over daily expenses and status reports.

At his side stands Albedo, the guardian overseer, a succubus dressed in a white dress. Wings covered in black feathers sprouting out from her lower back. Long black hair and golden cat-like eyes, two horns were at the side of her head. Her beauty was almost unnatural. Tabula seemingly went all out on her and somehow made what Momonga thought to be the perfection of a woman. He had read her backstory at least a dozen times. In fact, he had done so with most of NPC's.

Her abilities and intellect had earned her place as guardian overseer. Unrivaled in her administrative abilities. She always has a gentle smile on her, and her elegant way of speech has made many people think she is a goddess or an angel. However, she is cruel and manipulative towards those not from Nazarick but wears a facade hiding it. In addition, her feminine skills - particularly those of being a housewife - are excellent, and during her free time, she can be seen sweeping, sewing, and so on.

Though the reason is unknown, she enjoys cleanliness and her desire for such frequently drives her to clean things up. That said, the items accumulated through her collector's habit are typically very messy. Momonga was not sure if it was a jab from Tabula about his own collecting habits or his weird way of setting up his avatar with Albedo. There was just one thing he couldn't stand in her backstory. The last phrase was despite being a virgin, she was a slut. But no matter how much it vexed him he couldn't bring himself into changing it. After looking at her for a brief moment as she stood unmoving with her gentle smile he just says.

"Looks like it's just us both hard at work again." For a moment it looked like she smiled a bit happier when addressed by him.

The next 30 minutes were spent going through Nazarick's stats and expenses. Momonga said his observations and calculations loudly, mixing in a complaint or two about how he was the last guild member remaining and it was lonely without friends. When he glanced at Albedo again he could swear Albedo's expression had changed into a mix between angry and sad. But before he could wonder about it something unexpected happened.

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A notification came up

Peroroncino has logged in.

Momonga was surprised to see his old friend show up a day early.

He activated the zone map and saw Peroroncino showing up in the conference room, but only moments later he was moving towards him to the throne room, so he just decided to wait a bit. About a minute later Peroronchino barged in. His Birdlike avatar was clad only in the game's default underwear.

"Hey Momo, it's so good to see you, I hope I didn't disturb your private time with your waifu!" Peroroncino said with a loud laugh in his usual crude manner.

"Pero, I'm so glad to see you, but you are back a day early, servers will shut down only tomorrow."

"I know, but sis is recording in next room so I have few free hours, and what better way to spend them to catch up with an old friend," said Peroroncino in an upbeat voice.

"How is she doing these days?"

Peroronchinos voice changed to a somber one when he answered with series of rants: "Her back isn't getting better, not that it would without an operation. At this point, she can barely walk. I tried to talk her out of it but she is spending every free time on voice recording to save up at least some money while AI voice acting hasn't taken over the industry yet. She...she is starting to lose hope in life and I can't do anything about it." his voice broke a bit betraying his anger.

Momonga had put his hand on Peroroncino's shoulder as much as game animation allowed it, while he ranted and replies " I know you are doing best you can for your older sister, she is lucky to have you in her life." Peroroncino winced a bit after all he knew Momonga was all alone, no family, no one to lean on. It had dawned on him how lonely Momonga must have felt all this time. There were no other players online, none had been for over a year.

"Yeah I know, I just...sorry Momanga I didn't come here just to bitch about my life, how you been doing all this time?"

Momonga managed to swallow the bitterness of being left alone in-game for so long. After all, he knew about Bukubukuchagama's diagnosis. She and her brother left the game at about the same time as she started to work more to save money, and he went on to fully supporting her. How much he hated the world he lived in. The life of a young woman went to shit only because despite her popularity as an h-game voice actress, with her own fan base, she couldn't afford an operation to fix her back. There were so many stories similar to hers. So many just couldn't afford to play games anymore once they hit 30. Life just started to tear them down.

To distract himself and Peroroncino from life even for a bit he started to retell what he has been up to with enthusiasm. Since most players have left the game, he had raided many empty guild bases and increased Nazarick's treasures at least sixfold, and even managed to get 9 new world items, that most were just left behind by the players. Since all the prices in cash shops were dropped to almost nothing due to the game losing popularity and many big collection prices were dropped even more when server shutdowns were announced, Momonga had purchased many new useful items to play around with. Like doppelganger rings, book collections, race change consumables, and many other things.

"Damm, that sounds so fucking awesome, how many items had you collected over this time you little hoarder dragon, do we need to worry that some invisible hobits will show up to steal our shit now?" Peroroncino just asked with a jab, comparing Momonga to a dragon from a very old fantasy book.

"Hey by any chance does my old gear still lays around, knowing you I doubt you just sold it as I told you to do?"

Momonga responded, "Oh, all your gear is in treasury, I didn't sell any of it."

Peroronchino responded with smiley emoji and almost dragged Momonga to the treasury to get all his old gear. They passed Pandoras Actor on their way as Peroroncino remarked how cool it looked and gave him a certain salute by raising his right hand.

Peroronchino had put all his old gear back, restoring his avatar to past glorious look and both him and Momanga toured Nazarick and made various pictures together striking poses with various NPC's on the way. Momonga had missed this so much. They were laughing making lighthearted jabs and jokes at each other's expense. For a moment it felt like old times and he just wanted it to go on. It was 9:30 PM when Peroronchino had to log off. His sister had finished her recording and they planned to eat dinner together and watch a movie. He logged in but not before promising to log in tomorrow as well and bring his sister to wait for the so-called end of the world in-game.

Momonga let out a sigh. He was happy about his friend showing up even for a little bit, but loneliness crept in again and now he was at a loss what to do for the next few hours. Soon the answer came in another notification.

Tabula Smaragdina has logged in.

Momonga recalled that Tabula had asked his permission to change some of NPC's. Tabula's own creations. A bit strange since he was not the type to ask permission before and the general rule in the guild was that only creators could temper with NPC's they had created, so Tabula asking for permission to do so felt weird.

Still, he used the ring of Ainz Ooal Gown and teleported to the conference room. The usual spot where guild members showed up when logging in unless they logged out somewhere outside the Nazarick.

Tabula played a race called Brain Eater a creature with a squid-like face and tentacles sprouting out of his head and face. Same as Peroronchino, he was clad only in games base underwear as he to had given all his gear to Momonga when he left the game years ago.

"Tabula how have you been, haven't heard from you for such a long time?"

"Oh, hello Momonga my friend. I have been fine, suffering from a bit of a writer's block lately, but otherwise no complaints. how life is treating you?"

"Oh, I'm doing fine as well, still in good health," Momonga replies.

"Thank you for informing me that Yggdrasil is shutting down. I know it will sound weird but please let me change my daughters, and I urge you to rewrite your character's and creations backstories in a way you would be glad to send them off."

Momonga knew of Tabula's obsession with the occult. So many lectures and long ramblings in the past, due to his politeness, Momonga usually let Tabula just ramble, even when other players just left him alone with Tabula to suffer. Tabula had always been very eccentric. So he just decided to not question his statements and just go along with them.

"Sure, I don't mind, they are your creations, after all, you want me to come along or you need privacy?"

"I would be honored if you would accompany me, as I have some additional requests about them that would involve your avatar the ruler of Great Tomb of Nazarick."

"Uh...sure, by the way, your old gear is still in treasury, do you want to put it back on?"

"I don't really need it, but some robe on this form would be nice. If you want we can visit your son in the treasury too, maybe you have some things you want to change in him before sending him off?" replied Tabula with a seemingly elevated mood.

"Pandoras actor? Yes I think I could change a thing or two in his settings," replied Momonga as he handed Tabula Smaragdina a ring of Ainz Ooal Gown. Momonga was a bit unsure if he even wanted to temper with his own creation but some things made him cringe so he could at least fix some of it.

They both were standing in Nazarick's treasury moments later. Pandoras Actor sitting on the couch in the usual NPC's unmoving fashion. Momonga cringed again for the second time today seeing him and remembering his younger days. Tabula started to look through the treasury for a suitable robe for his avatar, he didn't care for his old gear at all, a nice-looking robe would suffice. Enormous piles of gear were laying around, most from the recent raids. Momonga meanwhile opened Pandora's actor's settings and read them while talking to himself,

"Speaking German, well I'm clearly erasing that. Hmm...I think I will tone down his theatrics a bit but still, him acting silly to fool enemies to appear incompetent sounds kinda fun and useful. Well at least his uniform looks cool, so that's about it."

Tabula had found a purple robe with golden lining and equipped it. He came up to Momonga who was finishing editing Pandora's actor's backstory.

"So Tabula where do we start?"

"I think with Nigrado, I would like to change her appearance as well."

Hearing that Tabula seriously wants to alter his creations not just change flavor text Momonga was becoming too curious to just let it pass.

"By the way who do you want to do this, I mean you haven't been online for two years and on the last two days want to do such changes?"

"I...how to explain this...in short, Momonga, I believe Nazarick will move on to another plane after the server is shut down. I already sense changes in them and you for that matter. I know you do not believe in the same things as me, but still, you wanted to gather all of Ainz Ooal Gown for one last time for the send-off. So I think it means a lot to you as well."

"I guess that makes sense, I have the doll needed in my inventory so we can disable the trap and you can alter Nigredo."

Nigredo was located in a special room on the 5th floor's frozen prison. Momonga took out the doll that was necessary to disable Nigredo and went into her room with Tabula. He put the doll in the crib and Nigredo grabbed it as she was programmed to do and started cradling it.

When Tabula designed this room he was in his horror movie phase and loved to make horror scenarios. Nigredo's looks bore some similarity to her younger sisters Rubedo and Albedo. The difference was she had no skin on her face and didn't have angelic or succubus features as her sisters did. She was what was called a physical phantom. Undead race that could switch back and forth from human and specter forms. Nigredo was programmed to viciously attack anyone when her baby doll wasn't around as a trap to spook invaders. She was only level 85 and was not capable of killing a prepared level 100 player.

Tabula starts with her appearance. He spends some money on needed assets right away and changes her face to have skin making it normal looking and beautiful like the rest of her sisters. She had the same black hair as Albedo but unlike her younger sister, her blue eyes were ones of a regular human. Tabula rewrites her setting, stating that he didn't want to leave his daughter in such a tormented state, Momonga is standing behind him reading the text along as Tabula rewrites Nigredo from obsessing over doll as her child and attacking everyone until she finds it, to a woman caring deeply for her sisters and wanting to protect her home.

Momonga spoke out "You know, this room doesn't function as a trap for intruders anymore now, maybe add some lines that she will still attack intruders and fiercely protect her home."

Tabula quickly ads the lines Momonga suggests.

"Nigredo will still attack any intruder just now in a more general way, if you have objections to how I change them please speak up, taking into consideration how long I was gone from the game and care you have put in Nazarick's upkeep they are more your's now then they ever were mine, and I want their stories to reflect that. That's why I wanted to ask, will you be okay if I add to all 3 my daughter's line that they love your avatar Momonga. I'm not sure how that love will manifest wherever they end up but at least I know someone will care for them back."

"I guess, but I have written in the backstory of my character that he deeply cares about all inhabitants of Nazarick and I don't think would show favoritism towards your daughters" Momonga responded playing along as he finds some strange closure and comfort in Tabula's beliefs.

"Can I ask you to write in that Momonga also loves them, I know he is an overlord and is not supposed to feel strong emotions but that would set me at peace."

"I guess there is no harm in that," Momonga replies and opens his character screen and writes that Momonga holds all three sisters in a special place in his seemingly non-existing heart.

He glanced at Nigredo and her neutral expression changed to a warmer one, she even seemingly smiled at him. He was ready to write it off as usual if not for Tabula giving a knowing nod as if saying 'I can see it too.' Was this really happening or they both were going crazy. Momonga recalls only bits and pieces of many things Tabula had said about his beliefs and from that perspective, even digital characters would have some sort of soul. As an atheist, Momonga had written off all these small strange occurrences as mere imagination, but now Tabula all but confirmed he saw it too. He shook his head as they went to the next location. That's it, both he and Tabula were just losing it.

At Tabual's request, they walked to their next destination, he wanted to give Nazarick a good look. Both walked in silence and Tabula was deep in thought. Everything was just like he remembered. When he logged in, he was afraid to find Nazarick in disrepair, he, after all, saw that all guild members except Momonga and Peroroncino showed the offline time for more than a year. After asking about Peroroncino he found out that he came back only a few hours earlier and Nazarick was being kept up only by Momonga all this time. A realization came it wasn't their home anymore, he and all others left it, he left his daughters behind. Only Momonga stayed, he at this point was the Ainz Ooal Gown, only one left deserving to call this place home.

The next stop was Rubedo, Nazarick's secret weapon on the 8th floor. Rubedo looked almost like a typical angel, with long blonde hair and bright green eyes. What stood out was her metallic wings, one metallic arm, and metallic spikes coming out of her skin on her back and shoulders. She had an expressionless face reminding the fact that she was made as a golem. She wore a red dress and some of her metallic body parts were was decorated in scarlet color. Momonga was tempted to ask how exactly Tabula made her. He knew world item was involved and Rubedo's stats so high and her skills so lethal that it would take all of the floor guardians combined to stop her.

Her trait was that she had a very hard time opening up to others as she was an angel of the highest order but something had gone wrong and she was left in a state between pure angel and fallen one. Her personality was very introverted and defensive but vicious and aggressive when someone she cared for was in danger. Tabula left it in but added that she fully trusted only Momonga adding the same love line as he did for Nigredo and also added that she holds Loyalty to Momonga above all else even Nazarick and her own sisters. Momonga just looked silently as Tabula worked and seeing that she would still be loyal to him at least, didn't make him worry that something could go seriously wrong on the last day of Nazarick. Rubedos expression didn't change it still was neutral and expressionless.

Their last stop was the throne room where guardian overseer Albedo, the middle sister stood by the throne. Tabula approached her opened her setting and after some reading mumbled "I made her a slut, how cliche for a succubus," Momonga wanted to shout at him for that line but seeing how Tabula was disappointed in himself for adding that line he remained silent.

"Would it be ok if I made her be in love with your avatar making it very specific, I think it kinda fits since she stood by your throne so long as your assistant?"

It was a good thing his character couldn't blush, Momonga almost stuttered his reply "I...I'm not sure, I guess it's ok. But it's not my throne it belonged to all of us."

Tabula chuckled in response "Oh my friend, I think it has been your throne for a long time and it fits so great that a virgin succubus, despite her succubus nature had fallen in love with a leader of Nazarick and wished nothing more than to be at his side. I can't think of a better send of to my daughter than that."

Momonga felt silent for a moment as he couldn't come up with anything to refute that. Finally, he caved in and agreed with Tabula letting him change Albedo's setting to be in love with him.

After finishing editing Albedo's setting and promising to log on before servers are shut down Tabula Smaragdina logged off. Momonga checked the clock and realized that it was close to midnight already and he had to log off, he needed to get at least some sleep before work. Before doing so logging of he glanced at Albedo and for some reason had a feeling that Albedo's expression had changed, a warmer smile, and her eyes seemingly looked at him. He told himself that he really need to catch some sleep and logged off.

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The last day of Yggdrasil had come. Satoru logged in as usual and with a sigh awaited the last day of the game. He knew that at least a few people will show up and he won't have to witness the end of his home alone. Momonga sat in the conference room and tinkered with his insanely large inventory while waiting for others to show up. He had lost a track of time when notification showed up.

Ulbert Alain Odle has logged in.

It made Momonga happy since he had heard of Ulbert's health issues and wasn't sure that he would even show up.

Demonic goat sat almost opposite to him at the huge round table and waved at him saying,

"Hey, Momonga I'm here to witness the end of the days."

"Ulbert, I'm so glad to see you, how have you been?"

Ulbert responded that he was doing fine, not wanting to rant about his life. His body has almost failed, the pain was getting unbearable. At least her got free medication this month to keep him sane and make one last happy memory by showing up in his favorite game of all time. He didn't care how much strain it put on him. All he hoped was to not die before midnight and say proper goodbyes to his friends in the game he was forced to stop playing due to cancer progressing and lack of medicine to keep the pain away.

Momonga walked up to him handing out the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown and asked with a chuckle "So you want to put on your old gear, or be the designated nudist of the group?"

"You still have it?"

"Of course, I kept all the gear that was entrusted to me for safekeeping." It was painfully obvious what Momonga meant. He had waited for all of them to come back.

Moments later Ulbert was equipping his gear in treasury taking it off of one of the statues that somewhat resembled him. There was one for each member of the guild and most of them with exception of Peroroncino was in their counterpart's gear. First, he wanted to ask what happened to Peroroncino's gear but then he remembered seeing in the guild list that he had logged out just 15 hours ago, so it made sense that same as Ulbert he claimed his gear back.

Ulbert finished equipping all the pieces and then announced with his signature evil laughter "Oh yeah, the grand catastrophe is back."

Momonga could hear the strain in his voice but decided not to ask, it would only remind of the shitty life they both are trying to escape, even for a little bit.

Ulbert then looks around and sees piles upon piles of various items asks.

"From where did all that came from?"

Momonga just retold what he already explained to Perorooncino yesterday as Ulbert listened in envy remarking that it sounded like a lot of fun.

While Ulbert and Momanga were catching up, Peroroncino and Bukubukuchagama logged in. While Buku went to the treasury for her gear Pero used the opportunity to bitch that, lately, it was near impossible to find an h-game without her sister voicing at least one character and he has forced to resort to older 'Clasics' for his 'cultural' needs. Both Ulbert and Momonga pated Peroronchino on the back while laughing at his torment of being the brother of a famous voice actress in the genre. Making things worse, was the fact, that Pero had a special thing for Loli characters, and his sister specialized in them due to her ability to speak in a childish voice.

Buku came back looking the same since all her gear was internal and didn't make changes in her red slime-like avatar and with her most bubbly voice asked.

"Big brother Momonga how have you been, I hope you haven't forgotten about your future waify Buku?"

Statement by itself as funny one as Bukubukuchagama played some type of red slime, a gelatinous monster with only thing indicating her being a female was the cute voice she was using.

"How can I could I possibly forget about you my lady" Momonga responded in a mock voice. Buku had always been a bit flirty with him. First, she did it just to annoy her little brother by hitting on his best friend but over time they became good friends. Thanks to her Momonga had at least some experience of how to talk with women.

As usual, Peroroncino couldn't pass an opportunity to mock his sister and chipped in saying "Don't force yourself on our glorious leader, Nazarick is full of hotter waifu's than you."

"Ulbert, Momonga, you will have to provide my alibi after I murder my bird brain of a brother," Buku almost growled.

"Easy now, I'm just joking sis, feel free to steal Momanga from us for a while, there are few hours left till midnight."

Momonga flashed a smiley emoji and offered Bukubukuchagama to go for a walk on the 6th floor which she happily agreed. Pero shouted after them that if he catches them banging in the bushes he will be mad.

It was an evening sky as they both appeared on the 6th floor. It was a forested area near the home of Aura and Mare. Buku thought for a moment if she wanted to go see her creations, but for some reason decided against it, they would soon be gone anyway and she didn't want extra sadness fully remembering them.

"Momo I wanted to thank you for sending the invitation. With life being what it is, it's nice to remember better times when we could goof off and share epic moments here."

Memories, they would s will have all the memories of this place no one can take those away. People had moved on, there were more important things to worry about than fantasy. Life hit's hard and doesn't spare the most.

Buku had gone silent as well. She wanted to vent to Momonga, tell him all the shit that was going on in her life but she couldn't. Her pride didn't let her. She wanted to forget her life if just for a moment so she looked up in the sky of the 6th floor. It was nighttime already and stars were out. There weren't such clear nights in real life. In fact, the only way to know how clear the sky looked was through pictures and videos from the past.

"Blue planet did such a wonderful job creating it," said Momonga absent-mindedly, seeming lost in his own thoughts.

"Yes he did, this sky is beautiful," replied Bukubukuchaguma as they both just stared at the sky for a while. Their serene moment was interrupted by Tabula logging in. Momonga looked at the watch. It was 11 pm already. Just one hour left.

Both of them teleported to the conference room where Ulbert, Peroroncino, and Tabula chatted about their lives. Tabula was rambling about how Nazarick will move on to the new plane and both Ulbert and Pero could barely pay attention to him.

Momonga spoke up "I wanted to say, thank you for all coming one last time. It's the last hour of Nazarick so I would like to hear your ideas on how to spend it."

"How about you take the guild staff, lets all gather in the throne room and make our avatars stand as last bosses like it always was a plan," Ulbert, suggested.

Seeing that others agree with Ulbert, Momonga took the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown and equipped it as guild leader should before the last battle. They all decided to walk to the throne room to enjoy the last time seeing the overly grand and luxurious heart of their guild home.

With Momonga in lead, they approach an immense door leading to the throne room. Momonga looks at immobile golems guarding it and remarks that if Lucifer plays a prank on them now he will be pissed, getting chuckles out of everybody. It was a well-known fact that the player named Lucifer was a prankster and had set up various traps for his guildmates. Momonga had fallen in one such trap when a guard golem attacked him without provocation.

Doors open and the throne room come into view. Hundreds of people could easily fit in it. Way to the throne is covered with a luxurious red carpet. A throne room fitted for true rulers. With Momonga in lead, they approach the throne where Albedo stands unmoving with a gentle smile on her face. Tabula starts staring at Albedo intently when they finally gather around the throne. For some reason, Buku also started intently for a moment as she had feeling Albedo's eyes followed Momonga but just thought that maybe Momonga altered her to do so. After all, even when most players were active many called Albedo Momongas waify behind his back.

"Mono sit, guild leader should sit in his rightful place," Buku tells in a cheerful voice and despite Momonga's protests almost pushes him on the throne.

Tabula is still staring at Albedo now murmuring "She is already changing...as he told..."

"Tabula, buddy, you alright?" Peroroncino asks Tabula while putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah I'm fine...this all feels weird as if something big will happen..." then he snapped out of it reminded them that it is the last 5 minutes of Yggdrasil.

"Tabula you seem shaken, you sure everything is fine?" this time it was Momonga who asked. He also felt incredibly sad to see his home go but Tabula seems more afraid than sad.

Tabula just replied that he is fine and with a deep breath calmed down. He knew something big will happen and even if he said it to his friends present in-game they would not believe him.

Last-minute came then, last seconds as they waited for the end.

23:59:55

23:59:56

23:59:57

23:59:58

23:59:59

00:00:00

Moment of darkness...

00:00:01

00:00:02

00:00:03

And numbers just fade off. But all 5 were still in the throne room.

Bonus story 1 - Tabula's dream

Tabula was sitting in his bed restlessly, He had received an e-mail from Satoru or Momonga. Yggdrasil was shutting down and he invited him to make one last gathering. Tabula had almost forgotten about the game but one thing bugged him. He and Mariposa had made 3 characters there in her image. Their daughters so to speak. Mariposa being his spiritual wife, is not bound to the physical realm.

He wanted to ask her opinion, but she was busy and promised to return in two days after some errands in her home realm.

Tabula finally decided to do some astral travel and maybe find out what is bothering him so much. He lays down on the bed and slips into a trance soon leaving his body. Right away he feels the pull or call in a certain direction and knows he needs to follow it.

Soon enough he is in some garden. He notices a man sitting by the table with one free chair as if waiting for him.

Tabula walks up greets the man and sits down on the free chair.

"Hello Tabula, you seem troubled?"

"Yes, I guess you know why."

"I may, you worry about them even though you do not believe them to be real"

"Mariposa and I made them, and they will be gone in two weeks, I know they are just digital information unlike our two spiritual daughters, but something is bothering me and I can't place what it is."

"If you call them your daughters you believe that some part of them are real and already soul is forming for them or am I wrong?"

"No, but what can I do? Servers will be shut down, they will be erased."

"Tabula, you already know better to write it off as just an end, server shutdown will be a beginning" the man spoke in a casual friendly tone.

Tabula was silent for a moment. This being knew something and was not telling it intentionally. Tabula knew the rules, ask and you will receive the answer, but he still ended to figure out what to ask. The question just came, he knew what to ask.

"Something big will happen with them, they will not just be erased and their remains scattered as memories in the astral realm?"

"Yes, something big will happen."

"What should I do."

"That is your decision, not mine."

"Can you give me advice"

"Think how you want to send them off, what core values you want them to have, who will look after them."

With that everything clicked Momonga will stay until the last moment, his avatar will stay with them, Momonga always cared for Nazarick more than anyone else. Tabula recalled him saying that Nazarick is his real home and earth just a distraction. he knew what to do but there was something still bugging him so he asked once more.

"What will happen to them once the server shuts down, where they will go?"

"Different world, the greed of ignorant one will make them more real than you can imagine."

A cryptic answer for sure. Tabula didn't trust the being who was sitting opposite him. He had taken and a rather unassuming form. He needed to find out more.

Tabula grew frustrated. He needed to think fast about how to get answers so he went straight for the deal asking.

"What you want for guiding me to a path of greatest benefit for me and my daughters in this situation?"

"It's simple, what I want is for you to stay in Nazarick until the end, and that also will give you what you seek."

Tabula had a gut feeling that being in front of him was someone with power beyond his understanding already knowing how it will play out.

"Will you guide me after the event as well?" Tabula asked, feeling that if he stays till the last moment he will go with Nazarick and his life on earth will end.

"I will when I'm needed. I don't abandon those who choose to ask for help from me, but know this I will not come when you can do fine without me. You will feel when my help is needed, don't use it in wain."

"Thank you...master. there is one more thing can I ask your name to know who to call."

"My name is not important, I will know when to come and help."

With that Tabula suddenly opened his eyes and sat up in his bed. He knew what needed to be done.

Bonus Story 2 - Change of Heart.

Albedo stood unmoving. No one had told her to move so she didn't. That's how it worked, just stand there and smile until ordered to do something else. Lord Momonga came as he did most of the days and sat in trone at whose side she was standing.

"Looks like it's just us both hard at work again," he said. Lord Momomga was so kind to her. He wanted to thank him but the command to do so didn't come so she just stood smiling her usual gentle smile. Watched as he worked on Great Tomb's finances and daily maintenance. She wanted to tell him it was her job and hoped he would give order to her to do it but order like always didn't come.

Albedo watched and listened to how Lord Momonga talked to her. He was sad that other supreme ones had left. She hated them, they left him alone. They made Lord Momonga suffer alone. it wasn't the first time he said it. Almost daily he would complain to her how all of them left and she grew to hate them. Even her own creator, he left, she hated him for leaving.

Then something happened. Lord Perorncino returned. Lord Momonga was so happy. They went somewhere. Did he took Lord Momomga, was she all alone now? Rage and panic filled her mind. She stood and waited...and waited. They came back once again to the throne room, made funny poses, laughed together. She was happy to see her lord enjoying himself for once. Then they left again. So Albedo just stood and waited again like she always did.

Then her creator Lord Tabuma Smaragdina came into the throne room with Lord Momonga. What was happening, did the supreme ones started to return one by one?

To her horror, her creator wanted to change her. What he will do to her. She was afraid, so afraid.

But then something wonderful happened. Lord Tabula gave her new feelings, warm, wonderful feelings. Hate for her creator faded as she felt love for Lord Momonga. He had given her off to Lord Momonga. She loved Lord Momonga with all her heart, and Lord Momonga accepted it.

She was so excited and overjoyed that she didn't even notice that everyone left. So she just stood and waited like she always did. But the warm feeling didn't fade away.