The New World
Unknown Marshlands
Shit
After recovering her composure Cereza, together with Albedo slowly made their way into the marshland, searching through the mist and swamp covered land looking for the entrance to the Tomb of Nazarick. The section of swamp they had found themselves in was unfamiliar, with the trees and pathways within their limited site differing greatly from where they were previously walking in YGGDRASIL just before the game ended.
But there was no signs of the ruins of the Great Tomb from where the two started their search, which just mere moments ago would have been in the heart of the mausoleum. Nor was there any sound of the crows and other creatures that inhabited the land. In fact there wasn't any sign of any living creature here. Each step the two took, fear and panic creeped into Cereza, slowly building up her anxiety.
Quickly the search changed from finding the Tomb to finding anything related to the Great Tomb Nazarick. The timber log house, the graveyard, hell Cereza would settle for the pathway or any sign of a manmade structure at this point.
Each passing minute her anxiety creeped up slowly, something that didn't escape the notice of Albedo.
"My Lady, are you ok?"
"No Albedo" snapped Cereza back to her companion.
"The Tomb… is gone Albedo. Its gone…" trailed off Cereza as she slowed down in her frantic searching. A defeated look now on her face.
Blinking innocently at her mistress, Albedo looked left and right.
"Demiurge!" Yelled Albedo. "Come out here now, stop deceiving the Supreme One"
Only silence answered her call.
"I swear then moment I get my hands on him..." trailed of Albedo as she bent over to pick up a loose stone. Cocking back her arm she turned in a seemly random direction before unleashing the stone.
In the distance only a splash could be heard.
"Well that went well" said Cereza dryly, turning to face a stun Albedo "Was that supposed to calm me d…'
Bloody curling scream interrupted Cereza remark. Hands pulling at her hair Albedo screamed before dropping to her knees gazing out in the direction she had thrown the stone.
"But I can feel it still…" trailed off a stunned Albedo. "I still feel the Tomb, it just over there…" a single raised finger pointing off into the distance.
Slowly Cereza made her way in the direction that Albedo was pointing towards. Quickly making her way to a small murky pond that the stone must have landed in. She was joined shortly by Albedo who had regathered some of her wits.
"This is the entry point, or at least, this is where I feel it should be"
"Don't get this feeling thing you have Albedo, but last time I saw the entry point to the Tomb it was both above ground and water."
"It's slowly going away, like a leaf in the wind"
"You're ignoring me are you? I really should not have told you about the movies I watched."
Turning to face the Supreme One, Albedo opened to speak before stopping herself, turning to face the supposed entry way to the Tomb before speaking.
"It's like the birds you would talk about on our walks, how they are in tuned with these magnetic fields of this 'Earth' you occasionally would speak off. It similar I suppose, its like I feel that no matter where I go I will always know the direction to Nazarick."
"So how do you know it is here and not miles off in that direction?"
"Call it a woman's intuition" Albedo replied smugly.
Shaking her head in disbelief, Cereza stared out into the distance wondering what to do next. Regardless of the results of Albedos' little outburst it did help her to calm down a bit from her initial shock of being dumped… somewhere.
That somewhere was swamps and marshes spread from horizon to horizon, a low-level fog floating just below their knees with a supernatural darkness seeming to linger all around, keeping a twilight haze to marshland. Ponds of murky water were scattered about with strange, twisted plants reaching for the sun high above.
An unnerving setting to find yourself in, made worst with not knowing where here was.
Cereza, plucking up a bit of courage and putting on a commanding mask turned and face Albedo before saying "It seems that this will get us now where. Let us get out of this swamp and find some civilisation."
Nodding slowly to begin with before gain a bit more certainly "Yes My Lady, I'll follow your lead."
With that the two set of in an easterly direction with no real aim in site. Knowing that the marshland and swamp could not continue on forever.
I hope that this world is not like my old one. I wonder if it is similar to YGGDRASIL.
--
The going was slow for the two of them. The soft ground beneath them and the twisting, whining ponds and stream impeded them from making any progress quickly.
The marshland they had found themselves traversing never changed. The eerie silence lingered, only to be interrupted with the occasionally splash of water from when one of the two would stepped into the puddles along the path they had taken.
Twisted, deathlike trees could be seen within the larger pools spread throughout the marshes. Crawling their way above the water, fog and the supernatural darkness trying to reach the light, yet never rising more than a meter above the surface. Dark ferns joined them in their fight for sunlight, but like the trees they were doomed to fail.
The silences was most disturbing to the two wanders. No bird, no fish, no life could be seen or heard, just silence and the stench of death in the air.
Not being able to access her inventory was helping either, Cereza's high heel shoes and dress were not faring well in soft soils under foot; constantly getting stuck, tripping her up even with a new level of balance she had found she had in this new body. This new level of balance was further thrown off given that her new body was significantly larger and healthier than her old human body causing her coordination to be all over the shop. All in all, giving her a level of uneasy, discomfort and uncertainty with each step she took.
Not only did she have a noticeable in her grace and dexterity, which were leagues better than her old flimsy body but she found her strength and speed increase.
Every moment she spent in her new skin the more she enjoyed it. Gone where the aches and pains of her malnourished body of the 22nd century. Living off cheap noodles and supplements may off given her a skinny body, but is was far from strong and healthy like the new one she had.
Each step they took away from their initial landing point in this buzzard place, the more certain Cereza was that they were teleported more than just far away from Nazarick. Where she did not know, let alone the how.
She was sure that when the clock struck midnight she would booted from the game, yet she found herself here in this marshland. The only bright side to this weird twist to her life was that she was stuck here with one of her favourite characters from the guild, let alone the YGGDRASIL.
Talk about luck, imagine if I was here with the rest of the floor guardians or even the whole of Nazarick, the carnage that they would have coursed… unthinkable.
Shivering before looking back at the succubus behind her Cereza shivered again thinking of the carnage the denizens of Nazarick would have caused in this new world before turning and continued to march forward.
Yes, if the others were here world domination would have been on the cards straight away.
"So, the menu options aren't just hidden they are no existent" muttered Cereza after her umpteenth time at trying to game access, swiping her hand in front of her like a mad woman casing an invisible bug. "Nor can I use the any of the messages system. For fuck sakes Cereza what have you got yourself into this time."
"My lady, is there a fly needing swatting?"
"What the hell are you talking about Albedo?" asked Cereza as she turned to face Albedo, only then did she notice the Halberd in her hand. "Umm Albedo, where you always carrying Ginnungagap?"
"No Supreme One."
"Then hell the hell did you get!" Shouted Cereza, arms in the air with rage painted on her face.
Ok progress, if Albedo still has access to her legendary weapon Ginnungagap maybe she can show me how to access my equipment; then I can change out of these god dame shoes. I dodge wearing high heels at work, I'm not going to start wearing them now.
Blinking innocently and blank face Albedo faced her Lady "From the portal My Lady"
Err…
"Umm, what portal?" an unsure Cereza responded with a confuse look on her face. "Can you show me?"
Uncertain as too why a Supreme One such as her Lady needed guidance, Albedo slowly raised her hand while saying "I just pictured my weapon in my mind and went to draw it. When my hand reached my hip it..."
Stopping suddenly Albedo looked at her hand "I'm sorry my lady, but it seems I have a bit of a performance issue." She said worming slightly, a look of uncertainty and a slight blush on her face.
"Could you try it with a different item? If I remember correctly, you also had a number of rings that you would equip in battle."
"Of course, My Lady." Responded Albedo as she proceeded to reach toward where a pocket would be on her dress only to stop short when a strange portal formed beside her. From there she moved her hand in its direction, as her hand reached the event horizon it slipped inside p to her wrist before returning with a ring in her hand.
"Interesting, can you put it back?" Questioned Cereza as she inspected the ring that now rested in Albedos' hand.
"Hmm, it appears not My Lady." Albedo said after trying several attempts to do just as the Supreme One asked. "It seems to work only one way" Albedo sighed before placing it on one of her fingers.
Nodding along Cereza followed Albedos earlier actions while thinking of drawing one of the rings she had left in her inventory. As her hand approached her hip the same dark portal appeared, her hand entered without any fanfare. Once inside she felt a ring straight away and pulled it forth, the portal disappearing the instant her hand was out.
The ring itself was rather plain with only a small red gem cased into the silver band. The moment that Cereza placed it upon her finger she felt an increase in strength.
Looking down upon the ring words started to appear in the back of her mind.
Ring of Minor Strength
Nodding to herself in understanding, Cereza then focused on a particular ring she had in her inventory. Focusing she pulled out a Ring of Agility from the portal successfully. Continuing her experiment she try to pull a ring she had placed on her statue in Nazarick, but to no avail.
"Interesting it seems to only work on items that we have in our inventory when we arrived here." Cereza said to Albedo before placing the second ring on her hand, this time feeling a shift in her balance. "When we find somewhere more out of the way we should bring out better suited clothes then our dresses and heels."
"Now put that weapon away and let's get out of this swamp."
Using World items ability to change shape, Albedo turned her weapon into a danger before placing it on her hip.
--
Throughout their journey the heavy mist remained hiding various obstacles, sink holes and other surprises within the marshland. More than once the mist itself would play tricks on Albedo and Cereza causing them to turn to face what appeared to be a humanoid figures only to for it to be a branch or even a figment of imagination played up by the mist.
It took the pair quite a while of trekking their way through the marshland to spot anything on the horizon through the mist that was something other than swamp and marshland; even then they could not be sure.
Turning towards her Lady, Albedo pointed out the change on the horizon. For on the horizon was the start of an expansive front of trees.
From there it was just a case of finding the right pathway that led then in their new direction, all the while combating the harsh landscape. More than once they found themselves back tracking back into the swamp land, the twists and turns of the ground turning them to double back on themselves.
"This swamp doesn't seem to want us to leave" Cereza murmured after the sixth time that the two of them had been turned around.
The sound of moving mechanical parts caused Cereza to pause before turning back to face Albedo, who once again had her weapon out looking at the nearest tree.
"Time to die swamp land" Albedo said with a manic grin on her face, halberd in hand with mad eyes looking at the nearby tree.
"Umm Albedo, what do you plan to do with the halberd?"
"Make a bridge"
An attempt was made, or at least half off one.
The first swing of the oversized axe ripped apart the nearby tree, the second only made it worst.
From tree to tree Albedo went. Each one ended faster and more violently than the previous.
Screams of rage broke the silence as Albedo swinging became wilder and wilder, connecting with the various trees and brushes in the immediate area only for them be obliterated.
"Albedo, stop it already" a slightly giggling Cereza called out to her servant off in the distance. "You know you have wings and can fly right? We can just fly over to the trees over there"
Albedo stopped in her track pretty quick after that before slowly turning to face Cereza. Her eyes wide with innocents and while hiding a level of guilt behind them.
"I knew that"
Unfurling her wings from the small of her back Albedo launched herself into the air before making her way towards the distance trees.
Shaking her head, Cereza pulled out one of the Rings of Flying from her inventory before following her companion.
I feel like this is the start to a bad trend.
Gaining a bit of altitude Cereza got a food look around the immediate area.
Below and behind was the marshlands that the two had found themselves in, which was surrounded by a large expanding forest to all the cardinal directions.
Off to the west was foot hills to what appeared to be a mountain range heading off to the north. Peaks of white could be just made out behind the clouds, giving a sense to the scale of the mountains behind the foot hills.
An area to explore later, possible mining locations or monster dungeons could be found in those mountains. I wonder if there are dwarfs or other mountain dwelling creatures there.
Filing that thought for later, Cereza continued gaining a bit more altitude. As she reached a 100m in the air Cereza could see beyond the forest to the east where a wide expanse of great plans and grass lands appeared. While to the south the begins of a lake or small sea could be seen.
Well the east looks promising. I have spent enough time in murky swamps and waterways. Time to get a breath of fresh air. A new direction for this quest then. Let's see how long we can stay up here.
It wasn't long.
Shortly after getting above the mist covering the swamps, Cereza started to notice her energy draining to the point that she couldn't concentrate leading her to dropping from the sky. Lucky for her Albedo noticed her drop and come to her assistance.
Between the two of them they made it below the foliage of the trees. While it wasn't an instant change Cereza did notice she wasn't losing her energy as fast any more.
"Well, it seems this world's version of status effect is a drop in energy levels" murmured Cereza as the two of them slowly adjusted themselves to be back on land before setting of in an easterly direction.
Best to test these new effects in a more control manner Cereza. Think of it as the start of a new game girl; read, test, experiment, don't just blindly go forward. And easy quest girl, don't get in over your head.
Shit what if I die…
Stop it, your get yourself worked up again. Video game girl, treated it like a game be ready and be prepared.
After reprimanding herself for a basic error, Cereza took stock of her new problem.
Forest didn't exist in her old world, only concrete jungles. The sounds of the forest the birds, wind and even the sound of the leaves breaking beneath Albedos' feet brought a sense of wonder and excitement that the various games she played never brought. Those games, even YGGDRASIL, never brought this sense of realism of being in a forest.
The trees around the two ladies were massive, easily reaching 20m in heights, the trunks where nothing to scoff at either with the largest being 6 feet in diameter.
But not all the trees where so massive, the forest was dense with smaller trees and bushes ranging from one to two feet tall to eight to nine meters. On the forest floor where flowers and other small plants poking out from the foliage and broken branches, trying desperately to reach some of the sun light.
Clearly the season of the local region was in spring as not only was leaves green and plentiful but the flowers where in bloom.
Cereza using her new found agility and dexterity leaped and ran from flower to flower, bush to tree, taking in the scents and feeling of the various trees and flower.
"This place is magically" cried out Cereza in joyed as she made her way in-between the branches trees "And the smell, oh the smell."
"I'm glad to see you are enjoying yourself My Lady" a slightly distain Albedo answered back, looking at the nearest plant with disgust.
"Come on Albedo, relax and enjoy yourself." A bouncing Cereza said as she made her way to Albedo, placing a flower in her hair. "Their much better"
Blushing and running her hand through her hair, lightly brushing the flower making sure it's in place, Albedo nodded to her Lady.
"Come we have far to go before were through the forest, if we're luckily there may be a town not far as well."
The two slowly started to enjoy their walk through the woods, stopping at flowers and plants commenting on the ones they liked or disliked slowly making their way forward.
But light crack could be heard just of in the distance more than once. It wasn't till the sight of movement in the trees that Cereza became suspicious that they were being followed.
Each time the two would stop Cereza would take the opportunity to use her new body's eyes to pierce the canopy of the trees looking for their followers; yet finding none. More than once she wish she knew how to use her various spells and skills to help her, similar to the times when she hunted or did fetch quests in YGGDRASIL.
This is looking like a spring trap first, deal with the hunters second. I just need to warn Albedo without her raising a one woman war on them.