[00:00...1,2,3]
The room was bathed in the cold, blue glow of a computer screen as Satoru removed his helmet, bringing an end to his virtual adventure. He felt the weight of exhaustion in his body as he struggled to stand, his steps heavy and labored. The transition from the immersive digital world to the real one left him feeling strangely empty.
With a sigh, he made his way to the fridge, hoping that some food might alleviate his sense of loss. But even the taste of the meal was soured by the knowledge that it was all over.
"It's over..."
The food felt tasteless as it passed his lips, but he knew he needed the sustenance before collapsing into bed. The days ahead promised to be even more exhausting. For as long as he could remember, YGGDRASIL had been his sanctuary, his source of joy and connection with friends.
But now, YGGDRASIL's servers had been shut down forever, and his sanctuary had crumbled to ashes. It was a bitter reality that he had to face alone in the confines of his dark room.
All the hard work, all the memories, all the camaraderie with his friends—all of it vanished in the blink of an eye. The pain in his heart was unbearable, but there was nothing he could do to change the outcome. Even his friends had long abandoned the game for their own reasons.
Satoru counted himself lucky for having a high-paying job, as it was the only thing that had kept him afloat. Others might not have been as fortunate. But even so, the emptiness left behind by the game's closure gnawed at him, leaving him adrift in a sea of loneliness.
"Good times do not last forever, they say..."
Satoru accepted his unlucky fate with resignation, unable to stave off the waves of grief that washed over him. He left his half-eaten food on the table and crawled into bed. However, sleep eluded him as he tossed and turned, the weight of his loss pressing heavily on his chest.
"Why... damn it, why? Why did they have to end it?" He muttered to himself, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and sadness. Tears welled up in his eyes as he stared at the ceiling, feeling utterly and profoundly alone in the darkness.
"I can't..."
Satoru raise from his bed and grabbed from the drawer a rope. The day that he feared so much has arrived. Many young men that had terrible jobs with evil bosses that used them as slaves tend to buy a rope for only one reason... To commit suicide.
And Satoru has had enough. YGGDRASIL was the string that held together life and death and it was the only thing that gave him happiness, but now it was over for him.
The young man tied the rope in a place where it will not fall from the weight of his body. Satoru thought for a moment if this was the right decision but he had no nobody to worry about and nobody will ever care about him disappearing.
"Fuck this world!"
This man had nothing to lose in this toxic world. With this, all his everyday problems will be gone and only a corpse will be left.
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Satoru found himself in a place unlike anything he had ever seen before, a realm that defied all logic and explanation. The stark transition from his previous world to this one left him utterly astounded.
"What the?! Is this..."
It was a breathtaking sight—a massive colosseum, ancient yet magnificent, surrounded by lush, untouched nature. The sheer beauty of this place took his breath away, and he couldn't help but wonder if he had somehow arrived in heaven.
"Is this what heaven looks like?!"
As he contemplated the surreal surroundings, he marveled at the spectacle before him. It was as though he had stepped into a realm untouched by time.
"Wow, how come this place appeared right after I killed myself."
Curiosity overtook him, and he took a step forward, eager to explore this otherworldly realm. But his fascination was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a strange and menacing machine.
"Huh?! What is that thing?!"
The machine, an eerie droid, seemed to have detected Satoru's presence and was moving steadily towards him. Panic gripped him as he considered the possibility of malevolent entities in what he had initially believed to be heaven.
"Hey, this is heaven, right? There can't be evil machines here, right?"
Satoru instinctively raised his arms in a defensive posture and began to retreat, but the relentless machine showed no signs of stopping.
Just as fear began to consume him, Satoru noticed something extraordinary. He glanced down at his own body, and a jolt of recognition surged through him. His hands were skeletal, adorned with rings he knew all too well.
"Hold on a second!"
Satoru couldn't believe his eyes. He was back in the avatar of his character, the same one he had played in his favorite game, YGGDRASIL. The shock of this revelation momentarily overshadowed his fear of the approaching machine.
"No way, man?! No way!"
His skeletal form, his rings, his gear—they were all there, as familiar as ever. Satoru was in disbelief at what he was witnessing.
Meanwhile, the droid continued its advance, targeting the enigmatic skeleton that had appeared in its territory. It unleashed a barrage of missiles, which scattered in various directions. But every projectile was aimed at the skeletal figure.
Satoru noticed a protective circle that seemed to encase him, and the missiles harmlessly exploded against a magical shield. He didn't even flinch. The droid, undeterred, rose once more and continued its relentless approach.
"Interesting," Satoru mused, finally finding his composure. "My shield activated on its own from such weak attacks, just like in the game. Guess it's time to give it a try too."
With a thought and a command, he invoked a powerful spell.
[Dragon Lightning]
The surroundings darkened, and a brilliant bolt of lightning crackled into existence. In an instant, the electric fury struck the very core of the droid, reducing it to a million scattered pieces.
"So weak... but a good guinea pig to test my spell."
Satoru couldn't help but feel a surge of exhilaration. His skeletal avatar, his spells, and the familiar world of YGGDRASIL had all seemingly come to life. The adventure had only just begun, and he was eager to explore this mysterious realm that felt both thrilling and oddly nostalgic.
Satoru found himself in a new reality, transformed into the powerful avatar he had known from YGGDRASIL. He couldn't help but ponder the bizarre circumstances that had led to his current situation.
"So I died and now I have turned into my avatar from YGGDRASIL. Man, I hope this is not a dream because that would really suck."
The pain of his death and the transition from one world to another had felt all too real. There was no doubt in his mind that he was no longer a part of his previous life. He had become an entity, a memory, within the body of this formidable death god.
As he delved into his inventory, he made a shocking discovery. His inventory was filled with legendary gear, weapons, and even world items—objects of incredible power that should have been impossible for him to possess.
"I have the legendary gear and weapons?! How? This should not be possible!" he marveled, aware of the immense value of these items.
However, Satoru also knew the dangers of flaunting such power. Players with world items often became targets, and he had no desire to draw undue attention to himself.
"Nice, very nice!" he muttered, a sly grin on his skeletal face.
Surveying his surroundings, he noted that while some elements seemed reminiscent of YGGDRASIL, the landscape was still largely unfamiliar.
"Hmm, I wonder where am I..."
With a mere thought, he activated the ability to fly, soaring into the expansive sky. The freedom of flight filled him with exhilaration, but as he beheld the vastness of the new world, he couldn't help but be awed.
"Woah, I can fly for real now, so cool... Hold on... Damn, this place is huge."
The landscape below him bore some similarities to the worlds of YGGDRASIL, featuring vast forests, seas, imposing mountains, and towering cliffs. It was a breathtaking sight, and Satoru marveled at the beauty of this natural world, so different from the concrete jungle he had known in his former life.
"Hmm, maybe I should walk."
Cautious of drawing unwanted attention, he decided to alight from the skies and explore on foot. He shifted his gear to that of an assassin, concealing his skeletal visage with a black mask and a hooded cloak.
"Alright, let's move..."
With determination in his step, he embarked on his adventure in this new world, a world that held endless mysteries and possibilities, a world where the boundaries of life and death had been blurred, and he was determined to uncover its secrets.
Satoru ventured through fields, hills, and forests in this new world, encountering only weak creatures like slimes and animals, much like the beings in the worlds of YGGDRASIL and other games. His journey was marked by curiosity, as he explored ancient ruins and observed them from a safe distance, cautious of the enigmatic, pitch-dark creatures that occupied some of them.
To bridge the language barrier, he sent a ghost-type undead to observe and eavesdrop on these strange inhabitants. However, their language remained incomprehensible to him, raising concerns about communication with the intelligent denizens of this world.
As he continued his travels, he stumbled upon a small island in the middle of a serene lake. What piqued his interest wasn't the island itself but the towering statue atop it, a majestic figure with wings reminiscent of angels depicted in Catholic churches.
"Well, check this out."
With a jump, he landed on the island and touched the statue. In a sudden burst of strange light, the statue's energy flowed into him, leaving him mystified.
"What the hell just happened?!"
A sensation coursed through him, a newfound power he couldn't quite fathom.
"What can this be?"
He extended his hand towards the water, and a potent gust of wind erupted from it, causing ripples across the lake's surface.
"Interesting..."
This magic was unlike anything he had encountered in YGGDRASIL, a phenomenon that defied the game's mechanics.
"What is this statue?"
Before he could investigate further, cries for help reached his ears from nearby.
"Help?"
The word was clear and understandable, prompting Satoru to rush toward the source. He found a middle-aged man in distress, surrounded by the same menacing black creatures he had encountered earlier. Before the creatures could harm the man, Satoru unleashed his newfound wind magic, obliterating three of the creatures in an instant. The remaining three turned their attention to him, but Satoru drew his sword and dispatched them swiftly.
"Are you alright, sir?"
"Oh, thank you!"
The man was visibly relieved, his panic and exhaustion evident.
"Oh thank you, adventurer! I thought I was done for."
"Nice, I can understand him."
Satoru was relieved to find that he could communicate with the man effectively.
"Don't worry, sir, everything is under control for now."
"Those damn Knights of Favonius are useless to leave the roads unprotected."
"Knight of Favonius?"
"Hm, are you not from Mondstadt, young man?"
"No... no, I'm not."
Satoru had never heard of Mondstadt or the Knights of Favonius before, solidifying the fact that he had entered an entirely different realm.
"Actually, I'm not from this land, sir. And I'm lost, trying to find a town or a city."
"I see... well, I'm going to the city of Mondstadt. Come, hop on the carriage, young man."
"Can I?"
"You saved my life and my carriage, so I will help you too. Let's go."
With gratitude in his heart, Satoru accepted the man's offer, ready to embark on a journey into the unknown city of Mondstadt and unravel the mysteries of this new world.
The journey with Tsarevich was an enlightening one. Satoru learned that Tsarevich hailed from the northern cold nation of Snezhnaya and was a successful merchant. Their conversations were punctuated with Tsarevich's disdain for the authorities of Mondstadt, whom he regarded as ineffectual and inebriated, lacking the strong governance he believed the city needed.
"So, your country, Snezhnaya... is ruled by a goddess?"
"That's right," Tsarevich confirmed. "She is the almighty Archon of Cryo, Tsaritsa, and no one would ever dare to oppose her authority."
The concept of gods ruling nations intrigued Satoru, but it also raised concerns. He wondered if the denizens of this world were familiar with undead beings, and if they perceived him as a threat. The mask and disguise he wore would hopefully shield his true nature, but uncertainty lingered.
"There it is, the city of Mondstadt."
As they approached the city, Satoru marveled at its imposing walls and iconic windmills. The city was perched atop a massive island, connected to the mainland by a sturdy bridge.
"Will the guards allow me to enter the city?" Satoru asked, his concern growing.
"Worry not," Tsarevich assured him. "I will deal with those useless knights."
Satoru couldn't help but note Tsarevich's deep-seated animosity toward the city's guards. As they neared the entrance, he braced himself for what lay ahead, a world both fascinating and filled with uncertainty.
Satoru and Tsarevich successfully entered the city of Mondstadt, bypassing the guards' scrutiny due to Tsarevich's familiarity with them. The city's relaxed and cheerful atmosphere was immediately apparent, resembling a medieval western European city. However, Satoru couldn't help but notice the uneasy stares he received from the city's residents.
His ominous attire and mask made him stand out amidst the peaceful population. Even the normally friendly cats hissed and fled from his presence. Satoru had a sinking feeling that he might soon find himself in trouble.
As he explored the city, he overheard a female voice greeting a young boy and a peculiar fairy-like creature.
"Let me introduce to you the city of wind, dandelions, and freedom."
Satoru observed the young knight speaking to the boy and noted that the newcomer also wore unusual clothing. It seemed the boy was from a different nation.
The conversation shifted to a topic of great interest to Satoru—the dragon known as Stormterror, which had been terrorizing the city. He absorbed every detail, recognizing the importance of this information for his future endeavors.
However, as they conversed, the sky suddenly darkened, shrouded by ominous grey clouds. The citizens and the newcomers noticed the abrupt change. From within the thick clouds emerged the massive form of the dragon.
The peaceful day gave way to chaos as the citizens fled in terror. Enormous tornadoes began to form, pulling everything in their path.
"Aether!"
The young female knight cried out, and Satoru spotted the boy, who had sprouted wings and was pursuing the dragon.
"Is he crazy?!" the girl exclaimed.
To her astonishment, she saw another figure pursuing the dragon, though this person was not using a wind glider.
"Who..."
Satoru closed the gap between himself and the boy who was relentlessly launching spells at the dragon.
"Need help?" he called out.
The boy acknowledged him with a nod.
"Good, I'll take the left side, and you take the right side." Once more, the boy nodded in agreement.
Satoru positioned himself on the dragon's left side, ready to assist the young boy in their daring pursuit of the colossal threat.
They were ready, the boy shot the dragon with many of his spells causing the dragon to lose a bit of control.
[Chain Dragon Lighning]
A huge thunder with the form of a dragon was unleashed toward Stormterror. The thunder hit the huge body causing the dragon to scream in pain. The sky turned into dark blue because of the impact.
Unable to fight against such force, Stormterror vanished through the clouds and left. Slowly, the clouds started to disappear, and the city turned normal again with a few damages.
Both of them landed at the area where the cathedral was. The young female knight immediately rushed to the body.
"Are you hurt?!" she screamed.
No, I'm okay."
Aether then looked at the tall person that helped him.
"Thanks." he said.
"It's nothing, the city was in danger so I had to help too."
They both respectfully shook hands. Satoru turned to leave them in peace but...
"Wait, who are you?"
The fairy-like creature suddenly asked him.
"Indeed."
Another person was walking toward the group while slowly clapping his hands.
"Kaeya, good thing you arrived, the Stormterror is attacking Mondstadt itself!"
"Hold on, Amber. Are you perhaps forgetting to introduce us?"
"Oh... right. This is Kaeya, our Cavalry Captain. These two are travelers from afar, Aether, Paimon, and..."
Amber remember that she had never met this person before. From the first time she saw him, he looked very suspicious, like those agents from Snezhnaya.
"You can call me... Momon"
"Aether and Momon, I won't ask any further questions right now but on behalf of the Knight of Favonius, I would like to extend our thanks to both of you for your help just now.
"Well, we couldn't leave the dragon to go on a rampage and put the lives of the citizens in grave danger." said Aether.
"Yes, many of the citizens saw the battle, the bards will have a lot of inspiration to sing about you two. Also, the Acting Grand Master of the Knight of Favonius is very interested in meeting both of you and formally invites you to our headquarters."
And like that, the group went straight to the headquarters. Momon was worried when asking him about his origin or if they ask him to remove his mask. "This will be very troublesome."
They entered the headquarters and walked to a room. The inside of the room was very luxurious and two beautiful women were waiting.
"Jean, I brought them.
One of them was a tall athletic blonde with fair skin and blue eyes. She was wearing a white, blue, black, and red strapless shirt with a long blue tailcoat attached to it. The other one has fair skin, green eyes, and wavy, light honey-brown hair, which is tied in a loose side ponytail. She wears a purple and white dress with open slits at the sides and gold embroidery, along with black gloves with pale purple trim, a large witch's hat, black lace stockings, and black high heels, and an earring is visible on one ear.
They waited for the group with bright faces.
"Mondstadt welcomes you, travelers. I am Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. This is Lisa, our resident Librarian."
"Thank you sweeties for helping us. You're so adorable." Both of them had those sweet female voices.
"We have had so much trouble these days because of Stormterror and new faces are very rare now."
"This is Aether, I meet him and Paimon outside the city when I was on my patrol duty. He also helped clear a hilichurl camp. He is on a mission to rescue his sister from an unknown god that took her from him."
"That's so terrible!"
"Poor sweetie..."
"Unknown God? Well, that's weird and they believe his story so easily... Does this mean that beings like gods roam in these land?" That reminded him of what Tsarevich said about his country being ruled by a god.
Then, they turned to Momon and they were more serious now. Should he tell them the truth?!
"Before I answer, I want to know something?"
"Hm?"
"Are the people of Mondstadt hostile towards non-humans?"
Jean lifted an eyebrow in confusion.
"That depends, there are bad non-humans and good ones. Same with humans as well, there are bad apples in every race. So you are non-human right, I guess you must have had a bad experience."
"Yeah, that's why I have never removed my mask."
Jean thought of this as some trauma that must have happened to him a long time ago when he encountered humans so she decided not to ask more but his name.
"My name is Momon, great to meet you all."
"What are your intentions in Mondstadt, mister Momon?" asked Kaeya as he was the only one who was very suspicious of Momon.
"Hm, I'm not sure either but I heard there is an adventurer guild in the city. Maybe I'll join them to travel freely."
"Hey Aether, you should also join the adventure guild. The other nations might accept an adventurer first, rather than a total stranger. What do you think?" suggested Paimon.
"Indeed you are right, being an adventurer gives a passage everywhere you travel." said Jean.
Aether nodded in agreement but the matter with Stromterror was problematic and might give trouble in his mission to find his sister.
"Right, I will also help in resolving the Stormterror problem, and I hope I reveal some clue about my missing sister."
"May the wind lead you to your dear sister, Aether."
They were people with good hearts and wished for everyone to be happy but Momon dislike these ways. They were so naive thinking they will stop that dragon together. For Momon, Stormterror was an easy monster and nothing special but for these people, he will be a nightmare.
Also, the boy was even worse, trying to find his sister while hunting a dragon but who knows, in the end, something might come out of this mission.
"I will help too and I'll also help Aether find his sister."
"The-There is no need to trouble yourself, mister Momon. My journey might be a very long one."
"It"s okay Aether, I myself do not have a personal objective for now... My parents died when I was just a kid and all my friends disappeared a long time ago. It's really heartbreaking to lose friends and family members."
"Momon... thanks, you will be a great help."
"Welcome, aboard Momon! Call me Paimon! We will be a great team!" said Paimon with great joy.
It was true that Momon did not have a goal but to wander around this new world so he was trying to turn things more interesting for himself.
"Alright, we have a plan. Lisa has revealed sources of Stormterror's power with her detection magic." said Jean.
"They are located in the abandoned Four Winds Temples."
"Our objective is to deal with three of the four temples. We need to act before the situation escalates."