When you fall asleep, do you dream? How often do you dream? Have you ever wondered about the meaning of those dreams? Have you ever considered taking control of them? What was that term again, Lucian pondered... Ah, yes, lucid dreaming, that was it.
The experience Lucian was having was quite similar to a lucid dream. Atop his head, a ball of darkness floated, and as he stretched his hand, the dark sphere transformed into a cube. As he twirled his fingers, the dark cube changed its shape, morphing into a horse with wings before becoming a dragon, and ultimately, it took the form of a beautiful lady. Although her appearance remained unknown to Lucian, she had a distinctly familiar yet mysterious figure.
"Who was she again?" He wondered. She was not Mei Mei, nor Suzune, nor was she Mizuki. Then who was she? Had Lucian ever met someone like her? He tried to gaze at the figure of darkness that floated before him. He didn't know why he had created her or how he had done it; he was simply trying to have fun in his lucid dream.
However, just as he was about to take a closer look at the figure generated before him, he felt a tremor in the place where he was floating. Suddenly, a light cut through the darkness, and he saw what appeared to be a tunnel of light. Lucian attempted to move toward it, seeking to escape the dark prison. However, the light moved much faster than the darkness, and it enveloped both him and the darkness.
****
In the blanket of darkness, under the cover of night, atop the bed made of dreams, lay two sinful beings. One slept soundly while the other sat there, their presence palpable in the night.
The first one's beauty ensnared the boundaries around them, while the second one's allure bound them to this world.
The black-haired beauty softly ruffled the goldish-silver hair of the bewitching young man sleeping on her lap. Her sinful, naked body was covered only by a thin layer of darkness.
Time continued to pass as she forgot everything else, her attention solely on the young man's face. She gently touched his hair, his nose, slightly long and half-elf-like ears, and his cheeks. It was as if she had finally obtained the treasure she had longed for all this time, and that was indeed the case.
However, just as she was about to poke at his soft cheeks again, a ripple of darkness passed through the young man, making the entire lavish room shake with intensity.
"You are finally waking up, my love," the lady said, her smile so bright it could overshadow the sun, yet hidden beneath that smile lay the darkest reaches of the universe. Her eyes were glazed, her pupils taking on a heart shape as she gazed at the young man's fluttering eyes. His long silver eyelashes were slightly wet as he slowly opened his eyes, revealing mesmerizing green pupils that subtly glowed.
"Welcome to my humble abode, my love," said the goddess as she moved her head closer, gazing directly into the young man's eyes, her pupils once again taking the shape of a heart as she looked at him fervently.
"How do I wake up?" Lucian asked as he closed his eyes briefly and then opened them, lifting his head from the goddess's lap.
"Wake up? I think you are still not fully awake, my love. This is no dream; we are in our home," said the goddess. Her black hair cascaded to her left as she leaned in and tightly embraced Lucian, who was dressed in a white shirt and matching pajamas.
She held him tightly, inhaling his scent with her face nestled in his neck as she spoke. "It's been really, really, really lonely for 500 years... Lonely isn't a big enough word to describe my state, my love," she said. Her slender hands moved to hold him from the back, tightening her grasp as if never wanting to let go.
This warmth, this presence. She had only embraced him once before, yet it was so addictive, so intoxicating that she had been craving nothing but this for over 500 years. And now, the warmth and presence seemed to become even more addictive.
Five hundred years ago, when she was slain by her beloved, she thought she would forever vanish, never to see him again. She had come to terms with that fate to some extent. What better death than to be killed by her most beloved? However, her beloved had other plans. He wanted power, and she was the source of it. And she did it, she gave him that... her soul. She gave him her soul, her powers, her very essence of life. Even if she was imprisoned in his body for eternity, she would take that as a blessing, for she would be with him.
But the tremor of a dying world had finally broken that chain...
"My beloved, just dive into me... I'm made for you, and I need you. All you need to do is embrace me, call my name, and whisper your words of love. Then we'll forever live in an eternal reality," she whispered in his ear, a slight trickle of something seemed to pass through her pale green lips, a power that affected the world around her.
Lucian sat there, saying nothing and not returning her embrace. After a moment, she pulled back from her embrace and looked at him.
"Forget about them; the real world is of no consequence. I'll recreate one here, and we can forever live here. Forever be with each other. And when I regain all of my powers, I'll serve all the worlds to you..." the goddess said as she caressed Lucian's face, her slender hand moving as if he were the most precious treasure. Her eyes glowed neon green, her pupils taking on the heart shape, and a green light emitted from her eyes. She looked at Lucian, and her smile widened as she saw Lucian's eyes glazing over for a second.
"Like hell I would!" Lucian slapped her hands away. His eyes now glowed neon green as he pulled back and raised his hand like a sword. It glowed a neon green, and a black tar-like substance covered it. He swung it down, cutting through the mirage of the goddess.
Lucian's hands passed through the goddess, making her vanish into thin air, disintegrating into particles of light.
"As expected, it works, and I feel as if I've known this all along," Lucian muttered as he looked at his still-glowing hand. He could control the glow, which was very deadly, with his mind. The moment he thought of turning it off, it did. It was instinctual, almost as if he had been born with this power. There was no console, nor was there a need for one.
Lucian got up from the bed and walked away from the silky bed, made of red and green materials and gold combined. It was soft, almost melting to one's touch, and huge enough to accommodate him and the goddess easily, leaving room for multiple people.
Lucian surveyed his surroundings and found himself in a vast room that appeared to stretch endlessly. The floor was composed of intricate marble tiles, arranged in beautiful patterns, and chandeliers hung from the ceiling, swaying as if imbued with life.
"Hey, how do I get out of here!? I know you are there, goddess!" Lucian exclaimed loudly, looking around the room. He knew that aimlessly running around would be pointless. As for how he knew this, it was an instinctual thought, the most logical thing to think, at least that's how it appeared in Lucian's mind right now.
"Why can't you accept me, my love? Why? Why?" The voice of the goddess emanated from behind Lucian. Swiftly, he turned around, and as he did, the surroundings around him transformed, returning him to the dark place he had been before. But this time, he was not alone.
Before him, a goddess stood, bound in chains, with a path of darkness leading to her.
She was draped in a black dress that appeared to be woven from the very darkness surrounding them. A bolero wrapped her, veiling her hands, and a vibrant green necklace adorned her neck. Her long, obsidian-black hair cascaded down to nearly reach her knees, despite the constraints of the chains that bound her in place. Her eyes were a mesmerizing shade of green, and her face was extraordinary beautiful, slightly rivaling that of Lucian. Her body displayed sinful curves, accentuated in all the right places. A delicate veil graced her head, offering a glimpse of her extremely beautiful, pale face.
"Why?" She asked, her neon green eyes filled with frustration, sadness, and yearning for his love.
"Why? Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why won't you love me back? Why won't you just look at me with a little warmth? Why? Is it because I'm cursed? I was cursed because I sought you. Is it because I'm sinful? No matter how tainted my soul became, I preserved my purity for you, my beloved. Was that wrong? Do you desire someone who will gladly give in to your desires? Is it because I represent one of the sins? A devourer? Is it because of my association with the devourer? Do you despise me for that? I've already forsaken my identity! So why? Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why!" Her voice dropped in pitch as she shouted and screamed, her movements causing the chains of darkness that bound her to clank eerily.
"Hey, tell me, my love, which aspect of me do you not like? Tell me, please! Tell me so I can discard it! Tell me so I can better myself for you!" She shouted, her face a mix of frustration, fear, relief, and many other emotions. Her chains clanked as she attempted to move and break free from them, yearning to truly embrace her beloved, rather than just using her mirage body.
Lucian stood there, in the path of darkness, his gaze fixed on the goddess. He watched as she continued to shout and declare her love, her voice gradually lowering in pitch.
Lucian stood there, wondering how he had ended up in this strange place and thought, 'Just how did I end up here?'
He traced back the events that led to this predicament, starting with his last moments in Yggdrasil. He recalled the moment he had expected to be forcibly logged out and embrace reality, but instead, intense screeches started echoing in his head while he was in the Throne Room of Aesir. The expected shutdown never happened, and suddenly, everything became vividly real. He had witnessed his NPCs moving on their own, talking, and displaying emotions, which was entirely out of the ordinary. Lucian knew this was not possible because the NPCs were made up of macros. Although they could speak a few catchphrases obtained through the cash shop, it was limited to a few cheers triggered by console commands, which had now vanished.
At that time, he was convinced that he was not dreaming. However, now he couldn't be so sure. It felt like he was in some sort of dream-like place where everything seemed to cater to his thoughts, and moving around was surprisingly easy.
In the beginning, when Lucian found himself in that empty darkness, he thought of all the possibilities that might have led to this unusual situation. His initial thought was that a new game had taken over Yggdrasil, featuring incredibly realistic visuals. Another notion that crossed his mind was that he might be in a Main Reality movie, a VR Experience where characters came to life, and he could experience things as if he were there.
However, his assumptions were immediately made invalid when he saw Mei Mei. She called out to him, and her voice sounded alive, filled with pain. Not to mention the sensation of a heartbeat in his chest and the refreshing feeling of taking a breath left him in no doubt that he was experiencing something extraordinarily real! Furthermore, there was a distinct power that he could feel, and it continued to flow through him even now.
He didn't know what was going on, but he was certain of one thing: he was real, and this was him, not his avatar. Although this moment felt like a dream, it was far more realistic and vivid than any dream he'd ever experienced. Everything here was crystal clear. He could perceive every detail of the girl who was passionately professing her unconditional love for him. Her facial expressions were incredibly detailed, even more so than in real life. Lucian felt that his vision had been significantly enhanced; he could see every pore on her body. Her sensual figure, only veiled by darkness, was undeniably alluring, and Lucian couldn't deny his attraction to her, but it held no value for him in this moment.
"I need to get out of here, to understand what's going on," Lucian muttered to himself. He was aware that he was trapped in some kind of dream-like state, and he needed to find a way to wake up. He turned his attention to the goddess who continued to speak incoherently, tears streaming endlessly from her eyes.
Lucian didn't fully understand the details of her words, but he managed to glean a few things from her disjointed story. She appeared to be associated with the sin of Lust, or possibly she was the very same sin of lust that he had defeated and fused with using a World Item in Yggdrasil.
"But shouldn't she be dead?" Lucian wondered inside his mind, but he immediately shook his head. From the contours of her body to her face, they all matched that sin of lust he defeated before, and she was standing before him; it was definitely her.
Lucian knew that he had no other way to understand this situation than to ask her directly, even if it meant playing along with her game.
"Luxuria, was it?" Lucian asked as he walked forward, his lips curving into a smile. His face was so bright and bewitching that it made the goddess's face blush and burn with heat. She hated how easily she succumbed to his charm. She could despise herself, but she couldn't hate him. His smile was enough to make her silent and melt into a cruel embrace of love. Why was love so cruel, she wondered.
"My love, Luxuria is but a title, a mere vocalization of my existence. I am nothing but a fool in love," said the goddess with a forlorn expression. Yet, her eyes remained full of affection and love as she gazed at Lucian, sending shivers down his spine.
Her eyes resembled Mei Mei's. They were exactly the same eyes she used to look at him with every night. They spoke of her love. Even though Lucian had only seen that look from a few women in his life, it was evident. Those eyes held devotion, love, and, above all, an hidden unending obsession.
"If it's not Luxuria, can you tell me your name? So we can have a better conversation," Lucian said, scratching his cheek and attempting to act as if he were trying to understand her. To extract information from an enemy, you need to employ whatever means necessary.
In response to his smile, even the once most beautiful goddess couldn't contain her emotions, and she immediately replied with a shout. The chains binding her clanked, threatening to break from the force she exerted in an attempt to move towards him and embrace him, though her efforts proved futile.
"My true and original name is Euphemia Voraxiax Eldralith," the goddess proclaimed, her voice carrying a magnetic force as she revealed her true name.
For a second, Lucian experienced a very familiar yet disorienting sensation, as if someone were attempting to invade his mind. However, it quickly subsided as he gazed at the goddess, now with caution.
"What was that?" he asked, this time without a radiant smile to mask his seriousness. His voice sounded as though he were very angry, causing the goddess to feel a pang of pain in her heart, a sensation she had endured while watching over her beloved from within this cage, unable to embrace him.
"It is but a mere effect of an origin name, my beloved," explained the goddess. "As a Goddess, I'm able to share my origin name with only one person, my beloved, and they will have total authority over me." She spoke with a fanatical smile that stretched from ear to ear, something which made Lucian wince. He was already tired of dealing with this woman, and it had only been a few minutes.
"I now belong to you... fufufufu... You own me, my beloved; you have me in your hands now," she declared with a fanatical laugh, as if having her life bound to Lucian was a thing to celebrate.
"Ugh..." Lucian winced once again, took a few steps backward, cleared his throat, and asked politely,
"Could you please explain what you are talking about? And, if possible, can you help me leave this place? I'm worried about my maid and my friend..." Lucian said, his melodic and emotional voice sending shivers down the goddess's spine. Lucian tried his best to offer a reassuring smile, as he believed a smile was usually effective when dealing with opposite sex, and he hoped it would work in this case.
He was surprisingly calm at this moment, even though he knew he shouldn't be. The last thing he witnessed was Suzune and Mei Mei clutching their chests, struggling for breath. It should have filled him with deep concern for their safety, and indeed, he was worried. However, his mind remained unusually composed, and he maintained rational thinking. Yet beneath this facade of calm, a dark undercurrent of malevolent emotions was brewing, emotions he was actively suppressing. He understood that if he let those emotions take control, something terrible might happen.
"Worried about them? Why? Why? Are they more important than me?" The goddess asked, her face revealing a mix of frustration, anger, forlornness, and a touch of sadness.
"Yes," Lucian replied honestly. He couldn't pretend that the girls weren't more important to him. As he responded, the goddess's expression darkened, and she lowered her head, her face concealed by her long, dark, silky hair.
"So first, can you tell me who you are? I mean, I know you are the sin of lust... but didn't I kill you, and weren't you already used to fuse with me?" Lucian asked. Although his priority was to escape from this place as quickly as possible, he also wanted information and answers to a few of his questions.
In the game, whether it was monsters or bosses, they were all constructed from specific data. The quantity and quality of the data consumed a significant portion of the servers. These AI modules were programmed to act, behave, and possess certain backstories, abilities, and various attributes. These were all bound together by an artificial program that served as a manual for them to move, maneuver, and work with their own challenging attack patterns. As Suzune had mentioned, Luxuria was a very High Level AI module, requiring more space than most due to her extraordinarily complex data.
After her defeat, Lucian had effectively assumed her place. Although he didn't directly replace that AI module, his avatar was granted the same privileges, necessitating even more data and server resources to manage it. Furthermore, the previous Luxuria, the world enemy, was gone, and her data had already been deleted. So, how could she be here?
"It's such a foolish question to ask, my beloved, especially after you devoured me," she responded, her tone switching from sadness to something more unsettling, her cheeks blushing and her breath growing heavy, seemingly deriving pleasure from the notion of Lucian consuming her.
"Just give answers to my questions!" Lucian shouted, trying to cut through her strange behavior and get the information he needed.
She looked at Lucian with a smile that seemed to convey all her emotions. It was a smile that carried the warmth of her feelings and the depth of her devotion.
"If that's what you want," And so she began,
"I was the sin of lust, as you rightly said, but not anymore. I've already given all of that to you – my sin, my heart, my soul, and my powers, even my name." As she spoke, a blush washed over her face.
"As for why and how I'm still alive, I feel a little disheartened knowing that you wanted to see me dead. But I'm alive because the World Item has taken my body and powers, not my soul. My soul still resides within you. Just to be clear, I'm a fallen goddess, so I have enough energy to create a body for myself. However, the chains binding me won't let me go, won't allow me to meet you, my beloved. They've kept me like this, only permitting me to watch you adventure in the world of Yggdrasil, unable to even express my eternal love and devotion. It's been 500 years..." she said as she stood there, attempting to use her hands to shake and break the chains, but all they did was move slightly and clank.
"I've watched your every adventure unfold, every movement," she said, her eyes filled with love, her expressions increasingly twisted with affection.
"When you were joyful, I felt joy too. When you were sad, I experienced grief. When you were angry, I felt rage. When you were having fun, I shared in your laughter," the goddess said.
She was once a being so frivolous, so pure, so benevolent. She was aloof, indifferent to others.Yet, now look at her. Nothing piqued her interest except her beloved. Her vision was entirely focused on him, her world revolved around him, and her perception was painted with his presence.
"What are you seeing? What are you hearing? What are you thinking? If you weren't here, I will think of you. If you were here, I would stare at you." Day after day, she watched him so intently that she started experiencing a void in her heart, and even the smallest change would drive her into a frenzy...
But alas, she could do nothing but watch. After all, she was trapped in this world. And it was her beloved who had imposed this punishment. For her, even this was a blessing she willingly accepted.
"But just after the life of Yggdrasil was about to end, I felt the cage binding me break..." she said as she seemed to tug on the chain on her left hand... And... it broke...
"Wha-" Lucian immediately retraced his steps, not because he was afraid of the goddess or whatever she was. Oh no no no no. He had absolute confidence in himself right now, his soul was screaming it, if there existed one. What he was afraid of was the kind of bacteria and viruses she might have. After all, Lucian was someone kept away from the world, due to his weakened body, especially when it came to bacteria and viruses of unknown origins. Because of that, he had developed a kind of germophobia. Knowing she was a goddess and probably of unknown origin, he didn't want any of her viruses on him. Even if this was a dream landscape, he wasn't willing to take the risk.
"Don't be afraid, my beloved. They are not that easy to break, but I can use some of my old powers to some extent," the goddess said as the chains shackled her once again.
"But with this, I can project myself, and this is enough for us to be together. Forever... I can slowly erode these chains, and then we can both escape and be together forever," she said in an intoxicated state, going on a passionate rant, daydreaming about a fantasy that had yet to be realized...
"I'm not afraid!" Lucian replied in a stern tone, as if he was being accused wrongly. He opened his eyes wide when he realized what he had done and how loudly he had spoken. When she suggested he was afraid, Lucian felt an overbearing pride and a sense of anger welling up within him. These emotions were unfamiliar, and he found them quite conflicting. Lucian was not someone prone to irrational anger, thoughts, or pride. How could he have said something like that unconsciously?
"I know you are not... How can you even be afraid when you have those 13 creeping around your every breath," said the goddess with evident anger, as if she didn't want that to happen.
Lucian wore a shocked expression for a second before adopting a more serious one and asked, now worried about these new 13 factors, as if one was already not enough.
"What do you mean by 13? Who are these 13? Where?" Lucian asked as he seriously looked into the goddess's eyes, her rationality almost wavering as she relished every moment of his serious expressions.
"Ugh, yes, my love, those would be your 13 very useful stalkers..." The goddess said. As she spoke, golden lightning crackled in the dark sky before a golden lightning bolt struck the goddess straight at the waist.
"Ouch!" She cried out in pain. But the assault didn't end there. A water blade and a fireball also attacked her from behind.
"Ouch, ouch! Stop it! You merciless bitches!... Do you want to stalk him alone for all of eternity!? Once I get back my powers, I'll make you all pay!" She exclaimed with an angry expression, slightly writhing in pain, bearing marks from the lightning burns, fireballs scorching, and a cut from the water blade on her body.
"Are you okay?" Lucian asked as he walked forward, his compassionate nature guiding his steps. He didn't know what those attacks were, and he understood they weren't aimed at him. He also realized he had no obligation to care about her, as he didn't know her well. However, his nature just didn't allow him to look away. Lucian couldn't have it any other way; his innate kindness compelled him to offer help. In Yggdrasil, he might have appeared as a heartless demon, but in real life, he was a kind-hearted saint. (Doesn't mean he is a saint now)
As he moved forward, he appeared right in front of the shackled Goddess. Lucian looked at her body, and his own body started to float, his goldish silver hair waving wildly. It all happened on its own, as if he didn't even need to think about it.
"Does it hurt?" Lucian asked, gently touching her slim waist where the burn and the mark left behind by the lightning were located, her pale skin now scorched a sickly green. His concern showed in his voice.
Euphemia shivered as she felt the touch of Lucian, her beloved. It was real, and he was touching her body. If she could express it in words, it would be a maddeningly intoxicating feeling. She was addicted to it, the pleasure, happiness, pain, and the maddening shiver he made her go through. It made her realize that Lucian could make her feel this much from a simple touch. His concerned voice resonated through her head like a chorus, creating an utterly blissful experience of utmost proportion.
Euphemia stammered, "I-i-i-i- it hurts... Ouhh..." She did her best to suppress the blush, the smile, the heavy breathing, and the overwhelming pleasure that enveloped her. She acted as if she was in pain, trying to hide the maddening glee that covered her face.
"Tch, even your cheeks are bleeding..." Lucian said as he moved over to her face and touched her cheeks. If the earlier experience was like discovering a treasure chest, the feeling she had now was something akin to having all the treasure chests in the world accumulated in one place, given to her in a single second. It might be a weird analogy, but to Euphemia, at that moment, it was the best she could come up with.
Lucian gently caressed her cheeks, his hands moving as if he were handling something incredibly fragile. His expression softened, briefly revealing a hint of sadness as he observed the deep cut and the greenish blood flowing from it.
Lucian didn't know why, but he felt a somewhat of a connection to the goddess standing before him. He was not attracted to her body or her face, nor was he in love with her. But the connection was much deeper, something akin to a mother and child. Maybe he saw his deceased mother in her? He didn't know, but this feeling probably stemmed from some Yggdrasil factor. Although he didn't know to what extent it was affecting him, he was certain of one fact: everything in Yggdrasil seemed to have become a reality.
He didn't know the full extent of it, but he could feel it, all the abilities, skills, and spells inside him. It was a very strange feeling, as if he were carrying knowledge and power from beyond. However, he also worried about other factors. If Yggdrasil was real, was death also real? Could he die if someone reduced his HP to zero? Was it even possible for him to die, given his HP regeneration that made it nearly impossible to kill him? And if they could kill, did that mean Mei Mei and Suzune could also be harmed? His NPCs, if they had come to life, were very strong, and they could easily dispatch both of them.
For a moment, a very dark thought passed through his mind, but he shook it off. No, that was not going to happen. His thoughts then turned to Mizuki, who wasn't with him when he was suddenly confronted with this new reality. He couldn't help but worry about her—what had happened to her, where she was, and how she was faring. But he knew he needed to calm down first and try different things out.
"Let me know if it works," Lucian said as he attempted to use a spell from Yggdrasil, something that should be impossible outside of the game, without a console.
"[Dawn's Blessing]," Lucian chanted the name of the spell—an 8th Tier healing spell that could restore most players to their peak performance in a single use, as long as it was cast by Lucian.
As soon as Lucian chanted the name, a white magic circle appeared above Euphemia, and her entire body glowed a brilliant white before it subsided, revealing the goddess completely healed. Not a single wound remained; not even a scratch.
"Good to know that it works," Lucian said with a smile as he caressed her cheeks, doing so unintentionally because he was pleased to discover that he could cast magic. However, the full extent of its effects remained unknown. He would have to explore that further later on.
Euphemia, meanwhile, had a face as red as a tomato, and her breathing was erratic. Each breath was loud and prolonged. Lucian's warmth and presence were driving her to the brink, and she couldn't restrain herself. She understood that she couldn't break those chains, but she needed him desperately.
"Are you okay now?" Lucian asked, observing the downcast face of the goddess. When he peered at her, he noticed her face was as red as a tomato.
"Tch, what are you, some dog in heat?" Lucian exclaimed as he backed away from her. Her labored breathing and continuous murmurs of love were clear indicators of her intoxicated state.
"I'm sorry about that, my love... It's only natural to feel that way," Euphemia said, her voice trembling, still affected by a hint of intoxication.
"Yuck! I would never sleep with a creep like you," Lucian retorted, sticking his tongue out and expressing his disgust.
"No...why..." The goddess wore a forlorn expression, like a cat being abandoned.
"I've always cared for myself, preparing for my first time with you, my love. Why would you say that!?" The Goddess muttered, her sullen expression evident. If her hands were free, she would have been poking both her index fingers together, but all she could do now was sulk. Anyone, mortal or divine, would typically feel compelled to give their all for this goddess, but Lucian seemed immune to her charms. What was beauty and cuteness to the most beautiful being in the known universe?
"Answer my damn questions, and I might consider a reward," Lucian said, holding his chin, contemplating whether it was the right option.
"Really!?" She exclaimed, stars adorning her eyes, her excited breaths remaining stuck in her throat, even though she didn't need to breathe to live.
"Really..." Lucian replied with a serious expression.
"What do you want to ask!? Ask me anything. My three sizes, my body count – it's one, by the way, the one I'm about to have as my reward – even anything related to the forbidden Divine Magics, even the supreme-tier spells," the goddess said with an excited face, her breathing becoming even more erratic.
"Just tell me who these 13 people you were talking about are? Are they stalking me? Where are they? And how can you contact them?" Lucian asked, a sense of unease creeping over him.
"Oh, you meant your maidens?" The goddess asked as she lifted her head upwards.
"I don't know if they are just shy in front of you or if they just can't see you for some reason. But they are very dangerous and very creepy," the Goddess said with an "umu."
Lucian facepalmed himself mentally, realizing that the creepiest person he had ever encountered was talking about someone else being creepy. What irony.
"Are they going to hurt me or anyone close to me?" Lucian asked, needing to understand all the potential threats to be prepared for any eventualities.
"Hurt you? I think you're mistaken, my love," the goddess replied. An illusory figure of the same goddess materialized next to Lucian and held him from behind, floating in the air.
"I – no! We will never hurt you, or even think of that. It's not plausible in any reality," the goddess said with such seriousness and conviction that it was unsettling, given her earlier more flirtatious demeanor. Her ample breasts pressed against Lucian as she embraced him from behind.
"What about my maid and friends?" Lucian asked, needing confirmation, though he could already sense the truth through his newfound ability granted by the divinity class. He didn't like how quickly he was adapting to this power; it felt somewhat unsettling, as if he were being twisted and turned.
"No, they will never hurt you or your loved ones... Be it your lovely maid, your prismatic angel, or your sweet slime..." the goddess assured him. As she spoke, the darkness seemed to part for a second, and 13 voices chorused together, similar to the time he had heard screeches so loudly that he fainted.
"Positive," the chorus echoed.
"Look, even they agree..." The goddess giggled, her laughter melodious, almost like a siren's call.
Lucian heaved a sigh of relief, he knew for some reason, that they were telling truth. It was another instinctual thing but Lucian decided to believe in it..
"But my love, I'm not so kind... I hate it... I hate these maidens taking your attention, I hate how everyone around you gets more time with you than me. I hate how your first priority is those girls and not me," the goddess said with a frustrated voice. She floated forward and appeared right in front of Lucian's face, gently caressing his cheeks with her gloved hands.
"My love, if you don't pay attention to me, I might do something irrational to them... I can't bear to hurt you, but those you hold dear—" she continued speaking, but Lucian moved his hand forward and grabbed the goddess by the throat. His entire body began to glow red, and his neon green eyes transformed into a deep, bloody red color. A golden halo-like glow covered his red eyes, giving the appearance of golden rings floating within his red pupils.
"Dare say that again..." Lucian said as he tightened his grip on her throat, almost causing her to bleed. His red nails extended beyond their normal size, now painted green with blood.
"If it's for you, I don't mind meeting death, my love... I love you, so it's only natural for me to do this, isn't it? I don't care about myself, as long as it satisfies you. I don't care how many times I have to be killed," the goddess said with a fanatical expression as Lucian's claws dug into her throat, threatening to tear it from her body.
"Tch! I hate it!" Lucian exclaimed with a frustrated face as he immediately pulled his hand away from her throat and held his hands forward.
"[Sacred Restoration]," Lucian casted a 10th tier spell, and a blinding glow enveloped the goddess, causing her wounds to once again disappear.
"Oh, my love, you are too kind, too precious, too pure for this world," the goddess said with so much love in her voice that it momentarily made it hard to think straight. To her, every gesture of Lucian was precious, whether it was his cruel moments or the ones when he was as kind as a divine being. Everything about him made her love him even more, if that were possible.
"I promise you, my love... I won't hurt your loved ones... I would not... But I wouldn't stay idle if someone pointed their claws at you. I've seen enough... I hate every being that went against you. If the world of Yggdrasil were not destroyed, I would've given them a fate worse than eternal damnation in the 12th D limbo," the goddess spoke with such fervent emotions that it unsettled Lucian for the umpteenth time.
"Good. You won't hurt anyone. I'll reward you for useful information, and if you prove to be helpful, I'll offer even greater rewards. What do you say?" Lucian said, as if striking a deal like a businessman. He had picked up a few things from his father-
Father? Who? Father... Lucian's thoughts went awry for a moment as he pondered. Father? Why couldn't he remember his face? He could remember everyone's face, no, he could remember everything as clear as day, but not his father... Lucian shook his head immediately, deciding that this matter needed to be discussed later. First, he needed to find a way out of this place and make sense of the current situation.
"Of course, as long as I get to be by your side, I'm fine with anything, as long as you don't abandon me... All I need is you, nothing else matters," the goddess said with fervent eyes, which now had heart-shaped pupils.
"Ugh, okay..." Lucian said, scratching his cheek. He then cleared his throat, and his soft voice echoed once again.
"Now, tell me, what is this place, and how do I get out?" Lucian asked.
"Heheheh... This is your SINFUL palace, my beloved... A land of infinite imagination... Where only us can reside... Just us," the goddess said with a giggle, quite content about occupying a special place close to Lucian's heart.
"And how do I get out of it?" Lucian asked, eager to check on Mei Mei and Suzune and learn more about Mizuki. He also wanted to know if there were any players out there taking action against the guild.
"You just need to open your eyes... just wake up," the goddess explained.
"Oh, is that so?" Lucian wondered. He had tried to wake up before, but it didn't work. Before he could attempt it again, he asked another crucial question.
"You mentioned that the world was destroyed. Do you understand the game of Yggdrasil was shut down?" Lucian asked.
"I don't know what games you're talking about, but indeed, Yggdrasil is gone... the world tree has burned, leaving behind nothing but a seed," the goddess said, her necklace's gem twinkling in response.
"Does that mean we're not in Yggdrasil anymore!?" Lucian asked.
"No, my love, we're in some other world, a new world that we know nothing about... But the core of this world, it's weak," the goddess said with a hint of disdain.
"What do you mean?" Lucian inquired.
"It's but a mere assumption. I haven't regained my true powers, so I can't tell," the goddess replied, shrugging.
"When you say 'different world,' does it mean that we're in some other game?" Lucian asked.
"I don't know why you're talking about games. But, my love, this is no game. We are in a new world," the goddess explained.
"I see..." Lucian was trying to process the information to the best of his ability, but he still needed to verify her claims.
"Thanks for your help, Euphemia," Lucian replied with a smile, causing Euphemia to beam like a bright beacon.
"I'm always at your service, my love," the goddess replied.
"As a token of thanks, here's your first reward," Lucian said as he leaned closer to her and gave her a peck on her cheek. His lips caressed her illusory cheek, albeit for a moment, but it was enough to make her continue looking forward with affection.
"T-t-t-thank pyu!" The goddess said, stuttering and slipping over her words. It was quite a bizarre sight to see a millennia-old goddess stumbling over her words due to a kiss on the cheeks.
"See you later..." Lucian said as he closed his eyes and focused his mind on waking up. It didn't take long, as he appeared to dive through what seemed like a gate, and opened it before everything brightened before him.
****
In the beautiful forest, surrounded by towering trees, lush grass, beautiful translucent lakes, and pathways that appeared to have been crafted by Mother Nature herself, two individuals were engaged in a conversation.
"The [Leohtfrassil] is operating 21% more efficiently. The twin light border has started absorbing the energy of Leohtfrassil to rejuvenate itself. According to Regan the Light's estimate-" the elf maiden with copper blonde hair reported, reading the documents she had collected. She held a stack of papers in her hands.
"Good, keep going, Myura-san," said the small spirit floating before the copper-blonde elf. The spirit was wrapped in a green cloth that resembled a rope, encircling her body and covering it. Her expressions conveyed sadness and a touch of desperation. She was exerting her best effort to remain coherent and fulfill her tasks, as she understood it was what her master would have wanted her to do. After all, he had created her with a purpose to serve him.
"Lady Sylph, is Lord Lucian still not awake?" Myura inquired, her forehead creased with worry. She sensed that something was amiss, although she didn't know precisely what it was. She can see a heavy burden weighing on Sylphie. She understood that her lord remained in slumber for a reason, yet she was uncertain as to why.
"Yeah, Master is still asleep..." Sylph said, her voice quivering. With each passing moment, the pain she felt intensified. Although she longed to be by her master's side, it was not currently possible. She needed to fulfill her duty, as that's what her master would want at this moment - ensuring that the place assigned to her for guarding remained safe and functional, so that when he awoke, it would be the same beautiful forest he had left behind.
"Lady Sylph, is there something wrong?" Myura asked, her concern for her lord genuine. She could contain her curiosity about many things, but not when it came to the person she loved the most.
"No," she began to reply, but before she could continue, a magical transmission passed through, and she instinctively grasped her left ear.
"Sylph here," she announced, and as she did so, the caller responded. Her eyes widened as she heard the voice on the other end of the message.
"Really!?" she exclaimed, still holding her ear. Her face lit up to the extent that it left Myura slightly stunned, observing the dramatic shift in her demeanor. As Sylph floated about the area like a maiden who had finally received the news she had been eagerly awaiting, a strong gust of wind began to stir and blow everything in its path.
"Master has woken up!" Sylph exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air, causing the trees to dance wildly. Leaves were sent flying into the air, swirling in chaotic circles as she reveled in her joy.
"I need to go. Collect the reports later and hand them to Riveria-san for analysis," the spirit declared. Her wing-like antennas on her head fluttered, and a gust of wind kicked in before she vanished, leaving behind a raging tempest of wind that swirled throughout the area, causing the trees to shake violently.
Myura quickly shielded her eyes, watching as the guardian's departure left a trail of turbulent wind in her wake. She marveled at how swiftly Sylph had disappeared.
"The queen of the wind spirits is truly the fastest," she muttered, gazing at the still-agitated wind, which was finally beginning to subside.
****
Walking down the expansive hallway was a figure clad in white. The floor consisted of multicolored marbles, shining as it reflected the dim light emanating from the chandeliers above. The sides of the corridor were adorned with various doors, each leading to different rooms for various purposes. The figure dressed in white continued to stride forward, their footsteps creating resonant noises that reverberated through the extensive hallway.
The figure was Shiraori, her long white hair braided and cascading down her back, with her hood concealing her closed eyed face.
As she continued to walk forward, a small spider with black, red, and white patterns materialized on Shiraori's slender, white leg. It immediately crawled toward her head, causing Shiraori to halt her step as she waited. The small spider eventually settled behind Shiraori's ear, forming a communication channel.
"Shiraori," she said to the individual using the message spell.
Something echoed in her ear, and her typically emotionless face gained color for a moment. A faint smile graced her exquisite face. Her eyes slowly opened, revealing her unique, bright ruby-red eyes. Inside her two human like eyes were four small arachnid pupils surrounding her human pupil in an X shape, creating the illusion of having five eyes on each side.
For the first time, she smiled. Her eyes opened, but no one was in the hallway to witness this as she replied.
"I'll come," she replied in her typically monotonous voice.
The spider behind her ear vanished, and she promptly closed her eyes, her expression returning to its usual state.
She then raised her hands and sliced through the air in front of her, creating a rift in space that could accommodate more than one person. The brilliant array of lights inside the fissure will dazzle anyone who can observe it, but Shiraori, without hesitation, walked into the space fissure and disappeared from the hallway, leaving nothing behind but an empty corridor.
*****
Everything had changed. What was once mere data had become a frightening reality. The fictional game had transformed into a real and a terrifying situation.
Momonga stood at the center of a vast domed hall, resembling a grand theater, with four crystal lamps hanging from the ceiling, casting a shimmering light throughout the room. Along the circular walls, 72 niches held statues resembling demons, these were demon golems, crafted from very rare metal from Yggdrasil.
The golems had a wide range of appearances, some riding on monstrous creatures, while others fused with various animal features. While they all had demonic elements, not all of them were fully demonic looking as many were humanoid in design.
They were created as a fun project by a guild member but were left unfinished.
"To me, demons of Lemegetons!"
The majestic and fierce golems, all differing in size, color, and shape, immediately moved and appeared before their master. Their speed was far greater than their heavy and formidable appearance.
"Don't take orders from anyone but me. Listen only to my words, commands, and orders," Momonga commanded as he waved his bony hand, making his black and intricate academic robe flutter. Initially, he had been afraid to enter this room because the golems' creators other golem had once attacked him. Still, he took the step inside with the determination to save his life.
The golems all bowed in sincerity, each of them giving a nod and a hum in reply. They couldn't talk, or at least, most of them couldn't. Instead, they displayed their loyalty and obedience through other actions.
"Well... That's one problem solved," Momonga muttered to himself. Realizing that the virtual reality had somehow become real, his top priority was ensuring his safety. Although most of the NPCs had shown him great respect and loyalty, he couldn't forget the incident in the throne room earlier.
"Albedo is really scary," Momonga shivered at the thought. The earlier encounter had made him truly afraid of the pure devil in white.
When he had first realized that the game had become reality, Albedo was the first to respond to his call and answer his words. It was only natural for Momonga, or rather, Suzuki Satoru inside him, to confirm the reality with a rather bizarre action.
****
"Albedo, may I... can I touch your breasts?" Momonga asked, his gaze fixed on the beautiful raven-haired woman draped in a white dress, her beauty truly a sight to behold.
"What!?" Albedo shouted, her hands tightening as she clutched the World Item in her grasp, causing Momonga to squeak inwardly.
A heavy pressure descended on both Momonga and the hall, nearly palpable. Though Albedo's expression displayed shock, Momonga couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear, even if his bony visage couldn't express it.
"Lord Momonga, not to be rude, as you are the leader of all the Supreme Beings and including my creator. However, it's imperative that a servant should not have any inappropriate involvement with their master. Above all, Lord Momonga, I am absolutely not up to the task you have commanded me to do. Please forgive me, and if you desire my death for this behavior, it's only natural that I comply," Albedo said. Her earlier sweet voice, which had made Momonga feel as if he were dealing with a goddess, had now taken on a more serious and somewhat intimidating tone. Her words carried a hint of anger.
Momonga cleared his throat before speaking, "Ah, yes. You are absolutely right. I was merely testing your rationality. There's no reason to punish yourself. Pay it no heed. Please go and inform the Guardians of each Floor, except the 4th and 8th Floors, to gather at the Colosseum on the 6th Floor in an hour's time. I will personally contact Aura and Mare, so there is no need to inform them." Momonga spoke with all the authority he could muster. He needed to assert himself as a leader to maintain control over these NPCs.
"As you wish, Lord Momonga. I'll go and inform them right away. Please excuse my presence," Albedo said, bowing her head, and she gracefully descended the stairs that connected the hall to the enormous throne.
Once her back was turned, a sour expression crept over her face, but she made a concerted effort to conceal it as she walked away, heading toward the exit of the throne room.
Upon leaving the throne room, Albedo walked a little further and then let her emotions take over. Her body shivered in absolute disgust. "Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting! How could he even think of touching me? Disgusting!" She screamed and shouted, scratching her neck as if the mere thought made her want to commit a hundred atrocities and rip her own skin off.
She used her hand to punch the hallway wall with enough force to create a small crack. It was a way to release her anger, though not with her full strength.
"Hahh... I need to calm down... Oh, my love, I miss you... I hope we can soon reunite so I can finally profess my love..." she muttered to herself as she continued walking, her wings fluttering. Her thoughts were now filled with the person she loved, pink hearts twinkling in her eyes.
As for the object of her affections, that remained a closely guarded secret.
****
Momonga still stood in the room of Lemegeton..
There was a time when one of Momonga's guildmates decided to create 72 golems inspired by Solomon's magical grimoire. However, his guildmate gave up halfway. Luci★Fer was very enthusiastic about creating 72 demon golems, but he stopped at 67, and his motivation plummeted, coinciding with the time he started playing Yggdrasil less. Momonga wasn't aware of what had happened to Luci★Fer, but he was very thankful to him for creating these demon golems, which could serve as his trump cards if any guardians or NPCs tried to revolt. This concern stemmed mostly from Albedo's earlier response, as the pressure she had exerted at that moment was palpable. Momonga was seriously considering it.
"Lord MOMONGA!" A cute voice suddenly broke Momonga out of his thought processes as he looked around. He knew that golems didn't have the ability to talk. While there were many other constructs in Yggdrasil with the ability to communicate, these demons weren't among them. Though there were cash shop items that allowed players to add communication functions to golems, such a feature was usually reserved for role-playing purposes. Luci★Fer, despite his penchant for adding details to his demons, had not included a voice function in them, to Momonga's knowledge.
"Lord Momonga, I'm here," the cute voice rang out again, and Momonga looked around the golems that stood before him. His eyes finally landed on the source of the voice.
Standing among the huge and mighty demons, this cute girl presented a stark contrast to the other demons of Lemegeton. She embodied the perfect image of a cute loli, wearing a gothic dress in red and black, with a red ribbon tied at her waist to enhance her cuteness. Her rose-gold hair and heterochromatic eyes, one red and the other black, gave her a youthful appearance. She held a plushie, and it happened to be a camel, with stitched details and button eyes. The presence of such a cute girl among the fierce and mighty demons was a stark contrast.
"Yes, speak. Tell me what you want to say," Momonga instructed, pointing his bony finger at the loli. Without hesitation, the girl ran forward and appeared in front of Momonga.
"Greetings, Lord Momonga. I'm Gremory, a creation of my esteemed creator, The Fallen Doll From 4th Heaven, Lord Luci★Fer," the loli introduced herself. Her voice was incredibly cute, and she greeted Momonga by holding the hem of her skirt and bowing, with one leg elegantly extended back, a gesture befitting a noble.
"Oh, uh, okay, Gremory," Momonga stuttered, taken aback by the aristocratic aura exuding from the girl. He had never expected Luci★Fer to have created a loli. From Momonga's knowledge, Luci★Fer was not a lolicon. Luci★Fer was always busy crafting and creating golems, and his creations were usually inspired by imposing demons from myths. A loli golem was quite unexpected.
"Tell me, what do you have to say?" Momonga asked, doing his best to maintain a ruler's composure.
"Lord Momonga, the command you gave earlier goes against my commandment," Gremory replied, her eyes downcast.
Momonga looked at Gremory and wondered about Luci★Fer's choices for her settings. However, he decided to overlook it for now. She didn't seem particularly powerful, and while he wasn't aware of her level, she didn't appear to match the strength of the mightiest demons of Lemegeton. Not having her support might not be a significant issue
"Oh, is that so?" Momonga muttered with a laugh before replying, "Worry not, I won't ask you to disobey the commandment of your creator. After all, Luci★Fer and I were great friends." Momonga replied, and his words this time came off as more natural than when he was talking to the other Guardians in the throne room. Perhaps talking about a friend made the conversation more genuine and natural.
"Really? Thank you, Lord Momonga!" Gremory beamed and jumped around.
"Now, go back to your place, all of you," Momonga commanded with a wave, and the golems nodded, vanishing as swiftly as they had arrived.
With that done, Momonga left the room and used the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown to transfer himself to the 6th floor to meet the Floor Guardians.
After Momonga's departure, Gremory sat with herself alone in her niche, which also served as her expansive living space. She sat onto what appeared to be a sofa designed in the shape of a sitting camel, still clutching the same camel plushie in her hands.
"Shouldn't we try to find him?" she pondered aloud, speaking to herself with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"Yes, I'm sure he won't be harmed," she replied to the imaginary question, as if in a conversation with an unseen presence.
But her demeanor shifted abruptly, and she declared, "No, he's ours, and we must reclaim him!" The plushie in her grasp emitted a faint glow.
"No! I won't share him with you!" Gremory exclaimed with a scowl, holding the plushie up to her face as if challenging an unseen opponent.
With a lot of frustration, she threw the camel plushie away on the ground and stamped on it with her feet, kicking it repeatedly, attempting to obliterate it, but to no avail. Only a bit of dirt marred its appearance.
"Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, you stupid ride! You stupid fucking animal!" she shouted, her initially cute appearance contorting with anger.
Then, in an unexpected moment, she abruptly halted and picked up the plushie again, this time with a smile.
"Are you certain? You'll allow me to have him all to myself? Thank you!" Gremory's face reverted to its cheerful state as she resumed her usual position, her eyes sparkling with happiness. As she hummed a song, while swinging her legs up and down.
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[Charachter Sheets]
If you like these, I'll create and add more every chapter. Even new world Characters.
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5 chapters ahead on patreon
Patreon/AzazelGrim
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9000+ words
*Authors note*
Sorry, guys—no multi-chapter release this week. I couldn't bring myself to write for hours to stock up on chapters for upload. Hopefully, I'll manage it next week. I'm really sorry about that, but eventually, I'll do a mass release once I'm able to write more than one chapter a week. Real life keeps screwing me over, even though I really want to keep writing.
Thank you for reading. Writing honestly makes my week—ngl. There's nothing like uploading a new chapter and feeling that anticipation for comments (though I'm too scared to read them after year's break… 😭).
Love y'all. 💙
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