Aeterna - 5th Floor of Demeter
Twenty-five minutes 'til shutdown
Leaving their thrones, the two Players took one last look at the two guards standing beside them. They were the Guardians of the Thrones, a buff male Demon named Malacus, and a slender female Angel named Zuriel. The two NPCs were both created by Asriel.
“Well guys, see you later,” Asriel waved them goodbye as he and Goren left the Throne Hall.
Goren said nothing as he followed behind.
The two Players stepped out of the Throne Hall and into the Courtyard, the carved wooden double door closing behind them. They were on Aeterna, the floating island that makes up the 5th Floor of the Palace of Demeter. It was not the final floor of the guild base, but it was the final floor that could be invaded by Players. The 6th Floor, the actual final floor, was only accessible to those who wore a Ring of Chiaroscuro, or by entering emergency Gates that could only be activated from within the 6th Floor itself.
The point of having a secret 6th Floor was so that they could use it as a safe house in their times of need, such as if powerful guilds like Ainz Ooal Gown came to raid them. Not that they ever used it for that, as they still did want to face down any intruders who dared to enter their guild base. They also had the majority of the guild’s resource facilities on that floor, such as farms, so that nobody could pillage them when invading. Aeterna contained Astral Keep, their residence, and the many buildings around it that formed a small town. Inside Astral Keep is where the faux Treasury is located, houses all of the Gold and special Items their guild had earned and collected. Or so all invading Players would think. The real Treasury was located on the 6th Floor.
Aeterna was built with a town upon its surface, where most of the floor's NPCs resided. It contained Demeter University, where scholars studied magic and developed new spells (at least, in the lore they came up with they did); the Amphitheater where the Grey Orchestra performed; Paradise Inn where guests could check in (and dine at the Dining Hall on the first level where the Five Gourmands prepared all kinds of food); Equinox Cathedral, where healing services were located; Merchant Plaza, where items could be bought and sold and various recreational activities could be enjoyed (such as bowling, gaming at the arcade, exercising at the gym, and more); Club Hedone, where one could gamble while listening to jazz, bust a move on the dance floor, or have private time with one of the Incubi or Succubi in the Private Rooms; and finally Ablution Creek, a tropical lake with three levels, seperated by waterfalls, where one could relax. Houses made up the remainder of the town's space, sitting empty as there was nowhere near enough people to inhabit them. This floor was connected to the 4th Floor by a Gate, located inside the Lighthouse at the south-western end of the island.
Overhead was a black-purple-blue sky filled with stars, nebulae, and galaxies. It was all artificial, of course, to make it look like one was in a realm somewhere in space. It gave the 5th Floor an ethereal feel to give credence to the idea that Goren and Asriel were powerful beings.
Goren had a coughing fit as the doors to the Throne Hall shut behind them. Goren coughed loudly, hacking up a storm while his virtual avatar barely reacted.
Asriel patted his friend's virtual back. "You okay?" He asked Goren.
"Not really, but it won't stop me," Goren replied.
"When the servers shut down tonight, I'll make you some hot tea with honey," Asriel's tone was warm.
Goren' avatar responded with a smiling emoticon, "Thanks, dude."
"You're welcome."
Waiting outside the door to the Throne Hall was Kleran Reval, the Guardian Overseer. A male Automaton dressed in attire reminiscent of Thomas Jefferson stood at attention as the two Players passed by. They were uncomfortable having him stand by their thrones, as they felt he was judging their every move, so they had him stationed outside.
"I think I made him too stern-looking," Goren said.
"Heh. You should have listened to me when I told you to make him look less serious," Asriel teased.
"Asriel knows best, hm? Well, this time, it's true," Goren chuckled.
Goren and Asriel passed through the Garden of Asgard. It was a garden filled with plants from all over Asgard, from their time questing in that world.
The Astral Keep was a castle of gleaming white stone walls and sparkling obsidian rooftops, to match the black and white color-scheme of their guild’s flag. The Garden of Asgard was located within a courtyard that was located in the center of the castle. Whenever it rained on this floor, the courtyard remained completely dry, thanks to an invisible barrier overhead that prevented water droplets, and only water droplets, from passing through. Everything else could pass through it with no trouble at all.
The two Players made their way to the Castle Gates and opened them, revealing the view of the island.
At the end of the pathway was the stairs that led down to Equinox Cathdral. They stepped towards it but stopped before passing through.
"Should we visit any of the areas here?" Goren asked.
"No, that would take a bit too long. We don't have enough time to see everything before the servers shut down for good," Asriel replied.
"Oh," Goren said, audibly disappointed.
"Sorry, bud," Asriel placed his hand on his friend's shoulder again.
"No, you're right. Let's go," Goren replied.
The two activated their Rings of Chiaroscuro and teleported to the 4th Floor, Arcadia.
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Arcadia - 4th Floor of Demeter
Twenty minutes 'til shutdown
The two Players teleported to their destination and surveyed their surroundings.
It was the 4th Floor, also known as Arcadia. It was a land filled with Ancient Greek and Roman architecture with a Mediterranean biome.
To the North is Idyll Valley.
It is a place dominated by trees.
The Tree Home of Ceres, the Area Guardian of Idyll Valley, stands in the western corner of the area.
And it was here that the two of them had teleported.
The two examined the Tree Home.
"What d'ya think?" Goren said, his arms spread wide.
"It hasn't changed at all," Asriel replied.
"Wrong. The leaf ceiling is a slightly darker shade of green," Goren said, pointing up.
Asriel chuckled. "I guess I can't see the difference. I would need a before and after picture to see the difference."
"Hm, you're right. Too bad we don't have any," Goren sighed.
The two looked over at Ceres. She was a beautiful Forest Elf with green hair and green eyes. She was a Druid specializing in healing, crop production, increasing soil fertility, and controlling the weather. She could create Earth Elementals and even summon Trents and other forest creatures to fight for her.
"She's a baddy, not gonna lie," Asriel said, looking over Ceres.
"Can't stop yourself from ogling, hm?" Goren chuckled, coughing a bit.
"Hey, you do the same with the Five Gourmands! Don't be a hypocrite," Asriel grumbled.
Goren coughed a bit more before clearing his throat. He tasted blood again.
"I know, I know. I'm just teasing."
The two of them left the Tree Home and extended their wings. They flew above Idyll Valley and watched as the scenery below them passed them by. The Sawmill stood slightly to the North of the Tree Home of Ceres. It was where POPs, such as Elves, worked to cut down trees and process them for use in construction.
POPs, named after the fact that they literally 'pop' into existence, are NPCs who automatically spawn as part of a dungeon's defenses. They can be anything, from the undead to living races like Elves and animals like eagles or fish. Whenever they are killed, they automatically respawn. They cannot be customized like Custom NPCs can, but they can be placed on a floor when customizing a guild base. The downside is that POPs have maintenance costs, except for undead ones, who have none.
The Weather Tower stands to the east of the Tree Home. It cannot be accessed by anyone other than those with the password. Within is a control panel that allows one to modify the weather of the entire 4th Floor. If one wishes to make it rain or snow, one can do so with the push of a button. It is set to maintain a Mediterranean climate and weather conditions for the 4th Floor when it is not in use. It has no other function.
To the South of the Weather Tower is the Crystal Cavern. It exists merely to link Idyll Valley to Waterfall Lake and Acropolis. The cavern is lit by golden crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling. Coming out of the Crystal Cavern, one can see Waterfall Lake through the trees and the farms that feed Acropolis and the rest of Demeter. If one follows the cobblestone path, one will reach Acropolis.
It was a fortress built to defend the Gate to the 5th Floor. Beside Acropolis was Waterfall Lake. Waterfall Lake is a large freshwater lake that provides the fortress with water and fish. Fish POPs swim in its waters and can be caught and consumed raw or cooked before eating. The water comes from the waterfall flowing from Mount Symplegades' crevice. It was designed to provide an endless supply of water. A vent at the bottom of the lake pumps water back into the mountain, which flows back into the lake by a waterfall, ensuring that the water supply never dries. If water consumption gets too high within the homes, the waterfall is programmed to create additional water until there is enough water in the lake.
The Floor Guardian protecting this floor was the Arachnoid named Spartacus. Asriel meticulously crafted Spartacus to hold the esteemed position of military commander over the forces of the Palace of Demeter. His form was adorned with resplendent golden Greek Spartan armor, and he possessed six arms, each wielding a sword or a shield. A no-nonsense demeanor and formal personality were the hallmarks of his character, with fleeting moments of relaxation reserved for rare occasions such as celebrations and holidays.
Spotting the Colosseum, the two flew down into it and landed in the center of the building. The Colosseum was built inside the fortress so that the troops could engage in recreational activities and practice their athletics and combat prowess in live combat exercises. But since it was all for roleplay, it existed merely for decoration.
They retracted their wings and made their way to Spartacus. The two examined Spartacus, who stood in the middle of the Colosseum.
"I forgot how serious he looked," Goren said, admiring the Arachnoid's armor. "The last time I was here was, like, a year ago. Probably."
"If he weren't so serious, he wouldn't be a Guardian," Asriel smirked. "Speaking of which, you should get your head checked."
Goren groaned. "There's no point; I'll be dead in two months anyway."
"Right…" Asriel said, his tone quiet.
Goren noticed the change in his friend's tone. "But let's not think about that right now. Let's focus on the tour."
The two made their way downstairs to the basement. Standing beside the doors to the basement were the Four Marshals, direct subordinates of Spartacus. Each was a General in their own right and designed after something from the real world. General Urviat was a level 100 male Dragonoid created by Goren. He wore red Ancient Chinese armor and wielded a Dao with a wicked demon engraved on its hilt. General Socket was a level 100 female Automaton also created by Goren. She wore a Napoleon-esque military uniform and wielded two magnum revolvers with wicked demons engraved on them. General Pero de Tiedra was a level 100 male Forest Elf created by Asriel. He wore the uniform of a Conquistador with golden armor and a helmet with a single white Angel feather on top. He wields a rapier with white Angel wings and black feather tips on the hilt for his weapon. Last but not least, General Sigmar Beastbreaker, a level 100 Dwarf, was also created by Asriel. He wore Viking armor and a helmet with white angel wings with black feather tips mounted on both sides. He wielded a large warhammer with Angel wings engraved on its surface.
"If only we could send them outside on missions," Goren lamented.
"Yeah, if only," Asriel agreed.
"Do you think YGGDRASIL II will allow Players to send their NPCs outside guild bases?"
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"I don't think the technology is advanced enough for that."
"What a pity."
“I know, right? I doubt I’ll live long enough to see YGGDRASIL II.”
“Let’s not talk about that right now, Goren.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. Let’s just focus on the tour, hm?”
“You got it.”
The two examined their surroundings one final time before they teleported to the 3rd Floor, Cordholm.
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Cordholm - 3rd Floor of Demeter
Fifteen minutes 'till shutdown
The two arrived at their destination and surveyed their surroundings.
They were on the 3rd Floor, also known as the Cordholm. Specifically, they had arrived at Trespass Island, an islet off the coast of Cordholm, meant to make travel between floors a tad bit more difficult for intruders. The water that separated Trespass Island from Cordholm was filled with carnivorous fish POPs that would attack them on sight. The only entities they wouldn't attack are members of the guild and the guild's NPCs.
The two Players extended their wings and took off.
It was the place they'd go to watch the sunset, take walks on the beaches, and ponder what life would have been like had Earth not been devastated by war and pollution. The waves crashing against the shore, the trees rustling as the breeze came through, and the bird POPs flying overhead came together to form a picture of paradise.
In the North of the island was Mana Cafe, a Hawaiian-themed eatery. Asriel had to look up pictures of ancient Earth to find examples of Hawaiian restaurants on the internet, as such things no longer existed due to the polluted state of the world. Seafood dishes and tropical drinks were prepared by the level 25 human Chef named Ku'ula. He is a level 25 NPC with native Hawaiian features, created by Asriel because he wanted to have a chef character of his own, especially since Goren had created the Five Gourmands, who prepare meals in the Dining Hall on the 5th Floor.
In the South was South Beach. It is the only beach in Cordholm, as the other areas that could have been beaches have large rocks separating the land from the sea. It is overseen by the level 25 human named 'Ai'ai, who Asriel also created. He, too, has native Hawaiian features and is dressed like a lifeguard. His backstory was designed to be that of someone who loves the sea and everything about it, including swimming, hence his attire and 'job' as a lifeguard.
In the east was Thicket Spa. It was a small spa located within a thicket of tropical trees with thick canopies that provided shade to the entire spa. The spa's walls were wooden fences covered in leaves and vines, giving privacy to those within the spa. In its center was a warm freshwater pond for swimming and relaxation. Down the hall was a massage room where one would get massages (if there was an actual mechanic like that, that is). Beside the Massage Room was the Yoga Room for exercise and relaxation. And finally, there was the Sauna Room for those who want a steamy, sweaty experience. Thicket Spa was overseen by the level 25 human named Laka, another of Asriel's creations.
In the west was the Water Park. A small recreational facility, it was much smaller than one back on Earth. It had a lazy river for those who wanted to float slowly around the park. It had a pool with a water slide. Lastly, a maze where participants must use water magic or water weapons to (without harming anyone) defeat each other to grab the flag in the middle of the labyrinth, with the winner being the last one standing. The Water Park was overseen by the level 25 human named Kāne, also one of Asriel's creations.
In the center of Cordholm was the Tree Tower. It was the home of Dorieguna, a level 100 female Siren who was a powerful Water Elementalist and Summoner, able to summon amphibious creatures to attack intruders. She had green air, sharp Piranha-like teeth, and a lantern hanging from her head like an Angler fish. The Tree Tower was in the middle of a pond, filled with carnivorous fish POPs like those around Trespass Island. Inside Tree Tower is a Gate to the 4th Floor, which is the only way intruders can enter that floor. To get inside Tree Tower, one must defeat Dorieguna and loot the key from her.
The two Players landed beside Dorieguna and approached her, not bothering to retract their wings.
"Remind me; which one of us created her again?" Goren asked.
"I did," Asriel replied instantly.
"Ah. For a second, I was worried that you had far fewer NPCs than I did!" Goren chuckled.
Asriel shook his head, his real-world smile unseen.
"You make it sound like you did all the work around here."
"I might as well have! I'm a wellspring of passion, you see," Goren said teasingly.
"If you say so, Goren," Asriel rolled his eyes, chuckling.
The two took off again and made their way to Mana Cafe. Specifically, they were heading to Sunbath Rock.
They set down before the rock. Goren looked over the boulder.
Goren beamed with pride, his real face unseen, as he examined the rock's surface. He sculpted it with the game’s Dev Kit to make it into a rock one could sunbathe upon. He sometimes fantasized about sunbathing in the real world, but that was impossible. Nobody could see the sun anymore and feel its rays, due to all of the smog and pollution. So he settled for second best by making this rock. He hoped it would be a comfortable rock to lay upon.
"I think I'm going to miss this the most on this floor."
"Really? I would have thought Mana Cafe would be your first choice."
"Well, yeah, I had a fun time designing that place. But this rock seems... cozy if that makes sense."
"I guess, yeah."
The two Players activated their rings and teleported to the 2nd Floor, Cimmeria.
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Cimmeria - 2nd Floor of Demeter
Ten minutes 'till shutdown
The two arrived at their destination and surveyed their surroundings. They were on the 2nd Floor, also known as Cimmeria.
It is named after the mythical people in Greek mythology, the Cimmerians, who lived in a dark and misty place near the land of the dead. Which is fitting, because the 2nd Floor is filled with mist, a perpetually overcast sky, and wandering undead.
And silence.
A loud, deafening silence.
The undead that roam this floor had been programmed to produce no sounds.
There is no wind and no rustling of leaves or other plants.
There are no sounds produced by wildlife. The animal POPs that exist on this floor are ones that are naturally quiet when moving.
The only time the silence is broken is when it rains. When it rains, it rains hard. Always. The heavy rainfall significantly reduces the line of sight of intruders and allows the undead to sneak up on and attack them more easily.
It is a floor that was designed to take advantage of humans' natural anxiety when faced with complete silence.
As such, it was perfect for elements from horror movies to be added in.
Goren and Asriel took in the eerie atmosphere of the floor.
"I think you knocked it out of the park with this one," Asriel clapped his friend on the back. "This floor really makes me feel like I'm in a horror movie."
Goren smirked, "Thanks. I think the silence is what sells it the most."
The two extended their wings and took to the skies.
"I don't think we have time to visit each of them this time. We only have ten minutes left," Warned Goren.
"That's a shame. What should we do then?"
"We should just fly past each area instead of landing. We'll save time that way."
"Alright."
They flew towards the center of the floor.
In the center of Cimmeria is the Cemetery. It was where the Floor Guardian, a level 100 Mummy named Kontar, protected the Gate to the 3rd Floor. He is aided by two level 100 Night Liches, a male named Tatalus and a female named Marrow. Together, the three used their necromantic abilities to summon and control large amounts of undead to crush whoever dared step foot on this floor.
"Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to play as a lich," Admitted Asriel.
"Really?"
"Come on, are you saying you never do?"
"I mean, I do, but I don't think they're that great!"
"Being able to summon cool-looking undead that could be good at magic or melee combat is not great?"
"I mean, they definitely do have some cool-looking undead, but still, I still prefer demons."
"You're no fun."
They passed the Cemetery and flew towards the North.
In the North is Grimoire Castle, the residence of vampires. The lord of that castle is Marquis Cornelius Stonefield, a Desmodontis -- a Heteromorphic race of vampiric bats -- who wore attire befitting a vampire. His name, taken from the last names of several American tycoons, was given to him by Goren to make him seem wealthy.
The Marquis was the lord of Grimoire Castle, but he was not the only resident. There was also the Vampire Mafia, a crime family of six members. They were the defenders of Grimoire Castle. Dullahans patrolled the perimeter of the castle on horseback.
"Ah, my favorite area of Cimmeria!" Exclaimed Goren.
"I bet. You spent a lot of time on the Vampire Mafia."
"Not just them, but the whole castle. It was fun getting to design the interior in the style of the 1920s."
"Why the 1920s? Is it because it fits the Vampire Mafia?"
"Yep, exactly."
They passed Grimoire Castle and flew towards the South.
In the South are the Sunken Ruins. It is a crumbling stone structure half-submerged in a lake. The inhabitants of the Sunken Ruins are POPs known as Wraiths. Dead rotting fish populate the lake's surface, props that give the lake a creepy and dangerous vibe. The Area Guardian of the Sunken Ruins was Jabmika, a level 75 Screaming Banshee.
Asriel didn't say anything.
"What's the matter?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I just have nothing to say about this area."
"Is it that boring?"
"Not exactly. Just not much here to talk about."
"Oh," said Goren, his virtual shoulders slouching.
They passed by the Sunken Ruins with little else spoken. They made their way to the east.
In the East is the Trophy Glade. It is a small clearing where the remains of several creatures are nailed to tree trunks. They are kept as trophies by the resident serial killer NPC, Macir. A horror movie character created by Goren, he is programmed to wander the woods of Cimmeria in search of enemies. His build is that of an assassin, ninja, and fighter, allowing him to silently move and quickly track down his victims before offing them with his mace.
"This one is probably my favorite," Said Asriel.
"Oh, I know. We spent quite some time making this area look and feel like the home of a serial killer," Goren replied.
Asriel chuckled.
"What is it?" Goren turned to face his friend.
"I find it funny that you're the one who came up with the theme of this floor. You're a pussy who doesn't even like watching horror movies!"
"Hey, there are some that I like! I'm just not a horror movie enthusiast like you." Goren gave Asriel's shoulder a light punch. It did zero damage, as friendly fire is not possible in Yggdrasil.
Asriel returned the gesture. "If you say so."
They passed Trophy Glade and made their way to the west.
Finally, in the West is The Mine. An abandoned mineshaft, it is pitch-black and filled with poisonous gas. Ghouls and zombies wander the mineshaft, in addition to an undead Minotaur that guards a treasure chest -- a treasure chest that is, in reality, a hostile mimic.
"I think this one, like the Sunken Ruins, is pretty bland," Asriel said bluntly.
"Everyone's a critic," Goren sighed.
"I'm not trying to be a dick. I'm just saying that more could've been added to this."
"I did what I could. What can I say?"
They stopped midair, taking one last look at the floor.
They had nothing else to see.
They activated their rings and teleported to the 1st Floor, Kailash.
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Kailash - 1st Floor of Demeter
Five minutes 'til shutdown
The two arrived at their destination and surveyed their surroundings. They were on the 1st Floor, also known as Kailash.
It is named after a mountain in China that once had a snowy peak, back before nature was destroyed.
The entire floor is winter-themed.
It is always snowing. Most of the time, gentle chilly winds make themselves known to everyone passing through this floor. The only time the weather changes -- becoming a blizzard specifically -- is when the floor's settings are modified from the control panel inside the Ski Resort at the top of the mountain.
This floor was created so they could have their own winter wonderland. It doesn't snow anymore in the real world, so seeing snow in virtual reality was their only option.
The Floor Guardian of Kailash is Ullr Borral, a level 100 Yeti. He has white fur and a dark brown face, with white eyes that made him appear blind -- a cosmetic choice that didn't affect his vision -- and several scars across his body. Arrowheads, remnants of previous battles, are lodged in various parts of his body. Also a cosmetic choice.
Goren and Asriel took in the view from the Ski Resort, their current location. It was a large wooden cabin that served as a rest area. It was -- as would be expected -- where they kept the skiing equipment and other winter items.
Goren looked to his left, spotting Krampus, the level 50 Demon and Area Guardian of the Ski Resort.
"I'm gonna miss this guy," He said, patting Krampus on the snout.
"Me too. We spent so much time here every Christmas."
"Heh, that reminds me. I programmed this fella to love hosting parties. Christmas parties most of all."
"You always did love giving them little details like that."
"Yeah..."
Goren and Asriel turned away from Krampus and headed for the door.
The door opened, the wind carrying some snowflakes indoors. They shut the door and took to the skies.
Below them was Frostbite Trail. The path connected all of the floor's areas together, and stepping off the path is a recipe for disaster. There are traps all over, hidden beneath the snow.
The POPs who patrol this floor are Death Snow Crabs, Frost Wolves, Yetis, and Frost Slimes.
In the South was the Skating Rink. It was a simple frozen pond, the ice of which could not break. At the entrance of the Skating Rink is a hot beverage stand manned by Madame Verglas, a level 82 Frost Virgin.
The two of them briefly wondered what high-quality hot chocolate tasted like before continuing their journey without saying a word.
And finally, there were the Caves of the Frost Slimes. These were not located in a specific cardinal direction, but were scattered all over the floor. Some existed in the North. Some existed in the South. Some in the East, and some in the West. The primary cave existed in the center of the floor, off to the side of the Frostbite Trail.
Inside this cave, the Area Guardian of the Caves of the Frost Slimes, Hypo, resided. A level 50 Frost Slime with a human form, he was dressed like an ice cream man, and programmed with the backstory of being somebody who loves to make ice cream from the ice and snow around him.
As they made their way to the Gate that led to the Surface, they spotted Ullr Borral standing by it.
He was ordered to guard the Gate a while ago so intruders would face a powerful opponent immediately upon exiting the portal.
The two set down beside Ullr and retracted their wings. They would not be flying past this point.
"I'm gonna miss you, buddy," Asriel pat one of Ullr's muscular arms.
"It's your turn to be nostalgic, hm?" Goren teased.
"Shut up."
A rueful chuckle escaped their lips.
It was time to leave the floors of the Palace of Demeter. It was time to leave it all behind.
They activated their rings and teleported to the Surface.
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Palace of Demeter – The Surface
Sixty seconds 'til shutdown
This was it.
The final stretch.
Goren and Asriel took one last look at the gold and marble interior of The Palace -- the exterior shell of the guild base.
It contained mock rooms like kitchens, bedrooms, dining rooms, and more -- to make it look like a real and proper palace.
In the center of The Palace was a huge tree. It was so large that it couldn't fit inside the building; the top half of the tree was sticking out of its roof. Looking at it from afar made the building seem like a giant flower pot.
Outside of Demeter was Alfheim - the land of trees. It was the world in which the guild base was located, one that was not a place Heteromorphs like Angels and Demons would usually be found.
But they decided to make it their home world regardless, solely for its beauty.
Fifty seconds.
This tree was the World Tree Sapling, one grown from a seed taken from the World Tree itself. At least, that's what it said in the guild base's lore. In reality, the tree was nothing more than a prop to make the guild base seem unique.
The POPs that patrolled The Palace were the members of the Demetrius Elven Guard -- elven rangers armed with bows and swords. Their ability to detect invisible foes made them excellent guards.
The Gate to the 1st Floor behind them, Goren and Asriel began their walk towards the front door of the guild base.
It was a walk devoid of conversation.
Forty seconds.
Why?
Why did the Shitty Devs have to shut down the servers?
Did they not care about the players who made this game their lives?
Did they not see the potential for more updates?
Did they not see the potential for more of... everything?
Thirty seconds.
Only a tiny percentage of the game's Nine Worlds were explored until today. There was still so much that had yet to be discovered.
Why put so much effort into creating such a vast and immersive world if even twelve years of play was not enough to explore it all?
Twenty seconds.
Not enough people were playing the game anymore.
Other games have taken the spotlight as of late.
Quasar comes to mind as an example. There have even been rumors of a YGGDRASIL 2 being developed.
Ten seconds.
All they cared about was money, since day one.
Obviously, making money is fundamental to running a business.
But still.
The player base does not want this game to end.
Not when so much more could be done.
Those damn executives.
They did not appreciate the art that is the DMMORPG.
They did not appreciate YGGDRASIL ONLINE!
Five.
Yet, for all their complaining, they were powerless to stop it.
Four.
It was fun while it lasted.
The most fun they ever had.
Three.
The doors were finally within reach.
The two of them reached for the doors that lead out of Demeter-
Two.
- but just before they could make contact with the doors -
One.
-Goren and Asriel blacked out.