Base of Darkness, separated into 3 parts for each "ring". It was one of few man made structures in Midgard, containing a training facility, meeting hall, personal quarters, crafting space, dining hall and dungeons. After recent events, around a hundred players each quit the Darkness, and with good reasons. Many that quit started to killbind repeatedly to reset their character and start from the ground up.
Currently left in a state of despair, the guild held a meeting regarding the future of Darkness. The meeting hall had a giant triangle stone table that hosted a hologram in the middle. And now, the hologram was an identical copy of none other than…
-...Victim.
-This little creature?
-Bollocks.
-Does anyone know what actually happened?
-The eight guild alliance is now discussing it…
Listening to this gibberish, Asa, Morgana and Ixlente wanted to leave, they were one of the few that saw the most at the 8th floor. But Ixlente, he seemed out of place.
-That cathedral, we should have never gone in…
-Get over it.-Morgana said with anger in her voice. Visible yet not burning.
-E-Easy for you to say… What did you see?
-My fathers death.
-Then it's not comparable…
-Listen here, you…- she was then quickly interrupted by Asa, but it wasn't her that he screamed at.
-ENOUGH. We all saw, we know what happened. How it happened is what we don't know.
-Is it legal to create personalised nightmares in the game?
-We do not know.
Victim was creature that if killed had special ability to crown control any number of players in given area, mixed with special ability of the cathedral, "The Voice", and super tier magic "Downfall of the Brave", it created personalised nightmare for each of the players that were involved in the raid at that point in time. Some saw deaths of close ones, others told, that they kill binded to get away from their greatest fears. One thing stayed true, it was the first ever time where something like that happened.
-We should contact the GM…
-You think that it's a good idea?
-You've got a better one? Noone has ever done that in the history of Yggdrasil. Over a thousand players, all wiped due to real life fear.
-You're right. GM call.
All 100 players that sat around the table looked up onto the hologram as it swayed. Long deafening sound was played before it stopped and was replaced by a digital mouth.
-Greetings Darkness. What is it that you need?
-Was the raid on the Great Tomb of Nazarick watched over by GM?
-To my knowledge. Yes, it was. Why do you ask?
-Then you had to see what happened on the 8th floor.
-Hmm, what we saw was very vague. What is the point of this conversation?
The players looked at eachother, some shrugged, others nodded, some did not look back. When the silence was about to be broken by the GM, Asa stood up and said.
-We accuse Ainz Ooal Gown of cheating.-the hologram swayed slightly and tilted. After a minute of silence it spoke with an angry voice.
-Cheating is a very big accusation in Yggdrasil. What is your proof.
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-Each player that was in or around the area of the 8th floor Cathedral reported that when the NPC named "Victim" was killed, they started seeing personal memories, fears and visions. Which were so intense that each of them had to kill bind.
-We saw that a certain spell stunned the entire raid, but we do not conclude that as cheating. Are you sure, that what it was, had no connection to a world item?
-Due to lack of information, we cannot say that it did.
-Then this conversation is over.
"Disconnected". Spoke ethereal voice as the hologram turned back into the creature in question. The atmosphere quickly turned so thick that you could feel as if it pushed everyone down.
-We lost any chance of retaliation. Preparing for another raid of this scale would take months at least. And 4 other guilds swore that they will not take action in anything of this scale.
-Maybe that's for the better…
-Probably.
23:34:17
-So it's today huh. -said Morgana.
-Yep, maybe one day they will release a sequel.-doubtfully stated Asa.- Ixlente. How are you holding up?
-For once. I'm glad. I could not live in the same world as AOG again.
-That night really did you dirty huh. Room full of guts and gore. I probably would go into a coma after something so bloody.
-Then you get it… anyway, i'll go gather my stuff and come back here hmm?
-Don't ma- wait, oh God I remembered, I have to write an essay for my boss. Sorry guys! See you one day!
"Disconnected"
-Only two of us?
-Well… I don't like teary goodbyes.
Asa came close and hugged Ixlente, to which the gunman hugged back.
"Disconnected"
-Alone. Once again.
With a deep sigh he took off his mask and went to his room, going through a long hallway with prizes for certain shows he took pride in everything the guild did. Countless times they proved their worth, but the guild started breaking apart as the game took a downturn. Announcement of the game's end was crushing for many, but not for the Virtuoso. It was only relief. Those years ago when the raid ended, he lied about what he saw. But he saw everyone else, screaming and rolling around full of guild and pain. Pain connected directly to the brain, not through the game…
-5 levels for end of misery… Fucked up it was.
When the guild decided on ending its time, all NPCs were scrapped and turned into currency that was divided for each leaving member, but since people started to quit, more and more things were left to rot in eternity. Along with the guild weapon, "Fear of the Dark". Weapon made only for ranged shooters. Its high DPS output topped any weapon made by any guild, except world items. With only 9 shots, it resembled a rainbow that twisted and turned itself into a handgun. Like many weapons it was made with a wall of flavor text. After all Darkness was guild with heavy pressure on roleplay. It was a rule at one point, that at least one part of equipment must have custom made flavor text that was core to your character's way of roleplay.
For Ixlente it was his mask, for Asa it was his cards, Morgana had her power armor, Bandera had his ship wheel shield, HussUs had fake wings and many more for other guild members…
As Ixlente took the weapon, and continued walking, he recounted all the fun times and bad times of the guild. When he finally reached his room, he opened the doors and started packing. His room was full of instruments of all varieties, guns never seen by anyone since they were mostly prototypes that never went anywhere, but the shining glory that he has kept for himself after all those years…
-My personal gem…
World item, "Svorag", was one of the more powerful ones, comparable only to ginnungagap, that they lost. This specific one was in the shape of a full matt black ring with no gem, no ornaments. Matt, pitch dark ring. When experimenting with it, Darkness found out that it can deflect any magic onto the one who casted it, that includes Super tier magic.
-I always kept this one slot open…
He took the ring and slid it onto his middle finger of right hand. His stats went up, he could feel it. And the status effect "Svorag Protection" appeared in the corner of his vision. After that, he continued to grab anything he could into his inventory.
When he finally reached the limit, he had to use a cash shop item that allowed him to double his carry capacity for 12 hours, but it would only last as long as the game was still running. Feeling worse and worse he had to constantly remind himself that it's the best outcome, that if he stayed, he would face his fears one day, because in Yggdrasil hiding was just not an option. When he was almost done he saw the numbers change. So he closed his eyes with hope that once it reaches zero, all things will come to an end, and his peaceful life will be somewhat restored.
"The nightmare ends… finally…"
9…
He looked around, seeing his old chamber, the rack with his weapons all shining from the light, given by a bright magic lamp floating in the air.
8…
"I need to finish my painting…" He scratched his chin and with swift hand movement, all items he had on display disappeared into nothingness.
7… 6, 5, 4…
"Maybe I will start playing this… what was the name?... Barrage? Aberage."
3, 2, 1.
"Time to work."
0…
1, 2, 3…
-Huh?