2130.
February 29, 2044.
That was the time in which the game Innocent World Online would finally shut down its servers.
Innocent World Online was the world’s first true «FullDive VRMMORPG» in which players can fully immerse themselves in the world of the game just by putting on a headset, called the «NeuroLinker», which connected the user’s brain to virtual reality. Innocent World Online was released in 2040 and had seen numerous updates over the years, however, the company behind the game’s development, Takt Project Inc., went bankrupt after a lawsuit was filed against the company for a completely unrelated crime. As such, the company could not afford to keep Innocent World Online’s servers functioning.
They made the unfortunate announcement on Valentine’s Day of 2044 and stated that the servers will shut down in two weeks and that players should start cashing out their in-game rewards to real currency (as a way to compensate for any players that have spent real money to purchase in-game content). Many players heeded the warning and began leaving the game. Of course, great tears were shed as players complained and spilled their sorrows onto the internet. Some die-hard players decided to stay behind and continue playing the game right up until the last second and converting their data then.
However, a few players chose not to do that entirely.
These reckless players were the seven original members of the most illustrious guild to ever grace the landscape of Innocent World Online.
That guild was called «Pleiades», the “Seven Stars”.
----------------------------------------
“Hey.”
“Holy, were you online this whole time?”
“Well, yes. Didn’t we all agree that we’d stick together until the servers are killed and we’re booted from the game?”
“Well, I suppose.”
The wind blew through the currently empty «Castello Michele», the name given to the great headquarters of «Pleiades». In one of its grand rooms stood a silent round table. At its “head” sat a high elf, her fiery crimson hair appearing lackluster due to the poor lighting conditions. Her name was Azusa, a woman known as the «Twin Crimson Blades», a testament to her magnificent hair and vermillion swords. She was the guildmaster of Pleiades, considered to be the undisputed strongest guild of IWO.
To her right sat her vice-commander, «Guiding Moonlight» Mondklinge. Not only was he the husband of «Twin Crimson Blades» Azusa, he was also the strongest known Paladin, being the first to hit the level cap while specking the «Holy Sword» class. An incredibly popular role model, he was even considered to be the foremost male player and an idol of IWO, being featured numerous times on magazines that target the younger generation to entice them into playing either IWO or the other VRMMO’s that see IWO as competition.
As she sat in silence, Azusa placed her elbows on the table and held her knuckles together before resting her chin on her hands. She sighed before inquiring, “Where are the others?”
“They should be coming on soon,” Mondklinge replied through half-closed eyes.
«Heya, guys! Of course the Leader and Vice-Leader would be online first.»
“Well, what do you expect? They’re not known as the strongest male player and strongest female player for a reason.”
“They pretty much live in the game… Even though I see them at school, I just can’t deal with how truly unhealthy they both look.”
“Well, at least we make sure they eat healthily, right?”
“We should decide on what other VRMMO to crash with our skills once the game shuts down.”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Slowly and one after the other, the other members of the guild came online.
First was «Violet Lightning» Tsuchigumo, the most powerful «Shinobi» of IWO with such powerful skills that she is often called a goddess; indeed, her choice of vestments always include the aesthetic of the great demon foxes of old, something that satisfies her rather unhealthy obsession with said foxes. Despite this, she is among the most mysterious players in the game as no one has ever seen her speak with her only form of communication being through the chatbox in which she displays unusual amounts of bubbly energy despite her silent demeanor.
Second was «Divine Marksman» Noir, an easy-to-approach and outgoing «Ranger», the strongest of his class. His epithet, however, is not just for show as he is considered to be the strongest ranged DPS of IWO with his chosen combination of subclasses. When in combat, Noir displays a demeanor quite different from what he displays in normal social interactions: exceedingly cold and deadly precise with his eyes much like that of a hawk, inexplicably and insistently locked onto his targets.
Third was «Saint» Calais, the highest honored «Sorceress». The sole possessor of the «Unique Skill», «Ethereal Indictment», which allows her the ability to channel divine entities to strengthen her magic so much so that she’s the sole «Sorceress» who can bypass the laws of the undead, reviving them to full life before killing them completely, preventing them from ever returning from death. As the ‘healer’ of the guild, she has the social rank of ‘older sister’ despite, in real life, being the youngest of the seven.
Fourth was «Godblade» Fate, known to be the strongest swordsman in IWO, second only to Azusa and Mondklinge. Having hyperspecked «Ronin», Fate has become the idol for samurai enthusiasts, his skill with the katana being unrivaled. Although he is quite scary to approach due to his choice of wearing a rather unnerving skull mask, he is actually extremely kind and is quick to offer tips to both veterans and new players, making him, like Noir, the go-to “teacher” when it comes to anything IWO.
Lastly, there was «Monkey King» Vitya who, ignoring the fact that she has a female avatar, is considered a male player due to her extreme tomboyish tendencies and her choice of fighting style. She is also labeled an eccentric due to spending some time every single day to livestream her gameplay while cosplaying as a wannabe professional wrestler, something that earned her the social role of the ‘clown’ of the guild. However, even she was sensitive when it came to matters of the heart and she currently had none of her usual vivacious attitude.
Azusa glanced at the time in the corner of her user interface.
It stated 2129.
“Well, guys, there’s one minute left.”
“I suppose it was fun while it lasted,” Mondklinge sighed.
«Hey, remember when we challenged the «Final Labyrinth, Athenia»?» Tsuchigumo texted.
“Oho, that one dungeon that everyone insisted was impossible to clear even for us?” Noir laughed.
“It should be,” Calais retorted. “I pretty much constantly ran out of MP because you dimwits needed healing the entire time."
“Hey, at least you still managed to pull through for us,” Fate chuckled. “You were a huge help, ‘Saint’!”
“Oy, don’t you call me that too!”
“Well, Cal-chii, we’re all embarrassed by these fancy names those other players gave us,” Vitya snickered. “At this point, it’s our identity; we can’t ever separate from our epithets. I mean, they call me the «Monkey King» all ‘cause I’m a frigging tomboy!”
“Weeeeell, you were pretty much like that all the time in real life anyway so…” Azusa shrugged.
“That doesn’t excu-”
“Oh no, I’m quite sure that does excuse people to call you a dude, Vitya,” Noir smirked. That comment made everyone burst out laughing.
However, slowly, their laughing slowed down until it faded away completely.
“… I really don’t want this to end,” Azusa muttered.
«We all feel the same, Leader…» Tsuchigumo said.
Fate scratched his head. “There was so much more that I wanted to do…”
“… Well. I doubt we’ve got long, so while we still can—” Rising from his seat, the Paladin opened his inventory interface and fumbled around before producing a chalice filled with wine. “—For old times’ sake, everyone?”
“Pff-,” Azusa giggled. “Alright.” Azusa opened her own inventory and extracted a drink herself, her guildmates following soon after. “Hmm… I suppose. To new adventures?”
Mondklinge smiled slightly as he raised his cup. “To new adventures, everyone.”
“Hell yeah—only up to go from here, ahaha!” Vitya cackled.
Noir sighed, “Now, now… though, yes, indeed. To new adventures.”
“Uhuhu~,” Calais giggled. “Yes, to new adventures.”
«Let’s do our best again!»
“I suppose we’d specialize in the same niches?” Fate quipped.
Mondklinge chuckled, “We’ll see—maybe I’ll be able to play something that isn’t a tank for you all next time.”
With laughter once more exploding from those seated at the table, the seven original members—greatly exalted as «Le Sette Spada»—raised their cups on high before downing their drinks. At that moment, the time turned to 2130 and Azusa’s vision went black.