All good things must come to an end.

  That's the saying, but Goren and Asriel didn't want that to happen this time. They had spent several years maxing out their characters in the DMMORPG known as YGGDRASIL ONLINE, primarily as members of another guild, but maxing them out regardless. They had made some great memories playing the game together.

  Goren Aggoth, real name James Moore, always had a fascination for demons despite having been raised a Christian (nowadays, he no longer considered himself a believer, but rather something of an agnostic). It wasn't a hardcore obsession; he liked demon characters in fiction. It was only natural for him to play as a demon in YGGDRASIL. The character he created was an Arch-Devil. He gave his avatar red skin, a classic color scheme. A head of spiky black hair and golden horns adorning his forehead. Red eyes to compliment his red skin, and long pointy ears with silver earrings to match his pointed demon tail. Finally, his avatar had red leathery wings he could extend and retract at will. A perpetually sour expression adorned his avatar's face, something he accidentally gave it, but it eventually grew on him. It made him look intimidating; at least, that's what Goren always thought. A black loincloth with a golden hem adorned his waist, and a purple bathrobe with a golden hem adorned his torso. He wore no other clothes outside of battle.

  Goren's character build was that of a warrior mage hyrbid, whose job classes consisted entirely of warrior classes that allowed the use of armor while also granting the ability to use spells and spell-like skills. His full build is as follows: Imp (10 levels), Devil (10 levels), Greater Devil (10 levels), Arch-Devil (5 levels), Armored Mage (12 levels), Cleric (10 levels), Cursed Knight (5 levels), Diabolist (10 levels), Elementalist Fire (10 levels), Fighter (3 levels), and Knight of Muspelheim (15 levels). Such a build gave him access to 3rd Tier Divine spells, 10th Tier Arcane spells, and 17 Super Tier spells, while also having the ability to engage in melee combat. It isn't an ideal build, but because he is the designated Arcane support guy in their two-person guild, it is good enough.

  Asriel Zabkiel, real name Alexander Davis, on the other hand, was fascinated with angels despite being an atheist. The character he created was a Seraph. He gave his avatar fair skin and golden eyes that could emit white light at will. A head of long white hair hanging freely outside combat is styled like a Viking's when going into battle. A white halo hovered above his head, providing him with protection from attacks from those with evil karma. His neutral expression gives off an aura of gentleness, but not overly so. He wore a plain white shirt, baggy sweatpants, and sneakers for his usual attire. It didn't fit the setting of YGGDRASIL that well, but Asriel didn't care. He wore what he would have wanted to wear if he was his character, which Goren couldn't argue with. Finally, his avatar had white feathery wings he could extend and retract at will. The feathers of his wings had black tips, giving him a slightly corrupted vibe.

  Asriel's character build was also that of a warrior mage hybrid, but focused more on magic than physical combat. His full build is as follows: Angel (15 levels), Archangel (10 levels), Power (10 levels), Seraph (5 levels), Cleric (15 levels), Fighter (15 levels), High Cleric (5 levels), Holy Knight (10 levels), and Paladin (15 levels). The reason he chose such a build is because he wanted to use attack physically when his MP was low, use spells, wear armor, and summon creatures in battle. Like Goren, he might not be the best at everything, but he's decent at what he wants.

  Seraph, also a rare racial class, is one that he unlocked after completing the event known as the 'Trouble in Paradise' event with the aforementioned guild. The group traveled to Asgard, where they found a Gate that would only appear if the surroundings in a thirty-meter radius were set ablaze by unholy spells. A previous group had done so and the Gate was still present when they had arrived, not to complete the quest originally, but because they were farming monsters for loot drops. Checking out the Gate came to a vote: The 'Yays' were the majority. And so, the entire guild was off to explore the place that the Gate led to. It was only after entering the dungeon (one that was not possible to claim as a guild base) known as the Garden of Eden did they realize that they had come across a secret event, 'Trouble in Paradise'. They made it their mission to complete this event and reap the spoils of their victory, which they did in the end. The previous group that had opened the Gate were wiped out, they did not have enough members to defeat the boss, a Fallen Angel that had made it its life goal to destroy Asgard once it had destroyed the Garden of Eden.

  With this Fallen Angel defeated, the group grabbed its loot, and Asriel as the only Angel Player in the guild, unlocked the Seraph racial class. It gave the user the following skills: Armageddon - Good (as a skill that didn't require mana), Angelic Blessing (allows the user to sense nearby angels), Angelic Strengthening (all summoned angels are stronger than the originals), Angelic Lieutenant (can use EXP to summon level 90 angels), Light of the Seraph - Exorcism (can undo the effects of any negative status effect or skill (such as Level Drain) or choose to deal massive damage to those with negative karma instead), and Light of the Seraph - Holy Burst (can create a burst of holy energy that damages every enemy in a 100-meter radius circle).

  Goren and Asriel had been best friends in the real world since elementary school. Upon graduation, they had given each other their contact information and had kept in touch online. Goren went to work at the same place his parents worked at, a chemical plant. He spent several years there, watching and learning and doing. He tried his best daily, but it was never enough for his boss. Goren had to endure the same grueling work schedule his parents had to; his young age was not something his employer was concerned about.

  One day, his parents came down with a terrible cough and chest pains they could not rid themselves of. They took their only day off that month to be seen by a doctor to discover the source of their illness, and the answer was grim.

  They had lung cancer.

  The news had, understandably, shaken the three of them. They could not afford lung replacement. Neither could they afford a long-term supply of medication. So, they were forced to endure the pain until the day they died. They tried to keep their only child, Goren, in high spirits. They did not want him to drown in despair. They spent as much time together as they could to make as many happy memories as they could so he could have some to remember them by.

  Goren tried to find the silver lining in this. He tried to keep his faith in the God he was raised to believe in. He tried to keep his heart open to interact with others. But it became more and more challenging to do so. Goren and his parents kept on going to work for the boss, who did not care about them in the place that gave them the illness. It was all they could do. Rent had to be paid, after all.

  It kept on going until the day Goren found the lifeless bodies of his parents on the workplace floor. It was the day a part of him had died along with them. Goren ran over to them and held them in his arms as tears flowed underneath his gas mask. He tried to get somebody to call the paramedics but was told to return to work. When he asked them what they were going to do with his deceased parents, they told him that it wasn't his business.

  His boss once again told him to get back to work. The seething contempt he had for his boss was overwhelming. His boss had the other employees close off the room their bodies were located in to make sure that nobody would touch them. Goren had to spend the rest of the day working, his desire to hold their bodies once more growing stronger by the minute.

  By the time the workday was over and he went to the room their bodies were in, he found it open and unlocked, and their bodies were nowhere to be found. When he asked around, the others told him that the paramedics had come by just over an hour ago and had taken them to the morgue. He was heartbroken. He could not afford a funeral service. He could not afford to bury them. He did not know where they were taken. He would never see them again.

  On the other hand, Asriel lived with his parents until he was 16 when they kicked him out. They could no longer afford to have their only child live with them, so they forced him to move out. This would have normally been the end for him, as those who had nowhere to go were doomed to die, succumbing to the horrible reality that is life in the year 2138. Acid rain, polluted water, and smog so thick that it blotted out the sun and the night sky, meant that life outdoors was impossible without a full-body protective suit and gas mask.

  His previous job as a retail worker wasn't enough to pay his bills, so Asriel had to join the military to make ends meet. He had tried to get jobs elsewhere, but none of them would take him. He spent five years as part of the Marines, during which he was deployed to Europe. He participated in several battles defending the arcologies of Spain, getting promotions one after the other until he attained the rank of Sergeant.

  When he completed his five-year stint in Europe, he returned to the Capital Union of America, where he became Sergeant of a squad of National Guardsmen. One day, he was deployed with his squad to put down a rebellion in the Capital state of Pennsylvania. Their orders were to locate and kill the leader of the rebels. They managed to break through the rebel force and broke down the door of the rebel leader's home, finding his wife and daughter present. Upon verifying their identities, he and his squad were ordered to execute them to put pressure on the rebel leader.

  Asriel refused to comply and gave counter-orders to the squad to hold their fire. This angered the Captain, who said that this was not only insubordination but treason. He told Asriel that if he did not back down and do as he said, he would be shot. Not wanting to back down, Asriel punched the Captain out cold. The others did not shoot Asriel, as they had come to see him as a friend, so they arrested him instead of killing him.

  After his arrest, he was put on trial. They brought in his squad mates to shed light on what happened. Unfortunately, they gave statements saying that he crossed the line when he assaulted their Captain, that there was a better way to handle the situation. This left a bitter taste in Asriel's mouth, feeling betrayed by the people who agreed with him but were now throwing him under the bus, likely because they were pressured to by the government.

  Fortunately for Asriel, the whole ordeal would have put the government in a bad light, so they dropped the charges of treason and insubordination. But they couldn't let him go unpunished. So they gave him an honorable discharge, and he returned to New York City. But he did not have an actual home to return to. So, he had to work as a security guard at one of the significant megacorporations in the city. He lived in corporate housing for some time before his best friend, Goren, messaged him.

  Asriel had told Goren of his situation after leaving the military, and Goren had the idea to invite Asriel over to live with him as a roommate. Asriel wasn't sure at first; he had lost trust in people after his parents kicked him out to free up money for themselves. He didn't want the same to happen again, even if it was his best friend offering him a place to live. After thinking about it and Goren' numerous promises that he wouldn't kick him out or mistreat him, Asriel accepted his offer and moved in.

  Living together had its ups and downs. The two of them had to adjust to the presence of the other living in such proximity. They had to learn how to live with each of their quirks and not annoy each other with things like not putting the dishes away after every meal. But they also had learned to rely on each other, build trust, and finally coexist in the same apartment.

  Things were going well for them. Goren and Asriel could now alleviate each other's loneliness, a feeling living alone often gives. They could vent to each other, play games together, and strengthen their bond better than they ever could before. It's how the two of them got into YGGDRASIL ONLINE. Goren told Asriel about it after hearing about it from one of his coworkers, and the two of them bought the cheapest starter pack they could afford. And they couldn't get enough of it. They eventually joined the guild known as Voidstar, a casual roleplay guild that wasn't counted among the top 100 guilds of the game. It was a guild that had two requirements to join: You had to be a Westerner; and you had to speak fluent English. The reason for such requirements is because Yggdrasil was populated mostly by Japanese Players, so meeting someone who wasn't from Japan was unlikely. Voidstar allowed non-Japanese Players to have a place they could belong and meet others who spoke the same language as themselves, which also made it easier to and encouraged guild members to cooperate.

  Because of this, it didn't matter if you played a Humanoid, Demi-human, or Heteromorph. So long as you could meet those requirements, you were welcome in the guild. Goren and Asriel had spent most of their total playtime in that guild, and it was when they were members of that guild that they reached level 100 as Players. It was also while they were members of Voidstar that the two Players gained experience in 3D modeling and programming while helping their guild members in designing Areas in the guild base of Voidstar. Said members were much more skilled in those two fields than Goren and Asriel, as they actually worked in game development, specifically working on western DMMOs that were in other genres. Though they enjoyed having the opportunity to teach them how to program and design 3D objects, Goren and Asriel still had to pay them with some rare items they had found during their quests (and didn't want to give away) in exchange for their mentorship, in order to make up for the time their guild mates could've spent questing. It stung at the time, but it was worth it in hindsight.

  During their tenure in this guild, they had participated in Voidstar's quest to clear the dungeon known as the Palace of Demeter, a dungeon located in Alfheim and camouflaged by the thick forest it was buried deep inside. The guildmaster of Voidstar, a male Half-Golem by the username of Superbius, hoped to make the Palace of Demeter the headquarters of the guild. However, when he and the others saw that the dungeon only provided 700 levels, below the 1,000 levels their current guild base provided, they abandoned their course of action and decided to leave it alone. At that moment, Goren and Asriel asked if they could claim the dungeon. The others were indifferent. Superbius said they could if they genuinely wanted to, but they would first need to leave Voidstar to claim it. Goren and Asriel thought it over and agreed. After saying their goodbyes, taking all their stuff out of Voidstar's headquarters, and making preparations, they officially left Voidstar to establish Chiaroscuro. It was a small guild composed only of the two of them. They didn't try to compete with the other guilds over territory or settlements, as was expected to do. They just sat in their guild base and did their own thing, occasionally going out to complete events and quests.

  The name Chiaroscuro was chosen because of what it represented. It was an Italian term meaning light-dark. It was perfect for what the two wanted: James' character, Goren, the Demon, symbolizing darkness, and Alexander's character, Asriel, the Angel, representing light. The two spent the remainder of their time in the game using the experience they gained in 3D modeling and programming to design the interior of their guild base, its floors, and the NPCs that populate them. It was a first-time experience for the two of them. Neither was permitted to make any NPCs in Voidstar or their own Areas. They could only claim one room each and customize them however they wished, but not much else. Now, however, they could do whatever they wanted within the halls of their guild base.

  Their very first raid as the defense, which had occurred just a week after they had established their guild, was one that was put into motion because one of the members of their former guild, a male Orc Barbarian who went by the username of Killamushpit, tipped off a group of Players about the Palace of Demeter in exchange for a rare skin for his warhammer. The reason Goren and Asriel even found out that he was the reason the raid happened in the first place, is because Superbius, a good friend of theirs even after leaving the guild, informed them of it after he overheard Killamushpit talking about it with another guild member.

  They had to evacuate all of the incomplete NPCs to the underground Treasury on the 4th Floor, which they had specifically created after one of these raids to serve as a bunker for such situations. It is what also led to the creation of the False Treasury, located in Astral Keep, to trick invading Players into thinking it was the real treasury (but since it is filled with items they wouldn't mind losing, it wouldn't be a problem for them to loot it). The two Players hid in the inaccessible Treasury until the bored invaders left, eager to find some other guild more engaging to raid. Eventually, after every raid ended with the enemy Players leaving out of boredom, they stopped coming altogether, at least only that group did, and only for some time. It was a valuable lesson for Chiaroscuro, one that they didn't want to have to learn again: information is power, and they should guard theirs with their lives. It is also what earned Killamushpit a permanent place on their shit list. The only reason they didn't hunt him down was because they didn't want to go to war with their former guild.

  Gradually, they built up their guild base and created dozens of NPCs, focusing more on customizing the Palace of Demeter rather than going on quests and PKing others. Whenever they ran out of money, they would use real world currency to pay for things. They kept spending, building, upgrading, and buying levels to create NPCs, until they reached the maximum amount of levels a guild base could possibly provide, which is 6,000. Once that had happened, they simply made more and more NPCs until they had used up all 6,000 levels.

  And now here they were, sitting atop their thrones, waiting for the servers to shut down.

  "Those were the days," said Asriel. "I still can't believe they disbanded Voidstar last week. I thought they'd keep their guild around until the end.”

  "I guess there weren't enough people left to run the guild. That must be why they gave us their World Item," said Goren, clutching it in his virtual hands.

  Not only did Superbius give them his guild’s World Item before disbanding it, but he also transferred all of the guild’s stockpiles of prismatic ores, data crystals, gold, and other items that would no longer be needed. It was quite the gift, even if ultimately it was for nothing. Goren used some of the prismatic ores to upgrade his personal armor, Ephesians 1:21, and his favorite weapon, the 'I Bite Hard', to Divine-class. Asriel did the same with his armor and favorite weapon.

  "What was it called again?" Asked Asriel, reclining more into his throne.

  "The Skin of Gaia," replied Goren, looking it over.

  It was a real-time map that showed the entirety of the Nine Worlds of the World Tree. At least the parts that players had explored up until now. Much of the map was still hidden by the fog of war. Additionally, only one of the Nine Worlds could be viewed at a time.

  It showed everything of interest: resource deposits, bosses and mini-bosses, settlements, dungeons, biomes, hills, mountains, subterranean and undersea areas, etc. It was a helpful item.

  "How did they get their hands on this thing?" Asked Asriel.

  "I think they found it after somebody dropped it from a mountain. Not sure why, just that they were in the area when it fell right next to them," Goren said, looking closer at the World Item.

  "That guy must be the angriest person in YGGDRASIL," laughed Asriel. "Imagine losing a World Item like that!"

  Goren chuckled, "Yeah, I'd delete my account at that point."

  The two chuckled some more, their avatars' eyes overlooking the throne room.

  Goren' throne was stone and colored black and red. Asriel's throne was stone as well, but colored white and gold.

  Goren sighed.

  "What are we going to do after the servers shut down?" He asked.

  "Uh, we could play Quasar?" Suggested Asriel.

  "That game is way too complicated! Every fuckin' month, they release a boatload of new features that make it too difficult to learn the ropes!" Yelled Goren, pounding his virtual fist onto the handrest of his throne. It did zero damage.

  "Whoa, easy there," said Asriel. "I didn't mean to make you upset."

  Goren facepalmed.

  "Right, sorry," he took some deep breaths. The flow of air into and out of his lungs sent him into a coughing fit. He could taste blood.

  "Hey, it's fine. You're not the only one who will miss this game, you know," said Asriel, putting his hand on his best friend's shoulder.

  "It's just… I wish this game weren't going to be shut down this soon. What will I do for the next two months? Sit around, waiting to die?" Goren's hands clenched once more into fists.

  Asriel nodded. "Yeah, I wish this wasn't happening. Especially to you, Goren." He gave his best friend's shoulder a firm squeeze.

  Goren nodded, coughing a bit. "Me too. Thanks." He handed the Skin of Gaia to Asriel.

  "Let's take one final tour of Demeter, hm? We should say goodbye to everything," he said as he got up from his throne.

  "Sure, let's do so," replied Asriel.

  Galaxia - 4th Floor of Demeter

  Twenty minutes 'til shutdown

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  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 Galaxia, the floating island that makes up the 4th 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. Galaxia 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.

  Galaxia 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, separated by waterfalls, where one could relax in the waters or eat the seafood prepared by Ku'ula, the level 75 male Homunculus who ran the Hawaiian-themed Mana Cafe. 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 4th 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 First Guardian, the highest-ranking NPC in the Palace. 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, which is also known simply as the Courtyard. 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 reddish-white stone walls and red rooftops. The Courtyard 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 moved 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 3rd Floor, Arcadia.

  Arcadia - 3rd Floor of Demeter

  Fifteen minutes 'til shutdown

  The two Players teleported to their destination and surveyed their surroundings.

  It was the 3rd 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.

  Fort Fendell, a small defensive compound, stands to the east of the Tree Home, ruled by a level 75 Half-Golem named Lord Fendell. It exists to protect the entrance to the Crystal Cavern and is patrolled by several high-level Mercenary NPCs (alongside POPs) which were purchased some time ago and ordered to stand watch over it underneath Lord Fendell. It is within Fort Fendell that a control panel that allows one to modify the weather of the entire 3rd Floor is located. 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 3rd Floor when it is not in use. It has no other function.

  Beyond Fort Fendell 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.

  Located beside the cobblestone path are many, many farms where all sorts of crops are grown. These crops consist of both the edible kind (vegetables, fruits, teas, coffee, etc) and the more useful kind needed for crafting items. This whole area is collectively known as Sentinel Farms, named after the statues that stand watch over the farms. These statues are called Sentinels, and they golems that will come to life and attack any invaders that pass through the area. The Custom NPC tasked with looking after the farms is a level 75 female Goblin by the name of Klexa, whose status as a non-combat NPC (her build is dedicated to farming) means she cannot assist the others in defending the floor. She is instead programmed to hide in a bunker that is unreachable by enemies.

  It was a fortress built to defend the Gate to the 4th 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?"

  "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 2nd Floor, Cimmeria.

  Cimmeria - 2nd Floor of Demeter

  Ten minutes 'till shutdown

  The two arrived at their destination and surveyed their surroundings. They were in the abandoned town of Witherfell (the area where invading Players arrive) on the 2nd Floor, which is 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 located in a valley 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 west of Witherfell to the Sunken Ruins, 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 is Jabmika, a level 70 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.

  They flew further west towards Rotkin Patch, a field of pumpkin-like undead plants called Rotkins that emit negative energy. It is protected by Jack 'Stingy' Samhain, a level 70 male Rotkin Walker, a race of undead whose lore states their origins come from the sudden evolution of some Rotkins as the result of experiments by a lich. With levels in Undead Druid, he has the ability to infuse his surroundings with negative energy, perform AOE negative energy attacks, and mass heal many undead at once.

  "Didn't you make this place because you watched that old Christmas movie?" Asriel asked.

  "Y-yeah, what of it?" Goren replied, sounding a bit embarrassed.

  "Aw, I don't mean to make it sound like I was calling you out for that. I just remembered, is all."

  "O-oh, okay..."

  That was the end of that brief exchange.

  Passed Rotkin Patch are two paths one can take: the one to the left led to the Knossos Mine, while the one to the right led to Trophy Glade.

  The two made a brief detour to 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 has levels invested in Assassin, Master Assassin, Fighter, and Executioner, 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 Knossos Mine.

  An abandoned labyrinthine mine, the entrance of which is located at the side of the mountain range, it is pitch-black and filled with poisonous gas and negative energy. Ghouls and zombies wander the mine, in addition to the Area Guardian, an undead Minotaur named Asterius whom also guards a treasure chest -- a treasure chest that is, in reality, a hostile mimic. Only after defeating the mimic and the Area Guardian would one find the exit that led to the Cemetary.

  "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 flew over the mountain.

  They quickly arrived over the Cemetery. It was where the Floor Guardian, a level 100 Mummy named Kontar, protected the path to Grimoire Castle. 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 prefer demons."

  "You're no fun."

  They passed the Cemetery and flew towards the North-West.

  In that direction is Grimoire Castle, the residence of vampires. The lord of that castle is Marquis Cornelius Stonefield, a Desmodontis -- a Heteromorphic race of bipedal vampiric bats -- who wore attire befitting a vampire. His name, taken from the last names of two American tycoons from history, 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 Bellito Crime Family, a group of six male vampires who wore outfits resembling that of mobsters. They were the defenders of the Gate that gave access to the 3rd Floor. Dullahan POPs patrolled the perimeter of the castle on undead horseback.

  "Ah, my favorite area of Cimmeria!" Exclaimed Goren.

  "I bet. You spent a lot of time on the Bellitos."

  "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 Bellitos?"

  "Yep, exactly."

  They arrived over Grimoire Castle and 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.

  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.

  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.