Palace of Demeter - Galaxia (4th Floor)

  Astral Keep - The Courtyard

  Day 1 - 6:11 PM Demeter Standard Time

  The two Players had spent a few hours resting, both much more and much less than they were hoping to. Goren had spent the entirety of it asleep, thanks to the divine back massage courtesy of Onus.

  Asriel spent most of it rereading The Art of War, with the rest of it spent chatting with Savina while he petted Helios the whole time, in an attempt to get to know her. Not that he really needed to, as he was the one who made her. He just wanted to know how much of her written character settings had been ingrained into her personality. It turns out, most of it was, with some minor additions he noticed that were strikingly similar to his own personality.

  Their break ended when Goren called Asriel with the [Message] spell and asked him if he wanted to test out their spells and skills with him. Asriel was surprised to see that the [Message] spell still worked, to which Goren replied that he was too.

  The two Players left their suites and arrived at the Courtyard. At their side were Onus and Savina. Helios was given to Quick Foot, the Ranger of the Ennead, to be petsat while Asriel and Savina were away.

  “So, who goes first?” Goren asked, turning to his best friend.

  “You can go first.” Asriel replied.

  Goren nodded.

  “Onus, watch from the sidelines. I don’t want you to get caught in the crossfire.” He said as he made his way to his intended spot.

  Onus bowed his head.

  “Understood, Lord Goren.”.

  Goren took a deep breath.

  If that [Message] spell is any indication, then all of our magic should work.

  He briefly thought about what he should try first while setting up an item for use as a test dummy.

  Let’s try a 10th Tier spell first. That way, I'll know if there are any tiers unavailable to us.

  Like he did with the [Message] spell, Goren concentrated on the spell he wanted to use. He raised a hand, readying himself to point it at the target, feeling the mana within him come together to conjure the spell he had in mind:

  “[Reality Slash]!” Goren shouted, quickly swiping at a trash magic item he set up for the occasion, a lantern that made low-level invisible enemies visible when exposed to its light.

  A razor-sharp thin wave of energy shot out from his hand, slicing through the magic item. The lantern was cut cleanly in half, now no longer functional.

  “Yes!” Goren cheered, pumping his fist in the air.

  “It works! 10th Tier magic works here!” He grinned ear to ear.

  Asriel nodded, smiling.

  “That’s great.”

  Onus applauded from the sidelines, as did Savina.

  “Excellent work, master!” They both shouted.

  Goren nodded to the duo. “Thanks! Now, time to test out some higher-tier spells."

  Let's also see if my Item Box still works.

  He no longer had a console to access his abilities or inventory, so he couldn't just press a button to do things. However, he felt all of his powers were still intact. He felt it within his soul.

  He had a feeling that he knew how to do this.

  He visualized the item he wanted to retrieve and stuck his hand out into the air, reaching for it. The feeling that he was plunging his hand into a body of water came over him. Then, he felt the handle of the weapon he had visualized and pulled it out, the I Bite Hard.

  A Divine-class bastard sword with a black blade and red vein-like etchings, it has the ability to heal Goren equal to the amount of damage he inflicts upon his enemies with it. It is a weapon he crafted during his time in Voidstar back when he wasn't really sure what kind of build he was going for. It was still his favorite.

  Goren tested the weight of the weapon, finding it to be extremely light. It felt very real, the way the material of the handle felt as he ran his fingers across its cool surface.

  "I Bite Hard, eh? Haven't seen you use that in a while," Asriel smirked.

  "And now you might get to see me use it. Could you summon me an Archangel Flame?"

  "Sure thing. [Summon Angel 3rd Tier]!" Asriel shouted, and an Archangel Flame appeared before them.

  Good, even summoning monsters still works.

  Before it could react, Goren pointed his hand at the summon and activated [Mist of Super Acid], creating a huge cloud of corrosive mist. Within moments, the Archangel Flame melted into goop. The dead summon vanished from the material plane.

  "That wasn't even a battle. You took care of it immediately," Asriel said, a chuckle escaping his throat.

  "Just wanted to see a summon turn to goop," Goren smirked, resting the blade of his sword on his shoulder, "Could you summon another angel for me to kill?”

  “Sure thing. Which one?” Asriel asked.

  Goren thought for a moment, then answered.

  “How about a Principality of Observation? It should be able to fit inside this area.”

  Asriel chuckled.

  “Sure thing.”

  He held out his hands.

  “[Summon Angel 4th Tier]!” He shouted, and before their eyes a Principality of Observation appeared.

  It floated in the air, holding a yellow and orange shield in one hand, and a mace of divine power in the other.

  Goren grinned, placing the I Bite Hard back into his Item Box and instead retrieving the Hammer of Depravity. He gave his hammer a quick look-over. He felt the coolness of the metal handle, the weight of the hammer as he held it. It felt real, just like the I Bite Hard had.

  "What happened to using the I Bite Hard?"

  "I've changed my mind. Plus, I did say you might get to see me use it."

  Asriel rolled his eyes.

  "Fine. Start the battle already."

  Goren nodded, smiling internally.

  The battle hasn't even started yet, and I’m more excited than ever.

  It was more than simple excitement. He felt a dark urge to murder the angel right before him, to rip it to shreds and send it screaming back to the realm it came from. He could feel it gnawing at him.

  And it didn’t disturb him one bit.

  The Hammer of Depravity was one of two hammer-type weapons he had in his arsenal. It was a large battle hammer that was black in color and had blood red engravings of monsters on its surface. As to the kind of magic it was enchanted with, it did unholy-type damage upon impact, along with bludgeoning damage. It was most effective against those with Good karma, which made it perfect against the angel.

  Goren got into a combat position, his hammer held firmly in both hands and eyes focused on the large angel before him.

  “Ready!” He shouted.

  Asriel nodded.

  “Go, Principality of Observation! Attack!” He said, pointing at Goren.

  The angel responded to the order of its summoner, moving towards Goren at breakneck speed. It raised its mace and swung with all its might at the demon standing before it.

  Goren raised his hammer above him, the handle of his weapon making contact with the mace of the angel, preventing it from connecting with his body. He spun the hammer, knocking the mace out of the way and jumping towards the angel, his hammer ready to swing.

  His momentum bringing him chest-level with the angel, Goren brought the hammer down onto the angel’s torso, just before the angel could react.

  The impact of the hammer shattered the armor around its chest and caving in its rib cage. The Principality of Observation released a pained scream before it turned to dust before their eyes. It wasn’t even a battle.

  Landing in a crouch, Goren looked up to see the dust that was once the angel rain from the sky, carpeting the floor before vanishing.

  The dark urge to kill was unquenched. He wanted more.

  He turned to the onlookers.

  “So, what did ya think?” Goren asked.

  Onus and the Savina clapped in unison.

  “It was spectacular, my Lord! Truly, that angel was no match for you!” They cheered.

  Asriel chuckled.

  “That still wasn’t much of a fight. You demolished it in two seconds. And you did it without donning your armor.”

  Goren nodded, smirking. He rested the hammer on his shoulder.

  “It was too weak. There was no point.”

  Asriel smirked in return.

  “How about something stronger, all-powerful Arch-Devil, sir?” He teased.

  Goren couldn’t help but laugh.

  “I guess so. How about a Dominion Authority?”

  Asriel nodded.

  “You got it.”

  He stuck his hands out.

  “[Summon Angel 7th Tier]!” He shouted, bringing the Dominion Authority to the material world.

  The enormous angel, far larger than the defeated Principality of Observation, loomed over all present.

  Its shining white wings, light blue armor, and yellow magic ‘eye’ on its forehead shone brightly, bathing the area in light.

  Goren brought his hammer up and returned it to his Item Box. He pulled out a different weapon in its place, a weapon he could wield with one hand.

  The weapon was the Hero Cleaver, a black battleaxe with red vein-like etchings on the handle and blade. Like the Hammer of Depravity before it, it was most effective against those with Good karma. Not only that, but it was also great for breaking through armor, which the Dominion Authority wore.

  “I’ll be using magic and melee this time! Bring it on!” He shouted.

  “Dominion Authority! Destroy the red demon!” Asriel commanded.

  Goren’s danger sense alerted him to the incoming danger, allowing him to move just in time to avoid the incoming attack from the angel. It activated the spell [Holy Smite], blanketing the area Goren had just been in with holy energy.

  Having evaded the angel’s attack, Goren cast a spell of his own, a 5th-Tier one.

  “[Dragon Lightning]!” He shouted, shooting forth another bright bolt of dragon-shaped lightning.

  The lightning impacted the angel, dealing continuous damage for several moments before dissipating. The angel visibly shuddered, seemingly in pain, and readied another attack, one that Goren wouldn’t be able to evade.

  It pointed the staff at him and cast the spell [Shining Burst]. It bathed the entire courtyard in light. It was not the Holy element, but rather, the Good element.

  Goren winced as the light touched his skin, slightly searing him. As an Arch-Devil, he had the racial skill High Tier Spell Nullification (3/Day), which allowed him to nullify up to three 7th Tier spells and below per day, however, the skill had to be consciously activated. Having forgotten to do so, the spell dealt damage to him, though only some.

  “Oooh, now that was something!” He shouted, grinning. He glanced at the burn marks on his arms.

  Good-element attacks burn my skin. It doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would, but it hurts more than I would have liked.

  He could hear an ‘ow!’ emanate from somewhere in the courtyard but did not know from whom.

  "Why did you use a 5th Tier spell? That's weak sauce!" Asriel questioned from the sideline.

  "Because you said that I wiped out the Principality too fast!" Goren replied, annoyance audible in his tone as he dodged an incoming attack.

  "Oh, so you're saying it's my fault," Asriel replied, annoyed as well.

  "No, I'm saying you'd think this'll be boring otherwise!" Goren said, dodging another attack.

  Asriel didn't reply to that.

  Goren deployed his wings, feeling them emerge from his back. He flexed them, his eyes not moving away from the angel, and took off. He soared towards the angel, his axe reared back as he planted it straight into the angel's shoulder. The Dominion Authority's shoulder armor cracked and crumbled as Goren removed the axe from its shoulder and flew back to avoid the angel's hand.

  How do you like that?! I'll get my payback for these burn marks, you bastard!

  Goren flew circles around the Dominion Authority's form as it tried to land a hit on him. He flung himself at the angel's neck, swinging his battleaxe full force at it. The damaged armor around the shoulder area shattered completely as he swung at its neck again and again and again. The Dominion Authority cast [Shining Burst]once again, this time directed at itself in an attempt to damage Goren. But it wasn't enough. The fourth and final swing of his battleaxe is what killed the angel.

  The angel turned to dust before his eyes, and he stared at it in satisfaction. He could feel the demonic bloodlust within him wane, having been satiated for the time being. Goren swung his axe into the air around him triumphantly, flicking the non-existent blood off of it.

  He took out the personally-crafted magic item called Manus Dei, and cast the spell [Heal] on himself. The spell's healing energy washed over him, euphoria coursing through his veins as his injuries slowly disappeared. He watched as the burn marks on his skin vanished within seconds, then smiled, putting the item away.

  “That took some effort,” he said as he descended to the place Asriel, Onus, and Savina were standing.

  That was when he realized where the yell had originated.

  Onus was being healed by Savina, her healing abilities as a Battle Cleric coming in handy. The Shadow Demon had a pained expression on his face that he was failing to suppress.

  Goren rushed over to his servant.

  “Are you alright?” He demanded, eyes wide.

  Onus gave a small smile, his eyes barely open from the pain.

  “Yes, master. I’m fine. They’re just small burns, it’s no big deal.”

  Goren shook his head.

  “Don’t downplay your pain. You were hurt by that spell.”

  He turned to Savina.

  “Are you almost finished?”

  She nodded.

  “Yes, my Lord. He is nearly healed.”

  He nodded.

  “Good.”

  He turned back to Onus, his eyes filled with guilt.

  “It’s my fault you got hurt. I shouldn’t have brought you this close to the battle zone. Please forgive me.” He ruffled Onus’ hair like he did earlier. He said he liked it, after all.

  This made Savina and Onus widen their eyes.

  “No, no, no! You are not at fault, master! I failed to escape the radius of a dangerous spell like that in time! The fault is mine alone!”

  Onus exclaimed, trying his best to shift the blame away from his creator.

  Goren exhaled.

  “How about we’re both at fault?” Goren said, trying to compromise.

  Onus shook his head.

  “A Supreme Being can never be at fault for anything,” He said.

  Goren looked over at Asriel, who shrugged.

  Great. Thanks for the help.

  He returned his attention to Onus.

  “Very well, Onus.”

  Onus gave a slight bow.

  “Thank you, master.”

  Goren nodded, before turning to Asriel.

  He slapped a hand on Asriel’s shoulder.

  “It’s your turn now, if you still want to fight, that is.”

  Asriel smirked.

  “Of course I will. Summon some powerful demons for me to fight.”

  Goren nodded, smirking in turn.

  “You got it. Stand in the center.”

  Asriel did as instructed. He stood in the center of the courtyard and prepared himself mentally for what he was about to fight.

  “[Summon Demon 11th]!” Goren shouted, as an Evil Lord Greed came into existence before him.

  The summoned demon was decked out in full black plate armor that only exposed his abdominal muscles. Large bat wings hung from his back. A head of long red hair, two large horns, and a black mask with six red eyes were prominent features of his head and face. His black scythe clasped in his right hand stood at the ready, his eyes fixed on Asriel.

  “Attack the angel!” Commanded Goren.

  The Evil Lord was more than happy to comply, for killing was in the blood of every demon. In the blink of an eye, the demon slid across the floor as if he were gliding across ice, gripping his scythe with both hands. He swung with all of his might, aiming to slice the angel in half.

  Asriel had only barely dodged the incoming scythe when the Evil Lord sped towards him again. The demon was not going to let up on him, not when they’re so close.

  “Damn it, why did you summon the most powerful demon right away?! I summoned a weaker one for you in the beginning!” Asriel spat, trying not to let his eyes leave the form of his opponent.

  “To be fair, it was gonna be too easy for you had I summoned a weaker demon first. It would’ve ended just as quickly as it did for me.” Goren said, shrugging.

  Asriel shook his head. He understood his reasoning but felt that he should have shown him the same courtesy regardless.

  “Still, I wish you hadn’t!”

  “Alright, I’ll throw you a bone.” Goren said before turning to the Evil Lord he summoned.

  “Don’t summon any demons or use any spells in your fight against him. I want you to only fight one-on-one with weapons only.”

  The Evil Lord Greed nodded its head, its fangs glinting as it smiled.

  “Understood, my summoner.”

  Asriel summoned his swords, the Petrifying Serpent Fangs. They were a pair of Wakizashi resembling snakes, which slowly paralyzed the target every time damage was done to their body. Starting with a small movement speed and agility debuff, it would eventually become full-body paralysis once the debuffs had stacked.

  His blades blocked the incoming swing from the Evil Lord’s scythe. Asriel spun his left sword around and bashed the Evil Lord back with the hilt of his weapon. The demon slid back from the impact, slightly off-balance.

  Asriel raised a hand and taunted the Evil Lord by gesturing for it to come towards him with a smirk. The Evil Lord smirked in turn and glided across the ice with its scythe raised overhead.

  Asriel took advantage of the Evil Lord’s stance by rapidly slashing the demon’s exposed abs with both blades. The Evil Lord grunted in pain, its movements noticeably slower as the debuff stacks and takes hold. Asriel then moved out of the demon’s range and held up both blades in a fighting stance.

  I can’t compare to this guy’s brute strength or speed, since I’m not a pure warrior like he is. I’m gonna have to resort to hit-and-run tactics to stay alive.

  As the Evil Lord made its way to Asriel, the Seraphim didn’t even try to move out of the way. He stood there and only dodged at the last second when the scythed swung down to meet him.

  He circled to the demon’s back and severed its bat-like wings so as to decrease its mobility further. The Evil Lord howled in pain as it circled around in an attempt to end Asriel’s life with a swing of its scythe.

  The demon was even slower from the additional damage it took from Asriel’s blades, giving Asriel the edge in battle.

  Asriel moved out of the scythe’s range and severed the extended arm, causing the scythe to fall from the Evil Lord’s grasp.

  The demon howled in pain once again and attempted to pick up the fallen weapon with his other hand, only for it to be severed by Asriel’s blades too.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Did you really think I would let you pick it back up?” Asriel sneered.

  Its speed and agility vastly reduced by the stacking debuffs, the Evil Lord could not react in time to Asriel severing both of its legs at the knee. The demon fell onto its bleeding abdomen, struggling to get up.

  “Time to finish it.”

  Asriel strode over to the wriggling torso and grabbed onto the demon’s long red hair, lifting it up with a single hand. He then deployed his wings and flew high into the sky above Astral Keep.

  Asriel lifted the limbless demon up to him, so that their eyes would meet.

  “For what it’s worth, you were outmatched from the start.”

  He then reared his arm back, the limbless demon dangling from his grip, before he swung it forward and let go, spiking the immobilized Evil Lord to the ground at full force. The demon exploded into a tsunami of red upon impact, disintegrating as its HP went to zero. The blood and gore from its body rapidly disintegrated as well, until there was nothing left of it.

  Asriel descended from the sky, retracting his wings into his body as his feet touched the ground.

  He put his blades away into his Item Box, and looked over to see Goren, Onus, and Savina making their way over to him.

  “That was amazing, Lord-Senpai!” Said Savina, beaming at their creator.

  “My sentiments exactly, my Lord!” Onus nodded, smiling.

  Asriel nodded.

  “Thank you for the compliments. I appreciate it.”

  While Onus and Savina were smiling at the praise Asriel gave them, a big mischievous grin grew on Goren’s face.

  “Lord Senpai?” He said, “Is that something you made her call you on purpose?”

  Asriel’s cheeks flushed red.

  “I-I didn’t make her call me that!”

  Goren chuckled.

  “Is that so? Then why does she say it?”

  Asriel stuffed his hands into his pockets.

  “She just does, okay? It’s not complicated.”

  Goren continued to smile.

  “If you say so, Lord Senpai.”

  Asriel’s face flushed a deeper red, eliciting another chuckle from Goren.

  “Cut it out. I’m serious.”

  Goren shook his head in amusement, still smiling.

  “I’ll stop.”

  “Good,” Asriel said in a quieter tone.

  Goren cleared his throat.

  “Anyway, let’s discuss the battle.”

  Asriel nodded, taking a deep breath.

  “Yes, let’s.”

  “How do you think you did fighting that Evil Lord Greed?” Goren asked.

  Asriel tapped a finger inside his pocket.

  “I did pretty good, I think. The Evil Lord was powerful, sure, but my Petrifying Serpent Fangs made the fight so easy. It was fun dodging his attacks and doing hit-and-runs.”

  He smiled.

  Goren nodded.

  “Sounds about right. You did good, crafting those blades.”

  Asriel’s smile grew mischievous.

  “What about a PvP next? You and me?”

  Goren raised an eyebrow.

  “Really? You want to fight me?”

  Asriel nodded.

  “Yeah, why not? It’ll be more of a challenge compared to that Evil Lord.”

  Goren shook his head.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. We don’t even know if we can be resurrected after death.”

  Asriel’s eyes widened, the smile disappearing from his face.

  “Oh shit, you’re right. I didn’t even think about that.”

  Goren scratched an itch on his elbow.

  “If we die here, it could be permanent. We should avoid fighting each other until we know more.”

  Asriel raised his hand, pointing to one of the rings he was wearing.

  “What about this Ring of Lesser Resurrection? Should we test it on somebody else first?”

  Goren thought about it for a moment, then shook his head.

  “I don’t think we should give anyone our items. Besides, as a divine magic caster, you could test resurrection spells on a dead body rather than giving them the ring.”

  "But what if resurrection does not work on Players?" Asriel asked.

  Goren shook his head.

  "If it doesn't, then we're screwed if either of us end up dead. If there are other Players in this world too, then we could kill them and see if resurrection works on them."

  Asriel raised his eyebrows in surprise. He lowered his arm.

  "A Player Kill? Should we really be starting beef this early?"

  Goren shrugged.

  "If we get the jump on them and use our most powerful abilities right away, we'd probably win. Besides, how else could we find the answer to this question?"

  Asriel sighed.

  “This is a lot to process.”

  Goren chuckled.

  “You said it. This world is a mystery.”

  This made Asriel perk up a bit.

  “Mystery, hm? I wanna explore it a bit.”

  Goren smiled.

  “You’re sounding like a World Searcher.”

  Asriel punched Goren playfully on the shoulder.

  “If you ask me, they had the right idea. Not even half of the in-game map was explored by the time the servers shut down!”

  Goren nodded.

  “Such wasted effort, making such a massive game only for most of it never seeing the light of day.”

  The two stood in silence, reminiscing about their days in Yggdrasil before an incoming [Mass Message] brought them out of it.

  [Lord Goren? Lord Asriel?] Said the voice. It was Aiden.

  [What is it?] Asriel asked.

  [Yeah?] Goren questioned.

  [The preparations for th’ party are complete, my Lords. We would be honored if ya’ll joined us in the Dining Hall.]

  [Understood. We’re on our way.]

  [Acknowledged. We’re heading there now.]

  [Yes, my Lords.]

  The two waved Onus and Savina over, grabbing their wrists once they were at their side. They activated the teleportation function of their Rings of Chiaroscuro and appeared instantly outside the Dining Hall of the Paradise Inn.

  Palace of Demeter - Galaxia (4th Floor)

  The Paradise Inn – Dining Hall

  Day 1 – 6:44 PM Demeter Standard Time

  Goren and Asriel took a look at their surroundings. Nothing had changed. It still looked like a small town.

  They were standing outside the Paradise Inn, a large ornate building intended to be a hotel. Back in Yggdrasil, it was just a place where one could lose oneself in the fantasy that they were living in some five-star hotel, doing things like ordering room service and the like. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible. Now, however, it was.

  The first level of the building was taken up by the Dining Hall, while levels two and above were where the hotel rooms were located.

  "Haven't been here in a while," Goren said, smiling.

  "Ditto," Asriel replied.

  The two approached the entrance to the Dining Hall. Before they could reach it, however, Onus and Savina stepped in front of them.

  “Let us open the door for you, my Lords.”

  The two said in unison.

  Goren and Asriel looked over at each other before nodding.

  “If that’s what you want, go ahead,” Asriel said.

  “Yeah, I don’t mind,” Goren added.

  Onus and Savina opened the door to the Dining Hall, revealing the awaiting NPCs. They were all of the Floor Guardians, the Ennead, and the Five Gourmands- the chefs and Area Guardians of the Dining Hall.

  The moment their eyes met those of Goren’s and Asriel’s, the gathered individuals threw confetti into the air. Smiles filled their faces, and cheers and shouts filled the air.

  “Many blessings upon you, Almighty Supreme Beings!” They boomed in unison, their eyes glued to Goren and Asriel.

  “We welcome you to the Dining Hall!”

  Inside was a large room filled with two dozen wooden tables. The floor had square marble tiles of blue, white, gray, and black. The walls were stone, with sky-blue wallpaper that gave off a feeling of royalty. Carved wooden columns lined the walls, purely for decoration, but they at least looked functional. The windows were large, arched ones, with sky-blue curtains. The ceiling had blue and purple tiles, held up by wooden girders, from which hung flower-shaped chandeliers. To the left of the room was the buffet area, several tables from which diners could grab premade foods and drinks. Beside the buffet area was the order window, where diners could order specific meals that they'd like from the Five Gourmands. At the far end of the hall was a large indoor garden, with several large rocks and a small artificial waterfall, to give the Dining Hall a bit of a natural feel. The wall behind the garden had a sky painted on it, adding to that feel.

  Around them were wooden tables covered in platters of various foods. One was filled with platters of macaroni and cheese, barbecue ribs, meatloaf, fried chicken, honey garlic ribs, coleslaw, and breadsticks.

  Each and every food item was covered by an enchanted cloche that kept the food fresh indefinitely, preventing them from ever spoiling.

  Another was covered in platters of various flavors of pizza. These were meat lovers, mushroom, plain cheese, ‘The Asriel Special’, and vegetable pizza pies. The table also had a platter of fries and several flavors of wings to go along with them.

  Some other one was covered in platters of Japanese cuisine. Chicken katsu, sushi, sashimi, yakisoba and yakiudon, white rice, shumai, cups of spicy mayo, soy sauce, and eel sauce. There were even cups of sake to go along with it all.

  A different one was covered in platters of what looked like completely healthy dishes. They had a variety of everything: meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, sauces, and grains, all portioned to provide a good number of vitamins and nutrients, carefully avoiding the problem of too much of one thing and not enough of another.

  The most eye-catching table was the one covered in desserts. Cupcakes, red velvet cake, muffins, oatmeal cookies, fruit pies, milkshakes, ice cream, and even a chocolate fountain.

  The drink table by the buffet section was covered with pitchers of water, juice, soda, iced coffee, iced tea, wine, and ale.

  All of the foods on display were crafted using ingredients that were in storage and from facilities located within Demeter. All of the meats, vegetables, fruits, and more were harvested from animals bought by Goren and Asriel to make their guild base more lively, or from creatures that were killed back in Yggdrasil, whose remains were kept in the treasury. These animals respawned just like POPs did, but were not POPs themselves, and the ingredients harvested from them did not disappear upon their deaths. This is because these animals are meant to provide a renewable supply of low-tier and mid-tier ingredients that could be used to create gold using the Exchange Box in the treasury, to help pay for Demeter's daily maintenance costs. The ingredients used to make juice, soda, coffee, tea, wine, and ale also come from plants that serve the same purpose. They didn't completely pay the maintenance costs on their own (nor together), but every bit did help. However, if one so desired, they could also be used in the creation of items, such as food in this case, if one didn't mind the loss of the gold that could've potentially been created from them.

  The foods and drinks were created using recipes they had obtained during their years of adventuring in Yggdrasil. The Cookbook was an item that contained all of the recipes for various foods and drinks that Players had found during their adventurers. It was similar to the Game Encyclopedia in that sense, except it is an item that one must acquire on their own. As one would expect, each recipe in the Cookbook also displayed all of the ingredients one would need, what cooking items (oven, blender, etc.) would be needed to cook it, and how long it would take to craft each dish. It was an item that no Cook would want to live without.

  Seeing so much food in one place was overwhelming. Neither of them was able to eat real food back on Earth, having to resort to eating bland nutrient paste like the rest of the lower class. Only the rich could afford real vegetables and meat. The fact that they could now enjoy real food to their hearts’ content - food that was likely better than anything a human ever had back home - was a dream come true.

  Onus and Savina gestured to the tables piled high with food.

  “Don’t be shy, masters! This is all for you!” Onus said, smiling.

  “Exactly! Please, enjoy yourselves, Lords!” Savina added.

  Goren and Asriel gave each other a look before proceeding further in.

  “Welcome to our humble establishment!” Beamed Hiroyuki, the head of the Five Gourmands. “We are honored to have you dine with us. We hope you will enjoy yourselves to the fullest in celebration of your good health!”

  Each of the Five Gourmands was fat. They were designed that way for three reasons: To fit the idiom: “Don’t trust a skinny chef”, to represent the five types of gluttony, and to appeal to Goren's fat fetish. As such, each was programmed to not only take pride in their corpulence, but to also view it as an ideal that all should strive for. Because of this, they view thinness as something to be corrected by having seconds, thirds, and fourths for every meal, with plenty of snacks in between. Each of them wore a narrow orange apron that covered the front of their bellies but left the sides exposed. The reason he chose to make their aprons orange is because he read online that it was the color associated with gluttony.

  Hiroyuki was a member of the Kowai, a race of fox-like spirits. The Kowai race is based on the ghosts of gluttonous individuals who carried their obsession with food to the afterlife. Despite being based on ghosts however, the Kowai are an undead race, as they are a subspecies of Yokai in Yggdrasil. Hiroyuki stood at a height of six feet, had the appearance of a corpulent fox-like humanoid with bloodshot eyes, sharp teeth, a long drooling tongue that doesn’t fit fully into his mouth, and geta for footwear. While one would expect him to have trouble speaking with such a long tongue, he speaks perfectly fine as a result of his character settings.

  To the left of Hiroyuki stood Jiro, a tanuki. He stood at four feet tall, wore a white fundoshi, and geta just like Hiroyuki's but smaller. A flask that resembled a sake bottle hung from his hip, clipped onto his fundoshi, and filled with alcohol. A straw hat hung from his neck, resting on his upper back, for use outdoors. He was the resident lover and brewer of alcohol.

  “It pleases me to cook for our beloved Supreme Beings, especially for a special day like today,” he said, bowing. He had a warm smile on his chubby face, his big eyes sparkling with excitement.

  To the left of Jiro, stood Peelchopper, a Gulon. They are a Demi-Human species that resemble wolverines. Unlike wolverines, however, Gulons (including Peelchopper) stand at around 7 feet on average. He wore shorts that matched and blended in with the color of his dark fur and had a perpetual scowl on his face. He was the quiet member of the group, speaking only when he had something to say, and bluntly at that. He was the butcher of the group, doing all of the preparation work when it came to meat. He loved meat, to the point that he ate until his stomach was full and stretched like a drum, and enjoyed massaging his stomach by rubbing it against the trunk of a tree.

  “It is my wish to see my masters sample the meat dishes,” he said in a gruff voice. His scowl didn't leave his face, but it did seem to have lessened in intensity.

  To the right of Hiroyuki stood Beelzebub, a demon, specifically an Overeating. He has pale yellow-green skin, stands at eight feet tall, wears orange salvar, walks around barefoot, and has no visible eyes, ears, hair, or any other features on his head (though despite this, his five senses are unaffected). This is because his sharp-toothed, lipless mouth with reddish-white teeth take up the majority of his head. This, in combination with his thick throat which makes him look like a bipedal carnivorous worm, allows him to consume his meals more easily. As a result of this, it is difficult to discern his emotional state from his face, but you can just study his body language to find out. Though demons don't require sustenance to live, he is the cook with the sweet tooth, having baked and made all of the sweets on the dessert table. He enjoys eating to the point of impatience, refusing to chew at all, and instead swallows his meals whole. Though he enjoys regular fare, what he truly desires is devouring intelligent living creatures- such as humans -whole in large quantities, to the point that he won't stop devouring them until his stomach becomes taut like an overinflated balloon. The feeling of them squirming inside of his overstuffed stomach as they're being digested (and their souls as well), along with their anguished faces appearing just under his skin, is something he greatly (and sadistically) enjoys every time.

  “I hope you try a bit of everything, or perhaps even a lot of everything, my Lords! I will ensure the food keeps coming, even when the ingredients run dry!” He proclaimed, glee audible in his voice.

  And finally, to the right of Beelzebub stood Kairo, a gray Dragonoid. The reason Goren chose to make him a Dragonoid is because he wanted to reference Ouroboros, in that the dragon or serpent eating its own tail could be interpreted as an act of gluttony, which would be perfect for a chef NPC. Unlike Ouroboros however, Kairo would never in a million years dream of consuming himself. He stands at five feet tall and wears salvar, just like Beelzebub, except his are pure white, in addition to his orange apron. He is the member who places balance on a pedestal (at least, how balanced one could make gluttony). Every dish he prepares is one that gave the diner the perfect amount of every ingredient, pleasing both the body and the soul. He values nutrition, ensuring that his every meal fulfilled all of the body's needs.

  “My Lords, I hope these dishes bring you satisfaction. It is a blessing to cook for you,” he said, placing a hand on his heart, his tone warm.

  “Thanks, guys, for your hard work. I’m sure this will be delicious,” Goren said, giving them a strained smile.

  Oh god, I hope I don't pop a boner here, in front of everyone! He had to keep such thoughts out of his mind.

  Asriel nodded. “Ditto. I can’t wait to dig in.”

  The five chefs straightened their postures, visibly happy.

  “We do not deserve your kind words! We are but motes of dust beneath your boots!” Hiroyuki exclaimed, his long drooling tongue swaying happily like a dog’s tail.

  The other chefs nodded in agreement, their joyous expressions unchanged.

  “Nonsense. I created you to be the best chefs in the world. All of the delicious smelling foods here prove that.” Goren replied, waving away their modesty.

  The five chefs got on one knee in unison, their corpulent bodies jiggling.

  You did that on purpose! Goren cried internally.

  “Thank you for your kind words. We are fortunate to have been created by a being as kind as yourself.”

  Goren nodded, quickly turning his eyes away from them. “You’re welcome,” He said as the chefs got back up, “As you were.”

  The chefs nodded and went off to the kitchen. They were excitedly whispering amongst themselves as they made their way back.

  In place of the chefs now stood Kleran Reval, the First Guardian. He bowed his head and wordlessly commanded the other Floor Guardians to form a line behind him. They did as he commanded, with excitement evident in their body language. After it was done, Kleran knelt on one knee.

  “What’s all this for?” Asriel asked.

  “Oh, they’re all eager to congratulate you in person, so I had instructed them beforehand to form a line from first floor to last and for each of them to speak briefly before stepping aside. And since I’m the First Guardian, it is only right that I get to go first.” He said with a slight mischievous smile.

  “Ah, I see,” Asriel replied.

  Goren nodded in understanding.

  “Now then, I am overjoyed to see the Supreme Beings here with us. Like our colleagues, the Five Gourmands said, I hope you enjoy yourselves today. It is our gift to you for giving us life, and though it is insufficient, I hope it is just enough to be appreciated.”

  Goren and Asriel nodded.

  “Thank you, Kleran. We appreciate your efforts, and we hope you will enjoy the party with us as well.” Asriel said, giving the Automaton a smile.

  “Same here. Thank you, Kleran.” Goren added, clapping him on the shoulder lightly.

  Kleran bowed his head.

  “Thank you, my Lords. I cannot express how much I appreciate your kind words.”

  He rose and stepped aside to let the next person in line step forward, Ullr Borral. He was the Guardian of the 1st Floor, a ten-foot-tall Yeti with black fur, a scarred body with decorative arrows sticking out from various points, and milky eyes. He wore a necklace of eyeballs; meant to represent all of the intruders he’s killed over the years. Ullr knelt before Goren and Asriel, bowing his head.

  “Greetings, Supreme Ones. It is an honor to have been invited here to celebrate your good health, especially yours, Lord Goren.”

  Goren’s eyes widened slightly.

  “Was everybody told about my situation?” He asked.

  Ullr nodded. The others behind him did as well.

  “Yes, my Lord. The members of the Ennead informed us of this the moment we arrived here.”

  Goren nodded in turn.

  “I see. Well, I guess I should have expected that. Thank you.”

  Asriel chuckled.

  “Maybe your brain needs to be checked.”

  Goren shot Asriel an annoyed look.

  “Har har.”

  Ullr rose to his feet.

  “Thank you, my Lords. Please call upon me if you have need of me.”

  He let Kontar step forward. Kontar was the Guardian of the 2nd Floor, a Mummy with levels in necromancer. He wore priestly attire from Ancient Egypt and was programmed to enjoy sewing burial robes for the deceased, decorating said robes in symbols that represent the deceased’s accomplishments in life. Kontar knelt on one knee, bowing his head.

  “Glorious day to you, my Lords. It is a delight to be here today with you to celebrate your good health, something that all of us wish to be the case until the end of time. I will answer your call if you call upon me.”

  With that said, Kontar rose and let Spartacus step forward.

  Spartacus was the Guardian of the 3rd Floor, an arachnoid adorned in Ancient Greek armor. With a professional and no-nonsense attitude, he was a workaholic military man who valued order, obedience, efficiency, strategy, and tactics.

  Spartacus knelt on one knee.

  “Reporting as ordered, Supreme Ones. As the Guardian of the 3rd Floor, it is my duty and my honor to respond to your summons. It is my wish that my Lords enjoy the festivities today.”

  With that, Spartacus finished speaking and rose to his feet. There were no other Floor Guardians in line to speak.

  “There doesn’t seem to be anybody else.” Asriel said.

  “You are correct, my Lord. All of the Floor Guardians have spoken.” Kleran replied.

  Asriel nodded.

  “That’s all, hm? Well, what do you think, Goren?”

  Goren stayed silent for several moments, thinking over what each of the Floor Guardians have said. Then, he finally responded.

  “I am satisfied with their words.”

  “Agreed.” Asriel added.

  The Floor Guardians looked overjoyed at that.

  “If there is nothing else, let’s eat!” Asriel said excitedly.

  The room erupted in cheers.

  They arrived at the table set up for the two of them and sat down. Onus and Savina made their way to their respective master’s side, handing them a menu.

  “What will you be having, master?” They asked Goren and Asriel.

  Goren took a look at the menu in his hands. It listed all of the food items that were prepared for this party.

  “I think I’ll have the… macaroni and cheese, some barbeque ribs, and a ginger ale to start. I’ve always wanted to try these.”

  He remembered looking them up randomly one day when he was looking up foods online that were once popular with the common folk. They looked tasty and were quite popular, so of course he had to try them.

  “Of course, my Lord.” Onus said, bowing. He picked up Goren’s plate and went off to pile it up with the requested dishes.

  Asriel watched Onus head off to the tables with Goren’s plate, then looked down at the menu in his own hands.

  “Hmm. I’d like to try pizza.”

  “Will that be all, Lord-Senpai?” Savina asked.

  Asriel shook his head, looking up at her.

  “No.”

  He took a look at his menu again.

  “‘The Asriel Special’? I have a pizza named after me?” He asked, amused.

  “Oh, yeah, that's because of me," Goren said, "It’s a pepperoni and anchovies pie.”

  Asriel looked at the Arch-Devil. "Why name it after me?"

  "One time, while we were watching an old movie, and a character ate one just like that with a smile on his face, you told me you'd like to try it someday, so I added it to the menu," Goren replied.

  “Oh, I guess I did. I guess now's as good time as any to try some of that. Two slices, Savina.”

  Savina nodded.

  “Anything else, Lord?” She asked.

  “Buffalo wings and fries too. Iced tea as well. That’ll be all for now,” he said, putting his menu down and handing Savina his plate.

  Savina bowed. “Very good, my Lord,” she said before stepping away to fill the plate.

  Onus returned with Goren’s plate, piled high with macaroni and cheese and barbeque ribs, along with a glass of ice-cold ginger ale.

  Goren grabbed the fork by his plate and stabbed it into the macaroni and cheese, bringing it to his mouth and taking a bite. The heat from his body incinerated the food in his mouth, robbing him of its flavor. He gagged, ejecting the remains of the food into the handkerchief Onus gave him with a cough.

  Everyone in the room gasped. Onus leaned in, waiting to be of use to his creator, a worried expression on his face.

  "Ugh, fuck!" Goren said with a grimace, "What the hell? The food turned to ash in my mouth!"

  Asriel chuckled, "It's probably because of your Fire Breath skill. Isn't there a way for you to tone it down?"

  Goren sighed, his eyes widened then closed shut, "I completely forgot about that. Yeah, there should be. One sec."

  Goren concentrated on his Fire Breath skill, something that had become natural to him like the rest of his abilities, as if by instinct. He imagined the skill decreasing in power, like a valve closing but not entirely shutting off the flow of water. After a few seconds, he felt the heat in and around his lungs and throat decreasing, becoming colder than the rest of his body. He exhaled, opening his eyes.

  "I think I did it. Let's see if it works," he said as he stabbed his fork again and brought up some more of the macaroni and cheese. His eyes widened as an explosion of flavors hit his tongue. This time, the food was not incinerated.

  He stabbed the fork into the macaroni and cheese once more and brought it back into his mouth. Again, he had the same experience. Looking down at the barbeque ribs, he grabbed one with both hands and tore a chunk out of it with his teeth. Some of the bone of the rib was torn off as well, but it didn’t hurt him at all.

  The sweetness of the barbeque sauce and the tenderness of the juicy meat was sublime. He took some more bites from the rib alongside some of the macaroni and cheese before washing it down with a gulp of ginger ale.

  “It looks like it worked, you seem to be enjoying yourself.” Asriel said, smirking.

  Goren nodded vigorously, stuffing his mouth full once more.

  “You've gotta try this!” he said, his words barely articulate, “This is amazing!”

  Everyone in the room exhaled in relief, especially the poor cooks. Onus visibly relaxed.

  Asriel watched his best friend stuff himself with more of the macaroni and ribs.

  “I wanna finish my order first before I move on to something else.”

  Goren shrugged.

  “Your loss.” He said as he brought more macaroni into his mouth.

  Savina returned with Asriel’s order, placing it right before him. It was two slices of ‘The Asriel Special’, some buffalo wings, fries, and a glass of iced tea. Just like he’d ordered.

  “Here you go, master. I hope you enjoy it.” She said, giving him a warm smile.

  Asriel gave a smile in return.

  “Thanks. I will.” He said before digging in.

  Taking a bite from the pizza, his eyes widened with a mixture of surprise and glee.

  “Mmmph, this is delicious!” Asriel said, taking another bite of the slice.

  He then took a handful of the fries and stuffed it into his mouth. The crispiness of the fries went great with the tanginess of the tomato sauce, the meat of the pepperoni, and the saltiness of the anchovies. It was a wonderful blend of flavors.

  He reached over and grabbed a buffalo wing, taking a bite out of it. Again, his eyes widened.

  “How can people eat nutrient paste every day when stuff like this exists?!” He exclaimed, a bemused expression on his face.

  “I know, right?” Goren responded, taking another bite out of his ribs.

  “You should try that iced tea too.”

  Asriel nodded, grabbing the glass of iced tea and sipping from it.

  A satisfied sigh escaped his lips the moment he set it back down.

  “It’s delicious as well. Love the taste.”

  Goren chuckled.

  “Eating this makes me never want to go back to tasting nutrient paste ever again.”

  Asriel nodded.

  “Same.”

  From the corner of his eye, Asriel could see the Five Gourmands peeking from the service window behind the buffet counter. They were clearly excited seeing their masters eat the food they so lovingly made for them. All five of them were trying not to be seen as they were peeking.

  Asriel chuckled.

  This is our life now, I guess.

  Having finished his meal, Asriel scanned the room. He noticed that none of the NPCs were eating. They were just standing there, watching him and Goren eat with happy expressions on their faces.

  “What’s wrong? Why aren’t any of you eating?” He asked.

  Kleran bowed his head.

  “My apologies, my Lord. All of this food was prepared for you and Lord Goren. We wouldn’t dare deprive you of any of it.”

  Asriel furrowed his brow.

  Are they really expecting us to eat everything here? That’s a bit much.

  “A party isn’t a party if nobody else gets to eat. Come on, get yourselves some plates and eat something.”

  Their expressions became troubled.

  “But-” Kleran replied before being cut off.

  “Do it.” Asriel said. “Don’t displease us by refusing to eat.”

  Kleran seemed to fidget a bit with his tie.

  “If that is your command, my Lord.”

  He bowed again.

  With their expressions unchanged, the NPCs reluctantly grabbed some plates and began piling onto them. They ate in silence, clearly unhappy.

  Asriel sighed, turning back to his plate. The sigh was a bit too loud.

  The sound of rustling could be heard behind him, causing him to look back.

  What he saw caught him off-guard.

  It was all of the assembled Floor Guardians prostrating before him and Goren, their plates still held in their hands as their foreheads touched the Dining Hall floor. Kleran was among their number.

  “Please forgive us, Supreme Ones!” They begged in unison.

  “We have failed to meet your expectations, Supreme Ones, and deserve to be put to death!”

  Goren and Asriel stared agape at the sight.

  What the hell is going on?! They shouted internally.

  Goren stood up.

  “On your feet!” He commanded.

  The Floor Guardians stayed in position for several moments before slowly getting back up one by one. Their eyes were cast down on the floor.

  “None of you deserve to die.” Goren said.

  “It was only a sigh.”

  Asriel nodded.

  “Yes, only a sigh. It’s not an indication of your failure.”

  Kleran spoke for the group.

  “My Lords, forgive my insolence, but your sigh came right after our hesitation to eat the food here. It is clear that it was a result of our failure to meet your expectations.”

  Goren shook his head.

  My god. Is this gonna happen every time now?

  “It’s fine. It’s not something to die over,” Asriel replied.

  “But-” Once again, Kleran was interrupted.

  “It’s fine, Kleran. All of you, just eat the food you have on your plates.” Goren said.

  The Floor Guardians did as they were commanded, grabbing utensils from the tables and eating the food while standing. None of them said anything.

  Goren and Asriel sighed, this time internally.

  Why did it have to get tense? Goren wondered.

  Why did I sigh so loud? Asriel thought.

  Looking back at his menu, a thought came to Asriel’s mind. He turned to look at Savina.

  “Hey, Savina. Can you bring Hiroyuki over to us? I have a question for him.”

  Savina bowed.

  “At once, my Lord.” She said, stepping away to get him.

  In less than a minute, Savina returned with Hiroyuki at her side.

  “You asked for me, my Lord?” He said, bowing his head.

  Asriel nodded.

  “Yes. How did you come up with the idea of serving us all of this? Everything I've had so far was scrumptious.”

  Hiroyuki smiled, his sharp teeth glinting.

  “The idea came from Aiden, leader of the Ennead, my Lord. He suggested we prepare everything on the menu that you would likely find most satisfying.”

  Asriel placed a finger on his chin.

  “He did, did he? I find that interesting.”

  “How so?” Goren asked, eating seconds.

  “I've never had any of this before. How would he know what I would find enjoyable?” Asriel asked.

  Goren ate in silence for several moments, clearly pondering the question. Then, once he had swallowed a mouthful, he spoke.

  “Maybe it's because you created him? That's the only thing that comes to mind.” Goren said.

  Asriel thought over Goren’s words.

  “But why would that mean anything? How would it work?”

  “You’re asking me?” Goren chuckled.

  “How am I supposed to know?”

  Asriel shot him a glare.

  “I don’t appreciate the attitude. I’m asking a perfectly reasonable question.”

  Goren shrugged, shoving a spoonful of cheesy pasta into his mouth.

  “And I’m telling you I don’t know. There is nothing else I can say.”

  “You don’t even want to speculate?” Asriel asked, furrowing his brow.

  “Dude, I already did. I said, ‘maybe it’s because you made him?’ It’s an interesting thing to think about, for sure, but I’m more interested in tasting a bit of everything here for the moment.”

  Asriel sighed.

  He’s right. This can be investigated later. Right now, all of the food here is waiting for them.

  “It is what it is, I guess.” He shrugged.

  “Enough thinking,” Goren said.

  “Let’s get back to eating!” He said, grinning as he got up with his plate in hand.

  “I’ll be filling my plate personally, Onus. Grab something for yourself to eat.” Goren said, walking towards the food-filled tables. Onus looked disappointed but complied with his master’s wishes.

  “Understood, master.” He said as he grabbed a plate for himself and followed his creator.

  Asriel turned to Savina, who stood beside him, as did Hiroyuki.

  “You’re dismissed, Hiroyuki. Thank you,” he said.

  Hiroyuki bowed his head.

  “Very good, my Lord. I shall return to my station.”

  The fox-looking man returned to the kitchen.

  Asriel turned to look at Savina. She was standing with a smile, her hands folded and resting upon her lap.

  “Savina, why don’t you grab something to eat too, hm?” He asked.

  She frowned.

  “But-”

  “No buts. Go.” He demanded.

  She bowed.

  “Yes, Lord-Senpai.”

  She grabbed a plate for herself and went off to grab something to eat.

  Asriel sat in his seat, processing everything that had happened.

  What a day, He thought.