Chapter 0 - Prologue

At the grand celebration that’s considered the biggest in the history of Project: Another World Online, or as the players called this particular game PAWO, a huge crowd gathered in the city of Aurora. The grand city, capital of the highest leveled zone gave home to tenthousands of players and even more NPC’s.

The day of celebration made the city even more lively, doubling the size of players. Every street, shop and guild prepared for this day, every centimeter of the city is decorated. This is the grand day when the game shuts down.

I merely sigh seeing the crowd waiting for me in the main square. That’s right, I’m supposed to give a grand finale speech to them. I reap what I sow it seems. The only reason I started to play this game because I loved roleplaying. I have many characters, all of them are different. Even their races are different. I have characters through the whole city. Actually, my guild has 500 members, 10 of them are me. I have a dwarf for blacksmithing, two elves for magic and humans for different reasons. Why? Because it was fun to play their roles.

One of them is a small, 13 year old fairy girl. This persona was created to be the guild master, focusing on managing and leading jobs. Her writing can change the world around it, her voice can buff friends and debuff enemies. Her appearance alone boosts stats.

And this 135 cm high girl, as the princess of the kingdom, wearing the most beautiful (and expensive) dress and accessories stands on front of this crowd, controlled by me.

‘I guess it’s too late to chicken out’ I think and wearing my smile I walk to the stage like a proper leader should. As the players and npc’s are staring at me at awe, I start my monologue.

“Welcome my dear subjects. As thee already know, today is the day, bis era ends. As your ruler, it is my responsibility to make such a big day unforgettable. Every one of thee shall enjoy it to thy hearts' content. Let this grand celebration begin!”

Finally starting the event I step down, and let out a sigh surviving the pressure. I might like roleplaying but the crowd is too big. The only reason I became the ruler of the country is because the NPC leaders died in an event and “as the most reliable guild’s leader” I was elected. Meaning there was a freaking huge PVP battle that we skipped because I didn’t care about the position. As the sole guild on the top 100 list who did not fight, I remained.

Those bastards. Well, at least it’s fun. The first thing I did was to change the basics of hierarchy. Now my word is law in itself, yet everyone loves me since the trade doubled, the city is flourishing and taxes and a bit lower. I act the persona of a kind but strict ruler.

The problem is that even my own guild members became a little distant. It’s just a freakin’ game, why are they like that? At least my close friends and other characters are still the same.

My guards lead me back to my mansion, where my closest friends and my characters (at least their AI following basic commands) are waiting for me. As I enter the hall I see the others already celebrating! I send my guards back to their duty and run towards the others.

The AI’s are standing near the wall, waiting for command, while those bastards are drinking my alcohol without me! I run straight to a 170 cm tall butler looking man and jumping preparing a heavy punch. This body is small and weak but I don’t really care.

“Thou bastard startin' without bis great I! Thou shall deserve a thousand beatings!” I jump right at his face but he easily evades. With a smile he greets me.

“It’s an honor, Princess Aurora. This me offended you, I humbly beg your pardon.” He says with a smile.

“Thou sorry my royal arse! Bring I thy best if thou sorry!” Declaring my intentions angrily, I glare at him. He is Retor, one of my closest friend and advisor. I’m too lazy to manage everything alone and he’s in charge of helping me. The game’s bots are quite good. They all understand simple commands and follow pre-programmed personalities. If you are so lonely like me you can even engage in a small conversation but you have to ignore as they ask for forgiveness since they can’t understand the commands. Yeah, I know.

A gently look at my other friends here. We were all here from the beginning to the end. Even though we originally formed in the ancestor of this game, we all came back together. When the next game one will be released, we plan to continue.

Shela, the leader of the Adventurer’s Guild. She is a harpy, yet her achievements gave her an npc’s position. She’s able to control the main income of the players, which makes her frightening. As a tall and strong sword user, she is really capable and also part of my guild.

Shin, the person who commands my army. Without him others could destroy this place. According to his job, he’s like a battle veteran old man who is eager to fight all time. A very serious roleplayer.

There are also many others like Petra, Alice and Grom who all has their own responsibilities, but specifying everyone would take ages. I’m grateful for all of them, letting me have so much fun. Now that I think about it, my influence is far greater that I ever imagined. Responsibilities are scary.

Dwelling in my thoughts we engage in celebrating. Everyone is happy and is waiting for the next game, but I only feel the loneliness that awaits me. We know nothing of the next game yet.

The first game, where we were formed was an old style Action Role Play MMO. The best one you could find. Enormous map, so many possibilities. We made our guild to have fun.

When they announced it’s closing my heart broke. I never had real friends and I thought that I won’t be able to have fun anymore. In the end we promised to find each other in the sequel game. New age, new technology. It cost a lot but I wanted to be together with the others.

The second game, which we are currently playing is an advanced, EEG version, meaning we control it with our brainwaves. This made it expensive but also super-immersive. With a head mounted display, that wasn’t really uncommon, this was the first game that could be called virtual reality. There was no feedback of course, but the artstyle, the scenery and the battles were close to reality. In the first time in the history you could grab a branch in a tree with your own will, break it, shape it and beat someone with it. You can even create unique armor and dress designs.

Truly another world. The AI could talk and understand basic speak. Far from a real human, but amazing for a computer. You could even learn magic and create new spells using imagination! It’s really hard though.

Today this game will end. I hope everyone will come back to play the next game with me. Together.

A few days ago there was a lot, choosing 500 players for testing the new game, and I was chosen. They made me agree to a lot of things, I can’t even mention to others that I’ll be participating.

Of the hundred thousands of characters mine was one of the lucky ones. Maybe my influence helped, I’m not sure. As the ruler I can see the list of names who has the title [Tester] like me inside my territory. 329 of them are partying in my city, 30 of them are raiding a dungeon separately for the last time.

Such privileges you say, but it’s impossible to punish immortal players without this. Every time they pass by a soldier I get information of them.

According to the rumours the next game will be fully immersive. The developers are really wealthy (and genius) and I’m sure they are capable of creating such technology. I mean they made this game before anyone else and still no one was able to copy it to the same degree.

Sitting next to my friends whom I share many memories with, time flies by.

The servers will close in 5 minutes. Preparing [Simulation Full Halt]. Please leave or you will be forcefully disconnected. The next game will be announced at next Friday at WorldGamerCon. Thank you for playing Project: Another World Online. See you in the next world.

It ended. I simply look at the others as they say goodby to each other, but none of them leaves yet. As I gaze at them smiling, they all slowly walk in front of me and knee.

“Princess, please reward us with your last beautiful words.” Retor says who is the nearest.

I simply watch these stupid friends of mine who think of me even now. My smile endangers life as it snaches their souls, giving them my aura buffs. I stand up from my seat and even at my limited hight I’m able to look over these dozens of idiots I love so much. I have to make this memorable, that none of us will ever forget. This is my duty.

“Thee did well. Many hardships we came through, this one was always glad for your presence. You shall prepare for your endless journey now but never forget to rest your soul. May us leave a chapter in the book of history on this world, and let us meet again in our next life.”

I finish with a very small drop of tear on my cheek. So small even the non-humans are unable to see it. This is good. I just have to wait for them.

They one by one disconnect from the server. Forceful kicks are rare, but we all experienced it. Only a few take upon oneself the heavy headache it can cause. We don’t know why, they say the sudden change causes strong electromagnetic wave. At least compared to the the brain. In my opinion a sadist developer set it as a punishment and I agree with him. I was able to kick with my limited ruler ability if they committed heavy crimes. Mainly sexual harassment.

After they all logged out, it is only me and Retor. He is still kneeling in front of me, but now both of us are grinning.

Commencing forceful disconnect in

5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1..

[Master Command: Disconnecting all clients]

[Master Command: Simulation Full Halt]