YGGDRASIL. . .

A famous, virtual DMMO-RPG.

A game where thousands of players can create and imagine their own selves in their avatars.

A game where strength isn't everything. And that you need to survive.

It has gotten famous, yes, but that is all in the past now.

And today...? It's going to end. . .

Muspelheim

In the fiery grounds, there was a sound of clash and explosions.

There were two figures; one big and the other small.

The large one has no legs but only lava, though it has an enormous body figure. Almost the size of a 10-foot building

It wielded a hammer, size of a 6-story building. It wore red-glowing armor on certain parts, though it was smoking as if it is still burning. Which it obviously is.

This is the raid-boss on the ground courts of the Fiery Castle of Flames.

Scorch the Fire Lord. A fire elemental for a raid-boss.

Some certain raid-bosses needed at least several players to take it down, however, some needed only at the minimum of one.

This small figure, covered in a cloak with its hood on. There were also metallic objects floating around him as if it was a shield of aura. Though the cloak has holes for the figure's back clawed wings. (Similar to Kerrigan's wings)

If one observe closer enough on this person, they had worn a metallic-looking skin for an armor. Though its skin is a black-colored armored carapace.

And in his hands was a futuristic-styled weapon, namely [Undivided-Personal-Blaster]. [UPB] for short.

([UPB] looks like a futuristic violin btw if your wondering. First image on the search on google)

This was Apocalypse, an insect player, the glass-cannon member of the Hateful Eights clan.

"FUCK!" He cursed as he dodged from the raid boss's hammer.

"JUST FUCKING DIE! |Charged Beam|!" His weapon glowed before shooting a compressed beam towards the raid-boss, hitting at its chest armor.

The raid-boss roared, as if it was in pain, before summoning a ball of lava in its hands and throwing it towards him.

"SHT!" He shouted as he leaped backward. Tapping a potion beforehand, healing him.

"Come mon, just die and drop that [Sun's Grace]!"

The boss swung his hammer to the ground, stunning Apoc a bit before able to fire at its head, damaging for critical.

The boss raised its fist to throw it down to the ground at him. Apoc barely dodged rolled out of its way. "Combat tactical roll!"

"|Charged Beam|" He used his skill again, hitting the boss in the red bar zone. "Yes! Few more hits, and you'll give me the drop!" He shouted to no one in particular, f**king obvious would it not be?

Apoc just ran around the boss as he fired upon the boss, which just raised its arm, reducing the damage.

"F**KING ENDING THIS!" He opened his inventory and took several colored potions and tapping on them. It made him glowed colors red, blue, and orange.

"{Boost: Damage}, {Weapon of Destruction}, |Damage Critical|" His body glowed again before aiming his [UPB] to the boss once again and lastly.

"And... Done." Once he said that his weapon fired an enormous beam of energy.

The boss, in the last of its hp, roared before turning into pixels, vanishing upon death.

The player released the air inside him that he never thought he had. "F**k... That was tiring."

After healing himself along with his passives, he then saw the drop to where the boss was at. He walked towards it and picked it.

It was the [Sun's Grace]. A golden armor set that increases stats, boosting fire damage and being immune to it.

Its appearance has engravings of flame around it. With sun engraving in the middle of its chest plate, flames around it. And when worn, the armor would be engulfed in bright fire.

"... PRAISE THE SUN!" He made the gesture, all of you know this, I don't need to detail it...

Some stupid moments of antics later, he checked all of his gear before using [Scroll of World Teleportation]. Heading to Midgard to spend the last good moments in YGGDRASIL.

Midgard

Materializing himself on a Teleportation Plate, which is kinda like a checkpoint to where on a World would you like to be at.

Kinda like tping yourself to an outpost, just to get near to your goal. I'm bad at explaining.

Anyways, he still felt good about getting the drop.

He looked around, checking if there were players around, to which their arent...

He began on changing his equipment, changing his gear to a vanity set.

Apoc wore a maroon long duster coat with runes engraved to the tips of his clothing, a plague doctor's mask, and with the final touch a tricone hat.

Ready, he planned on using [Scroll of Teleportation] to be at his certain destination.

But he had second thoughts, walking through the night is quite dramatic in his taste. Cringey of a thought, but this is the last day of YGGDRASIL.

He checked the time, as it was several hours before the game ends.

"Eh, why not?" He thought out loud before walking towards his destination.

As he walked, he checked on the 'Friends List' tab. He saw that most of his comrades and friends were offline.

'It has been 12 years after all...' He thought sadly. As he scrolled to the top, only some of his friends were online.

"Hmph, still online eh?" He stared at a certain name, Destiny's End. A human player.

He then used {Message} to contact said person. After a few rings, the call was answered. [Yeah?]

[Yo, didn't know you're still here]

[Eyyy, Johnny, how's life?] Johnny was his nickname...

[Fine, fine. Was wondering why you're here though, thought you quit]

[Quit? M8, for the last day of YGGDRASIL? Hell no, I'm gonna engrave the last moments of YGGDRASIL before it's gone]

They both chuckled before going silent. Apoc slowly walked through the dirt path, with leaves passing by. If it were real, he would have felt the coldness of the wind's night.

[...Time's changed, John] His friend said lowly.

[Yeah... Days have gone by quite fast than I thought] He said. [It's like every important event, even though it is 12 years, it felt shorter than that]

He heard Destiny laughed wholeheartedly at that statement. [Yes... Yes it has]

[What about Alcatraz? How's the boss doing?]

[The bastard's doing fine. He said he'll be with Ainz in the final moments]

[Aww, shame. Couldn't be with his clanmates now?] He said jokingly.

[Heheh, you know the boss. He is like that]

[I know, just stating]

They both went quiet some seconds later before Destiny spoke again.

[Sooo... Where you at?]

[At Asgard at the moment, you?]

[Midgard. Gonna look at the scenery once it ends. I want to picture nature around me in my memories]

[Hmmm, quite thoughtful and unexpected of you John]

[Oh really? Because I'm said to be the craziest f**king bastard in our clan? Oh please, take note of Alcatraz and Dubstep]

He could hear Destiny laugh quite loud at the other side of the link. [HAHAHAHAHAH! *Wheeze* True, quite damn true] He snorted. [But you're still crazy though]

[F**king whatever man] He rolled his eyes.

[Heh, anyways. You going to see them?] It took him quite a moment to understand what he meant by it before answering.

[You forgot what I told you?]

[...Oh right, you ending the moment alone]

He chuckled. [Take care of yourself man]

[You too, and by the way...]

[What?]

[If we're gonna meet each other again, with the same names, you still owe me that favor] He said like it was a matter-of-a-fact.

[Yeah, yeah. Take care bud]

[You too] He said before disconnecting.

He sighed. "I'd take a guess... That something bad is gonna happen later on..." He muttered.

As he walked, he began singing. One that is filled with coldness and honest yet brutal truth.

"Time flows by, with full-hearted gifts.

Living with hope, dreaded with fear.

Hatred is a soul, with earthful sin.

The world doesn't seem, to end.

Little by little~, thy dreaded full of fear.

One must take on, the demons within.

For they will live on, though with misery and pain.

Not one shall live on, with not one mistake..."

Before he could move on to the next one, he stopped, sensing that his defensive counters notifying him.

'Jeez, is this an anime?' He rolled his eyes inwardly before looking to his side. "You all can come out now, it's useless." He said lazily.

Almost instantly, 3 players appeared out of thin air of the background.

It was a warrior, mage, and rogue. A basic hunting party.

'Level 80 bastards? Heh, easy.' He chuckled as he looked into their levels. 'Didn't even try to hide their stats! Overconfident punks.'

"Damn it, Jordan! I thought you placed counter magic!" The warrior spoke up angrily as an angry emote appeared.

"I-I did!" The mage said incredulously. "I a-also checked his level! He is just a level 63!" A worried emote appeared.

Apoc had placed {False Data: Status} and {False Data: Life} on some certain equipment. This may limit his enchantments to his equipment, but the bait is quite useful to players who aren't really cautious.

He smirked at the unfortunate human players that they have stumbled upon, hoping to get an easy PK.

They won't have it.

"Must be some magic item he's got. I'd be guessing Legacy though." The rogue brandished his daggers.

"Tch. Anyways, let's PK him quick." He equipped out his shield and spear.

'Rogue, Guardian, and a Sorcerer? Heh, time to play along.' "Alright, can you guys not? Please? I just wanna end this game with a good moment." He reasoned.

(Guardian and Sorcerer are human, while the Rogue is an High Elf)

"'Good moment'? Oh great, these kind of guys. No matter, we'll get your loot you fricking monster."

"Jeez, trying to reason with ya... Alright fine, although." He quickly drew out his [Ranger Sequoia] and [Banishing Hook]. "But you're gonna have to come and get it." A smile emote appeared.

"Oh please, your an easy prey." The rogue said before disappearing. '|Blink|' He thought before sensing something to his right side.

He quickly parried the dagger away, surprising the player. "W-What!?"

"I ain't easy prey, boy." A smirk emote appeared. He quickly fired several shots at the rogue before kicking him to stun him.

And before he could continue on, {Magic Arrows} was on him.

He quickly dodged, but few managed to hit him. 'Tch.'

He couldn't have a quick breathing room as the warrior just appeared in front of him. "Gotcha!" He thrusted his spear forward, grazing Apoc.

"Payback btch." He said before shooting a |Charged Shot| at his face.

"{Chain Dragon Lighting}!" The human sorcerer cast the spell onto him.

He couldn't dodge this one, so deciding on taking the hit on, he activated |Armor: On|.

'Sht, they got good teamwork on this one.' He looked at the sorcerer who is spamming offensive spells. Med level, but enough to damage him.

Apoc fired experimental shots towards the sorcerer, which was responded with a shield that just appeared when the pulse shots made contact. 'Knew it, gonna have to come closer then!'

He quickly dashed, firing to the Rogue who was starting to realize his goal. The rogue dodged some shots, while some damaged him. It only pinned him.

"Jordan! Run!" The elf Rogue shouted.

"Shit! {Fiery Cyclone}!" A fire tornado charged up towards Apoc. It damaged him, yes, but he jumped out of its way.

'Dead.' He thought simply before firing a |Charged Beam| at him. Putting his hp to a red bar. Apoc quickly threw his hook towards him, hooked him on and pulled the cord, with the grunting sorcerer on tow, he simply fired the last several shots at him. Killing him.

'1 down, 2 more.' He thought tiredly.

"|Summoning Armor Skill: Machine Gun Wings|" His back then suddenly was now surrounded with floating futuristic cannons.

"What the!?" The warrior shouted in disbelief.

The rogue elf said nothing as he seem to panic.

A devilish emote appeared on Apoc's side. The machinegun wings aimed at them. 'Fire' He tapped the button.

The gun wings then fired at an extremely fast fire rate.

The rogue elf quickly went to his comrade's behind, taking cover behind him and his massive shield. "Shit! We f**ked up! What do we do!?" The warrior shouted.

"I don't know! It was your call on trying to PK this dude!" The rogue countered.

Apoc silently aimed his [UPB] at the players before speaking. "Bye bye now fellas. |Charged Beam|" The beam went through the shield, quickly vaporizing them into pixels.

"Heh," He raised his gun up. "Git gud... Dumbasses." He said simply in amusement.

He de-summoned his gun wings, healed back up, and went back onto his destination. "Idiots really never learn now, do they?" He said to no one in particular... Obvious would it not?

Some hours later

Apoc stood silently, gazing through the scenery of the main city of the world of Midgard.

Fireworks firing from the city below, celebrating the game's ending.

"This is the end huh?" He said silently...

He watched as the fireworks exploded at the distance, shining the dark night brightly.

If this were a reality, he would have covered his eyes from the brightness.

He then noticed several players around the cliff at a distance. 'Guess I'm not alone if the others are here, watching the game's end huh?' He smiled.

The timer was nearing to an end. Only 2 minutes, and it's over.

"Never thought I'd be saying this but; I'll miss this... Really hope that there'd be YGGDRASIL Mark II..."

This game really helped him out throughout his life.

The current world is overpopulated, only with tiny bits of nature being protected and domed around, air dusted and dirty.

He had hoped that he will live on through another world than their current one. As it was dying already.

"My friends... I hope we will meet again." He closed his eyes the moment the timer was nearing its end.

23:59:56. . .

23:59:57. . .

23:59:58. . .

23:59:59. . .

24:00:00. . .

. . .

00:00:01. . .

00:00:02. . .

"...Huh?"