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PROLOGUE: VIRTUAL REALITY

Countless specks of faint light surround the vast expanse where darkness prevailed. Like an awe-inspiring planetarium, it was a majestic sight to behold. A scenery like no other.

"Ahh.... its so beautiful."

A boy laid down with his body sprawled to the ground. He was smiling, but that smile did not carry any hint of life. He weakly reached for the floating lights above, but his hand could only grasp thin air. The lights were too far away.

"Stop.... please... don't move anymore!"

A figure beside him spoke. Someone he knew. Someone that was close to him. Someone who followed him through rain and fire. A loyal companion till the end. But that voice carried both sorrow and desperation.

".....Gold."

He weakly called for the owner of that voice. That girl whose beauty outshone any woman, was kneeling beside him. Tears were flowing from her eyes.

"Don't ..ugh!... cry, Gold."

Reaching for her golden hair and patting her head, he tried to console the despairing beauty. Unfortunately for him, it had the opposite effect. Like a broken dam, Gold's tears flowed non stop, and so were her suppressed feelings.

"You Idiot!!! You should've let me!! I- I was already resolved! You didn't have to do this!! Why??!!! Why??!!!"

It was painful for him to see such grief coming from a beautiful lady. But he did not regret the actions he made.

"Why.... Master....", she muttered while sobbing.

To her sorrow, the boy could only faintly smile. This girl, with the two years she became his companion, had never expressed her emotions to him so openly. She could only speak mechanically before, but now she was crying in front of him like a tragic heroine.

What had happened? He could only recount the past events as his life dwindled away.

CHAPTER 1: A LARGE PRICE TO PAY

This is 'Mythologia', the most popular online game in the world that incorporated Virtual Reality. It was based on Mythology of different civilizations incorporated in a fantasy world. With more than thousands of players online everyday, it was hailed as the best fantasy game of the century. All, until a madman turned it into a Death Game. A game that forced thousands of players to gamble their life and survive a harsh world where death means the end, unable to leave until the game was finished.

After two years of effort, the players managed to beat the game. Unfortunate setbacks and problems plagued their progress, but they were able to reach the end. Those multitude of players who did not lose hope, had struggled till the end. They had successfully beaten the game.

With the appearance of the log out function, no one hesitated to immediately depart from the virtual world. With a face of happiness and relief, the players transformed into glowing white orbs that started rising and illuminate the starless sky. Every people left Mythologia, all except for a boy.

He visited the grave of the players who did not manage to survive until the end. With both closest friends and the vilest of enemies, he prayed for them in the afterlife. But when he was ready to leave, the 'log out' function was already missing.

"Where's the log out button?!"

The boy became anxious but his mind told himself to be rational.

"A bug at this crucial moment?"

This black haired boy led the players of Mythologia, and managed the NPC forces that assisted them in finishing the game. His power and leadership skills, along with achieving powerful status and titles, allowed the players to defeat the last boss with the least casualties.

During his one hour wait, he felt something weird. About his body. About his senses. About the environment. For a Virtual Reality world, everything then felt too REAL.

'Grumble'

He never ate food due to desire or hunger. He only ate because his level (which is the virtual reality's equivalent to hunger), reached critical condition. But now his stomach grumbled, which never happened for two straight years. Something's really wrong. Everything feels off. As he pondered on such things, a sudden wave of terror assaulted his senses.

"You.... can't be joking."

The demonic, evil aura that came from below a valley not far from the boy's location. He can't believe it. That insane amount of blood lust came from the giant corpse of the enemy that took everything the players had to defeat.

GRRRRRUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!!

Issuing a terrifying roar, the colossal monster came back from the grave. With minimal movements, earthquakes shook the place and storm clouds started gathering atop its head.

Two bat-like wings spread out violently. One wing was torn and tattered, owing to the assault of thousands of magic that rained against the monster in the epic battle that decided the fate of Mythologia itself. The boy could see, even from a distance, signs of the monster regenerating its heavily damaged body.

Owning a lizard's body, protected by dark metallic scales, long neck and destructive magical breath, only one monster fit the given description. A DRAGON.

" If only it was a cute dragon", the boy muttered sarcastically.

A dragon,even though one of the strongest wild monster in the game,could not compare against the 'King of all Monsters'. An existence feared by even the gods themselves, the incarnate of destruction. It was supposedly the last hurdle to finish the game. And now it was alive again. Its jet black head faced the sky with extreme hatred and malice. It still hadnt noticed the boy, who hid himself to avoid being detected.

""

The boy spat the name of the colossal terror that took the lives of many of his friends. He knew he could not defeat the monster. Every cell in his body told him to run away to the ends of the world. A terror he never felt from the prior battle with it now came upon him. There was no one to help him anymore.

But what of the people left behind if he run away? They were just Artificial Intelligence, NPCs that doesn't even have the will to live. A collection of manipulated data. Its stupid to risk his very life for the survival of beings that can't even feel genuine emotions.

"....pffft.... aha...hahaha!!"

The boy laughed at himself. Not because he considered helping those strangers, but because he even considered escaping. He had a strong sense of justice.

"Escaping would just delay the inevitable", he thought.

Besides, abandoning people who, even if artificial only, carried their hopes on his success, would leave a very bitter aftertaste. He had already accepted from the beginning that he was such an egoistic fool.

"I am an idiot", he proudly proclaimed.

Shiiiiing.

With his black hair swaying against the pressure from the wind, he drew his legendary sword , from its pitch black sheathe. The blade slightly vibrated, as if showing the desire to cut and slice.

Leaning a bit, he positioned himself to make a preemptive strike against the recovering Typhon. But something beyond his expectations occurred that made his stance crumble.

"MAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!"

A shrill scream reverberated through the air.

"EH?! This voice??"

he knew too well the owner of this voice. A golden haired lady came into mind. He was astonished, as that girl never made such voice before.

"GOLD!!"

The boy gasped. A streak of golden light swiftly approached him. He silently thanked the heavens that an ally appeared, but changed his mind when the golden streak of light showed no signs of stopping.

"Oi.. oi... you can't be serious..."

Frozen in place, he felt cold sweat pouring from his temples.

"Maaaassstttteeeeerrrrrrr!!!!"

CRASH!

"Guhah!!"

He consciousness started fading as Tyrfing fell of his hands. Before even engaging the monstrous Typhon, he was already defeated?

Laying down, he stared face to face against the assailant. Gold was beaming like a puppy who met its owner for a long time. She was sitting on top of him.

What the heck is wrong with the world!!!!, he silently screamed as the golden-haired girl hugged him like a teddy bear. He felt two soft mounds pressing against his chest, but he mustered enough willpower to ignore that. Helplessly, he could only utter a simple question.

"Hey Gold... what do you think you're doing?"

"Hugging you. Is there something wrong?"

She said those words innocently. The boy got a strong urge to execute a face-palm by any means.

"This is not the time, you idiot!!!! Rather, how come you're here?! Aren't you assigned on stopping the other threat?!"

"Ehehe. You know master, for some reason I've been extremely happy since after we defeated the . I immediately came here after giving off the finishing blow myself."

Typhon was not only the last enemy they had to defeat. Split into two, the boy led the main force against Typhon, while

Gold was assigned to the auxiliary forces against the Monster Queen Echidna, Typhon's mate.

"Praise me, Master."

"G-good girl. For stopping Echida, I'll give you a- WAIT!!"

He got sidetracked. There was something in Gold's words that caught his attention. He played Gold's previous sentence in his mind.

......master, for some reason I've been EXTREMELY HAPPY since after we.......

"THAT'S WEIRD!!!"

Gold was taken aback by the sudden enthusiasm of her so called Master.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Of course!!! How come you have feelings?"

Because Gold was supposed to be an NPC. Compounded data. Even if the Artificial Intelligence level in Mythologia is too advanced for its time, there was no way she can answer so human-like. Even her scarlet lips moved so naturally. Something an NPC can't imitate. And having feelings of happiness.....

"..........Those truly rude words are unforgivable, even if was you who spoke them, Master."

Though Gold was smiling, the boy could notice her veins popping out. The boy himself knew it was such a rude and indelicate question, but this was a a special situation. Thinking hard, he tried top quickly solve the questions bugging his head. Willing himself to be calm, he started.

'First why did everything feel so real?' He had earlier speculations, but the golden idiot's ridiculous charge confirmed it. He finally felt such realistic pain after living in Mythologia for 2 years.

'Even her touch, and those heavenly melons, felt the same as the real thing!!' This was never, ever the case before.

In short, he made a conclusion

"This virtual world turned into reality."

He wanted to deny this line of thinking, but with such evidence right at his face, there was no way to do that.

On to the next problem. Gold was showing ridiculous amounts of feelings for him. How? When? Did he triggered a super rare eroge flag in this game?? Of course not. But for an NPC to be able to think independently and have emotions, he tried confirming it.

"Gold, what do you feel about me?"

"I love you master. Let's get married. Then we'll have k--------------"

Ignoring the frank confession and omitting the troubling sentences that followed, he accepted the fact. NPC's already became sentient. Its as if complementing the fact that 'everything turned to reality'. The NPCs could also make funny jokes.

"For some reason, I feel like you're trampling on my feelings, Master."

" Don't mind it."

So it has come to this. Like the popular light novels and manga he read in the past, the Virtual World itself became the real world. But how?

GRRRRRUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!!

A roar delivering sheer terror and despair resounded through the atmosphere and returned the boy's full attention to the imminent threat to their lives. A question bugged him now. How can they both defeat that creature by themselves?

He could defeat it if he had a force of thousands of high level players. But now he was the only player left. The NPCs were all concentrated to the auxiliary forces, and with Gold as the exception, the fastest time they could reach Typhon would be after it annihilated Gold and himself, along with multiple cities razed to the ground. His initial plan of drawing its attention would never work to begin with, so he was now stuck on what to do. That is, until Gold started speaking.

"I... have a plan."

While sitting atop him. She stared solemnly at her master, as all traces of playfulness disappeared. Noticing it, the boy returned her gaze with seriousness.

"Let's hear it."

She drew her breath, before replying heavily.

CHAINS OF COCYTUS

The boy's ears perked up after hearing the words. Cocytus was an underworld river famous as an eternal prison of time. It was supposed to be part of an expansion pack that was released a few months prior to Mythologia becoming a death game. But no one really found this area. A true mystery zone.

"Please explain.."

"We cannot defeat that Typhon. Even gods fear that being."

She glared at the pitch black dragon that had already started rising from its prone position. She continued.

"But we can at least seal it. There's no other way."

"Seal it? Will it work?"

It was the 'Last Boss' of the game they were talking about. An entity that required numerous powerful players to defeat. A high level seal would not even slow it down, so Gold must have something more powerful in her arsenal.

"Don't even think of underestimating me. Even if I'm part of your harem of convenient slaves, don't forget what I really am."

Except for wanting to correct some parts of what she just blatantly said, the boy nodded and trusted her words. Since she had powers that could rival that of his.

"#$%^& $^*&# ) #)@)&$ )!*&!**@ $% #& #%^$(@ "

She muttered an incomprehensible language and was enveloped in white light that illuminated the dark surroundings.

"God-mode."

Reappearing from the light she became clad in a golden dress-like armor. A black crown was decorating her head, and she was emitting an overwhelming aura that made the surrounding air unstable. The boy who already saw this transformation countless of times, was still in awe of the goddess who appeared.

"Thanks Gold. Or should I call your true name? Goddess of Heaven and Time, ."

A true goddess. One that rules over the aspect of Time, Prosperity and the Sky. How such a powerful being casually calling the boy her master, and becoming his companion in the game, was a great mystery to all the Players of Mythologia.

"Please call me Gold , as you always have."

She smiled sweetly before getting up, turning her golden gaze, brighter than it was before, at the enemy who already noticed their presence.

" Invoking Chains of Cocytus takes a bit of time. Please defend me, Master."

".........Roger."

"Then...... Skysunder."

Pointing her hands in front, she summoned her weapon. A two meter curved black blade, attached to a golden shaft that was decorated with ominous engravings. A divine looking scythe, that commands time itself.

Grabbing the shaft, she continually sliced the air in a circular motion, spinning uncontrollably, She stopped afterwards, the boundary surrounding her being distorted and bent. She slammed the end of Skysunder's shaft to the ground, creating a magical array of the highest tier below her feet. She then closed her eyes, becoming unconscious.

'The spell had started', the boy thought. Large black chains crept toward Typhon like giant snakes, aiming to drag it down to the deepest part of the earth. He had faith that Gold will succeed. The monster started struggling against the creeping chains, which started dragging it down to the ground. But something was off with her expressions just a while ago. He did not failed to notice the sadness that lay within her looks of resolution. It was akin to a person who had already accepted death. Something bad will happen.

 'This skill is bad news', the boy thought. Trusting his instincts he used a high level skill.

World's Truth

A special skill only owned by him due to his unique powers. A skill that pierces the truth behind an object. It was a more powerful version of the skill 'Identify'. He used it on Gold's skill, and showed the game's description in his mind.

{

CHAINS OF COCYTUS

Type: Sealing Magic

Level: Primordial

An absolute seal that condemns anything to the frozen prison of Cocytus. The spell will exhaust the caster and forcibly destroy the catalyst's soul.

}

The description was truly ominous. The boy glared at the unconscious Gold.

"....Even if we had just talked properly for the first time a few moments ago, you planned on abandoning me already?"

It was definitely a suicide skill. In exchange for sealing something, it would need to destroy someone's soul. A process where the sacrifice could never even go to the afterlife. Even gods were not an exemption.

"For me?"

The boy remembered how countless times the goddess in front of him had helped him in life or death situations. Even if she doesn't have a free will at those moments, the boy believed he would not reached where he was now, if not for her.. He could only feel gratitude to his faithful companion. And so, he also will risk his life.

Magic Mod

Another skill only he could use in the game. The ability to modify magic array at frightening speeds. Pointing at a certain part of the magic array below Gold, he replaced the 'Hourglass' symbol with his own, an asterisk of eight arrows.

"Ugh!!"

Clutching his chest due to pain, he instantly received the effects of Gold's spell. His vitality was being shaved off.

"... So that's why she chose to remain unconscious..."

The pain was extreme, but he wasn't given any time to rest as Typhon was now searching for the magic caster of the chains.

Typhon immediately found the caster of the troublesome spell. It aimed at the sleeping Gold, but her master will not allow the monster to lay even a single scratch on her.

"Well. Since you're doing your best, I'll also get serious."

The boy was resolved. He silently made his declaration of war.

"I am Alter. Embodiment of Nothingness and Change. Spectator of the Primordial World. I am the Beginning and I shall be the End."

The boy, whose name is Alter, invoked every word naturally. It was his exclusive incantation to use a unique kind of power that only fewer than a hundred in the whole game had unlocked. And it was said among the players that his was the most powerful.

"Let it be told. My true name, ."

His body felt light. This was his first time using it outside of the virtual world. It felt like something inside him squirmed and his mind accelerating through space in light speed.

"God Mode."

What appeared was a boy with black hair, wearing stylish black coat and pants. His black eyes glared at Typhon, while his legendary sword Tyrfing vibrated violently as if celebrating at its master's powers.

".........."

In truth, nothing changed. It was still the same boy and his outfit.

"Talk about anticlimactic, the aspect of Nothingness."

But the boy was strangely satisfied. He vigilantly waited for Typhon's move. The monster, though being pulled down to the ground roared and blew a stream of fire that reached the heavens. It was a sign indicating that its relentless attacks were about to start.

"So bring it on, monster."

He faced the upcoming onslaught, even if he knew he would still not win. All the while his soul started to decay.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Gold opened her eyes.

"Hmm........ 'yawn'"

The goddess, still in her dress armor, felt extremely tired even though she slept. Looking around, while being half-asleep, she unsteadily checked her surroundings. There was the darkness of the night, with the distant orbs of light illuminating the sky. There were also craters, scorched earth, and spikes that embedded deeply on the ground. A sign of a great battle. But the place were she stood was strangely unharmed. Gold smiled as her master was successful in defending her.

"I wanna meet mas-"

She stopped. A question came like a slap on her face, removing any trace of sleepiness.

"Why... am I alive...?

She knew the nature of the Chains of Cocytus. She was reluctant to use it, but her loyalty and affection to her master took precedence over her own life. From the beginning when she met the human named Alter, she swore to herself she will follow him loyally. Even after when she was mysteriously released of her emotional restraints an hour ago, she never thought about breaking her oath. That's why she was prepared, even if her fate was to be erase forever.

But why is she alive? He weakly called for her master.

"Master?"

She saw Alter lying down on the ground a few meters away. From the familiar armor that he wore, which was mangled and broken, to the weapons that clearly didn't belong to him, she knew that Alter had used his own Aspect of Nothingness. She was relieved he was still breathing.

But fear overtook her feelings. She almost cannot detect her master's 'presence', even though Alter was right in front.

His spiritual energy is almost gone. In other words, his soul is almost destroyed.

" It cant be....."

Gold immediately knew what had happened. Her master change's the spell's structure. The boy manipulated the formula, changing the catalyst from her to Alter. All the while using his mind-taxing powers to defend her from Typhon's attacks.

"Ahh..... its so beautiful."

"Stop...Please... don't move anymore.!!"

"Gold.... Don't.... cry Gold..."

"You Idiot!!! You should've let me!! I- I was already resolved! You didn't have to do this!! Why??!!! Why??!!!"

She was in a state of despair, but she did not lose hope.

"Anyone........ please... help him....."

She tried contacting their other companions using Telepathy, but they were still too far away since no one replied.

"Save him...... save him, please........"

She could only beg. To anyone. To anything. Just this once... Just for a miracle.....

And she fell unconscious. But Alter, barely alive, saw something strange happening around.

CRADLE OF TIME

An unknown spell had activated, and they were both surrounded in blue liquid. It formed into a dome, with them at the center. Strangely, Alter felt calm and very comfortable at the unknown substance that engulfed both of them. He also noticed his soul stopped eroding.

As if Gold's prayers were answered, the dome had saved his soul from being erased,

With a bright flash, the dome disappeared into thin air, along with the two unconscious beings it surrounded.

-Chapter End-

Notice: I combined both the gods Cronus and Chronos, which in the accounts of Roman Mythology, were one and the same (as Saturn).

Now who would you rather believe? Plato or Julius Caesar?