CHAPTER 1

In the year 2138 AD there was a term: DMMO-RPG.

That word was an acronym for "Dive Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game".

These games were played by connecting a dedicated console to the brain via a neuronal nano-interface — an intracerebral nanocomputer network, created from the fusion of cyber- and nanotechnology.

These were games that allowed one to enter a virtual world and experience it as though it were real life.

And among the myriad DMMO-RPGs that thronged the market, one of them stood head and shoulders above the others:

YGGDRASIL.

This game had been painstakingly developed and released twelve years ago, in 2126.

Compared to other DMMO-RPGs of the time, YGGDRASIL's selling point was "player freedom".

It had over two thousand basic and advanced job classes.

Every class had a maximum of fifteen levels, and so in order to reach the overall level cap of one hundred, one would need to take at least seven different classes. However, players could take as many classes as they wanted as long as they met each class's prerequisites. A player could even take a hundred classes at level one each, although that was very inefficient. As such, in this system, it was virtually impossible to make identical characters unless one was deliberately trying to do so.

In addition, one could use various creator tools (sold separately) to fully customize one's armor, weaponry, flavor text, appearance, and other cosmetic settings.

A vast playing field awaited its players. There were nine worlds in total: Asgard, Alfheim, Vanaheim, Nidavellir, Midgard, Jotunheim, Niflheim, Helheim, and Muspelheim.

It boasted a massive world, numerous classes, and freely customizable appearances.

These features ignited the creative spirits of its Japanese players and sparked what would later be known as a stylistic revolution. So popular was it that whenever the word "DMMO-RPG" was mentioned in Japan, listeners would immediately think of YGGDRASIL.

—Still, all these were things of the past now.

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A gigantic table carved of gleaming black stone sat in the center of the room, surrounded by forty-one luxurious chairs.

However, most of those seats were empty. Once, every single place had been filled, but now only two were occupied.

One of the seated people was wearing a shining platinum white armor, a helm, and a chest piece that has a huge sapphire embedded in the middle over the sternum, the armor itself is radiating with a pure and divine light adorned with a majestic crimson-red cape with gold accents attached around his left shoulder and a draped coat tail from the hips of his armor at ankle length.

The being in the other seat was clothed in a magnificent black academic robe, edged in violet and gold. The collar seemed excessively gaudy, but somehow it fit the overall design.

However, the exposed head was a bare skull. Points of dark red light glowed in its large eye sockets, and behind that skull glowed a halo of black radiance.

The latter was an Overlord — the highest-ranked of those magic casters who had become undead in order to learn the most potent spells. The former was a "Paladin class" dragon one of the original founders of Ainz Ooal Gown and the world champion of Álfheimr.

"It's really been a while, Touch-Me-san. Although this is the last day of YGGDRASIL, I didn't expect you to show up" The undead skeleton devoid of flesh and skin said.

"Indeed it has, Momonga-san." The being clad in divine armor with an emotionless voice.

"You stopped coming online after that incident, are you okay?" Momonga worriedly asked his friend.

Touch Me was a rich person who owned a gorgeous home in real life and was happily married to his beautiful female childhood friend who he knew about since at an early age but a year ago things all went downhill when he found her cheating on him with a man he considered as a close friend. The last time Momonga saw his friend was two years ago.

[looks like he doesn't want to talk about it] Momonga thought on seeing his friend just gave a small nod in return and didn't say anything.

"I will miss Yggdrasil... Today's the last day of the game, why don't we stay together until the end?"

"Okay" Touch Me nodded.

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"Are you leaving?" Momonga asked on seeing Touch Me, who rose up from his seat.

"No, I am planning to spend the last few minutes in my room" Touch me said before teleporting away from the room what was known as the Round Table Room.

Guild members had a ring reserved for their use. Anyone who wore that ring would automatically appear in this place when they logged into the game, barring special circumstances. Guild members could teleport to any level or rooms in the great tomb of Nazarick with the help of this ring.

"You have changed..." Momonga heaved a sigh before turning his head to the relic of past glories the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown.

Touch Me was a very righteous, happy, carefree and a kind person before the whole ordeal but now his whole demeanor changed to very cold and insulated.

"You have changed... My friend" Momonga grabbed the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown and left the round table room.

♦ ♦ ♦♦ ♦ ♦♦ ♦ ♦Seiichi Third Person POV♦ ♦ ♦♦ ♦ ♦♦ ♦ ♦

Upon entering the room, he saw that its furniture was still about the same as that of 2 years ago as if it remained untouched.

After seating on the head of the beautiful king-size bed, he removed his helm and placed it beside.

"10 seconds left before shutdown huh" Seiichi mumbled softly and closed his eyes, and watched as the closing time approached.

[0:00:09]

[0:00:08]

[0:00:07]

[0:00:06]

[0:00:05]

"I will miss this world..."

[0:00:04]

[0:00:03]

[0:00:02]

[0:00:01]

[0:00:00]

The countdown finished. Seiichi opened his eyes only to find that he had not returned to his familiar room instead what reflected in his eyes was a great forest.

"What's going on?"

The time was right. He should have been forcibly logged out by the server shutdown. Seiichi drew a deep breath as he tried hard to calm himself. He could tell that this is not a dream or hallucination as he could feel the gentle breeze touching his skin and could also sense his madly racing heart that exuded immense vitality.

(I have a bad feeling...)

He looked down to check his body, what showed in his eyes was his Game character armor and his red cape that is swaying without any gust of wind passing by.

"What's happening?... Could it be that I've transmigrated to a different world as my Game character?!" he muttered with a frown as he inspects his body seriously once more.

"Then what about momonga?" He decides to call Momonga via [MESSAGE] however it didn't work.

[Note*: Message is a spell used to communicate in the game.]

"Why isn't it working... wait a minute could I even cast spell?!" He muttered worriedly.

"Let's see if this works or not... [FLY]" Suddenly Seiichi floated lightly into the sky as if he was freed from the shackles of gravity, He rose upward in a straight line, gaining speed as he did. Before he knew it, he was several hundred meters in the air. Only then did Seiichi's body slow down and looked down at this new world.

Cold sweat flowed on his back as he watched the vast mass of land before him, as far as his eyes could see there are no signs of man-made structures only trees and plains.

"What should I do… Now" He doesn't even know how big this forest is in the first place.

"If only I have the Mirror of Remote Viewing with me... I should have bought it instead of buying some useless items" Seiichi grumbled but suddenly he shifted his gaze at the area underneath him as he could feel someone eyes on him.

"Come out... I know you're there. Don't make me say it twice" Just then a majestic pale blue Western Dragon with celestial blue scales appeared in his sight and it is looking right at him from the ground.

"A Dragon...?" The moment Seiichi found the creature it opened its huge mouth and fired a beam of blue energy at him.

[VEIL OF MOON] As he uttered those words a barrier made of crimson energy appeared before him and blocked the attack with ease. The creature's eyes widened on shock on seeing how easily Seiichi blocked its attack.

[Note*: Veil of moon is a defensive-type spell which grants the user immaterial magical barrier around itself]

"What was that for?" The next moment a thick crimson aura burst out his body. In an instant, the air seemed to freeze. It was as though time itself had stood still in the wake of a Supreme Being's advent. The dragon froze in its spot and its body greatly trembled as it felt the overwhelming killing intent of Seiichi.

(I can't move my body... It isn't listening!) The pale blue western dragon thought with extreme fear. The creature watched in horror as the man in the sky raised his hand, a football-size of flame darker the night itself appeared on his fingertips.

"I will teach you a lesson that you will remember for the rest of your life." The man clad in divine platinum white armor said with a cold and menacing voice.

"M-MERCY... DON'T DO IT!! DON'T KILL ME" Seiichi's actions came to a sudden halt on hearing the bell-like voice.

"you can talk?"

"Please, don't kill me... " Seiichi interrupted her.

" You are the one who attacked me first"

"But you were trespassing in my territory..." The female dragon mumbled to herself.

"Huh!?"

"EEEEKKK... n-nothing..."

"I will let you live if you answer some of my questions" On hearing his words she nodded her head profusely.

Seiichi slowly descends down on the ground and sat down before her. She heaved a sigh and transformed into her human form.

A breathtakingly beautiful woman with straight and long beautiful pale blue hair, dark blue eyes, appeared in the dragons spot shocking him a little.

She wears a navy blue skirt, and her entire body is doused with the color of deep blue.

"Nice to meet you, I am Tiamat one of the five great dragon kings." She introduced herself to him.

(Five dragon Kings... Hmm) Seiichi removed his helm and spoke.

"Seiichi Sato"