A Million Years in One Night (final)

"The Sanctuary, huh…" The Undead muttered as he visually took in the new environment.

Unlike the void outside, this place was clearly lit up. It wasn't due to the sun like back outside this texture; the entire Sanctuary itself was the light - white extended as far as the human eyes could see painting a world untouched by the colors of god and man.

A white so bright it was basically light itself.

Unlike most parts of his realm, Shinji didn't put much effort when designing this place. Mainly because he wouldn't be here all the time to admire the scenery. Even if Shinji could go back in time he still wouldn't change it as there wasn't much practicality in doing so.

Of course, there was also the fact that the plain white scenery gave this place some sort of sacred vibe.

But Shinji knew that now wasn't the time to be admiring the color white.

He's got some pretty serious upgrading to do.

Using the «Gate» Spell as he didn't want to trek the surely tenuous distance, Shinji came out from the portal to see a rather average size tree waiting for him at the other side.

Upon seeing the tree, the Undead couldn't help feeling relieved.

"Thank god it's still here."

The said tree was comparable to an apple tree in appearance, but unlike a normal apple tree, this tree didn't have apples for seeds—it was something much more than that.

[YGGDRASIL'S Fruits]

On each branches were Items that could be considered comparable to World Items. This was Shinji's Trump card per say and the most important Item within the ⸢YGGDRASIL's Seed⸥ - one even more important than the combined sum of the World Items he had in his Treasury.

The ⸢YGGDRASIL'S Fruits⸥ on its own could be regarded as a High Tier World Item with more versatility than most other World Items from its functions of creation and designation of Islands to Stat modifiers and boosters.

But that didn't touch the Items two special capabilities.

The ⸢YGGDRASIL'S Fruits⸥ can be used to boost the production rate of Divine Tier Items by 40% so long as one possess the Epic Class Runic Grand Blacksmith and Race Elder Dwarf which allowed for the creation of one Divine Tier Items once every three days-in fact, by using the ⸢YGGDRASIL'S Fruits⸥ as an Item ingredient one can increase their chances of creating an Item with World Tier capabilities by 60%!

Talk about a lucky score.

The second capability of the ⸢YGGDRASIL'S Fruits⸥ had actually been discovered by accident.

Once, Shinji had come across a Divine Grade Item which allowed one to use the Super Tier «Wish upon a Star» spell at lower EXP costs.

In regards to the «Wish upon a Star» spell, there were many ways one could go about using it without wasting EXP, namely usage of Cash Shop Items and Spells, but Lord Azoth (as he had changed his name at that time) had a rather crazy idea.

Normally when using the Divine Grade Item for the «Wish upon a Star» spells, Lord Azoth would utilize the Cash Shop Item ⸢Ereshkigal's Orbs⸥ which were Items that stored EXP. The said Cash Shop Items were lesser versions of the World Item ⸢Avarice and Generosity⸥ which could store EXP indefinitely and without limit - the ⸢Ereshkigal's Orbs⸥ on the other hand could only store up to LV 50 worth of EXP.

Now in regards to Lord Azoth crazy idea; the question he had asked at that time was this. "What if I use the ⸢YGGDRASIL'S Fruits⸥ as an alternative for the ⸢Ereshkigal's Orbs⸥?"

His idea didn't have any merit nor was there any foundation that Lord Azoth had based his idea on—it had been nothing more than a throw in the dark.

Needless to say, the results prompted a super whoa…

Opening his [Storage] a crystalline orb like object that towered him twice over came out. It had an indentation on which was a small floating platform. Runes etched around the surface of the Divine Grade Item as a form of design, though since this is a new world the runes could actually mean something.

Gingerly rubbing his hands, the World Disaster grinned as much as his bone face could allow it to - which to say none at all.

"Let's get started."

Shinji's grand plan was simple yet atrociously ridiculous.

The YGGDRASIL Player plans on building a Holy Grail – a Greater Holy Grail to be exact.

Normally, such a thing would have been impossible—creating a Holy Grail even a Lesser Grail would require an obscene amount of mana.

Thankfully, Shinji had that covered with the ⸢YGGDRASIL'S Fruits⸥ behind him, and as a result of sacrificing Matou Zouken and acquiring all of his experiences, including his time as Makiri Zolgen, Shinji now has the Blueprint of the Greater Holy Grail in his head.

If there would be a negative factor that could be considered with Shinji's plan of building the Holy Grail; it would be it 'Time'. It would take at least a year and that was taking it fast.

Shinji wasn't truly surprised; the original three families had taken over 10 years to build their own Holy Grail. All things considered, Shinji was going to break the record for the fastest time to create a Holy Grail.

And so after setting up a Workshop Based « Fortress» spell, Lord Azoth got work.

ᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥ

Time later on,

Man they say is not a perfect being.

His gramps had occasionally totted about that and while he understood where his grandfather was coming from, the implications behind those words had always been lost to him.

At this moment, he now knew better.

"1 year my ass." Shinji grumbled, waving a hand as he dismissed the horde of High Tier Undead Summons that served as his workhand.

1 year and 4 months! That was how long it took before Shinji had perfected the supergiant orb-like structure which is the Holy Grail that is currently hovering before him.

It wasn't easy, Shinji would admit. From the setting of arcane device to the correction of hieroglyph and rune placement. There was also the fact that Shinji could have initiated a goddamn Holy Grail War if he hadn't been careful - in fact, he almost did.

"When I saw that Master Command Seal on my skeleton wrist, I almost had a heart attack right there and then if it weren't for that strange Emotion Suppressor."

Everything had seemed simple at first glance, but now Shinji totally understood that simply having the knowledge of something doesn't mean you could do it instantly…

Information could only carry him for certain while.

Clenching his bony fist, the Undead was thankful that he had selected the Undead Race which were known for their [Immunity to Abnormal Mental Effects]. The Emotion Suppressor was a godsend as he didn't know how else he could have spent the entire year in loneliness.

Truly, man is not an island.

"But all serious rumination aside, I'm finally done with this!"

Spectral chains flared up and the Undead was gone, replaced by a Lunar Werewolf.

Raising his hands, Shinji stretched while taking in a deep breath.

"By all that's holy, it feels like a long time since I've felt like myself. Undead might be cool and all, but it's just not worth living as."

Sighing in contentment, Shinji sauntered towards the oval hovering superstructure arriving before at a large tray-like device that had magical symbols etched all over.

Raising a hand upon which a ⸢YGGDRASIL'S Fruits⸥ fell unto his hand from his [Storage]. Shinji placed the said World Item on the tray and the entire structure lit up with an emerald glow.

Shinji is quite proud to admit that compared to the Holy Grail devised by the Three Families, his was infinitely better.

After all, how can one compared the Three Families Grail to his that was the Combination of the «Wish upon a Star» Spell and a Holy Grail? There was also the fact that the ⸢YGGDRASIL'S Fruits⸥ was worth the souls of over a billion Heroic Spirits and that included Heroic Spirits of Divine Origin.

"Yeah, my hypothesis was right in the end."

Shinji smirked as the two rings that surrounded the superstructure began to whirl and spin.

"The lore of all my Items has gained tangible effects ever since I've been transferred into this world… World Items are comparable to Worlds themselves in power. I really hit the jackpot here."

A kilometer encompassing magic circle bloomed above the superstructure coloring the white world in pastel blue. Rings composed of symbols accompanied by motes of light surrounded Shinji's chassis and when he saw the visual effect of light streaking down which was a typical occurrence on the «Wish upon a Star» spell, Shinji took in a deep breath.

This was it—in a way Shinji had fulfilled the epoch long dream of the Makiri family. He had obtained the Holy Grail without any sort of contest or bloodshed. Makiri Zolgen's dream has been fulfilled.

'This one's for you, old man.' Shinji smirked forlornly. 'Hope you're happy wherever you are?'

Now it was time for the main event.

"Holy Grail."

The almighty wish granting device hummed awaiting its creator's command.

Shinji knew if he had asked for omnipotence it would have granted it to him. But this was where the problem lied: what manner of omnipotence would be granted to him?

If it were the one he desired - an omnipotence that would grant him absolute freedom in this world then that would be good and fine. But what if the Holy Grail interpreted his wish for omnipotence wrongly and gives him a GM admin privileges?

That wouldn't be funny no matter the angle you try looking it from.

So with that thought that had been agonizing him for a greater part of the year, Shinji finally came to a decision—one that was quite simple but totally outrageous.

"Holy Grail… I wish for Safe Passage to the Vortex of Radix."

Shinji would do what the mages of today and ages pass had failed to do. He would achieve their dream if only for his own selfish purpose.

"Holy Grail… Reveal to me a clear path to the Root!"

It was an outrageous gamble the YGGDRASIL Player was taking.

There was the issue of the Counter Force impeding him from reaching the desired location – particularly though her Guardians. Though Shinji's just banking on the lore that ⸢YGGDRASIL's Seed⸥ being outside the game's time and space also applies here.

The superstructure hummed, runes glowed, and the white realm shook.

There was a tremor in the air that increased to point it felt like reality itself was quaking and collapsing. Its reverberation was like the roar of a conquering army.

Space just in front of the superstructure fissured in a spider web crack with some sort of weird color spilling in. Cracks grew each time making the sound of pressured glass and… Reality broke.

Soon enough the rumblings and thundering died down leaving a gaping hole in reality that led to the final destination.

The entire silence of white world was drowned with a tune in the air that wasn't there before.

"Is that really the dream of all mages…?" Shinji commented in hush. "Looks really creepy if you ask me."

Spectral flames surrounded Shinji and Lunar Werewolf was gone—replaced by a ram horned Primeval Demon Prince designed reminiscent to the fictional character SABBAC, a DC Comic character. The third strongest Avatar in his ⸢Azi Dahaka Personalities⸥…

And the only Avatar with an Extremely Evil Karmic Alignment.

"Hmm…" His voice now sounded deeper than when he had been an Undead. "I don't feel my emotions muting any time, but… Damn, do I feel strange."

Shaking his head, Shinji walked towards the gap in reality. He didn't take time to pause and admire the essence of what he was about to do. Merely, he couldn't wait to get the power he so truly deserved…

Shinji blinked in confusion.

'Ok, where did that thought come from… Meh~ who cares anyway?'

Then he entered.

ᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥ

Shinji really thought he was prepared.

The Primeval Demon Prince is obviously not his strongest Avatar –it's his third actually- but with the Avatar Shinji was capable of easily soloing a Mid-Tier World Boss! So yes, Shinji thought that whatever the dangers maybe at least compared to this era's mages he would have an easier time.

What a goddam joke!

"Gahhhh!"

For how long has he been falling?

Shinji honestly didn't know what to expect when he had entered the gap in reality. The Akashic Records; the site where Everything that ever was, is, or will be began and where Everything that ever was, is, or will be must return to.

Maybe it was the pride that he had managed to do the impossible that was why he didn't feel any sort of trepidation in entering the gap in reality… Only for him to fall into an endless abyss.

Shinji had tried everything he could to stabilize himself. Spells, Racial Skills, hell even his famous «Icon of Sin» (a transformation skill) couldn't stop the spinning and whirling. His Spells and everything else had become utterly useless.

But that wasn't even the worst of it.

Ever since he had fallen into this esoteric Ginnungagap, whispers accompanied by images that grew more vivid assailed his head.

Shinji recognized the whispers and images - they were talking about him after all. But what did the whispers and images represent was the mystery… A mystery he felt within his bones that he didn't want to find out.

Unfortunately, he couldn't stop it—the YGGDRASIL Player was as powerless before the mental rushing tide as he was before the sickness that had almost claimed his life a year ago.

'Stop, make it stop.'

Grasping his head that felt like it was splitting, Shinji watched the live of a boy who lived the life of fool and died like one.

Unloved by all. Pitied by few. Loathed by many. Unwanted by everyone and everything.

'No, he isn't me.'

Images of being stabbed by a stone like sword flashed lanced into his mind. Shinji's body convulsed as if the action had been physically performed upon him.

'No… I reject that! He isn't me!'

Images of being stabbed in the heart. Forced into an inhumane creature suffused Shinji psyche like he had been doused in boiling oil.

He begged cried like the animal he had become—begging for any sort of reprieve to be granted to him. Reprieve did come in the end… Death.

'What the fuck is with all these images?!'

Images of being killed… Deleted like an unwanted space. He didn't even know why this was happening to him. Shinji thought it was all just a game.

'Dammit—get out of my head. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out!'

But the images and whispers still persisted. All coming at intersessions without giving Shinji any chance of reprieve… He now knew what they meant.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!"

Shinji felt like tearing his horns out at the truth being thrust on him.

"Not once. Not once in this entire Multiverse did an existence like you get to be the hero. Not once did someone like you get to win. A side character, no, a minor antagonist… Well, fuck that!"

Fiendish facial features grimaced as a bone chilling howl erupted his lips.

"I won't become like you!"

Fanged teeth bared in a snarl.

"I'll win and win and win and win and win and win and win and win and win and win some more all over again! I won't ever lose! This time Matou Shinji will be the winner even if he has to be the last one standing! He won't become Matou Shinji the minor antagonist. I'll be Matou Shinji the fucking Protagonist!"

Shinji could see [-] watching him from the distance—or maybe [-] it had been right in front of him all this time. Indeed [-] was omnipotence defined. Limitless, boundless, endless, infinite, all encompassing… Titles mean nothing before [-].

But that was fine.

He wasn't here to regal her praise, anyway.

Spectral flames ripped out of his form as Shinji ascended to the highest level in his ⸢Azi Dahaka Personalities⸥. Obscured by the flames, his silhouette grew from over 4 meters to 8 then 12 then 16 and stopped at 20 meters.

Then the flames petered down to reveal 'It'.

It opened its numerous maws that produced the blare of a great multitude. It was an amalgamation of numerous men and women, elderly and children, humanoids and heteromorphic.

"I've arrived here and put up with your shit, so I believe it's time I get what I came into this hellhole for."

It extended its hand to the [-] strangely dressed in snow white kimono with a red sash [-].

"I wanted the power that would grant me absolute freedom—that would allow me to go wherever I please and enjoy this world. But no more. This might be childish, no, this is childish of me but I want the power to win. I want to experience that safety of being the number 1 again. So give me that power, Vortex of Radix. I want the keys to the kingdom."

[-] studied him for a moment before raising [-] hand upon which a golden pulsating orb manifested.

That was the last image it saw before an agonizing cacophony song burst forth from its lips.

.

.

.

It staggered out of the gap in reality while spectral flames lit up transforming it back into a Lunar Werewolf. Though there was a very deep tangible difference in appearance.

His heterochromia eyes were now of pure gold and if one took a closer look on his body, then they would see the spreading cracks and the light that was spilling over.

"How… How long has it been?" Shinji asked no one in particular.

Ignoring the gap in reality that was slowly sealing itself, Shinji casted his gaze across the white realm before producing the Time Dilatator which had the appearance of an hourglass.

Shinji gulped as he saw the time written.

"What in the blazes…"

In YGGDRASIL, the Time Dilatator had a particular limit imposed by the Game Developers in order to ensure the safety of VR Gamers - when a particular set of time had passed, there would be prompt notifying the Player of the amount of time spent in Time Dilatator.

To disregard such a prompt would initiate an automatic log out from the game.

This world though had no such limitations.

"55, 000 years." Shinji muttered in dumb shock.

The numbers felt unreal as well as the way upon which he had spent them. But that just goes to show the immensity of the 'Gift' given to him by the sapient Akashic Records.

Even now, Shinji had only absorbed enough to allow himself limited movement.

Clapping both hands as if to initiate a prayer, Shinji began his work.

A golden light pulsed out from Shinji's body as his flesh, blood, and bone vanished. What was left was a golden being comprised of crackling energy.

"Now then," Shinji assumed a meditative pose while hovering. "55,000 years was the last number. Let's see how long I'll spent this time, eh."

And his will spread forth.

ψψψψψψψψψψψψψψ

It was in its literal meaning that apart from Shinji everything and everyone else within the ⸢YGGDRASIL Seed⸥ had stopped.

It wasn't something so simple like a «Time Stop», «Time Lock» or «Eternal Stasis». That would have been resisted by most of his LV 100 NPCs due to their Temporal and Instant Death Immunities.

No, Shinji through the usage of his 'Gift', had took hold of Time itself and forced it to stop.

Why? Because he needed to restart everything all over again.

In the beginning, the Abrahamic God created the Heavens and the Earth.

In the beginning, the Egyptian God Ra/Atum emerged from a chaotic state of the world and gave rise to Shu and Tefnut, from whose union came Geb and Nut.

In the beginning, the Universe began with every speck of its energy jammed into a tiny point which then exploded with an unimaginable force, creating matter and propelling it outward to make the billions of galaxies of our vast Universe.

The creation story is filled with discrepancies from both the supernatural and the field of science—the World is an ever expanding amalgamation of Textures; conflicting beliefs as to at which point had the World truly begun.

Though the universal acceptable truth behind the creation story is that the World actually begins from the point when you believes it has truly begun.

Shinji was trying to do something quite similar to that truth; he was trying to create his own World. One that operated by his own laws.

Simply put, he was going to becoming something akin to the Will of the Planet.

Of course, Shinji wasn't trying to take the position of the Alayashiki—he was much too young, inexperienced and admittedly weak to do so.

Then again, Shinji wasn't trying to usurp the Will of the Planet, [Earth]. He was merely ascending to become the Will of the Planet, [YGGDRASIL] namely, the ⸢YGGDRASIL's Seed⸥.

Shinji already had the Blueprint of the World [Earth] so he had an idea on which direction he was to take. Shinji didn't literally follow the original blueprint as that might just create a backdoor for unwanted visitors to intrude or destroy, he only needed the blueprint as a basis for constructing his World.

The 'Gift' combined with the remaining ⸢YGGDRASIL'S Fruits⸥ would help a lot serving as his construction power source.

And so while the concept of ephemerality had been halted, Shinji's mind kept on moving, working, and focusing in the quietness. He couldn't tell how long he had been like this; creating, building, constructing, weaving and altering.

It wasn't an easy endeavor.

There were times when the urge to stop was too sweet of a whisper to ignore—but the whispers and images he had seen at the Vortex slithered in silencing all signs of slothfulness.

Shinji didn't want to die and more importantly, he didn't want to be regarded as some mere character whose life couldn't even leave behind something meaningful…

… … That was it.

The life of Shinji Matou—the one who providence has granted a second chance in life must mean something.

This time he was going to surpass them all.

ψψψψψψψψψψψψψψ

ᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥ

Shinji groaned, stretching his arms while the azure portal behind him fizzled out of existence. As expected he was on the rooftop—the very spot upon which he had left for his World.

"World, huh." Shinji muttered with a huff. "Heh, I really did something crazy last night."

In fact, crazy couldn't begin to describe what had transpired the night before.

Shinji's original intention was to see if his NPCs had gained sentience and also compare his resources to that of this World's own using Makiri Zolgen's memory, not build a Holy Grail for a trip to the Akashic Records and become a being akin to that of a Great Spirit.

"I just hope that the Alayashiki doesn't take too much offence at my presence, now that I'm somewhat of a Foreigner." The now lanky purple haired boy with purple seaweed hair muttered despondently. "What am I saying—knowing my luck, something's bound to happen. It's only a matter of time. But this time, I'm prepared for it."

Shielding his face from the peeking sun that signified the start of a new day, Shinji smirked and said. "… I didn't spend over a million years preparing, only die in the end."