The Birth of Ainz Ooal Gown - 1

December 28th, 2131. World: Niflheim. The Fields of Ever Frost. Recommended level: 80-85

Within the myth of Yggdrasil, the World Tree bore nine realms, each with its own unique characteristics and serving important roles. One of these realms was Niflheim, located at the roots of the World Tree. It was believed that Niflheim was one of the first, if not the very first, realm to come into existence. In old Norse, the name Niðavellir meant "mist world," and true to its name, the entire realm was filled with cold mist and empty stretches of land. Despite its desolate nature, Niflheim played a crucial role in the nine realms, as it was the source of all the rivers that flowed through them.

The world of Niflheim within YGGDRASIL seems to reflect its harsh and barren origin. The place was stuck in an eternal winter that makes it seem like there's never been any other season. The landscape was almost entirely frozen, with barely any plains or ranges that weren't covered in ice and snow. To make things worse, around 70% of the surrounding area was enveloped in fog and mist, making travel an incredibly perilous endeavor. One could never know what might be lurking within the shadows, hidden from sight by the veil of darkness and snow.

This continues as one travels further and further out, large mountains and plateaus decorate the rockier ventures and world.

Near the farthest edge of the realm lies [The Fields of Ever Frost]. An area said to have an everlasting winter. A fitting theme for the realm of the ice.

What made this area unique was that for most of the year, it was inaccessible through normal means. Players could not normally traverse the lands as there's always a blizzard storm preventing Players from even making it. Anyone caught in the storm would be inflicted with several status ailments such as [Hypothermia], and [Frostbite]. It didn't matter if they came prepared with articles of clothing or items to reduce the effects, the storm would weather them down regardless. There was only one time when the area was accessible.

For a single month, specifically December, the never-ending blizzard came to a halt and laid its secrets bare to the rest of the world. It was a rare opportunity to explore the mysterious land, but one that would not last for long.

The trip to [The Fields of Ever Frost] was quite an investment. Any party or group that wished to enter had to make the trip manually, and there were few safe zones along the path. It was reported that it would take two hours just to reach the area, and that didn't even take into account any possible encounters or trekking through the hazardous and rocky landscapes. A party had to prepare for weeks, if not a month in advance just to gather all the gold and equipment necessary to make the trip. It was definitely a perilous journey, but one that was worthwhile.

The best way to describe the area was a winter wonderland.

Snow lazily fell from the virtual sky above, clear and shining with hundreds of stars this night as the backdrop.

The fields, also known as a forest to some, presented an awe-inspiring spectacle that was truly breathtaking. This vast expanse of land was entirely blanketed by a glistening layer of snow, which transformed the entire area into a pristine, frozen world. The pine trees stretch as far as the eye can see, creating a picturesque landscape that was both serene and otherworldly, leaving one to feel as though they have stepped into a winter wonderland. However, this forest was not only a beautiful sight to behold. It was also home to a wide variety of high-level monsters that could not be found in any other realm. These creatures were known to drop valuable loot, making them a highly sought-after target for adventurers who dare to venture into the forest.

Amidst all this beauty lies a stark reminder of the past. The ruins of old towns litter the landscape, serving as a haunting reminder of what once was. These buildings stood as a testament to the power of the frozen storm that swept through the land, leaving nothing but ruin in its wake, adding an element of intrigue to this already mysterious place.

The Fields are truly a sight to behold, with the lone rocky cliff at the center of the area being particularly striking. This rocky landmass appeared as if it shot up from the earth, and on top of it sat a massive gothic castle that overlooked everything. The castle was built precariously on the cliff, which adds to its grandeur and majesty.

With how thin and narrow the cliffside was, it would be impossible for such a structure to remain perfectly situated, yet it did. It stood there, a monument for all to see.

A stone bridge connects to the bottom of the mountain and leads directly to the front gates. It was obvious to anyone that the castle was an explorable dungeon.

The last interesting feature was a giant stone statue of some creature. To most Players, it would look like an intimidating boss or creature. Most simply ignore it, assuming it was simply part of the esthetic or a decoration.

It was a statue of Type Mercury.

Standing at the massive open gates to the castle was a lone Player in a full-body fur coat. There he stood, his attention solely on the statue as the harsh wind blew against him.

"Figured one of them would be here. The question is…" He looked away and toward the opened doors of the castle. "Which one…"

"Oi, Emiya-san! You coming or what?!" A voice called out to him.

Up ahead were two figures, their arms waving, trying to catch his attention, their voices urging him to hurry or else they'll leave him behind.

Smiling, and without another word, Shirou slowly walked into the castle. His two companions were at his side, ready to take on anything.

[—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—]

The majority of the castle's interior was desolate, void of any life. Broken furniture lined the hallways, and the dim lighting only added to the eerie atmosphere. It felt like an abandoned palace, with dust and debris scattered across the floor. The cold wind seeping in through the cracks in the walls only reinforced the idea that this place had been left untouched for a long time. It was a haunting reminder of the past, a once grand structure now left to decay.

Residing in the many empty, shadowy hallways was a small group; no more than three Players all huddled together. The three all wore large winter coats, a necessary item to prevent any of the cold status aliments from affecting them. Namely, the [Frostbite] status effect that reduced their movement speed and the continuous damage that came with it.

"How many did we lose?" One of the Players inquired. In his hand, he wielded a massive greatsword with blue veins running down the weapon. Underneath his coat was a set of bright blue armor. He was a Rune Knight.

Vigur Loust – Lvl: 100

"I've just received a message from the others, they died as well. We're all that's left, Vig-san." Answered one of his companions, a large and round Player who wielded an equally large bagpipe. Underneath his cloak, he wore a tunic and breeches. He was the bard of the group.

Areo Instrument – Lvl: 100

"Fuck!" Vigur cursed, slamming a fist against the wall in frustration. A number flashes, showing he took a single hit point of damage.

"What should we do?" Meekly asked their third member. The Player was a female priestess going by the steel staff with a cross at the top and holy garbs underneath her coat. She was the party's remaining healer.

FullofJoy – Lvl: 100

"We move on. We can't go back because of those damn things, so all we can do now is keep on pushing forward." Responded the Rune Knight. The remaining two Players shared a reluctant look but followed their leader's lead. It wasn't like they had much of a choice in the matter.

In the beginning, they came into the castle a full clan, a total of thirty Players altogether. The clan had been planning this trip for three weeks. Gathering enough supplies and equipment to make the trip to The Fields of Ever Frost to conquer the castle dungeon and reap the rewards. They made the journey with minimal causality and resources wasted and breezed through the forest to reach the castle.

The clan was prepared for anything, ready to tackle the previously unclaimed dungeon in their name. They had brought everything they could to grant them every advantage they would need from facing multiple POP's to a boss at the end of their trek. Unfortunately, they weren't as prepared as they thought.

As soon as they opened the impressive double doors of the castle, they were greeted by a single NPC standing in the middle of the room. And to their surprise, it wasn't just any standard NPC or POP monster. It was the dungeon's boss right off the bat.

It faced them as if it was waiting for them.

Assassin – Lvl: 125

The Dungeon Boss was draped in a thick and flowing black cowl, which concealed most of its body and form. Its body was rather large in width and lanky, contrasting with its other anatomy. The only thing that was made visible was its rather eerie skull mask sewn into its face with its eyes narrowed into slits. Its form and feature granted the shadowy boss an eerie and haunting first impression.

It was a surprise for the Players to encounter the dungeon's boss as their first enemy. It was far from common to see a dungeon open up with the boss as the first challenge, especially when it was not the final battle. While unorthodox, it wasn't too outlandish to comprehend why. The boss's level also gave them some pause as its level was rather lacking. The level of the boss was also a bit lower than expected, especially for a large castle-sized dungeon. They expected the boss to be a Dungeon or Raid boss with a higher level.

Whether or not this was an attempt at the devs throwing something out of left field to catch the Players off guard, they wouldn't be swayed. The surprise and shock disappeared as they coordinated themselves. Whatever the situation was, they would deal with it swiftly and efficiently. The group immediately launched themselves into battle, ready to slay the boss.

The team's astonishment grew as they came to realize the boss's incredible capabilities. It was able to dodge their attacks and allude them, evading their CC (Crowd Control) skills and spells with remarkable agility. The battle soon turned into a game of hide-and-seek, as the boss expertly used the decrepit interior and surroundings to its advantage. Despite their best efforts, the group struggled to corner the elusive NPC. However, they eventually managed to trap it, and one Player successfully dealt a fatal blow with their spear, seemingly bringing the boss down for good.

The attack was powerful, but it seemed to only tear through the boss's cloak, leaving the body unscathed. However, when the Player's spear made contact with the cloak, something strange happened. The cloak expanded and twisted around the boss, ensnaring Assassin completely. When the Player pulled their spear back, all that remained was the boss's shredded cloak. The body had vanished without a trace. They didn't even hear the cracking of glass to signify its death.

Through an unknown means, Assassin managed to disappear and escape right underneath their noses.

The clan tensed up, watching and waiting for when the boss would reveal itself and strike again. Minutes passed before it slowly dawned on them that the boss wasn't going to show himself.

The group was left completely taken aback by the boss's unexpected action. It was completely out of the norm for them, as boss fights were usually pretty straightforward - a powerful NPC attack, and then the Players would retaliate until one side came out victorious. However, this boss had done something that had never been seen before - it had run away from them. Needless to say, the group was bewildered and unsure of what to do next.

A few even joked that the game glitched out on them.

With little else to do and fueled by greed and desire, the decision was made to split up into five groups of six and explore the castle for either loot or any trails that the boss might have left them. They strode forward, deeper into the mysterious castle, confidence swelling at the lack of resistance.

That was when things took a turn for the worst. Separated from the whole, the parties were ambushed by copies of Assassin. These clones appeared from every corner and every shadow, hunting them down relentlessly.

No matter how many of them the Players slashed, destroyed, or blew up, another one would take their place.

None of them were the original going by the varying differences between each one such as height, length, build, and so on. Vigur was pretty sure a few were females if the bumps on their chests were any indication. Which only added to their confusion.

The teams were separated even further and shepherded away deeper into the castle's halls as numerous copies of the boss swarmed and surrounded them, forcing them to retreat.

Effectively separated, they went their separate ways, unable to backtrack or regroup lest they fall to the dozens of sharpened daggers waiting in the shadows.

Isolated, the parties were forced along a path, all the while fending off attacks from the assassin-themed boss like pesky flies.

Divided from one another, the Players found themselves slowly backed into a corner. They were constantly under attack and never had a moment of rest. Danger lurked behind every corner, and some of the parties and Players succumbed quickly to deceit and surprise attacks, while others only managed to survive by the skin of their teeth.

Where the clan boasted thirty full Players when they first entered the dungeon, their numbers dwindled to a mere three, a tenth of our initial strength. Only Vigur's group remained. With so many of their comrades slain, they were forced to continually make their way forward, or in this case, up the varying floors of the castle.

The most accepted hypothesis was that the boss was a Mob Boss. The term was coined to describe bosses that rely on summons and aids during the fight. These bosses were known for relying on minions and other aids during battle, which helps to balance out their lower level compared to other high-end Dungeon Bosses. These minions can range from mini-bosses to powered-up basic monsters, and they can be incredibly frustrating to deal with. It was not uncommon to face dozens of enemies before even getting a chance to take down the boss. A not-so-easy task to accomplish, what with the situation where said minions function as improvised meat shields for the boss and usually came in limitless supply as a way of inflating difficulty.

Just the kind of tactic that those shitty devs would naturally employ.

Carefully making their way up, the group was vigilant for anything. They've had run-ins with the shadowy boss appearing literally anywhere and at any time, striking without warning. At this point, it wasn't too far off to say they were jumping at shadows.

They continued on their path, each watching one another's back. For the most part, they traveled unaccosted, but that only heightened their caution. For they knew just because it was quiet, it didn't mean it was safe. Assassin could be stalking them this very moment and they would be none the wiser.

Soon, they arrived at a converging hallway with a large set of doors at the end. Opening it, the group shambled into what they could only describe being a throne room.

The room was expansive, roughly one-hundred meters in length and width, allowing for plenty of space and maneuverability. The dust and cobwebs that covered everything hinted at years of neglect. It was as if time had stood still within these walls, frozen in a moment that was now long gone.

The moon's glow shined through the windows, a poor substitute for proper lighting but it illuminated enough to where they weren't completely blind. Several large pillars were erected within the room, holding up the ceiling. Various tapestries and paintings were torn and ruined, collecting dust along the walls. At the end of the room was an empty, rusted, and dirtied throne.

A fitting boss arena if Vigur ever saw one.

As if called upon by his thoughts, numerous shadows emerged from every nook and cranny, even from the ceiling as well. Now that they were in a room with relatively better lighting, Vigur scowled. None of the Assassin's present was the original. The small army of Assassin numbered roughly three dozen, all armed with deadly daggers. Without any fanfare, they charged straight at the Players.

"[Rune Burst]!" Vigur slammed his sword down, striking the ground and calling forth a burst of blue energy at the oncoming enemies. He struck a clean blow, but like the previous attempts, it did nothing as for every Assassin they took down, another would simply take its place.

As the fighting continued, the Rune Knight noticed something different. One of the Assassins' wasn't attacking, simply content to say in the back. Upon closer inspection, he realized that it was the same one from the very beginning.

"There's the main body! You guys, boost me!"

"[Bardic Inspiration], [Bestow Blessing], [Youthful Melody], [Song of Requirement], [Noble Blessing]!"

Enhanced by his teammate's spell the knight bolted forward.

"[Speed Rune Activate]!"

Green runes lit up along his legs, granting him further speed. Bypassing the fodder, he charged directly at the main body. Vigur swung his sword downwards but Assassin jumped at the last possible second, avoiding the attack His weapon slammed down onto the pavement, and the floor cracked, sending dust and concrete everywhere.

Vigur gave chase, not intending to let the boss out of his sight.

A couple of the copy Assassin broke off to intercept the charging knight.

"Out of my way!"

With finesse, Vigur swung his sword, easily cleaving through the bodies of the duplicate bosses. However, a couple of them managed to damage him before they expired, their daggers lashing out when close. He pointedly ignored his HP dropping into the low green in favor of the boss right in front of him.

"[Runic Air Burst]!"

His sword glowed a brilliant azure blue and he swung the weapon in the direction of Assassin. The air crackled with runic energy, exploding outwards. The attack proved quick enough that Assassin couldn't dodge completely, grazing the boss and taking a small chunk of its HP. The skill also served a secondary purpose as the cloak was ripped to shreds, revealing its true appearance.

Now that the cloak was gone, the Player took in the boss's full appearance on display. Assassin's body was much more lithe and lengthy when compared to the other copies, to an unnatural and uncanny proportion. The only interesting thing of note was its disproportional right hand, bound completely by black wrapping and leather.

Confidence swelled within the Rune Knight after seeing his attack successfully landed. With another charge, he once again activated [Runic Air Burst] only for Assassin to shimmer and disappear just before the attack connected.

"Where did it go?!" Vigur exclaimed.

"Over there!" Areo pointed.

Turning, the Player found his target at the end of the room. Before he could close the distance, a sinister orange glow radiated from beneath its bounds. The wind picked up, and the tightly bound wrappings flickered and loosened. Assassin looked up, making eye contact with Vigur and a chill like no other ran down his spine. The masked boss rushed towards the knight like a speeding bullet. Far faster than he could expect to reasonably dodge or react, the Player braced himself.

However, before Assassin was in range of the Player's attack, it struck. A glow of burning orange broke free from its binding. The various black bounds and straps flowed freely and slithered around the limb, adding to its creepy factor. The arm for which the binding hid was monstrously long, practically double in length as its regular one. The monstrous limb extended towards the Player, twisting and turning, bypassing the knight's meager defense and pierced his chest.

"[Zabaniya – Delusional Heartbeat]!"

Retracting the arm faster than Vigur could react, the knight saw the boss holding an image of a beating heart before Assassin's finger closed into a fist and crushed it. Blood poured forth and dripped down the horrifying limb. Faster than Vigur could even blink his HP hit the low reds, his eyes widening in surprise at the damage he just took.

"S-shit!" He exclaimed, jumping back and desperately trying to avoid being killed.

"H-heal me, already!" Vigur screamed.

Before anything could be done, he saw a pair of arms appear from behind him and then wrap around his body.

The knight turned his head. There, gazing from behind his shoulder was the bone-white mask of Assassin, but like the others, there were noticeable differences that differentiated this one from the rest. This Assassin had short, violent hair with a headpiece that formed short black horns, and a form-fitting outfit that exposed a fair amount of skin.

There Vigur stayed, embraced softly like a lover. So stunned was he that he didn't notice his HP bar ticking away until it was too late, his body shattering into polygons. His runic sword dropped, marking his death, and leaving his remaining two companions to fight the army of Assassins all by their lonesome.

The horrifying limb contorted and coiled back into its binding, ready to take another life. The long-limbed Assassin relaxed his stance and was content to stay back while the violent-haired Assassin slinked back into the shadow. The numerous copies of Assassin slowly swarmed and cornered the two frightened Players.

"What are we going do now!?" FullofJoy panicked, her entire form shuddering and shaking.

Areo grimaced. At this point, nothing.

What little hope they had at escaping or winning was completely thrown out the window now that their leader and only form of damage was dead and gone. Neither of them possesses any form of offensive magic or attack, leaving them useless in the faces of the Mob Boss.

'The raid was a bust...' Areo shook his head. He knew they were done for a while back but kept his tongue.

It was why as one of the Assassins charged at the bard, he did nothing but wait. They were already defeated, so why delay the inevitable?

The Player sighed, bracing himself as he wondered which one of his precious gear would be dropped upon this death.

The Assassin's dagger lashed out, fully intending to take the bard's life, only for something to skewer it and send it flying into the walls and exploding for good measure.

It wasn't just the one as several more blurs shot forward, killing any Assassins close to the two Players. The rest retreated to a safe distance, avoiding the bombardment.

"What the…"

"Huh?"

"Are you all alright?" A voice called out. Both Players turned to see a new Player that'd they never seen before entering the throne room. He too wore a winter coat to resist the environmental ailments, leaving only his face visible to the two clan members. Their eyes widened upon catching his gamertag.

Emiya. The infamous [Heteromorphic Savior]. How ironic that someone with such a title would be their rescuer.

He strolled confidently in, unafraid of the small army of Assassins before him. However, he was far from alone.

"Darn, why'd you go and do that Emiya-san? There goes two perfectly fine loot drops to our collection." A second voice quipped up, appearing at Shirou's side.

The crimson archer gazed up at the imposing figure beside him, a towering presence covered head to toe in gleaming, steam-punked armor. The metallic monstrosity was a sight to behold, of glimmering steel with smoothed bronze, electric coils jutting off the back, emanating arcs of electricity. In each hand, he wielded two equally towering shields with a reflective surface, mirror shields. A cycloptic eye peered out of the helm, like a tall watchtower, scouring all within the Player's field of view with a watchful gaze. It was the only hint of the Player's abnormal origin.

Variable Talisman – Lvl: 100

"Are you saying I should've let them die?" Questioned Shirou.

"Duh. I mean, they were kind of dead to rights anyhow, why waste a perfectly good opportunity?" Replied Variable Talisman with an emoticon.

"Perhaps we can save the debate for later? We are still in the middle of a boss fight, gentlemen." A third voice entered the conversation before it devolved into an argument.

In contrast to them, the voice belonged to a dark and viscous oobleck slime. The Elder Slime advanced steadily with its skin squirming and dripping incessantly, while two luminous green orbs served as the Player's eyes.

Herohero – Lvl: 100

As if on his word, the numerous Assassins jumped into action, their shadowy form racing towards them.

Half a dozen of the copies jumped at the armored cyclops alone, determined to take him down. The mechanical cyclops raised his mirror shields as the copies of Assassin attacked, their gleaming blades barely making a dent on the reflective surface of the shield. Suddenly, streaks of light shot forth from the shield, skewering the copies and sending them flying backward. He effortlessly swatted at the others with his shield, crushing them with ease.

The black oobleck slime charged forward fearlessly, taking several attacks as the Assassins tried to defend themselves. However, as they reeled back, they found their daggers had been shortened, their blades melting against the Player's touch.

"[Acidic Burst]!"

Herohero's tar skin bubbled before exploding outwardly, catching the Assassins around him as gobs of black slime clung to them. Then came the smoke and smell as the acidic ooze burned against their form, their bodies melting before their very eyes.

One of the Assassins survived and charged again, only for Herohero to meet him head-on, two slimly tendrils extended out and wrapped around the boss. What came next stunned all as the black slime built up momentum before performing a German suplex, slamming the Calvary Class Servant against the hard ground, killing the Assassin on the spot.

Distracted by the new arrivals, Aero and Joy were left wide open and would've died had Shirou not intervened, Kanshou and Bakuya cutting through the copies of Servant with ease. The air sparked around him as Noble Phantasms were traced and fired off, detonating across the massive room.

Slowly, they were whittling their numbers down.

This managed to kickstart the bard's brain once more, his mouth opening with questions filling his tongue but from Aero's peripheral vision, he caught an ominous orange glow. The familiar deadly glow that had nearly one-shotted his friend and leader.

Turning, he saw the long arm Assassin rushing towards them as the binding released the demonic arm.

"Oh no! Don't get hit by that or else it's an instakill!" The bard warned.

"Regroup!" Shirou shouted, his teammates disengaged on the order as he jumped in front of them all.

"Trace on!" From his hand, neon lightning erupted before it extended, forming what initially looked like a spear. But as it unfurled, the bard realized it was actually a flag. The flag was primarily white and gold, and it held a radiance that the bard couldn't properly describe.

"Luminosité Eternelle!" Twirling the flag, he planted it on the ground straight up. Golden light sprang forth from the flag, illuminating all within the room with a blinding light. The golden rays encircled them, forming a barrier of light.

"[Zabaniya – Delusional Heartbeat]!"

Assassin's attack jetted towards the group with the intent to take another life. However, the glowing inhuman hand was unable to penetrate through the barrier of light. The hand reeled itself back, smoking from the holy light of the barrier.

The other Assassins tried their hand, throwing various sharpened daggers only to have them bounce uselessly off the dome.

Recognizing that none of their attacks will work, The Mob Boss chose to wait. The group watched on as Assassin stalked and waited for another opportunity to show itself and strike.

Inside the barrier, the two Players were gobsmacked at what they witnessed. Without the looming threat of the boss, the two were able to breathe easily.

"Everyone ok?" Shirou asked.

"I-I… thanks." Areo expressed his gratitude with Joy following up with one as well.

Managing to gather his wit and voice, he spoke up, a question burning within his mind.

"Not for nothing, but why the heck did you save us?" Came the bard's question.

YGGDRASIL was a unique MMO-RPG game, unlike many of its competitors. It was known for its extreme difficulty that applied to just about everything. One of its most controversial features was its completely opened entry dungeons. YGGDRASIL had a plethora of hidden and unexplored locales and areas, which were open to all. This meant that just because one group of Players entered, another group could enter as well. It wasn't uncommon for multiple parties of Players to encounter each other within the same dungeon. While YGGDRASIL had a large overworld, it had happened in the past before.

It was an easily exploitable feature. Hence the many debates and controversies surrounding its inclusion.

In YGGDRASIL, a common tactic employed by larger guilds to clear newly discovered hidden dungeons was to make others do it for them. They would wait for other guilds or clans to discover the location, and then trail behind them into the dungeon. This allowed the first group to do most or all of the heavy lifting, fighting off any enemies or obstacles that stood in their way of reaching the end of the dungeon. Once the initial group had fought their way through and were exhausted of their resources, the sneaky guild would swoop in at the last moment and launch a surprise attack on the first group, reaping the rewards without any hassle.

This practice led to numerous complaints and rants on discussion boards and message threads on the forums. Many Players felt cheated and frustrated when they found an unexplored dungeon and worked their way through it, only to have another group come in, finish them off, and take all the credit for their hard work.

Despite being a downright scummy tactic, it was an extremely effective one, to say the least.

Hence why any smart and well-prepared party would first scan the area for any possible Players presence within the vicinity that might stumble upon the location. It wasn't too uncommon to leave a small party behind to act as sentries to dissuade any possible intruders.

The bard asked this as before they entered the massive castle, the clan made sure they double and even tripled checked the surrounding area for any potential Players. It would've spelled disaster had they been taken off guard while completing the dungeon. Not like it mattered now.

Before anyone could say a word, Variable Talisman walked forward, dwarfing the both of them with his towering form. For a second, Aero and Joy was worried that they would be killed despite having just been saved.

An outstretched hand stopped him. Shirou stepped in between his teammate and the two Players.

"We're not killing them." He said without any preamble, already knowing what was going through Variable Talisman's head.

"Why not? I mean, come on, you heard him. And just look at them. They were just standing there, gawking. They were begging to be killed." The mechanized tank argued.

"We're not killing them." Shirou repeated, admonishing his friend.

"Come on, I know being fair and righteous is kind of your shtick, but no need to be a stick in the mud about it. Besides, they ain't going to lose much besides a few levels and a piece of their gear." Variable Talisman groaned, an emoticon popping up to match the Player's exasperation.

"I don't have a problem with PKing PKers or those who harass and bully others for their own amusement." Argued Shirou, looking Variable Talisman right in the face despite the towering height difference. "But it's not right to actively kill Players who just want to play the game and have nothing to do with it. If we do that, then we're no better than the people we're fighting against."

A brief stare-off ensued between the human and the cyclops.

"Gonna have to agree with the boss on this one, Talisman-san." Herohero chimed in.

"There's being playful and then there's being an absolute tosser, and what you're suggesting is leaning towards the latter."

Variable Talisman leaned back and looked away.

"Yeah, yeah." He grumbled half-heartedly.

With that matter settled, Shirou turned back to the bard, answering his previous question.

"Are you saying that you would have preferred not to be rescued?" Shirou countered rhetorically.

"I ain't complaining, just curious." Aero responded by shrugging. "Most people would've agreed with your friend."

"Maybe, but, that's not how I do things. If you see someone in need of help, then it only makes sense to lend a hand." Shirou answered with unwavering conviction.

The bard doubted that Vigur or their clan would have acted with the same decency and generosity if the roles had been reversed. They would have simply left him to die for the chance at his dropped gear.

"You have quite the bleeding heart, Emiya-san. I can't tell if you're just incredibly generous or stupidly naïve." Aero stated bluntly.

"Areo-san!" His companion hissed. The last thing they needed was for their savior to get pissed and render the save pointless by killing them.

"Preaching to the choir..." Variable Talisman commented, earning an elbow jab from Herohero.

"Is there an issue with that?"

The bard couldn't help but snort at the rather innocent-sounding question.

"No. Not like it matters anymore." Aero sighed. The clan's attempt on the dungeon was a bust. What did it matter now that someone else was here with them?

"Here." Shirou suddenly opened up his inventory and pulled out a scroll. Handing it to the bard, his eyes bulged at what he held in his hand.

A [Gate] scroll. With this, they can open up a [Gate] and leave!

"I-I…" Once again Areo was at a loss for words, taken aback by the generosity the stranger was giving them. Not only did he choose to save them, but he even provided a means to escape.

"Thanks." Areo thanked the stranger once again and quickly unfurrowed the scroll, activating it.

Before them, a black oval portal materialized after the scroll burned up. As the remaining Players of the clan walked towards it, they noticed that Shirou and his group remained.

"Umm, aren't you coming with us?" Asked the cleric.

"No. I do hope you don't mind if we take over."

If Areo had eyebrows, they would have reached his hairlines at the stranger's rather absurd request.

If they wanted to try their hand at fighting the boss with only three Players, and one that managed to take on and nearly caused a full thirty-Player party wipe, then they were welcome to it.

Besides, there wasn't anything either of them could do to stop the three of them anyways. Shirou was kind enough to offer a way out and cut their losses then and there. The silver-haired Player wasn't going to hear any complaints from the bard. Aero knew that their leader would throw a hissy fit, what with them abandoning and potentially handing all loot drops to the trio. But at this point, the two were beyond caring.

"No, and you're welcome to it. A word of advice, the boss will constantly summon duplicates of itself. You'll need to attack the one with the oversized right arm or else you'll never win the fight! Also, keep an eye out for the one in short purple hair, it might be a buff copy or co-boss." He warned them.

Areo walked through the portal with FullofJoy following behind him. The [Gate] collapsed on itself after a few more seconds, its function fulfilled.

Alone, Shirou and his companions glanced back toward the outside. It seemed that while the magus was chatting with the two Players, Assassin appeared to be preoccupied with their own affairs. What had once been a group of roughly twenty-four Assassins had now swelled to an astounding fifty or more. Their imposing presence was unmistakable, as they stood stock-still, their eerie bone-white masks hiding all traces of emotion and their unwavering gaze fixed upon the trio.

The information Aero shared with Shirou was helpful, albeit a bit redundant, considering he was able to quickly discern the theme of the fight. There were in actuality three forms to the True Assassin boss. The information and identity of them immediately came to him. The first form belonged to Hundred-Faced Hassan, the same Servant from the Fourth Holy Grail War. The ability of Zabaniya: Delusional Illusion was the only one that could fit the parameter for which the boss could spawn an almost infinite number of Assassin copies.

The second main Assassin was none other than Cursed Arm Hassan, the very first Assassin the clan mistakenly believed to be the sole boss of the dungeon. Evident by the demonic right arm that the Servant kept tightly sealed so it did not constantly seek the hearts of everyone around it.

Lastly, there was the Hassan of Serenity, whom he was able to identify thanks to Unlimited Blade Works gleaming her signature poisoned daggers and dirks.

Assassins' boss fight was certainly unique from many other boss encounters that Shirou experienced before. The challenge lay in the cunning and deception the Assassin's brought to the fight, which perfectly aligned with the theme of the Servant.

The Fourth Holy Grail War Assassin's Noble Phantasm allowed for the spawning of copies almost without limit. To prevent another copy from taking the original's place and perpetuating the cycle, it was necessary to eliminate all of the Assassins almost simultaneously. A task that was easier said than done when taking into account the capacity of Cursed Arm's instakill attack and Serenity's lethal presence.

This boss fight would require an extensive amount of coordination, teamwork, and even a stroke of luck.

'Then again… this is a Servant we're fighting against.' Shirou mused.

"How are we doing this, Emiya-san?" Asked Herohero, his calculating gaze took in the army of Assassins before them.

"Cover my flanks and be ready to engage if necessary." Shirou told them.

Though vague, the two nodded, getting ready for whatever the magus had in store.

He knew he was being a bit selfish, but this presented the perfect opportunity to finally test it out.

Dismissing Luminosité Eternelle, the Assassins instantly pounced. The numerous Servant copies descended upon the Players to end their lives. None more so than the Cursed Arm himself. Cursed Arm Hassan dashed forward, his arm coated in the sinister orange glow as it was released from its bindings. The remaining Assassins closed in with their daggers gleaming, ready to slice Shirou and co into ribbons. Hassan of Serenity watched from the backline, ready to slip in at a moment's notice. The deadly cursed arm flew forth and twisted in all manner of impossible angles in an attempt to disorientate, ready to rectify its previous attempt and mistake.

As for Shirou, he remained calm and still.

"Trace on!"

Magic circuits ignited across his body as a surge of glowing neon prana discharged from his body, streaking through the air. Gradually, the lights coalesced and transformed into tangible shapes that filled the room.

Mere centimeters away from touching its target, the glowing hand stopped. Assassin's fingers and hand struggled, but no matter how much the Servant tried, it couldn't reach the magus. It wasn't just the Cursed Arm, but also every other Hassan was halted and bound, unable to break free no matter how much they struggled.

The reason for their sudden imprisonment; chains.

The Hassans were bound by silver steel chains that wrapped tightly around their every limb, rendering them immobile. The appearance of the chains was rather basic, made of interlocked metal with intricate accents carved onto its surface.

[Οριο: The Chains of Prometheus – Divine Tier Chain]

The chains rattled loudly as the Hassans struggled futilely to free themselves to no avail.

Shirou heard Variable Talisman let out an impressed whistle, chuckling at something under his breath.

Now, with all of the Hassans tied up in front of him, Shirou no longer had to worry about their escape. However, they had little chance of surviving given what he had in store.

"I am the bone of my sword." As soon as Shirou spoke the incantation, his magic circuits were activated. Prana and Od began to gather in his hand, in a larger quantity than any of his previous tracings. With a sweeping flourish, the streaks of prana condensed and and formed into a weapon - a metallic red spear.

At first glance, the spear could easily be mistaken for Gáe Bolg, the blood-thirsty Noble Phantasm of a certain Lancer. However, upon closer examination, the spear in Shirou's hand had a unique design that set it apart from its infamous counterpart.

The spear was just as tall as Shirou, and its intricate carvings running up the shaft caught the eye. Unlike Gáe Bolg, this weapon did not have thorn-like wrapping around the shaft. Instead, it had rune-like carvings in the form of branches. The blade end of the spear was also unique in design, starting from the beginning of the blade, it seemingly split and was interwoven to form an almost crisscross pattern, ending with it connecting and forming the spear's tip. The base where the blade connected with the shaft of the spear depicted an intricate design of Yggdrasil, the tree of life from Norse mythology.

The spear's color was not as pure, saturated blood-red as Gáe Bolg. Instead, it had a more muted and metallic hue, giving the weapon an almost regal appearance.

[Gungnir: The All-Seeing Spear – Divine Tier Spear]

With the weapon completely traced within his hand, Shirou couldn't help but reminisce over the years gone by.

Two years. Two long years have passed in what felt like a blink of an eye. The memory of that day still rang true.

The battle with Berserker revealed that there were more powerful enemies and bosses in YGGDRASIL than he had thought. He couldn't continue to be complacent with his daily venture of only saving Players and battling mid-tier monsters and bosses anymore. He knew that there were others, more powerful beings, that dwelled across the nine worlds in addition to the Servant bosses. This realization, combined with the existence of Servants and the Class Card in YGGDRASIL, motivated him to expand his arsenal. Fortunately, YGGDRASIL provided the means to do so.

At first, Shirou seriously underestimated just how truly diverse and in-depth the system was and would've remained ignorant were it not thanks to Amanomahitotsu showing him the ropes.

The world system allowed for the creation of various weapons, like swords, shields, scepters, staffs, catalysts, spears, hammers, axes, and more. Furthermore, each weapon could be customized with unique special abilities and stats.

In contrast to his tracing ability, which only allowed him to replicate what he saw, YGGDRASIL gave him complete freedom to customize anything he desired. This included adding elemental effects, special abilities, power, bonuses, enchantments, the ability to boost or debuff Players and mobs, summon familiars and monsters, and much more. Essentially, the possibilities were endless, and the magus found himself spoiled for choice.

However, all of these options depended on one crucial item that everyone coveted and would even kill for.

That being Data Crystals.

If a Player wishes to create a weapon of their dream, they would need to pack said weapons with enough high-tier Data Crystals to make it happen. That was how the game was played.

Data Crystals were a sought-after commodity and Players were always looking to expand their craft and equipment.

The creation of top-tier armor and weapons required the use top-quality materials and Data Crystals. The strength, abilities, and features of the equipment depended on the quality of the Data Crystal used. In order to create an item with special abilities and stats, Players had to ensure they used the highest-tier Data Crystal available.

However, the path to success was not without its challenges. Road bumps and failures were commonplace in YGGDRASIL, often leading to a loss of materials and time wasted on a failed project. Crafting and upgrading equipment was no easy feat in this virtual world, requiring Players to be strategic and careful with their resources.

There were only a few confirmed methods to acquire high-tier data crystals. One was to find deposits of them and mine them, as Nine's Own Goal did before the lead-up to the fight with Berserker. Another was defeating high-end bosses in dungeons or secret locations, which was no easy feat. The last method would be to kill a Player with said high-tier equipment and then break it down for the material. This yielded the least out of the three methods.

It was quite common for Players to spend several weeks or even months of playing and grinding for rare Data Crystals and materials to enhance their equipment. This was a tedious process that often required a significant amount of time, effort, and energy on the part of Players. Moreover, their personal life often interfered with their gaming time, making it even harder to gather the necessary resources. As a result, it was more common for level 100 Players to be found using mostly Legendary tier gear and a Divine tier weapon, rather than full-on Divine tier equipment. Even some guilds struggled to accumulate enough resources to equip their Players with the best gear.

However, Shirou's unique circumstances gave him a immense advantage over the rest of the Players. He was able to play and grind for materials 24/7 without needing breaks, which meant that he could gather materials in just a few weeks that would have taken months for any other Players. Moreover, Shirou's job class as a [Blacksmith] gave him bonuses when he smithed his ideal weapon.

At last, all those rare and high-tier materials and Data Crystals that were just collecting virtual dust within his inventory were going to be put to good use.

Within his head holds a century's worth of knowledge of varying myths and legends, be they obscure or well-known. Additionally, he has extensive knowledge of Noble Phantasms of varying degrees. With the YGGDRASIL system at his fingertip, Shirou was fully capable of bringing them to life.

Over the course of two years, Shirou has expanded his arsenal to include numerous Noble Phantasms formed solely within the mechanics of YGGDRASIL. Although these weapons were only pale imitations of their original counterparts, they were classified as proper Noble Phantasms by Unlimited Blade Works.

Take for example: [Luminosité Eternelle: God is Here With Me – Divine Tier Battle Flag]

Shirou successfully recreated the holy battle flag that belonged to the legendary Saint of Orleans: Jeanne d'Arc. The Noble Phantasm functioned very similarly to its original counterpart, producing a barrier of light that can safeguard the user from both physical and magical attacks. It was worth noting that the shield generated by this Noble Phantasm was entirely impenetrable and depended on the user's Resistance ability stat. The Noble Phantasm served as a wonderful addition to his arsenal when taking into consideration the lack of defensive Noble Phantasm Unlimited Blade Works possesses.

The same could be said of the other YGGDRASIL-made Noble Phantasm. Both of which were inspired by their legend.

[Οριο: The Chains of Prometheus – Divine Tier Chain]

Shirou was inspired by the Greek tale of the Titan Prometheus. The Titan Prometheus defied Zeus and gifted Humanity with the gift of fire and the knowledge and skill of metalwork. As punishment, Zeus chained the Titan to a rock and forced an eagle to devour his liver every single day. By the night, the Titan would regenerate its liver, only for the same eagle to come again the next day to devour it again. So strong were the chains that not even the strength of a Titan was enough to break them.

It was this inspiration, plus the idea of possessing a Noble Phantasm akin to Gilgamesh's own Enkidu, that lead to the construction of the YGGDRASIL-based chain Noble Phantasm. The Greek word 'Οριο' was chosen as the fitting name for this manufactured Noble Phantasm, as it embodied the concept of containment and binding. The Noble Phantasm grants its wielder the ability to halt anyone or anything, be it Players, mobs, or even bosses, with unparalleled durability and strength.

Then, there was the weapon in his hand. A weapon of great renown and one all recognized: Gungnir. This spear takes its name from the very weapon wielded by the Norse All-father, Odin.

Its reputation precedes it, as it was widely known to be a weapon of immense power, befitting the King of Asgard. Legend has it that Gungnir was imbued with the ability to always strike its intended target, whether thrown or thrust. No one can evade its deadly accuracy, and no defense can withstand its piercing force.

In fact, Gungnir and Gáe Bolg shared a lot of similarities when one stops to consider both of their abilities along with their respective legend. Gáe Bolg's causality manipulation of 'He thrust his spear and he pierced the heart' becomes 'The heart was pierced, so the spear must have been thrust'. Ensuring that the spear would never miss its target. Why, that sounded awfully like another never-miss weapon currently in his hand.

It was this correlation that helped Shirou assign the ideal usage for the copied weapon.

Whereas Gáe Bolg was an Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm, designed for single-target elimination, Shirou had a different role in mind for Gungnir. He designed it to be a trump card, similar to the likes of Caladbolg II and Balmung, near the level of an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm. However, summoning and boosting it to its maximum potential required a considerable amount of prana, and it was meant to be used for a single, decisive strike.

As he held the spear horizontally, Shirou tightened his grip and channeled his mana directly into the weapon, causing arcs of prana to leak and crackle from his arm. With each passing moment, the spear grew denser and more powerful until it was on the brink of becoming a Broken Phantasm.

The blade glowed with bright crimson runes. Whereas Gáe Bolg radiated bloodthirst and the desire to kill, Gungnir instead radiated power and the strength to see all that stood before him vanquished.

At the tip of the spear, a small whirling cyclone formed and spun. It continued to gyrate, getting faster and faster, evolving into a miniaturized storm. The crimson glow only got stronger as torrential winds blew harshly. Arcs of intense ardent energy shot and spiraled around the weapon as it quickly reached its eclipse speed.

Variable Talisman braced himself, his shields locked and ready along with a few defensive skills for good measure. Herohero took cover behind him. Whatever was coming, it would be big.

A mighty vortex of pressurized wind and force begins to form, growing in strength and size with every passing moment. The various Hassans' struggled fruitlessly to escape from the chains that bind them, but to no avail. Suddenly, all the windows within the room shattered into a thousand shards, and a whirlwind of dust and debris fills the air as the violent gusts of wind wreak havoc in the room. In the eye of the raging storm stands Shirou, holding his weapon, Gungnir, firmly at the ready.

The intense noise drowns out all other sounds, nothing but a cacophony of raging winds and crackling of pure energy.

It was time to see if all the work he put into crafting Gungnir was worth it.

As he raised his arm back, the red glow of Gungnir intensified, ready to be unleashed.

"Gouge… Gungnir!" A streak of crimson flew forth from Shirou's hand as Gungnir's form was encased in crackling crimson prana. It shot forward, impaling the Cursed Arm Hassan completely. The weapon emerged from the body through the back, then turned impossibly sharply, at a ninety-degree angle no less, and impaled itself through the back of another Hassan. One by one, every Hassan within the room was gored by Gungnir. As the spear penetrated the final Hassan, chained in the middle of the room, Gungnir detonated with the force of a Broken Phantasm.

A force like no other shook not only the throne room but the entire castle itself. Tremors vibrate through the castle and even shook the bedrock of the castle. Stone and many others broke loose, threatening to send the precariously placed castle tumbling down the mountain. Yet, it managed to hold.

Where once Shirou stood within a throne room, now exists nothing but ruin. Over half of the room was gone, leaving a massive hole in the room to the cold outside world. That mattered little to the silver-haired Player as the dungeon would automatically reset and restore itself once he and the others were gone.

A simple glance showed that it was only them that were left standing.

"Hot damn." Variable Talisman muttered breathlessly at the level of destruction displayed in front of him. "Remind me again why we're here if Emiya-san could do that?"

Herohero walked out, offering a playful shrug.

[Congratulation!]

[You have cleared The Lost Castle of Frostborne! For conquering this dangerous dungeon with a party of fewer than four Players along with defeating the boss on your first try, a 70% increase in loot drop will be given as a reward.]

After reading and dismissing the victory screen, loot started to appear and fall as usual. His two companions cheered and high-fived in glee before running to claim their rewards.

For the time being, Shirou disregarded everything else. His focus was solely on the one prize that was important enough to warrant his attention. The magus held the floating Assassin Class Card that was waiting for him, neglecting the downpour of gold coins and other items around him.

Opening up his menu, he stored it with all the rest.

[Berserker Class Card – World Item]

[Rider Class Card – World Item]

[Lancer Class Card – World Item]

[Assassin Class Card – World Item]

And Assassin makes four in total.

Four out of seven had been found.

For a brief moment, Shirou just stared at them. He heaved a small sigh. Despite the victory and rewards, the faker couldn't help but feel a bit let down.

"Where are you?" His voice carried softly through the mostly barren and damaged room, but no answer came to him. Nothing remained for him to do but collect their spoils and leave.

He felt a shudder run down his spine as he turned to leave, his senses alerting him that there was another presence. He whirled around, his dichromatic eyes seeking the source of his discomfort.

Surprisingly, the back part of the room seemed to have held up fairly well. The throne, still in its place, glistened in the dim light. Shimmering from the shadows of the throne, a figure emerged from the depth of the darkness.

The figure was tall and imposing, shrouded in a dark woven from the very fabric of night. From beneath the hood, a skeletal visage peered at him, reminiscent of Momonga's, with two curved horns. However, instead of the expected crimson orbs, two piercing azure flames burned fiercely. The figure's gaze was as macabre as its appearance, scrutinizing the magus as if to pass judgment.

"The evening bell has not yet rung for you..." A faint, raspy voice echoed, a statement followed by the ringing of towing bells.

"Oi, Emiya-san, you alright?"

Shirou shook himself out of his daze and quickly looked back at his friends. When he turned back around, the cloaked figure had vanished without a trace. It was as if the figure had never been there at all.

"Is everything ok? You've been staring at that back wall for like a minute now."

Variable Talisman and Herohero stood by, observing Shirou as they waited for his response. After a few moments of quiet, Shirou eventually faced them again.

"S-sorry. Thought I saw something." Without another word, he walked back.

The two Heteromorphic Players exchanged a brief look and shrugged, taking him at his word. They wasted no time in gathering up their loot and departed from the castle, as Shirou had obtained what they had come for.