"Despair is a wonderful tool, to bend the willful and strong, to break the weak and feeble, to mold the powerful and mighty. A tool that once fully understood, can be the only thing one needs to take whatever they want." —Sora Kuroka, Absolute Death.
A declaration of the end, and the start of a new beginning. Ragnarok awaits.
...
World Saga Online, once a place filled with wondrous personal adventures, numerous conquests on a daily basis, and a paradise for those wishing to escape the harrowing reality that Earth has become.
In such a World, one existence stands at its peak as the unrivaled and close to a God amongst Gods. Death, he's called. Once you are marked, you can never escape utter doom and destruction. Wherever he goes, the Souls of untold lives follow him like a plague, polluting and laying waste to everything in its vicinity.
But now, that existence's reign is close to its end. This world, and its entirety, is dying. Absolute erasure is imminent in hours. All of the Players, the sentient NPC Gods, can do nothing but wait in anxiety and, some, in hope. For a better future, or something else entirely.
The end of a terrible, yet epic saga of domination and fearsome conquest. In such a time, Death has decided to make one final hurrah. One final goodbye. One final fight to end all fights. To put on a satisfying final showdown, to close the curtains on a wonderful Game. Ragnarok, he would call it.
Death, the man who stands at the peak, is a man who was greatly intrigued by the history of Late Earth and the many records it had remaining. What it once was, compared to its present. It was regretful, that the Earth, the Human Race's cradle, was turned into a wasteland that will soon reach its climax and obtain its awful, dark ending.
In a vast hall, at the end of the massive place, sat Death himself. Atop a black throne with golden lines, he sat with his back leaning against the backrest, his arms menacingly placed on the armrest, tapping in a stable rhythm with each fingertip.
He wore a black and white armor set, rough and edgy, it was the relic from a World Boss raid. It was the armor that most had seen when facing him.
He stares at nothing in particular, though there was nothing that stood out in the massive hallway to look at either. He was there, sitting atop his throne while his brigade of golden armored Undead stood as two lines on both sides of a red carpet pathway.
They held halberts, and were a formidable size of 2m64 in height and close to a meter and a half in width. Bulky and intimidating, it was a display of domination for any that has made their way to this point. But for one to make their way here, they would've faced much more intimidating beings than the Royal Guards.
The Royal Guards straighten their already impeccable posture and strike the ground with their halbert once. Death moves once more.
He stood up from his throne and made his way down. He walks with the Royal Guard following closely behind. Their unison steps were very intimidating, possibly able to scare an army thousands of times their size. Comparing sizes, Death wasn't any shorter than the Royal Guards, maybe a little taller with his armor equipped if one looked from below.
They reach a big, wide door that's made out of a white marble-like stone that's carved into two canvases. One depicting desolation, a world with nothing but Death, while the other is of Life, the opposite and quite frankly impossible feat. It means something to the Players, those that've made it here. It was the outcome of their hard work, Death or Paradise.
But, Paradise was too far out of reach, even for the most experienced of Players.
Death opens this symbolic door and comes to the Main Hall. The room he was in is called the Throne Room, it is where countless journeys come to a fantastic conclusion worthy to be recorded as a myth. The fight is usually broadcasted live throughout the entire game of World Saga Online, and many would watch as Death showed his abilities that transcends even the most hardcore Players that's been in the game for years before him.
He walks down the hall that many had stepped through, examining all the names that're carved onto the left side of the hall. Numerous, too many to bother counting. Many solo Players are exceptional, many teams and Guilds were fantastic, and yet all fell before him. Death.
But, he stops on one name. His eyes underneath the helmet stared at one particular name that's carved bigger than the rest, and located right at the center of the hall.
Jae Ku, the one who posed the biggest challenge to Death both in his infancy and in his reign. But, the legendary Player retired when he failed his third attempt at reclaiming the number one spot, the throne from which Death sat and defended without fail.
Although Jae Ku's attempts were a failure, the results were the most stunning out of all the other names. It became the most viewed piece of digital video on World Saga Online's discussion platform. Anyone who has heard of the game would surely know of the Legendary Asura, Jae Ku, the former number one before Death.
A man that Death calls 'friend'. Few and far between, Death has in the past considered some selected individuals his 'friends'. Although they never saw him as such. Pity.
He carried on after staring at the name for a bit. The hall was long. A golden and white color scheme that brings about a magnificent feeling. It is to welcome those that have succeeded in coming all the way here. To honor their valiant struggle, their sacrifices, and the deaths of their comrades. It is impossible to go a deathless run unless one's going solo, many have tried and none succeeded even to this very moment.
In the distance, a maid was stationed facing towards the direction Death is heading towards. She had neatly combed white hair that's tied into a ponytail. Her height was around 1m72, with slender arms that're covered in a long black glove that reached near the shoulder. From the tiny exposure of flesh, her skin was also like the color of her hair, beautifully pale and white. It is to be expected from this environment that's devoid of natural sunlight.
"...Ah, this servant greets the Master."
The maid seems to have noticed Death's approaching presence. She turned around, her face now revealed. Her eyes were sharp, a mysterious and dangerous vibe could be felt as one looked at her face. Like a prey in front of a predator.
The maid that's dressed in a traditional maid uniform curtsied to Death as he gave her a passing glance. Her skirt was short, only reaching her thigh and slightly above the kneecaps. But, a white stocking covered her entire lower body, so one can't really get a good look at any of her flesh. The only skin exposure was at the shoulder part, where there's no sleeves from the armpit.
''Please excuse this lowly servant, master."
The maid doesn't dare raise her head to gaze at her master's visage, no, she even avoided looking at his feet. The Royal Guards, for some reason, had their eyes on the maid, clear animosity overflowing. The maid doesn't show any signs of fear however, almost as if she couldn't feel it.
They reach a branching hall, one that's drowned in pitch black darkness with similar colored fog. A red crimson door could be seen at the end, but it looked closer to a red mist than a door if one looked carefully. When Death looked at it, not a glance but a full look, he shuddered underneath the heavy armor.
He carried on, getting rid of the thought that suddenly appeared inside his mind. A beautiful woman, one clad in all black yet her skin was a beautiful pale white similar to the maid. Her red crimson lips were curved into a smile, and without needing to look into her eyes, he was already infatuated and dizzy from uncontrollable lust.
Death, through all the clouds of darkness and mystery, had his own fears and worries. Though few and far between, it is still something that none have come to know of.
Death arrived at a platform made of stone, the end of the Main Hall. On it, an intricate summoning circle was carved into the platform and a big round ring was at the center of it. The ring also had markings on it, singular symbols that go full circle.
This was different from the others. It had all of the Floors' symbols carved into it, rather than having one single symbol.
Anyway, one of the symbols on the ring lit up a purple color and sparks of electricity flew through the air. A whirring sound like an engine resounded, and a portal forms inside. It looked like a black hole from the start, but as it calmed down there it became a gateway that connects two destinations.
This is one of the many highest forms of Sorcery. Shift and distort Space, it was easy for Magic, but a very complicated procedure for modern science-like Sorcery.
Death goes through the portal and arrives at a large room, with a white door that covers his entire view in front of him. He went forward, with the Royal Guards following behind him as he exited. The room was golden and velvet red. It seems like he favors the color of gold a lot.
The door in front of him opens as he approaches. Outside, it was not sunlight that greeted him, but the sounds of thunder that roared in the distance. Dark, desolate, and devoid of any signs of Life. The soil black and the clouds dark. Not a shred of sunlight could be seen.
He was waiting for this day, the day that he no longer held any regrets and could be 'free'. Freedom, he rarely tastes that feeling. It was always a chessboard, a game where every move must yield the most gains. Every action must dictate and direct numerous developments. Not a single second can be wasted without benefits, without progress.
That was how he lived, until now that is.
He summons forth an interface. It was the Main Hub Window, where most of the interaction functions were. Private Message Rooms, World Rankings, and the World Message Board.
[Saurosh Koravek Solomon: IP 395'443'175'332 Come if you want to fight me, bring any army you want]
This message was posted on the World Message Board, and for a few seconds there were no follow-up messages or tags. But, there was one that's currently typing.
[Jae Kang: Then prepare yourself, Death]
That was the last message that popped up on the once very chatty World Message Board.
After a few moments, seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into hours, yet Death waited patiently for something, anything.
And, it finally arrived. That 'something' he has been waiting for.
In the distance, a rift in space formed and out came a man with an exposed upper body. Toned and muscular, but not too over the top. It was on the leaner side, a beautiful body seemingly shaped and carved by many talented artisans' hands.
"Death, you finally gave up your life?"
"...Jae Kang, still after revenge, I see?"
"Damn right I am, you fucking bastard."
"Language, please."
"Tch, whatever. Now, shall we begin?"
A bombastic voice, arrogant and overbearing, came from the fighter, while Death's voice was absolutely cold and devoid of any emotions. The rift closes, but that wasn't the end of it. Multiple more appeared, and out came various numbers of people, all with different appearances and ages, both physically and in a time sense.
"..."
"Scared?"
"...Unimpressed, really."
Death was faced with an army. Numerous very forgettable faces, male to female alike, faced Death himself along with the brigade of Royal Guards. Even with the massive disadvantage in number, he did not fret. No, he was excited.
"So many have come to my call, yes, it is a joyous moment."
"Speaking nonsense again, let's start this shall we?"
"Of course, Ragnarok awaits."
Death thought of letting out some steam, and this was exactly what he needed. Numbers, and a quick plan of demolition and annihilation.
His left, black side was radiating black smoke from its surface. The armor itself wasn't very wide and bulky like the Royal Guards', but it was intimidating in its own way nonetheless.
"Damn…when I'm seeing him up close he's really terrifying like they say."
"No kidding, he is called Death for a reason."
"Is that… what we'll be fighting against?''
"Oh the lords, may you bless us with strength to carry on through this journey."
Many whispered in awe, some prayed for salvation and strength, and some despaired over the fact that they're going to be face to face with Death himself. Their reactions, although a little pathetic in Death's view, provided a smile on his hidden face.
"I'll start the offensive, everyone! Let's go!"
Jae Kang, Death was familiar with his type of playstyle and Build. A Martial Artist, the bane to anything long range and Necromancers like Death. They have high burst damage and relatively good sustain damage if built right, very capable in PvP situations and flexible in PvE and against NPCs in combat. The Martial Artist Build is also amongst one of the most being built and perfected, all because of the Legendary Asura's influence.
"Fighter's Will, Indomitable Spirit, Blitz Speed, Tempest Enchantment, Iron Skin!"
Jae Kang lunged forward with incredible speed, closing thousands of meters in distance in one second flat.
"Torrent Rain."
He plans to pummel his target to a pulp, which was naturally Death, but getting to him with the Royal Guards' presence was close to an impossibility.
"?!!"
Although he had expected it, one of the Royal Guards came in-between and blocked all of the punches that went out rapidly, fast enough to leave afterimages. The peculiar thing, however, is after he's done, no damage was seen on the golden armor of the Royal Guard.
'...Shit.'
Jae Kang, even after reaching the same peak his brother once reached, could be no match to the Royal Guards' defense. Granted, he didn't use any Penetration enhancing Skills, but that wasn't really needed most of the time as Martial Artists have natural Penetration.
He jumps back, disengaging the fight before it could continue. The Royal Guards walked in front of Death and struck their halberts down onto the ground. A bang sound that was clear even after thousands of meters, it gave some of the Players and NPCs that have low Debuff Resist the Fear Debuff.
"Apologies, but it would seem like you'll need to defeat my Royal Guards before you can face me. Best of luck nonetheless."
A fight begins, a war to end all wars, a last final hurrah to send off all the memories that every Player has gathered. But, out of all of them, the only one who was the most happy would be Death himself.
An ultimate battle, one filled with epic ups and downs, grief and gratefulness, love, and hatred, it was all being expressed by the many filler characters as they die in droves. One last battle, where he gets to act out his role as the True Final Boss.
[The absolute majority of the Players have viewed you, a Player, as a {Final Boss}]
[A Quest has been generated due to this occurrence]
[The Quest {True Final Boss} has been given to you]
{True Final Boss}
[Quest Type: Myth]
[Quest Information: You have become the end of all things, and the main subject of the 'Last Saga'. Your feat, even if it's defeat, shall be recorded for untold years to come]
[Quest Clear Condition: ????]
[Quest Clear Rewards: ?????]
One… last… time.
'Let's begin this Ragnarok!'