The New World, Re-Estize Kingdom, City of E-Rantel.
In the darkest corner of a room in the city of E-Rantel, Aura delivered catastrophic news. She had arrived in E-Rantel at night and located the adventurer Momon in the morning.
"T-That is... the report... I'm so sorry, Ains-sama".
She said, kneeling in front of him in the most apologetic of ways, wearing a cloak to conceal her identity as a dark elf. Her head rose to look at her master's, but she couldn't see anything behind that mask, which only made it worse.
Ains heard the report from her, and even as he ran it over his head over and over, he couldn't believe it. When had it all gone so wrong?
'Nazarick has been annihilated by the God Osiris and his companion Yasaka alongside two more after being antagonised by Albedo and Demiurge during a meeting. Demiurge and Cocytus, alongside the whole strength of Nazarick, tried to fight back; the battle's outcome is unknown'.
Although the outcome was unknown, the destruction of Nazarick as the dungeon crumbled beneath Yasaka's gigantic form was an indisputable truth. It couldn't be taken back.
His expression was cryptic, but Aura could feel subtle manifestations of mana coming from him; he was at the border of losing control, recalling each bit of work it took to conquer that dungeon and how fast it had collapsed.
"There is no way..." Next to them was Narberal Gamma, unbeknownst to her, one of the last two Pleiades still existing in this world. Contrary to Ains undecipherable countenance, hers was filled with disbelief and grief.
Ains released a small grunt that got their attention before a green light covered all of his body from top to bottom.
*WHOOSH!*
"Ains-sama?!" They immediately rushed to him, thinking the psychological impact was overbearing.
"Take me to Albedo... we will think about what to do afterwards".
...
Aura led Ains and Narberal cautiously along the rooftops of E-Rantel all the way to the border, gates and into the forest, chasing a trail back to a small cave where Mare waited alongside a slumbering Albedo.
Ains knelt down and watched her quiver and twist like she was having a nightmare—perhaps the nightmare of her own mistakes.
"She collapsed due to the mental trauma and perhaps... guilt", Mare said, not holding any resentment. His mind was still too shaken to hold prejudice.
Narberal Gamma's hand extended, shivering, trying to comfort him, but she knew she could not bring any comfort and decided against it.
"Osiris... Osiris...!" He just kept repeating that name. Chaotic mana fluctuations left his body before a green light engulfed him once again.
A futile attempt at regaining control. He thought about something, hurriedly scrolled through his interface, and found the guild system's button. He pressed it several times, but nothing happened.
"Ugh!".
That was the first strike to his soul.
The bad premonition, if the guild system wasn't working... it could only mean one thing. Nazarick is no more. He worked hard to craft the guild together with his guildmates and best friends. Thousands of hours played in a game that's no longer a game.
All gone in less than a day. Deep inside, he wanted to blame Albedo and Demiurge for their recklessness, even if he had wicked ideas regarding Osiris, his connection to Japan, and his relationship with Yasaka and Elysir. He still wouldn't have made a move. Even if they were on the deepest floor of Nazarick, surrounded by the assistance of all the arrays. He still wouldn't have made a move.
'There had to be another way; it can't end like this!'.
He told himself, feeling guilty of having all their efforts crumbled under his command. None of them was here, and it was his and his sole responsibility to ensure their hard work would prevail.
And yet...
He opened the map that was mostly uncovered but with a clear route back to Nazarick, switched tabs into the NPC tab and managed to see the NPCs that were with him: Aura, Mare and Narberal Gamma. Alongside those far away in the capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom: Solution, Shaltear and Sebas Tian in the distance.
As for Nazarick... there were no more than three or four dots conglomerated there.
"There are some alive!" He yelled with enthusiasm, unaware of the incapability of shedding tears.
It crushed his soul that they weren't more than three or four... out of the hundreds of NPC that inhabited Nazarick. He was even more shocked to see that Rubedo wasn't one of them. Cocytus, Victim, Demiurge... the Pleiades... none of them had survived.
"Pandora's Actor..." He clenched his bones to the marrow and waved his hand. The armour and sword disappeared, replaced by his powerful robes and staff. Aura, Mare and Narberal stood up; unlike him, they could shed tears.
"This is an extreme situation for Nazarick. An unprecedented one. I won't judge your mistakes just yet; it is not the time for that. It is time to act and salvage what we can before the catastrophe plunders everything we hold dear".
"Your orders, Ains-sama!" They billowed.
"There are still some of our companions alive; the fight may still be going, so we still have a chance of redemption if we teleport straight into the battlefield, but the main objective is to rescue whoever remains and flee if we are overwhelmed. Narberal Gamma, I want you to take Albedo to where Shaltear, Solution and Sebas Tian are. Here is the location; tell them that we shall re-group in E-Rantel and make provisional headquarters there as Nazarick is no more. Report everything that happened without missing a word".
"Yes!" Narberal didn't waste time. She donned her cloak, picked up Albedo's body on her back and hurriedly departed the cave.
"Narberal!"
"Yes?!"
"Stay safe... I want you to be extremely careful and prioritise your safety. I don't want to lose anyone else" His voice was solemn and sad.