Hello, this is my first time writing a fanfiction. If you notice any errors, please feel free to give me constructive feedback. English is not my first language, so if you notice any mistakes, please mention them in the comment section at the end of the chapter. Let's begin the story!
Word Count: 3000 Words
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The Root
Volcanic Regions, At the Centre of the World
World: Múspellsheim
The World Alliance had gathered near The Root's guild base.
With everyone's approval, they marched forward. The main reason for the huge crowd was their shared animosity for LordofTheMysteries.
Many players had learned their lesson from the raid on Ainz Ooal Gown.
A medium level guild had managed to counter an army of players. Here they were facing a large guild, ranked at the top. Housing many a World Items, with powerful NPCs protecting it. Not to mention the strong players present in the guild. World Champion to World Disasters. A guild to have never lost a single Guild War.
Their Guild Master, a player with an abundance of money. Also to have defeated Raid Bosses, whose power almost rivalled World Enemies, all alone.
Some of the participants in the raid already had their fair share of experience invading an invincible fortress. With their experience from Ainz Ooal Gown, they were prepared for the worst here.
They couldn't allow for this raid to fail.
Players marched inside the Guild, The Temple of The End. If the New World's citizen were to watch this they would have lost their sanity.
At the same time in Sefirah Castle,
Bruce was seated on his seat at the table, watching the whole process with The Eye of The Blind Idiot God Azathoth. It was a powerful divination tool, when used to spy inside the Guild or the surroundings, even the World Item holders would be oblivious to the spying unless Bruce wished otherwise in these regions.
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The Raid
As the players moved ahead inside the temple, they had to fight against the Golem Knights.
As the World Champion of Asgard slayed the last of the Golem, they set their sights on the Floor Guardian of the Floor.
"He is huge"
'As the World Champion of Asgard. They expect more from me, but this is quite a guild. The NPCs are too strong here.'
The fight against the Guardian of the Temple was more difficult than he could have imagined.
He was able to slay it with help from others but it was a tough match.
'What is this place, from outside and inside it is built as a temple. Even these Golem Knights, look more like guardians and worshippers of this temple.'
"Rak, this is one interesting guild isn't it?"
"Yes, the designs are great and the concentration on details is incredible. He sure has spent a fortune to get this done"
"When you think about it that way, it does feel wrong to destroy this place"
"Well, it's his Karma that has brought this war. There is nothing we can do but march forward."
Just as Rak and his companion were discussing about the guild, he was joined by another couple of his teammates.
"So what's your take on this Rak? The difficulty level of this temple is high. We have already lost 96 players, just in this temple."
"Hm! Going by the pattern, this seems to be a Guild similar to ours. It must be an underground guild."
"Well, the chances of it are high. The defence here is very strong. Those Golem Knights have cursed swords with the penalty of not being able to revive inside the temple when killed by them."
They were in a contemplative state because of just one rule of any raid, any time a raid was initiated, or any other time, when they are revived using an item, they respawn in their home base. But when revived using the Resurrection spell by their allies, they revive at the spot of death.
While the first condition results in them quitting the raid and the latter causes them to lose some levels.
"It's good that he hasn't thought of building a similar guild as World Searcher, a flying castle. It's never easy to attack them, they are always on the move"
"That's our fortune. Let's proceed further, there's a door. We have already lost nearly a hundred players here not to mention those who have suffered experience penalty when they were revived."
Many players died by Knights, we weren't able to revive those who got killed by Knights but those who were killed by monsters were revived."
"What's your take on this Rak?"
"This is just the start, we were expecting this level of difficulty. So where's Areos?"
Areos Álfheim's World Champion was yet another player and the other World Champion participating in the raid.
"He has already made his way through the door."
"Let's get going now."
Rak moved with his teammates through the door to find many corpses of players and monsters awaiting him at the other end of the door.
They made their way into the Door, with remaining players and zero NPCs. All of the mercenaries were killed by the Golem Knights.
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"Areos, there's a door here."
"The enemies here are strong. Don't get distracted, we can't lose."
Players were getting disoriented from facing the never-ending horde of Golem Knights and monsters summoned by defence mechanisms.
"So what about Rak, where's he?"
"He's fighting Golem Knights on the other side of the Temple."
"Let him fight. We'll continue forward."
Areos with his guildmates moved to the door.
"Let's open it"
"Areos, it's not a trap is it?"
"Kage, is there any other way for us to move forward other than this door?"
"Though we have checked for traps, it won't hurt for us to be careful. There are no traps here which worries me. A guy who can build a guild of this stature won't include traps. That doesn't make sense. He wouldn't have made it so easy for us."
"That just means that he is that confident for what's on the other side of this door. Let's go, we won't know till we open the door."
Areos stepped forward and pushed open the door.
It was winter on the other side. There were snowy mountains as far as he could see. Plus the Blizzard made it difficult for others to see. Though he could see because of his racial class. The same couldn't be said about others.
His racial class helped him see through the blizzard but it wouldn't be of much help against the environment.
"Let's get going. We have a Guild to conquer"
Areos moved ahead with his teammates, they faced many a Snow Giants on their way. After clearing the area of the Snow Giants, he proceeded forward.
With the environment and weather, many players were getting constant damage.
Areos was no exception to this. The area was enormous, and to clear it as soon as possible, players decided to explore the region in groups.
Some groups were successful and lucky to not meet or slay the monsters they faced. But few couldn't make it.
As Areos moved forward, Rak had also arrived at the first floor.
Areos with his strength made his way to the Guardian of the Floor. The Ice Dragon. It was strong but he managed to defeat it.
Casters were having a tough time keeping up with the raid. With back-to-back monsters creeping up on them, the Warriors were losing their stamina and Mages their Mana.
Many noob players were getting filtered out.
Without mana potion, mages were in a dire state. The Company had removed the mana potion to restrict Mages from spamming spells.
They had to rest, but the monsters, despite the floor guardians' death didn't stop attacking. Nor was the climate kind to them. The Blizzard continued as players were trying to find their way to the next floor.
The number of Players Died 150+
Areos similarly made through the next three floors, The land of water. Guarded by Sea Serpents and the Floor Guardian Water Dragon.
The number of Players Died 200+
The land of Flames is guarded by fire giants and the floor guardian Red Dragon.
The number of Players Died 280+
The land of nature, guarded by Wyverns and the floor guardian Storm Dragon.
The number of Players who died 200+
Areos despite the losses moved forward. Rak was coordinating with everyone. He moved as a party, unlike Areos who led the team at his pace, where everyone had to match his pace. His playing style wasn't suitable for him to play with others.
His guildmates had gotten used to him by now and were able to coordinate. But here he was playing with some unknown players. Their style contradicted his.
They had finally arrived at the fifth floor. It was a floor engulfed in darkness. The floor depicted a scene of some ancient alien civilization, destroyed by the Omni enemy of all, time. All that remained of the civilization was in ruins.
Areos sprinted sensing an enemy. But sadly others weren't as lucky as him. They were hit by a torrent of black flames spewed by a giant Dragon, hovering above them.
The Dragon named Kamish had entered the Battlefield.
Just as he was preparing to attack the Dragon, he was attacked by a Knight in black armour.
Igirs had entered the fray.
His guildmates who had been separated by Areos while fighting the Sea Serpents had, at last, made their way to the fifth floor.
He would have not separated from them if it was in his hands, but unlucky they drifted apart in the sea. A floor that prohibits flying except for the Floor Guardian and the Guild where communication had been blocked between players.
They weren't able to use messages since they had entered the Temple.
With floors being as big as they were, players had come in large numbers, still, it was difficult for them to meet each other.
Areos guildmates after arriving, got to work but were intercepted by other NPCs.
Areos was having a hard time fighting against Igris.
The clash of their sword resonated through the floor. It was turning out to be a difficult task to defeat the monster in armour. The major difference was the skill level and proficiency in swordsmanship.
Rak, who had caught up with others moved to help his World Champion companion.
He moved as fast as possible, his blade that moved to intercept Igris's sword was caught by Beru.
Rak was surprised by the sudden intrusion of yet another NPC. Beru an Ant monster fought against him.
The fight prolonged for a while but with reinforcement coming in waves, they managed to beat the area guardians of the floor.
"Areos"
"What's up, Rak?"
"Why did you rush ahead? Do you have any idea of how many players we have lost?"
"I don't see any problem here. They were weak and they lost. What's wrong with it?"
"We have lost nearly 1000+ players in just 5 floors."
"They were the weak ones. From here on out, we won't have any problem moving forward."
"Rak is right Areos. We can't rush in blindly from now on. We don't even know how many floors we have yet to clear."
"Not you too Kage, how many floors do you think this guild has?"
"12 to 16 floors. Assuming him to have spent a very large amount of money."
"Then what about NPCs?"
"Considering this to be a Greater Dungeon before he turned it into his Guild. It should have at the minimum 4500 levels."
"What do you think Rak?"
"As what he said"
"So what about you Kami no Rokka?"
"Interesting that you are asking me Areos."
"Well you are the leader of Trinity, aren't you? As a Guild Master of The Father.
"You are the one who is leading this raid and yet are the last group to arrive here."
"Kage, We were busy handling the monsters and helping other players. And to answer your question, Numbers do matter here Areos."
"So how many players got kicked out?"
"What Rak said is true. We have lost a lot of players coming here and this is just the beginning. The monster we fought till now might have been mercenaries. It will be guardians from here on out."
"That's an interesting theory, Kami. Though the Dragons were as strong as boss monsters these guys were just as strong as those Dragons. The real fight starts now."
"What do you think Areos?"
"Why would my opinion matter here?"
"If we were to face To'kustar, it would be up to you two to face them Areos and Rak. You both are World Champions. You both are going to play a crucial role in this raid."
"That's easy for you to say Rokka"
"I'm sure you can handle it just fine Rak."
"What is it Areos?"
As they were planning their next course of action, they noticed Areos not paying attention to him. Seeing him Rak grew worried. The journey till here was not an easy one.
"Well, I have good news and bad news."
"What is it?"
Just they asked him about it, they got into a fighting position just to be safe. While Rokka fell back towards his guild members.
While Areos and Rak didn't move from their place.
"What's the bad news Areos?"
"Great, Kage the bad news is that the Floor Guardian hasn't been killed yet."
"What's the good news?"
"He is walking towards us"
"Get ready everyone."
A fight broke out between players and the Guardian, and many players who were in his way got killed by Him, The Floor Guardian Ashborn had arrived.
They were unlucky to have been in his way. With the darkness enveloping the area, they didn't see him coming.
Areos, Rak and Rokka were directing their teammates to coordinate. As he came near, most of them were able to see him.
They moved back to regroup to fight him. They were paying attention to his every move.
His eyes which were glaring at them, were ignited. As his eye shined in the darkness.
Darkness engulfed them this time. They were able to see him just a moment ago but now they couldn't even find their teammates. Their sense of sight was snatched. They could hear each other but were unable to see them.
Since they were unable to light up the place, they were sitting ducks for the enemy. Still, many players with unique and other racial classes and races with night vision and special eyes were able to see.
Those who could see were silent.
They were waiting for Him.
They were observing His every moment.
Then They saw him, lift his right arm.
They heard it.
Just as he raised his right arm, they heard.
"Arise"
It was all they heard, the monsters that they had defeated since coming to this floor. They had struggled and struggled against them. They were strong, they had caused huge casualties.
The monsters, The NPCs or The Area Guardians of this floor had once again awakened to fight for their Master.
Their toughest fight since entering the Guild had finally begun.
---
Areos moved in to intercept, while Sakura casts a spell to bind him.
Using the time gap, Areos used his skill.
{Skill, World Break}
With the final attack, Ashborn the Floor Guardian of Fifth Floor had fallen.
"Are you alright?"
"I am fine. What about you?"
"I am fine."
Areos retrieved a vial of HP potion and consumed it as he spoke. Sakura did the same.
Rak and Rokka had been sadly killed by Ashborn and his cursed sword.
They were unable to revive, as they got killed in a Raid by a cursed sword of Ashborn no less.
"What is with these curse of no revival and no communication rule."
"It's no use thinking about it now. What's done is now done. We are down by a World Champion and some Guild Masters."
"Yes"
"Well, which is why you are to lead the raid now. The Guild Master of The Holy Spirit of The Trinity Alliance."
"Rokka messed up. He was no match against The Dragon. Huh! What do you think this curse is?"
"He may have used Five Elements Overcoming."
"That's an interesting theory"
"It's a possibility"
They along with the rest of the players that had survived the clash moved ahead. The Holy Spirit Guild was the last to arrive on the Fifth Floor.
The Number of Players Remaining: 1750+
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They with Areos in the lead managed to clear three other floors.
The Floor Guardian of the sixth floor, Reno.
The Floor Guardian of the seventh floor, Ghost Rider.
The Floor Guardian of the eighth floor, Chthon.
As they moved to the next floor, Floor-09.
They unlike other floors were destroyed on this floor.
The Number of Players Remaining: 1150+
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As they progressed further into the dungeon, more players were lost. Especially with unending hordes of monsters being summoned by the guild defence mechanism.
Floor 10: Brood Hive
"Watch out"
Areos moved in and cut off the hand reaching towards AugToDec.
"Watch your back"
"Thanks, sorry I wasn't paying attention towards it."
"Watch them."
Floor 11: Chaos Sea
Floor 12: City of Calamity
Floor 13: Nation of Disorder
Floor 14: Tenebrous World
The Number of Players Remaining: 700+
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Floor 15: River of Eternal Darkness
Areos gave the final blow to Shiroko Terror, the Floor Guardian of the Fifteenth Floor.
With 650+ remaining players and zero NPCs.
They got on the move after healing themselves.
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**The End**
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