Ch1: The Hero and Villainess

[Yggdrasil, few minutes before server shutdown] 

In the heart of the Central Forest of Yggdrasil, an ancient, ethereal place, the moonlight filtered through the dense canopy of leaves, casting a silvery glow that danced across the forest floor.

The scene in here is just constitute of nature and starry sky, but some people say that they will be more than happy to go here after death, rather than the good people's afterlife called heaven.

This is a place which was akin to a tourist place famous even among non-players of Yggdrasil.

A place where couples often come to spend their time as the scene itself is just awesome!

Not to mention the cold gentle breeze which clams down even the most chaotic of minds and the serene smell of forest and flowers which can charm one's soul.

But at this particular time this tourist place which sizes across hundreds of kilometers was being destroyed in fight of two particular players.

The serene forest which connects people with nature (even though virtual) is being destroyed and the charming flowers which can makes the gloominess of the day go away are turning to ashes.

The collision of enemies of nature is running constantly in the background as if they have confirmed that they do not want this place to remain in existence any longer.

The air is thick with the scent of burning soil and crimson earth, which shows how terrifying the aftermath is.

There wasn't an ounce of the usual stillness in the air which was now filled with sound of explosions and trees flying occasionally, creating an apocalypse like scenery.

At this particular battlefield the constant ongoing explosions suddenly stopped.

Somewhere some half burn, some charcoaled trees can be spotted occasionally.

Somewhere the whole chunk of earth mass is missing while, somewhere unnatural lava puddles can be seen cooling down.

Shadows stretched long and deep, creating a haunting atmosphere that set the stage for a battle of epic proportions.

In this setting of war ongoing, a man appeared to be standing with a crater around him. His figure of striking handsomeness, stood in the small clearing, his presence commanding and resolute.

His azure, blue eyes, sharp and focused, glowed with an inner light that seemed to pierce through the darkness.

His royal golden hair flowed around his chiseled face, framing features that were both regal and fierce. His physique, sculpted to perfection, spoke of strength and agility.

Such unrealistic looks which seem like impossible to produce even for the most brilliant AI of the world.

A player who will be hated by 50% of the population just cause of jealously.

An avatar that seemed to be made exclusively by the Devs of the Game itself.

Clad in armor that glinted under the moonlight, he held his blade—a weapon rivaling guild weapons in its excellence—its edge glowing with an ethereal blue light.

His grip was firm, his stance perfect, exuding extreme wariness but also confidence and readiness.

Every muscle in his body was coiled like a spring, ready to react at the moment of notice.

From the shadows, another figure emerged, one of a woman.

Her appearance both breathtaking and terrifying.

Her long, midnight-black hair flowed like a river of darkness, shimmering with an almost otherworldly glow. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of violet, seemingly containing a whole universe, held a cold, calculating intelligence.

Her delicate face, framed by high cheekbones and cherry red lips, was a study in contrasting delicate and deadly. Her dark, form-fitting armor accentuated her voluptuous figure, the intricate designs etched into the said armor.

But the most notable detail about her was the existence of crownlike black horns on her head and the semi-crimson draconic wings which appeared behind her.

She moved with the grace of a dancer, every step a fluid motion that seemed to defy the very ground she walked on.

"So, the time of our meeting finally arrives," she purred, her voice a melodic taunt that seemed to echo through the trees.

"Tell me, what drives you to face me tonight? Wouldn't it be better to just resign to your fate and die obediently? Or is that roleplaying of hero getting to your head makes you feel like you can win?"

The man tightened his grip on his weapon, his gaze never wavering from hers. "I fight to win. I have fought I won multiple times, even when the chances were zero. You are nothing but a small hurdle for me to pass."

He replied, his voice steady and resolute.

She laughed, a sound that was both enchanting and chilling. "Noble words, but do you truly believe you can defeat me? You are but a single light in an ocean of shadow."

He took a step forward, his blade at the ready. "I've faced shadows before. I've faced fear, despair, and death. And yet, here I stand."

The villainess's eyes glittered with amusement. "Very well, hero. Let us see if your light can withstand the abyss."

With a swift, almost imperceptible motion, she raised her hand, and a torrent of dark energy erupted from her fingertips, surging towards him.

The man reacted instantly, summoning a barrier of light to block the attack.

But he knew even with his holy magic cannot completely block it, so he did his best to adjust his magic to deflect the incoming attack while counter attacking at the same time.

"10th Tier: Disintegration!"

The clash of energies lit up the forest, casting eerie, flickering shadows on the ancient trees.

He launched himself forward, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

"9th Tier: Blessing of Light!"

"8th Tier: Holy blade!"

"9th Tier: Blessing of divine!"

His movements were a blur of agility and precision, each step calculated to perfection.

He swung his blade in a wide arc, aiming for her midsection. She parried effortlessly, her own weapon materializing from the shadows—a wickedly curved scythe that seemed to absorb the very light around it.

Their weapons met with a thunderous clang, sending shockwaves through the ground.

They exchanged blows at a blinding speed, each strike a display of their immense power and skill.

The techniques the man exhibited were a blend of strength and finesse, his strikes flowing seamlessly from one to the next. He executed a rapid sequence of attacks, his blade dancing through the air with deadly precision.

If it was a fair fight, with just the techniques and skill with the weapon in hand, fought with both opponents with equal terms he might have won.

Sad for him, his opponent was much stronger than him (in stats). The element of surprise could not be implemented here where the opponent can see his moves in slow motion while he is also barely following them.

"Impressive," she remarked clearly fascinated by his display of skills, while blocking multiple such fierce strikes. "But tell me, hero, do you ever tire of this endless cycle of battle and loss?"

He gritted his teeth, pushing back against her scythe. "I fight because I must. I have even defeated the last boss stage of the game; you are just a bit stronger than that. Don't get too full of yourself?" He shouted pushing away her weapon.

Finally admitting that the one he is fighting is his strongest opponent so far.

"Fufu, just I bit stronger you say." She said with a glint in her eyes.

She did know how big of a difference there was between them and that her victory was granted, still it was fun to see him standing before her again and again no matter how many times he falls.

"Don't say such things. It makes me want to keep you together with me… forever." She said with a strange glint in her eyes, the last part only being a whisper.

With a dancer's grace, she spun and delivered a series of rapid slashes, her scythe cutting through the air with lethal intent.

The man continued to fight not having heard anything.

The man evaded narrowly; his reflexes honed to perfection. He countered with a powerful thrust, channeling his energy into the tip of his sword.

"Super Tier: Radiant Slash!"

His attack finally pierced through her defenses, drawing a thin line of blood across her cheek. Followed by a number appearing above her head.

'-10!'

"Shit! That was my strongest holy attribute attack!!" He muttered at himself, completely shocked that it only caused that much damage to her.

She touched her cheek, her fingers coming away stained with blood.

Her eyes flashed with a mixture of joy and amusement, as she said in a cheerful voice, "Impressive, you finally managed to hit me." she hissed. "But it's not enough!"

The man's mind raced, calculating his next move. He knew he had to outthink her, to use every skill and tactic at his disposal.

He was once again reminded the monster he is facing is stronger than every other world boss he has fought before.

Summoning his inner strength, he unleashed a flurry of attacks, his blade moving faster than the eye could follow. He combined physical strikes with bursts of magical energy, creating a whirlwind of power that kept her on the defensive.

He knew that elemental and physical skill can do less than 1/10th damage compared to holy element attacks on her, but he couldn't care less.

He has used up all of his experience points, so he is unable to prestage at this point. He will be just a weak level 1 newbie if he did so.

As he was jamming his brain trying to find an answer, he walked toward him with her hips swaying, her physical charm being full on display.

Though for some this may be the scene to die for but he can't be distracted otherwise he will really die!

With a wave of her hand, the villainess summoned a swarm of shadowy minions, grotesque creatures that lunged at the man from all directions.

Following her movement multiple mobs ranging from level 70 to 95 appeared from thin air running to execute their master's orders.

He fought them off valiantly, his blade a blur as he cut through their ranks. His movements were a symphony of combat, each strike a note in a deadly composition.

He was fortunate enough that these creatures at least don't have the same level of defence as their summoner. He was able to cut through them like butter.

Even level 95 monsters just needed 2 slashes before they turned to dust.

In just a few minutes he was done with hundreds of monsters.

But the distraction was enough for the woman to prepare her next move.

She raised her scythe high, chanting in an ancient, forgotten language. The ground beneath the man trembled, and dark tendrils of energy erupted, wrapping around his legs and immobilizing him.

He struggled against the bindings, but they held fast, draining his vitality and mana.

Just as he overcame the spell new attacks started to appear.

Multiple magic circles appeared surrounding him, each one summoning a giant shackle each which bound him up in the air.

The villainess approached, her steps slow and deliberate, savoring her impending victory. Her eyes locked onto his with a mix of contempt and fascination. "You fought well, hero," she murmured, standing before him.

"But every tale must have an end." She said with a majestic elegance in her very voice.

With a swift motion, she brought her scythe down.

Her scythe glowing with ominous light which seem to be capable of ending all life in the vicinity just by existing.

'No, not yet! After staying in this damn place for 15 years I won't just die!'

"Skill: PRESTAGE!"

Just as he said that every shackle bound to him got disintegrated, turning into dust like it never existed.

Every inch of his body glowing in golden might, giving a huge raise to his strength. Glow bright enough to give a day like experience in middle of the night.

It's as if he, himself had turned into a cosmic entity whose body constituent that of stars.

Just as that happened his level got reset from 100 to 1, losing all the job classes and stats which were granted to him. 

Without wasting anymore time, he raised his sword to meet her scythe.

His speed fast enough that even the opponent was not able to track his movements.

He was determined to end it here.

Even going beyond, making a direct attack on her, trying to bisect his opponent in half.

'-90'

Damage of 90, where high damage for one to have.

A damage count which is enough to one-shot 69% of the player in the game.

But against the villainess number which appeared above her head was disappointing to say the least.

"Shit!"

Any why wouldn't it be when she herself is Level 200 with more than 200 HP points in the health bar.

"Very well, hero- No, Eugene." She said which both amusement and annoyance mixed in her voice.

"You managed to impress me." She said looking at the damage suffered and the hand which was cut off by her opponents' last efforts.

Clearly surprise at the move of her opponent, "But what now?" 

"But what now you are just a weak level one player. One which can die by just a stroke of my weapon. Even the experience collector must have been used up?"

She said as she walked towards him in leisure pace, her hips swaying left and right, as her hand healed at a visible speed even her HP bar filled out in just a few seconds.

Her lips adorn a devilishly coquettish smile.

"Or do you believe the bare stats your titles give can save you?"

"!!!"

A look of shock appeared on his face, see as the opponent just disclosed his most hidden secret.

But..

"How? How do you know that?" He said in shock.

"How wouldn't I know that? Afterall it's me who created that easter egg." She said while bringing down her scythe with a soft laugh.

He didn't have time to reason what she must mean or have time to think what her words intended as the next attack came right after her words sounded.

The man mustered all his remaining strength, raising his sword to block the blow.

Even though he had his stats max for his level, he wasn't sure if he will be able to overcome any of her attacks without his cheat-like knight class's passives and skills.

Leaving that aside the aftereffect of 'prestage' still remained.

'-70'

Just in the time he blocked the first blow he came crashing hundreds of meters along the burned forest.

'-1'

'-2'

'-1'

'-1'

Even after having his equipment on and getting crashed along the way on his two legs he still suffered the after damage by the land itself.

The earth and nature which was always comfort for him had started to damage him after losing his job classes.

Even before he can ready himself the opponent was in front of him.

Her form cladded in black, her silky long hair swaying in the air matching her violet-black dragon-slit eyes.

The scythe right in front of him.

Which followed by multiple exchange of blows.

He tried his best to parry as skillfully as he could but, he was severely lacking in raw power.

It was just a bad match.

The impact was devastating, a burst of energy that sent shockwaves through the air. His sword shattered under the force, fragments scattering like shards of light.

He fell to his knees, gasping for breath, his vision blurring. The villainess leaned in close, her lips brushing against his ear. "Sleep now, and dream of the world where you could have won," she whispered, her voice a seductive lullaby.

As darkness closed in, the man's thoughts drifted to his past, to the choices that had led him here. He had fought valiantly, but in the end, his power was not enough.

[00:00:00]

As the time of Yggdrasil server ended.

The world of Yggdrasil faded away, replaced by an unfamiliar realm.

…

In the cold dark place.

Eugene found himself again in the familiar dark heavy sea of death.

That's what he calls this place since he came here every time he died.

So, did he die?

Or the time for the server ended before that?

He doesn't know.

Maybe he died Afterall why should his enemy left him alive when his life and death was completely in her hands?

If he remembers well, isn't it 3rd time he died and has come to this place?

Maybe he will go to another world as reincarnate as a human this time. Or it will be a transmigration as he had wished for?

He doesn't know and it's not like he has a real body anyway, so it does not matter.

He just hopes that this life will not meet its end like the other 3 did.

Come to think of it… Why isn't the sea of death heavy this time? It just feels like normal water not the weight which can seemingly crush you at the moment of notice.

'Is it because I have come here multiple time, so it thinks of me as a native?'

*chuckle*

As he was joking to himself about the situation he is in, a bright light appeared in front of him.

'Looks like new my new life is here… Just hope that I don't encounter any one like the one that killed me this time. Afterall even if she was a beauty… she was a psychopath nonetheless.'

Eugene thought as he got sucked in the portal which appeared before him.

_____________________________

To Be continued:

[Word Count: 2960]

A/N: Curious what is going on? Will get a flashback from next chapter.