In the year 2138 AD, YGGDRASIL's virtual landscapes had become hauntingly quiet. What had been once teeming player bases filling up the wide worlds had, year after year, dwindled to those who remained diehard enthusiasts, collectors, and dreamers. One such gamer was Mark, a veteran known in-game as Marcus Valerius Corvus.
For twelve years, YGGDRASIL had been his sanctuary. But tonight, the countdown timer in the corner of his screen was a cruel reminder that all things must come to an end.
"Server Shutdown: 00:15:23."
Marcus leaned back in his chair, gazing at the glowing interface projected onto his neural display. His character, attired in the resplendent armor of a Roman Centurion, stood at the heart of Domus Aeternum, his carefully crafted stronghold on an island on the outskirts of Midgard. The banners of his insignia a double-headed eagle clutching a laurel wreath, symbolize power and victory.
No guildmates. No friends. Only him, and the memories of battles he had fought on his own, except, of course, the faithful NPCs he summoned using the Aquila, which had been along with him every step. Each one of them is standing perfectly in formation awaiting their next order in the courtyard below.
"Server Shutdown: 00:10:00."
Marcus sighed and opened one last time his inventory to see all of his items and of course the Aquila his World Item still shining in the menu. It had gone through so many trials with Marcus, from that first haunting dungeon in Midgard to building a Stronghold on an island filled with monsters.
As the minutes ticked down, Marcus decided he would see the end from the Throne Room of his stronghold. As he walked in the Hallway to the throne room he noticed one of his NPC.
"Your name was Maximus Laetorius Trenus right?" He muttered as he reached his hand out and touched an invisible menu, opening a page that only he could see. Then, he selected an option from several choices. As he did so, the name of the NPC was displayed in front of him. He laughed softly, at himself for forgetting the names of his NPC.
"I shall put the NPCs to good use"
Then he gives a command.
"Follow me"
Maximus bowed respectfully, to show he had heard and acknowledged the order.
Eventually, they arrived at a vast hemispherical dome-shaped hall. Four-colored crystal lamps glittered from the ceiling.
The four-colored crystal lamps on the ceiling were a type of monster, and the moment an enemy entered their range, they would summon high-ranking elementals of earth, water, wind, and fire, in addition to bombarding them with area-of-effect attack magic.
If these crystal lamps all attacked at once, the firepower they unleashed could easily defeat two parties of level one hundred players, which would be roughly twelve people. This room could be said to be the final defensive line of Domus Aeternum.
"Server Shutdown: 00:01:00."
A wave of bittersweet nostalgia washed over him. He remembered the hours spent tweaking builds, conquering dungeons, and pushing himself to his limits. He remembered the thrill of finding the Aquila and the satisfaction of building his fortress from scratch.
Marcus led the servant behind him past the magic circle and laid eyes on the giant doors before him. The majestic set of double doors was over five meters in height and covered in intricate carvings.
As he touched them, they opened by themselves although they did so slowly, in deference to their massive weight.
As he walked up to his throne the marble steps, each footfall echoing in the empty halls. There, he sat on the gilded throne, its design inspired by the grandeur of ancient Rome."This is it, huh?" he muttered to himself.
"Server Shutdown: 00:00:10."
He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, gazing out at the virtual horizon one last time.
"Kneel" He ordered.
Maximus fell to one knee in obeisance.
"3... 2... 1..."
he closes his eyes as the countdown reaches zero.
"...Hm?" Marcus opened his eyes, expecting the familiar confines of his room. Instead, he was still in the throne room. The salty tang of the sea air filled his nostrils, and the distant crash of waves reached his ears.
"What...?" he whispered, his voice echoing in the hall. He stood, his armor shifting naturally with his movements. This wasn't possible—there shouldn't be any smell or physical sensation in YGGDRASIL. Panic gnawed at him, but he forced himself to remain calm.
"Maximus."
"Yes, my lord?" Maximus responded immediately, his voice steady and sincere. Marcus hesitated for a moment. The NPC's lifelike response unsettled him.
"Approach the throne."Maximus obeyed, rising smoothly to his feet and striding forward before kneeling once more. Marcus' mind raced. The NPC's behavior was far too natural. He attempted to access the game's interface—the chat function, the GM call, the forced logout—but nothing worked."Is this... real?" he muttered. Then, with a deep breath, he resolved to act.
"Maximus"
"Yes my lord" Maximus said.
"Approach the throne."
"Understood." Maximus responded and then rose to his feet. After that, he proudly strode to the front of the throne before dropping to one knee and lowering his head again. Marcus had learned one thing from this. The first was that he did not need to specially enter commands on a keyboard; the NPC would understand his intentions and execute his orders.
Maybe This is similar to the anime I watched growing up where the protagonist is isekaid to another world, I hope it is cause I don't want to go back to that hell hole and I hope it's not some kind of prank by the devs Marcus thought.
"Maximus."He could see an earnest, sincere expression on Maximus' face.
"I want you to get ready the legions and the navy and have our defense up to the maximum. I feel something is wrong. Gather some intelligence about our surrounding area, and have one of the wyvern riders go up to the sky to help gather intelligence. Also, have our divination look around if they spotted some land, I want to know it as soon as possible that is all" Marcus ordered.
"Yes my lord, I will report to you as soon as possible" Maximum said.
Maximus stood up and bowed once more to his lord and walked out of the throne room to finish the order given to him.
Marcus waited in the throne room, gathering his thoughts about the matter. An hour later, Maximus returned, his expression composed but tense.
"My lord, initial reports have come in."
"Speak," Marcus commanded, his tone steady despite the unease gnawing at him.
"The wyvern rider has spotted a continent to the south, approximately twenty kilometers away. Our diviners confirm its existence, though their spells suggest it is heavily forested and inhabited. As for the immediate surroundings, we appear to be on an isolated island. Our scouts are combing the shores, but no threats have been detected so far."
(A/N The stronghold is on yellow though they are like a small island nation they have merchants, blacksmiths, etc., and they are far from Argland counsel state and Re-eztize kingdom but close enough to the holy kingdom. I don't own the picture I just took it from Reddit I'll remove it if the owner asks me to)
Marcus nodded, absorbing the information. "Good work. What of our resources? Food, weaponry, and personnel?"
"The stronghold is well-stocked, my lord. Our granaries are full, and our armory is equipped for prolonged engagements. Including the summoned legions, we have a standing force of approximately five thousand soldiers."
Marcus leaned back on his throne, considering his next move. Survival required vigilance and strategic execution.
"Maximus,"
Marcus began his tone firm and deliberate, "Relay the following orders: First, instruct the diviners to continue their search for signs of life on the continent. Their primary objective is to determine the nature and proximity of any potential threats or civilizations."
"Understood, my lord."
"Second," Marcus continued, "place the town under lockdown. No one is to leave or enter without explicit permission. Inform the villagers that we have been transported to an unknown region and that this measure is for their safety until the situation is fully assessed."
"Wise precautions, my lord,"
Maximus replied, his voice steady."Good. Should the diviners discover signs of life, prepare the navy but hold off on setting sail directly. Instead, instruct the diviners to search for areas near the shoreline devoid of inhabitants. Our priority is to establish a foothold where we can operate without immediate interference."
Maximus nodded. "And if such a location is found, my lord?"
"Deploy two legions along with the navy to that site," Marcus said decisively. "Have them build a fortified outpost to secure our presence. Ensure they bring sufficient supplies and defensive equipment. Once the fort is operational, prepare a diplomatic team to establish initial contact with nearby civilizations, if necessary. Caution must guide every step."
"Your will shall be done, my lord," Maximus replied, bowing deeply before departing to carry out the orders.
An hour later, the diviners continued their relentless search of the continent. Their magical scrying extended over forests, plains, and rivers, uncovering more of this mysterious new world. Eventually, they located a small village nestled in a dense forest. Its size suggested it was home to no more than a few dozen people, and its primitive layout confirmed the medieval-like development observed earlier.
But the diviners did not stop there. Their vision moved further inland until they found what appeared to be a large fortress. The stronghold bustled with activity; soldiers clad in armor patrolled its walls, and the presence of banners indicated an organized force. The fortress exuded a sense of order and military discipline, suggesting it belonged to a significant power.
As the diviners expanded their search, they came upon a massive wall stretching endlessly across the horizon. Its sheer scale was awe-inspiring, with soldiers stationed at regular intervals along its battlements. The wall's design hinted at a long-standing defensive structure, built to repel formidable threats. The scrying continued along the wall's length, revealing it to span from one ocean to another.
Beyond the wall, the diviners' focus shifted to the shoreline. After hours of scanning, they finally identified a stretch of coast devoid of any settlements or visible activity. The area was pristine and ideal for establishing a foothold.
The diviners promptly relayed their findings to Maximus, who wasted no time in reporting to Marcus.
"My lord," Maximus said, bowing deeply, "the diviners have completed their reconnaissance. They have discovered a suitable site along the shoreline with no signs of life. It lies beyond a massive wall guarded by soldiers. The wall stretches for miles and appears to separate two distinct regions. Shall we proceed with our plans?"
Marcus listened carefully, his expression unreadable. He stood from his throne, the Aquila glinting in the light as he considered the report.
"Excellent work, Maximus," Marcus said, his voice steady. "Prepare the navy for departure. Select two legions to accompany the fleet. Their mission is to establish a fortified outpost at the identified location. Ensure they are equipped with sufficient supplies, construction materials, and defensive armaments. I also want a team of magic casters and druids to join the expedition. Their abilities will be crucial in fortifying the outpost, maintaining the environment, and managing any unforeseen threats."
Maximus inclined his head. "Understood, my lord. Shall I include battle mages and healers among the magic casters?"
Marcus nodded. "Yes. The battle mages will provide offensive capabilities, while the druids can manipulate the land to our advantage. Healers will ensure the troops remain in optimal condition. We are entering unknown territory, and I want our forces to be prepared for anything natural or unnatural."
Before Maximus could leave, Marcus raised his hand to issue another command. "One more thing. Summon the blacksmiths. I want an Aquila crafted a standard of solid gold and steel, representing our dominion and strength. This will be our symbol, one that strikes awe into allies and fear into enemies. Assign one of the most disciplined soldiers to bear it. The Aquila will lead our legions, and wherever it stands, it will signify the indomitable will of Domus Aeternum."
Maximus bowed deeply, the weight of Marcus's orders heavy with purpose. "It will be done, my lord." As Maximus departed to execute the orders, Marcus allowed himself a moment to reflect.
(A/N feel free to suggest)
(ChatGPT help me make this)