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. I do not own Overlord. All property rights belong to their respective creators. Let's begin the story!
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Chapter-14
Alfheim,
Yggdrasil,
Earth – Year 2129,
Overlord Verse;
Year 2129 – Seven Months After the Raid on Twelve Trials Beneath Olympus
Avalon: The Eternal Flying Palace of Utopia
The air within the cavern shimmered with magic particles as small orbs of light floated upwards. A false sky—so vivid, so perfect—it tricked even the most perceptive of eyes of players within the cavern besides the fake sun and moon hanging outside – in worlds of Yggdrasil. The fake sky inside the cavern mirrored the view of the outside. Above it all floated the majestic structure of magic and divinity.
A castle laid on a piece of giant piece of rock and land – A floating island, that lay suspended in air.
It remained floating under the false sky inside the Yggdrasil's cavern in Alfheim.
Its towers gleamed in sunlight that did not exist, banners fluttering on the wind that never blew. At its base was a moat of clouds, parting only to reveal golden gardens teeming with marble trees and winged lions that rested in the garden, as visible to those who floated above to pry into the floating piece of land, before they were chased away by the winged lions.
Kai stood inside the cavern on the ground, staring at the wonder of the castle that floated above.
While the others behind him chattered—checking gear, eyeing for possible enemies who could have followed them, while, his amber eyes remained focused on the majestic castle above.
"That... is possibly the most beautiful castle I've ever laid my eyes on," Wandering Soul muttered behind him.
Kai smiled, as he observed her from the corner of his eyes, as she walked up beside him.
"That is certainly true. It is quite beautiful… Alas, we can't turn it into our clan base, due to it being a World Enemy Raid Base." He muttered.
"Right…" she muttered under her breath, her eyes – longing to enter the castle.
While, Shouko who stood at a distance chatting with other clanmates turned around as she observed Kai and Wandering Soul engaged in conversation. She stood glazed out staring them, before she woke up from her stupor and continued her conversation with Manabu and Silent Witch.
******
The Gardens of Avalon
The Garden of Avalon – It was the name of the outer region of the floating castle's rock or the piece of land that floated in mid-air. They had made numerous attempts to enter the Garden of Avalon through air but had failed in all their attempts, except for those who carried a World Item.
Their ascent into the castle grounds was met by resistance. They had no other option than to enter through the Golden frame of a door placed on the ground right below the floating piece of land.
Kai walked with his clanmates to enter the floating Castle, when Shouko walked up to him, matching his pace. "It's exciting isn't it… To participate in a raid after nearly four months." She spoke, her voice carried the excitement she tried conveying but Kai felt a vague feeling from her, he wasn't able to pinpoint the exact feeling but, he felt as if something had been tugging on her mind. Before he could answer, they were attacked by an army of winged lions.
< Winged Lions – Guardians of the Garden of Avalon >
With eagle-like wings and goldish brown fur, the creatures descended in packs of six. Battle formations snapped into place. Arrows, spells, and barriers collided with bestial roars and blade strikes. Indomitable Wall took the vanguard, locking down the group of lions with battle taunts of his [Tank] build, in front of him, while Red Order engaged them directly, katana flashing in a blur of dark light as he sliced through them –
"Don't let them take flight again!" Shouko's voice cut through the chaos. She fired off arrows, eating away at their HP, as Kindred Star casts explosive spell, detonating seven more in a flash of flames.
Silent Witch floated near the rear, encased in her mana shields as her
"This is good," muttered Hitoshi, not taking his eyes off the war hammer he swung through a downed guardian. 'Being the unique-type monsters, they are – they must have unique drop items for them as well…' He mused.
Each fight stretched them, testing their coordination. The winged lions circled around as they tried splitting the players but were pushed back with continuous strikes.
******
Kai inspected the data crystal they had collected and the new type of crafting materials dropped by the Winged Lions, as they moved deeper into the garden of Avalon with others. With their coordination and skills, they had managed to get through the first hurdle without facing any losses on their end.
Exiting the garden, they walked through the paved path toward the entrance of the Castle. To halt their march, when they spotted two towering Stone Golems standing adjacent to the Giant Golden Doors.
Kai and his clanmates slowed their approach, preparing for a clash, when a thunderous voice echoed through the tranquil of the Garden of Avalon. The Stone Golems had drawn their giant swords, positioning them in a cross before the gates—blocking any further passage—as their glowing eyes turned toward the intruders.
{"Halt your approach, intruders. You are not authorised to enter the Great Castle of Avalon."}
[The Gatekeeper of Avalon: Stone Golem]
They speech confounding them of their next step. Unlike what they had expected, the golems did not move from their position or attack them after their warning.
"Do you think, this is one of those…" muttered Silent Witch.
"Which one?" questioned Hitoshi, watching the motionless golems, while Kindred Star silently admired their design and size, her desire to create a giant golem – ignited.
"What type of situation… Silent Witch?" muttered Indomitable Soul.
"Where the guards of the gate assign task before opening the door… Is it not common in adventuring and treasure hunting games." She answered, earning a nod from Kai. "I suppose that is a possibility…" He muttered, before he stepped forward alone, toward the stone golems.
He advanced steadily toward the Stone Golems, despite the risk of facing first wave of attack alone. Yet, to his surprise, they made no move to attack.
Kai surprised by their indifference to his advancement, he sighed and activated,
Yet, he was met with none of it, as he eyed the golems. Raising his right hand – he signalled his clanmates to wait. Eyeing their impatience from the corner of his eyes, he set his foot forward.
That's when the voice returned—louder than before, filled with righteous fury.
{You who have dared to approach this sacred and desolate Castle of Avalon – Despite the warning, what is it that makes you worthy to enter this Castle and the sacred sanctuary, lowly demon?"}
The loud and heavy voice of the Stone Golems reverberated throughout the garden of Avalon. Drawing the immediate attention of his clanmates, who teleported beside him in a hurry.
While, the Stone Golems continued their speech. {"A lowly demon such as you, with your pathetic band of thieves – What is it that makes you worthy to step foot in the great castle of the King Arthur Pendragon. You, who neither possess the strength of the Knight King Arthur Pendragon [World Champion] nor possess the magical might of the Great Wizard Merlin [World Disaster]."}
Kai's eyes widened at the mention of job class names that popped up, with fragmented system information of the class as they spoke. While, the rest stared at the screen, wondering about the unknown job class – for they carried World in their name.
Not giving them a moment to process the conversation, one among the two Stone Golem Roared, as he challenged the players.
{"Since none of you possess the qualities to enter – best me and my brother in a solo combat to enter Avalon. So, who among you is going to challenge us for the right to enter Avalon and is going to represent you pathetic lot."} He roared.
Rising to the challenge, Kai stepped forward along with Shouko who beat Manabu and Red Order to the race.
Both of them stood against the Stone Golem, ready to face them. The Stone Golem raised their swords simultaneously to strike – as Kai and Shouko also responded.
******
The moment the twin swords of the Stone Golems rose, a thunderous pulse of magic echoed through the lush garden of Avalon.
Kai's hand gripped the hilt of his spear, and beside him, Shouko spun her golden spear once, its length humming as she activated her skill . The two Stone Golems, each over fifteen meters tall, loomed like mountains of enchanted rock and steel, their heavy steps leaving craters in the ground as they advanced.
The rest of the clan stood just beyond the threshold of the magical dueling ring—a circular clearing. System messages floated above them in translucent windows:
"Looks like we're locked out," Hitoshi muttered, folding his arms. "This is going to be fun to watch."
Red Order grunted. "They're announcing the names of King Arthur and Merlin… with World Champion and World Disaster classes? I don't even know if those job class exist."
"Hmm!," Wandering Soul whispered. "Well, now we know…"
Kai narrowed his eyes as the Stone Golem opposite him shifted its stance, its massive sword already coming down like a collapsing tower. The moment was thick with anticipation.
And then the clash began.
******
Standing over the fallen and the half-destroyed body of a Stone Golem – what he assumes to have died, Kai turned to his screen. He observed his clanmate Shouko still engaged in her fight. He scanned over the reward section for his battle in the meantime. 'Two new classes but under the condition that you can only chose one of the classes and the other is left for the other player.' He mused. "Hmm! So, both the players cannot choose the same class."
'There was never an option to begin with.' He mused.
******
After Shouko dealt the finishing blow to the Stone Golem, they regrouped and healed themselves and stepped before the Giant pair of doors leading to the Castle.
The doors of Avalon creaked open, revealing the vast halls beyond.
They walked through—and were engulfed in light.
******
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**The End**
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