In the year 2138, a new term appeared: DMMO-RPG, the abbreviation for Dive Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game.
People made use of networks and nanotechnology to design brain-computer networks. This network, together with the neuron nano-interface and a specialized control interface, was connected as one.
As a result, when people played in virtual games, it was as if they were truly inside a real world, experiencing an immersive feeling, commonly called virtual reality games.
And YGGDRASIL was the pinnacle of this type of game. Twelve years ago, upon its grand launch, it instantly attracted countless players to dive in with frenzy.
The wide variety of classes, the wide variety of races, the vast map, the genuine sense of adventure, all of these drove players mad with excitement.
Of course, that was a long time ago…
Everything that is born must one day perish. No game can remain popular forever.
Even YGGDRASIL, after years of operation, had to accept a fact…
It had already fallen behind. It could no longer keep up with the times. Compared with the enormous cost of maintenance, ending its operation was far more practical.
And in a certain place within the game…
There sat a figure in a luxurious black academic robe, its edges embroidered with purple-gold decorations. The collar looked a bit overly ornate, but surprisingly, it suited the one wearing it.
Perhaps it was wrong to call it a "person," and it should instead be described as an Elder Lich, the highest-ranking undead among the magic casters who transformed themselves into the dead in pursuit of ultimate magic—a ruler of death.
The only part visible was the head, nothing more than a bare skull without any flesh or skin. Its empty eye sockets glowed faintly, and behind its head radiated a black halo-like light.
As the gaze shifted, another figure could be seen among the three occupying the forty-two magnificent seats around the large round table.
This figure was also not human, but a writhing mass of black substance, its tar-like surface constantly squirming, never maintaining the same form for even a moment. This entity was an Ancient Black Ooze, a slime race possessing the strongest corrosive ability.
The Ruler of Death could wield the highest-tier, most powerful magic, while the Ancient Black Ooze had the ability to corrode and degrade weapons and armor—both belonged to the "extremely evil" races.
"Momonga, you still look as handsome as ever, truly beloved wherever you go, admired by all, flowers bloom at your sight, and no wonder all the female members of the guild look at you like wolves and tigers, practically wanting to devour you whole!"
The Ruler of Death looked helplessly at the speaker, the guild's most "lively and cheerful" member.
"Luke-san, please don't say such things, alright? Otherwise, I'll really feel troubled. You know, I'm just that 'forever single dog' you always talk about. How could I be someone admired wherever I go? Compared to me, it's you, Luke-san, who already has four wives. You're far more impressive than me."
'Japanese honorifics like "-san"… even after hearing them for so many years, they still felt awkward.' Luke thought this to himself.
Luke is a foreigner who had come to study in Japan.
Why exactly, he didn't know. But he had crossed over into Japan to become a "glorious foreign student."
At first, he thought he was some kind of Long Aotian type protagonist, burdened with the mission of ruling the world. Of course, saving a few cute Japanese girls along the way wouldn't have been out of the question either.
But not long after the opening of the DMMO-RPG game "YGGDRASIL," Luke immediately realized he had crossed into the world of Overlord.
After much consideration, Luke decisively chose to "hug a thigh." So without hesitation, among the races of humans, demi-humans, and heteromorphic species, he chose one of the heteromorphs: a stitched-together abomination.
Through years of effort, Luke successfully advanced himself to the highest tier of this race—the Abomination King.
He gained numerous powerful skills. And because the stitched-together abominations were literally made from various corpses sewn together, Luke adjusted his outward appearance to look more or less human.
Then, during an encounter with Momonga, the protagonist of Overlord, Luke decisively clung onto him, shamelessly begging again and again until he managed to join the team.
After that, he followed along in raids and other activities. Over the years, he finally became close with the other 41 guild members.
It might not sound like much, but one had to know that Momonga's guild had a rule: only those already working in society could join. As a mere student, Luke had to put in great effort to be allowed entry.
In fact, Luke had been one of the original ten members, an old veteran. At first, the others didn't want him to join out of worry it would interfere with his studies.
But Luke would never accept that.
So, during one gathering mission for rare materials, Luke threw himself in front of danger, shielding others. Then he boasted about it endlessly, practically turning himself into one of YGGDRASIL's "Top Ten Most Touching Heroes."
Only then did Momonga and the others reluctantly make an exception to admit him.
"Hahahahaha, no, no, it's nothing, just average, really. Third in the world, third in the world, hahaha…" Luke laughed awkwardly.
After speaking with Luke, Momonga happily addressed the slime, "It really has been a long time, Herohero-san. Even though today is the last day of YGGDRASIL, I honestly never thought you'd show up."
"Mm, yes, it has been a long time, Momonga-san, Luke-san."
There was nothing wrong with the words themselves, but the voice carried no vigor, no spirit. It was completely unlike the Herohero of the past.
One had to remember: back then, Herohero was a fearsome powerhouse, one of the guild's strongest members, whose fighting style left countless opponents terrified.
Luke looked at Herohero and sighed. Indeed, back then Herohero had been carefree and unburdened. But that was in the past.
As time went by, a game remained just a game, while the pressures of reality bent people's backs. Even finding the time to log in for fun had become a luxury.
Momonga seemed to think for a moment, then with a slightly wistful tone said, "After changing jobs in real life, you stopped logging in. So… how long has it been now? About two years, right?"
"Two years and two months," Luke said from the side, "I remember very clearly."
"Eh, it's really been that long? Luke-san, that's impressive. I already forgot how long it's been since I last logged in. Wow… I didn't expect it's already been that long… This is terrible."
"I guess it's because I've been working overtime so much lately. My sense of time has gone strange. Or rather, I've been so busy I've forgotten what 'time' even is."
"Isn't that really bad? Are you going to be alright?" Momonga, upon hearing this, immediately grew concerned for his friend's health.
Herohero gave a bitter smile. Of course, even in YGGDRASIL, he couldn't literally show a bitter smile. That expression was something only Momonga and Luke could feel from his words.
"My body? It's already a complete mess. Not to the point where I have to see a doctor yet, but it's close. Really bad, actually."
"Honestly, I just want to run away from this kind of life. Every day I'm exhausted like a dog. But if I want to survive, I still have to keep earning money. So I work myself like a whipped slave."
Luke nodded deeply, sharing the sentiment. He could understand Herohero. In this life, thanks to the arrangement of fate, his parents had died in an accident and left him a huge sum of money—enough to live comfortably for life.
But in his previous life, he was just an ordinary civil servant, working himself to the bone for his superiors, always getting scolded, crushed under enormous life pressures.
"Waaah…" The Ruler of Death, Momonga, tilted his head back in exasperation, "That really is miserable."
Of course, on YGGDRASIL's final day, Momonga wasn't particularly eager to hear his friend talk about such unhappy things.
But Herohero wasn't thinking that way. Perhaps it was the overwhelming stress of reality, but he couldn't help venting.
Subordinates who didn't know how to report, no sense of communication or cooperation, entirely different plans given at the last moment, failing to meet performance quotas and being scolded by his superiors, working late every day to the point he couldn't even go home, unhealthy daily routines causing his weight to skyrocket, and taking more and more kinds of medicine.
Like a dam on the verge of collapse, Herohero kept complaining endlessly, while Momonga and Luke could only take the role of listeners.