SWNOVELXO Chapter 20: Chapter-20
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-20
Asgard,
Yggdrasil,
Earth – January of Year 2130,
Overlord Verse;
Battle of World Champions – Valhalla, Asgard;
The battle of World Champions had been planned for the week after the event where the winners of the World Tournament in every world were crowned with World Champion title. This small tournament in terms of number of participants, had been announced to find the strongest player in all of Yggdrasil. It was a grand event, as hordes of players had logged in to spectate. In the arena of the Valhalla, the players packed the stands and the holographic display at every corner of the game to watch the tournament. Thousands watched the match—across guild halls, player hubs, city squares, and even casual viewers across dozens of community sites.
In the arena, the cheers were deafening, announcers shouted from floating platforms, system messages hovered in the air, and fireworks filled the clouds. Nine World Champions competing for the title of the strongest player in Yggdrasil.
At the center of the arena stood a crouched figure. Black haired heteromorphic player of demon race – World Champion of Múspellsheim. His amber eyes staring at his opponent in the eye, as his coat fluttered. The Demon gazed at his opponent with his spear embedded into the chest of his opponent. A pale skinned Vampire with black hair, froze as his HP hit zero and his body shattered into pixels, disappearing from the arena.
The notification echoed like a divine proclamation, as a pillar of light shot up, bursting into a display of light works. While the black-haired demon stood. He released his grip on the spear, letting it fall. The spear shattered into pixels, disappearing, before it hit the ground.
"AND THERE YOU HAVE IT, FOLKS!" came the booming voice of the announcer, "A brilliant counter-strike—using
"AND THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE WINNER—AND LAST FINALIST OF THE BATTLE OF WORLD CHAMPIONS – Mor Initium Kai Telos"
The crowd roared. And, the in-game viewer chat exploded—emotes, praises, debates, and more. Even the PvP masters were typing out "???" and "wtf was that reaction speed" in live reactions.
"And let's not forget! Mor Initium Kai Telos is none other than the Guild Master of the now top-ranking underdog guild – Vanitas Regnum Anta!" the announcer continued with barely-contained excitement. "A guild that seemingly rose from nowhere and now boasts five World Champions in its roster! And also the members of the party that cleared Valhalla Dungeon."
There was a brief pause, giving way to murmurs across viewers live comments.
"That's right, five World Champions—and they have only thirty-seven players. Talk about exclusive. I don't know what the recruitment requirements are, but if you're watching this and you think you are in need for a strong guild—maybe it's time to apply for this guild, while you still have the chance. Moreover, the final is between the Guild Master and the Vice-Guild Master of Vanitas Regnum Anta, talk about fate."
With the match ended, a new text appeared on the central platform. Two names hovered in golden text above it:
[ Evernight Candidum Vs Mor Initium Kai Telos ]
While Kai stood spectating at the display mentioning the participants for the finals, as he cursed under his breath. 'It was difficult as it was to beat Manabu, the fight was a close call.' He sighed. 'With this being a battle to determine the strongest warrior of Yggdrasil, there's a limit set for the spells used, allowing only warrior class spells including the spells learned through racial class. With super-tier spells allowed, which basically acted as skills, it was quite difficult to win in Múspellsheim and to reach this position and now this… You could say, she was a bane to my build with her Divine Spirit nonsense.' He let out a breath, he didn't think he had been holding back.
Shaking his head, he continued. 'With the Grand Knight of Avalon class of hers, I don't even wish to find out her current strength.' Kai once again sighed, of how he wished to move as her, create a custom race and build for himself if not for that damned dream he had every time messing with the game, to wake up to the feeling of coldness that could freeze his very soul. The fear of death hanging on his shoulder, and his dream of aiming for Champion of Yggdrasil Class getting further away. 'If that hadn't been enough, we both have unlocked World Break, but… I am not sure of how useful it will be in this battle, with the unknown factor hovering above my head – The unknown skill that was said to unlock after I gain World Disaster class and she – World Champion class for the class we got after defeating those golems during Avalon raid.'
Kai sighed again, cursing his fate, for tying his hands. 'With World Disaster class still out of my reach, and even if I had managed to get my hands on it, I doubt whether it would have made any difference from it being a magic related class for magic casters. None the less, I have put my all into it, if I want that special class….' He mused.
******
Battle of World Champions:
[ World Champion of Asgard: Evernight Candidum Vs World Champion of Múspellsheim: Mor Initium Kai Telos ]
"Fuck me…" was all he muttered, as he spread his arms wide in resignation or in triump, inviting the white beam of light, with golden and silver lightning swirling around it, as Shouko activated her skill,
A skill she had unlocked from [Grand Knight of Avalon] Class after winning the World Tournament and obtaining [World Champion] Class. Added with the ultimate skill of the Grand Knight of Avalon,
Kai just watched the incoming attack as he speculated other options he could have taken, 'I should have brought [Aegis] with me… But a promise is a promise, we both promised to not use World Items in this match.' He mused when he was hit by the attack, bringing his already low HP to zero. As he turned into speck of light – pixelated and disappeared from the Arena, Shouko stood with her sword in her hand, a smug smile plastered across her face.
Numerous pillars of lights shot upward bursting in lightworks, blanketing the sky of Yggdrasil across all worlds, followed by the world announcement, declaring the Strongest player of Yggdrasil. Shouko's name flaring and gaining fame across Yggdrasil players, overshadowing Kai's existence. Though his loss left a bitter taste in his mouth, but was later grateful toward Shouko for the assist, for taking the stage. This fame rocketed, gaining traction across many forums, with her beautiful appearance and being a female World Champion with her friend accompanying her for the title. Shouko was the talk of the gamers, each speculating the type of person she was IRL.
From many friend requests to guild invitation, Shouko was popular among the player base – with replicas of her gear and weapons circulating among the newbies.
******
Kai upon finding himself floating in the blank and dark space with numerous stars blotting in his surrounding with a humongous tree stretching in-front of him. He sighed.
'I should have taken [Grand Knight of Avalon] Class back then….' He regretted and gazed at his current build. The build he had specifically designed to participate in the World Tournament by de-levelling and allotting warrior classes. 'Still, I love magic more… to switch to warrior class for the Champion of Yggdrasil class and title. Yet, she with the [Grand Knight of Avalon] class with her racial advantage over my race… gave her the edge to end the fight.' He mused silently. After his defeat at her hands at the beginning of Yggdrasil, they had fought numerous times and he had managed to win mostly using his diverse magic spells and his pure destructive build. Now, he questioned himself, if everything was for naught.
Kai was just like a spring, who was being pressed hard by not letting him run amok in the game, burdened with his crazed dream, hanging around his shoulder threatening his end. 'I suppose the knowledge of this world and this universe is my weapon, an advantage in the grand scheme of things, and is also a chain that binds me… else I would have straight-up took World Devourer build and built my character upon it – Becoming invincible, hoarding Worlds Items or better, devouring World Items and ruling over Yggdrasil.' He laughed at his thought process, amused by his small, "What Ifs?".
Just when Kai thought of returning to his guild, he saw another player or a being manifest, and appear beside him, though the man wore a white coat. His appearance an oddity from the fantasy setting of the game. Yet, Kai calmly waited for the man.
"That was quite a fight, Kai." The man spoke, addressing Kai by his real name rather than his in-game id. The voice, Kai recognised, but was surprised to meet his friend now. Clearing his mind of all the distracting thoughts, Kai responded – not to keep the man waiting.
"I suppose it was, Kayaba. Sadly, your team's pampering of Shouko snatched this match away from my hands." Kai muttered.
"That is true," he mumbled before continuing, "But that is out of my hands, I have no power to intervene." The man named Kayaba spoke, his tone indifferent, as if he had given up on the issue altogether.
Kai laughed at the helplessness of his friend and sarcastically spoke, "If the co-creator of the Yggdrasil were to give up in hopelessness against the tyranny of the strong, then what are the innocent and hardworking players like me, are supposed to do."
Kai's speech earned a chuckle from Kayaba. "Well, I may be a co-creator of the game but you… you are one of the valued investors and a director of our company, and have the power to vote and bring real change. As the member of the board of directors, what action have you taken against that young lady in your guild." Kayaba spoke to Kai in nonchalant manner before continuing, "Not to mention, it still eludes of how you aren't indulging in your prowess and abusing the game yourself, to make it easier. Knowing your personality, I had expected it and from your track record in game. I had suspected you were, but alas, I have yet to find any evidence of your action pointing toward it."
Kai nodded at his friend's remark, sighing at his fate, for he also indirectly benefitted from her tinkering from time to time. Though he can't explain that to Kayaba, going in detail about his past life and his reincarnation in a light novel world that also had a manga and an anime. People would treat him like an insane and as a deranged person who is also constituted with terminal illness. A crazy fool who is or was destined to die, would be the common phase that would be used demean him behind his back now and after he moved to the New World. And how he wished to indulge in the game, yet with his hands tied by cosmos, he was helpless – following the order.
Kai smiled at Kayaba, moving over from his silence, he replied. Kayaba remained silent, as his gaze wandered to the giant tree stretching across them. Letting Kai mull over whatever it was… he was contemplating about.
"You wound me, my dear friend." Kai spoke, a resigned smile plastered across his face in reality. While, his avatar's face remained stoic, he looked Kayaba's avatar in the eye. "To think, you suspected me of cheating – that's a hard accusation you're making against me." Kai muttered.
"Well, you have quite a unique history in the game, and your build… I can definitely say this as the creator and overseer of Yggdrasil. You have the strongest build and the array of classes in Yggdrasil, excluding for your dear friend, Evernight Candidum. Still, if you both were to fight without any restriction – I would without a doubt, bet on you." He spoke, "Alas, fate had different plans and different things in store for you."
Hearing his answer, Kai smiled and remained silent, observing the vast space environment around him, in Yggdrasil and muttered. "Fate huh! Never considered you to believe in fate."
"Never mind that, I just didn't know of any other method or way to console you." He replied.
"What else could I have expected from you…." Kai sighed at the detached answer and replied, "So, what does she get from winning this tournament, along with Champion of Yggdrasil Class? Or is this it…" He mused.
Kayaba stroked his chin as he nodded, "Well, for starters she gets a World Class Artefact, along with a pet. Quite similar to yours," He spoke, pointing toward Kai's illusionary shadow in the never-ending darkness of the space.
Kai smiled happily and summoned his pet he had received in his beta days with the condition to join or create a guild to receive it in the official game. It was a tiny eastern dragon with black-obsidian scales, covered with both white and black fur across its body. Lifting it up, he happily held it and stroked its head – patting it.
"While, I wonder why you haven't levelled it up using the silver fruits from the Divine tree of Immortality. Rather than raiding dungeons in your free time to level it up." Kayaba muttered.
Kai sighed at his question – unable to explain the existence of the New World to Kayaba and his wish to enjoy adventuring for now.
"I can, but I would rather enjoy watching him grow up, as we venture into Yggdrasil, travelling and exploring the uncharted territory of the worlds. His is my pet – my faithful companion in this game." He mused, while he held the dragon close to his chest.
"Hmm! I suppose… You really do enjoy role-playing don't you. Anyway, this is enough for now. I'll be waiting for in the next board of directors meeting." Kayaba spoke, and continued with a smile. "But I wonder, if we will be seeing Miss. Hoshino in the meeting as well," with a teasing remark.
Earning a resigned sigh from Kai, Kayaba laughed. "Women can be tiring…." Kai muttered.
"Well, that's how they are, I suppose. Right before I forget, my child's birthday is next month. You and Miss. Hoshino are both cordially invited. I understand that bigshots like yourself and Miss. Hoshino will find it difficult to attend a small party hosted by a no one like me. Still, I hope that you both can free your schedule a bit to attend, Koru also wished for you guys to come." Kayaba spoke to Kai.
Kai smiled in return, "I'll attend and also bring Shouko with me."
"Thanks… I didn't know of how I would explain it to Koru and survive the catastrophe from upsetting him and my wife by extension." Kayaba muttered with a relieved tone. Happy at the load, Kai took off of him, Kayaba smiled.
"So, my dear Creator of Yggdrasil," Kai muttered, raising Kayaba's senses. Wary of the tone and speech pattern of Kai, he gave out a tired sigh for whatever was coming. It was in Kai's nature, according to Kayaba – To demand things or make an exception for him. To not cheat in the game at least not openly, yet he couldn't help it. As both Kai and Shouko were both cut from the same cloth for him. Moreover, the race she had, was a compensation decided by the team, for the rude remarks made by a bunch of devs toward Shouko's request. To not earn her ire or that of her grandfather's. They were too accommodating and chauffeuring her – all of it to please her.
And so, Kayaba waited – patiently, "Don't I get anything for qualifying for the finals? At least a consolation prize. You know there is no winning against women, don't you? What do you expect from me, that what you cannot do it yourself." Kai muttered.
"I understand your stance, but there is no designated reward for the runner-up." Kayaba mumbled, earning a stink eye from Kai. And a click of tongue, followed by a remark. "Don't you think the loyal and fair players are the ones losing from your stance here?" Kai muttered.
Kai's speech hit where it could do the most damage, hurting his pride, Kayaba raised his arms in surrender. "Fine, I'll let you have the World Class Artefact as you already have a companion from the beta days."
"Great… So, can we work on the artefact now? We sure have the time, don't we." Kai muttered, conveying it as an order than a question. His wish to delay returning to his guild to escape Shouko's flaunts, dominating the situation.
"Just like your partner, you could get things done with your power and not resort to such indirect ways. I wonder why you don't?"
"Well, for starters, I am but a simple player. In Yggdrasil, all I am is a player and nothing more. I follow the rules and maintain order, while as a player I work and move, just like the rest to get things done. And as a director, it is my role to set an example for the players to follow." Kai muttered, innocently, making Kayaba sigh in resignation.
"There is no winning against you nor Shouko, even among the directors." Kayaba mumbled, resigned to his fate, struck between the two tyrants hovering over his game.
"You have quite a funny perspective, Kayaba. We are the definition of accommodating and have supported all your decisions, opposing other insignificant fellows. Yet, you paint us in such bad light. You are quite cruel aren't you." Kai mumbled, his tone playful.
"Sure, so what do you wish for?" spoke Kayaba, ignoring his teasing.
"Let's make Dragon Balls… shall we." Kai muttered.
******
While Kai stood conversing with Kayaba, both of them busy with their work to create an artefact for Kai to compensate for his team's foolishness.
All the while, the draconic iris of the tiny dragon shimmered with light, as part of the animation set of the pet. It's eyes gazing at the Giant Tree, observing the never-ending Cosmos and the Yggdrasil that contained the worlds that it and the rest of creatures and the beings it had come across till now, called them their home for the first time. The words and their conversation falling on its still ears, and for how this conversation would shape and set the perspective of the NPCs and the New World's residents toward Kai, remained a mystery.
******
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**The End**
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