Night, dark clouds covered the sky, and the cold wind was bone-chilling.
The young man gripped the USB drive, squeezing into the dim rental room through the biting wind.
"Click!"
He went straight to the computer, found the interface and plugged it in; lines of code immediately displayed on the screen.
"I've finally gotten the source code for YGGDRASIL. Success or failure depends on this one move!"
The young man stared at the computer screen, his eyes bloodshot and the dark circles beneath them prominent.
His fingers flew across the keys, quickly modifying the code inside.
While modifying, he glanced at the time displayed on the desktop—23:00.
"Time is of the essence!"
"Buzz—!"
Just then, the phone on the computer desk suddenly vibrated and lit up; it was an in-game message.
"Helant Sang, in one more hour, YGGDRASIL will shut down completely. Nazarick was built by everyone... please, you must come online to say goodbye!"
—Momonga.
The young man only gave it a cursory glance. His fingers flew so fast they left afterimages under the glow of the screen, lines of code being typed out rapidly.
"Don't worry, I've prepared for over twenty years; there's no way I'll mess up at the final moment!"
At the same time, inside YGGDRASIL.
"Then, Momonga Sang, let's meet again if fate allows."
"Ah, Herohero Sang. Please... take care..."
Momonga withdrew his skeletal claws, murmuring Herohero's words.
"Meet again if fate allows..."
He looked up at the magnificent Round Table Conference Room before him; the forty-two empty chairs each represented a former companion.
Momonga felt a heavy sensation in his chest, as if a giant boulder were pressing down on him, growing heavier with every breath.
He couldn't help but pull up his friend list again.
[Helant (Offline)]
"Momonga, I'm a bit busy lately, but don't worry, I'll definitely be online when YGGDRASIL shuts down." —Helant.
This was a message sent by his best friend over ten days ago, which he had read countless times over these days.
In the final moments of the game, had Helant Sang still failed to hold on?
The first time he met Helant Sang was in Nazarick's predecessor—the Suicide Ten. At that time, he and Takimi together saved him from being hunted by human players.
After that, Helant Sang began his path as a logistics master. Whether it was alchemy or equipment forging, he was the universally recognized number one in the game!
Most of the Divine-class equipment belonging to the guild members had come from his hands.
Especially back then, by exploiting a bug, he created the first and only Man-made World Item, establishing his status as the number one in alchemy and forging in one fell swoop!
Although Helant Sang was excellent, he got along well with everyone. Touch Me once pursued him, Takimi and Ulbert regarded him as a close friend, and Tsukuyomi even considered him a kindred spirit.
"Whew—" Momonga let out a long breath, slightly easing the heaviness in his chest. "If it weren't for your refusal to be the Guild Master, how could it have been my turn?"
Momonga glanced at the status of the message he had sent—Unread.
Momonga slowly rose and walked to the side of the Guild Weapon—the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown.
This weapon also carried a period of time belonging to the guild members.
Someone was dumped by his girlfriend for it; someone was fired by his company for it; someone ate only one meal a day for a whole month for it... Everyone was very happy back then. Ulbert and Takimi often bickered and argued, while Tsukuyomi and Helant discussed equipment designs... Momonga picked up the Guild Weapon, took a nostalgic look at the Round Table Conference Room, and turned to leave.
"Creak—"
Outside the door, Momonga noticed Takimi's creation, Sebas, and the battle maids of the Pleiades.
"Follow me."
Momonga didn't pay much attention; he wanted to head to the Throne Room as quickly as possible.
There, he would welcome the end of Nazarick, which carried years of memories.
The time reached 23:30, with only half an hour left until the server shutdown.
"Helant Sang..."
The name box representing Helant was still gray.
"Buzz—"
The doors to the Throne Room were pushed open.
The hall was cold and dim, with banners hanging from the ceiling and guardian statues standing along the red carpet, which led directly to the throne on the high platform.
Momonga stepped onto the red carpet, walking step by step toward the throne.
Dressed in a pure white gown, the beautiful and dignified succubus, Albedo, stood waiting at the foot of the throne with a smile.
Even knowing she was an NPC, a fake person, Momonga was still stunned by her beauty.
"If she were alive, then Helant Sang would be in for some good fortune."
Momonga chuckled and used the Guild Weapon to open Albedo's settings page.
The last line of the dense settings clearly read—In love with Helant.
"Helant Sang, this is Tsukuyomi Sang's reward for your 'Pure Succubus Contrast Theory'!"
When Albedo was being created, Tsukuyomi originally wanted to set her as a "bitch," but Helant Sang came up with a shocking argument.
"Instead of a bitch, wouldn't it have more Gap moe to have a creature like a succubus be loyal to love!"
The setting "In love with Helant" was Momonga's suggestion.
He originally wanted to use this to tease his friend together with Tsukuyomi Sang.
As it turned out... Tsukuyomi Sang quit the game, and now even Helant Sang hadn't stayed until the end.
Momonga's mood inevitably grew somber again.
The time reached 23:55, with 5 minutes left until the server shutdown.
Watching the time tick away, Momonga couldn't help but sigh, "Helant Sang, you broke your word..."
"I think I didn't." A gentle voice rang out.
Momonga looked up abruptly.
Wearing pure white mage robes, the exquisitely modeled and handsome Helant tilted his head, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
"If I hadn't come, would Guild Master Momonga have started crying?"
Momonga didn't mind Helant's teasing. His tone was hurried, unable to hide his smile, and even his pitch rose: "I thought you wouldn't come online. This is great; we can still say goodbye to Nazarick together."
Helant didn't argue out loud, but silently added in his heart.
"It's saying goodbye to the ordinary and painful life of the past, and welcoming a new life!"
He glanced at the time: 23:59.
Only the last minute remained.
"Thump! Thump-thump! Thump-thump-thump..."
Helant felt his heart beating faster and faster, almost leaping out of his throat.
His body, lying inside the Gaming pod, trembled uncontrollably.
Over twenty years of effort, with almost all his savings and energy spent on YGGDRASIL.
He had long since had no way back. Success or failure depended on this one move!
The countdown began.
10, 9, 8... 3, 2, 1... Helant closed his eyes.
Time hit zero!!
A sense of pleasure emerging from the depths of his soul spread through his limbs and bones, and endless vitality surged within his body.
Helant clearly felt that his soul was perfectly merging with his current body.
Just like a newborn baby, Helant took a deep breath of air.
For the first time, a cool current of air poured into his lungs.
Helant opened his azure eyes, and his holy and handsome face curled into a smile for the first time.
"Phew. Helant, congratulations on your rebirth."