1 Chapter 1: A Lonely Cottage Nestled in the Mountains

Gentle rays of morning sunlight streamed through the shutters into a dim room, illuminating airborne dust particles like spotlights on dancers flitting carefree through space. Every now and then the rays were punctuated by the shadow of a passing bird or bug, their ephemeral darkness defying, if only for a moment, the unfathomable power of the sun itself. A low-level magical barrier kept the creatures outside, but could not prevent the shadows they imprinted on the world from trespassing. Just then, the silhouette of a mountain swallow flew quickly across the room from left to right, lending its darkness to a small rug before passing over a stool, a desk, and finally a small single bed in the corner of the room. The figure in the bed shifted slightly as the shadow passed over his shut eyelids.

Lucas, or "VainStrivings," as the NPCs called him, sat up slowly in his bed and basked briefly in the slatted light from the window with eyes closed. His cotton quilt dropped forward as he rose, revealing a body of rippling muscle and crisscrossing scars, souvenirs of battle from another lifetime. He swung his legs off the side of his bed and put his face in his hands before opening his crusted eyes. It was a cold spring morning. The smell of damp dew wafted into the room from the window on the back of the sun rays. With a deep sigh that carried a hundred regrets, Lucas removed his hands from his face and swiped downward, opening his inventory. After a few more clicks on the blue window that hovered in front of him, a flash of light burst from his body, indicating he had equipped a new outfit.

Dark brown linen pants and a white linen shirt materialized on Lucas's body as the white light faded. He ran his rough hands through his mid-length brown hair, though he knew it had already taken on the shape of his customized style. Hair didn't grow in Savior Online; a small blessing that was, as he was unsure he could reliably cut his own hair out here in the wilderness. By now he'd have looked like a caveman caricature.

Lucas took a few moments to rub his toes into the soft rug at his feet before standing from the bed and stretching. He surveyed his room for a moment. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all made of immaculately processed wood of the [Chalet Series] from the [Crafting] skill. He had never been to Switzerland, but he imagined his home could compete with the highest-quality chalets it could offer. A padded stool sat in front of his modest desk, which itself sat beside his small bed. He lived alone and only furnished enough for him to survive. Hoping for more than was necessary to exist was in bad taste when he considered all of those who had died before him. As if his excess were an affront to their memory, and only asceticism allowed him to repent for having survived. There were no resurrections here in Savior Online. It was one-and-done. No making a new character, either; since you died in the real world when you died here, that complicated the character creation process a bit.

Nine years ago, Savior Online launched as the pre-eminent full-dive VRMMO title. It boasted the most realistic world ever created, hosted on the most powerful server farm ever utilized for an online game. This wasn't just a marketing gimmick either. The game system was run by a state-of-the-art AI with complete control over every aspect of the game's ecosystem and physics engine. It was hailed by experts as a "proto-AGI", or the precursor to artificial general intelligence, a feat never before accomplished. The developers had boasted that by training the system to prioritize game balance and health against any possible input, they had solved the long-tail problem of game management AI. Instead of searching a database for solutions or relying on a balancing team, it "thought" of solutions in real-time.

The AI, affectionately referred to as "Despot," had control over every single aspect of the game world. It coordinated weather patterns with the ecosystem to ensure the plant life thrived; it managed the central banking system to ensure there was no rapid inflation or deflation; it even influenced the behavior, decisions, and aspirations of the NPCs to ensure that they contributed to a healthy world while still maintaining player immersion. Every input from players, no matter how small, was calculated and balanced in real-time - while also contributing to the system's learning. If a player knocked over a tree to block a river, a few days later a storm in the mountains would send a flash flood downstream to dislodge it - unless, of course, the new bridge was beneficial to the community. If players hunted a predator to extinction, the system would anticipate that the rise in prey species would deplete the plant life and mutate the plants to multiply quicker. It was a breakthrough of epic proportions.

However, like all experimental technology, the experts were afraid to give the AI free reign over the system, which is why they introduced GM-override. This would prove to be a fatal mistake after a rogue employee, partnering with a black-hat hacker collective, exploited the GM-override in order to enact the Death Game ruleset. Nobody understood the specifics, but the fact that he was still here, stuck in Savior Online, over nine years later essentially confirmed to Lucas that the promise of death was a real one.

Lucas pushed open the shutters in his room and filled his chest with crisp air. He did have to hand it to the developers, though. That feeling of icy mountain air getting sucked into his lungs never got old. Nor did the view from his chalet.

Beyond his window lay a dense coniferous alpine forest that broke to reveal a beautiful, tranquil mountain lake. Its green surface sparkled in the morning sun as a gentle breeze caressed it, sending tiny waves lapping against the shore in front of Lucas's home. Swaying images of tall pines circling the lake reflected against the pure green water. Above the emerald lake rose the jagged peaks of the Primordial Mountains. Taller than any mountains back on Earth, their uncharted snow-capped peaks rose high above the clouds into the unknown. The only taste of the peaks Lucas had ever experienced was the cold wind that sometimes fell like an avalanche from above, an icy deluge of air rushing down the mountainside toward the valley below and leaving frost clinging to every branch and leaf. Now, in the cloudless morning light, the snow-covered face of the craggy mountain glowed a brilliant pink and orange.

The rising sun indicated that a new day was dawning. Lucas dreaded it.

Filling time was becoming increasingly tedious these days. In the past, it was easy to lose track of time while grinding levels, or clearing dungeons, or battling an army of demons. The hours would melt away like hot butter while his mind was completely absorbed in the task, and Lucas would often find himself trudging back to town in the pitch black - breathing ragged, arms sore - after having lost track of time. Those days slipped by like sand between his fingers, only accelerating whenever he tried to hold onto them.

Nowadays, Lucas was intricately aware of every second passing, as if each moment stopped at the guardhouse and requested permission to pass before continuing on. Time no longer melted smoothly; instead it had become viscous, ensnaring him in its stoic indifference as he trudged through each day in this virtual world.

With a brief flash of light, Lucas equipped his boots and headed downstairs. His home was absurdly tidy, almost to a concerning degree, as if he were already on display in a museum and at any moment he would bump into a "DO NOT TOUCH" sign by accident. That meant cleaning was out of the question.

After his full day of fishing and hunting yesterday, the cellar was filled with preserved meats. No use killing something he didn't even have space for. Next to the preserved meats was a box of fruits and vegetables, chilled with ice and snow from the mountainside. He doubted he'd get through all of that before they spoiled, so gathering was crossed off the list as well.

Lucas approached the tallest wall in his downstairs living room and ran his hand gently over the deep cuts he had made in the wall with his belt knife, counting them silently before unsheathing his small blade and adding another groove to the collection. One thousand eight hundred days here in the cabin. Next month would mark five years of living in solitude. Five years after the calamity at the Demon King's Fortress. Five years without Cara.

"Let's go outside," Lucas mumbled to himself, his head dipped low in front of the carved wall. "I can't think of this right now."

Another burst of light flashed against Lucas's waist. As it faded, it revealed a long black scabbard that hung low behind him, enveloping a pitch black bastard sword within. Satisfied with his equipment, Lucas headed out through the front door of his two story cottage. He noted absently that the wood pile behind his home had grown comically large from all the chopped lumber he had collected, so that was left off the list as well.

After rounding the next corner of his home, Lucas came upon his small but fruitful vegetable garden. His Survivalism skill had grown immensely during his time in the wilderness, and he found he could easily grow any simple plant without a second thought. Lucas gingerly fingered the leaves on the plants, inspecting them closely for bugs or disease - even though he knew his skill would make the system passively protect them from such worries. The strawberries, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, and bok choy were all in tip-top shape, which he scoffed at disappointedly. Another perfect area that required no maintenance today.

Out of habit, Lucas pulled up his character sheet with a swipe.

"VainStrivings"

[Dexterity]: 83

[Strength]: 89

[Defence]: 67

[Hitpoints]: 89

[Agility]: 82

[Archery]: 44

[Magic]: 38

[Survivalism]: 90

[Crafting]: 70

[Healing]: 53

[Cooking]: 7

Everything was the same as yesterday, the same as last week, the same as last month. As he approached the peak of 99 in his skills, the level up messages had become few and far between. He dwelled momentarily on his low magic skill, and cursed himself - not for the first time - for not having brought some of Cara's library with him to study. He had never shown an interest in magic, but tedium gives rise to desperation, and he was finding himself starved for any stimulation lately - even if it meant reading.

Lucas thought of the first time Cara had tried to train him in magic as he strayed into the forest that circled the lake.

"You're joking, right? I have to read this whole damn book just to learn a fireball spell?" Lucas exclaimed incredulously. "This thing is like two hundred pages!"

"Oh quit your whining," Cara shot back. "You only have to do it once. Also, it's not a fireball spell, this is [Produce Flame]. Creating fire at will is invaluable!"

"I'm inclined to agree with Cara on this one, Lucas," Ben answered from a lounging position on a log to Lucas's right. He always had a knack for finding the most curious sleeping positions. "Fire keeps you warm, helps you cook, and keeps enemies at bay."

"This seems like a piss-poor tradeoff if you ask me. A few hours of reading so I can keep a lighter in my pocket at all times? No thanks. I'll take some sword practice over that any day. Besides, both of you can create fire already, why do we need a third? Even Earth only had one Prometheus," Lucas argued back.

"Here he goes again, comparing himself to a god," Ben japed at him. "What would you do if we were unconscious and needed flames to warm ourselves in the midst of a cold and desperate night?"

"That sounds like a _you_ problem, not a _me_ problem," Lucas said.

"That's enough," Cara exclaimed from Lucas's left. Both of the men closed their mouths instantly. The fire between them illuminated her pale face and made her red hair even more vibrant than usual. Lucas traced her long hair with eyes transfixed as it fell across her chest in a long braid. "If you are going to travel with me you will at least learn this bit of magic. You were a business student on Earth, right? Think of this as an investment. Self-sufficiency pays hefty dividends in the long-run."

Lucas grumbled. She was too smart for him, so he let the subject drop and opened the cover of the magical tome. Somewhere to his right Ben snickered, and he felt Cara shoot him a glare over the campfire. She was stern, but it was for his own good.

_[Produce Flame] is hailed the world over as the most versatile and useful of all the elementary magics, allowing casters to…_

*[Magic Leveled Up to Level 2!]*

Cara and Ben glanced over at the small "Congratulations!" that appeared above Lucas's head as smiles crept into their faces.

"Have you really never…?" Cara began.

"No, I've never wasted my time reading a stupid book while I'm stuck in this stupid game!" Lucas shouted back before turning to face the other way in his bedroll. The other two burst into laughter, and he smiled to himself before returning to the tome.

Now, in the woods around his chatel, Lucas snapped his fingers and produced a small flame from the tip of his thumb. He had been too stubborn to admit it then, but Cara was right. Lucas found himself coming back to that elementary spell almost daily here in the mountains, and often wondered what other useful tomes he could have absconded with from Cara's mountainous tome collection. Maybe the next time he was in Freehold he could have a look…

Lucas raised his head and realized he had walked all the way around the emerald mountain lake in front of his home. He stood now at the rocky foot of the Primordial Mountains in a field of gravelly rockfall. To his surprise, a small, thorny plant had grown through the cracks of the gravel and poked its hearty spines out into the fresh air. With a flick, Lucas materialized [Cara's Botany Journal] and began sketching the unknown plant. Its vicious thorns held pools of black within them - likely some sort of venom - while its dark green stem was thick and powerful. In the past three months he had seen as many new variants of plants, most with similar violent properties, as he had in the past five years here. The AI had been busy creating some interesting mutations.

After finishing his observations and closing his notes, Lucas sat on a boulder and stared out at the water. His home stood proudly across the lake, the sun now peeking over the tops of the pine forest and blessing his home with the full might of its spring heat. A breeze blew through the boughs of the pines, echoing a sound through the clearing like ocean waves crashing against the shore. Pain radiated from Lucas's chest as he imagined Cara throwing open the shutters and smiling at him from across the lake, her glowing face shooting him a sly smile from afar as he fished for their lunch in the deep mountain waters. He fingered the ring on his left hand. His impossible fantasy taunted him as tears welled in his eyes.

No, this solemn place was his refuge and his prison.

As Lucas moved to wipe his eyes, he noticed a figure emerge from the bushes into the clearing surrounding his home. Once more, this time vigorously, he wiped the tears from his eyes. He must be imagining it. He was far from the wandering zone of any NPCs - he had made sure of that when he chose this location - and no players knew of this place. Was it a special mountaineer event, or had a player randomly stumbled upon his abode, thinking it was a hidden dungeon?

His ponderous thoughts were cut through in an instant as a large grizzly bear crashed into the clearing. The mysterious man ran from the bear toward the front door of the chalet, but without permission to enter, the door to the player-owned-home was locked by the system. Lucas watched as the man drew his sword in desperation, hoping to ward off the massive hulking creature that had chased him here. It was clear by his novice stance that he was no match for the large beast.

With a sigh, Lucas activated his [Waterwalking] skill and dashed across the lake with haste. His high Agility lent him the dexterity to sprint on the slick water while barely sending ripples across the surface as he propelled himself gracefully to the other side in a flash. The man had not yet noticed him approach, his terror-stricken eyes still locked onto the advancing grizzly. He was a youth, probably around 16 or 17 years old, wearing clothes similar to Lucas's white and brown linen, though atop them he wore an impressively ornate leather armor set. A small green diamond appeared over the man's head when Lucas targeted him.

"An NPC? What are you doing here?" Lucas wondered aloud. The terrified man's eyes flicked toward Lucas for a moment before returning to the grizzly. It seemed he wanted to say something but was, predictably, a bit preoccupied. The bear reared back on its hind legs and readied a vicious swipe with its claw, putting all of its thousands of pounds of billowing fat and muscle behind the attack. Lucas watched as the young NPC braced for an impact that never came.

Instead, Lucas walked forward leisurely and placed a hand in front of the grizzly's paw to block it.

*[1 Point of Glancing Damage Taken!]*

His passive skill [First Strike Recovery] was activated automatically and brought him back to full health in an instant. The cooldown indicator popped up momentarily, indicating the skill would be down until he exited combat.

Lucas could not help but yawn at the situation. Combat with peaceful creatures in the Reconquered Lands had long ago lost its luster or danger. At this point he could stand in front of the grizzly and absorb its attacks until it died of exhaustion and still never approach death. Such was the unfairness of Savior Online's leveling system.

"Sir, look out, it's attacking again!" the youth shouted from behind. With one fluid motion, Lucas unsheathed his legendary pitch black blade [Nevermore] and cut down the bear with a single slash. A plume of frigid black smoke trailed the path of the blade before falling to his feet in a freezing pool of black curls that dripped from his sword ominously.

*[1 Point of Sanguine Damage Taken!]*

The vampiric quality of the sword sapped his life in exchange for power - a unique quality that had garnered Lucas many nicknames from players in the past. Nowadays it was little more than a minor hindrance.

He sheathed the blade before it could sap any more health and turned to face the youth, his eyes still wide with horror - though whether it was still directed at the attacking bear or at his dubious savior was difficult to tell.

"What are you doing here?" asked Lucas. The question came off a bit more hostile than he had intended, but in his defense it had been five years since he had spoken with another person. Most days he was only speaking to himself or the fauna around his home, at which point tone hardly mattered.

"Um, Sir VainStrivings, I presume?" the man asked. He addressed Lucas by his username, something only NPCs did. If there were any doubt before, this confirmed to Lucas that this was likely some sort of event generated by the AI. Maybe it was finally tired of his solitude.

"Yes, you've found your man," Lucas answered. A spark of excitement welled up in his stomach as he imagined what the mountaineer's questline could be, but he forced himself to smother it. He was not a man who deserved excitement in this life. Not after what had happened at the Demon King's Stronghold.

"Thank you for saving me from the bear. I had foolishly let my guard down and only noticed it stalking me at the last moment. By then it was nearly too late," the boy said with downcast eyes. Lucas raised his eyebrows at this. It seemed the AI had vastly improved its emotional and conversational abilities in the five years he had been away. The previously stilted words of the NPCs now seemed to flow naturally, its emotions and expressions matching the words like a real human.

"No need for thanks. It is part of life when you live in the mountains," Lucas replied. "Now tell me, man, why are you here? I can't imagine you stumbled upon my home by chance."

"Ah, no, I didn't," the man admitted, suddenly standing a bit straighter as if he were readying a prepared speech. "My name is Joten. I am the adopted son of 'KindlyStop'. I believe you know him as Ben. I come bearing news of his untimely death."

The words hit Lucas in the chest like a demon lord's hammer, forcing the air from his lungs with an audible gasp. In his mind it was the Demon King's Stronghold all over again. Cara and the other Vanguard, obliterated in an instant-kill attack from the Demon King as he watched impotently. Ben had helped him carry their friends' corpses away from the battle before going their separate ways. He and Cara and Lucas had adventured together as a party for four years. Their guilds were sister guilds. Secrets he hadn't even told people on Earth had been shared with Ben and Cara here in this damn Death Game. Hopes and dreams passed at the campfire, drinks shared, dungeons cleared, all disappeared in an instant. Ben and Cara were both gone.

He wasn't sure when he hit the ground, or when he had started sobbing, but the NPC boy now sat next to Lucas and patted his shoulder. He had always meant to return to the world below the mountains after repenting his mistakes, but now he would never have the chance. Time had gone by too quickly and he had missed his chance, like falling asleep on the subway until he had reached the end of the line. Only, on this ride, there was no transferring to the other track.

"How did it happen?"