《Mechanica Fantasy Offline》


 Announcement! Important!

    Hey guys, Kuro here! Unfortunately, I will be scrapping OniKing. The reason for that is because even when I was writing, I didn¡¯t have a true objective but to evolve the main character to Oni level. Eventually, I neglected the story¡¯s course, and ended up not writing at all.


    After some time, I lost interest on it, and even after rewriting, I didn¡¯t find motivation to write or create a consistent plot. And eventually, I feel like just stop writing. However, I don¡¯t want to just delete the fiction, I still feel like writing, and the page of OniKing might as well serve for some new and fresher ideas.


    So, I had a new fiction in mind. Inspired by several stuff, such as Our New World, from Yukkuri translation service, I do recommend for you to read, The strongest guild master founded a nation within a week in SHMtranslations, also a good read, and, surprisingly, Minecraft!


    Well, some mods for the game, not the actual game. Not at all, actually. It isn¡¯t a Minecraft fiction, don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. It doesn¡¯t have anything but inspiration from some popular mods, such as immersive engineering and thaumcraft. Here¡¯s the synopsis:


    ¡°In the future, full dive VR is a reality, and it¡¯s most popular game is called ¡®Mechanica Fantasy¡¯. It¡¯s class system and unique crafting possibilities attracted several players from all around the world, mainly popular in japan due the infinite customization possibilities.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    However, the most unique aspect that attracted the players is the level system. The level cap of the game is the astonishing cap of one thousand! Not only that, the class system allows you to choose several classes, ten in total, as well to combine classes.


    Their guild system also attracted several players, as you can populate your guild with player level NPC for guild wars, with some limitations. Mechanica Fantasy, as the name implies, allows the player to mix magic and machinery, attracting several machine addicts. Not only that, these classes, that would be considered support classes, can be used for combat.


    And our story begins when our protagonist awakes inside the room of his character in the guild base¡­¡±


    And that¡¯s it! More details will be filled in the story as it goes. Have in mind that the inspiration from Our New World is the heaviest one, and will follow a similar plot at the start. If you have read Real Life RPG that I also write, you will see that the start is similar to the original work, or even ¡°ripped off¡± as mentioned by some readers, and I admit that it is the case, but goes original as soon as the start is over.


    However, another warning, the story is SLOW, and will follow a slow and long pace. Not that things will not happen, and there will be filler chapters, but the major events will take a while, and characters will take some time to meet each other from the two sides.


    You will understand when I start the story. One last warning, the start will have the same backstory as the Our New World. And that¡¯s it for this warning. I¡¯ll be posting the prologue today or tomorrow. The story will be called Mechanica Fantasy Offline.


    Kuro, outto!!! (Jumps to the side, dabbing in the air, falling pathetically on the ground)

 Prologue: Golden Gates

    (3¡ã person POV, Doranar Kingdom)


    The palace was in chaos, several officers of the king running around, making difficult to transit on the corridors. The princess struggles to get to the Royal Library, the only place where the chaos isn¡¯t ensued. She sighs, fixing he dress and long blonde, wavy hair.


    The pale skin and delicate face a bit flushed due the effort to go through the people in the corridors. The green eyes look around the library, and the modest body, dressed in a gorgeous white dress, moves around, looking for a book to read. As she looks at the several books, she murmurs to herself in her cute voice:


    (Princess): ¡°Whys is everybody so energetic today? Did someone declare war on us?¡±


    (???): ¡°No, Princess Luna. There¡¯s no war ahead, at least for now.¡±


    A woman¡¯s voice talks from behind her. She turns surprised, seeing the one who just talked. Between two of the shelfs, a table sits quietly in front of a window, showing the capital city down below, as the Royal Library rests on the high floors of the castle.


    On the table, several pieces of a clock are scattered, together with some tools and the disassembled clock. On the chair, a voluptuous woman with revealing clothes sits leisurely. Her fair white skin has a healthy gleam, the large breasts and gorgeous face that would turn the head of any men.


    The golden eyes with a seductive gleam that makes even women blush, the long, straight purple hair falls behind her shoulders to the base of her back. The princess feels some heat on her face as always. This woman is Melina, the Royal Engineer.


    (Luna): ¡°Lady Melinda¡­ what is happening?¡±


    She asked, sitting on the empty chair besides her.


    (Melina): ¡°My dear, do you remember the Golden Gates?¡±


    She asked out of the blue, confusing Luna. Straining her mind, she struggles to remember anything about the famous Golden Gates. Not that she was stupid, but because she simply can¡¯t bear the boring classes from the scholars of the castle about history.


    (Lucia): ¡°Yeah, their army is quite powerful right?¡±


    She said a bit hesitantly. Melina laughed, saying:


    (Melina): ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Princess. I understand how the scholars are unable to get anyone¡¯s attention. Because of that, I¡¯ll tell you the story of the Golden gates. But first, do you remember how humans arrived at this continent?¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, from the east, right? The first humans arrived on ships, right?¡±


    (Melina): ¡°Yes. The first humans came under the leadership of the first human Emperor two thousand years ago, and started a way with the demons inhabiting this continent. His army was vast, around 100.000 warriors, and the emperor himself was a master strategist.¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°I know about that, he conquered the whole continent in five years, right?¡±


    (Melina): ¡°Yes. Because of that, the whole continent is now human territory after migrating from the dwarven continent. However, even two thousand years ago, the Golden Gates were already in the continent, without any contact with the world outside. Do you know what the emperor tried to do?¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°What?¡±


    (Melinda): ¡°He tried to conquer the Golden Gates. With ten thousand men, he attacked with siege weapons.¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°And what happened?¡±


    She asked, curious, as she was oblivious to most of the story related to the Golden Gates.


    (Melinda): ¡°He fought the Bronze Knights.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    A shiver went down the princess¡¯ spine. These guys she knows. The Metal Knights, the army under the Golden Gates. The vast story of the knights in metallic armor covering the whole body gave dreams to bards and writers, creating several fantastical stories about the knights.


    For a long time, they were though to be monsters, as they all have similar height and it¡¯s impossible to see inside their helms, and their discipline is almost inhuman. This belief was disproved when one of the knights was wounded in battle.


    (Melinda): ¡°According to the records, the armies of the Emperor were completely decimated, without being able to defeat a single knight. It must be noted that he was against three thousand Bronze Knights. He was crushed without being able to defeat even one of the knights.¡±


    (Luna): ¡°These knights are truly strong, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    (Melinda): ¡°Well, we have to consider that at the time the practice of battlemages wasn¡¯t a thing. Also, we didn¡¯t have the technology that we have today.¡±


    (Luna): ¡°Like the flintlock, and the cannons, right?¡±


    She said, remembering what the soldiers use to take down forts.


    (Melinda): ¡°Yes. This way, even the common soldier can cause damage at distance. But before that, there was another campaign done by the Emperor. Having faced his first defeat, he swore to invade and conquer the Golden Gates.¡±


    (Luna): ¡°It didn¡¯t work, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    (Melinda): ¡°No. He attacked several times, each time with a bigger army, until he attacked with a full force of 100.000 soldiers.¡±


    (Luna): ¡°What happened?¡±


    (Melinda): ¡°They were slaughtered. There were 50.000 Bronze Knights, and this time, arrows with the size of people fell down from atop the one-and-a-half-kilometer tall wall. After this defeat, he gave up on attacking them.¡±


    (Luna): ¡°I remember now! He wasn¡¯t the last, was he?¡±


    (Melinda): ¡°No. After he passed, his five children fought for the throne. The First Empire was split, and chaos took over the continent. The territory was split in several small kingdoms, as nobles under the five also declared independence. After three hundred years of war, several countries tried to attack the Golden Gates, be either for glory or for the gates themselves, as they are incrusted with several precious gems and seemingly made out of pure gold.¡±


    (Luna): ¡°I neve saw them up close. Is it beautiful like in the novels?¡±


    She asked, remembering the exaggerated and extravagant descriptions created by poets, bards and romance writers. Melinda smiled, looking out of the window, saying:


    (Melinda): ¡°No, they¡¯re not like these people wrote about. They¡¯re even more beautiful. Calling it the Golden Gates doesn¡¯t make justice tot the beauty of the place. The gates are set between to mountains, made of a metal that seems gold, decorated with carvings depicting scenes of glorious battles. The colors are made with precious jewels, emeralds, diamonds, rubies and other precious gems.


    The yard in front of the gates are vast and white, around one and a half kilometers of diameter. Perfectly smooth, carved with harmonic geometric patterns, made of expensive marble. The whole place looks like a painting of the greatest master that was ever born.¡±


    She said, remembering what she saw, a marvel made with the most skilled hands. A desire to see the place came to the princess¡¯ heart. While wondering about the Golden Gates, she asked:


    (Lucia): ¡°Wait, what¡¯s inside the gates? Is there a way around them?¡±


    Melinda shook her head.


    (Melinda): ¡°No, the whole place is surrounded by mountains, like a bowl. The mountains are too steep and hard to be climbed or dug through, each one having a ten kilometers height. It almost seems that they were enhanced with magic. The only entrance is the gates.


    Of course, many tried to fly over the mountains, even our kingdom tried to. However, they were shot down as soon as they approached the gates. With the gryphon raiders, we managed to discover a castle within the gates, as well a town, fields and an enormous lake.


    The whole city seems advanced, a mix of architecture and machine, according to the repot of the riders. However, if they approach too much, a mysterious fog covers the whole place, and we were unable to get more details.¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°Machines¡­ their technology is better than ours?¡±


    (Melinda): ¡°Apparently so.¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°Were there any more kingdoms that tried to fight the Golden Gates?¡±


    Melinda smiled wryly at Lucia¡¯s question, saying:


    (Melinda): ¡°Princess, do you remember the other name of the Golden Gates?¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°No.¡±


    (Melinda): ¡°It¡¯s called the Kingdom Breaker. Many empires and kings threw their armies against the gate, but all of them lost. Legendary heroes, generals and kings slain. The military power of the Golden Gates is too great. After all, the Bronze knights aren¡¯t the only soldiers of the Golden Gates.¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°The silver knights.¡±


    Melinda nodded. The most famous knights of the Golden Gates, the Silver Knights. They are the object of several novels and romances, as their rare appearance and fighting prowess earned them the fantasy of the populace. Even this kingdom, Doranar, has the Silver Guard.


    (Melinda): ¡°Yes. They appeared first a thousand years ago, when the Demon Army invaded the human kingdoms. They invaded with two hundred thousand soldiers, but what greeted them wasn¡¯t only the army of 50.000 bronze knights, but also five thousand silver knights. They exterminated the demon army, and because of that the humans managed to reconquer most of the territory.¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°Wow! I remember reading about that! Wasn¡¯t also an emperor that declared war on the Golden Gates?¡±


    (Melinda): ¡°Yes, the Wise Emperor. He didn¡¯t had the wish to attack the Golden Gates, he just used them as a excuse to let his country enter a war policy. With that, he moved the country as he wanted, and created great economical advances, building roads and creating connections.¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°I see. He was indeed wise.¡±


    She said, nodding to herself. Seeing that, Melinda smiled and said:


    (Melinda): ¡°Well, there were many others famous figures who declared war on them, but nobody ever won against them. However, do you know what all of this have to do with today¡¯s commotion?¡±


    (Lucia): ¡°Oh! I almost forgot! You said that there isn¡¯t war yet, so di we declare war on the golden Gates?¡±


    She asked, a bit concerned. She doesn¡¯t thing that her father would be so stupid to the point of doing so, but why would he other rulers before do so?


    (Melinda): ¡°No, don¡¯t worry. The reason for the commotion is that, during these two thousand years, the Golden Gates remained closed and unmoving. Even the Knights, the seemingly came out from the ground in front of the gate. But still, the gates remained closed. For two thousand years.


    However, now, the reason why there¡¯s a chaos in the castle, is that the Golden Gates¡­ are open.¡±

 Chapter 1: The Ones Who Descend

    (3¡ã person POV, Mechaville)


    A butler dressed in black butler clothes with some golden decorations walks hurriedly through the golden corridor, the soles of his shoes making loud noises against the ground. His black hair, mixed with some white, is neatly combed back on his head, his mature and handsome face has an austere air, with pale skin.


    His strong, albeit lean, body moves quickly through the corridor illuminated by electrical lamps that have a steampunk style. Hs face is filled with concern as he walks to talk with the generals of the Royal Guard.


    As he walks, he remembers what happened in these last four years. One day, their Lords disappeared, even the Highest went with them. However, he had faith that one day they would return, as their blessing in the people had yet to wane. As the head butler of Mechaville and the Clockwork Palace, he was the one that leaded the people when their lords disappeared.


    When they disappeared, the world outside changed. The almost unreachable mountain range changed to vast plains of tall grass. Not only that, with the change, a new enemy appeared. An army marched to their gates, so this butler, Bertram, used the military force of Mechaville, the Royal Guard, and defended the Steam Gates.


    At first was simple, the enemy had crude equipment, and their tactics weren¡¯t that great too. They crushed the enemy easily, even though the Bronze Guard was heavily outnumbered, the crude troops weren¡¯t match to the heavily equipped trained warriors with magical equipment created by the Highest.


    However, Bertram was well trained by his maker, and he learned to always expect the next attack. And indeed, in less than a few hours, they attacked again. And again, again and again, until they attacked with one hundred thousand soldiers. Even though he had to deploy the whole Bronze Guard, he still won without any causalities, although there were some injuries.


    However, it wasn¡¯t anything that magic couldn¡¯t deal with. Eventually, the attacks grew in quantity. Although the quantity of soldiers never rose, the standards that they carried changed, as if different nations attacked. By the daily, and even hourly interval of attack, Bertram deduced that there was a coalition of kingdoms to attack them.


    Eventually, during these four years, the technology that the enemy used improved, better armors and weapons, as well battlemages and enchanted swords, shields and bows. With that, Bertram was forced to activate the ballistae atop the wall, wasting the precious and finite bolts.


    Not only that, once, a army of humans with horns and skins ranging from blue to red and purple invaded, and they had excelling physical abilities, forcing him to deploy the Silver Guard. They managed to win, but in the end several soldiers were wounded greatly, and some were forced to retire, as without their Lords here, they can¡¯t regrow limbs.


    However, last year, the attacks of the enemy ceased, and there was peace. However, that only rose the alerts in Bertram¡¯s mind. After all, he can¡¯t know when the enemy will attack again. He also can¡¯t send spies outside, since when anyone goes out in the front yard a purple fog would block them.


    As a caution, he tried to send a clockwork automaton, but the fog destroyed it quickly, and it simply stopped existing. The fog took it apart. In the end, he has no option but to wait for his Lords. That¡¯s why he is now in his way to meet the generals and the Commander of the Royal Guard.


    He arrives at a simple room with a table at the center, made of the same material as the rest of the Steam Gates, making it golden. Around the circular table, five figures stand waiting for Bertram. Four of them are dressed in unique golden armors, each one designed personally by the Highest.


    All four of the golden knights have their helmets off, reveling handsome faces. The last one is clearly a woman, as the armor defines her lines albeit the heavy plating. The armor is silvery, made of a platinum-like material.


    The helm is also on the table, together with the other four. The woman has a chocolate-like skin, with silvery hair and a beautiful and serious face, with golden eyes. On the corner of her right eye, a scar marks her face, adding some charm to the warrior aura. She¡¯s also tall, around 1,90 meters tall.


    She¡¯s Gehenna, the Commander of the Royal Guard, and known as Platinum Guard, as she used to be the personal guard of the Highest. Most of the high ranking officers of Mechaville were created by the Highest with his own hands, even Bertram and the four golden generals.


    However, she is different. Years ago, while on a mission, as he was building the Royal Guard, he had a mission on another helm, and came across the young Gehenna. Seeing potential in her, he moved her whole village to the young Mechaville, and put her on the Royal Guard.


    As a devoted servant of the Highest, she climbed all the way through to the golden general position, and when the fifth golden general was created, the Highest created the Commander position for her. As the strongest being aside from the Lords, she¡¯s in charge of the military.


    (Bertram): ¡°Gentleman, Lady, we have something important to discuss.¡±


    He said, stopping just beside the table. All of them nodded.


    (Gehenna): ¡°Yes. It¡¯s about the sudden stop of attacks last year, right?¡±


    (Bertram): ¡°Precisely. This sudden stop makes me believe that they are preparing to another attack.¡±


    (gold 1): ¡°We must bolster our defenses then. We still have enough potions to keep ourselves alive for at least five thousand more attacks, right?¡±


    (Gehenna): ¡°Yes. In the worst case we can send you guys on the battlefield, and I can also go out there.¡±


    (gold 4): ¡°Indeed. We also managed to take down the enemy spies from the skies with the Slaying Bows and the Hiding Fog. We can also-¡°


    He was interrupted when information suddenly entered his mind, as it did for all the officers and servants in Mechaville, created or not. The first one to react was Gehenna herself, as she said to herself, with tears welling up in her eyes.


    (Gehenna): ¡°They¡¯re back¡­¡±


    The information that entered their mind was:


    [Guldimaster Alva has logged in]


    [Iona has logged in]


    [Anastasia has logged in]


    [Prunia has logged in]


    [Logan has logged in]


    Their Lords have returned.


    (Byakuya¡¯s POV)


    I wake up suddenly, sitting up from wherever I was laying down. I look around, nervous. The last thing I remember is getting out of my bath, when I suddenly passed out. Alright Byakuya, keep yourself together. I breathe in deeply and out, calming myself. First, make out the surroundings.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    This room¡­ is familiar. Too familiar, actually. After all, this is the room of my character, Alva, in Mechanica Fantasy, my favorite game of all times. The room has a wooden floor, and the stone brick wall is barely visible behind the several clocks, tools and paintings.


    Several tables and worktables with scattered mechanical pieces and tools are around the room, there¡¯s also a cauldron on a corner with an eternal white fire burning below, with boiling water on it. Also, a telescope in one of the three windows, as well some floating stuff. It¡¯s everything that I use in my projects as my class is Great Meister, a production-combat class.


    I get up from the bed and look at the full body mirror near the wall, close to the dresser. Everything is on the Victorian style, with a tinge of steampunk. The person that I see reflected on the mirror is me.


    Black hair, just below the neck, a bit shaggy and green eyes, with a face a bit above average, a mix of Asian with European. Tall, and since it¡¯s my height, I know that¡¯s exactly 1,95. Pale white skin, result of not going out of the house at all. The posture is straight as an arrow, and the body is slightly muscular.


    However, I¡¯m wearing clothes, different from before. These clothes are familiar. It¡¯s the set that my character, Alva was wearing in the game. Steampunkish clothes, made of brown leather with gold buckles. The pants are black mixed with golden threads, and black, heavy leather boots. I¡¯m also using brown leather gloves, with a pair of goggles with a brown strap, purple lenses and gold rims.


    A second brown belt with a gold buckle is hanging on my right waist, with a satchel hanging on it. This is perfectly the equipment of my character in game. The gloves even the have the gold gear images on the back of the hand. My revolver is also on the holster, on my heft tied to the hanging belt. The bayonet coming out from the opening on the bottom.


    Alright, this can¡¯t be true. I touch the satchel, and immediately, like in the game, the information of all items flows in my mind. No, it can¡¯t be true¡­ I think about a specific item and pull it out. It¡¯s a cane, my usual physical weapon. The whole cane comes out, the thing that is a bit longer than my long legs, coming from a satchel.


    I put it back, still a bit dazed. I go to the window of my room and look to the city below. I open the window, letting a nice breeze come in, the whole Clockwork Palace and Mechaville glittering to the sun, the chimneys spitting white some, some giant gears that I can see from here spinning, life bustling in the streets.


    This is real¡­ just like I designed in the game. From here, at distance, I can see the Steam Gates, just like I remember from the game. I walk back to my bed, to the window to the right of it, giving view to the lake. Shit, this is really the world of Mechanica¡­


    Someone knocks at the door frantically, and I hear a voice that I never heard before.


    (???): ¡°My Lord! My Lord! Are you there!¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here.¡±


    I say, opening the door, being greeted by a familiar face.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Gehenna?¡±


    (Gehenna): ¡°Your Highness!¡±


    She says, her teary face smiling widely. She suddenly falls to one knee, her platinum armor surprisingly noiseless.


    (Gehenna): ¡°Your Highness, welcome back from the divine realm.¡±


    She said, calmer this time. I¡¯m still a bit shocked from being here, in the game world, and seeing her talk. After all, NPCs don¡¯t talk unless they have a voice package, and even so, they don¡¯t have expressions. I¡¯m quite sure that Gehenna doesn¡¯t have any kind voice or expression pack, as I didn¡¯t make her.


    But divine realm? What does that mean? Wait, if I¡¯m not wrong, there¡¯s a lore reason for our characters. Supposedly, when the world was almost destroyed, we players were sent by the gods, and we are demigods of several races. That¡¯s the reason why we couldn¡¯t die for good in the game and respawn at a base or graveyard.


    When we log out, the lore explanation is that we return to the ¡°divine realm¡±, the real world. So is Gehenna welcoming me back from the real world? My mind works furiously to find a solution for a few seconds. Gehenna doesn¡¯t move at all during this time. I can¡¯t find a answer at all, so I¡¯ll just try to settle myself and then search for a solution.


    First, I must confirm if this world is truly real.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Gehenna, get up.¡±


    I say. She stands immediately, looking to me with serious eyes. I take out my gloves and touch her face. She flinches and blushes slightly. Her skin has elasticity and softness, her lair is silky and smooth, proving that she takes great care of herself. She¡¯s warm and has pulse. Yes, this is Gehenna, completely alive, different from the game that had some legal limitations. I release her blushing face, and ask:


    (Byakuya): ¡°Am I the only one who returned?¡±


    (Gehenna): ¡°No, Your Highness. The Lords Iona, Prunia, Anastasia and Logan have returned.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°I see¡­ is Bertram around?¡±


    (Gehenna): ¡°Yes, he is at the wall at the moment.¡±


    Alright, what is the next step? Things certainly changed around here, and no way back is visible yet. This seems to follow a template of the novels that I read, so I¡¯m not quite sure about it. I¡¯m also not alone, it seems that other players came in together with me.


    Unfortunately, the only one that I know is Logan, a friend from the last seven years in the game. Eve though I¡¯m the Guldimaster of the Eternal Gear, I¡¯m far from knowing all the members of the guild, as there were more than four thousand members.


    After all, this was in essence, a support guild for players. Although two thirds of the player were warriors and mages, half of the members had some kind mf mechanic-dependent resource that they used for either skills or common attacks, such as bullets.


    Not only that, we work in a different way from other guilds, as I am involved in every single construct of this city. I handmade factories in the underground for bullets and other materials, and constantly craft equipment and machines, so I was quite isolated from almost all players from the guild.


    The Vice-Guldimaster, Lionel, was the one who dealt with most of the affairs of the guild related to other players, such as recruitment and farming for resources. I was the one in charge of keeping the guild alive, with equipment and consumables, as well the base of the guild.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Gehenna, did something happen when we weren¡¯t here? And how long we were out? Give me e brief report.¡±


    (Gehenna): ¡°The Lords were gone for four years, and in the first three years since the Lords departed we were under attack from an unknown enemy. We were able to repel the enemy without wasting any of the finite resources. We were attacked several times with hourly and daily intervals.


    The attacks suddenly stopped last year, we suspect that the enemy is preparing for a large scale attack.¡±


    She said, resuming the content as I asked her to do so. I nodded to myself, holding my chin with my right hand. Alright, it seems that there is an enemy outside the Steam Gates, so I¡¯ll have to prepare for that as well. But first, I want to meet the other players. I wonder if I can use the system of the game.


    I try to use a mental command to access the guild board, and a window appears floating in front of me. Good.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Gehenna, I want you to return to the Steam Gates and split the Royal Guard in half. Send half to town to keep public law, and the other half to guard the Steam Gates. You have permission to use all the consumables you need, as well he ballistae ammunition. I will gather with the other Lords. Send Bertram to me as well, we will be at the Throne Room.¡±


    She saluted me and said:


    (Gehenna): ¡°Yes My Lord!¡±


    She says, immediately marching away. As she walks away, type a guild announcement. I hope this works.


    <table>


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td colspan="2">Guild Announcement</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    To all guild members in Mechaville, go to the throne room of the Clockwork Palace for an emergency meeting.


    When I sent the announcement, it popped up in front of me. Alright, let¡¯s see if the teleport relays work. Since the Clockwork Palace is too massive, I created several teleport relays all around the place, and the most important places are all teleport relays. The throne room, for example, you can teleport from there anytime time you want.


    I walk to the teleport relay inside my room. It¡¯s a giant golden gear in my room, with one and a half meters of diameter, with a light blue glow emanating from the center, with blue runes carved on the gear. I step on the relay and say out loud:


    (Byakuya): ¡°Teleport: Throne Room.¡±


    A blue light envelope me, and I get the sensation of weightlessness for a second, before my feet touch the ground again. Now without the blue light to obstruct my vision, I can see the surroundings. I¡¯m in a well decorated room, with the theme being a mix between medieval fantasy with steampunk architecture.


    The whole room, like the rest of the Clockwork Palace, is made of celestial marble, that is white with some golden streaks. The room is decorated with the standard of the guild, a golden gear on brown background. The red carpet guides the ones who enter to the throne, wit pillars on both sides.


    Gorgeous paintings also decorate the room, the tall ceiling and the windows letting the light of the day enter gently giving off a feeling of majesty. Yep, I designed this well. At the end of the carpet, on a circular raised metal platform made of bronze, with four crystals imbedded on the platform, in front of the throne, behind it and in both sides, near the edge of the platform, rests the throne.


    The throne is made of gold, decorated as a machine with gears and springs, moving constantly, with the backrest and seat, as well the armrests are done with red cushions for a comfortable seat. Ten meters above the throne, a large hole in the white ceiling emits a faint light down in the throne, as if it was something divine.


    Well, I designed everything to my tastes, so I like everything. I at there for some time, thinking about the situation. This isn¡¯t the game at all, even though we are in the guild headquarter. The law on earth prevented full dive games from being completely realistic, as it caused severe health and psychological issues before.


    Mechanica Fantasy wasn¡¯t an exception. One is that you cannot show your true face on the virtual world, so the body that I am right now, being exactly my body in earth, is impossible. Second, lifelike NPCs are prohibited to avoid phycological problems.


    That means that Gehenna like the one that I saw me on my room shouldn¡¯t exist. I also pinched myself, and felt pain, something that should be impossible in the FD world. This and also several other factors make me believe that all of this is real.


    I hear footsteps behind me, and when I turned, I saw a girl, with long, blonde hair, blue eyes, fair white skin and modest body, being quite small at 1,60 meters tall. She¡¯s using a light armor, fairly knight-like, but the design is familiar. She also has two swords on each side of her waist. Her face is delicate and beautiful, and her hair is tied in a ponytail. Seeing me, she stops, and says in a heavy Russian accent:


    (???): ¡°Guldimaster?¡±


    I frown, and say, recognizing the accent, although now the voice is that of a female:


    (Byakuya): ¡°Logan?¡±

 Chapter 2: Meeting, Decisions and Future

    (Byakuya¡¯s POV)


    The girl nods, saying:


    (Logan): ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. You¡¯re Alva, right?¡±


    I nodded back.


    (Byakuya): ¡°How can I say¡­ you¡¯re way different from what I expected. I kind of pictured an old man.¡±


    She smiled at my remark, saying:


    (Logan): ¡°You¡¯re the same as always. I though that behind the handsome character was a little weeb, but in the end was a handsome guy as well!¡±


    She said with a mean smile. I smile smugly, touching my forehead with my fingers and making an anime-like arrogant movement, missing only the sparkles and the background changing.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Hah! I praise you for your good eye lass! I must say that indeed, I¡¯m the most handsome and humble man in this world. When it comes to beauty and humbleness nobody can compare to me in the world, nay, this universe!¡±


    I said, making Logan unable to hold back her chuckle. We looked at each other and simply started laughing. After we were done a few minutes later, she wiped a tear from her right eye.


    (Logan): ¡°You haven¡¯t changed at all, comrade. It¡¯s good to see something familiar in this strange situation.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Indeed. You received the guild announcement, I presume?¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Yes. It was quite a smart move, comrade. I received it properly. The others should be here shortly.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°So you know about the others.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Yes, I met a maid in the way and asked a few questions. Its impressive how they can recognize us even in a different shape.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Indeed. Oh, there¡¯s someone else.¡±


    I say as I notice someone approaching. A tall woman, with black hair and beautiful, but a bit gloomy face, although it¡¯s quite pretty. She¡¯s quite pale, and her hair is a bit shaggy, as if she just woke up. Her eyes are black, and the face Japanese. Her height is around¡­ 1,80? She¡¯s quite tall for a Japanese woman, but her body is quite modest.


    Being the complete opposite of her aura, she¡¯s wearing the cutest and over-decorated pink and white dress, the type that would show up on a mahou shoujo from japan. Wait, if I¡¯m not wrong, there was a player like that on the guild. She was quite strong¡­ if I¡¯m not wrong her name was¡­


    (Byakuya): ¡°You¡¯re Anastasia, right?¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°And I assume that you¡¯re the Guildmaster, right? It has been some time, Logan-san.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Yes, it has been some time, Anastasia. You¡¯re¡­ different, from what I expected, considering your avatar.¡±


    Anastasia frowned to those words.


    (Anastasia): ¡°You say that, but you played as a big old man. I didn¡¯t know that you were in that kind of thing.¡±


    Logan smiled, unfazed by the acid words. Curious, I asked:


    (Byakuya): ¡°What do you mean about her avatar?¡±


    Anastasia flinched, and Logan smiled meanly as she looked back to me with her blue eyes.


    (Logan): ¡°You know about the mahou shoujo from our guild, right? She¡¯s a cute little girl, with long pink hair tied in big pigtails with big ribbons, and a cute, childish face as well a petite body. That¡¯s our tall lady here.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Shut up, old man.¡±


    She answers, her face blushing heavily.


    (Anastasia): ¡°So what if my character was like that? It¡¯s a game, and I¡¯m free to shape my avatar as much as I want!¡±


    Logan smiled smugly, clearly the winner of this discussion. I just sighed, saying:


    (Byakuya): ¡°You guys sure are lively. Anyway, welcome, Anastasia-san. You already knew Logan?¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Indeed, we raided together a few times, and we also participated on some events.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Good times. Anastasia¡¯s buffs and magic are the real deal.¡±


    I nodded.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Sorry for asking it right now, but which number is your class combo?¡±


    I asked one of the most basic questions of the game. With its unique level and class system, combinations of certain classes can result in unique and advanced classes, retaining the abilities from the previous classes for even more power, a hundred levels per class.


    As an example, the class, Archmage, is a six-combo class. It combines the classes Arcane Mage, Fire Mage, Water Mage, Earth Mage and Wind Mage, and these combined give you access to the Archmage Class, combining the abilities of the previous classes in new and way more powerful classes. Of course, each one of the five primary classes must be level 100.


    (Anastasia): ¡°Don¡¯t mind that. I¡¯m a level 72 Archmage, with an extra of level 32 Idol. Idol is a combo of Singer and Dancer. I¡¯m aiming for the max combo Arch Idol.¡±


    I nodded. I heard of the class, they have some insane buffs and attack power, but they are fragile as glass. Even my class, a non-combat class could kill them if the range is close enough.


    (Byakuya): ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong Logan, you¡¯re a level 87 Magic Swordmaster, right?¡±


    She nodded. Her class combines the four elemental mage classes with the two sword related classes, Swordmaster and Dual Sword Master. She can tank relatively well, deal decent DPS and cast long range magic, being an all-rounder.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Well then, I¡¯m a ten-combo max level Grand Meister.¡±


    Anastasia¡¯s eyes turned wide, and she asked in a loud voice:


    (Anastasia): ¡°Isn¡¯t that the max level of the game?! I never heard of that class in my life!¡±


    I smiled and said while scratching my head.


    (Byakuya): ¡°As far as I know, I¡¯m the only Grand Meister in the game. After all, I¡¯m tone only one addicted enough to machines to actually grind all the way up.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°You¡¯re right. After all, you have the fame of being insane for being such a machine freak to grind only non-combat classes.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Wait, you don¡¯t have even one combat class?¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Nope. My classes are alchemist, enchanter, blacksmith, the three combo Grand Crafter, architect, engineer, mechanic, astrologist, the four combo Meister, and finally, the ten-combo, Grand Meister.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Wow¡­ that¡¯s crazy¡­¡±


    (???): ¡°Really crazy, dude! How the hell did you farm al the levels?!¡±


    Said a new voice with a German accent. The new voice is a petite girl, around 1,45 meters tall with surprisingly big breasts and cute face, with long red hair and green eyes, with pale white skin. She¡¯s dressed in a high-quality leather armor, probably dragon leather, with a pair of daggers in her waist.


    Her height is around the 1,70, and as I said before, her face is cute and has European traits. She¡¯s dressed like a rogue-assassin character. Her equipment is familiar to me¡­


    (Byakuya): ¡°You¡¯re Prunia, right?¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°Yep! Nice to meetcha, Guildmaster! Anyway, how the hell did you grind that many crafting classes?¡±


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    (Logan): ¡°I¡¯m curious as well.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Me too.¡±


    I smiled wryly, and gave the answer:


    (Byakuya): ¡°You girls know how leveling for crafting class works, right?¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, you gain experience by crafting, but have experience from monsters cut in half, right?¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°That¡¯s it. I crafted like crazy. Just that.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°It can¡¯t be true! Even if you played twenty years in-game, you can¡¯t craft enough equipment, no matter how much material you gather!¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°I¡¯ll tell you how I leveled later, the story is quite long after all. Anyway, the only one that we are missing is Iona¡­¡±


    As I say that, a maid enters in the throne room in a hurry, bowing and saying:


    (maid): ¡°Lords, Lady Iona requests the presence of her husband in the gardens. She seems to have fallen, and will only get up if her husband comes to pick her up.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°What? Husband? What is she talking about?¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°Who knows?¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Why don¡¯t you go save your wife, mister husband?¡±


    She said, looking at me with a sly smile. I frowned. Yes, in the game, I¡¯m married with the Spirit Queen Iona. The reason for that was a special instance in the valentine¡¯s day special patch. There was a rare material that only appeared there and in a hardcore instance, and if I could get my hands in some of that, I could replicate it and strengthen the guild.


    However, I wasn¡¯t up for the twenty-hour raiding experience with a hundred members of the guild, so Logan, at the time, suggested me to marry someone and take the valentine¡¯s day instance, since you can only enter with your partner.


    Not only is way easier ad shorter, with my class, the drop rate for the material was extremely high. So, I decided to follow Logan¡¯s advice and find a partner. At the time, there weren¡¯t that many girls that I was close to in-game, so the options were limited.


    After some time considering all the points and that I¡¯d need someone that could tank and give health support at the same time, I decided to marry the at the time Spirit Master Iona. Her summoning abilities were great at the time, although they now pale in comparison to the Spirit Queen, and she could fulfill some roles with her summons.


    With her summons and my support abilities, as well weapons, we could easily clear the valentine¡¯s instance. So in the end I asked her to marry me. Her reaction was really strange, she said ¡°you¡¯re fine with me?¡±, and after I said yes, she blushed and bowed saying I¡¯ll be in your care.


    Her roleplay was good, she almost seemed to genuinely consider that we married. There were a lot of role players in the game, so she wasn¡¯t that surprising. I met some quite crazy guys that never ever got out of role unless something serious happened.


    I sighed as Anastasia and Prunia looked at me with funny looks. I look at the maid, asking:


    (Byakuya): ¡°When you say gardens you mean the Metal Garden or the Royal Garden?¡±


    I ask, since I created two gardens, a garden of flowers ad trees made of metal and precious gems and a normal garden, with rare herbs, unique trees and several fragrant and gorgeous flowers, creating a popular spot for dating in the guild.


    (maid): ¡°The Royal Garden, Your Highness.¡±


    I nod, saying:


    (Byakuya): ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Good travels, hubby.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Fuck you. Teleport: Royal Garden.¡±


    With a blue light, I disappeared from the throne room, appearing in the Royal Garden. I designed the place to be like giant stairs, with five levels, from where you can look down to the rest of the garden from the upper levels. The ground is made of marble, like the rest of the Clockwork Palace¡­ well, made of Celestial Marble that I transmuted myself.


    The marble reflects the gentle sunlight, the green grass besides the walkways is trimmed and perfect, the trees grow with colored trunks and colorful leaves, ranging from yellow, purple, red blue and green.


    Flower bushes and lonely flowers bloom with several colors, releasing a sweet fragrance. Colorful butterflies and insects fly around, even some bees. The beautiful singing of several birds also fills the air.


    The birds themselves are also part of the painting level garden, with colorful feathers and exotic appearance. After all, when I created this garden, I bought a lot of Paradise Bird spawners, and the insects gathered normally around here.


    There are also white benches here and there, where most of the players of the guild that dated each other spend their time with their lovers. I¡¯m not jealous, in true, I¡¯m quite happy that I was able to give some happiness to the lovebirds of the guild. I¡¯m after all a support character, my job is to help and support other players.


    I walk around the fifth level, the highest level in search of Iona. I see her laying down under the branches of a large cherry blossom tree, of which the pink petals sway gently under the pleasant breeze. I approach and stop right above her head, looking down to the girl laying down in the grass.


    Her face is simply gorgeous, a mix between Asian and European, bringing out the best of both traits. Her long, smooth and shiny black hair is gently laying on the grass, her eyes with long eyelashes are closed, her pale skin reflecting the sun.


    She is dressed in a gorgeous long sleeved kimono, with the main color being red, with white and golden floral patterns, a red sash on her waist tied with a golden string. The kimono does indeed reveals her voluptuous curves and big breasts. She shouldn¡¯t be that tall, around 1,70.


    Is this¡­ Iona? In the game, her character was a gorgeous white-haired kitsune, although the face in the game was inferior to the one that I¡¯m seeing right now. To imagine that there was indeed a girl behind my in-game wife, not a dude¡­ I¡¯m surprised. Not only that, such a pretty girl too.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Iona.¡±


    She opened her blue eyes, saying:


    (Iona): ¡°Husband! It has been some time! How are you doing?¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°I¡¯m good. And you, how are you doing?¡±


    I ask back, ignoring the husband thingy.


    (Iona): ¡°Better now that you found me!¡±


    She says with an angelic smile, her soft and cute voice reverberating through my ears. I smile back, saying:


    (Byakuya): ¡°Come on, the others are waiting us at the Throne Room.¡±


    (Iona): ¡°No, I won¡¯t get up.¡±


    She said cheerfully. Oh yeah, she had a bad personality, didn¡¯t she? When we walked around together, she always made sure to hug my arm and being carried as a princess if the terrain was rough, and when we stopped to rest in our travels, she always either sat on my lap or cuddle. That gave me mixed feelings, as I didn¡¯t know if there was a girl or a guy behind the avatar.


    But well, I¡¯m relieved that it¡¯s a girl. Well, not that she has a bad personality, she¡¯s quite gentle and caring, and likes to be spoiled, even though it was just a game. I smiled to her.


    (Byakuya): ¡°You want me to carry you?¡±


    (Iona): ¡°Un!¡±


    She nodded, extending her arms to me, looking like a child asking the parent to pick her up. How cute. I moved to her side and picked her in a princess carry. She hugged my neck, smiling brightly.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Spoiled girl.¡±


    I said to her, smiling mischievously.


    (Iona): ¡°It¡¯s because I have such a good husband.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Alright, if I¡¯m not wrong, there¡¯s a teleport relay around here¡­¡±


    (Iona): ¡°Ehhhh~~~ but that¡¯s so boring! Let¡¯s walk to the Throne Room!¡±


    She said, rubbing her cheek on my chest happily. I sighed, and started walking through the beautiful garden, the smell of sweet flowers and the songs of the birds around us. I walked with her in my arms in silence, but it was a comfortable silence. She didn¡¯t seem fazed at all for being dragged inside the game world.


    After almost half an hour, we arrive at the Throne Room. When I arrive with Iona in my arms, Anastasia looks at me strangely, Logan sneers and Prunia¡¯s eyes glitter with almost childish excitement. I put Iona¡¯s feet on the ground, and she reluctantly parts from my arms. Ignoring their eyes completely, I start:


    (Byakuya): ¡°Well then, now that¡¯s everybody is here, we can discuss our current situation. First, although I don¡¯t think I need to say this, this world is 100% real.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°So this is the game world¡­¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°I don¡¯t think that it¡¯s exactly that, but let¡¯s go with that. The first thing that you guys can notice is that there isn¡¯t a log out button on the menu.¡±


    They nodded. That¡¯s something that every one of must have tried in these last minutes.


    (Logan): ¡°What do you think about this situation, Alva?¡±


    She asked to me. I cross my arms.


    (Byakuya): ¡°It¡¯s still too early to take conclusions, I don¡¯t have enough information. I also don¡¯t know if there is a way back, but we should be ready in the case there isn¡¯t.¡±


    The mood instantly turned gloomy, at least for Logan and Prunia. Anastasia and Iona don¡¯t seem too affected, and only Anastasia is looking a bit sad for that. I don¡¯t mind, since I had no family or girlfriend on earth, although I have some ex-girlfriends. I also have my friends, but this world seems interesting too, since I wasn¡¯t that close to them.


    (Anastasia): ¡°What we do from now on¡­¡±


    She said, more to herself than to the rest of us.


    (Byakuya): ¡°We survive and look for a way back while living here. Surviving won¡¯t be hard at all, we have the whole Mechaville, and since we are in our characters equipment, we must be able to use the abilities from the game as well. When carrying Iona here, I didn¡¯t get tired at all, and didn¡¯t even feel her weight.¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°What do you mean with that?¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°That means that my body has probably the same parameters that the one inside the game.¡±


    They nodded, taking my point.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Anyway, if you guys don¡¯t mind of me taking the decisions, we should now test our abilities and see what we can do.¡±


    I said. Logan shrugged, saying:


    (Logan): ¡°I don¡¯t mind following you. Guildmaster is the smartest person I know, and I also trust you since I have known you for years.¡±


    I smiled with the trust of my old friend. The others also didn¡¯t mind it, and soon after, Iona said:


    (Iona): ¡°Guy, what is ¡°Incarnate Avatar¡± in our status window?¡±


    With her question, all of us opened our status window. It showed our parameters, MP and HP and equipment, like in the game. I don¡¯t need to say that I¡¯m max level, but my stats aren¡¯t as high as the others of the same level. After all, I¡¯m a support character, even though my intelligence is ridiculously high, and I have way more hp than a max level mage class.


    The reason for that is my support class that has intelligence bonuses and several MP bonuses for enchanting and crafting high-level items. I can produce legendary-level in large amounts in a daily basis, depending on what I want to craft.


    However, there is a new option, Incarnate Avatar under the window that is showing my character image, a picture of myself, there is five slots, two of which are filled. One of them is filled with my name, Byakuya, while the other is filled with the name of my character, Alva. A surprised yelp takes me off my status screen.


    The one that released the yelp was Prunia, looking at Iona. I also looked at her, and s familiar view entered my eyes. White hair and golden eyes, with white fox ears in the top of the head.


    Her face, that now is sharper and still beautiful, even more than I remember in the game, has red makeup around her eyes making them look sharper, on single line in each cheekbone and a symbol painted in the forehead, also red. Her lips now are blood-red, and three fluffy fox tails are coming out from the base of her back.


    It¡¯s¡­ mesmerizingly beautiful. After a few seconds, I stop staring and say:


    (Byakuya): ¡°So this is the Incarnate Avatar thing, it¡¯s our characters from the game.¡±


    Iona puffed her chest proudly, smiling, happy with herself. I also decided to try, touching the Alva option. Immediately, I started to change. My black hair turned snow white, my skin took the same tone as Gehenna¡¯s, and I could feel the bones of my face changing a bit.


    I took a hand mirror from my satchel and take a look at my face. A handsome face with red eyes, without any Asiatic trait, and with the same traits that Gehenna has. It isn¡¯t something that you would see on earth, since the supposed species that my character is, the Sha, is from another dimension, the same race as Gehenna.


    I chose this human subrace because of the descent engineering bonus and the lesser firearms bonus. They are a human subrace that was proficient with mechanic marvels, and the small destroyed village that I found Gehenna in was a ruined mechanic village from monster attacks.


    As an NPC she doesn¡¯t have the same bonuses as the players, but she still has a firearms damage bonus. Because of that, I installed some surprise weapons on her armor that she can make full use of since I also trained her in firearms use.


    The others also tried the option. Prunia¡¯s hair turned black and a pair of bunny ears and a bushy tail appeared in her, and her height grew a little bit. Her face didn¡¯t change that much though. Logan didn¡¯t change into a man, surprisingly.


    Her hair turned a bit darker, but still blonde, her skin tanned, her eyes changed to brown and her height grew to 1,80. Her face changed a bit, gaining some masculine charm, but till feminine to the point where she would also be popular with the girls.


    Her breasts grew is size, and her body gained some muscle, just enough to create a light six-pack, and her arms to gain some barely defined muscle. That change¡­ was even more extreme than mine. However, the one who changed the most was Anastasia.


    Her height reduced drastically to 1,50 while her hair turned pink and tied in a pair of twin tails with big ribbons. Her face changed to a gloomy beauty to a loli beauty, with big pink eyes and cute face, her pink dress now fitting perfectly he figure. Her boobs also grew in size, but not that much.


    She looks like an anime character, exactly like a mahou shoujo. No wonder she got¡­ ¡°famous¡±, in the guild, to the point that the reclusive Guildmaster heard of her. Noticing my gaze, she frowned, saying with a childish voice that matches her picture, completely different from her previous voice:


    (Anastasia): ¡°Did you lose an eye here? Quit staring!¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Pff!¡±


    I held back a laugh, inciting her anger, who kicked my shin. It hurts, but I didn¡¯t let it show on my face.


    (Byakuya): ¡±Sorry for that! The gap was too wide!¡±


    I said, my voice deeper than before.


    She fumed with anger, saying, almost yelling:


    (Anastasia): ¡°So what if I made a cute little girl?! I just like the style!¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Well, you¡¯re still cute without the avatar though.¡±


    I blurted out without filtering my thoughts. She blushed strongly, and kicked my leg again, and it hurt way more this time. Iona approached and pinched my ribs, pouting cutely and saying, her voice unchanged from the soft and gentle voice, although now she sounds a bit angry:


    (Iona): ¡°Cheeky husband.¡±


    What did I do wrong?

 Chapter 3: Preparations For The Future

    (Byakuya¡¯s POV)


    (Byakuya): ¡°I also have one more issue that I want to address at the moment, as well something that I want to address now that we have a secondary ¡°form¡± disponible to us.¡±


    I said, gathering the attention of the girls who are in the form of their avatars, like me. Before I talked, I selected my normal appearance, and I changed back to my Byakuya form.


    (Byakuya): ¡°First, about these new appearances that we have, the appearance of our characters, we should use these when in public outside the Clockwork Palace.¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°Why?¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°We don¡¯t know if there are other people in this world that are in the same situation as us, as well their intentions towards us. Until we make sure of the situation, blend in with our characters appearance. Assume that everybody outside of Mechaville is an enemy. We don¡¯t know if we will respawn at the graveyard of the guild.¡±


    They nodded with a grim expression, except for Iona and Logan, who nodded with serious expressions.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Second and final, when I met Gehenna, the commander of the Royal Guard, she said that the Steam Gates were attacked several times.¡±


    They widened their eyes in surprise.


    (Logan): ¡°How many enemies?¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°I haven¡¯t confirmed that yet, but I have asked Gehenna to send Bertram here¡­¡±


    Just as I said that, someone entered the Throne Room. A butler, more specifically, Bertram. Perfect timing.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Bertram, I was just wondering when you would arrive.¡±


    (Bertram): ¡°Pardon me for the long time, Your Highness. Lady Gehenna warned me as soon as she got to the Steam Gates, but the distance is still great.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I heard from Gehenna that we were attacked several times, but we didn¡¯t have time for the details. Can you feed me the details of the situation in the city first? What changed and what happened in the last four years?¡±


    He went to one knee with his right hand over his heart, surprising me.


    (Bertram): ¡°The factories of basic equipment have stopped in His Highness¡¯ absence as per costume, so the appropriate measures were taken as per the Commonwealth Protocol to sustain the life of the people.


    However, some of the nobles in Mechaville are unsatisfied with the prolonged condition of limited resources, but no riots have started yet. With the lords returning and half of the Royal Guard enforcing the order, the probability of rebellion is low.


    Unfortunately, the public security fell a little, but it¡¯s still manageable. Again, the Royal Guard on the streets must cover the problem.¡±


    I nodded, saying:


    (Byakuya): ¡°How is the food situation? Are the Harvest Clockworks still working?¡±


    (Bertram): ¡°Yes, your Highness. The food situation can hold out for ten more years without maintenance, and from the Harvest Clockworks, half are working without maintenance while the rest is on standby because of the risk. As Your Highness wasn¡¯t present, the Mechanical Gardens were inoperant, but the stasis function saved the plants from withering.¡±


    Good, the safety measures still work. All these problems can be solved immediately as soon as I reach the control room, that you can¡¯t teleport directly unless you are me. After all, running around the massive Clockwork Palace and the even bigger Mechaville is impossible and inefficient.


    Although there are some things that aren¡¯t automated, since many engineers came to the Eternal Gear in search of tutelage and practice. So many mechanic parts of the city need to be human operated, so the experienced members could train the noobs and grind experience.


    With that, I do need to go to the city eventually to make some maintenance. Well, it isn¡¯t much for a Grand Meister, but enough to keep several low-level players busy all the time. I wonder if I can train the NPCs as engineers?


    (Byakuya): ¡°What about the enemy attacks? What are the details?¡±


    (Bertram): ¡°As explained by Gehenna, we were attacked several times. The enemy is in majority human, with only one assault being from what we believe variants of the demon race. We can confirm for sure that we weren¡¯t attacked by only one nation, as they carried several different banners and armor.


    The technology of the enemy army is varying and¡­ strange¡­¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Strange? Strange how?¡±


    (Bertram): ¡°When they first attacked, their numbers were vast, 100.000 soldiers, but the equipment was primitive, and they didn¡¯t carry swords, but long daggers, and they didn¡¯t have any battlemages or any mechanic equipment. Their armor was also primitive, so the Bronze Guard was able to repel hem without problem.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°That is indeed different, there weren¡¯t any nations around the Fomorian Mountain as far as I remember that had that kind of technology or numbers.¡±


    (Bertram): ¡°About that, Your Highness, we aren¡¯t in the Sea Range. We are surrounded by plains as far as the eye can see.¡±


    That¡¯s surprising. So the whole guild inside the Fomorian Mountain Range was transported to another location? I need to make some calculations in the Observatory. Bertram continues his report:


    (Bertram): ¡°The second attack wasn¡¯t much different, attacking a few days later with lesser numbers. The technology didn¡¯t improve that much, but eventually, with the frequent attacks of different ages, the technology of the enemy leaped by centuries.


    Full body steel armors, bows, swords, lances, and eventually mages and siege weapons. We suffered some injuries, but nothing major. Only a few soldiers are to be retired permanently.¡±


    I nodded. They can be healed with the rare resources as well some of the healing items that I can craft.


    (Bertram): ¡°The attackers suddenly stopped, so we suspect that they are preparing for a greater attack.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Have you tried to probe the plains outside?¡±


    (Bertram): ¡°I have sent a clockwork, but a purple mist came out and corroded it is mere seconds.¡±


    Alright, things seem to be going smoothly right now except for the purple fog, so I¡¯ll just need to do a few things.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Thank you, Bertram. You can return to your usual duties in the Palace, leave the Royal Guard administration with me and Gehenna.¡±


    (Bertram): ¡°Yes, your Highness. Lords, excuse me.¡±


    He said, bowing to us and leaving the Throne Room. I turn back to the girls, who are making complicate faces, except for Iona, that seems fine with everything that is happening. Surprisingly, they don¡¯t seem too shaken.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Unfortunately, we have an authority here that we can¡¯t run way from.¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    After a short silence, Anastasia spoke, pensive.


    (Anastasia): ¡°So we have to assume the rule of Mechaville¡­¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Exactly. I may be the Guildmaster, but there is a limit to what I can do. If we could split the administration¡­¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°We could turn things more efficient.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Exactly. I have an idea about this. Our positions inside the guild and in relation with Mechaville is similar to nobles, so I think for convenience sake we should assume noble positions. This also may facilitate the communication with the nations outside, eventually.¡±


    They nodded.


    (Logan): ¡°What positions do you suggest?¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°It may sound cheesy, but we should be kings and queens, as they are the highest position in nobility.¡±


    They nodded, thinking.


    (Anastasia): ¡°Sincerely, we should name only you king, and name ourselves duchesses. You¡¯re the Guildmaster after all, and in this situation, you¡¯re the one taking the lead.¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Than what about Archduchesses? The only rank above it is the king, on that way you guys probably won¡¯t find any problem with the people outside claiming about being higher nobles.¡±


    They nodded, and Iona made an objection by raising her hand.


    (Iona): ¡°I refuse that proposition.¡±


    I rolled my eyes.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Fine, you can be the queen.¡±


    She smiled angelically, hugging my arm still in her fox form.


    (Iona): ¡°No objections!¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Alright, that was all that I had to talk about. If you guys want, we can continue with our discussion, if not, I¡¯d recommend testing your abilities in the Training Yard.¡±


    (Iona): ¡°What are you going to do, husband?¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°I¡¯m going to the Observatory. I¡¯m not going to activate the functions of Mechaville yet, when I heard of the unsatisfied nobles it made me want to check a few things before doing this stuff. What you girls are going to do?¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Training yard.¡±


    (Anastasia and Prunia): ¡°Same.¡±


    (Iona): ¡°I¡¯m going to walk around the Palace and later go to the Training Yard.¡±


    I nodded.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going, if you need anything just post a guild message.¡±


    They nodded, and I walked to the throne. This isn¡¯t just a symbolic seat, it¡¯s the most important piece of the Clockwork Palace. Under their confused gazes, I sit on the throne.


    (Logan): ¡°What are you doing, Alva?¡±


    I just smiled, and said out loud:


    (Alva): ¡°Activate Eternal Throne, Move To: Observatory.¡±


    The crystals embedded on the platform glow lightly, and the platform started too float, revealing itself to be a giant gear. The exact fit for the whole above in the ceiling in the shape of a gear. They look at me with wide eyes as I look down to them as the platform raises.


    This throne is a special teleport relay that only I and the people that I allow to can use. It¡¯s the only way to get to some of the areas of the Clockwork Palace, including the Control Room. The Observatory is just one of them.


    I enter the light, the platform fitting perfectly on the hole. The light around me dims slowly, and I am now sitting on the middle of a circular room with a spherical roof. I giant white and golden telescope enhanced with several magical gems.


    The whole place has the walls filled with star maps, tables and several mechanical stuffs like my room, as I am the only one that use this space. There¡¯s also several bookshelves where several books that I collected and wrote during my playtime are stored.


    And yes, I wrote several books about several subjects. I also did it in real life, ranging from theorical books about science and mechanics as well fantasy and adventure. I was, after all, an PhD in mechanic and engineering at the tender age of 26, since I jumped a few years a few times.


    I was also interested in several other subjects, and after working hard at my first million, and being a known name in the scientific community, I was already deep in several stuff, including religion and languages.


    So a game so full of details and depth and subjects, it was sure to draw me and my researcher spirit into it. the game has already been out for 15 years, and I have played for 10, and the time of the game is sped up by 5 hours, meaning that five hours in-game is one hour outside.


    As a lazy millionaire, the game draw most of my free time, as I was already at for life at 15. I was always into gaming, but this was something else, as I never tried Full Dive, and fell in love with the game. I threw away my intentions of making a mage and went full support and researcher.


    I eventually created the Eternal Gear, my ultimate research and support lab, where I make breakthroughs even in real life research with the help of the game to simulate the projects. The first thing that I do is to get to the telescope, sitting on the chair.


    As one of those giant telescopes, there¡¯s a platform that raises the whole stuff, a table with controls to raise and lower the platform, control the telescope and open and close the roof. There¡¯s also a big screen on the right that works like a display for a computer-like system, the controls for it are also on the keyboard of the telescoped.


    I sit on the luxurious seat, almost laying down on the red cloth. Even if it¡¯s day, I can easily see the stars with the magic on the lenses. I open the roof and raise the platform while turning on the system of the screen. I¡¯ll use this to make some calculations and see if this is the same sky of the game.


    I can also determine the size of this planet and several other things as well. While looking though the lenses, I notice something strange. The stars¡­ are moving! They jump positions every five seconds!


    I take some pictures, and, after a few minutes watching everything and r4ecording the changes, I notice that they move in a set distance. After some time, they started to repeat as I kept track of them. I see, it¡¯s a yearly cycle!


    In only a few minutes, the skies changed enough for a year! I¡¯ll try to check if these stars have the same power from the game world, as this is definitely a new world judging by the positions of the stars. In the game world, every world that you go there is a starfield, and the starts emit special light that concede magical powers as constellations, not something symbolic.


    For example, someone attuned or born under a constellation can have stat boosts and special abilities, and even raised luck. It¡¯s a bonus from being an astrologist, star magic. I can even collect starlight in liquid form, although it has fairly strict uses, and some healing properties.


    One of the neat things is the Sephiroth Tree Of Life that we have access at level one thousand when maxing out the astrologist class. I can change between the ten attunements freely without having to go through the whole attuning process every time.


    I see, I see. Interesting. There are several stars that emit power and are close enough to form constellations. I will need more time to sort them out, connect them and gather their power, as well name them accordingly.


    Bertram didn¡¯t mention anything different about the night sky¡­ that either means that he either didn¡¯t pay attention to it at all, or when he looked he didn¡¯t see anything strange. As I observe the sky carefully, I take a pocked watch in steampunk style, black with golden roman numbers and golden pointers, as well golden gears.


    It¡¯s a handy communication device to communicate with the NPCs from the guild, as well show the hours and work as a GPS beacon thingy. Without looking, I press the button and say close to it while looking through the telescope:


    (Byakuya): ¡°Gehenna, come to the Observatory, I give you permission to use the Crystal Pendant.¡±


    An item that the important NPCs have that allow them to communicate with me and teleport to my location. Immediately after I said that, a teleport light appeared on the base of the telescope, the figure of Gehenna coming out of the light. She immediately detects my presence and looks up.


    (Gehenna): ¡°Do you need anything, Your Highness?¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°The night sky, is it different from usual?¡±


    I ask. Since she followed me everywhere when I was online and helped me to either organize and even research, as well make tea and coffee, as well a delicious cappuccino, she should be able to answer quickly. Even though she didn¡¯t have a voice pack, she had a good AI, even though she couldn¡¯t answer properly. And she doesn¡¯t disappoint.


    (Gehenna): ¡°The night sky is completely normal, Your Highness. The constellation cycles are normal, and the buffs from the attunements, as well the Starlight Wells are working properly.¡±


    So they do see the normal nigh sky every night. I nod to myself, and say:


    (Byakuya): ¡°Gehenna, clean the research table number 6, and take the books related to constellation mapping and divination.¡±


    I say so when I get down from here I can already put my hands into move. I want to have several answers to the girls this night, as well explanations to about where we are. But why this mystery about the stars? I look through the lenses again. Is it the filters and enhancers?


    I¡¯ll just leave the daylight blocker and deactivate some of the filters and barrier-piercers that this telescope has. It goes out of focus for a bit and when it returns, the sky that I¡¯m familiar with is shown in the telescope. So there is a barrier around the Fomorian Mountain Range keeping us isolated.


    That purple mist mentioned by Bertram must be the cause. Wait, didn¡¯t he mention that the enemy army¡¯s technology changed every few hours, jumping several centuries and eventually millennia?


    This is a theory then. I should talk about it tonight with the girls. First, catalog the constellations and get their names. I deactivate the telescope and lower the platform, closing the roof and lighting up the lights inside since there¡¯s no more daylight entering. I go to the research table that I asked Gehenna to prepare and start going through the books.


    She brings some more, and when I finish them and take my notes, she takes them back to their shelfs. This table also has a screen with a keyboard that has access to the information given by the telescope. The pics from the sky are here, time to find some constellations.


    (Byakuya): ¡°I want at least to get three of them. Gehenna, bring me the divination tools and some liquid starlight.¡±


    (Gehenna): ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡±


    She says, moving to work. Although her combat capability, she doesn¡¯t have that many responsibilities, as the golden generals are more than enough, even a bit excessive, to keep the military in order. She¡¯s just a medium to control them, a very, very powerful medium. She¡¯s more my assistant than anything else.


    It got to the point that she would just act as my shadow, and never get out from my side while I was logged in. she brings the tools and several sample flasks filled with a white, shining and sparkling liquid. Starlight, to be more accurate.


    The3 tools are a plate with several stars o it, a pair of goggles and a pair of gloves. I put on the goggles and gloves, put the plate in front of the screen with the special picture of the sky.  This picture has saved the power of the stars.


    I take a flask of starlight and put it behind the plate on the table. With the goggles o, the stars on the screen that have power glow in different lights, the stars compatible with each other glow in the same color. Then, I start murmuring in an ancient language.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Stars that dot the night mantle, reveal me your sisters, and give me your names.¡±


    With the chant complete, some of the stars of the plate start to glow together some of the screen, reflecting the ones that are glowing the most. And like that, I managed to find seven constellations before I had to get up to go to the Laboratory.


    The constellations, although they have different formats, their effects are similar to the constellations of one of the worlds of the game, but not the one where Mechaville is. This world might be similar to the other one in relation to monsters, as it was a low-level world.


    I get up and sit on the throne, Gehenna climbing in the platform as well.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Activate Eternal Throne, Move To: Laboratory.¡±


    This time, light surrounded us and vanished, teleporting us to the Laboratory. This time, it¡¯s a large square room with four levels. It would be floors, but the enormous hole in the ground in these four levels change them to levels.


    The throne is on the center of the room and is more useful to move around than in any other place of the Clockwork Palace. I can move between the levels using the platform of the throne. Alright, time to test some stuff.


    I want first to test the effects of potions and see if it¡¯s still the same thing as before. It may have different effects, and depending on the ingredients, the potions might even be poisonous. So I¡¯ll test on some artificial creatures that I have around here. Still sitting on the Eternal Throne, I order the platform top float to the last level.


    The first level is dedicated to brewing potions, the second to creating flasks and other containers, as well refining small amounts of metal. The third is dedicated to synthesis of materials and growing herbs, as well rare ingredients.


    The fourth and last is where the high level stuff happens. Here, I create things using everything from the levels below. Here I also produce one of the rarest things in Mechanica Fantasy. Homunculi.

 Chapter 4: Tests… And Accidental immortality

    (Byakuya¡¯s POV)


    I stand in front of the vat, looking to the creature floating inside the blue water that glows lightly. It has a humanoid shape, however. The skin is completely transparent, as well the muscles, revealing the organs perfectly.


    This is one of the homunculi that I created to test experimental potions and even some poisons. This homunculus, although expensive to make, I can reproduce3 en masse as much as I want. After all, we produce the materials here.


    The first thing that I¡¯ll do is test some healing potions. I don¡¯t have to worry about the feeling of pain of the homunculus. It¡¯s just a piece of meat, kept alive artificially, without any life at all. It¡¯s just a body working like a machine, and it doesn¡¯t feel pain.


    I start to operate the panel in front of the vat as I say to Gehenna that is following me silently.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Gehenna, fetch me one flask of potion from lesser to divine. I also want a flask of Spring of Life Water.¡±


    I operate the buttons, and several tubes rose from the base, staying right in front of the panel with tubes connecting the bottom to the vat. This will allow me to put the potions in so I can use them in the homunculus inside the vat.


    Gehenna returns with a tray with nine flasks. Eight of the nine are filled with a red liquid while the last one is fairly decorated with water inside that glows a bit with white light. Following my order, Gehenna pours the content of each flask in a bottle in separated tubes.


    In the panel that I¡¯m operating, there is a red bar that indicates the health of the homunculus. With a few buttons pressed, wounds appeared in the artificial body, and blood flowed out in the blue liquid. The health of the homunculus only fell slightly, as the wounds weren¡¯t deep at all.


    After all, I¡¯m testing the weaker potion. I activated the first tube, and the potion was drained, quickly refilled by Gehenna. The lowest rank potion dyed the blue liquid red, and the wounds started to close quickly. I nodded to myself, taking out a book with soft leather cover, a diary. I have hundreds of these, this is just the newest one and has few notes.


    I¡¯m using it to register the stuff that is happening here.  I write down the effects of the potion and proceed to keep making tests. It is really interesting, the potions don¡¯t just rise the natural regeneration of the body, they also provide the energy for the regeneration themselves.


    When your body regenerates, it needs energy from food and water. However, this potion also gives you that, charged with energy so that your cells regenerate immediately. Of course, the better the potion, the more grievous the wound they can regenerate.


    However, something interesting happened when I gave the Spring of Life Water to the homunculus. His wounds healed completely, as it is the strongest healing item in the game, and his life bar on the panel turned golden.


    I frowned. This was¡­ unexpected. Although the effect of the spring water was as expected, it reconnected the body cut in half, as well closed all the deep and gashing wounds, able to save as long there was a thread of life in the body, the change in the panel wasn¡¯t expected.


    For now, let¡¯s try to make another wound. The wound does appear, a deep gash on the abdomen area. However, although the blood did indeed flow out, the bar didn¡¯t budge, and the wound regenerated quickly, closing perfectly. I take a flask of the spring water that Gehenna brought to me.


    As far as I remember, this is water that was taken from the lake at the roots of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. We grow a small replica in the underground, since I acquired a seed in a quest on Asgard with the help with an old friend. He was going mad collecting all the stuff for his raid, and I decided to help with some quests.


    He even hired me to design the reform of his castle. Well, I did swindle him for some dragon eggs for my most recent project, so I guess he wouldn¡¯t like to see me that much. I try creating more wounds, grievous wounds, cutting off the limbs and even splitting the body is several parts.


    However, this was interesting. The wounds regenerated, while the homunculus grew new arms and legs. However, the head merely regenerated. It didn¡¯t grow new parts, the brain always tried regenerated no matter the damage.


    Even if I cut half of the body and destroyed the part without the head, the body chose to regrow those parts. However, if the head was crushed and destroyed, it chose to regenerate to the previous state. Not only that, the bar on the panel didn¡¯t go down at all, as if it weren¡¯t taking any damage.


    This is¡­ interesting. If I¡¯m not wrong, it was the strongest healing consumable in the game, and the backstory is that it should grant immortality to the one that drinks it. unfortunately, it didn¡¯t work the same to the players, as we are considered a semi-divine race of high humans.


    But this is the interesting part, the homunculus certainly turned into a immortal, but it was made with my DNA as base, so you can say that it¡¯s a clone of me. And according to the game lore, even as a clone, they should also be considered semi-divine. So in theory, it shouldn¡¯t be considered immortal.


    I order Gehenna to give me one of the flasks of spring water and drink it in one go, opening my stats. As expected, the bar representing my hp is gone. I take off my glove, pull back my sleeve and take out my pistol, the bayonet ready to stab and cut.


    (Gehenna): ¡°Master?!¡±


    (Byakuya): ¡°Don¡¯t worry Gehenna. This just an experiment.¡±


    She seemed to calm down a bit. Using the bayonet with my left hand, I pierced through my hand. The pain was sharp, and Gehenna protested, but I ignored both. My blood drips to the ground. I took care to aim between the bones and not to damage the tendons if my theory is wrong.


    The wound is still open while the bayonet is inside my hand. I pull it out strongly, making blood fly off. I take a look at the wound¡­ it¡¯s gone. Even before I could even see it, it healed. The pain is also completely gone!


    This¡­. Is amazing! time for the next trial! I put the blade on my wrist, and without hesitation, cut off my right hand. The pain assaults my brain, but I ignore it completely. Gehenna screams and take the hand before it falls to the ground while screaming something.


    However, I can¡¯t hear her as I¡¯m amazed about what is happening before my eyes. First, my bones and joints grow back in a second. The blood vessels grow together with the muscles, and the skin soon grows, as well the nails. Gehenna, that is holding my severed hand, has her previously worried expression changed to a shocked one.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I smile looking at her.


    (Byakuya): ¡°Gehenna, take your sword and we will go to the Testing Room. Today is an amazing day to learn!¡±


    (3¡ã person POV)


    Iona, rather, Cassidy Evergreen, is a half-Japanese girl, born from an affair of her father with a Japanese woman. As her father is a famous businessman that inherited fa great company, famous in the whole world, it turned into quite a scandal.


    The woman that her father was married with blamed her father for the cheating, but she took in the girl that was left behind by her real mother. Still, the scandal was big, as the Japanese woman was a celebrity. Nobody ever forgot, and Cassidy¡¯s life wasn¡¯t easy.


    As a start, she was beautiful. Her father was handsome, and mother a world beauty, and she inherited the best traits of each one of them. The perfect face, flawless white jade skin, soft and melodious voice.


    She attracted many jealous eyes. The girls of her age isolated her, and boys sometimes harassed her. At the house, the only ally that she had was the adoptive mother, as the servants of the house looked at her as the result of an affair, and even her father didn¡¯t like to see her at all, reminding him of his mistake.


    Her body was also weak, she got sick easily, her appetite was never great, and she was a frail flower that got hurt easily. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t handle going to school anymore, and she stopped trusting people and developed a fear of man due several incidents that almost claimed her life.


    At the age of 17, she never left her home. Her adoptive mother decided to take care of her, moving with her to an isolated place with the money of her wealthy family, enough to sustain a luxurious lifestyle for ten lifetimes. She then caught a disease, and even after recovering, she couldn¡¯t walk anymore. Eventually, she came across the virtual world of Mechanica Fantasy Online.


    She wasn¡¯t interested at all on the mechanic aspect of the game. However, she could walk once again. That was something that she enjoyed once again. However, she still didn¡¯t trust other people, and wanted to play alone.


    So she chose the class that could fill the roles of a party for her, summoner. Eventually, she started to enjoy the game. Walking around the beautiful scenery, summoning monsters, fighting creatures, delivering quests¡­


    She grew to enjoy the new places, the taste for adventure. Cassidy started to spend more time in the virtual world than in the real one. Her mother, seeing her daughter happy for the first time in years, supported her fully. Eventually, she started to meet other people.


    She made friends, and enjoyed her five years playing the game. But still, she was afraid. Afraid of them knowing who she was, afraid of them ostracizing her. Because of that, she couldn¡¯t make a deep, true friendship.


    She felt that her friendships were fragile and could break at any time. she eventually drifted apart from her friends, made new friends and drifted apart form them. She felt alone and sad. However, that changed one day.


    It was an average day where her newest circle of friends called her for a dungeon raid. Apparently, the group should be of five, but the group of three lacked two spots, and one was reserved for her.


    She was fine with it, since she was a bit bored now. Meeting at the entrance of the Ghost Labyrinth, a famous horror dungeon and difficult for someone at Cassidy¡¯s level at the time. when she arrived, she was met with the three that she knew, and someone that she didn¡¯t.


    Tall, light brown skin and white hair with golden eyes, dressed in a leather overcoat with a belt full of tools and a simple satchel hanging from his shoulders. The leader of the party took a step forward and introduced them.


    (leader): ¡°Yo, Iona! This guy is Alva, and he¡¯s our support for today. We¡¯ll leave the healing to you and your water elemental, is that ok?¡±


    (Iona): ¡°Sure. Nice to meet you.¡±


    She said, bowing lightly to Alva. He looked down at her and said with a stoic face.


    (Alva): ¡°Nice to meet you too.¡±


    He said, his voice deep. Her impression of him was lukewarm at the time. the thing that took her attention the most was the dungeon that she has never been to, and barely heard anything about. After a few seconds discussing strategy, the entered the dungeon. And she immediately regretted accepting the call.


    One thing that Cassidy is weak with, is horror. As a sheltered princess, she barely came about anything besides romance and adventure, and horror was simply too much for her frail constitution in real life, reflecting on the digital body.


    And the worst thing? The labyrinth was filled with traps, and their group fell in one of them, getting separated in the worst outcome possible. The two of them, Cassidy and Alva, the supports of the group with lowest attack power, ended up separated from the rest.


    (Cassidy): ¡°Dammit! What we are going to do now?¡±


    She asked, her legs shaking a bit. Alva looked around, to the gloomy stone corridors filled with spiderwebs.


    (Alva): ¡°It¡¯s the first time I do this dungeon on hard, so the trap on the start surprised me, but the layout should be the same. Follow me, I will get us out to the safe area where we can regroup.¡±


    Cassidy nodded, with tears in her eyes. Alva proceeded to take a steam assault rifle from his satchel.


    (Alva): ¡°The enemies here are mostly undead, so we need to be wary of that. I can set up turrets, do you want to do baiting?¡±


    He asked, using the usual term for baiting monsters into traps, fairly famous in dungeons. She nodded, a bit more confident due her companion¡¯s calm.


    (Alva): ¡°I heard you are a summoner, do you have a combo already?¡±


    (Cassidy): ¡°Y-yes, I have the c-combo S-spirit Summoner from S-spirit Seer and S-summoner. Level 25¡­¡±


    (Alva): ¡°I don¡¯t have a combo, but I have engineering and mechanic, both level 85 and 87. Can you give mild curse?¡±


    He asked, as being cursed is the only way of harming ghosts. She nodded, and Alva said:


    (Alva): ¡°Well then, shall we go?¡±


    (Iona¡¯s POV)


    I sat on the white bench of the garden that my husband created, the beautiful birds that don¡¯t exist in earth sing with their melodious chirps, fitting the otherworldly sight of the colorful garden. A maid stands nearby, waiting to attend my wishes.


    On the way here, I remembered the day that I met my husband. It wasn¡¯t love at first sight at all, in fact, I didn¡¯t though much of him like I did with all the others that I met. I¡¯m still weak with horror things, and I¡¯ll never go back to that dungeon without my husband.


    However, that is a place that is dear to me, as where I met the man that I love. I¡¯m happy that he is an actual men as I met him, but even if he was a girl, she would be my bride. I am very aware that we met in a game, and that my love would never reach him.


    Although my heart yearned for his affection, I simply couldn¡¯t have it. I know it is silly and childish, I understand that very well. But I simply couldn¡¯t get that out of my mind. As I spent time with him, I couldn¡¯t help to fall even in more love with him, and when he asked me in marriage, and even though it was a game, I felt so happy that I could die.


    And now, me dreams seemed to come true. Yes, I will miss my mother, not the woman that gave birth to me, but the one that was a mother for me. She is the only thing that I will miss, but this world is a new chance for me.


    A body that is healthy, legs that can walk and a love that my hands can reach. For me, it¡¯s everything I need.


    (Alva¡¯s POV)


    I put back my coat, looking down to the blood splashes on the ground. Gehenna is sitting on a corner of my personal training area, hugging her knees, depressed for attacking me even under my orders.


    The blood on the ground is mine, by the way. The last few minutes were tests to see the limits of my newfound regeneration. On the corner, a pile of extra limbs is down, including a whole body without head. When I asked Gehenna to decapitate me, she refused, so I had to do it myself.


    It was an interesting experience besides the pain, but that could be ignored. Of course, I regenerated a new body instead of a new head. I decided not to cut my head in half, I¡¯d rather not go through that experience, as I don¡¯t know if it can damage my brain, and being a bodyless head was already uncomfortable enough.


    Also, have to put my clothes back on was a bother. I look at Gehenna, who has a shadow over her eyes that are empty, looking at the ground. She¡¯s crouching, hugging her knees. I don¡¯t think she has developed a trauma, as she has seen worse in her time.


    I take out my gun and take out one of the bullets, loading a special, red bullet. I point it to the pile of spare limbs and full body, pulling the hammer, loading the red bullet for shooting. This bullet is called Dragon¡¯s Breath, as for why is it called that¡­


    I pull the trigger, and a powerful burst of flames comes out of the barrel, instantly incinerating the spare flesh. Soon, a dis slides through the ground, it¡¯s a cleaner robot that I developed to deal with the aftermath of training.


    It starts cleaning the blood and the ashes. I feel refreshed, really. The pain was momentary, though acute, and the body doesn¡¯t have any problem in moving after regenerating, as if nothing ever happened.


    Alright, I think I¡¯m done with these tests, and I¡¯m quite satisfied with the results. From my satchel, I pull a handbook with soft, leather cover and a steampunkish fountain pen and start to write with my cursive, classic style writing. I¡¯m used to it since I also do most of my notes with my fountain pen in real life. I can¡¯t even count the times that I ran out of ink in the middle of a research and had to use my spare.


    I close the handbook and put it back into the satchel together with the pen. Alright, it seems that my abilities also work properly, although I used a low level Dragon¡¯s Breath. Alright, now that most of the essential stuff is over, I need to consider the future. I still have the dragon eggs that I scammed from a friend¡­

 Chapter 5: The Future Ahead

    (Byakuya¡¯s POV)


    Through the chat, we combined to gather later at night in the dining room. Ok, time to check some stuff. I still have to stop by the control room and activate a lot of things. Well, not everything, as I need something to use against the nobles if the show themselves too arrogant for my tastes.


    (later, at the dining room)


    I arriver at the dining room followed by Gehenna after taking a bath and changing clothes to something more casual. Now, dressed in a white shirt with a purple coat, with black pants and brown boots, I sit at the dining table with the others.


    Judging by the still we hair of the girls and different clothes, they also had the same idea that I had. I sit at the had of the long table, with Iona to my right and Logan to my left. Besides Iona, sits Prunia, and to Logan¡¯s left, Anastasia. The table is still empty, without any food. After all, eating was possible in the game, and the dining hall works like a restaurant, where the servants take your order to the kitchen.


    (Alva): ¡°Sorry for the delay, I was held up a bit.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re not that late at all.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°So, we will talk first before dinner?¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°I¡¯m fine with either, you guys can decide.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Sincerely, I¡¯d rather talk right now about our situation.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Me too.¡±


    (Alva): ¡°Good. Well then, first, Gehenna, my satchel.¡±


    I say, and Gehenna gives me the satchel in her hands.


    (Alva): ¡°You can return to your duties for today, I will call you when needed.¡±


    She nodded, making a military salute and walking away from the dining hall. Now that we are alone, I push the hand bell to call for service that is front of me and push it away to get some space on the table, an put my satchel on the marble table. From there, I pull five files, one for each one of us.


    (Alva): ¡°Since it¡¯s already night, I¡¯ll be brief. First, this world is not the same of the game. Please, open in the first page of the file.¡±


    I said, giving out the files that I have in hand. Anastasia gives me a weird look.


    (Anastasia): ¡°You¡­ are quite efficient, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    (Alva): ¡°Thank you. I thought it would be better you girls had something to read after we are done eating, since the explanation can take a long time and end up forcing us to stay up too late.¡±


    She nods, opening the file in the first page like the other girls.


    (Alva): ¡°First, our location. We are not in the Sea Mountains anymore, the whole Mechaville and he Fomorian Mountain Range has been moved to a new space. And this space is completely new, and not an area of the game. Please, to the third page.¡±


    The sound of flipping paper fills the short pause.


    (Alva): ¡°I discovered that there is a kind of barrier keeping the day-night cycle for us, and outside of it, the time flows differently. You will find more detailed explanations in the astronomy section of the file. Therefore, with that conclusion, I can deduce a nature of the attacks that we have suffered. To the fifth page.¡±


    They flip the pages. It feels like the classes that I gave in Harvard for a brief week.


    (Alva): ¡°The enemy that Bertram has related to us gave the impression of being a ¡®evolutive army¡±, but I think that it¡¯s not the case. He mentioned that the technology of the enemy advanced years for each attack, and I think that is indeed the case. While for us it was a sequence of daily attacks, for the enemy, years, decades or even centuries have passed.¡±


    Prunia raised her hand.


    (Alva): ¡°Yes?¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°So it¡¯s like we are inside a time bubble?¡±


    (Alva): ¡°Indeed, that seems to be the case. As for the reason of the attacks, I can¡¯t determine that without meeting the attackers. This is a resume for our current location and external situation. For more details, you can consult the file, everything is well explained there. Now, let¡¯s enter out current internal situation. Please, go to page twelve.¡±


    The flip the pages.


    (Alva): ¡°For our monetary situation, the safes of the guild are filled with several billions of crystal coins.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°That much?! How did we gather so many money?!¡±


    I smiled.


    (Alva): ¡°We are a support guild after all. The money was gathered through selling equipment that we produced, as well consumables. Not only that, you know that we did mercenary work, right?¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Yeah, I remember that the guild had posts for joint work in raids.¡±


    (Alva): ¡°That combined with everything that we were paid to build or fix, we amassed a fortune, if my estimative is correct, the safe of Eternal Gear has 62,3% of the total money of the game.¡±


    She gulped.


    (Anastasia): ¡°What the fuck¡­ that¡¯s why we always have the best materials¡­¡±


    (Alva): ¡°Indeed. Anyway, as for precious metals, they can be transmuted from the iron mined from the infinite mines, so we can say that we have unlimited gold, silver and any other metal.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not that into the production of the guild, since I was part of the military command. Can we produce legendary metals, such as flame gold and cold silver?¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    (Alva): ¡°Yes, we produce all the materials from zero. The only thing that we can¡¯t produce are monster materials, but one of the plans of expansion that I was planning before coming here was to get over that issue.¡±


    Loga nodded.


    (Alva): ¡°As for political, we have the noble families of Mechaville to worry about. As they are now real people, I held back in the activation of several functions of Mechaville until we meet them. That will be something that we have to do soon, meeting the nobles. They seem unsatisfied with the situation of restrained resources and are rising voices, so we should be careful with them, since I didn¡¯t create them myself.¡±


    The girls nod with determined faces.


    (Alva): ¡°That concludes the immediate affairs that we have to deal with. As for now, I will talk a bit for our future plans. Please, go to page twenty.¡±


    They flip the pages.


    (Alva): ¡°For situation that we have on our military power, we only have two options, the Royal Guard and the golems and robots that the factories and I can produce. Although we have quite the monetary power and the military is decent, the only NPC that can face an early-late game player is Gehenna.


    Therefore, I got some dragons eggs from a friend and was planning to build a cage for raising dragons.¡±


    (Iona): ¡°Ax expected of husband!¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°Raise dragons? Seriously? Can we even do that?¡±


    (Alva): ¡°Yes. We can produce the food and provide the space, as we have a lot free here inside the Fomorian Mountain Range. I also don¡¯t plan on growing ancient species, my objective is creating dragon raiders and war dragons.¡±


    War dragons are a special breed dragon, smaller and tougher, bred for war and be used by riders. Although their sizes are generally the same, around seven to six meters long, they can have the same powers as ancient dragons.


    (Alva): ¡°The terrarium where I will raise them will be near the Lock na S¨²il, or the lake. I also plan on building a colosseum for training the soldiers and eventually hosting battles.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Good idea, comrade. Dragon riders are quite flexible to work with, and they can be a real wrecking ball if they¡¯re properly trained. We also have the Royal Guard to train into raiders, as well the Four Golden and Gehenna.¡±


    I nod.


    (Alva): ¡°This is it for situational business, you can consult the file if you want for further information. Any questions?¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°The time bubble, is it possible to break it?¡±


    (Alva): ¡°I don¡¯t know. Something may change when I open the Steam Gates, but I think it¡¯s better for us to bolster out military in any case.¡±


    They nod.


    (Alva): ¡°Now, onto the next subject. This world seems to function in similar fashion to the game, as all of you should be aware by testing your abilities.¡±


    They nod once again.


    (Alva): ¡°Therefore, we can skip the introduction, so please head to page 31.¡±


    They flip the pages.


    (Alva): ¡°The potions and items of the games still hold their effect, and the details can be found inside the file. The thing that I want to bring up at the moment is the effect of one item.¡±


    I say, taking four vials from my satchel, the Spring Water.


    (Alva): ¡°In the last few hours, I believe that I have attained immortality.¡±


    They look at me with weird looks, except Iona, who looks at me with some pride, as if to say ¡°as expected of husband¡±.


    (Alva): ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t say that without fundament. I still don¡¯t know if it extends to age, but at least, even if I¡¯m decapitated, I will not die.¡±


    Logan frowns.


    (Logan): ¡°Comrade, these vials are the Spring Water of Life, right? They are supposed to give immortality to those who drink, right?¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°If it was like that, it wouldn¡¯t work on us. That¡¯s why we didn¡¯t turn immortal on the game, and was used as a healing item.¡±


    I nod to Anastasia¡¯s words.


    (Alva): ¡°Yes, indeed that would be the case. However, I have a theory. In the game, although we could die, we would return to life almost immediately, therefore making us in the game effectively immortal, turning the effects of the spring water redundant.


    So I have a hypothesis. Our bodies were immortal in the past, so the water couldn¡¯t give us that, but now, we are mortals, even though our races are semi-divine. The reason why it makes us immortal now is because we are subjects to final death.¡±


    (Iona): ¡°That means¡­¡±


    (Alva): ¡°If we die, it¡¯s over. There¡¯s no respawn.¡±


    The room fell in a deep silence.


    (Alva): ¡°Look at this.¡±


    I said, taking a knife from my satchel and made a deep cut on my hand. They gasped for a second, but even before they could react, the wound closed by itself.


    (Alva): ¡°I also made some tests earlier. It¡¯s simply impossible to kill me with normal attacks, even attacks with Eternal Wound will close in a few seconds. Even if I¡¯m decapitated, my body will regrow immediately. That¡¯s why I said, I¡¯m, for most effects, immortal.¡±


    They looked at each other. Prunia rose her hand with certain unease in her eyes.


    (Prunia): ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit worried about it. after all, that seems a little¡­¡±


    (Alva): ¡°Unnatural?¡±


    I ask, guessing her next words. I nod to it.


    (Alva): ¡°Certainly, that may seem so, I agree completely. After all, we may be safe in this world with immortality, but what when we go back? Stay immortal even after returning implies a lot of things, even being unable to have a normal life. I won¡¯t say anything if you don¡¯t want to fight at all, and not drink the Spring Water. However, I can say that I don¡¯t regret it.¡±


    Everyone except for Iona looked at me with surprised eyes.


    (Anastasia): ¡°Are you really fine with that? Don¡¯t you have a family to return to?¡±


    I close my eyes and say:


    (Alva): ¡°I¡¯m a orphan. I also don¡¯t have any truly close friend. Even if I¡¯m young, I have many academic achievements. To say the truth, I was bored with my life. I will search for a way back to our world with all that I can. But I don¡¯t plan on returning.¡±


    (Logan): ¡°Comrade¡­¡±


    She said, looking at me with certain sadness in her eyes. I smiled. Logan is one of my closest friends, and even if we never met in real life, she knows who I am in real life, since I¡¯m quite famous.


    (Alva): ¡°Don¡¯t worry Logan, I¡¯m not doing this because I¡¯m tired of out world or anything like that, you know me very well. I¡¯m staying because of new things to see and to discover. That¡¯s simply my nature, and why I liked the game so much.¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    She asked, a bit confused.


    (Alva): ¡°Have you ever heard of Byakuya Youma?¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°That Japanese genius? Why mention him¡­ wait, your face¡­¡±


    She says surprised. Anastasia also notices and Iona widens her eyes in surprise. I nod.


    (Alva): ¡°It¡¯s me. I¡¯ll spare the details of my long life if study and effort, and jump to what really matters. I know a lot of things and love discovering new things the most. The word of Mechanica Fantasy appealed me so much because of all the things that I could do. Construct a real, working battle robot, learning physical and magical law to make portals, all of that is paradise to me.


    That is the reason why I have all my classes are crafting ones. I love creating and making anything that I can, and there is no limits here, in this world.¡±


    I said.


    (Anastasia): ¡°This is the reason why you created the Eternal Gear?¡±


    I shook my head, smiling.


    (Alva): ¡°I didn¡¯t just created, I made the Eternal Gear.¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡±


    (Alva): ¡°That¡¯s how I grinded my classes. I made every singe stone, wall and adornment of the whole Eternal Gear. I built Mechaville from the ground, I set the first stone of the Clockwork Palace to it¡¯s las tile in the roof, I transmuted the metals and jewels in the Steam Gates, as well built it from ground. I know every atom of this place like the back and front of my hand.¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°Wow¡­¡±


    She said, widening her eyes. I smile.


    (Alva): ¡°I also designed the Royal Garden and handmade the Metal Garden, I made the clothes of the staff of the palace and them as well. The equipment that you were using when you first arrived here was also one of the series that I made myself, one of several series. I just can¡¯t help it, I love creating, something impossible to do in our world. That is the reason for why I am staying, I just want to keep doing stuff.¡±


    I said with a smile.


    (Alva): ¡°That is why I don¡¯t mind being immortal and staying here. It¡¯s the best that I could wish for. If you girls wish to return, I will do my best to send you back, and if you don¡¯t want to fight, I won¡¯t force you. However, I will stay here, even if none of you want to, and will send you back to our world.¡±


    They looked at each other. The one to move first was Iona. She took one of the flasks and drank the content. She looked at us and smiled happily.


    (Iona): ¡°Although I do have family back in our world, it is only my mother. She would be happy if I pursued happiness, and it¡¯s here that I will find it. I will also stay if husband also will.¡±


    She said, smiling to me. I smile back to her. Logan is the next one to take the flask and drink it.


    (Logan): ¡°I have my reasons, but sincerely, I don¡¯t want to go back at all. I want to stay.¡±


    Prunia, seeing this, was unhesitant in taking one of the flasks and gulping down the content. I look at her, surprised. She smiles sweetly.


    (Prunia): ¡°Guildmaster is a really funny guy. After what you said, I made up my mind. So I¡¯ll stay and have as much fun as I can!¡±


    Anastasia looked at the last flask, doubt in her eyes. No one said anything, and after a short silence, she took the last flask, with a different gleam in her eyes. Taking off the lid and drunk the Spring Water.


    (Anastasia): ¡°I also have my reasons. I will stay as well, but if possible, I¡¯d like to at least be able to send a message back at home¡­¡±


    She said, looking up to me. I nodded strongly.


    (Alva): ¡°I¡¯ll find a way, no matter what.¡±


    Her eyes widen, and she lowers her gaze, her bangles hiding her face from me. Take my satchel and smile awkwardly.


    (Alva): ¡°Well, it took a different direction of what I was expecting, but how about we eat now?¡±

 Chapter 6: Court Ball (Part 1)

    (3¡ã person POV)


    Mechaville is bustling with the small talk of its citizens. From the little children playing on the streets, the housewives hanging clothes and sewing, the average male citizen working from the factories to the farms. The nobleman in their offices and reunions and their servants cleaning the mansions and buying groceries.


    From each and one though, the gossip is the same. In the previous day after lunch, a messenger came out of the Clockwork Palace with news from their recently returned rulers. It was an invitation, sent to each noble of Mechaville, the invitation to a ball.


    However, not the average ball held in the party halls across Mechaville, but much more pompous, leaving even the highest of nobles infatuated. An invitation to the halls of the Clockwork Palace itself for the first time since the creation of Mechaville. Of course, it¡¯s the latest and only word on the city of these last hours.


    As for the date of the ball, it¡¯s this night at its later hours. And as the veil of the night falls, the lights of the majestic front of the Clockwork Palace show its nightly beauty. The full moon hangs in the sky, its own silvery light failing to outshine the artificial lights that lit up the way to the frontal gate.


    Different from the usual, a fence has been made of golden material, the light posts shining stronger than usual, lighting up the gorgeous red and golden carpet leading inside the Palace. Even early as this, the reporters of the news sources from Mechaville, such as the Daily Gear and Oil News, the two leading newspapers, stand at the edges to catch glimpses and pictures of the nobles that barely ever leave their states.


    Some of the common people as well gather to see the renowned warriors and heroes of the Royal Guard, as well famous nobles, as even the military was invited. The decorate golden gates of the Palace are perfectly open, two silver knights standing on each side guarding the entrance, although such a thing is unnecessary, as not even the maddest of inhabitants would even think of entering the Clockwork Palace without permission.


    And inside the Palace, on the hall not far from the gates, the staff and the Palace¡¯s master prepare for the event.


    (Alva¡¯s POV)


    I walk the First Dancehall with Gehenna on my heels, dressed in her formal military uniform with her ranking clearly displayed with the platinum embroilment of a mechanical dragon with one platinum gear above it on the right side of her chest and left shoulder of the black and platinum uniform. Her silvery hair is also tied in a neat ponytail, although her spiky hair makes it look fluffy as well.


    I¡¯m still not on my party dress, there are a few things that I have to oversee before I get ready for the party. As an example, the buffet. Although I do trust the kitchen team and the servant teams of butlers and maids, I always fuss over the details, and I¡¯m not satisfied until I have gone through everything.


    The wide and vast hall is beautiful, after all, I designed it. the floor is smooth, typical of a dancing room with geometrical patterns of brown, white and gold. The pillars are white, following the patter of the rest of the castle, carved pillars with mechanical patterns with a gear at the bottom and one at the top made out of gold.


    The walls follow the color scheme, and beautiful chandeliers illuminate the hall, made out of precious metals and crystals, the light provided being supernaturally bright, but not bothering the eyes at all.


    The band practices at the end of the hall where we, the players, will be coming out today just between the flights of stairs on a small stage, the sweet sound of calm classical music filling the air with violins and cellos, as well other repercussion instruments with the maestro guiding them.


    I sample some of the food. Yes, delicious. Gehenna also sneaks a bite or two. Now that I think about it, Gehenna had a setting on her character that she liked a lot of good food. I smile gently, and she blushes when she notices my gaze, stopping immediately from eating. I turn to her, making her stand in ready position.


    (Alva): ¡°Well, it seems that everything here is okay. The food is good, the servants are done with the cleaning of every nook and cranny and every invitation received a positive answer. The security should also be about right, but considering that there Is almost no chance of anything happening¡­¡±


    (Gehenna): ¡°With all due respect, My Lord, we should be ready in every single occasion and probability.¡±


    I smile to her.


    (Alva): ¡°Impeccable as ever, Gehenna. Can I leave the security check to you?¡±


    She struck her hells together, her shiny dragon leather boots making a loud and pleasant sound as she salutes me.


    (Gehenna): ¡°Yes, My Lord!¡±


    I nod, and before she turned away with my new orders, I raise my finger, stopping her on her motion. She looks at me confused for a moment before I reach for the corner of her mouth, making her blush slightly again. She¡¯s fairly easy to fluster, isn¡¯t she? It¡¯s kinda cute with her tough looks.


    I clean the sauce on the corner of her lips, remains of the piece that she ate earlier in her hurry. I smile as I lick the sauce from my finger. Gehenna blushes heavily as I say:


    (Alva): ¡°Now you can go.¡±


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    She nods, her face a darker shade of red as she stiffly turns around and marches away. I chuckle, I guess that¡¯s you what you call gap moe. Alright, time to change my clothes as well check on the girls. After all, they should have already started getting ready by now since the party will start before long.


    I can¡¯t really send them a message at the moment, I don¡¯t have any message items on me right now and sending a guild notice just for them to hurry up in getting ready would be bad and an abuse of guild rights. Well, I guess I¡¯ll just meet them at the rom that we combined to meet before the party.


    I walk up one of the sides of the stairs and ether the large, decorated double doors made out of orichalcum, a golden-ish metal with a extremely faint red hue and mithril, with several carvings. Now that I think about it, celestial marble, orichalcum and mithril are the most common components of the Clockwork Palace, aren¡¯t they?


    I went all out with my alchemy after all, so I made a lot. Most of the golden in this Palace is orichalcum, same for the silver, that is actually mithril. Now that I think about it, walking around the Palace is a bother¡­ of course, there are the teleportation relays as well the Moving Gears Room to administrate the teleportation network.


    The relays were made for the player use, since the palace was fairly full all the time, since the guild was big and the palace IS a facility made to be inhabited for several thousands at the same time, and the system was made for that, to support several players at the same time.


    My first idea was to make a guild insignia that allowed teleportation inside the Palace, but to make for each member would be a waste of material and inefficient, without mentioning that would be less secure. If a member quit the guild and keeps the insignia or it gets stolen the holder will be able to access areas exclusive to the guild members.


    Because of that I created the relay system, you register a player and his rank on the guild and from there the system allows him or her to teleport to wherever they can within permitted territory, as there are areas of the Palace exclusive to officers of the guild.


    The Clockwork Palace is a complex structure after all, the saloon that I just walked off is part of the ¡°public area¡± where visitors can transit around without anything but a few shops and some particular rooms for guild members. The other areas are not accessible if not by teleport, reason why the servants can use the relays.


    But now¡­ well, I can let the relay system the way it is, there are still several servants tending to the place, but for us guild members I could make something different. Maybe rings, pendants or badges. I wonder what they¡¯ll like? As I think that, I finally get to a teleportation relay in the deeper areas of the public area.


    I enter the circumference of the gear, carved with all the spells needed connecting with the relay system. And yes, this system is player made, not something made by the guild system. The Eternal Gear was¡­ well, at least until the second we came to this world, the pioneer of several useful stuff.


    Meaning that I was hired quite a few times together with my apprentices to install teleportation relays on several guild headquarters. Not only that, turrets, mechas, guns, Eternal Gear is a quality brand that is on the top of the charts all the time.


    (Alva): ¡°Teleport: Resting Room N¡ã 1.¡±


    I say out loud, the gear at my feet lighting up in a blue hue, enveloping my body. after a brief second, I¡¯m teleported to the resting room, immediately hearing the familiar voices of the girls. They look surprised at me for a second, all of them still dressed in casual clothes while sitting around the round table on the couches with a few drinks and sweets on top of it.


    (Logan): ¡°Comrade, you surprised us!¡±


    (Alva): ¡°Sorry for that. There¡¯s no way to send a message without the guild board, so I thought it would be just better to show up in the resting room.¡±


    I say as I look to the girls. Umm¡­ Iona is missing, but Logan, Anastasia and Prunia are here.


    (Alva): ¡°Iona¡¯s still on the training grounds testing her summons?¡±


    Before anyone could answer, Logan smirks and asks:


    (Logan): ¡°Worried about your wifey, comrade? You should check on her and get some refreshments, as well some preservatives! Or do you want a heir for your throne?¡±


    I sigh at Logan¡¯s usual teasing, merely answering as I usually do:


    (Alva): ¡°Shove it up your ass.¡±


    Logan made a shocked face, covering the ears of a confused Prunia.


    (Logan): ¡°We have our junior here, comrade! You have to mind your language!¡±


    She said as if she really cared. I smiled gently, making a polite bow, saying in the most gentleman tone I could muster:


    (Alva): ¡°Pardon me for my rude behavior, Milady, I had no idea. You as well, my dearest junior, we wouldn¡¯t want you to be tainted by twisted rude words, would we? So, my dear old friend Lady Logan, may I rephrase my words? Please, take your untimely comments with gentle hands, and with all your strength, thrust them where the morning sun and the setting moon don¡¯t shine their light.¡±


    Prunia holds a laughter while Logan smirks. Anastasia only looks at me weirdly, as if I said something actually weird. How rude, I¡¯m a perfectly normal, functional human being.


    (Alva): ¡°The reason I¡¯m looking for her is so just I can let all of you know that the ball will start in three hours or so, so if you girls want you can already go change your clothes. I also came here to let all of you know that if you need anything just ask me, I¡¯ll see if I¡¯m able to make it.¡±


    They nodded. Prunia rose her hand, as if in a classroom. I nod to her.


    (Alva): ¡°Yes, student Prunia?¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°Teach, what ya mean with ¡°anything we need¡± that you¡¯ll make?¡±


    I touch my chin. Well, that¡¯s a broad question.


    (Alva): ¡°Well, as an example¡­ I¡¯ll make a fully functional phone for each one of us so that we can communicate at any time as well having a teleporting support within the Clockwork Palace and hopefully to wherever we expand Mechaville to in the future if that is the case.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Wait, you can make a phone? Isn¡¯t that way out of your academical expertise?¡±


    She asks suddenly. I raise my eyebrows, nodding.


    (Alva): ¡°Well, that would be the case. You know that I¡¯m good with science, right? Well, most of my experiments were made here, on Mechanica, a world with a self replicating and mutating algorithm that allows for a fairly faithful replication of the real world, reaching realms that even the creators didn¡¯t expect.¡±


    They looked at me confused for a moment. Guessing their doubt, I answered:


    (Alva): ¡°Think about the world of the game like that of a¡­ did you girls see that movie where the monster evolves and stuff? Yeah, something like that. Mechanica is a complex world with set rules. However, it¡¯s impossible to simulate everything from our universe.


    Therefore, the way that the creators came up with was to make a world that has the ability to evolve as it¡¯s played. The players use the rules in new and interesting ways, so with base on its data bank, the game adapts and adopts that previously non-existent characteristic. For example, space-time concept, nuclear energy, radiation, etc. get it?¡±


    I ask. They nod, still a bit confused. I smile and say:


    (Alva): ¡°Well, this is a talk for another time. For now, we have to get ready for the ball.¡±


    I say, walking to the teleport relay.


    (Anastasia): ¡°Wait, what¡¯s the type of clothes that we have to use?¡±


    I think for a second before answering:


    (Alva): ¡°Anything that¡¯s old fashioned or has a steampunk team to it¡­ just don¡¯t go overboard on the gear decorations. I¡¯m sure you girls have more than enough pretty clothes from events.¡±


    They look at each other for a moment.


    (Logan): ¡°Well, I can¡¯t really deny that.¡±


    (Prunia): ¡°Right?¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t really say anything about that either.¡±


    (Alva): ¡°See? Well, I¡¯m gonna look for Iona. She can¡¯t miss the ball. If you girls excuse me, I have to change to something more presentable than just this dragon leather long coat. Teleport: Personal Room.¡±


    The blue light of the teleport relay envelopes me and I¡¯m teleported to my room, the usual mess of several unfinished works and the forever boiling alchemy cauldron. Alright, where did I put my spare formal clothes? I¡¯m quite sure I have some around here¡­

 Chapter 7: Court Ball (Part 2)

    (Alva¡¯s POV)


    I fiddle with the suit one last time. Umm¡­ alright, seems ok. I¡¯m on a black suit, with a deep red shirt and a black necktie with my hair combed back. The suit isn¡¯t completely black, it has golden rims with some gold strands on the fabric, creating golden reflections on the black. I also put on some black leather gloves. I also have my black leather shoes and my cane with me.


    I look quite good if I may so myself. I look like a villain from a fantasy game. There¡¯s some kind of irony in that phrase, I think. It seems that I have an hour until the time for the ball, so I guess I¡¯ll just go to the meeting point. Meanwhile, I¡¯ll take with me some trinkets to fiddle with, see if I can make some kind of communicator.


    From my table I take several components, stuffing them in my pockets, way more than they should be able to handle. This is the result created by one of my skills from my Meister skill trees, Shared Pocked, where I can put several items on the same separated space to be accessed from any pocket or portal that I can open.


    It doesn¡¯t connect to my satchel, that I use mainly for transporting materials and bigger and bulky tools, since I can¡¯t put things that don¡¯t fit on a pocket, like a gun or a sword. But some small and essential tools as well components for small trinkets. I should be able to make some stuff for short range communication. Maybe something connecting to the teleportation relay system?


    It¡¯s energy transmission after all, I could temper with the devices and make them interact with that flow and transmit information¡­ umm¡­ it can work, after all I was the one that projected and made the damn thing. I am able to fiddle with it as much as I want. With the stuff in my pockets, I walk to the teleportation relay.


    (Alva): ¡°Teleport: Dancehall 1.¡±


    I say, the light of the teleport taking me to behind the giant door that leads to the ball room, already filled with the nobles from Mechaville that are now enjoying the music and the food. The reason for that is for making our entrance much greater. Here behind the door is our meeting point, and it seems I¡¯m the first to arrive.


    I hang my cane on my left arm as I take out some components from my pockets, as well a wrench to start assembling the artifact that I¡¯ll be creating. Umm, I¡¯ll need a portable engraving tool¡­ oh, it seems that I have it on my shared pocket.


    Since it¡¯s a fairly simple artifact it won¡¯t take long to make enough for all of us. Let me see¡­ a few enchanting runes to interact with the portal network. Normally, to make such an enchantment, the enchanter would need to make the formula to interact with the system, but since I¡¯m it¡¯s maker, I can made it by mental calculations.


    The shape will be messy, since it¡¯s a prototype. It will be fine as long it can transmit speech and use the teleportation relay system. For now, it will be only able to teleport to other relays, to make something that allows free teleportation will take a bit more research and work.


    As I make the thing, I hear the sound of feet clacking against the floor. I raise my eyes from the apparatus, getting surprised by the view. Anastasia, Iona and Prunia walk in, making my jaw almost hit the floor. the first one to approach me, running in front f the others, is Iona, in her avatar form of her kitsune character, dressed in a gorgeous yukata, her white tails shaking behind her. She hugs my arm, smiling.


    (Iona): ¡°How is it, husband? Am I pretty in my new clothes?¡±


    She asks excited, her tail wagging behind her lightly.


    (Alva): ¡°You¡¯re gorgeous.¡± I say sincerely, making her blush and gives me a silly smile. I then look at the other girls. ¡°You¡¯re all¡­ simply gorgeous.¡±


    I say, watching Prunia in her bunny form smile and Anastasia, surprisingly in her normal human form, blush lightly to my compliment. She crosses her arms, giving me a stare.


    (Anastasia): ¡°Please, no cheap flattery.¡±


    (Alva): ¡°It isn¡¯t cheap flattery, this black and white dress combine greatly with your skin and hair, the frills giving a nice aesthetic feeling. You did well in letting your hair straight, it matches more your face. The choice of light makeup is nice as well, it looks great on you and really accentuates your features. It looks way better than your avatar form.¡±


    I said, her face being taken by shock for a moment before blushing heavily and turning away. Prunia laughs lightly to my comment and Anastasia¡¯s reaction while Iona painfully pokes my ribs while pouting, her ears falling flat.


    (Prunia): ¡°Boss is good with words! What about me, am I cute?¡±


    She asks, striking a pose and emphasizing her breasts. I smile, answering.


    (Alva): ¡°Yes, the pink and white contrast nicely, the patterns and frills are cute, the shape of the dress does emphasize nicely your curves. Combining it with your new hair and rabbit ears, I can say that you have achieved a new level of cuteness, although you were fairly cute with your normal human appearance.¡±


    Prunia smiles in silence for a moment, no answering immediately. She covers her mouth with the back of her hand, avoiding my eyes with hers and blushing slightly.


    (Prunia): ¡°That was more damaging that I thought.¡±


    (Iona): ¡°Husband, praise me!¡±


    She said, poking my cheek while pouting. I stopped her from doing it by petting her head, surprising her.


    (Alva): ¡°How can I say it¡­ There¡¯s no words beautiful enough to describe you.¡±


    I say simply. She blushes heavily, showing me a goofy smile while I pet her head. I look around, noticing that there is someone missing.


    (Alva): ¡°Where¡¯s Logan?¡±


    I ask, curious by her absence from the group that until now has been walking together. Anastasia sighs, saying:


    (Anastasia): ¡°Well, she¡¯s a bit shy¡­ come on, get out from behind the wall, Logan.¡±


    She says, looking back from the corridor that they came out.


    (Logan): ¡°Not in a fucking way!¡± she answers aggressively. ¡°I hate dresses! I shouldn¡¯t have listened to you girls and should¡¯ve come in my avatar form!¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Come on, Logan! Don¡¯t be such a wimp! I don¡¯t remember you being a coward!¡±


    She said mockingly. Logan made an angry grunt, stepping out from the corridor hesitantly. What I see surprises me greatly. Logan was already beautiful, but now, she looks like a doll. She¡¯s dressed in a crimson gown that exposes her arms and shoulders, giving off a delicate feeling.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Her face is well decorated with a reasonable amount of makeup, the blue eyes with black eyeliner and the cheekbones with a light red blush, the lips accentuated by a deep crimson lipstick, making her face look much more beautiful and mature from her usual youngish looks. She seems a bit taller, probably the result from the high hells that I can hear from her walking. Her blonde hair has also suffered treatment, turning from the usual straight to princess curls that are quite hard to make.


    (Alva): ¡°Wow¡­¡±


    She frowns at me, her cheeks turning redder than the makeup.


    (Logan): ¡°Laugh all you want, comrade. I know I look ridiculous in this.¡±


    (Alva): ¡°Why the fuck I would laugh? You look beautiful in that dress, Logan.¡±


    I say sincerely. Logan blushes heavily, and Anastasia chuckles with a smug face behind her back. Logan walks up to me and strongly kicks my shin while my guard is low. I crouch silently, grabbing my shin. I¡¯m quite sure that the cracking sound came from my bones.


    (Logan): ¡°T-thanks for the compliment.¡±


    She said turning away from me, I can see her ears turning red from here when I look up to her back as she walks away from me.


    (Alva): ¡°Please, thank me by not cracking the bones of my shins.¡±


    Iona crouches on my side, touching my shoulder.


    (Iona): ¡°Don¡¯t worry husband, you¡¯re immortal! You¡¯re going to regenerate it in no time!¡±


    She said, but I could feel some anger in her voice. Maybe because I praised the other girls so much. I wonder what she sees on me, this Iona. I don¡¯t think that I¡¯m that interesting of a man besides having good looks. I¡¯m a nerd shut in after all. As I ponder that, my shin heals, regenerating from the damage caused to the bones. As I get up, Prunia approaches, asking with the dress showing some cleavage.


    (Prunia): ¡°By the way, Boss. What was the thing you were fiddling when we arrived?¡±


    (Alva): ¡°Oh, that. Give me a second.¡±


    I say as I take the prototype from my pocket and show it to them. they look at it and the first one to be rude about it is Prunia.


    (Prunia): ¡°Boss, what¡¯s this weird thing?¡±


    With a swift attack, I hit her head with a karate chop, making her crouch holding her head while I explain what this is.


    (Alva): ¡°This is a prototype of a communicator and as well a portable teleporter. I was thinking of making one for each one of us.¡±


    (Anastasia): ¡°Oh, that could be useful.¡±


    Prunia recovers from my hit as I speak.


    (Alva): ¡°I was thinking of making this an insignia or a ring in the future¡­ but might as well put everything on the phone that I mentioned before. We can test it later, I have to work on something more compact.¡±


    (Iona): ¡°Is it going to be hard to make it, Husband? Will you need any help?¡±


    She asks, touching my arm.


    (Alva): ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about anything. It¡¯s going to be easy, all that I need are some enchants and some alchemy materials. I¡¯m more worried about what to use as source of energy. I would be nice to make a battery that doesn¡¯t run out.¡±


    As I stop talking, someone approaches. It¡¯s Bertram walking towards us with Gehenna in tow. They stop in front of us, going down on one knee with their heads lowered.


    (Bertram): ¡°Ladies, Lord, the guests are ready to receive your light.¡±


    I cringe a little, Bertram is a bit fanatic when it comes to us five, although he speaks with a straight face and a stoic expression all the time, sounding more serious and calm than fanatic and obsessed. Gehenna keeps her head low, she¡¯s a woman of few words.


    (Alva): ¡°Yes, it is about time we introduce ourselves to the nobles¡­ girls, are you sure about your appearance?¡±


    I ask, looking more to Iona and Prunia. Iona shakes her head to me.


    (Iona): ¡°I only came in like this to give Husband some eye candy.¡±


    She says, turning back to her human form. Prunia pouts immediately, turning back to her human form, her clothes adjusting to her changing height and shape.


    (Prunia): ¡°Then I¡¯m changing too. I can¡¯t be the only one that goes in game form, can I? it isn¡¯t cool!¡±


    She said. we smiled, and Iona even giggled. Alright, time for us to introduce ourselves to the nobles of Mechaville. I make a sign to Bertram, and he gets up together with Gehenna, walking to the door.


    (inside the ball room, 3¡ã person POV, a few minutes ago)


    The nobles enjoy drinks of the highest quality and food of the finest making, much more than even the dukes of Mechaville can afford or even get access to. Among them, two of the noble ladies stand out among the crowd.


    The first one is a tall, young woman with rosy skin, platinum hair and a horn poking out from the center of her forehead, the black surface of her horn engraved and decorated with a platinum ring. Her face is beautiful, not native to any nation of earth, with delicate lines and glowing, ice-blue eyes.


    She has a curvaceous body, dressed in a white and blue gown, her height standing around 1,90, a fairly tall woman. Her cold demeanor broken occasionally by a smile caused by her companion. In contrast to her bright, colors and cold feeling, she is a normal, human woman with her height being around 1,60.


    Her hair is that of a dark red, the color of blood, like her eyes. Her skin is pale as wax, even paler than her companion. Her lips decorated with a deep red lipstick, and eyes marked with black eyeliner. She is also dressed in a black gown decorated with red frills, even her nails painted as blood red. She is as beautiful as her friend, her straight hair falling to her waist like her taller friend.


    These two are famous figures in the picture of Mechaville, and now, two of the other famous figures approach the two noblewomen. One of them is a tall, dashing young man around 1,80, with blonde hair swept back, dressed in flashy clothes with a steampunk theme to it, with a main theme of red and gold, with green eyes and androgynous face stuck in a perfect smile.


    The other one is the opposite, far shorter than his friend, around 1,50, with brown hair combed back on his head, glistening with some kind of hair product that failed slightly in keeping his hair in the right position.


    He was also dressed opulently, even more than anyone in this room, as if to showcase his rich and power. The clothes, like all the others in this hall, were a mix of steampunk and some gothic, the colors were gold and white. He was filled to the brim with jewelry, three necklaces, several rings in every finger, and the coat beautifully sewn with several jewelry.


    Although each one of the accessories is indeed beautiful, they together form an unsightly mess. Even more complemented by his appearance. He was of an unhealthy weight, extremely so, so much that the white shirt below his coat seemed ready to burst at any moment as his flabby belly weaved around.


    His face was, as expected, fat as well. Big cheeks with no visible chin, pale skin due no exposure to the sun at all, brown eyes with a playful glint to them, and an affable smile to his semblance. The first one to speak was him, as he spoke with a pleasant voice.


    (fat noble): ¡°Duchess Frostspire!¡± He said, addressing the taller woman, and the one at her side. ¡°Baroness Coldharbour! What an honor to meet such famous figures of Mechaville!¡±


    He said cheerfully, shaking hands with them excitedly. Instead of the creasy hand that you would expect, his hands were clean and surprisingly rough and callused, as either that of a swordsman or a smith. Severa Frostspire, the woman with a horn, smiled lightly.


    (Severa): ¡°Margrave Cornhill, what a pleasure to meet you! It¡¯s been some time since I wanted to meet such a famous noble as yourself!¡±


    Devon Cornhill smiled a gentle and happy smile.


    (Devon): ¡°Ah, please Your Majesty, you fluster me! I¡¯m just a humble noble! Here, let me introduce my most recent friend, although I believe that both of you have already met, ho ho ho!¡±


    He said, laughing heartily. The handsome man took a step forward, bowling lightly.


    (handsome noble): ¡°It has been some time since we last met, lady Frostspire.¡±


    Severa¡¯s smile disappeared almost instantly, her voice turning to a more distant, still polite, tone.


    (Severa): ¡°Duke Marius Metra¡­ it has indeed been some time.¡±


    His smile didn¡¯t falter, used to such responses. He then looked to the baroness, that didn¡¯t like the light in his eyes.


    (Marius): ¡°Oh, this must be the famous Red Baroness. It¡¯s a pleasure to be in your presence, Lady Coldharbour.¡±


    Although Saira Coldharbour didn¡¯t like him immediately, she was still a noble, and answered with an angelical smile.


    (Saira): ¡°It seems that my reputation proceeds me, Your Highness. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet the one responsible for the administration of the finances of the Royal Guard.¡±


    She said, doing a polite bow while raising her skirt, like a noble should. Marius laughs, as if happy by her comment.


    (Marius): ¡°Well, it isn¡¯t a great position, since I¡¯m just being ordered around by Lady Gehenna when she actually needs my presence. Besides that, I just mange the flow of money and my own district.¡± He said humbly. ¡°However, the stars of tonight are not us nobles.¡± He looked at where the rulers of Mechaville will come out, the doors still shut tightly. ¡°To think that they invited us to the Clockwork Palace¡­¡±


    (Devon): ¡°Oh my, you haven¡¯t been invited here before, Lord Marcus?¡±


    Marcus just smiles, answering to the honest question.


    (Marcus): ¡°Not at all, even if I¡¯m in close ties with the Royal Guard the Palace is off limits, even for us Dukes and Duchess Frostspire.¡±


    (Devon): ¡°How unexpected¡­ but still, I¡¯m looking forward to meeting the Heavenly Ones!¡±


    (Severa): ¡°Indeed. It has been a long time since I last saw the Heavenly Ones in person¡­¡±


    Serina looked at her long-time friend with a surprised face, as he hasn¡¯t heard of that story yet. Severa made a proud face, with a light smile in her lips.


    (Severa): ¡°Of course! After all, two hundred fifty years ago, when Mechaville was still young, I was personally appointed by the Most High of the Heavenly Ones.¡±


    After all, the time in the game is different for each world, and the word where Mechaville was situated was particularly faster, making the whole guild base a total of three hundred years old for the NPCs, and a fraction of that time for the gamers. Devon¡¯s eyes shined with her words.


    (Devon): ¡°Oh my, I heard legends, but I never have caught a glimpse of the Most-High! How is he? Is it as the stories say?¡±


    Severa smiled lightly at the affable and curious noble, the eyes gleaming with a childish curiosity.


    (Severa): ¡°How can I say it¡­ he is imponent and has an aura to him.¡± She said, recalling when she was younger, as her race, the Frost Demons, live for quite a while. ¡°You will know when you meet him.¡±


    She says mysteriously, with a light smile. Devon opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted when a voice went through the whole hall, silencing the chatter.


    (Bertram): ¡°Ladies and Gentleman, it is my honor to introduce to you all our Rulers and lights of the Divine. Please, welcome our Archduchesses, our Queen and King!¡±