Overlord: The Multiverse

Chapter 44: Union of Eight Guilds

As the sands of time trickled away, the once lively halls of Ainz Ooal Gown grew quieter than a library on a Monday morning. Members began to disappear faster than a rogue in stealth mode, leaving behind a guild that felt more empty than my inventory after a dungeon run.

Weeks melted into months, and months morphed into years, until I found myself stuck in a digital desert, parched for even the smallest drop of social interaction. It was like being stranded on a deserted island, except instead of coconuts, I had virtual armor and an inventory full of loot.

One day, while scrolling through my friends list like a bored teenager on social media, I noticed something peculiar – not a single one of my pals had logged in for what felt like an eternity. No messages, no guild chat, not even a simple "hello." It was as if they had all disappeared into the virtual ether, leaving me to fend for myself in the vast expanse of cyberspace.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good solo adventure as much as the next gamer. But there's only so much dungeon crawling and monster slaying a guy can take before he starts craving some human interaction. Plus, who was I supposed to brag to about my latest loot drop or complain to about the overpowered raid bosses?

So, there I was, trapped in a digital purgatory, with nothing but my thoughts and slutty chats from Death herself.

You know you're in trouble when Death becomes your daily buddy – although, to be fair, she does have a killer sense of humor.

But hey, every cloud has a silver lining, right? At least I didn't have to worry about my guildmates hogging all the loot or stealing my kills. It was a solo player's paradise – if you ignored the overwhelming sense of loneliness, that is.

But as the days dragged on and the silence grew deafening, I couldn't help but wonder: where had everyone gone? Had they all abandoned ship, leaving me to sail the digital seas alone? Or were they off on some epic quest known as life, leaving me behind like the sidekick in a bad RPG?

Either way, one thing was for sure – I was in desperate need of some company. Because of that I developed a habit of talking with NPC's.

Talking to NPCs was like having conversations with statues – they may stand there looking attentive, but when it came down to it, they were about as responsive as a rock.

I'd pour my heart out to them, spill my deepest secrets, and all I'd get in return was a blank stare and the occasional scripted line.

It was a bit like therapy, except instead of nodding sympathetically and offering sage advice, the NPCs just stood there, frozen in time, waiting for their next command.

Not exactly the most comforting thought when you're craving some genuine human interaction.

But hey, beggars couldn't be choosers, right? And in a virtual world where the only other option was to wander the empty halls of the guild hall alone, talking to NPCs was better than nothing. Plus, there was always the off chance that one of them would glitch out and start spouting gibberish – now that was entertainment.

So, I'd chat away to my heart's content, regaling the silent guardians with tales of my latest exploits and asking them for advice on everything from battle tactics to fashion tips. Sure, it was a one-sided conversation, but it beat the alternative – sitting in silence, listening to the echoes of my own voice bouncing off the walls.

They are going to be my future companions, so I don't think it's a bad idea. Plus, I didn't forget to mention some of my favorite in sexual-related aspects and some of my favorite hentai story (to female only). Who knows, it could come in handy in the future.

•••

As guild members began to drift away, the once-mighty Ainz Ooal Gown saw its ranking plummet from the pinnacle of power to a mere shadow of its former glory. Once feared and respected, the guild now struggled to maintain even a foothold in the rankings.

Despite Alexander's tireless efforts, tackling guild quests and challenges single-handedly, some tasks simply demanded more than one player to accomplish. And as for recruiting new members, Alexander wasn't exactly keen on the idea. Who needed newbies messing up his meticulously crafted plans, after all?

As the guild's influence waned, old enemies began to stir. Those with grudges against Ainz Ooal Gown saw their chance to strike, banding together in a coalition of vengeance known as the Union of Eight Guilds. Their goal? Nothing less than the total annihilation of Ainz Ooal Gown and the seizure of their fabled legacy.

Little did they know, however, that within the depths of the Great Tomb of Nazarick lurked a single, solitary figure – a force to be reckoned with, capable of laying waste to their best-laid plans with ease.

They called him the strongest player in Yggdrasil, the King of Vampires... Count Alexander.

With their army of 1500 players, the Union of Eight Guilds was about to learn the true meaning of fear.

~~~

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[In my patron, Gaming arc and Highschool DXD arc ended and Demon Slayer Arc just started.]