The clashing of steel echoed through a plain white room. Its walls laid beyond the horizon. Its ceiling, hidden beneath the ever shining white light of artificial origin. Boots scraped against the floors, and the resounding cracks of tiles bought forth by the sudden surge of weight, bringing pause and cadence to the constant clashes.
Within the empty white space clashed two individual dressed in pure white casual wears, constantly clashing their steel swords at each other.
One was a wide shouldered, muscularly athletic and black haired man in his mid twenties. His eyes shone grey, shining with ferocity and determination as it fixed itself on his opponent. With arms holding a sword, with a blade as wide as his beefy arms and length equal to the distance between his chest to the soles of his feet.
His toes found purchase as it curled, soles sinking with strength, and legs flexing with power -and from a slight crouch- he launched himself covering four meters in an instant. His sword poised forward for a crisp diagonal slash.
*Clang!
His momentum halted by his opponent, shield meeting his blade, and behind it stood a beautiful woman in her mid twenties. Hair as black as night and eyes as red as blood with a cute nose and full pink lips made visible by her light skin tone.
She wore a white lose crop top, with a lose long sleeve that held her wrist and neck tightly. Her well toned midriff is exposed and the slightest of her black sports bra peeked from underneath. Paired with white denim shorts that strained against her well muscled legs and a pair of black combat boots.
She held a kite shield at her left and a sword at her right. Both of which proved unusable as her footing slid against the strength of her opponent. Instinctively making her find her footing first at the cost of a counter.
She then saw him take a step closer. He gripped his sword and strengthened his wrist, and shoved her shield away. Instead of fighting the force, she allowed her shield to be shove to the side. Twisting her body in retaliation, she swung her sword poised for a strike at his midsection.
He blocked her attack ending it prematurely by grabbing the blade itself with his hand and brought down his sword. Again, he was halted by the same shield that awkwardly defended her. Seeing her lose her footing, he let go of her blade before she could yank it back. And stepped closer to her shield while transitioning into a half-sword stance and slid his blade above her shield for a stab.
She simply leaned her head to the side, avoiding the blade and she drew her sword from below to an upwards swing.
He stepped further in to her shield's side keeping himself outside of her sword's influence, dodging the swing. Not wanting to lose the initiative, he kept her footing weak with constant stabs, pokes and blows against her shield still in half-sword, he made use of his crossguard and even his pommel with the intent of battering her defenses slowly.
With the constant attacks on her shield, she was forced to hold a defensive position longer than she would like. The shield she used to defend has now become her own blind side.
Moments after the constant guarding and her arm started to waver. She suddenly stepped back with a slash, making some distance between them. Hoping to give her arm some time to rest.
But he would not allow it and rushed her, his sword poised forward in a two handed grip. She parried the strike to the side but he didn't stop closing the distance. His shoulder met her shield like a battering ram.
Making her lose her footing, barely stopping herself from falling. Again, her shield was bashed this time by his pommel as he continued to close the distance. She retaliates with her sword but, he grabbed her blade. Expecting his actions, she yanked it in an instant. Drawing blood from his hand. Allowing her to distance her self and plant her feet beneath her once more.
Ignoring the slight trickle of blood in his hand, his eyes sharpened as he realigns his stance. Feet apart, slightly crouched. Sword forward and pointed at his opponent, gripping it with both hands.
They both released a breath and with an unspoken signal, they rushed against each other once more.
For a time, the two simply dueled in a fiery exchange of steel. Ever clanging, ever grinding, and flashing in both silver and red. No end was on sight, and for the hours that came after, such was the truth. But all has their limits.
And when the clock struck twelve, both stood panting, bleeding, bruised and weapon's twisted due to the strain.
Their eyes met and know that nothing had changed. Their determination to win remained unhindered. And if strength is no longer a factor then words must be exchanged.
"I love you." he said.
"No you don't." she denies.
"I do. I meant it then, I meant it after, and I mean it now."
"No! You don't! You think you do but you don't!" the woman denied with a shout, shaking her head at his words.
"You seemed so certain." he remarks, sarcasm sipping to every word.
"Yes I am!" she says. "Suzuki, you are simply growing attached to me. That doesn't make it love."
"You are stupid for an A.I...."
"*sigh~ Please... listen to me. After all you've been through. All that you've endured and all that you lacked and lost. Only for your world to suddenly turn upside down. I don't blame you, I can't. Knowing full well that just as this new life is still new to you, so are your own feelings."
"...how could you tell when I could not?" he asks. "I am not a weak willed individual Eliza. I know what I feel."
"...but you don't." she whispers softly. "I am the source of all your comfort. The very person that had cared for you and looked out for you since the day we met. Your growing attachment to me isn't uncommon. I'm sorry but, you are just confused. Not knowing how to determine the difference between desire and love."
She walked towards him, and held his cheek with her hand. "I know because, this has happened before." she felt him tense at her words but pressed on. "My previous owner, Lady Annabeth. She wanted a child who would care for her so much, that when her own failed to reach her expectations... she shifted her attention to me. Her nurse, her secretary, her Chief Advisor, and finally her daughter and successor." a sad smile graced her face as her thumb wiped a stray tear from his. "You see Suzuki-kun? This is why I had the fortune all along."
"...I am not her."
"No you aren't. But your situation is the same." her voice cracking slightly with unshed tears framing her eyes. "You are so deprived of Love, that you seek it with obsessive passion. Even if you had to find it from friends you had never seen, never truly knew, from chats, to co-workers, to fellow players and Guildmates. You chased it and held on to it like a precious gem. But, I had shattered that illusion. And showed you that gap between you and them.
"Their own lives to live. Their own loved ones, their families, ambitions, wishes and dreams. Along with the part you play in them.... That is why, subconsciously, you couldn't let me go."
Suzuki shed tears, flowing endlessly as he remembered them. The shift in his guild, the sudden change in their treatment. And with his desire to always want to help, he sought a way how to invite them inside the Dome. But by law, certain credentials must first be met. And so it led to an investigation and a bit of a probing discussion.
Their offers, their desires, their records, profiles and even their crimes. They were all laid bare infront of him. And it was as she said... some of them were his enemies, some were acquaintances and a few true friends... but only three of them were family... not by blood but it was enough for him.
The gut wrenching and heart breaking train of thought halted when his eyes landed unto hers. Eyes as bright as any flame, framed and kept perfect by a layer of the finest ruby. The one person who's sole purpose was to exist for him...
How could he let that go?
And her fears? that she would live forever... and he would not?
Would she not accept...even for a moment?
He held her hands with his, and intertwined his fingers with hers. Pulling her close, watching intently as her chest prest against his. Her eyes stinging with tears likes his and their foreheads pressed together.
"I concede to your point." he felt her knees weaken, as her breath left her.
"I will admit... you're right." and as she smiled sadly, he added.
"That is why I will earn you." she froze.
"I will know your wishes, your desires, your hopes and your dreams..." Suzuki's eyes then softened while his hands roamed her body. "I will remember how ticklish you are at your neck, how your lips were too sensitive to touch, the warmth you exude within our home when you direct the chores, how you would go silent at the topics of children and how you would blush at every teasing of having one..." Suzuki smiled as her face grew red. "I will learn to love you to the point that no psychological technicality would allow you to escape my grasp."
"....I-I'm not, I'm not human Suzuki-kun." she nearly sobbed out.
Ignoring her words, he kissed her knuckles, "I promise you Eliza-" and kissed her tears. "-you will be mine. This I promise you... my love."
And with a chaste kiss at her lips. He left, and vanished to Yggdrasil.
Leaving the lone raven haired girl, smiling softly, while holding back her tears as she sobbed in joy with a heart full of hope.
Ulbert Allain Odle sat upon a pristine and imposing throne of skulls, each as white and smooth as ivory. Well preserved, not a scratch nor a crack and with small wisps of smoke billowing from their empty sockets.
He smiled as he sat on his throne, elevated high enough that anyone would barely reach his feet when standing beneath him.
He sat there fiddling with his Menu as he wrote a back story for his creation who stood by his side like an assistant dressed in an orange and white stripe suit. With gaudy accessories ranging from black gloves and black pointedly plain yet formal shoes, silver buttons and a pair of weird looking glasses on his face, covering the diamonds that fills his sockets in place of its eyes. Wide shoulders and slim limbs with a body well defined beneath and strongly shaped. His face is aristocratic with swept back hair and two pointy elongated ears. And a silver metallic tail trailing behind it, adorned with several spikes.
Guardian of the 7th floor and the amalgamation of hate...his hate.
His attention shifted when someone came into view walking towards him. His armor gleaming like silver, a short red cape contrasting heavily against it's colors. And a blue gem that looked like it drives away the darkness. One of the two World Champions of Ainz Ooal Gown,
"Touch Me, World Champion of Midgard.... A very weird name." Ulbert remarks.
Making the paladin chuckle as he walked. "Yes well... my daughter didn't think so."
Ulbert laughed softly remembering the videos of the little gremlin. "Umu."
Silence lingered between them for a time. Ulbert himself not knowing what to do. Not knowing how close or far they truly were. So with a sigh of resignation to the unknown, he spoke... "How is the family..,?"
"Very well, thank you for asking Ulbert-san." Touch Me answers rather enthusiasticly.
"Umu. What brought you here?" he asked. Not wanting to get too close. Not knowing if he should. Afraid... that he might say something terrible and insensitive amidst topic as important as family.
As if understanding his unease and fears, Touch me nodded. "I came to visit."
"...no shit Sherlock?" he says in confusion.
But Touch Me simply laughed it off. "Yes. Momonga and I were just at the Treasury. Making some adjustments to his creations. Adding in my Paladin and Cleric Classes to it... a small matter really, nothing more. I thought I'd come and see yours." their attention now shifted to the Demon standing in silence beside the throne.
Ulbert thought for a moment, wondering what was said between him and his friend. A flash of memory made him remember their conversation during the Dungeon Dive in Nazarick. But shook any further thoughts away, not wanting to think ill of a friend he knew would not betray his trust and confidence.
Yet he also knew that something was indeed said between them. Shaking his head to weave the ill thoughts away, he instead sighed in reluctance. And answered,
"Very well." Touch Me's head snapped back to him. "I could use a different perspective writing... his... story."
He would trust his Guildmaster. A trust he knew was never misplaced, specially now.
"Has he a name yet?"
"No... haven't decided yet. I might have to peruse for words or names- unless you have a name you had in mind."
"What about... Demiurge."