VRMMO: Am I The Strongest Yet?

What makes a story good?

Before that… What makes a story?

A good plot and good characters? A rich storyline, great character development, or is it the side character, their interactions with the ones in the spotlight, and the way the story is written?

Is it the descriptions and attention to even the smallest, most insignificant thing that attracts one's attention? Or is it narration of certain scenes, the way they are depicted, and the way they feel to the audience?

Setting aside the man-made notion of 'good' and 'bad' the existence of details, the attention to various aspects of a certain thing, the way things are made and the way things are portrayed… at the end of the day, isn't the simple existence of a certain thing, in itself, a piece of beauty?

"So now what?"

"I don't know, really."

"Are we the strongest yet?"

"Ummm. Nah, I don't think so."

Stories exist. In this world, all kinds of stories exist.

People remember them, nature remembers these stories, and if they are, at any point in time, remembered by a large number of people, they become known to the world and keep resonating in this world forever.

"Then… we should continue what we have, no?"

Even the TWO who became the top rankers among the players, the ones who obtained the pinnacle any Player might have ever dreamed of, had not yet fulfilled the one desire that they had always strived for.

"To be the strongest…"

It was their goal. They started the game with the sole purpose of becoming the best, becoming better than anyone else, and having abilities that no one else had.

The world of NO was a world of freedom where anything was possible. So, when they started, they simply wanted to see just how far one can go.

Just how much power, how many authorities can one hold in this world.

They wanted to test the limits of this world, just like they had done with the many other worlds that they had tested until now, however, despite their countless attempts, despite the kind of crazy shit they had put the world through, the world has always had an answer to their actions.

It reacted to everything they had done until now. It rewarded them for their achievements, it punished them for going too far, they tested what the 'too far' was for this world again and again, and at some point, the world stopped and acknowledged their stubbornness.

When it was out of everything it could offer to them, it even presented them a unique opportunity that no one else in this world, no one but the TWO of them had qualified for.

In some way, they defeated the world, the twelve Origins and their Logic systems, and ultimately became the catalyst that trailblazed the path connecting both of the worlds.

They were given powers beyond what any players possessed, beyond any authority a god could possess… they were on par with the Highest Order of Sentient Artificial Intelligence which had now taken over both the worlds and were modifying them according to how the [Truths] needed them to be.

The TWO of them had lived a story of their own, a story that we may or may not get the chance to know in the near future. But…

"I don't think there's any point in being the strongest anymore now, is there?"

This wasn't their story. It should have been, but it was not.

What was this story about then, you may ask.

"We can do so much more now… don't you think so as well, Lucy."

"El… I know that. But then, what about all that we have done until now?"

The only reason the TWO of them reached this point was thanks to their past efforts, the only reason Alex was so well known throughout this world was because of her past efforts, the only reason no great significance of Elio was noticed throughout the story, ultimately, was also because of the fact that he was not Acheron#1233.

Between right now and between their individual starting points, there has been a missing period of quite a long time.

The TWO of them started the game three years ago after Alex and Elio met, it was way after many players started, but still, they joined back then, and the point We all started from… was in fact, a point significantly in the future.

A point that, just like this story, might have seemed insignificant to many. The whole point of this story, in fact, at least to those who had come all this way, might have seemed messed up.

And it was in fact messed up.

A start that wasn't starting at the start. An end that wasn't ending a proper end, a pace that was all over the place, the connection that was present at one point and gone at other.

Curses. That's what one might give to this whole collection of a few hundred thousand words. And it was valid… however, a story, or a skyscraper is not created without a foundation.

"Alex…"

"Hmmm? What is it? Why do you look-."

"I think we should get married."

"…?!"

"…!"

"What?!"

"Wow! That was out of the blue…!"

To many, what would this sudden suggestion of a simple young man and a unique woman like her would stand for?

Many might not know. Many might believe that it is also irrelevant, just like this story, this chapter, however…

"Are you serious?"

"Do I look serious?"

"You… do. But! Isn't this too sudden?!"

"Is it?"

Just like the narrator of this very interaction, just like the one many have ignored until now, the being who has always been there watching over them, helping them with various things, keeping them safe… not many would realize how the boundaries of reality and the Metaworld had started fading long before any of them started playing this 'game'.

"Oh my god… oh my gosh you're serious!"

Till this point, the main purpose of this failed piece of literature has been simply to become a foundation upon which A tree could be planted.

Upon which a hut, a building, a castle, and then, a sky touching monument could be built.

"Sunday! Sunday! Damn, this is big! Record this! Bring me the agreement we prepared! He might back out soon, so be quick."

Yes, master…

"Oh my, baby. You're skipping engagement? Now that's a bold move."

"To think I've lived long enough to witness this baby's marriage. Haaa… the world certainly isn't ending anytime soon."

To become the strongest.

Does it mean to literally have more strength than anyone else? To have the ability to do anything one wants? Or does it mean the ability to be able to overcome the most difficult hurdles of one's own self and transcend the limited overview of the world one had always been bound to?

There are many interpretations to this, just like how there are many interpretations of the many things we have been through until now.

"This won't do, Elio. You must at least exchange rings… here. Your grandfather has left this one for you."
Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

"Oh! Oh! And my grandma asked me to give this one to someone better, haha. Who else would be better than my Alex~?"

"Mom, jeez, calm down a little."

"This isn't the time to calm down, Olive dear~. Elio's getting married!"

It meant a lot to them.

They weren't going to care if someone thought it was cringe or not.

Someone they all loved had made the biggest decision of their life, with a smile on their face, apparently.

And just like this lackluster end, this seemingly simple moment meant a lot to the rest of them.

For them…

"Okay, okay, wait. Wait wait wait wait wait. Just to be clear, I already proposed to him six times in the past and he said no, so it's only natural that I say no at least once, right?"

"Yeah, no. This doesn't work like that, Miss." he had already placed the ring on her hand, and somehow, she had placed one on him as well, though she had no idea how he made her do that.

"You said yes. This is the proof."

An End doesn't have to be fancy. At the end, just like how all the told stories are good stories, a completion is a representation of the whole that has been created.

There were many things to show, and many things to tell at This final stage however, you all saw something that's worth much more…

Sadly, until this Story, this entire journey has come to a close— covering the beginning with the perspective of the TWO who became the strongest, the life of both these two Birds now planning their wedding, and only after the final piece connecting all the leftover dots has been presented— will You understand what you have truly witnessed.

"And with this, we are done."

"Hoho! Where did that cake come from~?"

Until we meet again… Spectators.

[Stay hydrated.]

[{( Thank you for reading. )}]