*Yato's head slid off his shoulders veeery slooowly, and finally falls on the ground, followed by his body collapsing and falling down right next to the head*

It was a clean cut. Yato immediately died...

[System Alert!: Your HP have reached 0! You Died!]

...

....

.....

"..."

"Hey..."

'Mhm?'

"Hey...HEY!"

"Huh?! Yes?"

'What? Where...am...I...?'

*Yato looked at his surroundings*

Yato was in his Classroom. The one trying to wake him up was...Kaito?!

"Hey bro! Fujiwara and I were thinking about going to the theme park at the mall, want to come too?"

'What? Did I...no...this can't be...'

"AAH! DID I FALL ASLEEP DURING CLASSES AGAIN?!"

"Hahaha! Seems so, sleepy head! You should get more sleep, you know?"

'Ahhh, Takahashi-Sensei will get mad at me T-T...'

Yato felt a bit confused, but overall he didn't seem to notice something special. So he just thought of it of a bit of drowsiness.

"Aaaah! Well, if you are going there, I can't just go home, right?"

"Ah! Nice bro!"

"Yay! Let's have lots of fun there!"

*Takahashi-Sensei enters the classroom, holding a bunch of documents under his arms*

"Get back on your seats! Classes will continue now!"

"Ooookaaay! Well then, see you later at the park, Yato!"

"Yes!"

But then, something unexpected happened.

"Huh? HUH?! FUJIWARA! KAITO! BE CAREFUL!"

Suddenly, the Classroom got engulfed in a HUUUUGEEE ray of light. It was so bright, that nobody could keep their eyes open. And as the light was gone and they opened their eyes again...

"HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!??!"

-CONFUSED SCREAMING-

"Please calm down oh heroes of legend! I am Snape Rhiderson, royal advisor of the great, unfathomable, King Gotthardt!"

The royal advisor looked like he was in his late 30's. His hair was gelled backwards, he had purple eyes and wore a dark blue robe with some gold ornaments.

The king was in his mid 40's and his hair looked like if curly fries and those popular British wigs had a child, with that typical noble flair. His middle lenght beard looked sturdy and clean. And he wore an amazing and noble blue robe, with red parts on the outside and the inside, together with the fur on the kneck area and his golden ornaments and jewlery all over him. He indeed looked like a truly powerful king, sitting there on his big throne, made out of gold and marmor.

"Yes! Thank you for introducing them! As you have heard, I am King Gotthardt! The king of the Etheria Kingdom! I gladly welcome you!"

The king was really nice and seemed like the type of person, everyone would instantly come to like. Truly a great king.

"Ah! Yes! The reason we summoned you, oh heroes, is the upcoming terrible demon war! If not for your help, humanity would face it's end! Please, oh heroes of legend, help humanity!"

'Huh? A demon war? Save humanity? Can we really do that?!'

Yato was lost in his thoughts, as something...familiar...happened.

"Oh almighty king, we have listened to your request and will definitely help you in the upcoming war, I, am Kaito Koyanagi, My class is the Gladiator-Hero, my status is...

'Huh? Wait...don't I know all this? What...my head feels dizzy...have I not gotten enough sleep?"

"Hold on a moment! I am Suzuki Takahashi! I am the teacher responsible for this class! And I won't allow them to do anything that may result in their deaths!"

Yato began feeling uncomfortable again upon hearing his teachers words. Suddenly, pictures flashed inside his head...pictures of his teachers decapacitated head and body, lying on the floor in a pool of blood...staring him directly into the eyes...

"Please do not worry Suzuki Takahashi! We can and will ensure their safety! They are the only ones able to safe humankind from the invading demon army! Everything else would be foolish!"

"..."

The room became silent for a moment, until the teacher started speaking again.

"Haaah, I see...well then. I will allow it. But don't you dare let any of them die!

"Of course! I swear that on the name of my kingdom, Etheria!"

"Good. Then I'll allow you to continue."

And with that, the introductions went on again.

"And the neeeext iiiis...you there! Little Lady, could you please introduce yourself next?"

The king asked her in a kind voice.

"Y-Yes! I-I am Fu-Fujiwara-, ah! Fujiwara Sasato. M-My stats are..."

The unwell feeling starts again.

'WHAT IS THIS?! THIS FEELS FAMILIAR! BUT WHY? WHAT IS-'

As Yato started breathing more and more heavily, the king spoke to him, since he looked very nervous.

"Ah! You! Boy, don't be so nervous! Come here and tell us your class! It will be fine!"

'Huh? What was wrong with his voice just now? Argh...my head is spinning...'

"Ah! Please don't worry! Im just a bit dizzy."

"That is fine, no worries. So, would you mind telling me your class, young one?"

"Ah, sure! My class is...Berserker, Sir!"

*Suddenly, the world around him started heavily spinning, his vision got blurry, the colours of everything switched faster than at a night club, his body got heavy and he just felt like puking right there on the spot*

'*Heavy breathing* What...WHAT IS THIIIIS?! WHAT IS HAPPENING?! WHAT IS GOING ON?! AM I GOING INSANE? AM I-'

As Yato got more and more unstable, the king went to ask him once more.

"Boy! Are you alright?!"

*Suddenly, everything became normal again*

'Huh? What...what was that just now...? Probably just my imagination...'

"Ah! Sorry, I am fine."

"O-Okay, but please don't overdo yourself. Ehem, you all may now get yourself into groups of three people. This is for you to go adventuring in groups, that will efficiently strenghten your teamwork and your individual strenght. Please understand. May you have fun in exploring the kingdom I care and love. My lovely Etheria!"

The king said something irresponsible, yet understandable, and so, nobody further questioned it.

"Okay class! All attention to me now! Do what the king said ans split into groups of three! And please choose in a way you won't regret it later on!"

'Haaaah, who would team up with me? I hope I don't have to go solo...'

Just then, somebody put his arm around Yato and pulled him closer.

"Yato!"

"Kaito?!"

"You, me, and Fujiwara will be a team! Any objections?"

'OH! KAITO!'

"NO!"

"And you Fujiwara?"

"No! Let's do this!"

"Great! Then it's us three as a group now! LEEEEEET'S DOOO THIIIIS! HOOOOOOOOOO!"

With that, the king and his advisor told them all the information they would need for now, and gave them the necessary equipment to start adventuring right away.

The first objective was to hunt some monsters on The great Plains of Etheria.

Here we fought us through slimes, bats, and even some goblins.

-SLASH-

"Yato! Fujiwara! Those were the last slimes! Let's call it a day for now! I have spotted a great tree to sleep under over there!"

"Okay!"

"Y-Yes!"

As they went to the tree and got comfortable, they talked about what they would do from now on, since just hunting on the plains everyday wasn't going to get them anywhere great.

"And what do we do now? Just hunting slimes, bats, and goblins all day isn't what I would call an adventure, you know?"

"Y-Yes! I agree, I don't really like killing all the time...can't we do a bit of traveling and exploring instead?"

"Yes!"

*Kaito undrolled a big map, showing all the villages, merchant routes, and towns inside the human kingdom. It was part of the equipment the king gave to everyone*

"I have heard of a town that is perfect for adventuring! Ruria!"

'HNNNGH'

Once again, Yato felt like his head was going to burst. It was like...he forgot something...something important...

But the feeling disappeared right away. So Yato paid it no heed, once again.

'Argh, this feeling once again...it annoys me...'

"Yato? You listening?"

"Ah! Yes! I think that is a great idea! You too Fujiwara, or not?"

"Yes! Let's do that!"

*Kaito put the map away*

"Great! Then tommorow will be the day we depart to Ruria!"

Then, a merchant carriage that was passing by, stopped. Suddenly, a merchant , bald, some scars, muscular, wearing a shirt with short sleeves, looks like the badass but friendly type of guy in a well looking carriage (The big comfy type with beds and stuff, quite luxurious, but the standard of merchants in this world) spoke to them out of the blue.

"Oi! Ruria you said? I am on my way to Ruria too! Wanna jump on and travel together?"

"OOOH! Really! That would be great! Thanks!"

The unwell feeling came again, but this time Yato completely ignored it.

*The old man started laughing*

"AHAHA! GREAT! I am Galtz! 37 years old! And who are you?"

They all introduced themselves.

"I am Yato Ishida, 16 years old! Thank you"

"Kaito Koyanagi! 16!"

"I am F-Fujiwara Sasato! I a-am also 16 y-years old!"

"Great! Then hop on! Happy to meet you!"

After that, they all hopped onto the carriage, and told each other some jokes and stories. They traveled for one and a half day, without any trouble, and then arrived Ruria at noon. They passed the gate and then were let out by the old man at the Mainstreet next to the Adventurers Guild.

"Well, I guess this is were your ride ends! I am opening a restaurant right next to the Adventurers Guild, so drop by and become regulars! Be careful! Bye!"

"Thank you for everything! We will definetly drop by soon! Goodbye!"

After they were finished yelling after the old man, they were ready to enter the guild.

"Okay! Let's go guys! Into the Adventurers Guild!"

"Yes!"

"Yes! Let's go!"

'Ugh, it's starting again, and it's getting worse...just what in the world is wrong with me, my kneck is getting all tingly too...'

As they entered the Adventurers Guild, they all were amazed. Too many things were hitting all of their senses at once. The Songs of the Bards, the food from the kitchen, the faces of the Adventurers and the receptionists perfect smile at all times.

It was a truly amazing sight.

After they could get theirselves back together, they walked up to the counter.

-BADUMP- (Heavy heartbeat)

'Huh?'

Standing behind the counter, was a beautiful silver haired girl, 1.65 meters / 5'3 feet tall, around his age, with grey eyes and a part of her hair tied behind her head.

"Welcome at the Guild! What can we do for you?"

'Huh..what...WHAT IS THI-'

-BLÖÖÖRK-

"MMMMHH! *Heavy coughing*!"

"YATO?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

Suddenly, he broke down onto the floor, puking and coughing. Then, suddenly, tons of memories hit him like a train...memories of how he was thrown into the dungeon, chased away, picked up by the old man, how he met and loved Sophie, and...and how he died...

'Haha..haha...hahahah...'

"AHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA! SO THIS IS IT! AAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

*The others looked terrified, but somehow started to look unreal, like the program that was running them was about to crash*

"ITHIEL! YOU BASTARD! I KNOW THAT THIS WORLD IS FAKE! THERE IS NO WAY ANYTHING HERE IS REAL! STOP HIDING AND F*CKING SHOW YOURSELF!"

*Suddenly, everything stopped, like time itself just stopped moving, then, a figure started appearing out of nowhere...Ithiel...*

"Ahhh, I see you found out. Well, congrats?"

"Take your congrats and shove it up your f*cking ass! Why am I here?! What is this place? Why are you here?"

Ithiel sighed, but then started explaining it bit by bit.

"Sigh, well, you see, I am a Necromancer. And as such, I have the ability to raise the dead. Those dead ones will then continue to live in a happy world, never knowing they died. This is so, that they become completely obedient, and to make sure that, even if they found out, that they would want to stay that way, instead of just becoming dust. And after I killed you, I used my [Create Greater Undead] skill, to turn you into a Death Knight."

"Soo...you mean, this was the 'best' I could offer myself? Enjoying a happy life in another world with a cute girl and a guy I actually hate enough to murder him on the spot?"

Just so you know, he said all that, in a very sarcastic tone.

"Pfft, seems so. Not my idea, seems like you are just a huge masochist."

Ithiel too, responded in a very sarcastic tone.

"Well, then I am doing this straight up, since it is obvious this world isn't to your liking.!

"No shit Sherlock."

"Tch. Anyways, if you become my undead, a Death Knight to be exact, you will gain several advantages. Shall I continue?"

"If I say no, I will be turned into dust anyways, so keep talking."

"Then I will."

Ithiel went further into detail.

"As a Death Knight, your level will immediately increase to Level 100.394, since a Death Knights level is always close to mine. Second, I am able to get revenge for you at any time. Become my Death Knight and I will immediately obliterate this pests. You may even terminate them yourself, but a downside is that you will be in a trance like state as an undead. Simply put, you will become stupidly strong in an instant, but will be my loyal follower. What do you say?"

Yato took a moment to think, but almost instantly got his answer ready.

"Thanks for the offer, but I will decline."

"Even though you would get your revenge?"

"Yes."

"Sigh, I see. Foolish madman..."

"Instead..."

Yato went to make a different offer.

"I will get my revenge myself."

"Huh? And how do you think you will achieve that? While being dead?"

"Simple. You have the [Greater Revive] skill, right? Just revive me, and I can get my revenge myself."

Ithiel became a bit confused.

"And...why exactly should I do that?"

"You tell me. You were the one that wanted me in his army so badly he killed me."

"Pfeh. Give me a moment."

Ithiel was lost into thoughts for several minutes, but then suddenly started speaking again.

"Then...how about we become Ally's?"

"Huh? Where does that come from so suddenly?"

Ithiel explained.

"You are a one of a kind existence, you may be weak at the moment, but in the future you have the potential to be one of the strongest existences out there. And I would like to be on good terms with that existence. Understandable so far, no?"

'An Ally, huh?'

"And what else do I gain from that alliance? Besides getting revived?"

*Ithiel began speaking in a horrific voice once again*

"What you gain from that? You have seen my status, I may not be the strongest individual in this World, but I can eliminate entire countries at my will, by just spreading a deadly, inhumane disease. I have plans for making the world a better place too, you know?"

"Plans?"

"Yes. All I have to do, is to kill all of those pesty Humans, Demi-Humans, Demons, Elfs, Dwarfs and Fairies. Not all of them of course, only most of them and the bad ones. I will kill at least 80% of each race, so they definetly have to unite, in order to defeat me one day. That is how I achieve a better World. I call that mercy"

"*Gulp* And... you are able to just kill the bad ones, and not some innocent ones too?"

*Ithiel went back to his normal Voice*

"Of course I can, I am Ithiel von Bismarck, I can achieve everything. And to your reminder, if you would become my ally, I may could think about erasing the popularity of this World to a minimum, after you have passed, instead of, hmmm, now?"

At this moment, Yato realized, that isn't just a simple deal, this is a threat too. The end of the World, the end of the old man and Sophie, was just thrown into his way, and he can't dodge. There is only one answer.

"If you put it like that, I can hardly decline, can I?"

"Indeed, you have made the right choice."

And as Ithiel began casting the [Greater Revive] skill, he came up with one more thing.

"Ah, by the way, sice we are allies now, do you have any information for me that I could use?"

"Information? Hmmm...not that I know-WAIT! I made a deal with the demon who gave me this armor! The deal was, that after I reach at least Level 5000, I would join the army of the Demon Lord, and in exchange I would get money, women, fame, and bla bla, and, most importantly, my revenge. Back then, I immediately agreed."

"Oooh! Such valuable information! And considering that I will have a spy inside the Demon Lord's army too when becoming your ally! Great! Splendid! In that case, as repayment, I will also tell you a very important information."

"Huh? What information?"

Yato about what kind of information would be important to