The Game Master has Logged In to Another World 1

“Nwrhhhhh...” Bisected diagonally, his singed body collapsed on itself. I watched him writhe in torment as the fires fizzled, leaving behind only Barry’s blackened, lonely body.

“Aghh... awhhh... ahhh...”

He was still alive. Insane. The unbridled power crackling through his body probably let him hang on for a little longer. Perfect. I wanted to have a conversation with the guy.

“Where did you get all this power?”

“Aghhh... power... give... power... hero... I’m hero... owww... it hurts... power... I’m a hero... the king... of all... heroes...”

Or not. He wouldn’t be chatting with anyone anytime soon. Barry’s mind was shattered, broken beyond repair. Any useful information would have to come from his memories.

I had to hurry. I couldn’t be sure when his body would give out. I used Access Logs on him and started to sift through his recollections. In them, a mysterious person and Barry were talking. Actually, I couldn’t be sure it was a person. Their face was completely covered in a mosaic. “Strange” would be putting it mildly.

I scrolled further back, watched Barry botch the treaty meeting and take responsibility for the war. Then... I found it. The hooded, mosaic-faced figure offered Barry a drug. I tried to figure out what it was, but my screen got all noisy and I couldn’t make it out.

I closed the window and watched as Barry’s body broke down into fine grains of sand, which the wind picked up and carried away. The Battle of the Grand Plains was over. The Empire lost, suffering immense casualties, including Prince Alfred, their commander-in-chief.

I wanted to be happy but the cloaked being who’d probably puppeteered Barry had planted in me a growing seed of worry. I walked to Ralf quietly and was greeted by cheers of welcome from my allies and some of the evacuated soldiers.

◇◆◇

While Masaki and his companions were all gathered in Ralf, Tadashi remained trapped inside Youko’s bell-shaped golem.

“That damn bitch... she must’ve been hacking,” he ranted. “Oh, but you just wait. I’ll make you give birth to my child once I get out. Devs! C’mon already! Fix this shit!”

He still firmly believed he was stuck in a game and could just replay the battle. Of course, even if he could, nothing would change. Tadashi would still have acted like a god, doing exactly as he pleased. Locked in the golem, he screamed and screamed for the devs, but they would never come.

By luck, fate, or a miracle, someone on the abandoned battlefield actually heard his irate babble.

“Wow, this is pathetic. Come, I’m here to recover our war assets.”

The Hunter used a sturdy drill to puncture the golem, covering his stylish, black suit with mud. He looked inside.

“Shut up...” he scoffed at his savior. “Let me retry, I’ll crush that bitch the next time!” Tadashi glared at Hunter as though he were nothing more than trash. “Whatever. Just get me out of here so we can strike back. It’s time for the hero to rise from his ashes!”

“That’s not going to happen,” Hunter replied flatly.

“What? Are you stupid? Of course it is!”

“Hahhh, weren’t you listening?” he sighed. “I said I’m here to recover our war assets.”

Hunter jumped at Tadashi and thrust his arm through Tadashi’s ribs and lungs. His hands burst out from Tadashi’s back, bloodied.

“Gahhhh! Wh-What the... fuck... are you... we’re... allies, you—” Tadashi gasped.

“You’re no ally of mine,” Hunter said casually. “You never were. But, credit where credit is due, you were a useful shield.”

Seeming relaxed, Hunter drew his arm back and cleaned the gore from his hand leaving only a tiny, shining seed in his palm.

“Mission complete. You’re completely worthless without Exmeiser, so I’m taking this back to fuel our next summon.”

“N-No... help... I can’t—! I can’t brea—!” Tadashi sucked as much air into his ruptured lungs as he could, further fracturing his broken ribs. His in-game character was remarkably durable, so once Tadashi inherited his stats, he could stand his ground in this world of wars and magic. In his final moments, however, that power only prolonged his suffering.

Hunter broke down the bell-shaped golem with his bare hands and disappeared. He was not one to watch his prey suffer.

Tadashi slowly, agonizingly suffocated as foam built up in his lungs.

With no one to watch, no one to grieve, he died a lonely death in an alien world.

◇◆◇

News of the Empire’s disastrous defeat and the death of the crown prince spread through the Imperial capital, stirring unrest. Some nobles evacuated the city, while others hired private armies, formed a resistance, and protested in front of the palace.

Emperor Aldebaran didn’t even have time to lament the misfortune of his position. Beating back the resistance kept his hands full.

He managed to crush the general who led the resistance, ordered the capital closed, and called for the return of the soldiers who’d been sent to Ralf and the surrounding areas. They’d have to reorganize their ranks, but a direct road connected Ralf to the Imperial capital. The route took two days on horseback and five on foot.

He just had to hold out for those five days.

Where his summons were concerned, Tatsuma, the High Warlord, had been taken prisoner, Tadashi, the Superalloy, had died on the battlefield, and the Hunter had vanished completely. The Emperor could now rely only on the High Admiral, who’d been dispatched to distant seas. Even if the Emperor contacted him, he’d never be back in time.

“Dammit! If only I had a Seed...” he complained to himself in his room.

Before the Emperor had gone to war, a certain mage had visited the Empire and offered him both the ritual to summon combatants from other worlds, and the collar to control them. With the mage’s aid, the Emperor had conquered the south, laid waste to the mighty Valentine Empire, and brought Leviathan under his control. It would’ve only been a matter of time before he achieved complete dominion of the south, and only Sentrag had still defied him in the north.

But then, disaster had struck and the Emperor lost control of the Leviathan. He’d gone on to lose the most important battle in recent history, and his enemies were practically knocking down his door. Without the High Admiral, the Emperor was powerless. His only choice was to hole up and weather the storm.

To summon further combatants, he required a Seed, but he had none. Though he’d put years into researching the Seeds to determine their origin or composition, the Emperor had nothing to show for it.

“Grandfather...”

His treasured, beloved granddaughter entered his room. She was the dearest memento his son had left him. When her parents died, the Emperor and Alfred, her brother, had taken it upon themselves to raise her together, lavishing her with all the love and care in the world. The wars they waged were kept secret from the little girl.

“I heard Alfred passed away... is that true?”

“Ummm... yes, it is. He fought valiantly, but unfortunately he passed away. He died a heroic death.”

Of course he lied, but he couldn’t tell his granddaughter her brother had been senselessly slain. The Emperor wanted her to believe, at the very least, that Alfred had brought honor to his name. Merciless reality was too cruel for a little girl to handle. He told her Alfred had died fighting to protect the Empire, that he’d ordered the nobility to join his cause, and executed those that defied him.

“A heroic death... he went to the same place Mommy and Daddy went...” she murmured, her small hands quaking with the effort of holding back her tears. She was only fifteen, no one would blame her if she broke down upon hearing the dreadful news. But, she was a princess. She knew that, as the granddaughter of the Emperor, she couldn’t let her feelings overwhelm her.

“Filia, the Empire has no future,” her grandfather told her gravely. “I can arrange your escape, escorted by my most trusted knights, if you so wish.”

“Grandfather?”

With fewer than 100,000 troops at his disposal, Aldebaran understood that the capital was lost. He couldn’t defend the city, but he wanted to ensure the safety of his precious granddaughter. He’d never shown Filia a hint of weakness before, but he didn’t regret this moment. He was old and time was coming for him. Little Filia, though, had her whole life in front of her.

“No... no... if I take those knights and run, then—”

A knock at the door interrupted Filia’s protest.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty. Pavalia wishes to see you.”

“Say that again, Prime Minister Iiro! Pavalia is here?! Don’t just stand there, let them in!”

“Understood!”

Aldebaran couldn’t hide his smile when he heard the name “Pavalia.” In that moment, his expression of despair transformed into hope. Her grandfather’s sudden attitude change took Filia aback. The twinkle in his eyes gave her a bad premonition.

Moments and another knock later, Iiro opened the door to admit the guest. A cloaked someone entered, and Iiro closed the door behind them.

Pavalia’s gender and ethnicity were unclear, they were notoriously mysterious and elusive; it was never certain when they’d appear again. Despite that, the Emperor treasured and respected Pavalia tremendously. After all, it was Pavalia who had provided the Empire with the most wondrous gift: the ability to summon combatants from other worlds.

“It’s been long since we last talked, Your Majesty. I see you find yourself in great peril.”

“That is certainly true. We lost a key battle and my Empire is on the brink of collapse,” he leapt from his chair like an excited child, knocking it over behind him. He fell to his knees before the figure. “Please, I’m begging you... give me another Seed! I’ll pay whatever it takes!”

“G-Grandfather... who’s that?” Filia asked, more nervous by the moment.

“Ummm... this person saved us before in times of great need.”

“I-Is that so? I’m sorry, but... they frighten me.” Fillia felt something innately inhuman emanating from the figure. It filled her with an icy fear. Her legs began to shake, and she broke out in a cold sweat. Iiro had to rush in to catch her before she collapsed to the ground.

His touch repulsed her, but Iiro didn’t seem to have noticed the momentary flash of Filia’s true feelings. He simply held her up, making sure the princess was well.

“Raise your head. I have something much better than a Seed for you. With this in hand, the entire continent will bow before the overwhelming might of the Empire.”

“I-Is that true! That’s marvellous!” came the Emperor’s excitable reply.

Until now, ruling the entire continent had merely been a fantasy, so the pure glee in his voice was palpable. He’d been offered the opportunity to turn his dreams to reality and was elated.

His elation didn’t extend to Filia. She was mired in total horror. Having lived a life sheltered from war, the overwhelming power this person offered her grandfather shook her to the foundation.

“Ummm... I-I don’t think I belong here, Grandfather. I’ll humbly return to my room.” Taken by terror, she dashed for the exit. She’d thrown pleasantries and etiquette to the wind, Filia simply couldn’t bear to spend another moment with that hooded figure and Iiro.

“Don’t go anywhere. You need to... bloom.”

“My apologies, Princess Filia.”

Iiro’s arms melted into tentacles and lashed out at Filia. They pierced her small body with effortless speed and retracted just as quickly, leaving a single seed behind.

He didn’t give Filia time to understand what had happened. She only felt a sharp pain in her chest before the seed sprouted into a mass of twisting, thorny vines that coiled around her body.

“Filiaaaaaa! Iiro, you bastard!” Aldebaran took an ornate sword, one of the Empire’s treasures, from the wall and charged at Iiro.

His speed and the power behind his swing were extraordinary for an old man. They were echoes of his golden days, when he’d clashed with King Rolan on the battlefield, fighting for his life.

Impressive as his display may have been, the hooded figure casually raised one finger, halting the Emperor’s blade. His heroic charge hadn’t even inconvenienced Pavalia, let alone threatened them.

“I wish you’d listened to what I said. I’m one to always keep my promises, Emperor Aldebaran. The continent will bow before the Empire’s might. This flower will birth life and devour the continent in a twinkling. The only difference, Emperor, is that you won’t be there to see it. Iiro will take your role.”

“Don’t worry, Emperor... or should I say, ex-Emperor,” Iiro said mockingly, “I will marry your granddaughter and keep your bloodline alive.”

“Fuck you! Release Filia this instant!”

“Sadly, we cannot. But take pride, Aldebaran, for your ashes will feed the birth of a new Empire. Emperor Iiro. Dispose of the ex-Emperor.”

“At once. It’s been a pleasure, Your Majesty.” Dozens of thorny tentacles sprouted from Iiro’s back and pierced Aldebaran’s body.

“Gwaghhh! I-Iiro... you... basta—”

The thorny branches enveloped the old man and began to digest. They twitched and pulsed with disgusting squelches as they consumed him. Aldebaran’s sword fell to the ground with a loud clank as the thorny ball slowly opened like a flower, revealing nothing. The Emperor’s body had entirely dissolved.

“Well done. That was much more stable than Barry’s.”

“Please, it’s only thanks to your boon. Either way, Aldebaran is no more. I am now the true Emperor of these lands.” Iiro sat with a cackle, prompting a smile from the hooded menace.

“Hahhh, y’know, I really don’t think you’re fit for the throne,” a high-pitched voice called to Iiro. “Let me exempt you from the responsibilities that come with the position. Prism Missile!”

A rain of sparkling shells pierced through the ceiling, aiming for him.

The hooded figure raised their left hand, erecting a thorny barrier in front of Iiro. The shells exploded on impact, leaving Iiro unscathed, and redirecting the explosion to the rest of the room.

“Wh-Wh-What’s going on?!”

The hooded figure sighed at Iiro’s complete confusion. They pointed at the ceiling, sending a black spear of spiked vines into it. The spear penetrated the stone, but was met with a bright flash that destroyed it completely, taking another chunk of the ceiling with it.

From the hole descended a blue-haired girl wearing a uniform unlike any clothing in this world. Shining blade in one hand, Corona entered the room.

“My Lord, it seems we were late. Emperor Aldebaran has perished, and Princess Filia is entrapped in vegetation.”

“Hahhh, dammit. Curse my luck,” Corona’s “Lord,” Shou said, as he descended behind her, black and blue robe fluttering. “I felt some strange monster lurking below us, so I’m not exactly surprised to see you here, Faceless One.”

The battle left his clothes torn and singed, but he’d made it without serious injury.

“I must commend your ability to perform a summon in such a tight space, but I’d much rather you packed up and went away. Please understand that we’re awfully busy here, Shou.”

“Tch, stop acting all high and mighty,” Shou said, annoyed. “Or what? You expected me to come ruin your party?” He glanced at the trapped princess with a heavy sigh. “How many times have I told you that you have to treat ladies right, Mr. Self-Proclaimed Emperor?”

Shou glared at Iiro and unsheathed the black sword at his hip. A dark aura enveloped his unique weapon, Demon Blade Gram.

Though the sight was certainly terrifying, Iiro didn’t so much as flinch. He sat casually in his chair. “Haha, don’t worry, I took your advice to heart,” he said with a broad smile. “She’s suffering now, but this a necessary evil she must endure so she can blossom into a gorgeous flower, worthy of becoming my wife.”

“Hah! If you want to fuck the girl of your dreams so bad, then just commission a fuckdoll, for goodness’ sake. Corona! How long will it take to save the princess?”

“Five minutes, including analyzing the prison entrapping her.”

“Got it. Try to speed it up, I’ll reward you if you get in under five.”

“No, thank you.”

“Tch, you’re no fun.”

“That’s a nice plan you have there. It’d be a real shame if someone stopped it.”

The Faceless One raised their dangling sleeve. More than a hundred thorned and gnarled branches shot at Shou. A loud shwup blasted through the room as the sea of greenery simply vanished.

Shou stood across the Faceless One. Behind him appeared a Buster Megalochimera, a huge robotic beast with smoke rising from the gun fort on its back. Its unique skill canceled a single attack entirely, destroying the branches.

As the attack meant to end the battle instantly failed, the Faceless One flashed an excited smile.

“Hoho, impressive. Not many can face that attack and live to tell the tale. You’re more of a handful than I originally thought. Emperor Iiro. Join us.”

“At once!” A multitude of tentacles shining with light the color of lead sprouted from his back.

Shou simply stood there, calm and cheeky as ever, and took a card from his pocket. Its flash summoned a Giga Cerberos, Chainsaw Mantis, a Gear Lich, and a plethora of other titanic, mechanical beasts, which crowded the room.

Thorny vines overran the palace. Inside, Shou’s mechanical horde battled the vegetation. The impacts and explosions from their combat shook the entire building. Still, no one outside could fathom the battle being waged within, a battle to decide the Empire’s future.