Mythos Of Narcissus: Reborn As An NPC In A Horror VRMMO

[Pēdīcābō ego vōs et irrumābō!!@&%]

The sky above Carcosa dimmed as the maddening moon arrived, the pale remnants of the day swallowed by a creeping darkness that announced the arrival of the Ordeal of the Dusk.

Standing atop the bastion's parapet, I cast a glance at the horizon. The first signs of the Ordeal' spawns were already visible—swirling shadows and unnatural flickers of light that defied logic or sanity.

"Well," I murmured, "Here we go again."

Beside me, Verina adjusted her musket, its twin Black Wheels humming faintly as she stayed afloat above the platform. "Optimism, as always," she deadpanned.

"You know me. The radiant beacon of positivity."

"I thought that title belonged to me!" Lupina called out.

From the ground below, Kuzunoha's voice drifted upward, loud and theatrical, alongside her gothic lolita fashion that hasn't changed much despite the amount of dress that she had in her arcane wardrobe. "And yet, here you are, relying on me to clean up the messes that you can't fight against. Truly inspiring, my love~"

Ah, so she was basically implying that the opener of the Ordeal would be something that nobody in the bastion could deal with.

[A special type

Calamity Object

have been manifesting within the vicinity of your bastion_]

[Attempting to analyze its property and identity_]

A flicker of movement caught my eye—a swirling vortex of black and silver that hovered in the air, devouring light and matter as it approached. My chest tightened at the sight, a visceral reaction to its unnatural presence.

I focused my thoughts, activating the feature that only I could access. The familiar overlay flickered into view, crisp and efficient.

—

[

The Maw of Stars

]

[

Description

: A swirling vortex of black and silver that hovers in the air, consuming light and matter with an unnatural hunger. Gazing into it reveals the vast emptiness of space, filling onlookers with crushing insignificance and despair. The Maw drifts slowly, pulling objects, memories, and even ideas into its void. Those consumed disappear entirely, leaving no trace behind]

[

Hint

: The Maw can be slowed by offering it something precious but intangible, such as a secret or an unfulfilled dream]

—

"Figures," I muttered. "Even space-glutton nightmares have emotional baggage."

Verina tilted her head, noticing the flicker in my eyes as I dismissed the screen. "Something intriguing?" she asked, as if the gigantic hole of horror in the sky wasn't visible in her sight.

"Just the usual," I said. "Apparently, this one likes to eat dreams and secrets. Should we take bets on who has the juiciest confession?"

Verina's expression didn't change, but I could swear I saw the faintest hint of amusement in her eyes. "I can line up the bastioneers and have them repent in front of the Calamity Object, but with you as the object of repentance."

"We don't want Erika's over-zealous attitude to infect the bastion."

"Yet you allowed my ardent obsession over you," Verina closed the gaps between us, playing around with my hair as she leaned to my ears. "Is this the so-called meritocracy you're talking about back then?"

"How dare you two flirt in front of me," Kuzunoha chimed in, though her playful demeanor was exuded more than her killing intent. "At least do it after dealing with the deadly Calamity Object in front of us."

I saw that the bastioneers on the wall platforms and on the ground were anxious with the existence of the Maw of Stars that was looming closer above us. After all, none of them couldn't do anything about it, even though they were equipped with the state-of-the-art Skypiercers.

Ironically, the Skypiercers couldn't pierce the enemy in the sky.

"Can you deal with this one?" I said with genuine request for assistance.

Before I could say more, Kuzunoha appeared beside me in a blur of red, her parasol spinning lazily in her hand.

"As you wished, darling~" she purred, her tone dripping with false sweetness, "Leave this one to me."

Without waiting for a response, she ascended toward the swirling vortex, her parasol snapping shut as she approached.

What followed was both mesmerizing and terrifying. Kuzunoha moved with an eerie grace, weaving threads of shimmering energy as she danced around the Maw. Her voice echoed, laced with ancient incantations that seemed to draw the darkness toward her.

The vortex resisted, its tendrils lashing out like hungry serpents, but Kuzunoha's mere presence of arcane energy repelled the incoming aggression.

With a flourish, she cast a final, intricate spell, and the Maw of Stars began to collapse inward, its edges glowing with a fiery light as it was sealed into a tiny, pulsating sphere.

Kuzunoha held the sphere aloft, her scarlet eyes gleaming with triumph. "And just like that," she declared, "The stars are no longer hungry."

Returning to the parapet, Kuzunoha tossed the sphere into her arcane storage. She probably wanted to perform an experiment with it.

"You make it look so easy," I said, half-admiring, half-sarcastic.

"Because it is," she replied, giving me a wink.

"Show-off," Verina muttered, though her tone lacked any real bite.

Lupina, now perched on a nearby crate, chimed in. "It is amazing how you always make your spell look theatrical!"

Yeah, probably because Verina, in comparison, was more on the no-bullshit, quick and precise in terms of her playstyle.

Kuzunoha gasped, mock-offended. "My dear Lupina, what is magic without a little flair?"

Verina rolled her eyes.

Before I could retort, Kuzunoha turned to me, her expression shifting to something more serious.

"Narcissus," she said, her tone softer now, "May I request a private audience with our dear Viviane temporarily?"

I frowned. "Viviane?"

She nodded. "She and I… we share quite the history. Or rather, I share a history with someone she used to be and vice versa." She giggled. "She might not remember me, but I'd like to jog her memory and tease the ever-living aether of it."

I studied her for a moment, weighing her words. Kuzunoha wasn't one to share much about her past, and the mention of a shared history piqued my curiosity.

Maybe that was what she meant when she said that Viviane still remembered how to do the spell where she drawed another version of herself from the rift that she created in this reality.

"I hope that you can use this moment to relax and enjoy yourself," I said finally. "But play nice. She's still getting used to being here."

Kuzunoha's lips curled into a sly smile. "Oh, I'll be the epitome of charm."

From the walls, the bastioneers were scanning the horizon, their Skypiercers and crossbows at the ready. Erika, naturally, was already shouting orders besides Amelia, her voice filled with fervor as she rallied the others.

"Stay vigilant! Remember the Radiant One's teachings!" she bellowed, her tone somewhere between a military commander and a preacher.

"Remind me again who coined that nickname?" I muttered under my breath.

"Your favorite zealot," Verina replied dryly, her musket casually resting against her shoulder.

The next wave began to manifest. A shadowy figure began materializing in the distance, thin strands of light stretching out from its gaunt, humanoid form like the threads of a cosmic spider's web. Each strand pulsed faintly, as if alive.

—

[

The Threadkeeper

]

[

Description

: A gaunt figure wrapped in countless multicolored threads that stretch endlessly into the horizon. Each thread represents life, pulsing faintly with light. The Threadkeeper silently weaves and unravels threads, subtly altering events and fates. If disturbed, it lashes out, tangling others in their own threads. Victims find their actions mirrored and controlled, as though they are marionettes, each movement dictated by the Keeper's weaving]

[

Hint

: The only way to break free from the thread is with an act of true autonomy from the mind and soul of the past and the future, but doing so risks permanently unweaving one's own life]

—

The sight sent a shiver down my spine.

It was not uncommon for a Calamity Object to give me goosebumps, but this one just possessed the stature and expression akin to that of an old deity, crushed by the hopes of their lost legacy as they woke up after countless years of rest.

"It's a Threadkeeper," I muttered.

Verina followed my gaze and nodded. She seemed to be particularly familiar with this one "Dangerous. What's the plan?"

I considered the hint in the system. Acts of autonomy to sever the threads… not exactly the easiest strategy to rely on in a chaotic battlefield.

If that was the case, then preventing the bastioneers from being influenced by the threads should be the most apt method of survival—obviously.

But if the Calamity Object wasn't as durable and resilient like some of the Calamity Objects we faced before, then maybe a full-blown aggression would end the fight faster.

"Verina, think you can sever the source of its threads with your spells?"

She did her rare smirk that probably came once a week or a month. "I'll make it look easy."

Raising her musket, she focused intently, her Black Wheels spinning as she channeled precise arcs of energy.

The first shot tore through the air, slicing cleanly through a glowing thread and eliciting an inhuman screech from the Threadkeeper.

"Direct hits work," she noted, adjusting her stance.

I gave a sharp nod. "Keep it up. Bastioneers, advance in two groups and don't let it rest!"

The Skypiercers roared to life as the bastioneers advanced in formations, their coordinated strikes keeping the Threadkeeper from advancing.

The multiple way of slicings and the extended range akin to that of a pike made the Skypiercers the second MVP of this encounter, especially since it possessed a high psychic sensitivity, allowing Verina to easily imbue it from long distance if necessary.

And as expected, each severed thread weakened it, its movements growing slower and more erratic until Verina delivered the final blow—a perfectly aimed arcane purge that shattered its core.

The Threadkeeper disintegrated into a cascade of glowing threads that dissolved into the wind.

We then looted everything that fell from the Threadkeeper, ensuring a steady supply of Calamity Object-related materials into our bastion.

"Uhm, Narcissus?" Lupina said as she was being held by me since I gave Verina the order to supervise the bastioneers in looting the calamity materials. "I just realized this, but you're keeping me really close to your, ehem, chest."

"Hmm~? Think of it as a reward for your honorable sacrifice on our first night."

"I-I will!"

The next wave brought a new, more ominous presence.

The ground beneath us trembled as a colossal humanoid figure emerged, its body half-buried in the earth. Its patchwork skin of stone and metal gave it the appearance of a living monument, an ancient being that radiated an overwhelming sense of age and power.

—

[

The Slumbering Titan

]

[

Description

: A colossal, humanoid figure half-buried in the ground, its body covered in a patchwork of stone and metal, as though fused with the earth. It appears dormant, but its occasional tremors shake the surrounding area, warping gravity and time. Those who approach feel the weight of countless years pressing down on them, each step forward aging them visibly. If awakened, the Titan's gaze alone halts all motion, freezing everything in its path]

[

Hint

: The Titan remains dormant if no one speaks near it; even a whisper may stir it from its ageless and vulnerable rest]

—

Great, another thing that we can't deal with, just what we needed.

The bastioneers exchanged uneasy glances, their Skypiercers lowered as they waited for instructions.

I signaled Verina with an air-writing if she was able to create a channel where we all could talk to each other telepathically, like what Kuzunoha usually did.

She nodded and established the arcane channel that connects all of us telepathically.

"No one speaks," I said firmly there, yet nary a voice was sung. "Not a word, not a sound. The titan is vulnerable when it sleeps, and is deadly when it awakes. A single whisper might become the doom of us all."

Everyone nodded, including Erika.

Amelia relayed my command with hand signals as we carefully maneuvered around the massive figure. Its occasional tremors sent ripples through the ground, warping gravity and making every step feel heavier.

The tension was suffocating, but the bastioneers moved with remarkable discipline, their silence unwavering. Even Erika managed to restrain herself, though the strain of not shouting orders was evident on her face.

As we cleared the Titan's vicinity, we delicately dug through the titan's armored surface and into the fleshy patchworks of its inside. Slowly but surely, we ventured deep into the giant's anatomy and delivered a decisive blow before hurrying to escape the crumbling remains of the giant.

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group.

"Well," Verina said quietly, "That was… anticlimactic."

"That was nerve-wracking!" Lupina exclaimed, letting out the solid 20 minutes of silence from our side.

"I'll take anticlimactic over catastrophic any day," I chuckled.

Just as we were about to carve the precious mountain of treasures that was lying on the far outskirts of our bastion, a double invasion of Bloodhounds and Shardfiends came out of nowhere, prompting all bastioneers into the state of combat.

We managed to maneuver through the sudden ambush and ended up surviving the wave of Calamity Objects with minimum casualties outside of a few scratches there and there. And at the most opportune time, Kuzunoha was finally finished with her private meeting with Viviane.

"Nice timing," I smiled while presenting the hulking masses of the Slumbering Titan's remains. "My beloved and precious secretary, may I get the joy of having you ease our work by putting this whole thing in a preserved state within your arcane storage?"

"With great pleasure~" Kuzunoha replied with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

The next Calamity Object was smaller, non-hostile, but no less dangerous—a dagger that seemed to shimmer with liquid light, its presence exuding a sense of longing and loss.

—

[

The Dagger of Forgotten Vows

]

[

Description

: A dagger made of shimmering, liquid-like metal that glows faintly when held. It grants immense power to the wielder, amplifying their emotions and desires. However, with each use, the dagger demands the wielder surrender a memory tied to an important promise they made. Over time, they forget their purpose and connections, leaving them powerful but hollow]

[

Hint

: The dagger can only be destroyed by stabbing it into a surface imbued with honesty, such as an object tied to a fulfilled vow]

—

"It's pretty," Sera said, eyeing the blade warily.

"Pretty deadly," I corrected. "Nobody touches it."

Kuzunoha stepped forward, her expression gleeful. "Oh, let me handle this one. It's practically begging to be sealed in my collection."

With a casual wave of her parasol, she encased the dagger in a shimmering sphere of arcane energy, rendering it inert before tucking it away in her storage.

"Handled with care," she said with a wink.

As the Ordeal entered a brief hibernation phase, the bastion fell into a momentary calm. The bastioneers regrouped, tending to their injuries and repairing equipment, distributing the rations, while also keeping Viviane from being lonely as they finally start to talk with one another.

It was a little bit of a misfortune that the bastioneers were pressing the allegation that Viviane was somewhat of a lover on my end, when she was actually a fickle and fiery grandma that I needed to keep distance and minded my manner to.

There was also Verina and Lupina who were tasked to maintain the recalibration schedule of our Organic Calculators.

I leaned against the parapet, which had become my favorite place since it was erected on the walls. My mind raced as I reviewed the events so far.

As usual, I couldn't help but feel worried since we all might end up dead at any moment.

I wondered how Viviane was able to endure the Ordeal alone for such a long time, in the same location too.

I might want to have some private moments with my elder after I finish wrapping everything in my mind.

"Still breathing, darling?" Kuzunoha's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Kinda," I admitted.

She smirked, leaning on her parasol. "You're doing better than most would in your position."

"In mortal terms or fae terms?"

"You have too much expectation on the fae."

"Pfft," I chuckled. "What did you talk about with Viviane?"

"We're talking about you, of course~"