Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the

Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the .hack/ franchise. That right belongs with CC Corp.

'The World', a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, which had gone through several crisis and home to more than 10 million players, was once again safe. After almost an entire year of fighting, both AIDA and Cubia had been defeated by a group known simply as GU. The team of 8 players and their Epitaphs had been the saviors of the many, rescuing countless players from being trapped in eternal coma. The threat over, peace once again settled amongst the game, Corbenik's rebirth placing everything back to the way it once was.

--

Unknown Field

A large desert spanned the length of the entire field, the desolate wasteland offering no sanctuary to any who trespassed in the domain. The entire field flickered a few times in static, slowly recovering. Large parts of the field were also corroded, displaying the basic code underneath. Small streams of data flowed through the air as lost bits of audio filtered through the area. Each voice sounded as if it was being run through an old tape recorded, the age of the audio showing.

'The World and all its wonders… this is my World you see…'

'Wha-what did you say!?'

The area flickered a few final times, finally fully stabilizing.

'It's called the Key of the Twilight.'

'What we're fighting, it's both everywhere, and yet nowhere .Essentially, we are fighting the 'God' of this World'

The small streams of data slowly came to a stop, nothing in the air now.

'Sorry Old Lady, but I'm betraying you now too. The way you act, it's really suspicious.'

'…and so I will do the only thing I can. I shall abandon that field!'

By now, the patches of code had been recovered, the field looking whole once more.

'The power it holds can bring either salvation… of destruction… at the whim of the user.'

'What, what is that thing!?'

The sound of breaking waves could be heard shortly after, a small beach materializing at the end of the field.

'Welcome to Paradise!'

'Please, you must not fight Cubia!'

The waves had started to calm until a large seaweed covered obelisk appeared, jutting out of the water at an odd angle, strange bumps and runes cover the surface. One side stood out plainly with what appeared to be a screen at the top.

'The Wave has changed course, it's headed straight for us.'

'Aura! NO!!'

As the final bit of audio died out, the screen on the obelisk snapped on, showing green tinted static. A woman's voice spoke out over the wasteland a few seconds later, a small amount of smug satisfaction in her voice.

"The higher up it is dropped, the worse the crash will be. Hope is the best spice to bring out despair."

AN: Well, here's the prolouge to a new fanfic I'm starting. R&R, and no flames, for they will be ignored. If you must criticize, make it constructive.

-MoD