Floor One – Black Wing Mercenary Stronghold
November 30th
12:37AM
Kage
- Level 14
- 1275/1275 HP
The biggest troll moment in history is the only way that I can describe Kayaba Akihiko's announcement. He calls this a death game, where you die in this game and are killed in reality. Whoever the hell allowed this sick asshole to exploit advancing technology in this way really just needs to die. You hear me? Die!
Well whatever, that announcement was almost three weeks ago and I just finished activating the teleport gate to this town for the rest of these sorry bastards. A good chunk of XP was rewarded to me for that as well, that's badass as hell… but now I'm having a bit of trouble grinding these low-level mobs. Well, not really since an idiot just died and scared half the population to not fight mobs that are too high a level.
Oh yeah, a mob is basically just that, a mob… you can fight one at a time, but the guys or monsters that spawn around a certain zone are a mob. Or so I have been lead to believe by common sense and my own interpretations. Call them whatever you want but even the individual creatures are mob characters.
I slowly turned around to examine my surroundings. I'm inside of some sort of fort, filled with humanoid mobs. These guys are «Level 13 Black Wing Mercenaries» and killing all of them is an XP and item reward. Been getting a bit of loot of these guys as well; a bunch of Cor to be sure – but also pieces of leather armor. Like bracers, boots, a few vests, some pauldrons, knee-guards and gloves. Their stats are low, so I'm not entirely sure if I should use them to upgrade my crafting skills or sell them for more cor to purchase better gear. Not stupid enough to get rid of stuff that's better than my own gear though.
"I can always use more money." I reason and then let out a deep breath. "I hate those overcharging assholes, don't they know that a freaking level 10 leather vest isn't going to sell for anything? Since most people can just make one?" My rant was ignored by the virtual atmosphere that surrounded me, and that shelf over there… and that barrel of MEAD over there.
I slowly turned around and finally entered the next room after equipping the best gear I had available. There was a collection of mobs in here. The first one was close enough to look in my direction and run over like a crazy lady. «Black Wing Scout» - That means she's a rogue type of character. The type of woman who does a lot of damage. Highest threat and highest damage. "Damn it. Stay back, you whore!" I shouted at her and replied to her «Horizontal» with nothing but a «Horizontal» from the opposite direction. Our swords smashed into each other. But mine broke! And I also took a bit of damage.
"Shit!" I charged my fingers for an «Embracer» and stabbed her in the heart. I then grabbed her sword arm and prevented her from using another sword skill. The Scout reacted to my inhibition… oh yes she reacted. She brought that meaty-muscly leg up and slammed it right between the… legs, I could've swore I heard a crunch. That sound alone made me shudder.
I let out a girlish yelp and jumped backwards – then covered my mouth. My face involuntarily flushed red. She charged a sword skill and I recognized the motion «Rage Spike». She leapt forward and I side-stepped, hit the scout with another high-penetration finger stab known as «Embracer» and followed up with a «Palm Strike» as she was recovering from the low-impact stab, it hit… I could tell by the defined hand-print on her abdomen. That last move caused an effect known as «Knockback» which was pretty self-explanatory. The hit knocked you back and disabled your voluntary movement for a certain amount of time. There was a variety of other status effects that had roughly the same effect, these are all categorized with a term that is decades old: «Crowd Control» or «CC» for short. These status effects are required for an especially difficult game that requires socialization and teamwork like this, but most people don't know how to create good builds. The reason is probably because this is a VRMMORPG, it's not like the most 'elite' of all MMORPG players joined up and there's only 10,000 of us allowed in here.
«Horizontal»
Shit, barely dodged that one!
I countered with «Right Hook» - Followed up with «Quick Thrust» - and proceeded to end this Mob's career with a «Roundhouse Kick»
"Boom! That's right bitches! Who's a badass now?! Let's go! WHOOOO!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.
That alone was enough to aggro the rest of the enemies in the room who each responded with a very sudden and aggravated. "Hmmn?!"
"…Shit." Is all I managed and opened my «User Interface» - grabbed a new «Steel Short-Sword» and closed the «User Interface» or «UI» for short.
I stole a glance at my «Health Bar» - only «951/1275» remaining. That «Pelvic Knee-Strike» was devastating… not an actual sword skill though. Possible «Health Point»/«HP» penalty for outside of system «Crowd Control» confirmed… and I probably took a bit of damage from that «Horizontal» which broke my other sword.
The first guy came as soon as I closed the «UI» - and he did it with a «Rage Spike» in hand – this skill was basically just a leap in my direction followed by an upward slash. I didn't bother to «Parry» with a Sword Skill. It's a weak skill only meant to close the distance and deal some damage on the side. I feel like it's an ability fit for «Tanks» with a ton of «CC» to get in close… doesn't mean I did nothing though.
My answer to this attack was a pre-emptively charged «Uppercut» the hit knocked the «Black Wing Raider» out of the air and I laughed diabolically as he was knocked backwards with a single flip then smashed into the ground. I waited for an instant and then ripped forward with a greatly timed «Sonic Leap»
It was only an instant, but I was transported to the enemy and made a downward slash, ending the first Raider. Of course, there was another two Raiders ready to counter. "Fuck… I can't beat these guys!" I shouted and «Parried» the first attack but I was hit by the third guy's «Reaver»
"Damn it." I was forced to stay still for a moment, and was hit by a «Vertical» from the second Raider and a «Horizontal» from the third Raider. "Stop it!" I shouted and looked frantically around to find a way out. The «Mercs» in the last room had probably respawned and my «Health Bar» was already at «328/1275» - I had no way out, I fucked up!
I ran forward and then turned around to face one of the «Black Wing Raiders». They wore the expressions of merciless assholes that wouldn't hesitate to kill me. "Damn it… damn it… damn it." I growled as they approached slowly. "I really hate the numbers that are popping up in my head." I muttered, they were all timings that weren't going to work out. To get out of this I'd have to kill the mobs and retreat. "I thought I'd be able to beat you assholes!" I shouted, tears welled up in my eyes.
This was reality, I'm going to die right here.
"Fuck reality! I'd be better off just dying in this death game anyway…" I said and then bit my bottom lip to stop it from quivering.
The «Black Wing Mercenaries» came ever closer and charged their sword skills, to strike the finishing blows. It was then that I met him…
A flash of white shot past me, and the hot wind that followed him left me breathless. His hair was short, but almost came down to his shoulders. His expression was that of a person who was jaded and hated life. The weapon he was using was a testament to his resolve and what most people called him. His features defined those of a pro-player whose livestreams I watched for years.
"Releasing control of Sword Art Combat Restriction System to Level 99 as per Section 7 – Paragraph 4 of Classified Article." He mumbled almost inaudibly and then executed the sword skill that looked like a massive version of «Spinning Shield»
The «Black Wing Raiders» both attacked with a «Vertical» slash that went from top-to-bottom. The result was that the second Raider's sword was flung out of it's hand and the third one's simply shattered outright.
"What the fuck?!" I exclaimed as their swords were tossed about or reduced to shiny white «Pixel Dust» as I called it.
The white-haired guy in front of me reacted to my cussing by sticking an index finger in my mouth. It was soft and fair, with succulent flesh beneath the skin that was as sweet as the lollipop I had before I logged in. For a moment I tightened my lips around it and stroked the tip with my tongue, but I realized what I was doing… I felt my cheeks grow warm and I pulled my head back as far as it could go, but I stopped as my head hit the wall and the tip of his… finger… didn't pop free. My mind went blank and I collapsed to my knees, I shuddered as the taste of his finger didn't leave my thoughts and even more at the sound of his finger popping out of my mouth… puh!
He just slowly turned his head in my direction, "Shinigami to the rescue." He said, his expression indicating an aura of dead-seriousness that wasn't aware of the irony of what he just said to me… he just smirked.
He turned back to the mercenaries and killed each of them with a collection of chained sword-skills. He took his time but did it gracefully… because they had no suitable weapon to attack with.
His finger had been in my mouth… and I… and I… I blacked out… nothingness enraptured my senses.