Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online
Chapter 1: Showdown!
It was an hour ago. An hour ago, Kayaba Akahiko, creator of Sword Art Online on the NerveGear, announced that all 10,000 players in SAO were stuck in the game. No log out option, no respawn; if you die in the game, it was permadeath, both in-game and in real life. An hour ago, SAO was announced to be a game where risks are high and one mistake can lead to absolute death. And here we are level-grinding on the first floor among some of the very few brave souls. Himeko Yukihime thought as she slashed through waves of boars.
My name is Himeko Yukihime, but in here, my name is simply Hime. My name is supposed to be a trap. People will expect a defenseless princess who cannot hold their own. But little do they know that I am a fierce warrior with a will of fire! Hime went over her character. Her avatar when she started the game was a strong, built, male knight with a broadsword, much to her boyfriend's dismay. When everyone's avatar turned into their real life appearance, Hime kept the large armor, but ditched the helmet for a yellow ribbon over her forehead to keep her long brown hair out of her eyes. She looked over to her friend, who was finishing the boars around her with her short axe.
This is my best friend, Ayase Hazuki, but her in-game name is Ayame. She can be a bit too cheerful, but ever since the announcement, she's been too quiet. When we started the game, she told me she wanted to come off as the wacky, eccentric player that everyone would laugh at, but still know that she was reliable. With the sad news being announced, I don't know if she'll be the same... Hime looked at her friend with concern. Ayame finished the last boar off and turned to her friend with a big grin.
"Good job, Hime! We sure did show those boars who's BORSS (boss)! Hahaha! Ya know, you didn't have to HOG all of the boars! Hahaha!" Ayame laughed hysterically. I should have known better... Hime sweatdropped.
"I wonder if the guys are doing okay..." Hime looked to the direction their boyfriends left to. They were level grinding as well.
"Aw, they'll be fine they'll be fine they'll be fine they'll be fine!" Ayame slapped Hime's back VERY hard. Hime gave her a stern look.
"One of those guys is your brother! And the other one is your boyfriend! Why aren't you worried?" Hime said.
"Well, when you think they'll be fine, they'll usually be fine! Hehe!" Ayame giggled. As if on cue, they both heard the screams of to people that resembled little girls. They looked in the direction the guys left to and, lo behold, they saw one of their boyfriends being chased by a gigantic boar, while the other was clinged to its neck.
"AAAAAAAGH! HELP US!" the guy getting chased screamed.
The idiot being chased is Ayame's boyfriend, Raku Aragaki. His in-game name perfectly describes him, Xero. All joking aside, he's an idiot who I had to tutor through my whole childhood. And only because of his friendship with Ayase and her brother. Alongside Ayame's brother, he makes up the brawn in the "Brains and Brawn" duo. Hime reminded herself how stupid Xero could be.
"Don't worry, Xero! We got this in the bag!" the guy over the giant boar's neck encouraged as he stuck his katana into the beast's neck.
The "genius" who is clearly over his head and the boar's neck (nice joke) is Ayase's brother and, I don't know if I should be proud to say this or not, my boyfriend, Kanade Hazuki. His in-game name is one of his very "smart" ideas, Hazard. He chose the name to make himself look like a threat, but both his previous avatar and his real life appearance was slightly built, but skinny. His best quality is that he is a master strategist who can find out any enemy's weakness by their first strike and character build. Plus, he has a way with words, being able to talk past everything... including me... The only problem with him is that he always gets the most wildest ideas and takes the biggest risks. Hime looked her boyfriend with a conflicted stare. The boar bucked Hazard off to the ground and readied its attack on him.
"No no no no no NO!" Hazard closed his eyes in fear. He heard a slashing noise and opened his eyes to see an explosion of polygons and Hime sheathing her sword to her waist after she slain the boar.
"Himeko! I had that! You could obviously see we had that under control!" Hazard gave her the least serious glare imaginable. Hime gave him a soft smirk.
"Of course I could see that, especially when you're crying for dear life!" Hime's smirk turned to an angry glare and moderately tapped Hazard's head with the flat end of her sword. "And I told you to call me Hime!"
"Not my fault you chose a name similar name to your IRL name!" Hazard rubbed his head in exaggerated pain.
"And your sister?" Hime referred to Ayame's name having a simple letter change.
"Well, s to m is a huge change..." Hazard rubbed his chin. Ayame copied the same action.
"That is true..." Xero joined the chin rubbing. The three broke out in laughter.
"We're only joking!" Hazard hooked his arm over her shoulder. "How about we go back into town and rest for the night. It's been late since the announcement ended."
"That's a great idea, big brother!" Ayame jumped onto Xero's back. "Onwards!"
"A-alright!" Xero was taken aback by the action and went into a full sprint. Hazard grabbed Hime's hand and ran with them. Hime was nearly dragged due to the events occuring too quickly. She gave Hazard an envious stare.
Why does he always take up the leadership role...
The party rented two rooms, one for each couple, at a bed and breakfast. They were currently celebrating their progress at the bar in the lobby. Ayame and Xero celebrated with many drunk players and NPCs who didn't even know what the hell they were celebrating while Hazard and Hime looked over the bustling town at night on a balcony.
"Wow, the NPCs are just like real people..." Hime awed over the crowd.
"Actually, the NPCs' data mapping puts them to sleep past 9 pm unless they're quest specific. The people down there are actual players." Hazard explained.
"Really?!" Hime's look of awe grew.
"Yes. Keep in mind that 10,000 people, give or take, are still on the first floor. We would have gotten a notification if a new floor has been opened. A good lot of the 10,000ish people want to stay in town. Wait until this all blows over." Hazard's attention focused on the people.
"They can't just wait! There's a game they need to be beat! How do they expect to beat the game if they don't do something about it?!" Hime began to scowl at the large crowd. Hazard looked over to her and then pointed randomly into the crowd.
"Then choose." Hazard said calmly. "Choose who's gonna beat the game."
"W-well, truth said, not everyone here is going to live to the end of the game." Hime grimaced.
"Exactly. Don't assume everyone here lives in fear of this game. I bet many here resting after a long evening of grinding, like us. Hell, some are probably doing a quick inventory stocking and going straight back out there." Hazard said. "Within a week, the first floor boss will be cleared. Then, almost everyone will go to the second floor and wait for the brave heroes who beat the first floor boss to do the same on the second floor."
"If everyone competed in the boss battle, then our chances of beating the boss are extremely high! It's a sure bet!" Hime complained. Hazard chuckled and gave her a sly look.
"You know my philosophy. Taking the sure bet is a shitty way to live. Why do something with small chance of failure when you can take risks and be proud of all the hard work and dedication you put forth?" Hazard asked.
"And failure means death. You know that, right?" Hime one-uped him. Hazard just shrugged her off.
"And that makes the victory much more gratifying!" Hazard gave her a big grin. Hime blushed immediately at this.
Damn you for being so cute! Hime grimaced in her mind.
A commotion was heard from the inside of the bar. "You wanna say that again, punk?!" Xero yelled in anger. Hazard turned his attention to the bar.
"What's that meathead got into now?" both Hime and Hazard said as if it was usual. They rushed inside to see Xero defending Ayame, who was hiding behind his back, from some drunk player.
"C'mon, I just said the girlie looked too cute to be with you!" the drunkard slurred.
"I think you need an ass kicking..." Xero clutched his fist.
"PERVERTED PERVY PERVERT!" Ayame screamed to the drunkard over Xero's ear, causing him to flinch.
"What's going on?" Hazard marched next to Xero.
"That bastard tried to make a move on Ayame!" Xero glared at the drunk.
"It's Angus, for your info!" Angus bowed and nearly fell. A tall man in glasses stepped in between Angus and Xero.
"Please excuse my friend, he can become quite surly when- well, he usually is like this. My name is Bertrand." Bertrand extended his hand for a handshake, only to have it smacked away.
"Not to be rude, but I'm not gonna be kind 'till I kick this guy's ass!" Xero glared past Bertrand. A hunting dart whizzed past Xero's face and into the wall.
"If you plan to fight, how about you fight when we're all sober." A man clad in a long, red cloak suggested.
"Who the hell are you?" Xero glared at the man in red.
"The name's Rogue. I won't shake your hand because I don't think you kicked his ass yet. Or if you even can!" Rogue chuckled.
"What was that?!" Xero started to clench his fist towards Rogue.
"Who exactly are you?" Hazard approached Rogue.
"I'm the guy keeping the leash on that dog, Angus, there. I mean, Angus is a dog's name." Rogue smirked.
"Hey, shut up you..." Angus slurred and fell onto the ground, unconscious.
"And you?" Rogue asked Hazard.
"I'm the guy who keeps the leash on that dog over there!" Hazard smirked as well.
"Hey, shut up you!" Xero yelled. Ayame looked at the unconscious Angus and at Xero, and knocked out Xero.
"Hehe..." Ayame giggled to her brother.
"How about we arrange a duel for those two? Settle things between them?" Bertrand consulted Rogue and Hazard.
"Sounds like a plan." Rogue clapped his hands together.
"I can deal with that." Hazard nodded his head. "There's this tower I found while level grinding. We can have the duel on the top of the tower after we clear it out. I'll send you two the coordinates."
"Got it." Rogue and Hazard shook each other's hands. "By the way, who's the babe back there?" Rogue motioned towards Hime.
"You don't plan on hitting on her, do you?" Hazard readied his katana.
"Woah, hold it cowboy! She was just quiet the whole time and she's obviously part of your clique." Rogue held his hands up in surrender.
"M-my name is Hime..." Hime piped up.
"Well, it's nice to meet ya!" Rogue saluted to her. Hime nodded back.
"What about the 'babe' behind you?" Hazard imitated Rogue.
"Well, since you asked nicely, her name is Sayaka. Both in-game and IRL." Rogue looked at her and chuckled.
"Rogue!" Sayaka whined. Rogue chuckled.
"So, when are we going to the tower?" Bertrand interjected the conversation.
"I believe we should leave early in the morning." Hazard said.
"That should be fine." Bertrand agreed. "We'll handle Angus. See you tomorrow." The three people dragged Angus out of the bar.
"Catch ya later!" Rogue waved.
"See ya!" Sayaka smiled. Hazard turned to Ayame and saw her holding Xero over her shoulders.
"I got him taken care of. See you in the morning, big brother!" Ayame jogged back to her room.
"Goodnight, Ayame!" Hazard smiled warmly. "How about we get to our room too?" Hazard looked back at Hime.
"Yeah, let's get going."
Hime sat in front of the mirror, brushing her long, brown hair after taking a shower. She looked back at Hazard, who was lying on their shared bed shirtless.
"Hey, can I ask you a question Kanade?" Hime looked away from him with a blush.
"Weren't you complaining about using IRL names earlier?" Hazard grinned.
"Well, it should be fine if it's between us in a private room..." Hime twirled her fingers together. Hazard got out of bed and hugged her from behind, causing Hime to yelp in surprise.
"Shoot... Himeko." Hazard teased.
"Why do you always take the lead? You're always making the decisions. I never get a say..." Hime unwrapped Hazard's arms from her waist.
"You never really take the lead, I guess." Hazard sat back down on the bed. "That whole time in the bar, you could have intervened and said something, but all you did was address yourself. And you're shy to boot."
"Never heard of sugarcoating, huh?" Hime glared at him.
"What, you asked." Hazard shrugged. Hime finished brushing her hair and got into bed.
"What do you suppose I do then." Hime asked Hazard once he got into bed.
"How about being more assertive. Instead of staying in the back, you burst out into the front!" Hazard gave her a reassuring grin.
"Assertive, huh?" Hime started to ponder. A devilish grin grew on her face.
"How about we have a little fun?" Hime rubbed her foot against Hazard's shin seductively. Hazard quickly turned away from her.
"Nah..." Hazard declined.
"What?! There's a reason I bought a one bed room for two! And those cost double!" Hime yelled at him.
"Well, having sex the same day the game you're playing announces that it's a death game kinda ruins the mood... Hit me up tomorrow night." Hazard waved her off.
"Waste of col..." Hime grumbled to sleep.
"This looks like a tower!" Rogue looked up at the tower in the night sky. "We'll set up camp here."
"Explain to me, why are we camping in front of the tower?" Bertrand said, irritated.
"We gotta have fun in this game, right? Giving ourselves a challenge is fun!" Rogue gave the team a sly smirk.
"Our goal is to survive! Not have fun!" Bertrand yelled.
"Who says it can't be both?" Rogue began pitching the tent up. "C'mon Sayaka, let's get some rest." Sayaka and Rogue scurry into the tent.
"I guess I'm on guard duty..." Bertrand grumbled. "Lazy ass..." Bertrand looked over to Angus, still knocked out. "Drunk ass..."
"Smart ass!" Rogue popped his head out of the tent and ducked back in. "Slap ass!" A smack was heard and Sayaka shrieked, which led to another smack, except it was Rogue's face getting slapped instead of Sayaka's behind.
"Got here early, huh?" Hazard arrived at Rogue's camp. Rogue was sitting near the campfire while Sayaka was cooking some boar's meat.
"Nah, we camped here all night." Rogue bragged. "Hungry? Breakfast oughta be done soon."
"STARVING!" Ayame gasped and lunged for a seat near the campfire. Everyone began to sit near the camp. Xero made it extra careful to sit far from Angus.
"By the way, you guys never introduced yourselves, other than Hime." Bertrand sat with the others.
"My apologies, my name is Hazard." Hazard stated.
"Xero." Xero simply stated as he maintained a glare on Angus.
"Sounds fitting." Angus scoffed.
"My name is Ayame! And me and Hazard are sibby-wibbings!" Ayame said as if she was talking to a dog in a cutesy voice.
"Siblings." Hazard corrected her with a straight and annoyed face. "She means siblings."
"Well, it is a pleasure!" Rogue stated as he stared at the cooked meat being passed. Everyone got a skewered piece of boar's meat.
"Siblings, huh? Sayaka and I are siblings." Bertrand pipped.
"Hardly..." Sayaka grumbled.
"Sayaka!" Bertrand began to scold her.
"Is there something between you two?" Hime asked politely.
"No, it's just that I don't think sibling is the right term..." Sayaka said calmly.
"Either way, she and I are blood related." Bertrand calmed down. The subject was dropped.
"Soooooo, what so special about this tower?" Rogue broke the awkward silence.
"Nothing really important. No bosses or mini bosses. Just enemies to kill." Xero said.
"He made the mistake to rush in there yesterday. Almost died." Hazard said.
"Ha, that would've sucked!" Rogue cackled.
"And it was before the announcement too!" Hazard chuckled.
"Shut up! C'mon!" Xero whined.
"Damn it..." Angus grimaced knowing that Xero avoided death. Hazard quickly drew out his katana and pointed it at his face.
"What's wrong with you?! Hoping someone died and only to avoid a fight?!" Hazard barked at Angus, who was frightened out of his wits. Rogue pulled out the broadsword from his back and put it against Angus's throat.
"Need I remind you that I don't know you IRL, so I have no problem kicking your ass!" Rogue glared at him.
"O-okay, no need to remind me!" Angus stuttered. Both Hazard and Rogue sheathed their weapons. "Let's just eat and get through the tower already!" They finished their breakfast and began to prepare for the tower.
"So, are you ready?" Rogue grinned.
"Let's get this over with!" Hazard grinned as well. The group went into the tower, ready to clear the tower. As they entered, many scarecrow-type enemies ambushed them, locking the tower doors behind them.
"Now, this is what I'm talkin' about," Rogue pulled his broadsword out. "an old fasioned showdown!"
"You think you stand a chance? Hmph." Hazard threatened the scarecrows and readied his katana by propping it out slightly with his thumb.
"Let's rock!" Xero clenched his fist and raised it in the air.
"Whatever..." Angus grumbled.
"CATCHPHRASE!" Ayame rushed into battle.
"I think us three are the only ones with common sense..." Hime sweatdropped.
"Yep..." Sayaka and Bertrand sighed.
Next Chapter
After clearing out the tower and reaching the top, Xero and Angus have a duel. After the duel, however, Rogue has a little surprise in store for Hazard.
Chapter 2: A Little Duel...
Hope this chapter is well received! Please favorite and follow. Also, please review to give me an insight of what you guys want this story to go to. And PM me if you want to give advice, story suggestions, or character ideas!