Disclaimer: The Mai-Hime/Mai-Otome characters belong to Sunrise. The plot belongs to Touno Mamare-Sensei(Log Horizon).
Enjoy.
Prologue
"Juliet, pay attention to your right!"
"Right, leave it to me!"
Juliet replied to Kruger's warning with a yell, raising her silver shield and eliminate the Triffid.
"Kruger-nee!"
With one blow, Miroku quickly restrained the green twisted ivy reaching out from the left, and right after that, she lowered her body and positioned herself to protect Kruger.
This zone is called the Herbery of Small Stone.
It is a small zone, but as it hold ancient entertainment facilities, it is different from the ruins surrounding it. There are great variations in its terrain and combat was difficult.
"Then again, isn't this a little too many?"
"Their numbers increase whenever Juliet cracks a dirty joke."
"Ah!? So you mean it's my fault, you shrimp!?"
Without replying to Juliet's retort, Kruger cast a bluish white magic arrow and fired it at the Briar Weasels. Mind Bolt is a basic magic attack of Enchanters, an arrow of mental energy that struck a single enemy.
While Kruger was looking at the rodent-like creature that was roughly a meter in height as it shrieked and jumped about, an icon appeared on her mind.
The icon had turned pale to represent its recast time, and it was slowly recovering like an hourglass. Until the icon regained its luster, that spell was unusable. However, there were close to 30 other skills that Kruger could utilize.
"Rush them! Miroku, attack the left flank!"
"Roger!"
"Leave it to me!"
Furthermore, even if all of her skills were unusable, Kruger currently had two comrades with her.
"Haa! Let's rock! Shield Smash!"
The silver-armored warrior who quickly advanced down the moss-covered path and swept her shield sideways, moving enemies down, was Juliet. She was a red head with lime green eyes and she was Kruger's friend from the old days.
Her class is Guardian. Among the 3 warrior classes that could single-handedly draw in and tank enemies' assaults, Guardians boast the greatest defensive abilities and, in Elder Tales, are nicknamed "Unbreakable Shield."
There are 3 main builds for Guardian:
Fortress, a standard one-hand sword and shield style.
Scarlet Knight, two-handed weapon with HP absorption effect and no shield, compensating damage taken with HP Absorption effect of the weapon.
Juggernaut, build with an emphasis on continuous usage of skills rather than normal auto-attack. Similar to Scarlet Knight, they require very specific equipment to use and thus, hardly anyone build them.
"... Too slow!"
A young girl, who gave one the impression of a dangerous obsidian dagger, made a quick dash into the gap that appeared from Juliet's assault. A strange creature, that looked like a burst rugby ball with glass-like fangs growing from it, attacked but she cut it down swiftly with her short katana as she passed it.
This petite girl with spiky black hair is Miroku.
Her class is Assassin. It is a resourceful class that wielded one-hit kill skills. It boasts of having the strongest melee attack among the 12 classes of Elder Tales.
The 3 main builds for Assassin:
Shadow Blade, focuses on sneak attack and burst damage.
Sniper, bow-weapon build that focuses on rear guard support.
Sword Dancer, focuses on more steady damage, with Dual-Wielding weapons.
Though Kruger viewed the movements of these two in fascination, she hurriedly advanced forward.
Kruger is an Enchanter.
Amongst the three magic attack classes, it is a 100% support class type specializing in support and battle status magic. As was common for magic attack classes, the Enchanter's defense is not something that anyone in their right mind would rely on. Leaving out Juliet's full-plated armor, Enchanter couldn't even equip the regular leather armor of Adventurers set, like the one Miroku is wearing.
Under the huge white gown-looking mantle of hers, there is nothing more than a rather ordinary tunic shirt and a pair of trousers.
Kruger, who was the rear support without any defensive abilites, could not be left alone on the battlefield. She needed to take the opponent's Area-Of-Affect(AOE) magic into account while keeping in mind, that being overly close to the front lines could be dangerous. So, the best method is to be wary of any ambushed in the rear, while maintaining a set of distance from Juliet and Miroku to make sure that her magic is still in its AOE zone if she needs to buff her comrades.
Needless to say, the Herbery of Small Stone is not a field-zone of high difficulty.
The monsters that could appear in this zone are Triffids, Briar Weasels, and Venom Moths; all around level 50.
Kruger and the other two are level 90 Adventurers.
In the world of MMORPG, Elder Tales, they are currently, at the highest level possible. Even if Kruger's defense is low, she wouldn't receive much damage with that much of a level gap.
Furthermore, although Juliet was up against a large number of opponents, even if it were just ten or twenty Triffids, they are opponents of a level where they could be taken care of single-handedly by any of the three party members.
(Even so, the current situation...)
Till now, the three of them all had carefree looks on their faces, chatting and bickering, but Juliet and Miroku both had serious expressions right now.
Battles are terrifying.
Even if one had a strong body or a sound mind, even is one cast magic or used a sword skill, when facing a monster, fear still lingered.
Both feet on the ground, hands firmly gripping her staff, they were all parts of her body. The wind that blew past her cheeks, the piercing howls of the monsters, the adrenaline that was pumping through her blood, they were all that Kruger was experiencing at the present moment.
Tooth and claw that suddenly appeared in their faces, flames or attacks of acid assaulted them. Needing to dodge or intercept these attacks at the front-line is a lot harder than they thought. In order to conquer this handicap, they had no choice but to accumulate combat experience, this was the conclusion the three of them had come up with.
"Watch your right!"
"I got it!"
Despite a serious look on her face, Juliet still swiftly looked in the direction that Kruger had warned her from, swinging the longsword in her right hand. Although the strike did not deal a critical hit, it was sufficient to restrict the movements of the Briar Weasels.
The weasel extended its green briar, glaring with its crimson eyes as it chirped two or three times, pulling back by curling its body into a ball.
The attack just now had proven their suspicions.
They were all level 90 Adventurers, originally if they met these monsters that were around level 48, it would be impossible for a situation where there would be an "Attack Failure".
This proved that the cooperation between the two was still insufficient.
Despite being level 90 Adventurers, they were still unable to wield their skills to the best of their best abilities yet.
"Nightmare Sphere!"
That was why they had to carry out their roles the best they could. Kruger, who had arrived at this conclusion executed an AOE skills. Nightmare Sphere is an AOE attack magic that Enchanters possessed.
Although it is an offensive skill, the damage that it actually dealt is very little.
The Enchanter class is not versed in offensive magic from the start. Compared to other classes of the same level, the attack magic that Enchanters could dish out by themselves is very weak; this is a fact known to everyone.
Nightmare Sphere had traced out an arc, landing right in the middle of the weasels and the moving plants, violently exploding. However, it seemed that it did not cause much damage to the opponents at all.
Even though they are monsters who had levels half of hers, she was still unable to defeat them in one strike; only able to use attacks of such low damage. This is a trait possessed by Enchanters.
As such, Enchanters was an unpopular class in Elder Tales. They are so rare, such that some players have no knowledge that they even exist.
Online players are ruthless. In a world where language and communication is restricted, numbers are something that is absolute. Despite being in a game universe and precisely because it is a game universe, is the cause of this world having such caste-like society that was even more heartless and strict than the real world.
The classes that are high popular and the outcast classes have a very large evaluation and population gap.
However, even though it isn't popular with normal players, Kruger is happy with her own class. It would be great if she has some special ability, but despite lacking that, she is still able to find a way to enjoy playing this class. This is Kruger's style of playing and the truth is, Kruger never once feel troubled when she plays this class.
Kruger likes the Enchanter class.
Including this troublesome trait, its weak abilities as well as its hidden versatility, Kruger is interested in all of them. The class that is "useless when left alone," it is completely different from Kruger's own shortcomings, Kruger likes that particular point very much.
The Nightmare Sphere that Kruger cast, released mental wave in its area of effect. The multiple enemies caught in its area are all suffering grave mental trauma, resulting in a huge drop in movement speed.
It is the status ailment of movement speed reduction.
Nightmare Sphere is a skill that had short effect duration, but is capable of inflicting a crippling effect on its target.
"Yeah! I can fight better like this!"
"Always at the right moment, Kruger-nee."
The two cried out with elated voices. The monsters that the three were currently embroiled with were Triffids and Briar Weasels. Although they look menacing and hideous, the height of the two monsters are only around a meter.
Once their movement speed dropped, they would only need to step in boldly, and let their attacks hit.
"Alright, I got one!"
"Same here!"
"Not bad, shrimp!"
"I'm not a shrimp, icky Spider!"
Miroku sticked her tongue out.
"What!? Who taught you that!? The Mutt!?"
"Don't go blaming Kruger-nee, icky Spider!"
"You're just saying that cause Mutt feeds you. I'll feed you a lot of food if you call me Mistress Juliet."
"Food? Like rotten flies?"
"Wh- You brat!"
"Pft- Hahaha!"
"Stop laughing, Mutt! Geez..."
(I don't think I'll ever be depressed with these two, even after that... event...)
As long as an opportunity is provided and ample support is given, they should be able to repeatedly defeat monsters. Kruger only needs to provide rear support for the two, if the two have leftover monsters that they miss, she would only need to use magic to restrain them as well as provide a small damage while waiting for her two main attackers to come back and help her.
Lowering the movement speed of the opponent is something that would turn the tables to one's advantage. Since that point is understood, Kruger would know what she would do, that would mean using similar Nightmare Sphere or Astral Bind restraining type of magic to restrict the enemies, completely taking on the role of supporting the front lines.
Thinking closely, it is not that big of a deal at all, it is a basic battle strategy that has been repeated countless times.
(At the very least, we can't continue struggling with these lower level opponents; I still haven't tested a new formation yet.)
Kruger pondered over such thought.
"Take that!"
"Haa!"
A sharp yell from both vanguards. Juliet and Miroku are veteran players with tons of gaming experience.
As long as there is an opportunity, they would become partners that focused on teamwork who got along remarkably well. At least strategically.
Her preconceived doubts vanished.
"It's over like that?"
Juliet swing her one-hand sword in a large arc, wiping the blood off her sword before returning it to its sheath.
Coming back to her senses, the battle is already over.
Kruger nodded her head in reply in response to Juliet's question, dispelling the magic that she had been readying.
"We defeated a lot of monsters already."
"There seems to be no more indications of any enemies in the surroundings, maybe it'd be best to stay alert for a while... I'm sorry, but can you two help with the loot?"
Kruger called out while observing the surrounding. There is nothing wrong with being overly careful if anybody is in their circumstances.
The battle warning indication on her mind changed from red to a calming blue, indication that the battle mode was deactivated.
Juliet and Miroku started to loot the monsters that they had defeated.
This was survival instinct that they had honed for the past few weeks.
There shouldn't be any abrupt incidents that might happen. Kruger withdrew a water bottle from her magic bag at her hip and took a sip, pricking her ears for any sign of trouble.
(Really now, in the end the one that keeps on thinking negatively is me.)
Kruger let out a long sigh.
Looking down, it is the edge of her white cloak, made from tough cloth that is suitable for outdoor activities, long pants that seem to be of high quality. If she remembers correctly, the shoes that she is currently wearing are made from Thunder Elk's leather, boots that are soft and comfortable.
As for what she is carrying, it is a staff.
Staff of the Wise Owl - it is a rare item that is able to raise her magical power and reduce casting speed. It is her treasure.
Around two meters long, it is longer than Kruger's height.
Her appearance gave her a sort of mysterious air. Kruger thought that such a design looked great, the word "great" was not the feeling that she'd use in the real world, but the feeling that would feel inside the virtual world.
After that day when the incident coined as the Catastrophe happened, everything around Kruger and the others had totally changed.
It wasn't as grandiose nor as sweet as heroic epics, but full of sarcasm, muddied, stress-laden and tough. Another Reality. A Parallel World. A Fantasy World. Those would be the closest words to describe it.
The "Reality" mentioned, are the monsters that Kruger and her friends had just fought against.
It is the reason why Kruger is paying attention to any movement around her, it is the ruins that was shrouded in greenery, it is the teammates who wielded their weapons and looting the treasures.
A cold wind blew through the forest, bringing chill with it.
As well as leaving behind the fear of battle under her skin.
All of this, is currently the "Reality" that Kruger is living in.
Kruger and her friends seemed to have been confined in the world that is supposed to be just a game, Elder Tales. After the Catastrophe happened, everything changed.
(However, if we can do battle like this we can earn money as long as we fight. We have a bed waiting for us when we go back. Furthermore, since I can meet Juliet and Miroku because of this in many different scenario, this can be said to be the most fortunate of events.)
Kruger repeatedly sighed, forcibly changing her gloomy thinking into something more positive.
The scene of the day when the Catastrophe happened flashed in her head, the scene of countless players holing up in Akiba. Kruger did not wish to be like them as they fell into a swamp of despair.
Kruger observed her surroundings as she recounted the chain of events that happened on the day of the Catastrophe.
The day 30,000 online gamers suddenly found themselves trapped in this fantasy world.
Author's Moment of Rambling:
I fall in love with Log Horizon. It's such a genius plot. It's what I had hoped SAO to be. Alas, it became another boring romance.
One day, I thought the 'What If' scenario of what if ShizNat were trapped in an online world because well... I'm getting kind of bored with all the usual romance/vampire/pirate/etc idea.
Suggestions are welcome. Trolls and flames are ignored.
bla bla bla bla bla...
Omake
Mikoto: (X.X)
Nao: What's up with the shrimp?
Natsuki: The food in this world tastes like soggy cardboard...
Nao: Ah (-_-') we can't really die in this world, so dying from hunger is out of the option.
Natsuki: *Nod* It's probably the worst torture for Mikoto.
Nao: Lucky you, Mutt! Mayonnaise is an ingredient so it has taste like salt and sugar.
Natsuki: ...
Nao: What? Why are you looking at me like that?
Natsuki: Nao, I know that we probably wouldn't die from Salmonella or E Coli, but please don't eat rotten flies.
Nao: ...
Natsuki: ...
Nao: I'LL KILL YOU! YOU FLEA BAG!
