Disclaimer: I don't own Sword Art Online.
The violent sound of metal breaking the stone ground resounded throughout the silent forest, I leapt out of the way barely in time. I grunted when I found myself unable to step back because of the large tree behind me.
I looked at the enemy in front of me, a green-skin humanoid creature wearing a loincloth and carrying a large iron hammer. From my eyes, an orange cursor is present above the creature's head, the letter «Hammer Orc» floats above the cursor, indicating the creature's name. And a half circular green bar, with 60% left on it, on the side of his upper body, the creature's HP bar.
On the top left side of my view, there is also a HP bar as well, but yellow instead of green, indicating my HP is under 50% but still above 10%.
This how battles are in this world, a virtual reality world that's supposed to be just a normal Online Game. Until 4 month ago where the GM, or Kayaba Akihiko, founder of this game, declared this game as a death game. Where no one is able to Logout, and death in the game means death in the real world. This game.. This Death Game, is called «Sword Art Online»
So since in-game death means real death, and HP Bar acts as your real life meter, you could say I'm halfway to hell by now.
The orc in front of me roared and pulled back its hammer, the weapon's blunt side started emitting dark green light before it swung the weapon, the light leaving a trail of dark green. I ducked an rolled out to the left as the hammer smashed through the tree, breaking the tree bark. The broken tree started turning light blue transparent before it shatters into million shards of polygons.
This is how death and object destructions are in SAO, instant. That might have been me if I hadn't dodged that one attack.
As I rolled to the side, I gripped my weapon tightly in my hands, the «Twin Tooth», a Kusarigama-type weapon, one of a kind in SAO. Given to me because of my achievement as the fastest player during Beta-Testing. I kicked the ground and dashed toward the monster as my twin scythe's sharp edge emitted red light. I let out a 10-hit attack on the monster before I jumped and land another 2 hits on the orc's neck, dropping its HP Bar from 60% to 20%.
As I was about to land, I did a flip on the orc's shoulder, resulting in the Twin Tooth's chain to wrap around the monster's neck. I landed behind the monster and pulled harshly on my weapon. The Hammer Orc's HP bar slowly depletes from 20%, to 15%, to 10%, 5%, and the red dots finally disappeared as the once large monster shatters into million shards of polygons
That attack was a «Sword Skill» exclusive to the kusarigama, the «Mantis Dance», a complete hit from it would deplete almost 80% of a monster's HP with the same level as the user. But despite the overpowered damage, it is hard to control and have low accuracy, luckily, the Hammer Orc was large enough for me to land a full blow of the Mantis Dance.
A window with the letter EXP and COL appeared before me, along with the material the monster dropped. I stacked my Kusarigama and placed it back to its sheath on my back before I touched the [X] Icon on the top right of the battle result window.
I looked at the HP bar on my vision, the numbers «814/2600» was written next to my name, «Amano». And next to my name is my current level, Lv.28. I had lost more than half of my HP just after my 3rd fight.. Maybe taking on a monster with 3 level difference is quite a bad idea, the Orc I just fought was level 31.
I sighed and trek my way back to the town of the 25th floor.
Sword Art Online: The Blood Reaper
Chapter 1
A New Path
14:58, that's what the clock said. I tapped my finger repeatedly on the table. I don't even get what the teacher was saying in front of the class anymore.
I waited months since the end of SAO's Close Beta Test for its official release and that's in two days. I don't have time to solve another equation about limit or whatever it is the teacher's currently writing on the board. If you're wondering why am I in such a hurry despite still having to wait for another 48 hours, It's because my idiot little brother LOST my NerveGear. I need to get my pre-ordered one today or else I probably won't be there for the release.
My eyes shot open as I heard the bell rung. I took everything on my table and unceremoniously stuff them into my bag. Everyone started packing up and was talking to each other, I ignored them and was about to leave the class when a hand grabbed my shoulder, causing me to jerk back and almost fell down.
"Kuroi Amatsu, where do you think you're going?" I groaned when I heard that voice, a light female voice, that I know only belongs to one girl I know in the class.
"Um.. Home... Is that a problem, Elea?" I said as I turned around. A girl around my height stared at me with a sharp eye behind that glasses of hers that made the teacher's stares looked like a child's. Her black neck-length hair giving her eyes an even scarier look.
"Art club meeting's in 30 minutes, you're not going home yet." She said. I was so fixed on getting a new NerveGear that I forgot I have an Art Club Meeting at that same day.
My name is Kuroi Amatsu, 16 years old and is currently in 2nd year of high school. I got a short messy black hair that goes over my right eye. I'm around 175cm tall. I loathe almost every subject in school except P.E, Computer Science, and Art Class. The only club I apply for at school is the Art Club, and I'm currently the vice president of the club. Hey I'm the VP, why can't I skip at least one meeting? Because of this one girl in front of me.
Her name's Shirogane Elea, my classmate. Neck-length black hair, a little bit shorter than me, and she wears glasses. She's not with the 'overly popular girls' category, which caused me to wonder why does she have some kind of 'fan club' dedicated to her. And one reason I can't skip the meeting is because she's the president of the Art Club, and she's not the prez for nothing. Compared to hers, all of my art projects are like a child's drawing. And mind you, I'm not vice president for nothing too. And I can't lie to her to skip the meeting, that damned feeling of guilt always appears when I do. Might at well said half-truth.
"Um.. Uh.. Elea.. Say, can I skip today's meeting? I uh... Got something to do back at home." I said unsure of myself.
"Let me guess, playing that new game the news have been talking about? What did they call it? Sword Art Online?" I sighed, it was useless, she always saw through me even though when I was saying the truth..
".. You know me too well.. And not actually playing, I need to get my pre-ordered hardware today." I said as I scratched the back of my head. "So.. Uh.. Can I go now?"
She sighed as she took off her glasses. "Fine, since you're always present in our past meetings, I'll cover you up for this one... On one condition" I was about to jump in joy before I heard 'on one condition'.
"Buy me lunch next monday." She said as she poked her index finger at my chest.
"Elea, I'll buy you lunch everyday for the rest of next week if you let me go home now." I said as I took her hand and moved it away from my chest.
".. I only asked for monday, but the rest of the week sounds good. It's a deal!" Yes I know, I'm THAT desperate to get out of this place ASAP. I turned my head to look at the clock on the wall, 15:11.
"Deal, you can pick the place. I gotta go now, thanks Elea." I said as I turned around and went for the door, I turned around and saw her waving her hand to me. I waved her back and left the class.
"Hey you!" I stopped and sighed, 3 second, a new record. Wow.
I turned around and saw 3 boys of my batch, I don't even know their names, I don't see the point of it. I don't even need to wait for any of them to say anything, these guys are with Elea's fan club. Those guys just won't stop pestering me when I was with Elea, which is starting to piss me off.
"I have a name, and I don't have time for you clowns. Have a good day, and goodbye." I said, completely ignoring them as I walk away.
"Oh you think you're THAT great huh? Stealing Shirogane-sama from us." I stopped and turned my head back to them.
"Excuse me? Who died gave you people the right to own her? She's not an object."
"We-"
"I don't have time for your arguments, so do me a favor and fuck off. Or.." I stopped and cracked my knuckles. "Are you looking for another beating?"
They stood there for a moment before they finally left me alone. I tucked both of my hands in my pocket and lafet the scene, I don't need anymore of those people pestering me.
-3rd Person's POV-
Elea witnessed the whole encounter from inside the class, you can't see the inside from the outside, but its possible the other way around. She chuckled at Amatsu's reaction, she doesn't mind the fan club, but sometimes their possessiveness is a little disturbing. And Amatsu's so far the only one able to shoo them away.
She walked across the class and put hand on the window looking outside. It wasn't that long until she saw Amatsu walking out of the school ground. She looked at him as he disappears from her view.
"... Sword Art Online, huh?.."
-Amatsu's POV-
November 6th 2024, 15:16.
I took the last bite off of my piece of pizza before I stood up. "I won't be available for the rest of the night, I want both of you to be at your best behavior until mom gets home." I said to the other 2 person around the table, who both happens to be my younger siblings.
The one on my right, is my little brother, Kuroi Kaito, 2 years younger than me, which makes him around 15 years old. He's the only one with different hair color from the three of us, unlike me and my sister, he have dark brown hair instead of black. And despite being 2 years younger, I'm a full head shorter than him. And along with height, he's stronger than me in terms of physical power.
The girl on the left is my little sister, Kuroi Izumi, 12 years old. She have black, neck length hair, like Elea. And she's a full head shorter than me, I'm around 170, so you can guess how tall my little brother is.
"Will you be here for dinner Onii-chan?" Izumi said.
"Well, maybe." I said before I turned to Kaito. "And I don't want to hear Izumi or mom complaining about you when I get back."
"Wow.. Is your expectation for me really THAT low? I'm hurt, Amatsu." He said putting on a fake hurt face.
"Yeah, THAT low."
"... You're still mad at me about the NerveGear?" Kaito asked.
"YES! Thank you for realizing it after one month!" I said as I left the dining room. "I want to see everything you touch still in one piece when I get back, Kaito!" Were my final words before li left for my room.
-3rd person's POV-
"How does he still think I lost his NerveGear?" Kaito asked his sister.
"Didn't you?" The taller sibling stared at his sister with a blank face. "Nevermind." Kaito said before he left the dining room as well.
-Amatsu's POV-
I lay on my bed with the NerveGear already set on my head. Finally! The long awaited day!
I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes.
"LINK START!" I said as the NerveGear on my head did its job. My vision blurred by the light as my whole consciousness is being transferred into the game.
I opened my eyes and found myself standing in the middle of an empty white void. A virtual keyboard popped up in front of me, another window also popped up above it. In the middle of the window there's a letter «Amano (M)», and above it, «Your beta test data is still available. Would you like to use it?». I don't see the need to change my name after the CBT, so I tapped «YES»
The air around me felt light as the white void slowly disappeared and I found myself standing on the center plaza of the «City of Beginning».
My once black short hair now turned metallic silver long enough that its tied into a single loose ponytail behind my head. And my normal black eyes now turned crimson red. Like every other Level 1 Player, I wore the starting armor as well. A dark red shirt with a light metal plating with a shoulder pad on my right, along with black trouser.
I'm back. Back to this virtual world where I don't give a single care to the world outside, Aincrad. Not as Kuroi Amatsu, but as Amano.
A beeping noise rang in my ear along with a little circle with the message icon appeared in front of me. I tapped it with my right hand and the message popped open.
"Greetings Amano,
This is Sword Art Online's System Administrator. We congratulate you on your achievement during the Beta Testing, the Most Consecutive Hitter and Highest Speed Status. When you Log into the game after the official release, check your gift window for a gift from us. We wish you luck on your gameplay in the Official Release.
-Admin."
'Wow, didn't see that coming.' I thought as I closed the message. During the CBT, I used the Talwar weapon-type, it increases my speed status and its an easy weapon to strike a multiple combo. I just realized that I don't have the Level 1 Talwar with me right now.
I slid through the menu with my right hand and tapped on the gift icon. Like the admin said, there's a new gift from the Administrator there. I opened it and an item popped up, «Twin Tooth», a Level 1 Twin Scythe, or Kusarigama type weapon.
'A twin scythe? This kind of weapon actually exist in SAO?' I thought as I read the message that comes with the gift.
"This weapon, the Kusarigama, is a one of a kind weapon in SAO, no monster will drop this kind of weapon. A low level «Dual Blades» Skill have been applied to you character to use this weapon. Even though its a level 1 weapon, worry not, its power will increase correspondingly with your Level. -Admin"
I closed the window and sent the weapon to my inventory. A dual weapon in a game without dual wielding. Flashing it in this kind of place would be trouble.
'Eh what the heck, I'll just solo my level routine till I get another weapon.' I thought as I left the plaza and out to the field. A single thought rang in my head.
'Since when does SAO Admin gives out free stuff like this?'
-Present Time-
March 2023..
Its almost April.. Almost 5 month since Kayaba Akihiko trapped us all inside SAO. The only thing that still stays as it is is my hair.. Though my face changed to resemble my real face, my hair stays metallic silver and long instead of turning back to its original black and short...
Well.. It actually changed back, but I kinda paid an NPC to change my hairstyle back to the silver one. I don't think logic works in SAO.. It was black and SHORT before the NPC altered it into silver and LONG. Video games.
5 month and I'm still level 28, and the Front Liner is only as far as the 27th floor. Its been like 2 and a half week, and they still can't find the 27th floor Boss Room. I rarely goes into the labyrinth, maybe later once the 28th floor's unlocked.. 27's not my lucky number. Why? Its an odd number. Which makes me believe my bad luck in my hunt a moment ago at floor 25.
Odd numbers.. Giving me bad luck since I started playing SAO.
As I was walking back to the city, I realized one thing that never crossed my mind before in these 5 months.
I'm stuck inside a video game, my real body's probably in a coma-like state. And.. Mom.. Kaito.. Izumi..
Since I played this death game, I only cared about my own survival, only about myself.. Never have I thought about my family in the real world.
Then one other image flashed in my mind.. Elea..
I sighed and sat under one of the tree shade. I hit the back of my head lightly at the tree.
"I'm such a fucking idiot.."
I set my twin scythe on the grass next to me as I took a deep breath. Enjoying the soothing wind in the forest on my skin. Even though its just a virtual reality, it felt very real.
The forest field of the 25th floor, known for its wild and aggressive monsters, especially the Orcs. And those greenskins tend to attack a player in a group of 5. The Argo News sure have a lot of useful info. Wait a second..
Tend to attack in group of 5... Five.. There were only 3 orcs that ambushed me that time.. But then..
Where are the other two?
A sound of what it seems like a pile of flesh dropped to the ground resounded next to me, I instinctively turned my head to look at it in alert, and almost regretted that decision.
A head of a Hammer Orc lay on the ground staring at me.. I repeat, only the head. The said head shatters into million shards of light. I grabbed my weapon and immediately stood up. I cautiously looked over the tree behind me and It was quite a rare view I should say.
Female players are very scarce in SAO. And most of that small number of player doesn't get into battle and tend to just stay in the inn of the 1st floor.
And here I am, in the forest field of the 25th floor, seeing a Katana wielding female swiftly evading the orc's attack.
From the looks of it, I'd say she consulted with the same NPC that 'reworked' my hair.. Cause I never saw any female with light green hair.
Compared to the orc's height, I'd say she's around my height. Her long light green hair stops a little below her shoulders. And from the looks of it, her armor's the same as the starting armor, a white shirt with a little leather plating, but with a dark green vest over it. Her Katana sheath strapped vertically on the left side of her back.
I wouldn't blame her for still using that armor, cause I haven't changed my whole equipment since I started 5 month ago. Do you even know how hard it is to find an equipment that goes into the «Cloak» slot? Though its not really 'cloak', since coat, jacket, and vest goes into that slot as well. Fortunately, my weapon, level, and speed status covers up my lack of defense.
I watched her stepped out of the orc's attack as the hammer mercilessly smashed the ground. As the orc suffered the delay from its own attack, she pulled her katana back before she kicked the ground. Cutting of the monsters body clean from its waist with a single cut before the two piece shattered into million pieces.
When I saw that one attack, I feel very inferior.. No really, that attack wasn't even a «Sword Skill», just a very accurate normal attack which was probably a «Critical Hit». That one attack killed an orc who still have 40% of its HP.
So its either her weapon, or her level. But I'd say its her weapon, since she only have 25% left on her HP bar.
5 month since I played SAO, I was literally alone. My connection with other people are probably zero. And I don't see the need to attach myself into any connection, since death in SAO is very easy and fast, and means death for real, once I get attached to something or someone.. I don't even know how to describe it when they disappear right in front of my eyes.
So, I decided to just stick with the original plan and go back to the city.
1 step. One single step. My second step turned to an evasive roll to the left. I looked up and saw the tree that was once my hiding place split apart in 2 pieces before it shatters into many shards. And the Katana wielding female behind the said tree, with her sword in a position after cutting the tree.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? YOU COULD'VE KILLED ME ALONG WITH THAT TREE!" I shouted those exact words instinctively. Don't blame me, you all would've done the same thing when you're a feet apart from an 'accidental' death.
As soon as I shouted, her grip on her sword loosen up as she looked at me with those blue eyes.
"Eh?.. A. Ah I'm so sorry! I thought you were-"
"What? Do I look like an orc to you?"
"My bad.." she sheathed her Katana into the sheath on her back before she walked towards me. Yeah, I'm still sitting on the ground, that one attack scared the hell out of me.
She helped me get up from my position, as I was dusting my shirt, she noticed the object next to my foot.
"Umm hey, is that your weapon?" I froze when I heard those words. My main reason for going solo was to hide my weapon until I find a 'publicly-accepted' one. Unfortunately, she noticed the Dual Weapon I've been hiding this past 5 months.
"Yeah.. Its mine." I said in a low volume as she lifted my weapon off the ground. She held one scythe on each hand, letting the chain hang loosely in the middle.
"Its a little heavy for a dual-type weapon... Where did you get this anyway?"
"The admin gave it to me via gift when I logged in, don't ask anymore than that cause I don't understand why they gave it to me. In the first place." I said to her, I still don't understand though. Why would the Admin of SAO, give out free stuff? The only thing other than the Kusarigama that's free is a ticket to a death game called Sword Art Online.
Then I realized the first thing she said.. A little heavy for a Dual-Weapon.. I never used a dual weapon other than this, but my previous talwar was heavier than this. And I was the fastest Beta Tester with that weapon.
"What do you mean.. A little heavy?" I said out of curiosity.
"Well.. Its definitely heavier than my weapon." She said as she threw the twin scythe back at me, which I caught. She's joking right? A katana is supposed to be used with two hands, how in the hell is THAT lighter than a dual-type? "Yeah, my «Wind Slayer» is a lightweight katana, that's why I can do this."
I didn't understand what she meant, but I was definitely freaked out when she pulled at the katana's guard with her index finger and the said weapon launched out of its sheath. Once it stopped at the highest point, it fell to the ground with a vertical spin.
THIS is the part where it freaked me out! Whatever she was about to do, if she made a slight mistake.. Oh boy, dying because of your own weapon is definitely NOT on top of my '50 Ways to Die' list. But then, she surprised me yet again by grabbing the handle of the katana with less to no effort. And it was in upright position when she caught it.
"Do you even know the risk when you pulled that trick?" I asked, still shocked.
"There no risk actually. Its a special monster dropped weapon, it won't do any harm if I'm not the one swinging it around." She said, twirling the weapon on her hand a few times before doing the same thing again, but this time the sword smoothly slide into its sheath. "Oh.. I never got your name."
Of course you haven't, why's that?.. Hmm.. Something about a tree and some strands of my hair maybe?
"K- ... Amano.." I simply said. Hiding the fact that I almost blurted out my real name instead of my In-Game Name.
"I'm Nina, nice to meet you Amano." She said offering her hand. I was hesitant for a second, but then shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you too.." I said. Then I noticed one other thing. "Are you.. Alone? I mean.. Not in a party?" Not that I'm asking her to party up with me, but hey, female players are rare. And even rarer to see one on a field and not in a party.
"No.. I've been in a party twice, both of them ended up getting in the way of my attack pattern instead of backing me up." Somehow I understand what she meant, despite my experience in party play, which is zero. "Speak to yourself, you're going solo and I can see your not doing a very good job."
"I ran out of potions." I blurted out immediately, she doesn't need to know that I got ganged up by 3 orcs with only one bottle of potion.
"Suure, you ran out of potions." My god, this woman makes me look like an idiot!
"Say, do you want to go to the labyrinth tomorrow?" She suddenly said.
"Sorry, 25's not my lucky number."
"I meant the 28th floor, I heard that the front-liner found the Boss Room earlier today, the 28th floor should be available tomorrow." Well that's a shocker, a non-front-liner who have more info than me.
"You sure? I mean.. Uhm.. I don't know.. Its kinda dangerous." I said to her.
"What's your level right now?"
"28." I said, half proud of myself.
"33." She chimed. Aand there goes the last of my dignity.
I sighed, there's no way I can talk myself out of this. A window suddenly appeared in front of me.
«NINA wants to form a party with you. Do you accept?»
I thought about it for a while.. But then I shrugged it off and tapped «YES». Having someone along should be a nice change of pace.
"Come on, let's go back to the town before more of those orcs show up." She said as she walked away.
"I second that." I said as I followed her.
Maybe.. Just maybe.. Making new friends isn't so bad after all.