Chapter 3


February 18th, 2023

"Hey, Rythin."

At the sound of the familiar voice, I looked up from my meal. A friend stood over my table, smiling.

"Asuna? What are you doing here?" The last I had heard of her, she was part of the 25th floor clearing party. The monsters had been ferocious, tearing apart the raiding party as they struggled to the boss room. I wasn't a part of the attack, being preoccupied on lower floors at the time. I had been grinding, attempting to gather materials to enhance my dagger. I was also somewhat underleveled, which made charging a boss room even more dangerous than it was naturally. I was underleveled and underequipped; a combination that I would be hard-pressed to find one worse for my health. By the time I had finished grinding, I had gained a few more levels, making it safe for me to brave the 26th floor. In all honesty, I was probably too weak to be a member of the raiding party anyway; from what I had heard, the boss was abnormally strong as a mark of the game being a quarter finished.

"What, I can't meet with an old friend?" Her gentle smile was relieving. She hadn't interpreted my curt answer as rudeness.

Asuna was probably one of the strongest players in SAO, after Kirito. Gone were the days when she had no idea what a Switch was. Her speed, already astounding on the first floor, had done nothing but increase in the time we had spent apart. I had heard rumors of a swordswoman with skills lightning fast, obviously referring to Asuna, but I didn't think she knew about the whispering. As far as I knew, she hadn't heard anything yet and I didn't want to be the one to broach it. I made a mental note to ask Argo to keep me in the loop about her reaction when she found out – I felt it would be something to see.

I decided to relax by teasing her slightly. "No." She jerked back, shocked; confusion was plain on her face. I held my straight face as long as possible, drinking in her surprise. I couldn't hold the poker face for long, breaking down after about ten seconds. "I kid, I kid. Have a seat." I gestured across from the table to an empty seat.

"Thank you." She sank down to the seat. "So how have you been?"

"Not too bad, all things considered. How was the 25th floor raid?"

She grimaced. "Don't remind me. It was terrible."

I grinned. "So what's the occasion? I haven't seen you since Illfang." I had heard that she and Kirito teamed up for a quest on the third floor, but I hadn't seen or fought with either of them since Kirito was termed the first Beater. I felt like he was avoiding us for some reason. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you sought me out deliberately. Is this an offer to team up again?"

She nodded. "Exactly. I know where the entrance to the labyrinth is."

"No Field Boss?"

"None that I saw." Her speed of finding the Labyrinth entrance was remarkably fast. I remarked as such, and she smiled. "That is my specialty, after all." I wondered if she had heard the rumors after all.

I considered her proposal. If we could find the boss room, it would go a long way to raise player spirits after the Liberation Corp's massacre. They had charged the boss with faulty information and a weak formation, leading to a casualty rate of more than half of their guild members. Kibaou, the leader of the group, was distraught; the last I had heard he returned to the Town of Beginnings to join forces with MMO Today, an aid organization. I wasn't there, so I didn't know who to blame, but Kibaou was most likely the person who whipped them into leading the charge. "We have a deal. Set up the party, and I will join you after I finish my delicious food." Aincrad food was somewhat bland at times. I grimaced at the food in front of me, and Asuna laughed.

"I'll leave you to your lovely meal." With that, she stood, stretching. "I'll be waiting by the north exit to the town." She smiled and walked away. I found myself considering the partnership with her; with that smile, it wouldn't be bad at all. I laughed quietly to myself at my thoughts; I had no intention of forming a lasting attachment with anyone in this game. My friendship with Kirito was safe; he was too good a player to die. For everyone else, it was too dangerous. Sometimes the core of loneliness got a little much at times, but when that happened I went out and slaughtered some mobs. Nothing like virtual bloodshed to work out your feelings of inadequacy.

I sighed and pushed my chair away from the table. I had eaten enough to not be hungry while I fought in the labyrinth. I gave my equipment a cursory once-over, checking on my stash of healing items. I seemed to be set, though my weapon was still from several floors down. I had it enhanced several times, but it was still weak. My main strength was being able to predict the movements of my opponents. Even then, it took time to fully understand how the patterns fit together. As the front line moved higher and higher, the attack routines got more and more complex. It was frankly amazing that I hadn't gotten myself killed fighting alone.

As I approached the exit to the town, Asuna looked up. I waved and jogged to her position. "So, where's the labyrinth?"

She sent the invitation to the party. "It's this way." I grinned: after all this time, it looked like she was still not used to talking to people. "What's so funny?"

I waved off her question. "Nothing. Let's go." I glanced at her frame, standing next to me. "It's been a while since I've fought in a party."

She nodded. As I had guessed, I wasn't the only one who tended to fight solo. We walked along, her leading and me following, defending ourselves along the way. I had encountered the common mob before, a large insect with scythe-like arms. They tended to have a weak point in their algorithms just after swinging, an opening that I exploited fighting solo. Their claw-like weapons were connected to their arms by a weak joint, giving me a target. Fighting in a party with Asuna, though, was a huge difference from what I had previously experienced. I didn't need to be as on guard all the time, a factor that reduced the mental strain immensely. Fighting with a friend I could trust, I estimated the time spent out of towns was increased by 50% at least, possibly more.

Time seemed to blur past as we fought our way through the forested areas. I was more at ease in the field with Asuna than I was safely sitting in the towns; having a friend with you made a difference to your mental state. I mused on this relaxation as we ate a meal sitting in the tree. Asuna had recently taken up the Cooking skill. "So, Asuna, is this your food?" It was much better than the mush sold at inns. "It's good."

"Th-thanks…" Startled by her hesitant answer, I glanced over; she had blushed slightly.

That color startled me. Asuna didn't seem like the type to react like that over a simple compliment. "You okay?" The sudden intensity of her glare startled me. "Alright, you're fine." It crossed my mind that she might have misinterpreted the meaning behind my comment. I turned away from her and grinned; no sense in continuing to poke at the wasp's nest.

After further fighting our way through the forest, Asuna pointed out a crack in the rock face. "There it is."

I peered at the crack in the cliff face. "How in the world did you find this?"

"That's not important."

I shrugged. "As you were." I grinned at her, and we entered the labyrinth. Immediately, I could feel the difference in the air; there was a sense of being watched. The labyrinth was a lot different style-wise, though it kept the naturalistic theme the floor had; the walls and floor were cracked stone. Weeds and roots were everywhere. It was, overall, a very treacherous environment to fight in. Players would have to fight their footing as well as the enemies.

We explored the labyrinth recklessly, charging ahead whenever the path was clear. As both of our builds were speed based, we were able to cover ground quickly. As we fought our way through the dark and dank area, I kept getting this feeling of being watched. However, when I turned around no one could be seen. "Asuna, are you sure nobody else knows this is here?"

"I think the only person who could know is Argo." Asuna had a point; no matter what it was, Argo somehow would know. I wouldn't be surprised to find out Argo was the source of the watchful eyes. I shrugged and continued on.

Fighting our way through the mobs in the labyrinth was dangerous. It was also draining on my weapon durability; my enhanced dagger was almost broken after an hour. I switched to one of my weaker weapons, but each of the five backups broke one by one. They just weren't of good enough quality to be useful on this floor. After the last one broke, I sighed. "That's my last back-up dagger. All I have left is my original, and it's pretty beat up." I frowned, concerned. "Should we go back?" It was a valid concern. If my weapon broke, I couldn't defend myself, forcing Asuna to pull double duty. Having her attention split between both the enemy and myself would only increase the odds that we would both die.

"It's fine. If it breaks, I can cover you," she assured me. I wasn't convinced, but equipped my dagger anyway.

I had just started to continue arguing when a rustling sound came from a dark tunnel to our right. We whirled, prepared for the worst, to see a large shadow emerge from the darkness. I backed away slowly as a large segmented insect crawled out and reared to its full height. Stretching from the floor to halfway up the wall, it was at least eight feet high. It had multiple legs, each tipped with an ugly-looking blade. I had a sinking feeling it was acid-laced, and I didn't want to get nicked by them. The dark red carapace reminded me rather unpleasantly of blood. According to the HUD, it was called a Crawlerpede. I looked at Asuna, who was watching the creature intently. I looked back the creature, trying to guess how the attacks would work. It would definitely try to pinch the player between the weapons, and I shuddered when I imagined being caught on its legs.

"Watch out for its legs," I called to Asuna. She nodded, and in a blur leaped toward the mob. I hung back, watching its attacks and blocks, trying to guess at the patterns. I had gotten lucky with Illfang and its reaction to being blocked, but I didn't want to risk my or Asuna's life. So far, Asuna was blocking every attack the mid-boss – for that was what it was – threw at her, but she was unable to land a hit of her own. The carapace of the Crawlerpede was too strong.

From the tunnel next to where Asuna and the Crawlerpede came rustling. Another Crawlerpede slithered out of the darkness, rearing up and clattering its legs. "Oh, you've got to be shitting me." I drew my dagger, checking the durability left on it. It only had about 25% remaining, and I grimaced. Shaking my head and sighing, I leapt off the ground and at the second Crawlerpede. I dodged the first strike, expecting it, but was not expecting to get thrown back by the backswing. That thing packed a punch. Shaking my head to clear it, I stood back up. "Whew, that thing hits like a truck." I looked at Asuna; she seemed to be doing fine, so I went back to my own opponent. I glanced past the Crawlerpede; it seemed to stretch into the darkness. I felt a niggling suspicion, and I ran past the insectoid mob. I jumped on its back, following its path in the darkness. Eventually, I saw a light ahead; I kept running on the mob's back.

Suddenly, it sloped upwards quite alarmingly. I jumped off the mob and saw Asuna fighting in front of me. Shock showed in her eyes as I stared back at her, followed by understanding. I ran past the first half of the Crawlerpede and rejoined her side.

"So… We've got a problem."

She grunted, blocking an attack by the first half. "You don't say." She looked at her rapier, frowning.

"What's the matter?"

"The durability is decreasing faster than usual…" she murmured. She looked up, then gasped. "Rythin, look out!"

I followed her line of sight. The second half of the Crawlerpede had somehow gotten close enough to slice at us with its forelegs. Asuna was able to dodge away, but I was not so lucky; I was barely able to block the attack with my own Sword Skill. Pressing my blade against the Crawlerpede's leg, I struggled with the limb briefly until I heard a sharp crack. The leg had broken my dagger in half.

I stared at the dagger tip that clattered to the floor, and couldn't feel anything but shock. I turned back to the Crawlerpede just in time to catch the monster's Sword Skill in the chest. I was sent flying and slammed into the wall. Crumpled at the floor and watching my health decrease, I could only hear the ringing in my ears. Groaning, I tried to sit up – even though I couldn't feel any pain, shock and terror kept me paralyzed. I saw Asuna rushing over to check on me, pressing me down. She turned, saying something I couldn't hear, and faced the Crawlerpede charging us. I knew we were both about to die, and all I could think was that Kirito was going to kill me for letting Asuna get hurt. It was as if time had slowed to a crawl; the glowing leg descended on both of us, and there was no way for me to move. I knew Asuna wouldn't leave me to die if she could possibly save me, and that was going to get us both killed. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see Asuna die. She would die and it would be my fault. Because I was unable to survive in this death game alone, I was dragging a friend down with me.

I was pathetic.

"Knights of the Blood, forward!" A loud cry rang from behind us. A shield blocked the killing stroke, and I couldn't understand what I was seeing at first. A man dressed in red and white armor was standing over the two of us, looking down at us.

"You two kids alright?" His rough voice was tinged with concern. I nodded mutely, unable to speak. We weren't dead. That was the only thought that kept running through my head as I watched several other players in red and white clothing attacking the Crawlerpede, holding it off while we recovered. "Sir, they're alright!"

"Excellent." A man stepped forward carrying a gigantic tower shield. He wore pure red armor with a white cape. "I'm glad we made it in time."

"You…were the ones following…us?" I managed to gasp out. My health was dangerously low, and I was hyperventilating from the simple fact that I was alive and Asuna was unharmed.

"Ah, so you heard us. I'm impressed." He took out a crystal. "Heal." As the crystal broke and my health recovered, I sat up and took a better look at the man. "I am Heathcliff. And you are Rythin and Asuna, respectively." He already knew who we were. That meant one of two things – he wanted to talk to us, or he had specifically sought us out for some dubious reason. Given that he seemed to be the leader of these men, having been addressed as 'sir' and presumably being the one who ordered them forward in the first place to save us, I leaned slightly more toward the possibility he needed to talk to us.

"That's correct." Asuna spoke calmly, as if she hadn't been about to die. I had no idea how she did it, being so brave in the face of death. I was a coward. "Thank you for saving us."

Heathcliff smiled. "Not at all. After all, I couldn't let my prospective recruits die, could I?" His careless words masked the sudden intensity of his expression. Knights of the Blood must be a new guild recently created, and Heathcliff had personally chosen us to be members. Kirito's words rang in my ears again.

'If someone you trust asks you to join them, don't say no.'

The only problem was that I didn't trust Heathcliff or his men at all. They had saved us, true, but I was wary of anybody in a dungeon. I glanced at Asuna, and our eyes met. I assumed she had thought of Kirito's words as well. She nodded, indicating that I should take point in the conversation. I nodded in reply and turned to Heathcliff, still sitting on the cavern floor. "Recruits for what, if I may ask?"

He chuckled. "Why, for my guild Knights of the Blood, of course. It's a new guild I've started." He gestured to the red and white-clad members fighting the mid-boss. "I would like to have you two join."

"In what capacity? Because if we're just going to be rank and file, I'd have to decline."

Heathcliff shook his head. "No. Asuna, you would be my second-in-command. I've heard of your speed." Ah, those rumors again. I looked at Asuna, watching her reaction. Unfortunately for my amusement, her head was hanging forward. Her ears were bright red, however. "Rythin, you would be in charge of planning operations. I've seen your mind at work." It was my face's turn to start burning – I didn't handle compliments well. Asuna's giggles didn't help matters at all, either. "You two are powerful players, even more so for making it this far as solos. I would be honored to have you join my guild."

The flattery worked well – I was considering accepting his offer. After all, I had been getting lonely lately, and hunting had been getting considerably more difficult. "I…" I was going to stammer out some sort of ambiguous answer, delaying the actual decision.

"I accept your offer." Asuna's voice rang clearly in the hall.

Heathcliff smiled. "Excellent. Rythin?" I took my time considering his attractive, albeit sudden, offer. I had always wanted power, and that was what he offered. Still, I was wary. I had been offered the solution to everything. I had been handed everything I wanted and more.

And yet, something felt wrong. After all, everything a person did, they did for gain. The gain for Heathcliff wasn't evident at first glance, and I was too exhausted to probe for the hidden reward. "I apologize, but I will have to decline." Asuna and Heathcliff looked at me, Asuna with a shocked expression and Heathcliff emotionlessly. I assumed that not many people had turned down the offer. Being with a guild was like having a dedicated group of people to take care of you, so long as you were able to help provide for their safety. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement; you received protection, and the guild received your abilities. Solo players, such as Kirito, myself, and Asuna, were players that neither belonged to a guild nor had a dedicated party. Most solo players died out early in the game; it was difficult not having anyone to guard your back. Most bosses were killed by players in guilds as well; the more powerful guilds fought on the front lines, searching for bosses. The Aincrad Liberation Front had been the biggest and most powerful guild to date; at least, they had been until the events on the 25th floor decimated their membership.

"Rythin, are you sure?" asked Asuna.

"I'm sure, Asuna. I'm useless; I would only drag down the guild. I don't have a weapon, and even if I did I'm not as fast or as strong as you are." My smile was sad as I stood. "Heathcliff, thank you for the offer. If you ever need help planning a raid, I'll be willing to help." I pulled out a teleportation crystal.

Before I could use it, Asuna grabbed my arm. "Rythin, think about this! You wouldn't have to be alone any more. And…"

I couldn't tell her how much I hated being alone. "I have thought about it. After all, I'm a solo player, right? Being alone is my thing. This was fun, though. We should do it again." I grinned wryly. "I'd prefer to leave out the part where we almost die, though." I shook off her arm and shouted, "Teleport! Yanoma!"

I could see Asuna saying something as white light enveloped me. I couldn't hear her words, however.

Something told me I didn't want to.


February 19th, 2023

When the light faded enough for me to see again, it was past midnight. Asuna and I had spent over twelve hours in the dungeon. I checked into an inn without thinking about what I was doing. I collapsed on the bed, trying to find refuge in the peace of sleep. My chest felt heavy, for some reason.

I woke up the next morning from a restless sleep that left me feeling just as tired as the night before. The foggy memories of the day before flooded back to me as I stood and yawned, bringing with them a heavy feeling in my chest that just wouldn't go away. i don't remember the last time I felt like that, but I knew how to control myself. It wouldn't affect my thinking. As I prepared to go hunting, I realized that my best dagger and its replacement had both been destroyed in the dungeon yesterday. With nothing else to do, I walked out of the room to go buy another dagger. It wouldn't be as good as my old weapon, but it would have to do.

My feet led me out into the street without any input from my brain. I purchased the first dagger that I happened on without bothering to haggle for it, and then wandered more or less aimlessly. All the while, the events from the day before played themselves out over and over again. Could I have somehow done something differently? What if I insisted that we return when my dagger broke? And - and this was the scene that constantly played over and over and over again - what if I accepted Heathcliff's invitation? Was the decision I'd made really the right one? It had to be the right one... But I wonder what Asuna had said as I was leaving. Part of me wanted to go find her and ask, but the rest of me didn't want to know what I would find.

That thought reminded me. I spared a glance at the health bar under mine; the sign had changed. Where all of yesterday it had been blank, just like mine, there was no a white square with a cross on it. I reached out, swiping open the menu and tapping to the party screen. I hesitated over the party dissolve command; it was the final split. No longer were Asuna and I two solo players. Now, she had responsibilities as part of a guild. And I was alone again.

A familiar voice roused me out of my thoughts. "Hey, Rythin!" I turned to see Kirito.

"Kirito! It's good to see you again." I greeted him. There was no sense worrying him with my own problems. "Let's go to the inn and catch up."

We sat down at a table and simply chatted for the better part of three hours, eating some of the food sold by the proprietors. It didn't measure up to Asuna's cooking, however. As for Kirito, he had been busy fighting on the front lines as well. His particular fighting style of a one-handed sword with no shield was concerning, but it wasn't my problem. He had heard some new rumors, though. "I heard Asuna joined a guild."

"Let me guess, Argo?"

"Naturally." I didn't know how she did it. I had come back immediately after I declined Heathcliff's offer and had fallen asleep immediately. I doubted Asuna had said anything to her either.

"Amazing. Anyway, it's called Knights of the Blood. Pretty serious stuff; they're on the front lines even though they're a new guild."

"A new guild on the front lines? That's risky."

"Tell me about it. Did Argo tell you the rest?" Confusion was plain on Kirito's face; he had no idea what I was talking about. "The guild leader, Heathcliff, offered me a position in the Knights of the Blood, but I declined."

He shook his head. "No, I hadn't heard anything about that." He didn't press about my reasons for declining membership, something I was grateful for. I doubted I could have talked about it right then.

I stood up and stretched. "I was about to head out and fight mobs. See you later, Kirito."

He looked at me. "With that dagger? It's not even enhanced, Rythin. I saw you buy it this morning." He was right; I hadn't bothered to take any safety precautions. I looked at him, and concern was written on his face plainly.

"Please, don't ask. I don't want to talk about it."

He sighed. "Fine. Just please, don't die."

What could I say to that? Trick question: I couldn't say anything, so I just twisted my lips into a faint smile. "Later, Kirito." I didn't like lying to him, so I couldn't promise not to die.


February 26th, 2023

It was the afternoon – I had returned from my morning session of fighting to eat lunch and grab a quick nap. I left the inn, and headed out to the town exit to resume where I had left off. Before I could leave, though, I was greeted by the sight of another familiar face. "Ah, Argo, just who I wanted to see." I took hold of her shoulder. "I wanted to ask you a few questions."

She turned to face me. "What a coincidence. I was just about to start looking for you." I twitched in shock. My questioning look prompted her to continue. "I'm here to deliver a message from a Heathcliff of the guild Knight of the Blood. Hey, that's the guild Asuna joined, right?"

"Confirmation or denial will cost you." She had taught me well.

Argo nodded. "I've taught you well. Anyway, the message says there's going to be a meeting about clearing the floor boss today at 6:00. He wanted you to meet with him at about 4:30 to go over battle plans." She twitched her nose. "I didn't know you were part of that guild."

"I'm not." I didn't feel like being bothered with haggling over a price for information. "Did Heathcliff say where to meet?"

"He said the meeting was in his room." Argo gave me his address.

"Thanks, Argo." I glanced at the time in my HUD. It was already 4:00 in the afternoon. "I have to go. Be seeing you!" I waved and sprinted off. If I hurried, I'd be able to make it in time. I didn't particularly want to anger Heathcliff, as he was giving me the opportunity to help fight, but I couldn't help being late. It was only after I arrived at the place Heathcliff was staying that I remembered that I hadn't asked Argo any of the questions I wanted to ask her about. There would be other opportunities.

I made my way to his room, and knocked on the door to let him know I was there. I heard a muffled, "Come in!" and opened the door. Normally, inn doors were locked so that only the owner or members of their party could open them, but by knocking and then having the occupant welcome a player in, the player could open the door himself. Apparently, the inability for anyone other than the owner or renter to lock doors had resulted in some awkwardness between Kirito, Argo, and Asuna back when the front lines were single digit floors. I still hadn't gotten the full story out of any of the three, though not for lack of trying.

Heathcliff was standing over map data of the labyrinth. Half of it was what I assumed to be Asuna's, and the rest would have been from exploring after I left. "Ah, good, you're just in time. Come, take a look." He beckoned me over to the table.

"So what do we have?"

He pointed to a spot on the map. "The boss room is here. We entered briefly to guess what type of boss it was, and teleported out once we got what we came for. The boss is some kind of serpent creature named 'The Venomous One'."

"Sounds lovely. What does it look like?"

"It's got plenty of spines on it," he said. "Two gigantic fangs, sharp spines down the entire length of its body, and a tail."

"That last one seems off." If I seemed to be more flippant than usual, it was most likely due to the heaviness in my chest. It felt like I had to remember to breathe far too often.

Heathcliff seemed to understand my need to make jokes about this. "It just so happens that the tail is long, sharp, and most likely poisonous."

I nodded. "That makes sense. If I had to guess, the poison is the real threat, rather than the blades themselves. With a name like The Venomous One, the venom is probably quick and powerful. I'd make sure everyone has several crystals in their pouch to counteract that." I looked up to him. "I'll need to know everything you have about the boss room and the boss."

Heathcliff smiled. "I anticipated your request, and my second-in-command will brief you." Something in my mind clicked. By second-in-command, he most likely meant Asuna. Heathcliff walked to an adjacent door and knocked. "Asuna? You're needed."

The door creaked open slowly. I found myself craning my neck to see into the crack. Asuna peeked out. "Of course. Of course Rythin is here to see me." I had to admit, my curiosity was piqued. What didn't she want me to see? Then she opened the door fully and I tried my best to not burst out laughing. Tried, however, not succeeded. Through my tears of laughter, I could see her face getting redder and redder. "Sh-shut up! It's not funny!" I could only double over in laughter. "It's not like I wanted to wear this!" The laughter was partially hysterical, but I needed the release. I think Asuna understood, because through my tears I could see her smiling slightly. Her outfit was the cause of my uncontrollable mirth, due to its dissimilarity to anything she had worn before. The stark contrast, combined with my repressed emotions, led to the hysterical laughter.

Gone was her usual leather armor and boots. In their place was a white form-fitting outfit with a red skirt. She had on white gloves that reached to her upper arms, as well as boots with stockings that stretched to her upper thigh. A white cape and red trim completed the ensemble. I managed to calm my laughter for a brief moment. "N-no, you look nice. Very professional." I was still chuckling with tears streaming from my eyes, but I was composing myself. "Anyway, I need to know everything about the boss. Even if it seems inconsequential."

Asuna nodded. "I know. I've seen you work your magic." She then proceeded to explain everything she had seen, starting from entering the room and ending with the teleportation. Her detailed information took an hour to impart.

"And you were the last one out?"

"Yes." Her information gave me quite a lot to work with. Asuna was quite observant while fighting.

I studied the map for a little while longer and then turned to Heathcliff. "I have a plan that may work. I can't guarantee everyone's safety, but it should minimize risk."

He nodded solemnly. "That's all I wanted. I can't ask for miracles." He looked at the map, and back to me. "If you're going to present this information, you'll have to look the part."

"Wait, what? Who said anything about presenting this?"

Heathcliff ignored me. I could feel Asuna's grin from across the room, and I barely restrained myself from scowling at her. "Take these…" he said as he typed on his console. A selection of items appeared in front of me. Most of them were of higher quality than what I wore now.

I frowned. "I can't accept these."

"I insist."

I shook my head – Heathcliff's expression told me there was no point in further refusal. "Fine." In all honesty, the armor would help keep me alive. I tapped accept, and the equipment was transferred to my inventory. There was no weapon among the gifts; I didn't mind, and in fact was relieved. I could not accept a weapon that I hadn't earned myself. I equipped the items without looking at myself. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too gaudy. "Asuna, how is it?"

She grinned. "Not as bad as mine." That was a relief. It would be hard to beat her outfit, though.

I turned to Heathcliff. "Is there a mirror anywhere in here?"

He pointed to the room Asuna emerged from. "Inside there. Feel free to take your time." I nodded and entered the room, closing the door behind me. I searched for the mirror, and took in my new appearance.

My appearance had more or less stayed the same. However, the materials of the clothes were top-notch, and most likely player-created. The boots and fingerless gloves were made of the same animal hide; they were patterned to appear like snake skin. I clenched my fist, watching the material stretch - there was no feeling of restriction. Nodding, I turned my attention to the main parts of the armor, those being the leg and chest pieces. They were a darker red, almost blood-red and segmented as if from an insect's carapace. Each segment was connected smoothly, not showing a gap when I moved my arms about. It was still classified as a light armor even though the tunic looked similar to the scale mail sold in shops; the scales looked almost like they had been slotted together over a shirt. It fit snugly, but didn't make any noise when I moved around. I had a sneaking suspicion I knew where the material originated. Underneath the dark armor was a black shirt - it showed that I was not part of the Knights of the Blood. The two colors were reminiscent of the Knights of the Blood without being their signature white and ruby; if anything, I looked like a darker or corrupted version of one of the Knights. I looked up at the mirror to see myself smiling. Clothes really did make the man. I was suddenly grateful for the difference in the color scheme – it would head off any rumors. It was a close enough deal being connected to Asuna.

I exited the room, nodding. Heathcliff and Asuna looked up from their position by the map. "Heathcliff, Asuna. Thank you very much for your help." Asuna smiled, and Heathcliff nodded. "I think everything is ready."

"In that case, we shall depart," said Heathcliff. "Come, the meeting starts soon." He swept out of the room, Asuna and I close on his heels. The majority of the Knights of the Blood were waiting outside of the inn, falling into position behind us. It made for a strange parade, with Heathcliff and Asuna leading the way. I felt out of place among these strong fighters.

Asuna seemed to sense my discomfort, dropping back to be closer to me. "Don't worry, you'll do fine. I have faith in you."

"That's what I'm scared of."

She hit my shoulder lightly. "You'll do fine."

Heathcliff stopped outside the meeting room. It seemed small, but I assumed the game system was such that the area inside was larger than it appeared. "Asuna, I want you to lead the guild when we enter. It will have a larger impact on the other clearers."

She was shocked. "Wh-what? I can't do that?"

I grinned. "Don't worry, you'll do fine. I have faith in you." She frowned at me, and I grinned back, happy to use her own words against her.

She sighed. "It's not like I have much choice." She took her place in the front of the group. Heathcliff nodded, and she opened the door.

I entered beside Heathcliff, and was immediately hit by the murmuring. A new guild had just swept in with an attractive person leading the vanguard; of course it would cause stirring. I glanced around the room - I recognized several faces, including Klein, Agil, Kirito, and Argo. I waved to them slightly. Argo and Kirito waved back; I hadn't seen the other two for quite some time. I glanced over to Asuna – she was studiously avoiding their gazes.

When Asuna reached the front, she stopped. Heathcliff and I took position next to her, by the map. She stepped back, looking at Heathcliff to announce their presence. "Thank you for gathering today." His voice was smooth and confident. "We are the guild Knights of the Blood." Whispering filled the air again; nobody had heard of them before today. This was most likely their first public appearance as a guild. Argo, leaning against the wall, was taking notes furiously. "I am the commander and guild leader, Heathcliff." He gestured to Asuna. "My second in command is this fine swordswoman, Asuna." Leaning over the map on the table, he continued. "I've gathered you here to discuss the boss raid planned."

A variety of cries rose from that announcement. Prominent among them were the demands to know how the boss had been found already. Heathcliff raised his hands, demanding silence. Upon receiving it, he started answering the foremost questions. "Through the brave work of these two players," he gestured to me and Asuna, "we have found the boss room already." He turned to me. "Rythin, if you could go over your plan?"

I nodded. Stepping forward, I drew everyone's attention to the map. Feeling many eyes on me, I swallowed and did my best to stay calm. "Asuna and the other Knights of the Blood have entered the boss room and have encountered the boss. It is a serpent-type floor boss with the name 'The Venomous One'. With a name like that, the immediate priority should be obvious." I described the boss's appearance. "I believe, and a Knight of the Blood can confirm, that the danger lies in the venom and not the blades themselves. The blades do little damage, but inflict a dangerous poison." I frowned. "Make sure you have several healing crystals capable of removing status effects."

Having started, I felt my anxiety melt away as I focused on the plan formed in my head. Waving my hand over the boss room on the map, I continued. "Unfortunately, I have not been able to view the area with my own eyes, but I have received first hand description from Asuna. I trust her completely." Glancing back to my friend, I saw her face turning red. I returned my attention to the task at hand. "The room is large and dark. There are several large pillars behind which to hide. The boss is reminiscent of a snake - I can only hope it will act like one. According to Asuna, the boss tracked mainly by scent rather than sight or sound. Vibrations in the ground, such as those caused by running, were also able to be traced." I imagined the scene in my head. "It might be possible to distract the boss by creating a large amount of noise and disturbance in the direction we want the boss to look. The clearing force will be split into three main camps - groups A, B, and C. Group A will consist of the party creating the distraction. That group will need to be the players with high health and defense. Groups B and C will be the strike forces. They will need to be the lighter and faster players, capable of striking and retreating quickly."

"Now, the boss is large. As such, it can't see its entire body at any given moment. Groups B and C will alternate striking as Group A keeps its attention away from the strikers and locked onto the tanks. The biggest danger that should be encountered will be when The Venomous One prepares to strike." I paused. "Have any of you ever caught a snake alive before?" Upon receiving several nods, I smiled. "This is the same concept. When it tries to coil to strike, that will be the cue to attack. With luck, attacking from the sides will break the attack routine unexpectedly, giving us more time to strike. It's a similar concept to a switch, only this time Attackers will have to be aware of two attacks; its spines and its tail. It could be possible to remove the spines on the back - if that is possible, that will be a priority after staying alive. Neutralizing a boss is the easiest way to survive." I looked around, meeting the eyes of the various players. When I met Kirito's gaze, he smiled and nodded, showing his support. I grinned slightly, heartened by his support. "As the old saying goes, you kill a snake by cutting off its head. I believe the weak spot will be where the head joins the body. If possible, after the boss is mostly dead, I want a small group of attackers to strike there. I don't want any nasty surprises from a pattern shift."

I looked up at the assembled raiding party. "This plan will hopefully minimize losses. I can't guarantee the safety of every player here. Group A will be in a large amount of danger." I frowned. "I don't anyone to die, got it?" I turned to Heathcliff. "That should be everything. I return control to you." I stepped back to scattered applause. Pushing my way out of the room, I stood in the streets, breathing heavily. I always hated speaking before a crowd, though I was able to speak briefly if I didn't have to make conversation or answer questions.

The door opening made me turn. I identified the player exiting. "Argo."

"Rythin." We stood in silence for a time. I concentrated on calming my heart rate. After a time, she couldn't contain herself any longer. "I thought you said you hadn't joined that guild!"

"I didn't. It was a private contracting." I felt somehow superior by knowing something she didn't; a petty feeling, but one I liked. "If they need my help with planning, I have offered to help."

She made a noise of understanding. "I see." We resumed standing outside the meeting, staring at nothing.

After a time, I looked at her. "Shouldn't you be inside, taking notes and gathering information?"

She shook her head. "After you left, it was more or less dividing people into groups. Booring." She stretched. "There's so much more fodder for rumors out here."

I laughed. "I somehow doubt that. 'Player stands still' – that will make you tons of Col."

She grinned. There was some strange glint in her eye that I didn't particularly like. "Actually, I wanted to ask you about Asuna."

"Asuna? What would I know about her?"

She tapped her menu, transferring 12500 Col to my balance. Seeing the number caused a small chill run down my back. "Oh, I've seen you two in a party together. I just wanted to know whether the two of you have gotten together in any other way." If I had been drinking water, I would have been in danger of choking.

"Wh-what?" I sputtered. "Wha…who….Asuna? With me?" The very idea was wildly fanciful, and I told Argo as such.

"Hm…" she didn't seem convinced.

Looking for a way out of this situation and for a way to turn it into my benefit, I suddenly had an idea. "Here's a thought. Don't quash the rumor unless you're asked directly." When Argo looked at me inquisitively, I continued. "If it spreads, I will most likely be asked if it's true. I'll send them to you, and you can charge them three times your normal price. Profit for everyone." I grinned. "I'd take half, of course, but that would still leave you with 50% extra for saying no."

She tilted her head thoughtfully. "That's not a bad idea." She looked at me. "You have a deal."

I shook her hand. "Excellent." At some point, she had decided I wasn't so bad even if I hadn't been a beta tester. At this point, I was about as close a friend to her as Kirito was.

Before long, Heathcliff and Asuna exited the building. Kirito and Klein followed shortly after. Heathcliff came to me. "Rythin, you'll be standing back, watching the battle. If you see any patterns that could help, don't hesitate to tell Asuna or myself." I nodded, glad to be out of danger's way and guilty for feeling that way. I couldn't defend myself adequately with a store-bought dagger. "We leave soon. Gather your equipment and get ready."

I shrugged. "I've got most of what I'll need." Heathcliff looked at me, nodded, and then left. I turned to Kirito and Klein. "Hey Klein, haven't talked to you for a while."

"It's been too long, man. Why didn't you tell us you were working with the Knights?"

I sighed. "Because I'm not. Look, it's long and complicated and I don't really want to discuss the details, okay?"

Kirito smiled. "It's fine, Rythin. By the way, nice outfit."

I looked at myself. "Present from the Knights for coming up with the battle plan." I laughed. "I think the material of the armor is from the mid-boss that almost killed me a week ago." I waved away their concerned expressions. "It's fine, nothing happened."

Kirito frowned. "Is that where your dagger broke?"

My hand unconsciously reached to my sheath. "Yes."

Asuna spoke up. "We should be leaving soon. Klein, don't you have a guild to run?" He had set up a guild with his friends, the one he told me and Kirito about on the first day. He was a proficient curved sword user, and I didn't really want to meet him in battle. I shuddered to think of the damage that blade could do.

"Ah yeah, I should get over there. Rythin, good seeing you again. Later!" Klein ran off to join his guild. Asuna did the same, declining Kirito's offer to form a party.

He did pressure me into joining his party, saying "You can't defend yourself with a weak weapon like that. At least let me keep you alive." I hated admitting it, but I was more or less defenseless. I felt weak and useless, more a hindrance than anything else.

During the trek to the boss room, I stayed mostly silent. It was good being with Kirito again; I missed his company, as he was one of my few friends in this world; but I felt like I couldn't do anything. I grew more and more withdrawn as the day wore on.

Eventually, we came to the boss room door. It was the same as the others; carved with various symbols. Several patterns repeated. Overall, it was an intimidating yet aesthetically pleasing door. I pushed my way through the crowd to join Asuna. "Rythin, so nice of you to join me. I've been waiting for you." I was slightly conscious of the jealous eyes on my back – Argo would hopefully be getting plenty of information buyers.

Heathcliff turned, back to the door. "Everyone, are you ready? Form your squads." I saw Kirito dissolve the party and join Group C. Asuna joined Group B. "Alright. Let us fight and win!" He opened the boss door. We entered cautiously.

The color palette shifted to the boss fight arena, and the door slammed shut behind us. A hissing sound emanated from the end of the hall, as a large creature slithered out, using the various pillar to guide its movement. My eyes widened at the sheer size of the boss; Asuna's description hadn't done it justice. The scales were dark and gleaming wickedly; the fangs were serrated and equally dark. I backed up, unthinkingly trying to get away from the serpent. The Venomous One's HP bars flashed onto screen – the four HP bars filled quickly. I was worried for everyone's life.

Heathcliff took charge quickly, shouting orders. The three groups sprang into action. Agil, in Group A, took up his axe. "Hey! Over here!" The Venomous One hissed and lunged forward. Agil met the lunge with a Sword Skill with his axe, groaning from the impact. He wasn't injured, fortunately, but he was forced backwards several feet from the force of the attack. Suddenly, the Venomous One recoiled in pain. I assumed Group B had launched their assault. The Venomous One hissed at Group A, flicking its tongue out to taste the air. It started curling in on itself, trying to reach the players attacking it from the side. Heathcliff shouted orders, and Group C started raining Sword Skills on the other side of the snake. The plan was working.

The Venomous One's health depleted slowly. The blows were landing without being countered, but the hard scales prevented half or more of the damage dealt to it. Slowly but surely, however, the health bars disappeared one by one. The boss seemed easier than usual; most likely because it was the floor after a milestone. From what I had heard, the 24th floor was similar to this one; no Field Boss and a weak Floor Boss.

After the third health bar disappeared, something in the pattern changed. I noticed the slight difference when The Venomous One stopped lunging at Group A. Instead, it contracted slightly, shrinking in on itself. The spines on the back stood up like those of a hedgehog. I gasped, recognizing an attack signal when I saw it. "Everyone, fall back! It's going to launch the spines!" I was too late. It launched each glowing spine, piercing through several players. They were thrown against the wall; they hadn't died, but they couldn't reach their pouch to counteract the poison. "Kirito! Asuna! I need you!" The pair nodded and broke off their attack. Reaching my side quickly, they bent over, breathing heavily.

Asuna was the first to be able to speak. "Rythin, what…do you…need?"

"Those spines. Do you think you can hold one?" There were several spines lying against the wall where they had landed after missing players. From what I could tell, the only way to attack was with the tip, making the weapon suitable for Asuna.

She studied the spine. "I should be able to use it as an impromptu rapier."

"Good. Kirito, Asuna, I have an idea." I paced in a small circle. "Theoretically, we should be able to poison the boss itself. Spiders are vulnerable to their own venom, as are some snakes. With luck, the boss will be weak to the spines."

Kirito looked at me. "What do you need me for?"

"The target is the neck. Kirito, you'll need to knock away some scales first. The spine would be too damaged to impart its poison otherwise."

He nodded. Something in his eyes told me he would get the job done. "Alright! Let's do this!"

Asuna grabbed the spine in her right hand. "Here we go!"

They leaped off the ground in a blur. I could barely follow them. They dashed up close, trying to close the ground to the snake. The Venomous One hissed, trying to strike at them. Groups B and C had been forced to fall back by the spine attack, making them unable to stop the blow. Asuna somehow moved even faster than before, avoiding the lunge. I thought Kirito had been struck, but as the smoke cleared I saw him in the air unharmed. The Venomous One had missed them both. Kirito landed on the snake's head and ran down the back to the neck where the scales were fit the loosest. In order to have the scale armor and still move, there were larger gaps between scales. He started raining blows and Sword Skills with his sword, but the scales would not break. He lost his footing as The Venomous One started thrashing, trying to shake him off.

"Group A! Keep that monster still!" Heathcliff shouted orders. The tanks in Group A threw themselves at the head of The Venomous One, ignoring their own peril. I was filled with conflicting emotions at that point in time. Every member of Group A was risking their life for a plan of mine that had a high possibility of failure. I was embarrassed by their trust in me, as well as heartened. Something inside the core of loneliness stirred slightly. Then I remembered that I was still alone - as much as they might respect me, I would never be one of them.

From Kirito's direction, I heard a snapping sound. For a second, my breathing stopped. Had his sword broken? I then heard the players cheering; when I looked, Kirito was holding up a scale. The snapping sound had been the scale breaking free. I started breathing again: Kirito was fine. Behind him, I saw a shape. Everyone had forgotten about the bladed tail, and it struck with pinpoint accuracy. I couldn't even shout for him to watch out.

Suddenly, he pitched forward. Asuna had shoved him out of the way of the bladed tail; this, however, placed her straight in its path. Glowing with the mark of a Sword Skill, it slammed into her back. Everyone gasped in concern; I couldn't move. Had Asuna taken the full damage of the attack? I felt the ice in my chest constrict my lungs. The place had gone silent, everyone hoping Asuna was alive. Her appearance leading the Knights of the Blood had reinvigorated the fighting spirit of the front line; I wasn't sure if we could rally from her death. The Venomous One hissed as the tail blade rose again, preparing to strike once more.

The tail blade plunged forward. "Asuna!" My cry broke the silence. Kirito leaped up from the ground where he had sprawled, jumping up to her position with sword already drawn. Without thinking, I followed him, blowing past the defense team and leaping up onto the back of The Venomous One. Grabbing the spine Asuna had dropped, I slammed it into the unprotected spot opened by Kirito. But the shrieking of the boss and the fact that my plan had worked was lost on me as I took in the scene. Kirito, after blocking The Venomous One's attack, had picked up Asuna and was holding her tightly. As The Venomous One broke apart into polygons and we fell, she didn't move a muscle.

"Kirito...is she..." I couldn't finish my sentence. I was incredibly worried about my friend. The ice seemed like it had stopped my heart; I couldn't tell if it was beating or not. There were tear streaks on Kirito's face, but not mine. I hadn't cried since Diabel died. The ice in my chest wouldn't let me.

He looked up. "I've already used a crystal. She should be fine." My heart started beating again. Asuna was going to be okay.

I turned to the silent crowd. "She's going to be okay!" The cry broke the dam. Everyone was shouting and celebrating over a successful boss raid with no casualties. I was swept up in the celebration. I heard my name being cheered as I looked about in confusion. I escaped the crowd of cheering people and bent over, breathing heavily.

"Good job, Rythin." I looked up to see Heathcliff standing in front of me. "It's a shame you didn't join the Knights of the Blood; we could use you."

I shook my head. "Sorry, Heathcliff. Guilds aren't really my thing. I'm a little too weak."

He chuckled. "Not from where I was standing. What did you get from the Last Attack Bonus?" That reminded me to look. I hadn't even seen the pop-up due to my preoccupation with Asuna.

"It seems to be called...Nightblade?" I pulled it out. It was a dagger that resembled the fang of The Venomous One. I resolved to have it appraised as soon as I returned to town. I looked at the dagger more closely. The grip was leather wrapped to provide a secure handle. The gleaming blade was dark and sleek. The overall effect was a small unassuming blade. "It doesn't look like much."

Heathcliff held out his hand. "May I? I have the appraising skill." He opened up a menu that described the item and spun the display to face me. I felt chill; I assumed my face drained of color. It was one of the rarest daggers I'd seen, with a durability of 900 and enhancement available up to +80. It had some sort of special ability, but I had no idea what it was. "I apologize for not being able to tell you everything about it, but my skill is somewhat low."

"That's...that's..." I swallowed and managed to pull myself together. "That's fine, thank you. How..."

"If I had to guess, it's because you killed The Venomous One with its own venom." Heathcliff's suggestion mirrored my own suspicions. I took the dagger back and equipped it, sheathing it.

"That's me, taking the hard way."

Heathcliff laughed. "I'm proud of you. Look around...there's not a single casualty." He was right; the worst damage had been healed. Thinking about damage reminded me of Asuna. My concern must have shown on my face, because Heathcliff smiled. "Go on, your friend needs you."

"Thank you, Heathcliff!" I waved and dashed off to find Asuna. On my way, I ran into Agil.

"Agil! You have a high Appraising skill, right?" When he nodded, I drew the Nightblade and handed it to him. "Could you tell me everything about this?"

He took the dagger and opened its menu. His skill must have been higher than Heathcliff's, because the special ability appeared this time. "Where'd you get this dagger?"

"The Last Attack Bonus."

"That explains it. This dagger holds powerful venom on its blade." A poison…that ability was strange; in most cases, poisons had to be applied by hand before using the blade. "One nick and the opponent is badly poisoned." That explained the resemblance to The Venomous One's fang. "Just be careful, because it's weak other than the poison."

"Amazing. Thanks, Agil." I retrieved my dagger and went in search of Asuna and Kirito.

Fortuitously, they were together; Asuna was sitting on the floor next to Kirito. I collapsed on the ground next to her.

"Rythin, Kirito says you killed the boss." Her smile was enough for me. I was just glad she was alright.

"You and Kirito and the real heroes; I just stabbed it with the barbed spine. You're okay?"

"I'm fine. Honestly, you're just as bad as Kirito."

Kirito looked wounded. "Well, excuse me for caring." We were laughing and joking around, releasing tension from the boss fight. "Hey Rythin, what did you get for the bonus?"

"Oh yeah, it's this dagger. It's called a Nightblade." I pulled it out and showed it to them.

Asuna frowned. "It doesn't look like much."

"That's what I told Heathcliff," I told them. "He checked it out, and it has insanely high durability and enhancement stats. Apparently, it's the super rare drop for killing the boss in a different way."

Kirito pounded his fist into his other hand. "I get it, it's because you used the boss's own venom."

"Yeah." It was a common reward situation for role-playing games. The item drop pool would be overwritten if a specific action was taken while fighting the boss; the action this time was most likely the boss's own poison reducing its health to zero.

Asuna smiled. "Anyway, that's really cool." I grinned back. I had my new dagger, and I most likely wouldn't need to upgrade for a while. "I'm feeling better now, so if you two gentlemen would help me stand?" Kirito and I supported her as she stood up. "Thank you."

Heathcliff came over. "Ah, Asuna. I'm relieved you're alright." He gestured to the stairs leading upward. "We're about to open the door to the next floor, and I want you and Rythin leading the way."

I tried to back out of leading the clearing party. "I'm not really the one who should be in the forefront. Kirito and Asuna are the ones who –"

Heathcliff would have none of it. "And who came up with the battle plan, improvised on the fly, AND got the Last Attack Bonus?" At my crestfallen face, he laughed. "Oh, don't look so depressed. Kirito and Asuna will be there beside you."

"We what?" "We will?" the two asked in unison. I burst out laughing at their dumbfounded faces.

A malicious smile of glee snuck onto my face. "I think Asuna should be the one leading the way and opening the gate. It would be a shame to hide that custom tailoring."

"What? You can't be serious." Asuna looked at Heathcliff, who was nodding. "Sir, you can't be serious?"

"Rythin has a point, Asuna. You do make quite the impact." Heathcliff noted. Asuna looked wildly between me, Kirito, and Heathcliff, protesting all the while. "Well, time passes us by. We must go." Not brooking any opposition, he left.

Kirito, Asuna, and I looked at each other. "This should be the part where I manage to ditch the rest of you and sneak off," I observed detachedly. We then sighed in unison. "Well, let's go get this over with," I shook my head. I hated the limelight, and now I was being thrust into it.

As we started climbing the steps, the cheering impossibly doubled, and I tried not to hunch over and make myself smaller. They weren't laughing at me, they were just celebrating that we managed to beat the boss without taking huge losses like last time. I hate being looked at... "Let's go," I said once we reached the top of the stairs. I pressed on the door firmly, watching it creak open. I slipped through as soon as it was open, glad to get out of the spotlight. We had successfully defeated a boss taking no casualties, after only a few days on this floor, and I'd been the one directing the battle. At yet, I still felt strangely alone. Even partying with Kirito only made me feel weaker. I was always by myself, even when bracketed by my friends. There was something... strange about me that kept a barrier between me and the rest of the world, a thin invisible dome that prevented me from reaching them at the same time it prevented them from reaching me.

I just didn't think anybody had noticed.


This is my first attempt with writing a chapter totally from scratch. Hopefully, I did okay. If you fell somewhere between loving and hating it, please leave a review and tell me what exactly I could improve on.