Ch. 3- Rescue of the Black Cats of the Full Moon

|Floor 15: May 5th, 2023 7:00 p.m.|

My name is Gabriel Rian, and I just turned 14 two days ago. Kirito and I have been traveling through the floors, fighting on the front lines. We had become some of the most renowned clearers in the lead group. We had just finished clearing floor 28. Oh, and we had progressed to level 40, well Kirito had. I had progressed to level 42. Take that Kirito! My speed and sword skills had also increased exponentially. We had decided to take a break from it and went to do some casual hunting on floor 15. While there, we saved a guild called the Black Cats of the Full Moon. And now we are at inn…

"CHEERS!" yelled the standing members of the guild members that we had saved earlier that afternoon while raising their wine glasses.

"Uh, cheers?" I asked while raising my glass as I was standing as well.

"Yes. You and Kirito-san saved our bacon today," replied the guild leader, Keita. "You see, our lancer, Sachi, is trying to switch to sword and shield. She's just having a hard time."

"It's okay Sachi," said Kirito, "You'll get used to it. I remember Gabriel had a lot of trouble getting used to using only one sword."

"Oi!" I yelled with a tick mark on my forehead. The members of the guild started cracking up at my reaction.

"Ne, Kirito, Gabriel, I know this is rude, but what level are you guys?" I was about to say level 40 when Kirito answered, "I am level 20 and Gabriel is level 22. Although, I am more experienced in using sword. I always win in our duels."

"Is that so? Well, I know this is a little abrupt, but can you join our guild and maybe help Sachi get used to using a sword and a shield?" I looked at Kirito with a look that said 'I'm in, but we are so having a talk later.' Kirito nodded back at me before turning around.

"We're in. We'll join your guild. We'll also help in Sachi's training."

"YAY!" the other members of the guild yelled.

|May 5th 2023: 10:00 p.m. Floor 28: Wolf Plains|

"What were you thinking?" I yelled as I attacked Kirito in a duel. "Why did you lie to them? Because you are a beater? Because we are front liners? You think you will always be able to protect them, but you can't. Your arrogance will get them killed. When we get back you are going to tell them the truth about our levels! I will not be the cause for someone's death."

"What do mean I am being arrogant? What if they never accept us? Besides, with our levels we can protect them and teach Sachi!" Kirito yelled back.

"What do I mean?" I yelled. "I am talking about you thinking that you'll always be able to protect them. You can't. You may be good, but you can't protect everyone. And so what if they don't accept us? Why does that matter? They would accept us for saving the life of Sachi!" I yelled before scoring a hit on Kirito's chest.

"Fine, you win," replied Kirito before stalking off to the teleportation site. "I'll tell them, but then we are leaving. Got it?"

"No."

"What?" asked Kirito, whipping around to look at me. "What do you mean no?"

"We will stay and help Sachi reach level 25. That is only two levels. Then we leave. That is if they accept us. Agreed?"

"Fine," said Kirito before walking off to the teleportation site. I sighed and went to the hunting grounds to hunt some pups. While hunting I met up with Klein.

"Hey Klein!" I yelled running past him, and stealing his kill.

"Gabriel! That was my kill!" he yelled.

"I know. That's why I killed it. It's the best way to make an entrance. How are you," I said with a sly smile.

"Entrance my foot. Where is Kirito? And is that symbol…?" asked Klein trailing off.

"Yep. We joined a guild. As for where Kirito is, he's probably sulking because I bruised his ego. Told him he was being an arrogant ass and that he wouldn't be able to protect everyone in the guild because they are 20 levels below us. I told him we're going to tell them, and if they still want us, we'll help train their swordswoman to fight. Oh and I beat him in a duel."

"What? You finally beat him?"

"No, not really. He wasn't at his best, so it isn't really a win. I want to crush him when he's at his best."

"Oh. I guess you calling him arrogant really took some out of him. So are you going to hunt or just talk?"

"I'm going hunting. I'll see you at the boss battle. Ja Ne." I then went to go hunt some more of these pups. In the end I got 35 kills, boosting me up to level 44. The pups weren't even a challenge. Even the pup pack leader was too easy. God, I hate it when it's too easy. Maybe I should go into the dungeon tomorrow night. I should lend my help to clearing the dungeons even if I am part of a guild.

|May 5th, 2023: 7:00 a.m.|

"Good Morning," said the guild when we came down to eat breakfast.

"Good Morning. Keita," I said, getting his attention, "Kirito has something he wishes to share with the guild.

"Oh? What is it Kirito?"

"I lied yesterday when I told you our levels. We aren't level 20 and 22. We are level 40 and 42."

"Actually, I am level 44," I said. The rest of the guild had a gob smacked look on their face.

"How are you solo players, yet that high of a level?" Keita asked.

"We aren't just any solo players," responded Kirito.

"I am the White Dragon. I am known for my godly speed."

"And I am who they call Beater. That is who we are. One of the best front liners."

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" asked Keita.

"I wanted to," I replied, "But I needed to talk to Kirito about lying to you guys. I had every intention of telling you our true level, but then Kirito just spoke without consulting me. I'm sorry. I'll understand if you don't want to have us in our guild."

"Nah. I am miffed that you guys lied to us, but you did save our bacon. And I guess Kirito was afraid to tell us because he's the legendary Beater and you are the legendary White Dragon. You can stay as long as you still help Sachi."

"Yeah," I said nervously, "about that. We're only going to stay until Sachi gets to level 25. Then we're heading off to the front lines again. I'm sorry, but this is the way we help with freeing ourselves from this world."

"It's okay. And you're always welcome here."

"Well, we have a while until then, so let's go start Sachi's training!" The entire guild yelled in cheers. For the next few weeks we would go through the different dungeons from levels 10-15 and help Sachi develop her fighting skills.

By June the Black Cats of the Full Moon had come along nicely. Now, they were one of the best guilds in the lower levels. They could easily take on a level 20 floor. All of them, even Sachi, were at least level 30. They had also bought a nice house on floor 1, in the Town of Beginnings. Kirito had progressed to level 62. I had progressed to level 64. I was slowly becoming better than him. But I was able to beat him once during the month of October. That was a good night. Right now, we are taking on the quest to kill the special boss, Nicholas the Renegade. It's going to be a hard fight, but Kirito and I are among the best. We will beat him.

|December 24, 2023: 11:00 p.m.|

"So, you are sure he'll appear," I asked a hooded stranger who was passing by the bench I was sitting on.

"Of course," the hooded stranger responded, "When have I ever been wrong?"

"Level 1 boss."

"Tch. But yes I am positive. He'll appear at midnight tonight. If you want the drop item, you have to be there at midnight. Here's the corridor crystal," the hooded stranger said while giving me the crystal.

"Thanks, Argo. And here's your payment of 25000 col," I said dropping a bag of coins into the newly named Argo's hand. I then walked into the forest where Kirito was waiting for me.

"So? Was the information correct?"

"Yes. We move out tonight. We need to be there by midnight and not a minute later. Otherwise we have to wait an entire year to get a chance at him. Let's go. Let's get this revival item," I said. I held up the crystal and yelled, "Corridor, open!" A distortion in space appeared in front of us. We looked at each other and nodded. We raced through. On the other side of the portal, we appeared a few miles from the huge tree that the special boss is supposed to appear in front of.

"Well, what are we supposed to do for an hour?" I asked.

"Wait, go through our battle skills, use up your extra points to upgrade your skills. You are supposed to do things like that. So when were you going to tell me about your dragonic skill?"

"What are you talking about Kirito?" I said with fear in my voice. 'How the hell did he find out?'

"Sure you don't. It's when you grow some wings from you back…"

"How did you find out," I asked with a sharp tone of voice.

"I saw you when you went off to train by yourself a month ago," Kirito replies, "I only saw you when you were using your wings. I don't know what other abilities you have or how you got them." I sighed and considered my options before answering Kirito.

"I got this ability when I defeated that young frost dragon on level 25. The other two dragons I have to defeat in order to gain full dragonic powers are on level 50 and 75. The level 25 dragon gave me the ability of flight, increased strength and agility, as well as a resistance to the cold." Kirito looked at me suspiciously.

"Then how come you're wearing a thick coat to ward off the cold," he asked.

"So no one gets suspicious. Now that we have that out of the way, this is getting so boring. It's ben 30 minutes and I am still bored," I said. Suddenly Klein and his guild appeared.

"Oh, Kirito, Gabriel, is that you? What are you here for?"

"The same as you, the revival item," replied Kirito, "and no one is going to beat us to it."

"Listen, Gabriel, Kirito, why don't you join up with us and we'll take on the boss. Whoever gets the drop keeps it. That way it is fair. What do you think?"

"I think you're crazy Klein. Suggesting that after you lead the Holy Dragon Alliance here," I said as the Holy Dragon Alliance teleported in.

"Kirito," I said as I drew my sword, "GO! I can take care of these losers. The may be the Holy Dragon Alliance, but they can't defeat the White Dragon. Hyah!" I yelled as I rushed in with my sword, Fang of the Youngling. I went for the leader clashing swords with him. I have to admit that he's skilled, but no match for me.

|December 25th 2023, 12:50 a.m.|

I sat against a tree as I watched Klein and his guild rest. That was a hard battle for them. All the members of the Holy Dragon Alliance were probably around level 50 or something. Otherwise they wouldn't have given Klein such a hared time. He's around level 45. As I looked at the sky the only thing I was thinking was Merry Christmas, Maya, Kiran, Mom, Dad, Rach, Priya, Uncle Mon, Aunty Manu, Shalini, Kareena, Uncle Uni, Aunty Swathi, Muthi, Muthacha, and the rest of my aunts, uncles, relatives, and friends.

"What are you thinking about," came Kirito's voice from behind me.

"My family and friends," I replied, "I'm wondering how they are taking this. I hope they are still celebrating Christmas without me. I hope that they don't worry about me, even though I know they will. So did you get the item?"

"Of course I did. What do you take me for?"

"Just checking. What are the parameters?" I asked.

"It needs to be used within 10 seconds of the death. Otherwise it is useless. We are giving it to Keita, right?"

"Yeah. Then we are leaving the guild and going to the front line. It's time we started clearing the dungeons again."

|January 5th 2024: 3:00 p.m. Floor 1: Town of Beginnings|

"Well Keita, it's time for us to take our leave. We are going to the front line. We're also leaving the guild. As our gift for having use, you can have this item," said Kirito as he handed the revival item.

"Thanks Kirito, Gabriel. I can't thank you enough. Without you, this guild wouldn't be where it is. And Sachi wouldn't have gotten over her fear of battle. Goodbye."

"It was no problem. Goodbye Keita, Sachi, Tetsuo, Sasamaru, Ducker. Good luck. See you some time later," I said before pressing the 'leave the guild' option. Both Kirito and I walked to the teleportation platform.

"Teleport: Wolf Plains!"

A/N

Well there you have it. Chapter 3 is done. Next chapter will follow episode 4 of the anime as well, but I will have a deviation. I am also have Silica be age 14, birthday on March 31st.