Sword Art Online: Alicization

The End Mountains

*March 20, year 378 in the time of the realm of humanity*

The sun was starting to rise. Inisde the church, one of the Sisters were at Sonic and Kirito's room and started tapping on them.

"Ten more minites... Maybe only five..."

"Please... give us some rest..."

"No. Wake up."

She continue's to slightly move them around until they finally woke up. The two looked to see... Kirito's sister.

"Sugu?"

"W-What are you doing here?"

Then, she pulled both of there blankets off them. Sugu went back to Sister

"Snap out of it. It's already five-thirty. You may be a guest, and lost child and pet of Vecta, but you're still expected to get up on time, okay?"

"Okay."

"Got it."

*At The Forest*

Eugeo, Sonic, and Kirito were all back inside the forest continuing to chop the tree down.

"Forty... five!"

"There's still a lot about this world I don't understand, and to get to the central city, I'm definitely going to need Eugeo's help. But to release Eugeo from his Calling..."

"I guess we're going to have to chop this tree down first?" Kirito whisper's

"What was that?"

"No, it's nothing."

"That's it for this morning, so let's have lunch."

Minutes later, the three started having lunch while after a long morning of chopping.

"Thanks for the meal."

"I really appericate it."

"I wish you could've tasted Alice's pie. The crust was so flaky, and there was so much filling... Having it woth some fresh milk. I couldn't think of anything in the world that tasted better."

"So Alice's Calling was a baker?"

"That's interesting."

"No, it wasn't. Alice was studying the sacred arts at the church. She was known at the greatest prodigy ever born in this town, and she could cast all kinds of spells by the time she was ten."

"Really? Then what about Selka, the girl living in the church now?"

"She's Alice's little sister. After Alice was gone, she moved into the church to become a nun and to study the sacred arts."

"Come to think of it, there were other kids there besides Selka."

"Those kids were taken in after they lost their parents. Ever since an epidemic broke outin the village three years ago. And that's not everything. All these odd things seem to be happening lately. There's talk that a horde of goblins appeared far south on the main road and have been attacking and abducting people."

"Goblins?"

"Are you serious?"

"But I think they're just rumors. Because a Integrity Knight would've subdued them right away. They have to. All Alice did was touch the ground in the land of darkness, and thise goblins are much, much worse." Eugeo said

"Eugeo..."

"Still, it's true that after the last 2 or 3 years, there are more graves behind the church."

"Isn't there a way to bring someone back to life using the sacred arts?" Kirito said

"There has too. This is a virtual worl- I-I mean... world of magic." Sonic saod

"Hmmm, I don't know. It's not same, but Alice did say that there's a high-level sacred art that can stop life from decreasing." Eugeo said

"Stop life from decreasing?"

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"Well, Alice was surprised to see a passage about that spell in one of the church's ancient books. I mean, apparently only the highest priests in the Axiom Church can use it." Eugeo said

"Axiom Church?"

"The big shots in the central city who wrote the Taboo Index."

"In other words, it's not like anyone can use the sacred art that stops life from decreasing."

"Of course not. The sacred arts' source is the sacred power that Solus and Terraria suffuse the air and the land with. The more elaborate the sacred art, the more sacred power it requires. There's nobody who can wield such a power, not even in Zakkaria." Eugeo said

"I see. If only there was a sacred art that would finally let us chop down this tree."

"That will be awesome."

"Well, that would make my life easier."

"So we can only keep chipping away with this ax-"

Kirito grab's the ax that was resting on the tree.

"Hey, Eugeo. Does the twon have anything tougher than this ax?" Kirito said

"There's not. The only thing stronger than this ax would have to be an integrity Knight's... Well, it's no substitute for an ax, but... There's something I want to show you.

*Later*

Eugeo was carrying something on his back as he finally made back to the forest where Sonic and Kirito were both waiting for him.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Maybe try drinking some water."

Sonic and Kirito both saw the bag that Eugeo was carrying.

"Can I open it?"

"Y-Yeah. Be careful, though. If it falls on your foot, you'll have more than just a scratch."

Kirito put's the package around removes the knot. After removing the knot, he then take's off the bag and saw a sword right in front of him.

"No way..."

"This is...

"In the fairy tale, it's known as the Blue Rose Sword." Eugeo stated

"Fairy Tale?"

"Three hundred years ago, a swordsman named Bercouli traveled to the End Mountains, and in the lair of the white dragon, a protector of the realm of humanity, he founded a single sword. It's just a silly story. Or it would be, if certain children hadn't decided to go find out it was true. I mentioned it yesterday, remember? That I went to the End Mountains with Alice six years ago? That's where I found this sword. Back then, I couldn't even lift it up." Eugeo said

"Really? So that means the fairy tale was true, huh?"

"Well, there was nothing left of the dragon but bones. And then after that, Alice entered the Dark Territory... When Alice was taken away, I just stood there and watced, unable to do anything. I tried to save her. But it was like my arms and legs were frozen. Oh, sorry. We were talking about the sword, right? I couldn't stop thinking about it, so the summer before last, I went to cave the north to retrieve it. I hauled it back little by little, but it heavy, it took me three months."

"Three months? That's amazing. Why would you do that?"

"I was hoping that I'd be able to swing this sword one day. I can't swing it at all right now, but how about you?"

"Leave it to us. After all, were swordsmen!"

"We got this."

Kirito take's out the sword from the case but soon start's kinda falling down in the front.

"So it's too much for even you to handle, huh?"

"What material is this sword made of?

"It's not ordinary steel, is it? And it's not silver or dragonbone, either. So I think it might be a Divine Object." Eugeo said

"Divine Object?"

"Something that either took shape with the gods's help, or else created by the gods themselves. We call things like that a Divine Object."

"I see. Hey, Eugeo, would you mind checking the Gigas Cedar's life right now?"

"I have to ask... you're not going to stirke it with that sword, are you?"

"Is there a rule in the Taboo Index that says we can't strike the Gigas Cedar with a sword?"

"For some reason, I have the feeling that something like this has happened before."

Eugeo draw's an S and click's on it.

"Let's see... it's 232,315."

"All right. Remember that, okay?"

Kirito put's the sword behind him and start's charging up. Soon after, he swing's it at the tree as it made a loud shock wave and pushes Kirito back.

"I told you so!"

"This isn't good."

"I told you, it's impossible for us."

Eugeo look's and saw the sword stuck at the tree.

"No way... That much, from just one strike? You actually cut into it." Eugeo suprise

"See? Take a look at its life again."

"O-Okay."

Eugeo draw's an S and tap's on it.

"232,314."

"Wh-What? It only went down by one?" Kirito said

"So you will have to swing that much?!" Sonic said

"You cut into it in the wrong spot. If you'd hit the center of the cut instead of the bark, I bet that would've decreased its life more. It's true that we may be able to carve into this tree a lot faster with this sword. But that's only if we're able to master it." Eugeo said

"Maybe I can't do it, but what about you, Eugeo?"

"I already told you, I can't swing it well, either."

"We've give you some swordsmanship tips." Kirito said

"If you are interested." Sonic said

"Well, just once, then."

Eugeo grab's the sword and pull's the sword out the tree using his strentgh.

"S-So heavy!" Eugeo struggling to hold the sword

"Use your body weight more than you would with an ax, and your whole body, not just arm strength, for balance."

Using his strength, Eugeo swings the sword towards the tree and hits it with full force. But soon fall's back from the force and the swords lands on the ground.

"H-Hey! Are you okay?"

"You got knock back harder then Kirito..." Sonic said

"Like I said, Kirito, it's impossible."

"It seemed like a good idea..." Kirito said

Later, Eugeo was chopping on the tree with his ax while Sonic and Kirito we're sitting down, along side with the sword. Kirito check's his stats by drawing a S on his palms.

"So this durability os what Eugeo refers to as "life"? "Object Control Authority, 38"? A parameter for controlling objects?"

Kirito then draw's an S on the sword and check's it's stat.

"It's higher than my authority."

*Back At The Curch*

Kirito was taking a hot bath by himself to relief himself from the work he had today with and Eugeo.

"This is heavenly."

"Is there really no way for me to get to the central city? It's not like Eugeo would ever think of shirking his Calling..."

"The ultimate law that no one dares to break... the Taboo Index, huh?"

"What is the Axiom Church, that made the Taboo Index in the first place? If this is some kind simulated civilization populated by Artificial Fluctlights, any rules to inhibit the actions of the Als would only backfire. No, hold on. If I remember correctly, that girl named Alice violated the Taboo Index by entering the land of darkness. And of her own volition, too. An AI that's deviated from the system... Alice, who are you?"

"Huh? Is somebody still in there?" One of the sister's called out

"O-Oh, sorry! I'll be right out!"

"N-No, you can take your time. Anyway, I'm heading back to my room now. Good night."

"Selka! There's something I want to ask you."

*Later*

Selka was on sitting on the edge of her bed waiting for Kirito to finish taking a bath. A little later, she get's a knock on the door and open's to see that Kirito was at the door.

"So what did you want to ask me?"

"Right."

Kirito closes the door behind, walk's toward's Selka and sit's next to her.

"Well... It's about your older sister... actually. I heard about her about Eugeo. That you had an older sister named Alice."

"Eugeo? He told you? About Big Sister Alice?"

"Yeah, how Alice was studying the sacred arts at this curch, and how she was taken away to the Central city by an Integrity Knight six years ago... He seems really concerned about her."

"Eugeo still thinks about Big Sister Alice... So the reason Eugeo doesn't smile anymore is because of Big Sister Alice, after all."

"Eugeo... doesn't smile?"

"Yes. He alwasy looks gloomy, and doesn't have much to say, does he?"

"R-Right."

"But when my sister was hete, he always had a smile on his face. It was actually harder to catch him when he wasn't smiling. But now, on his days of rest, whether he stays inside or heads to the forest, he's always alone."

"Selka, you like Eugeo, don't you?"

"You've got the wrong idea! Jeez!"

"(Giggles)"

"Nobody ever said it out loud, but they were always sighing... It was like seeing me reminded them of my sister. And I can't stand it. Eugeo's been avoiding me all this time. Even when we do see each other, he always has a trotured look on his face. It's not my fault that my sister's not here anymore!"

Selka started tearing up and tears fell down to her thighs.

"I'm sorry for losing control."

"N-No, well... I think when you feel like crying, you should cry."

"Yes. You're right. For some reason, I feel a little better now. It's been such a long time since I cried in front of somebody."

"Oh? You're impressive, Selka. Even at my age, I cry a lot in front of people."

"Kirito, have you and Sonic regained your memories?"

"N-No, it's not like that! A-Anyway, you're your own person. You can't be someone else. Just do whatever you can, and that should be fine."

"You're right."

The bell started echoing outside the church.

"I'd better get back now. Did you hear why the Integrity Knight took my sister away?"

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

"I don't know what it was. Nobody will tell me. Som what was the reason?"

"Um... because she went through the End Mountains and entered the land of darkness."

"I see. The End Mountains... Tomorrow's a day of rest, but you're to get up like usual. I'm not coming to wake you up anymore, okay?"

"I-I'll try my best."

Selka walk's out the room and closes the door behind.

*The Next Day*

Kirito and Sonicw we're ehind the church cleaning theod face off to start off the day.

"Good morning."

The two turn and see one of the sisters.

"Oh, good morning."

"Morning."

"Mr. Kirito and Mr. Sonic, have you seen Selka?"

"No, we haven't seen her." Kirito said

"Not at all." Sonic said

"Is that so. I haven't seen her all morning. She didn't come to morning service, and she's not in her room, either. This has never happened before."

"Is that right?"

"If you do happen to see Selka, will you let me know?"

"Yes."

Later, while looking around trying to find Selka. They spotted Eugeo justwalking around all by himself.

"Eugeo!"

"Hey, Kirito and Sonic."

"Have you seen Selka?"

"Huh? No, I haven't."

"Sister Azalia's been looking for her. She hasn't seen her all morning." Kirito said

"Really?"

"Can you think of anywhere Selka might've gone?"

"I haven't spoken to her lately, so... What about you, do you know anything?"

"I see. The End Mountains..."

"That's right. Last night I told Selka about Alice. That she's entered the land of darkness, and... Do you think Selka went to the End Mountains?"

"This is bad! We have to bring her back right away!"

*Hours Later*

Kirito, Eugeo, and Sonic were all running to the End Mountains to stop Selka before anything happen's to her. But during their run, Eugeo just stop's running and kneel's down on the grass.

"What's wrong, Eugeo?"

"This has been stepped on. Its life has decreased slightly. There's no doubt that somebody came this way a while ago."

"So Selka did go to the End Mountains, after all!"

"Yeah."

"Sonic, go there as fast as you can, will be there shortly after." Kirito said

"On it."

Sonic soon take's off running toward's the End Mountains and the two start running as well. Later, the three made it to the End Mountains entrance.

"This is it, Kirito."

"These are the End Mountains?"

"I was surprised the first time I came here, too." Eugeo said

"It just look's like another normal mountain for me." Sonic said

"Just beyoned these mountains is the land of darkness?" Kirito said

"Let's hurry."

"Y-Yeah, right."

"System Call. Generate Luminous Element. Adhere."

The plant that Eugeo was holding started glowing soon after. Sonic and Kirito we're shock to see the leaf glow.

"Eu-Eugeo... what was that?"

"How did you that?" Sonic shocked

"A sacred art. A really simple one, though."

"So you know the meaning of things like System?" Kirito said

"Meaning? There is no meaning. It's just a command. It's a phrase you use to call on the gods to bestow a miracle."

"Meaning it's a type of spell?"

The three then started going in the entrance of the End Mountains. During their walk deeper inside, it started getting cold as they progressed inside the mountain.

"Do you really think Selka came into a place like that?"

Eugeo run's and look's at the puddle of water on the ground.

"Here's a sign that someone came through here." Eugeo said

"There's no doubt about it."

Shortly after, they walking deeper inside the mountain.

"Hey, Eugeo..."

"What?"

"If Selka does enter the land of darkness, would she be immediately taken by an Integrity Knight?"

"No, the Integrity Knight would probably fly to the village the next morning. That's what happened six years ago."

"Then even in the wrost-case scenario, we still have a chance to save Selka." Kirito said

"What do you have in mind, Kirito?"

"It's simple. Even if Selka's violated the Tablo Index, if we get away from the village before today's over, we might be able to escape the Integrity Knight."

"There's no way we could do that. I have my Calling, for one thing."

"I'll tale Selka and run away. Well, this happened because I said too much. So I'll take responsibility."

"I'll also take responsibility to." Sonic said

"You guys..."

Seconds later, they heard a echoing of a girl screaming coming from deeper inside the mountain.

"Selka!"

Sonic take's off running while the two follow from behind.

"That way!"

Seconds later, the three we're inside a room filled with ice and crystals everywhere.

"Hide."

The three hid behind large ice crystals for protection. Kirito take's a glimp's oit and spotted a group... a group of goblins.

"Are those goblins?"

The three them spotted Selka being held captive inside a small tent.

"Selka!" Eugeo shouted

"H-Hey..."

The goblins took notice of the three of them

"Hey, look! Two more White lum brats and an animal just wandered in."

"What now? Want to capture them, too?"

"Even if we took back male lums, we could never sell them. Too much trouble. Kill the, eher and turn them into meat!"

The goblins all grab their weapons, ready to kill the three of them.

"Eugeo!"

Kirito notice Eugeo was shaking in fear.

"Eugeo? Eugeo! Eugeo! Eugeo!"

To Be Continue...

"Next Time: Departure." Kirito and Sonic as narrators