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Chapter 4: A Day of Tragedy
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Did a little rewriting in chapter allofthem because my timelines didn't make sense and some parts just sucked, so if you want to check that out go ahead, and if you don't that's cool but please realize you're missing out. And if you just found this story today you're good don't worry about it. But I can not stress this enough... if you started reading months ago, you should (need) to go back and reread from the beginning.
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Floor 76: A Northern Dungeon
December 6, 2024
6,130 Players Remaining
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Kirito and Asuna advanced together on the dire wolf ahead of them, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Kirito shouts, and lunges forward, drawing the beast left. In a flash Asuna attacks its exposed flank, activating a swordskill.
She ducks under the wolf's slavering jaws as it directs an attack at her. Kirito launches himself towards the main body of their prey, and unleashes three separate sword skills on it. Asuna finishes the beast with a final stab.
The pair continues forward, working in silence as they methodically clear tunnels and map out the area.
The two stop as they both receive a message.
We're meeting at HQ. I need you here. Immediately
-Heathclifff
Their expressions darken, but both retrieve their teleport crystals, and exit the imposing structure.
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Floor 55: Granzam
December 6, 2024
6,129 Players Remaining
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The two walk into the massive steel tower alone, Asuna leading the way with ease.
The meeting room for the Knights was massive, and would have easily housed the entire Assault Team, though this meeting was for leaders only.
As they enter Kirito glances around, scanning for any new faces, though he sees none. Present thus far was The Divine Dragon Alliance Guildmaster, Agil surprisingly enough, and Heathcliff.
"It's wonderful to see you two again," Heathcliffe says with a semblance of a friendly smile. Asuna nods and the pair go to stand with Agil.
"Now that we are all here I would like to tell you two things. First is that we have located the Boss Room, though that must wait for now. All resources must be diverted towards another cause. As you all know Laughing Coffin has been a blight on our record. Now the Knights have acquired information, that leads us to believe they have killed nearly ten people last month, perhaps more. We have turned a blind eye for far too long. They are becoming more aggressive, and because of that, the Knights have begun reconnaissance operations in order to locate their base. We found it with help, deep in the caves of Floor 34."
"And what do you want us to do?" the guildmaster of the Dragon Alliance asked quietly.
"It is my hope to muster as many soldiers as possible. 22 Knights shall be attending the raid, and I was hoping you could provide an additional 20, at the very least. I have brought you here, Agil, to ask the same of you. I thought it might be in poor taste to invite Klein, but if you want to ask him yourselves you may,"
"I'm in," Agil says, folding his arms in front of himself.
Kirito stares at his guildmaster silently contemplating all the possibilities.
"What day would you have us execute the raid?"
"Within the week. Surprise is key, and I have no guarantee that they will remain in their current position. We must act quickly. Beyond that if we stall any longer on Floor 76 we may lose momentum. It's been a month and we still haven't defeated the Boss. Eradicating Laughing Coffin should allow us to divert more resources into the Boss,"
"I can have my soldiers ready within two days. Provided that if we get items, my guild receives half,"
"I suppose we can make that work." Heathcliff says politely. "Though I must ask, how many will you be bringing?"
"I'll send 25, perhaps more,"
"Your help is most appreciated," Heathcliff says graciously. The other guild leader humphs before leaving the room.
Heathcliff watches as he goes, sighing in relief when the man has left completely.
"It's much easier to speak without him here. I'm afraid I have not been entirely honest with you thus far. Our mission is without question, one of extermination. Laughing Coffin will surely die before they surrender. I need you all to be aware of this fact before we enter their base,"
Kirito remains silent, stunned.
"You're sacrificing the members of the DDA?"
"No. I have no intention of throwing away their lives, but they would not accompany the raid if they knew there was a very real chance of dying, perhaps for nothing. I believe you are all willing to do what is needed,"
"And what is needed? Heathcliff, sir," Agil asks quietly.
The Guildmaster's eyes take a hard glint before he responds, "The ability to take a human life, and move on as if it were nothing,"
"You want us to murder them?"
"I want you to defend yourselves, and not get caught up deliberating about the sins you've committed in the middle of battle,"
"I'm coming," Kirito's jaw clenches when Asuna speaks.
"I guess I am too then," Kirito mutters quietly.
"Then its settled. I expect we'll make the attack within five days at the latest. I'll message you all when we're ready,"
The three of them leave without another word, and head for the exit.
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Floor 76: The Southern Boss Tower
December 7, 2018
6,129 Players Remaining
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Kirito watches slowly as a massive pack of Wolves drew closer and closer to him. To his right Asuna stands with rapier extend, waiting to stab, while Yuuki and Klein stood to his left.
The wolves make the first move, eight of them launching an attack simultaneously. Kirito barely manages to duck under the first, and straightens his sword into the next wolf, pommel braced against his gut.
He grunts in surprise as he's bowled over by the weight. In front of him the wolf dissolves into crystals.
Kirito hurries to get up, before he can be mobbed by more, and presses the remaining wolf back into the pack with two shallow cuts.
The others had far better results, and Kirito curses slightly in his head. Yuuki lunges forward, directly into the fray, jeering at Klein as she goes.
The samurai grins slightly, before running after her.
Asuna and Kirito join quickly, and soon the wolf pack is reduced to mob drops and pixels. Each wolf drops anywhere from 1-3 furs, leaving them with nearly 50, and 80 each in total.
The group continues forward in the Tower, taking out wolves wherever and whenever possible.
They had taken several different collection quests in the past days from the same weaver, always for the wolf furs.
They fill their inventories quickly, and exit the Tower, ready to make their seventh trek back to the cloth-maker.
They breath a sigh of relief in the heated building, and look around. The NPC who ran the shop was still working at her table.
"Hello,"
The NPC turns to face them. "Ah such esteemed travelers! Welcome back from your journey. I presume you have come back with what I have asked,"
"Yes,"
"Good good. The agreed price then—," A menu appears in front of each of them, offering Col in return for the wolf furs. Each of them accept the trade.
The grinning NPC's face changes slightly, her mouth shifting. "You've worked for me before, I remember you. For your troubles I'll make you all armor,"
The group exchange glances, bewildered. The lady turns to disappear into a curtained off section of her store. "Come back later for the items promised," her muffled voice comes through the cloth barrier.
The four share a look before turning to go outside.
They hurry in the cold for the nearest pub, for lunch and a fire. Grabbing a table they sigh in relief, from their seats to the warmth of the fire.
An NPC approaches them immediately with cups of warm cider.
"A long day of battle I presume," the cheery barmaid lays their drinks on the table.
"We'll have the special please," Kirito annunciates his words with an especial care.
"All of you?"
"Yes ma'am,"
Sipping on their cider, the group sits with hunched shoulders over their cups.
"So what's up with our reward?" Klein muses over his mug, before taking another drink.
"I think we've done it enough times that something unlocked. Customer loyalty rewards or something like that." Yuuki sets her mug down, the liquid nearly half gone.
"Maybe. I wonder if there's anything special about the wolf fur,"
"Beats me, but we can sell them for a little extra Col if they suck," Klein spreads his arms to allow a steaming plate of food to be set in front of him. The others get their's and a lull in conversation settles over them, minds now focused on eating.
The food disappears in minutes, under the ravenous attack of Klein, Yuuki, and Kirito, though Asuna's remains for a little longer.
Klein pays, and the four stretch drowsily before leaving for the cold once more.
A snowstorm kicked up while they were eating, and now the docile flakes are now swirling in a frantic frenzy with the heavy winds.
The normal chill sinks into their bones within the minute, and they stagger towards the cloth shop, half blind.
As the door swings open in front of them they nearly fall into the warm hut.
Yuuki laughs aloud, the moment her eyes have cleared enough to see Klein, covered head to toe with white powdery snow.
The shopkeeper looks over at them and smiles robotically.
"I assume you're here for your reward,"
Klein makes it to the counter first, eagerly clicking the blue accept circle. He's rewarded with a red and yellow robe, made for wearing underneath the leather armor plates he usually wore.
The rest of them gather their protective garments in turn, each of them receiving a slight variation of their normal outfit.
"Thank you ma'am," Kirito says out of sheer habit.
"May they protect you in any circumstance." The shopkeeper leaves for the back room again.
Klein sighs loudly, staring at the door. "And now we go back to that,"
Outside the blizzard was still raging, and all of them are frowning in apprehension. Yuuki grabs onto the handle. "Nothing like jumping right in I guess," and swings it open, flinging herself out into the cold. The other three quickly follow here, closing the door behind.
Instinctively they fold their top halves into a semblance of a fetal position, expecting a soul wrenching cold to rip into their clothing.
Instead it never comes, their new armor protecting them from the biting wind.
"This is incredible." Kirito whispers to himself as they trudge forward. They hurry to the terminal despite their relative comfort, now headed for Floor 22.
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Floor 22: Kirito and Asuna's Home
December 7, 2018
6,129 Players Remaining
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As they all pile into the warm cabin, dusted in snow again, they each make a beeline for the wood-stove.
Asuna immediately begins making a pot of tea, and the rest dequip the outermost layers of cloth.
"That blizzard was insane," Klein wipes melting snow from his eyes.
"Yeah it was," Yuuki shakes her hair slightly. Snow flies onto the now searing stove, sizzling into steam.
Kirito takes a spot on the love seat while the other two take chairs. Asuna pours four cups of steaming hot tea, and settles herself next to Kirito.
"So we won't be here tomorrow," Kirito gut clenches as Asuna talks.
"Why's that?"
"Well, we've gotten special orders from Heathcliff."
"Is Agil going with you guys?"
"Yeah,"
"Then why weren't we invited?" Yuuki frowns.
"I don't know. Heathcliff always has a plan though, so it has to be for a good reason." Kirito glances sideways at Asuna for a moment, before darting his back to the fire.
"That's weird,"
"Yeah. Heathcliff is a little eccentric—" Kirito mutters "—You guys be careful tomorrow though, without us it will be a bit different grinding methods you should use,"
"Yeah we will," Yuuki nods energetically.
They finish their tea, chatting aimlessly in the warm glow of their hearth, even as night falls...
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Floor 34: Laughing Coffin HQ
December 8, 2024
6,129 Players Remaining
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The Assault Team massed 500 yards away from the entrance fo their target, hours before dawn. Fog hung thickly around them, shrouding any noise, and any sights the players might have had, and any sense they might have relied upon.
The group could vaguely make out the rising sun, more of an illuminated strip on the horizon, and ready themselves.
Heathcliff and Schmitt lead the way together as their group small group of three follow closely, with the Knights coming directly behind them, and the DDA bringing up the rear.
Kirito can't help the pit in his stomach from growing, and he hesitantly grabs onto Asuna's hand.
She turns and grins slightly, squeezing his hand reassuringly. As they walk the air grows more humid and colder.
"Something's not right,"
Kirito's gaze locks onto Heathcliff as the words are murmured from the man's lips.
A giggle sounds from in front of them, followed by an echoing cacophony of laughter.
"They knew," Kirito lets go of Asuna's hand and draws his swords.
"Battle formations! I need tanks to make a ring, all DPS pair up and grab a tank! Now!" Clearers scramble to follow orders. Asuna and Kirito get behind Agil hastily, glancing in all directions, eyes darting madly.
"There!"
"Left side too!"
"Contact on center!"
"More coming from behind!"
"They're coming down from above us!"
"What do we do?"
"Brace!" Heathcliff's voice rings clear.
Kirito falls into a ready stance, staring down a group of four Laughing Coffin members, approaching quickly. His eyes focus on one leading the right corner, closest to him. A dreadful sense of certainty settles over him, and in a single moment Kirito leaps across the distance that divides them.
Screaming he stabs forward, catching his opponent by surprise, and stabbing him in the shoulder. The hit is followed by a quick slash across the chest before Kirito withdraws a step. Parrying he sidesteps and stabs, before bringing his weight to his back foot to avoid tripping. His opponent's health drops to yellow
The two clashover and over, each minute dragging into an eternity.
Rare was the occurrence of a true hit, and Kirito grins when his opponent falls into a routine. Slash, retreat, sidestep, attack.
Kirito freezes in his spot for a fraction of a second, just enough for his adversary to launch into another offensive.
Before the first hit ever lands, Kirito springs into an unrelentless combo of sword skills. Each strike hitting true, and chiseling away more and more health. He stops himself once the cloaked man reaches red.
"You can't, win, just... surrender, and you can, live," Kirito pants heavily, left arm sagging.
A single eye white stares back at him, rolling manically in its socket. Faster than a blink he lunges, and on instinct Kirito stabs him, straight through the chest. His attacker looks at him, eyes digging into his memory.
"You didn't have to," comes a haunted whisper.
"But I wanted to,"
The cloaked man giggles in delight, even as he dissolves
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Kirito throws a sloppy block against an attack from a hooded figure in front of him. His eyes stray past his opponent to see Asuna hesitate slightly, before being knocked off her feet.
His blood runs cold
Parrying a blow he punches whatever player is attacking him
He sprints to intercept Asuna's attacker
Yelling he stabs wildly blades holding fast
A flash of wind a glint of steel
He flails slightly trying to retrieve his swords
With a sickening squelch the man falls to the ground in two. Kirito parries a slash as the player dissolves into crystals.
Kirito falls backwards with Asuna, and they sit there out of breath, watching as the last member of Laughing Coffin is captured.
"How many?" Kirito asks quietly.
"One. What about you?"
"Two,"
"Thanks for helping, I saw his eyes, and I guess I froze,"
"Don't mention it," his voice trembling.
Agil lumbers over, his feet dragging on the ground, with his axe over his shoulder.
"How many did we lose?"
"11,"
"And what about them?"
"21,"
"Serves them right," Agil says with a sigh, sitting down near them.
"I thought we could reason with them," Asuna sags forward under the weight of her own shoulders.
"At least we tried,"
Heathcliff doesn't bother with words of bravado. He leads his soldiers silently out of the cavern, with prisoners in tow. His shield hangs limply at his side, swaying with his arm, and his head is bowed in sorrow.
The Knights had lost four members, and the Dragons five. As they turn, leaving behind a hellscape of broken weapons and crimson pixels, they don't look back.
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Floor 22: The Home of Asuna and Kirito
December 9th, 2024
6,097 Player Remaining
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"You guys are gonna be good for tonight, right?"
"Yeah, thanks Agil,"
The married pair sneak into their home, and tiptoe past Klein's room, into their own.
Kirito falls into bed, unequiping his armor as he lands, and turns on his side. Asuna follows quickly.
Both are sleeping within the minute.
The shouts of swords as the clang together whisper their way into his ears. A scream of pain far away with a comical pop to emphasize the newfound silence.
The blood screaming through his ears melds with the cacophonous roar of battle. His eyes dart every which way, panic coursing through his veins. Three shadows stumble towards him. Inching ever closer. Their arms flail uselessly at their sides. Their stride broken and uneven.
The ghostly faces confront him. Teeth gleam a perfect sunbleached white. Their eyes bloodshot, terrible terrible gashes everywhere. Endless red, seeping into the world. Covering the ground they walk on.
He shouts wildly, swinging his sword. Without a second thought they converge on him. Their blinding bleached white grins swallowing his vision.
'Come now, you aren't afraid, are you? Beater,' Kuradeel's voice rings through his head, the caustic contemptuous tone searing his skull. His breath shallows and races wildly
A giggle lilts out of the shadow. 'You didn't have to,' a mocking smile sears into his eyes. 'But you wanted to,'
'A hero... because you killed to save a life, oh! what a righteous path you walk... murderer. You're one of us now,' A shiver runs down his spine, as the last sentence is breathed into his ear.
A small tap on his shoulder. Kirito whirls around, pointing a broken blade shakily.
Sachi grins at him, beaming. 'Your fault. All your fault,'
Kirito jolts awake, his body wracked with tremors. Choking back a sob he sits up, short of breath.
Tears well in his eyes. He stands, as quietly as possible, and leaves, equipping his armor and swords as he goes. With barely a whisper he is teleported onto a floor rarely frequented by anyone.
He wanders for nearly an hour. He comes to a specific tree, hesitating slightly, before sitting down beside it. He brings his knees to his chest.
"I guess its been awhile since I visited, hasn't it? I'm sorry the only reason I'm here is because, I want to feel like you don't hate me… I suppose it helps you can't talk," He stares at the single gravestone beneath the branches, eyes growing bleary with tears.
"I'm just so sorry...
