Sorry for the delay! I beat my small block and finished the chapter! :D Thanks to Da Kaleidoscope (as usual) for pushing me on! But I really wasn't all that satisfied with the battle...
*Disclaimer: I don't own Sword Art Online, only my own characters and the plot. I don't own the cover picture, either.
Chapter 8: A Quest Boss Challenge
Though the two spectators came to this conclusion, it seemed like Misaka had it all under control.
She nimbly ducked past the large, swinging axe. Her foot slid backwards to maintain her balance when the backlash of wind threatened to throw her thin frame backwards, but she was able to push herself off the ground and thrust her body forward. She held her kodachi at her side, initiating a bright, lavender Sword Skill.
With fast movements, she used the long pole of the monster's axe to thrust herself upwards, shooting through the air and slamming her sword forward—straight into the monster's forehead.
The monster's HP depleted quickly but then stopped, and she turned to intercept the sudden strike heading for her back—
"Don't worry, Misa-chin! I've got your back!" Argo called out. "You just take it down!"
"All right."
Misaka shifted her attention back to the actual monster itself, dropping onto the ground for a brief moment before pushing off again and hopping horizontally across several tall stalagmites to gain more height, as if she were climbing a spiral staircase. She didn't even pay any mind to the large object that suddenly whirled through the air and knocked the large axe out of the guard monster's hand, completely focused on her task.
She kicked off the pillar-like pole and then pushed towards the ceiling of the cavern, using that as a second dash board to propel herself forward and straight down on the monster's muzzle (would that be the right word?) before it could even spot her movement.
A silver blade flashed down, straight through the monster's mouth.
The monster snarled and leaned backwards, thrusting one of its large hands straight towards Misaka was, but Misaka swung her leg around sharply to pick up momentum and force herself to the side to doge, slipping down towards the ground and raising her kodachi.
She stabbed forward and dragged «Amano Maihime» straight through in a «Vertical» Sword Skill.
The guard monster's HP depleted fully and it flashed in a shower of blue polygons. She let out a breath, sheathing her sword and shaking her black hair out of her eyes before turning around to look at her other two temporary party members—
—who just so happened to be fighting at the time.
"What do you think you're doing, Rat?"
"What, it's fine, isn't it? I just borrowed it for a while—"
"Just how do you call that borrowing?"
"Err, I mean…It saved Misa-chin and all…"
"She can take care of herself."
"Don't be so mean, Tsu-chan—"
"Are you looking for a painful death or something?"
"…Fine, I got it. I won't do it again."
"You said that last time."
"I'm serious!"
Misaka looked off to the side and came to a sudden realization. What Argo had thrown to hold off the monster's axe was Tsubasa's sword, «Black Obsidian». Most likely, she had snagged it while the boy wasn't paying attention.
Although, it had made for the perfect item, given its large prongs protruding into the cavern wall and holding the pole of the axe in place.
"Well, whatever," Tsubasa sighed as he headed over and pulled his sword from the wall, testing its hilt in his hand carefully before simply sheathing it. "Let's go."
"You're welcome," Misaka said sarcastically.
Argo padded over to her, peering her in the face. "Are you all right, Misa-chin?"
"Fine. Why shouldn't I be?"
"Well, you certainly didn't take any damage."
There was a moment of silence as the two girls walked down a long, black corridor, and then Argo spoke again in a hushed whisper.
"Oh, don't mind Tsu-chan. He's actually a really nice guy."
"Oh, really."
"Well, I mean, if he had been really serious about not wanting me to take his sword, then there's no way I could've taken it, right?"
True, Misaka thought to herself as she looked at the colorful hair walking in front of her. And naturally, I knew that myself, too.
"Oi, don't go spreading false rumors, you pseudo-information-broker."
"Wha—?!" Argo sputtered, running up. "Who are you calling a pseudo-information-broker?!"
"Who else would it be?" Tsubasa deadpanned.
"How did you two meet?" Misaka asked suddenly, speaking her mind again by accident.
"Huh?" Both turned to her in obvious confusion at the arrival of the sudden question.
"You don't get along at all."
It wasn't a question. It was a blunt statement without any softening to it—a typical Misaka way of phrasing things.
Argo paused and then glanced at Tsubasa again. "Where did we meet?"
"The first floor."
"Obviously," The two girls responded irritably at his straight-forward answer.
"It wasn't that long after the game began."
"On a quest, right?"
"How should I know?"
"Hey, Tsu-chan—" Argo said, annoyed, but she broke off suddenly, thinking. "Oh, I think I remember now. It had something to do with your sword."
"Yeah, it's a one-of-a-kind specially made sword I found in the labyrinth. What about it?"
"Wasn't it that one quest on the lower levels? I think you almost ran into a fight without weapons—"
"Are you serious?" Misaka interrupted flatly. Although I think I can totally see that happening.
"So what? Humans are easier to read than the system is."
"Uh-huh," Argo said absently.
"Whatever, this doesn't even matter right now," Tsubasa complained, clearly annoyed by the sudden change in topic. "I'm running."
"Hang on a minute, Tsu-chan!" Argo protested, running after him.
Having understood nothing more than she had when she first asked, Misaka shrugged and followed.
They came across an open space—though it wasn't quite a clearing. Instead, there was a short walkway into a circular rock suspended in the center of a deep chasm, like a floating island amidst the abyss. Surrounding it was nothing but black darkness. Who knew where it ended—or if it ended at all.
Standing in the middle of it was a monster resembling the Minotaur from Greek myths—bare chested with a human-ish (hint the 'ish') face covered in hair, and two large bull horns from its head. Furry blue bull legs balanced on the rock, and it held in its hand another oversized weapon: this time a club with several sharp spikes poking out on all edges.
Argo was alarmed by the crude cudgel. "That's not a bladed weapon."
"Technically it could be," Tsubasa replied. "Eh, don't fret the small details."
"Last I checked, that's a pretty big detail, you know," Misaka corrected. She looked up and peered at the cursor— "This thing is a Sergeant rank?" She asked, surprised. "That's pretty high."
"All right, time to get fighting!" Tsubasa declared, slamming his fist into the palm of his hand. He made no move to draw his sword from behind his back, however.
At that moment, the Sergeant-level Minotaur-monster seemed to jolt to life, its eyes flashing an ominous gold. The club flew into the air as it was lifted, and a loud roar echoed in the chamber.
"What are you doing, Tsu-chan?" Argo demanded, raising her claws and backing up slightly at the quest boss's sudden loud noise. "Hurry up and draw your sword—"
"What are you talking about?"
"…Huh?"
Both girls stiffened in surprise when a sudden force pushed them forward and straight onto the walkway.
"You're stalling it for me."
It was surprisingly typical of him to make the girls fight in his stead.
Argo and Misaka both looked like they wanted to get angry, but there was no time for that. The chamber was shaking already from the stomping of the large bull monster, though the walkway remained steady. Misaka bit her lip and turned to look at the information broker, who nodded.
"Fine, but just this once, Tsu-chan!" Argo declared as she charged forward.
"Call it a favor," Misaka muttered as she leaned forward slightly and pushed off her back foot.
Behind them, Tsubasa laughed to himself.
He's not a bad person, Tsu-chan, Argo thought to herself as she dodged the wicked-looking cudgel and scrambled back to her feet, tossing a poison-embedded throwing pick up towards the monster's head, but the effect of the wind from its turning its large body threw it off course. She clicked her tongue irritably and moved in from the ground instead.
I know he wants to try to narrow it down to a decisive strike—probably because a drawn-out fight is 'too boring'. Not to mention he wouldn't send us out here if we weren't capable of handling ourselves.
Her blue eyes flicked off to the side, watching Misaka thrust her kodachi forward and straight into the monster's blind spot, as it had been too focused on Argo to notice her. It roared and stabbed the large club towards her, but Misaka nimbly flipped out of the way, which allowed Argo to step in and make a painful slash through the bull's leg.
But still—
Annoyed, Argo let out a small hiss to herself before plunging her other set of claws in as well.
Why can't he say that out loud then?!
Tearing through in a flash of red light effects, the information broker turned her head upwards to watch one of the two bars of HP deplete about 40%.
"Argo! Look out!"
Misaka's shout snapped her attention back to the battle, and she reflexively ducked to the left to avoid being pummeled to death.
"Thanks, Misa-chin!"
Argo barrel rolled to her feet and activated a Sword Skill on her right hand, piercing forward with a golden light. The large spiked cudgel came forward to block her movement, and she gave a small battle cry as she pushed forward with all her strength.
"Misa-chin!"
"Got it!"
Misaka dropped from the sky (when did she get up there?) and came down with her blade first, aiming to deal another strong «Vertical» strike, but Argo winced and slid backwards when the monster forced the club from her hold and spun around powerfully to plow through both of their attacks, sending them both flying backwards at the same time.
Argo's heels slid across the ground and she placed her hand down to brace herself, glancing hesitantly at the open abyss behind her. Misaka was sent flying through the air, but she turned a flip midair and grabbed the edge of the stranded island to flip herself back up. Her blue eyes narrowed. That was close…
Tsubasa watched them fight from a safe distance, his eyes narrowing bitterly as he put his hand to his head in frustration. "This isn't going to work…"
"Tsu-chan, nothing yet?!" Argo called over her shoulder, zipping in the opposite direction to avoid another blow that broke open the ground.
"I can count on one hand how many blows you guys have landed," Tsubasa responded, irritated.
"It feels like you're just taking it easy…" Misaka muttered. Though this time, it was a statement of pure sarcasm: the girl was speaking from her mind and not her intuition.
"Yeah, think whatever you want."
"Tch."
Misaka kicked off the ground in a force start, charging in fearlessly. She dodged to the side to avoid a strong swing coming in from the left, knowing she couldn't stop it with her strength. After moving out of the way of two or three more swings, she grabbed one of the large spikes at its base and very carefully swung herself upwards, kicking off the base of the club to change direction and avoid a blow towards Argo, who moved out of the way easily, looking for an opening.
Misaka raised her kodachi and initiated a Sword Skill, swinging straight down towards the undefended arm—
Clang!
She winced as her sword was held in a deadlock with the giant club, slowly forcing her backwards. She placed her feet on the large weapon to brace herself, but it was futile.
It has a strong defense.
Scrutinizing the battle crucially, Tsubasa instinctively reached for his sword hilt. But right then, Argo pounced forward and slashed through the undefended back of the monster's head, which released the one-sided clash. Tsubasa's grip on his sword didn't loosen.
It has trouble transitioning, then…that would explain the forceful 360 earlier. Normally, boss monsters don't fight with that kind of style. But seriously, twenty from the left, ten from the right, and sixty percent of all its attacks from above? This really is a gaming system.
He clicked his tongue irritably.
Overlay all that…tch, too many results. Well, whatever. His mind automatically picked and selected through certain attack layouts the system could possibly give—easily over a thousand or two. Now I just need one more factor…
Misaka wasn't counting on the boy to save the day or anything, but Argo seemed to be. Though it wasn't a surprise, since the information broker originally wasn't much of a fighter to begin with. It was still a mystery to her how the two polar opposites met, but it didn't matter.
She knew what it was that he needed.
"Argo!" She called, flipping her feet upwards to gain more height. Her «Vertical» skill was still in its Cooling period, so she couldn't use it yet, but there were several other skills she could execute. Not that she needed to use one in the first place.
Argo understood immediately, nodding and charging in. "I got it, Misa-chin!"
Argo avoided a downstroke from the oversized club and pushed forward, her eyes narrowed in determination. Her claws glowed and she pierced forward in a strong attack, using the Sword Skill «Acute Vault». The momentum built up from her charge helped to stimulate it, and the blue attack pierced through the monster's bottom hoof.
At the same time, Misaka twisted out of the way of the upswing following the downstroke, her kodachi piercing through the monster's forehead in a simple «Thrust».
One of the Minotaur-monster's health bars was depleted fully.
The quest boss let out a loud roar, suddenly grabbing the club with both hands and spinning around in a whirlwind. Misaka was blown from the sky, and she slid across the ground, barely stopping before the edge of the pit. Argo also hopped backwards, out of the way of the sharp winds.
The large club was pounded into several areas heavily, also wrapped in a similar hurricane.
It produced a glowing green light.
Tsubasa suddenly laughed.
Misaka and Argo both turned to him in confusion as he drew his sword and made his way across the thin walkway stretching over the large chasm. His violet eyes glittered knowingly.
The Sword Skill for a two-handed axe, «Whirlwind»...That's so typical.
"Did you figure something out, Tsu-chan?" Argo asked.
"More or less."
"What did you figure out?" Misaka inquired, rewording the question.
"First strike from above, left, down, up, across, Sword Skill, a V-shape, spin, Sword Skill, right, pinch strike a 360, and then possibly another Sword Skill."
"Wait, what?" Misaka protested. He had listed off the directions so fast she couldn't even hear past the third one—it was like trying to understand a videotape on rewind.
"Whatever, just stay out of my way!" Tsubasa called as he charged in.
Meh, I guess it's passable. Tell me what you think!
Oh, there's a few things I'm going to mention...
The summary needs to be changed. I've decided, through the layout plans of my story, that I'll be focusing only on Tsubasa and Misaka, so the other characters I mentioned will still be introduced, but they're pretty much side characters now. I'll get to that soon.
I'm not putting the preview anymore. My chapter lengths vary too much and I can't guarantee where it stops.
And should I change the first chapter? It seems like it's not appealing at all, since I've got over 100 views on that first chapter but less than 20 on my most recent chapter. Shrugs. Thanks for reading, the 20 of you who still are! *bows
Hope you enjoyed anyway!
~Chikage
PS For those who think Tsubasa is too OP, I go into weaknesses next chapter and even more in the next battle :)
