Chapter 10 is here, BOI! Damn, I think I see why Sphe the Best is mad. This week took forever yet I can't remember Tuesday.
This chapter took me a while to come up with but surprisingly I made it within my set deadline. However, this schedule might die since I'm on the hunt for a beta reader. I've reread my own story and realised the numbers of errors slip under my nose. But in my defence, I finish writing this stuff on Thursday 10pm and with school, I don't have time to read over properly. So I'll find someone to do it for me.
Just somethings that are good to know: I pulled a SAO and skipped 4 floors.
Some NPCs call players hunters.
I threw in two obvious FF references. Try see if you can spot them. Anyways, on with the fanfic!
Disclaimer: Square Enix owns FF. Reki Kawahara owns SAO. I will own [THE REST IS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION]
Chapter 10: Guilds; heat and crippling depression
Year 2023 March 3 9:00am
Floor 9 – Yogan Village
The party walked through the obsidian streets of Yogan. The streets being obsidian because Kayaba had the ingenious idea of putting the main settlement in a dormant volcano. And not just the town .No, the entire floor was a volcano range.
Anyway, the 8 were making their way to the floor dungeon. "Another day, another boss fight," Raiden yawned.
"Yeah, let's get out of this heat," Lumino said. The party groaned in agreement. They had enough of this volcanic floor. In fact, the first time and the previous night was the only time they were there. Other of their times were spent on floor 2; 3; 5 and 7.
"Why do we have to fight bosses?" the dagger user complained.
"They're the fastest way to grow stronger and clear the game," Yami said.
"And they're a way to take the burden off the people who're scared," Tsukino added with a hint of sadness in her voice. The party stepped on the teleport platform. Lumino then called, "Teleport: Knorlit Village!"
The party was enveloped in a bright light teleporting to Knorlit.
They made it out to see a group already there to head to the dungeon. Some were dressed in armour others in black and red. This was new. Kizuna informed the party that the Shadow Knights, one of the biggest and strongest guilds, would take part.
The Shadow Knights uniform was red with few black areas. Their insignia is a red sword in a black background. Only a few, most likely the elites/founders had their uniforms in black with a few red.
{Final Fantasy XV: Ardyn}
"Oh my, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon," a new voice said. The party turned to see one of the 'elites' of the Shadow Knights. Lumino and Tsukino knew him from the 2nd floor.
"You again," Lumino said.
"How rude of me. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Heathcliff. Leader of the Shadow Knights," the player known as Heathcliff said taking a bow. He lifted his head and gazed at them with his grey orbs. "And I see you've gathered quite the team."
"Yeah. My name's Lumino. From left to right, its Scarlet, Yami, Ronen, Tsukino, Kizuna, Lily and Raiden."
"Nice to meet you all. Well I shall see to my guild. We leave in 15 minutes."
{End of Soundtrack}
9:30am
The party walked along the dark path to the dungeon. Of course at the back to have their own conversation. "So Lumino, how do you know the leader of the Shadow Knights?" Raiden asked.
"Tsukino and I met him at the Urbus gate," Lumino replied.
"Oh, I see."
"Something wrong?"
"No…it's just that…"
"I think I get what Rairai means. He…just gives off this…" Scarlet said.
"Creepy feeling. We know," Tsukino said. She looked to the silver-haired leader and a shiver ran down her spine. The party didn't know what was with Heathcliff. He gave off the aura of a leader but it had a small hint of creepy in it. The party just shrugged it off.
10:45am
Location: Floor 9 Boss Room.
The raid team, or the Assault Team, finally reached the boss room. "Alright, everyone. Let's finish this and make it to floor ten!" Heathcliff called as he pushed the door open.
The room was lit by the slow magma pools on the side with more lava slowly pouring in. Sitting there was a giant black ogre. He seemed to be made of obsidian with small lave streams on his body. Smashing its fists together, it roared.
[Vulcis the Obsidian Ogre]
{Final Fantasy XV: Omnis Lacrima}
The ogre roared charging to the assault team. The raiders all scattered across the room keeping the attention off the mages. The tanks remained back to protect them.
Ronen ran in using Tempest on the giant's leg. It allowed chunks to break off. This also caused magma to seep into the floor. "Don't attack! Breaking its skin will cause lava to flow!" Ronen warned leaping back from the monkey.
The mages combined their magic to cast [Blizzaga]. This caused the room to turn from orange to blue and the boss to turn stone cold with frost hanging off it. The players, unprepared for the cold, were also temporarily slowed down.
The boss smashed the ground casting a normal quake. Lumino and Tsukino ran up to the boss. Both jumped up and moon slashed the boss's arms. The rocks were twice as sturdy so they didn't break off easily.
Yami used Lion's Roar on the boss's hand as Raiden slashed in an X formation. He leapt aside allowing Ronen to pass using Dawnhammer. Turning around, he gave Scarlet a huge leg up allowing her two stab the boss's head. Following the lead of the 8, every raider started to link. The ogre spun around clearing the area of players, all except Scarlet.
The room glowed orange again as the boss regained its heat. Scarlet was in trouble as she was on the head of a walking volcano. A card hit her teleporting her to the mages. "You okay?" Kizuna asked.
"Thanks Kizu. I would have been roasted up there," the red head replied. The mages cast Blizzaga again freezing the room. They repeated the assault against the boss. The slow ogre punched the ground. Lumino ran on top of its arm. Heathcliff had the same idea.
Heathcliff stabbed his sword into the back of the boss's head as Lumino started to drag the sword down. The cut wasn't deep so he could drag it down easily. Lumino threw the sword back to Heathcliff. "Looks like we're on the same page!" the leader yelled.
"That was improvising and you know it!" Lumino yelled back. The beast lost ½ of its HP gauges and started to roar. This caused pillars of magma to rise from the ground. The boss smashed the ground causing a fissure to course to the mages. Lily cast Quake and the fissure exploded on the spot.
Vulcis's rampage left little time to recover. Kizuna had to send his recovery cards to multiple players. This didn't last long as it takes 5 minutes to regain his ability to make those cards. And he runs out after 10.
The boss was nearly dead. The assault kept going even if the rampage state just made the Blizzaga wear off faster. It refused to be frozen and went berserk. It went on shooting Lava and destroying everything. "Lumino!" Kizuna called. The swordsman ran to the card user.
"I have a plan," Kizuna said.
"Start talking," Lumino said. The boss kept on going. It jumped up and slammed the ground causing another fissure. But this time it went in every single direction. "Tsukino!" Lumino called. "Aim for its eyes. Scarlet, follow my lead! Ronen! Batter up!"
Tsukino started to shoot the giant's eyes. Aggravated, the beast roared and aimed for Tsukino. Lumino flew just in time to stab the head of the beast. "OPEN UP! TIME FOR YOUR MEDICINE!" the swordsman yelled.
The beast roared getting ready to swat Lumino like a fly. It was unable to close its mouth as Scarlet propped it open with her spear. "KIZUNA! HURRY UP!" Lumino and Scarlet yelled in unison. They could swear they felt their weapons melting.
"Now!" Kizuna gave the signal. Every mage combined their magic to cast Blizzaga. The magma ogre had the giant ice spell go in its mouth. Lumino and Scarlet jumped off in a nick of time as ice spikes pierced through the beast's head. This final attack shattered the boss.
{End of Soundtrack}
[Congratulations]
[Exp: 9000/Gil: 50000]
The crowd cheered at their accomplishment. That really wasn't an easy feat. Also since they unlocked 10% of Aincrad's floors.
[Congratulations: You have reached the 10th floor]
[Key Item: Chocobo Whistle]
Most of the players were confused. Their reward, for clearing 10 floors, WAS A WHISTLE?! Others were utterly delighted because they knew what a chocobo was. One of them being Lumino. "Come on guys. Let's go!" Lumino cheered in excitement.
"Yeah, come on! Let's get a chocobo already!" Raiden said with even more excitement. Kizuna sighed and muttered 'here we go again'. The party just decided to follow the two.
Floor 10 was a diverse place, ranging from forests; fields; mountain ranges even beaches. Since Lumino had been on the first ten, he could personally say this floor was his favourite so far. Another reason being the same reason he is running through the woods in joy.
These particular woods had a certain smell to it. It smelled like a zoo. "Lumino, slow down!" Tsukino called out
"You're too slow!" he called back.
"Just why is he so excited?" Tsukino looked to the other beta.
"If I explained we'll lose him. And Lumino is the only one who can smell it due to his enhanced senses," Kizuna said.
"Smell what?"
"He says it smells like wildlife. You know that bad smell at a zoo."
"Oh that. But why would that make him this excited?" Kizuna didn't answer. He just pointed to a nearby tree. The party was confused until Kizuna threw a card at the bark. From behind it, emerged a yellow bird that looked like a chicken. The party couldn't get a close look at it since it ran away.
"Let's just find Lumino."
11:37am
Location: Chocobo Ranch
{Final Fantasy XV: Blues de Chocobo}
The 7 members managed to locate the swordsman thanks to Kizuna's tracking skill. He was currently feeling a chocobo some gysahl greens. "Lumino, there you are. You need to learn to slow down," Tsukino said.
"Sorry about that," Lumino replied not even turning to Tsukino. Something was wrong. There was no emotion behind his voice and just 5 minutes ago, he was jumping for joy.
"Dude, what's wrong?" Kizuna asked. The swordsman just pointed to the old man walking around petting a chocobo chick, "Ask old man Cid." Again with no emotion.
"He's a NPC."
"Ask old man Cid," Lumino repeated. Something was really bumming him out. Kizuna went and 'asked old-man Cid.'
"Excuse me, sir?" Kizuna said.
"Oh, hey there lad. The name's Cid. What can I do for ya?"
"Do you know what's wrong with my friend over there?" Kizuna got straight to the point.
"I ain't no doctor. I'm afraid I can't help you on that," the NPC replied. Of course he would. HE IS A NPC!
"Okay, forgetting my friend. Could we rent some chocobos?"
"I'm afraid I can't let the birds out." Kizuna deadpanned at Cid's response. No wonder Lumino was so bummed out. He looked back to see the raven stroking the chocobo's feathers as Raiden and Scarlet tried to snap him out of his trance.
"Why can't you let the birds out?" Kizuna asked.
"I can't let them out with ol' Deadeye prowlin' about. He'll eat the birds alive. Unless, you hunters would like to get rid of them," Cid said.
"Just perfect. If we kill Deadeye, we free the chocobos."
"Yes. Will you do it? You'll do everyone a favour if ya do," Cid said taking off his hat, pleading to the player.
[Saving de Chocobo:
Cid has asked you to slay the ferocious behemoth, Deadeye. Will you kill the beast and allow the chocobos to roam the land once more?
Accept 0 / Decline X]
Kizuna looked to Lumino who was now lying on the floor, hugging his knees, singing a grievous version on the chocobo song. Alright, enough is enough. "Put your hat back on Cid. We'll do it," Kizuna said hitting accept.
"Thank ya. If you slay it, my birds won't have to live in fear anymore," Cid said. Kizuna walked back to Lumino. Tsukino, Lily, Raiden and Scarlet could only stare in pity at the defeated swordsman.
"Lumino, get up, we're going on a hunt," Kizuna said. The swordsman just kept singing.
" I…want to ride…my cho-co-bo all…day… "
"If you don't do the hunt, the chocobo's won't leave the ranch."
" Do…not…kick me while I'm down Ki-zu-na… " he sang thinking the card user. Kizuna just opened the quest information and showed it to him.
Lumino's eyes widened at what he read. He shot up with a new fire in his eyes, "What are we waiting for?! Let's kill Deadeye and save the chocobos!" the swordsman yelled. It's like he forgot he was depressed. "Come on! Let's get going while we still have daylight!"
"He really love chocobos," Tsukino whispered to Lily.
"I think Lumino needs a doctor," the mage whispered back.
Yo: I already know what I'm gonna write the next chapter so I'll focus on my hunt for betas *puts on a red headband and grabs a sword*
Lu: FORGET THE BETAS. LET'S HUNT FOR DEADEYE!
Yo: Where the hell did you come from?!
Sc: Sorry…Author. He got here thinking deadeye was this way.
Yo: HOW DID HE GET HERE! THIS IS MY OWN PRIVATE SPOT!
Lu: DEATH TO DEA- *a crack is heard as Lumino faints with Yami's sheathed katana above his head*
Ya: Sorry about that author. Ronen.
Ro: I got him *Ronen starts dragging Lumino away*
Ya: Please excuse us author. *Yami leaves while dragging Scarlet away*
Yo: O-okay. I-i-I'll just close h-here. May the Crystal Guide You.
PS. FFO MOVES TO FF X-OVERS AT THE END OF AUGUST! I FORGOT LAST CHAPTER SO I REPEAT! END OF AUGUST MOVES FROM FFXV TO FF XO-VERS