Kanazawa Chronicles

by Alexia Lunaria

Set after the events of the GGO arc, Kazuto has been working towards creating a brighter future, one that involves Asuna. He's studied abroad and worked hard developing the technology he needs to keep his promises. A new secret enemy who blames Kirito: Hero of SAO for all the wrongs in their life, places Kazuto and co in a situation he never could imagine. VR manifesting IRL...

11. Rising Tides

Kanazawa Chronicles

By Alexia Lunaria

Author's Notes: Thank you everyone for the support. The water temple was a struggle but you get an extra long chapter as a reward for your patience!

Chapter Eleven: Rising Tides

KAZUTO

Kazuto reunited with his friends at the hospital and together they met with Chief Haruto. "Chief Haruto." Kazuto dipped his head in greeting.

"Kazuto, thank you for what your people have done so far. I'm sorry we find ourselves bothering you again."

Kazuto shook his head. "It's a pattern that'll likely continue. As I understand it Shinji gives us an objective and we conquer a dungeon to fix it. By letting us know of the city's needs, you're directing us to where we have to go next."

Chief Haruto sighed and looked away shamefully. "We're doing fine with our food supply right now but if we don't have water I'm afraid our supplies will only last a couple of days."

"Don't worry," Kazuto assured. "My party is healed and we'll regroup back at my home. Once we've properly prepared we'll make for the water dungeon tomorrow morning. Thanks to our recon in the beginning, we already know where it is."

"Oh good. Very well. I'll get my men to divide what water we have left and go out into the city to find anything extra we can from stores and homes." The chief nodded and left with his patrol.

Kazuto turned to his friends. "I know we're all tired so don't feel rushed to prepare weapons and armor right now. Let's head home and we'll come up with a plan." Everyone nodded and headed out of the hospital.

"It seems like every time we succeed, Shinji makes us take two steps back," Rika complained in Kazuto and Asuna's living room.

"But we have no choice but to play by his rules," Sinon pointed out. "Or it will be the innocent civilians who will suffer."

Keiko, having been filled in about everything, sat down on the couch with her knees pulled up against her chest. "About that…"

"So what do we know about the water dungeon?" Ryoutarou asked, his hand absentmindedly scratching his stomach where his stitches had been until that morning.

"The monsters outside were of medium level. With our party back up to full strength we shouldn't have any trouble," Asuna answered.

"Actually, um…" Keiko tried again.

Kazuto shook his head. "If we go in with that kind of attitude then we're going to get caught off guard again."

Keiko tried raising her voice. "I don't think we should…"

"So we tread carefully, scout out the dungeon some more before we attack," Andrew concluded.

"They have Suguha!" Keiko finally jumped to her feet and shouted.

Asuna's eyes went wide, "What? Who does?"

Keiko met Kazuto's expression and swallowed down her fear. "Aside from me, there was one other person in that cell until recently. Whatever they did to me, with the nanomachines… they did to Suguha. I overheard Sakura talking with one of her other guild mates. Suguha is at the end of the dungeon at the graveyard."

Sinon's back straightened at that. "I scouted out the dungeon in the graveyard. I couldn't find a way in."

Kazuto shot to his feet and backed up. "Suguha is…No…why…she had nothing to do with SAO…"

Keiko looked at him. "Kazuto, I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you earlier but everything just happened so fast."

"No, it's all right Keiko. Don't worry about it." Kazuto, unable to get any more words out, removed himself from the meeting and retreated to his room.

ASUNA

Asuna knocked softly on their bedroom door and walked in. Kazuto was pacing next to their bed, speaking in partial sentences.

"I never wanted her involved. I assumed with everyone invited to the launch party that he…but no, he always has to have an ace up his sleeve…" Kazuto clutched his hair and grit his teeth. "It's my fault. It's all my fault. I let her get involved with us inside ALO…if I never did that then…"

Asuna appeared before him and held him by the shoulders, getting him to look at her. "Stop that. Listen to yourself. Suguha was into ALO before we ever got out of SAO. She may have started diving because she wanted to get to know you better but she stayed for her own reasons. None of that can be attributed to some psychopath's evil plans. This is not your fault. Shinji wants to make you unsteady, cloud your head like he did in the swamp dungeon."

Kazuto hugged her and fell to his knees, gripping her as if she would disappear at any moment. "We need to go to the water temple but I want to rush to her rescue now. Chances are we can't gain access to the graveyard dungeon yet anyway but I can't focus on anything else. It's impossible."

"We'll make it possible," Asuna assured him. "We're together again. All of us. We'll finish the water dungeon, get the city's water supply restored, then we'll save Suguha. Just like Keiko we have to believe Shinji won't hurt her. She's all right. I know she believes in you. You just have to believe in yourself."

Kazuto crumbled then and cried into her chest. Yui snuck in then and hugged him too. Eventually he cried himself to sleep so mother and daughter put him to bed.

We have to take this one step at a time or we're going to overwhelm ourselves… Asuna thought. If we lose Kazuto this whole party will fall apart.

Leaving Kazuto to sleep with Yui to watch over him, Asuna went back downstairs to continue the meeting. Keiko's tears were drying but she still looked upset. Asuna gave her most convincing smile to the little girl. "Don't worry about it, Keiko. Kazuto will be fine by the morning. The swamp dungeon was just a lot for Kazuto."

"What happened to you guys in there?" Andrew asked.

Asuna sat down. "Everything was going fine until we ran into the sub boss. As far as Yui and I can tell Kazuto was affected by Confusion."

Rika frowned. "What did it do to him?"

"It spoke to his mind, things I couldn't hear. The monster cast it by sight and whatever it said to him…really shook him up," Asuna explained. "I'm…I'm not sure how much help he's going to be come tomorrow now that his sister's involved."

Sinon crossed her arms. "Maybe it's time for us to step it up and help Kazuto after he's done so much to help us."

Keiko hiccupped and wiped her face with the back of her sleeve. "I can train tonight and be ready to help in the morning," she said. "You guys are going to need my buffs."

"I hate to say it but I think you're right. Normally I'm sure Kazuto would say putting an inexperienced player into a raid is a bad idea but we're going to need all the help we can get." Asuna pointed to the map at where the water temple was located. "This is the water temple. Now being water our greatest attack is going to be lightning."

"Well you have the greatest affinity for that 'Lightning Flash'," Rika teased.

"Pina has lightning breathe as well," Keiko said.

"Hold on," Ryoutarou rubbed his chin. "If we're dealing with water, won't lightning attacks hit us as well?"

"Not if we equipped rubber boots," Andrew snapped his fingers. "The vendor over on Central Street had them the last time we went."

Rika bit her lower lip. "You don't think it's like full on underwater kind of water temple, do you? Like the Undersea Temple in ALO?"

"It's hard to say. I technically still have the underwater breathing spell but I can't begin to see how the nanomachines would make it work," Asuna leaned back with a heavy sigh. "Even if they could get oxygen from the water, our lungs would still fill with water and we'd technically drown."

"Great, now I'm going to have nightmares," Rika covered her face with a pillow.

Asuna stood up. "Let's try to get some sleep. We'll take the dungeon slowly. It's all we can do. One way or another we're going to have to defeat it."

Everyone nodded with determination. "Right."

KAZUTO

Kazuto covered his face in his hands, too ashamed to look at his sister's face as he mourned the loss of Asuna when Sugou told him they were to be married. Kazuto felt so lost and alone and it had been Sugu who appeared before him, holding him in one of the lowest moments of his life.

"Hang in there," she had told him, her voice in his head as clear as it had been that day. "When you love someone that much you can't just give up."

Opening his eyes from the dream Kazuto stared up at the ceiling, Yui's sleeping body warm at his side. Sugu had always been there for him, even when they were little. They were closer after SAO than they ever had been. She saved him that night, in a way, and he couldn't give up on her now. I'm coming, Sugu. Just wait for me a little longer.

Kazuto covered Yui back up and left to go downstairs. As he entered the living room he heard hushed conversation suddenly stop and everyone looked up at him with different expressions.

The past is not so easily forgotten… Those closest to you will begin to see you for what you truly are.

Kazuto pushed the taunting voice into the back of his mind and sat down to the meeting. "Good morning, everyone," he greeted.

Asuna moved aside so he could sit down. "Hey, we were just discussing the water temple." She gestured to Andrew. "Andrew will tank while Sinon and Keiko remain in the back to handle heals and buffs. The rest of us will be damage dealers."

Kazuto nodded numbly. "I uh…I have a lightning strike I can use along with Sinon and Rika but we're going to have to be careful with the water element everywhere."

Ryoutarou held up a pair of boots. "We already took care of the details. You don't have to worry about a thing." He handed them to Kazuto and grinned widely. "Rubber boots!"

"Oh, thanks." Kazuto took them.

Asuna continued her talk. "Okay, we'll break up into teams of two within the party, Keiko you'll be with Sinon and Ryoutarou until you get a hold of the fighting system. Andrew and Rika are a team and then Kazuto and I will make up the last pair."

Kazuto changed clothes and made final preparations. After breakfast the group stood on the porch. "Okay, let's conquer this dungeon just like we did the others. With all of our group here we're sure to be okay." Though he said the words he knew in his heart he didn't believe them. He knew they had to win but he wasn't sure how much of him would be left at the end. With every trial he felt he lost a little more of himself. When this is over…who will I really be?

ASUNA

Asuna led the group into the water dungeon and like she surmised from the outside the design was similar to ancient temples with stone pillars and archways with shiny marble floors. In the first room they encounter globs of slime that, although they were weak, took several physical hits to defeat. Magic was more effective but Asuna didn't want to waste magic and run the risk of her or any of the other casters getting fatigue.

"Use elemental weapon skills if you have them. Fire should be equally effective as lightning!" she called out, keeping everyone focused. Kazuto fought by her side and at moments he seemed like the old Kazuto, valiant leader, while at others he had the expression of a lost child on his face. Don't worry, Kazuto. I'll protect you.

Another room featured snapping turtles which would have been cute if they weren't five feet high with a six foot reach. When one of them attacked her she tucked her right shoulder back and dodged it, allowing Kazuto to come down on the neck with his sword. The turtle stumbled after losing its head, the projection shattering that portion of the body, but then it began to spin like a top and shot off against the wall. It bounced erratically and came zooming back towards Asuna.

"Look out!" Kazuto came down from the sky and ran his sword down against the turtle's shell. "Lightning Fall!" Sparks flew but eventually his sword pierced and the turtle's image shattered completely. "The cor cubes are hidden within the shells! If you can't penetrate with your weapon, try using the soft spots where the head, legs, or tail come out!"

"You got it!" Ryoutarou's sword heated up with fire and he lunged at his opponent, aiming for the spot on the side of the turtle's elongated neck. The sword ran through the center of the turtle and out the other side. The turtle exploded, shooting Ryoutarou back across the floor.

The group came across the next door, this one larger than the rest. Trying to open it proved futile.

"Looks like we need two keys," Asuna pointed to shaped gaps in each door. "I'm guessing either room to the side of this one has the keys. We should split up." She turned to the group. "Andrew, you take Rika, Ryoutarou, and Sinon. Keiko, you're with us."

"Got it," Keiko, Pina flying nearby, ran with Asuna and Kazuto to the corridor on the right while Andrew's group took the left.

When they entered the corridor Asuna took note of the water decorating the bottom sides of the pathway. The mini canal continued into the next room where waterfalls fell from large cracks in the wall into integrated pools along the sides. Then, from the falls, floating water separated and moved on its own towards the center of the room. It was mostly spherical and moved as one would expect oil to move in water. Portions would break off then reform with the main body.

"They're not aggroing," Keiko realized.

Kazuto remained poised for battle. "Elementals are typically passive unless provoked."

"Well we need that key and I don't see a door leading out of here," Asuna tightened her grip on her rapier. The elementals numbered four now. "Keiko!"

"Okay! Pina: Fire breath!" Kieko commanded.

Pina let out a screech and shot out her cone AOE fire spell, taking out two of the water elementals in one attack. The other elementals began to spasm and spin before water projectiles a foot wide came flying towards the trio.

Kazuto leapt up and spun horizontally, his sword lighting up with his Fire of Hades which he used to evaporate his attack. Asuna struck but her physical attack did nothing but split the projectile in two. It continued its path and came back together around Asuna's head, immediately cutting off her air supply.

"Asuna!" Kazuto rushed to her side when she began to panic, his voice garbled by the water in her ears. She dropped her sword and began clawing at her face, trying to break through. "Eio! Ow!" he barked.

Keiko shouted something and Pina repeated her fire attack, eliminating the last two targets. With its master defeated Asuna's water trap fell lifeless to the floor. She fell on her hands and knees, coughing and shaking. "That was…close…"

A chest appeared and going over to it Keiko discovered a stone key shaped like with a cube bow (the handle) and an elongated bipyramid for the blade. The blade, unlike the handle, was perfectly carved from a crystal prism. "I guess we head back then?"

ANDREW

Andrew and his party encountered a room with similar design but instead of water elementals they came across a different problem. "Eyes open!" he shouted, trying to hit one of the monsters as they came flying past.

Ryoutarou took a swing but the flying fish smacked into his face then flew off back into the waterfall. "Are you kidding me right now!? I'm getting sucker punched by sushi!?"

"Maybe we should just aim for the waterfall!" Rika blocked one fish with her shield then counter attacked with her mace, slamming it into the ground where it shattered. "There can't be that many of them!"

"And they're weak just nimble!" Andrew dodged one and tried attacking with his ax but was a second too slow. "Ryoutarou, can you cast enough fire to take out the falls?"

"I don't think—" Another fish slammed into the back of his head. "—so with water constantly flowing it would put out the flame before it could do much good."

Sinon nocked three arrows and pulled back her string. "Everybody duck!" She released her projectiles before she got confirmations and when the team hit the deck three fish shattered simultaneously mid flight. A chest appeared and she smirked with confidence.

"Or we can just do that," Andrew sighed and replaced his weapon to his back, going over to retrieve the key. It had a triangle bow and a rectangular prism blade. "Our job is done. Let's head back."

Ryoutarou shook his head like a dog to free the rest of the water from his hair. "Anyone else have a craving for sashimi?"

ASUNA

Asuna held the key and nodded to Andrew, inserting it into the appropriately hole at the same time he did. They turned the keys and the large stone doorway parted, revealing a different kind of room. The floor dropped at least a foot from where they stood and was filled with water. Instead of a few waterfalls, the element cascaded down the entire length of wall on all sides. "This is the sub boss everyone so let's get ready. We're going to have limited mobility so let's spread out and give each party member room to fight."

When they reached the center of the room feminine laughter rang out and three figures emerged from the waterfall to the north. The creatures looked like beautiful woman from the waist up, one blond, one brunette, and one with fiery red hair, while their legs were replaced with fish like scales.

Ryoutarou grinned perversely. "Mermaids…I love mermaids. Ow!"

Sinon slapped him upside the head with her bow. "Pay attention."

The women smiled at first, their bodies perfectly balanced while "standing" midway down their fins. "We love company," the blond one, Amber, greeted from her position in the middle of the trio.

"We prefer males most of all," the brunette, Rose, winked at Andrew.

The red one, Teresa, licked her lips and lifted an inviting finger towards Ryoutarou. "I think I'll choose the samurai myself."

The blond one looked at Kazuto hungrily. "Let's show them how we greet guests." She opened her mouth and with her sisters began singing a song with superb harmony and pitch.

Asuna realized it a second too late and threw her hands up to cover her ears. "Not mermaids! Sirens! Don't listen!"

Keiko, Sinon, and Rika all covered their ears but Ryoutarou dropped his sword and opened his arms towards Teresa. "She's so cute…"

Andrew roared with anger and began swing his ax wildly. His eyes found their next target in Rika and began attacking her without restraint.

Asuna gasped and looked towards Kazuto who was also swinging his sword but he wasn't aiming for anyone, just the air around him. "Kazuto!" she called out.

"I can't see!" he exclaimed. "Asuna, I can't see!"

Asuna quickly realized what had happened and tried to come up with a plan. "The song only affects males!"

"But how does it affect them!?" Sinon exclaimed, her bow ready to go but she wasn't sure where to aim. "It seems they were all affected differently!"

"It must cast a random status effect!" Rika dodged another strike from Andrew and leapt back to gain distance. "I'd say Andrew has berserk!"

Ryoutarou walked towards Teresa, as if in a daze, his smile remaining despite the fact that Teresa now had fingernails as sharp as knives and shark-shaped teeth.

Asuna gestured to Keiko. "Stop him! He's been Charmed! I'll deal with Kazuto!"

RIKA

Rika took out her buckler and mace, unsure of how to stop a man like Andrew from cleaving her in two. "Andrew, you're not in your right mind! Snap out of it!" She looked helplessly over at Sinon. "Don't you know Dispel!?" She stumbled when she dodged to the left and cursed at the water lapping around her ankles.

Sinon, however, was avoiding attacks from Rose who had taken the fight to her. The siren slashed with her nails using them like claws against the archer. "I'm a little preoccupied at the moment!"

Rika cursed and spun her mace in preparation. "Okay, just don't complain about your headache later!" She went on the offensive and instead of using her buckler to block and her mace to attack she used her mace to knock aside his overhead swing (aimed at her head) and counterattacked by using her buckler to hit him in the temple. She repeated the move as often as he attacked. Getting an idea she used her mace to hit her buckler at the same time she struck his temple, causing a resounding GONG to ring out. When he stumbled she leapt up, using his knee as a stepping stone to strike with her knee right under his chin. His head snapped up and he fell to the floor unconscious.

Rika took a moment to place a rock under Andrew's head to prevent him from drowning before she rushed to aid Sinon.

KEIKO

Keiko called on Pina to jump on Ryoutarou's head, covering his vision with her wings. "How exactly am I supposed to stop him?"

"It's no wonder you don't have a boyfriend," Teresa sneered at the little beast tamer. "Aside from your hair I couldn't tell you were a girl or a boy."

Keiko growled in annoyance. "My appearance is none of your concern!" She spun around and tripped Ryoutarou down before he could get to Teresa. Leaving him to Pina, Keiko faced off with Teresa. "At least I don't have split ends!"

Teresa shrieked and went after Keiko. The beast tamer, however, was more agile and though she didn't have a lot of power she had long learned she could whittle down an enemy's health over a period of time. Here, in this game, she didn't even have to worry about health bars. All she had to do was find the cor cube. She leapt up, amazed at her own ability in the real world, and attacked various places on the siren's body. "Pina! Exhaust!"

Pina complied and glowed a yellow color, the same hue surrounding Teresa. A second later Teresa's nails all broke and fell to the floor, taking away her attack strength. Teresa screamed and spun her tail in retaliation. Expecting the attack, Keiko leapt up and came down with her dagger, pinning the fins into the floor. "Ha! Gotchya!" she exclaimed.

"Ah, you cretin!" Teresa swore.

"Nuh uh uh. It isn't nice to call people names," Keiko grinned with victory. "Now to take care of Ryoutarou."

ASUNA

Asuna watched as her team handled the problem as best they could. Meanwhile she approached Kazuto carefully. "Kazuto, it's me. You need to calm down. I'm coming up on your left."

"Asuna, what's happening!? I can't see!" he stopped swinging but he still looked back and forth frantically. His irises were covered with a pearl white film.

She came up and put a hand on his shoulder so he knew where she was. "You've been blinded. Ryoutarou was Charmed and Andrew is going berserk." She glanced over and saw Rika knee the merchant in the chin, the larger man going down hard. "Was going berserk," she corrected.

"Asuna, I can't fight like this."

Asuna looked up and saw Amber closing in on them, the smile of victory already on her lips. "Yes you can. You just have to trust me."

That seemed to calm Kazuto and he relaxed with his sword at the ready. "I trust you."

Asuna leaned forward to whisper into his ear. "I'll take the flank, you take the front. Follow my instructions." She leapt up and flipped over Amber when she was close enough and landed behind her.

Amber's attention fully on Kazuto, she could care less about Asuna. Amber came closer her hands cupping his face. Kazuto flinched but held perfectly still, waiting for the signal. "One so strong will make a fine prize."

"He's no one's prize!" Asuna snapped, "Kazuto, Howling Octave now!"

Kazuto instantly performed five thrusts with his sword, his sword lighting up a brilliant red, followed by three additional strikes: one downwards and two upwards. The second upwards one launched Amber into the air where Asuna met her.

"Never underestimate a woman in love." She let out a war cry and performed Mother's Rosario, the eleven hit combo handed down to her by her good friend Yuuki, for the first time since she inherited it. It didn't matter where the cor cube was the combined attacks destroyed it and Amber evaporated leaving not a trace.

"Asuna?" Kazuto asked worriedly.

She came up and put a hand on his arm. "We got her."

Rika stabbed with her mace crackling with lightning against Rose then leapt back and allowed Sinon to attack with lightning arrows. Rose shrieked and exploded, her cor cube effectively short circuited. Keiko was still dealing with Teresa when the group came back together. Pina had Ryoutarou's headband between her teeth as she tried to keep him from interfering.

"Teresa my love!" Ryoutarou reached for her.

Teresa's fin was still pinned to the floor but it also left Keiko unarmed. Rika grinned, hefting her mace in the air. "Don't worry, we got this." The battle lasted less than a minute and the last Siren didn't stand a chance. Her image vanished and Ryoutarou cried until the status effect ended and he was left confused.

Ryoutarou looked around, wiping the wetness from his face. "What happened?"

Sinon came up and patted him on the back. "I'll fill you in later."

"Asuna," Kazuto blinked and rubbed his eyes. "I still can't see."

Asuna frowned and stood before him. "Just give it time. Relax and it'll happen."

KAZUTO

Kazuto closed his eyes, calmed his breathing, and steadied his heart. When he opened his eyes again Asuna stood before him giving him a gentle smile.

"You good?" she asked.

Kazuto nodded with a half grin. "Yeah. Thanks."

"Ohh, my head. I feel like it's been put in a vice and hammered repeatedly." Andrew stood up slowly to join the others.

Rika winced. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'll make it up to you later."

Kazuto regarded everyone and nodded in appreciation. "Good work everyone." A door opened in the stone behind where the Sirens had been. Inside were stairs that led to the second floor of the dungeon so the group continued on.

Asuna looked back at everyone and leaned in to speak with Kazuto. "I'm worried. I'm not sure we have it in us for another boss fight."

"We don't have a choice. The city needs this water. Besides, we're all together now. We'll be fine." Kazuto gave her a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his eyes and kept walking. He was more shaken by that last battle than he wanted to admit. Having his sight taken away in the middle of a fight would have spelled certain death back in his SAO days. Now it just made him feel vulnerable and weak. He was lucky to have friends at his side who looked out for him.

You use people to shelter yourself, cover your weaknesses, and pretend to be Hero.

Kazuto refrained from shaking his head to rid himself of the voice that still echoed in his mind. It was just a status effect. I'm fine now. Stop dwelling on it, Kazuto!

"Kazuto, snap out of it!" someone shouted.

Kazuto blinked and suddenly realized everyone was fighting more turtles. He rushed into battle and finished off one turtle that had Sinon pinned under its leg. He broke through the shell and shattered the monster, freeing the girl. He lowered a hand which she gratefully used to get back up on her feet. "You okay?"

She ran a hand across her chest and winced. "I'll bruise but yeah I'm okay. Thanks."

He had been so lost in his thoughts that Kazuto hadn't even realized they had cleared several more rooms until they stood before the final boss room. For some reason Kazuto's heart tightened and he had to force himself to breath. I'm panicking…why? This is no different than before. He controlled his hands, which had begun trembling slightly, and after confirming that everyone was ready, pushed open the door.

The floor depressed and was once again filled with water. "Watch your feet, mobility is going to be limited," Asuna advised as Andrew took point. Kazuto hung back praying no one saw his lack of composure. He felt like he was shaking like a leaf.

Framed by blue colored torches, a gurgling hissing sounded and the smell of rotten fish filled the chamber. Ryoutarou squished his face and pinched his nose. "Okay, I think I'm done with the water/sea theme," he said.

The boss towered above the group and seemed to encompass much of the room which included a vaulted ceiling. There was a large waterfall behind it and the mist kept the blue green scales moist. Kazuto looked up at the monster, his stomach hitting the floor. "Oh gods…" Not him…

"Kazuto, what is it? Do you recognize this boss?" Asuna asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, I designed him for use in Journea." The boss was reptilian in design with a small head and a large snake like body that fell to the floor and curled once to help keep balance. On either side of his chest large fins had three spines that spread out like wings. The webbing in between was yellow-green and twitched with agitation. "His name is Leviathan…" As if saying the name began the battle, Leviathan's eyes flashed green and he spun around, wiping the floor with a tail whip AOE. Kazuto and company jumped over the massive tail. "He has three main attacks! Tail Whip, Viper Strike, and…" before he could finish Leviathan's webbing shimmered, signaling the next attack. "Tidal Wave!"

Behind Leviathan the waterfall's flow increased and came up, forming a huge wall of water that barreled forward crashing just in front of the party. "Everyone defend!" Kazuto crossed his arms in front of his face and braced himself as the huge wave slammed into them, tossing and turning each fighter, careening them into walls, rocks, and each other. Kazuto held his breath as long as he could, refraining from sucking in water by mistake. When the attack ended and the water mysteriously receded everyone struggled to get back onto their feet.

Kazuto was still on one knee, recovering himself, when he noticed Keiko lying motionlessly on the ground. "Guys, she's not moving!"

Asuna and Sinon attempted to go to her when Leviathan reared his head back, signaling a Viper Strike was coming. Kazuto cursed and ran towards Keiko, picking up the small girl so he could leap back out of harm's way. Andrew appeared in front of them to deflect the three foot long fangs that came flying at them. When Kazuto landed again, Pina flew up to them and glowed a light green. Keiko, enveloped by the same hue, suddenly began coughing up water so Kazuto knelt down and placed her on her hands and knees.

While she was gathering her breath, Kazuto addressed the group. "Lightning is going to be his major weakness but he's equipped with Reflect. We have to disable his ability to use magic."

Andrew cracked his neck. "Not to mention that nasty Tidal Wave attack."

Sinon notched an arrow and pulled her string. "I can lock his magic but you've got three minutes to finish him off."

Asuna nodded. "And we'll still have to worry about his Viper Strike attack."

"Sounds like we've got a plan." Kazuto pulled out his swords and widened his stance. "Let's do this!" Sinon released her arrow and struck Leviathan's chest. Red lightning lanced over Leviathan and he was instantly silenced. "Now!"
Ryoutarou's sword lit up with fire as he aimed for the lower half of Leviathan's tail while Rika slammed into Leviathan's torso with her lightning. Andrew chopped at the fins along with Asuna while Kazuto went for the head. He leapt up into the sky and said, "Lightning Fall!" Then he came down and struck Leviathan through the skull.

Leviathan cried out and whipped his head back and forth, throwing Kazuto off him and into the air. Before Kazuto could right himself, Leviathan snapped with his teeth and caught the swordsman in his jaws. Kazuto felt the fangs bite into his leg and let out a wail of pain. He reacted and brought up his swords into Leviathan's eyes, stabbing deep into the large orb. Leviathan immediately let him go and Kazuto fell to the floor where he bounced once. His leg bled profusely.

Asuna landed by his side and began healing him. "Don't let up! We have to find that cor cube!" she ordered to the rest. Kazuto's poison ward lit up, signaling its attempt to protect against the deadly status affect. Leviathan defended well and before Kazuto was healed, the boss' silence ended. Rika was midair with her mace crackling with energy when she noticed the change but it was too late.

"Oh crap!" Unable to pull back her attack Rika struck with lightning and Reflect bounced it back over the entire party. Kazuto's scream was melded with everyone else'. Leviathan immediately followed up with Tidal Wave against the still spasming group. Kazuto tried to dodge but his vision swam and he felt nauseous.

The water came at them and Asuna acted quickly. She grabbed hold of Kazuto just as both of them were sucked into the waves. Kazuto tried to hold his breath but the poison made his reactions sluggish. He was afraid he was going to suck in water when he suddenly felt Asuna's lips on his. She began breathing for him, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, just before everything went black.

TO BE CONTINUED...