disclaimer: I only own OC's. whoever owns SAO, it's not me.
Chapter 11: Player VS Player
Omnipresent= knowing everything that is going on around them.
Frontline: floor 16. Players surviving: 8,302
It was surprising, Adamant thought, that all it took was a sword and something noticeable in this world to become a celebrity. And the nine most famous people in the game were currently gathered in one room. Asuna, Lvl 52, Knights of the blood oath 2nd in command. A.K.A the lightning flash. You can barely see the tip of her sword, and that's on an off day. Heathcliff, Lvl 54, A.K.A the unbreakable. Since appearing on floor 10 and founding the Knights of the blood oath, his HP has never dropped below half. Period. Kirito, A.K.A the black swordsman. Soloing on the front lines, no one knows what his level is, except that it is higher than theirs.
Their fame was matched collectively, if not individually, by the members of the Adamant Guard. Serena, Lvl 51, A.K.A the Blind Bow woman. Everyone can confidently say she's omnipresent, even if they don't know what it means. Gorgamith, Lvl 53, A.K.A GG to anyone he knows well. His skill with a shield is almost on the level of Heathcliff, and his cleaver is said to be able to break any armour in fewer than 5 strikes. Ben and Bulltrue, Lvl 51 and 52 respectively, known together as the Twin blades. With the best teamwork in the game, the only time they are found apart is when they are competing with each other. Jade, Lvl 53, A.K.A the pale duellist. Most guys are unsure to be terrified of her or attracted. And Adamant, Lvl 55. A.K.A the dragon master. Rumour goes that if you touch his hat or Dylan without his permission, you get used as a human shield in the next boss raid. (Not that a boss had hit him since floor 5.) The top three guilds; the Knights, The Divine dragon alliance, and the Adamant Guard, were gathered around the table in floor 16's grand hall. Heathcliff banged his shield against the floor to call the meeting to order. "Welcome, fellow clearers. I can assume you all know why you are here. The increase in PKings across the game." There were mutterings across the hall. The DDA's leader nodded. "A few hours ago, a group of 20 mid-level players were ambushed and killed while grinding on floor 8. One of them managed to teleport out, and said that the killers wore black hooded clothes and skull masks." Serena perked up and spoke to Ben, who translated. "Serena here has encountered these people before. Apparently they identified themselves as the laughing coffin." Kirito nodded. "I was there. They had no qualms about trying to kill all of us, but managed to steal the revival item." He frowned. "They will have found out quickly that the item was 'apply soon after death', but that sort of thing could be serious blackmail. 'Hand over your valuables and we bring back your friend.'" "Either way," Cut in Heathcliff. "As the strongest players, it's our duty to deal with the problem. The question is what?"
Adamant groaned as he walked out of the hall. Why couldn't people just agree? It had been an almost unanimous decision to send some of the more over-levelled clearers to assist the potential victims. It keeps people safe, and helps more fighters join the front lines. When it came to actually catching the guilds responsible, however, no-one could come to a conclusion. Try and capture them when they attack? Put a bounty on all their heads? Raid potential hiding spots? Dylan nuzzled into his neck and he sighed, reaching up to scratch his reliable companion. I can deal with anything, sword to sword. He thought, grimly. But this cloak and dagger business… it's more the arena of- "Hey! Adamant!" He looked to the left to see Ben sprinting towards him. "I just… I…" Ben struggled to catch his breath. "It's Argo. The rat, the, the information broker. She, she says, she says that she has info on the Laughing coffin!"
Argo looked at the newcomer, Adamant, noting his appearance, posture, and expression, and began filtering them through the various rumours she had amassed even as she said "Is that him?" Ben nodded. "It's him. You said you had info on the Laughing coffin?" She shrugged. "Kinda. It's not pure info, but it'll help you." Adamant bit out something in English, which Ben translated. "He says cut to the chase. If you can help save lives, then spill. Err, he's not very good at negotiations, so cut him some slack, K?" Argo sighed. "I wouldn't normally give out free info, but I guess I feel kinda guilty. Thing is, I've sold information to the laughing coffin." Ben raised his eyebrows and rapidly translated for Adamant, who promptly put a hand on his sword hilt. "I didn't mean anything bad, ok? Some guy in a black cloak comes up, says he wants info on how much traffic is in the new dungeons. He paid, I told him about certain people raiding mostly unknown areas, and he left. It happened twice more before I realised that the people he bought info on started turning up dead." Ben had been rapid translating to Adamant, who fired a question back. "Do you know who he was?" Argo shrugged helplessly. "I didn't see his face, couldn't place the voice. Don't worry though; you'll have a chance to interrogate him when you meet him tomorrow." Seeing their confused looks, she grinned. "You think I'd let him know that I was onto him? He'll be here tomorrow for more information. You can listen in, and then when he leaves the safe zone you can get your own info from him." Ben raised an eyebrow. "You're seriously doing this? For free?" She gave him a look that Ben got immediately, but left Adamant clueless. "I may ask for some… special favours later. 2 PM sharp tomorrow, floor 15. Behind the soldiers hearth. I'll be waiting." With that, she sauntered off.
"No I'm serious, she's totally into me-" "Ben! Mission!" The two were perched on a roof above the alleyway where Argo was casually picking at her nails, acting oblivious to their presence, but secretly annoyed at how bad the pair was at being stealthy. She wondered if the Laughing Coffin agent would be as punctual as usual, and was proven correct as the black robes swirled into view right as her clock hit two. "You got the cash?" She requested, not looking up. The man opened up a trade window, inserting 2,000 col into his side. "The map." He said simply. Inwardly frustrated at being unable to recognise the voice, she uploaded a floor map to the window. "This floor, few kilometres south of the city. Group of four spoke way too loudly of their 'secret plans' to raid some 'secret dungeon'." She looked up. "What're you gonna do, steal the quest rewards?" The man accepted the trade and turned away. "None of your business." Oh, I think it is… she thought, as he began to walk away.
Kayaba had put A LOT of detail into SAO. For example, stealth was possible, but there were more factors at play than just your awareness and their stealth skill. In the village style settlements, there were loose roof tiles that could give your position away. Therefore it was Kayaba she silently cursed as one of those idiot boys managed to drop a loose tile to the floor with a CRASH loud enough to wake the dead. Acting like a criminal caught in the act, she looked up, muttered a curse, and ran, noticing the Coffin agent do the same. There was a scrambling noise from above as the two gave chase, but when she heard the distinctive Crack and Puff of a smoke grenade, she knew the game was up. She regrouped with the duo at the front of the inn. "Well that was just fantastic!" She mock clapped as they turned up. "That bit when you knocked the tile down? Fantastic subterfuge. Fortunately, the second attempt should involve more hitting and less sneaking." Ben frowned. "Next attempt? He isn't going to come to you again." Argo chuckled. "Oh Ben, Ben, I thought you knew me? There aren't actually a group of four newbs raiding the dungeon. There will, however, be you two and a pair of other clearers waiting to ensnare some evil player killers." Her chuckle turned into a full on laugh as realisation dawned on Ben's face. "I know, I'm the best info broker ever. Now, you'd better get a team together and buy some lower level gear, because our non-existent quartet is going to be entering their dungeon in about three hours."
Note: yeah, most of this chapters dialogue is in Japanese. If Ben isn't talking to one of the guard, he isn't using English. OMG 500 VIEWS!
Pls fave, follow, and review fairly. next chapter, PVP part 2, up tomorrow. see y'all!