10 levels later
" Do we have to go out fighting today?" Dale whined at the table as I made breakfast.
" Look no one has found the boss yet ok? Someone needs to go out there and find him," I said then set the food down.
Everyone began fighting over plates of food and I calmly sat at my end of the table waiting for the fighting to end so I could get some scraps. Klein came in just then, yawning, and sat beside me. " Morning," he said tiredly and rubbed his eyes.
" Didn't sleep well last night?" I asked rubbing his arm.
" No I was having a nightmare. That boss last level was freaky."
" Ya Cthulhu would have nightmares about that guy," I replied and Klein laughed. " If you have another nightmare you can wake me up ok?"
" Thanks babe," Klein said then gave me a peck.
" I can't believe it you two are like a married couple," Kunimittz said.
" Please we're not even close," I said as I reached for the bowls of food. I made a plate for Klein first with all his favorite food then made mine while Klein got all the toppings and drinks prepared.
" Thanks," we replied to one another at the same time.
" See?" Kunimittz asked everyone else at the table who then agreed.
" Come on guys we're not that bad," Klein said opening the newspaper he got in the mail. He handed me the first half filled with actual news and he took the fun part. " We've only officially been together for what half a year now?"
" More like ¾ of one," I said thinking back on how long some of these levels have taken.
" You two know each other too well ok? It's creepy," Dale said. " Klein can we have the day off please?"
" I don't see why not," Klein replied.
" You guys are ridiculous!" I shouted in anger. " We've been lazing around all week!"
" Ok let's meet halfway. Let's go to level 48, go up one of the paths, but go at a relaxed pace and have some fun. Everyone ok with that?" Klein asked.
I looked at the guys and they all nodded. " Ok I'll make some stew and hot chocolate then," I said then went to the kitchen. An hour later we were at the mountain. This level was an icy mountain, usually in a blizzard at all times but recently the season changed to spring and there haven't been any snowstorms in at least a week. The town, a mountaintop, Asian theme, was much more lively with the snowstorm gone. I remember working on this level a lot, creating a town that was a mix of Chinese and Himalayan styles. Upon arriving we saw some people were taking advantage of this with snowball fights and snowmen building competitions. It was still freezing though, at least 20 below.
I was currently sporting a set of snow boots, pants, long sleeve shirt, and a fur insulated cape. Everyone else also had their own set of warmer clothing as well. Klein opened his map and examined for a few moments. " Ok A lot of people have been heading East and West because the tallest mountains are that way. So how about North?" Klein asked.
" Fine with me," I said and everyone else agreed. So north it was and we headed up the steeper part of the mountain the village was on. We took it slow and leisurely, taking in the sights and having a great time even though the trek was rough. It almost felt like we were heading up at a ninety-degree angle. About ¾ of the way up we paused and took our lunch break, looking over the mountainside at the tiny do that was the starter village. The soup was still burning hot and it stung my mouth but warmed my insides greatly.
After lunch we continued up and unfortunately it was even colder and snowing very hard. Inferno did NOT like this weather one bit and activated his flame cloak without asking me but I didn't mind. " You ok?" Klein asked over the howling winds.
" Just cold you?" I yelled back.
He gave a thumbs up and we continued on. No one had gotten to the top of this mountain yet and this is something I wanted to accomplish today. An hour or so later, when I was just thinking about turning back, I heard a loud hiss to the side. Klein must have heard it to and everyone drew their weapons. I pulled out my sword and attempted to focus on the noise. Inferno growled and began to glow brighter then jumped towards something. It hissed and I realized it was an ice wraith, an frost demon that looked like a ice blue snake but floated like a spirit, and it was not one but at least a dozen. I charged and attacked the one Inferno was attacking. He used flamethrower and disintegrated the first ice wraith but another replaced it and I struck the wraith my blade.
Inferno ran after another one of the wraiths and I ran after him. He attacked one and the other so easily bouncing through the snow while I trudged after him. " Careful Megumi!" Klein shouted after me.
" I need to watch Inferno!" I shouted over my shoulder and kept running after him. Inferno killed a final wraith then turned back to me panting happily again and I laughed panting. Inferno hopped through the snow towards me but on his final hop I heard a crack. I stilled, as did Inferno, but it was too late. We fell through some thin ice and down an ice chute into the mountain. I screamed as we sped up going faster and faster until we hit the bottom.
I woke, who knows how much later, with a whining Inferno in front of me. There were a dozen messages in my notification box. They were all from Klein and were asking where I was and if I was all right. Carefully, I sat up and looked around only to find walls of ice. I then went into my messages and sent Klein my own 'Inferno and I fell down a hole. I'm assuming it's sealed up by now. Can you see us on a map?'
Not a minute later Klein replied. 'No are you ok?'
'We're fine. I feel sore but we're fine. It looks like an ice tunnel maze down here going to try to find a way out.'
'We'll continue going up the mountain maybe you found a shortcut to the other side. Be safe and keep us posted.'
'Will do.'
I turned off my messages then stood but faltered. I was hurting all over but my health was full meaning I was still in pain from my fall. Inferno stepped over and let me lean against him but when I wasn't able to stand on my own I got on Inferno's back. I laid down and clutched his fur then Inferno moved forward. The ice caves seemed to go on forever as Inferno carefully walked around. With ice floors, Inferno had to dig his claws into the ground everywhere he stepped. Eventually, we got to a large room filled with ice sculptures. Some were of what looked like polar bears, others were snowmen, and there were even a few people.
That's suddenly when I realized where we were. This cave was a part of a quest from a town in the east but I stumbled up on it by accident. It was then I heard a loud hiss behind me and Inferno began to turn around. I reached down and covered Inferno's eyes while I didn't even dare to look up. This was the Xiyl, or Basilisk, in Chinese. It was a play on the original monster but instead of killing the enemy on sight, the Xiyl froze them like a statue. " Inferno use flamethrower!" I shouted.
Inferno shot out flames in all directions in front of him and given the Xiyl's shriek Inferno must have hit him. I tugged on Inferno's fur and he turned then ran in the opposite direction. This monster was too dangerous to handle on our own. Inferno ran down one of the many cave paths while the Xiyl chased after us but I didn't dare look back to see where he was. Unfortunately we ended up at a dead end a few minutes later. Inferno turned back to run the other way but it was too late as I heard Xiyl coming.
I looked around and decided to take a chance. " Inferno use flame thrower up there," I commanded.
Inferno shot out at the ceiling and I watched the ice melt until some snow caved in. Inferno then shot out of the ceiling and we ended up in another tube going downhill like being a slide. The end of the tube was bright and I shut my eyes as we flew out. Inferno landed on a stone bridge and I looked around in awe. We were suddenly in a tropical paradise, a stone city covered in jungle shrubbery. I turned around and saw the entrance was covered with an ice wall. " Just one more time ok Inferno?" I asked.
Inferno used flamethrower again and a few moments later the ice wall was gone. I jumped off Inferno, feeling better now and walked forward. The storm made a wall right outside the entrance, making this place nearly impossible to find. 'Klein can you see me on the map?' I messaged him.
A few minutes later a panting Klein emerged from the storm followed by the rest of the guild. He smiled at me and ran forward, grabbing me in a deadly tight hug. " Are you ok? Damn I was so worried!" he said against my ear.
" I'm fine Inferno saved me," I said pulling away a little and looking down at Inferno then giving him a pat.
Klein tilted my head back up and gave me a deep kiss. " Don't run away from me again you hear?"
I blushed and nodded, as the others groaned and mumbled. Suddenly, from behind I heard a roar and I avoided the temptation to turn around. " Don't look it in the eye!" I shouted and saw everyone close their eyes.
I turned around slowly and saw the base of the basilisk but also a puddle there. It can't handle the heat of Shangri-La! " What should we do?" Klein shouted.
" Inferno use flamethrower!" I shouted while covering his eyes. I turned him in the direction of the monster and he shot out the flames. I watched the puddle grow wider and wider until there was an explosion of debris, indicating the monsters defeat. The storm settled and before we knew it the mountain was clear and easy to see. Everyone opened their eyes and turned to see the way to the town was clear. A large 'Checkpoint' sign appeared in the air right after that.
" I guess this is the way towards the boss then," Klein said sheathing his sword.
" I agree. Let's come back again tomorrow we should tell the rest of the clearers first," I said.
" And I know the perfect way down the mountain," Kunimittz said. He went into his inventory and pulled out a shield and sat on it. Everyone else did the same.
" I don't have a shield," I said.
" Don't worry," Klein said and yanked me down onto his lap.
" I don't know about this," I said but it was too late as Klein pushed off the ground and everyone sped down the mountain. I screamed and clung onto Klein tightly but he just laughed the whole way down. There were several snowmen on the way to the bottom that we plowed through before the base city was in sight. " We're going too fast!" I shouted above the wind.
" It's fine!" Klein shouted and tilted the shield a little. We changed direction and headed towards a pile of snow.
" Oh fu-" I began but was cut off after diving face first into the snow. A few moments later I was tugged out of the snow by cloak with Inferno's teeth. I looked around and saw the others just a dizzy as I was with our collision and a few others standing around and laughing at the sight.
" I guess that wasn't such a great idea as I thought huh?" Klein asked helping me up.
" Well better than hitting a building I suppose," I said rubbing my head.
" Can we head home for dinner now?" Dale asked rubbing his gurgling stomach.
" Ya let's just get this news to an information broker first. Everyone should know where to go to find the boss," Klein said.
Everyone grumbled in annoyance. " Come on guys it's the right thing to do," I said. Still grumbles. " I won't make dinner tonight if we don't."
Everyone suddenly cheered up and I laughed as they ran ahead into town. Klein grabbed my shoulder and I leaned against him as we walked into town following the others. Torches started to get lit as night fell and Klein put his arm around my shoulder as we walked through town. " Promise not to scare me like earlier today?"
" I promise," I replied and leaned against him a little.
" I don't know I think we need to seal the deal to this promise," Klein said smirking.
We both stopped and I wrapped my arms around his neck, giving him a nice, deep kiss. I pulled away and gave him a tight hug in satisfaction. Klein's made me happier then I've ever been and I'm stuck in a prison. I just want to stay like this forever; I want to stay in this perfect moment. " Yo Meg-U-Mi," a voice said pronouncing my name in individual syllables.
I turned slowly and saw Daisuke smiling menacingly at me. I remembered the day he said that someday he would reveal who I truly was. And based off that smile I knew that day was today. Why Daisuke, why do you have to do this to me?
Daisuke POV
" Fumiko!" I called out to her. She looked up from her computer and I couldn't help but smile at her face. She was just so fucking hot. Not in the usual, big breast big ass kind of way but in the cute, mousy way. I wanted to control her and make her my obedient little housewife, doing whatever I asked.
" Yes?" she asked quietly after arriving at my desk.
" I need help I want to turn this chest into a tree that a player has to activate to turn back into a chest."
She looked at the screen and fixed her glasses then smiled again. " Ah I see the problem you are having. Just give me a second."
She sat on the handle of my chair and began typing. " Fumiko are you doing anything Friday?"
Fumiko reddened immediately and stopped typing. " Th-that's unprofessional Daisuke!"
" That's a no then?" I asked. She frowned and turned back to the computer still typing. Why was she so fucking adorable? Oh the things I would do if she were mine. I wanted to do the worst kinds of things to her.
" Daisuke?" I looked back at Fumiko and my jaw dropped. Her shirt was unbuttoned and her skirt was off. " You can do whatever you want to me Daisuke."
She leaned in and her lips were about to reach mine when I woke up to a bash in the head. " Ow what?" I asked.
It was Lind, leader of Dragon Knights Brigade. " You can't sleep around all day you know," he said.
" I was having a good dream you know," I muttered rubbing my head.
" Whatever. We need you on the 48th floor scouting for more rare items."
" Ya fine got it," I said then changed into uniform.
" You ok?"
" I told you I was having a great dream."
" Fine. Stay safe." Lind said and left. He was my leader but also my friend. My only friend here really. With Fumiko gone off in some other guild and a completely different person. As soon as we arrived here Fumiko changed. She stood up to me and had a defiant, strong look in her eyes. She truly transformed into this 'Megumi' character and I hated it. We should have been kings here from the start! Fumiko knew all the codes, all the hacks, all the levels like the back of her hand but she threw it all away to what? Act like a run of the mill fighter.
After grabbing some food from base I headed to the 48th floor for some treasure hunting. That Kirito guy was heading east followed by a few other groups so I did the same. Let the lead guys go for the enemies while I sit in the back. Come to think of it I can't remember the last time I even fought. I didn't need to with my job as treasure hunter but I didn't know how much longer I would have that job. We made it to the eastern town and I went to one of the buildings on the outskirts, placing my hand on the wall at a particular spot.
Lines of code showed up before pulling back and revealing a small chest in the wall. 2 amulets should be inside and be enough bounty for the day. Instead there was a note.
Daisuke,
You can't beat this game using your tricks as a game creator. By now you should realize I've taken away all your treasure spots. Do some real work and you might actually survive.
Kayaba
I crushed the note and tossed it. Damn you Kayaba! I teleported back to base town and grabbed a bite to eat. He was taking everything from me this day couldn't get worse!
I sat on a bench eating a hot bowl of soup when I saw her. Fumiko was waking into town with some guy on her shoulder. I crushed the noodle bowl in my hand watching them smile and laugh with one another. No wait, this isn't a bad thing. I stood and sauntered over to the duo, cringing when they kissed, but smiled again when close enough. " Yo Meg-U-Mi," I said letting it roll off my tongue.
I couldn't help but smile as a brilliant idea finally formed in my head. I'm going to get Fumiko back and she is going to crawl back to me when I'm done with her.