Dark and his party decide to try and find the boss of the 20th floor, but on the way they run into some very unexpected trouble.
Chapter 14 Online
I open my eyes and see a wooden roof, and for a moment I have no idea where I am. As I sit up I remember where I am, the house that we had bought. The four bedroom house, located in a plain surrounded by fields of flowers and plant life, just like everything on this floor. I sit up in my bed and check the time, 8:13am, I heard no noises coming from the house, signalling someone else is awake. I stood up and tried to decide what to do until the others woke up, but a few seconds later I heard a sound that sounded like nails on the hardwood floors of the house and a second later Rocky came into my room.
"You alone? Lea must still be asleep."
He looked at me and gave a small bark.
"I'll take that as a yes. Do you know if anyone else is awake?"
He gave a small whine.
"Barks mean yes and whines means no. I guess we should start looking for the next boss."
Rocky came right up to me and nudged my hand, and I started to pet him.
"Do you only come to me for attention?" I ask looking at him, and he let's out a small bark, I smile "I'm not sure if I should take you seriously."
I hear footsteps and Rocky walks out of the room for a minute, then comes back in with Doran behind him.
"So you're an early riser too Dark?"
"Yeah, most of the time."
"So do you have any plans for what we are doing today?"
"I don't make plans. I make suggestions, but I'm thinking we should start our search for the floor boss."
"That sounds like a good plan, but shouldn't we ask some others to help us search to?"
"It's fine, I'm piratically a member of The Knights Of The Blood Oath, so if they manage to find anything I will also be told of it."
"You're part of The Knights!?"
"Not really. Lea, Sienna and myself agreed to help them on the front lines, and if Takumi deems us suitable fighters we can join the guild. We've been with them since the fifth floor and no offer has been made, yet I'm not the least bit interested in joining them."
"Why? They are considered to be the strongest guild in Aincrad."
"When in a guild you follow the orders of the leader, correct?"
"That's how it usually is."
"I enjoy doing things the way I want, and I hate taking orders from people, no matter who they are."
"That makes sense."
"I also have to talk to you about something. It might make you change your mind about being in my party."
"Nothing will make me change my mind, unless Sienna leaves." He smiled
I nod "You must have noticed my marker by now."
"I noticed yesterday, I was going to ask you why it was red yesterday, but I forgot."
"The reason is because I have killed players, but only Pk-ers, never an innocent."
"But it's a dark red, how many have you killed?"
"Let me get to the point. I have killed quite a few, but that is because a pk-er guild is after me, Demise is the name. I have killed them in self defence, to prevent me, Lea, and Sienna from getting killed. I have recently killed the second in command, and who knows when the leader will locate me and send some other members to try and kill me. So I will ask you this, are you absolutely sure you want to stay in this party, knowing that being near me will put you in danger?"
He thinks for a moment "Like I said, nothing will change my mind, and if members try to attack us I can show Sienna my strength."
I laugh a little "I've been wondering, why are you so intent on getting Sienna to like you? This isn't even a real world, it's all virtual."
He smiles "I think of it like this: The world we are in is virtual, but our feelings, personalities, looks, everything about us is real, nothing will change even when we get out of this game, the only thing that is fake is the world and all the monsters residing in it."
I look at him in surprise "Wow...I never thought of it that way...but I guess it does make sense."
"Well now you can start thinking like that."
"Yeah. I'm going to go and see if the other two are awake."
"All right, I'll be somewhere." He said walking out of the room.
I walked out and Rocky followed me. I got to Lea's door and Rocky went into the slightly ajar door. I knocked.
"Lea, are you awake?"
"Yes, I am."
"Okay, can you meet us in the living room?"
"Sure, I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Okay, I'm going to check if Sienna is awake." I walked down the hall, to the furthest door, I don't know why Sienna wanted the room furthest down the hall. Once I got to it I knocked and the door opened. Sienna was standing there, looking fully prepared.
"How long have you been awake for?" I asked
"About 20 minutes."
"Well, we are going to meet in the living room to discuss our plans for today."
She nodded and walked out of her room and closed the door "Then let's go." She said walking down the hall. I followed her and went down the stairs that led to the living room. Doran and Lea are already waiting. As we walk down the stairs Doran smiles.
"Good morning Sienna!" He said a little too excitably...was he really older then me?
"Morning." She said flatly as she sat down on one of the couches in the room. The living room of this house had two leather couches that could have 3 people on each, and in the middle of the two couches was a glass surfaced table, with wood legs. Sienna and I sat on the other couch then Lea and Doran and Rocky was laying down under the table.
"So" Sienna said "What's are the plans for today."
"Suggestion." I said "I offer suggestions, I don't force you to go along with them. Anyway I think we should try and find the 20th floor boss, along with the Knights, we should be able to find it fairly quickly...as long as it's not like the 19th that only appears at certain times."
"I agree with you. The more people looking the faster we can find and defeat the bosses, and therefore the faster we can get out of here." Sienna said.
"I agree because Sienna does." Doran said...If he keeps this up I'm sure Sienna will get annoyed soon.
"It sounds like a good plan." Lea said.
"So everyone agrees. Make sure you are prepared and we will head to the nearest town in about half a hour."
As we head to our rooms to make sure we have what we need someone knocks on my door. Without turning I answer
"Come in." I hear the door open and then close.
"Dark?" I hear Sienna's voice.
I turn to her "Yes?"
"I'm just making sure that you told Doran, about Demise, just in case."
"Yeah, I talked to him about that this morning, he said he didn't care and that it would be a good chance to show off his power to you." I smile as I remember that.
"His comments are going to get annoying pretty soon..."
"But after that you will get use to them and be able to easily ignore them."
"Yeah...I know, at least it should help having another teammate."
"Now we have a balanced team. An all around Sword user, An archer, A Speed Sword user, and a heavy weapon user. I think we can handle mostly anything that attacks us."
"Maybe...but don't get to confident and let your guard down."
"I won't. I know from experience that whenever I do that I get damaged."
"Right. I'm going to finish preparing now." She left the room.
We headed to the nearest town, which happened to be the one we met Doran in the day before.
"Go buy anything you need and we will meet at the gate in an hour." I told the others. They went off, Doran went his separate way as Sienna, Lea and Rocky went another way. I headed to a store to buy a few potions, to make sure I had a good supply. After I bought the potions I wandered around the town aimlessly, waiting until I had to meet up with the others.
"Finally I found you." I turn and see Takumi coming up to me.
"Hey."
"Dark, I have an offer for you. If you and your team do a good job in the next boss fight, I'll allow you three-"
"I have four members now."
"When did that happen?"
"Yesterday afternoon."
"I'll have to meet them soon. Anyway back to what I was saying, I'll allow you to join the guild."
I had no interest in joining, but I couldn't just turn down his offer "I'm sure we'll give the boss a good fight."
He smiles "I'm looking forward to it." He looks around "Where is your team anyway?"
"They're preparing. We're going to search for the boss."
"Can I count on you reporting your findings?"
Another trouble of joining a guild, you have to report back "If we find anything then yes, but you have more people searching, so you have a better chance of finding anything."
"I know, but I want to make sure if you find the boss you won't fight it alone and possibly lose to it."
"I understand. I will report if I find anything."
"Okay. Good luck on your searching." He said walking away. I started back towards the entrance to the town. How can I decline Takumi's offer...I can't purposely do bad in the battle...that would put me and my team in danger. I'll ask the others how they feel first.
I arrived at the entrance and was the first one there. I was about 15 minutes early. I sat down against it and waited. After 10 minutes Sienna and Lea arrived at the entrance.
"How long have you been waiting for us Dark?" Lea asked me.
"Only about 10 minutes." I said standing up.
"I guess Doran hasn't shown up yet?" Sienna said looking around.
"Worried about me?" Doran said coming up to us.
"Very." Sienna said sarcastically.
"Well since we're all here now, let's get going." I said
"Agreed." Sienna said walking ahead a little.
We walked into yet another flower filled field and I decided to ask then.
"Lea, Sienna, do you two want to join The Knights Of The Blood Oath?"
"Why the sudden question Dark?" Sienna asked
"I'm curious. What are your opinions on joining?"
"Wouldn't it be almost the same as we are now?" Lea asked
"There would be some differences, like not being able to move freely, we would be under a higher ranking member, we would have to report our findings every time we return and I'm sure there are others."
"So in short form Lea, we would be losing freedom." Sienna said
I nod "Basically."
"I would rather it stay how it is now." She said
"And you Sienna?"
"I have to agree. I don't like the idea of being restricted."
"Well, now to be honest, Takumi purposed to me that if we do good in the next boss battle he will allow us to join the guild. I have no interest to join, which is why I wanted to hear your views on it."
"So since you have our views now, what do you suggest we do?" Sienna asked "We can't do bad purposely at the boss battle."
"Exactly. So if Takumi asks us to join after the boss, we decline. Only choice we have."
"Guess so."
Doran spoke up "Better be ready, we have company." I drew my sword first and then turned to the enemies. In front of us were 4 lion like creatures, but instead of a fur mane, they had a tangle of vines, the bars said "Vine Lions, level 29." I was 28, Lea and Rocky level 24, Sienna 26 and Doran was 27, we could easily take them.
"Get ready!" I shout to them. As soon as I say that the lions attack.
As they ran at us they split, one going for each of us. I stop it as the one that attacks me tries to slash me with it's claws, I feel my feet slide on the ground a little, but I hold my ground. I hear the others fighting, but I don't dare to turn, not taking my eyes off my foe. I push back and draw a line in the ground and as the lion runs at me I smile and stab my sword into the ground "Barrier!" The blue force field appears again and it runs right into it. As it recoils from the blow I pull my sword out of the ground and run at it, but just as I get into sword's length it looks at me and vines shoot at me and tie around my arms and my sword.
"Dammit!" I say fighting the vines, the vine tightens around my right arm and it throws the sword out of my hand somewhere behind me. I continue fighting against the tightening vines when I hear a surprised gasp behind me and a figure moves across the vines cutting me free. I look at the one that helped me and see it's Rocky holding my blade in his mouth.
"Well...that's new." Rocky tosses the blade at me and hurries back to Lea's side. I'm a little confused at first but then I focus on the enemy in front of me again. It roars and as it dashes at me I swing my sword upwards, into it's jaw and it staggers, I place my sword against it's nose and focus "Cutting Edge." The wave cuts through the lion, bringing it's hp to 0, it burst. I turn around and see Sienna just finishing the last lion. I walk over to Lea.
"How did Rocky use my blade effectively?"
"He learned a skill, Blade Wielder. He can use swords now."
"I don't think we have an extra blade for him to use at the moment."
"At least he learned a new skill."
"Yeah, it will be useful when we get a blade for him."
"Ready to move on?" Doran asks walking up to us.
"Yeah, let's go."
We enter a forested area, more plant life, but these woods are eerily quiet.
"I don't think any wild life make their homes in these trees...it's to quiet." I say
"Quietness doesn't mean anything bad. It just means the animals aren't active right now." Sienna says.
"It doesn't look like they were ever active...even if they even existed."
"You sound scared." Sienna said chucking a bit.
"I'm not scared...Silence like this makes me uneasy...makes me feel like something is going to happen."
"Nothing will happen." Doran spoke up "You have me here."
"I feel even less safe now..." Sienna said.
I laugh a little "That's not-" I look around "Did any of you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Doran asks turning to me.
I wait a moment and I hear twig snap "That." I say taking a few steps forward, Doran follows me.
"What do you think it is?" He asked me
"A monster." I answer quickly.
"You're wrong, Dark!" a voice says and two figures come out from a wall of vines. Me and Doran move back. I look at the two figures, they have hoods over their faces.
"Who are you two?" I demand.
They throw the hoods off and I see one male and one female, they are both wearing all black and on their shirts is a pin of an arrow hitting a bulls-eye of a target.
"We are members of-" The female started
"Let me guess...Demise?" I ask
"...Yes and no. We are part of Demise, but we are loyal to Marks! The one you killed!"
"Loyal to him...which means you were planning to kill your guild leader too."
"Yes. We are known as Marks' Arrows, these pins show we were under Marks' command but they have a deeper meaning to us of the group!"
"So you are going to try and kill me because I killed Marks?"
"Like you expect me to-"
"I would look behind you before doing anything rash." the male said.
Fuck...I knew what he meant even without looking, but Doran turned around and made an annoyed sound.
"Not below anything are you? Is taking hostages the only way Demise members try to win?" I turn around now. Three other members came up from behind, one holding Rocky, One holding Lea around the neck, a blade against her throat and one holding Sienna the same way. I was a little surprised no one heard them coming from behind.
"Demise will do anything to kill their targets, drop your weapons, both of you."
Doran spoke "We'll not going-"
"Don't do anything stupid Doran." I say taking my blade and dropping it on the ground.
"But Dark-"
"Lea and Sienna are in danger. We have no choice." I had no idea how to get out of this.
He groaned but dropped his weapon.
"Good. Dark, catch." He threw a pill to me.
"What's this?"
"A pill. Once you take it you will be unable to breath, and will therefore die."
"Are you serious? You are going to make me take this so I'll die..."
"If you want your allies to survive, then yes."
I look at Lea and Sienna, who are unable to talk because of how tightly they are being held, then at Doran "I have no choice." I move my hand to take the pill when Doran grabs my wrist.
"What are you thinking?! You can't kill yourself!"
"I have no choice." I pull my arm away from him and I put the pill in my mouth and I swallow. After a moment I feel the effects, my breaths get shallower and slower until I can't breath and it feels like I'm getting choked. I fall to the ground on my knees, unable to breath, I see my hp going down, I'm really going to die. I fall onto my hands I see red spots clouding my vision, it won't be long now.
"You idiot!" Doran says hitting my back, I fall flat on my stomach, motionless.
"His health has stopped..." The male said
"The last bit of hp takes a while, I could finish him, but I don't want my marker to change."
After a minute of waiting the male asked again
"His hp still isn't gone."
"Then go ahead and finish him off if you want to leave so badly!" She shouted at him.
"I will." He took his Expired Light out and brought it down towards Dark's back. The next moments happened in a blur, Dark's foot kicked up, sending Doran's Halberd up and into Doran's hands, and Dark had grabbed his blade and buried it into the male's chest killing him and spitting something out into the eye of the one holding Sienna, she took the chance and broke out of the hold, attacking the ones holding Lea and Rocky. Dark and his party moved into the middle of the remaining 4 Demise members.
"How did you survive the pill!?" The female demanded.
I smiled "When Doran hit me, the pill, which wasn't in my stomach yet, came back into my mouth, I fell hoping it would convince you. I used the pill to free Sienna and now here we are. A fair fight."
"You still can't defeat us!" Her sword started glowing "Being Of Eternal Darkness, Come Into The World Of The Light, And Destroy My Foes!" The dark glow around her sword went around her and wrapped around her, and started moving around her.
"You 4, take the other demise members down, let me finish them so your makers don't turn red. I'll hold this...thing off." They attacked the other Demise members and I drank a potion, as the darkness took shape around the Demise member's body. The darkness expended until a 20 foot giant holding two Curved blades stood before me. I had no chance to beat this myself...but I had to hold it off. It swung one of the giant swords at me and I held my shield hoping to stop it, as the sword hit I felt my feet sink into the ground and I heard something crack. I moved back and checked the shield, the scales in the middle were broken. I couldn't switch to dread armor now...and besides I would be too slow to fight this thing. It stepped forward and I felt the ground shake, it's heavier then it looks. I focused my energy "Cutting Edge!" I shot the wave and it hit where I expected it's face was in that mess of shadows, but it didn't even notice. It swung it's sword again and I jumped to the side to avoid it, but before I could get up the other sword came down, I used my shield again and it cracked again. I ran behind the thing so it would have to turn to attack me. I looked at the shield and a huge crack was going down the middle of it. I took a quick look at the others and saw they had taken 2 members down, but the last one was stronger. I move backed up as the thing turned and I make lines in the ground, one behind the other, making a 10 layered barrier. As it swung it's sword I stabbed into the ground "Barrier!" The force fields came out of the ground, and as the sword collided all 10 of the barriers shattered and I got blasted back, sword in hand.
"Can nothing stop this...?" I asked myself quietly. It rose it's sword and as it came down, I dodged and like I expected the other one came down towards me, I moved again and when the sword hit the ground I ran up it. As I reached the top I jumped and stabbed my sword into the darkness of it's body but my sword went through it! I ran back down the blade, and jumped to the ground. I can't even hurt this thing! As it pulled it's swords out of the ground I was looking for weak points, but none were found. Lea, Sienna, Rocky and Doran came up beside me.
"You took the Demise members down?" I ask looking at the monster in front of us.
"Yes. They're not dead." Doran told me.
"Good."
"Any luck with this thing?" Sienna asked.
"None. My sword goes through without doing damage, my skills have no effect, not to mention this thing has no health bar...I think this is an immortal creature."
"There has to be someway to beat it..." Lea said.
"There isn't a-Move!" I shout as the sword starts to come down. Everyone moved in time. "As I was saying there isn't a way to defeat this thing...I don't know what else to do."
"We have to try everything!" Doran shouted.
"I know!" I shouted back.
The monster swung the sword at me and I rose my shield again, knowing I wasn't fast enough to avoid it. The sword smashed into my shield, I heard a crack again and my shield shattered! The sword got through my shield and hit my arm, cutting it from the wrist to the shoulder.
"Are you all right?" Lea and Sienna asked at the same time.
I rolled away when the blade lifted up "I've been better!"
The monster let out a mix between a howl and a laugh as it threw a black orb in the middle of us. We hesitated, not knowing what to expect, then the orb let out one high pitched noise and then it exploded, sending us in different directions. I smashed into a tree and fell to the ground. I stayed on the ground for a moment before getting up, I looked up and saw Doran and Lea pulling themselves up, wait...where was Sienna? I stood up and looked.
"Lea, Doran, where's Sienna?" They looked around and they shrugged. I saw the monster not watching us but at a different direction. I ran to a spot so I could see where it was looking. I saw Sienna trying to get her foot out from out a fallen tree...must have fallen from the monsters attack. The monster rose it's sword, I ran hoping to get Sienna away before the sword came crashing down. I got over there and tried to push the tree off.
"Dark, move, You're gonna get hit too!"
"I don't care, I need to help you!" The sword started coming down.
"Dark!" I turned and rose my blade, the blades collided and I felt the strain it put on mine.
"Doran, get over here now and free Sienna!" He obeyed quickly and got the tree off and him and Sienna moved.
"Dark you have to move now!" Doran said.
I was still holding the monsters blade back, as it lifted it, I ran towards them, but the other blade was coming from behind. I turned and got ready to block it, the swords collided and I felt something and knew I made a mistake trying to block it, just like my shield my sword also broke and I got sent flying from the impact. Doran manages to catch me, but he get's pushed back too.
"Thanks." I say as he puts me back on my feet "I'm completely defenceless right now. We have to retreat!"
As I say that the monster rises it's sword and then the darkness disperses. The female Demise member was no where to be seen.
"What...just happened...?" I ask
"I don't know..."Sienna responded.
"Maybe it was a timed skill." Lea said.
"So it's over just like that?" Doran asked completely confused.
I hear a sound from behind "Not yet." I open my inventory and pull out the Expired Light, I hate using this blade but I have no choice. I finish the three Demise members.
I walk back to the group "We'll finished for the day...Let's head home." I say walking towards the exit of the forest.
By the time we return it's night time out. We get inside and we all head to our rooms. Once I get in mine I check out the wound I received on my arm. It stung a lot, but it wasn't poisonous or anything, so that means I'm safe. I have no blade and no shield...I lost the Lizard Scale Shield and the Dragon's Fury sword, one rare monster item and one boss item. I still have the Dread Shield from the set, but I have no blade except a dagger, I would have to buy one tomorrow. I decided I should try and get to sleep. I just sat on my bed as someone knocked at my door.
"Come in." The door opened and Sienna walked in
"Dark." She seemed serious.
"What can I help you with?"
"I have a question for you and I want an honest answer from you. Can you give me that?"
"It depends on the-"
"Yes or no, Dark?" Very serious indeed.
"All right. Yes I'll give you an honest answer." What was she going to ask?
"I asked before, and I know you lied. Why did you go through so much to protect me on the 19th floor from the Demise member, on this floor from Zero and then today from that monster, why do you push yourself and risk your life whenever I'm in danger. Honest answer."
That question...I should have expected this "The answer to that is well..." How to I answer this...I told myself I would keep my feelings hidden "I told you, because you-"
"Dark!" She pretty much shouted "Either give me an honest answer or don't, make up your mind!"
How do I tell her that I...like her...dammit.
"Fine, forget it!" She said angrily, walking towards the door.
"Wait...I'll tell you." She turned to me "The reason is because...I..." I've always been awkward with this subject...how do I tell her?
"Because you like me?" She said
I felt my cheeks go a red, hoping she couldn't see in the dim light, she said that so easily.
I feel my voice abandon me but I manage a small "Exactly."
The room goes completely silent, neither of us says anything for a while. Then she walks closer and I look up at her.
"How long?" She asked
"What?"
"How long have you liked me for?"
I feel my cheeks go a little red "I'm not exactly sure. I was denying it until the night we got to this floor...but I know it's been a while."
She smiles a little at that "Do you want to know how I feel about it?"
I nod "Yes."
She leans forward and gives me a small kiss "I feel the same." She gets up and walks out of the room. I sit there stunned and surprised, but happy.
"She really said that." I smiled "Our feelings, personalities, looks, everything about us is real." I say remembering what Doran had said to me this morning.
"Looks as though there is some truth to what he said." I lie on my bed and fall into an easy sleep.
Chapter 14 Offline
If you find parts of this story a little, badly written, then I'm sorry but I wrote most of the middle of this chapter at 4:30-5:00 in the morning.