Hello everyone! How are you all today? I've had better days, but that's not something that's really important. I've been really busy lately between scholarship applications, college work, relationships, and track, so I might have to slow my pace on these chapters a bit, sorry. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
-Floor 35-
"Where should we even start looking for him at?" Klein asked.
"And why is it so cold here?" Chosaint asked as he walked along with the rest of the group through the snow covered forest.
"Because of the event." Ruhe replied.
"So because they programmed a random event, they cover everything with snow?" Chosaint asked.
"Well, it's far from a random event." Klein replied.
"What do you mean?" The Purple Blur asked.
"Don't tell me you forgot." The scarlet haired girl said as she held a hand up over her forehead.
"Forgot what?" Her boyfriend replied.
"Yep, he forgot." Dale said.
"So much for me getting anything nice." Klein added.
"You? I'm his girlfriend. I'm not getting anything nice this year."
"Would someone tell me what's going on?" Chosaint asked, slightly irritated.
"It's Christmas Eve." Ruhe said, hand still on her forehead.
Chosaint paused for a second, before saying, "No it isn't."
"Actually, you're right Chosaint. We're all just lying to you. You figured out the joke. The fact the boss is named NICOLAS the Renegade has nothing to do with anything. It's all just one big coincidence." Klein said, sarcasm heavy in his voice.
"Is it really Christmas Eve?" The clueless teen said.
"I thought you understood sarcasm." Ruhe replied.
"Oh… well then… Hey Ruhe." The dirty blonde said.
"Ya?" She replied.
"I might be a bit late on the Christmas present this year."
"I figured you would be." She replied.
"Anyways, why are you complaining about the snow? I thought you liked the snow." Dynamm asked.
"I do, but I just didn't expect there to be this much of it." Chosaint said. "And I like the cold, but it's freezing out here. I'm actually missing floor 4."
"That's something I never thought I'd hear." His girlfriend said.
"And don't expect to hear it again." He replied.
"Anyways, we still don't know where to even find Kirito. He can literally be anywhere." Klein said.
"I'm pretty sure going towards that giant tree might be a good idea." Chosaint said as they group walked through a weird barrier that cast a bright light around them.
As the guild walked through, they found themselves in a small clearing. "Well, that was lucky." Ruhe said. Why? Because standing in front of them was none other than Kirito.
"What's up?" Klein asked the Black Swordsman.
"You followed me?"
"Of course, you're after the revival item, aren't ya?" The guild leader replied.
"Well, we actually got kind lucky, but ya, we've been hunting you." Chosaint added.
"Ya, I'm after the revival item." Kirito replied.
"Don't risk your life over what might be a bogus rumor." The red haired teen said.
"For once, I agree with Klein, this isn't a good idea." Ruhe said. "We don't even know how this item works or anything."
Kirito didn't replied, so Klein continued to talk. "This death game is for real." He said. "The moment our HP drops to zero, our brains in the real world-"
"Shut up." Kirito said, cutting him off.
"Well, I kinda expected that." The agility type said.
"Enough with your reckless solo raids! Come on, join up with us. Whoever gets it to drop the revival item gets to keep it, no hard feelings. That should be fair, right?" Klein said.
"Or just let us help you." Ruhe added.
"You can have the thing for all I care. I'd rather let you have it and see you alive then fight over the thing and let you get yourself killed." Her boyfriend agreed.
"So, just party up with us and let us help you." The girl said.
"Then there'd be no point." The black haired teen said, as he began reaching for his sword. "I have to do this, on my own." He said as he grabbed onto the blade's hilt, startling everyone. However, Klein held out an arm, signaling for them to stand down.
"Think about what you're doing here Kirito, that's suicide! And I can't let you die like that!" The guild leader said.
"Klein's right, just put this whole solo thing away for once! You're going to get yourself killed!" Chosaint agreed.
"Please, just let us help." The girl said, caringly.
Kirito raised is sword out of its holder only slightly, before the sounds of more players arriving through the barrier filled the area and lights surrounded the Fuurinkazan. The guild quickly formed a circle and prepared for the worst.
As players wearing matching armor appeared out of the blinding light, the Fuurinkazan formed a protective half circle around the Black Swordsman, whose hand still rested on his blade's hilt. "I guess you were being followed too, huh Klein?" Kirito said.
"It sure looks that way." Klein replied as he gripped his katana. The other players who had joined them all already had their weapons drawn and were ready for a fight.
"Who are these people?" Ruhe asked, her shield raised and her sword at the ready.
"They're a guild called the Holy Dragon Alliance." Chosaint answered.
"They'll do anything for a rare item, no matter how shady." Kirito added.
"Basically, they aren't good people." The Purple Blur said.
"What do we do?" Dale asked.
"You bastards." Kirito said, more to himself than anyone.
Klein then drew his weapon and prepared himself for a fight. "Screw these guys! Get out of here Kirito!" He said.
"No way." Kirito replied.
"Oh, now you want to fight with us, huh?" Chosaint asked.
"Leave them to us, we'll hold them off. Get going." Klein replied.
Kirito didn't move for a second, until Ruhe turned around and looked at him. "Don't worry, we can handle this." She said. "Go."
Kirito gritted his teeth, but released his grip on his blade and began to run from the fight.
"Well, I'd really not prefer to kill any of you, but I guess you'll determine what happens here." The dirty blonde said, seriously.
"No, you won't be killing anyone." Klein replied.
"If worst come to worst-"
"No, go with Kirito, he'll need your help more than we will." The guild leader said.
"Are you sure?" Ruhe asked.
"Positive, go make sure he's safe." The red haired player said.
The couple then returned their weapons into their sheaths, before running off in the direction Kirito left. Ruhe glanced behind her as they ran and saw her guild mates crouch down slightly, ready for the fight that was about to erupt.
"Where are we going?" Chosaint yelled out as he ran a few yards behind Kirito, his girlfriend close to him.
"That giant tree." Kirito called back, not slowing his pace.
"Why?" Ruhe asked.
"Do you have a better idea?" The Black Swordsman asked.
"Not really." She answered.
"Then it looks like we're following him." Chosaint replied.
The trio continued to run across the snow covered ground. The only sound that filled the air between the three of them was their heavy breathing as the sprinted towards the giant tree in front of them. However, Ruhe noticed someone move across a small break in the trees to their right. "We're being followed." She said quietly to her boyfriend.
"By who?" He responded.
"I don't know, I saw something move to our right."
"Could it have been a monster?"
"No, it was a human figure and was moving too quickly."
"Alright, just watch out for any attacks." He replied.
"Shouldn't we tell Kirito?"
"No, he'll want to fight them."
"And we shouldn't fight them?"
"It'll slow us down. We need to just keep moving forward and watch out for ambushes. Plus, Kirito can handle himself if we do get surprised."
"Alright." Ruhe said as the group carried on.
Now on alert, Chosaint scanned the forest around him for any sign of something moving. However, he never saw anything. "Whoever's following us, they know what they're doing." He thought to himself as he continued to run.
Time continued to pass and the tree grew bigger and bigger as they closed in on it. The dirty blonde still saw nothing move through the forest around him, growing the seed of doubt that Ruhe had in fact saw anything. "Are you sure you saw something?" He asked his girlfriend.
"I'm-" The girl began saying, before Chosaint saw a blur move into a tree on their right and begin to pounce on the group.
"Get down!" Chosaint yelled out as he pushed down on his girlfriend's shoulder, causing her to drop to the ground, right before he launched himself at Kirito, tackling the other player.
As the two teens fell to the ground, Chosaint felt the wind move above him, letting him know that something had passed over where the black haired teen was only a moment ago.
The agility type rolled as he hit the ground and quickly returned to his feet. Kirito had a much less graceful fall as he landed face down in the snow.
Chosaint drew his dagger and held it in a reverse grip, before spinning to face the attacker. As soon as he did though, he really wished they had just kept running, despite him knowing that running would've just ended up killing them.
"You still haven't lost your edge." The attacker said as Ruhe returned to her feet and drew her sword and shield, knowing exactly who stood in front of her.
"Did you expect me to?" Chosaint replied.
"No, not really." The pale and unmasked Asashin replied.
"I see you've lost the mask."
"It served its purpose at first, but people began to recognize it. It just wasn't worth wearing anymore. Plus, do you realize how hot it gets in there?"
"Do you know this guy?" Kirito asked Chosaint, his hand gripping his weapon.
"Would you believe me if I said no?"
"Not at this point." The Black Swordsman answered.
Ruhe managed to maneuver herself next to her boyfriend and asked, "What do we do?"
"Why, we fight, of course!" The psychopath replied.
"I don't think that's a course you want to follow." Kirito said as he drew his blade.
"No, Kirito, let me handle him." Chosaint said.
"Why? I'm sure he's nothing." The Black Swordsman replied.
"Nothing?" Asashin scoffed. "You're looking at the most dangerous player in this game. I've racked up more player kills than anyone else!"
"So, you're the infamous Asashin." The black haired player said.
"Guilty as charged, Black Swordsman." The psyco said.
"You two go after the revival item, I can hold my own against him." The purple clad teen said.
"Chosaint, you still haven't fully recovered from your break in leveling, he's probably a higher level than you. Let's just take him on together." Ruhe said.
"If we do that someone else will get the item before we can." Kirito said.
"Exactly and the boss is probably stronger than him, so you two should go fight the boss while I hold him off." Chosaint replied.
"We can't just-" Ruhe began to say, before being cut off.
"Lucy, just go." Aiden said, no longer caring about using her real name.
"Aiden." She said, somewhat sadly.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." He replied, before giving her a quick kiss. "Now go and get into that fight before someone else does."
The girl simply nodded to her boyfriend. "Let's go." She said, as she began to run off towards the big tree. Kirito looked from the girl, back to her boyfriend, and then back to the girl, before sighing and chasing after her.
"How very noble for you to die while your friend tries to save his friend." Asashin said with a cocky grin.
"I'd ask why you're here, but I have a feeling that I already know the answer."
"Oh, do you?" Asashin asked, anger staining his voice. "Please, enlighten me to why I'm here?"
"You want the revival item, just like everyone else, don't you?"
"Oh look! The damn inspector solved the biggest riddle in the world! For all your hard work, I'm going to give you a shiny medal and a pay raise!" The evil teen said sarcastically. "Of course I want the revival item! You just let Chimei die and I'm going to change all of that and get my friend back!"
"Asashin, you're chasing shadows, we both know that." Chosaint said sadly.
"Aren't we all? Your helping your friend chase his own shadow, aren't you?"
"Unfortunately."
"Then what's so different about me doing it?"
"Because look at yourself!" Chosaint said. "You're a monster, we both know you are. That's why you wore a mask, because you couldn't stand looking at the monster you've become, but now… now you've accepted it, haven't you?"
Asashin grinned a murderous grin and said, "Your exactly right, Aiden. I am a monster, but maybe, just maybe I can go back to what I was before all of this, before I became… this" Asashin said, losing the smile as he spoke.
"Do you really think you could? You have so much blood on your hands, you can't just turn away from that." Aiden replied, a mix of pity and sympathy in his voice. The adrenaline seemingly fading from his body.
"Honestly, I don't even know anymore." The psychopath admitted.
"Asashin-"
"Don't call me that anymore." He said, cutting the other teen off.
"Then what should I call you?" Chosaint asked.
"Zan, my name is Zan." Asashin said.
"Zan, do you really think that Chimei would be proud of what you've become?"
"No, I know he wouldn't." The murderer said, sadly. "But that doesn't matter. I'm getting that revival item and I'm bringing him back."
"Come on, we both know that item isn't going to do anything. It can't bring the dead back to life."
"It doesn't matter what logic says, if there's a chance, even a small one, I'm going to take it." Zan said. "And I'm not letting anyone stand in my way."
"Is that how you want to end this?" Aiden asked, drawing his weapon in front of himself, defensively.
"Yes, it is."
"Zan, I know there's good in you, don't make me fight you."
"We both know that good died along with Chimei. It's gone now and nothing but sadness and hate is left."
Aiden sighed and said, "I understand. Just turn yourself in then. Stop hurting innocent people."
"No, I can't." Zan said. "I can't explain it, but seeing the suffering, the misery of others, it makes me feel… better in a way. It's strange, but it helps, and I don't intend on letting go of my one source of happiness in this world."
"So that's how it's going to be?"
"Looks like it."
Aiden shook his head in disappointment and said, "I think in another world, we could've been friends."
"I do too, but I also think in another world, our roles would be reversed here. I wish you could only understand my point of view."
"I kind of do too."
Zan activated his Quick Strike skill and rocketed towards Aiden. The good teen dodged to the right, just as his opponent expected. Right now, Aiden wasn't the target, the revival item was. Zan carried his momentum and continued to sprint past Aiden and towards the giant tree.
Aiden turned and sprinted behind his enemy, but his pursuit was pointless. Zan was too quick for him and slowly, the killer ran further and further into the distance. Aiden knew he was helpless in the matter and only hoped that Kirito and Ruhe would be able to kill the boss before Zan got there or be able to defend themselves.
Kirito and Ruhe slowed their pace down to a jog and then to a walk as they reached the tree, which they could both now see was illuminated from the inside.
"So this is it, huh?" Ruhe asked.
"Yep." Kirito replied simply. They both remained silent as the sound of the snow crunching under their shoes filled the air. All was silent for only a few moments, until the sound of bells chiming filled the air. Close behind was the sound of jingle bells, the ones that'd you'd expect to find on a sleigh.
Kirito looked up into the air, drawing Ruhe's attention towards the sky as he did. She saw two bright blue streaks break through the darkness of the night sky.
A large red object then appeared in the sky and was plummeting towards them. The object slammed into the ground, kicking up the freshly fallen snow and turning it into a tidal wave. Ruhe turned her back on the powdery onslaught, while Kirito simply raised an arm to protect his eyes.
A gigantic, zombie version of Santa Clause stood before the girl as she turned to look at it once again. The boss's joints creaked and popped with every movement as the monster's name and four health bars were displayed for the first time.
"Are you ready?" Kirito asked as he drew his sword.
"Would it matter if I said no?"
"Not anymore." He replied, before charging in with a battle cry.
As Chosaint ran, he finally saw Kirito, Ruhe, and Zan all standing together under the illuminated tree. "Ten seconds?" Zan asked as Chosaint joined the group. The new comer picked up on a large amount of disappointment in his voice. He also noticed that Ruhe had her weapon drawn, while Zan and Kirito didn't.
"Ten seconds, that's it." Kirito replied, disappointment in his voice as well.
"What about ten seconds?" Chosaint asked.
"That's how long you have to administer the revival item to someone." Ruhe answered.
"That's all?" The Purple Blur asked.
"Yep." The Black Swordsman replied.
"I knew it was too good to be true." Zan said, before turning his back on the other three and beginning to walk away.
Ruhe was about to chase after him, but Chosaint stopped her. "He's broken. Just let him be."
"You're just going to let a killer walk away?" She asked.
"We aren't fast enough to catch him anyways." Chosaint replied. "We'd be wasting our time."
"Hey, Chosaint." Kirito said, drawing his friend's attention. Kirito then tossed him a blue gem that was trimmed with gold. "If you ever see someone die in front of you, use it." Kirito said, his voice void of emotion. "I'll see ya around." He said as he began to walk away as well.
"Kirito." Ruhe said, sadness deep in her voice. The teen stopped, but didn't turn around. "Please, stay alive. We need you here, all of us." She said.
Kirito didn't say anything, he simply walked away.
"Come on, let's go." Chosaint said to his girlfriend. "Let's go break the bad news to Klein."
She nodded in response and linked her hand into his as they began to walk away. "Looks like youwere right." She said.
"Right about what?"
"About this item. It was too good to be true. Everyone just got their hopes up for nothing."
"I guess I was, but maybe we'll be able to do some good with it one day."
"I hope we never have to."
"Me too."
"Aiden." The girl said.
"Ya?"
"Thank you." She said.
"For what?"
"For being here, with me."
"Lucy." Aiden replied.
"Ya?"
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For dragging you into this world with me." He answered.
"It's not your fault." She replied. "I know you think it is, but it isn't. And I'd much rather be in here than out in the real world worrying about you."
"I know."
And that's that. Shout out to anyone who can figure out the meaning behind Zan's name. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Like I said, I might have to slow down on how quickly I can write new chapters just cause of life and everything getting in the way. So don't forget to send me a PM and leave a review. I'll see you next time. Bye!
