53
March 15th, 2023
Floor 26, Runica Village
Brushing the thick, rich fabric of his new officer's cape back from where it had come to rest over his shoulder, Jae felt the soft, blue thread wool trail down behind him until it almost touched the top of his boots. He had never been one for capes, but even he had to admit that it gave him a more composed, commanding appearance. Besides, it was mandatory for all officers in the Holy Dragon Alliance to wear the cape as as a mark of their status. The stats of the item were also surprisingly good.
With his right arm now freed, Jae deliberately allowed his hand to rest on the map strewn table before him, leaning in to further declare his intention to speak. All around him, the talking continued unabated. There were nearly fifty players crowded into the small Town Hall building, all straining to be heard amidst the clamor of raised voices and heated debates. On his immediate left and right stood his fellow officers, men of HDA who wore their capes with pride, and Avari leading as acting commander in Lind's absence. Vivienne stood to his right. She too, had been awarded an officership on the same day as Jae, for it was largely through her iron resolve and bravery that his plan had succeeded against the two-headed giant.
Among those closest to the table he saw Klein, the red armored katana wielder who was leader of a newly formed, closed guild he had named Fuurinkazan. From what Jae had heard, Klein's men were friends from the real world who had partied up until they were strong enough to join the Assault Team and make their guild.
Beside Klein, there were at least two dozen other small guild or party leaders, all commanding players on the Assault Team. Behind the ring of leaders stood around twenty solo players, the black garbed Kirito among them. Jae didn't completely trust the teenager; he well remembered the events back on Floor One that had led to Diavel's death, and Kirito's part in it that the young man never denied. At the same time however, Jae had witnessed first hand Kirito's bravery during the Boss fights of other Floors. During the confusion of the Floor Two Boss fights, in particular, Kirito had helped save Jae, Israel, and dozens of other stunned players, along with the help of the powerful swordswoman, Asuna.
Kirito was silent, as ever, along with the majority of the other solo players gathered. They were outcasts, players without friends or the desire to have them. Jae knew that the only reason they had shown up was to discuss the next plan on how to beat the Field Boss guarding the entrance to the Labyrinth of the new Floor. Many among them looked agitated, even doubtful, but that came as no surprise.
Ever since the disaster that had been the Floor Twenty Five Boss raid, the staggering casualty list, coupled with the loss of the Aincrad Liberation Army from the Assault Team, had brought the frontline progress to a screeching halt. The news had spread like wildfire, and before the day was out, newspapers had been published by those info brokers that peddled in gossip. Over the course of the next week, dozens of players quit the Assault Team, unwilling to continue risking their lives when the two strongest guilds had been crippled and one of them had even withdrawn entirely from the war effort.
Jae didn't blame them their fears, but he did find it unfair to the rest of the player base. As the strongest, most capable players, it was their duty to continue beating the game for the sake of everyone still alive. If they didn't have the courage to see it through, who would? Abandoning the mission just because it suddenly got harder was both irresponsible and cowardly. Even the players that still fought on were dubious and hesitant, to say the least. In fact, Jae could almost see in their eyes that many were on the verge of giving up. He felt cold anger flush through him at their unwillingness to go through hard times. More than that, though, he felt worry. If the quickly fanned flame of fear spread any worse, the entire Assault Team might crumble into ash in it's wake.
The only player who seemed to notice his gesture was Vivienne.
Without a single word, the woman raised an arm and pounded a fist on the table. Hard.
The table shook with a loud bang as her fist slammed home. The cacophony of voices paused as the players looked over in surprise at the source of the noise.
Jae cleared his throat. "All this arguing isn't going to get us anywhere. We need to think of the solution, not the problem."
One of his fellow officers standing behind and to the right laughed derisively.
"You get that quote from a movie?"
"A book, actually."
Another player in green armor crossed his arms as he spoke up. Jae vaguely recognized him. The man had a thin mustache and wielded a short sword similar to a Roman Gladius alongside a javelin Roman soldiers often carried. The party he commanded all seemed to possess some kind of Roman admiration, for each of them bore some kind of Romanized weapon, and several even customized their armor to appear like that of a legionary.
"What solution would you propose then, Hero of Floor Twenty-Five? The Field Boss is in too narrow a valley to effectively be fought, and with the Labyrinth at it's back, we would never be able to surround it. On top of that, it's got powerful AoE skills made to fight off a potential Assault Team just our size. "
Jae pointed a gloved finger at the spot on the map where the battle would have to take place.
"It's only too narrow if we go in altogether, like we've done in the past. That valley can't hold the entire Assault Team, not by a longshot. Just as you said."
The man frowned. Other players also looked at each other in puzzlement before focusing back on Jae's determined gaze.
"What exactly are you suggesting?" A solo player asked loudly from further back among the ranks of players.
Jae tapped the spot on the map. "That we send only one small party in to fight it. Maybe two, if we can fit them. But no more."
Protests erupted throughout the room. Multiple players threw up their hands in disbelief at what they had just heard. Jae did see, though, that many remained silent and calm as they waited to see if he would clarify. He had gained something of a celebrity status among these players, and they didn't want to brush him aside so easily.
"Forgive us, Jae," Klein spoke up as he spread his hands. "But we're not all Heroes who can outwit Floor Bosses at every turn like you." He smiled, and Jae could tell he wasn't being sarcastic. On the contrary, he appeared quite sincere. "The Field Bosses aren't nearly as threatening as the Floor ones are, I'll grant you that. But in the past it's always taken at least a thirty to forty man group. Sometimes more. And after the difficulty increase from Floor Twenty-Five, it would be foolish of us to expect an easy fight."
Dozens of players nodded their heads in agreement.
"We can't be expected to isolate a party and send them to their deaths."
Jae pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger as he tried to be patient. These people were worried, and had every right to be.
"We won't sending anyone to their deaths." Jae said loudly so that all could hear. "And we won't be isolating anyone either. We just need to make it think we are."
There was a pause as several players blinked. Vivienne leaned forward, her polished silver and blue armor gleaming. "A trap?"
Jae smiled at her as he nodded. "A trap."
Avari shook her head, her massive two handed greatsword shifting slightly in the sheath at her back. The Senior Officer pointed at the map.
"The area is too narrow for such a thing. There's barely enough space for six or seven players to walk abreast. The monster would easily be able to see and target anyone we tried to send around it while the diversion party held it off."
"That's not what I had in mind." Jae glanced in her direction as he spoke, allowing his finger to guide her eyes to the spot he had already selected in his mind.
"We won't be trying to funnel men around it in order to position a trap. We'll be drawing it into an ambush already premade."
Some of the players leaned in curiously. He looked around once to be sure everyone was paying attention, then continued.
"The valley is wider near the mouth. The deeper we go to reach the Labyrinth, the more narrow it becomes. The party we send in, made up entirely of tanks-"
"Just tanks?" Someone asked in surprise. "No DPS? No reservists?"
"Just tanks." Jae affirmed as he continued, looking at the map. "A small party of tanks with overlapping defense can take whatever the Field Boss throws at them, at least for a while. As soon they have it's full attention, they will withdraw back to the mouth of the valley." He looked up purposefully at the faces watching him. "Where the rest of us will be waiting."
He gestured at the area.
"It's a relatively short distance back out, so it won't take them long. Once the Boss is beyond the protection of the encircling cliffs, The entire Assault Team attacks from the left, here-" He pointed. "On the right- here." He pointed again. "And finally from the front, where the hills and trees will block its vision of them until it's too late. Field Bosses don't have much armor or defense, and from what we've already learned from the info brokers, this one is no different in that regard. With all of our strongest players attacking at once, it will be dead before it realizes what happened. Just to ensure a quick victory, everyone should coat their swords with a potion of Brunen Dust."
"Brunen Dust?" Someone asked.
"Yes..." Vivienne muttered in comprehension as she nodded to the players around them. "Brunen Dust temporarily increases Elemental Earth Damage. The Field Boss is a Mountain Giant made of rocks-earth."
"Exactly." Jae said as he straightened.
"And where would we get so many bottles of Brunen Dust?" Avari exclaimed. "Elemental Damage potions are expensive and rare."
Jae shrugged. "Everyone will buy their own. In winning any battle, there is a price."
Klein chuckled. "Another book?"
Jae smiled sadly at the man. "Nope. Just something an old friend once told me."
It had been Israel who had told him that.
There was silence for a few moments as the players gathered around considered his plan. Jae watched as their faces registered their conclusions: some looked ready to go forward as they nodded his way, but many more looked troubled in their thoughts.
Vivienne straightened as she let a hand rest on the pommel of her saber.
"I think it'll work. I'm with Jae on this."
Several other Holy Dragon Alliance officers voiced their agreement. The rest, however, looked angered. Avari among them.
"You can't put lives at risk as carelessly as if they were merely puppets," the Senior Officer said from under her bangs. "Those tanks you want to use as bait will be real people, with real lives."
Jae looked at her. "I'll go with them. Someone will need to give me a shield though."
Avari scowled. "It doesn't matter if you have a shield or not. You're not a tank. You don't have the right stats for the job, or the gear."
"As I told Vivienne, you, and Lind when I first joined this guild, I've worked hard to keep my defensive and offensive capabilities balanced since the beginning. I may not be the shining example of the tank class, but I believe I can at least get the job done. If my volunteering will aid in this plan, I'm in."
"I'll volunteer as well." Vivienne said. "I know I'm not a tank, but if I switch gear with my best one, Meifan, and take some resistance potions-"
"This is foolishness." Avari snapped, waving away the notion. "The plan is too dangerous enough as is, and now you want to substitute the wrong builds for what would have to be the heaviest tanks we have? I'll not hear of it."
"I'm with your Senior Officer on this one," Klein said apologetically. "It's a good plan, but it's just too dangerous for the people we would need to use as bait. For all we know, the Boss could have an armor piercing skill we don't know about and cut you all to pieces for nothing."
Jae ran his fingers through his hair. "I understand your concerns, but if such a thing was true, the info brokers would have found out by now and told us. They would never allow an opportunity to make extra cash like that slip away. We would have heard about it and be standing here grumbling about the price."
Another player shrugged. "The info brokers have been unable to find things out on time before. They aren't perfect."
Jae couldn't argue with that, but he still felt like this was the best way.
"True enough, but-"
"The plan's no good, alright?" An angry looking man named Osman shouted at him. Jae knew that he commanded a small guild of players who had recently levelled up enough to join the Assault Team. Of course, that had been before the Floor Twenty-Five incident.
"Stop acting like you know so much more than the rest of us!" Osman continued. "You win a few fights by acting brazen and impulsive, risking the lives of the players under your command, and now you think you're some kind of Napoleon or something? You're just a player, and you would do well to remember that."
"Who are you to talk?" Another man said angrily at Osman. "Some upjumped guild leader who thinks he's the next Lind when all he's done is lag behind and desperately try to level up just to reach the point where the rest of the Assault Team is? Remind me again, how many battles have you taken part of here on the frontlines?"
Another player nodded in agreement when Osman fumbled for words. "You haven't proven yourself. Jae has saved lives. Jae has risked his own life many times. I know we've all seen it! He's the one who saved the Massacre of Floor Twenty-Five from completely crushing the Assault Team as we know it!"
"The Hero of Floor Twenty-Five!" Someone else shouted.
Several others took up the chant until nearly half the room was repeating the phrase and thereby throwing in their lot with Jae's plan, but they were just as quickly opposed by angry shouts from the other half of the room as players denounced either Jae or his plan, or both.
"Quiet! Quiet!" People began to shout, though the din only lessened by a small increment.
"Where is Lind?" The green armored player asked Avari. "Without him and Kibaou here, we'll never come up with a decision!"
"Where's Lind?" Someone next to him asked. Before long, others overheard the question.
"Where is Lind?"
"Has he abandoned us like Kibaou?"
"Is Lind afraid to keep fighting?"
Avari bellowed at them for silence.
"Lind is doing what he always has been: leading my guild and directing the Assault Team!"
"Then where is he?" Osman asked. "Why is he not here at the head of his officers?"
Jae glanced over at Avari, curious as to how she would respond.
"Lind now commands the largest guild, what with the ALA losing a third of their men on Floor Twenty-Five. With such responsibility to ensure the wellbeing and success of the Holy Dragon Alliance, he cannot always be here attending strategy meetings. He is back at HQ, attending to vital affairs on behalf of the guild I serve."
"What affairs?" Someone shouted.
Avari looked ready to explode, but kept herself in check.
"Nothing that would concern those who know nothing of Lind, the HDA, or leading." She said through gritted teeth.
"Sounds to me like he's turned coward!" Came a voice from among the solo players, but Jae couldn't identify the source.
The accusation nearly started a brawl as Jae's fellow officers, including Vivienne, took several aggressive steps forward in an effort to see who among the solo players had spoken, pushing people out of the way as they advanced. Though Jae didn't surge forward like the rest of them, it wasn't because he felt any less about Lind. It was because he knew they wouldn't find the culprit.
Before Avari could debate the words, another voice came from among the party leaders.
"And who can blame him? Without the ALA, and with so many dead on such a low Floor, how can we ever hope to beat this death game? We have no chance!"
The din quickly died down at the depressing words, and was met with sullen, withdrawn words of agreement or grim nods. An eery silence began to fill the room as players considered the truth of it.
Vivienne glanced to Jae, as if waiting for him to make some kind of inspiring speech to embolden the men gathered around them, but he had none. He wasn't an orator. That had always been Israel's talent. The irony of it struck him: that his brother, who had always possessed the true leadership qualities in the real world, was now off on his own doing god knew what while Jae, who had never once aspired to nor expected the role, had found himself completely and inescapably bound to it. Jae had no idea what to say to men pierced by worry and doubt. He knew though, that if the icy grip of fear took hold over these players now, there would be no more Assault Team. And that grip was about to tighten.
At that moment, the tall, well built double doors leading outside of the building opened forcefully. Sunlight poured into the artificially lit chamber but was quickly covered by the tall shadows of those who followed it in.
Turning, Jae saw five players march proudly across the hall, triumphantly closing the distance between them and the crowd gathered at the main table. The player in the center was tall, strong, and looked magnificently regal in his red plate armor that was framed with pure white, as if to identify the borders of each piece. A white cross stood emblazoned on his red chainmail skirt, fluttering lightly as he walked. His pure white cape billowed out around him as he strode forward proudly. His long grey hair was tied back in a single ponytail behind him, but a single, thick strand looked to have come undone and hung down over his face.
Two players walked on either side of the man, and each of them bore a color scheme that reversed the two colors the man in the center wore. Their armor shone white, a bright, pure hue that added to the lustre of the metal plates and discs. The borders of each piece of armor were red, as were the proud crosses on their own tunics. All the players, however, had the same white cloaks. Jae arched an eyebrow in surprise when he recognized Asuna, the beautiful chestnut haired girl with the deadly rapier, marching among them with the same white and red framed garb. All the players looked deadly serious, yet at the same time, happy and eager to announce their arrival.
"Good day, everyone." The tall man in the center spoke up in a voice that unmistakably marked him as the commander. "My name is Heathcliff."
Jae frowned. He had never heard of the man before.
"I recently created a new guild," He continued, his gaze watching them all as he smiled in businesslike manner, not unlike the kind of face Vivienne might make. "Created with the sole purpose of effectively aiding the Assault Team in the front lines. We are called the Knights of the Blood Oath. I am it's leader. Asuna, here, has accepted my request to become my second in command. These other men with me are our officers. At the moment, our guild is not very large. There only around thirty of us or so. This is because recruitment is closed to all but the most skilled members. If anyone here, in the Assault Team, wishes to join the new guild, you are free and more than welcome to do so. Consider the invitation open permanently." He glanced in Jae's direction. "Even to those already in a guild of their own, should they wish to leave it."
Clasping his hands behind his back, Heathcliff approached the table. The small crowd parted before him and the players standing by on either side who looked like bodyguards intent on protecting their leader with their very lives.
"Now then, would it be alright if I inquired as to our plan of action on this Field Boss blocking our way to the Labyrinth? I doubt it would make a very good first impression for my guild and I if we were ignorant of the course we shall all have to take."
"You're the leader of a new guild?" Avari asked after a moment of silence. "One that you just created to run the Assault Team?"
"It's called the Knights of the Blood Oath, yes. But have no fear, it was not created to run the Assault Team, nor to continue the rivalry that was so nearly disastrous for both the Holy Dragon Alliance and the Aincrad Liberation Army. We are merely here to help in whatever way we can."
Avari looked visibly concerned, even suspicious, but she said nothing more and instead opened her menu and began feverishly typing up a message. Jae had no doubt in his mind who it was for.
Heathcliff didn't seem to notice and instead kept moving until he stood beside Jae and Viviene, his red and white armor a stark contrast to their silver and blue. He smiled at Jae and extended a hand.
"It's an honor to meet the Hero of Floor Twenty-Five. Jae, right? You've accomplished some pretty amazing feats from what I heard."
Jae nodded self-consciously. "That's me. But that whole hero thing is really something of an exaggeration. At least half the credit should go to my friend Viv-"
He stopped when he saw her roll her eyes angrily.
"Anyway," He turned back to Heathcliff. "Thanks."
After shaking hands with one or two others, Heathcliff ended the niceties and went straight to business. He asked about the current plan of action, to which Jae and his supporters quickly explained his plan in detail. Throughout, Heathcliff remained relatively quiet, only pausing once to ask a question. When they had finished, he glanced around at players and must have felt the division in the room, for he then asked, "I'm guessing not everyone is on board with this?"
Avari, Klein, and many others quickly brought up their own points on how they thought the idea was too risky as far as the party of tanks used would be concerned. It was at this point that Asuna shook her head.
"Nonsense. We have tanks in our guild who could form a party for just such a purpose."
Heathcliffe nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, but the caution is not unwarranted. Such a task could potentially endanger lives, if past surprises as far as Bosses are concerned are anything to judge by. The mission is not a success unless everyone involved survives."
Klein scratched his jaw. "So you agree that Jae's plan must be abandoned in favor of a more promising one?"
Heathcliffe shook his head. "No. Jae's plan is the right one. At least, that's how it seems to me. I know which tanks would get the job done without breaking rank or panicking. I myself stand a tank and would be happy to lead the party through the valley. I propose a compromise."
Jae frowned at the tall, muscled man. "What do you mean?"
"Second in Command," Heathcliff said without turning away from the map. "Do you see what I see?"
Asuna nodded without hesitation as she pointed to the edge of the cliffs on either side of the valley about halfway between the Labyrinth entrance and the mouth leading back out into the plains. "The cliffs here are low hanging and could be easily scaled. Also, the valley is a little wider in this area. Not by much, but enough."
Jae strained his eyes as he looked at what she was talking about. She was right.
"By stationing small parties of high DPS players with the Brunen Dust Jae suggested coating their blades," She continued, "as well as hiding players in among the rocks where the valley opens up a little, we can stage the ambush nearly as effectively as we would have done in the open at the mouth of the valley. And cut the distance the party of tanks will need to withdraw in half."
Jae's eyes widened as he grasped the truth of the words. He was surprised that he hadn't thought to stage the ambush there. He hadn't given himself time to think it all through.
"It's a good plan." Jae said, turning to Asuna and Heathcliff. "And the perfect compromise."
The other players nodded in agreement. Even the sullen Kirito looked pleased.
"I'll relay the plan back to my men," Osman said without looking Jae in the eye. "Unless there's more we need to cover?"
Avari and some of the others shook their heads.
"I'd say that about wraps it up. We move at seven tonight. HDA officers," Avari turned on her heel and began heading for the door. "Let's head back to HQ."
...
"I told you Lind's absence would be noted poorly." Jae said to Avari's back as they walked through the dusty streets. "He should have listened to me. He should have come."
Avari rounded on him faster than he could breathe.
"Lind is busy with other matters, things far above your station." She jabbed a finger at his silver plate armor. "There are things a guild leader must do, tasks which will invariably occupy much of his time, to the point where he must choose what he can and can't see to in a single day. Such things are far beyond the mind of a simple member."
Vivienne stepped up closely. "Jae is no longer a simple member of our guild, nor is he seen as such. No matter what those with other opinions would have to say on the matter."
Avari scowled at her two officers once more before turning back around and continuing their line of march.
"Thanks." Jae whispered over as they walked together.
Vivienne offered a small smile before her expression turned more serious. "Don't take this badly. You should remember that it was because of Lind you've advanced this far this quickly. He saw the potential in you before I did."
He nodded, and Vivienne glided forward, taking up a space not far behind Avari.
Aranal suddenly appeared beside him.
"You two need to get a room already."
Jae pushed the big man away forcefully. "Shut up."
Chuckling as he regained his balance, Aranal gestured. "What? I know chemistry when I see it."
Chemistry, eh?" Jae chuckled. "Remember how she was when we met? We were ready to tear each other's heads off."
Aranal winked at him. "And now look how you two are. Teaming up on almost every issue. It's really quite cute."
Jae rolled his eyes. "Go throw yourself off a bridge."
Aranal laughed heartily. It was an infectious, warm laugh that couldn't be resisted for long. Soon, Jae found himself laughing right alongside his friend as they walked.
"Beautiful day, isn't it?" Aranal asked, closing his eyes as he basked purposefully in the sun's warmth. "Makes one ready to break into song."
Jae smirked at him. "And what songs did you have in mind?"
Aranal shrugged. "Times like these, only the best. I listen to bands that might be a little too old for you, though. Fall Out Boy, The Offspring, Linkin Park-"
"Love them all." Jae said defiantly. "In fact I bet I know their songs better than you do, old man."
Aranal frowned down at him. "Dude, I'm thirty-four."
"Come on then, which songs do you know?"
"Are you challenging me to a sing off?"
"You're damn right I am. Linkin Park. Let's go."
Aranal paused a moment, then began singing Numb, one of Jae's favorite songs from the band. Immediately, Jae took up the lyrics alongside Aranal, and before long, every officer in the HDA was staring at them. Jae didn't care, and just kept on singing.
After singing several songs, Aranal had to stop for breath. Jae laughed. The man was right, it was a beautiful day.
"I tried so hard, and got so far!" Aranal suddenly started singing. Jae nearly tripped. "But in the end, it doesn't even matter!"
Jae's eyes shimmered with sudden, unexpected tears. This was the song he and Israel had always declared to be their favorite. This was the song they had always sung together, in the car, on the road, even in Aincrad. The day suddenly wasn't so bright anymore.
"I had to fall, to lose it all!" Aranal continued, not noticing Jae's reaction. He felt guilty all of a sudden. Lonely. But more than either emotion, he missed his brother. He missed Israel.
I wish I knew where he was, how he is. I hope he's alright.
"But in the end, it doesn't even matter!"
