A/N:
Early post! Gonna be busy tomorrow so I figured I'd drop this sooner rather than later. Thanks again for the reviews! To answer a few of your questions…
tom476ty18; Glad you're enjoying the story so far! I'll be borrowing story elements from Alicization (as we've already seen by Alice and Eugeo's appearance) so I won't say any more on that note. Spoilers…
Lord Destroyer; You're not wrong; Silica pointing out the difference was more a point of specifying what kind of dragon it was, in my mind. All wyverns are dragons, but not all dragons are wyverns, etc. On a related note, it shouldn't come as a surprise when I say that, yes, Silica's 2nd familiar will be a poison wyvern.
Hollow Lives; Good question! How would I rate everyone's strength? In terms of raw strength and capability, here's my top 10 as of this moment:
1. Heathcliff - Whether or not you want to count him is entirely up to you, but even ignoring his GM authority, ((Holy Sword)) is a very powerful skill and he has an intimate knowledge on how everything works in SAO.
2. Kirito - ((Dual Blades)) gives him a distinct advantage when it comes to offense. His reaction time and knowledge of game mechanics makes him very dangerous.
3. Asuna - Even without a Unique Skill, she's no slouch. There's a reason she's called the Lightning Flash. She'd be able to outpace anybody lower on this list.
4. Leonn - ((Defiant Soul)) makes him a PvE powerhouse, provided he can keep a consistent rhythm and time his attacks right.
5. Klein - ((Battoujutsu)) is a skill that makes him more dangerous than you'd think. He's average in a prolonged fight, but he's capable of big bursts of damage at the onset.
6. Kuroi - The roleplaying ninja's a force to be reckoned with. Between her speed and her Unique Skill ((Shurikenjutsu)), she's not someone you want to ignore. Hell, she's literally killed people, so she's plenty strong.
7. Eugeo/Liz - This one's a tie because they're both capable fighters, but aren't as formidable as other entries on this list. Eugeo's still learning and growing as a swordsman and while Liz can fight, it's not her specialty.
8. Liten - Maybe not the strongest per se, but with all of that heavy armor, she's a wall second only to Heathcliff and Leonn in tanking capability.
9. Nautilus - Would be higher on this list if it weren't for his FNC. That's a pretty severe handicap that he's going to need to overcome somehow.
10. Sinon - In terms of strength and ability to dish out damage, she's higher on this list. The only reason she's so low here is because she can't contribute much if she's caught in melee. She's a niche fighter that shines when she can work in a group.
Don't agree with my assessment? Let me know how you would arrange your Top 10 in a review.
…It's not like I want you all to leave me reviews, baka!
"Just a little higher… higher… almost there. Now bring it down. There, that's it!"
Agil gave a thumbs up, squinting as he watched a crossbeam slot into place. The pulley attached to the beam slacked as Kirito and Geeou collapsed, exhausted from the ordeal of lifting the beam into place. Asuna darted up almost immediately after, nimbly jumping across several wooden supports to reach the new beam. Once secure on top of the beam, she casually walked along its length and undid the ropes connecting the beam to the pulley system.
Fighting monsters on a regular basis and clearing floors had become the standard nowadays. Go out, kill some monsters, finish some quests, come back, eat, and sleep. It had become a little monotonous, even if he and his boys spent some of that time manning their stalls to sell their goods.
But this… this was fun.
After the Renegades had fully explored the valley of Nelluon Arael and unlocked the teleporter, a series of quests became available that involved construction of the various buildings that would make up their guild base. Kirito had explained that while most guild bases came pre-built and pre-furnished, it wasn't unheard of for some bases to have to be built from the ground up. There were various benefits and drawbacks to this kind of guild base.
Pre-built guild bases were immediately usable once purchased. They functioned like how one might purchase or rent an apartment or house; most of the hard work would be done already, with only the minor details needing to be personalized. However, there was a hefty price tag associated with these properties and there was little to no flexibility when it came to customizing things.
"Sandbox" guild bases, as Kirito described, were the complete opposite in every way. There was little to no cost when it came to finding the land - unless you counted the cost of fighting a damned wyvern - so their guild coffers were more or less intact. The only costs they'd be suffering would be in raw materials, as everything would need to be built from the ground up. They were infinitely more customizable, but because everything needed to be built, it would take much longer to get a functional guild base. Manpower was an issue, too. The more people you had on hand, the faster construction went.
Fortunately, they had help.
Kirito might have been too prideful to ask for help, but his girlfriend wasn't. As soon as it was made known how they would have to go about constructing their guild base, Asuna called in some favors. A series of messages later and Fuurinkazan, the Legend Braves, and the Moonlit Black Cats answered the call, after Kirito whitelisted them entrance, that is. Argo was also in attendance, though it was clear she was here mostly for information on their type of guild base, as not many other guilds opted for this option.
Building their own guild base was more fulfilling, in Agil's opinion.
Now, they'd been at it for a couple of days and things were looking pretty good so far. The first item on the agenda, just for ease of movement, was a bridge connecting the tree teleport platform to the plateau and cliffs to the north. Building that first would facilitate movement of materials much smoother than having to force people to descend the tree and then climb up the hillside leading to the cliffs.
No one wanted to do that.
It was decided that the plateau and cliffs would be where many of the main buildings would be situated, with any miscellaneous future buildings destined to be constructed down by the lakeside. Asuna was adamant on building up here, initially claiming strategic value but ultimately admitting it was because of the view. Agil was hard pressed to disagree with her; the view of the tree and valley - not to mention the now purified lake - was downright gorgeous.
The way the sunlight peeked over the mountains on the east side of the valley in the morning, then how the beams of light danced on the tranquil lake below. Even that decrepit old tree was beautiful in its own way, especially the shadows it created throughout the day because of its enormous frame. The way a fresh breeze would flow through the cliffside and the sound of the gentle waterfalls. The orange sunset, full of warm colors and the serene stillness in the air that accompanied it.
Trish would have loved it.
It had taken them a day to construct the bridge with all of the helping hands they'd recruited, so that was no issue whatsoever. Well, no issue once they looked up suspended bridge designs. There was quite the chasm between the tree and cliffs, after all. The next item, which they were now working on, was the main guild hall. Not only would it serve as the nucleus of the guild base, but it would have living quarters for everyone. Since they had the manpower for it, a small crew was off to the side building Liz's new workshop. Suffice it to say that the blacksmith was eager to get to work using the new ores she and Leonn found in the new mines.
They had plenty of other buildings slated, of course, but for now they -
"Watch out!"
Agil reflexively ducked as a large beam swung over his head, threatening to take it off his shoulders. Feeling the rush of wind pass over his bald head, he whipped back up to get a better sense of what just happened.
"Pina!" Silica scolded as she chased after her familiar, all the while clutching her new egg. "You can't just fly around like that in a construction zone! You nearly crashed into Leonn! Sorry!"
The tank in question had a startled look on his face while he balanced an enormous wooden beam on his shoulder. Agil could wager a guess as to how that sequence of events played out. Pina probably flew in Leonn's face, startling him and causing him to whip around, swinging the wooden beam haphazardly.
"N-no prob, Sil!" Leonn stammered out, taking a deep breath before continuing on towards where the guild hall was being put together. "Just keep an eye on her, okay? I think I almost decapitated Agil! Sorry dude!"
Agil shook off his shock and laughed. Fortunately, once they'd laid claim to the area it had been designated a safe zone, so that probably wouldn't have killed him.
Probably.
Still scared the crap out of him, though. "You're good, man. Didn't know you had it out for me!"
Leonn laughed awkwardly. "Not just you, apparently! I almost crushed poor Ducker earlier when I lost my grip on a pallet of stone! I'm just a walking OSHA hazard!"
"A what?" Nezha asked from nearby, looking up from his clipboard. Given his FNC, it was decided not to give the chakram wielder any tasks that required depth perception. Instead, he was relegated to helping manage inventory and materials, a task he was doing surprisingly well.
"He's from the States." Agil explained. "OSHA over there is JICOSH over here. Occupational safety and all that jazz."
"Oh!" Nezha said. "Yeah, you're definitely a workplace hazard."
"Leonn!" Asuna shouted from atop what was to be the guild hall. "We need those beams!"
"Sorry, on my way!" The wielder of Defiant Soul shouted back, lumbering over with his cargo.
Agil stepped out of the way, now noticing that he was effectively in a main thoroughfare - hence the near collision - and placed his hands on his hips. At this rate, they'd have most of the work done within a week. Construction in SAO was realistic, but the more specific details were simplified to keep construction times manageable. Installing nails and screws, for example, was as simple as a quick tap with a hammer or screwdriver. Cutting lumber was as simple as modifying the length on the saw tooltip and bringing it into contact with the wood. Apparently Geeou had some real-world experience with woodwork, so he'd taken up the ((Carpentry)) skill specifically for this project. Some of the rooms and building sections even came with step-by-step instructions. Lokuss and Leonn had likened it to an IKEA manual.
Never let it be said guild base construction wasn't user friendly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a flash of light as Tetsuo, Beowulf, Nautilus, and Klein came through the teleporter, each lifting a large load of materials and carrying it across the bridge. Noticing Klein had a poor grip on his load, Agil rushed over and helped support the weight.
"Phew!" Klein huffed, taking a moment to adjust his hand placement. "Thanks, Agil. Who knew construction was so difficult, huh?"
"Just think, the real deal's much harder." Agil commented as the duo hefted the materials over towards the construction site. "In real life, we'd need machinery to pull off work like this. Without our strength scores, we'd never be able to pull this off."
"Amen, brother." Klein said. "Guess we're kinda superhuman in here, aren't we?"
"Guess so!" Agil chuckled as the duo finally reached their destination. They carefully set the load down and dusted off their hands. Agil clapped the redhead on the back. "Thanks for helping out, man. This would take us much longer on our own."
Klein scoffed. "You kiddin'? Course I'm gonna help you guys out! Least we can do to pay back some of the tight spots you've gotten us out of. The promise of Asuna's cooking is just the cherry on top!"
Agil tried to fight back a smile. There it was. He should have known one of Klein's motivations here was the prospect of free food. Not that he could blame him. Player-cooked food was so much better than that NPC crap. Better yet, the fencer was continuously improving with her cooking skill. Hell, she showed everyone her soy sauce the other day and they couldn't get enough of it.
For some reason, Kirito didn't want her sharing the soy sauce with them.
"You guys definitely timed this right, though." Klein commented as he walked over to where they'd set up a snack and water station. Virtual environment this may be, but the urge to replenish energy after physical labor was hard-wired into the human brain. Not even the NerveGear could override that instinct. They walked over and saw Sachi and Sinon taking a break as well. The girls offered them a friendly smile and wave.
"How do you figure?" Agil asked, grabbing a cup of water.
"Well, this floor would be the floor to take a break from the front lines." Klein said as he took a drink from his own cup. He let out a satisfied sigh as he finished. "Oh yeah, that's the stuff."
"I've been wondering about that." Sachi timidly interjected. The spearwoman had been making progress in how she carried herself around others lately, but with so many newer faces it seemed she'd fallen back into her shy habits. "Won't the front line need you?"
"Not really." Agil answered. "We told the ALS, DKB, and KoB what was going on. After some scouting, they figured this floor was going to be really easy to map out and clear, so they're handling it."
"That's what I mean." Klein commented, casually pointing with his cup towards Agil. "If this were a more dangerous floor, they'd probably start bitching without the help of the Renegades, Braves, and Fuurinkazan. Since this floor's so easy, the timing couldn't have been better."
"Won't you fall behind though?" Sachi asked. "If you're not grinding and completing quests, how are you going to make up the experience difference?"
"Not really." Sinon answered from off to the side. "Everyone involved gets experience when each major construction project is completed. Check your experience bar. You probably got some experience after we finished the bridge yesterday."
Sachi seemed to look at her HUD for a moment before her eyes bugged out. "Whoa! I got a full level from that?! I didn't even notice!"
"It was part of the reason Asuna asked for your help." Sinon said, taking a sip from her own drink. "She and Kirito figured you all could use an easy experience boost from a higher floor without the danger of fighting higher level mobs."
"That was kind of them!" Sachi beamed. "We'll have to pay you all back sometime."
Agil shook his head. "The extra manpower you all are bringing to the table is enough payment. Like I was telling Klein earlier, this would take much longer without your help."
"So this is where yer all hidin'."
Agil looked over and saw Argo sauntering over. Unlike everyone else around, it was clear Argo hadn't done any heavy lifting recently, if the pep in her step was anything to go off of. She walked up, grabbed a pastry off of the snack table, and took a bite.
"Mmm. That's fresh, isn't it?" Argo mumbled before turning her attention to the work around them. "It's comin' along nicely though, I gotta admit. What's next on the docket after ya get yer guild hall and workshop up and runnin'?"
"Those are the two biggest parts of the base we're making right now." Agil pointed out, pulling up a modified map the guild leadership decided on. He set his map to visible and began pointing out various structures. "The mine is going to need some infrastructure, like railways and rail carts for ease of transportation for the new ore. Halfway between the workshop and the mine is going to be our supply depot for storing mats. There's also a hollowed out area inside the big tree that we're thinking of renovating into a sparring room for training and duels."
Argo whistled. "Damn. You all really put some thought into this, didn't ya?"
Agil smirked. "Well yeah. We've been looking forward to this for a long time. And it's not as if those buildings aren't going to be used. Everyone helping with the build is whitelisted and is welcome to drop by and use the facilities anytime you want. The only structures you all won't have real access to are the mines and the supply depot, since that's tied directly to our coffers and guild storage."
"And the workshop." Sinon noted.
"... and the smithy part of the workshop." Agil amended.
"Why that in particular?" Klein asked.
"Because there's no way Liz is letting anyone mess up her system." Agil laughed. The pink-haired blacksmith had been adamant on that; she was already very particular about her stall on the few occasions she'd set up shop in a major city. Anyone who had offered to give her a hand was summarily kicked out because they got in her way.
"Agil! Klein!" Kirito shouted from the other side of the work site, breaking their conversation. "Could we borrow you both for a second? We need to secure this wall into place while Leonn holds it up!"
"Hurry? Please?" Leonn grunted out as he supported the weight of an entire wooden wall. Agil winced. They were really abusing the fact that Leonn had an absurdly high STR stat; he almost felt sorry for the guy.
Almost. That skill of his was broken.
Agil gave a nod to the others at the rest station. "I'll talk to you guys later, yeah?"
"Break a leg, Agi-bou!" Argo shouted as he and Klein jogged over to help.
Agil sighed. She had to be at least 10 years his junior, but she insisted on using that pet name for him. Something told him she would never stop calling him that. He'd worry about that later.
Time to get back to work.
Ecstatic wouldn't even begin to describe it.
Liz had her own workshop. Her workshop. Ooh, she felt so empowered right now. Okay, maybe it wasn't hers necessarily, since it technically belonged to the guild, but she was the only one who was going to use the smithy portion of it. No one else could make the most of the forge within, nor was Liz going to let anyone so much as touch her workspace. She had her own organizational system in place and she was not about to let someone who didn't know it mess it up.
Kirito had learned that the hard way earlier today. Now he didn't dare step foot inside without asking her.
She'd splurged a little in furnishing it, but as Aincrad's best weaponsmith - she dared someone to suggest otherwise - she made sure she had the best equipment to work with. A handcrafted forge along the back wall (and not those cheap portable pieces of crap either), a massive anvil where she could shape weapons as small as Silica's daggers or as large as Leonn's mauls, and even a grinding stone were just a few of the shiny new pieces of hardware she'd invested in for this smithy. They'd even hooked up a water wheel outside near the river to provide her with extra power for her heavier equipment. She knew they were in this for the long haul, so quality fixtures were the name of the game here.
"Got any more nails and screws, Liz?"
Liz looked over at the door, where Enkidu was sticking his head in. She opened up one of her drawers along the wall nearby, pulling out a small case that jingled as she shifted its weight in her hands.
"Yep, got some more right here." Liz said, walking over and handing the box to the Braves member. "You think you guys will need any more?"
"Maybe." Enkidu answered, putting the box under his arm. "Second story of the hall is almost done and that's where we need them most, at least according to Agil. After that, we'll need some more for your training hall, but only for the doors and lockers. Then there's the bar…"
Liz held a hand up, stopping him from going further. "I'll get on it. I'll make ten more stacks each. That should be enough for the rest of the project, I think."
"Sounds good. Thanks Liz!" Enkidu replied, ducking back out of the door.
Grabbing a pile of refined ore, Liz got to work forging more nails and screws. Funnily enough, the raw ore they'd found in the mines was just the kind of ore she needed for this project. It made sense, she supposed. Every zone prior had materials suited for the armor and weaponry appropriate for that level, so it stood to reason that their guild base would follow a similar pattern.
Just then, a thought occurred to her. She might want to check next door and see if any more screws and nails might be needed there. Making sure nothing would burn while she was away, Liz dusted off her gloves and stepped outside, making a quick turn before coming to the carpentry section of the guild workshop.
She knocked on the doorframe. "Hey Geeou, I'm making some nails and screws since we're running low, apparently. Do you need any for your stuff?"
Geeou, dressed in his own version of working attire rather than his typical blue adventurer's armor, looked up from his work. It looked like he was working on a chair at the moment. Ever since he'd taken up the task of being the guild carpenter - a responsibility he'd volunteered for but had no intention of making his focus - the swordsman had been working non-stop in processing the lumber everyone brought in. Scaffolding, flooring, furniture, you name it. At this rate, Geeou would be well on his way to becoming a decent carpenter, not that he would ever abandon his job as a Clearer.
"Actually, I could use a case or two." Geeou said, wiping his forehead. "The chairs and tables need it most, though the beds use just as much, now that I think about it. Make it three cases, if that's alright."
Liz shot him a thumbs up. "You got it. How's work on your side?"
Geeou set down his saw and gave an exhausted sigh. "It's a lot. My dad's a carpenter in real life, so I've got some practical experience from the times I'd help him, but taking on everything is a lot of work, I won't lie."
"Well, if you ever need a hand, just grab somebody." Liz advised him. "We've definitely got the people for it."
"No kidding." Geeou chuckled. "I still can't believe Asuna was able to get them all to help us out."
She chuckled. "Well, she did kind of lure them in with food. I'll let you get back to it. I'm just next door, so let me know if you need anything."
"Thanks!" Geeou smiled. "Will do."
With that taken care of, Liz returned to her workshop - god, that felt good to say - and quickly whipped up just over a dozen batches of various metal fastenings for the construction projects. Sure, they could just as easily buy these from any of the major cities, but crafting them herself improved her ((Blacksmithing)) skill. An added bonus, really, but she wanted that gratification that came with knowing that her work helped contribute to the construction of their guild base. Everyone was putting a little bit of themselves into this project, after all.
Kirito and Asuna were obviously the ones spearheading the planning, with the former's game expertise coming to the forefront while the latter was strategic in her building placement and design. Geeou and herself were refining the raw materials that went into the building itself. Agil, Wolfgang, and Mako - who were now affectionately being referred to as the "three merchanteers" - were using their market expertise to acquire the rarer materials needed. Yuna was great with morale with her songs and ballads. Then there was Leonn acting as the muscle, hefting the larger pieces into place for the rest of the guild to snap things together.
*Knock-knock.*
"Hey Liz?" A familiar voice called out from the doorway. "Could I bother you for a quick repair?"
"Leonn!" Liz huffed, already knowing why he was asking. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop using your weapon to hammer in the…"
Her words died in her throat as she turned from what she was doing and saw Leonn standing in the doorway glistening. Either it was a trick of the light coming from the forge or somehow her fellow tank was virtually sweating.
In a tank top.
Leonn wasn't an overly muscular guy, despite his absurd STR stat, but she couldn't help but glance at the muscles he did have. Definitely more solidly built than someone like Kirito, but then again the Black Swordsman was a bit of a bean pole (minus the height) so that was a low bar to begin with. Where Kirito had that kind of feminine, pretty boy aesthetic to him, Leonn looked decidedly more… rugged. Broader shoulders, a decent amount of muscle, that thin bit of facial hair tracing his jaw, and just enough -
"Liz? You alright there?"
Mentally slapping herself, Liz quickly averted her gaze and cursed her teenage hormones. "Y-yeah, sorry. Heat must be getting to me or something. G-gimme your maul, and stop using it to hammer in those rivets!"
He had the decency to look ashamed as he handed her his maul. Already feeling flustered, she hurriedly finished the repair job and practically thrust the weapon back into his waiting hands. That was probably the fastest she'd ever repaired something, she realized.
Her embarrassment gave way to horror as she spotted the look of dejection on his face as he walked out the door; in her embarrassment and haste, she realized she'd been rude to him. Screaming internally, she had half a mind to concuss herself with her hammer when she spotted Sinon casually standing outside the room. Without another word, the archer walked away, chuckling ever so softly.
Her head slumped forward and smacked against the tabletop in front of her.
"I'm an idiot…"
"Cheers!"
Thirty mugs rose into the air in celebration of the completion of the Renegade guild base. Kirito looked around with a bit of pride at what they'd accomplished. The main guild hall foyer, which was not small by any stretch of the imagination, easily fit all four guilds, plus Argo. It reminded him of a large lodge, actually, especially with the large hearth on the far wall and the smattering of furniture placed about. The fact that they'd had enough materials to build a small bar off to the side for Agil only added to the homely feel to the place. Already Agil was refilling a drink for Klein and Orlando, the two guild leaders attempting to drink the other under the table while Keita looked on amusedly off to the side. Normally a pointless exercise, but it was discovered that since the 20th Floor, there existed actual alcoholic drinks.
In a game of life and death like SAO, the more mature players were already taking advantage of that particular new feature.
"I'm going to go grab some of the snacks I made earlier." Asuna said, giving Kirito a slight nudge before heading off into the surprisingly expansive kitchen. "Be back in a bit."
Kirito answered with a smile before turning his attention back to the festivities. He had to hold back a laugh as he saw Orlando smiling triumphantly over a clearly-dazed Klein.
"Cor for yer thoughts, Kii-bou?"
Kirito sighed as Argo sauntered up next to him, the info broker casually leaning against the back of his seat. "I was originally going to be a solo player, you know."
"Nah, really?" Came her sarcastic jab. "You, solo? I never woulda dreamed."
Kirito absent-mindedly smacked her arm. "I know, big surprise there."
"Now look at ya." Argo observed, giving his chair a playful wiggle. "Leader of a frontline Clearer guild with a brand spankin' new guild base to call yer own. You know they're startin' to call you folks the "Assault Team"?"
Kirito looked back at her. "Really? Well, it does have a certain ring to it."
"I like it." Asuna said as she came back from the kitchen. She set down some appetizers on one of the tables nearby before sitting down next to Kirito. "Makes us sound like a unified force."
"About as united as we're gonna get, I think." Argo mused. "Haven't had any boss casualties since the 4th Floor, so I think we're doin' just dandy."
"Don't make it sound like everything's easy, Argo." Kirito remarked. "People are still dying while they try to climb the floors."
Argo sighed. "Even with all of the tips you Clearers add to my guides, there's still idiots who lower their guards or get cocky and die in the fields."
There would always be people who assumed they knew better, it seemed.
"You folks are doin' pretty good, though. Apart from the political squabbles here and there, no casualties among the Assault Team." Argo said.
"We shouldn't get complacent, though." Kirito said grimly. "We're coming up on a big milestone."
Asuna nodded. "Floor 25. We'll be a quarter of the way home."
"Exactly." Kirito confirmed. "If there was ever a time for Kayaba to take off the training wheels, it's then."
"You think he's been taking it easy on us?" Asuna asked, a mixture of curiosity and worry painted on her features.
Kirito shrugged. "Better to assume the worst than hope for the best. Especially in here."
"Amen to that." Argo quipped, raising her mug in mock salute. "Aight, well I'm gonna go schmooze and mingle some more. Talk to you two lovebirds later."
Kirito felt his face flush a little as the Rat walked away, cackling. Asuna looked just as flustered, but was soon able to compose herself fairly quickly. She'd told him a little about her real life, so her ability to govern her emotions was leagues and bounds ahead of his own, having to deal with high-class situations far more than he ever had to.
"Must she do that?" Asuna huffed.
"Wouldn't be Argo otherwise." Kirito chuckled. "Is it weird I'm kind of getting used to it now?"
"Yes." She immediately answered before sighing. "Then again, none of us are normal anymore, are we?"
"Nope." Kirito said. He idly glanced at the festivities as he relaxed in his seat. "Wait, are they… arm wrestling?"
A small crowd was gathering near one of the tables as two very unlikely competitors were struggling against one another in a battle of strength. Already there were loud cheers and laughing as people started taking sides. Argo looked to be taking bets, to the surprise of no one.
Asuna let out a soft laugh. "Looks like. Who do you think will win?"
"My money's on Silica." Kirito grinned.
"You don't think Ducker will win?" Asuna asked.
"Nah. He and Silica may both be dagger types, and he may be physically bigger than she is, but she's got a higher STR stat than he does." Kirito explained. "It's unfair, but that's how games like this work. Whoever has the higher numbers wins."
"Makes sense, I guess." Asuna acquiesced. "... and there it goes. You called it. Hey, don't let it get to your head."
Kirito grinned smugly even as his girlfriend smacked his arm playfully. Despite her mild scolding, he saw a smile on her face as well. As he sat there, enjoying the moment, he came to realize something.
"What's wrong, Kirito?" Asuna asked, picking up on his change in mood.
"Just thinking." Kirito answered vaguely. When he saw the expectant look on her face, he continued. "This is the new normal for us now, isn't it?"
"How do you mean?" She asked. "You're talking about this?"
As she gestured towards the merriment playing out in front of them, he nodded. "The whiplash. Most of the time we're fighting for our lives and looking over our shoulders, but then there are moments like this where it's like we're back in the real world…"
"... Just hanging out with friends." She finished for him. "I don't know if I'd say this was like the real world, at least for me, but I see what you mean."
"Same here." Kirito said. "I've told you a little about my hobbies and home life. This never really happened for me, either."
"Do you regret it?" Asuna asked, looking directly at him. "Getting to know them like this?"
Another cheer resounded as the impromptu arm wrestling tournament continued. Nezha had just lost to Sachi, strangely enough, and now Liz and Nautilus were squaring off. Yuna was cheering fervently for the swordsman, but it was clear that crowd sentiment was in favor of the blacksmith. Nautilus was eventually defeated, but almost immediately afterward Wolfgang and Mako were pushing Leonn to join the fray, though the tank was trying his best to stay out of a tournament he was sure to win. The good mood was infectious, and Kirito found himself smiling as he relished the moment.
"Not one bit."