Floor 3 - Chapter 1 - In the Fog of War...
December 6th, 2022 - Floor 3 Teleport Gate, Aincrad
The third floor was, in Kirito's words, a forest full of mist. To anyone else, this would've been annoying... to Jet, this just reminded him of childhood holidays in Snowdonia, and hiding out in the woods to avoid his sisters. A trick that rarely ever worked, mind you.
''As you can see, Floor 3 is forest themed. Just... watch out for the trees.'' - The instant they'd walked out of the staircase, the misty atmosphere had descended on them, and rendered everything that wasn't a centimetre in front of their faces nigh on invisible. Luckily for Koharu and Jet, no one had noticed that the pair were now holding hands, to avoid getting separated in the fog.
''Why, they're trees, it isn't like they'll just come to life and-WATCH IT!'' - Whatever it was, Asuna had just screamed, so it was either very important... or completely inconsequential. - ''You two! Hands where I can see them!'' - Inconsequential, and not to mention, nonsensical considering the fog, it was then.
''Wasn't me!'' - Kirito answered more than a little bit too quickly...
''Ain't me, mine are on my sword, and Koharu's hand.''
''JET!'' - If it weren't for the pea soup they were calling fog, Jet would've seen his partner furiously blushing.
''Then whose... Oh. Oh no.'' - Asuna gulped at the realisation that the hand she felt, didn't feel much like a hand at all...
''What were you about to say about the trees, Kirito...'' - The exact same realisation came across the remaining three members of the group like a wave, making landfall...
''They're, well...''
''Alive?'' - Koharu questioned.
''Currently grabbing hold of the princess over there.'' - Jet stated.
''Both.'' - Kirito sighed - ''Asuna, stay still!'' - The trio raced into action, blades at the ready.
''I don't think that'll be a problem...'' - It hadn't escaped any of their attention's that the usual yelling had been replaced by almost calm terror.
A short fight... well, pruning later, and the no longer screaming princess had been freed from the disturbingly grabby trees. Whilst Asuna carried on, pretending as if nothing had happened, the others made sure to keep their eyes on their surroundings. No one particularly wanted a tree branch wrapped around their unmentionables, if they could at all help it...
''Kirito, there's something over there...'' - And with that, Asuna disappeared into the fog again...
''Jet, Koharu, we'll meet up later if we get split off in the fog...'' - And with that, Kirito disappeared into the fog too...
''Roger tha- they've gone, haven't they?'' - Jet looked into the mist, and saw absolutely nothing. This was the type of fog that you could've knit, or it would've been if his old nan was around, she always thought like that... Jet, on the other hand, just wanted out of the mist before-
''Argo, we know you're there...'' - Jet quickly did a double take, as the familiar cloak of a headache waiting to happen approached...
''Awww, I always enjoyed sneaking up on ya... ya both had the best reactions!'' - The headache continued.
''So, whaddya want, Argo...''
''I've got a quest for ya both...''
''Let me guess, someone got lost?''
''It's a story quest, one that carries on for the next few floors. You and Kii-boy'll probably give it a go, wouldn't out it past ya to run into each other! But... long as you keep me up to date on all th' happenings, this one's on the house!'' - A life lesson that had been instilled in Jet years ago, was to never trust freebies... and one instilled in him over the past month was to never trust Argo when it came to money... the two of them together? If Jet could've turned and ran, he would've.
''What kind of quest is it?''
''First, ya gotta head north to the West Mists Entrance, just here, and ya should come across two elves fighting. What ya gotta do, is help one of 'em out!''
''Elves?'' - That definitely didn't sound like anything they'd seen before...
Jet knew what a look of disappointment was, he'd seen it often enough... but Argo's was something else entirely... - ''C'mon, ya know what elves are! The elves here are ya generic sort, pointy ears, tall, beautiful.''
''Beautiful?'' - Jet raised an eyebrow. That was a strange choice of words to describe them. Probably accurate, mind, but strange nonetheless.
''Oh come on! Don't make things weird with NPCs!'' - Koharu chastised, taking a leap onto the wrong train of thought.
''I didn't mean like that! Besides, I can find things beautiful without being attracted to them! You, for example.'' - Momentarily, Jet looked blankly whilst every brain cell collectively slapped their hands to their metaphorical faces. Why couldn't he have picked something like a sunset... or a car, instead of that particular example?! That one wasn't even true! The girls reactions were varied - Argo tried to conceal her laughter... but failed miserably, whilst Koharu went redder than her tunic, and stuttered incoherently. A now reset Jet went into damage control mode - ''I di-I never meant to say that. Please ignore me.'' - Jet commented with a look that suggested he knew of his imminent fate, when Koharu recovered. Argo, on the other hand, decided that teasing the endangered Jet was definitely the best course of action... if only because it was probably the last time she'd get to do it.
''So... you think Koharu here's beautiful, do ya? Well, that's priceless info, now we know your type! Imagine how many gals would pay fer that info!'' - Jet did. None, was the answer he came to. Still, wouldn't do for that info to be disseminated.
''Argo... under threat of sending you straight to hell, do not sell that info.''
''You'd kill me, would ya?'' - Argo's trademark grin stayed even through the threat.
''Oh, no. I'd send you to Battersea Dogs Home though.'' - Jet gave an almost cheerful grin.
''You wouldn't...'' - Argo, on the other hand, looked mortified by the prospect.
''No, but I do now know you don't like dogs. Now that, is priceless information...'' - This time, it was Argo's turn to facepalm. Jet's cheerful grin took on a more sadistic edge.
''You little...''
''Blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer to call it... anti-Argo insurance. Keep sht'um and that info doesn't trickle down the grapevine. Comprenday?'' - Argo nodded furiously. Jet's grin became more cheerful again, struggling to hide his laughter, all whilst Argo shuddered. Koharu had finally regained her senses, and glanced at a slightly terrified Argo, and a smiling Jet, and noted to herself to ask about what had happened later.
''Just a thought, it seems odd that two NPCs would be fighting with each other, right? - Jet shrugged, they hadn't actually seen anything even remotely similar to that in the game so far, but it did make sense, in the context of a death game. If Kayaba hadn't wanted players to turn into murderers, then why not make it so the AI controlling the NPCs were basically disposable, right? No moral concerns, really. Jet's expression turned solemn momentarily, before returning to neutral.
''Well, if ya wanna talk semantics, they're more like monsters. Kii-boy didn't tell ya, did he? From here on in, there's human enemies.''
''So they're monsters... but they're NPCs? Gah, this is just confusing!'' - Jet shared a look of sympathy for his partner, especially as Argo hadn't really explained it all that well.
''Think of it this way - they're enemy NPCs. Rather than give us quests or help us, they're there to get in our way.''
''Okay, I think that's better...''
''Stories easier ta follow at least. Two warrin' races of elves, both fightin' over this particular item. We pick a side to support, and help see the battle through ta the end. It's the Elf War Campaign Quest.''
''So... there are good elves, and bad elves fighting each other?''
''Both races have their own legitimacies, so it ain't really good and bad. It's just neither like the other. From our perspective, they're both pretty much the same. Just pick whichever side ya like. That's all I got ta tell ya, though. You'll find the rest as ya go!'' - Argo took that as her cue to leave, and disappeared back into the fog.
''Seeing is believing, so they say...'' - A disembodied voice began yelling from the fog - ''One word of caution though. The elf fights are all event battles, no need to get in over ya heads. Lemme know how ya get on! See ya!'' - The voice would've disappeared into the fog again, had they not just seen Argo stumble over a tree root, and start muttering obscenities...
''An elf war in the fog, sounds almost like a fairy tale, right?'' - Koharu asked, picturing castles and knights on horseback, fighting dark enemies.
''Something out of one, certainly.'' - And with that, the duo took off for the West Mists...
About an hour and a half later... - Floor 3, West Mists.
The walk to the West Mists passed by fairly uneventfully, other than a few more skirmishes with the Treants, which posed very little threat, once their grappling attacks had been dealt with. Although Koharu could've sworn she'd seen a faint sight of something purple and red in the fog, she never told Jet, figuring it was just a background object...
''Jet, you hear that?'' - The sounds of an ongoing battle were faint, but definitely audible.
''Yeah, just about, let's head towards it.''
Well, if any doubts about Argo's info existed, they didn't now. Two elves, a male clad in white and a shade of forest green, and a female in purple and grey, fought against each other in an almost hypnotic clash of blades.
''They're elves? They don't even look like NPCs, they look just like players!''
''Players with quest markers and pointy ears, yeah.''
''We can only side with one though...'' - Koharu hummed, as she thought - ''I want to help the lady elf over there, Jet. Is that okay?''
''Purple's my favourite colour, so yeah, fine by me.'' - It hadn't gone unnoticed by either that the lady elf they planned on helping was in fact, gorgeous. A fact that had definitely not factored into Jet's decision at all.
''She just seems so lifelike, I don't want to see her die...'' - Jet momentarily thought back to the Plains on the first floor, and remembered his partner's reaction to losing two players in front of them, and shuddered at the thought...
''Prepare for your end!'' - The elf in green yelled, as his blade was readied for a killing blow. The thrust he managed was parried with not a moment to spare by Jet, as Koharu raced in to attack, a flurry of thrusts pushing the elf back, and out of position for any attack on the purple elf.
''Children of man! You must be foolish to dare draw blades against the Forest Elves, and conspire with the Dark Elves!''
''Well, one of those is true, but... nah, you ay getting a chance to strike here!''
''The Forest Elves are my sworn enemies! Do not hinder my efforts, menfolk!'' - The Dark Elf replied, readying her blade again - ''Be gone from this forest!''
''We'll do no such thing! You dare hurt a lady, and call yourself a man!? You should be ashamed!'' - The aura of anger around Koharu became obvious to Jet, who snapped into action.
''Come on then! You wanna fight? Your new opponents are right here! Bring it!'' - Jet taunted, using Caliburn to make as close to an obscene gesture as he could.
''Be gone, I say! I will end this one even if it costs me my life!''
''Well, if we were gonna leave, we sure as hell aren't now!''
''Please fall back, we will handle this one.''
''Fools... If you wish to aid the Dark Elves, then you shall fall by my blade!'' - The elf readied his blade, and prepared for the imminent attack.
''You won't take us down!'' - Koharu took the lead, using her blade to parry an incoming strike, and unleash another stream of strikes on the Forest Elf, as Jet positioned himself for his strike - ''Jet, switch!''
''On it!'' - Shield in front, Jet charged the elf, knocking him over, before unleashing his own sword skill on the elf. The elf attempted a defence against the duo, but was unable to keep up with the pace, and power of the strikes. Before disappearing, he uttered only a sole word - ''How...''
''Eh, we're good at what we do.'' - Jet replied to the now thin air that had once been an Elf warrior.
''How did warriors of man overcome a dexterous Forest Elf like that...? Are you two unhurt?'' - Jet glanced at their health bars. Both practically full, so no cause for concern.
''We're fine, nought but scratches... if that.''
''Indeed? - The female elf seemed surprised at how quickly the battle had been over - ''Mayhaps menfolk can raise true warriors yet. I must offer my gratitude though. With your aid, the key remains safe with me. You have done me a great service. Now, warriors of man, I must ask of your names.''
''Koharu, and that's Jet.'' - Jet saluted at the Elf, whilst Koharu bowed towards her.
''Koharu... and Jet, was it? The tongues of menfolk work in strange ways.'' - Jet fought back an urge to make a comment about the Welsh language. - ''You can call me Kizmel.''
''Pleasure to meet you, Kizmel... - KAWWW - ''Hey, Koharu, Kizmel, I'm not hearing things, am I? I did just hear a bir-THE HELL!?'' - Jet dove to the floor as what might have once been a bird dove on them. If that had been a bird, Jet dreaded what the Circle of Life on Aincrad looked like... and what the hell an Apex predator was! That falcon was huge! About the same size as a small car...
''You two okay?'' - Jet shouted from the dirt, as he picked himself up, and raced over to Koharu.
''Yeah, just a bit surprised, that's all. Kizmel!'' - Koharu picked herself up, noticing the struggling Dark Elf, as the pair noticed another elf stood in the trees.
''Oh, you hopeless knights... you really are too proud for your own good.'' - The falcon landed behind him, as the falconer carried on his theatrics, seemingly unaware of the two humans. - ''Still, at any rate... I'll be taking the Jade Key now. No need to worry though...'' - Jet felt the air around them change, as Kizmel stood back up, face to face with her assailant.
''You... you are the falconer.'' - Both Jet and Koharu glanced at one another with looks of confusion. Was this part of the lore, or...
''Hm, have we met before? I don't think I'd forget such beauty... even if it was a Dark Elf'' - Jet noticed the disgust in his voice at the last part, and made a note to give this guy a more special pummelling before ending him. - ''Oh! That was it... you remind me of that herbalist I killed. Such a pity, she was quite beautiful too.'' - ''Belay that last part. This creep doesn't get out of here alive.'' - In Jet's anger at the falconer, he'd failed to actually pay attention to two important things. First, was the massing number of Forest Elves, and second, was the falcon itself, which had just lifted off. The Forest Elves raced forward, taking pot shots at both Jet and Kizmel, who were able to defend against them, but Koharu looked as if she was struggling, able to out pace them and evade them, but unable to defend against them.
''En route! Hang in there!'' - Jet charged over, as a knight attempted to block his path. ''Out of my way!'' - Jet thrust Caliburn into the knight's throat, before yanking it out on a slash. Had the knight been more than data, the attack would likely have been considered a partial decapitation, and a particularly brutal one, at that. Little consolation for the knight however, who disappeared into pixels after the attack.
Kizmel wasn't having much better luck in the brawl, being unable to get near to the falconer, who issued an ominous threat to all three - ''Well, as much fun as this has been... I think it's time I take the weakest one away.'' - As the falcon dove on Koharu, as did another knight...
Jet fought valiantly through the mass of knights, but it was a truly hopeless endeavour. He'd have a few seconds at most to get in there, and deal with both the falcon and knight... an impossible task if ever there were one...
From the trees, a bright slash of light tore the wing off of the falcon, the giant bird screeching in agony, and retreating, as a purple haired woman walked out of the trees, and turned her blade on the terrified knight, cleaving him in half without a second thought. The falcon screeched yet again, and received a decapitation for it's trouble. Okay, whilst not even close to the most important thing right now... Jet had to wonder, what was it with supermodels in this game? This girl was... something else entirely.
''Seriously, I leave you alone for five minutes, and you and your friends end up being mauled by the birds exhibit at Bristol Zoo... really brother?'' - She spoke. Jet's mind decided to take it's leave right now, as it worked out who she was... Only one word came to mind...
WHAT.
{Author's Comments}
The first proper chapter of the Elf War, after the prologue, and I'm going straight into the action. Also, I realise that some of the coming soon trailer may not be used, or used in a very different context... I may have intended for that to be the case.
Anyway, I hope to see you soon, and to anyone reading this, thank you for continuing on with this. Favourite, follow, review etc, and I'll be back with the next chapter soon!