Sword Art Online: Akira's Arrows
Aincrad Arc
Chapter 9: Two Commanders and a Rat
Akira
"Ughhh, I can't take it anymore!" I complained, my head falling into the bar onto the bar in front of me. Groaning, I didn't even look back up. "Every time they talk, I feel like ripping out my eardrums."
Mito humored me with an amused smiled. "Ha… it's only been a week Akira; you can't already be thinking about jumping into the clouds."
"Believe me, I thought of that the minute Asuna and Kirito left," I muttered, lifting my head up and sucking in a breath of air. "They're down in their fancy new cabin, soaking in the sun and going on romantic walks, sleeping in, meanwhile I'm stuck here listening to our glorious commander give stupid inspirational speeches at every meeting."
"Oh, is there cabin really that nice?" Mito said, seeming to ignore my complaining.
I sighed with envy. "Take a look."
I pulled up in my inventory the multiple screenshots of their new house on Floor 22 that Asuna and Kirito had sent me over the last week. I had been pleased enough when they finally got together, but apparently Kirito worked quick, because they had knocked on the door to my rented room at the inn in Selmburg at one in the morning to tell me they had gotten married.
A part of me was jealous, not because I wish I had been the one to marry Asuna… just because I had never gotten to tell friends when I had gotten married in game.
So naturally, like Heathcliff did, after he got what he wanted, he'd give others what they wanted, and he granted them a few weeks of leave for a honeymoon. I had wanted it of course, but after that, he had named Mito and I temporary Vice Commanders One and Two until they had gotten back.
I was thrilled for Asuna and Kirito, I loved them both, knew them both better than most, and I had rarely seen two people more meant for each other.
But as a tradeoff, I in earnest had to start dealing with everything that Asuna had dealt with in the last two years as Vice Commander One. I got to listen to Bols, Yato and Harp come and yap my ear off about reports from the field, the money the guilds traders had made, and listen to the complaints from other guilds in the Assault Team, about how the Knights had too much power. Of course, I had no idea why Heathcliff seemed to trust me with all this, since I actively told him I disliked him, but as usual, he was a mystery.
The job also included planning and fighting in field boss raids, sending members of the guild on new quests for materials and items, going on farming missions with other newer guild members, and of course mapping Floor 75s dungeon until we could find the boss. It had been tiring to say the least, and the amount of roleplaying that some of the more senior knights seemed to do was more annoying by the day considering the circumstances.
Thankfully however, Mito had been with me every step of the way.
"Aw, it is really beautiful," She said, scrolling through the pictures of my best-friends new deck and gorgeous view from their lovely new home. "Tell Asuna to send some to me, I'd love to have them. They're enjoying themselves I take it?"
I managed a smile and nodded. Mito and Asuna had talked the day before Asuna and Kirito left, and like I had expected, it didn't take long before both were crying, and Mito learned that Asuna had already forgiven her.
Mito and I promised to hold down the fort while they were gone and she was great company, but I'd have been lying if I didn't say I missed both of my best-friends more and more each day.
You never knew how much time you had left in Aincrad, so I wanted to spend it with the both of them.
"Yeah… at least they're having a good time," I said, managing to smile as I drank from one of the two mugs the NPC bartender had placed in front of Mito and me. "You're great company Mito don't get me wrong, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss them both already."
She smiled, placing down her mug. Her purplish white cape fell down her back, her scythe leaning against the bar with my bow. The inn in Grandzam was filled to the brim that night with laughing players and NPC bards playing lively music. It had gotten old after two years, but still, it didn't seem to diminish the mood. I hoped a player bard would start singing soon, that would have livened up the place.
Mito and I were drinking after a long week of planning. Just that day, the two of us along with Heathcliff had sent out the first scouting party into the Floor 75 dungeon, with it due to be back in a few days. Klein had offered to go with his guild, but I had switched them out to a field boss raid, I had restocked and talked to Liz earlier in the day as well, knowing that in a few days, Mito and I would have to follow behind the scouting party and do some mapping as well. We'd fought with other members the previous few days, but not enough to scratch the numbing sense of dread I felt I was preparing for.
Something was going to happen soon, we were three fourths of the way through the game, floor 50 and floor 25 had been brutal boss fights, I shuddered thinking about what could be waiting for us at the end of 75s dungeon.
And not having Kirito and Asuna made it worse for me… but thankfully, I still had some good friends.
Mito chuckled, sipping more of her drink. "Ha, no offense taken… you three, you're really that close, aren't you? It's been a while since you've been apart."
I nodded, chuckling myself as I looked into the now empty mug. "Ha… you know you're actually right. God, it's been a year since Kya and Aki died, I… I've been with Asuna ever since, seen her almost every day, and then same with Kirito when she introduced me."
"Then it's natural to miss them," Mito said, slapping my back and making me cough. "Ha, but don't you worry, I'll do my best to be an honorable third choice."
I finished coughing and rolled my eyes. "You know you're not a third choice Mito. There's nobody I'd rather roleplay with."
She choked on her drink, which made me laugh. She shot me a glare, but I could see her face get a tinge redder. Over the previous few days, Mito and I naturally had gotten closer, and the idea had been in the back of my head. Her gaze lingered at times, and it wasn't hard to see her blush… still, I didn't know how I would feel about that.
There was nothing wrong with her at all of course, she was absolutely brilliant… but I wasn't ready to even think about stuff like that again until I knew if I'd survive this game or not. It had been the same deal with Argo. Deep down, I still expected to die… and I couldn't do that to someone.
And besides… it'll be a while before anyone could take your place… Kyou… Kya, I thought, looking down at the two rings on my one hand, both our wedding band items.
I had on my casual outfit set, a long-sleeved brown shirt and a pair of comfy pants with my slippers, while Mito had on a black skirt and long-sleeved purple sweater under her cape.
Mito finished coughing and looked at me red-faced. "Stop teasing me! You can't just go around saying that to a girl!"
I held up my hands in mock surrender. "Ha, okay, okay I'm sorry. What can I do to make it up to you?"
I was smiling at her, and I felt my own face get red when she got all flustered again. She turned her head from me and shoved her mug in front of me, crossing her arms in a pout. I was going to say something, but her head perked up, a sly smile coming to her face. She waved her hand for the NPC bartender.
"Excuse me!" She shouted, and when the short, stout man got to us both at the bar, Mito smiled sweetly and pulled up the menu. "Mhm, I think I'll take whatever on this drink menu is most expensive please, and you can put it on my friends tab."
"Hey! Wait, I didn't mean-." I started, looking at the price in col for a few of the drinks she scrolled past have way more zeroes next to them than any drink should have. Before I could protest, Mito grabbed my hand and poked it onto the 'accept' button when the 'would you like to pay for Mito's drink' message came up.
In a small flash, the NPC bartender smiled, nodded and snapped. After that, a very fancy looking bottle of something very expensive looking popped up in front of Mito who now had stars in her eyes.
"Thank you very much!" The purple-haired girl said with a wave, popping open the bottle and pouring herself what I hoped was pure gold with how much I saw my col number drop.
She finished and smirked at me, holding up the bottle. "Oh, I'm sorry Akira, you want some?"
I scoffed, rolling my eyes and holding up my mug. "You know, you're not nearly as high-strung as you make yourself out to be."
She chuckled deviously. "Haha, well you offered!"
I sighed and watched the cup fill. "Well… that I did. I guess we can have this before we-."
"Jesus Akiri-boy!" A familiar voice said behind us, followed by a scoff. "Rose Gold Wine for your fellow VC? All I got was cheap ale, you know how to make a girl feel special don't ya?"
My eyes widened, and I couldn't help the smile that came. "Argo!"
"Me!" Argo said with a wink, as she pulled a barstool up between me and Mito. She waved and ordered a drink from the bartender, before throwing her arms around us both, first looking at Mito. "He's not causing you trouble now, huh Mi-chan? He's a devious one Akiri-boy is."
"Argo…" I muttered, as she laughed and squeezed her arm around my neck.
Argo wore her normal cute, mischievous smile that I loved. Since we were three quarters of the way through the game now, the number of people coming to join the assault squad had been going up. Being so close to the end, people were anxious to get it over with and finally go home. As a result, Argo's information business had been skyrocketing.
It had been since that night I brought Mito with me to our meet-up after Asuna and Kirito finally kissed since I saw her, which was a lot different then the few times a week I had used to see her. The thought brought a pleasantly warm smile to my face, I remembered she shared one thing players rarely shared with each other-their real names- with me.
Yes, Hosaka Karina Tomo, aka Argo the Rat, was another of the things that Aincrad had given me. This damned world had taken everything from me… but I also gained things as well.
Mito laughed at my flustered face and smiled at Argo. "Oh, you know he's just being Akira, a little friendly teasing here."
She reached over Argo and poked my face, which they both seemed to find hilarious, especially after I tried to back away and almost fell off my chair.
After recovering I rolled my eyes at them. "Yes, you're both hilarious, so very funny…"
They finished laughing and Argo punched my shoulder. "Ha, don't be so sensitive Akiri-boy! So, is the news true? Ki-boy and A-chan got hitched?"
The mention of Kirito and Asuna erased all thoughts of the two of them laughing at me. I smiled and opened my menu, showing Argo some of the same screenshots I showed Mito.
"You bet they did," I told her with a smile. "About time huh?"
"Ha, you can say that again!" Argo said, a softer smile coming to her as she looked at the screenshots of our friends. "Good for you A-chan… you too Ki-boy… if anyone deserves it…"
"It's them, I know," I said with a sigh, closing my window. "So, what brings you to Grandzam on this fine evening Argo?"
Mito nodded. "He's right, we didn't think you'd be here till next week when you brought us the weeks new information."
Argo had gotten a deal from the Knight's as soon as I joined them the first time. Heathcliff and the guild paid her a good amount to gather intel on the goings on of the lower floors, making sure no new large scale dangerous quests started, intel on crime and other things that could impact the Assault Team.
She normally was on time always, and like me didn't like spending too much time around the Knight's, so she would stay away from Grandzam when she could. So, seeing her there that night had peaked my interest, and clearly it had Mito's as well.
After Mito asked the question, the look on Argo's face gave it away.
"I… I needed to talk to you both," She said, opening up her window, her tone suddenly shifting to one of dread. After a moment, she showed the both of us the windows, and after she did, she let out a sigh. "You… you know me Akiri-boy, I rarely do it, don't like relying on other people, even if it's you but… but I need your help, both of you."
"Huh? Argo, what is this?" Mito asked, looking at the file she'd sent both of us.
I nodded in agreement with Mito, scrolling down the list. "Yeah… it… it looks like a list of player names. I don't get it, what's got you so rattled, you never get like this?"
Argo looked into her mug, and it was only then I noticed her hands shaking around it. "It… it is a list of player names, but not… just any players. All of them they… they're all kids. All twelve and under."
That shot a hot pang through my back. My head shot around to look at her, and I met Mito's eyes over Argo's shorter head. It made sense now. Nothing really ever rattled Argo, I'd known her long enough to know that I even knew the story behind her whiskers, which only a handful of people knew. She was right when she said she rarely needed or asked for help.
But if children were disappearing? If someone was targeting them, that was something that could rattle even her, and cause her to need some help.
"Ch…children?" Mito said, looking back at the list. "I don't understand. I thought the child players, those who couldn't really fight were all still at that orphanage of sorts, back in the Town of Beginnings on floor 1?"
"Yeah, and the ALA has that place down pat," I told her, grinding my teeth as I did. "Argo there… are a lot of names here, at least twenty. How the hell could this happen on their watch?"
Argo took a long drink before shaking her head. "I wondered the same thing when I started hearing about it. So… I sent one of my best informants, Yanni, to see if she could figure out."
"You told me about her, she's pretty young, isn't she?" I asked her.
She nodded slowly, gripping tighter on the mug, and something foreign came to Argo's face. Quivering eyes, tears starting to form in the corners of them.
"Ye…yeah she is. This… this was my fault, what kind of idiot sends a child to investigate child disappearances!" She said, shutting her eyes and almost breaking the mug. "That was three days ago now, and… and I haven't heard from her since."
"Argo…" I said, holding my hand out on her shoulder, trying to keep it together myself. "You can't beat yourself up about this, you were doing your job and-."
"No! No, I wasn't Akira!" She snapped at me, turning to face me with those watery golden eyes that were normally so calm. "I valued the col I could make from figuring this out… over my girls' life, I should have gone myself and… and now…"
"Now you have us," I told her, clutching my free hand into a fist, trying to give her a reassuring smile. "Mito and I can get the day off tomorrow, right Mito?"
"He's right don't worry Argo, we'll go and figure this out," My purple-haired companion said, looking back down at the list. "Now… are we sure it's a player who's doing this, or could it be an NPC or another mob?"
Argo looked between us, a stunned look on her face. "You… you'd both just come help me just like that? No questions asked, no price, nothing at all?"
"Of course, we would, that's a stupid question," I told her, a hot feeling rushing up the back of my throat. "You're our friend… besides, if someone's hurting kids, hurting other players… I'm going to do something about it… this time, I will."
I could see it now… PoH's cleaver smashing into Aki's back, after she had tried to save me. That day… it replayed over and over, I didn't know how I had dreams in Aincrad, but they came through. I thought about it every day, saw it almost every day… my sister, turning to small digital pieces of data in my arms.
The last thing I had done was scream at her. She… she died thinking I was mad at her.
That was something I had to live with for the rest of my life, however long or short it may be.
My hands curled into fists, and I looked at the Black Bow of Fate leaning next to Mito's scythe. With that bow… I'll free all the kids like you that are trapped Aki.
Kya and I had tried multiple times to get Aki to stay at that home for children that had been established early in the game on floor 1. However, just like me, my sister was stubborn. She had refused to leave Kya and I, she said she wanted to be there when the both of us cleared the game, so that way she could see her big brother, and future big sister become the heroes she knew we were.
Would Aki have still considered me a hero? Her hero, after all the lives I had taken? One day, perhaps soon, I'd ask her.
Argo smiled, her eyes still quivering. "Ha… you know, you really do know how to make someone feel special, don't you Akiri-boy?" She wiped the tears away with her sleeve, and the normal Argo smiled returned. "Thank you…you too Mi-chan. I… I didn't know who else to go too."
"Of course, Akira's right, we'll do everything we can to find your informant, and those kids," Mito said, her ruby eyes looking at a map of floor 1 she'd opened up. "So, again, do we know if this is really a player, or an NPC? Maybe it's a special invasion quest that triggered somehow."
Argo sighed and shook her head. "Doubt it. A player has to at least be the one taking them, most have disappeared from inside town, or in their rooms, only a player could get by all the security, no NPC paths will go that way."
I chewed at my lip looking at the list. "I… hate to ask but how… do we know any of them are well… you know, still alive?"
"Yanni hasn't disappeared off my friends list," Argo said, with a forlorn look. "And the lady who runs the children's home says the same thing about the others, and they wouldn't just run away, the ALA wouldn't let them out of town without supervision."
"Could it be someone in the ALA?" Mito asked.
Argo's hand curled, and I saw the claws come out. "I don't know, for the first time… I have no ideas. I hate not knowing things!"
Mito nodded as well. "Yeah… we have painfully little information to go off of then. Hey, Akira… you think we should get ahold of Kirito and Asuna? We could use the extra eyes and swords."
I shook my head and slid off the stool, paying off the remainder of my tab at the bar. Grabbing the Black Bow of Fate, I came between Mito and Argo shaking my head.
"Kirito and Asuna deserve their honeymoon, if things get really bad we'll get ahold of them for some backup," I said, smirking at the two of them. "But the three of us? I say that isn't a bad team, let's get moving."
I went to my inventory and switched my outfits. In a brilliant white flash, my body was enveloped, before my Black Archer armor appeared, the leather armor down my body and arms, the archer glove, my black cloak, and the quiver of arrows all appeared. To top it all off, I went to my second weapon slot, and after one button press, the Sword of Takis appeared at my side, before I turned and saw Mito smirk as she hopped off her bar stool.
She did the same, a white light enveloped her, and her brilliant Knights of the blood armor appeared, it was white with purple trim, and she tossed her cape over her shoulder before grabbing her scythe, being careful not to hit any nearby patrons.
I smiled at her and held up my fist. "Let's do this Vice Commander."
"You bet, Vice Commander?" She said, giving me a fist-bump before I turned to Argo with a sarcastic smile.
"Argo the Rat, I Akira, the Black Archer, one half of the Black Storm Duo," I said, adding as much sarcastic flare as I could, "Vice Commander One of the Knight's of the Blood Oath, hereby accept your quest, I vow to complete it on my honorably honorable honor as a knight. Let us go forth!"
Mito tried to hold back it back, but it didn't take her long to start cackling with laughter. "Ahahahaha, you… you sound just like Bols, and the Commander! AHAHAHA!"
"Right? It's ridiculous, isn't it?" I said, only making my fellow vice commander double over more.
Argo watched Mito laugh, and the looked at me with a roll of her eyes, but a smile. "Ha… you sure are something, you know that Akiri-boy? You gotta be so dramatic?"
I shrugged and winked at her. "Hey you're the one who gave me those nicknames after all, remember?"
Argo sighed but kept smiling. "I guess I did… come on you two, lets get moving. Two Vice Commanders and the Rat are about to solve a mystery."
Few seconds later, Argo pulled up her menu, and a window appeared in both Mito and I's screens.
Argo invites you to join a party, do you accept?
I smirked, locked eyes with Mito, and we both nodded.
With a click, the party was formed, and the three of us turned to head all the way back to floor 1.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Akira
"Wow… it… it looks so… so small now," I scoffed, as the archway into The Town of Beginnings passed over my head. My eyes fell to the streets. "And… much less crowded."
"That's to be expected…" Mito said next to me with a sigh, before we passed by one street, and a small weapons shop. The purple haired scythe wielder stopped in front of the window with a grim smile on her face. "Ha… this is where we bought my first scythe… and…Asuna's first rapier."
I stopped with her in front of the weapon store, the NPC shopkeeper looking out the window without moving. The prices of items were what caught my eye, I could remember when we first came, Aki had wanted almost everything in the shop, and I at the time though that some of the prices were absolutely outrageous. Kya had promised that after a few floors, those prices would look like absolutely nothing.
As with pretty much everything, I learned eventually Kya was right. The col prices on some of the weapons I saw now were nothing but pocket change to me.
"I could have bought sixty bows with the amount you spent on that stupid wine you didn't even finish," I told Mito, looking in at the rack of bows in the shop.
"Oh no worries, I'm saving that for a special occasion," She said, leaning on her scythe as we both looked inside the shop. "Maybe right before we hit floor 100? You, Kirito, Asuna and I can have a massive party at their fancy new cabin."
"Now that is an idea I can get behind," I told her. "You never did tell me, where did you and Asuna go to school before all of this?"
"You never asked her?"
I shook my head. "I don't even think Kirito knows her full name like me and you do, we're close but I never asked her."
Mito nodded and sighed. "We went to some fancy school in the northeastern district… you never would have guessed we were friends. I spent all my times at arcades and Asuna was the popular girl, the girl everyone wanted to be, the one who could make everyone feel special and smile."
"Ha… sounds like Asuna, that's for sure," I said, sighing and shaking my head. "She… has always kinda reminded me of Kya."
Mito nodded again. "You never would have guessed we were such good friends… I was actually really happy when I saw she dived into SAO that first day. Kya… you said that was your girlfriends name, right? The red-headed beta-tester?"
It was my turn to nod, a small smile coming to my face. It was dark outside, only the streetlights illuminating Mito and I's view of that small shop. Some people were out here and there, but the streets were mostly empty. We had both passed a few ALA player guards, but after showing them our player cards, confirming us as Knights of the Blood Oath they didn't dare give us any problems.
Argo had gone straight to the orphanage. It was late at night and if whoever was doing the abducting was around, Argo didn't think it was smart for her to be seen with two Vice Commanders, if they had saw Mito and I, they would probably run. So, Argo was making sure the orphanage was safe for us to go investigate. Mito and I had been trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible in the half hour or so since she had gone.
I smiled and nodded at Mito, my chest tightening. "Yeah… she was… well, to put it bluntly, the best person I've ever known. Best archer too."
Mito chuckled. "Ha, even better then you are?"
"Miles better, it wasn't even close," I said, pulling the Black Bow of Fate off my shoulder, looking down at the slick black wood in my hands. "My sister and I… she saved us in the real world… and in SAO, once this death game started."
"Your sister… how old was she?" Mito asked hesitantly.
"Thirteen," I said without thinking, a small scoff coming from me. "She… she always said she wanted to be a mangaka, draw and write a manga of her own. Ha… she… she used to say, she was going to name the main character after me, the main hero… a hero like her brother."
"Most younger siblings will see their older ones as heroes," Mito said, a small smile coming to her as she held a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure your sister would be proud, proud her big brothers still fighting for everyone."
"Would she be…." I said, running my hand along the shaft of my bow, a shaky feeling running through my chest. "Do… you ever think about it Mito? What life will be like if we do ever make it back? Having to live with everything that's happened here?"
Mito stiffened, as we both turned and leaned against the building. She looked up at the starless sky with me, her black scythe leaning next to her.
"I… I try not to. I worry if I start thinking too much about what comes after, it'll distract me from the most important thing, which is actually getting out first," She said, not looking down from the sky. "What about you? Do you think about it?"
"All the time…" I said with a sigh, my stomach churning. "Most people are like you I assume, and it's probably the smartest thing. You… you all have people to get back too, people waiting by your hospital beds. Me? Well… the only thing I really have left, are the people I met here in SAO. You, Asuna, Kirito… you're all what's keeping me going. I don't know if I'll be able to reach my dream in the real world… so that's why I'm trying so hard here."
Mito looked down at me finally, her ruby eyes sparkling. "Akira… if… if I got back to the real world and well… well I didn't get to meet you? Well… well I just want you to know that… that it would really, really make me sad, so… so please, don't talk like that, okay?"
I managed a smile back at her. "Ha… Asuna and Kirito said similar things. Thanks Mito. You're really amazing you know that? I don't know what I would've done without you."
Even in the dark night I saw her face get red, she stammered for a moment, before crossing her arms and looking away from me.
"We… well thank you!" She said, far too quickly to not be suspicious, still not looking at me. "You're right, you would've been completely lost without me! And… and just to be clear, I'd be disappointed not to meet up with everyone who survives, not just you! Not… not that you're not a special case because you are, just, don't get any ideas okay!"
I did my best not to laugh, my chest growing warmer as I looked at her. Holding up my hands I chuckled and nodded.
"Of course, I won't get any ideas, none whatsoever," I promised her, crossing over my chest.
She sighed and her shoulders slumped. "Okay… okay good… but I wanted to ask," she said, finally looking back at me now. "You… you said you had a dream you might not be able to reach in the real world... but you may be able too here? What was it?"
Promise me you won't let this world change you, no matter what, you'll always be Akira, Aki's big brother… the boy I love.
I slung the Black Bow of Fate over my shoulder, and my fists clenched.
"To…be a hero," I said quietly, but just loud enough for Mito to hear. "To… to be that hero that Aki always told me I was. To save everyone that I love from any hardships they have to face… to save everyone that I can."
Mito smiled again. "I… I think that's a great dream. Why can't you do it in the real world?"
"Because… well… the family I had is gone," I told her, that day playing in my head again. "I… I already failed at it… but maybe I can do it again, in SAO…I can save everyone."
Mito shook her head. "You didn't fail, Akira."
I managed to smile. "Ha… Asuna always told me the same thing. But that's enough doom and gloom, come on, I need too-."
I was cut off by a somewhat familiar sounding animal cry. Mito and I's instincts kicked in, my hands went to the quiver of an arrow, and Mito reached to grab her scythe. The alley was deathly quiet for a moment, the digital hair on my arms started standing up, as Mito and I scanned for where the noise came from.
Mito shook her head. "You heard that too, right?"
"I did, and with disappearances going on, we can't be careful," I said, looking down towards the main street where the noise had come from. "If that was Argo messing with us, I swear-. GAH!"
A flash of bright blue came flying around the corner with another cry, it was far too fast for me or Mito to see, let alone try and attack with any of our weapons. Something clung itself to my head, and for a minute all I could see were bright blue wings.
That was when it clicked, and I groaned as I tried to get myself back up to my feet after falling. The familiar was a small dragon, one I recognized, Kirito had introduced me months prior.
"Akira! Stand still, I'm going to hit it, I won't cut your face I swear!" Mito said, sounding rattled as I saw her raise her scythe.
"No! It's okay Mito," I yelled to her, holding up my hand and struggling to my feet. The dragon cawed again and sounded absolutely elated as it detached itself and started floating in front of me. I scoffed as I looked at it, shaking my head. "Pina? What the heck are you doing here, why aren't you with-."
"Pina!" A higher pitched voice came from around the corner, followed by someone else that I knew. Her hands fell to her knees, her large brown pigtails familiar to me. "Pina, why did you fly off like that! What's gotten… Akira!"
"Silica?" I said, as Pina cooed next to my head ad flew back over to the young beast-tamer. I scoffed as she looked over at me with stars in her eyes. "What are you doing here, I haven't seen you in months!"
Silica smiled as Pina cooed and flew back to her, before she started over towards us. I had met the younger beast-tamer when Kirito introduced me to her a few months prior and hadn't seen her for a while since. Kirito and I had both been down on the lower floors, after she said she asked for help finding some special materials that could improve Pina's healing abilities. I was happy to help, and Kirito as usual never turned down someone in need despite liking to act like he was a loner.
Pina in particular had really taken too me, both Silica and Kirito both surprised by it. Little did they know, Aki used to insist on taking care of every stray animal we came across for as long as we could even when we lived in the streets. The amount of kittens and puppies I'd had to help her take care of was more then I cared to count at the moment, and apparently a small dragon wasn't too different. It was even easier for me too, when Silica had told me Pina was named after her cat in the real world.
And as for Silica herself? She reminded me so much of Aki it made my chest hurt. If her hair had been blonde instead of brown, they could have passed for twins. They both even had the same, 'I'm much larger and tougher then my size gives off' mentality. The only difference was Silica didn't have someone to look after her in the game, she had full dived by herself. Of course, she had dozens of people who loved having a cute young beast tamer along in their party, but she'd told me since she met Kirito and I, she'd been much more selective about her parties since the incident where she first met Kirito, even staying solo for most of the time.
It may have worked out well for her in the end, because she was alive, and Aki wasn't. More and more I realized each day, that my overprotectiveness could have been what got Aki killed.
"I know, Akira, it's so good to see you!" She said, clinging herself around my waist as Pina settled in on her head.
I managed a laugh, my chest hurting even more. Aki would only be a year younger then Silica was now if she had been alive.
Hugging her back, I nodded. "It's good to see you too, but you didn't answer my question, what are you doing down on floor 1?"
"Well, it's sort of embarrassing really…" She said, looking sheepish and nervous as she let go of me, her hands behind her back. "I come back here at least once a month to well… see if this was all a dream, see if maybe there will be another announcement in the sky, saying we can finally log out. It's stupid I know… but I just want the hope."
I shook my head. "That's not stupid at all, don't worry. It's… really good to see you, after the last few weeks I had, it's nice to see another friend."
Silica's big brown eyes looked elated as she looked up at me, she smiled and nodded. "I know what you mean… I've been kind of lonely, I miss you and Kirito. Is… is he with you? The two of you are normally together."
That made me nervously laugh. I knew for a fact that Silica knew Kirito and Asuna were dating, or the closest thing to it, that had been their relationship status last time Kirito and I saw her. I wanted to be honest, but I didn't have the heart to tell the girl- who obviously had a massive crush on Kirito- that he had gotten married and was currently on his honeymoon.
"He… uh… well," I started, shooting to my feet and trying to avoid both Mito and Silica's weird looks. Finally, I cleared my throat and shook my head. "He's on an important mission! A field boss is giving us trouble on Floor 75, and we sent him to deal with it, right Mito!"
"What?" Mito said, utterly confused for a moment. She looked between me, and Silica now looking at her and after a minute seemed to get what I was trying to do, finally the look of realization appeared on my fellow Vice Commander's face. "Oh! Oh, uh, yes! Yes, he is! Very important, it's been giving us tons of trouble."
"Oh…." Silica said, obviously sounding disappointed, Pina cooing on her head. After a minute however, her bright smile returned. "Well, maybe when he's back, the three of us can go questing again! I've been thinking about coming to the Assault Team, and I'll need to level up if I want too!"
I smiled at that and breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Silica, Kirito had told me he was the one to give her the armor and dagger she had now. Despite her age, I knew for a fact that Silica was a great fighter, if a little timid still, which was understandable given her age.
"That sounds like a great idea," I told her, looking over and gesturing to Mito. "I don't have Kirito, but Silica, this is Mito, she's one of my daring, glorious fellow Vice Commanders!"
Mito punched my arm and rolled her eyes, which made Silica laugh.
Silica giggled again and bowed her head. "It's very nice to meet you Mito, any friend of Akira's is a friend of mine!"
Mito smiled after her eye roll and looked at the younger girl. "It's nice to meet you too Silica, and you too… Pina?"
The tiny dragon cawed, and Mito seemed to find it extremely cute, so did I, a part of me wished I had a pet dragon.
Behind Silica, I could see the streets of town were getting thinner and thinner in terms of people, and a part of me wondered where Argo could be. However, now that I knew Silica was here, my senses seemed to heighten. If whoever it was that was conducting these kidnappings was targeting children and younger players, I needed to watch after her.
"Yup, this is Pina!" Silica said, petting under the dragons chin, before smiling back up at the both of us again, her gaze turning to me. "I'm happy to see you Akira, but you didn't tell me why you were here. I heard about Kirito's duel, and him joining the Knight's, but I didn't expect to see him or you down here anytime soon."
Mito answered for me. "Well, we've come on a job actually, a favor for Argo."
"The information dealer?" Silica asked.
I nodded, my arms crossing. "Yeah… actually, maybe you'll know something. Silica, have you heard about the kids going missing in town?"
Silica's eyes widened, she seemed to shrink. "You… you're both here to investigate that? I… I heard about it. I almost didn't come when I heard but… but then I decided to be brave like you and Kirito! I… I can take care of myself a lot better now, me and Pina both!"
I breathed out a sigh, and locked eyes with Mito. My purple-haired companion smiled at the words, and I couldn't stop it from coming to my face as well.
Looking back at Silica I nodded and patted her head. "Ha, I'm sure you are. Don't worry, Mito, Argo and I are going to take care of this, we'll figure it out."
"I know you will!" Silica said, Pina cooing in agreement. She smiled, but after a minute her nervous look returned, her face getting red. "Ha… but… but would you mind if I stayed with you while you do? I've… been kinda nervous the last few days here alone with all of that going on."
My chest ached again… but it oddly felt pleasant, she is so… so much like Aki.
"Of course you can," I said, scratching Pina's chin as the dragon floated in the air. "We're just waiting for Argo to come back, she went to see if she could get any info from the orphanage before we went over."
"Yeah, and she's late, starting to worry," Mito said, crossing her arms and leaning on her black scythe.
I shook my head. "Argo's tough, she'll be alright. I just wish we could do something now, that we had some kind of-."
"Oh! I think I know something that can help!" Silica pipped up, making Mito and I look down at her with surprised eyes. The younger girl laughed, her hands behind her back. "I was getting food at the inn! I heard some ALA soldiers about a strange cave just south of here, I asked them more, and they told me that higher level mobs have been spawning!"
Mito and I looked at the girl, floored.
Mito spoke first. "They… just told you? That's probably a guild secret for them."
Silica even smirked as she laughed. "Haha, people like to tell me things. You'd be surprised."
"I'm not," I said with a smile. "Good work Silica. Mito, what do you make of it?"
I knew from previous games, that anytime higher-level mobs started spawning on lower floors, it was never good. In a lot of games, the first floor would often have multiple secret dungeons or quests you were only meant to come back too when you were a higher level. I was sure that all over Floor 1, there were caves and dungeons nobody had accessed yet, it was part of Mito and I's jobs to watch for any quests starting on the lower floors. It was part of the reason the guild had hired Argo.
I would put nothing past Kayaba at that point, a quest where children were kidnapped sounded right up his alley.
Mito held her chin between her fingers. "Mhm… well, it does sound kind of vague. Silica, did they tell you anything else? Maybe what kind of mobs they were?"
Silica-who seemed very pleased-nodded. "Yeah, they said they were like well… demonic veins and plants. Black, oozing goo… it almost made me sick."
"Kya and I explored Floor 1 pretty thoroughly, can't remember anything like that," I said, looking at Mito now. "What about you?"
"Same here, Asuna and I picked this place dry, and there wasn't anything in the beta test I can remember," She said, picking up her scythe. "It has to be a special quest some player activated to trigger the mobs… we know it has to be a player abducting the kids."
Silica shook. "But… but why would they do something like that?"
I sighed and slung the Black Bow of Fate off my shoulder. "Maybe the quest gives you the option to side with whatever's unleashing the mobs… we need to move, I-."
"Akira, Mito! We got a problem!" A voice said, and the three of us turned to see the familiar form of Argo, rushing around the corner, breathing heavy as she pulled her hood down.
The blood started rushing through me like a river, my stomach fell to my feet like a bowling ball, as Mito ran and grabbed onto Argo's shoulder.
"Argo! What is it?!" She said, and Argo finally looked up, but before she could say anything her eyes fell on Silica and Pina.
"Huh? You're that tiny dragon kid, what are you doing here it's dangerous!" She said, her eyes wide, and I could see her claws out and ready.
It was just then, that I realized her HP bar had taken a hit up in the left-hand corner of my vision.
"I… I know, but… but Akira and Mito told me what's happening, I want to help!" Silica argued, her fists clenched in determination.
Argo looked up and winced. "You're crazy kid! The guy just- GAH!"
"Argo!" I yelled, catching her as she almost fell, and pulling a healing crystal from my inventory and breaking it near her. "What the hell happened; you're hurt!"
"Thanks for informing me Akiri-boy," She groaned out, and me and Mito helped her stand up straight. The Rat looked panicked but let out a shaky breath. "That bastard got me good, big as a damn bear!"
"He showed up?! The one taking the kids?" Mito asked frantically.
Argo slowly nodded and looked at us. "Was talking to Sasha, the lady who runs the place, when we heard screaming, caught the bastard sneaking in a window. I… I tried to fight him off, but he's got an axe, cut right through me, claws didn't do no good."
"Are the kids, okay?" I asked, going to my inventory and checking my count for arrows, I had been to see Liz the day before, so I had plenty.
Argo nodded and finally regained her breathing. "Yeah, Sasha has some ALA guys watching the place. I… I chased the big guy off, he ran-."
"South…" Silica said, her voice as shaky as a leaf. "Akira, he… he's probably…"
"Heading towards that cave," I said slowly, my fists shaking as I closed up my inventory and looked at Argo. "Can you still go?"
Argo scoffed, her claws coming out again. "You bet your ass I am. I'm not letting this bastard get away!"
I nodded and looked to Mito, my eyes narrowed. "Ready?"
An angry look flashed in Mito's eyes, her scythe glinting in the moonlight. "Of course I am."
"I'm coming too!" Silica said, mustering all the bravery she could, Pina cawing in agreement on her shoulder. "I can help, I promise!"
I turned, and managed to smile, patting her head again. "I know you will, just stick close to me okay?"
Her face got a little red, and she slowly nodded, and it was like a hot needle injecting fire into my veins.
Aki… she gave me that look so many times, she even did… right before that day…
Every fiber of my being was screaming to keep Silica in town, to protect her that way, to keep her as far away from the fighting as possible.
But I had tried to do that with Aki, tried to stop her from fighting, from being herself, being who she wanted to be… and it had got her killed. I didn't want to make that mistake again. I thought about all the kids, even younger then Silica now, who were surely trapped in some demonic quest, wishing to be back with their parents in the real world.
I thought about Sasha, the lady who sacrificed so much to run the orphanage to watch the kids who'd been trapped in Kayaba's twisted game.
Be a hero… save everyone, be the hero Aki said you were, come on Akira!
My fist clenched, and I opened my friends list. I sent Silica an invite to the party Argo, Mito and I already had, and she understood right away. The beast-tamer nodded, pressing accept, and soon, I saw her name pop up in my vision right under Argo's name.
I let out as relaxing a breath as I could muster. "Okay… come on, let's get moving!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"You see right here?" I said, kneeling down and running my hand across the dirt road. "The tracks veer off in this direction, and look, some of the plants and trees are wilting, that must be from whatever quest this is."
"Ha, I love your maxed out perception skill Akiri-boy," Argo said from behind me, fully recovered from her scrap with the assailant earlier.
Silica looked on in awe. "That's amazing Akira! It's the middle of the night and you can still see!"
"That's Akira for you, he's Vice Commander two for a reason," Mito commented, looking at me as I stood up. "Although he has tendency to sleep through our daily meetings."
I gave her a healthy roll of my eyes, which made her and Silica laugh. Argo knelt with me, the moonlight giving me a good look at the angry, determined look on her face. I'd never seen Argo like that, it was a chilling sight.
It'd been easy to follow the man's tracks, and from the size of them I could tell he was as huge as Argo had described. We'd only been walking for around twenty minutes, but with only the light of the digital moon it was hard to see. It was as quiet as a graveyard, and I knew every well we could be walking into one.
No mob had spawned yet, but I could see other tracks which looked like they'd been left by a snake or something that drug along the ground. It sounded like it could easily be the demonic plants that Silica had described, and the thought chilled me. Anything that spawned on floor 1, that the ALA described as 'high leveled' had to be dangerous.
Chewing my lip I looked back at Silica, who seemed ready yes, but as I looked off at the trail of prints, I noticed she was within arms reach of me.
She's afraid… but she won't say it, just like Aki was, I can't blame her, I thought, letting out a calming sigh, and sliding out an arrow, and pulling the Black Bow of Fate off my shoulder.
"Okay, single file, Mito, you take up the rear," I ordered, going into 'Vice Commander Mode', to give orders as Asuna often did herself. Turning to Argo I nodded. "Argo take the middle, keep your darts at the ready. Silica, you stay on my tail, I'll take point, let's go."
Mito chuckled but nodded. "Yes sir, Vice Commander."
"Got it Akiri-boy," Argo added, before Silica nodded, Pina perched on top of her brown pigtails.
"Okay, stay tight, and let's go," I told them, sucking in a breath, and moving through the small cluster of bushes, keeping my eyes down on the tracks.
My listening skill being so high was paying off as well, I could hear every little chirp of crickets or other bugs, and the crunch of leaves and twigs beneath out feet as we moved. I knew there had to be a clearing ahead, but the cold night wind of Aincrad didn't let up, making the treck a bit harder then it had to be. Behind me, I could feel Silica right on my back like I'd told her to be, and I heard the metallic ringing of Mito's black scythe moving to ward off any small birds, bugs or animals that got too close.
My blood had been running cold since Argo told us why we came down to floor 1, but it was like ice ran through my veins then. I couldn't get it out of my head how easy this was, why would the one abducting the kids be so brazen as to try it so early in the night? It was only now about midnight, it was well known the ALA patrolled all night, the patrols did thin out as it got into early morning, they had to know that.
Eventually, after crunching leaves and following the tracks, I finally did see the clearing up ahead… and the minute I did, I held up my hand to stop the ones following in behind me.
"Argo, your perception is highest besides mine, come with me and check this out, somethings not right," I said, looking out at the clearing, my mind going a mile a minute. "Mito, you stay with Silica."
"That doesn't look promising Akira… you see the entrance?" Mito said, Silica attached to her hip now.
I turned and nodded. Closer to the mouth of the cave, it was disturbingly colored red around the stone, and on the ground, with my perception skill, I could identify the tracks and worst, blood stains easily enough. The moon being out, the gentle chirp of the digital crickets, it was looking more and more like a horror movie with each second.
Argo shook her head. "We'll be careful, come on Akiri-boy."
"Be careful!" Silica said, Pina on the top of her head.
"I will, don't worry," I told her, before turning to Argo. "Let's go."
She nodded, and ever so slowly we both made our way out of the brush. Under our feet the leaves crunched, which still amazed me to this day. In my heart I knew this world wasn't the real one, but it would have fooled anyone.
I raised up my back elbow, and kept the Black Bow of Fate aimed high, as Argo walked backwards, keeping pace behind me. With each step we took, something felt more and more off to me, it sloshed around in my stomach like a washing machine. A horrible taste rested in the back of my throat, I didn't know what happened to my real body if I barfed in game, but it couldn't have been anything worse then what already surely happened to it.
"Ugh, that stench," Argo said, covering her nose with her arm. "You smell that? It's like a dead animal, is it coming from the cave?"
My hand went to my nose as well. Argo was right, the minute I stepped into the small clearing in front of the cave, the smell attacked my senses, and for a minute, my bow dropped.
"I can smell it over here too," Mito shouted from the brush. "It's like something's rotting."
I looked around where Argo and I were again, and it was nothing except the treeline, bushes, large patches of tall grass, and of course the cave entrance. It didn't make any sense; with my perception skill I could see it now if I looked closer. All around us, in the bushes, at the base of the trees, were small clouds of gas with a poison symbol on it. A player wouldn't have been able to survive there for long, so how could someone had run there?
"You're right… but how did I not see it earlier?" I muttered to myself, looking at the cave entrance again. "I should have smell it from a mile away, or seen the clouds… I wonder…"
"It looks clear though, besides the smell," Argo said, looking over at the brush. "Mi-chan, dragon girl, you're good, let's get moving."
"Okay… I don't like this," Mito said, waving at Silica. "Come on Silica."
I saw Silica nod. "Okay… maybe it's-. GAHH! WHAT IS THAT?! WAIT, PINA!"
The dragon cried out, and shot off Silica's head. A sharp whistling sound hit my ears, and after Silica, I heard Mito yell, and then Argo behind me. It was like a needle stabbed through my ear drum, I dropped the Black Bow of Fate, as my hands clamped over my ears. I knew mobs had attacks like this, voice attacks and loud frequency's could mean anything, but all I worried about right now, was how dizzy it made my vision, as small bits of my HP and stamina bar were dropping.
"GAHHH AKIRA, WHAT IS THIS?!" Mito yelled, stumbling out of the bushes and towards Argo and me, but that was when she looked up and screamed. "LOOK THE BUSHES!"
I heard the rustling and scrambled to pick up my bow, before Argo yanked me to my feet, my vision was still cloudy, but after a few seconds, my ears adjusted to the ringing, and I looked up to see what it was, it took a lot to shake Mito of all people.
And I couldn't blame her.
"I… I think I'm going to be sick," Argo said, a hacking cough coming from her.
"Oh my god… Kayaba… you sick freak," I said, struggling to stay up as my knees shook.
The bushes and brush around us started moving, and from them, sprouted only what I could describe as small, crawling plant like snakes. The slithered on the ground, but on their backs spouted massive black jaws like those carnivorous plants you learned about in school, and thought were pretty cool, until you learned they trapped pray in their jaws and used acid to dissolve them. Just like Silica said the soldiers had described, the oozed black smoke around them, and secreted oozing midnight colored goo wherever they slid.
"Akira, I count at least twenty… and… and more coming," Mito said, warding off the slithering creatures as they emitted a snake like hissing sound from the ground.
"This doesn't look good… we need backup!" Argo said, her claws outstretched, and I could see a dagger appear at her hip.
The hair on my arms stood up, the pit of my stomach had erupted, as I saw the health bars appear above the mobs, as Argo, Mito and I tightened into a triangle at each other's backs.
I found my voice to read the names. "Bluebeards demonic friends…Bluebeard? I know I've heard that name somewhere before."
"A player?!" Mito shouted, gritting her teeth as they got closer.
I shook my head, my heart almost beating out of my chest. "No! I… I think I remember, it's a historical name, it's what they called-."
"Wait… where's the dragon girl?!" Argo yelled, and that was when my chest stopped and like a car skidding after going full speed, it felt as if it was racking across my ribcage.
"SILICA!" I yelled, turning towards the cave where I saw a flash of blue.
"Pina wait!" Silica yelled, rushing towards the dragon who was hovering and flapping its wings in front of the dark entrance to the cave.
That's when it clicked. I had been right, there really had been no possible way the man we had been chasing got caught like he did. There had been a way for him to sneak into town undetected to take the kids. It also explained why I hadn't smelled the mobs earlier, and why inside the cave, I saw two massive shadows stirring.
And I realized, no matter how adorable Silica was, no regular ALA soldiers would have just told her about such a discovery at the inn.
"IT'S A TRAP!" I yelled, dropping my bow and darting towards the cave entrance. "SILICA STOP!"
"AKIRA!" Mito yelled, just as the first 'demonic friend' leapt at her.
I heard Mito's scythe cut through the air, before I could hear Argo start screaming as she lunged, but I didn't turn around, and within a few long strides I found myself right next to Silica as one figure in the shadow lunged forward.
"NO!" Silica screamed, falling and tripping backwards, as an axe blade cut through the air.
"SILICA!"
She fell backwards into me and grabbed around her with one arm. I raised up the other one just as Mito and Argo screamed again, the demonic mobs making their attack. My bow had fallen when I started running, so it was all I could do to fall backwards with Silica just as the axe blade cut down, straight through the middle of my forearm.
"ARGHHHHHHHHH!"
"AKIRA!" AKIRA!" "AKIRA!"
I heard all of them scream at the same time, as I kept my right arm wrapped as tight around Silica as I could and as I saw my HP drain and the handicap icon appear under my HP bar, we rolled and eventually she fell out of arms, and the first thing I heard again was her yell.
"AKIRA! AKIRA NO!"
It was followed by Pina's cry, and I heard the fighting happening behind me as I winced and groaned looking at my left forearm. In front of my, was the Black Bow of Fate. My mind was hazy, and I was seeing triple of everything, but I grabbed it and made sure to roll around and sling it around my shoulder. Shaking while I did, I held up my now stump of a left arm and cursed.
It… it'll take at least fifteen minutes for my arm to grow back, I thought hazily, as I felt a hand grab me up under my arm, and then blinked when I saw Argo snapping in front of me.
"AKIRA! YOU OKAY?! COME ON!" The Rat yelled in front of me, as I saw Mito spinning like a black whirlwind around me.
I had seen Mito fight in plenty of boss raids, but she fought like a woman possessed now. One slithering plant beast snapped at her from the ground, she swung upwards with her scythe, and when another leapt at her from the right, she leapt, spun the scythe around her back and cut through it with ease. She spun back around and looked at Argo and me, her eyes widened, and in my hazy fog like vision I watched her rush at us.
Her scythe slung through the air and a crescent of black shot from the weapon, her skill activating and cut in half another of the beasts, before she leapt and slashed downwards after getting over Argo and me. The tip of her scythe skewered another beast, as she stopped in front of us.
"AKIRA! You okay?!" She yelled back at me.
I tried to answer, but I could only groan and grab my new stump of a hand, as the hissing from the demonic beasts got louder, and the smell had gotten worse.
"His hands gone! He won't be shooting anytime soon, this is bad!" Argo yelled, shooting up from where she had been kneeling next to me, her hand cutting across the air.
Her claws cut through a snake that would have zapped the rest of my HP. My bar was in the yellow, and I could already feel the movement penalty starting to slow down my body.
"Sil…Silica…" Was all I could croak out, as I pushed myself up to my knees.
I heard hissing behind me, Argo and Mito had been pushed back, and I looked up to see two of 'Bluebeards demonic friends' slithering towards me. I wasn't shooting any arrows anytime soon, but just as they went to leap, my HP dropped below 35%.
My hand shot to The Sword of Takemikazuchi at my waist, and the minute I touched it, its special ability activated, and I could even see lightning spark from the sheath as I queued up the correct sword skill.
"LIGHTNING GODS SWORD!" I screamed out the skills name, and a crackle of electricity shot from the blade, not only killing the two demonic plants, but sending a blast towards more that were coming.
I barely had time to be satisfied with myself, before as I finally got to my feet, Mito and Argo had closed back in next to me… and the enemy HP bars only continued to grow.
"There… there's too many," I said, grinding my teeth as I looked down at my hands slowly, but surely reforming.
"We need to call for backup!" Mito said, waving her scythe forward through a beast. "There's too many, and they're the same level as us!"
"It was a trap, bastard got caught and made us chase on purpose…" Argo hissed out next to me, she had a dagger in one hand now.
"Mito… Mito do it," I said to her, turning back to the cave. "Silica where… where's-."
"LET ME GO! STOP IT!"
"SILICA!" I screamed, as with the loud snap of someone's fingers, all the beasts stopped, the screeching that had been in the background stopped, the poison stopped, and most importantly, ever person standing there stopped.
"Well, well, well… what do we have here? More lost souls who have come to see me perform my miracles?!" An entertained voice said, and my eyes darted to the mouth of the cave.
Two men stood there, one was as large as house, with the familiar green ALA helmet on. He had large, meaty hands, and a shaved head, a massive axe in one hand, but more importantly, he had Silica grabbed in his other arm, the beast-tamers dagger had been knocked away. A small distance away on the ground, I saw Pina was unconscious, the icon for it above the dragon's head.
Silica kicked and screamed. "LET ME GO! GET OFF OF ME!"
The man-I saw the name read Rayudu- squeezed tighter around her, and Silica screamed.
"STOP IT! LET HER GO!" I yelled, but before I could do anything else, I stumbled and felt a stinging pain in my now stub of a left arm, the Sword of Takis wavering in my right.
Rayudu, didn't move, and that was when Argo came and hissed next to me.
"You bastard! What did you do with all of them?!" She yelled, and I had to hold my arm out to stop her from charging. "I swear I'll claw your damn eyes out!"
"There's at least a dozen Knights of the Blood Oath on their way!" Mito yelled after her, her hands going white gripping her scythe. "You won't stand a chance once they get here!"
I knew Mito was lying, she hadn't called for backup yet. A part of me wanted to open my window and send a message to Asuna and Kirito… but with only one hand, and the fact it was shaking with my sword in it, I knew it was a bad idea.
It… it's happening again, all over again! I thought, looking at poor Silica trying with everything she had to escape the massive man's arms.
That day, that day happened over a year ago now.
And… and it's happening again! I walked us into a trap, I walked everyone I'm trying to protect into a trap again! What the hell is wrong with me!
"Ohhhh, that sounds dangerous I love it!" A voice said, but it wasn't the voice of Rayudu who held Silica, it was the man who stepped out behind him.
And that was when the name Bluebeard finally clicked, and my history nerd brain remembered where I'd heard it before.
He was tall and skinny, he held a long slim rapier in one hand, despite not looking like a swordsman. Around us, the plant beasts, 'Bluebeards demonic friends' stood hissing and snapping their jaws at us, while this man stepped in front of Rayudu. His robes were long and bulky, an intricate, upside-down golden cross necklace sat around his neck, and his eyes bulged out like a fish.
"Please, will they be here soon?! I would simply adore company!" Bluebeard said in a cooing, twisted voice, and finally his HP bar appeared above his head.
"He… he isn't a player," Argo said next to me. "He must be the NPC who started the quest!"
"Akira, you said you recognized the name? Most NPCs and monsters are based off historical monsters and people," Mito asked, keeping her eye on the demonic plants.
I slowly nodded, regaining my composure, and keeping the katana pointed outwards towards the player and NPC.
"Bluebeard… that's what they call Gilles De Rais," I said, trying to project my voice through the pain, my eyes narrowed at the robed, fish-eyed figure. "That's who you are, aren't you?! Gilles De Rais!"
"Oh, what a smart, smart player you are, so very smart," The man said, giving Rayudu a poke in his ALA armor with his rapier. "Just like Rayudu here! He was smart, he accepted my offer and brought me so many lovely, lovely new friends! Are you all here to be my friends as well? You young man, and your lovely companions?"
"You sick bastard Kayaba…" Mito muttered angrily behind me.
"Akira, who is this guy?!" Argo hissed, looking at Silica, Bluebeard and Rayudu who held the beast-tamer.
I chewed at my lip, and felt my chest erupt. "Gilles De Rais was a French general in the time of Joan of Arc. Earned a bunch of honors, but after he retired… he became an occultist, he was convicted of murdering over a hundred children. Ever seen Fate Zero? He was the caster servant."
"That guy?!" Argo yelled, her hand balling into a fist as it shook. "That bastard Kayaba turned something like that into an NPC?!"
"I'm not surprised…" Mito muttered; her scythe pointed outwards.
"LET GO OF ME, STOP IT!" Silica tried to yell again, her voice scraping the back of her throat, her eyes wide, and finally they turned to me. "AKIRA!"
BIG BROTHER.
"Oh hush, hush now my dear, you get to make wishes come true!" Bluebeard said, twirling as he seemed to be dancing. Finally, he turned back to me. "Young man, are you the leader of this party? If you are I must ask you the same question I asked Rayudu here…what is it you most desire?"
"To cut you out of existence…" I growled back, my sword pointing at him. "And I'll do it, I have no problems killing an NPC."
Bluebeard tisked and shook his head, walking back and holding an arm up around the massive form of Rayudu. "Oh, but that will not due! Look at how loveable Rayudu is, would you deny him his wish? I offer you the same as him, all you must do if provide me with enough life force, and I will make your greatest desire come true!"
"NPCs don't have that kind of power!" Mito yelled behind her shoulder. "No item is worth so many lives!"
For a minute, I was angrier at Rayudu then I was at Bluebeard, at least he was an NPC who's actions were preprogrammed.
Bluebeard laughed. "Oho, that is where you're wrong! I can make all wishes come true! Go on, tell them Rayudu, tell them what it is you wish for!"
I was about to interrupt; the man Rayudu hadn't said anything yet. Silica punched at his chest but wouldn't budge.
However, Rayudu finally spoke, only five words, but words that chilled me.
"I wish… to go home," He said, and after he did, my arm only shook more.
To go home… no… no that's sick, I thought, looking into the bald man's eyes, and I saw no reservation.
Argo said the words before I could. "You're insane! You think some NPC is going to be able to log you out of the game?! They don't have that kind of power; they can't control your Nerve Gear!"
Rayudu was unmoved, only gripping harder onto Silica, who he squeezed to get to stop trying to pry his grip away.
"Do not underestimate my skills young lady," Bluebeard tisked again, looking over at me again now, his 'friends' hissing around him. "So young man, what will it be? Do you wish to go home as well? Rayudu has done most of the work, you need only assist for the final stretch! Join now while you can!"
The NPC held out his bony hand, and a message appeared on my screen.
Quest Activated: The Tale of Bluebeard.
Option A: Kill Bluebeard and his Demonic friends
Option B: Help Bluebeard, and have your greatest wish granted.
"That… that sick, sick, twisted bastard…" I said, my sword dipping as I looked over at Bluebeards outstretched hand. "How evil can one man be…"
And I'm not even talking about Bluebeard….
My eyes fell over to Silica, the puzzle had finally been put together now. Rayudu had been told by Bluebeard he could log out if he sacrificed the lives of enough players. The easiest targets were of course the children, with Rayudu being in the ALA, and being at the Town of Beginnings, it would have been easy for him to bring Bluebeard into town and nab as many children as they had.
It was insane, demonic, and anyone should have been able to know an NPC couldn't log them out of the game. I had thought about it, Kirito and I both had been wondering the same thing for months together, where was Kayaba, where was he watching us, would he really be able to let us all log out if we even beat the game? The best solution we came up with, was that he was in a lab somewhere in the real world, and had settings linked to every Nerve Gear that had been sold.
Argo was right, an NPC didn't have that kind of power to control the Nerve Gear itself.
But… how desperate is he? I thought, looking at Rayudu, his one arm around the thrashing Silica, the other holding the end of his axe. What can I do?!
The answer was easy, I had to save as many people as I could.
I looked down at my very, very slowly regenerating hand, and then at the bow around my shoulders. I had been training and practicing with Kirito for months now, but I was still nowhere on his level, all of my experience was with my bow, if I could use it, Bluebeard and Rayudu wouldn't have been a problem.
But you'll have to just make do, come on Akira!
"Mito, Argo, I'm going for Silica, keep the mobs off of me," I said, turning The Sword of Takis in my hand. "After I go, Mito, use you AOE attack, buy yourself time and message the Commander for help, got it?!"
"On it Akiri-boy," Argo said, her claws coming out again.
Mito nodded. "Okay, be careful Akira."
"Well?! Come then boy, time is running out!" Bluebeard said, as I turned back to see his hand still outstretched, and the options on my screen.
"A…AKIRA!" Silica yelled again, as she thrashed.
My one good hand tightened around the gold and black hilt of the Sword of Takis. My HP was still below 35%.
I looked up at Bluebeard and saw the rapier. I didn't know if he would be any good with it or not, in history he had been a French general, so he had to have some skill with a sword, but in things like Fate Zero, and it seemed now he was more of a mage type character, so I mentally reminded myself to look out for more attacks then just the sword.
Rayudu was big, and he'd hurt Argo, which was no small feat. He was also in the ALA, and as hit or miss as they were, you had to be good to enter.
But I'm Vice Commander two for a reason…
Lightning cracked at my hand as I queued the sword skill, and when my head shot up, another crackle of lightning shot out from the sword.
"I think I'm sticking with my original wish; I don't need your help for that!" I shouted, shifting my feet as I saw the katana start glowing in my hand. "I'm going to cut you in half, LIGHTNING FLASH!"
It all happened in seconds, I hadn't seen Rayudu pick up his axe, so when he stepped in front of the smirking Bluebeard and swung my sword smashed into the large blade of the axe, sending up a massive blast of lightning and sending me flying to the side, as the hissing of the plant like beasts and smell of the poison they emitted came back. I rolled and landed next to Pina, who was just coming too, the small blue dragon flapped its wings and when it saw me it cried out.
"PINA!" Silica cried out, and I rolled back to my knees to see her shouting from her place trapped in Rayudu's grip. "PINA, HEAL AKIRA! NOW-."
"Now that is enough from you small girl," Bluebeard said, and with a flash his rapier poked across Silica's cheek and my teeth almost bit through my tongue.
"SILICA!"
"AKIRA! MOVE!" Mito shouted, as I looked and saw her spinning in a black whirlwind, the blade of her scythe cutting through the air. "BLACK SPIRAL VORTEX!"
A massive swirling cloud of black energy appeared at the end of Mito's scythe, and spun it above her head, sending out the AOE attack around her and Argo, vaporizing and sending the demonic friends shooting back.
Near the cave entrance, I noticed Silica had been knocked unconscious, a poison appeared under her name in the party window, just as Pina cried out next to me again.
I turned and the dragon's mouth opened, it didn't restore my hand, but it brought my HP back up to full, as I scooped the Sword of Takis up from the ground, just as Mito's most devastating attack started to spread, killing more and more of the beasts, and when Bluebeard saw his numbers were lowering, he let out a low growl.
"Such a disappointment! Come now Rayudu, we must prepare for the sacrifices!" He said, turning back to the cave and tapping Rayudu on the shoulder. "You can go home soon Rayudu, how wonderful is that! Quick now!"
And with a quick turn, his robes fluttered and he darted into the cave with Rayudu. The large man held the unconscious Silica in his arms, he looked and met my eyes for only a moment, and I could see the smallest trace of regret, before he turned and moved after the NPC.
"No… NO! SILICA!" I yelled, Pina crying out behind me as I made a run for the cave.
"AKIRA! WAIT, BACK UP IS-." I heard Mito's voice start yelling, but the minute I crossed the threshold into the cave, everything went black, the only light I had the slight glow of Pina who floated next to my head.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Damn… Pina, I need you to float just in front of me, okay?" I told the dragon, wincing at the pain I still felt from my missing hand. "We'll keep on after Silica, and we just have to hope Mito and Argo can find a way into the cave."
Pina gave me as enthusiastic a cry as the small dragon could muster, which I appreciated, and once it flew in front of me, while I still didn't have great vision, I could see the cave winding up ahead of me. It didn't seem to have any branching paths, but it was pitch black all around, and I could only hope that it led me right to Bluebeard.
"Thanks Pina," I groaned, tightening my grip around the sword on my right hand. "Kirito always said this could happen, he's never going to let me live it down when I tell him."
What if you lose a hand and you can't shoot? You'll need to sharpen up your sword skills incase that ever happens! I didn't think it would ever happen really, but I was learning that while he was stubborn as could be, Kirito was smart.
I wished they were there. I knew for a fact Kirito and Asuna wouldn't have let the situation get this out of control. Kirito would have spotted the trap a mile away, and then Asuna would have gotten us ready with potions, called for backup earlier, and let the assault and planning herself, it was just how they were.
And they'd saved me dozens of times, and hundreds of others, all while I just came along for the ride and provided ranged support and funny one liners now and then.
But they're not here to save me now… this time, I have to do it. I chewed at my lip, even if I wanted to send them a message now, it would take some time for them to get there. I pulled up my inventory as I followed Pina's light and scrolled to the linked teleport crystal I had for Asuna. Like I thought, the cave was a trapped one, I wouldn't be able to use any teleport crystals in here, and they wouldn't be able to get to me. The only other ones who could have told them were Mito and Argo, and they were pre-occupied I was sure.
I could only hope that Mito got a message to Heathcliff. He had given the both of us leave to go investigate the situation, so he knew exactly where we were, and Mito was still outside the cave, so they could teleport to her.
As if the universe was reading my mind, I walked a few more steps, when a message dinged and popped up on my screen.
From Asuna,
Check it out, he may be able to handle a sword well, but a fishing rod is apparently too much!
I clicked the attachment and found myself watching a hilarious five second video of Kirito at the bank of some river with a fishing pole in hand. He was glaring at Asuna from the ground where the hook had caught him on the hand, and the line for it was sprawled out everywhere.
And I would have laughed if I wasn't in the middle of a dangerous quest.
A new message came seconds after.
From Asuna,
We're both doing fantastic, and we hope you aren't pulling your hair out too much. The both of us actually have something we could really use your help with. I'm sure the commander will give you a day or two to come and help us out, mind lending us a hand? I know we can always count on you, let me know when you can come by.
I sighed and looked down at my left hand and mumbled. "I'd love to give you a hand Asuna, but unfortunately, I only have one at the moment…"
As much as I loved the Sword of Takis and felt as honored as could be about using one of the 'gnarliest swords in the game' as Lisbeth would put it, I could still practically feel my left-hand throbbing, desperate to shoot an arrow.
I'd help Kirito and Asuna later, the message worried me, if they were calling for me to help them, they had to have some important news.
"But right now…" I said, as I saw light around the bend. My eyes widened and I took off in a run with Pina flying next to my head. "SILICA!"
I knew Bluebeard had to be waiting, I was expecting a trap, but even still, I barely saw the axe swinging for me the minute I came around the corner.
Pina cried and got out of the way, but I fell backwards, the blade of Rayudu's axe cut off a piece of my blonde hair. I saw it fall to the ground as my back hit it, and then I saw the blade of the axe above my head.
"I am sorry," Rayudu's low drawl of a voice said, and I had time to be surprised for only a minute before it came down.
I rolled out of the way and with my one hand scooped up the Sword of Taki's and came up with it pointed towards the man, my blood boiling.
"YOU'RE SORRY?!" I yelled over at him. "Sorry for kidnapping the most vulnerable of all the players?! For believing an NPC can log you out of the game?! You're sick!"
"If there was even a chance, a small, small chance he tells the truth," The large man said, his gleaming silver, double sided axe held over his shoulder, "would you not take it? I will live with the price it put on me… I owe it, I owe it to my daughter to take this chance."
"Your daughter?!" I yelled again, trying to get my baring's of the room while I exchanged words with the man. "You have a daughter, and you're going around kidnapping kids like her?!"
The inner chamber of the cave was massive, and all around were black unmoving statues, which had the name 'Bluebeard Sentinels' above them, all arms with large swords. I had played enough games to know that they would probably come to life soon.
"Yes, that's good Rayudu! Do not let him shake your resolve! You will be home soon!" A booming voice said, and I looked and up a small set of stone steps, I saw Bluebeard… and Silica.
"AKIRA!" She shouted, trying to stand up, only for Bluebeard to shove her back to the ground.
What could only be described as a stone altar was below a massive brazier of fire. Next to the steps were two massive stone pillars. Silica was the only one awake of at least twenty young child players. Silica's dagger was gone, and Pina cried upon seeing her next to me.
Bluebeard spun, his rapier flashing and his bulging fisheyes falling on me. "Oh, young man, I ask you do not try and sway dear Rayudu! I merely want to grant his wish, I will send him home, isn't that generous of me?!
Just like I had hoped, I saw him start down the steps, his bulgy eyes trained on me. Behind him, is saw Silica stirring and looked up at Pina.
"Pina, go to Silica, I'll keep them busy, go!" I told the dragon, and after a worried cry it nodded and flapped its bright blue wings, flying towards its master.
Like I had hoped again, Bluebeard didn't notice the dragon, and if Rayudu had turned, he knew he'd be cut apart by me. Finally, Bluebeard stopped next to Rayudu, brandishing his rapier towards me, his tongue bit between his mouth in a twisted smile.
I let out an easing breath and held up the Sword of Takis. My HP wasn't below 35% anymore, which I didn't mind, I'd just have to use the sword skills Kirito and Asuna taught me, instead of The Sword of Takis own skills. I looked at the weapons of Bluebeard of Rayudu both and knew Bluebeard would be the faster one.
I can survive his hits, but one cut from that axe is gonna be bad news, I thought, my eyes darting between both enemies and their weapons again. God dammit, if I had both hands and could use my bow, this would be no problem!
I had gotten good with a sword, probably on par with most of the knights, while still lagging behind someone like Kirito, Klein, Asuna or Heathcliff. Asuna had been right; I had been relying on just my bow for too long. But it wasn't even not being able to use my bow that worried me.
It wasn't having my other hand. My balance was thrown off, and Kirito had always said to me that balance was the key to staying alive in a sword battle.
Okay… enough complaining, I can probably hold them both off for long enough and beat them… that is if it's just them, I thought, my eyes going around the room. But I know these statues will probably come alive, probably after I do a certain amount of damage to Bluebeard. Okay then… I just need to stay alive long enough for Mito and Argo to break through. I can't use my bow… unless… that's it, I see it!
Letting out a calming breath I shook my head. "The Knights are on their way Rayudu. You can still change this around, if you do, I'll make sure you don't end up in prison."
"You didn't answer my question… if there was even a one percent chance this is real," The large man said, his voice trembling now, and finally he exploded. "WOULD YOU NOT TAKE IT?! WOULD YOU NOT TAKE IT TO BE WITH THE ONES YOU LOVE AGAIN?!"
My arms began to shake… if only he knew.
I shook my head at him. "I would… but there isn't even a one percent chance, this isn't real Rayudu, he can't log you out, no matter how hard you wish it."
"Ohhhh and how do you know that boy?" Bluebeard said, his fisheyes darting towards me. "After all, I am a part of the Cardinal system! Do not underestimate my power!"
"My daughter…" Rayudu said, pulling the axe from his shoulder with both hands now. "I spent so… so much time on games, in VR worlds… I missed it all, all the growing up she did, and… and now… now it's really taken me from her! So yes… yes Black Archer… I WOULD DO ANYTHING, EVEN IF THE ODDS ARE 1% IF THERE'S ANY CHANCE, I MUST TAKE IT!"
My mouth fell open, and I saw the tears coming from the man now. Even less then a one percent chance… would I take the chance if it meant I could have Aki back?
No… no, because I'm going to go and be what Aki wanted me to be.
I looked at the cluster of unconscious children from the orphanage at the top of the altar, with Silica just starting to stir with Pina, and thought how easily Aki could have been one of them.
"No matter how much it hurts…keep moving," I said to myself, my voice not loud enough for them to hear.
"Oh yes! Yes, yes, yes Rayudu! I am so very happy for you; you get to go home!" Bluebeard said, his eyes turning to me now, as his rapier raised up. "After we deal with this wretch!"
"Set your heart ablaze… just like you said Aki," I said quietly, looking up and seeing them both come at me. I let out another breath, and queued up the sword skill, seeing my plan play out before me, it was a risk, but my only real chance.
They took their first steps towards me, axe and rapier raised, and that's when I made my move.
"VORPAL STRIKE!"
The first skill Kirito taught me unleashed, and I blasted forward with my sword pointed out, trailing smoke behind me. I flew Bluebeard and Rayudu making them both dive out of the way, but I didn't hit them, I had hit exactly what I was aiming for behind them.
At the steps leading up to the altar, I had seen two stone pillars, and with the power of my sword skill, the one on the right cracked and started falling. Silica yelled above me, and I saw Bluebeard and Rayudu recover and turn towards me again.
"SONIC LEAP!" I yelled, just before the one pillar fell, cutting across the other and making them both fall down towards one another.
The tips of them both smashed into each other, before falling forward, forming a narrow stone corridor, both pillars about as tall as a person. They both pointed out towards what would be the battlefield, but not far enough the fight couldn't take place. Bluebeard and Rayudu recovered from their shock and rushed towards me, I heard Silica yell my name from above the steps, but I ignored her and dropped the Sword of Takis.
"AKIRA!" She yelled, and that was when I saw Rayudu rush ahead of Bluebeard, getting only meters away.
Please… please work! I didn't pray often, but I did then, and pulled the Black Bow of Fate off my back, the corridor was so narrow the bow didn't even fit long ways across it.
And that was exactly what I had hoped.
"I'm the Black Archer…" I said, holding the bow sideways, before jamming both ends of weapon into the fallen stone pillars. "If I don't shoot at least one arrow in this fight, I'm going to lose my title…."
"YOU BASTARD, YOU'RE RUINING EVERYHTING!" Rayudu cried, as he was only steps away.
But that was plenty of space.
I reached my one good hand to the quiver across my back, my black cloak blew back behind me, as I pulled out an arrow, and with the pillars holding my bow horizontally in place, I knocked it and with my one good hand pulled the string back as far as I could.
Rayudu raised his axe, just as I got it as far back as I could.
"METEOR SHOT!"
The arrow grew bright red, and it fired from the bow as if I still had both hands. It smashed into Rayudu sending up smoke and blasting the man back, the arrow finding home directly into his chest. The power of the arrow from such a close range sent him across the room and smashing into the wall of the cave next to the unmoving statues.
"Rayudu! NOOOO!" Bluebeard yelled, falling to his knees. "My servant! Who will gather me my souls now!"
"I'm sorry…" I said, my voice shaking as I looked at Rayudu's body slumped against the wall.
Small digital blood leaked from the corner off his mouth, his eyes rolled up into the back of his head… and then he croaked once more, before shattering into digital data, his nerve gear killing him back in the real world.
And then… I found my arms shaking, my eyes stinging.
It's always easier to think… to think that every person you kill in Aincrad was really a criminal in the real world, to not think about what they used to do there.
I had never asked before. What had Kuradeel, or the members of Laughing Coffin I killed, done in the real world. I never stopped to ask myself that question, I didn't even know the names, the real names of who I killed.
But in this instance… I didn't know his real name, but I knew that Rayudu had been a father, a father who wanted to not lose any more time with his child.
"I… I…" I started, unable to finish my sentence, looking down at my shaking, trembling right hand. I couldn't even stop it, since my other hand was still not grown back yet.
"No… no… you… YOU LITTLE WRETCH!" Bluebeard screeched, grabbing onto his hair, yanking at it as he spun around to me. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND LOYAL SERVANTS?! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS DEARLY!"
He came faster then I had expected, he practically flew through the air, and I just had time to scoop up the Sword of Takis from the ground and meet his attack with one of my own. I swung upwards, the Black Bow of Fate was still trapped between the pillars, all I had left now was my sword, and I needed to use every bit of what Kirito and Asuna had been teaching me now.
All this time they had taught me sword skills, I'd need to pay them back and teach them to shoot soon.
Bluebeard lashed out, my thoughts that he could be a mage like character were proven wring as with each thrust I could feel his attacks getting more powerful, and finally after we exchanged a flurry of attacks and parries, I saw his sword glow and in a flash, he lashed out, his rapier like a whirlwind in my eyes, and it was all I could do to deflect a few of the attacks, but I saw my HP bar start to dip into the yellow as the point of his sword cut across my arms, and one got me across the eyes.
I stumbled back, right to the wall where Rayudu had died.
And my blood boiled again.
"You… you monster! YOU MONSTER!" I yelled, holding up the Sword of Takis. "I'LL DESTROY YOU! YOU HEAR ME?! HOW COULD YOU PRAY ON PEOPLE'S DESPERATION LIKE THIS!"
"Ohohohoho, I tell you once again boy!" Bluebeard said, stalking towards me with his rapier pointed out. "Don't underestimate my power! I can make any-."
"I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU!" I yelled at the NPC, my arm shaking still, my cloak flying up behind me. "I can't get to him…. SO, I'M GOING TO TAKE MY ANGER OUT ON YOU!"
"Oh I love it boy! I l simply love it!" Bluebeard said, practically bouncing on his toes. "I love it when my prey, when wretches like you fight-. GAHHHHHH!"
My eyes widened. "SILICA!"
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Silica yelled, holding both hands onto her dagger for dear life, as it was lodge into the top of Bluebeard's back. Pina cried out and blasted a green cloud towards Bluebeard and when it hit the man, Silica finally leapt back with a graceful flip and landed on the ground with her dagger pointed.
"GAHHH ARGH, ARGH YOU LITTLE BRAT!" He yelled, scratching at his eyes with his long nails, scraping bits of flesh off his face as Pina's breath was melting him where he stood.
But then he turned around, his sword glowing bright blue towards Silica.
NO… NO NOT AGAIN!
I saw it. Poh's cleaver, Aki's back, her protecting me with her last breath, like Silica was now.
It wouldn't happen like that again.
Be a hero, save everyone you can!
Silica fell back, her dagger wasn't enough to stop the rapier. Pina tried to fly closer, but Bluebeard knocked the dragon aside as he went for the stab.
"NO!" The Sword of Taki's glew blue, and I swung upwards after lunging forward towards the two of them. "STAR SPLASH!"
The same skill Asuna taught me that day sprang to life, and Bluebeard's rapier was knocked away, the eight point combo unleashed and on the last thrust it sent Bluebeard flying backwards.
I turned around after he flew back and knelt towards Silica. "Silica!"
"I… I'm sorry… I… I just got in your way," She said, as I helped her up to her feet, Pina worriedly flying towards her head and healing her with a blue cloud.
I shakily sighed and smiled down at her, patting her head. "No, you saved me, you did great, thank you."
Her eyes widened, and I saw her blush as she giggled nervously and grabbed her dagger from the ground. "Ha… thank you… you… you saved me!"
"We aren't done yet," I told her, as Bluebeard started cackling as he got up from the ground, only a small bit of yellow left in his HP bar. "Stay close to me and keep Pina handy to heal up both, okay?"
"R…right!" She said, standing next to me with her dagger at the ready.
The best news was that my hand had finally grown back. The Black Bow of Fate was still wedged between the pillars, as I wasn't going to reach it. However, once it was back, I flexed the now regrown hand a few times and took them both up to my sword, and looked as Bluebeard shot from his feet, into the air, he floated above the ground and cackled, his bulging eyes looking down at Silica and me.
"You… you think you have won!?" The NPC cackled, shaking his head as black smoke began to form around his hands. It released and flew around the room towards the unmoving Sentenals. "YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE TRUE POWER OF GILLES DE RAIS!"
"He's bringing the statues to life!" I yelled to Silica, as she pressed up against my back, Pina floating above both our heads. "Silica, stay close, if we kill him, they'll probably die!"
"COME NOW CHILDREN! COME AND DIE IN AGONY!" Bluebeard yelled, as the swords of all 'Bluebeards Sentenals' rang out and the group of at least thirty of them that had been inside the cave closed in on us.
"A…Akira!" Silica said behind me, just as Bluebeard started to descend back to the ground.
I spun and saw two massive black figures baring down on Silica with their swords raised. She had drifted away from me, but when I tried to rush for her, I just barely had time to move from Bluebeards rapier, which would have skewered me through the back of the head.
"Where are you going boy?! FIGHT!" He screeched at me, as I rolled back to my knees.
I wished each second that went by for my bow, and when I turned I screamed again.
"SILICA!"
One sentinel came down for her, but Silica dodged out of the way and cut her dagger across his heel. It fell to the ground and she stabbed it in the back, but another smacked her away, Pina rushing after her to heal her with its breath attack, but the dragon wasn't enough to deter the sentinel from swinging down at her.
She tried to raise up her dagger, and for a minute I thought I wouldn't reach her, but them a dagger flew through the air and impaled the sentinel in the back of the head.
"NOT ON MY WATCH!" Argo yelled, as I saw her head of golden blonde hair leap up to the sentinel's head. She reached around and cut her claws across its neck, and black smoke oozed from it before the Rat grabbed her dagger and leapt next to Silica.
"You okay dragon girl?!" Argo said, pulling her to her feet.
"A…Argo! Thank you…" Silica said, grabbing her dagger.
They made it! But where's-.
"NOOOOO! NOT LIKE THIS!" Bluebeard yelled, trying to skewer me again, but I heard him moving, spinning around and parrying his blade and readying my skill.
"SONIC LEAP!" I yelled, letting loose the skill and leaping forward, knocking him back, just as more black sentinels marched towards us.
"AKIRA!" Argo yelled, rushing up behind me with Silica, just as we got surrounded again by the black soldiers.
"We need to get Bluebeard!" I told them both as we formed a triangle. "Where's Mito?! If we kill Bluebeard we-."
"CRESCENT MOON SLASH!"
That answered my question. I hadn't seen a group of two black soldiers coming from our left as Mito's skill smashed into them. Her purple pony-tail flew up behind her and with a spin she slammed her scythe into the ground and black energy shot back all the soldiers coming for us.
"FAN OUT! Destroy the enemy and secure the kids, MOVE IDIOTS!" She yelled, her ruby eyes narrowed towards Bluebeard and the enemy.
"Ha, you certainly know how to make an entrance," I compliment, as from behind me, I had never been happier to see the at least dozen Knights of the Blood outfits.
I saw Bols, Yato, Harp, the surprise was seeing Nautilus, the boy rarely if ever came on raids, but I saw him rushing for a group of soldiers with Yato blade in hand.
"Ha… they… they actually came," I said, as the pressure on Silica and I let up. "Silica… you… you okay?"
My HP bar was in the yellow, but my stamina was all but gone, my head pounded, as I watched the Knights take down the sentinels.
"I… I'm okay," She said, grabbing my arm without even realizing as Pina fell to her head.
"What about you? You alright Akira?" Mito said, turning around to me, a small smile on her face. "I… I got really worried when you went off yourself."
I scoffed. "Awww, Mito you were worried about me?"
Despite being in the middle of the battle, Mito's flustered, and red face was noticeable as she shook her head.
"Of course, I was worried about you, you stupid idiot!" She said, crossing her arms and turning away from me. "I… I would have been like that with anyone!"
Argo snickered. "Ohhhh she was worried alright, damn near brought her to tears!"
"Argo!" Mito yelled, spinning back around.
Argo laughed and elbowed me. "Your list will be as long as Ki-boys soon Akira."
I rolled my eyes at that, that wasn't happening anytime soon.
"Um… what list?" Silica asked gingerly.
Argo scoffed. "Tell you when your older kid, but now we should-."
"I SHALL NOT SURRENDER!" Bluebeards voice screeched, and my sword raised, along with the rest of my party, as we looked up and saw the NPC's fish like eyes darting to the multiple white uniforms around him.
"Sick bastard, let me do it," Argo hissed next to me, and I was inclined to let her go about it.
But she didn't get the chance.
"I SHALL HAVE MY SOULS! MY PRECIOUS!" Bluebeard yelled, his rapier spinning wildly, as the Knights closed in. "I WILL HAVE MY-."
"The Knights of the Blood Oath," a voice came from behind me, and I felt my stomach begin to whirl when I heard it go on, "will be there for all players, no matter the level or floor."
Bluebeard's eyes widened. "WHO ARE YOU TO-."
A sword skill shot forward with a giant beam of white light. The one who unleashed the skill stood tall, his blade skewered through Bluebeard chest. His shield pushed the NPC villain off the blade to the ground, before he disappeared into data.
My shoulders scrunched together, and I rolled my eyes as he turned and looked at my party.
"Argo, thank you for bringing this to our attention," He said, the stoic look not leaving his face as he looked to Silica. "And… Silica, correct? Thank you, for your assistance."
"Ehh no problem big guy," Argo said, her hands behind her head.
Silica's eyes widened. "Th… thank you… um, sir!"
He nodded, then looked to me and Mito. "Mito, excellent work as always."
Mito bowed, her scythe against her shoulder. "Thank you, Commander."
I finally sighed and looked to meet the man's eyes, despite not wanting too.
"And you as well Akira, good work," Heathcliff said in his hard tone. "I expected nothing less from you."
I wasn't going to say anything back, but Mito elbow to the gut changed that.
Sighing I finally looked up at the man. "Thank you… Commander."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"That's my report, are we done now?" I said in an annoyed voice, wanting to leave that meeting chamber as soon as possible.
"Yes, thank you for your report, Akira," Heathcliff said from his chair, before going and pulling up his inventory. "You showed incredible bravery, great honor, you know that?"
I rolled my eyes. "I was just doing what was right, it wasn't for honor. That's just some made up excuse people use to justify rushing to their deaths like this is some kind of fantasy."
The meeting chamber was empty except for Heathcliff and I. Mito had given her report with me a few minutes prior, before Heathcliff asked for the room alone with me. Argo and Silica were waiting back at the inn and after telling me to 'not say anything stupid', Mito had gone to join them. My hand which had once been missing was back completely yes, but it was still throbbing, and under my HP and stamina bars I saw quite a few debuffs, and I wanted nothing more than to drink and sleep before leaving to see Kirito and Asuna the next day.
But as always Heathcliff had to rain on my parade.
Heathcliff did something foreign next, he laughed. "Ha, you certainly are right, I'm inclined to agree with you Akira."
I had already turned around to leave, but when he said that my blood started to boil.
"You, what?" I said, turning back around to him. "Are you serious right now? You're the one who's always going on in meetings about the 'honor of the guild', or how we have to fight 'honorably', and clear the floors in a 'noble' fashion. And you're telling me now you agree with what I just said?!"
"That is correct," The man said as he stood to his feet. "However, I am of the impression that if talk such as that being a 'crazy role-player' as you so often call us, helps sooth the players of this world, then I must do what I can to help them."
I scoffed at the man, tossing my black cloak behind me. I desperately wanted to take it and my Black Archer armor off and get into my casual outfit.
But Heathcliff continued to be an enigma to me. "That's ridiculous, if you treat this like a fantasy, if you don't treat this world as real, you die, simple as that. I'm not fighting for 'honor', or because I like roleplaying as a fantasy archer hero, I'm doing it so everyone can go home."
Heathcliff nodded, and slowly walked out in front of the council table.
"Yes, and that is the exact reason I have you in the guild Akira," The Commander said, leaning back against the table. "Have you not ever wondered why I still have you in your position, allowed you to take over Asuna's position, despite you making it very public you hold a great disdain for me?"
I crossed my arms and met his eyes. "I wonder that every day, to be honest, I've been actively trying to get myself kicked out."
Heathcliff scoffed and waved his hand. "I never took you for a liar, Akira."
"What did you just say to me?!" I snapped, my fist curling at my side.
Heathcliff gave an infuriating smile. "You left the guild before, Akira. You know as well as I do, you'd be more then welcome to leave again if you wished, you make it clear you do with your words, so why don't you?"
"Oh, believe me, I think about it every day," I said indignantly. "But to answer your question, I don't because I just know you'll find some way to rope me back in anyway. You always get what you want, don't you Heathcliff? You wanted Kirito to join, so you finagled your way to get him, you wanted me the second time, so you hung over my head the one thing you knew I wanted."
The sun was setting as it streamed into the room, but it didn't blink as I gave Heathcliff my best Asuna like glare.
The man shook his head. "You and Kirito both could have easily both simply ignored my requests. After the raid on Laughing Coffin, you could have simply went back on your word if being a part of the knights makes you so miserable."
"I could have… but all I have left is my word," I told him, turning around and showing him my back. "And besides… Asuna is the reason I didn't, I wanted to help her."
"And therein lay the reason I wanted you in the Knights Akira," Heathcliff said, before I could start walking out. "You are someone who values the lives of others, more then you value your own."
I stopped after one step, why did that comment have to ring so true? I wanted to continue walking out indignantly, but Heathcliff went on.
"I know what happened to your wife, and your sister," He said, making me really stop in my tracks now, my back to him still. "For that, you have my sympathies. You see, a tragedy such as that, would have caused most men to lose their spirit, lose their will to go on, but you? You've turned that tragedy into a desire to protect others from experiencing such loss."
I wanted to scream, to quit the guild there and then, all the horrible words I wanted to say to Heathcliff over the months were at the top of my tongue, how dare he even mention Kya and Aki at all?
However, those words weren't what came out.
"You can thank Asuna for that," I said through my gritted teeth. "Her and Kirito, they're the reason I fight now, and Mito, and Argo, Silica, the people I met here are the reason I fight still."
"Then I must thank Asuna for giving Aincrad one of its best hopes," Heathcliff said, still looking at my back. "I truly believe that it will be you, Kirito and Asuna standing with me when we reach the Ruby Palace. That is because the three of you understand that this world, this world is very, very real. Others do as well, but they would prefer their minds put at ease by 'roleplaying', I do not see a problem with it, if it gives them some form of peace."
"That's where we'll disagree…" I told him, my eyes falling to the ground. "I believe you encouraging it, throwing around words like honor and glory? It does nothing except make them ready to throw their lives away."
"Then let us agree, to disagree on that topic Akira," The Commander said, his voice growing sterner. "Let us come to an agreement then. You can continue fighting with us Knights the way you have been, I will assist as I have been, and in the meantime, I will keep the morale of the remaining fighters up by being a 'ridiculous role-player', as you so put it. That way, we keep our progress clearing the floors, and let people continue to put themselves at ease."
I looked down at my two balled fist stuck in my black gloves. The upper halves of my fingers stuck through them, and for a second, I wondered how pale my skin had gotten in a hospital bed back in the real world. I wondered about everyone, every players bodies back in the real world, and what it would be like when we one day returned to them from these perfect virtual bodies we were given these past two years.
Heathcliff and I had different views as he said, but I could see the bit of wisdom in his words. It made my thoughts drift to Rayudu… if he had followed someone like Heathcliff, had his mind put at ease by enjoying 'roleplaying', by having that bastion of larger then life hope… would he have done what he did?
Had I killed him, before he could figure it out?
"You help save people your way," I said, biting my tongue to keep any curse words from coming out of my mouth. "I'll save them my way. I… I killed someone during that mission."
"Yes, he had been the NPCs accomplice, and put dozens in danger," Heathcliff said. "Do you regret killing him?"
"I…. I don't know," I said, turning just my head around to the man. "And that… that disgusts me, the answer should be yes. But… but I think, maybe if he had some form of hope left, hope you try to give people, he wouldn't have done what he did."
"It is an unfortunate occurrence," He said, holding his hands behind his back. "One, that hopefully will not happen again. So, what say you, Akira? Can we agree to be amicable for the next twenty-five floors?"
I scoffed and turned from him again. "If you supposedly know me so well already, then you already know what I'm going to say."
"I do," Heathcliff said, and I could feel his eyes baring into me. "You are a brave young man Akira, The Black Archer."
"I'm going away for a few days, no longer then a week," I responded, not wanting to accept a compliment from him. "Asuna said her and Kirito needed to talk to me, Mito already agreed to take my spot until I come back."
Heathcliff chuckled. "Ha… what would we do without Mito? Very well, but be prepared to return at a moment's notice, tell Kirito and Asuna the same, we have not heard from floor 75s dungeon mapping team yet, it's my assumption they may even find the boss room soon."
"Understood," I said, finally turning away from him and walking out, waving my hand back at him and in a last second decision I stopped at the door. "Oh, and well… I… I guess I should thank you, for coming when you did. Don't know how long I would have lasted."
"My, is that a thank you?" The Commander said, and I could hear the sarcasm in his voice. "I don't think I ever expected to hear one from you."
"Don't get used to it," I said, finally walking out and slamming the chamber door behind me.
I still didn't like Heathcliff, but I wouldn't deny, that now, I had a small bit more respect for the man then I had the day before.
He was right, we'd both fight in our own way.
And soon… we're going to end this game, for good.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Kirito
I yawned, and with the salivating smell of Asuna cooking breakfast coming from inside the cabin, I sat down on the rocking chair just on the deck. In the two years since the game had launched, I'd been surprised more and more each day with how amazing the weather settings could be day by day. The sun was shining, the wind was perfect.
It reminded me of the day I watched Asuna take her nap, and eventually met Akira later that night. That was the turning point for me, the day that everything in Aincrad had changed.
The day I found the girl I loved, and my best-friend. Akira said it often, but it stood true for me in that moment. Aincrad had taken two years of my life from me, taken so, so much from every one of the 10,000 people who had logged in that first day. If you asked anyone, they would have said there wasn't a chance they'd put the Nerve Gear on again that day if they had a do-over.
When I asked myself that question… I didn't know the answer, because like everyone else, Aincrad had taken so much from me.
But… it also had given me the best-day of my life.
"It's like we always say Akira," I said to nobody, looking out over the forest, the distant lake with a smile. "The VR world, Tokyo… the real world is what we make it."
I believed that was why Akira and I had always gotten along so well, we both believed this to be true. As wonderful as a time as it had been, I missed him the last week, and I knew Asuna did too, probably even more then me. She said they'd spent almost every day together in the last year, and the same could be said for me, it was strange not waking up to a message from him saying where we'd go level that day.
Still… this is really, really even better then I imagined, I thought, going to my inventory screen with a smile and seeing two notifications.
The first was, that my weekly copy of 'The Daily Argo', had been added to my inventory.
The second made smile even more.
"Asuna!" I yelled inside to her. "Did you get a message from Akira?"
"Yeah, one second!" I heard her call from inside.
I went and opened the message with an excited smile.
From Akira,
Dude you seriously can swing two swords at a boss trying to kill you, but you don't know how to fish? Come on man! Don't worry, your official third wheel will show you how it's done when I stop by.
Other then that, you won't believe the story I have for you and Asuna, although my guess is you probably already read about it, as we know Argo works fast. Let's just say I could kiss you and Asuna both for all the sword lessons you gave me, they really paid off in the end, remind me when I get there that I need to show you two lovebirds how to shoot in return.
I hope you two crazy kids are having fun, just not too much fun if you know what I mean. I'm happy for you both, I really am, I haven't met anyone who deserved it more. The quest Mito, Argo and I went on yesterday… it's opened my eyes to a lot of things.
I promise, I'm not going to rest until I can be you and Asuna's third wheel back in the real world. See you soon, I should be there not long after you read this.
After almost choking at the 'don't have too much fun' part, and rolling my eyes at the fact Asuna really had sent those pictures of my fishing failure to Akira, my thoughts went to the second half of his message.
Quest? He mentioned he went on it with Argo, so that probably means…. I thought, closing the message and clicking on my recent copy of 'The Daily Argo'. It dropped into my hands, and right away I rolled it open.
When I saw the title my jaw dropped.
The Black Archer loses hand, but saves dozens on floor 1.
"Kirito-kun!" Asuna said, rushing outside, a copy of 'The Daily Argo' in her hands as well. She dropped down on the seat next to me, "did you see this?!"
I scoffed as I read more and more of the article, detailing the mission. He didn't mention even Silica was there… wow, good work Akira.
"Ha… looks like Akira has certainly had an eventful week," I told her, looking over and seeing her pouting, worried looking face. "What is it?"
She let out a sigh and looked down at the news. At the bottom of the article, was a picture of Akira, Mito, Silica, the Commander and several Knights all walking out of a cave with unconscious children in their arms.
"It's nothing really… we leave him alone for one week and he almost dies," She said with a sigh, leaning her head against my shoulder. "I wonder why he didn't call us for backup."
"Well, it seems like the Knights had it covered, they probably already knew where he was, while we would've had to figure it out," I suggested, smiling and reaching my arm around her. "But we can ask him about it when he gets here, I won't lie, I've missed him."
"So have I, it'll be nice to see him," She said, her voice as soothing as it always was to my ears. "And… if he was just at the Town of Beginnings, maybe he'll-."
"Mommy, Daddy, what are you reading?" Yui's tiny voice said, and I turned with Asuna, seeing our tiny daughter looking up at us.
Asuna smiled, and my chest got warm. She moved over and Yui hoped in-between us on the bench. I ruffled up the top of her hair, and Asuna smiled, showing her the picture with the article and pointing to Akira, standing next to Mito.
"We were reading a story about one of our friends," Asuna said, smiling at the younger girl. "See here Yui? This is your big brother Akira."
Next time, Episode 10: The Girl in Morning Dew: After his adventure on Floor 1, Akira believes he's earned at least a few days of rest. Missing Asuna and Kirito both, he ventures down to floor 22 for a visit to their new home. However, he's stunned to find not only Kirito and Asuna, but a little girl as well! And she's calling him Big Brother?! After discovering where Kirito and Asuna found their new surrogate daughter, he joins them both in trying to find where Yui's origins lay, however, Akira is tormented. Why does Yui have to remind him so much of his own sister?
A/N: How's it going Sword Art fans! I hope that everyone reading this is well and enjoyed themselves during our adventure back down to floor 1 of Aincrad! We're now officially four chapters away from the end of the Aincrad Arc, before we head back to the real world and full dive into ALO, and the next few chapters are really going to heat up!
In this chapter, I wanted to start forming Akira's relationships outside of Kirito and Asuna. Of course, Kirito, Akira and Asuna will be the main group of characters, the main trio until of course Shino/Sinon comes into the picture. Akira's relationship with Kirito and Asuna is something I want to keep deepening of course, but I think chapters like this where he forms bonds with others is important as well.
I was so happy to finally write him and Silica, and then of course, Mito and Argo are some of his most loyal and dependable friends.
Also, not going to lie Sinon is the canonical ship and going to be Akira's pairing, but I very lowkey thought about making it Mito, I just love writing them and when I do they just have such good chemistry together.
Maybe one day in the future I'll write small 'what if' books, sort of an 'alternative' series, that shows what would have happened if Akira had fallen for the other girls, Mito, Argo, Leafa, Alice etc
But in the end, Sinon if his cannon ship, and of course with each chapter we inch closer to that. However, we can't forget about Fairy Dance! I have so much cool stuff planned for that too.
First though, we need to finish Aincrad, and it's going out with a bang, I hope you guys are ready, and enjoying!
