A/N: Back on schedule for your Demon Slayer fix?

Theawesomess1: Missing ya, man. Come back or Silica dies!...cause plot, she's got that...yea.
NetherOrbit: You wouldn't happen to be a Grass Truther, would you?
Thunderwolf: Sometimes inspiration comes with the smallest things. :D

Hey guys, I'm gonna be honest here, the lack of reviews is troublesome. I'd like to receive 3-4 for each chapter, as it helps me figure what works/doesn't work.

Enjoy!

Missing home doesn't have to feel so bad, especially with little things like [Music Boxes]. What's it do, well it lets you do a web search for music, cause that's a thing now. How's it not getting tracked, beats me!

Just enjoy some of your favorite songs, back when you weren't worried about being lunch. Personally, I like it upbeat!

Edit: If I hear depressing/edgy songs one more time from Kirito, I will dye his clothes pink.

- Argo, January 13th, 2023

November 12th, 2022 - Lisbeth, 9:33 AM (Population Total: 494,382)

Walking these golden fields, I couldn't stop my feet from shuffling to a stop. That girl needed help, there were so many pigs though. If I used up my energy, I'd wanna go back to town, doing little chores and get steaming again. Excuses did nothing though, she still needed it. Tugging at my brown vest, I forced myself to look straight.

Why do you talk like that, it's weird.

"Aye, why ya wearin' such big jackets, that's weird!"

An exhale left me, eyes checking for spectators. Could never speak out like that, never in my wildest fantasies. Her words, they were almost word for word what I'd hear all the time. It's like nothing's changed, I was still that brat everyone mocked. Tossing my hair back, my heart squished a bit.

What was he gonna say about it?

March 26th, 2018 - four years ago

A sixteen year old Shinozaki Rika wandered inside. Grey, old painted halls of school left little color, not a hint of deviation, nor variation past splotches of over saturated posters. Crowded with dozens of other students, she was all but a single unit in a river of grey and blue uniforms. She was discernible only in her phenotype, distinctive as a half breed among monochromatics. While bearing mostly Japanese traits, her peers knew better. She wasn't Japanese.

Shoulders nearly touched, contact prevented by subconscious repetition, adaptation to an overcrowded world. Her mahogany eyes darted left and right, catching some schoolmates looking at her with abject mockery.

"Look, it's a gi-yell." one smirked. "Rika, what gender am I?"

"What'd she get in English class, a B?"

"Der hurr." another chuckled. "I is a stupid outsidah."

Rika's Scottish pronunciation of girl, a topic of impolite ridicule by more than a couple of schoolmates. Math, her favorite class was a whole building away, and her tongue was dry, stomach tight. Her cure rested within her red backpack, crammed beside binders and books. Rika, however, couldn't access it, putting on earbuds to drown whatever tripe her peers spewed from the unkempt storm drains of their life's trials.

Listening to vocaloid, her brown eyes kept wary, watchful of anyone drawing near. Some looked her way, a few snickering to their friends.

"She should really do something about those freckles...they're hideous."

"Rika, I'm sorry your Mom's put you through this." one called. "Should've married her own kind."

"Hey, get her to say girl." another taunted, "No, squirrel!"

Common quips, somehow always managing to stick no matter its deplorable frequency. Wandering out to a courtyard of concrete and steel, Rika made her way to building C2, whose thirty foot walls marred with age and aerobic erosion. The sun and sky were what brought most of what little color existed, with equally as much variation in expression from fellow schoolmates.

Reaching and pushing open doors of thin metal and graph patterned glass, she spotted her destination, whose door splayed open and inviting. Sadly for Rika, a familiar face quickly came into view, swooping in like a hyena from her past.

"Hey Rika, how's your mom?" Mutsumi paced beside, tossing her long silky hair aside.

Rika ignored her, Mutsumi sighing as she picked up a rise in what sound echoed out of her earbuds.

"You're gonna go deaf that way, that's just a fact."

Going deaf would be an improvement, she still hasn't gotten over it.

A man of considerable height drew near, familiar to Rika as Shoji, who Mutsumi glanced to without thinking, directing back to her prey a second later.

"So what was your score on the last exam? I mean, it's not like you didn't study aga-"

"A."

"Oh yea, an eighty four. Well I scored a ninety, that's just a fact. This is why you shouldn't mix, but don't worry. I'll hook you up with a good Japanese man."

Shoji kept walking, having perceived nothing of their conversation. Tracking him with her eyes, Mutsumi exhaled, crossing arms. Rika chuckled a little.

"What're you laughing at?!" Mutsumi growled.

"Facts." Rika blinked, retreating to a blank gaze.

"Least my Mom's not slept with a jungle beast." Mutsumi flustered. "Especially one with such an ugly accent."

Rika glared, stopping near her class. Seeing a clenched fist, however, Mutsumi grabbed her collar, shoving her against lockers.

"Okay stupid, I'll cut to it." Mutsume growled, "Say girl, or I'll do it again."

"Piss off!" Rika shrieked, trying to get free.

While males were present in droves, none so much as batted an eye at what occurred in plain sight. Rika wasn't Japanese, a fact absolving them from any onus of morality. If anything, a few simply observed, her cleavage better displayed by Mutsumi's forward pressure.

Rika wriggled and cried, drawing a small canister from her pocket. She sprayed without hesitation, catching Mutsumi in a cloud of highly concentrated capsaicin, eyes watering and face reddening, coughing and gagging before letting go.

"Y-You, stupid!" Mutsumi gagged, falling on hands and knees.

Shaking, Rika wanted to scream, fleeing to a nearby restroom, locking herself in a stall.

I'm so done with today. One of these days, I'm gonna bring bagpipes and play 'em in her ears till they bleed.

Crying quietly, nothing was reported, people passing her stall without quarrel. Rika's backpack was swiftly opened, a bottle of Saki drawn and opened with shaking hands. Her breathing stifled, throat bobbing as she swigged, its taste pumping from her stomach lining to her bloodstream in a matter of seconds.

A warm shiver, cold abated as liquor poured. Moaning softly, Rika stared up at a plain metal ceiling, laughing weakly. A quarter was absorbed in a matter of minutes, only stopped by acknowledging time, Rika corking it with a shiver. A smile grew on her face, hurrying to class. With half the class seated, solace of a quiet space was a granted.

That's just a fact. Wish I never opened my mouth, wouldn't be like this if I kept quiet.

Sitting down, the freckled half Scot quickly looked behind her. In her entire classroom, only one book was available, standard for her experience. And while people didn't bug her, even they had their issues. Most notably, of course was blatant favoritism. Sharing was mostly done between groups of friends, leaving others to fend for themselves.

While the book was contested, Rika came prepared. She extended a selfie stick, an item wielded mostly by self infatuated Western masses, albeit briefly. Modifying it slightly back home, she extended it till it hung over their manual. Hitting a switch, her phone's camera snapped an image. After at least three rounds, she reeled it back, some witnesses giggling. With a set of pictures in hand, she worked equations diligently, awaiting their professor's arrival.

Thankfully this wasn't long, a fifty year old man making his way inside. All students stopped, standing up and bowing their heads, revering him for his efforts. Swiftly ordered to be seated, daily procedure was followed. As anticipated, he drew completed tests from last week, eyes perking fearfully at a thickly filled manila folder.

"For most of you, I'm content." he professed, sorting tests. "Half of you completed with a minimal of three errors. That being said, half of you failed to score above a B."

Rika kept her smile, her teacher simply speaking by rote, considering his age. Passed her grade, however, a bright yū brought her spirits down.

An A?! Not an S? I only missed one question!

She politely requested his word after lecture, to which his answer came swiftly.

"Thank you for your participation, Ms. Shinozaki."

"But sir."

He packed his briefcase, turning and walking away. Staring down at her test, Rika sat down again, rereading her mistake.

I don't get it, what did I miss? The conclusion's correct by even the book's equations.

Two pairs of dress shoes nigh in sync stopped in front of her classroom's door.

"Ms. Shinozaki?"

"Eh?" she turned.

Two older men, with a deeply red faced Mutsumi stood.

"We'd like to speak to you."

November 12th, 2022 - 11:48 AM

My mind snapped back, those mountains so close, their shadows nearly hung over me. Was it her that drove me to spray, or the drinks? That's a question I've never answered, cause to this day I hadn't forgiven Mutsumi. Was approaching a lake, stopping when I felt something touch me shoe.

Some kind of statue, maybe half a foot tall rested against a tree. Looked to be made of Earthy metal, maybe bronze or copper, looked weird though. Its pedestal'd crown looked like a hunk o' rubbish, its bottom flat, base rippled slightly, its top surface jagged and rough.

Decided to keep it, might have a use later. The lake ahead was beautiful, reflecting so much color, its vast expanse leaving me wanting to wade. Taking out a bucket, I scooped up a good sum, seeing if I could store it away. Sadly it wasn't as I hoped, me bucket stayed, but it was emptied, dry too.

With mountains seated north of it, there was no doubt a trek was needed. Waves lapped against sand, swishin' about so calmly, my shoulders slumped. About half way across, someone was resting, seated along a northern shoreline. Was a portly guy, least fatter than I was used to back home, he was fishing out here. His gaze averted right at me, remaining pretty calm as I approached, even waving at me. Thick goatee, was definitely Western.

"Morning." he nodded.

"Aye, mornin'." I bowed my head slightly, averting my gaze from him.

"Where's your group? Getting mine something nice for dinner."

Question irked me a bit, though he seemed harmless.

"I'm...actually looking for someone, said he was headin' up here?"

"Is his name Kuradeel by any chance?" he leaned back. "I'm Yuri, by the way."

"Lisbeth." I bowed my head briefly. "I don't remember his name specifically, think it was Garr?" I shifted, crossing arms. "Could be wrong."

"Ooh, yea he's here." Yuri perked. "Might still be asleep." he looked towards the treeline. "Leopon?"

Something rustled in a nearby bush, Yuri leaned closer to me.

"Don't mind her, she's just a bit-"

"Yuri, you completely broke protocol."

A blonde woman of Japanese complexion emerged, wearing surprisingly colorful gear. With a thin blade at her hip and a shield strapped to her back, her gaze on me remained serious. Placing hands behind my back, this Leopon was quick to close in, on my arse like a wolf.

"When someone comes by, you don't reveal your guard's position." she growled at Yuri.

"Okay fine, I did that." he shrugged. "But for real, does she look like a threat?"

"This game runs off stats, you could have an eleven year old wielding a [Slaughter Maul] and be just as deadly as any man." Leopon snapped in a hushed voice, looking back to me. "What do you want?"

I trembled a wee bit, this girl's like a lion.

"She's looking for Garr." Yuri commented. "He awake yet?"

"Don't know." Leopon tossed her long, blonde hair aside before viewing me again. "Couldn't care less either."

Damn, someone be pissy.

"Well sheesh, you're acting like you got stabbed." Yuri groaned. "She just wants to meet him."

Leopon's sigh was exaggerated, tossing her gaze back to me.

"While I would lead you up there, that'd leave Yuri unguarded. Not smart when he's getting us food."

"That's fine, I can figure it out." I bowed again. "I'm Lisbeth."

Her blue-grey eyes practically speared me with how narrow they got.

"Leopon. If we get attacked any time soon? I'll come looking for you."

I gulped slightly, stepping away sheepishly. Yuri stared incredulously at Leopon, shaking his head before focusing back to fishing.

"You keep up that attitude and you'll scare the fish."

"Sorry." Leopon sighed. "Just go, Lisbeth. Don't make trouble."

"I won't." I squinted weakly, turning towards a natural incline.

Passing both of them, I threw my hands in the air. What was her problem, I was only asking to meet someone. Guess someone wasn't delivering what she wanted. This tensity subsided though, was worried I'd be the only girl there. Among guys hanging around as far from town as this, was just askin' for trouble.

"Seriously, Yuri. I don't know how you have the patience for that."

"Thank my granddad for that." Yuri chuckled. "Taught me when I was like...seven?"

My shoes skidded, ground was pretty rocky, but the view left me stopping every few moments. I could see birds soar, freer than us as they kited and flapped, plain in color, yet dignified. A hawk caught my attention most, its slaps inaudible, speckled feathers majestic under a midday sun.

A river flowed down, a shallow waterfall leading towards Yuri's lake, trickling as I passed. When'd Garr travel such a far distance, right after he helped me? This took several hours, after fighting multiple guys on his own. A warmth sprang through me. Must've been a real hero, doing all that for a stranger like me. A good man, a really good man.

Course if he were that good...no, best not to down myself. Anyway, made it up top by twelve forty, a grassy flat my first welcoming sight. A ruined piece of a castle loomed, its shadow extending nearly past the cliff with its high tower. Coming from my right, however, emerged my first contact, out of the woods with a careful gait.

Tall, pale, long brown hair, a sharp jawline, and lean. Covered in ringed looking armor, I stared a little, fingers growing cold. This had to be him, he looked right out of a storybook, even wielding a big, long sword. I approached, grinning widely. Thankfully I had a drink first.

"Garr?" I called.

He turned, lines forming between his thin eyebrows.

"Who're you?"

I was taken aback by his accent, wasn't sure what the bloody hell it was. Frankly it came off as coarse, nothing particularly gentle. This couldn't be him, could it?

"I'm Lisbeth, the uh gi-yell ya helped?"

His brown eyes clouded, gaze turning distant. Had to be my pronunciation of girl.

"Ooh, nein. I'm Kuradeel, Garr's back inside. Vas on a scouting run. Vhy're you wielding a Scottish accent?"

"Ya know me accent?"

"Girl, Scots come by for October fest every year. Of course I know it. May ve please carry on? Zhere's urgent matters I must speak on."

He headed towards the tower, its thirty feet of bricks looking ready to crumble if my maternal grandpa saw me. Leading me inside, Kuradeel held its door open, revealing a dimly lit place, whose only light came from across the circular room, its source being a stone furnace.

"Garr? You have a uh, Lisbez asking for you." Kuradeel called.

"Gah, could ye say it better?" I stuttered.

From a winding staircase a pair of dirty shoes descended, my eyes honing. His shins, they exploded out on both sides with muscle, bulging out of his pants along with his thighs. Beneath clothes, his chest was bursting, shoulders as swollen and rounded as bowling balls. His wrists were heavily veined, rippling with sinew.

He hurried, jumping down with a loud crash. Swear even the tower moved a bit from his fall, his height...ironically equal to me. A pair of fiery, honey colored eyes fixated, very clean caramel skin, cleft chin. Wide jawline, thick eyebrows, ended up glancing away.

- Garr

So she was Lisbeth. Had a very supple rack, thicker frame than the sticks out here. Curly brown hair draped to her neck, a rich chocolate brown. A tinge of nausea gripped, her slanted dark eyes looking away, revealing dozens of bright, beautiful freckles. Tongue didn't wanna move, but I had to say something.

"Did you sleep well?"

Was all I had, I mean this wasn't my forte at all. Her gaze returned, arms dropping.

"Aye, thank ya."

I paused again.

"Could you run that by me again?"

"Thank ya?"

"Oh God!"

Laughter escaped my lips, she had a Scottish accent, my favorite. What on Earth, a Japanese girl with such a voice? She hit unicorn status pretty damn quick, cause screw mathematical probabilities. Rising after slapping my thigh repeatedly, a broad grin nearly reached my ears as I glanced.

"Lisbeth, right?"

"Aye."

Her smile faded to a neutral, straight face. Yup I screwed up, better move.

"Garr, alright Kuradeel I'm goin'." I turned. "Anything you want?"

"Nein, anyzhing past zhe sleeping bag and I'm good." He looked to Lisbeth. "Are you alright?"

"Aye."

Nausea grew stronger as I kept walking, we needed sleeping bags badly. Leopon and Heathcliff apparently didn't have any, as neither wanted to make a trip to town and risk losing their position. How'd I lose to a blondie who probably weighs seventy five soaking wet?

"Actually, could either o' ya look at this?"

Would've been a liar if I said I didn't return quickly, course what she presented proved immediately captivating. It couldn't have been more than eight inches tall, its rectangular base reminding me much of participation trophies one would receive from simply breathing in the presence of a youth sports team. Basic in design, its peak left me wondering as to whether it was broken or intentionally designed so crooked.

"Clearly zhis has somezhing to do viz zhe Kobolds." Kuradeel held up his chin. "I vas actually going to inform our group of zhat."

"Oh good, like I thought this was pretty weird." Lisbeth let Kuradeel take it. "Found it south of the lake yer friend was fishin'."

"Of what though?" I glanced to him. "Was asleep half an hour ago."

"Don't vorry, I'll vord it in vays you can understand."

"Excuse me?" I growled.

He simply turned back, whispering to Lis.

"Don't mind him, he's a very aggressive man. Americans, yah?"

"Um, okay?"

Jeez, was already pissed off with him, making moves after my mess up. Had to devote greater energies to whatever conditions brought our nearest inquiry, reaching Heathcliff as quickly as a brisk walk could yield. His gaze was as skeptical as ours, Lisbeth left further at wonder, seeing he who made this world.

"I don't recall this specific item, but I know someone who might." Heathcliff said. "Which of you found this?"

"Aye, sir." Lisbeth chimed.

"Hm."

"Heath, zhere's a problem. Got Kobolds roaming around in large groups." Kuradeel rapped fingers. "Zhis has to be connected."

"Not necessarily." Heathcliff rose from his seat. "Come with me, all of you. And don't attack unless I specifically tell you to."

Leading us away from our tower, Heathcliff marched inside a familiar chasm, a mouth found slightly below our grassy plateau. Darkness engulfed us, if not for a few green glowing crystals, sporadic in their sprouting. Unfortunately, I lacked torches to keep us well guided. Nonetheless, whatever absurd nature existed here provided for occipital needs.

An empty cavern expanded around us, everyone remaining tense, silent in their following. Widening to several feet across, a light patter echoed, its source unfound within its sun-less recesses.

"Nishida? Got something."

"That so, sir?"

Bristly, yellow haired limbs crept forth, numerous and uniform in nonhuman anatomy, a multitude of blue eyes revealing a tarantula of gargantuan size. With a rippling blue pattern streaking through its abdomen and thorax, its presence sent Lisbeth stepping back. Scampering on eight legs, it inspected what our Scot found.

"This is a [Cult Marker]."

Sun Dancer

November 13th, 2022 - Tolbana

Graye's newest ally leaned against an NPC's wall, whose female exterior garnered his attention. Graye groaned, waiting for Oran to finish severing his latest catch.

"Please stay safe?" the maiden said, pointed ears drawn back.

Oran smiled, nodding as he brushed his gold blonde hair. Turning away, the six foot five Englishman rejoined Graye, smug as a criminal.

"I'm telling you, these bots act pretty human." Oran boasted, hands in his pockets. "Damn, she moaned better than most real girls I've met."

Graye kept hold of his tongue.

"Next I know, I'm gonna pay alimony...oh wait no, cause they ain't real." Oran grinned, "Would love this place if only Ilioc wasn't such a buzzkill."

God, he's such a lech. Would sleep with anything with legs, female, and legal. Least he's been nice to me...just wish he'd stop reminding me of Norman.

"Maybe you should stop?" Graye looked up, soft in expression as he brushed messy strands of hair aside. "What if there're consequences? Well, past that one [Ethics Code] thing."

"You gotta admit, that was bullshit." Oran smirked, swaying as they walked.

"It was." Graye kept straight faced.

"She consented, got ready, then bam. Was in prison without even my knickers. Course I did see a pretty cute girl back in prison-"

"Stop." Graye said sternly.

"Fine. But she had nice tits."

"Couldn't you think of something else?" Graye frowned.

"This's a death game, mate. If I'm likely gonna die with the rest of you shut-ins, I'm at least having fun."

"So being a lech's okay?"

"Graye, chill. Nothing's without consent, I'm just not giving a shit."

Graye lowered his head, green eyes away from his friend.

Wonder if Norm's even checking on me, or if he just ran off to hang with his "friends".

"Come on, we've got that meeting of wanks to join." Oran stuffed hands in his pockets. "Being late's plain rude."

Snapping back to reality, the shorter boy followed, his messy brown hair swaying. A smaller fortress to the northeast, Tolbana was built to be a checkpoint between Castle Diebry and Starting Town. With fountains and gardens all around, its white stone architecture followed in step with its larger counterpart further south. Towards its center, a large amphitheater rested, filled with a few hundred players.

Despite everything expected, it was mostly Westerners taking seats, as if disregarding respective demographics. Mostly Americans, a handful of various European cultures held pockets of their own. Due to costs of equipment to play, it was obvious why many of such origin gathered. While members of Japanese descent sat, they had to be sought after. Before them all, however, stood a single man of a similar background. Average in height, his stance remained tall and confident.

"Alright guys, think it's time we discuss the plan." Diavel pulled a clipboard. "We got a week and I don't wanna waste even fifteen minutes."

Graye glanced left, noticing a group of [Town Guards] massing up around a nearby home, their gazes directed towards them as a whole.

"Hey." he elbowed softly.

"Yo." Oran shifted.

"See them?"

Oran turned his blue eyes on them.

"Ya, same guards that escorted our caravan...why?"

"I don't trust them...since when do they mass up like that?"

"Eh, you're just overthinking it. Come on, let's find a seat."

Scooting themselves along amphitheater rows, they eventually found a spot among members of Japanese descent, who graciously offered them space.

"Thank you." Graye smiled, bowing his head to them.

"That all of you?" Diavel called. "I really don't wanna keep everyone waiting."

"I'm sorry, you're the boss?" a Dutchman looked down.

"Nope, just the coordinator." Diavel splayed hands.

"Psh, you've got the height of a child." he scoffed. "We need a man to lead us, not a kid."

"Who cares who the guy leading looks like?" another griped. "He's got a plan, dumbass."

"Who're you calling a dumbass?!"

Crowds quickly erupted, divisions by culture already set. While two major groups converged to verbal altercations, the Japanese sat quietly, looking worriedly as they whispered to each other. Both travelers steered clear of what took place, witness to inconveniences of international ordeals, a miasma of straw men and personal insults bogging all down.

"So this's why we're separated by an ocean." Oran shrugged, keeping low. "Don't we have enough problems?"

"Sh, they might hear you." Graye put his cowl on.

Eventually, fighting died down, both groups left bitter. Tapping his foot rapidly, Diavel stepped up, clearing his throat.

"So we know where the dungeon's at, buuut we need to be killing more of them, not us. The plan's simple, we set up squads of eight and punch through. Argo will speak to each group on the dungeon's layout, since we know its routes from the beta."

"What if they changed?" someone said.

"We're working on sending a recon team inside, don't worry."

"Why're we even trying though?" one pointed out, "Isn't this whole thing just a bit rushed? What if rescue's coming and we get people killed for nothing?"

"We don't have a choice."

Diavel brushed his [Padded Cloth Vest], its sleeves reaching down to his wrists.

"Because we risk being pushed out of town entirely. I've tried speaking to Ilioc, as well as Illfang. Ilioc depends on the Kobold for protecting his town...and sadly Illfang's reliant on this supply."

"Ugh, I hate politics." one bemoaned. "Let's just fucking rush the boss already."

"That being said, we've got a few options." Diavel interjected, keeping eyes to his crowd. "A, we go out and deal with Illfang. B, we deal with the Governor in exchange for safe passage. C, wait and negotiate. Or D...clean house."

Diavel paced, every pair of eyes watching him. Oran listened from his high row, his blue eyes distant. With their spokesman's options laid out, an uproar burst out, [Town Guards] rushing inside with weapons drawn, converging straight at Diavel without pause. Assault Team applicants sat back, stunned as they surrounded him.

"In the name of Tolbana's people, you're under arrest!" one shouted.

"Under what charges?" Diavel cried out, swiftly grabbed by several hands.

None spoke of his accusation, binding his hands with metal clamps and hauling him off, brutally shoving and dragging. Those who weren't taking pointed weapons towards observers, [Halberds] lowered, their pommel spikes hopping between pavement slits as they moved with their escort. A great bearded man approached, a [Battleaxe] resting on his stocky shoulder.

"Halt, why hast thou taken him? Dost he constitute a threat?"

"Step aside, citizen." a guard growled. "We have more clamps, and plenty more jail cells."

A short, lean figure in blue sighed, muttering to himself as it all boiled down, Diavel's sole defender backing down when faced with arrest. Lind and Kibaou could only sit, staring with limp hands raised. More than a dozen [Town Guards] escorted their prisoner out of town, leaving a full audience without so much as a remote plan.

"We're fucked!" one shouted.

"Let's go D, screw both of 'em!"

"It's just a Floor Boss guys, let's get it over with." another muttered. "Then again, I could do it myself."

Nobody heard him, all except for a certain Englishman.

"Oi, speak up ya runt." Oran directed.

The sixteen year old he spoke to was Kirito, an esteemed MVP of Sword Art Online's beta. Looking to Oran's lanky figure with capricious black eyes, he remained blank in expression.

"Dude." Graye warned.

"Yea, I'm talking to you." Oran pointed. "Why don't you help the rest of us? Talking like you've got the biggest knob here."

By this time, others started listening. Kirito picked up this sudden concentration of attention, a brief um escaping his lips.

"Lets...just fight the boss." he defended.

"But what if Ilioc kicks everyone out?" a new voice decried, rising to her feet. "If we fail, others are going to suffer."

With red skirt and white shirt, Asuna stood. Looking keenly with hazel eyes, she spoke with some hesitance.

"Urbus is the goal." Lind defended. "It's a ghost town, we'll set up there."

"Who'll be in charge though?" another noted, "Having players run a whole town sounds like corruption heaven."

"We'll be democratic, vote on it, that stuff." Kibaou said. "I don't know, how about relax and figure it out? Our rep's gonna suck ass if we dick around with the NPCs any further. Lind, we gotta get Diavel back."

Lind veered to his friend, saying. "Wait, what if the Governor gets funny ideas?"

"What's this?" Oran stopped, looking around to a distant corner.

"Hm?" Graye tilted, tracking his eyes.

"Gods...not good."

Oran rose to his feet.

"Guys, hang on. We're intent on winning, yea?"

"Course we are, why?" Lind answered.

"I'll tell ya why, we've got Frenchies!" Oran pointed.

Some chuckled at Oran's comment, others of French descent scowled at him, content with sticking together.

"They might as well have invented the word surrender! They're gonna run the second things go rough!"

"Seriously guys? Diavel just got taken and we're gonna sit here laughing?" Kibaou shouted. "We need to get him back!"

"It's not a big deal, he'll be let out within an hour." Oran shrugged.

Kirito glanced around, well aware of his solitary status, his frame roughly inanimate. Reaching over, Graye gingerly tapped his shoulder, smiling brightly as he viewed him.

"You can join us, if you like. Oran's nicer than he lets on."

Kirito stared blankly.

"No thanks, you'd just slow me down."

Kirito's words rippled through, Oran catching on.

"Really, mate? What level?"

"Almost eighteen." Kirito's eyes were half-lidded. "I solo'd everything from floor one to thirty six."

"So that means what exactly? Think you're better than us cause of that?"

Kirito rolled his eyes, rising from his seat to leave.

"You do, well then get a load of this, wankstain!"

Oran opened his menu, smiling as he drew his weapon of choice, a mere [Tree Branch]. As basic as it was ubiquitous, a lone leaf hung on an offshoot, clinging to its denser base for life.

"I survived this place with nothing but this!"

Graye's eyes narrowed, groaning internally.

He's so cocky...

Kirito merely shrugged, eyes blank.

"Nothing special."

"Nothing special? Bullocks. That what your Mom used to say to you?"

Kirito's gaze sharpened, some listeners sounding off in oohs and ah's.

"Uh, Oran?" Graye grimaced, tugging at his friend's shirt.

"Not now Graye, I'm backing you up." Oran defended. "Nobody's talkin' shite to ya."

"But, what if it's true?"

"About his Mom? Wouldn't surprise me."

"Not that, about the beta. Only like two thousand got in, he probably knows his stuff!"

"If he knows his stuff, why isn't he doing anything?" Oran snapped, "All I see's some kid sitting with his thumb up his ass. I don't go around saying stuff like that then hold back, especially when lives might be on the line!"

A blue metal [Arming Sword] was drawn, Kirito's weapon dully sliding from its sheath and raised towards Oran. A red aura enveloped his silhouette, game generated as a request was brought.

[This player has sent you a duel request, do you accept?]
[Accept/Decline]

Lacking hesitation, Oran quickly accepted his challenge, raising an unwieldy stick of cellulose and bark.

"Half Loss?" he glanced.

"First Strike." Kirito blinked.

"K."

Assault team applicants surrounded them, a sixty second countdown ticking. Less than a meter long, Oran's [Tree Branch] swayed, its still attached leaf shaking in dire protest. With an [Anneal Blade] in Kirito's hands, however, bets were fairly one sided. Shaking his head, Graye stepped away.

"Start training guys, we raid in a week!" Kibaou shouted.

A gong rung loud, two fighters racing to meet, Tolbana's amphitheater their central stage. Kirito swung wide and swift, sword moving like a blur through air, forcing Oran to veer. His great height bought range, a factor not lost as he backed away.

Kirito whipped fast, Oran blocking it with a [Tree Branch's] mass. Leaning over Kirito's small figure, Oran's towering frame weighed down, Kirito's knees bending under him. Kirito's [Anneal Blade] slid, failing to bite deep through wood. What Oran forgot, however, was simple, this wasn't a [Half Loss] duel.

Gliding his [Arming Sword] down, Kirito let Oran lurch, slashing his thigh as he yielded, red spilling on light vanilla colored stone as he stepped away. His [Anneal Blade] cut across, leaving a bright gash through quadriceps, sending Oran back a few inches, blood evident in abundance as he landed on his butt.

[HP: 86%]
[You are Bleeding!]

Oran was defeated without so much as a chance. Without looking twice, Kirito sheathed his weapon, putting a hand out to him. Seeing his underhanded gesture, Oran declined with a wave. Noting passive resistance, Kirito tossed his silky black hair back, turning away.

"Like I said, you'd slow me down."

Oran stepped back up, him and Graye left in a group already dividing against itself. Lind and Kibaou barking for their respective members to calm themselves, making emergency plans for days to come.

[Alchemy] is probably the most underrated skill out here, probably cause it takes forever till it starts getting good. It's more than just figuring out plants, you can drop mob stuff to uncover hidden uses, such as medicine.

- Beta Tester's Survival Guide, updated on November 25th, 2022

A/N: Jesus kun, Jesus kun, does what Jesus can do. Can he swing through a plot? No he can't, he juuust absorbs it all in his radioactive gut.

Hey guys, hope you liked the chapter! (Mean, you got here. Hope that's for good reasons)

Reviews, reviews are direly needed! I'm down to only one reviewer at this point, so I need more voices to be heard. Without any input, sadly I put down this ultimatum. I require three reviews minimal, cause I need to know what people think before I proceed.

Three reviews per chapter (bad or good, either do.) and I'll proceed to the next chapter by next week. I hope you all understand, I'm just looking to see what general consensus is. See you next week, hopefully!