A/N: Demon Slayer does not give Vitamin D, only Vitamin C.

NetherOrbit: Jealousy left unchecked leaves danger unchained.
Thunderwolf: Halloween Ninja, would be fun if it weren't so deadly.
Dens3424: There's only one in Aincrad I know who speaks Klingon...
Striderm8: Good to have ya aboard, hope you enjoy the story!
Blod'garm: Another new voice in the crowd, love the commentary so far!
Doctor: Lox, Aincrad's showstopper.

Special thanks to Blod'garm'nurodo for favoriting! With a name almost fitting for a cosmic horror, I hope you don't plane shift me anytime soon.

Enjoy!

An elf of plain clothes stepped out to a moonless sky, his Church of Cel to his back as his retinue followed closely. Wandering sleeping streets, a steam spewing backpack rested, turned off. Stopping around a sewer grate around three, two cloaked figures stood, ready to speak. Dropping their cowls, Allston bowed his head.

"Good morning, Cogitant."

"What is it?"

"Oh it's only a minor concern of mine, see I discovered this on the job." he presented a sheathed [Anneal Blade]. "It glows at night, father."

Cogitant Yole's head backed, neck curving slightly as he reached with morbidly thin hands. Drawing it, his gaze hardened.

"Where did you find this?"

Allston gulped, lips straightened.

"Human girl, had it on her person when she challenged me to a fight."

"Human...of course. No elf of Aincrad would dare-" Yole stopped himself. "I will take care of this personally, thank you."

Allston bowed, a guard of his Cogitant passing a sizable bag of Cor.

"Keep about your business, I may have need for a special task."

- 3:07 AM. November 16th, 2022

November 18th, 2022 - Town of Beginnings

Diavel returned to Starting Town after two days of freedom, passing its northern gatehouse with minimal attention. Morning had barely risen, Aincrad's sun yet to lift over its high walls of stone. Engulfed by masses of half woken players, he slid through with a cowl over his bright blue hair.

"Discard such bargained income." Godfree said. "To use it would be unbecoming of ourselves, more so if we picture ourselves as anything more than a doe-eyed pawn."

"I know, but we need to get out of here." Diavel said. "This'll only be temporary."

His blue eyes dulled, distant to passing faces.

"Diavel, you will do as we ask, yes? It'd be wrong to disobey Cel, especially with such an investment."

Diavel's shoes scraped along pavement, turning left at his nearest alley. Licking his lips, a cold had taken grip of him. It hatched from mere entry to Starting Town, his wrists recalling bands of metal restraining. Standing a few feet within shadow produced by white buildings, a girl in green rested.

"Ey, Divy." Argo smiled. "You wanted to talk?"

"Yea, wanna see how your friend's doing." Diavel said, fiddling with a small bag of Cor.

"Divy, I don't need anything for this." she brushed short blonde hairs. "You gave plenty a couple of nights ago."

"But you still need it, go ahead. You have any idea how much they dumped on me?"

"Vaguely, last guy who spoke of having money got mugged though."

"Just take it please? Makes me feel dirty."

Shrugging led to a hasty snatch, Diavel's bag vanishing into her clothes.

"This one's already free, so you get another free pass." Argo opened her friends list. "As for PoH, he's been keeping low key since his last trip."

"Why?" Diavel adjusted his [Chainmail Hauberk].

"Some of his guys didn't make it. Been tryin' not to bug him. Top that off, Ki-bo's pretty much refused to hide his illegal weapon."

"Why is it illegal anyway? It's the best sword one can get in Floor One."

Argo shrugged.

"With how much's changed out here, even I don't know much. But what my informers got? It isn't the Committee calling those shots. Sucks too, being an [Evolving Weapon]."

"Hm, well at least Kirito's stayed out of Starting Town." Diavel glanced down streets.

"Yea, he's been stuck to Tolbana and Harunka up until...well whatever happened there. I still question who did it. Those creepy kobolds might've done it, but what about the governing bodies here? If the [Anneal Blade] is illegal, then what's to stop someone from asking a Beta Tester where they got one?"

Diavel shifted side to side, looking around with hands in his pocket before shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, Argo. But I got things to do, not sit and conspiracy theory."

"Oh." Argo frowned. "Sorry, guess I spoke too much. You still up for tonight?"

Diavel nodded, leaving to meet up with PoH. What flora resided along sun shined streets left Diavel's mind winding, fixated to what thrived beneath Starting Town's pale stone tiles.

There's something deeply wrong with this town, even if I can't point to its source. The fear of gloves, this moss, strange sounds in the forest at night, it would be in our best interest to leave as soon as possible. Purple moss, excreting this mucus like substance. Nobody talks about it either, despite it spreading over Black Iron Prison.

Purple was only ever seen occasionally on flower petals, strictly quartered to garden patches or hanging off buildings like a wreath.

"Stop it! Stop eating the sun, we need it! By Cel, it's eating it!"

Guards dragged someone out of their home, who thrashing wildly despite wearing several bronze shackles around their arms. Diavel watched, four security officials struggling to arrest a shrieking civilian.

"Muzzle him, he's going to scare someone!"

"Can't you see?! No!" he laughed. "Cats of the third moon speak of him! He Who Ends Days!"

Its body wrought with malnourishment, patches of hair torn from his scalp, eyes wide and darting as he babbled, head shaking as his lips blew.

"Cel, help me! It's wet, but it burns!"

Such a display drove Diavel to walk away quicker, townsfolk watching with trembling eyes and lips. With a muzzle came muffled screams, Diavel hearing nothing more.

This is some insane asylum level shit.

His friends list led him to a distant inn east of Starting Town's central plaza, PoH designated to be residing within its shoddy, near coastal premises. Drunken players wallowed on bar stools, looking to Diavel with hunched shoulders and sagging posture, eyes drying.

Can we get enough people in time? What if I fail? If I screw up, I'll be putting thousands at risk. Maybe I should let Lind and Kibaou take charge, my level's still too low.

Reaching the inn's fourth greenish wooden door, an exhale led to Diavel's shrinking gut. Fears of inadequacy tugged at his arms like string, drawing him towards retreating. Gulping, he knocked firmly.

"Come in."

It opened, Diavel stepping into a room lit a bright orange from outside, a tall, chisel-jawed Spaniard sitting on a rented bed, leaned back and leg resting on another. A raised chin, a look of superiority airing off him. With both hands cushioning his head, his slight smile grew. Diavel's eyebrows joined.

Doesn't look like he's hurt.

"Hello Diavel, heard you coming upstairs."

"You're PoH, yes?"

"Yep. So, what'd they arrest you for, pissing in a rich man's soup?" he chuckled. "Whatever makes them listen, am I right?"

"Yea...not terribly sure on the details myself." Diavel shrugged. "Was arrested for supposed tax evasion, but I still think it's something else."

"Classic, using the law to benefit themselves at the cost of everyone else. Been staring at beggars shaking fruit trees all day. That's dinner for them...yet they speak of taxes? Insanity."

"I know." Diavel frowned. "Anyway, rather not think about that cage. How're you?"

"Oh, just entertaining ideas, enjoying time to myself, cheering on courageous guys like you."

"Argo said you've been staying in here for days." Diavel frowned. "We need you out there."

"Oh please, I go outside too...once every year."

A brief chuckle from PoH had Diavel half clenching his fingers.

"Forgive me, I'm a bit pale for any real tanning. Gotta dump a whole bottle of sunscreen just to not catch fire."

"It's not good for you to be alone for too long." Diavel said with a frown.

"Ah, but ideas require time, thought." PoH smiled, leaning forward with wide black eyes. "All you need to know is I'll be joining the raid on-."

PoH stopped, sniffing and turning his head.

"Smell that?"

Diavel inhaled repeatedly, lifting an eyebrow in confusion.

"No."

"Ah, you may wanna look outside. It's not everyday we get to spectate dramatic events."

Peering out his window, a large stack of pillowing smoke funneled from beyond their town's walls, Starting Town's horizon brightened by orange flames.

"Oh shit, what happened?!" Diavel hunched.

"Like I said."

Diavel stared at PoH, who continued to sit with hands on his lap.

"Ideas were entertained. Suppose some stuck better than others."

"Dude, what did you do?"

"I'm not doing anything." rising to his feet, he waved Diavel over. "Come, best we assess the damage."

Diavel was speechless, shaking his head while following PoH outside. A burning odor grew as they entered open air, guards and townsfolk rushing with buckets full of water, hauling themselves east, out a nearby gatehouse. Smoke plumed to meet clouds, gray merging with white, bloating out sunlight.

"Someone get more people out here!"

Players hurried by, joining in with buckets of their own to fight a fire growing across vast fields of wheat, corn, and fruit. PoH watched beside Diavel, his breathing slowed, a curve growing in his lips as stalks crumpled into ash. Standing in heavy traffic, none paid so much as an ear.

"Argo was very open about your arrest, details, details. So I figured I'd strike them where it hurts, financially. Money is after all one or morality's greatest opponents."

Corn turned into short-lived pyres, collapsing as their foundations broke. Water hissed, turning to puffs of vapor, thrown against biting embers. Looking slowly to PoH with parted brows, a frowning Diavel shivered.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Do you doubt me?"

"Yes!" Diavel turned to face PoH.

PoH stuffed hands in his pockets.

"That's okay. Long as we get what we want, the rest is irrelevant."

PoH turned away, his long hair shining in the fire's light.

Pity never saved Sanguine. If it weren't for those NPCs, we would've never needed to rush our efforts. It's their fault my party died, these pieces of script in their comfy lives.

Diavel only watched with cold, tingling skin, heart slowing.

What's to stop them from turning on us now?

"I'll see you on the twentieth." PoH said, walking off towards town. "Mark my words, Illfang will still have a full plate after this."

Farms across Starting Town's eastern wall immolated, transitioning from starch and sugar to carbon and ash. Diavel followed bands of fire-fighting players, hauling buckets with a dragging gut. While damage was strict in its effect, not enough water was bearing down. It was November 18th, a few hours past sunrise, and [Crazed Kobolds] were approaching, their cries to Bascogne muffled by roaring flames.

Sun Dancer

November 18th, 2022 - Garr - hours later

Don't ever tell yourself you can't,
Outside our minds rest enough obstacles,
New problems to be solved arise every day,
To say you can't creates more,

Words kept falling out, a puzzle of a linguistic sort captivating me. While its foundation was set, it needed filling, meat. Not sure what motivated me towards poetry, a gut instinct never abides to convenience. Stone walls didn't mean anything for one of our newest guests, who shouted louder than I surmised as possible. Louder than what focus allowed for.

"You're all so skinny, do you even lift?!"

Lisbeth's exhale echoed, her back resting against stone.

"Hard to take a nap with that, isn't it?" I said, smiling lightly.

"He's so loud." Lisbeth shook her head, eyes narrowed and sleepy. "Did I already tell you Asuna wants to go shopping again after this?"

"Ya, you don't sound so psyched." I turned my messenger off.

"Aye, don't get me wrong, mate." she shifted herself to face me. "I like Asuna already, she just tires me out. Girl can just keep goin' and goin'."

"I getcha." I nodded. "Friends are great, in doses."

"Oh?" she leaned back, chest pronounced.

"Quiet days are best." I stretched. "Much as I love fighting, there're some days I wanna just sit, think about things."

"Like what?" Lisbeth's grin turned sly.

"Like the fact Deathstroke isn't a hero? I only know that cause Yuri told me."

"Oh, of course." she giggled. "Seriously though, I like that one."

"Why? He's a super villain."

"Um." Lis' smile broke.

"It's not a judgement call, I'm genuinely curious."

"Mm."

Our tower's door opened quickly, Yuri rushing.

"Garr, you seen what's going on?"

"No?" I rose.

"Hurry!"

Following him outside, my legs froze, witness to pillars of smoke rising south.

"Heathcliff thinks the kobolds did it."

"Cripe." Lisbeth said. "When'd this start?"

"Started this morning, been building up since." Yuri said.

"Excellent, a chance for them to die for their beliefs." I grinned. "What's our ETA?"

"ETA?" Yuri blinked.

"Estimated time arrival." Taiyama said. "Don't get cocky though, those Kobolds are like animals."

"We'll see about that." I snorted.

"I'd much prefer you stay calm." Heathcliff said. "Relishing something like this isn't wise."

"You abide by more civilian-like rules, don't worry about me." I smiled, holding out a hand. "Gonna have all morning to share my culture."

Lisbeth looked out towards town.

"We gotta stop 'em." her arms crossed, voice weaker than usual.

"Don't worry, we'll clean up this mess today." Taiyama quickly spoke, looking at her.

A soft groan was heard, but I couldn't tell from whom. Lisbeth smiled, nodding to him before summoning forth her anvil and hammer.

"Seriously though, when?" I raised my chin to Yuri.

"Not sure. 'Deel said he wants to have a warmup first, but Aigen's." He nodded beside us. "Ya...being Aigen."

Turned out, Kuradeel was dueling our local megaphone, Aigen wielding some kind of straight bladed [Katana]. He kept lunging, punching Kuradeel whenever he was blocked, shoving too.

"Boom!"

Kuradeel leaped away, his weapon swirling in an infinite patterned flurry, a breeze forming from its great speed. His core swayed with every fly, his legs bent and balanced. Aigen was left standing, looking unsure how to even approach him, who advanced like an oncoming propeller. Closing in, Aigen gasped, falling onto snow back first, sword clattering as Kuradeel shouldered his [Greatsword].

"You done yet?" Kuradeel said.

"Not in your lifetime!" Aigen shot up.

"Careful, Aigen." Taiyama exhaled, having Lisbeth hammer his [Spear].

"Of what? This guy was talking like he's hot shit."

"No, he's just experienced." Leopon sat, watching Kuradeel.

"'Ey!" I waved to Kuradeel.

"Guten-" Kuradeel said, stepping aside as Aigen charged. "Morgen."

"Ha, look whose got no muscles!" Aigen roared, wheeling around and charging Kuradeel from behind.

With a swift turn, our teacher swung his [Greatsword], catching Aigen right up his ribs.

"Bam." I said under my breath.

"Good one, Kurrie!" Leopon said.

"You died." Kuradeel relinquished, repositioning mere steps away.

Aigen grunted, huffing before straightening up.

"I dunno man, might've gotten stuck in my abs!"

I was a bodybuilder and I was rolling my eyes. Aigen rushed Kuradeel again, only to be swept off, Kuradeel's weapon catching his knees with a neurally fast swipe. Left on his back, Aigen was treated no differently than us, whacked across his forehead as an execution by our instructor.

"Zhis is not Rugby, und zhat is a stupid tactic."

"Tai, why weren't you helping?" Aigen slowly rose, rubbing his neck.

"I warned you, you leave your guard wide open." Tai said, his gaze quickly returned to Lisbeth. "So ya, my best moment boxing..."

"Maybe try waiting instead of rushing balls deep?" Yuse sharpened arrows. "Oh wait, sorry Aigen."

I smiled to their archer, doing a push-up to begin my second workout. If anyone deserved a title such as skinny, it was Yuse. Superficial matters aside, he was the most levelheaded of them, not verbally butchering me for my last outburst. Lifting weights quietly in a corner, Lisbeth quickly joined in, resetting her equipment nearby.

"And in this corner, the six time world champion blacksmith, Lisbeth." I said, heaving my legs up.

A choke from her resulted in faster hammer swings.

"Haud yer wheesht! Ya made me miss one."

Laughter was brief, as I was preoccupied with leg day, getting in a nice set of squats. Asuna and Leopon dueled together, twin rapiers ringing, snow scattering as they danced. While Asuna was more aggressive, flanking and flying, Leopon stayed cautious, timing her jabs.

"So how'd ya sleep?" she said.

"Good, had weird dreams again." I hoisted with my shins. "None of them about killing these freaks."

"Oh?"

"Ya, was about food. Again." my face heated from exertion. "This time it was calamari...mm. Better than goddamn OJ and toothpaste!"

A burst of chuckling from Lisbeth had me racking my weights with blinking speed.

"What're you laughing at?" I grinned.

"Dunno what yer talkin' about." she shook her head, face turning a magma red as she forced her lips straight.

"Lis."

"Nope."

"Lisss."

"Leave her alone." Tai said. "She's trying to focus-"

Her hammer strikes sped up, a bright blue flash reverting her materials back to ingots. Throwing her hammer down, Lisbeth slapped my shoulder

"Hey!" I laughed.

"Quit it!" she laughed.

"Were you messing with my dreams?" I slapped her back gently.

"Aye, now let me build, ya git!"

"Why? You think it's funny?" I grabbed a dumbbell to bicep curl.

A firm ahem from Kuradeel stopped my questioning, eyes set to him.

"Everyone, can ve have a training session togezher? Vould make checking all of your skills easier."

"Was wondering when you'd realize that." Tai rose. "I came to that conclusion hours ago."

Was concerned we'd get thrown off this mountain from an ego as big as his. Massed together, everyone except Yuri and Lisbeth practiced swinging weapons. Our movements were slowed, Kuradeel inspecting us as we performed stabs and slashes.

"Garr, you're so stiff. Tai, you're moving too fast. Aigen, you treat your sword like a hammer."

He filed by us, his eyes missing nothing.

"Heazhcliff, don't abandon your guard. Good vork ozhervise." Kuradeel said. "Asuna, ease your grip."

My [Siege Blade] pitched all around, but mostly side to side. Despite reaching level fourteen off quests, it was insanely hard to control. Every time I swung, my body was dragged with it, no matter how much [Strength] I invested. Based on what I knew of physics, it had to be from a severe displacement of my gravitational center.

"Please remember, swords aren't clubs. I know zhe video games taught you one thing, but zhey are an art to vield properly."

"Ya guys, don't just slam them." Taiyama said.

"Bro, you don't even sword." Aigen laughed. "Fuck off."

"Pf, and you don't even think."

Ended up wrinkling my brow at both of them, were they actually friends? They lacked perceivable sarcasm, their faces furrowed and dark.

"Nicely done, Leopon. Keep zhat shield up, smoozh svings."

After minutes of constant steady strikes, Kuradeel shouldered his [Greatsword].

"Now zhen." he counted with a finger. "I vant you all...hm. Yah, splits up to groups of two. Training mode only, ve must be ready."

Wasn't a second after when Taiyama approached me, big ass shield and [Spear] planted.

"Let's go."

Something told me to not send him a duel request, his hard stare didn't help. While I accepted his call, I waited for him to send it. A light ring broke silence's tension, Lisbeth cheering about something. Tai glanced over me, his great height and smile leaving little imagination to what he was looking at.

"You gonna keep standing there, or what?" I said.

"Oh, right. Sorry." he readied a request.

Second fakest apology I've heard in my life, hands shook for second. Our duel started with him lunging forward, tackling me with his big shield, jamming a bronze headed [Spear] my way after stumbling, landing a solid hit in my stomach. Only by [Training Mode's] grace did it not break flesh, his eagerness to impale waking me.

My [Siege Blade] had trouble getting around his shield though, making for a groan inducing fight. I kept backing away, Tai hiding behind his shield as he waddled over. With a thin frame, he could fit inside his own barrier, poking away as he pleased. Swinging right or left, resulted in him turning in to it. Course every time he blocked, he'd get knocked around a few feet, struggling to stay standing as snow cratered.

"Garr, zhink of zhe strike after zhe first, lead your opponent to dedicating to a position."

Right as Kuradeel's words reached me, Taiyama swept low, catching my knees and sending me down with a low thump. I scrambled on my hands, only to be stepped on and poked, thrice.

"Too easy." Tai said.

"If only." I grunted, pushing up, pecs swelling.

Tai instead stood completely on top, pinning me back down.

"Logic beats brute strength. Perhaps I could teach you this, when I have time of course."

Listening to him preach, I curled my arms, whacking at his shins. Sadly this did little, my angle was simply too off.

"I'd teach you self-control, especially with that impulsiveness. For your big mouth, you sure don't seem that good."

Lifting off me, Taiyama stepped back. Had to form a better strategy, improve mobility, technique too. Was gonna try again, but a column of thirty or more [Kobold Sentinels] arrived, was go time.

"Hak." one struggled speaking. "Here are we, fight go we?"

Heathcliff approached, people forming up.

"Give us a few minutes."

They nodded, tails raised high as they hid under trees. Poor guys hated sunlight.

"How about it, Dad? I'm ready."

Heathcliff turned to Leopon, who approached with rushed words.

"I'm not sure."

"I zhink she'd do vell." Kuradeel said. "She's been dueling vizh me all veek."

"More shields is better." Tai said.

"But is she ready to get bloody?" I rolled a shoulder. "It is CQB."

Her father crossed his arms, staring off for a few moments. Leopon stood her ground, head raised high, blonde hair hanging back.

"Fine, you can come along. But no frontal combat."

"But my stats are good for defense. I can keep people safe."

"Rear guard's very important." I said. "If our opponents are smart, they won't come at us head on."

"Exactly." Heathcliff waved my direction.

"Fine." Leopon lowered her head.

"Garr, gonna want you on rear too."

"Really?" I raised a brow. "Gonna throw civis at psych jobs?"

"Better than having you lose your shit and get us killed." Tai said.

"You and your social fabric would snap like this!" I snapped a finger. "You can treat battle like it's some romantic thing. I'll stick to how we win."

"Oh really, Mr. Badass?" Aigen stepped beside Tai. "Please, teach us more."

"Simple." my hands clenched, eyes burning. "Make war so violent, so shocking that your opponent can't help but surrender. Leave their nation, their home crumbling to dust. But do it quickly."

Taiyama shook his head, glaring my way as other cocked heads back.

"That's just evil, dude. Seriously, calling for country wide annihilation?"

"Winning isn't a question of your feelings." I stared.

Heathcliff exhaled, patting my shoulder.

"I only want someone to cover her incase things get bad."

My gut's fire died down, a reason assigned to my positioning.

"Makes sense." I nodded. "Still don't agree, but it's your call."

"So who else is joining?" Heathcliff looked.

"Me." Lis raised to her toes. "Sorry for missin' practice Kurrie, was makin' me newest tool."

"Lemmie see?" Kuradeel glanced. "By zhe vay, could you all stop calling me zhat?"

"No." Leopon laughed.

A [Mace] was held out, a rounded bronze head shining atop a wooden stick.

"Vondervar, zhis'll help in case ve run into armored targets."

"But Lis, you're only level nine." Asuna said. "It wouldn't be safe for you to be there."

"Aye, but I gotta get good loot."

"What about me then?" Yuri said. "I can't hold this place on my own."

"Damn...Leopon you may wanna reconsider this." I turned. "We've already got plenty of fighters going in, we need someone on defense."

"But that's why Lis should stay behind." Leopon stiffened. "She's not even properly leveled."

"Why not we all go?" Tai walked past us. "We've got plenty of fighters, Yuri. We'll easily cover you and Lis."

"eh..." he grimaced. "Ya uh, okay. Jeez, didn't think I was gonna do this today."

Was already decided, we were all going in, might as well've been asking for a disaster. Got our platoon of kobolds moving in front of us, eagerly ducking inside our local cave. A deeper chasm resided, whose blinding dark descent left us drawing torches, surface noise dying down. Couldn't see anything past a few feet, but our less human allies weren't bothered, scurrying unimpeded by light's absence, making little noise as they explored. With them departing quietly, I shuddered a bit, looking to everyone else.

"Glad they're on our side. Getting ambushed by these would be interesting."

"More like lethal." Taiyama grumbled. "This may be a problem for the boss raid."

"Yah, vhat if zhey use tactics like zhat?" Kuradeel said.

"Just means we gotta play smarter." Yuse shrugged, hands on his bow. "Makes me wish I had a Kobold back home..."

"Oh yea, would've made our lives easier." Aigen chuckled. "Seriously guys, his Mom's a fucking hoarder."

"Jeez, how do you move in there?" I said.

"Practice. Real trick's convincing her to sell anything." Yuse exhaled.

"Oh god, don't get me started." Aigen groaned. "She's got what, a hundred 'n fifty, no two hundred fucking skillets, seriously."

Heathcliff led on, Leopon sticking around by me with identical shielding from behind. Lisbeth and Yuri stayed central, everyone else in front. Conversation died down, eyes examining. A skin deep, dry cold was present, an enveloping darkness waiting to blind us. What stone resided below us glistened, water puddling.

"Would love to have a suppressed forty five right now." I shouldered my [Siege Blade]. "Would operate better with guns than this stuff."

"Why not an AK?" Leopon said.

"It'd deafen everyone." I shook my head. "Sound waves bounce of walls like these."

"Cripe, cause I was just about to use this heavy machine gun I found." Lis said.

"An HMG? Freaking hell Lis, pass it over. twelve point seven by ninety nine millimeter'd fix so much of this place's problems."

"Psh, you don't lift enough to use one." Aigen said.

"Well, an M-Two does weigh like seventy pounds without its mounting gear or ammo."

Path kept declining, its moistened floor leaving me almost slipping. An odd purple mass was growing in large patches, think it was moss. Puddles of green, snotty water nestled as our trail plateaued, scattered along stone depressions. Their depth was unknown, as their murkiness did little to tell what laid beneath it. Stepping in them, I found its bottom to be spongy, prompting quick departure.

No stalactites existed here, nothing dripped, yet water thickened. As strange and anomalous as every puddle's bottom was, it was what I breathed that struck me. This cave's air, it weighed on me with a callous, cold thickness. I couldn't shake it off, its malevolence seemed almost tangible. I was away from sunlight, among people I barely trusted to stay alive, wading in material I barely understood, fighting an enemy praying to some god of parts unknown. Warmth left me, my soul expectant to an inhuman evil.

Course it could've been mere warnings of cultists leading me to a rushed judgement. Aigen and Taiyama were limited in what they knew of these creatures, describing them as a rabble of screaming, mutilated kobolds. Musing through this, I noticed Lisbeth gripping her head, groaning a little. I whispered to her.

"You alright?"

"Aye...headache."

Local puddles grew to small ponds further ahead, their gradual volume eating up entire quarters of floor space with their green blight. Worrying still was its texture, it was oddly viscous, as if congested with an archaic bacterium, too similar to common mucus for comfort. Didn't take long till its ends encompassed the cave's floor, its collective cohesion forming an almost plastic wrap, permeable to us, warping under our feet.

"This is some weird stuff." Yuse grimaced.

"I know right?" I said.

"Hey, what's stopping them?"

Our [Kobold Sentinel] platoon was held back a few meters ahead, Taiyama first to spot. Their formation remained sharp, but none of their units dared push an inch further, tails moving circular as they squeaked to each other. Only when we moved past them, however, did we buckle.

"Ew..." Asuna griped, clamping her nose.

"Damn Asuna, your Mom cookin' tonight?" Tai smirked.

"Screw you! That's...totally a...legitimate question." she blinked. "I hope not."

I stuck my hand through water, drawing it back with strands bridging between fingers. Smelling it, my face wrinkled.

"Something dead?" Yuri said, looking at me.

"No, least I don't think so." I wiped it on my pants. "It's like someone put some chemicals together."

"Garr, that's gross." Leopon choked. "Don't you have a towel or something?"

I stared at our blonde knight, smiling a little.

"Actually, you're right." I reached out.

"No, don't you-!"

Her scream bounced wildly off cold stone walls, my hands caressing her [Cross Shield], wiping whatever miserable form of algae off. Without a second thought, Leopon rushed up and bashed me, sending me stumbling with a dull thump.

"I can't believe you! Ugh, now it's all over my shield!"

"So uncivilized." Tai said.

Laughing my way back, I turned to avoid Heathcliff's stink eye. Lisbeth giggled, glancing to me with a toothless grin.

"Worth it!" I chuckled, smile fading as I redirected. "Come on people, move up!"

"Oi, it's rank though." Lisbeth waved.

With water reaching up to our advancing member's knees, I turned to Lisbeth, bending my knees in front of her. Any joy, any laughter was direly sought, anything to ward off what transmissible morbidity reached for us in this vat of obnoxious water.

"Eh? Oh." she stuttered. "Thank ya."

Lisbeth wrapped her little arms over my shoulders, breath reeking of booze. Unsure of her boundaries, I kept grip strictly behind her knees, fastening her to my back.

"You good?"

"Aye."

As our group struggled, I followed behind, marching with minimal loss. Lis quickly resorted to mouth breathing, dry huffs stroking my nose. With my hands occupied, nothing stood as a barrier, my olfactory senses overloading with either a possibly hidden habit, or disreputable decay. Tears gushed out, blurring vision.

"God, Heathcliff!" I shut my eyes. "Why would you program this?"

"I didn't."

"Heathcliff made this?" Aigen said. "If so I gotta say, was a pretty fun game till now."

"I mean, I'd give it a zero." Tai said.

"What?" Heathcliff turned.

"Come on, you think this game's worth the money? Elves are so cliche, it doesn't even have classes!"

"You complain about cliches, then mention classes."

"Hey, I was forced in here cause someone thought it'd be fun. MMOs take such little imagination, especially medieval!"

"Please don't remind me." Asuna groaned. "Don't worry, Mister Heathcliff. I'll hit him for you."

Our leading game developer said nothing more, clearly resisting an urge to bash someone with his [Cross Shield]. Was getting worse as we ventured further. Water rose to my thighs, forcing me to raise Lisbeth's feet higher. My pace slowed, legs chilling from its slimy bite. Yuse kept glancing around, an eyebrow raised.

"Something?"

"Yea, there's no dripping sound." he whispered. "This water got here, yet I haven't heard a single drop this whole time."

"Maybe zhey haven't added zhat in zhe game." Kuradeel shrugged.

"But we did." Heath interjected. "A sound observation, I don't know either."

"Dad, please no puns." Leopon groaned.

Without warning, Lisbeth jerked to one side, her sudden pitch sending her tumbling off and falling back first in what disgusting refuse rested beneath us. Her splash was slight, but her reaction was strong, instantaneous.

"Freaking!" I said, reaching down.

"Oh god!" Lisbeth screamed, bouncing straight up to her feet. "Ew!"

"I'm so sorry!" I splayed hands. "Here, let me get you ou-"

"No." she turned away. "No more, I'll handle it myself."

Rest of us offered her help, to which Lisbeth rejected all. Members shivered, glancing right and left, shoulders tucked in. With a level chin I marched without shaking, eyes trained forward and lips relaxed. So quiet, could hear everyone breathing. Gasps escaped moments later.

Whatever olfactory weapon this place harnessed against us had vanished, leaving an awful imprint in our sinuses. All except for Lisbeth, who still reeked of blasphemous substance. In exchange, however, we were greeted with inscriptions of an unfamiliar source. A blazing orange, many of its individual characters consisting of spiral shapes with random etches along its tails. [Kobold Sentinels] eventually caught up, scaling the walls compacting us.

Double doors stood before us moments later, their surface as black as asphalt, whose artwork gave me a frost touched spine. Caricatures of tendril flailing beasts, abominable, un-nameable. None of us knew its meaning, anything past bad news anyway. Gathering, both us and our AI allies regrouped.

"Open when ready, crazies ready behind." a Kobold said.

"Shit, okay everyone ready?" Taiyama glanced back. "Still got our formation down?"

"Yes, you can go ahead." Heathcliff waved. "We're ready."

"Hesitation is costly guys, come on." I said.

My legs remained stiff, was craving sun rich prairies over this. Wish I sounded more confident.

"I'd prefer using some brains here." Tai said. "Jeez, as if one Aigen's bad enough."

"Tunnels move in we, sneak on them." A kobold hushed. "Move ahead, we."

They tried prying open these granite doors, but struggled. Apparently, Kobolds weren't creatures of strength.

"Pf, lemmie." Aigen reached.

Dust flew out, forming clouds as granite scraped. A fortress, broken and overgrown with flora awaited, whose tunnels swallowed torchlight, their paths narrower than we would've liked. [Kobold Sentinels] dispersed, filing into tunnels maybe two feet wide, their scampering almost completely quiet. Gone within moments, it left us standing, not one of us free of a nervous glint.

"Good one, Aig." Asuna smiled.

Shield users moved in, weapons drawn, many of them reflecting what little light our torches brought. Leopon and I kept watch of our six, a new problem arising as I stepped inside. My Zweihander was too long, hitting this dungeon's ceiling with a light tap.

"More moss..." Lisbeth mumbled. "Ugh, me head."

"Which way?" Leopon whipped around, [Cross Shield] raised.

"Forward." Heathcliff said.

Lisbeth drew a bag, clutching it in her left, a [Bronze Mace] in her right. Yuri drew potions, crouching as he stepped. Heathcliff's boots clacked with every step, our path ending with an intersection. Holes splotched the underground fortress's walls, bricks left scattered by our feet. We made a right turn, stone devoid of hostiles. Silence, my woe-earned [Cutlass] softly drawn. Slowing, we reached our first door, Leopon and I stopping furthest away, her grey eyes darting.

"Okay, so here's how we're gonna do it." Tai whispered, holding his torch up over his head. "Heathcliff and I are gonna-"

Water spilled through said door, streaming under our shoes.

"Vhat?" Kuradeel rose.

A black liquid fell over Tai's torch, its viscosity unmistakable. Grabbing Lisbeth with one hand, my grip tightened like steel.

"Oi, what're ya doi-"

Throwing myself forward, Lisbeth launched like an torpedo, screaming as she fell several feet away. Too bad I didn't have time to move myself. Everything went so fast, fire spreading, people screaming, scrambling about in panic, slipping on oil riding above water. More splashed in, crackling flames reaching out, my screams echoing as hot flares licked my legs, steam blasting up as fluid boiled.

[Evolving Weapons], letting thy weapon grow past ordained restrains. Lo, tis a means of keeping a low level weapon purposeful long after its natural limits are found, leveling with its user accordingly. Dost thou comprehend the ample significance of this?

Nay, thou does not. If thou liketh a weapon, consult a blacksmith of considerable expertise, but be ready to pay great sums. Only a few weapons naturally possess such a trait in this world, our earliest example being the [Anneal Blade], who in themselves come in a variety of weapon types.

Still unsure as to their original creator, or why the House of Cel has such a dim view of them.

-Godfree, The Beta Tester's Survival Guide. November 29th, 2022

A/N: Stuff is about to go down! Kobold attacks, PoH's revenge, conflicts all around. Again, special thanks to Dens3424 for granting permission to use his OCs, they've been so fun to play with, honestly.

Reviews, reviews, reviews! You guys have been very charitable with them as of recent and I am absolutely loving it. Keep it up, maximum opinions help me figure out what to keep/fix.

See you all next week!