"Selka --"
Kirito slapped a hand over his friend's mouth -- successfully cutting her words mid utterance -- and pulled them both down to hide behind a huge block of ice. He peeked over the ice and released a sigh of relief when the goblins remained oblivious to their presence.
Alice glared at him heatedly, concern and fear swimming within her sky blue eyes. He didn't fault her for her reckless action. From the few seconds they were in the open, they had spotted Selka on a wooden cart, tied and most horrifyingly, unconscious.
Such a sight was bound to force Alice to act, especially with how much she love her sister.
He slowly released the hold he had on her wrist and placed a finger on his lips. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before releasing it with a curt nod.
He searched her face critically, pulling his hand away once he was sure that she would not do anything reckless again. They both stared at each other, face pinched with concern and fear but nonetheless determined in their shared goal.
They had entered the cave with the help of Alice's grass light [Magic] to help guide their way, when they heard Selka's piercing terrified scream. They didn't hesitate to follow the sound and found themselves in a large opening with creatures he found familiar in other games.
If it weren't for the bad feeling Alice had told him about before they entered the cave, he wouldn't have been extra vigilant and could not have acted fast enough to go unnoticed.
This gave them time to plan their next course of action.
Kirito stamped down the nervous backflips his stomach and heart was doing. It reminded him of his time in Aincard all over again, which he viciously pushed to the back of his mind without a second longer to contemplate on the comparison. He couldn't allow himself to be distracted and controlled by fear.
He pulled back from his friend and peeked out of the ice again to survey his surrounding. Alice, after gaining her composure followed his example.
"There's too many of them…" She noted with a whisper.
"Is this normal?"
Alice shook her head. "There hasn't been any sightings or reports regarding creatures from the dark continents breaching the borders in years…The Integrity Knights usually dealt with them before any could even get close enough to the border."
Kirito hummed as he listened to her explanation.
The sight of such creatures in the form of [goblins] as he knows it from other games sent a nervous tumor in his stomach. He recalled the things he knew about the [Project]. Soul or fluctlight was the first thing that comes to mind. If what RATH had told him about the 'people' living in Underworld were true then these [Goblins] also possessed souls. Just like Alice and Selka.
The thought caused him to waver for a moment. But it was only for a moment as he shook his head viciously, stopping his hands from trembling in nervousness and fear. Selka needed him. Hehaveto save her.
"Kirito."
Alice's tone of urgency snatched Kirito's attention away from his musing. His eyes met a pair of misting blue sky that shone with concern. The sight reminded him that he was not alone. He needed to keep his cool and put his trust in Alice to ensure that they both (all) made it out alive.
"We'll save her. But before that, we need a plan." He hoped his expression was confident enough to reassure his friend.
He turned his attention away from the goblins and searched the ground for any weapons he could use to defend himself. His eyes trailed to the opposite side of their hiding place, feeling a wave of relief at the sight of an abandoned sword on the ground.
He turned his attention back to Alice and tapped her shoulder. When he got her attention, he pointed towards the sword and then to the spot they were hiding at.
Alice's eyes scanned the place he was about to go and shook her head. Kirito understood her concern, there was a gap between this part of the ice to another. It would leave him out in the open for a few milliseconds. Unfortunately, Alice found it too long to risk his discovery.
Kirito bit his lips in thought before his eyes landed on a medium size rock. He handed it over to her and pointed towards the opposite side. She stared at the rock and back at the goblins.
"What would you do after you get the sword?" She whispered. There was conflict in her expression, unable to decide whether she could risk her friend's safety or allow her sister to be harmed.
Kirito scanned the opening once more and spotted four fires. "Once I've gotten to the sword, we'll knock down those four at the front to break through them. Hopefully that isn't necessary if they were the ones to investigate the sound. I'll take the left, you take the right, and we'll throw the fires into the lake. Once the flames are out, make sure you make your way to Selka. I'll try to distract them for as long as I can." He waved the lit grass in his hand. Hopefully, it would bring their attention to him.
Alice frowned. "You can't possibly be thinking of taking them all on your own." She gave him a hard stare, daring him to say something foolish that would not convince her to let them proceed with the hasty plan.
Kirito grimaced. "I'll fight to distract, not win. You just need to pull Selka away from danger and after that we can boot it out of here."
"Boot it?"
"Run away."
Alice fell into silence as she contemplate his words. Her eyes caught sight of Selka once again and that seems to bring her to an answer.
Alice sighed and brought up three fingers.
Kirito nodded in acknowledgement.
They both crouched down in position.
"Be careful, Kirito."
"You too."
Alice glared at the goblins while Kirito kept his gaze on the sword and Alice's raised fingers. She pulled her arm back and allowed the rock to fly.
Within the icy cave, the sound of the rock meeting ground was almost deafening.
Onefinger was brought down.
The goblins turned their attention to the sound and growled in confusion.
"WHAT WAS THAT SOUND?"
Alice's fingers stuttered in their motion at the booming voice. She raised her head to look further into the other side of the opening and found a larger creature entering the cave from the other side of the tunnel.
She chance a glance at Kirito and found his face hardening. She bit the inside of her mouth and decided that once she had awaken Selka and ensure her escape, she would protect his back. That was the whole reason why she had brought the bone axe along. She had not want to use it, but the situation have forced her hand.
Twofingers were brought down.
"WELL? GO AND LOOK, IDIOTS!"
One goblin began to move to investigate which caused the others to move as well. The giant goblin's eyes followed his minions's movement with a scowl on his face.
Threefingers were gone.
Kirito didn't hesitate as he silently made his way towards the sword. He quickly grabbed the hilt and glanced back at Alice.
He raised a hand in signal and Alice nodded her head in comprehension. Instinctively, her grip on her axe tightened as she waited for his que.
Kirito scanned the opening and silently thanked whatever it was that was watching over them at the goblins' distraction. It would make their way to the fires easier
Waiting for all the goblins' head to turn away from their general direction, Kirito allowed his hand to fall once it was clear.
Seeing that, Alice moved out of her cover and made her way to the closest fire. At the edge of her sight, she could see Kirito going for the fire farthest to her left.
She arrived at her destination first and swiftly kicked the fire into the pool of water, extinguishing the goblin's first source of light in a puff of smoke and mist.
"WHAT?! WHO PUT OUT THE FIRE?!"
Alice did not stay to even glance at the goblins as she made her way to the second fire she was about to extinguish.
"IUM?! WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?!"
Alice extinguished the second source of light swiftly with a swing of her axe. She raised her head to the general direction of her friend and their eyes met. His eyes flickered to her right side and she immediately understood.
She sprinted towards Selka just as Kirito put out the last fire.
"Hey! Looking for someone!?"
At that moment, Alice truly felt like the goddesses were watching over them. The moment Kirito extinguished the last fire and held his lit grass up high to catch the goblins attention, they all screamed in fear.
The abrupt change caused her to pause in her step. She knew she had to keep going but she could not stop herself from turning her head towards Kirito. She stared and he returned the look with one full of disbelief.
"Do you think --" He pointed towards the lit grass.
Alice nodded dumbfoundedly. She turned her gaze to the lit grass and then towards the quivering goblins. An idea immediately struck her.
"Kirito! Cover your eyes!" She made sure he followed her order before citing the spell that would give them an advantage over the goblins. "System call! Generate luminous element." She raised her hand with purpose.
Lights began to gather around her fingertips like fluttering fireflies. Her mind conjured up an image of the sun, hoping the light she creates would have a fragment of the shine in Solus.
In her heart, she also prayed that the cave possessed enough sacred power to complete the art.
"YOU FOOLS! DONT LOOK!"
The warning came too late as a ball of light surge forward into the ceiling of the cave.
Alice closed her eyes in preparation.
"Burst element!"
The light orb exploded in a big flash. Even with her eyes closed, she could see a flash of white from behind the darkness of her lids.
The goblins' painful screams filled the cave walls.
Alice cringed at the screeching sounds they made. She had never thought herself to be able to inflict such pain in another before, but the situation had forced her hand. She needs to protect her sister.
It nonetheless left a bad taste in her mouth.
She kept her eyes closed for a few moments before finding the situation safe enough to open them. She ignores the fallen twitching bodies of the goblins and turned to continue to her sister's side. She trust that Kirito would be able to hold out long enough for her to bring her sister to safety.
Alice reached her sister within seconds. Gently, she turned the girl on her side and carefully cut the ropes restricting her hands with the bone axe. "Selka? Selka!" She urged the girl awake urgently.
"Uh…"
Selka's awakening was slow coming, so Alice placed the axe down and warped her arms under her sister's legs and shoulder. After securing her sister in her arms, she carried her bridal style to the entrance she and Kirito had come from.
"Argh!"
Alice was brought to a halt when she heard the pained scream. Her heart banged loudly in her chest as she turned towards her friend. Her breath caught itself in her throat at the sight of the huge goblin standing over an injured Kirito.
She quickly scanned the area and found a small hidden section between the rocks that was perfect for cover. She hurriedly made her way towards the hiding place and gently lay her disoriented sister down. Giving her a quick prayer, Alice sprinted towards the downed Kirito.
Her blood ran cold when she saw blood flowing from his shoulder.
"...SUCH HUMILIATION. YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PAY FOR YOUR ARROGANCE, EVEN IF I DICE YOU UP AND DEVOUR YOU ALIVE...DIE, IUM." The giant goblin swing the machete over his head, eager to bring the final blow down on the fallen boy.
"Kirito!"
Alice quickened her pace and grabbed the bone axe on her way before standing in front of Kirito to stop the machete from sending her friend to an early grave.
Machete and axe met with a resounding boom, causing dusts and peddles to fly everywhere at the impact of the exchange.
"Alice?!"
The blond teen gritted her teeth in strain and widen her stance to find balance. She kept her steady position to bare the weight of the machete. It felt like a huge boulder had fallen upon her.
Her arms were trembling from keeping such a force at bay. She knew she could not last much longer, so she had to think fast.
"A FEMALE IUM?!"
Alice stared at the pair of eyes full of hatred. She shudders when those eyes met hers directly. Hate turned to interest.
"YOU WILL SELL FOR QUITE A SUM."
Alice didn't wait for any further elaboration as she began to utter. "System call. Generate luminous element. Form element, orb shape," Particles of sacred power gathered around her hand. The goblin's eyes widened in fear. He brought his unoccupied arm to cover his face, giving Alice time to catch her breath. "Fly straight. Discharge!" The light from her hand shot forward with purpose.
The goblin roared in pained anger as he pulled his machete back and struck in a wide arch. That was his mistake. Alice saw the opening instantly. She fluidly ducked away from the swing and surged forward. Eyes squinted through the bright light, she swung her axe like how she had done so repeatedly throughout the years.
"GAH!"
Her timing was perfect but an unexpected stumble from the goblin caused Alice's swing to hit the goblin's side, saving him from a fatal wound to the stomach.
"GAHHH! HOW DARE YOU FEMALE IUM CUT THE GREAT Lizard killer Ugachi! YOU WILL MEET A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH!"
Alice stumbled forward after her unsuccessful attack and quickly tries to find her balance once more. She chance a glance and gasped in horror at the machete coming at her from the side. She tries to bring her axe up to block the attack but her lack of balance had caused her to fail in her attempt to stop it. It would have resulted in her being thrown to the side with an almost severed body, but a miracle had once again occurred.
"System call. Cryogenic element. Discharge."
Three sharp ice flew out of nowhere and embedded itself into the goblin's arm, causing him to stop his attack.
Alice stared in awe as the ice began to slowly spread and freeze the goblin's arm into solid ice.
Ugachi roared in anger.
"Alice! Switch!"
At the call of her name, she turned to the voice and blinked in surprise when Kirito passed her at a speed which left her hair fluttering in the air. He swung his sword from the bottom left side of the agonized goblin's arm, cutting through the lump of meat like paper. The limb fell in the middle of the recovering goblins.
Screams echoes within the group of goblins at such a sight. Stumbling back amongst each other to pull back from the lifeless limb. Ugachi roared once again but this time in pain.
Alice held back the urge to vomit at the sight of pooling red blood. She had never seen so much blood spilt before. Never in her entire life had she expected to see such a grotesque sight.Thattime at the edge of the Dark continent's border pales in comparison. So instead of focusing on the red liquid sprouting out of the goblin's arm, she observed his movement carefully. She prayed that his suffering would end soon, no being should feel such agonizing pain.
A flash of blue at the edge of her eyes caught her attention but she quickly brushed it aside when the goblin began to move.
"HOW COULD I...THE GREAT UGACHI LOSE TO MERE IUMS..."
Without waiting for the goblin to finish his words, Kirito charged forward.
"My name is not Ium!" His sword began to glow a pale green as he thrust forward with a speed that left Alice in both shock and awe.
How can he move with such speed in his injured state?
"I am…THE SWORDMAN KIRITO!"
Alice's breath caught in her throat. It was as though time had slowed down. The green light from Kirito's sword passed through the head of the giant goblin swiftly and cleanly. It was so fast that the goblin had not reacted at all. His face was one of shock instead of pain. He might not have realized he was dead by that point as his body twitched once, twice before it fell backwards. It ended as quickly as it began and time moved once again for Alice. She stared, jaw slacken in shock as the severed head flew into the air and fell within Kirito's range. He caught it with his empty hand.
Kirito raised the still bleeding head of the leader towards the still weakened goblins.
"I TOOK YOUR LEADER'S HEAD! ANYONE WHO WANTS TO FIGHT, STEP RIGHT UP! THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO FIGHT, SCRAM BACK TO THE LAND OF DARKNESS!"
The bold declaration caused the goblins to panic. Watching their leader, the strongest amongst them die at the hands of an Ium was enough to send true fear coursing through their body.
Although that was the case for most goblins, there were some who still wished for violence.
Alice snapped out of her shock and glared in distaste as one such goblin began to step forward with a look of arrogance. He bared his teeth as he looked up at Kirito.
"Gehe. In that case --"
The blond teen did not wait for the goblin to finish his sentence as she uttered loudly. "System call," All goblins froze at her words. "Generate luminous element." Alice narrowed her eyes in challenge at the goblin who still wished to fight.
She would not hesitate to unleashed another round of burst elements if it meant bringing Selka and Kirito to safety quicker. Kirito might be standing tall now, but she could see how much the fight had took its toll on his body.
She had to finish this quickly.
The goblin must have been able to see her intention as he began to turn and ran away in fright. Not too long after the first goblin had ran away, the others soon followed with quickened pace.
Once they were all gone, Alice dissipate the art and quickly made her way towards Kirito who had dropped the giant goblin's head and collapsed on the ground in exhaustion.
(Just like with everything that lost all of its life, the goblin known as Ugachi dissipate into shards of blue light.)
She peered above his head with a kind smile.
"You were amazing Kirito."
He sent her a grin. "You weren't too bad yourself."
Alice chuckled. Her shoulders slumping once it was safe enough to let her guard down. The vile atmosphere she had been sensing was gone, which could only mean the residence of the Dark continent had gone far enough away from them.
"Onee-sama?"
They both turned to see Selka walking out of her hiding spot looking utterly confused. They sigh in relief at the sight.
"Mission accomplish?"
"I don't know what mission you are talking about but I suppose so."
Kirito chuckled from where he lay as poor Selka became even more confused at their offhanded comment.
"What?"
"We'll explain in a moment Selka. First, I need to heal Kirito's wounds."
That seemed to jerked the younger girl into motion as her eyes widened in realization and concern. "What?! Kirito-san is injured?!" She surge forward towards them in a hurry.
"Yes. Now--"
"I'll lend a hand. Th-this is my fault after all." The girl crouched down beside her sister and raised her hands.
"Selka…" Alice glance at her sister in concern, noting the trembles that shook her hands and bottom lip.
"I'm sorry, onee-sama." Selka's face fell slightly at the sight of blood, but tried to keep her hand as steady as she could to begin the healing.
Alice tried to dissuade her from helping. Selka had gone through so much trauma as it is but the look on her face told Alice that her sister would be stubborn about helping. She was so much like her in that aspect that it brought a wistful smile on her face."…We will talk about this further…but not now. Kirito comes first." She said instead.
"I understand."
Alice turned her attention back fully on Kirito, who had kindly given the sisters time to talk without any interruption even though he was surely in pain.
"I'm sorry for the wait, Kirito."
Kirito waved his good arm dismissively. "It's fine. It's fine."
"Alright," She nodded and gently placed his good arm down. "Selka, I need you to close the wound while I stop the bleeding."
"I understand, onee-sama."
Their hands began to glow as they chant their respective sacred arts.
"System call, luminous element. Wound healing."
Kirito released a sigh of relief when he felt the bleeding on his shoulder finally stop. There was still pain but at least it had been reduced to a simple throbbing rather than a searing heat, which was more tolerable.
"System call, luminous element. Heal durability."
It was his first time feeling such pain. He had to be more careful if he wanted to survive in this world.
"Eh?"
Kirito's musing was cut short by that uncertain tiny voice. He opened his eyes (when had he closed them?) to look at the face of a confused Selka. He turned to Alice in silent question to find her brows scrunched together in deep concentration.
Seems like he had to utter the question to find out the cause of Selka's concern. He hoped his injuries wasn't as bad as it looked. Does infection even exist in this world?
"What's wrong Selka?"
The girl snapped her eyes to meet his in disbelief. They flickered from his injuries to her hand in bewilderment. Her mouth opened and closed to answer him but no sound escaped her. She looked so dumbfounded that Kirito began to worry.
"Uh, Alice?"
The blond teen's lips pursed as her brows scrunched further together. She gave a quick glance to the place they had their battle before settling back on Kirito.
"It seems like our System Control authority have increased greatly."
"Huh." Kirito's eyes widened in understanding as he fell silent in thought.
Alice wondered the thoughts coursing through his brain, but opted to just let him be. "Selka," She clasped her sister's hand gently, successfully stopping the arts. "That's enough."
Selka did as she was told, relief covering her youthful face. Alice smiled at the sight, a sense of pride filling her heart. Although she was a bit sceptical of the reason for their sudden increase of System Control authority, she hoped this unexpected development would help Selka to achieve her dream.
With that positive thought in mind, she helped Kirito up as he stretched his body.
"Woah! The pain is almost all gone!" He tested his injured shoulder by stretching it from left to right.
This however got him a bonk on the head by Alice who glared at him in displeasure.
"Do not strain them." She commended.
Kirito gulped nervously, giving a quick nod in hopes that the glare would disappear from her face.
She stared at him for a few more seconds before sighing. Selka yelped in surprise when Alice suddenly grabbed her in a tight hug. Before she could return it, Alice released her sister and turned towards the exit. Only their hands reminded linked.
"Come, let's leave this place immediately. We could all use some time in a nice warm bath and delicious food in our stomach right now."
"Delicious food?" Kirito perked up at the thought of food. After that intense fight, he was beginning to feel very hungry.
Selka chuckled lightly at the older boy's reaction. "The mention of food always energizes you, Kirito-san."
"Well it's food!" Kirito instantly replied defensively as he caught up to them.
The atmosphere surrounding the group began to lighten as they moved into the light outside the cold dark cave.
Eydis whistled, impressed by the spectacle that she had just witnessed. To think that two ordinary young villagers were able to chase away a horde of goblins by themselves. Of course they were almost killed that one time, but a little ice was enough to turn the tide once again.
It's a shame that their callings were to cut down a tree rather than as swordsmen. Truly, a waste of talent.
She turned to her companion and couldn't help the smirk that stretched over her face. Her cute little junior was still staring at the back of those youths. His blueish-green orbs fixed on their backs even after the youths had disappeared from their sight.
She rarely got to witness her junior being interested in anything other than swordsmanship recently, so to find that something had caught his attention filled her with warmth.
She plastered on a teasing smile, because there's no way she was going to miss a chance to tease him for it. "The older girl is really cute, isn't she?" She said in a sing-along tone.
Her voice seems to snap him out of his trance as she gained his attention. She was a little disappointed when his face had slacken back into it's usual blank expression but at least the small light in his eyes were still present.
"Hm?"
Eydis had to stop herself from pinching those cheeks of his. He had such a cute habit when he's confused. He would tilt his head slightly to the side, face still blank but the slow fluttering of his eyelashes shows his confusion. The best part is that he doesn't even realize he was doing it! Such a cutie.
He used to be more expressive -- although not a smile in sight -- but after his knighting, it seems like he had gotten it into his head that knights are supposed to be cool and composed 24/7. Well, they are cool but that's not the point cause even the sudden change doesn't seem to erase all of his adorable habits.
Unfortunately, that had resulted in her rarely getting a response out of him now but that doesn't stop her from trying. "Looks like they've caught your attention, Eugeo-kun." She changed tactic.
He released a soft hum, but did not verbally agree nor deny her claim. Instead, he turned his attention towards the new divine sword at his side.
Eydis silently sighed in disappointment when she saw that she had lost his attention. Not offended by his silent dismissive gesture, she followed his gaze. It was truly a beautiful sword. Encased in ice, pure white in colour with a single rose glittering under the sunlight. Such a pure divine weapon suited her junior's innocent appearance. But like all divine weapon, it's blade is sharper than any steal, making it one of the most dangerous item in Underworld. Just like their Master.
On that thought, she was quite surprised when he had suddenly asked her to accompany him to retrieve his own divine weapon. Usually, the Administrator would bestowed upon them their divine weapon but her junior had found one himself and asked the Administrator for permission to retrieve it. To think such a beautiful blade could be found in the outskirt of the Human continent.
Her musing was cut short when Eugeo began to move in the direction of the large tree that they had passed by to make their way to the cave. She wondered what he was thinking, sporting such a determined look. Well, his face hasn't really change but the way he moves screamed determination.
Eydis didn't questioned him as she followed his lead. This was the most life she had seen in him in ages. That fact alone prevents her from questioning his actions from there onward.
TenebraeLux: Hello! So you should have notice the few changes as well as added component already.Firstly is the Blue Rose Sword. Unlike Eugeo, Alice didn't take the sword back to the village. Of course she knows it was there but she didn't want to ever step foot into that cave again. Understandable. This as a result would have forced Kirito to bring the sword out (I've implied they were going to do that last chapter) and it would take a few weeks to bring it to the tree. Unfortunately they don't have that much time to waste because of the competition.Secondly, yup, Eugeo still has his Blue Rose Sword. Seriously, BRS is the only partner that really fits him. Also, talk about perfect timing for our sunshine boy to get his sword huh. Too bad Alice and Kirito was too late to get it, how would they ever cut the tree down now.And then we have EYDIS synthesis 10 from rising steel! Sorry, I can't help myself. I really like her.So anyway, thank you for reading. I hope you guys are satisfied with the fight scene. I'm a true amateur in writing fights and is still developing such skills. It's mostly on Alice POV cause her actions are different from Eugeo in Canon while Kirito reacts the same way. So hopefully that's good enough for now.Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment, favorite or follow on your way out.Bye!