- Chapter Eight -

We arrived at the town a few minutes later. Sampson was still perched on my shoulder and Ronin had his katana out practicing sword skills.

I managed to rack up another 1350 col on the way so I was definitely hitting up the blacksmith after we found Carey.

"They just let anyone in this town I guess." Came a voice from... above us? We both looked up to see Carey on the balcony of one of the shops.

I couldn't hold my laughter in. He literally looked like Robin hood. Green tights, feather hat, everything.

In almost an instant, he appeared downstairs walking out the door. "Took you fags long enough." He said walking up and grabbed us both in a bro hug. He continued, "I was hoping you guys didn't log in when that asshole started talking."

"I didn't even know you had a NerveGear, much less SAO." I replied. "Do you know if anyone else we know is trapped in here?"

"Nah. My girlfriend Ami was supposed to log on with me but she had to work late today, THANK GOD! So when she heard everyone was stuck in here, she messaged me. I told her to call you guys. That's when I got Mindy's message."

I nodded and looked up at his name.

(Pzark Ranger)

"Of course." I thought, smiling. He kept his Playstation screen name.

"How the hell did you get here so fast?" I asked.

He grinned. "I was a beta tester."

"You sons uh bitches!" I yelled. "So I guess that's how you managed to afford that bow on your back?"

"Spent 1200 shams on this bad boy." He replied, taking the bow off his back and drawing it. A glowing arrow appeared between his hands. He slowly eased the bows tension and the arrow disappeared. "You can make fun of my outfit all you want, but you're stuck with that name...Phat Zeus" He and Ronin both busting out in laughter.

"I'd rather be a fat Greek God than a gay archer." I fired back, but neither of them were listening anymore. They were both staring at a pair of twins walking down the street.

They had shoulder length brunette hair, and faces as if made out of porcelain. Both dressed in the same armor with the same katana sheathed on their backs. After sharing a look at us, they disappeared into a shop.

Carey spoke up, "DAYUM!" He and Ronin both laughed again.

"Pick your jaws up off the floor. I need to find a blacksmith." I said, pushing them down the street. As we passed the shop the twins were in, Ronin spoke up. "Found your blacksmith." He said, smiling.

"They apparently had the same idea as me." I said, "Don't make an ass out of yourselves."

They both chuckled again and we entered the blacksmith.