Heyo! Dstone here. welcome back to another installment of BoA. It's been awhile, ik. But with all that's going on in my life, it's been hard to find time. But I'm here now and I come bearing gifts. Most particularly, a story. And a juicy one indeed. I wasn't truly planning on making it so long, but with all I wanted in it, it needed to be compacted and refined. Topaz and I kept shooting ideas back and forth. Some we thought were just too difficult to work, while others were perfect for the story. Nonetheless, I hope y'all like. And without further ado, enjoy.
Southern Area, Forest of Wavering Mist, December 18th, 2022, almost 1 p.m.
Peace and serenity floated throughout the Forest of Wavering Mist. The digital animals scattered throughout it's forest, birds chirped in the pixelated sky as they floated around the area. Everything was calm and quiet in the untouched brush. But as fate would have it, the peace wouldn't last long, as a certain destructive duo fought one-another throughout the branches. Weaving left and right before they clashed at an impasse. A moment dawned on them, where the two looked each other in the eye, before the black clad spun over the girl as she pushed off her opponent's back and landed on a branch. She crouched on said branch and watched as the multicoloured girl landed on the ground hard. The black clad woman looking away slightly as to fight any feeling of remorse in her.
"I've warned you, little girl. You want to play with the dark flame…"
The girl looked up in shock as she quickly rolled out of the way, before the black cat landed in the spot with her blade dug into the ground. She quickly pulled it back out as she swung it at her again, though Neo simply rolled backward as she regained her posture and clashed with the cat shinobi once more. They locked eyes again. Though this time seemed more fearful as Neo starred in fear, as Blake's eyes burned a fearsome amber hue.
"You will be snuffed."
The search parties littered the entirety of the southern half as hunters' searched for traces, clues, anything. Their hearts set on the bounty, and the large sum that came with it. It had grown to be the biggest manhunt since the game started, and everyone was trying to look for her. From the small 4 man party's, to the bigger and stronger guilds, even the PK guilds were on the hunt. Searching away from the bigger groups as to not stir up any trouble for the most part of the hunt.
"Any signs?" One man asked his comrades, though earning disappointing shakes as they continued searching.
"Where could she be?" Another asked.
"It's a big map. Hell, she could've slipped by us already and we wouldn't even notice."
"Nah, we have backup groups behind us, if she was to slip by, she wouldn't get far anyway."
"We have to expand this search party, it's not wide enough." Asuna spoke, looking around the forest as she let out a disapproving sigh.
"It's all we have, it'll do," Kirito spoke. Turning to see the redhead's unwavering stare as he shook his hands out. "The only other people on this floor are bandits and PKers, and I'm pretty sure they won't do us any good."
With that, Asuna let out a noticeable 'hmph'. "Fine, if this is all we have…" She concluded, continuing to search around.
"I can help you."
The sudden voice made the black and red duo jolt as they turned around, finding a little girl cloaked in a red cape standing on the nearby root of a giant tree. The two panted lightly as they tried to regain their edge. "Jeez, you scared us, I think my body jumped irl." Kirito joked, though the rapier wielder paid no attention as she walked over to the girl.
"W..what is your name, little girl?" Asuna asked calmly.
"My name isn't important, What matters is we are on the same hunt, and I can get her for you."
"Her? You are in the manhunt as well?"
The red cloaked girl gave a single nod. "Yes, but I need info first. From what I've learned so far, she bears a similar outfit of a ninja, with traits of a cat. I've been told you could give me more info on her."
"Wait, you're planning to rush forward to try and confront her, aren't you?" Kirito asked, earning another nod. "Well, don't try. This woman took down an entire clan single handedly. She's a merciless killer-"
"The clan she massacred was a former Laughing Coffin initiate group. An entire clan of PKers and thugs," The little rose spoke, looking the man straight in the eyes. "It's okay to harbour distrust in someone like that, but do not paint a skewed image based off of your own personal opinion."
Her statement made the black haired grow silent as he seemed to look down in defeat. The redhead started to grow frustrated as she looked to the red cloaked girl, though she paid little attention as she sighed. "Can you at least point me in the direction of her whereabouts?"
Asuna pointed to the left of her, to the untouched brush that laid ahead, "She was reported to be over there. Our team is making a thorough sweep to her location." She reported.
"Very well, thank you." The red caped rogue complied. Jumping over to the next large root as she looked in the general direction.
"Wait," Asuna spoke, stopping the red cloaked girl as she peered over her shoulder. "Can you at least tell me a nickname, something to call you, should we meet again?" She asked.
"You can call me Rose." Ruby spoke. As if on cue, her body started disintegrating into rose petals as it moved in the direction of the forest path. The group watching in awe as she floated away without a draft in the air.
"Rose…" The redhead parroted, catching one of the rose petal's as she examined it in curiosity. Before she could question it, however. The group continued the search as they all started to move at a quicker pace through the forest.
"Be careful, little rose."
The southern end of the forest turned into a rave as flashes and debris from the ground floated in the area around the black cat shinobi and her multi-coloured opponent, both of them panting as they used what little bits of stamina they could regain back to take another swing, and both sides covered in equal hits. Blake had to admit, the shorter woman knew how to hold her own in battle. Every swift attack was either dodged or blocked by her thin blade. Had it not been for her newest abilities and her training in the field, Blake was certain she wouldn't have made it. She needed time to think, to recover. And so, she changed her tactics. The black shinobi girl finally sheathed both parts of her blade as she got into a ninja-esque stature. A rare ability that she hadn't used since the last fight with her old partner. The little girl saw it as an opportunity, rushing forward with the last bit of stamina she had as she activated her sword skill and swung at the shinobi. The glowing blade sliced diagonally down the body, though no usual red glow came after as a copy off herself disappeared, leaving the neapolitan woman alone in the now-settling forest.
Neo looked around the area, scanning the trees and the atmosphere around her for signs. Though there was no movement, nothing but the sound of silence around her, making her more and more on-edge as she backed up to the middle of the battleground.
"You are pretty strong, I underestimated you." Blake spoke, though the latter could not pinpoint her exact location. "We are two different people, fighting for different reasons. But at the same time, you and I, we are very similar."
The quiet woman continued to look around, unable to figure out the black clad's next move as she started to grow more wary. "You are trying to kill me, as am I. But I don't want this anymore. I don't want to hurt you, I want to help you!" Blake shouted, making Neo finally stop as she listened in. "You're looking for something, that's why you're here, trying to kill me and bring back my relic. But I want to help you, I want to show you a better way than this. Please, let me help you."
The multicoloured girl didn't budge as she continued to search around for the black cat. Finally she grew impatient as she rushed the nearest tree, hacking it off and sending it flying towards the other trees. When that didn't work, she rushed over to the last nearest location of Blake's voice as she looked up the tree, clutching her throat as a holographic filter could be heard from her mouth.
"What I seek," Neo spoke, a hollow, robotic sound emanating from her mouth, as if speaking through an autotune. "I cannot get from you, then."
Blake paused mentally as she tried to decipher what she meant, before a darkened thought finally came to mind. "Neo please. This is only a game, we can beat this!" The black cat replied. "Just drop your weapon and we can stop!"
"Game, reality, there's no difference. You work your way to the top, and if you falter, you just reset and try again," The multicoloured woman spoke, slowly walking forward with her head low. "The only thing I seek... is death. One way or another."
Blake listened to the smaller girl, it was like a cry, a plea. Something begging to be released from her grasp. It saddened the black clad, made her chest tighten up in pain. Though she could feel none in the game they were in. And that's when it made sense to her. Her motive wasn't exactly to kill her; it was merely a trial of 'survival of the fittest', and she cared not whether she won or lost the battle. 'So this is your true intent. Neo. I'm sorry you feel this way. I can finally see it now, the pain of reality's made you crack.
You remind me of myself.'
"...If that is what you ask. If you won't hear my plea," Blake spoke, unsheathing her weapon. "Then I have no choice. I'm sorry for you, Neo."
With that, Blake landed atop the tinier woman in a flash of black. Though the latter's body disappeared in a holographic glitch as the black clad remained crouched. She started looking around the battlefield for any signs when none appeared. The cat shinobi got up from the ground as she listened in for any signs of the girl. "You knew of the dangers, you knew fighting me would have a similar backlash, that's why you came after me," Blake spoke, looking around. "I might have pity for you, little girl, but I won't have mercy for someone who's trying to kill me, not after all I've been through."
The cat shinobi suddenly did her signature pose. Suddenly, 4 more copies of Blake appeared as they all looked in different 90 degree positions, shutting their eyes in unison. "There's more than meets the eye when fighting me. Tactics and moves I've never even used yet. For example, This." Blake spoke. Opening her eyes rapidly as a burning glow started to shine in each one of her copy's eyes, along with her own set. With that, her surroundings became monochrome as she searched for any depictions of the girl. She unsheathed her weapon and activated her sword skill, launching a slash attack across the plains as it sliced through the tree in front of her. It started to sway as it fell towards the group of cat shinobi's, though every one of them dodged the digital piece of nature as they awaited something.
Suddenly, a striking blow knocked one of the copy cat's away as it evaporated, soon another following suit as the remainder finally caught sight of the girl, although her invisibility perk was active, her newest ability could see her body image easily as one spun around and sent the girl back with a spinning kick, causing the invisible girl to tumble several feet away. The attacks didn't end there, though, as the black cat shinobi rushed forward, her sword skill active as her violet purple blade dragged on the ground. She swung it upwards in her reverse grip as another slash attack ripped through her opponent, though another glyph disappeared as Blake was once again alone on the battlefield.
Suddenly, her other clones detected an oncoming threat as another copy was impaled by the tiny girl's thin blade. The last copy jumped backwards in a spinning motion to deflect the oncoming kick heading her way. Landing on her hands as she finished with a handspring. Blake had little time to deflect another attack as Neo's blade skidded aside the girl's mid-section, gripping the blade as the weapon was locked in place. Neo tried to rip the blade out of her opponent's grasp, but before she could the other black cat shinobi sent her away with a flying kick. The pink-and-brown coloured girl recovered quickly as she began running back towards her foe. As she started to close in, her eyes swapped colours as 2 mirrored copies of her ran alongside her, soon getting close to Blake once again. The black cat had to react quickly as she and her copy unsheathed their blade's, swinging in opposite directions as the 2 lookalike's shattered, though the real Neo vaulted over them and landed with a summersault, grabbing her blade in the process. The black clad duo looked back as they rushed toward her again, one swinging diagonally downward while the other upward in order to try and catch her off-guard, though she simply twisted her body to evade said blades as she took out the last copy with her knee.
With it now just the two again, the duo clashed blades with one-another as they fought to overpower each other, sparks coming off of their blade's as they did. The duo seemed to be in a stalemate as they took a glance at one-another, both with struggling face's as the black clad sighed.
"This much skill with a blade, and you still choose to do this," Blake spoke, looking Neo in the eyes. "How far gone is your heart that you've come to this? How long has your eyes been closed for that you'd resort to kill or be killed?!"
The shorter woman said nothing, only simply smirking as she closed her eyes. The black cat looked puzzled, until she opened them again, finding her iris' returned to normal, before Blake could process what was happening, the girl shattered like a mirror as a body jumped on her back and started spinning around. It threw the cat shinobi off-guard as she started spinning her around with her legs and body, before sending her through the nearest trees and landing a couple hundred metres away.
Blake's head spun as she fought to regain consciousness, she could feel herself slipping in and out of it, like a calm wave going over her. She finally regained enough conscious to find her blade a couple feet in front of her. She struggled to reach for it, dragging herself with all she had left in her. Her arms looked like they went through a blender, with multiple series' of wounds all up and down herself. Her health wasn't looking good as she caught glimpse of the last few droplets of her HP.
'No… I can't just die now… after everything I've been through.
Is this… the price I pay, for everyone I've killed…?'
Blake finally came close as she tried to reach for her weapon, coming near it a couple times as she struggled to get a grasp of it. She could see it, see the multicoloured girl. A saddened look on her for a moment, almost looking as though on the verge of tears. But it ended as quickly as it came as she spun her blade in a reverse grip, walking over before bringing her sword up in the air, Blake struggling with all of her might to just touch her weapon, before her last amount finally faltered and her hand fell to the floor.
'This is what I deserve, after everything I've done…
I'm sorry.'
The multi coloured woman walked over, weapon in a reverse grip as she slowly walked over to the downed woman. The latter's hand desperately reaching for her blade, though coming just too short as she finally collapsed, bruised and beaten from their battle. Neo raised her blade in the air, getting ready to pierce the cat shinobi, ending her life for good. When she caught glimpse of something. A lone rose petal, landing atop the black clad's weapon. She looked at it for a moment, before returning to the task at hand as she brought it up as high as she could, sending it downwards rapidly as she was rearing to stab her.
Suddenly, a flash, followed by a large clash of metal echoed. Neo started to shake violently from the recoil of it. Before she could register any more, whatever it was spun around counterclockwise as it came towards the shorter girl, her only reaction was to block whatever it was as it sent her flying with incredible impact. When she finally came to, she saw a figure, clad in a red cloak. But above all else, a massive scythe cropped atop her shoulders, ready for any other attack. The shaken girl looked at her weapon in her hand as her eyes widened, finding her blade broken in half as the other piece sat in the ground beside her. It astonished her as she watched her weapon soon turn to pixels right before her eyes. Making her gasp quietly.
Before she could think any further, the scythe wielder began to rush toward her as panic started to set in. just like that, Neo disappeared in the split second the red clad girl hacked the tree clean off, falling to the side with a low thud. The hooded girl looked around the area, searching for the opponent. When the area was deemed clear she spun her blade around in the air like a mere baton and set it back in the holster on her back, cocking her head around to look at the woman on the ground.
Ruby removed her hood as she crouched beside the downed player. Several various gashes and cuts riddled her body as she laid on the ground. The only movement coming from the slow rhythmic raising and falling of her chest as she lay. The young player nudged the black haired woman before her. When no response came from her she carefully rolled her over, soon noticing the pair of black cat ears and attire she had on -albeit ruined from battle- as her eyes widened slightly. "You're… The Black Sabre Cat Shinobi," Ruby spoke. Though the unconscious woman could not hear her.
"You're the one the entire floor's after."
As if on cue, cries could be heard in the horizon where the red cloaked girl came from as it slowly grew louder. Ruby would've been more-than-content with their arrival. But there was something wrong with the decision, something off-putting about killing a critically injured woman, especially with no real answers to why. Her mind debated on what seemed right and what seemed just. But time was running short. And so, she tossed all options aside and decided to do what seemed morally right to her. She stepped over the unconscious woman with her hood drawn up as the party finally arrived at her location, immediately noticing the target as their expression turned bright.
"Ha! I knew the young girl had potential! She subdued her!" One man exclaimed as he pointed out braggingly.
"Finally, this hunt can be finished," Another squabbled. "I wasted a full day to finding her."
The group started to approach the duo, though halted when Ruby whipped her arm out from her cape, catching them off-guard. "NO!" the red clad shouted, creating confusion within the community.
"No? What do ya mean 'no'?! Let's finish this!"
"No! I won't let you kill this woman!" Ruby announced, making the crowd grow even more dumbfounded. Before anyone could argue back, the young rose pointed to the target.
"She's a target to all of you. But nobody has seemed to bat the million-dollar question. So I WILL." Ruby spoke, now making the crowd grow silent. "Why are you all after her?! What has she done to create such a boycott?! Do you even know who she is, what she's truly done?!"
"Where is she? I was told she was fo-" Kirito's voice spoke out, breaking the silence of the group before Ruby as he soon caught sight of them. "Ah, it's the young girl in red. What seems to be the problem?"
"We have the perfect opportunity to kill our target, and this little brat won't allow it." One of the players told the man. Making the black swordsman and his partner walk through the crowd to the girl.
"Why are you defending her? Do you realize she's a wanted criminal?"
"For what reason?! Why do you insist on destroying her when she could tell us what happened? Have all of you gone mad from this killing game that all logical reasoning is tossed away by a coin symbol?"
"Enough!" Asuna shouted. Walking forward to face the redhead with her rapier drawn. "Do you realize this woman you are protecting has killed hundreds of players? Players like you. She may seem innocent, but that's her strongest trait."
The crimson girl remained unmoved, a slow breeze whisked around the air as they stared at each other. Finally, Asuna twitched. "Fine, don't believe me? I was informed a couple days ago. A couple weeks ago, a special shipment of supplies was being transported by a series of cargo carts. Armed with both NPC guards and quest recruited players. There had been a report of 2 roguish mercenaries under the same guild faction hijacking the cart. A man with red-brownish hair and dark clothes, and a dark haired woman with identical black shinobi-like apparel and the DLC weapon switchblade," Asuna spoke, pointing to the woman, and her blade just behind her. "She and her partner single handedly destroyed an entire HALF of the cart. An estimated 5 PK deaths and hundreds of NPC enemies were slaughtered."
"Did you know that same woman eliminated her own guild members? Players of red and orange cursors trying to make a name for themselves. Do you also know why they only made it halfway? There had been a reporting of a 'Glitch' in the system, a special item used to erase players status' was used and there had been reportings of that same black haired girl missing on the server lists," Ruby spoke, now shutting the latter up as she gave a cold glare, though the rest of the group was baffled by what was mentioned. "Now do you see? You only know what reports say about her, but you don't truly even begin to understand."
The redhead finally removed her hood, revealing her silver eyes, and a determined look as she stared at them. "I don't care if I have to take you all on," The redhead spoke, finally revealing her weapon to the crowd as they all gasped in shock and awe, spinning the scythe around before finally letting it rest in her signature pose. "I won't let you go near her!"
The group all stared in shock and awe at the woman before them. Most flabberghasted to see another DLC wielder, whilst the rest were astounded by how large her weapon was, despite her tiny size. Kirito and Asuna both had their weapons drawn, but their faces said otherwise as they stared skeptically at the girl. "Perhaps, we should-"
Before Kirito could finish his statement, the group decided to proceed without them as the redhead got into a readying stance, prepared to take them on at first chance. The opportunity never came, though. As a blockade of icicles separated the group from the red scythe wielder. Everyone turned their heads to find a young, white haired girl.
"Halt!" Weiss commanded, removing her rapier from the ground as two more women appeared out of the cropworks, weapons drawn and ready to fight.
The small group ran over to Ruby's side as they got into their signature stances as well. "Yang?" the redhead spoke in surprise. The blonde simply turned her head to the side as she smirked, soon noticing the downed woman beside her.
"She a friend of yours?" Yang asked.
"Something like that." the scythe wielder replied.
"Good enough for me," The blonde stated as she charged up her gauntlets in a fiery glow. "You want her, you'll have to go through me."
"Myself included," Winter spoke next, turning to Weiss. "What about you?"
"I'll follow, somebody's gotta protect the dolt." Weiss agreed, keeping her natural stance as she too charged up a sword skill.
Before anyone could make another move. A giant flash of red sped across the two sides, breaking the wall of ice in a fury of crystals. Everyone followed the light to find Asuna with her blade a glowing red. It dissipated as she simply spun it around in her grasp, before finally sheathing it.
"ENOUGH!" She shouted, turning around as she started to walk back. "I understand that you all want justice, but to plow your way through 4 young women without hesitation? Have some mercy."
The red leader's words started to resonate with the larger group as they all lowered their weapons, soon returning them in their holsters. Asuna let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you," She spoke, turning her head back over to the other group. "It's been a long day. I want to get at least some XP crunching done while there's still daylight out."
The redheaded woman walked over to the 4 girls covering the downed player, looking to the youngest. "I will look into this matter personally. If what you say is true, the charges will be dropped. But we can discuss these matters tomorrow. Before I go, I gotta say. You have bravery that not a lot of others possess. I think you'd make a great leader for the frontlines, should you consider it."
Yang's hand grabbed the younger redhead's shoulder as she gave the latter a cold glare. "Thanks, but I'd like to see my sis in one piece, if you don't mind me saying." She spoke.
"That's alright, I understand," Asuna returned. Turning to the rest of the group. "Same goes for everyone though, just think of it if you ever want to do something about beating this game."
And with that, Asuna turned back around, tugging the black clad man along as everyone else soon followed. Angry remarks and frustrated comments could be heard about them, but that was all that came out of them as they all went back home, leaving the reunited group alone,
And the raven haired girl below.