Sword Art Online: Renegade

by Dark The Relentless

AU. On that day 2 years ago, we learned our very lives were at risk from a mad bastard trying to play god. We fought through the trials set before us, through all the despair and death, we fought and survived though the sacrifice of other brave players. But its not enough, not until I see the one who trapped us brought to justice. Not until Kayaba dies by my hands, and mine alone.

2. A Flash of Lightning

Floor 1, Unknown Dungeon. 2 months after the launch of SAO.

I have no idea how long it been since we've been in this dungeon, but its been long enough to the point were the two of us are at the point of collapse.

Deep inside this dungeon full of enemies, we have no choice but to keep pressing on. For we fall now, it'll only mean one thing: Our death.

I tighten my hands around my sword, panting heavily. Behind me was the female player I followed in after when I noticed her unwisely entering this place alone.

Though she bid me time and time again to leave her be, I could not. For my code would not allow me to abandon a person in obvious need.

Bits of my white colored hair dangled before my eyes as I looked ahead to the threat looming to overtake us. Swarms of enemy AIs -giant axe wielding half ox half orc beings- slowly moving to surround us.

My female charge, as exhausted as I, struggled to stand.

I turned my head back, looking into her cloaked face. Her orange-brown hair mostly covered by her red hooded cape, which reminded me of an old American fairy tail known as Red Riding Hood.

Aside from the cloak, she wore a dark red leather tunic, a white long sleeved shit, a red short skirt and white shoes with red outlines.

She looked at me with her hazelnut colored eyes.

"Go. Leave now while you can." She said between breaths.

A let out a short, exhausted laugh. "Yeah right. Like I could leave a girl like you alone in place like this."

"Don't give me that." My female companion took a step forward. "You're a girl too!"

I chuckled.

Yes, it was true. I was also a girl, though I could be considered what people called a 'tomboy.' Often I've been told I acted too chivalrous to be considered a lady, more like a knight from the medieval period.

Not that I mind, after all I always wanted to be a knight.

"So what? That doesn't mean I can't protect you." I replied with a smiled. With some effort, I held my sword up in the air. "I swear, my lady. I shall die before I allow any harm to befall you."

My charge let out a sigh. "You're completely unreasonable."

One of the enemy AIs charged at us. I turned my head and smiled. With sword in hand, I dashed forward.

The half orc swung its massive axe, I countered by meeting the blow with my sword. Our blades clash, knocking each other back.

My companion dashed forward, she delivered three quick strikes with her rapier onto this beast before moving off towards the others. She was fast, possibly one of the fastest players in the game, but speed wasn't everything that decided a battle.

And the way she fought, it was too aggressive. Twas like she desired to die in battle.

It was after a few moments that I saw one of the beasts closing in on her from behind.

I ran towards my comrade with all the speed I could muster, hoping to make it to her before the beast struck her.

The beast raised its massive axe. At this point, my charge noticed the enemy behind her. It was too late for her to react however, as the beast began to bring his weapon down upon her.

In the nick of time, I managed to reach my female companion and push her aside. The beast's axe grazed my body, enough to register some damage by this game's combat systems.

I looked at my heath bar and noticed a small yellow thunderbolt image beneath my name.

This image was the notification given to players when they were paralyzed.

I fell to my knees, unable to move my body.

I managed to catch my comrade within my eyesight. She looked directly into my eyes. Her face portraying disbelief and shock.

"Why would you-?!"

"It's like I stated before," I interrupted her, struggling to speak the words. "I would die before I let any harm befall you."

"Idiot!" She screamed at me. "I was the only one suppose to die here!"

Despite the paralyzing force overtaking my body, I managed to form a sad smile on my face.

The other AIs slowly moved to surround us once more.

Unable to move, and knowing fully well how exhausted my companion was. I knew this would be the end of us.

I closed my eyes, preparing for the end.

"I'm sorry, Lady Asuna."

It was in that moment, a miracle happened.

I head a noise and, noticing I was still very much alive, reopened my eyes.

To each side were two male players, seeming appearing out of nowhere. These two knocked away the approaching beasts, even defeating some with their single strike.

One wore a long, dull black jacket, greyish jean-like pants, a black undershirt with matching finger-less gloves and black sneakers. He had medium sized black hair, black colored eyes and held a one-handed sword.

The other also had black hair, but a bit shorter cut in the back of his head and had a grown out bang on the right side of his face.

He had dark purple eyes and wore a short brown jacket that stretched down to his stomach, a dull light green undershirt, and grey pants with brown boats that stretched up his entire leg that featured knee guards. He also held a one-handed sword identical to the 1st man.

"You." The first one said. "If you keep fighting like that, you'll die."

"But hey, if you really have a death wish." The second one added. "Then who are we to say otherwise?"

"But it would be a real waste for you to die right now." The 1st one spoke one more before turning his head back towards Asuna.

The 2nd man turned his head around as well, smiling as he looked into my face.

"So if you're really that eager to die, then give us your map data." The two said in unison, pointing at us with their free hands. "After that, you can die if you still want to."

The double doors leading in the room they were currently in suddenly threw themselves open. Due to the paralyzing status slowly warring off, I was able to turn my head towards that way.

Entering the room was a band of six players; four males, two females of all shapes and sizes.

"Sorry we're late Ryder, traffic was a bitch." The lead player, and the most normal looking of the group said.

"Bout time you guys showed up!" The man I assumed to be Ryder replied. He looked to the other one-handed swordsmen near him. "Alright Kirito, gangs all here. Time to let loose on these freaks."

The man known as Kirito replied with a simple nod.

Ryder turned his body towards the approaching party of 6.

"Titan, Rebecca, help draw these bastards way. Juno, you strike whenever you see an ideal shot."

"Alex, Tifa, tend to the wounded. After that, strike when you see an opening but mainly focus on protecting those two."

"And TJ, you go do what you do best."

The players moved in accordance to Ryder's instruction.

The most normal looking of the group along with a beautiful blond female directly engaged the various beasts around us. I could only assume these two were Titan and Rebecca.

Proving support fire behind these two was one of thee most adorable young kid I have ever seen. No doubt the one called Juno.

I slowly rose up, placing a hand to the ground to support myself.

Approaching me were two young players; Alex and Tifa I suppose.

"Are you alright?" Alex said as he drew near.

"Yes." I replied almost instantly. "I was paralyzed, nothing more."

The young black haired Tifa half slid to my side. She quickly opened her menu, pressed a few buttons, and spawned a yellow potion.

"This is a paralyze heal, right oni-chan?" She turned her head to Alex, whom replied to her question with a casual nod and smile.

The little Tifa turned her gaze back to me. She smiled and held the potion out in front of me. "You should take this, just in case." She said with an adorable smile.

"Uh...But of course." I hesitantly took the potion. "Thank you, young one."

Tifa tilted her head, but held her adorable smile. "Hey miss, how come you talk so strangely?"

"What do you mean?" I replied after taking a sip of the potion. "I have always talked with this dialect."

"See there you go again, talking like some sort of old man." She said with a chuckle. "I mean, aren't you supposta be a girl?"

I felt my anger rise as this little one insulted me, but out of gratitude for her help and proper manners I chose not to reply in any negative way, though my face might have betrayed me.

"I-is that so?" I said, feeling a vein pulse across my forehead. "Well, I can assure you I am in fact a female."

"Ah! I'm sorry!" Alex suddenly cut in. "My sister can be...Well a sort of person that-well can annoy people and-"

"Oni-chan!" Tifa shouted, spinning around to face her brother. Her twin pigtails seemingly spiking up in the air. "How dare you call me annoying!"

"Ah, no I didn't mean-"

"YES YOU DID! You said it right in front of me!"

"Ahahaha..." Alex placed one of his hands behind his head. "I guess I did huh?"

"This isn't something to laugh at you BAKA!"

I turned my attention from the two siblings and eyed the extraordinarily large axe wielding player. Given the remaining choices, it was safe to assume this man was TJ.

This player currently fought several of the enemy AIs down on his own and was actually winning. TJ exchanged blow for blow with the beasts, and while his heath bar dwindled with each hit he took, the large man didn't seem to be affected in the slightest.

Of course, he backed off every now and then to heal but TJ seemed to fight these powerful monsters on equal, no greater footing.

I turned my gaze back to the player known as Ryder, whom seemed to be the leader of this band.

I catch him in my sight moments before he jumped up into the air. He spun around to the backside of one of the beasts, posed to strike at the monster's neck.

"Now it's a party!" He shouted before delivering his sword down the back of the AI's neck. The monster shattered into data, indicating its 'death.'

Ryder gracefully landed on the dungeon floor, placing his sword into its sheath dangling at his side.

Smiling, Ryder casually walked towards me.

"Hey, hey!" He shouted, but his gaze wasn't fixed upon me. "We're in the middle of a battle, keep that sibling bickering in check till after all the monsters are dead."

The young Alex replied with an awkward chuckle while his sister replied by puffing out her cheeks.

After a few more steps, Ryder hovered directly over me. He looked down, smiling as he extended his hand. "Are you alright?"

I stared at his hand for a few moments, slowly reaching out towards it.

Once our hands meet, he pulled me to my feet. I looked him face to face, the closest I have ever been to another person, let alone a man.

My cheeks suddenly felt hot, no doubt I was blushing. "Ah. Yes! Yes, I am fairing quite well." I replied with a nervous tone. "Th-thank you, Sir Ryder."

He smiled even wider, showing his white teeth. "Sir Ryder?" He chuckled. "No one's ever called me 'Sir'. Kinda has a nice ring to it."

Before I could offer a reply, Lady Asuna stormed over.

Sir Ryder turned his head towards her. "Can I help you?"

Lady Asuna frowned at the man, grinning her teeth in frustration. "Just because I don't know you, doesn't give you the right to interfere with other people's business!"

Sir Ryder blinked twice before turning towards my charge. He tilted his head slightly, then raised one hand in front of Lady Asuna's forehead and promptly flicked her.

"Idiot. Do you really think I care if I've messed up your suicide plan or not?" He said as Lady Asuna grabbed at her forehead. "I'm doing this as a favor to a friend and I'll be damned if I let that weasel down."

Sir Ryder turned a full 90 degrees, placing his hands on his waist. "If you're so eager to fight, then why don't you go back up Kirito?"

He nudged his head towards the latter. The black cloaked swordsman had dove head first into the enemy formation, almost cutting himself off from the other players.

"Bastard always was one to jump head first without looking, not that he couldn't fight his way out of any situation." Sir Ryder turned his head to Lady Asuna. "Still, it would ease my heart if you would help that thick headed idiot."

Lady Asuna frowned. She took her rapier in hand and quickly dashed forward. With grace and speed, she quickly and efficiently pierced into several of the enemy AIs.

Sir Ryder let out a low whistle. "Damn. She's quite the fast one ain't she?"

"Indeed." I replied. "One could say Lady Asuna is like a shooting star."

"Shooting Star huh?" Sir Ryder placed his hand on his chin. "More like a flash of lightning. Quick and devastating."

Lady Asuna continued hitting our foes with dazzling fast strikes and once she downed the last in her path, she fell to the ground. Clearly collapsing from exhaustion.

"Guess that's her limit huh?" Sir Ryder said, more to himself than anyone given his low voice.

"Oh well, let's go save the damsel in distress." He spoke, drawing his sword. He eyed me before continuing what he wished to say.

"You with me, Miss Knight?"

I nodded, holding my own sword directly in front of my face.

"I swear on my honor I shall not fail Lady Asuna again!"

Ryder smiled. "A little overly dramatic, but that'll do."

Together, Sir Ryder and I dashed out onto the battlefield. He, with his swift and precise attack and I, with my powerful swings and thrusts, quickly cleared our path to Lady Asuna.

By the time we made our way to my female companion, Sir Kirito had already shifted his way towards my lady and struck at any foe that dared too close to her fallen figure.

I turned to aid Sir Kirito in warding off the enemy AIs as Sir Ryder crouched down and scooped Lady Asuna over his shoulder.

"I'll make a break for the safe zone." He said with a serious tone. "You two stay on my ass."

Sir Kirito quickly gave his acknowledgement.

I turned my head to give mine as well, when I noticed Sir Ryder's hand a bit too close to Lady Asuna's rear.

I opened my mouth to voice my protest when Sir Ryder looked directly into my eyes.

"So, does Miss Knight have a name or should I keep calling you that?"

I grumbled for a few moments, unsure if I should share my name first or address the matter at hand.

While sharing my own name should've been my first action, Sir Ryder seemingly oblivious on how to properly handle a lady was something that needed to be addressed.

"Luna." I said, deciding the former was more important. "But you may refer to me as Lady Luna."

"Very well, Lady Luna." Ryder smirked as he spoke my name. "I'll lead, you follow."

"As you wish." I frowned. "And do mind where you place your hand! You are dangerously close to touching Lady Asuna's posterior!"

Sir Ryder laughed. "That right? Well I can't exactly help it since I have to hold her tight. Unless you want me to drop her?"

"Th-that's not what I-"

Sir Ryder dashed off before I had a chance to finish. Sir Kirito followed shorty, leaving me alone for a few moments before I dashed after the two.

"It's very rude not to let someone finish speaking Sir Ryder!" I shouted as I kept pace with these two players.

Sir Ryder chuckled. "Sorry, but we are in the middle of a battlefield! Don't exactly have the time to listening when I need to make a move!"

A let out a tisk. While Sir Ryder made a valid point, his actions were in fact quite rude.

I decided to let this go, since these actions were for the benefit of Lady Asuna.

The four of us reached the safe zone faster than I anticipated.

Sir Ryder gently placed Lady Asuna within the protective field, then turned to me. "You stay and rest up. 'Sir' Kirito and I will head back out there and help clean these guys out."

"Where did that sir come from?" Sir Kirito asked with a smile and an eyebrow raised.

"From our lady knight here." Sir Ryder replied with a wink. "She's very authentic when it comes to playing the part."

"Yes, well. I say you play your own part very well yourself Sir Ryder." I said bluntly.

Sir Ryder twirled his sword between his fingers. "Damn right I do."

He returned his gaze to Kirito, extending his free hand outward.

"Just like the beta, huh Kirito?"

The latter meet Sir Ryder's hand, exchanging in what I heard is called a 'bro fist.'

"Yeah, minus the constant risk of death and all." He replied.

"Man, don't sweat the details." Sir Ryder turned his head forward. He leaned his sword on his shoulder. "You'll ruin the moment doing stuff like that."

Sir Kirito chuckled. "You always were so carefree. The world could end in front of you and you'd probably wouldn't bat an eye."

"That world has ended mate, the one we know anyway." Sir Ryder causally started walking forward. "Now we gotta fight through a new one to reach the world we all know and love. Not that I really care."

Sir Kirito slightly shook his head back and forth. "You really are a lost cause, you know?" He said before following after Sir Ryder.

"So are you, mister Black Swordsman." The latter replied, swirling his sword around.

The two walked out of the safe zone and back into the fray.

I watched from the safety of this field as Sir Ryder, Sir Kirito, and their other comrades clear the numerous enemies in this dungeon room.

And all the while, I could help but admire their unique fighting styles, the way that they were in near perfect sync with one another, and the fact that they were strong, amazingly strong.

I wondered to myself, just did I have to do to become that strong?

Strong enough to protect everyone, like a true knight would.

---

Hours later...

(Asuna's POV)

The first thing I became aware of when I awoke was the sound of voices.

"-So Titan here goes 'Come with me if you want to live.' Like straight out of one of those old American scifi movies I uses to watch."

"Exactly like how the Terminator said it."

"Yeah, Arnold Schwarzenegger would be proud you copied one of his popular one-liners."

"Like you're one to talk, you copy movie quotes all the time!"

"Only when it's appropriate."

I heard a bit of laughter after that.

Slowly, I sat up and saw the same group of players that suddenly appeared in that dungeon.

Sitting in front of me, but with his back turned, was one of the black haired swordsmen that first interrupted me.

Ryder was his name, at least that's what I believe. By the way he kept his hair, you could tell this guy frankly didn't care what he looked like.

In fact, I bet he though he looked cool looking like a juvenile.

To his left sat a long haired blond with a beauty mark over her right eye. She wore a green shirt with a leather vest and a single shoulder pad over her right shoulder, grey pants that closely resembled jeans and brown hiking boots.

She had to be around the same age as that Ryder guy and, quite honestly, one of the prettiest women I've seen.

Next to her sat the largest man I had ever seen. He had short, brown hair and a scar over his chin. Strangest thing of all was that this giant's eyes were closed, yet he still seemed to see everything going on.

He wore grey pants exactly like blond girl's next to him, a dark blue shirt with leather armor over it, and black boots.

Across from the giant, was the most normal looking of the group. This man had black hair and appearance wise seemed to be an average teenager.

He wore a violet colored shirt under a set of metal chest armor, greyish-blue pants with metal guards over his knees, metal arm gauntlets and black shoes.

Next to that man, sat a brown skinned, grey haired kid. I mean like, really young.

Like a ten year old.

He had pretty green eyes, his hair was spiky with a pony tail at the back of his head, and overall really adorable looking.

He had a dull red cloak with a hood on, a green shirt with a brown leather vest underneath the cloak, dull blue colored jeans, brown shoes, and a leather glove over his right hand. The glove covered the palm of his hand and only three of his fingers.

Sitting next to the shota was the female player that accompanied me into the dungeon.

Ah what was her name again? I don't think I asked her, much less remember her telling me.

She had medium lengthen white hair, or at least that's what it seemed since she had a big braid on the right side of her head. She had light blue colored eyes that seemed to sparkle from time to time.

She wore full upped body metal armor, which wasn't that impressive looking thanks to the limited selection one had on this floor. Underneath her armor, she wore a blue shirt with yellow outlines that somewhat felt like silk. (I know cause I grazed her arms a few times.) She also wore a blue skirt with white leggings, metal gauntlets and boots.

A little was away from her was the other swordsman that interrupted me.

I believe his name was Kirito, or so Ryder told me.

He sat against a tree, smiling as he watched the others. It seemed he wasn't much of a people person, that or liked to keep to himself.

I didn't see the two other children that were with them earlier. Could it be..?

No, these people wouldn't be so cheery if that were the case.

Unless they were monsters.

At that moment, Kirito turned his head towards me. He smiled, calmly calling out to the others that I had awaken.

The group of players turned to face me. I frowned at them.

"Why didn't you leave me behind?" I asked.

"I told you didn't I?" Ryder replied without a care. "One of my friend's asked me to go rescue you and I sure as hell wasn't going to let her down."

My eyebrow raised as the man said 'her'. Before I could ask anything further, Kirito cut in.

"It sure was a pain coming to save you, especially since you have a death wish." He gave me a smirk before continuing.

"It wasn't all that bad though. While you were asleep, I took my time doing whatever I wanted."

The 'normal' looking person laughed. "Yeah, Kirito was all in that." He added between laughs. "I even took pictures."

I pulled out my rapier and dashed to Kirito as he was the closer of the two. I took a jab at his head, to which he barely dodged.

I held my blade to his throat. Kirito threw his hands in the air, looking at me with panic and crying eyes.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BODY?!"

"Nothing! I did nothing inappropriate, I swear!" He yelled in a panic.

"D-don't you lie to me!" I screamed. My mind flashed images of this perverted man touching my body. "When you were looking for the map data, you must have done things to my body. Like, all sorts of weird stuff right?!"

"I wouldn't go feeling up unconscious girls! I'm not that kind of person, honest!"

"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!"

Before I could anything more, someone grabbed onto my hands. I turned towards the person, only to see the female player who followed me into what was going to be my grave.

"Lady Asuna, please! I know what it seems but these men have done nothing inappropriate to your body!" She pleaded.

"This is nothing but a misunderstanding brought upon by Sir Kirito's poor wordplay and Sir Titan's awful tasted in comical relieve. I swear on my life and honor as a knight, my lady!"

I stared into her light blue eyes, I could tell she wasn't lying.

I let out a sigh, but before I could speak my stomach growled uncontrollably.

The female knight let go of my hands, I turned around and fell to my knees.

I placed one hand upon my forehead, chanting to myself that this was just a game and there was no way I was actually hungry.

Yet, it was a really convincing feeling of hunger.

I could hear Kirito chuckling, along with Ryder and who I assumed was "Sir Titan".

"Maybe you should eat before you turn Kirito here into swish cheese." Ryder said.

I rose to my feet, spinning around to face the man. "It's not like I could die from starvation!"

"Maybe, maybe not." He replied with the shrug of his shoulders. "Still, you haven't exactly been the picture of strength. Plus you gotta be suffering from that extreme hunger so its little wonder why you needed help in that dungeon."

"I didn't nee-"

"Shut up and let me finish." Ryder cut me off. His tone shifted to something more serious. "There are a few things I hate in this world, and being interrupted is one of them."

I frowned but complied with his wishes.

He turned his head towards the blond haired player beside him. Ryder nodded at the female, then returned his gaze to me.

"That said, I think you deserve a little treat. You did provide us valuable map data so this is the least we can do."

The blond haired player sat up. She opened her menu, pressed a few buttons, and then a single bread roll popped into her hand.

As she walked toward me, Ryder turned his head to Kirito.

"Yo Kirito, you still got that stuff right?"

"Already ahead of you." The latter replied, going through his own menu. Once he had finished, a small jar appeared in his hand.

"Hey Rebecca, catch."

He threw the jar towards the female player, whom I now know is named Rebecca.

The latter caught the small jar without even glancing in its direction. As she walked, Rebecca opened the small jar and pored its continence on the bread roll.

It appeared to be a sort of cream. Butter maybe?

Rebecca stop a bit too close than I was comfortable with. She stared at me with unemotional eyes.

I started to feel awkward on this whole situation. "Uh...What can I do for you?"

"Eat."

I blinked a few times before opening my mouth to ask what she meant by that.

As soon as I opened my mouth to a certain point, Rebecca forcefully jammed the bread into my mouth.

I let out a muffled scream before falling backwards. Rebecca followed suit, still pressing the bread into my mouth.

I squirmed around, both astonished by how bold and rude Rebecca was and trying to push the latter off of me. The proved fruitless however, as the blond had pined me to the ground.

Rebecca pressed herself down on my body. I could feel her breasts pressing down on mine. My face turned red, or it should have thanks to the embarrassment this woman was inflicting on me!

She leaned her head over to my ear. "Say Ah~." She whispered in a way I found all to discomforting.

Someone let out a whistle, I couldn't tell who until the same person spoke. "Yeah, go Rebecca! Show us all a good time!" Titan said with glee.

"Dude come on, that's my mother!" Ryder replied.

"It's not my problem your mom's a MILF."

"Do you want me to punch every tooth out of your mouth? Cause I can and will, you know that."

"Oh come on! I just having some fun here!"

"No, you're trying to get off on this and I'm telling you, if I don't kill you first Asuna here surely will. Take it from a man with experience, ain't that right Kirito?"

I heard Kirito let out a sigh. "I seriously thought I was going to die there."

"Serves you right you jerk!" Titan replied with a laugh.

"You're the one that made it worse!"

"Um, pardon my interruption. But this is getting a little...Obscene." The female knight added in. "I must question Lady Rebecca's method in trying to feed Lady Asuna. It is most unprofound."

"Ah, yeah but that's how my mother tries to feed everyone." Ryder replied with a sigh. I could make out the slight nose of ruffling hair. "Unfortunately Luna- sorry, LADY Luna, my ma's quite stubborn with her methods so the only way to get her off is for Asuna to eat."

Luna! That was her name!

"In that case, please enlighten me as to why you asked Lady Rebecca to feed Lady Asuna in the first place?"

"Because she asked me to our way over here." Ryder let out a chuckle. "Now I can't say no to my own ma now can I?"

"You make a valid point Sir Ryder, but..." Luna paused for a few moments. "It isn't very ladylike."

"This coming from the chivalrous tomboy." Titan added.

"Shut it, Micky." Ryder replied calmly.

"What he mean to say is that not everything is so black and white when it comes to how one acts regardless of gender. You can have people who act like what you believe to be ladylike, people like yourself or even me who desire to protect the people they care about, or you have people like my ma who acts however she's sees fit and doesn't give a damn what anyone else says or thinks."

"You also have people like Micky here who are nothing but wise asses and apparently perverts." A new voice I didn't recognized added.

"Oy, shut up Juno!" Titan, or rather Micky as he friends called him snapped back.

"Why are you getting upset?" The new voice -Juno- asked. "I'm only stating the obvious facts."

"Yeah? Well you're still short."

Juno let out a sigh. "Is that the best comeback you could think of?"

"Shuttup shota."

"Like my son said." Rebecca whispered once more into my ear, sending a cold chill down my spine. "I'll only free you it you eat. So stop making such a big deal out of it and eat."

I hesitated at first. I mean, honestly. Who tries to feed people by laying on top of them?

I took a bite out of the bread forcefully held in my mouth and found myself experiencing wonderful bliss. The cream placed on the bread was butter!

Oh, I never thought simple flavors like this would taste so heavenly!

As some tears tried to roll out of my eyes from the shear joy I was feeling, I reminded myself that this was only a game. I took a few more bites, all the while mentally chanting that this was a game.

Yet, this tasted so realistic. It was almost like the real thing.

Almost.

Like she promised, Rebecca freed me once I had eaten the entire bread roll. I sat up, noticing Rebecca smiling at me.

"You seemed to enjoy that." She said with a motherly tone. "Do you want another?"

I quickly nodded my head back and forth. True the bread along with the cream was delicious but I didn't survive this entire time just to eat delicious food!

Besides, the way she feeds people is all to embarrassing!

Rebecca stood up, the smile on her face faded from view. She walked back to her son's side.

Wait...

Oh that's right. Ryder said Rebecca was his mother.

WAIT WHAT?!

But-

She looks-

Jus-Just how old is she?!

I open my mouth, about to ask that very question when I heard the sound of bells somewhere close by.

I twirled towards the direction of the dinging.

"What? Bells?" I asked.

"It's coming from the town near here." Kirito said, answering the question on my mind.

"3 already?" Ryder said with a sigh. "Time to head to Tolbana then."

'Tolbana?' I mentally asked, raising my eyebrow. 'The castle city?'

"Uh, pardon." Luna spoke up. "But prey tell why are we heading to Tolbana?"

"There's a meeting today." The big guy said, uttering the first words I heard from him till now. "Seems we finally found the Boss Room."

"Eh?" I said aloud.

It's been two months since this game started, and already two thousand people died. Worse than that, those that remain have been stuck here on the 1st floor all this time. Not one player had found the boss room in all that time.

At least, till now it would seem.

"Yeah, shocker isn't it?" Titan replied. "I almost didn't believe it myself."

"Looks like we'll be heading up to the 2nd floor soon enough." Ryder said with a smile.

He turned to Kirito. "You, Asuna and Lady Luna here go on ahead. We'll catch up with you shortly."

"Going to see Rat huh?" Kirito replied.

"That and make sure she didn't do anything weird to Tifa and Alex. She a good character and an excellent info broker but you know how she gets. Asking people all kinds of stuff so she can piece together any sort of information, regardless if its fact or rumor."

Kirito chuckled. "If you were so worried, why'd you send them to her in the first place?"

"Well a few reasons." Ryder held up his hand.

"One was to see if they could manage finding her without me. Course I had to tell them the usual places she hangs out in the first place. Two was cause Alex, my self-appointed rival, wanted to prove himself to me and three was cause his adorable little sister begged me to let the two of them go."

"Man you really are hopeless." Kirito replied, shaking his head back and forth a few times.

"What can I say?" Ryder smiled. "Those pigtails of her's are my weakness."

The two swordsmen started laughing.

Several moments passed before they stopped.

"You remember where we are meeting in Tolbana right?" Kirito asked a few seconds after he calmed down.

"Amphitheater at 4, yeah I remember." Ryder replied. He inched closer to Kirito. "Hey Kirito." He said in a low whisper.

I couldn't hear what he said past that, but whatever it was it made Kirito's face turn bright red.

"N-no! Of course not!" Kirito suddenly shouted. "I would never do something like that!"

"You sure?" Ryder tilted his head a bit. "Cause you're gonna have two beautiful women with you."

"I wouldn't even dream of doing such a thing Ryder! You know that!"

"Ah you say that now, but anything can happen."

"Ryder!"

"Uh, sorry for interrupting again." Luna cut it. "I was wondering, Sir Ryder, if I could stay with you and your band of warriors for the time being."

Ryder turned his to the latter. "You sure?"

"Absolutely." She smiled. "We are heading to the same place in the end aren't we? Besides, I have a few questions I would like to ask you. Assuming you don't mind."

"Of course, long as you ask me to dinner."

"Uh. Well." Luna said as she began to turn red in the face. "Isn't it the man's role to ask such a thing?"

Ryder chuckled. "Normally, but we wouldn't mind if the female were to ask us every now and then."

"I-I see, Sir Ryder. Th-thank you for that bit of information."

"No problem and relax. You don't have to ask me out." Ryder said with a smile. "I was just pulling your leg."

He turned to me, looking into my eyes.

"Be careful Asuna. Kirito might not be the kind of person to play with someone when they're unconscious, but that doesn't mean he isn't a smooth operator."

I blinked a few times. I kind of understood what he might have meant, but not exactly at the same time.

Kirito took a step forward, red in the face. "I told you nothing like that will happen!"

Ryder let out a laugh. "OK, OK. No need to be so hostile."

He spun around, still looking back at me with one eye. "See you soon, Miss Flash."

---

Ch 2: A Flash of Lightning in the Pit of Despair

END

Decided to take a short break from writing my Dragon Ball Double S and Akame Ga Kill: Clockwork stories to finally add a new entry to Renegade.

Hope you enjoyed this one, as it is based off the Sword Art Online Progressive manga. (Which is the reboot manga I mentioned in the 1st entry.)

Have a new face here, the confirmation of Kirto the Black Swordsman and Ryder knowing each other from the Beta, along with a number of small details.

Oh, and I had some fun writing how Rebecca feeds ppl, hahaha.

Lays on you, forcing the food in your mouth while whispering in your ear "EAT THIS NOW"

Priceless.