And, I'm back!
It's been more than 4 years since this fic's last update, and I humbly apologize for the very long wait. The truth is, life got in the way. I became busy with a lot of things, mostly in publishing my original stories and my career as a freelance editor.
Then COVID happened, and I lost the motivation to write. I actually got infected last year, which was the most horrible experience I've had. Only this year did I start writing earnestly again, and I began to update my other fanfics. But I couldn't bring myself to update this yet because I lost all my notes, including the fictional language I constructed for this story.
Until last month when I realized that it was the canonical release date for SAO, and after watching the anniversary video, I just knew that I had to return and continue this story.
So, here I am. I'll be re-uploading all chapters in preparation for this fic's revival. In fact, I re-edited some parts and fixed all issues I could, and even reworked and added some new scenes in chapters 4 and 5, which now became chapters 5 and 6. The outline for the Elf War storyline is almost finished, and hopefully you will all enjoy what I have planned.
I will be re-publishing the chapters every day until we reached where we left off previously. After that, expect an update once or twice a month, depending on my schedule.
Once again, sorry for the long wait. And thank you for your support.
ACT I
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2: Despair and Hope
"If you want to live, come with me."
The words rang clear in the alley like the hammer blows of fate itself. Kayaba stared at Yuna and Nautilus with a calm expression, watching them huddle together in shock and fear. SAO was not just a game anymore; every single point of HP that they lose would bring them closer to death.
Yuna's face was just as he had remembered—young, joyful, and brimming with optimism… at least it once was. Now there was only terror lurking in her azure eyes. Her lips trembled, and she made a whimpering sound in her throat. No doubt she was thinking that he had come to personally harm them.
"Heathcliff-san!" Nautilus stood up. He had changed. He looked older, with a mop of brown hair swaying in the wind. Fear was written all over his face, but there was an underlying tone of hope in his voice.
Kayaba frowned at that. Didn't Nautilus already guessed who he was talking to? His face should mirror his real one by now.
"Help us!" the boy pleaded, eyes filled with desperation. Reaching forward, he grasped Kayaba in the arm with both of his hands. "I beg you!" Beside him, Yuna whimpered louder.
Kayaba opened his mouth to speak, but the words died down when a single lock of his silver hair partially obstructed his left eye. Understanding settled on him, and he clenched his hands in silent anger. It seemed that Cardinal had not just used his own voice to pose as him, she also made him retain his avatar's appearance, no doubt to reveal his true identity when she decided and set the players against him.
He shrugged off Nautilus's hands and stepped back, much to the boy's confusion. Kayaba glanced down at Yuna, noting her trembling body and quavering lips. She might have not been fooled, but Nautilus definitely was. He had to reveal his identity to the boy now.
Then Yuna spoke. "Did you come here to kill us?"
Kayaba remained silent at the accusation. Nautilus looked at her, plain confusion on his face. "Yuuna?"
Despite herself, Yuna rose to her feet and forcefully tugged his arm. He stumbled back with a yelp until he stood next to her. "Yuuna, what's wrong?" he asked.
Yuna ignored him and fixed her tear-clouded eyes at Kayaba. Her hands and voice trembled as she repeated the question. "Did you come here to kill us?"
Kayaba stared at her for a moment. It did not matter what explanation he told Yuna; her hatred was plainly visible on her face. The only option was to tell her the truth. "No," he answered, without the barest trace of emotion in his voice.
"Lies!" hissed Yuna. "You're going to tell us that after what you said back there in the plaza?"
"Yuna, what's going on?" Nautilus looked wildly between her and Kayaba in bewilderment. "Heathcliff-san, what is she talking—"
Yuna interrupted him with a low growl, her voice rising with each word. "Eiji, this man standing in front of us is the reason why we are all trapped here. This man is Akihiko Kayaba!"
Nautilus's eyes grew wide. He stepped back further, his terrified gaze fixed on Kayaba. "That can't be!"
There was a moment of silence as the two waited for Kayaba's response, but none came at first. His eyes flicked from Yuna to Nautilus, then back again, gauging what their reaction might be once he explained himself. However, they had no time for that. He had to get them to safety.
Finally, he nodded. "Yes, I am Akihiko Kayaba, the creator of this world." Kayaba let his words flow slowly and smoothly over them, merely stating the fact.
"But you don't look like your real self!" Nautilus said.
Kayaba shook his head. "I can't give you any explanation regarding that. However, there's one thing I can tell: the one who did this is not me. And much like you, I'm trapped inside this world."
Another silence. "How do we know you're telling the truth?" asked Yuna.
"You can't," Kayaba answered simply. "And neither can I prove it until you learn to trust me. But I can assure you, if you come with me, I'll explain everything."
While Yuna and Nautilus exchanged glanced, Kayaba looked around. He could not hear any more sounds except for quiet murmurs coming from the boy and girl, who seemed to be in a heated debate. Either the other players had already locked themselves inside the safety of inns and houses, or they had decided to go forge a path for themselves outside the city.
Or worse, they were dead.
"Well?" asked Kayaba after a minute. Yuna and Nautilus stopped talking and faced him. They were still gazing with suspicion and anger, and in the case of Nautilus, fear. Yuna's tears were gone.
"If we come with you, where are you going to take us?" asked the boy.
"Somewhere safe, but not here in Starting City. I'm going to take you to the next town," answered Kayaba. He already had a plan forming in his mind. It included Yuna and Nautilus, and considering the stakes now, it was the only way for all three of them to survive.
"But there are monsters outside the city!" Nautilus protested. "We won't survive!"
"You will survive because you have me." Kayaba held them with his gaze. They looked so terrified that he had to keep reassuring them. "You heard what was said in the plaza. If you want to escape this world, you have to reach the 100th Floor. The only way any of us can do that is by becoming stronger. But you won't if you remain here in the Starting City."
"I'm not going to risk Yuna's life!" Nautilus said vehemently. He grabbed the girl's hand, which earned him a soft murmur that Kayaba could not hear. "We're staying here," he said with finality.
Kayaba raised an eyebrow. The boy's concern was valid, but it would only lead him and Yuna to a slow, inevitable death. "And by staying here you think you can survive?" he said mildly.
"Of course! This is a safe zone. Monsters can't enter here."
"How about your real bodies then?"
Nautilus opened his mouth to speak, but shut them almost immediately. His eyes darted back and forth, as if searching the empty air for answers, and he swallowed thickly. Finally, he looked at his feet with quavering lips, his shoulders trembling. Beside him, Yuna tightened her grip on his hand.
Kayaba's expression softened. He knew what Nautilus felt; it was the same feeling he got when he had learned about his sister's condition. That sense of hopelessness and dread, knowing that the one you loved had less than a year to live.
"I can't lose her," Nautilus whispered, almost to himself. He looked at Yuna and repeated, "I can't lose you."
"Eiji," Yuna said in a tender voice. She engulfed him in a soothing embrace. To Kayaba, she said, "You said we have to get to the next town. Why? If we need to level up, we can just do it using the fields around here."
"Except those field zones have surely been claimed and hunted dry by now," said Kayaba. "Most players are still reeling from shock, and only a few would dare venture out this late. We can use this opportunity to find an unclaimed hunting ground." He paused, waiting for the response he knew was coming.
Yuna pulled away from Nautilus, staring deep into his eyes. She said firmly, "Ei-kun, he's right. We have to leave. If we don't, we can never get out of here."
"But the monsters—"
"Will not harm you," assured Kayaba. They looked at him. "Nobody knows this world better than I do." He dipped his head slightly. "You will be safe with me. You have my word."
He knew he had won when Nautilus's shoulders finally sagged and the boy nodded wordlessly.
"Lead the way."
###
It was fully dark by the time they reached the Origin Plains. Here and there, bright multicolored flashes illuminated the clearing; players who had decided to challenge fate instead of cowering in the safety of the Starting City. Occasionally, a scream would echo in the distance followed by a shattering sound as blue polygons drifted upward in the black canvass of the sky. Whether that was the death animation of a player or a monster, Kayaba didn't know, and he had no time to find out.
He led them along the dirt road that span the field, watching the tall grass on either side for any mobs that would appear. Before they left, they had stocked up on as many potions as their money could buy. He only took one for himself and gave the rest to Yuna and Nautilus.
Kayaba was not a gamer. Even during his childhood, he possessed no interest in video games. The sole game he had ever played was Wizardry at the request of his little sister, and that was just once. His hobbies were related to literature, and nothing else.
But that didn't mean he had no idea how a game ran. He created Sword Art Online. And as he had told Yuna earlier, no one else knew this world better than him. He might not be a gamer, but he was a game master. A god of a video game world.
A chiming sound drew his attention in front of him, where a Dire Wolf appeared barring their path. The monster bared its fangs in a snarl, its black-and-white fur standing on end and giving it a fierce look. Though only the size of a pony, the wolf's attack could prove fatal to an unprepared player.
Shield raised and sword in hand, Kayaba spoke. "Yuna, Nautilus, once its HP dips into the red zone, I want you to go for the finishing blow."
Despite their shaking hands, the two readied their weapons and nodded. "Yes, Heathcliff-san."
Kayaba's plan was simple. With him acting as tank and vanguard, he would face the monsters and reduce their HP bars to the red zone, where a single strike from Yuna and Nautilus could kill them. It was the only way for the two to gain experience and skill points without risking themselves; he even refused to join the party just so the EXP would only be shared between them.
The wolf leapt. Kayaba swung his sword upward and caught the monster in the lower jaw, sending it tumbling backward and bringing its HP to the yellow zone. Without wasting a second, Kayaba rushed forward and slashed, taking another chunk off its life.
Now in the red zone, the wolf struggled to its feet, whimpering. Kayaba shouted, "Switch!" and before the wolf could attack again, Nautilus yelled savagely from behind and activated Horizontal. He shot past Kayaba, his sword glowing bright blue, and killed the monster in one blow.
Even before the death animation began, Kayaba was already moving. He kept a brisk pace while Yuna and Nautilus followed close behind, sword and dagger always ready. Every time a monster appeared, Kayaba was at the front to meet it. In this manner, his two companions gained another level.
They had not met anyone else along the road, which added to the unease of traveling in the darkness. The others were probably taking shortcuts, but Kayaba was not too keen on following their example. The forest that bordered their destination was so dense it was literally a maze inside. He didn't want Yuna and Nautilus getting lost in its twisting paths, especially at night, and falling prey to lurking monsters. They would never reach the other side alive.
Soon the grasslands gave way to a flat plain extending for a mile. The monsters here were scattered and sparse, though Kayaba did not take any chances. Further ahead were tougher mobs that could pose a serious threat.
"Have you two allocated your stat points yet?" said Kayaba. Yuna and Nautilus shook their heads. "Good. Put everything in Endurance. It will increase your base HP by 10 for each point. Also, choose the Support Skill, Battle Healing, as your second skill."
They did as he had told. Once Kayaba was satisfied, they continued on their way.
The rest of the journey went by without much incident. Though it took them two hours, they finally caught sight of a small village in the distance. A cluster of ten buildings around a plaza, with a single dirt road running down the middle passing a lone watchtower. There were no walls, and the houses were all wood and thatched roof. But it was enough to serve their current needs.
"Hurry. We're almost there," urged Kayaba.
Thirty minutes later, they reached the village proper. A chiming sound greeted their ears as soon as they got within five meters, and Kayaba noticed his two companions visibly relaxed. Yuna and Nautilus were both weary with the day's events, both in mind and body. Their flight to this village had expended what remaining strength they had left, and it was clear they were ready to drop.
Fortunately, there was an inn in Horunka, among other basic shops. Kayaba led them to a low building with a wide porch on the western side, alit with the soft orange glow of candles. They entered and was welcomed with the smell of roast beef and freshly baked bread.
Yuna immediately straightened, and Nautilus had an expression of longing. The inn, with its comfortable atmosphere, probably reminded them of the real world. It should be past dinnertime back there, when they were supposed to dine with their families around a table. And yet they were trapped here without any chance of escape at the moment.
They took seats around one of the empty tables. Except for the approaching NPC serving girl and a portly man behind the counter at the far end, they were all alone; a sign that they were the first one here. However, it would not be for long. Only two hours had passed since the tutorial in the plaza. Players would start flocking here soon.
"Good evening, travelers." The NPC serving maid, no older than 16, bowed politely with a charming smile. "How may we help you?"
Yuna and Nautilus exchanged uncertain looks, so Kayaba took it from there. Speaking clearly so the system would pick up his commands, he said, "We'll have vegetable soup and honeyed bread for three. Also jugs of warm milk."
"Please wait a moment," the girl said and left for the kitchen at the back.
Silence descended on the table. Placing his palms flat on the rough wooden surface, Kayaba stared at Yuna and Nautilus seated opposite him. The girl was staring outside the windows with a distant expression, occasionally clenching her hands on her lap. Meanwhile, the boy's head was bowed, whether due to despair or exhaustion, Kayaba did not know.
The maid returned a few minutes later carrying a tray laden with the food Kayaba had ordered. As the aroma reached their nostrils and the girl began distributing the bowls and plates, Yuna and Nautilus stared at the food with a little wonder. It had to be an unusual experience for them, gazing at a steaming bowl of soup that they knew was not even real.
"It's not much, but I assure you it should taste fine," said Kayaba when they refused to touch their spoons even after the serving girl had left. He took his bread and bit down, chewing slowly.
The taste was as he had expected; rich and sweet. He had taken great measure to replicate real world dishes here in Aincrad, even down to their texture. The bread, while not the best the game could offer, was still soft and delicious. It had no buffs unlike some player-made dishes, but it served its purpose well by filling one's hunger and cravings. Before he knew it, Kayaba had finished and was going for the soup.
Encouraged by his example, Yuna and Nautilus started to eat. The first bite and sip took them to wonderland, and they continued with gusto afterwards. Yuna wolfed down her bread in under a minute while Nautilus drank the soup as if it was a glass of water.
Kayaba simply watched them. As the last drop of soup was spooned and the remaining bits of carrots and onion was scraped cleaned, the serving girl returned one last time with three jugs of steaming milk. Those too were drained in record time by Yuna and Nautilus, though Kayaba took his leisure; he was not in a hurry, and he knew they had questions for him.
After paying for the food and thanking the serving girl out of habit, Kayaba finally spoke.
"I know you have questions you want to be answered. Now would be the best time to ask them."
Lips pursed, Yuna folded her hands onto her lap. She was silent for a while, thinking. Nautilus looked away, refusing to speak at all. Several minutes passed before two words escaped Yuna's lips.
"Explain yourself."
And so Kayaba did. He started not on today's beginning, but twelve years ago when he first conceived the idea for Sword Art Online. He told them of the prototype NerveGear he had showed to Professor Shigemura and how he had installed several failsafes, all of which must be already disabled by now. He talked about the servers in Argus's main headquarters and how it could maintain the game non-stop without maintenance. He explained the Cardinal System and its function as SAO's base program, which could run the game with little to no supervision. He emphasized its capabilities so they would understand just what it could do.
Then Kayaba got to today's events. The bugs that were reported and why he had to logout earlier. The chilling discovery that Cardinal had acquired sentience and his quick decision to dive back inside the game, knowing full well that he would be trapped along with ten thousand others. Yuna listened intently throughout his story, though Nautilus never once looked in his direction. The only sign he was listening was the deep frown marring his youthful face.
When Kayaba finished, he took a long draught from his jug. Nautilus shook his head, finally looked at Kayaba, and said, "And we're supposed to believe you?"
"No, you're not supposed to," answered Kayaba, lowering his jug. "I merely explained myself just as Yuna asked me to. Make of it what you will." He paused, waiting for either of them to speak up. He was not really expecting Yuna and Nautilus to trust him anytime soon. It would take more than getting the two to Horunka to break the animosity between them.
After a while, Yuna spoke. Her voice was slow, choosing her words carefully. "I still don't trust you, but… I will believe." To Nautilus, she said, "Nau-kun, listen to me. Kayaba-sa—"
"Heathcliff," interrupted Kayaba. "Just call me Heathcliff. It would be unwise to use my real name considering how everyone is blaming me."
Yuna paused to stare at him, then nodded and continued. "Heathcliff-san may have kept secrets from us, but I know he didn't mean us harm. He had enough opportunity to kill us on the way here. And yet he didn't. He was sincere."
Nautilus shifted uneasily on his chair, expression conflicted. He looked torn between accepting Yuna's assuring words and the fact that it was Kayaba's voice he had heard during the tutorial. It was only natural, though, to distrust someone whom you thought was going to kill ten thousand people.
At last, the boy said, "Alright. I will believe you."
Kayaba managed a faint smile. "Good."
"What are your plans then?" asked Yuna.
Kayaba clasped his hands on the table. "Well, I have a few in mind, most of which I can't do in our present situation. For now, I want you two to become stronger. There's a quest here in the village that will give you a good weapon once you finished it. I plan to get that for Nautilus."
The boy's eyes widened. "Me? Why?"
"Because you need to protect Yuna, and you can't do that without the proper equipment. You will also need Cor and combat experience to grow stronger. It's the only way to survive in this world."
Hesitation flashed across Nautilus's face. "When do we begin?"
"Now, if you have rested enough," answered Kayaba, which stunned the two.
"Why not in the morning?" Yuna said, a touch of nervousness in her voice.
"Because by tomorrow many players will have arrived here. It will be harder for us to get the item required to finish the quest. Don't worry," Kayaba added in a reassuring tone, "we won't go too deep into the forest."
Indecision momentarily flickered in their eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resignation and calm acceptance. "Alright," said Nautilus, standing up together with Yuna. "Let's get this over with."
###
On the south-west corner of Horunka, there stood a cottage. Small and simple, it was home to a mother and her young sick daughter. The story was that the girl was afflicted with a nigh incurable disease, and only the ovule of a plant monster in the forest could cure her. And since the mother was no fighter and no one in the village was brave enough to procure one, the poor girl had to suffer. However, if a brave traveler managed to get an ovule and presented it to the mother—thereby curing her daughter—she would give an heirloom as a reward: the sword Anneal Blade.
After having their weapons repaired and buying a leather chest guard each for Yuna and Nautilus, Kayaba led them towards the cottage. He knew the story by heart; it was one of the few quests where he had been directly involved during its conceptualization stage. He felt the need to because it was one of the first quest where the reward was good, and he wanted to give the players a taste of SAO's storylines.
However, the fact that he had used his own life story as inspiration could not be denied, and he sometimes regretted his decision; it brought him too many painful memories of Ayako.
He shook his head and pushed those thoughts away before they could invade his mind. He didn't need distractions like those now. He had to focus on the current objectives.
They soon reached the cottage and entered. The living room which also doubled as a dining area and kitchen was tiny but comfortable. Next to the stove stood a woman who was just beginning to enter the boundary of middle-age. Her hair was long and black, and her face, though fair, was marred by faint wrinkles. Eyes downcast, she was stirring a pot, which Kayaba knew contained a medicine bought from the market that would never heal her daughter.
As soon as they entered, she turned and greeted them with a weary smile.
"Good evening, journeying swordsman. You must be tired, I do wish to offer you some food, but I do not have any at the moment. All I can give is a single cup of water."
Quickly turning to Nautilus, Kayaba lowered his voice and said, "Go answer her. That will activate the quest for you alone."
The boy stared nervously at the NPC. "What should I say?" he whispered back.
"Anything is fine. Even a simple 'yes' will do. The system will do the rest."
Looking embarrassed, Nautilus faced the woman and cleared his throat. "I will appreciate it." He smiled.
Yuna snickered next to him. "Do you really have to smile, Nau-kun?" she teased.
Flustered, Nautilus protested, "This is called roleplaying! It's not uncommon in video games."
"Yes. But you do realize she's an NPC, right?"
As the two started to bicker, Kayaba watched as the woman poured water on a cup and offered it to Nautilus, who stopped his argument with Yuna and accepted it with a mumble of thanks. Wordlessly, the woman returned to the stove.
After emptying the cup in a single draught, Nautilus asked, "Now what?"
"Wait," said Kayaba. He knew what was coming next, and sure enough, a loud cough sounded from behind the door to the right.
Upon hearing that cough, the woman stiffened, and a look of despair crossed her face.
"There's a quest mark above her head!" exclaimed Nautilus.
Kayaba nodded. "Now ask her what's wrong."
Nautilus did so, and the woman turned, her eyes misty with unshed tears. "It's my daughter. She's…"
In a quavering voice, she began her tale. Kayaba tuned out her words throughout her story; he had heard different variations of it so many times that he could recite all of them from memory. Meanwhile, both Yuna and Nautilus were almost close to tears by the end.
As soon as the woman had finished, he spun on his heels without so much as a glance. "Come. We still have to hunt for that quest item."
He exited the cottage in a hurry. Outside, he inhaled deep out of reflex; avatars had no lungs, so to speak, but actions like this could still help in clearing one's thoughts.
The door closed behind him. Yuna and Nautilus rushed out of the cottage. The girl wiped the corner of her eyes with the sleeves of her tunic, while Nautilus had a subdued expression. Both looked eager to finish the quest.
They quickly left the village and headed for the nearby forest. At night, the trees looked sinister and foreboding. Their thick branches seemed like grasping fingers, waiting for some unsuspecting prey to snag on. Clumps of dense bushes covered the area, hiding unknown dangers. An owl hooted somewhere farther inside, and it was like the sound of imminent doom.
Yuna shivered and grasped the hilt of her dagger. "Is this it?" She stared at the trees nervously.
Kayaba answered with a slight dip of his head. "Yes. We're looking for monsters called Little Nepents. The quest item drops from them. But it might take some time, and you have to make sure they possess the ovule. Not all that appears do." He drew his sword. "Stay close together. They may be only level 3, but it's going to be difficult fighting in the dark."
The two nodded. They forged into the forest, eyes and ears alert. None of them had the Searching skill, so they had to rely on their own senses. Like before, Kayaba took the front. Nautilus brought the rear while Yuna stayed between them.
It was not long before they stepped into a clearing and found their first Little Nepent. At four feet tall, it was not exactly an intimidating creature. It was a walking plant with roots for feet and two thorny vines for arms, waving them harmlessly in the air. Near the top of its eyeless bulbous body was a large gaping maw filled with rows of sharp teeth. Unfortunately, the creature did not possess the large flower they had to acquire.
Even so, it should serve as a good target practice. "Don't bother flanking it," Kayaba said while approaching the monster cautiously. "It tracks prey by sound. Cut off its arms and hack at it. But watch out for its corrosive breath attack; it can lower your equipment's durability."
"Yes, Heathcliff-san."
Safely protected by his shield, Kayaba moved closer. The monster, which had been wandering around before, hissed in surprise and spun its body, too fast for its size, and whipped its vines in Kayaba's direction.
Kayaba ducked at the first one, then hacked at the second until the Little Nepent pulled back. The vines darted forward again and Kayaba used his shield to block the attacks.
With the monster's attention now focused on him, Kayaba said, "Switch!" Yuna and Nautilus charged, swinging their weapons, severing the monster's vines. It shrieked loudly and faced Nautilus, then its body inflated and its mouth gaped wide, where a gurgling sound came from within.
"Watch out! It's preparing for its breath attack!" warned Kayaba. As soon as he said it, the Little Nepent's mouth opened so wide that its crimson throat became visible, and a spray of thick pale green liquid shot out straight toward Nautilus.
The boy sidestepped just in time, and the acid splashed on the ground with a hissing sound. He charged the moment the monster closed its mouth and chained a 3-hit regular attack combo, bringing its HP to the red zone. Yuna switched in quickly, and she ended the monster with a well-placed stab in the back.
Nautilus scratched his head after the monster shattered. "I didn't get any ovule," he said disappointedly
"That's because it didn't possessed any. You have to kill the one with a flower on its head." Kayaba looked around, searching for more mobs. He pointed a little farther ahead. "Let's try there."
For the next twenty minutes, they hunted the Little Nepents that wandered in the forest. They settled on a rhythm; Kayaba would attract their attentions first, and once he got their aggro, Yuna and Nautilus would switch in to finish them off. Sometimes Kayaba would let Nautilus kill it alone so he could get the full EXP while he watched their surroundings for more targets.
But the ovule did not drop, even after killing at least thirty of them. Thus, they were forced to head deeper in search of more mobs. The risk in doing this was high; monsters tended to be dangerous in a forest the deeper you go in. Not to mention the trees which grew closer, limiting the area which you could maneuver.
"Does it usually take this long?" asked Yuna after dispatching their forty-fifth Little Nepent. She had gained two more levels in just a short time, but Kayaba could tell she was starting to grow tired from their hunt. She gripped her dagger loosely now, unlike earlier. Her attacks also missed often.
"Normally, it takes longer," answered Kayaba. "Someone taking this quest alone would probably take three hours or so. With a three-member party, it should not take an hour."
"The drop rate is that low?" Nautilus looked dismayed.
"Unfortunately," Kayaba admitted. "But don't worry. It won't be long now. Besides, this is good practice. And if you get tired, we can simply go back and continue this tomorrow morning."
Nautilus shook his head. "No. We'll keep going. We're already here. And as you've said, it will get difficult once players arrive."
"As you wish." Kayaba dipped his head, and they continued the hunt.
It was not long before the night deepened, and a cool breeze blew, bringing with it a chill that made them shiver. The darkness of the forest grew denser, forcing them to stay in a tight-knit group. The hunt was an arduous task; they could not spread out for fear of stumbling upon a monster whose level was much higher than theirs.
Two hours passed, but the ovule still did not drop. It was almost 9:30PM. They had to find it soon or else they have to go back empty-handed. Once again, Kayaba suggested to return. However, Nautilus was stubborn and kept going. The boy's determination to finish the quest seemed to have gotten stronger with their one-hundredth Little Nepent, and there was no indication that he would stop anytime soon.
But at this rate, our equipment's durability would drop to zero. Kayaba did not dare entertain the thoughts of what would happen to them after that. He just hoped that before it did, they already had the ovule.
A few moments later, they stopped on the fringes of another clearing where a Little Nepent shuffled around on the forest floor. Nautilus gave out an elated cry when he saw it. He was about to rush forward to attack, but Kayaba's hand grasped his shoulder firmly. He shook his head and pointed.
"It's not the one we're looking for," said Kayaba.
The monster looked just like the others they had killed before, except for a tiny addition. Above its mouth was a hard round object the size of a small fruit. It was difficult to discern in the dark, but there was no mistaking what it was.
"Isn't that a seed?" whispered Yuna so as not to attract the monster's attention.
Kayaba nodded. "It is. And if you hit it, it will release a fume that would attract other Little Nepents nearby to its location."
Nautilus swallowed hard. "Other Little Nepents?"
"Yes." Kayaba watched the monster closely. When he was sure it would not bother them, he motioned with his sword. "Let's go."
Yuna followed him quickly, but Nautilus hesitated and remained on his spot. Kayaba called in a sharp voice, "Nautilus!"
The boy jumped then hastened to Yuna's side. "Sorry," he muttered and avoided Kayaba's probing gaze.
They continued searching for several minutes. Deciding that pressing on would be dangerous, Kayaba led them through a path that looped back to the outskirts. Their weapons would not last much longer, and in the event that their durability dropped to zero, they could run all the way back to safety.
During their trek through the dense underbrush, Yuna started a conversation to break the unnerving silence blanketing the area. "Do you think other players have arrived in the village already?" she asked Kayaba.
"It's likely," he answered. "It's been more than five hours since the tutorial. Even if they took a longer route than us, a few should have come by now. Most, I think, are beta testers. They would want a good head start just like us."
"That means we won't be the only ones who'll take this quest, right?"
"Yes. That's why I tried my best to convince you two. If we did this tomorrow, the drop rate will be even lower due to the number of players hunting in here."
"Well, let's hope it drops soon. Otherwise, it will be Nau-kun who will drop from sleepiness." She smiled slightly. "Right, Nau-kun?"
There was no answer.
"Nau-kun?" Yuna whirled around. Nautilus was nowhere in sight. "Nau-kun? Eiji, where are you?" Her voice rose to a frantic shout.
"Open your map. He could not have gotten far!" Kayaba opened his menu and scrolled down until he found the map, hoping that Nautilus was still within range. It could only display the location of non-party members within ten meters.
"I found him!" cried Yuna and bolted to the left. Kayaba sprinted after her as they crashed through the forest.
From somewhere ahead of them, they heard his scream.
Kayaba put up a burst of speed and went ahead of Yuna, using his senses as much as the map to locate Nautilus. The boy seemed to be on the spot where they had seen the Little Nepent with a seed, and he already had an inkling of what had happened.
Nautilus screamed again. Gripping his sword tightly, Kayaba dashed into the clearing, Yuna close behind. She screamed her friend's name.
The boy was surrounded and partially obscured by at least ten monsters, all simultaneously attacking him. More rapidly approached in three different directions, attracted by the fumes from the Little Nepent with the seed, now ruptured. Nautilus was frozen on the spot with terror, eyes wide. His HP bar was less than 50%, and dwindling fast.
"Yuna, stay here." Kayaba dashed to assist the boy, but he knew it was hopeless. Nautilus only had a sliver of life left. He looked past Kayaba with a resigned look and opened his mouth to speak his farewell.
From somewhere behind Kayaba, a dark blur overtook him and shot past, resolving into the shape of a raven-haired boy barely past adolescence, wielding a one-handed sword. With an expert swing of his slim right arm, the entire front row of monsters shattered one by one, giving Kayaba a clear path.
He had no time to acknowledge the stranger before he was on the Little Nepents to the left of Nautilus, slashing vines and bashing his shield against the monsters' bodies. "Nautilus, get out of here," he said to the boy once a route was open. Without a word, Nautilus scrambled away and rushed to where Yuna stood, who tackled him in a tight embrace.
It only took a minute for the combined efforts of Kayaba and the stranger to eliminate the rest of the monsters. As the last one burst into blue polygons that drifted upward to the trees, Kayaba glanced at the stranger who had helped them. He was probably no older than fourteen, with a soft and effiminate face. His dark eyes scanned the area for a moment, and when he was certain that no more monsters were approaching, he sheathed his sword to his back with a flourish and faced Kayaba.
"Are you guys okay?" he asked softly.
"Thanks to you." Kayaba regarded him with slight interest. The boy's bearings and posture suggested he was accustomed to Full Dive technology, and SAO. He was sure of his movements, and when he fought, it was as if he knew where to strike efficiently without taking too much damage. Kayaba had no doubt that he was a beta tester.
The boy nodded. Flicking his gaze toward Nautilus, who had approached with Yuna once the danger had passed, he said, "That was stupid of you, attacking a seeded Little Nepent like that. You could have died if I didn't heard your screams and came here to check."
Ashamed of himself, Nautilus bowed his head and stared at the ground. "Thank you for saving my friend," said Yuna.
The boy did not respond at first. "You guys are also here because of the Anneal Blade, right?" he asked.
Kayaba answered, "Yes, we are. We mean to get it for Nautilus here."
The player sighed. "And because the drop rate is low, your friend decided to cut to the long chase and attacked a Little Nepent with a seed to attract more monsters." He shook his head. "If you want to survive the next day, don't do that anymore."
Kayaba inclined his head slightly. "Sorry for causing you trouble. It won't happen again." Hopefully.
The boy shuffled on his feet, an uncertain look crossing his features. "You don't have to apologize, um…" He stared expectantly at Kayaba.
"Heathcliff. Yours?"
The boy hesitated for a moment. "Kirito." He paused. "As I've said, you guys don't have to apologize. I was returning to the village, anyway."
"Oh. You've finished the quest already?" That was quite fast. Kirito must have been hunting non-stop.
Kirito nodded. "The ovule dropped a few minutes ago before I heard Nautilus's scream." His eyes suddenly became hooded, and he turned his gaze away. "Well, I gotta go. Be careful next time." He spun on his heels.
"Again, you have our thanks," said Kayaba. They watched as Kirito bid farewell with a lazy wave of his right hand and strode away, vanishing within the shadows of the forest.
###
No one had the strength left to continue afterwards, so Kayaba led them back to the village. As the warm glow of its light welcomed them, they noticed the plaza had become slightly crowded with players, with more arriving by the minute. They were the ones Kayaba had mentioned, and true to his words, many were already lined up outside the cottage where the Secret Medicine of the Forest quest could be taken.
Demoralized by their failure, Nautilus walked a little ways behind them with bowed head bowed and slumped shoulders. The boy was obviously traumatized by his close call with death.
Kayaba watched him carefully. The fear of dying would prevent Nautilus from making any progress. What energy the boy had after hours of killing Little Nepents in a dark forest was gone, replaced by quavering lips and trembling hands. Even Yuna's soothing words had no effect, if at all.
They entered an inn and booked two rooms: one for Yuna and one for Kayaba and Nautilus. The boy argued to be separated, but Kayaba had insisted otherwise. He wanted to keep an eye to the boy in case he did something drastic. In the end, with much convincing from Yuna, Nautilus acceded.
As soon as Kayaba and Nautilus entered their room, the former sat on the edge of his bed and unequipped all his gear until he was only in his crimson tunic and trousers, while the latter crashed onto his bed and was immediately asleep. Kayaba briefly considered waking him up to tell him to get change, but he dismissed the idea. Nautilus needed rest more than any of them.
Mulling over the day's events, a thought occurred to Kayaba and he browsed through his menu until he found the administrative window where he could monitor the game from the inside. A menu only unique to him, it was supposed to display the game's status, from player activity to monster spawn rates and item drop rates. It was where he would be able to forcibly ban a player or issue an announcement.
It was blank, just as he had expected.
With a swipe of his right hand, Kayaba closed the menu and laid down on the hard pillows, staring at the ceiling while his thoughts drifted far and wide.
Drowsiness overtook him a few moments later, and he sank into an uneasy slumber.
###
He woke to a sea of darkness.
Immediately alert, Kayaba tried to sit up, only to find out that he was already standing. He squinted hard into the abyss surrounding him. There was nothing, and yet his senses seemed unaffected. He could still feel his avatar, and hear despite the deafening silence. He knew he was not dead, for he could see his HUD and move about freely.
Then he remembered what he had told Rinko, and he relaxed. Of course, he was probably being transported to a hospital now. It was past six in the morning, almost seven. Rinko did as he had asked.
There was nothing else to do except to wait, and wait Kayaba did. While standing amid the darkness, he wondered how he was still alive. The most probable answer was that Cardinal had not disabled the NerveGear's function where, even though a player was disconnected, they would remain in the game until they logout themselves or the internet connection returned.
It was nearly 7:30 when the darkness finally receded and Kayaba's vision blurred. Color returned to the world, and he was still lying on the bed. Bright morning light streamed through the windows, bathing the room with the sun's warmth. On the opposite bed, Nautilus was still fast asleep.
Kayaba let the boy rest some more and exited the room. He knocked on the adjacent door next to theirs—Yuna's—and waited. When there was no response, he went to the tavern on the first floor.
Murmurs gradually filled the air until he reached the base of the stairs, where it exploded in a cacophony of conversations. The small room was occupied by some two dozen players, many of whom looked like they had lived through a nightmare more terrifying than being trapped in this game. As Kayaba passed between the tables, he heard mentions of a dark abyss where they did nothing but wait for the inevitable.
Yuna sat alone in the corner, quietly sipping a cup of ginger root tea. Her plate was empty, and her eyes bore a haunted look, staring in the distance. Despite that, her clothes were new. And so were the bronze dagger hanging on her left hip.
"You've been hunting," observed Kayaba and took the chair opposite Yuna. She looked up briefly, then lowered her gaze.
"Yes."
Kayaba sat down. After ordering a meal, he clasped his hands in front of him and rested them on the table. "Is there a problem, Yuna?" he asked after a minute of silence between them.
Yuna shifted uneasily on the chair, rubbing her shoulders. After a while, she answered softly, "I thought I was dead. There was this endless darkness, and I was all alone."
"You've been disconnected from the server. That was normal."
Yuna focused her eyes on Kayaba. "Is that what happened?"
He nodded. "I will assume it's because we've been transferred to hospitals. The NerveGear has the function to keep the players in a limbo state in case power or internet connection went out, though the limit is just two hours."
"I've seen other players drop to the ground without reason outside," she muttered. "What would happen if two hours passed and the connection didn't return?"
The corners of Kayaba's eyes tightened as he gave her a sad smile. "I think we all know the answer to that."
Kayaba's meal soon arrived, and he ate in silence while Yuna contemplated his answer. Their own breakfast finished, the other players began trickling out of the door to face the new day with grim determination. Only a handful remained in the inn, too afraid by what they had experienced this morning to even move.
In hindsight, this reflected the current mindset of the people trapped inside Sword Art Online. Those who could not and did not want to fight chose to remain inside the safety and comfort of safe zones, while those who could and wanted to escape the game was driven by their longing for the real world to brave Aincrad's dangers and move forward. Even as Kayaba watched, a few who had stayed behind stood up, squared their shoulders, and marched out of the inn with renewed resolve.
There might still be hope yet. Of course, it still depended on whether or not they could survive. Sword Art Online's monsters were tough even by normal game standards, and there were other hazards as well: treacherous terrain, hidden traps, and a host of other factors to consider. If people were not careful, they would be killed before they could face the final boss.
Kayaba chewed his salted pork slowly. He had no doubt that Cardinal was waiting at the Ruby Palace on the topmost floor. There lay the door to their escape from this prison. And if his conjecture was right, the 100th Floor Boss was guarding it. To beat that thing, the players needed to get stronger.
"Good morning."
But first he had to make sure these two survived. Kayaba looked up to see Nautilus rubbing his bleary eyes. "Good morning, Nautilus-kun. Had a good sleep?"
"Somewhat," Nautilus mumbled and slumped on the chair next to Yuna. "I had a weird dream."
Kayaba and Yuna exchanged looks. "What kind of dream?" asked Kayaba.
"I was in a dark room and I was alone." He shivered. "I tried calling you guys, but no one was answering me."
"And what did you do?" Kayaba saw Yuna cast a furtive glance at him, shaking her head slightly. He immediately understood.
Nautilus shrugged. "I willed myself to wake up. After that, I found myself still on my bed just a couple of minutes ago."
"Well, I'm sure there's nothing to it," said Yuna with a nervous smile. She held her teacup with both hands and took a long drink, adding, "Don't worry too much about your dream, Nau-kun."
"You're right. What's for breakfast? I'm starving."
Kayaba watched the boy intently as he ordered his meal and ate. There was still that lingering fear in his eyes, though now he seemed to have calmed down a little. Yuna talked to him about her hunt a while ago, which surprised Kayaba. She had been grinding since the early dawn.
"You should not go out there alone," said Nautilus, brows furrowed in concern. "It's too dangerous."
"Relax, Nau-kun. I'll be fine. I just stayed near the forest fringes, and the monsters are weak in the morning. Besides," she unsheathed her bronze dagger and showed it to him, "I would not have gotten this."
His frown eased a little. "Yeah, it looks nice," he said with a touch of envy. He looked down at his meal and resumed eating, ignoring Yuna's disappointed expression.
"Is that what you're only going to say?" She pouted.
"I don't think it's even the best weapon in this floor," he muttered.
"What? I thought it was a rare drop!" Yuna glanced questioningly towards Kayaba. "Please tell me he's joking."
Kayaba chuckled. "I'm afraid Nautilus is speaking the truth, Yuna. A Bronze Dagger is not the best weapon you can buy on this floor. That would be the Iron Dagger, which is only available in the town of Tolbana." He paused. "Speaking of which, if you two are ready, I'd like to proceed with the quest. Is that alright with you, Nautilus?"
The boy fell silent and stared at his meal with a conflicted expression. His lower lip quavered a little. Yuna placed a hand on his left shoulder and opened her mouth to speak, but Nautilus suddenly spoke in a shaky breath.
"I-I can't do this."
He stood up—startling Yuna—and bolted for the stairs.
"Eiji, wait!" Yuna called and was about to follow him when Kayaba said, "Leave him be."
She looked at him with despairing eyes. "But—"
Kayaba held her with his eyes, and she sat down again. "You can't do anything for now," he said softly. "It's up to him to face his fears and move forward." As he said this, the remaining guests of the inn filed outside the door.
"Just like what the rest of us are doing."
###
For the rest of the day, they did not go hunting.
Nautilus had locked himself in his room, refusing to go out no matter how hard Yuna talked to him. Kayaba knew it was a futile attempt; the boy was clearly in no state to continue. Nothing would convince Nautilus to do otherwise, and the only option they had was to wait until he recovered.
"I'm getting worried for him," Yuna said during dinner, comprised of roasted chicken and hot stir-fried vegetables. "At this rate, he might not come out until the game is cleared."
"I believe that event is unlikely." Kayaba expertly sliced his chicken into strips and speared the meat. "He will come out eventually."
Yuna frowned. "What makes you say that?"
"Because of you," he answered, stunning Yuna. Lowering his fork, Kayaba laced his fingers on top of the table. "Yuna, do you honestly think that this game can be cleared and everyone who are still alive can go back to the real world?"
"Of course! With a lot of effort and all of us working together, we can—"
Kayaba nodded before she could finish. "And do you want to clear this game and return to the real world?"
Yuna blinked in confusion. "Yes, I do. It's what all of us wanted, right?"
"True. But in order to do that, you have to get stronger. And to get stronger, you'll have to reach the next town, gather EXP and Cor, and eventually challenge the Floor Boss. Naturally, your level will increase, your skill will improve, and you will grow stronger." As Kayaba talked, Yuna's eyes slowly widened in realization.
He gave her a rueful smile. "Do you understand what I'm saying, Yuna?"
"Yes," she whispered, balling her hands.
It was not too hard for Kayaba to predict what Nautilus would do. He only had two paths to follow: the road leading to hope, or the one ending in despair. The first one was where Yuna wanted to go, but the other was where Nautilus might end up in if he gave in to his fears.
Kayaba continued. "The more you get stronger, the more you will drift away. Once you do, he will have no choice but to chase you, or sink further into depression."
"So it's up to me, huh?" mused Yuna.
"Partly, yes. The other half is all up to Nautilus. In the end, he would have to decide on what he wanted to do: will he follow you to freedom, or will he descend into despair?"
###
When Kayaba returned to the room he and Nautilus shared, he found it empty. There was no sign of Nautilus, and since the boy was not on his friend list, Kayaba could not track him.
He could ask Yuna, but his mind told him that Nautilus wanted to be alone. However… it would do no good if something were to happen to Nautilus. The boy was not in the right state of mind; he might do something drastic again, like finish the quest all on his own.
After equipping his armor and sword, Kayaba left the inn. A cool breeze blew past his face as soon as he stepped outside, brushing against his steel-gray hair. Overhead, the bottom of the next floor stretched out like the ceiling of a massive cavern, dark and intimidating. There was no one in the streets except for the odd player purchasing items and repairing equipment.
Kayaba wandered around for some time. Nautilus could not have gone far. If he was indeed traumatized by his ordeal last night, he would be too terrified to leave the safe zone.
Sure enough, Kayaba came to a small patch of field next to a farm, where a row of practice dummies stood. Every town and village in the first floor had a place for the players to hone their sword skills on. It was an arduous task, though, leveling up sword skills this way. Each strike only gave half of what a player would normally get when fighting monsters. But it was the safest way, and Kayaba understood why Nautilus went here.
The boy attacked the dummy farthest from Kayaba, swinging his sword over and over again against the bundled straw and cloth sack. His weapon glowed blue every time he struck, and he punctuated each one with a frustrated yell. Kayaba watched quietly from afar as Nautilus's attacks grew fast and erratic until he was slashing wildly. A strangled howl escaped Nautilus and he dropped his sword then collapsed on all fours.
His leather sandals barely making a sound on the soft grass, Kayaba approached the troubled teen. Nautilus punched the ground repeatedly, his shoulders trembling. Tears fell from his face. And with each blow of his fist were the words, "I'm weak!" He was so engrossed with his self-harm that he failed to notice Kayaba looming to his right.
Kayaba said, "Everyone is weak, Nautilus-kun. One way or another. What we must do is overcome those weaknesses."
The boy looked up. His face was twisted with anguish, and he cried rivers of tears. "How can I do that if I'm—"
"Tell me. What is Yuna to you?"
Nautilus lowered his gaze again. "Someone I will lay down my life for," he murmured. "But I am weak. Every time I remember what happened last night, my whole body freezes. I'm afraid of dying!" He slammed his head on the ground and sobbed. "I can't protect her like this!"
Seeing the distraught boy, Kayaba recalled the time where he had been powerless to save the person he held dear. He had done much the same, beating the ground and cursing the heaven for his weakness.
"Nautilus, it is only natural to be afraid," Kayaba said in a gentle tone. "Even I am afraid of dying. But that should not stop us from continuing with our lives. There are others who, despite their fast approaching deaths, keep on smiling."
Nautilus sniffled and looked up once more. Kayaba continued. "In the real world, people are twice as vulnerable to death. And yet they move forward and live life to the fullest. On this world, that limitation doesn't apply. You can increase your HP, and thus ensure your survival. You can get weapons you can use to defend yourself. Most of all, you can grow stronger."
"Can I really do that? Can I become strong?" asked Nautilus doubtfully.
"Do you want to protect Yuna?" Nautilus nodded, and Kayaba offered his hand, smiling faintly.
"Then you can."
###
It did not come as a surprise to Kayaba when Nautilus joined him and Yuna for breakfast the next day and announced, "I'd like to finish the quest today."
Kayaba stopped eating, and Yuna brightened up like daylight. "Really, Nau-kun?" she said.
Nautilus nodded. "I realized I can't sulk forever." He stared at his hands for a moment. "I have to do my part to help everyone clear this game. And I have to grow stronger to protect you."
Yuna smiled. "Thank you, Eiji."
Lowering his spoon, Kayaba fixed his gaze on Nautilus. "Are you sure about this, Nautilus? It will be dangerous, and it will be hard. We are three days behind the other players."
"I'm willing to do everything to catch up."
Kayaba nodded. "Then as soon as you two are done eating, we'll proceed with the quest."
They quickly finished their meal, and for the next five hours, they hunted the Little Nepents within the forest. So great was Nautilus's elation when the Little Nepent's Ovule finally dropped that he a gave shout of joy and embraced Yuna, much to her embarrassment.
After acquiring the Anneal Blade, the party continued their hunt throughout the day and the night when shadows crept over the land and monsters were stronger. They grind for days, accumulating experience and Cor, and upgrading their equipment and leveling up their skills, until Horunka was no longer an efficient hunting ground and they had to move on to the next village.
Then a week and a half passed. Level 6 became 8, and level 8 became 10. They transitioned from simple starter armor to quality gear, and in Yuna's case, an excellent cloth ensemble possessing the highest agility stats the floor could offer. Nautilus grew confident with each level acquired, and he learned more one-handed sword skills. Their party grew stronger, and they soon caught up to those who were forging ahead.
Until at last, they reached Tolbana, second largest town in the First Floor.
"Is this it?" Yuna craned her head up the 300-meter stone tower outside the town. It was so high that low hanging clouds partially obscured the top, where it joined with the second floor.
Kayaba followed her gaze. "Yes. The Tower Labyrinth, comprised of twenty floors. Waiting at the top is the First Floor Boss."
"How far have they mapped out already?" wondered Yuna.
"As far as the 8th floor," answered Kayaba. He knew it would only get more difficult beyond that. During the beta test, the survival rate of a party going inside was less than 50%. Now that SAO had become a death game, he heard it went down to less than 10%.
"Are you guys ready?" asked Kayaba as he hefted the heavy tower shield he now carried on his left hand. He had gone through great lengths just to acquire the skill to equip it. With this, he could properly fulfill his role as a tank.
To his left, Nautilus, now wearing a light iron breastplate, nodded. "Lead the way, Heathcliff-san."
And so Kayaba led them through the stone arched entrance, where darkness welcomed them as they took their first step toward freedom.
Originally, this chapter would end with the defeat of Illfang the Kobold Lord. But given how large it already was, I had to move that part to the next chapter.
For those wondering, yes, the Horunka portion of this chapter is based on Volume 8 of the light novels, specifically the First Day side story. Hence, the appearance of Kirito. With that said, there were major changes as well, evident by the Nautilus segments.
As for the overall plot of this fic, I can only say that it will loosely follow the progressive novels all the way up to volume 4. After that, I will start greatly diverging from canon.
Hopefully, this chapter makes up for that. Please Read & Review!
Until next time!