October 31st 2024
Kirito kept his eyes locked up ahead of him, hands in his pockets as he walked quietly through the town oblivious to all of the talking, trading and mingling going on around him. He glanced over as he arrived to his destination and sat down on the bench.
"hey mister! hey there!" a high voice called out.
Kirito simply moved his eyes up a bit to see the smiling child standing before him holding something in their hand before moving his eyes back down toward the ground.
The child blinked bit confused by the mans expression but just laughed.
"were having a Halloween party in town and were passing out flyers for anyone who wants to come! here ya go!" the child stuffed the paper toward his hand before skipping off.
He glanced down at the piece of paper in his hand with a look in his eyes and then moved his eyes back up as he began to hear the sound of someone approaching him.
"about time"
Argo laughed with a smile putting her hands on her hips.
"hey! not everyone is as strong s you are it takes some time to safely get from place to place if it's not a safe zone"
She looked at him and frowned noticing the same expression on his face that had been there for a while now. Argo was a info broker that Kirto had helped out when a couple players had tried to force her into telling them information for free and were going to hurt her when she wouldn't. Since then Argo had become Kiritos personal info broker.
He just kept his eyes on the ground a moment longer before bringing them up toward her.
"So did you find anything out or what?" he asked.
Argo shrugged her shoulders lightly.
"I found out that there is most likely going to be a one time special event tonight for Halloween. It supposedly is going to be pretty deadly and difficult though." she said truthfully.
He waited.
Argo sighed knowing he wanted her to go on.
"I'm not sure what the item is but rumor has it that it is going to be a powerful rare weapon drop that you can only get from this quest. If it goes as planned there is going to be a powerful boss called Apex the demon king appear in a dungeon along with a few minions who aren't going to be to weak themselves."
Kirito stared off into the distance and then turned his eyes back on to Argo.
"A dungeon huh?" he asked standing up and bringing up his menu going through it.
Argo watched him.
"Yeah only the top guilds are considering it though and most of them aren't to sure about it yet to much mystery and there is a high possibility that this boss could be as strong as the actual floor boss for this floor itself. Even less is known about the minions." her eyes widened as she seen that he was getting himself equipped "wait your not actually planning on trying to solo this are you?!"
Kirito finished fixing his equipment and turned walking away.
"thanks Argo"
Argo blinked watching him walk off.
"wait that's crazy you can't!" she called out frowning as he didn't listen just throwing up his hand.
Kirito found his way to the dungeon that he figured would be the one where this event would take place if it went as Argo had learned. He narrowed his eyes as he got closer and noticed some people off in the distance. So some had decided to take it on after all. He walked up and took in the people standing there. He knew most of them to a point.
There was a portion of the army guild that had been the first guild created in SAO and was still one of the bigger and most powerful at the moment.A small group guild that he wasn't to familiar with but knew as the Silver Dragons. A small elitist guild filled with strong players some being beta testers. Then there was a part of members from the Unholy Dragon alliance. The current top guild in SAO.
His eyes stopped and rested then to see a familiar face come into view. Klein was also there with his guild and then he glanced over to see the girl from the beginning of the game. He looked over toward her standing there with a few of her guild members.
Asuna placed her hand son her hips going through plans with her guild members and discussing how to get the final hit kill instead of one of the other guilds that where there. She noticed one of her guild members looking off into the distance at something and then blinked turning around. Her eyes widened for a moment seeing the black haired player from the start of the just looked at him for a moment. There had always been something that seemed different about him but recently for the past month or so he seemed even more different, distant...
She just blinked he couldn't actually be thinking about going at this event solo. Even the top guilds had been reluctant to send members to this quest including her guild.
"hey! you there in the black we have already discussed with the other guilds here how things are going to go and it would be best if you stopped for a moment and listen...huh?!" the guild member beside Asuna watched as the boy continued on walking by him not listening.
Asuna glanced at her guild member and then the dark haired boy as he walked by.
Kaskae gritted his teeth reaching over and grabbing the boys shoulder.
"hey! can't you hear me kid?" he asked.
Kirito stopped slowly turning his head and glancing back at the man and looking at his hand on his shoulder.
"it's fine" Asuna intervened placing a hand on her guild members shoulder.
Kaskae blinked looking toward Asuna and then turned his head releasing his hand from Kiritos shoulder.
"fine"
Asuna nodded looking away from him toward the dark haired boy.
Kirito looked away from the man and then moved his eyes toward Asuna for a moment before turning away and continuing on up ahead.
Asuna watched the boy walk off and shook her head. This was suicide if he actually planned on going at this solo.
"i'll be right back" she said to her guild members and followed behind him.
"hey" she said lightly catching up.
Kirito stopped.
Asuna stopped in front of him and tilted her head to the side and placed her hands on her hips.
"Listen I don't know how much info you have about this quest but going at it solo is suicide I don't care how strong you think you are."
Kirito just kept his eyes locked up ahead of him before looking at her and starting to continue forward without saying anything.
Asuna gritted her teeth grabbing his shoulder.
"hey! listen to me you are going to die if you do this.I know your pretty strong from the front lines but you have no chance in this solo."
Kirito just looked at her and shrugged lightly.
"Then i'll weaken it before I get killed and then it will be easier for your guild to get the it doesn't really matter does it?" he asked before heading off.
Asuna listened to him as he spoke blinking at his words. She watched as he walked off her hand still hanging in the air. She frowned bringing it down and shook her head walking back over toward her guild.
Kirito leaned back against a wall eyes closed as he waited and then opened them as the room began to shake.
Asuna turned along with her guild members and the other guilds there as they could feel the vibrations of the room. She got serious taking out her weapon.
"Get ready!"
Her guild members nodded moving into place with their weapons.
Kirito took out his blade and narrowed his eyes.
A large bird shaped being with a birds skull for a head landed in the middle of the room. It's dark red demonic wings spread out behind it and it let out a loud screeching squawk as a dozen or so smaller birds made of bone surrounded it with swords also made of bone.
Asuan and the others cringed at the noise taking in the sight of the monsters. She quickly looked up blinking to see the dark haired boy already up ahead sword out rushing the mosnters.
"attack!" she called out her guild members nodding letting out yells.
Kirito rushed forward dodging to the side and bringing his blade up to block as one of the bird demons attacked the swords clashing togeather. He pressed back on the boned sword knocking it back and then flipped back as another attacked.
Asuna rushed forward sliding in
as one of her guild members blocked an attack from a smaller bird monsters and she attacked her rapier flashing as she struck it. She dodged as the monsters attacked back. She couldn't help but glance over toward the dark haired boy remember how she hadn't even known how this sort of thing worked before that battle.
She locked her eyes back on the monsters.
"switch!" she called out.
Kirito slid to a stop as he took out another of the smaller bird monsters. He glanced around to see only two remaining. He then moved his eyes up toward the boss monsters who was having it's way with a few players from the other guilds who had went straight for it. He moved forward and brought his sword up slashing at it. His eyes widened as one of its wings slashed back toward him with high speed. He gritted his teeth just able to manage blocking the attack with his sword. He slid back dodging as it followed with another attack. So it could attack with it's wings as well?
He moved in and out between attacks and darted forward attacking the large monster.
Asuna let out a small sigh of relief as she and her guild finished off the last of the minions. She looked up toward the boss monsters then took in her guild members health gauges. A few where in the deep yellow.
"alright let's go but if your health hit's ten percent or below use a crystal and get out of here and we'll follow behind you"
her guild all nodded and then they rushed forward attacking.
Asuna gritted her teeth flying back as the monster block one of her attacks and knocked her back. Taking deep fast breaths she glanced up at her health bar that was inches away from being in the red. She glanced up toward the rest of the players fighting the monster. There where a few of them from other guilds in the red starting to back off and most likely about to give up and retreat. She took in her members and three of them where now in the red one of them very close to ten percent.
Asuna then looked at the monsters health bars. There was still two almost full bars. She shook her head and watched most of the members of the other guilds use crystals and leave.
"alright guys let's go we'll all meet back at base" she said taking out a crystal.
Kirito gritted his teeth moving his head just to the side as as the monsters attacked him and jabbed at it with his blade jumping back. He took in a deep breath glancing at his health. Having been going at the monsters non stop since he started. His health was pretty deep into the yellow.
Klein blocked an attack and slid back to where Kirito was standing.
"hey man everyone's health is to low and they are all leaving and your close to being in the red. You need to get a crystal out." he said looking at him.
Kirito just glanced at him and shook his head.
"I didn't bring one."
Klein sighed placing his hand on his face.
"come on now your better than that but here I brought two."
Kirito just looked at him.
"I didn't forget to bring one I just didn't bring one" he said darting forward back at the monsters.
Kleins eyes widened watching him.
Asuna watched from the distance as the boy went back at the monster.
"you ready Asuna?" a guild member called out to her.
Asuna blinked nodding showing her crystal.
"yeah i'm coming go ahead, we'll meet at hq"
They all nodded using their crystals.
Kirito gritted his teeth moving his blade to block attacks at high speeds and sliding to the side. The monsters attacks were increasing as it hit it's last health bar. He looked up at his health bar in the red now. Kirito brought his blade up cringing as he blocked an attack holding the monsters wing against his glanced toward his health again then his eyes widened.
"beat this game...make it out and get everyone out of this game"
He gritted his teeth remembering the words and pressed forward slinging the monsters wing back forcefully immediately rushing forward even faster.
Asuna watched the boy with a slight frown as he fought and then her eyes widened as his whole demeanor suddenly changed and he slung the monsters attack back and rushed forward at extremely high speed. She narrowed her eyes rushing forward.
Kirito gritted his teeth moving in and out blocking and attacking with his blade. He increased his speed just as the monster did with it's attacks. His eyes flashed to the side as the Monster switched attack patterns one it's health entered the red. He scrunched his eyes together as the attack was blocked.
Asuna slung the monsters attack back coming to a stop beside of him. She readied her weapon glancing over at him.
"your oen of the stronger players i've seen in the game it would be a shame to let you get yourself killed because your and idiot and you not be able to help out on the front lines anymore." she said as an excuse.
Klein was about to try and help block the attack coming toward Kiritos blind side when he watched the knights of the blood member Asuna flash forward and do it. He watched them as she stopped beside him and spoke. He smirked watching.
Kirito just looked over at her and then shook his head turning back toward the monster with a sigh.
"you know what to do" he said rushing forward.
Asuna nodded moving in unison with him. She brought her rapier up deflecting the attack and sliding back.
"switch"
Kirito launched forward attacking the monsters furiously at high speeds. He flipped back as it attacked at him. watching as Asuna rushed forward toward it just as he landed on his feet.
Asuna dodged an attack and attacked the monsters her rapier flashing.
Kirito watched seeing the monsters health bar. The girl could go forward and take the monster out and get the last hit if she wanted now.
Asuna glanced back and slid backward.
"switch!"
Kirito glanced toward the girl and stared for a moment before rushing forward and attacking the monster. He came to a stop behind it as watched as it dissolved. He watched as the final hit was awarded to him and then the special item was presented.
Klein walked up beside of him and tilted his head to the side at the word.
"The Elu...Elucidator?" he muttered reading it.
Kirito nodded reaching forward and clicking it. He caught the sword as the black blade landed in his hand. He moved it around a bit liking how heavy it felt.
Klein nodded raising an eyebrow.
"well that's badass"
Kirito looked at the sword and then glanced back to the girl putting her rapier away off in the distance. He put the Elucidator away and then made his way over toward her.
Klein blinked watching Kirito.
"hmmmm?" he watched.
Kirito stopped looking at her.
"here take this." he said bringing up all of the coil that he had gotten from the battle.
Asuna looked at him and shook her head.
"it's fine"
Kirito shook his head "I know you could have taken the last hit bonus if you wanted to. It had exactly enough health for you to have been able to finish it off with a last attack there." he said.
Asuna blinked impressed that he was able to deduce the exact health to attack ratio that quickly under pressure especially not knowing her exact attack skills level. She shrugged placing her hand son her hips and looking away.
"well it wouldn't have been fair really I mean you took out over half of the things health over the battle but if you insist" she said taking the coil.
Kirito nodded to her before turning and walking off. He glanced to Klein as he walked by giving him a nod.
Klein just frowned watching him go off. He was bound to get himself killed if he kept this up.
Asuna just watched as the boy left.
"Kirito..." she muttered remembering the name.
~Next Chapter 6-Blood shed~
