DISCLAIMER : Sword Art Online does not belong to me, but to its respective writers, developers, publishers, etc. You know how it goes. I do, however, have the right to any and all OCs that can and will appear throughout the story. That being said, let's get it done!
Eyes of the Falcon : Chapter 6
50th Floor : Algade
The two-second entry span felt like the crispest screensaver was rolling by you; dotted with flurrying crystallized sugar… or salt. Going through portals was a pretty interesting experience.
A jolt of familiarity struck me as I stepped into the town. Memories flooded to my mind; of narrow streets, mid-sized buildings with a historically urbanite aura, vintage-y billboards plastered across the length of the walls, the smell of prawns and thinly-rolled dough cooking… and was it just me, or did I hear the sound of a kokyū?
The place looked like the area where my grandparents lived; not exactly, but very similar. I remember being so excited when we get to visit them. Baa-san would take me on a rickshaw ride in the mornings and we'd go and have dim sum. I smiled at the recollection.
The streets were fairly clear but the narrowness of it restricted wandering too freely; I had the feeling that it would be harder to move around once this town got filled up with people.
I swiped my fingers in front of me, bringing up the menu, and navigating to my message inbox. I had received a message a few days ago, not more than 10 seconds after I reached level 61. Opening it, I gazed again at the contents.
«Message From : Godfree「KoB」»
This is a formal invitation from the clearing group. Your presence is requested for the 50th boss floor meeting. It will take place at the Flying Lotus Theater on the 50th floor town, Algade. That is all. Fighting! :D
Despite the strange signoff, this message meant that the lead group had recognized me. I was finally strong enough to stand on the front lines.
Front line senpai noticed me.
It had been over a year since we were trapped in SAO, and just a little over 8 months since I got my bow. I raised two fingers and swiped them downwards in front of me, bring up the menu. I navigated to the skill window and took a look at what I had so far.
One-handed Dagger [465/1000]
Throwing Blade [Completed]
Acrobatics [845/1000]
Hiding [783/1000]
Searching [900/1000]
Tracking [644/1000]
Leather Equipment [529/1000]
Battle Healing [192/1000]
Sprint [737/1000]
Cooking [82/1000]
Now, I know that cooking might be a little oddly placed there. But I recently found out that Lisbeth loves eating gyudon, which is technically a bowl of rice and beef. Unfortunately, food in SAO was rather limited in variety unless it was player-made. Because of that, the prices of player-made food were insanely high. The reason for that was because SAO doesn't have normal ingredients, like salt and the like. Instead, we had things like Shuble Seeds and Oola Fish Bones. But in the correct combination, those ingredients would still have the taste of regular delicious food. The players that took the time to cook and find out how everything worked, sold their services and recipes for an obscene price, much to Lisbeth's dismay. So, I took up cooking. I've been using most of the meats from monsters I hunted and trained on, and I could easily buy any spices or the odd ingredient to experiment, since money was barely a problem anymore.
The only thing I've been able to make so far is an oatmeal biscuit though. How Boar Meat, Gonchu Berries and Rastasi Oil turned into that is beyond me. Still, I'm making progress. I won't tell her yet though, I want it to be a surprise. It was the least I could do for Lisbeth anyway, after all the outstanding work she's done on my bow and armor. I don't think I could find a better blacksmith. Just a shame she wasn't more well-known, though. Hopefully that changes soon.
Looking back at my menu, I pressed a button in the top corner that had an icon of a bow on it. A new window opened up, showing an extension of the usual skill window.
Eyes of the Falcon [540/1000]
Critical Strike [525/1000]
Focus [999/1000]
Ricochet Shot [336/1000]
Full Draw [688/1000]
These skills came sort of bundled with the actual unique skill, each of them unlocking as I leveled it up more, just by using the bow. I wondered at the other mystical gifts that would be bestowed upon me should I be deemed worthy. Well, not exactly, I just really really wanted to know what other skills I could have. Critical Strike passively gave all my attacks a chance to critically strike. Right now at level 525, I had a critical chance of 52.5%, which meant I would get 100% if I maxed it out.
Focus basically lets me zoom in on something. I've been able to level it up to this point by just staring at a wall. We guys can do that, staring at nothing.
Ricochet Shot is an active skill where I can mark several opponents by using Focus, then hit them all with a single arrow. Right now I could hit up to three targets, which would presumably go up to ten when I max this out.
Full Draw was my main damage ability. It was the same as a normal attack, but by pulling the arrow further and letting the system assist take over, its damage would be much higher than a regular attack, albeit slower.
Closing my window, I continued my search for the theater. I was wondering how bad of a first impression I would make given how late I was gonna be, when I heard voices.
"Guys! It's gotta be around here somewhere!"
"Dale, we're looking for a movie theater, not a restaurant!"
"– can't just ask for directions, Klein…?"
"– real men. Real men don't ask for directions."
"But the Samurai did."
"…"
Several clunks from around the corner revealed a group of six wearing mostly traditional Japanese armor with a main colour tone of maroonish scarlet.
"Hey, maybe we can ask that guy…" whispered the one wearing a helmet to his team mates.
"Shh! We're not necessarily asking… okay, let me handle this."
Smiling confidently, the one wearing a red head towel with two yellow stripes strode up and raised a hand in greeting.
"So you're obviously here by invitation." He said knowingly. "How about you stick with us and we'll get us all to the meeting spot?"
I looked doubtfully around. Nobody else was here, so he had to be talking to me.
"Ah, sorry," he winked. "I'm Klein, this is Dale, Kunimittz, Dynamm, Issin, and Harry One. We're members of the guild Fuurinkazan, and I'm their leader." He introduced his friends one by one, and they all shook my hand in order.
"I'm uh…my name is Itami. Pleased to meet you." I replied, adjusting my bow that had begun slipping off from the hand-shaking. Klein noticed it, and exclaimed excitedly.
"Whoa, you're an archer? So you must be the guy we've all been hearing about. We were waiting for you to reach the safe level before inviting you to the clearing group."
With death being a one-way trip in this game, the recommended level set by the players was eleven levels above the floor's number. So the first floor's minimum level was eleven, and the 50th floor's was 61, which I can proudly announce that I am.
"So…" I theorized. "You guys are samurais?"
"Aha, so you truly have the spirit of a warrior!" Klein chirped happily, puffing his chest out. "We have the firm belief in Bushido, and our gear matches that of our samurai honor!"
"Except for me," Harry One piped. "Since I'm the tank, I just equip whatever armor has the highest defensive stats available."
"Why don't you consider joining us, Itami?" Klein offered. "I'm sure you'd be a great samurai."
A brief image of me wearing full red armor and a Kabuto helmet flashed in my mind, immediately making me reject the idea. But the main reason was that I could see just by looking at how they interact with each other, that they were all friends back in the real world. As nice as they may be to me, I doubt we'd ever get along that well, let alone work together in a battle.
"Sorry, but I'm inclined to decline." I said apologetically. "But for now, perhaps you wouldn't mind grouping up for a bit? I need to get to the Flying Lotus Theater but I have no idea where it is."
"Shit, you don't?" He deflated. "We were actually gonna ask you for directions. Well, don't worry! We'll get there eventually!"
Oh boy.
"Sorry we're late!" Klein yelled happily as he threw the doors open. "We found a sweet potato vendor, and then Issin here didn't wanna ask for directions, but here we are!"
"Wha-?!" Issin objected.
About thirty heads turned towards us, and then specifically to me. Having so many judgmental stares boring into my soul brought me back to a memory where I'd forgotten to set my clock back an hour early for daylight savings and barged into class an hour late.
Fuck daylight savings.
"This is unacceptable, members of Fuurinkazan," A female voice snapped me back to the present. "If this was a normal floor, we would not hesitate in proceeding with this meeting without you, but this will be the only exception."
Ahead of us, on the stage, stood a girl with long, waist-length chestnut brown hair. Her equally brown eyes slanted into an angry frown, ruining an otherwise pretty face. That, along with her white and red battle dress, I concluded that this girl was none other than the sub-leader of the Knights of the Blood, or KoB for short, Asuna «The Flash».
"Now hurry up and sit down."
"Yes, ma'am," we apologized on instinct, before finding a seat. I could hear whispers and murmurs from the other players as I looked around for a spot.
"So that's the supposed archer? Doesn't look like much."
"That's bullshit, we're busy risking our lives by fighting and he can just leisurely attack from a distance like a coward."
"Can't believe he was keeping a skill like that to himself on the lower floors instead of coming to help us on the front line."
A black gloved hand tapped me on the arm, pulling my attention away from the spiteful comments. I looked to see a guy with black hair, black eyes, and a long black coat. He gestured to the empty chair next to him, which I took.
"Don't worry about them," he said, with his feet propped up against the chair in front of him. In fact, every chair in his immediate vicinity was empty, as if nobody wanted to sit near him. When he spoke next, it was easy to see why.
"That's just how it is in an MMORPG. Someone gets something special and everyone loses their minds about not having it too."
"You still haven't changed, Kirito." I remarked bitterly.
"Likewise, Itami." He replied coolly.
"Now, let's begin the official 50th floor boss meeting." Asuna announced, drawing roars from the thirty-seven players who had gathered. Almost all the top players, guilds, and even a few beaters, like Kirito, were here.
"I'll get right to it." Asuna spoke, although the crowd had not yet settled down. "We have found the boss door of the-".
"If I may, Asuna-kun." A voice resounded around the hall, instantly reducing the noise and chatter to a pin-drop silence.
A tall figure stood up from his chair at the front and walked up to Asuna. He towered over her, with long grey hair tied into a ponytail and knowing grey eyes. It made him look older than he probably was. He had on a long white cape over heavy red plate armor. On his back was a large kite shield and he had a longsword strapped to his hip.
"Commander Heathcliff?", Asuna stammered, her haughtiness replaced by respect.
"If it's alright, I will take charge of this meeting." He requested, although he was clearly speaking for formality as opposed to asking for permission.
"O-Of course," she replied. stepping down from the stage and taking a seat amongst her guild members.
The man named Heathcliff made his way up the stage. I'd heard about him, the leader of the KoB. Nobody seemed to know him before he formed the guild, but everyone knew him now. When he took charge of the front lines after the disaster that was the 25th floor, the rate of deaths on each floor became almost nonexistent. Morale had never dwindled since. There's a reason players call the KoB the strongest guild, and that reason was this man.
"As you all know," He began speaking, the whole group's attention on him. "The boss room for the 50th floor has been found. However, we have predicted that this floor will have a massive difficulty spike, as it was with the 25th floor, and potentially the 75th and 100th floor as well."
Before the KoB was created, the front lines were led by the «Aincrad Liberation Squad», and their leader was extremely proud about it too. But because of that, he unwittingly sent over 30 players to their deaths. The 25th floor was different from the norm, and it was next to impossible to gather information about the boss from NPCs. Despite that, he sent members of his guild to take the boss on, for his own exclusive pride. Nobody expected the boss to be so monstrously difficult, and over half of the players lost their lives. That guild consequently withdrew from the front lines, and merged together with another guild on the 1st floor, acting now as the makeshift peacekeeping police force.
"With that in mind, instead of the usual scouting party, we sent one guild to examine and collect info on the boss." Heathcliff looked pointedly at Klein. "Klein-kun, if you would send me the data."
Wait, Fuurinkazan gathered the info? I mean, I knew they were strong to be on the front lines, but not take-a-boss-on-their-own strong.
"Of course, sir." Klein responded immediately, opening his menu and navigating to the trade window.
I cannot begin to describe how odd it looked to see him in business mode.
Heathcliff accepted the trade, then opened an item which began playing a video. He gestured outward with his hand, expanding the video to fit the theatre screen. At the sight of the now enlarged image, the players who were sitting silently up to now started exclaiming with concerned chatter.
"Wh-what the hell is that?
"It's gotta be at least 50 feet tall!"
"Nevermind that, it's got six arms!"
Indeed, it was in fact, a giant six-armed metallic statue that resembled Buddha, albeit having a much more frowny face. It was a big, bad Buddha. A Big Baddha, if I may. But it just sat cross-legged and with its eyes closed, unmoving while Klein and his guild inched closer.
"The boss' name is «The Awakened One»." Heathcliff asserted, bringing everyone's attention back to him. "It starts out sitting down as shown in this footage when entering the boss room. However, when the battle begins…"
He paused as the statue's eyes snapped open, revealing glowing red pupils. Coupled with the aforementioned frowny face, this was close enough to be nightmare fuel. The boss inhaled, and let out an ear-piercing shriek that lasted for at least 10 seconds.
Okay, make that pure nightmare fuel.
"It releases a shout that stuns every player around a certain radius. We know there is a safe range because guild member Kunimittz who was standing by the door keeping it open was unaffected. The stun lasts for as long as you are in range, and persists for an additional 5 seconds after the skill ends. It then attacks the closest player, who will have exactly 0.89 seconds to respond accordingly." As he said that, the video showed Harry One, who fortunately was the tank and had the heaviest armor, barely raise his shield up in time to block the blow. Even so, his health bar dropped by about 40%. The rest of the video played out with them striking the boss a few times, then backing out and retreating out the boss door.
"There're some things I need to add," Klein said after Heathcliff closed the window.
"The boss was sitting, but I think we should assume that it has to stand up at some stage, probably when its health reaches a certain level." He had a point, and we all murmured in agreement. It was highly unlikely that a boss would be immobile, especially on this floor.
"Also," he added. "It doesn't show on the recording, but the boss itself has four health bars. Additionally, four out of the six arms had their own separate health bar."
"Oh?" Heathcliff mused interestedly. "That must mean the arms may be destroyed if dealt enough damage."
"Yeah!" One player commented. "We can use that to our advantage!"
The other players started joining in, pointing out any tactics or possible attacks the boss might have. Even Kirito was giving his opinion now and then, and although he was mostly disliked among the others, everyone listened. Everyone here had earned their place, and their experience showed. Everyone but me. I just sat there, not knowing what to say.
"So it is decided," Asuna declared, having taken a good thirty minutes to determine our strategy.
She had regained control over the meeting, as Heathcliff stepped down from the stage after the deliberation started.
"The Knights of Blood will move in first and trigger the start of the battle. As it uses its stunning attack, the other raid members will position themselves outside of its range, and prepare to attack from all angles. Block and switch accordingly, and focus your sword skills on its arms. When we have limited its attacks, the battle will be as good as over."
She placed her hand on her chin. "The only immediate risk we will face is that initial AoE stun," she cautioned. "However, we will ensure that our most heavily armored members will take the brunt of that attack. Godfree-san, will the vanguard be prepared to do this?"
"Aye, sub-leader Asuna!" A large, middle-aged man who should be Godfree, chortled. "You can count on us. Fighting!" As he said that he raised his fist into the air happily, although in such a way that reminded you more of an uncle that repeatedly told the same family jokes, instead of a captain of the vanguard for the game's strongest guild.
I raised my hand, then put it down again. I kept thinking this was a lecture hall. I took a deep breath, stood up, and spoke.
"If it's really a risk," I began. "I can initiate the first attack on the boss from outside its stun range."
For the second time, all heads in the room turned to me. I gulped, and continued.
"I'm not sure what the range of its attack is exactly, but I can strike it from my maximum distance of 200 meters. Everyone else can wait for its scream to end, then charge in. If it can't move, it should be fine."
Silence.
"…Right?" I faltered, my nervousness creeping up again.
"He's right." Kirito affirmed from beside me. "Our goal is for everyone to survive, and if it works, wouldn't it reduce our chances for casualties?"
The silence continued. The other players were clearly undecided. Most of them didn't trust Kirito, and until today, more than half of them didn't even know me. Even Asuna seemed unsure, opting to lean more to what she knew would work, instead of the enigma that was me.
"I second this strategy." A voice rang out. It was Heathcliff.
"I know who he is. Itami, owner of the unique skill «Eyes of the Falcon», a green player from the beginning. I can confirm that it is indeed a legitimate unique skill, and that bow on his back is not just for decoration. Godfree-kun sent you the invitation on my request. We will need every one of us if we are to reach our freedom."
"It would be the most pragmatic course of action," Asuna pondered. "Then that will be our strategy. We will all work together, and officially be halfway to putting an end to this death game. All in favor?"
Someone started clapping. Just one person at first, but others soon started joining in, until the whole room erupted in cheers and whistles. I couldn't help it. I joined in too. The hype was too real.
Let's do this.
Author's Note : Thank you everyone who read, followed, favorited, and best of all, reviewed! :D Time to answer some~
The Light Sabrix : Hello, thank you for that :D Glad you're enjoying it, I have big plans for this story. I hope you keep reading!
Guest : Eyyo, thank you :D
Moxie Danger : Hey there, it will be mainly focused on his journey, but everyone and mostly everything will make an appearance at some point.
Miguemaster : Why thank you! :D
Shadow knight1121 : Hi there, thank you :D I'm hoping he won't be a Kirito clone.
TheSilenceIsVast : Heh :B Thank you for your review :D I've had this idea for a long time :D