Chapter 26: Realization!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online
In Asuna's situation…
Asuna has just finished formulating a plan so she has already left the HQ so that she could loosen up a bit which Kirito does very often. The message that Kirito sent was already read by her an hour ago so she knew at least where he was but what she doesn't know is how he got there. So far, half the day she had was used since she needed to form new tactics and plan out when they were going to fight in Floor 83 for Floor 82 was fully dominated by some mysterious guild which wasn't Scarlet Temptation or Knights of Blood.
She has also heard rumors that the some guild that dominated that floor has a leader which is shown to exceed even the power of some of the other people she knows but not Kirito though. The rumors spread throughout Aincrad and Floor 79 is the source which may mean that their base of operations is in that one floor although Asuna didn't want to be all nosy so she decided to just take her break like she always did, go visiting her best friend, Lisbeth.
All she had to do was to approach the nearby teleportation area and so she teleported to the floor where her best friend's workshop was. Her workshop seemed to have been upgraded with some renovations since it looked quite wider from the outside. She knew that making her dress up in the outfit would bring in more players but why did this just suddenly happen? Usually they visit in the mornings but apparently it was already afternoon… Asuna went in to investigate.
"Konichiwa! Thank you for— wait… is that you Asuna?! I see it's your break time again. What brings you here my friend?" Lisbeth smiled when she noticed that Asuna came for a visit. "Anyway, if you noticed the sudden expansion then let me tell you that I have some sort of new roommate who will work with me in Smithing from now on." She wiped something off her blacksmithing apron and signalled Asuna to follow her to the basement where she creates weapons and stuff.
"A roommate? My wild guess would be Deira…" Asuna made a quick statement and guess about her roommate… which she just got the answer to. "Anyway, I'm sorry for not being able to visit as much as before, Lisbeth. Being the new leader of Knights of Blood really limits me to very few breaks so I can't even arrange another free time to be with Kirito-kun until next week… Although this is my duty so how can I not stay faithful to being the leader of the guild?"
Lisbeth gave a slight frown since she pitied her best friend. She didn't have time to even do stuff with her in-game-husband so she looked at her and caught some breath before speaking. "You're right on your guesses as usual though. The new roommate of mine really is Deira-san! We decided to do this after we succeeded in creating the newly updated weapon, 'Equalizer'. I suggested, 'Why can't we just work together and use Twin Smithing? It will benefit us both so why not?'" Lisbeth raised a finger and there they bumped into Deira who was trying to create something.
"It's about time you showed up Asuna-san… Kirito-san said that he would go to that place already so we couldn't stop him with that look of determination in his eyes… I do wonder if he really could save Koyero…" Deira glanced at Asuna as she stopped what she was doing momentarily.
"What exactly is he going to do to get him back? I heard from Zero that Tadaiku admitted that he exiled him into the deepest parts of that Floor… did anyone even bother following him?" Asuna questioned as Lisbeth patted her shoulder.
"I heard that some acquaintance of Kirito made one of his followers shadow him until the right time… I heard his name was Kushimu. Some shady guy came here as well just a few minutes before you arrived but he left and told us, 'Watch out for the shadows'… What does that even mean anyway?" Lisbeth informed Asuna all the info she has gotten from the incident that has happened and how Kirito went into to floor in the first place.
After what she said, the room suddenly became quiet until an aroused laugh could be heard from outside the workshop. They were supposed to depart the workshop and go outside to see what's going on but apparently the thing that they were supposed to investigate has went in the room with an aroused smile but he didn't seem hostile… yet.
"Konichiwa…" It was someone who was very familiar to Deira and Asuna… "I have gotten stronger thanks to my mastery of my dark self… Dark Radiance…" Figo seems to have mastered his power but he was acting really weird towards the three of them.
"Brother? Why are you here? I recall that you aren't the type to visit at this time of day… What made you change your mind?" Deira hasn't noticed the digital wound that was still patching up.
"I overheard that Kirito was in that floor if I am not mistaken… let me be one of his companions… I need to bring back something…" Figo asked permission first which made another silence echo through the room but Asuna just nodded and in that instant, he left.
'Why did I allow him to even go there?' Asuna thought to herself which made her feel uneasy, knowing that Figo was going to accompany Kirito. It wasn't the case where she doesn't trust him but he was behaving quite different from usual… what happened? …It was until Zero went in, running and panting in disbelief.
"Asuna! I know what happened now! Yanaihara Koyero is…
Quorora's P.O.V
Wukure and I have been waiting for Figo-sempai for an hour now… I worry for what may have happened to him… He told us that he will be just getting some breaths of air outside and walk around for the time being but he isn't back… My instincts are telling me that someone or something has hurt him as he was wandering around… I volunteered to be the one to search for him and so I left Wukure alone with his twin sister Okasa.
Presently, I'm Level 89 and Wukure is 90 I suppose… Figo-sempai on the other hand is now Level 94 and Okasa was a level below me but I can tell that she is still very strong despite her lower level since she and her brother kept going through rigorous training together like sparring and completing some of the quests that can be found in Floor 82… I on the other hand kept practicing my skills with my spear and in my free time, I play the flute for Figo… he really does love music so I play for him whenever I can.
I felt a shiver down my spine once I felt someone's presence somewhere. I turned around and I saw someone that seemed quite familiar… Is that Husharu?
"Why hello there, companion of Figo… I see you have noticed that Ushara Figo is currently missing, eh?" He walked towards me, with his words which hit me. "I have made his desires come anew so do not be wary." He informed me but I charged at him swiftly, with a knife near his neck.
"What did you do to Figo-sempai?! I shall never forgive you if you have committed something to hurt him even if you are an ally to us…" I had my secondary knife ready to stab him as I glared at him with an ominous look. "Now tell me where you sent—"
"Gomen but, I'm planning to send you there with him. It's nothing personal, I just need to make sure you all succeed…" He pulled out his blade which gave off a slight dark aura but it didn't stagger me. "Shall we dance? Spear dancer?"
I grabbed my spear which was hanging on my back and spun it a bit around then prepared for battle. He shook his head in disappointment like he just thought that I would accept that easily. He pulled out his blade as well and chanted some sort of words before we clashed. I had to be careful though… I know that he is not just part of that mysterious guild but he is the leader of it and I heard that their guild dominated Floor 82 even if we were supposed to be the ones going there today but we decided to go to Floor 83 as soon as possible anyway… these chain of events keep stalling us from doing our obligations…
"I'll let you go to Figo… after you have been overwhelmed with my blade, Chizashi…" He attempted to give a small swipe to my arm but I parried his blow and hit him instead which made him scowl. "Luckily, this isn't First-Strike Mode which means… I can be serious now… Make the World Bleed in terror… Chi…za…shi…" His blade became coted in a black aura with blood covered on its edges.
"W-What is this?!" I backed away about 5 meters away from him to ensure a safe distance between us since I don't have any data on this move he was about to use. "I don't have a clue on what you're going to use but I'm warning you…" I prepared to use my buff skill.
"Zashiko!" He suddenly appeared in front of me which made me fall on my back. "Pierce!" He was supposed to pierce my hand so that he can disarm me but I quickly countered and kicked him away and at the same time, standing up again.
"Did you just appeared from there to here?! What kind of skill did you just pull off?! Is that how you did that?!" I panicked as soon as I saw the skill he just used which made my eyes tremble as he gave a sadistic smirk "Wait… this is an effect from that villainous blade?! Is it the blade that is embedded with Fear?! I heard of it from rumors but didn't believe it… is that really the blade?"
The atmosphere seems to have loosened once he backed away and pierced his blade on the ground. He looked weirdly amused by me whenever I parry or land a hit on him… What is he?! My spear has been made for close-quarter combat but it can also be used as a weapon for long range since I am quite adept in throwing things like Javelins. My battle style is the Observant but Aggressive style but this guy forced me to be on passive since I do not know his full potential or his attacks… He is a worthy opponent but I do not know whether he is a friend or foe…
"Dancer of the Spear, Did you really think I'm trying to PK you? I am not like Scarlet Temptation… all I am doing is testing you if you could be of use to me…" His words made me tremble but I managed to stay calm as I waited for his next move… "I will now show you how I am when I am using my blade seriously… This is the power of my blade…"
I leaped away from his line of sight but I felt his presence behind me which made me turn my head to look at him. He was about to slash me so I closed my eyes waiting for the worst but all I heard was 'Zashiko' and I didn't feel much of a wound even if there was a cut near my neck. I dropped on the ground in confusion as I stared at him intently and I managed to crawl a bit away but before I did, I heard him say something…
"You will be part of us soon… Quorora… You will go and rendezvous with Figo at The Floor of Exile so you best go already…" I felt a tinge of something inside me even if I wasn't bleeding. It felt like I wasn't even in control… What has that blade done to me?! "Just go with Figo in the mission and I shall give you control again… that's a promise…" He used a crystal and disappeared.
I-I can't control myself… Figo-sempai… Gomenosai… I couldn't best him in combat… It felt like something was crawling on my leg and pulling me… am I going to lose my sanity like he said? My body felt heavy as I fell on the ground breathing heavily… Before my sight has gone black, I saw a player go to me with a scar on his face as he sighed. I didn't know what was going to happen to me but I fainted just at the exact time I felt like I was being carried by someone… possibly that shady guy…
Vukso's P.O.V
N-Nani?! What happened around SAO these days?! I heard that some people disappeared due to some mysterious player… I swear when I find that guy, I will defeat him and return everyone to their former selves! My Concealing Edge should be sufficient in defeating that guy… I gave up on my old skill tree which was filled with trapping the opponent with my blade and now I focus on my Concealing skill tree… this skill focuses on hitting my opponents with hits that seem to hit out of the blue so it means that it is now in par with Havuki's Banishing skill…
I do wonder where that Havuki went to… he may look like a lone wolf but he's actually easy to team up with. He is also one of my close friends who have converted to become one of Knights of Blood… Kuso… if anyone hurts him or controls him again… I shall use this blade to pierce his feeling through that dark inhuman heart… even if it means that I have to PK again, I will destroy anyone that hurt my already scarred friend… He had a series of misfortunes when he was young so I cannot bear for him to experience any more misfortunes…
I was currently in my new home which was named Akurosuko which was located in Floor 36… Havuki usually goes here as well for a rest but Deira only rarely goes here so it gets quite lonely here… My current blade is the hybrid of my previous greatsword and the greatsword of Havuki so it has quite of a high attack. Havuki's weapon is currently a scythe so he got quite stronger for reasons unknown… I heard from him that Figo was the one who saved his life that time… I owe that Figo guy a big deal… He may be just some random player but he is also the sibling of Deira which gives me more reason to do so.
Akurosuko was my home which is in the Town of Azuro which is coincidentally the place where I first saw a woman bathing… worst experience ever… she threw blades at me as I ran like hell… Just thinking about it, gives shivers down my spine… it was truly frightening… Her reaction looked like she wanted to PK me here in Sword Art Online… I ran all the way to the top of the tree… I don't know who she was but I know that she wasn't Deira luckily…
Not so long after reflecting on my memories, I heard a knocking sound on my door. I wonder who it may be so I went to my door and opened it. It was revealed to be Figo but he looked different… His azure eyes became soulless and he had a sadistic smile on that face of his. It looked like the time he was controlled by Dark Radiance all over again… I will release him from this state and return him back to his senses after I really prove that he is being controlled by Dark Radiance again… I thought he already mastered it too… I unsheathed my greatsword as I prepared to charge in just in case he does something.
"It's you… One-hit killer… that was what people who fear you, call you… you are a mercenary that is currently in possession of Knights of Blood and formerly Scarlet Temptation… you will make a remarkable addition to my party…" Figo snickered as he pulled of his blade and grabbed his sword sheathe with his left hand. "Are you prepared to be juggled and defeated by me and my weapon? Shi-Ku-Chi? Those are just the shorter names of my blade…"
"One-hit killer? That's a name that I haven't heard ever since I started this trap… Figo… I shall liberate you from whoever is controlling you… I swear…" I equipped my armor and activated one of my crystals. "If you think that I'll be taken and controlled then you have decades of research before you will attempt to do this again… I will never be controlled by anyone… I shall defeat anyone that is a threat to my friends… By the power of concealment, I will defeat you!
I teleported myself and Figo using my emergency crystal and we were now in Floor 58, the floor where they say the greatest battles commences… Today is the day where I show that those words are true by defeating Figo right here in this Floor… I do not know what might happen if I lose but I am very confident in myself that I have sufficient strength to defeat this guild leader with my own power… He has high stats like how a guild leader should be but I shall show him how much a mercenary can be stronger…
"Ahh… we haven't battled even once… I feel quite pleased to fight you…" Figo gave a smile with no life as we circled each other.
"Be careful what you wish for!" I made the first move by charging right in but all he did was side step to the right and hit my head with his sword sheathe which pissed me off.
"Hahaha… Vukso-san… You really are easy to—" I didn't let him finish his sentence by using my Concealment Ability… Out of the blue strike!
"Oh… didn't I tell you about my new skill? I changed my focus to this skill since it is more unpredictable and tricky… you will see some feints and fake hits… and also my true areas of interest…" I hit his head with my sword hilt as an act of revenge for hitting me that way.
"Impressive… One-hit killer… but you shall see me in a serious state now… Dark Radiance!" His blade was covered in darkness as he began to attempt a barrage on me but I dodged every hit like I knew where he was going to hit. "That is it… Dark Radiant Curse…" He slid his finger on his blade and pointed at me and I felt something get blown at me.
"?! W-What was that?!" I covered my left eye in pain as I hardened my grip on the hilt of my greatsword… "I-I can't see with my left eye…"
"If there is 'The Gift of Radiance' then there is also 'The Curse of Dark Radiance'… It is my specialty to obliterate with this power that the game has given me… It resembles me in the past… where no one would reach out until I pulled myself up… I pulled Wukure to me and I also pulled Quorora to me but no one would dare pull me close… Love?! What a joke! It is just a word where people say it is true but is actually not!" He hissed as he kicked me but I stood up, holding my abdomen in pain as I closed my left eye.
"No! You're Wrong! We were the ones who reached out for you… Figo! Don't even dare say that preposterous theory of yours, ever again!" I tackled him to the ground regardless of my eyesight which has gone bad due to my left eye being blinded. "You didn't even notice, did you?! I have been constantly supporting you from the side lines… You are just like Havuki… thinking that himself is all alone in this world but you are both wrong! If I see you hurt, you can always depend on me to help you, If you are alone then do not forget that I'll be by your side no matter what the circumstances are…"
"Y-You do not understand me!" He yelped as he parried my next attack.
"Those Dark Radiance attacks will not have an effect on me any longer!" I jumped away and charged my blade up. "Mark… of Concealment!" I gave a blow to his chest using the hilt of my greatsword.
After the move that I pulled off began taking effect, I could now see with my left eye once more… 'Mark of Concealment is a skill where you remove an opponent's effect on you which means that if you are currently being in a problem with things like poison then use this on your opponent and you will feel all better and plus they cannot use that skill for a while. He cannot use those menacing attacks on me any longer with that move I just activated…
It was no time for my counterattack… Watch me defeat you Figo! I mean it! I will return you back to normal with all of us! Your friends…
End of Chapter 26
Extra Scene: Real Life: Game Programs
Note: This is an AU extra scene so this has nothing to do with the story that is currently happening.
Kirito's P.O.V
It's been a few months ever since SAO has finally been cleared by us… It took already 3 years just to finish all the floors and defeat the GM, Kayaba Akihiko… Alfheim Online is a game which I now play with my former comrades in SAO and my present ones who are still with me like Asuna… Miraculously, something even bigger happened and it wasn't Yui becoming my navigational pixie. Yui has become a real-life girl now… Is this some sort of parting gift from him aside from that other object? How did he make her real is what I always ponder about but I have to be thankful for this…
She usually resides in Asuna's house but she sometimes goes to sleep in my house which gives a ton of questions to the mind of my cousin, Sugu… like, "How did Onee-chan get a child that early?!"… I explained to her all the answers that I could think of but she still gets all uneasy about me being with Yui who is technically my daughter with Asuna…
That other game program named 'Kushimu' was also in this world but he usually goes to his master's house for homework… Yes, in real life, we are now all studying in a school which is for all players who have played SAO and got through… The people who fought the final battle with me are people that I would surely never forget. Asuna led the forces against the other opposing force so it left me with fighting Kayaba A.K.A Heathcliff in Floor 100's Palace… since we had so much comrades that time, he had to make a few adjustments to the boss battle and we barely won… there were some casualties but their courage will always be remembered by me…
School was like how all schools were… I might as well skip everything that happened there since it might be too long and stuff like that… Anyway after school, I decided to go visit Asuna's house so that I could see Yui as well. She stays in Asuna's house more since Sugu keeps asking me questions about Yui whenever she's staying there… Yui has been with us again ever since Kerzuki did some kind of combination which was made by Figo… I didn't know how he got it but might as well just go…
"Papa!" Yui glomped me as a greeting when I stepped in Asuna's house. "How was school, Papa Kiito?" She stared at me with interest as she was eating a sandwich which was made by Asuna… I wonder if it was that spicy sandwich that she usually makes… it's spicy yet delicious.
"Ahh… it was the usual day in school… anyway, where's Asuna? She was absent today which made me worry… I didn't bring lunch so I bought some instead although my stomach didn't agree with my lunch since I'm too used to her cooking…" I rubbed my stomach, hiding the bit of pain so that I wouldn't worry Yui. "I brought a stuffed toy for you while I was on my way here so I hope that you'll like it, Yui." I revealed a stuffed rabbit from behind my back which made Yui hug it out of instinct.
"Arigato gozaimasu! Papa Kiito~" She smiled as she happily hugged the rabbit back and forth. "Mama is in her room, she didn't feel so good today so she couldn't make it to school… She wanted to see you, Papa."
"I see… I'll be going there then, Yui. I'll be right back after I talk to Mama." I left Yui but she followed me which I allowed since she's our 'daughter'.
Kushimu's P.O.V
Husharu-sama was the one who took me in as his own when I had amnesia at Floor 1… He found me on the fields and so I have been loyal to him ever since. He gave me my name, Sharower so that I could be safe from Kayaba but my name is actually Kushimu… Game Installer, Kushimu who has been thrown to the recycle bin by my former master Kayaba but I escaped from that trap of his but in exchange, I lost my memories and had no idea I was a game program and I thought I was just the usual player in that game which made thousands die and another few thousands to survive…
I was doing this 'homework' which is called by humans but I would rather call it… Intelligence Quality Test… I'm currently stationed in Husharu's home since he's out with someone so I am doing his as well… I now have messy black hair which was tinted with a bit of blue and crimson red soulless eyes but as always, I am very soulful…
I'm currently with those two teammates of mine in SAO when we were still trapped in that menacing game… yes, they were lovebirds but they seriously do not show it… The oblivious guy's name is Nizuko and that oblivious girl's name is Yushika… they are so oblivious to each other but believe me, they were incredible partners in Sword Art Online and that companionship is the same whenever we play Alfheim Online with the others… Yep… they are my favorite duo in my guild… they'll get my vote for obliviousness…
This guy (Nizuko) who is masterful in the arts of the 'Transforming Katana' which can be changed into a shuriken in both SAO and ALO had shoulder-length blue hair which was a bit spiky as it went down on his face. It covered a bit of his right eye but his eyes were slightly shown still and he had silvery eyes. He had whitish tan skin and he loves sushi in real life and in the games. In the games, he can transform his katana into a giant shuriken which he can throw with ease and make it go back to him at will.
This gal (Yushika) on the other hand, is masterful in the arts of the 'Constricting Katana' which is quite like Vukso's old blade but this one is more deadly in both games… especially when she combos with Nizuko… She had waist-length bright orange hair and had pale white skin… even if they both cover their lower face with masks to be ninja-like; she looks quite beautiful with or without that mask… She is very elegant in defeating opponents as well so be careful when you're around her. She has amber eyes that go well with her hair and she is very loyal to Husharu like all his comrades including me and Nizuko.
"Oi! Do both of you not notice that you have interest on each other?! I'm getting tired of this… Stop being so oblivious you two!" I became slightly pissed as I had a pencil on my mouth, doing the Algebra homework with ease. "I really do not get the reason of obliviousness… I'm a game program formerly although I have no idea why you both do that…"
"Hmm? What do you mean by that, Kushimu-san? Me and Yushika are just doing our project here…" Nizuko tilted his head in confusion which made me sigh. "All we do in games are teaming up with each other and guarding Husharu-sama you know. We are his loyal guardians just like you if you forgot… you're not his only follower and what do you mean anyway?"
"Seriously? Haven't you ever thought of trying to hit on your partner or anything? You two have been together like ever since childhood and plus even from the start of SAO becoming a death game… You two are almost meant for each other… plus you both act like ninjas…" I facepalmed as I shook my head, annoyed by this oblivious couple who looked at me in confusion.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Kushimu-san. It's pretty rare to see you this pissed even if we didn't do anything…" Yushika tilted her head in an innocent manner but I still felt pissed by their complete obliviousness on each other… "We 'are' close but I seem to see that you have something to say about the both of us… I just don't get it."
… I give up… they are just too dense for me to convince… They have to figure out how to love each other by their own since that density is too high…
End of Extra Scene
Next Chapter: Friends or Foes?
Next Extra Scene: The Jailbreak…