Chapter 4: Here Kitty, Kitty … Welcome to the Anti-Crystal Club
The OPENING of Let's Play Sword Art Online (ENGLISH DUB): [Living Louder – The Cab]
The scene shows a heavily-armored individual with a tattered mottled green, brown, and grey cloak sitting cross-legged in a meadow surrounded by vast forest under a starry sky. With a black, chrome-plated guitar over his back, he begins tapping his fingers to a beat.
Oooh~ Oooh~ Oooh~
If today's the day I die
Lay me down under the lights
Let me fall in love
Let me save a life
And let me lose my voice
Singing all my favorite songs
Let me stare up at the stars
'Cause it's where we all belong
The person already slung his guitar to his hands, playing the chords and now slowly nodding his head. Transparent shadows of the main characters smile and laugh in the sky behind him.
My heart like a firework in my chest
My only regret
Is having regrets
Traveled the world
I loved every step
And all I know is...
The scene changes to all of the main SAO characters plus some unknown ones as well (OCs?) walking down a path, weapons drawn and in a 2D platform.
No one, no one lives forever
But we will be remembered
For what we do right now
Another transparent shadow, this time the monolith from the Black Iron Palace with the names of the players, hover above them with different names being crossed out.
Baby, I'm living louder
And dreaming longer tonight
(Living louder, we're living louder)
And baby, I'm fighting harder
And loving stronger tonight
(Loving stronger, we're loving stronger)
Because we're all just kids
Who grew up way too fast
Yeah, the good die young
But the great will always last
We're growing older,
But we're all soldiers tonight
Changes to all kinds of experiences with the main characters.
Kirito: Joining the Moonlit Black Cats, Dueling Heathcliff, Sitting with Asuna and Yui, etc.
Asuna: Eating bread with Kirito, Taking on the Gleam Eyes, Cooking for Kirito, etc.
Klein: Taking on the Pig, Taking on the Holy Dragon Alliance, Talking to Asuna for the First Time, etc.
Agil: Showing the guide at the meeting, Knocking back Illfang, Talking with Kirito at his shop, etc.
And you get the idea.
If today's the day I go
Gonna drink with all my friends
Gonna laugh until we cry
As we talk and reminisce
Let me kiss a stranger
And rob the local bank
Let me become real rich
So I can give it all away
Back to the walking down the trail scene except they're back to back surrounded by monsters. Blocking and dodging attacks as best they could, at first …
No one, no lives forever
But we will be remembered
For what we do right now
… and then to full on killing spree.
Baby, I'm living louder
And dreaming longer tonight
(Living louder, we're living louder)
And baby, I'm fighting harder
And loving stronger tonight
(Loving stronger, we're loving stronger)
Because we're all just kids
Who grew up way too fast
Yeah, the good die young
But the great will always last
We're growing older
But we're all soldiers tonight
Now back again to the guitar player on the cliff, but everyone else is also there standing beside him looking at a sunrise in the horizon.
When you got your breath inside your head
Everyday's a second chance
If I wake up with a beating heart
Will I stand or will I fall apart?
Again to the fight scene, the sun's rising behind them in the trail fight as they just finish off their last enemies.
Living louder, dreaming longer tonight
Baby, I'm fighting harder and loving stronger tonight
Baby, I'm living louder
And dreaming longer tonight
(Living louder, we're living louder)
And baby, I'm fighting harder
And loving stronger tonight
(Loving stronger, we're loving stronger)
Close up views on each character …
Because we're all just kids
Who grew up way too fast
Yeah, the good die young
But the great will always last
We're growing older
But we're all soldiers tonight
Finally, they raise and cross their weapons together.
OPENING END.
[4/8/23 | 7:23 p.m. | Floor 11, Taft | Kirito's P.O.V.]
I saw a raised chalice in the air, knocking with the 4 others that joined in the toast. The holders of said chalices were smiling wholeheartedly and clamoring over their escape from Hell's Gates after I led them out of a Labyrinth a bit earlier. In their joyous cheers, the one with the brown shirt turned to look at me with a thankful smile.
Keita brought a proposition, "Oi, Kirito."
"Yeah?"
"As you can see, you're going solo without a guild, correct?"
I nodded.
"And you're just around our levels, correct?"
I nodded again. Well, more like twice that, but I can't tell them that.
"Well, we don't have a lot of members, and Sachi here needs some help being a Forward with her shield and all, and she really isn't getting used to the change," The mentioned blue-haired girl shied away a little at the comment. True though, they do need another vanguard after what happened to only having Tetsuo, the spiky-haired, purple one. Therefore, they picked Sachi, a spear-wielder, to switch equipment for a sword and shield, "Sooo … would you like to join us?"
Well, I am taking a break from the frontlines for a while now, and these guys do look like they want in on some more battle action. Helping them until they can take care of themselves won't hurt. Yeah, I can deal with this.
"Okay, then. I'll join."
Keita grinned and stuck his hand out for me to grab and shake, "Well, then. Kirito, welcome to the Moonlit Black Cats!" He turned to his fellow members, "Hey, everyone! Come on! Welcome our newest member!"
The others cheered me on with Sachi giving me a warm upwards turn of her lips, Tetsuo cheekily smiling with closed eyes, Sasamaru, the cap-wearing damage dealer, saying a warm 'welcome'; and the blonde and blue-eyed thief that is Ducker grinned with teeth showing everywhere and stars in his eyes.
I really hope they don't have to go out like they would have back at the Labyrinth, but besides that they really are a great team with such amazing bonds between them. With more time like 6 to 9 months (69 months!? Skipper: No, 6 TO 9 months!) and better stats and equipment, they actually could be Clearers.
"So, how did you guys meet each other?" I asked the brown guild leader.
His face lighting up, he waved his hands to his motley crew, "Oh, we're all in the PC research club at our school, so yeah we know each other offline. Another guy was supposed to be joining us, but we haven't found him, yet. And he was a beta tester and the smartest of all of us." He took a pondering expression, "I wonder how's he doing. Fine? Lost? Dead? He better not be that last one. Lost and dead?"
Hm, beta tester? Then they probably don't share the same hate that others do, considering their friend, so I could – No, they shouldn't know me as the Black Swordsman. However, another voice had me turn to a slouched figure on the bar counter with a mottled, hooded cloak of various greens and browns, and I easily identified him as the infamous guitar-playing tank with a habit of talking to himself or no one in particular.
Var blankly examined his drink closely, "Guys, it is possible to get booze in this game. I swear, it is possible for me to get some right now, America. What's more important is the consumption, though, which I have done 26 times. Man, that golden liquid really does seem interesting. Are there hangovers? Let's try it. … No wait! I'm still a minor. The cops could be watching this for all I know! … People! Help me out here! I don't want to be a stereotypical rebel/problem child, but being a good boy means I miss out on one of the unknown experiences that change and ruin lives." It smells pretty funny, but all the more reason to appreciate it. Kayaba sure does know his stuff. "Oh screw it," and there went my drink again. "ANOTHER!"
After that "discussion", I turned my attention back to the small guild in front of me, and I saw a closely-knit group of friends, borderline family. If only I could ever get out of my shell in real life, then maybe … I thought, 'I just might enjoy being with these people.'
However after another couple minutes, I was snapped out of my train of thought when a drunk slurred behind me, "Oii~ Kirrtooo~. Yurr douuu knowrrr~ thaur~ yuh lieee~ twicccsss~ theee' nuubeeezh~ leve- …"
Don't ruin it, you drunk bastard, so with an Embracer, "NOOOOO!" Var went flying into the wall, causing the Immortal Object window to appear.
Rubbing his cheek, he slowly opened his addled-minded, slit eyes until he seemed at least near fully alert. He began looking around the ale house for a couple seconds before glaring at me with his eyebrows slowly coming together. After a moment of silence for his former drunk self, he finally spoke, "Brosky … What. The. Hell. What the fuck was that for, you asshole-licking son of a bitch's crap-shitty, cocksucking cunt?" Behind me, the M.B.C. cringed at the language. Can't blame them. But don't fuck with my mother like that, bastard, or any of my family for the matter.
He somehow read my look and continued, "Don't give me that, K. I had to deal with all kinds of crazy shit today that I would have traded for taking on the whole fucking Labyrinth and if I had 300 times the luck I have now, end up saving those people, too. Hordes of mobs after my ass. Slashing and bashing monsters. Running under buildings. Stopping this virtual death game. This – this is bullshit, man! (Sigh) I'm trying to keep it together." Man, he does look like he had a rough day with that pissed off of a face. Sighing, he again monologues, "Then Argo tracks me down for another interview. We talk a bit. How I felt about the game as of far. How my life is probably shit now. What kind of crap will we deal with in the future. Then next thing you know, my nonexistent love life – and I mean, what the hell? We both get a little conversational and all that. I talk about having no game. She talks about assholes in her past. We exchange some words, then I give her a shake. Next thing you know she comes at me with fury hell hath none. Bitches are crazy, dammit. And now I TP here because there's an ale house with pretty good ale and I wanted to show the viewers the possibility of getting drunk and then you punch me in the face, instantly making me sober. Like what the hell, Kayaba? Does this mean I could get high, and all I need to do is get someone to Falcon Punch me? … Oh yeah, that reminds me."
He instantly gets up on his feet before walking up to me, "Falcon …" He raised a glowing red fist. But how? Did he complete the Martial Arts quest, but got something different? "PUNCH!" Holy crap, that hurts like hell. It felt like a giant jet just rammed me in the face, leaving me behind the afterburners.
A random patron noticed the act and yelled, "BAR FIGHT, F-ZERO STYLE!" before running up to another random player and "Falcon … PUNCH!"
"Falcon PUNCH!"
"Falcon Punch?"
"Falcon Punch."
"FALCON PUNCH!"
My head slowly turned to see the brawl begin with several older players exchanging blows with again glowing red fists. Then, others seemed to get the hang of it and counterattacked. Even the Moonlit Black Cats joined the fray. Except for Sachi, apparently, who ran up to me dodging the other brawlers. However, one player (a girl, a bit surprisingly) came up behind her prepared to land a blow on Sachi. Before I could get past my struggle to cry out, the blue girl swiftly turned around and with that cute "FALCON PUNCH!" (Inner Onee-chan Kirito: KAWAIII!) gave an uppercut to the backstabber. After that, I blacked out. What has this world come to?
[5/9/23 | 1:49 p.m. | Floor 20]
Sitting on the side of a grassy hill, I looked at the guy lying next to me reading the Weekly Argo.
"(Sigh). The lead groups have just cleared Floor 28, eh?" Putting it away, he asked, "Kirito, what's the difference between the lead groups and us?"
"They know all the fastest ways to get EXP, and they don't share." 'Like the Black Beater, for example.'
"Really? I'm sure that's part of it, but I think it's willpower."
"Willpower?" What does he mean by that? We're in virtual bodies, so it would be a question if they even have our 'souls' within them. But then again, spiritual stuff gives me a headache. I might as well go insane like Var. (Remembers Var's mindless babble on philosophy.) Damn.
"Well, I suppose you can think of it as determination to protect one's friends or, heck, everyone. And they still are protecting us, but I think my will is just as strong. Like how our friends and family are first priority. However, we still want to get up there with the rest to the top."
"I see."
But the yellow thief himself decided to crash the party, "Oi, leader!"
"D-Ducker! Come ooooooon …"
And the rest of the group walked up to him as well, smiling in amusement.
"You think we'll get up there with the Holy Dragon Alliance or the Knights of the Blood Oath?"
"Wh-What?! That's crazy! We have to think small for now, guys!"
"How about going for level 30?"
"Th-that's impossible!" And the guild went on with their laughter.
That's quite touching for him to see Clearers in that light. It may not apply to all of them, but if they all did, those players could really be great role models to get everyone else to clear this "game". With ideals like that, Keita would be a great influence if he gets enough prestige in the ranks. But for now, I think he loves being with his friends now.
[6/22/23 | 11:02 a.m.]
Sigh. The last couple of months went by really well, in my opinion. They really worked hard to level up and are just about ready for the front in a month or two if we keep this up. But for now, the guild had earned enough Col to afford a base to stay in, so Keita's going out to look up some.
Keita looked back at us, closing his menu after a funds check before he leaves, "So hang tight, guys. I'll be back in the afternoon after I come back from Starting City. Then, we can all take a look at our new place, okay?"
The rest of us joined in a collective cheer, "Oi!"
So the brown-clad guild leader headed to the teleport gate, and with a "Teleport: Starting City" he was gone.
What to do now? More grinding, maybe?
Ducker, though, had a more daring idea, "Hey Kirito! Let's go take on a dungeon! We should be ready for something a bit harder. We might even surprise Keita with all the Col we got!"
Ever since the Labyrinth where I saved them, the guild has been taking it safe all this time, and the lower-level monsters are getting even Tetsuo bored. It looks like we could go for something that's more of a challenge. Besides, what's the worst that could happen? I nodded in agreement. (Goddammit, man! FAMOUS LAST WORDS, brah! I swear to Kayaba, your ass is haunted!)
[Sword Art Online Let's Play Part 230]
"Brrhubbabrabrah …" and I rubbed my shivering arms apprehensively.
The monochrome-coated player next to me stopped spinning his spear, "You okay, Var?"
"Naw, man. I'm fine. Just got a chill. Hate the fuckin' cold. But I just have a bad feeling for some reason that someone's either quoting me or said something really fucking stupid. Maybe both."
[Floor 27 Labyrinth | Kirito's P.O.V.]
With a final cleave, the monster shattered to polygons like the rest of its brethren that we met in this corridor. Taking in the lightly-worn appearances of the guild members, they look like they're still eager for more.
'Did they really need me to come with them?' But with some hindsight, there's Tetsuo's last bad experience in a Labyrinth, Sasamaru's delicacy, Ducker's childish antics, and, of course, Sachi. 'Of course they do. I can't fail Keita for letting anyone get in danger like last time. Hell, I can't fail any of my friends here.' It feels funny having friends. For the past couple months, I have the time of my life, but in this place, I feel some constant sort of dread and have to protect them to not see what shit will hit the fan.
"Hey guys! Come over here! Found something!" Ducker waved excitedly from a side hall. All of us ran over to a mostly empty room save for the small chest in the center. Surprisingly, the atmosphere coming from the entrance really didn't sit well with my virtual gut. It's definitely a trap, and if I was more of my usual self, I probably would've just sprung it anyways. However, I have a really bad feeling about this.
The thief only glued his eyes on the prospect of awesome treasure and rushed to the chest, "Come on, guys. Let's crack this baby open!" And with a creak, the top was lifted. By then, the entrance closed behind the rest of us who have already stepped in a couple feet inside the room with me in the rear.
The room soon turned dark into a shadowy red as monsters have suddenly spawned out of nowhere. Mineral Elementals and Dwarven Miners. Shit, these guys are all out of their league! If only I had my Clearer gear, I could handle these guys long enough for us to make it, but …
"Dammit! Everyone get out of here! Use your crystals!" I yelled before parrying a pickaxe and knocking the offending dwarf back.
Ducker already pulled a teleportation crystal out of his pockets and tried to activate it. Nothing. "Huh? C'mon, work!" This is worse than I thought. A fucking Anti-Crystal Zone.
Everyone else is already having trouble defending themselves from the onslaught of monsters. The best we can do is go on the defense and regroup so that we can hold out until we can get out of here somehow. I yelled at the top of my lungs, "EVERYONE, TRY TO GET BACK! STAND BACK-TO-BACK IN DEFENSIVE POSITIONS!" Without looking at me at all, they grunted in affirmative and backpedaled to me pushing away their foes.
Once we all stood surrounded, all we could do was trying to recover from the ambush taking in ragged breaths from our shock. I lashed out at the swinging stone arm, chopping it off from the Elemental before finishing it. Crap, if only I could change to my Clearer gear right now then I might just be able to take care of these guys by myself.
"Gah!"
"Hurk!"
"Hufhufhuh…"
"Aaaaah!"
No, I will not let any more players die and my friends here are definitely not going to on my watch! Ducker swiped furiously in long sweeps desperately fending off the Miners. Sasamaru gave a couple fearful jabs at the Elementals. Tetsuo hid behind his shield continuously taking the abuse from the pickaxes and arms slamming down on it. But of all things to happen, Sachi was knocked on the side by an Elemental, having her skidding on the floor with health bar dropping to the late yellow. By then, my vision began to turn blurry with a yellowish tinge on the colors in it. With a primal cry of rage I threw myself to the fray hacking apart the Miner. No matter what equipment I have on me, no matter how much they hate me, I am the Kuro no Kenshi – The Black Swordsman. I am the Beater. But despite these titles, I am still a Clearer. I have fought and fought for the past several months to not only free myself but for everyone else. Like Keita said, maybe it's about willpower because I definitely feel like I have the will to protect my fellow guild members and friends. As a member of the lead group, it is my will to protect everyone from death in this game. Sure I'm unsuccessful, but I cannot fail this time!
However, to my great surprise and ignored delight, the entrance behind us opened, and two figures stood by the doorway. Looking around a little older than me, the first was in a coat very similar to mine except colored in a mix of blacks, grays, and whites. His face was calm and collected with his seemingly light gray eyes. The long black hair was tied to a small ponytail coming shoulder-length. Once his view came upon us, his eyes narrowed into a stormy, intense look before rushing forward with the two-handed spear he wielded. The other was a very heavily-armored figure, apparently iron armor and a shining helm, and he wielded a two-handed hammer (the only problem? The guy used one hand to hold it. What?). With a bellow reminiscent to a Viking/dwarf from one of my older games, he charged into battle. Who are these people?
[2:55 p.m. | Floor 27 Labyrinth | Sword Art Online Let's Play]
"So, what're you gonna do when ya' meet 'em?" I asked.
"Don't know, Var. Give them a huge hug. Plead for mercy when they line up to punch me in the face for not being there. Spread the love. Tap that ass I wanted for so long," my friend jokingly replied.
"You really do like her shy, do ya'?"
"(Sigh) Well, she did take care of me since forever IRL. And besides she's beautiful that way."
"That's a good man," I chuckled, and then to seemingly myself, "Yeah, guys, don't tell the girl you love she's 'hot'. Say 'beautiful'. It's just the good thing to do …" Weird mental silence, "What the hell am I saying? I never have been in a relationship before. What can I tell you guys besides ripping off pasted notes on Fanfiction profiles?"
"Again, are you okay?" the other guy put his hand on my shoulder.
"Eh, yeahyeah, I'm fine. Nothing but a …"
"Aaaah!" a muffled shriek rang around the hallway.
"Sachi!"
"Your girl? Cheating on you now?"
"Fuck that, Var! Let's go!" And the dude sped off to his damsel in distress.
I followed as well, "Everybody out there, today we have our first rescue mission. Today we must save the lives of innocent players. So, men, let's do this. Wait what? You're not helping from out there? Too bad you insufferable pricks, I'll save these people with Gale here." My voice suddenly turned to a Scottish and/or Viking-Scandinavian accent, "Why did I just turn to my Iron Hills loadout?"
We came across a hallway around the corner with the rings of weapon clashes on the other side of a wall. My friend, named 'Gale', swept his hands all over it looking for any cracks or entrances, and I scanned the surface as well, coming to a keyhole-sized indent. With an iron boot an entrance was made revealing the dozens of monsters inside, and we saw the group under attack. 5 players deduced from whatever info I got from Gale and the man in black were my friend's old guild and Kirito. And the monsters were Mineral Elementals and DWARVEN Miners. No wonder I turned to this loadout. At the sight of a blue-clad girl lying on the floor groaning, Gale instantly rushed forward with intent to impale the Elemental preparing a final blow.
The girl woke up to see her savior and positively beamed, "Zenka? Is that you?"
And then Gale sidestepped a pickaxe before calmly having another virtual shish-kebob, "Yeah, it's me. It certainly wasn't easy finding you guys, and first thing I see is you guys in a mess like this," he replied in a sarcastic monotone.
The three other guys started gasping in amazement, "It is you! Where the hell have you been Gale? / Nice to see you again. / Finally, you join the party. Get it?"
When everything else was going to shit like this, I charged forward with a mighty battle cry and swung my hammer downwards flattening a monster to pixels.
Still with my accented voice, "Do you want me to bring down the HAMMER?!" Another lot was sent flying with another sweep, "You'll have to do a lot better than that, lads! Actually make this fight a challenge for me!"
With his great Agility and tankiness, Gale constantly protected his long-lost friends wielding his two-handed spear to keep the assailants at bay. Kirito was yelling his lungs out going full demon mode, hacking and slashing with wild abandon. Overall, my mind was getting pretty crazy from all this, so I did the best thing I could think of. I added something to the chaos.
Raising my palm in a halting gesture, "Stop! STOP! Listen for a moment here!" Everyone was still fighting, "Hey, I need to say something! Jesus, so rude!" Still fighting. You just UNLEASHED THE DWAWVES OV EWEBOWR! Eyes ablaze in fury and slamming my warhammer to the ground for effect, my roar shook the entire room, "Lowly monsters and kinsmen! I am KING DAIN, SON OF NAIN, SON OF GROR, YOUNGEST BROTHER OF THROR, DESCENDANT OF THE LINE OF DURIN, FRIENDS WITH A COLLEGE ROOMATE AND HIS PONY, MASTER OF PIGGIES, SLAYER OF THE WHITE FATHER-KILLING SON OF A BITCH, LORD OF THE IRON HILLS, KING UNDER THE FUCKING MOUNTAIN! Who are you to oppose me and my allies?! You pieces of rubble are just figments of a child's strange imagination, and you miners have betrayed my rule and have become lower than any good dwarf should! FEAR MY FURY!" and awkward silence filled it just after. The players looked at me with the most awkwardly surprised faces and added sweatdrops as if I had gone insane. (That has been happening a lot now, hasn't it?) Even the monsters can't help but stare bug-eyed wondering what entity of randomness has appeared before them. "Now, come at me for a glorious battle to the death so that the gods above may revel in my badassery!" Everyone was still stunned at my performance (well, maybe except Kirito and Gale. They always had a good notion that I was a tad eccentric) and have done nothing to continue the battle. "Very well then, come on!"
Within 3 seconds, I equipped an axe and shield with a couple swipes on the menu in one, the next second I positioned myself in a supposedly defensive stance with my now glowing shield in front braced against my shoulder and the axe at my side, and at the last one I rocketed forward with my Shield Skill – Shoulder Charge. As if I were a semi, the charge sent monsters in my path flying to the ceiling and walls like roadkill. Snapping out of their dumbfounded confusion, the rest of the players resumed the fight as well. Kirito began his storm of slashes and parries to cut down all the remaining enemies. The guild continued fendin off the assault. Gale spun his spear around like some master martial artist from one of my mom's Asian dramas/action movies. I went nuts with burying my axe into split skulls (and rock head thingies). So all in all, the whole thing lasted for another 15 minutes of crazy fighting before the last of the bad guys died.
Through their huffs and puffs, the reunited friends conversed with their missing guild member.
Tetsuo asked first, "So, Gale, where've you been?"
"I've been wandering solo ever since. Could never find you guys for some strange reason until now."
Sasamaru posed the next, "Then, what level are you now?"
"Oh, I'm level 32. And I'm building on AGI/DEF."
Ducker now had something to say, "Wait, are you in the lead group?"
"Yeah, I'm a Clearer."
The blonde already screamed in excitement and crushed Gale in a hug with anime tears streaming down his face. Man, can't this get any more like some anime for guys looking for badasses with swords and girls. With the fact that it takes place in a video game as a perk.
(Jesus Christ, why am I breaking a wall.) (Well, bruh, you do talk to hypothetical viewers out IRL.) (That's a completely different matter, Grim.) (Don't fuck with me, Var. You're my bitch and I'm the pimp.) (Yeah, you should really go fuck off somewhere.) (Screw you.) (What're ya gonna do? Cockblock me when I'm about to get laid by a girl I REALLY FUCKING LIKE?) (Why didn't I think of that? Thanks for the idea, asshole.) (You should already know what I'm thinking. After all, you are the au –)
"You're so awesome, Gale! Kirito was right after all! We can be at the top!" the thief exclaimed his revelation of joy.
"Wait? Kirito?"
Sachi came up behind the coated spearman and tapped his shoulder nervously, "Yeah, he saved us a couple months ago. And since he was around our levels, Keita let him join the guild."
"How can that be? You guys already are at that high a level?"
The girl tilted her head confusedly, "What do you mean? We're only in twenties, for now."
Gale then started widened his eyes in surprise, "But Kirito is nowhere around your level. He should be twice that. After all, he is the Kuro no Kenshi, the Black Beater."
I laughed wholeheartedly at that, and he pointed at me, "You were there when he met them. Didn't you tell them?"
"Nah. First thing, I was drunk off my ass. Second thing, Kirito pretty much needed a social life outside of being a black badass/lone wolf. Last thing, I discovered the Falcon Punch in this game."
The guild members gaped in astonishment, except Sachi who smiled sweetly. "Wh-what? We had a Beater with us all this time. And not only that, but the best one of them all? B-but his equipment …"
The said player spoke for himself, "Was to look like I was your level in stats and Col. Sorry, I should've told you guys, but I couldn't bear being rejected for who I am." He added the last part sadly.
"Oh yeah, Kirito. Ya know that I thought Gale here was your twin brother or something. Coats. Black hair. Dark colors. Poker faces. Emo aura. The works," I commented remembering the first time I met the guy with a spear and coat in Floor 29. The locally famous Yari no Yami.
Kirito and Gale glared at me with ticks on their foreheads (Yet another anime device.) (Shut up, man!) before simultaneously, "Seriously?! WE'RE NOT EMO!"
[-]
Well that's another chapter after SOOO FREAKING LONG! Yeah, this chapter was not as focused on Var this time, but on Kirito. Because well, I liked the episode for what it did to Kirito (Okay, a bit pushing the PTSD but still interesting). So, I will be doing some more chaps like this from the canon characters' P.O.V.
On to the next point, if anyone was a little annoyed at my twisting of canon by saving the M.B.C. and adding another OC. That wasn't my idea nor my original intent until I got PMed by a guy who requested it after last chapter. Since this is like my first story and all, I talked with the guy a bit to iron out the details for Gale and BOOM! I just popped in a new OC to the mix for the M.B.C. to have their asses saved. If you don't like this change, deal with it. It's been done.
Back to a happier note, the 'OPENING' for LPSAO was requested by the same guy above and hope you guys liked that. Hope you listened to the song plus enjoyed the visualization that I tried to describe into words from my imagination.
Now on to the reviews:
Skyar Triv – Well, I can't thank you enough for the kind words, and I hope for more epic boss battles to come.
Link7934 (Guest) – I've been watching Let's Plays and Walkthroughs ever since I was 6 or 7 when I wanted to help my cousin with his Pokemon Emerald, so I love those vids so much. And I wish I could see other video game anime/games/books/movies/etc. with a Let's Play concept like this that would be something very enjoyable in the future of Fanfiction. (Oh hell, what am I saying? But glad you like the concept. Sorry for lack of LP commentary in this chapter. ^_^)
Siris the Drakonid(Ender Mage?) – Just how many times have you changed your profile name? But, man, you're hungry.
rjm324 – Glad you did.
Axel the Moon (PMer) – Sorry I didn't put much Gale into this, but I promise more of him next chapter! Be glad that the guild survived, though! (Yeah, I didn't like that rescue as much as I would. But eh, this is what you get.)
Going to busy for these next couple months with high school and science fairs comin' up. But until then, comment, subscribe, and like for the next episode! This is GrimRangerLock and hope you enjoyed your break.