Chapter 5: The Messiah

One month after Heruseus had run away, floor 10 had been reached. The floor's theme was desert. The team had been wandering for a total hour in the midst of a raging sandstorm. After Heruseus left, the team was clueless about how to make a guild, so they never ended up making one. "Hey, Dragonstar, is your team back there?" Grimmjack called.

There was no response. "Hey, Grimm, do you think she's ok?" Gaia asked worriedly.

"I suppose she could be, I mean, she's got Diana and Terriblelizard with her," Aris responded.

"Don't forget Lance," Titanus reminded them.

"He's not too reliable," joked Flare.

"…Have any of you checked for mobs?" Grimmjack said worriedly.

There was suddenly a muffled cry. Flare, Grimmjack, Aris and Gaia turned and saw one less person. "Hey, you there Titan-" Aris was cut off.

The team turned to see the absence of Aris. Another cry. Flare was gone. Gaia and Grimmjack stood back to back, swords drawn.

"Keep an eye on all your friends, because some don't seem to be around," said a strange voice.

Grimmjack turned slightly, just enough so he could no longer see Gaia. He felt an absence on his back. Gaia was gone. Grimmjack felt a cold, hard, sharp blade on his back.

"Keep moving forward," The voice rasped.

After a few moment, Grimmjack could suddenly see. He was in the middle of town. In front of him were his friends, groaning. He turned and didn't see his mysterious savior. "Dragonstar, what happened?" Grimmjack called out.

"Grimm, we got kidnapped and then woke up here. No clue who did it," Dragonstar murmured.

"I-it was Heruseus!" Flare said excitedly.

"Did you see him?" Grimmjack said, suddenly interested.

"Nope. Just a hunch," Flare admitted.

"Dang it! You got me excited. I mean, you all know our goal, besides beating the game, is finding Heruseus and brining him home!" Grimmjack sighed.

"How do we know he wants to come back after what I said…?" Dragonstar began to tears up.

"Because he's Heruseus…" Grimmjack murmured sadly.

"And? He's incredibly unpredictable,' Gaia pointed out.

"That's what's so intriguing about him," muttered Diana.

"I suppose," Dragonstar replied.

As they spoke, a figure in a black coat, with a strange bundle on his back and a black turban came waltzing by. "You folks looking for someone?" It was a similar voice to that they heard in the desert.

"Uh, yes, his name is Heruseus. He's got blonde hair and glasses. He has a coat like yours and a one-handed longsword," Grimmjack explained hastily.

"I see. Well, come with me to the tavern," The man motioned for them to follow.

The group followed the strange man. He sat down inside the tavern. "You guys really have been looking a long time. One whole month? Are you some kind of stalkers?" His voice had changed. It was a whole octave higher and seemed familiar.

"How'd you know that?" Grimmjack asked.

The man didn't answer but said, "Also, don't you guys know you need a turban to see in the desert? Last time I'm saving you guys. So ungrateful, plus, none of you would keep still. You just keep kicking and squirming," The man sighed.

"And you call us a stalker? Dude, how do you know all this?" Dragonstar demanded.

The man chuckled for a moment. "Something funny?" growled Gaia.

"Yes," He said. He opened his menu and removed the turban. His shaggy, messy, blonde hair fell down. He had caring hazel eyes. He then equipped a pair of glasses.

"Theo?!" Dragonstar choked.

"Took you long enough," Heruseus sighed.

Heruseus unwrapped the thing on his back. He unsheathed what was a one-handed long sword. The blade itself was a brilliant emerald green, and the hilt was forest green in color. "Meet my new partner, Blade of Grass (+2Q2S), and despite its fragile sounding name, right now it's the equivalent of a floor 12 sword and once fully maxed out, it has 10 upgrade attempts by the way, it'll last until floor 16," Heruseus boasted.

"Nice, I've got here my Knight's Shield, and my Golden Sword (+2S2D)," said Flare producing a sword with a golden hilt.

"I've got the same!" replied Aris, Gaia, Terriblelizard, Lance and Azerath.

"Jeez, any variety here?" Heruseus laughed.

"I now have the Fairy Bow (+2S2A)" Dragonstar replied.

"I now have the Fisherman's Lance (+2A2S)." Titanus replied back.

"Alright then guys, on to more pressing matters, we need to start heading out for the next dungeon," Heruseus sighed.

"Right. Heruseus, will you join us again?" Gaia pressed.

Heruseus paused. Then he grinned. "It's just a matter of you learning to fly. We'll all fly someday. And I wouldn't miss my chick's flight for the world. Consider me yours!"

"You have some of the weirdest metaphors. But, glad to have you back," Gaia smiled. He held out his hand.

Heruseus gripped it and with a grin the two boys shook vigorously.

"I totally have the harder grip," Heruseus said with a sly grin.

"Yeah, right," Gaia said, griping harder.

"Boys," Dragonstar sighed.

"Must they always be so obnoxious?" Terriblelizard sighed.

"We are not!" Pyrus whined.

Grimmjack had been picking his nose. "Yeah!" He said as if no one saw him.

"We just saw you pick your nose," sighed Dragonstar.

"EW! Grimm?! Your nasty man!" Aris squealed.

"At least this one isn't that bad," Dragonstar nodded.

"He's too she-ish to be he-ish," Terriblelizard laughed.

"Agreed," Dragonstar laughed.

"I'm not bad!" Lance smiled.

"I honestly forgot you existed," Terriblelizard shrugged.

Lance pouted.

"I'm super manly," Titanus said in his super deep, super sexy voice.

"I wish Gaia had that voice," Dragonstar sighed. "And I'd tolerate Heruseus more if he had a voice like that,"

"There's nothing wrong with my voice!" Heruseus yelled.

"I guess if you like piglets on helium," Dragonstar laughed.

"I do not sound like a piglet on helium!" Heruseus cried.

"There, there, buddy, I don't think you sound like a piglet that got to a birthday party!" Gaia said.

"Yeah! I'm no piglet! I'm an Angel with a Shotgun!" Heruseus said confidently.

"How does that sound?" Dragonstar asked, quizzically.

"Why a shotgun?" Terriblelizard asked.

"It's a song!" Heruseus cried again.

"Can we get on the road?" Aris asked.

"Fiiiiine!" Heruseus began to walk out of the tavern.

"But, wait, can we first make a guild?" Gaia asked.

"Alright. But as long as I get to name it," Heruseus said.

The group followed Heruseus to the teleport gate in the central plaza. The team of 10 teleported to floor 3. "Ok, so, now we go see the mayor and then go beat the spider in the cave and then we can make a guild officially,"

"Well, that's good, I suppose," Gaia nodded.

They went into the large mayor's office and accepted the quest. After 30 minutes on the road, they reached the cave. "Ok, does everyone have pots?" Heruseus asked sternly.

Everyone nodded solemnly. "Ok, lead us into battle Grimmjack," Heruseus nodded.

Grimmjack took the forward line. The team advanced into the cave. After 5 straight minutes of walking and wandering, they reached the monster they were to slayer, Nephilia Regina. "Ok, guys, stay behind me," Heruseus said seriously.

"We can help," Gaia said sternly.

"I don't want a repeat of Lupus," Dragonstar reached out for Heruseus and grabbed his shoulder.

He shrugged off her hand.

"Dude, let us fight!" Lance pestered.

"No! Do you have any idea how many people I've seen die fighting? Any idea how many groups massacred? You can't imagine it," Heruseus screamed.

"We won't die-" Gaia began.

"Stop it. It's final. I'm taking on the boss alone. Besides, it's only floor 3. I'm level 26. I've got this," Heruseus drew his sword. He charged a Sonic Leap.

He leapt at the spider queen who didn't even enough time to react. Heruseus speed even startled his team. "Incredible… I couldn't even see him move," Gaia murmured.

Heruseus charged another sword skill, Downward Strike, and his sword glowed bright pink. It struck the spider in the head, stunning it. Heruseus went for an ordinary swipe of his sword and cut off both mandibles. The queen was down to 30% Heruseus brought his emerald sword down on her head. She shattered with a scream. "Woah," Dragonstar murmured. "He's like the Messiah of SAO!"

"No, I'm just a higher level than those mid-level noobs," Heruseus walked up to Dragonstar holding a slip of paper.

"Uh, you're kinda close…" Gaia murmured.

Heruseus leaned in closer. "I could've have done it faster, I just need a spark to ignite,"

Dragonstar tried to shove him. He didn't budge. "Tsk. Don't you know? I've changed. I'm not the same wimpy geek who's in love with a girl way out of his league," Heruseus smiled.

"What? What are you saying?" Dragonstar tried to push him again.

Heruseus laughed, "And you called me an idiot back on floor 1! I don't like you. Period. Like at all. Not even as a friend. You're gonna have to earn those rights back," Heruseus frowned.

Gaia finally kicked Heruseus in the groin. "Leave her alone she did nothing!"

Heruseus exploded with rage, "Nothing? She said that the rest of you were basically better than Josh? She knows what you two did,"

"Don't flip out again because she likes me and not you-" He was cut off by a sword deep into his chest.

"Didn't I just explain? I couldn't give less of a crap!" Heruseus shoved the sword deeper into Gaia's chest. The tip pierced Gaia's back. Rather than blood, red-colored polygonal shapes floated from the wound. Gaia's HP dropped to 50%.

Tears fell down Dragonstar's face at the same rate Gaia's HP dropped. "Stop!" She screamed. "You'll kill him!"

Heruseus smiled, "That's the point princess,"

"Princess… He never calls me princess…" Dragonstar murmured.

Suddenly a black shadow flew out of nowhere. A flash of green and Heruseus was hit. Standing before Heruseus was… "Heruseus…?" Dragonstar gasped.

"Everyone, get back! I'll deal with Shinigami! Take off the Kiritoko Mask Shinigami!" Heruseus #2 screamed.

"How'd you manage to escape from Seikatsu?" Heruseus #1 chuckled.

Dragonstar suddenly noticed the many holes in Heruseus' avatar. She remembered Seikatsu was the crazy rapier lady. It was Heruseus #2' turn to chuckle. "You think a pretty face can stop me for long? Don't worry she's alive. Barely," Heruseus #1 grabbed his face until it was no longer his face. It was a plain white mask with red whisker marks and glowing, eerie green eyes. Heruseus #1 fiddled with his menu until his coat was replaced with a hooded cloak. The hood covered his face entirely. He replaced his sword with a long weapon with a curved end.

"Is that a…?" Heruseus gasped.

"Yes. The mythical scythe. No one found it in the beta, but as I programmed it, I know you have to require one-handed sword, two-handed sword, one-handed spear, and two-spear in your skill slots. Seeing as I'm level 36, I have 6 skill slots,"

In SAO skill slots were given to the players as the leveled up. At level 1, 2 slots, 5, 3 slots, 10, 4 slots, but from there onward a player gained one skill slot every ten levels.

"I suppose I should tell you what they are; One-Handed sword, 238/1000, Two-Handed Sword 129/1000, One-Handed Spear 189/1000, Two-Handed Spear 97/100, Martial Arts 215/1000 and Scythe 387/1000," Shinigami smirked behind his mask.

"Impressive. I'm level 39. I have 6 skill slots; One-Handed Sword 472/1000, Martial Arts 378/1000, Throwing Knives 356/1000, Hiding 247/1000, Swimming178/1000 and Search 398/1000. My Search skill is how I found you," Heruseus smirked.

"Not bad. But still, for a beta-tester you're pathetic. The Black Swordsman is level 41. You're shameful," Shinigami muttered.

Heruseus drew his weapon, Blade of Grass (+2Q2S). Shinigami drew his Death God Scythe (+2S2D), a scythe with a wooden hilt. Heruseus sent a duel request and the time began to tick. Dragonstar rushed to Gaia, whose HP was at 47%. "Gaia! Are you ok?!"

"Yep. Just stellar," Gaia murmured.

"Jeez, don't go dying on me. I made a promise right?" Heruseus smiled.

"I thought you didn't wanna be with us?" Dragonstar asked, hopeful for Heruseus' return.

"Naw. You guys are clueless without me. Plus, I can't trust that Shinigami might impersonate me ever again. That, and I got lonely…" But he trailed off and got concentrated as the clock turned to 0.

"Die!" screamed Shinigami.

Shinigami activated a sword skill, Crescent Sweep, in which his sword glowed dark green and he would pull his scythe through his opponents from the back. Heruseus pulled his Blade of Grass out from his sheath and held it out to his side. "Heruseus, use a sword skill, that crappy block won't-"

Gaia was cut off by a powerful bang! When the smoke cleared Heruseus had taken no damage, and his block was still intact. Shinigami's scythe was clanking on Heruseus' sword. Heruseus brought over his left hand and grabbed the scythe. He began to drag Shinigami towards him. Heruseus charged a Martial Arts skill, Knife Hand, which made his hand glow red and his hand sliced through Shinigami's avatar. "Argh!" Shinigami screamed.

He pulled with all his might, but the blade did not budge from Heruseus left hand. Heruseus sheathed his sword. He smirked, and in a quick flash, Shinigami's scythe was deep within his own chest. Heruseus' foot was pressing on the hilt of the weapon and he had his hands in his pocket. He was whistling the tune to When You're Evil by Voltaire. Heruseus pushed his foot a little further. Shinigami began to let loose a string of curses in English and Japanese. He let loose another scream before his HP dropped down to 10%. In another flash, Shinigami's scythe was behind him, with a large hole in his chest. Heruseus' foot was back on the ground and his hands had not moved. His whistling tune had ended. Shinigami's HP had dropped to 3%. "Now, do you see what happens when you try and mess with my friends? That's right; I may as well kill you. Next time, I will kill you. Now get lost," Heruseus whispered harshly into Shinigami's ear.

Shinigami fainted. Heruseus walked over to his friends with a Duel Winner icon over his head. "Sup,"

Titanus ran up and hugged Heruseus. "Screw you! Don't ever do that again!"

Gaia slowly got up to his feet and gave Heruseus a hug as well. "Everyone else give him a hug. He said he was lonely,"

Flare gave him a hug. Then came Terriblelizard, followed by Aris, then Lance and Azerath. Diane's hug was a little longer than the others. Dragonstar came last. "No hugs for you until you bow and kiss the ground I walk on!"

"Yes ma'am!" Heruseus then got on his knees and kiss the floor.

He got up and Dragonstar gave him a hug. "Good dog!" She laughed.

"Actually, I'm a cat," Heruseus scolded playfully.

"Fine, whatever," Dragonstar laughed.

"I always thought you were the Tenth Doctor," Terriblelizard joked.

"Ah. By day, I am: a cat. By noon I am: me. By night I am: The Tenth Doctor," Heruseus smiled.

"Hey, how'd you get out of their prison?" Gaia asked.

"No one is gonna take me alive! The time has come to make things right! You and I must fight for our rights! You and I must fight to survive!" Heruseus said as a war cry.

"Don't know how that works, but ok," Gaia smiled.

"Ok guys. Let's go make our guild official, and then, let's go home," Heruseus smiled.