Mother's Rosario is OP! That mana cost though. Darn Yuuki you made me cry more tears but at least you gave yourself a rather OP skill. And alright, enough of the Lost Song ramble. Welcome to Sword Art Online : Atarashi no Kisetsu chapter 2! (My proof-reader told me there has to be a no there for proper Japanese Grammer ... I suck) Oh boy is this a long one so get your drinks ready and brain awake as you read the newbie work this author brings you!
I have a request if you so wish to assist. Reviews for the series thus far (while it is 2 chapters, its nearly 10000 words with Yuuki developed abit) would be nice! Constructive criticism is appreciated (Am I writing too long? Too many details? Not enough Kirito action?) and random slander/hate shall be dealt with by my [Object Remover]. Even just a simple message that you enjoy the series and want more would boost my morale significantly to write more!
P.s Arigato Dragonspirit996! Your short review gave me encouragement to finish this one day earlier than I had planned to!
Chapter 2 : The First Month, Forward
The hulking mass of virtual flesh and data stood opposite Yuuki. Its white coat and piercing red eyes do justice to its name, Alpha Boar. Unlike its weaker counterpart, the Frenzy Boar which was as dangerous as snails or slimes in common RPGs, this one moved faster, hit harder and attacks without provocation. Holding her Bronze Sword in front of her, she circled the boar while her eyes engaged in a staring contest with the boar's deep red.
Grunt! Squeal!
The Alpha Boar, apparently fed up with watching its prey from afar, charged with its tusks raised forward with the intent of killing the player in front of it and killing the person in the NerveGear. However, it missed and it was unable to stop as it was late to register Yuuki's sidestep as she had done it at the last second. As the beast tried to turn around, its legs suddenly gave way and it fell on the ground, its HP having less than 5% left. Red polygons escaped from the huge gash at its side where Yuuki's [Horizontal] Sword Skill had hit. Squealing now in pain and fear, the boar struggled to get up but only for a few moments as Yuuki's sword extinguished the its remaining HP and the Death animation plays. The Alpha Boar explodes into an endless number of green polygons showing that it was indeed dead.
"That makes nine. Now I just need …"
Yuuki was unable to finish as she suddenly jumps and below her, another Alpha Boar charges past. It stops its charge and turns around red eyes widened which would be its expression of surprise. It had snuck up onto Yuuki and would have definitely skewered her. Yuuki's eyes had only met the boar's briefly and players this close to death would be slow to react to another threat racing to them. But not someone who dances with death everyday since birth. She had dodged it with barely a seconds notice.
"Thanks! You saved me the trouble!"
Yuuki cheerfully told the boar as she gets into the Pre-Motion for the Sword Skill, [Rage Spike], a 1-Hit charge type attack. Her Bronze Sword glows blue to show that the system had registered her stance and prepared her body for the motion. Before the boar could even take another step, Yuuki crossed the distance and was now past the boar. Behind her, aimlessly facing the spot where Yuuki once was, the tenth Alpha Boar blew up into sparkling polygons, rewarding Yuuki with the last Quest Item she needed, the Alpha Boar Tusk.
"Oh crap! It's already 5AM! Better hurry up!"
Under the moonlight, the girl ran through the dark plains and towards a shadowy forest. Opening her map from the menu, she navigated her way to a point she had marked and it led her to a clearing in the forest. Under one of the trees of the forest was a bearded figure in a cloak, seated against the tree. His hands covered his stomach where blood flowed out from a puncture. This man thankfully was not a player but an event NPC with a special quest which rewards an unique, exclusive sword.
"T-Thank you. I can rest easy now knowing my revenge was successful. I … I will be taking … a break ...now."
The hunter NPC slowly fell silent and his hand's slackened. It was sad that there was no way to save him but Yuuki had to understand, this was just an event, this was not a real player. There was nothing she could do. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she pressed the Accept Reward button that appeared after her completion of the event quest, Request of the Fallen Hunter. A white light appeared in Yuuki's hands and it lengthened into the shape of a longsword before turning bright red.
"Hunter's Fang? Not bad but … not as good as Anneal Blade."
The other weapon that Yuuki speaks of is another exclusive weapon though it was not through an event like the one she has. It was a repeatable quest in Horunka Village but the quest was difficult to complete due to requiring a Quest Item from the monster known as Little Nepent and according to a player who had managed to acquire the item, he said that the drop rate of the Quest Item was likely less than 1%. Yuuki, Diavel and the rest of their party spent a week trying to acquire the said Quest Item but with the presence of several other players who also want to acquire the Anneal Blade as well as the unsustainable spawn rates of the Little Nepent, Diavel gave up, calling the party to proceed on.
The Hunter's Fang was definitely a good weapon but stats-wise, it was slightly lower in every aspect but a unique was a unique!
"I'll get Argo-chan a sweet treat for this. Now the time is. Woah! Gotta run!"
Checking the time again, Yuuki realises it was now 5:30 AM. 30 minutes left to get back to the Inn in Tolbana Town! She had to run now before Diavel and the party realises that "Shiki" was missing.
Nearly a month has passed since that day when reality was destroyed and recreated. The world of Sword Art Online can no longer be considered a game but a reality as death was as real as it sounded. As of now, the estimated number of dead players reaches 2000 deaths which was already about 20% of the population in this world. By this time, most of the remaining live players have accepted the world of Sword Art Online as their current reality and like all humans, they adapt to their surroundings.
During this time, Yuuki had learnt much about this world,the party she was forced to travel with as well as of herself. Firstly of the world of Sword Art Online. Everyone's appearance was a near exact replica of what they would look like in the real world so her current avatar would be what "Shiki" looks like in real life. Being twelve in the real world which is the same age as Yuuki, she was quite short, standing at a height of about 150 cm (or 4"9) with a thin and tiny frame. Overall, this was very similar to Yuuki's body in the real world with the exception of crimson red eyes, lustrous piano black long hair reaching to her waist and functioning legs.
Other things she had learnt about Sword Art Online. There was one way to log out, clear the 100 floors of the castle of Aincrad or in other words, finish Sword Art Online. Death in the game meant actual death in the real world and with the many dangers in this virtual reality, death was always a hair's breadth away.
Combat was a scary thing as every battle, you're entering another round with death. Except that Yuuki did not fear it as much as the ordinary player as she had been fighting an eternal battle with life. In an actual battle however, everything to Yuuki seemed to move in slow motion which is likely because she could focus without needing to worry of dying as much as the ordinary player.
Seated with the party in an amphitheatre-like structure, Yuuki watched as other players filed in. It was a few moments from the gathering for the occasion Diavel had promoted to the front-line fighters as "The First Floor Boss Strategy Meeting". There was another meeting prior to this a day ago with the objective to confirm the location of the boss room. Confirming the location and not finding is because prior to Sword Art Online, there was a Sword Art Online Beta where the 1000 lucky individuals who participated and are currently in the actual game are called Beta Testers. They are the ones who have the most information on the first 10 floors of the game as that was how much they had cleared during the Beta and they are also the ones that created a special player-made guidebook that is handed out freely by NPCs around the 1st Floor. The guidebook consisted of information about the several mechanics, monsters, skills and items that these Beta Testers had discovered during their time in the Beta including, the location and bosses. Reaching the boss room had been dangerous however, requiring Diavel and the party to cross 19 levels of randomised floors to finally reach the 20th floor of the dungeon where the boss room waited.
Now, the current meeting was to discuss the strategy to defeat the boss. Diavel gathered everyone close to where he stood in the middle of the amphitheatre where there was a ruined fountain which was where Yuuki and the rest of the party sat. The party cheered and booed Diavel as he jokingly introduced himself to the crowd as a Knight even though no such thing existed. But Yuuki's attention was diverted to two interesting figures she could see around the area. One was a person she planned to thank later. Argo or at the moment, infamously known as Argo the Rat. She was what you called an Information Broker or more simply put, someone that sells information. Her nickname, Rat, came from the way she needs payment for every single bit of information, including what her gender was or what her name even was.
Argo and Yuuki met in Horunka Village when Diavel and the party were attempting to hunt the Little Nepent in order to get the unique sword Anneal Blade. Even as they hunted for three days straight, they could not get the Quest Item from the Little Nepent in order to finish the quest. Yuuki decided to go solo hunting at night when the rest of the party slept at the inn of Horunka Village. As "Shiki" during the day, she was always standing in the backlines, holding the Buckler which the party had bought for her in front of her at all times, shaking in feigned cowardice. At night, the Buckler was discarded and there was no more fear, only determination as she wielded her sword and with her newly discovered skill of fast reaction speed, she cut down as many Little Nepents before sunrise came when she returned to the inn, unable to acquire the Quest Item.
"Oi you, "Shiki" was it? Or should I call you "Yuuki"?"
On the third night Yuuki went out solo hunting, a hooded figure stood at the entrance of the inn, blocking Yuuki's way in. Approaching Yuuki who was stunned by those words, the person removed the hood, revealing a girl with curly auburn hair but what was most eye-catching were the brown animal-like whiskers painted on both cheeks. She raised both her hands in a placating gesture and Yuuki could see the stranger's weapons. A knife attached to the left hand which served as a Claw weapon and on the right hand, a gauntlet with huge nails attached, acting as a throwing weapon. A very uncommon weapon set. The girl notices Yuuki staring at the weapons attached to her hands and grins at Yuuki.
"Nothing interesting bout these. But I'm interested in you."
The girl spoke with a strange nasal inflection and combined with her appearance, she resembled a rodent known as the rat. Later on, Yuuki learned that the unknown girl's nickname was Rat not only due to her looks and speech but also, the business she deals in.
"Information brokering. I pay you for your juicy tidbits, I offer my own but not without some Col."
The Rat says while rubbing thumb against finger to express her point. Everything to this girl had value behind it and that's where money or the currency of this world, Col, comes in.
"Let's do an information exchange. I'll tell you my name and you tell me why do you want to finish this Quest so badly."
Before Yuuki could even reply, the Rat had deviously added on.
"My name is Argo, the Information Broker or also known as the Rat. Now, your turn Yuu-chan!"
Even though she was tricked, Yuuki couldn't help but laugh. The morale of the players of Sword Art Online was rock bottom at the moment and this girl was grinning away like none of this mattered to her. Obliged to answer, Yuuki shared her story with the strange girl, Argo.
"There is someone waiting for me back in the real world. I have to get back quickly and getting stronger is what I can do now."
Aiko was waiting for her back in the real world and nothing would stop Yuuki from returning to the only person she had in her world. Not even a game of death.
"I like your determination and you have skill but … you're a total noob at MMORPGs aren't you?"
When Argo was greeted with a blank stare, she shook her head in disbelief.
"I'll help you. But you'll have to pay up in the end of course!"
Aside from Argo was another person of interest. Dressed in simple cloth and leather armor, what made him stand out was the sword behind his back. The Anneal Blade and also, that mess of black hair and eyes, dark as the night made him very recognisable to Yuuki as the player who had told her about the extremely low chances of acquiring the Anneal Blade. Beside him was yet another person like Argo wearing a hooded cloak. Dark red leather armor could be seen beneath the cloak as well as a long, thin sword known as the Rapier.
"Shiki! Let's go somewhere else while Satoru talks with the players."
Maru calls out to Yuuki and pulls her away from the meeting. Though Yuuki wanted to listen in on the conversations, as "Shiki", she would have little interest in such matters and also she would obediently follow Maru and Diavel.
"Ah wait here, I'll get us something to eat!"
Maru goes off but towards the direction they had just left from, clearly returning to Diavel's side. Something was going on in which Diavel did not want his younger sister "Shiki" know. Bored and helpless in this situation, she could only wait.
"Yuu-chan! Why aren't you back at the meeting?"
Hearing the familiar voice of Argo speaking with her special accent, Yuuki turns around the rat look alike girl standing behind her, leaning against the wall of a building.
"They don't want me back there! Also Argo-chan, it's Shiki, not Yuu-chan."
"Nah, I'll take Yuu-chan, it's cuter. You like it don't you!"
Argo begins laughing gleefully upon seeing Yuuki's pouting face. Yuuki liked the way Argo called her not because it was a "cute" name but because it reminded her of who she truly was. Being called Shiki for a month made her almost forget which person she was.
"I see you completed the event quest. Good job!"
Having had her laughs, Argo notices the red handle of the Hunter's Fang at Yuuki's side and points to it. Yuuki claps her hands, remembering what she had planned to do. Accessing her inventory, she takes out a sheepskin parchment with the stats of the Hunter's Fang written on it as well as a jar.
"Hehe. You know what I wanted to ask. 1000 Col for those stats thank you and … what's with the Nepent honey?"
Argo accepts both items and transfers the Col over but she holds out the jar to Yuuki, tilting her head curiously.
"It's a gift for Argo-chan who helped me find the event quest!"
"Nooo … You'll make me feel bad. Oh wait, I know how I can repay you for this."
Storing the gifts from Yuuki, Argo beckons for her to follow. They walked back towards the direction of the amphitheatre but instead of walking straight in, Argo led Yuuki around the amphitheatre to the back of the building. There, Argo tapped on specific parts of the stone walls and suddenly, the ground seemed to crumble, forming stairs that led underground. Going further inside, there was an opening ahead, enough to see through and Argo goes to it, gesturing for Yuuki to come along.
"That's why I feel the Beta Testers here should get on their knees and hand over all the money, items and information they have hoarded for themselves."
It was a voice Yuuki knew well because they had been in the same party during her time here. Kiabaou. While it is better to get along with your party members, Yuuki could never bring herself to get along with Kiabaou. Everything from his cactus-like hair style, grating voice and terrible attitude annoyed Yuuki. Whenever any trouble arose during their travels as a party, Kiabaou blamed everything on the Beta Testers like how he is doing now even though there was absolutely no benefit in doing so.
"Grr ... we walked into something distasteful."
It was a rare sight to see Argo without her cheerful grin. Now she was gritting her teeth, a frown on her face but she seemed more nervous than angry. From Yuuki's view of the ampitheatre, she could see the stands where all the players sat but not the fountain where Diavel and the party stood. Diavel was a person who would not allow Kiabaou to act in such a manner but, where was he? There were no protests from anyone, only mutterings.
"May I speak?"
A rich and strong voice spoke out from the crowd and Yuuki saw a giant stand up from the crowd. He was brown-skinned, standing tall at probably 190cm and with a face that clearly indicated he wasn't Japanese but he spoke the language clearly without any fault. What was most intimidating was his muscular body and the huge two-handed axe he carries easily behind his back. He proceeds down the stairs to the fountain, likely to confront Kiabaou.
"My name is Agil. Kiabaou-san, what you were saying is that many beginners died because the beta testers did not help them, and you wish for them to take responsibility and apologize, is that correct?"
"Y-Yeah that right."
From what she could hear, the giant Agil had managed to scare the cocky Kiabaou but what would this man say next? Blame the Beta Testers some more?
"I heard you mentioned money, items and information. I don't know about the first two but I believe you would have received this?"
"W-What about it?"
Now Yuuki was definitely curious. Agil had brought out something that made Kiabaou more nervous and it likely had something to do with information. Information. Looking at Argo beside her, she could see that Argo's signature grin had returned but there was something behind it as well. Relief.
"A worthy investment it was indeed. Well, I'll be leaving now then Yuu-chan, I have business elsewhere."
Argo stands up, waving good bye and leaving Yuuki even more curious about this investment that Argo spoke of. Just as Yuuki was about to turn back to the opening to watch the event's of the ampitheatre, Agro's voice called out from the entrance to this secret place.
"This wasn't pleasant so I'll leave you with another piece of information, free of charge. Diavel is not all that he seems."
Her brain had overheated from the sheer amount of confusion. First, what does Agil have that made Kiabaou so nervous. What was this investment of Argo's. What did she mean by "Diavel is not all that he seems". Well perhaps the first two curiosities were not as important but the last piece of information seemed to be serious. Is Agro telling Yuuki not to trust Diavel?
"Kiabaou-san. I can understand where you're coming from but, like Agil-san said, we are here to learn from their deaths and press onward. If we are to succeed in beating the boss, we will need these Beta Testers behind us as well. If not, we are likely to fail then what would be the point?"
Diavel's voice meant that he was there all along. He had allowed Kiabaou to bring up that terrible claim and continue it. There was something strange going on as Diavel usually kept Kiabaou in check when he spoke rudely. But now thinking back about it, that was only when Yuuki was around. She had not seen Kiabaou and Diavel by themselves without her so there was likely something Diavel did not want "Shiki" to know.
After Diavel had "convinced" Kiabaou, the strategy meeting went on seriously without any more talk about the Beta Testers. Yuuki learnt that what Agil had taken out to shoot down Kiabaou's argument was a guidebook that was issued in just about every shop on the 1st Floor. It detailed monster areas, items, drop rates, boss information and many others. This guidebook was written by none other the Information Broker, Agro the Rat but shockingly enough, these were given out free. Knowing Argo, she would sell even her hair if it could get her money. Diavel read out the relevant parts of the guidebook such as the name of the Boss, Illfang the Kobald Lord, its weapons, a one-handed axe and shield and a large curved sword called a Talwar which the boss switches to when three of its four health bars have been depleted. After that, he proceeded on to get everyone to party up in parties of six. From Yuuki's field of vision, she saw Maru appear, heading towards the exit of the amphitheatre.
"Time to get back!"
"Shiki! Lets go back."
"M-Maru, where's the food?"
"What about food?"
Alright, there was something afoot and Yuuki just confirmed it. In ten minutes, Maru had already forgotten that she had left Shiki behind on the presumption that she went to get food. "Diavel is not all that he seems". Argo's words came up in Yuuki's head as they returned to the amphitheatre. Already, the players were grouped together in parties of six in preparation for the boss battle with the exception of the black-haired boy and the hooded figure beside him.
"Be there tomorrow! Dismissed!"
Diavel yelled out to the players and most of them returned with varied shouts like "Roger!" or "See you there!". He then turned to Kiabaou and spoke to him.
"Didn't expect that man to give us trouble. What about the deal?"
"Ah that stupid guy would not accept according to the rat girl. Even raised the price like you said but he would not let go off that sword. Tchh I hate them all. That black haired idiot and the big mmmhmm?!"
Too late, Diavel realised that his younger sister had returned faster than he had expected and he covered Kiabaou's mouth to end the conversation.
"W-What are you talking about?"
Yuuki asked in a quiet voice while looking down, replicating "Shiki" flawlessly.
"Strategy for tomorrow's boss fight."
And he turned away, signaling that the conversation was over. Lies. Though he would say no more, she had overheard what they were talking about earlier and that gave her a hint of who to ask. A certain rat girl who left her not long ago.
It was 11:49 PM in one of the inns of Tolbana Town. Exhausted from interacting with other players since the morning all the way till just now, Diavel fell back onto the soft bed in the inn's room. 'That black swordsman ... Kirito will prove to be troublesome.' He sighs in disappointment and frustration as all his schemes till now had failed.
*Knock Knock*
"Onii-chan, can I come in?"
Diavel jumped of the bed, dusting himself off and shaking his head, ensuring that his everyday smile was ready to greet his beloved younger sister.
"Come in Shiki. The door isn't locked."
Dressed in a plain white overall and hugging a fluffy pillow, Yuuki steps into the room and goes over to Diavel who had gestured her over to take a seat on the bed.
"Can't sleep? Something on your mind?"
Diavel crouched so that his face was on the same level as Yuuki's. Looking straight into his eyes, Yuuki directly stated the reason she was here.
"Kiabaou-san."
His smile twitched as the name of his companion was mentioned.
"What about Kiabaou?"
"Why did you try to buy off a player's sword so badly you would spend all your money? Why did you let him talk about the Beta Testers like that? Why didn't you do something?"
The only sound left was the whistling of the wind outside as a dreary silence greeted Yuuki's accusations. Diavel looked away, in anger or in sadness Yuuki could not see. It was not till a minute later when he had thought of an answer did he return to face Yuuki with a pained smile on his face.
"I did this all for you. All to make myself strong enough to bring you back. Even if I must soil my values, as long as you can return back to reality, I will do everything."
Yuuki was speechless. The genuine feelings of love for his sister made Yuuki feel extremely guilty. Right now, "Shiki" was dead, Yuuki was only a replacement so right now, Diavel was only fighting for an illusion, a fleeting dream that can never come true.
"Do you remember, last year when uncle brought us to the mountains?"
All she could do was nod. She wouldn't know such an event.
"When we were stranded from the accident, we had to walk all the way back. We both annoyed uncle about wanting to give up but those words he gave us that day. There is only one way to go in life, and that's forward. After that, we didn't stop and finally made it home safe."
Tears were sliding from Diavel's face as his hands reached for Yuuki, his forced expression lost as his feelings let loose.
"Just like now, the only way to go is forward. Even if you call me a monster, I'll keep fighting if it keeps you safe and bring you home."
Fourty-four players gathered in front of the two huge doors that led to the boss room. In just a few short moments, the doors will open revealing the boss of the 1st floor, Illfang the Kobold Lord. Diavel repeated the plan to everyone again to be sure. There were a total of seven six-people parties and one two person party (the black-haired player and his hooded companion) and these parties were named Group A to Group G with the two acting as a support for Group E. Group A and B consisted of the players with tankier stats and equipment to be forward, blocking the brunt of the damage. Group C which was Diavel and five others with more damage orientated builds to constantly switch with the first two groups to do damage safely. The rest of the groups were not as organised and their main role was to take out the Boss's minions, the Ruin Kobold Sentinals. That was Yuuki's assigned role as she was in Group G which was the safest group, the furthest from combat.
"Everyone, its time. Lets go!"
The doors were slowly pushed open with Diavel taking lead. From what the party in front could see, it was a massive rectangular room about the same size of the floors below, being about at least ten metres in height, twenty metres in width and it was maybe a hundred metres or so to the back of the Boss Room. Above them, the ceiling lit up the whole room with a strange rainbow colored light. When all eight parties were inside the Boss Room, suddenly the room went dark. All attention was brought to the other end of the room where torches with a *flick* sound lit up, illuminating a large silhouette seated on a throne of bones. Illfang the Kobold King. It howled angrily at the players that had entered its domain, picking up an axe and leather buckler from the sides of its throne before jumping off its seat. The room began to light up again as more torches lit up revealing several smaller armoured Kobolds with poleaxes in their hands. The Ruin Kobold Sentinals. Raising his sword above his head dramatically, Diavel brought it down to point at the Kobold army, starting the battle.
"Charge!"
Groups A to C battled the Boss with their planned strategy, switching tanks and DPS (damage-per-second) constantly to efficiently do damage while keeping everyone's HPs above 50%. Stuck in Group G meant that Yuuki was left battling small fry but even so, the rest of her party handled the Ruin Kobold Sentinals easily as it was usually two kobolds against five players. Occasionally, a third may come but the duo party came, taking it out swiftly in just three attacks from the hooded rapier user while the black-haired swordsman parried the attacks of the Kobold. Very efficient and those two were clearing out the Kobold's faster than any of the six man parties.
"GUWAHHHHHH!"
A piercing roar echoed in the Boss Room and looking back at the boss Illfang, three of its HP bars were empty with only the last one remaing. As was said in the guidebook, Illfang the Kobold Lord reaches behind and draws out the curved sword, the Talwar. 'Is it?' Yuuki thought. There was a rough drawing of the weapon in the guidebook and the long, thin well refined blade in the Boss's hands looked significantly different from the chipped gigantic curved sword depicted.
"Stand back! I'll handle this."
Diavel shouted as he dashed past the front lines of Group B who were standing at the ready to block the attacks of the Boss. 'Why is he going in without his party! Wait .. is he ..." Yuuki remembered what Argo told her back at Horunka Village when Argo had agreed to teach Yuuki about MMORPGs and the mechanics of Sword Art Online. The Last Attack Bonus. Diavel's schemes were beginning to make sense to Yuuki but, all that just for an item bonus?
"Oii are you okay?!"
Yuuki had diverted her attention from her actual role for too long and when she turned to the shout, she could see that one of her party member's HPs were in the yellow zone. Another one of the party charges forward to block the Ruin Kobold Sentinal's next attack. Then Yuuki realised. There were six Kobolds surrounding her party at the moment.
"Kiabaou! What's the meaning of this!"
The black-haired swordsman and his companion was also trapped with Yuuki and her party by the wave of Kobolds.
"You're not getting the Last Attack scum."
Kiabaou, the leader of Group E said, turning to re-engage the Kobold his party was fight with. However, his party's formation had changed, having more gaps and allowing more Kobolds to sneak through and attack Yuuki's party. Lind's party, Group D was also following Kiabaou's example and letting Kobolds through. 'Another accomplice' Yuuki thought bitterly before returning her concentration to the Kobolds around her. Right now it was about ten kobolds against the fourteen of them as Group F had came to assist so it was highly unlikely that anyone would die but it would take time to finish the Kobolds off which was the goal of Diavel's plan. To delay the black-haired swordsman long enough for Diavel himself to land the Last Attack and get the bonus rare item.
"N-No! Fall back! That's not a Talwar!"
The black-haired swordsman shouts to Diavel who begins the Pre-Motion of the Sword Skill [Slant] (1-hit diagonal attack) as he reaches the Boss but his skill hits thin air as the Boss unexpectedly backflips. At this point, everyone watches in horror and disbelief as Diavel, stuck in the Post-Motion (moment of temporary rigidness) of his skill was launched into the air by Illfang. The long, thin weapon in its hands glows red and with a malicious grin, it performs an unknown Sword Skill in the air, landing two slashes on the immobile Diavel and final a thrust which launches him towards Group E, landing in front of Yuuki. With the scary sound effects of Diavel getting cut in the air, the laughing Illfang and their dying leader, all hell broke loose as the players scrambled desperately exit.
"S-Shiki. I'm sorry."
Diavel's HP bar was empty. His body starts fizzling as the game registers that the player was dead.
"You were in the Beta Test weren't you ..."
The black-haired swordsman was here, kneeling beside Diavel's dying body. On his face was a mixed expression of regret and anger.
"P-Please. Save everyone. Defeat the Boss."
The fizzling effect was intensifying and the swordsman nods, rushing off to face the boss with the hooded rapier user behind him.
"I love you Shiki. L-Live."
Yuuki couldn't move as the endless polygons fell around her like snow. Even if she was not truly Diavel's younger sister, the love he had shown for her till the end was to painful to bear.
"Save me! Someone!"
Sword Skill, [Rage Spike]. Yuuki's Hunter's Fang impales the Ruin Kobold Sentinal in the back before it could finish the player on the ground. There was no rest however. Around her, more than ten Ruin Kobold Sentnal's circled her, snarling at their lone prey. 'Why am I alive.' Yuuki asks herself as the Kobolds begin the uneven battle. Two of them raise their poleaxes to slam down onto Yuuki but she sidesteps to the left while activating the Pre-Motion for [Horizontal], severing both Kobolds from their upper bodies and they explode into a rain of polygons. 'Why is Diavel with something to live for dead while me with nothing am still alive.' There were five coming at once this time. Yuuki ran forward, knocking the closest Kobold's weapon away and using its head as a launch platform for her to jump above the other four. Before even landing, she prepared the Pre-Motion for [Slant] and as her feet touches the ground, her weapon shining with blue light slices into the back of three of the Kobolds, erasing their HP and existence. 'Why am I still fighting.' Sword Skill [Vertical], Sword Skill [Uppercut] two more Kobolds fell in quick succession. There were still at least eight left but Yuuki's Sword Skills were in the Cooling state (Cooldowns) meaning now she was fighting without them for about ten seconds. That was enough time for the remaining who attack at the same time. Yuuki rushes forward, stabbing one but without a Sword Skill behind it, there wasn't enough damage and the Ruin Kobold Sentinal snarls angrily at Yuuki and slams its Poleaxe into her head. She flew a few metres away, her Hunter's Fang out of her hand and landing beside her. Yuuki tries to get up and crawl for her sword but she immediately falls back onto the ground. Below her red HP bar was a box and inside it was stars moving around in a circle, the status ailment for stunned. 'Why? Am I going to die?' The Kobolds gather around her, jumping with their weapons raised above their heads in victory. The one she had stabbed glared at her with its yellow eyes as it raises its poleaxe. The poleaxe flies but it was out of the Kobold's grasp as a huge two-handed axe swings into view, knocking three Kobolds away from Yuuki and the remainder backs off, watching the brown giant warily.
"Oi you cowards! This brave girl is still fighting and you run! Get back in here!"
The rich, strong, commanding voice of Agil was greeted with a nervous cheer but some of the players run back into the fray, taking on the remaining Kobolds.
"You did well girl. Now take a break, let us handle the rest."
Handing a potion of minor healing to Yuuki, he ruffles her head before hefting his two-handed axe and heading to the Boss where the duo were still battling it. Free of the battle now, Yuuki had to make a decision. Without Diavel, traveling with the reminder of his former party was definitely not an option. Not with Kiabaou and Lind there. Maru was also no leader and was a blind follower of Diavel. Or ... staying in the 1st Floor and letting the other players clear the game was another option. There was no reason for her to fight anymore right? In fact was there even a reason for her to fight in the first place?
"What should I do ..."
"The only way to go, is forward."
Diavel's words came back to her. That's right! There was a reason for her to fight. Aiko was still back in the real world, likely worried sick and waiting for Yuuki. That was all the reason she needed. No need to look back anymore, all she had to do was face what was in front of her and go forward.
CONGRATULATIONS!
The notice pops up in Yuuki's view, signifying that the Boss had finally been defeated. XP and Col were awarded, raising Yuuki's level from 6 to 8 in one go. Players began cheering and celebrating as Illfang the Kobold Lord had been vanquished by the black-haired swordsman.
"Why!"
Kiabaou's wail echoed loudly in the huge chamber.
"Why did you let Diavel die! You knew all the Boss's skills didn't you! That's why you can block all its attacks!"
The seed of dissent was sown. The players had stopped enjoying their victory and began muttering amongst themselves.
"H-He must be a Beta Tester! He knows everything about this game yet he hid it all from us!"
Lind also began adding fuel to the fire. This was getting worse and worse with every loud shout.
"This is all the Beta Testers fault! If they had come with us today, we could have all lived! Its all because of the Beta Testers!"
The players were now riled up and it would be impossible to stem to tide of anger towards the beta testers and the black-haired swordman at this point. However, the Boss Room is suddenly silenced by maniacal laughter. The black-haired swordsman made sure that the spotlight was on him before stopping his laugh and beginning.
"Beta Testers? Don't lump me with the likes of those beginners. In the Beta Test, I am the one that reached floors no other Beta Testers could possibly dream of going to and thus, I know more than your everyday Information Broker."
He sneered and turned around, his attire changing into the rare Last Attack Bonus item he got, Coat of Midnight. The black coat gave him a chilling aura as he walked off towards the end of the Boss Room where the Teleport Gate to the next Floor waited.
"T-Thats unfair! You're worse than a Beta Tester!"
"A cheater! Cheater!"
Shouts of Beta Tester and Cheater were cried out at the lonely swordsman, occasionally fusing together to create a word that sounded like "Beater".
"Beater ... It has a nice ring to it. From now on, I am a Beater and you don't put me together with the weak Beta Testers."
Leaving a crooked mouth as he announces all that, the black swordsman turns and leaves for the 2nd Floor.
He was still a considerable distance from the town of Urbus where the 2nd floor teleport gate was when he heard rapid footsteps. Someone was following him. Is it Asuna? The black swordsman turns around but it was not the person he was expecting to see. It was the girl from Diavel's original party.
"Why ... why are you running? Why not defend yourself?"
Yuuki asks the black swordsman who turns around, hiding his face of disappointment as Yuuki had not understood his true intentions.
"Following a Beater like me. Foolish!"
Doing his best to sound intimidating, the black swordsman begins walking off towards Urbus.
"Oi! Don't ignore me!"
Yuuki shouts angrily at him but he ignores her, continuing to move onward.
*Shing*
The sound of a blade drawn provokes a reaction from the black swordsman as he hurriedly jumps back, turning to face her with his sword drawn as well.
"I'm mad now. Lets have a duel here."
"W-Wait. Why?"
"There are some things that can't be conveyed with words. Instead this will do the talking."
Yuuki's blade begins to light up blue as she gets into a Pre-Motion to activate a Sword Skill.
"Wait!"
The black swordsman shouts this time and Yuuki cancels the Sword Skill for the moment. His hands begin moving on the menu he just pulled down and after awhile, a message appears in Yuuki's view.
'Unknown player has challenged you to a duel! Mode: First Strike. Do you accept? Yes/No'
"Ohhh ... there was such a system for dueling?"
Yuuki stares at the message and then pulls down her own menu, searching for the buttons that would allow her to create duel requests. Meanwhile, her opponent covers his face with his left hand to show his disbelief as he had heard what she had said.
"Can we just get this over with?"
He was watching to entrance to the 2nd floor where the other players from the Boss Room will likely be coming up soon and meeting them after his performance would be very undesirable.
'I'll end this quickly.' The black swordsman thought as he watches Yuuki's movements, waiting for her to make the first move. Five seconds till the duel begins.
"So why didn't you defend yourself?"
Yuuki asks her opponent as she enters the Pre-Motion for the Sword Skill [Rage Spike]. He notices and recognises the motion, immediately coming up with a battle-plan in his head. Wait for the charge attack to come and parry it before it hits him. Then while she is stuck in the Cooling of the Swords Skill, hit her to end the duel. That was supposed to be the plan.
Zero! Duel Start!
'Too fast!'
She zoomed across the short distance between them way faster than he had anticipated and he hurriedly rolls to the side. There was no chance for a counter-attack now but at least he wasn't hit.
"Answer me!"
She was running to him and her blade glowed blue again, indicating another Sword Skill was activating which he could see was [Slant]. He was barely on his feet when the attack came and just like the earlier [Rage Spike], [Slant] was also swung at him at an unnatural speed, faster than what he had seen so far.
'She's boosting the speed with her own movements!' Aside from leaving it to the system assist to move your body for the Sword Skill, manually moving along with the motion shortens the time it takes for the skill to be cast but this is risky as any small mistake, any divergence from the original Sword Skill will cause it to cancel, putting it on Cooling and leaving you vulnerable. But from Yuuki there was no such mistake yet.
Sword Skill [Uppercut] was successfully used by him to parry the fast [Slant] and immediately, he follows it up with another Sword Skill [Horizontal].
'What's with this speed!'
Yuuki had recovered from the parry and with only a second to see the black swordsman's [Horizontal] coming at her, she had activated Sword Skill [Uppercut] to parry his attack. Unlike Yuuki however, he was unable to recover quickly enough as he watches her blade relight itself for yet another Sword Skill [Vertical] begins its downward arc. Without enough time to activate a Sword Skill, he swings his sword up.
*Ping*
Yuuki's Hunter's Fang flies out of her hands, landing a significant distance away from her. 'Chance!' The black swordsman lunges with his sword, the blade entering Yuuki's left shoulder.
'Winner : Unknown Player!'
"Ouch! That hurts you know!"
Falling onto the ground, Yuuki calls out to him while holding her left shoulder. Heaving a sigh, the black swordsman sheathes his sword.
"Back in the Boss Room, if I hadn't acted the way I did, not only I will be blamed but every Beta Testers. Better for me to shoulder all the blame."
'Oh' was what Yuuki thought. He was not running away but actually looking at the situation as a whole.
"Ha ha ... my bad that I didn't understand that."
She rubs her head as she says that, realising that she had been rather rude.
"Some things can't be conveyed through words right?"
He offers his hand to her to help her up and also to show that there were no hard feelings. Taking the hand, Yuuki gets back onto a feet, only to fall straight into the black swordsman, unable to move anymore.
"O-Oi. Are you okay?"
His voice sounded distance as the ground below Yuuki swayed. Her legs felt like jelly and it was suddenly hard to keep her eyes open.
With the adrenaline out of her body now, the past with nights of solo training resulting in a sore lack of sleep were taking its toll.
'Oh ... Its possible ... to be tired.'
Was her last thought as she faints in the hands of the confused black swordsman.
You have read to the end, well done. If you are confused by anything, drop a PM and I'll answer within two days! Enjoy your day and get hyped for the next Chapter!
Spoilers for them people who can't access the Chapter 3 Beta Test (Author only!)
Why did Yuuki lose! Martial Arts! Asuna+Yuuki action! Kirito being as dense as a rock! [More spoilers accessible only by people with Beta access]
Additional P.S : I haven't decided but KiriAsu with Yuuki as fren or KiriYuu?