I don't own Sword Art Online or Mataras the Red Swordsman. Sword Art Online is owned by Reki Kawahara. Mataras the Red Swordsman is owned by Mataras the Author. The Wyvern's Inferno guild is owned by TheSib. I only own my OCs.
Chapter 8: Kuradeel, and The Sword Dance of Many Colors
Two Years, thought Akira, It's been two years since I saw my mom, two years since any of us have seen our friends and family, He sighed. Kirito was leading the way back to town, Mataras, and his 'adopted sister' Sachi flanking him. Akira and Silica were the third row in the group, and Diabel was the rear guard.
Liz sometimes joined the guild on hunts, and excursions in dungeons to clear the game, but ever since joining the guild, she's been busier than ever before. Using the profit she earned to help the guild at the end of each week, the guild eventually bought another house on floor 48, where Liz's blacksmith shop was located.
Akira looked up at the sky through the leaves, I wonder how my mom is doing, she's probably been struggling to keep having faith that we'll be back soon for these two years. he thought to himself.
Silica got his attention when she tapped his shoulder, "You alright? You've got a look of thought on your face." she asked.
"Just thinking about my mom, and how she's been doing these days." Akira said, Silica nodded.
"It's difficult for anyone to be separated from the people they care about," Silica said, Pina lowered her head, and she rubbed it with ease. "I understand that a lot, especially since I'm a only child like you." she said.
"I said on the day we went to revive Pina, that she was smiling, knowing everything would be alright, but after being trapped for two years, I don't know." Akira told her.
"She's coped this long right?" asked Silica, coping her head in confusion.
"Yeah, she has," sighed Akira, "but I hope we can get back as soon as possible." he said.
Kirito then held up his hand in a fist, a sign that meant to stop.
Kirito then reached for his belt, and pulled out two throwing picks from his belt, aiming at the tree, and activating his throwing skill. The guild tried to figure out what he saw, following his intense stare.
The first dart definitely solved that, by hitting the tree, a small white blob popped out of the fallen tree trunk, escaping from the noise. The second dart flew, and the white thing was killed in a single shot.
When Kirito opened his menu, he showed the guild his result, and when they saw it, several things happened. Mataras' eyebrows rose a considerable margin, Sachi gasped, Akira and Silica seemed to drift off into a dream like state, and Diabel's jaw had dropped to the floor.
"No way…" stuttered Agil, "This is an S-class rare item! Holy crap, I've never seen one before!" he said. The Moonlit Blacks were lounging around Agil's shop, Akira was against the wall by the door, Mataras and Sachi were sitting in armchairs, Silica was sitting on a windowsill, and Diabel was next to Kirito, leaning across the counter.
"You sure about this man? I'll buy it, but wouldn't y'all rather take it home and cook it for dinner?" he asked Kirito.
Sachi then spoke up, "Believe me, we would, but even with my cooking skill currently at Eight-Fifty, I have around a one in four chance of getting it right, to get the results at a perfecting rate, you need one at least nine hundred or nine-fifty." she shrugged.
"Therefore we figured we'd be better off selling it." Diabel finished.
Akira soon spotted a familiar girl in white and red walk in and poke Kirito's shoulder, calling his name.
Kirito whirled around to the sound, and saw Asuna. "I've found a chef," he muttered, grasping her hands. He let them go however, when the other player in the same colors as Asuna, glared at him.
"We're on your friends list," Akira spoke up, "You forget that you could find out by looking at it?" he said.
This made the man behind Asuna turn on him, and he was angry, "How dare you speak to the Vice Commander like that!" He snapped, coming towards the boy in Azure blue.
"And just what are you going to do about it, Grumpy?" Akira asked the stranger.
"Kuradeel, do not speak to my friend like that." ordered Asuna.
"He should be speaking to you in a proper manner ma'am, he has no right to…" the sentence was stopped as Akira instantly moved with his sword at drawn pointing at the man's throat.
"What did you just try to say to me?" he asked, his eyes shadowed by his hair, and a deep frown worthy enough to equal Mataras' wolfish grin. The cats gulped, because they knew, if there was one thing someone shouldn't do around Akira, it's not to talk about questioning his rights. When someone did do that he would get quite upset, and do a great amount of harm.
"Here's how things are going to play out, you will outside and stay there until we're finished talking with our friend, Lady Asuna," said Akira with his teeth gritted together, "If you insult my rights again, regardless if it's a safe zone or not, I will hurt you." he said, and his eyes changed to be like that of Kite from .hack/G.U.
Kuradeel decided to go, and Akira sheathed his sword, "That's a good dog." he said. Akira then turned to Asuna, "I'm sorry you had to see that, Asuna." he said and bowed to apologize.
Asuna smiled, "It's okay." she replied, "Now that's handled, what are you all up to? What's this about a chef?" she asked.
Kirito came out of his daze. "Oh yeah that. Well, I was wondering what your cooking level is at right now?" he asked her.
Asuna then gave a confident smirk, "Totally maxed it out last week." she announced, leaving everyone in the store in a state of shock, Akira had his eyes widened, while Mataras' eyes widened, and Diabel and the girls, all dropped their jaws, "Cool huh?" she bragged.
Kirito smirked back, In that case, I need a favor." he said, and opened his menu to show the holy item to Asuna.
"You… You got a Ragout Rabbit?" gaped Asuna.
"Yep. All you got to do is cook it up, and I'll let you have a little bite." He told her.
Asuna, however, made a counter offer, "I'm getting the same as you." she said, grabbing the collar of his shirt, pulling him close.
"Hey Asuna, why don't you two have it together, the rest of us just saw the catch, after all, it's not like we can contribute." Akira said, as he glanced over to the others.
"That sounds like a good idea, and besides, if we all had it to eat, then there would be a small portion for each of us, so it wouldn't be worth it." Silica nodded, the others seemed to respond in voicing their opinions on the offering.
"Alright!" Asuna pumped a fist of joy. Akira gave an friendly inward grin, there was something going on in her mind.
Kirito then turned to Agil, "Sorry pal, you heard the lady, guess I'm keeping it." he said.
"Yeah, but what about me? I thought we were bros man!" whined Agil.
"I'll write a review for you, but only two pages, promise!" Kirito laughed.
The two went out, and Akira kicked himself off the post he was leaning on, and walked over to Agil, "Hey, Agil… I was wondering…" he said, coming to the desk.
"What? Did you get a super rare item too?" Asked the shopkeeper.
"No, nothing like that. Have you ever thought about joining a guild?" Akira asked him.
"What? Are you offering me a place in the Moonlit Black Cats? You know me man, my first duty is businessman." Agil replied.
"Yeah, so what? We got Lisbeth in our guild, and she still hammering iron. Plus, I was kind of hoping to try and get to know our guild better, like how you trust Kirito." Akira said, as he placed his hands on his back.
"Eh, I don't see a problem in that. Sure count me in then!" Agil said, after some thought.
Akira instantly sent the invite, and Agil hit the accept icon, thus the guild symbol appeared next to his health bar. He then said his good byes, and went to join the others.
He noticed Silica waiting on the windowsill, and Diabel at the door, "Mataras, and Sachi went out a moment ago." the latter said.
The three went out to see a confrontation in the streets, "Are you suggesting that I am inferior to them?" said Kuradeel.
Mataras then spoke up, "Sir, you are making a scene where there doesn't need to be one," he said, as he reached for his sword, and his dragon familiar growled, "Your commanding officer has given you a order, and you have disobeyed it. So I'm going to use a rule that has worked multiple times in the past."
Akira smirked, as he knew where this was going, "Kuradeel's about to get some bad luck. Black Cat bad, that is." Silica giggled right beside him.
"I love it when he does this." Diabel nodded.
"I'm going to give to the count of three, to turn around and walk away." commanded Mataras in a flat tone. "One."
"You must be joking!" Kuradeel laughed, "I am a member of the glorious Knights of the Blood Oath, and I will not bend to some lowly maggot like you!"
"Two." Mataras' count wasn't in any hurry, and his sword wasn't even drawn yet.
"I wouldn't test him Kuradeel, this guy almost single handedly took down the leaders of Laughing Coffin." Asuna said, this made Kuradeel back off, but hesitate at the last second.
"Three." said Mataras, his sword came up, and flipped around so the blade was held, then, without warning, he rushed foreword and sent Kuradeel flying back into the dirt, leaving either dazed or unconscious. This caused Akira, Silica, and Diabel to burst out laughing at what happened.
"Oh man, that never gets old now does it?" Akira asked, while Kirito and Asuna left for the teleport gate.
The rest of the guild, along with Agil, went back home to their 'guild hall', a three story building, and it was only a block or two away from Liz's workshop. After welcoming Agil to the guild, and having some dinner, Akira went upstairs to his room, and out to the sky from the balcony. He then heard a knock at the door, and permitted entry, Silica walked in, she was wearing a lime green shirt, and black shorts, her hair was down, not in the ponytails that she had.
"Are you ok?" She asked him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just thinking about my mom." Akira told her, he then walked over and sat down on a chair he would have outside.
"You feeling homesick?" Silica asked him.
"Yeah. I miss her so much." Akira sighed. Silica continued to watch him, as she noticed a single tear streak down his face.
"I remember that we talked about this once before, you were so different back then." Silica said, coming to sit down next to him, giving the boy in azure blue a hug.
"I remember when I told you about my family, and how were close, but I still wonder, if it will still be the same after these years in Aincrad." Akira said.
"I think so." Silica replied, hoping to bring some confidence back. It worked as Akira smiled.
The next morning, Kirito woke everyone up early, though he was surprised to see Agil in the guild, but was glad none the less, as everyone sat down and had some breakfast, Kirito mentioned Asuna was joining them in a party. The rest of the group started laughing when he told how she threatened to stab him if he didn't let her join them for dungeon-clearing.
Kirito groaned, "Oh, come on you guys. You wouldn't be laughing if you saw the terror in her eyes."
"Oh yes we would," Akira smirked, "because it wouldn't be directed at us."
"But hey, it looks like you got yourself a second date." Mataras grinned evilly.
"You sure work fast." Silica added, and then bursted into a fresh set of giggles.
"It wasn't like that!" cried out Kirito.
"Oh?" Sachi questioned, in a similar state to the other girl. "What do you call a dinner at her house, alone, with a rare piece of cuisine?"
"Dinner!" Insisted Kirito. "Seriously, don't say it's a date in front of her, she'd kill me the moment we were out of the safe zone!"
"I'm considering telling her anyway, and seeing what happens." Lisbeth said, as she equipped her armor.
"Agreed." nodded Diabel.
"Oh yeah? Then what do you call your dinner last night?" Kirito asked Mataras, "Or you?" he said, turning to Akira and Silica.
"Brother-sister time." said the two boys, after Kirito finished asking.
"Hurry up everyone, we only have five minutes before we have to meet Asuna." Diabel said, prompting the group to finish up breakfast.
The Moonlit Black Cats waited for fifteen minutes, when they first arrived, Akira decided to try out something new for his outfit that Silica gave him, adding an azure blue hat, with a long white scarf, until Mataras and Kirito started getting impatient. "I don't think she's coming." muttered the former.
"Maybe she got caught up in some last-minute business with her guild." shrugged Akira.
The boy in azure blue moved to get up from where he sat, when suddenly a flash of blue appeared behind him, followed instantly by a girl in white and red. The duo fell into a very… awkward position.
Akira made quick calculations in his head, wondering what if he did if he placed his hand in the wrong spot. Breast + Pressure = ME flying into a column. He then grabbed her by her sides as he carefully rolled her off him.
The two players were blushing as they got up from the experience. "Good morning, Asuna." said Akira, as he helped the girl up.
"Morning, now, hide me." replied Asuna, before the teleport gate flashed again, revealing a familiar face.
"Why are you acting this way ma'am," Kuradeel asked, as he stepped down, "I'm only carrying out my mission."
"Well hello grumpy, here for a rematch?" said Akira as, he waved with a smile.
"Not you filthy beaters again," groaned Kuradeel at the sight of the Cats, "Lady Asuna, let's head back to headquarters at once, you shouldn't hang around with players like them. It's not your place."
Akira sighed at this, and stepped foreword, "I get the feeling you didn't understand what I said yesterday, or maybe Mataras didn't hit you hard enough. Everyone is their own person, and as Horton once said, 'A person a person, no matter how small.' Looks like your going to need another lesson."
Kuradeel growled, "You got a big mouth kid." He said, "So, here's what's going to happen,once I beat you, Lady Asuna will return with me to Grandzam."
Akira frowned at this, having a feeling that this would happen, "Very well, Kuradeel. Send the challenge." He said.
The window appeared before him, and made the commands to accept.
The whole group stood back as Akira drew his sword, and whirled it into a stance, his left out, with his sword held back high, and straight foreword. The guild realized his pose was similar to Riku, and Vanitas from Kingdom Hearts.
The clock hit zero, and Kuradeel began to charge, while Akira charged his sword in a white glow, the blade glew brighter and brighter until suddenly, the blade bursted into flames, surprising everyone. "What the…" exclaimed Kuradeel.
Akira then charged in and unleashed a sword skill, Horizontal Square, this somehow caused a burn effect on Kuradeel, as his HP went into the yellow zone, ending the duel.
"Game over, Kuradeel. You've lost, now you have to leave." Akira said in a simple, yet sad tone as he sheathed his sword, and walked towards the others.
Meanwhile, Asuna was in a state of shock, what happened to his sword that let gave Kuradeel the burn effect like that? she asked herself, I better ask him how he did that. She barely registered the fact that his sword was glowing for a skill, but for it to go on fire when attacking, this made her really surprised.
The others just blinked in awe, as Akira walk over to them, "When were you going to tell us that your sword could do that?" asked Kirito.
"I'll tell you once we leave town." replied Akira. Suddenly, he heard the sound of armored footsteps coming towards him, he palnned to strike back, but when he prepared to defend himself from Kuradeel, who was charging at him, Asuna blocked the blade with her rapier. Kuradeel was knocked back, and when he tried again, Sachi had drawn the Dark Repusler out to keep him from attacking. "Asuna, if you have anything you want to say to him. Now's the time as any." Akira suggested to Asuna, who nodded in agreement.
"Kuradeel." Asuna called in a commanding voice, getting his attention, "As second in command of the Knights of the Blood Oath, you are hereby relieved of your duties as my bodyguard. Furthermore, I will contact Commander Heathcliff, with a report of what has happened, and should he agree, which I believe he will, you are hereby expelled from the guild. You are not to come near Grandzam, or my friends again. Now leave." Kuradeel seemed to sag off as he left to another floor at the teleport gate. Without another word, Asuna, and The Moonlit Black Cats walked away towards the exit.
"So, what exactly happened to make your sword burst into flames like that?" asked Asuna, on their way to the dungeon.
"Well, about a week ago, I was with Liz as she sharpened my sword, and enhanced it, but somehow the blade was added a fire crystal by accident. I didn't know until later on that day when I got a message saying I got a unique skill called Azure Flame. It allows me to a deal a burn affect if land a successful sword skill combo. I told Lisbeth about it first, and she recommend I talk to Argo. Afterwards, I practiced using it on mobs out on the fields of Floor 1 to be safe." Akira said, as he opened his menu to show his party members.
"A unique skill? I'm quite surprised that you hid it. Looked almost like dragon fire, not bad, brother. Not too bad at all." Mataras nodded at the Azure Swordsman.
Akira sure had to admit it, with Asuna around, the dungeon was cleared much faster than ever, the monsters were taken out much faster than usual, the monster were easily wiped out and mapped out all the routes. Mataras then soon noticed something at the end of the road.
"Look there everyone." He said, for right ahead of them was the boss room.
"Right, everyone knows the standard procedure, fastest members, get ready to recon ahead." said Akira, and walked up to the front. Silica, Asuna, and Kirito nodded in agreement and followed him, while Agil, Liz, Sachi, and Diabel watched from the doors.
Akira, and Kirito shoved the heavy doors open, and slowly trudged inside, with the girls at the flanks. They continued inward until a torch lit up in blue flames, then another, and another, this continued until the entire room lit up with the eerie fire. In the middle of the room, the boss looked down at them.
They all flinched at the sheer size of the creature, it had the head of a goat, finely toned muscles and arms that easily held up a giant horse cleaver like sword the size of a school bus called, a Zambato, Akira then saw a snake-headed tail curved around from behind. This creature was a minotaur. The group then saw the name and the HP, "The Gleam Eyes…" Kirito swallowed. The creature then lifted its blade and roared, showing blue glowing eyes. This caused the recon team, and the fallback team to do the one logical thing.
Run for their lives, doing crying out in fear as they ran for the nearest safe zone.
Lauren: Wow, how scary was that boss?
Akira: Almost like I was in King Mino's Labyrinth.
Lauren: That scary then…
Kirito: Yeah. So how are we going to deal with this boss?
Akira: With help from the tactician.
Author: Next time on The Azure Swordsman: The Lost Fragment. Chapter 9: Ren, and The Wyvern's Inferno.
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