I do not own Sword Art Online or any of the characters.
Challenge
Michael walked down the street, spinning his new knife in his right hand as his other hung loosely from his left. Both were identical survival knives, roughly thirteen inches long with a Bowie-knife-style blade that had the first six inches from the grip serrated along the edge. They had green handles and black blades. After a moment, he put them away, hand reaching back and resting on his sword, which was slung diagonally across his back. It was styled after a Greek Hoplight sword but with an entirely black blade and a neon green hilt and scabbard. In addition to the blades, he had bought a suit of armor consisting of a green trench coat with silver pauldrons, green gloves with metal splints on the back, and green converse-style shoes.
"I kinda like the outfit, if it were black," Michael stated. "I wonder if you can dye clothes in this game."
He walked to the edge of town then looked around. Most of the people present were paying him no mind, though a few would throw a glance at him once in a while. He flew into the air, leaving the town behind and flying higher until he could see for miles around. WHen he was high enough, he stopped and looked around. There was a massive tree in one direction and trees as far as he could see every other direction. He shrugged and began to fly toward the tree, not having much else to do. After about ten minutes, however, his wings suddenly vanished and he began to fall.
"Hey what gives!?" he shouted as he fell.
At the last second, a player wearing white clothes and with blue hair caught him and set him on the ground.
"Thanks," Michael sighed. "Why'd my wings disappear?"
"You can only fly for ten straight minutes, then you need to let your wings rest," the player stated. "Don't you know anything about this game?"
"Not really," Michael shrugged. "I heard it was cool and joined."
"Well, you can only fly ten minutes," the player stated. "The big tree you were headed toward is called the World Tree. At the top is the Fairy King, Oberon. The first race to reach him supposedly gets to become a race called an Alf that can fly as long and high as they want. However, you can't fly to the top because it's too high and there's a height barrier to stop piggybacking. The only way up is through the guardians, NPCs that guard the only door into the castle. They're really strong though. Entire gangs of players have gone at them and failed to break through."
"Sounds like a fun fight," Michael grinned. "Anything else?"
"Yeah," the player nodded. "Your race, Sylph, is currently at war with the Salamanders, the ones in red. If you meet them, they'll attack you on principle."
"Thanks for the heads up," Michael grinned. "I should go. See you."
"Yeah," the player nodded as Michael started walking toward the tree again.
Michael walked through the trees until he reached a path and started to follow it. As he did, he heard armor clinking and banging further down the path. He hurried around the bend and found a group of Salamanders walking toward him, all of them laughing and joking but stopped when they saw him.
"You," the leader, judging by the way the others fanned out when he raised his arms, growled. "Who are you?"
"I'm Michael, pleasure to meet you," Michael smiled cheerfully.
"Indeed," the leader chuckled. "We'll be taking your items. Then you'll be free to leave."
"I'm afraid I can't agree to that," Michael sighed. "It's a shame too. You all seem like nice enough people, for the most part."
He drew his sword and two Salamanders charged. All of the Salamanders were wielding swords and metal jousting lances but when the two reached Michael, he stepped past both lances and split the two in half. The others staggered back a step before the leader stepped forward, driving his lance into the ground.
"You're not half bad," the leader smirked. "Those two, believe it or not, were some of our strongest payers, and our group is in third for strongest Salamander team. However, you'll still die. However, in the interest of conserving as many troops for the raid as I can, I'll give you one more chance. Give us your items before we have to make a mess of you."
"Strongest players huh?" Michael grinned. "Guess I'll hold onto my stuff then. You guys don't scare me."
"We should," the player stated. "Numbers can defeat even the strongest players."
Three charged at Michael, the first reaching him within seconds. Michael slashed the first's lance aside, causing the player to stagger in front of the next's lance. Michael jumped over the second as the first died and the third launched fireball at him.
"Shit!" Michael swore, rolling out of the way using his wings before landing behind the second Salamander and stabbing him.
The second burned away and Michael charged at the third. As he neared him, four more stepped around the player, all stabbing at Michael together. He bent backward, their lances crashing together before he stood beside it, slashing two then kicking the spell caster. The two that had already attacked along with the leader all charged, the Leader using his lance like a sword and the others trying to stab Michael. Michael stepped out of the way of anything they threw at him before slashing one of the lances into the leader's leg. The leader shouted in pain, dropping to a knee as Michael decapitated both of the others then leapt over a fireball. He spun, hurling his sword at the player, killing him. Then, he landed, drawing his knives as the leader stood.
"You're much stronger than we thought," the Salamander sighed looking around as the last of the Remain Lights faded, leaving him alone. "I think I may know someone who could kill you though."
"Well I do like a good challenge," Michael grinned. "Think you could take me to him?"
"You wanna challenge him?" the Salamander scoffed. "He'd slaughter you."
"I'm not so sure, but I'd love to try," Michael stated. "After all, in a game where you're allowed to die, what's the point in being afraid of dying?"
"Fair enough," the Salamander nodded. "Alright. Follow me."
Michael put his knives away, retrieving his sword and following the player. They flew for roughly eight minutes before landing, a small army of Salamanders instantly landing around them and pointing their weapons at him.
"What is the meaning of this?" a tall Salamander with armor that looked heavier than necessary demanded.
"He wants to challenge General Eugene," the Salamander that had led Michael there stated.
"He what?" the Salamander gaped before grinning. "A tough guy huh? Tell you what kid, I like your attitude. But Eugene would slaughter you."
"Maybe," Michael shrugged. "Maybe not. Wanna find out?"
The Salamander laughed then raised his hand and let it fall. The player who had led him spun, stabbing at him only for Michael to effortlessly knock his lance away and kill him. The Salamanders around him charged, all stabbing at him together and from all sides, making it impossible to dodge.
"Much better strategy than the last group," Michael grinned. "Still, not enough."
He spun, darting at a Salamander to his left and leaping over the lance, killing the Salamander as he went and escaping the attack. Then, he spun, holding his hands out and pulling up his attack screen, reading off one of his offensive spells. Several wind blades shot out of the air in front of him, killing a handful of the players. The rest spun, charging at him.
"Sorry," Michael laughed. "Not going to help."
He jumped to the side, avoiding the initial attack then charged in, slashing several before they could react. Two stabbed at him and he avoided it, allowing them to kill each other. Then, he spun, knocking another stab aside and killing the player while taking the lance. He smashed it into another Salamander like a bat, launching the player away before stabbing another and using his sword to block a lance.
"Who is this guy?" the leader who had been speaking to him earlier gaped, watching Michael drop his soldiers.
"What's going on?" a commanding voice demanded from above, making everyone freeze.
"G-General Eugene," the leader stammered. "Th-This player wished to challenge you. I hadn't wanted to bother you so I attempted to have him deal with but, he was more than we expected."
"Clearly," Eugene snorted. "He's already wiped out almost your entire force. Who are you?"
"I'm Michael," Michael greeted. "Apparently you're about the only guy that can kill me."
Eugene snorted in amusement and floated to the ground drawing a red greatsword with a rounded tip with a notch just below it on both edges, a red gem set into the base of the blade, and a sharpened cross guard. The Salamanders that Michael hadn't killed cleared out of the way and Michael turned toward Eugene, tossing the lance he had borrowed away and readying himself.
"How about a deal?" Michael asked. "Whoever wins revives the other and gets any of their gear they want. Deal?"
"Since you won't win, I'll go ahead and agree," Eugene chuckled. "You may have something worthwhile."
Michael grinned as Eugene charged, moving surprisingly fast for his size. He slashed at Michael and Michael raised his sword to block it. At the point of impact, however, Eugene's sword passed completely through Michael's before tearing into Michael, launching him away. Michael crashed into a wall then stood, groaning but raising his sword.
"That's a cheap trick," Michael growled. "Not an unimpressive one though. I like that sword."
"I do too," Eugene grinned. "Where were we?"
Michael sprinted forward, rolling aside from a slash and standing behind Eugene, slashing at him. Eugene blocked the blade and spun, throwing a kick at Michael. Michael ducked under the kick, slashing again and again Eugene blocked it. Then, Eugene shoved Michael's sword out of the way and slashed at Michael again. Michael leapt over it, narrowly avoiding it and Eugene spun, slashing again. Michael tried to block it but it passed through his sword again, cutting a scratch in Michael's cheek. Eugene began to slash at Michael rapidly and cut small scratches into Michael. Finally Michael slashed and Eugene blocked it grinning as he hadn't taken damage yet.
"Weren't you claiming you could fight me?" Eugene asked.
Michael growled in annoyance and Eugene laughed, flicking Michael's sword away and slashing at Michael, only for Michael to roll aside, drawing his knives. Eugene laughed and readied himself. Michael charged first, slashing at Eugene. The moment sparks flew, Michael's second knife bit into Eugene's leg. Eugene leapt back, growing in annoyance then flew forward. Michael spun out of the way of the sword and sashed Eugene along the side with both knives then chased him. Eugene spun, blocking a knife then leapt over the other, flipping and slashing at Michael from behind. Michael spun out of the way, slashing Eugene's chest repeatedly before Eugene was able to create distance. Both glanced at their health bars, seeing that they were very close to death.
"Alright," Eugene growled. "I'll admit, you turned that around nicely. One more hit and one of us dies."
Michael nodded an agreement and both charged. Both slashed, and at the last second, Michael spun, blocking Eugene's sword with both knives and shoving it away. Just as he spun to attack Eugene, Eugene spun, sword whipping around and then splitting Michael across the chest.
"Shit," Michael sighed before turning into a Remain Light.
"You're pretty good," Eugene smirked. "I'm impressed."
He revived Michael, as per his word and Michael opened his inventory, showing Eugene his gear.
"What the..." Eugene gaped at the list. "How are you so strong with this crap? Keep your shit, I couldn't even sell it for a decent amount of money."
Michael shrugged and retrieved his sword then grinned at Eugene.
"Thanks for the fight," Michael grinned. "That was a lot of fun."
"You're...unique," Eugene stated. "Now get out of here before I kill you for being a Sylph."
Michael grinned then turned and flew away, Eugene turning away and leaving.
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