I do not own Seord Art Online or any of the characters.
Target
Michael stepped through the door, rifle sweeping the corridor. He could feel his hands trembling already. Be gripped his rifle tighter, forcing his hands to be still. Sinon followed, machine pistol in hand. The dungeon was an ancient ruin, dark and creepy, just as it should be. As they progressed through the dungeon, not a single monster crossed their path.
"Are monsters rare or something?" Michael asked.
"Not really," Sinon said. "But I understand why you ask. I would have expected to meet something by now."
Just as she said this, a massive boar easilly the size of a tanks skidded around the corner, eyes glowing red. Michael spun, firing two shot. The blasts lit up the tunnel as they flew and crashed into the creature. It shrieked in rage, charging at them. Michael fired a series of rapid shots, most hitting around the boar but a few hitting him. Finally Michael drew his knife, hurling it and hitting the boar in the eye. The boar collapsed, not dead but on the verge of it. Michael raised his rifle and fired again, destroying the over-sized pig.
Then, Michael continued walking, Sinon following. They followed the passageway until they came to a large dark room. Just as they reached the center, enormous baylts began to swarm around them. Michael fired repeatedly, each shot finding its mark. Unfortunately, the bats were as strong as the boar and didn't die easily. Michael hurled his knife to one side, killing a bat. He continued firing but stopped after a moment, reslinging his rifle and summoning a new knife. He began to hurl them as fast as he could, dropping bats right and left. Finally he killed the last one and pulled his rifle off again.
"Gotta say, you're pretty handy with that knife," Sinon stated. "So, you wanna take a brake or keep going?"
"I'm good if you are," Michael stated.
Sinon nodded and turned to walk to the next door just as a bat swooped down, grabbing her and flying into the air. Michael raised his rifle but couldn't get a good shot. He dropped his rifle, drawing his knife and sprinting after the bat. It flew at the wall, swerving at the last second and nearly slamming Sinon into a wall. She screamed as the bat flew down at the ground. Michael skidded to a stop, swearing as the bat flew at him. He raised the knife but the bat crashed into him, throwing him. He landed hard, a fair chunk of health gone. He pushed himself up, groaning and looked up at the bat.
"Michael!" Sinon shouted as it nearly slammed her into the wall again.
"Hang on Sinon!" Michael called picking up his knife. "I'm on my way."
He sprinted forward again. The bat once again flew down and at him. This time, he leapt into the air. The bat crashed into him and he drove his knife into its head. It exploded and Michael and Sinon bounced and rolled along the ground before finally stopping. Michael pushed himself up, sighing. He looked over at Sinon and she groaned, pushing herself onto her knees.
"Thanks," Sinon sighed, smiling over at him. "That could have been a little messy."
Michael smiled and stood, picking up his rifle. They continued into the ruin and soon came to a long hallway with a large open doorway on the far end. Michael began to walk down the hallway and suddenly, a massive lizard exploded out of one wall. Its tail swept around, smashing both of them away. Michael slid along the floor for a moment and Sinon crashed into a wall. Michael growled, pulling up his rifle and aiming at the lizard. It roared, a glowing red eye visible inside. He narrowed hi eyes, the green circle shrinking until its entirety was inside the boundary of the eye. Michael fired and the shot , blasting through the lizard. It shrieked in pain and Michael fired again, a second shot punching through the eye. Then, the lizard exploded.
Michael sighed and walked over to Sinon. She was unconscious, something Michael hadn't even realized was possible, and was whimpering.
"No," Sinon breathed. "No...no..."
"Sinon," Michael said gently shaking her.
She stirred, groaning and looking around.
"Are you okay?" Michael asked.
"Yes," Sinon nodded, but he could tell she was shaken by something. "Thank you. We should go."
He nodded and they walked to the door. On the other side, they found themselves in a massive chamber with only broken pillars for decoration, along with a massive armored creature the size of several houses.
"It's huge," Michael said drawing his rifle as Sinon looked around.
"I'm going to go find a sniping position," Sinon stated.
"I'll keep it busy down here," Michael said.
Sinon nodded and turned, sprinting along the wall. Michael opened fire, drawing the massive creature's attention. It roared, lunching at him through a pillar. Michael dove out of the way and the pillar crashed down, filling the area with dust. Michael turned toward the creature as a massive red beam fired out of its tail. He dove aside and the beam blasted the ground. He rolled to a knee, openning fire again, aiming for its head. One of the blasts hit the creature in the eye and it roared. A moment later, a third eye opened in its forehead. Michael shot it and it reared back, roaring. It stomped, the force sending out a concussion that hurled Michael away. Just as it turned toward Michael, a sniper bullet hit it in the head, sparks flying off the armor plate.
The creature roared in rage, turning toward Sinon. Another bullet hit it, this time in the eye and it roared again. Michael hurled his knife and fired several shots at the thing and it swept its tail along the ground, only narrowly missing Michael. He dove to the ground under the tail then stood, firing at it again. Its tail swept by again and smashed him away. He stood, groaning as Sinon shot it again. He began to run around the creature, shooting it. It roared, trying to stomp on him. As it did, Sinon continued to empty her magazines at it. Finally, the creature collapsed. Michael drew his knife, sprinting at the head and leaping to the eye, slashing it. The creature roared, tail sweeping around and smashing him away. He slammed into the wall then dove behind a pillar, avoiding a laser blast. Sinon shot the creature again and it turned, trying to shoot her but only able to hit just below the ledge where she was sniping from. Michael had to admit, she had chosen a good spot.
"So, remind me, what exactly am I here for?" Michael asked, stepping out of cover and shooting the creature then stepping back in as a laser shot past.
"You got me here," Sinon stated. "Plus, I wanted to talk to you. If neither of us dies here, you have to tell me why you refuse to use live ammo weapons."
"We'll see," Michael said as a sniper bullet crashed into the creature along with his next shot and his knife.
He sprinted out of cover, drawing its attention away from Sinon and firing at it. Finally, h3 dove behind cover and Sinon shot it again. It turned toward her, charging a shot. However, just before it fired, she shot the eye nd the creature's blast hit a pillar, dropping it on the creature.
"I only have two shots left," Sinon stated.
"I have one," Michael stated. "My rifle's dead."
He stepped out, firing at the creater. Unfortunately, the blast streaked past the eye, missing completely.
"Son of a bitch!" Michael swore slinging his rifle and drawing his knife.
Sinon fired, hitting the creature in the eye and Michael stepped out, hurling his knife. The knife hit the creature in the side of the neck and it began to glow. Then, jt shattered, and Michael got an alert box with his rewards: a new Optical Rifle with a barrier effectiveness reduction special ability, and a sniper rifle.
"Go figure," Michael chuckled, remembering discussing wanting an Optical Rifle immune to barriers with Sinon. "An Optical Rifle with only a quarter damage blocked by barriers."
"Did you get a sniper rifle?" Sinon asked.
"Yeah," Michael said.
"On my way," Sinon said.
A minute later, she walked over and he sent her the sniper while equipping the rifle. It looked the same as his current one but with green lights and sights. Sinon equipped the sniper and stared at it.
"PMG Ultima Ratio Hecate II," Sinon muttered. "This is it."
"What are you going to do with the old one?" Michael asked.
"I was going to sell it, why?" Sinon asked.
"Mind if I take it?" Michael asked.
"Oh, um, alright," Sinon shrugged, sending it to him. "Why the change of heart?"
"It's a...long story," Michael said. "I'm hoping using it will be good for me."
Sinon shrugged and turned to leave. She looked back at him and smiled.
"Shall we go?" Sinon asked.
"Yeah," Michael nodded. "So, what was the real reason you brought me along?"
Sinon began to walk and he followed grinning.
"I happen to consider you a friend and wanted to hang out," Sinon said. "And I wanted to know why your hands shake when you hold a gun."
Michael winced, gripping his right hand with his left.
"So you noticed huh?" Michael asked. "It's for the same reason I dislike live ammo guns. But, I'm sorry. I can't talk abot it."
Sinon nodded, smiling at him.
"It's alright," Sinon said. "I understand. I'd be a hypocrite if I made you tell."
"How?" Michael asked.
"It's...a long story," Sinon said.
"Alright," Michael smiled. "I won't force you. I understand. So, how do we get out of here?"
They had arrived at a cross-road with four paths, not counting the one they cane along.
"I have no idea," Inon stated.
"Alright," Michael shrugged walking down the path on the right.
"Wait, what if that's the wrong path?" Sinon asked.
"Then there might be some loot," Michael grinned back at her.
She laughed and together they made their way down the tunnel.
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