I do not own Sword Art Online or any of the characters.
Double Trouble
Asuna watched as the others all cheered and talked together happily. She was in a tavern with a guild called the Sleeping Knights, one that Yuuki was the leader of. She had been looking for someone as strong as herself or stronger. Michael and Kirito both popped into Asuna's head. They'd be more helpful. Yuuki and her friends planned to take the floor boss down with only a single party, the maximum number allowed being seven. They were going to have to disband soon and wanted to get their names recorded on the Monument of Swordsmen in the Black Iron Palace of New Aincrad for defeating the floor boss, but all of their names would only be recorded if they defeated the boss with only a single party. Any more than that and only the leaders' names would be recorded.
Asuna had been chosen to be the seventh person, as there were six in the guild, including Yuuki. Asuna had agreed to help, but still wanted to know why not Michael or Kirito, or even Klein. All three had done better than her. Michael had come close to winning even.
"Um, Yuuki," Asuna spoke up. "You've been dueling a while before you fought me. There must have been a few stronger players. Like a Spriggan dressed in all black wielding a one-handed sword. Or the Salamander with the samurai armor and the katana? Or the Sylph that has the ten-hit combo?"
"Oh them," Yuuki smiled. "I remember them. They were all really powerful too."
"Then why not choose them?" Asuna asked.
"Well..." Yuuki thought. "They just weren't the right person."
"Why not?" Asuna asked.
"Well," Yuuki sighed looking down at her cup but smiling. "The Spriggan, and probably the Sylph too, found out what my secret is. As for the Salamander, he just wasn't quite strong enough. Close though."
"It must have been hard to pass up their strength though," Asuna guessed.
"Yeah," Yuuki nodded. "If I hadn't met you soon, I might have taken the Sylph."
Asuna nodded as Nori, a Spriggan girl in the guild, walked over.
"We should probably get going," Nori stated.
"Alright," Yuuki sighed.
They al walked outside and everyone said their goodbyes to Asuna, agreeing to meet at the same tavern the next day for the raid. Then, Asuna left to meet with Kirito and the others.
Michael ducked under Kirito's sword and leapt back, then lunged forward with a stab. He froze at the last second when Kirito was distracted by a message. Michael stepped back and Kirito opened his messages, responding then closing out of it and nodding to Michael.
"Now, where were we?" Michael grinned, sword glowing blue as he darted forward, slashing at Kirito.
Kirito blocked the slash and redirected the sword over his head before his sword glowed forest green. Michael's eyes widened and he swore as Kirito began to tear into him with the OSS he had won. Kirito moved to stab Michael but Michael rolled out of the way of the last strike, raising his sword as Kirito turned toward him.
"I really regret teaching you that," Michael grumbled. "Oh well."
He sprinted forward and slashed at Kirito as Kirito stabbed at him. At the last second, Michael spun, sweeping the stab aside then flipped his sword around and slashed at Kirito. Kirito flipped over the slash then spun, decapitating Michael. Michael turned into a Remain Light and sighed.
"I was hoping to do more damage before you used my OSS," Michael sighed as Kirito revived him.
"You'll get there someday," Kirito laughed.
Michael rolled his eyes and sighed, looking around. They were in a field on the first floor of New Aincrad where they could spar without worrying about monsters, and all around them, players were cheering about the fight.
"Looks like Yuuki really got people in the mood for sparring," Michael grinned. "We should get Eugene in on this."
Kirito grinned and nodded just as Klein stepped out of the crowd.
"Michael," Klein spoke up. "Eugene wanted me to tell you that he found a dungeon rumored to have a certain grim reaper super boss inside."
Michael and Kirito exchanged knowing looks and both flew off, following Klein to the cave. Eugene was waiting outside and simply nodded to Michael as they arrived.
"So, Fatal Scythe?" Michael asked.
"So the rumors say," Eugene nodded. "If it is, any idea what we'll get?"
"Massacred," Michael snorted. "We're nowhere near strong enough for a Fatal Scythe. Our stats are all basically back to where they were before entering New Aincrad but still. Fatal Scythe was equal to the Floor Boss on level Ninety Five. Granted so was the Skull Reaper but still."
Eugene nodded and they all walked into the cave, silently walking along the hallways and through enormous caverns. Then, they reached the end of the cave, a massive cavern with a thin path leading to a waterfall. As of yet, the cave had been disappointing. However, it looked like it might work out alright.
Michael walked forward as the waterfall parted and not one but two Fatal Scythes exited it. Michael felt his small hope that they could at least last a little while deflate as the two reapers raised their scythes.
"Oh..." Kirito breathed. "We're so fucked."
Michael nodded then sprinted forward, rolling under the first scythe then leaping over the second, pulling his knees to his chest to clear the blade. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he activated his OSS, his sword tearing into the Fatal Scythe. He heard the one behind him shrieking in rage as well and assumed Kirito had attacked it. After a moment, Michael's ability ended and the Fatal Scythe raised its blade. Before it could hit, a glowing arrow hit the reaper, and a blinding light shone out, forcing it to back away. A moment later, Michael looked around and behind himself, seeing Sinon standing in the doorway.
"I'll cover you," Sinon said readying another arrow.
Michael smiled and nodded, sprinting forward. He rolled under the Fatal Scythe's blade and leapt past the reaper, slashing it before flipping and holding out his hand. A moment later, a blinding light appeared and left his Doppelganger standing on the opposite side of the Fatal Scythe from Michael. Michael grinned and lunged, activating his OSS as the Doppelganger mirrored his movements. Both swords tore through the reaper for a moment before it spun, slashing both. Michael survived with a sliver of health and the Doppelganger died. Michael pulled out a healing crystal while Sinon kept his Fatal Scythe busy, and healed himself. Then, he stood and looked to the other one, seeing Eugene and Kirito attacking it as fast as they could. But it had barely lost any health. Michael's own had barely lost any either.
"Shit," Michael growled. "It would be great if I could summon this thing. But we can't beat it."
He turned, sprinting over to Kirito and Eugene just as both were slashed. He grabbed both, sprinting to Sinon and out of the cave before the Fatal Scythes could chase them. They stopped outside where Eugene and Kirito healed themselves and sighed.
"That could have gone better," Kirito stated. "A full raid couldn't even take them."
"No," Michael agreed. "Although, I bet if we recruited Yuuki we could."
Kirito snorted and nodded then sighed and looked around.
"Let's head to town," Kirito said. "It's getting late anyway."
Michael nodded and they flew to the nearest city and all logged out. Once in reality, Michael sent Shino a message thanking her for saving them from the Fatal Scythes and asking if she felt like clearing a dungeon with him after she got out of school tomorrow. She agreed and said goodnight and both went to bed.
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