Sword Art Online: The Legend of The Black Swordsman
Chapter 3: Long Term Deployment
The sound clashing of weapons in Aincrad wasn't unusual at all, it was actually the norm for the remaining players trapped in the VRMMO. What wasn't usual was the sound of clashing weapons at night.
The Beaters guild had been working floor 9 for the past two weeks straight since Christmas. They had been setting up camp in remote mob free areas, and always leaving someone up to guard in a rotating shift. However an area they thought was safe during dusk turned into hell on earth that night.
"This is ridiculous!" Klein shouted as he slashed another black scorpion like creature. It was the size of a large dog, with two vicious pincers that were razor sharp, and it's tail looked like a wicked curved blade dripping paralyzing poison. The mobs were called Desert Crawlers and they had been fighting them none stop for the last hour.
The others could agree. Right before dinner they felt the ground around their tent stir and all rushed to gear up. The tent itself was a decent size with three main compartments. The first and largest being a living like area with a small hole in the middle for a fire or stove to cook with, topping it off was a small couch. The other two rooms had three bed rolls each on either side, for obvious reasons.
Exiting their tent the group had found out it they has set up right in a field boss' spawning area and were working to clear it so they could high tail it outta there. The field boss' name was the Poisoned Scorpion King and it lived up to the name. It was a massive three meter tall, and two meter wide, black armored scorpion.
While the group had instinctively hit their normal formation with Kirito and Asuna taking on the boss and the rest keeping the mobs busy. They found it wasn't too effective after having to burn through some antidote potions for the poison, which tended to drip off the tail's blade. This wasn't normal poison either, it worked it's way in via direct contact with the skin. They discovered this shortly after some landed on Asuna and she was immobilized till Argo could run to heal her. Kirito made the call to switch to all out offense, no blocking, just parrying and dodging.
And so far the new tactic was working. While Kirito and Asuna gave the Scorpion King an all out assault of speed and strength, the other members were making quick work of the mobs. Agil was cleaving through mobs with his two handed ax. The weapon wasn't overly pretty, just a double bladed war ax; but the man behind it was a different matter.
Agil was tall, lean, and muscular. But that wasn't his main advantage; when the game launched fully he was one of the 10 players to get a unique skill called Barbarian Strength. The skill was a buff of his standard strength stat and every time he put a point in it, it would rise another percentage buff.
It truly is amazing how we managed to get so many unique skills. Five of the ten unique skills in the game where within their group, and the irony of their guild name being the Beaters was not lost on Klein. Asuna had the Flash skill and every time she dumped points into it it would buff her speed by a percentage. Lisbeth had something very similar to Agil's called Amazonian Strength. While Argo has a skilled call Shadow which buffed her hiding and treasure/rare item drop find; which of course cause a bit of an argument between Kirito and her when it was discovered that she had lied to him on the opening day.
The only two who currently didn't use a special skill were Kirito and Klein. Kirito because his wasn't unlocked yet, and Klein because he simply didn't have one. But that didn't deter the red hair samurai. He merely plowed through the mobs with the rest of them. Due to Kirito's help and guidance the others had been training in how to actually use their weapons vs relying solely on the system's moves, and boy did it pay off. The group had all re-spect their level skill points into buffing their attributes over Sword Skills and it made them all the more deadly.
They held the unofficial record for critical hit combs against floor bosses because most to all of their strikes were done by their own skills and required no cool down period. When they did use one of their few Sword Skills they managed to always land a critical hit.
Klein rolled to the left, avoiding a downward strike by the Crawler's tail. Not wanting to lose any momentum he created he brought his sword up cleaving in a arc as he moved cutting the mob's tail off. Seeing an opening on Klein's mob, Lisbeth barreled through blocking both pincers with a round buckler like shield before dropping her mace into it like a hammer on steel. The creature's head sunk in as red polygons took over the coloring scheme, and the creature shattered.
"Nice work there dummy," Lisbeth said with her usual smirk.
"No problem, tomboy," Klein shot back with a grin believing he finally found a nickname that would get under her skin.
"Tomboy? Really? Are we twelve," she asked before twirling her mace and smacking away the tail of another being carafe to avoid the trail of green dripping off it.
"If you two are done flirting," Agil butted in with a teasing tone as he performed a wide swing with his ax killing one of the Crawlers and injuring two others. "We still have a fight to win," he finished as he twirled his ax with one hand before bringing it down on the Crawler to his far right with a right to left diagonal slash finishing off it's health. He quickly had to dodge the last ones tail as it came in quick, sidestepping to the right before spinning like a top and landing a massive slash across the mob's left side.
"You look like you're doing fine on your own old man," Argo added as she snuck behind a mob and struck with her dagger leaving a nice red slash on it's tail before slipping away again. Argo's skills were mainly for information grabbing but Kirito had figured out a way to use her advanced hiding skill. She used mainly throwing picks and daggers dipped in paralyzing poison or life drain poison. Some mobs she could kill with only a few strikes, stacking the life drain with every slash. But it was good she would attack and pull back. Argo's advanced hiding skill Shadow also made her the perfect raid healer as she could sneak past mobs and bosses with ease to deliver healing potions and crystals. She quickly reappeared on another mob she had attacked and added a third life drain stack to it before flinging a few of the throwing picks at another stunning it for a moment.
Which was all Klein needed to get back in the fray. Klein rotated the blade in his hands to his left side for a wide left to right horizontal slash and charged at the stunned Crawler. Klein reached the crawler in no time flat and turned it into a bunch of floating data bits with his slash. He quickly pulled away as another tried to snap him in half with it's pincers.
But Agil was right there cleaving through the tail and down the middle of the Crawler breaking it in half. As the destroyed mob turned into multi-colored polygons and blew away, the four took a quick breather and watched their two best players.
Asuna and Kirito were considered the guild leaders in field while Klein and Argo handled its business side. This was mainly because when the two worked in tandem it was like watching poetry in motion.
Asuna brought speed and grace to the mix. Plain out she was the fastest in Aincrad, or at least the clearing group with her Flash buff. And while both Lisbeth and Kirito held the higher levels, no one could catch Asuna, and you could barely follow her rapier. Her skill with said blade was considerable in real life, and now with the stat points and buffs Asuna was truly graceful in dealing out death. She would weave in and out of attacks life she was dancing, all the while getting thrusts and slashes in so quick it was hard to trace.
But her partner was a different story; Kirito brought power and skill in the form of an all out offensive. The young man was fast, no where near as fast as Asuna, but that was fine for him. He used a one handed longsword, currently it was his Anneal Blade that had just been upgraded thanks to Lisbeth, with deadly precision. Kirito hadn't told anyone that he knew kendo or that he had made it to the nationals one year. But to him it didn't matter. He just used what he knew and made a very powerful style that relied heavily on up close slashing and thrusting for maximum damage.
Kirito would normally block for Asuna while she would sweep in and deal some damage. But every so often just like this night, the two would have to go for an all out assault, and that was when the magic happened. The two were moving in and out of the boss' large legs and underbelly, leaving trails of red pixels everywhere. Kirito was leading the charge his Anneal Blade leaving a massive trail across the boss' belly while Asuna was doing the same with her Wind Fleuret.
They both cleared the boss at its front, rolling to miss its massive jaws from closing on them. Clearing the mouth the two sprung up like perfect gymnast. Kirito going for an upward redirection strike on the right claw, while Asuna defended their left side with a beautiful diagonal parry. The two knew the couldn't stay still for long and with the respective penicers out of the way they made their move.
Running to keep out of range of the tail blade Kirito crouched for just a moment as he let Asuna spring board off his back and onto the Scorpion King in a beautiful back flip. Asuna had to time it just right so she could clear the tail and give Kirito enough time to evade it. But she didn't need to look back to know that he did. Instead she spun on her heels, once they connected with the boss' back and thrust her Wind Fleuret into the tail, before twisting just like on Ilfang and ran the back length of the boss.
Landing next to Kirito, Asuna turned and was glad to see the tail explode and the poisoned blade go with it. Not wasting another second the two began an all out assault on the boss. The Scorpion King could barely handle Kirito's strength with only its right pincer; while Asuna was leaving after images as she danced in and out of its defenses leaving dozens of puncture and slash wounds on the beast. Kirito finally managed to knock the pincer out of his way; stepping into the boss' defenses to land a vicious decapitating blow to the monster's neck area, finishing it off.
"Ugh," Lisbeth broke the copied boss victory BPM with an exasperated sigh, "well that was fun."
"Eh it could be worse," Klein said shouldering his katana keeping an eye on the horizon. Why does it feel like this is just the beginning of a horrible night.
"True," Asuna said before her face taking on a look of rage, "but those mobs had it coming! No one interrupts my cooking! It is a work of art!"
Kirito nodded with a chuckle, "I'm with the lady here," jutting his thumb in Asuna's direction.
"What's changed then," Agil asked with a grin.
Everyone started laughing while Kirito and Asuna grumbled and blushed as they looked at the items and XP they got from the boss. "Alright jokers, back in the tent," Kirito said pushing Agil into the tent opening, the others laughing harder and Asuna blushing harder.
"Alright people," Klein said as he entered. "Pack it up we are leaving ASAP. We probably have a few hours till the boss respawns but I want to be in one of our known safe areas by then."
"Gotcha," Lisbeth said breaking down her blacksmithing mat and tools that were in the main room.
"Already on it," Argo said hitting the female's shared room and packing what little was in there.
"Man, I was half was done preparing everything...now I gotta start over," a blushing grumbling Asuna said while packing up her kitchen equipment and ingredients. The one good thing about SAO she had to say was you could actually pause your cooking completely depending on the situation.
Agil and Kirito just nodded and broke off to start packing up the men's' room.
It didn't take the guild long to break down their small headquarters and prepare to make their trek across the desert. Their only saving grace was that it was a night, and for once it wasn't freezing cold.
"So which one we returning too," Agil asked as they pulled their packs on. As it turns out in SAO you could buy packs, similar to the Bag of Holding in other games. However they were a bit clunky and could be stolen if someone had their theft leveled high enough.
"Hold up," Argo started placing her hand in the wait motion, "I am detecting about twenty four high level players getting ready to converge on this point."
Kirito and the others didn't need to be told twice. He instantly reach for his sword, Asuna doing the same while the other four got into a defensive positions. Lisbeth took point, being the highest level and equally speced in attack and defense. Klein and Agil were flanking her both ready to attack, while Argo brought up the rear, a healing crystal already in her left hand while her trusty dagger was laying in her right. It didn't take long for the group to see their opposition.
The group of players where all dressed in white and red uniforms, the tell tale signs of the Knights of Blood guild. What confirmed it for the group was seeing one man dressed mainly in red with a few white accents, carrying a massive cross shaped shield that housed his sword. Standing tall and proud with an amused smile on his gentle but firm face was a contradiction of a man; at first glance he had soft features, from the look in his eyes, to the way he always seemed to be smiling even when upset.
But every member in the Beaters guild knew Heathcliff was more than that. When it came to fighting through hours of dungeon labyrinths, taking on field and floor bosses; he became this unyielding force. Some believe it is solely because of his unique skill, Divine Shield, others knew the man was just that way.
Every boss room they have found, they always include us. Hopefully nothings changed. "Relax guys," Klein said moving a bit forward to take his place as 'leader', "it's just Heathcliff and the Knights of Blood."
As the KoB approached Heathcliff good naturally waved to the other guild and met Klein in the middle while his men stayed a bit behind, "Klein-san, it would seem Argo-chan was able to get the field boss location faster than us once again eh?"
Klein left out an embarrassed laugh scratching the back of his neck while looking away, "well we were actually going to set up camp here to raid the last three dungeons to find out where the floor boss is. And well we thought this ground was mob free, we had been keeping an eye on it for the last few days. Should've checked at night too."
Heathcliff gave him a friendly laugh and pat on the shoulder, "at least everyone came out alive, and we now know that some SAO mobs are programmed only for night raids," Heathcliff smiled before dropping his hand from Klein's shoulder and began the process of turning his men around.
"Just wondering," Kirito spoke up, his face a mask of confusion, "why were you guys looking for it? The KoB usually don't go after field bosses unless another guild requests it, you usually leave that to us or the other smaller guilds."
Heathcliff looked over his shoulder impressed, "as insightful as ever Kirito. We were after the last attack bonus, the tail blade. We need it to upgrade one of our lieutenants' two handed sword, but alas it wasn't to be."
Kirito nodded before wordless opening his window and sending the rare blacksmithing ingredient to him.
Heathcliff was surprised to see Kirito navigating his window, and even more surprised when he saw the new item window appear in front of him, "just like that," Heathcliff asked a bit amused.
"Just like that," Kirito responded crossing his arms, "we don't need it. Plus you guys got all set up for a field boss raid just to be let down by an accident. I am sure if we had set up somewhere else you would have gotten it."
Heathcliff accepted the item into his inventory and turned to face Kirito fully again, his face completely unreadable. There was a moment of silence as most of the Beaters tired to figure out what was going through Heathcliff's mind, while the 'Paladin' remained unfazed. Unlike most RPGs SAO didn't have a class system, but most players had started to call Heathcliff the Paladin after some of his more ludicrous saves with the use of his cross shield.
After what felt like an eternity Heathcliff chuckled a bit before smiling, "just like the rumors suggest. Black Swordsman." That got everyone in the Beaters guild, except Asuna, to look at Kirito in shock and surprise.
"Wanna fill us in buddy," Agil asked with a smirk turning to face his friend. If Kirito is still like he was in the beta, and he is, I'll bet a hundred to one he's been giving away any items and gear either he or we don't need.
Kirito just blushed and looked away nervously, "I have no idea what anyone is talking about. When would I have time to be giving out items on lower floors from floor bosses, mini bosses, and field bosses others couldn't fight."
Asuna couldn't hold it in anymore. What had started out as a small giggle when Heathcliff had called out Kirito had become full blown laughter as Kirito horribly tried to lie his way out of it.
"Well when the joker over here reels it in, wanna tell us what the hell is going on Kii-boa," Argo deadpanned while jerking her thumb in Asuna's direction.
Everyone took a moment as Asuna calmed down and it was actually her that answered rather than Kirito, "sorry about that. Kirito and I had a small talk a few weeks ago on Christmas-eve about this very thing." Turning to look at Kirito, Asuna smirked, "I was wondering what you were doing with all that loot, especially some of the rare drops." Turning back to the rest of their guild Asuna smirked, "Kirito sneaks out at night and raids a lot of the old dungeons to keep his level as high as possible. I guess he's been giving away item's we don't need."
The others all turned to Kirito, while Heathcliff had an amused smile on his face and spoke up again, "guess we busted the legendary Black Swordsman, hn."
"Fine," Kirito finally relented, "yes I am the Black Swordsman. Yes I have been re-raiding lower floors with players that aren't that great and giving away unneeded loot."
Agil was the first to get over his surprise and spoke up, "yeah dude, we are so talking about this stupidity once we set up the camp again." The others nodded along with him, playful glares adoring all their faces.
"Fine," Kirito said dejectedly while palming his face, I really should have told them. At least Asuna isn't mad.
"Well then," Heathcliff said with a smirk, "I don't like being in anyone's debt, whether you will admit it or not, my pride will not allow it." Then before any of the Beaters could react Heathcliff opened his menu and sent them the map data for the last three dungeons, "we managed to find the boss room for this floor, and we were going to hit it up tomorrow; but" Heathcliff trailed off before looking at Lisbeth, "we could pay you what we normally pay our blacksmith to upgrade Hiren's sword. Then clear this floor, with your help of course."
That's a great offer, but why in the hell is he doing this, Klein thought trying to gauge Heathcliff. I mean I know he was a beta-tester, but ever since Kirito and us cleared the first floor boss no one has wanted to party with us unless they absolutely needed to. While they normally are polite and share just about everything with anybody, still a two guild raid where they out number us, doesn't seem like a good idea. Klein and the rest of them were well aware of the rap they had gotten; especially because they had managed to clear floor bosses for floor five and six by themselves when they accidentally ran across them."So what game are you playing at here," Klein asked, a bit more directly than he intended. "I mean no offense," Klein instantly back pedaled at the look the other KoB members gave him, "but we aren't the most liked guild ya know?"
"And?"
"Why us," Argo asked next following Klein's line of thought. She may have met Heathcliff in the beta, but ever since it had become a death game, one could never be too careful. Even though we have either directly cleared or helped clear pretty much every floor but floor two, people still don't trust us. And for him to call Kirito out like that, what is your game Heathcliff.
Heathcliff knew he was walking a dangerous edge but the clam smile never left his face, "because you are the best."
That took all of them by surprise. No one ever says we are the 'best', usually they call us cheaters, Lisbeth thought, completely flabbergasted by Heathcliff's statement. "Really? We are the best," Lisbeth spoke up as well but she was a bit more abrasive than her guild mates, "we can barely get other guilds and players to switch out with us or cover us during raids of any type."
"But has a single one of my members ever left you in danger," Heathcliff shot back icily, "have any of my members insulted you, not offered to switch out, not shared information?"
No one had every seen Heathcliff angry, and most probably suspected when they did it would be like a wild fire. But the man was far more cold when he was angry, his face almost looks villainous. But this is Heathcliff and we just insulted his men and honor, I better jump in before his request for help turns into a fight. "Enough," everyone turned to face Kirito, his voice dangerously low and cold matching Heathcliff's. "No Heathcliff, none of your members have done any of that. You have always been helpfully to us and I want to apologize for everyone second guessing your motives."
"Kirito," Klein shouted surprised, "what gives man? You've always had us being extra careful, and now we are gonna run a raid with them, and only them," Klein unedifyingly points at Heathcliff and the KoB members with him, "this has got trap written all over it. They are about to raid it with twenty four of their members man. This has to seem a bit fishy?"
"Klein," Kirito began, his voice still like ice, "had this been anybody else I would be the first to tell em sorry." Kirito turned to look at Klein, who fliched a bit at the look Kirito was giving him, "but it isn't anybody else. This is Heathcliff and the KoB, we will be fine."
That seemed to calm the other Beaters down, and with a nod from Kirito and Heathcliff the collective group made it's way to the Boss labyrinth. Shortly into their walk Heathcliff has his KoB take up forward, while Kirito and Heathcliff remained in the middle with the Beaters bringing up the rear.
"So," Krito began after the two groups moved a bit away from the two leaders, "were will we be making camp for Lis to upgrade your man's weapon?"
Heathcliff smiled but never turned to look at Kirito, just glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, "why don't you try asking what's been eating away at you."
Kirito sighed and the two fell into silence listening to the two groups around them talk quietly but animated. "The item you needed could have dropped from a mini-boss one floor down with an insane drop rate, why are you here?"
"This floor boss is going to be tricky," Heathcliff replied with a bit of melancholy in his voice. "We lost two of our recon unit to it already. You seem to have a knack for pulling impossible scenarios out of your ass, I figured you guys would be the best option."
"Do we know which boss it is at least?"
Heathcliff sighed before nodding, "it's Xerxes the Desert Lord."
"Well that's a plus at least," Kirito mumbled to himself. He was one of the easier ones I soloed back in the beta, mainly because no mobs. "What level are your men at and what can I expect from them?"
"Godfree is a ax user, but lately has been favoring a meteor hammer," Heathcliff spoke giving a nod to one of his members. Kirito figured that was Godfree and gave him a once over, bit older, but then again so is Agil. No shield, but if he's any good at all with that meteor hammer then it won't be too much of an issue. Godfree was wearing the standard KoB uniform, had his brown hair in a bit of an afro, a full faced beared of the same colored hair, and had his meteor hammer wound around his waist once before draping the ends over each shoulder. The weapon itself wasn't very pretty, just a steel chain holding together what looked like two flail ends.
"Next we have Kurnadeel, " Heathcliff said with a bit of a grimace. Kirito didn't even need to be told to keep his eye's open on that one, the man's face screamed betrayer. The man was about the same height as Godfree with graying hair pulled backing into a ponytail, wearing the same uniform with a massive but pretty basic two-handed sword on his back. But it was his eyes and mouth that made Kirito shudder. He was looking everyone in the group up and down like he was inspecting them for a fight. And whenever he thought no one was looking he would get a nasty smile on his face.
"Why do you even have him?"
"He is decent with his two handed sword," Heathcliff said off offhandedly. "Next we have Hiren," once more Kirito followed Heathcliff's view and saw a medium height blue haired, kindly fellow.
He seemed to be the same age as the other two and Heathcliff, somewhere around late forties maybe? Is this the guild of old people? He was wearing the same uniform as the others, but his two handed sword was larger than Kurnadeel's and had a far more ornate hilt. "Boss drop," Kirito asked with a smirk.
"Yes, it's called the Grandfather," Heathcliff said with a smirk.
"Last attack bonus on floor five," Kirito said more to himself with a nod. "The others?"
And that was the last Argo had bothered listening to with her hearing skill. She didn't bother hiding it and Kirito was aware of it, while Asuna was field second she didn't have too much of a knack for planning. While dropping pace with the others slightly she opened a window with some information sent to her by Heathcliff, he CCed Kirito too. Let's see what the old guy has to say.
It was basic ideas for their overall deployment, Heathcliff's twenty four were split between healing tanks and dpser, which in a normal RPG wouldn't make any since. But here there is no magic, she thought with a bit a frown, tanks have to serve two purposes, protect us and our potions. It's a good plan though. I'm a bit surprised he wants us up front. Argo sent a message back saying it looked good and she saw Heathcliff nod.
Picking up the pace she joined the others, Agil gave her a funny look. "Why'd you fall back," he asked as low as possible hoping she would catch on.
"Agreeing on troop movements," Argo whispered back. It was almost impossible to tell they were even talking with how quiet they were speaking and how little they were actually using their mouths.
Agil didn't have quite the same Hearing skill level as Argo, but his was definitely up there. Something the kid made sure we all put points in. Making sure we are never caught by surprise. "What's the plan?"
"Tanks are gonna play healers while dps take on boss. This is one of those all out offensive bosses. I'm pretty sure that's why the field boss and it are similar, to prepare you," Argo finished with a thoughtful look donning her face.
"Makes sense," Agil shot back. This was one ugly motherfucker back during the beta, I really hope it didn't get an upgrade. His thoughts wandered and brought an image of the boss to his mind. A four meter tall humanoid, scorpion hybrid came to mind. But instead of the human half coming out of the head area, it was resting atop an armored thorac with six legs all armored as well; however these had nasty blades at the bottom for attacking players. It's dangers didn't lie in just the legs either, it it's right hand was a bladed whip while it's left was a scorpion pincer that was usually dripping in paralyzing poison.
"Makes you wonder how Kirito soloed this guy right," Argo whispered having guessed where his mind went.
That's right! It suddenly hit Agiel that Kirito had soloed this guy in the beta, and was actually the first one to clear this floor. That kid, he sure is something else. He is smart, tactical in battle, and practical out of it. When we get out of this game, something amazing will come of him. Agil smiled when he caught sight of Kirito, Asuna seemed to be bugging him about something or other. We will get out.
Real World
Kirigaya Residents
Suguha had woken up early to check to see if her brother had gone on any solo raids last night. She couldn't stay up and watch him all the time, mainly because unlike him she couldn't nap in the middle of the day, she had school.
So most mornings she would wake up thirty minutes early and read the forums and posts from the people who didn't have lives. Usually it took reading two or three to get a decent idea as to what happened, people tend to be bi-est in everything. So dragging herself out of bed, the black haired girl powered on her computer and began getting ready for school as it came up.
Sitting down Suguha smiled, of course this thing is on and ready before me. Kazuto built it after all. She pulled up the internet and hit the main forum she used, SAO: 24/7. It was usually the most reputable site as their publishers usually chose to remain objective.
What?! Suguha stared at the screen in shock at what had happened over the night. She double checked, with her two other forums and both confirmed it. Floor 9 and 10 had both been cleared last night.
Apparently the Knights of Blood and the Beaters ran into each other last night after dark when her brothers guild was attacked last night. After her brother gave them the item from the field boss they had found by accident, that the KoB were looking for, decided to partner up and clear the floor boss for nine.
But after opening the door to the next floor, the two guilds were flooded by large snake like monsters wielding scimitars. Apparently the entire floor was one giant maze with a spiraling stair case in the center leading to a shut door on the roof. The group had found one safe zone where they took a breather for only ten minutes before being attacked by the field boss just outside. It was a much larger version of the mobs that had been fighting, and was wielding a mace instead of scimitars. It was a massive mace with wide dangerous blades jutting out the sides, perfect for either the typical bashing or slashing.
Lisbeth managed to get the last attack bonus, the beast's mace which was called Mad Monarch's Scepter, and began putting it to good use. Lisbeth took point and began carving a path of destruction through the maze as the group fought tooth and nail to find the floor boss and get the hell out of there.
Finally Suguha stood and stormed out of her room searching for her mother, "MOM!" Throwing open the door to her mother's room Suguha didn't see her. Running down the stairs she found a note on the coffee table saying she had been pulled away on a meeting. With all the SAO stuff in the news her mother's company was one of the best magazines reporting on the developing story, and the answer to safe VRing in the future.
Without thinking she called her mom quickly on her cell hoping she would pick up. Pick up, Pick up Suguha thought listening to the phone ring, and suddenly she heard it being answered.
"Hello?"
"MOM!" Suguha screamed into the phone, "have you checked the forums yet? Do you know what happened?"
"I, I didn't check before work," Midori admitted, "but it kinda came up in the meeting. Suguha, my boss gave me the rest of the day to catch up on it. Let me finish here and I'll be home. I'll also call you out of school today, I am sure they will understand."
Suguha nodded at her mother's words, whether she could see her or not, "al, alright. I'm gonna try to calm down."
Midori told her daughter that she loved her before hanging up. Suguha stood alone in her living room clutching her phone tightly, so tightly you could hear the plastic in the handset straining slightly. Kazuto, why does it seem like you can't catch a break in there. Just please, please stay safe.
Real Word
NXTGEN Marketing Inc
"I apologize once again Yuuki-sama," Midori said as she re-entered the room and gave one of the two men sitting down a polite bow.
"It is quite fine Kirigaya-san," spoke up a brown haired man wearing a blue suit with a green tie. He seemed to be in his early fifties, with soft brown eyes, "trust me when I say my family is the same when it comes to getting any news from the game." The man sitting next to him was balding and hadn't spoken to much since the meeting started, which didn't surprise Midori in the slightest, as he was her current boss Genma Saotoma.
"Of course," Midori said politely while taking her seat and continuing to read the paperwork in front of her. "Still though," Midori spoke up softly, "why me. This is a really good deal, and you are willing to buy out my contract here, so please don't take this the wrong way...but why me?"
"Would you mind stepping out Saotome-san so I can speak with Kirigaya-san, alone," Yuuki asked turning to face the other gentleman sitting beside him. Saotome was the CEO of the computer magazine company NXTGEN.
"Of course Yuuki-san," Saotome said standing and preparing to leave the room, but stopped at the door. He slightly turned to face Midori and cleared his throat drawing her attention to him, "Kirigaya-san, please know that whatever you decide, you will always have a place here at NXTGEN Marketing."
"Thank you so much Genma," Midori spoke kindly to her current boss with a pilot head bow as the man left the room.
Before Midori could speak up Yuuki began speaking, "as you are aware my name is Yuuki Shouzou and I am the CEO of RECT Progress Inc. What you don't know is that one of my children is stuck in SAO, and while I have a wonderful marketing and public relations director in my son; he is a much better programmer. I wished to move him to the lead for the SAO recovery team for when the game is cleared which means I need another marketing and PR director."
Midori nodded able to connect the dots in her head, "you want someone that isn't going to look at the bottom line then. You want someone whose whole goal is to keep the SAO servers up by any means necessary right?"
"Correct. I need someone who is familiar with technology and can help push our Amusphere and new VRMMO called ALfheim Online," Shouzou said plainly as though he was talking about the weather.
Really that's the tone you're gonna take with me? Nonchalantly asking me to push a technology, that trapped both our kids, just for a higher profit margin on your sales? Midori was going to flat out refuse after his statement, but she caught something. It was so small, but she could see the guilt in Shouzou's eyes. He just hides it well I guess, let's just make sure, "Is this about your bottom line in the new game that isn't selling very well? Or are you serious about your daughter being trapped?"
Shouzou didn't say anything, just adjusted his sitting position and pulled out his wallet. Quickly flipping through a few photos in the retainer, he handed her the wallet once he found the one he was looking for.
Midori took the item from him and looked at the picture before gasping. She was staring down at what looked to be a ten year old version of Asuna as she played in a field of flowers with an older woman who was undoubtedly her mother.
"As you can see," Shouzou began taking the wallet back from the stunned woman, "I am very serious. As for my tone just now well," Shouzou trailed off. He was aware that he had been slipping into more and more into his CEO tone than anything as the days went by. "It is hard to wake up in the morning and not feel anything but shame and regret. I, I hide it as best I can."
"Shame and regret," Midori parroted bit confused.
Shouzou remained quiet for a moment before speaking again, "I, I purchased the NerveGear for my son Kouichirou as a way for us to hopefully get some idea into building our own VR rig and game. But he was called away on business during the release day,"
"Asuna placed it on didn't she," Midori finished when it looked as though Shouzou wouldn't be able to answer. The man across from her nodded before pulling out what looked like a well worn handkerchief and tried to dry his eyes. Midori took the pen that was in her hand and signed the contract at the bottom before sliding it across the table to Shouzou, "I will take the job Yuuki-sam. And it will be my esteemed pleasure to help in anyway I can."
Shouzou smiled bittersweetly at the woman across from him, slipping the handkerchief back into his pocket. "Thank you," he said standing and bowing along with her. They both shook hands and made way for the door, "please take today and the rest of the week off. Start back Monday of next week."
"I'll start Sunday," Midori said as they made their way to Saotome's office to finish the out processing paperwork, "that way I'll have a bit of breathing room come Monday morning."
"I appreciate you taking this job, and taking it seriously," Shouzou said softly as the two reached Saotome's office.
Real World
Kirigaya Residents
"Suguha," Midori called out as she entered her home.
"Mom!"
Suddenly Midori was smacked into by a rushing black haired girl who was crying, "oh Suguha," Midori cooed as she wrapped her daughter in a hug. After a minute she pulled away and sat Suguha down on the couch, "so first I am going to make rice balls while we talk about some good news, then we will watch last nights stream."
"Good news," Suguha asked surprised that her mother was smiling.
"Well of course, something good happened at that meeting," Midori began as she headed into the kitchen, "and the other good news is your brother survived his stupid excursion last night."
"What happened at the meeting," Suguha asked happy to have something to keep her mind off her brother, she grabbed a seat at their kitchen bar to keep the conversation going.
"I got a new job," Midori said pulling some already made rice out of the fridge and began making the rice balls. "I have the rest of the week off, well till at least Sunday. Want to stay one step ahead of my competition. The hours are a lot better and I should be home a whole bunch more."
"What's the new job, and why so sudden? Did something happen with your boss? Saotoma-san has always treated you with kindness."
"No nothing happened with my current job," Midori said putting the finishing touches on the snack before the two began digging in. "We had a meeting with the CEO of RECT, the people who bought out Argus, about their new game. It had started a bit late due to the CEO, Yuuki-sama running behind. Apparently his daughter is trapped in SAO and he had been watching last night after his son had woke both him and his wife up with the news."
"I take it then she is one of the three girls in Kazuto's group," Suguha asked after swallowing her bit.
"Asuna," Midori responded before popping another one into her mouth. "Apparently the meeting itself was a bit false, remember when we sent in a whole bunch of requests to have our account privileges elevated to avoid the privacy shut downs," she asked around her snack.
"Yeah," Suguha said nodding, remembering vividly the week after the stream went down for a few hours the first time. Her mother had been emailing and calling just about anybody in the government and RECT to be able to check on Kazuto any time they wished. It took about a month but finally their accounts were given full access even when the stream was cut, their first official 'private' viewing was actually when Kirito's guild had celebrated Christmas.
"Well apparently he was the one to give final sign off on our accounts," Midori continued, "he did a bit of background searching and found out I had all the qualifications to fit as their marketing and public relations director. His son, Kouichirou, is the current one. But with his skill in programming he is being moved to the director of the SAO recovery team for when the players beat the game."
Suguha nodded her thoughts already going to where her mother was eventually leading, and you are the perfect candidate given the fact that Kazuto is stuck in SAO. You will do whatever you can to keep that company in good view with the public and making money. "Makes sense I guess, you have the best motivation to make sure they make enough money to keep the SAO servers running and the company looking good in the public image."
"Exactly," Midori spoke before eating the last rice ball. "So bathroom break then living room?"
Suguha nodded before hopping down from the stool and making her way upstairs while her mother grabbed their downstairs one.
It didn't take long for the two women to meet back down stairs, both grabbed an Amusphere from either side of the couch and placed them on. With a dual shout of, "link start," the two delved into the viewing system for SAO.
Author's Note
So I was gonna write the boss fight plus the other floor battle...but well...next chapter. I am trying to keep all the chapters around the came word count, and size, so there isn't to much of a massive difference.
I promise 2 things too everybody. 1) the next chapter is going to be action packed and truly a fight worth reading...hopefully. 2) You have no idea what is going to happen at the end and I do and it is going to be AMAZING!
Finally a few things I wanted to let everyone know:
1) You guys wanted Asuna's family, well stop asking they are here and here to stay now. Yes bit out of character and culture all around for Shouzou to ask Midori to work for his company. But it works with what I am doing. Also I have decided to completely remove Sogou Nobuyuki from my story. Asuna is not going to have any problems from that dilweed. Mainly because I find his character a bit too stupid really.
2) While I do intend to finish Anicrad to floor 100, I am sure you guys have noticed some time skips. There will be a massive one after next chapter due to what is going to happen. Please understand that just like the Anime, Light Novels, and Progressive Manga...I am not going to write needless grinding chapters for no reason. If there is no action it will be character development and growth...hopefully.
3) I will not answer any cliff hangers or the link in PMs or via the story
4) Yes I made Heathcliff a beta-tester...NO HE IS NOT KAYABA AKIHIKO in this story. I REPEAT HE IS NOT KAYABA AKIHIKO. But he is an important character and I believe need to be introduced now, along with Kurnadeel and Godfree.
5) Yes I had Argo lie about her skills. Not for any reason other than it would make Kirito angry...I completely forgot to write that in chapter 2...so you guys get an off screen reference to fill in that blank...my bad. Please don't mention it in the review?
6) If i left any plot holes please let me know...but kindly maybe? Flames don't bother me to much...but they do make me writing anything a bit harder as I have less overall motivation.
7) Finally if any of you follow have any artistic talent please I have two requests...
7a) Can you draw a picture of Asuna and Kirito wearing their armor from last chapter but holding their blades from the end? That is what they will look like through out the whole story. Whether you want to use paper or photoshop I don't really care.
7b) Can you draw a picture of everyone...contact me about it so I can explain all the weapons and gear the others are going to be wearing by the end...that is the only spoiler I will give out and only to the person who is going to make it. Whether you want to use paper or photoshop I don't really care.
7c) I will need to see your work prior to doing this to make sure no spoilers are leaked...meaning the person commissioned will be the only one in the know. This seems silly because it isn't a major production...don't really care it's mine and this is the way I want to do it.
Till next time everyone! And thanks for reading! You make it all worth while!