Chapter 5: In-Fight

There was tenseness in the air. The monster had just disappeared. In the middle of random forests outside Sylph territory, stood a group of players, and a player known as Brave.

"A duel?" Asuna asked.

"Yes." Brave said. "We have never fought on equal terms before. I thought this would be the perfect chance."

Asuna put on a brave face. She had been told back in Sword Art Online that Brave was the supposed second-in-command of the Knights of the Blood Oath Guild. He has never lost a battle to anyone before. In secret, she was itching for a chance to fight Brave as well.

"Okay." Asuna finally replied.

"I'm glad you obliged." Brave said. Then, he pulled the lever on the belt closed.

GACHANN!

Random white armor pieces came flying out of nowhere, and attached themselves back onto Brave, reverting him into his chibi form again.

"He reverted back!" Klein commented.

Ignoring that comment, Brave sent the battle request. Asuna, quickly accepted, and approached Brave slowly. She drew her rapier.

"To a fair duel." Brave replied., although no one took the guy seriously due to the silliness of the chibi form.

The pre-battle timer ended, and marked the start of the duel.

Asuna moved first. She darted to Brave, slashing his armor. She looked back to check, but Brave didn't look fazed at all. Asuna tried one more time. She went for a straight slash, but Brave jumped out of the way. He made his way to one of the treasure chests. He opened one and gained a speed boost. He got behind Asuna and slashed her back.

"Asuna!" Lisbeth shouted.

Kirito winced. The last time Asuna wasn't able to keep up with an opponent was back when Yuuki challenged her. But she was holding back.

'Could he be doing the same thing?' He thought.

Asuna got back up, panting. Half her health was gone, while Brave has lost only a tenth of it.

"Pleasantries are over now." Brave said, grabbing the lever on his belt. "Proceeding to Level 2."

GACHANN! LEVEL UP!

TADORU MEGURU! TADORU MEGURU! TADDLE QUEST!

The chibi's limbs popped off. Brave returned to his previous form. He raised his hands once more.

"Beginning counterattack." He said robotically.

Brave grabbed his sword around backhanded, and darted towards Asuna. She couldn't see him. He was right behind her in a flash.

"How-?" She uttered.

"Too slow." Brave commented.

And those were the only words he said throughout the rest of the duel. He slashed and struck Asuna in openings and areas she didn't even knew she left open. She did her best to block, but Brave was too fast for her to keep up.

Then, something completely surprising happened. Asuna tried to block one of Brave's slashes. She grabbed the blade too to add support, but her rapier shattered when Brave let the sword down full force. She stumbled back and fell on her butt. The blade stuck to the ground, while the hold was still in her hand. She was dumbfounded. Even the crowd watching was amazed by this.

"He… shattered… Asuna's rapier…?" Silica uttered.

"I just repaired that thing!" Lisbeth whined.

Brave scoffed as Asuna slowly stood back up. She threw the broken sword aside and pulled out her fisticuffs.

"I'm rather disappointed, Miss Asuna." He sighed. "I was hoping for a better fight."

First, he pressed the A Button on his sword, turning it back into its ice form.

GO-JIING!

He then pulled the Gashat out of his belt, and inserted it into his sword.

GASHUUN! GASHATTO! KIMEWAZA!

Brave twirled his sword around, and stabbed it into the ground. In a cone shape, mist swirled around as the field began to freeze. The ice went up to Asuna's ankles, freezing her in place. She struggled to move, but she couldn't. Brave darted towards Asuna.

TADDLE CRITICAL FINISH!

Mist began to emanate from his sword, and Brave went for a straight slash right through Asuna's abdomen. The result was a giant explosion which engulfed the two fighters. When the smoke dissipated, Asuna was on her back, health bar at 0, while Brave was standing triumphantly behind her, health bar at 98.

"Asuna!" Kirito shouted.

Everyone quickly made their way towards her. Kirito held Asuna in his arms, and Yui floated and landed on her chest.

"I lost, didn't I?" She joked.

"Yeah…" Kirito laughed.

He helped her back up, carrying her piggyback. The others began to make fun of her.

"You're going to owe me a big one if you want that rapier repaired!" Lisbeth smiled.

"Come on…" Asuna sighed.

Then she looked up at Brave. He just now cancelled out of his transformation.

GACHUNN! GASHUNN!

Brave was in his Undine body. He gave Asuna a look of approval, and began to walk away. He gave her a backwards goodbye hand, and soon he flew out of the forest. Asuna smiled lightly. There was something more to him. She wanted to find out.

"Aww! I missed it!" whined a familiar voice.

Everyone turned and saw Ex-Aid hurriedly walking over to them. In his Salamander body of course.

"Really?" Lisbeth commented with a sweat-drop.