Chapter 7- Sloth
The Black Knight have finally entered Ragnorak and have begun their journey to find Retribution and put a stop to what he is doing. They soon come face to face with a member of the team that Retribution has tasked with hunting Mikael down. While that is going Arita gains access to Ragnorak through the help of the cloaked figure. And Sinon come across something strange.
The Hunter
Ragnorak was a lot different to the rest of Gun Gale Online as while the place we where at befoe look like a something out of Blade Runner, Ragnorak looked like it was a carbon copy of the world of Mad Max. We had all land safely until Lizbeth land straight on Klein knocking him down. "Ow Liz watch where you are landing" Klein complained at Liz. "Hey it not my fault that portal was only big enough for three of us to go through at a time and we all entered at once so it was bound to happen to one of us" Liz told him. "Yeah and it just so happened to be me. I don't believe this was an accident you did this on purpose" Klein respond. "Will you two stop we need to focus on where exactly we are and where we are going" Amy told them. "Sorry" they both responded. "So Mikael any idea where we are going" Yuuki asked me. "Hang on I just want to try something. Zeon are you there" I shouted. "Yes I am sir, what do you need" Zeon replied as he appeared on my shoulder.
His appearance was different to that of his Alfhiem appaerance. Instead of looking like an actually human being he looked like code shaped to look human and was completely white. "I need to run a search for any nervegear signals on this map" I asked him. "Of course sir, just a moment please" he said before fading away. "Wait why a nervegear signals wouldn't Retribution be using Amusphere to play this game" Asuna asked me. "Not exactly you see after my fight with him I was contact by someone you know Kikuoka Seijirou about the incident. He ask me if I knew Retribution real name so he could be arrested. Unfortunately I didn't know his name but I knew that whenever a player begins playing Alfhiem Online they are registered on a server with both their real names and player names. I check them and was unable to find his name it was then that I was informed that those of us from SAO weren't registered because we still used the nervegear and it wasn't until we transferred over to the Amusphere that we were registered" I told her.
"So that explains why you are searching for a nervegear" Asuna replied. "Yep that the not the only thing I learnt. It turns out that he will died if we kill him in the virtual world" I told them. They all looked shocked at that statement. "Wait how is that even possible" Philia asked me. "To the rest of us this is just another game but to him it just like SAO if we kill him then a electromagnetic pulse will be sent straight at his brain and would fry it killing him instantly. I learnt this when Kikuoka told me that they had discovered Shadows' body and she had died just like a person in SAO did and it just so happened she was wearing a nervegear but it seemed Retribution didn't know that as he created a weapon to do exactly that to a amusphere" I told her. "So how are we going to defeat this guy without killing him" Strea asked me. "Don't worry I have that covered. You see when I confront Retribution Zeon is going to tap into his account and to discover his real identity then once that is done I will have Zeon interrupt his signal allowing me to finish the avatar off and stop him form being shocked. Then once this is all over I am going to inform Kikuoka of this information and that it. Retribution will have no one where to run and we will never have to deal with him again" I responded. Kirito was about to ask something when he was interrupted by Zeon. "Sir I have located Retribution. He is located 59 miles nouth west of here on a blimp called The Drakon" he told me.
"Thanks Zeon are you able to teleport us there" I asked him. "I'm sorry sir but I'm unable to do so the system is restricting me but I can spawn vehicles to make the journey quicker" he replied. "Okay spawn 6 bikes Zeon" I responded. Suddenly six bikes similar to the ones me,Kirito,Philia and Strea used to get to Crimson. "Okay everyone pair up and get on a bike" I told them. We each paired up so that it was me and Strea, Kirito and Asuna, Klein and Liz, Agil and Silica, Leafa and Yuuki, Amy and Philia. "Alright let's go" I said as we all started our bikes. We started to head north west. While we driving I took that opportunity to ask Strea what she is. "Strea I need to ask you something" I asked her. "What is it, Mikael" Strea replied. "Remember back during our fight against Mammoth" I told her. "Yeah what about it" she responded. "Well when you healed me I figure out your secret, Your an AI aren't you" I told her. She looked completely shocked at what I just said. "How did you figure it out" she asked me.
"I have encounter an AI similar to you who could heal wounds" I told her. "Okay fine your right I am an AI but I'm different to any AI you have encountered" she replied. "Is that so" Zeon replied as he then appeared. "After all you are an AI from Sword Art Online, You were programmed for Mental Health- Counselling Program similar to Yui" He told her. "Wait you know Yui" she replied. "Yeah Yui was the AI I have encounter, how do you know her" I asked her. "Because she is my sister programme when SAO was launch we were created to monitor players and help them if they face any mental problem however when it became a death game the cardinal prevented us from interacting with the players as we were forced to watch as player killed themselves and each other. Yui took this the hardest as she watched all player while I watched younger player ranging 14 and younger. I tried to comforter her but she locked herself away. When I was able to gain access to where she was I learnt that she had disobeyed the Cardinal to meet to two players who were displaying a different emotion to other players" she told us. I released that the two players she was talking about were Kirito and Asuna.
"What happened after that" I asked her. "After that the Cardinal began to search for her as she had gone rogue. She was soon discovered when she used her abilities to remove a boss. The cardinal tried to erase her but a player interrupted the process. He was going to erase me when suddenly a glitch happened and I was teleported into this game. I have been in this game for five years and have only known Philia for two years" she replied. "I see so that why you ended up here but were still able to use AI abilities" I said. "Yep but you can't tell Philia about this" she responded. "Why not" I asked. "Because for the past two year I have been Philia only friend but if she learns the truth about me it would crush her, she may look tough but she just act like that because deep down she is afraid. From what she told me she had a bad experience in a previous game and she doesn't want any one to know" She answered. "Okay but someday you will need to tell her the truth" I replied. "I know but until that time please keep this a secret" she begged me. "Okay I will keep your secret so long as you promise me something" I asked her. "What is it" she replied. "When we confront Retribution if things take turn for the worse I need you to get everyone out of there" I told her. "Okay I will do that Mikael" she said. "Thank you Strea" I responded with gratitude.
The Lover
I was sure that I was still in Ragnorak as the map looked familiar to the desert area of Ragnorak. I was still searching for another player who may have escaped captivity but had found no one so far. I was searching through the rubble in case another player had dropped their weapons by mistake but like my search for player I had turned up dry. I was search a wrecked up car when I heard the sound of motorbikes approaching. I hid behind the wreck in case these players were enemies. I saw that five bikes had stopped only a few meters away from my location. "Okay listen up, our mission is to find this Mikael and bring him back to Retribution. Anyone who isn't that player we can deal with however we see fit. Right Sloth you will go first, After that you are up Greed and Gluttony. Then it will be Lust and after that will be Envy. Finally it will be me and Wrath. Is that understood" the one on a black bike said to the group. They all nodded when I noticed that the one on a pink bike turned to my direction. I quickly ducked behind the wreck when I heard one of them say "Lust is their a problem." "No Wraith not a problem at all" she responded. I soon heard the bikes start up and them ride away. Once they were out of view I noticed that one of them had dropped a weapon on the ground. I went over to it and saw that it was a sniper rifle similar to my Hecate II except it was ice blue like my hair. I picked it up and equipped it. I didn't know why one of them dropped this but I was sure that the girl in that group some how knew I was there listening. I decide to follow there tracks since they were heading towards Mikael. "Don't worry Mikael we will be reunited soon enough" I said to myself as I began walking.
The Judge
My group was closing in on the location of the player known simply as Crimson when we were suddenly attacked by a cloaked figure. "GET OUT OF HERE" he yelled at us. "Come on men we just need to get passed this guy if we wait to rescue those player and reclaim what is rightfully ours" I told them as they charged at him. "I waned you now be gone" he told us as he revealed his two machine guns. It was once they were revealed that I released who this player was and that he would not be able to beat as he was Mammoth a legend who was strong than the Behemoth. He swiftly wiped out three quarter of our force in a single wave of bullets. "Everyone fall back we need to go back and strategies" I told them as they did so but I was unable to do so as Mammoth blocked my escape route. 'Damn why is he stopping me at this rate this will end with me dying due to me trying to escape or him completely destroying my cover' I thought. "It seems you are stuck in sticky situation" a voice next to me said. I turned to see the cloaked figure next to me had returned. "It you what are you doing here" I asked him. "Well that simple I am going to help you get to Ragnorak but I can only send you there" he replied.
"What no I am not going to abandon all these players. Either we all go or none of us go" I responded. "Look I only have a few abilities and one of them is to teleport players to different area and the system is restricting to one player. And as it seem you need to get to Ragnorak and that player isn't going to allow you to advance so either you go to Ragnorak or face being destroyed "he ordered me. "And I told you that I won't leave those men behind" I responded. "Look this is hard for me to explain but I need you to help Mikael so you are going to Ragnorak whether you like it or not" he replied. "Help him why would I help the one responsible for trapping us in this death game" I shouted at him. "What death game" he asked as he removed his hood revealing his blonde hair and and green eyes. "The player called Retribution told us that if we die in the game we die for real" I told him. "Did he well that was a lie, he told you all that to install fear into everyone. I know this as there hasn't been a single reported death in the real world. It seem that those who died in the game are stuck in unknown area of this game so player believe they have died. As Mikael I don't know what his involvement with this Retribution but Mikael would never do this especially when one of those player who were capture are in relationship with him" he explained to me.
"It was lie, we all fell for a lie. We even believe an innocent was responsible when all he was doing was rescuing someone he cared about" I said. "Yes you did but now you can make amends. Go to Ragnorak help Mikael put a stop to Retribution. So will you go now" he asked me. "Okay I will go" I replied. He then touched my shoulder as I suddenly disappeared.
The Unknown
After I had sent Arita away I soon heard a voice shout "Mammoth you can stop now." I looked over to an all to familiar figure approaching. "You can now come out Amaterasu" she said to me. "It's been a while hasn't it Kurokami" I told her as I got out of the cover. She glared at me when I said that name. "You have some nerve calling me by that name" she yelled at me. "Oh you still upset over Izanagi and Izanami's death or is because you prefer the name Crimson" I asked her. "You dare talk about them after what you did. You and that whole group was responsible for what happened to them" she yelled as tear poured out of her eyes. "What you believe we were responsible for that, look it wasn't us. We were working on something but it got out of hand. It learnt what they were working on and fear the completion of Ascension so it hired someone to cause that accident" I told her. "Oh yeah why should I believe you" she asked me. "Because I am trying to protect Mikael as well because Tenjen or Hacker told us that he had finished Ascension and that he fear for his safety" I replied to her. "Fine I believe you but know what we are going to do" she asked me. "Simple we believe that we have isolate it to a game called the Ascended World and we are holding it there but it trying to break free so we are making a program that will stop it from leaving until Mikael enter that world but we need your help since you and Hacker were given a code each that holds the weakness to this thing"i told her. "Okay let go then" she replied before we both logged out.
The Hunter
We were about 40 miles away from out destination when Zeon popped up. "Sir it seem another player is right ahead" he told me. "Okay everyone prepare we may have an enemy dead ahead" I told them. I focus dead ahead when I saw a figure lying their on the ground. We all stopped when we all saw it. "So I take it your our opponent then" I asked them. "Oh you here already that a shame I was enjoying my nap so whose first because the sooner I deal with you the soon I can return to my nap" he said. "Right everyone we need to think so don't go head first" I told them only for Klein to run straight at the player. "Klein you idiot I told you not to go head first" I shouted at him. "Don't worry I will deal with this quickly" he replied as he pulled out his pistol and started firing. The player dodged each of bullet with ease that surprised Klein. He then grabbed Klein throat and said "Hey look what I have here, a dumb ass." He then threw Klein back into Agil. After that he yawned before saying "Right anyone else then." It was then that I began to strategies as I then asked "Okay before we fight can you tell me your name."
"Why do you want to known my name" he asked me. "Well I find it only fair to known who it is I am fighting" I replied. "Very well, I am the seventh member of the SDS known simply as Sloth. As for you I know who exactly you are Mikael" he told me. I start strategies the minute I heard his name as I knew that sloth was basically laziness which meant he would be lazy if his name was anything to go by. I quickly pulled out my pistol and fired a shot at him. "Well here we go again" he said as the bullet approach him. He swiftly caught it. "So you can move fast enough to catch a bullet" I asked. "Yep and it doesn't matter how many shot you fire I will catch them all" he told me. "I see in that case we should fire at once then" I told everyone who responded with a look that made them think that I was crazy. "Mikael are sure after all he just said he can catch all our shot" Kirito asked. "Don't worry I have a plan" I replied. "Okay care to enlighten us then"Kirito responded. "I could but he might over hear us" I told him.
"Fair point" Kirito said. Everyone then lined up their guns as we all fired at once. "Seriously what part of catch every bullet you fire did you not understand" he told us. "The part about moving fast enough to catch them" I replied as I thought 'Time Stop' causing ascension to stop time. Everyone was frozen as I glowed blue and was able to move normally. I moved to behind Sloth as I pulled out my blade and stabbed him in the back before moving back to where everyone else was. 'Time Start' I thought as time unfrozen and he fell to his knees. "What how were you able to do that" he asked as all of our shot hit him. He then fell to the ground as his avatar disappeared. "What just happened" Philia asked me. "When we all fired I froze time allowing me to go to him and stab him then once time was unfrozen he was hit by the pain which caused him to be distracted meaning he couldn't catch the bullets since he need to concentrate in order to catch the bullet that why he acted like a sloth so his mind was completely focus on an attack" I explain to her. "Okay but that seemed a bit unnecessary" she replied. "Yeah but if I didn't do that we will still be stuck here fighting him. So let go because I'm pretty sure we will encounter the rest of his group the closer we get to Retribution" I responded. We all soon got back on our bike and continued on our way.
The End of Chapter 7 I apologise for the wait of this chapter but I had exam coming up so I was mostly revising but don't worry after 20th May I will be completely focused on finishing this fan fiction. This chapter was interesting as I want to get so much into this chapter as I wanted to set the fight between SDS and the Black Knights as well as the reveal of Strea. Also there was that whole reveal of the cloaked figure as I wanted to use him to set up Accelerated Sword which is the Sword Art Online and Accel World crossover. I also have a new list of fan fiction I got rid of a few of my previous planned Fan fiction and this is them.
1)SAO: Ragnorak
2)Accelerated Sword
3)SAO: Forgotten Past
4)SAO: Beaters Guild (A working title/Replacement of Murderers Love)
Untitled vampire SAO story( Title to be released on a later date)
6)Bleach: Lost Shinigami
Detail about this story will be release in the next chapter but none will be written until Hunter &Prey is finished as I decide to focuses on this story to make it slightly better as the last time I wrote two at once I was unable to write well.