Dungeon Oratoria Online

by asdf1asdf1

DOO is the first game to be created in a long awaited category, a VRMMORPG. Follow Kirito and co as they seek to clear out the depths of the dungeon located beneath the city Orario. However, this game is no mere entertainment, it's a real world, where death in the dungeon means death for your body. The only way they can escape the game is to clear the bottom floor of the dungeon.

7. Chapter 6

Preface:

Hello all!

Consider chapters six and seven as two halves of one chapter if you would. It was simply too long for me to put it all in one.

Also, there are like two? massive exposition dumps coming your way in this chapter.

So, action is a bit slow in these chapters, and it's very Asuna focused, but I believe the chapters after that will become far more exciting :)

See ya,

-asdf

PS. I've added whose POV each section is in with their name or location in italics and underlined.

---

Chapter 6 – Ditched for a Raid

Asuna:

"You're… I mean…" Kirito's voice was weak.

That was to be expected though. It was hard to believe that someone like me, who struggled to fight on the fifth floor would be doing something like this. Another joy of a big familia I suppose.

Unsure if I'd see him today, I went to the dungeon at the usual time. Waiting in the lobby when I'd arrived was everyone from yesterday: Argo, rain, and Philia. But no Kirito. Standing there in a heavy silence, we waited as the clock slowly ticked towards nine o'clock.

"Hey guys." Greeting us with a weak smile, he was here.

"Kirito…"

"Hey Kii-bou."

"Privyet Kirito-kun!"

"Heya!"

Four different yet synonymous greetings.

"Sorry I was late, the Ganesha familia girl showed up again to apologize."

That comment sobered all of us up pretty quickly. That woman was… formidable.

"I find it hard to believe Hestia let you come?" Philia's question helps to put the conversation back on rails.

Laughing weakly, Kirito scratches his head. "She was extremely against the idea, but I had to. Monday was little more than a half day and yesterday I didn't go in at all. If I don't get back on the grind, I'll start to fall behind!"

Giving him a mild glare, I let it go. I feel it too, that urge to keep pushing. Even though Monday had been an arduous event, my body was recovered and ready to keep getting stronger.

"There is um, something I should tell you all." My words bring everyone's gazes to me. Staying that way, they wait patiently for me to finish my revelation. "On Friday, as I'm sure your Deities told you, the guild is allowing the native adventurers back into the dungeon. That same day, a raid is planned to supress the Goliath. I'll be going along as a supporter for Loki familia on that day."

In the background, continuous sounds rang out, oblivious to our conversation. But in the circle, silence prevailed. It was as if someone had pushed the mute button on a group call.

"You're… I mean…"

"That's super risky Asuna! Why would your goddess do that to you!?" Unlike Kirito, Rain's voice rings out loud and clear.

Shaking my head, I deny her. "Apparently I'll be really safe. The native adventurers will take care of all the monsters. All I have to do is watch from the sidelines."

Seeming to recover slightly, Kirito's face goes through a variety of emotions. Mouth opening and closing, there is something he clearly wants to say.

"God Kirito, if there's something you want to say, say it." Argo's words are a little harsh, but they get the job done.

"Fine," Grumbling slightly, Kirito finally looks at me. "Asuna, I don't know these people who you're going down to the seventeenth with, but I'm scared. I'm not strong enough to protect you down there yet. I won't be able to help this time."

The words are embarrassing, for both us. Face heating, Kirito's is in parallel.

"Aww, that was so cute!" Philia's screeched words only further my embarrassment.

Hand whipping out I shove it into Kirito's side, "I'm not that helpless!" Why did he have to go and say that?

"I-I," Stuttering a bit, whether from embarrassment or pain I'm not sure, Kirito clarifies. "I know you aren't helpless, but you haven't been down to the seventeenth, you haven't seen the Goliath! You know nothing of what you'll face!"

Thinking, I keep my gaze averted for awhile. All of his words are true, but in the end, they're meaningless. I may not know who I'm joining to go down there, I may not know anything about those floors, but none of that matters. Because I trust my Goddess, and she told me I'd be safe.

Straightening, I face him once again and attempt to put my thoughts into words.

"I see…" A shadow of sorrow passes over Kirito's face. "My apologies… I just." Stopping Kirito seems unable to finish his statement.

"Aww come on!" Philia complains, "what cute thing were you going to say this time?"

"I just want you to be safe!"

Spitting out the final statement, his face appears to be on fire as he avoids the giggling from the surrounding girls. For some reason, my embarrassment seems to have faded.

Our relationship has changed so much since I first met the enigmatic boy on the fourth floor of the dungeon. Almost losing my first fight, getting walked back to the surface…

"Thank you, Kirito. But I trust my goddess as you trust yours. If she tells me I'll be safe, I will be."

Meeting my eyes again, the worry still remains, but its tempered now. Nodding, the decision is final. "Onto the dungeon then."

So, as a group of five, we entered the dungeon for the eighth floor.

---

Kirito:

Prowling the dungeon, the monsters seemed so slow. After my fight yesterday, the ants were almost lethargic in their movements. The moths were a joke and the enhanced Kobolds and Goblins pathetic.

My status wasn't all that much higher than it was before, but it was as if my eyes had been opened. That man, Garim, was by no means a legendary fighter, and yet… fighting against him had changed everything.

Over and over in my mind I saw that same second. Drawing me in and turning the tables. The feint of defeat that I had jumped on, blocking my strike and incapacitating me. I could still get so much better; I know I can. I need to, for her.

But do I?

As of this morning, that one thought continued to wriggle around my mind sowing seeds of doubt. This past week and a bit, my reason for fighting had steadily changed. Before it was all about being the strongest, getting home if I could. Now though, it was all about helping Asuna.

If her words today were correct though, she wouldn't need me for long. Today and tomorrow. Then she was off for bigger things. Taking down floor bosses with the upper-class adventurers of this world. There was no spot for me in that picture. The woman from yesterday had proven that quickly enough.

Level 3.

Even in my skill and rage-fuelled fury, she had stopped me like a child. Out of the corner of my eye I remember a blur, but that's it. It doesn't help that I can barely remember what happened after that man insinuated his intentions to Asuna.

That man, Garim… I'd asked Shakmi about him. Apparently, he was the very top of level one. A seasoned veteran of more than four years. The reason he was still level one is that he barely enters the dungeon anymore. Collecting the magic stones he needs to survive, he doesn't push himself and therefore, never gets the excelia required to push him onto the next level.

The thing is, I already knew about him. Ikelos familia, the damning words of where I almost ended up. No doubt if I'd denied Hestia, I'd have tracked him down and been there too. In the beta I'd heard his name before. Garim was a constant source of amusement for both Ikelos and the stronger familia members. Never interacting them I heard only snippets of tales of his conquests. Now though, having experienced it first-hand, I wish I'd done something earlier.

"Wow, slow down Kii-bou, our supporters are flagging."

"Huh?"

Getting shocked out of my dreary monologue by Argo, I turn and examine the dungeon chamber. Strewn around the medium sized chamber are bodies of monsters that the three girls are frantically racing around too trying to extract the stones. I had been busy walking on.

"Haha, sorry everyone, its been a hectic few days."

"True that," Argo mumbles from beside my shoulder.

Looking back over at her, I finally notice the difference I'd too busy to see before. Her hood is down, and her tail is poking through the edge of her robes.

"Not concealing your identity anymore?"

Glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, Argo snorts at me. "Finally noticed huh? The downlow of it is that there's really no point to me hiding my race."

"Which is different from two weeks ago how?"

Tilting her head, Argo takes a few seconds to compose her answer. "It's strange but, the anger at beta testers seems to have risen and then dissipated. It most likely has to do with the gods and the familia set up of this world. I consulted my god and he agreed with me, no one is trying to buy information on the beta testers or incite anger against them."

"So those guidebooks really worked then?" I ask in a slightly teasing voice.

"Hmpf!" Argo snorts back. "I like to think they helped. But after this one I'll do the tenth to twelfth and that will be it."

"Makes sense," I agree with a nod of my head. "The middle floors are too big and by that point, anyone still alive should be knowledgeable enough to survive on their own."

"Yeah," Argo sighs drearily, "I'll miss it though. Collecting the information, writing it, arranging it."

"Sounds horrible to me," I admit honestly. "But if you like it so much, then why don't you keep doing it? Start a newspaper or something? You don't have to keep being an adventurer."

Swaying, Argo chews her cheek indecisively. "Maybe," she concedes. "I get the feeling I won't ever be one of the top adventurers in the world, but I also know my time in dungeon won't end on the top floors."

"Finished!" Greeting us with her ever-present smile, Rain seems even more excited today than usual.

Examining her and Philia, an idea comes to mind. "Hey, do you two want to try fighting against these enemies?"

"Yes!" With twin shouts overlapping, the force of their shout is no doubt more than enough to bring monsters to us.

"A-alright… Well, I'll leave one enemy to each of you."

"And what about me?" Asuna's face is in a cute pout. Right hand is still gripping her staff while her left rests on her hip.

Giving that free hand a wary glance, I reconsider. "I thought maybe you'd want to save your strength to blast any monster parties with magic…"

"My mind and my body run on different forms of stamina," Asuna reminds me coldly. "I don't want to fall even further behind."

Giving in to her request, I nod. "Fine. An enemy for each of you. Watch out with them. Especially the ants you haven't fought before. They may be slow, but their pincers have the strength to rip off limbs. That's something I've experienced myself!"

Cheerfully informing them of the danger, I walk on to where I can already here the clatter of the oncoming foes.

---

Asuna:

Panting heavily, I slide to the ground. The dead Kobold fighter lies only a few feet away, but I don't have the strength to extract its stone. These fights are brutal. Kirito was right, while the three of us are technically strong enough to go one-on-one with these monsters, it's a taxing proposal.

Lifting my free hand, I wipe the sweat off my brow. Lowering my arm, I examine it. Its red. That's not sweat but blood pouring down forehead. Its claw must have caught me when I thought I dodged it.

Groaning I shift just enough to extract one of my potions. Pouring it over head, I instantly feel that rejuvenating rush of energy. Using it, I push myself off the ground. Afterall, there are still stones to extract.

"This floor is ruthless." Complaining bitterly, Philia's condition is worse than mine. Using only a single knife, it's hard for her to fight the monsters.

"Hey Philia, leave the rest to them and come over here." Getting called out by Kirito, Rain and I share a glance.

Trying not to be obvious about it, we watch their conversation while finishing the stone extractions.

"Being a knife user is challenging. You rely heavily on agility to beat your opponents."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Philia sulks. "You think I should change weapons."

"Not at all," Kirito quickly denies, "if that's the weapon that works best for you, then continue to use it. However, I will say this. You're fighting style needs work. You're rushing your opponents and hoping to get a killing blow off before they can react. This isn't going to always work. Especially against ranged opponents like the poison moths on this floor."

"What do you suggest then?" Rather than sulky, Philia's voice is expectant.

"I want you to follow Argo around for the rest of the day. Learn all that you can about how she fights. After that…" trailing off, Kirito's words fail him again. "After that I guess you either need to find someone to teach you or see what you can pickup on your own."

"Would you?"

"Would I what?"

"Teach me of course."

"I umm… Well… I'll do my best."

"Thanks Kirito…"

Realizing I'd stopped completely, I continue harvesting stones at an accelerated rate.

Just who does he think he is!?

Despite my righteous indignation, the other part of my mind answers right away.

He's a single teenage boy who is free to help whom he wants.

The thought is aggravating. I'll be deep in the dungeon supporting people I don't know whereas Kirito will be up here teaching girls how to fight.

It's not fair!

Images of him wrapping his arms around Philia to correct her posture already filled my mind. He didn't do anything like that for me!

"Just her huh?"

Head whipping to the side I notice a disgruntled Rain hacking into the monsters with the same ferocity as I am.

That's right, I realize. Kirito only drug Philia aside and offered to help her. Rain isn't getting instruction.

She doesn't need it though.

Suddenly I understand. Of the three of us, Rain has shown herself the most accomplished fighter. The way she dances with her twin blades is little short of mesmerizing. Kirito is offering help to Philia because she needs it the most.

Blushing, I focus on my job again. Once again, I've gone and overthought simple interactions. Some friend I am. I should be happy for Philia, and I am.

But why does everything feel like a competition for Kirito's attention?

Sighing, only one answer comes to mind, but I don't like where it leads me.

---

Kirito:

"Basically perfect."

"Basically?"

My weak affirmation is all the energy I can muster. Under Eina's tutelage I'm finishing learning floors eight and nine and starting on ten to twelve. Apparently, my recollection of eight and nine is 'basically perfect'.

"Yes, well you see here under question nine, I asked you to list the seven varieties of purple moths based on strength of poison. The last two, right-handed swirled wings versus small antenna are reversed. Moths with a pattern of a right-handed swirl on their wings are the weakest of the varieties. This is important to keep straight and recognize compared to the left-handed swirl moths whose poison ranks second strongest."

"Yes Eina…" I still fail to see how some of this is important, but I do notice the application of the tutelage. Today in the dungeon, I'd used my knowledge and recognition of subtle differences in the monsters to give the girls appropriate opponents. All without them knowing anything. If Argo picked up on it, she didn't say anything.

"I must say, you seem distracted today, is everything alright?"

That question… Was I okay? Not really, but kind of? I missed my sister, my parents. I almost killed someone yesterday who tried to disable me and rape my friends. Asuna, who is becoming very important to me, is joining a raid to supress a monster far more powerful than any of us. However, I do have friends as well as a goddess who is very supportive and kind. So, was I okay? Sort of.

Mouth working, I'm unable to convey this to Eina. Where do I even begin? Last time I saw her was Sunday after getting back from the quest. So much was changed since then.

"Have you heard about the raid on Friday?"

Blinking Eina seems confused by the question. "The Freya, Ganesha, Loki one to suppress the Goliath? Of course, I have; but what does it matter to you?"

"Do you think they'll win?"

Pausing in surprise, Eina starts chuckling before breaking down into a gale of laughter. A full minute passes before it subsides.

"Do I think they'll…" Unable to finish the sentence Eina breaks down into laughter again.

Sitting there stunned I have troubles processing this new Eina. I didn't think the question was that funny… Or funny at all really.

"Well that certainly is only a question someone from a different world would ask, isn't it?" She chuckles lightly. Wiping away the last of the tears, Eina composes herself.

"Based on what the guild knows of their current familia strength, I estimate the entire fight will take around ten minutes and incur no casualties or serious injuries. How's that for an answer?"

"B-but how!? That thing is a floor boss!" My voice hit near shrieking levels when I hear Eina's analysis of the fight. Memories of my fight against it are still strongly implanted in my mind. The crazy power it wielded, its nigh impenetrable skin. The thing had toyed with me while the other monsters killed the rest of the raid. It hadn't been close.

"Hehe," Giggling at me again, Eina got that teasing older sister look in her eyes again. "You haven't felt the difference of the gap in the levels yet Kirito," Eina assures me. "Not just one level, but a lot of them have hit level 3. At that point, they are on an entirely different plane from what you know as combat."

Eina's technically wrong, I do know what it means to level up, however I can't deny her words. That one motion. It taunts me repeatedly that I can't recall more of it. My sword stopping as it collides with an immovable object. The true meaning of level 3.

"You never mentioned though, why do you care so much about the success of this raid."

"My supporter." Looking at the ground, the words must be nearly inaudible to Eina. Nonetheless, she makes them out.

"Ah, of course. I forgot she was Loki familia. Does that mean she'll be participating in this raid as a supporter? An interesting choice from Loki. I figured she'd only send the best of her new recruits that she saw as potential leaders in the future."

"She is."

"I'm sorry, what was that."

"She is one of the best," I clarify. "She'll surpass all of us one day."

Arching a disbelieving brow, Eina says no words of rebuttal. "Well, she's very lucky to have someone like you who cares about her so much."

"It's not like that!" I protest weakly. "We're just friends."

Smiling with her eyes, Eina hides her mouth behind her hand. "Whatever you say Kirito. Is there anything else?"

"Well… there is one thing I suppose." In as few words as possible I describe the events of yesterday evening. My fight, and the intervention.

"You got very lucky." Eina informs me sharply. Her face is white from fear. "I've heard horror tales at the guild about Garim the Crippler. Garim the Conqueror. It's unbelievable you held your own against him."

Face regaining color, Eina's eyes sparkle with humour. "I imagine you don't hate that skill of yours now?"

Flushing, I remember my complaints about it on the second day. It feels like years ago. "It was certainly handy." Testing my luck, I push on my questioning. "What do you know about that woman, Shakmi?"

"Woman?" Eina chuckles. "I suppose she would be although I think she's younger than me. Only seventeen or eighteen. Too young to be forced to handle Ganesha in my opinion."

"Sev-seventeen?" My mouth is unable to form the words. They seem ludicrous. Her height. Her beauty. Her bearing. I felt like a child in front of her. I assumed she was mid-twenties at the youngest.

"Yes," Eina confirms, still laughing at me. Some days it seems that's all she does. "Anyway, she's quite an interesting one."

"W-what do you mean?"

Arching an eyebrow, Eina studies me thoroughly. "You're not falling for her, are you Kirito?"

"N-no!" Stuttering my reply, I feel exposed beneath Eina's full-on stare.

Why would she care if I was though?

Telling myself to stuff it, I push the image of the navy-haired woman from my thoughts.

"Alright… well what I mean, is that she didn't come to Orario just to take up her sister's mantel. She claims that the spirit of her sister protected her during the Great Reckoning, stopped it from taking her too. Based on that, she claims that the adventurers aren't really gone. She says the dungeon has them and they need to be saved."

Blinking uncomprehendingly, this is not at all what I expected Eina to say. "Great Reckoning?"

"Oh right… Honestly, I'm not sure how much of this I can tell you…"

"Why not? Why aren't we worthy to know what happened! We die everyday in that dungeon and still we know nothing about it!" Releasing my pent-up anger, I find myself shouting at the end of it.

Reaching a consoling hand across the table, Eina's cool touch helps steady me.

"I'm so sorry Kirito." She murmurs. "I know this is hard for you, but if anyone knows, it's the gods who know the true nature of the dungeon, no one else."

"But this Great Reckoning, you can tell me about that?"

Hesitating, Eina looks off to the ceiling. "Yes," she whispers. "I can… I just don't like to."

"Won't you, for me?" Pressing her, I use every ounce of good will I've accrued with her to demand a favor.

Wiping her eyes, this time the tears are sorrow. "It was the end of an age. For a thousand years, the age of heroes persisted. Performing unbelievable deeds, it's still hard to believe. At that time, there were three great quests left unfinished. The strongest monsters, the first ones to have left the dungeon in the time before the gods. Leviathan was the first to fall. The great water monster was slain by the combined might of Zeus and Hera Familia."

Pausing, Eina evaluates my reaction before continuing.

"Next was Behemoth, lord of the land. At this point celebrations were already ringing out across the land, the cleansing of these three beings would signal the fall of the dungeon, and freedom for all children.

But, as they were preparing for the final battle, an adventurer had a vision. Total destruction awaits them on the battlefield. So, the fight was cancelled. For thirteen more years, Orario accrued more power, saving up for one final strike to free the land of the third and final evil."

Stopping for a moment, Eina wiped her eyes again before looking straight at me.

"It was enough. Not just Zeus and Hera. But Freya, Loki, Ganesha, Astraea, Rakia, Telskyura. It was an unbelievable force. Thousands of adventurers against one monster. And thousands died to bring it to its knees. There though… reports say it cast a spell. A spell that cost that final monster its life and with it, killed thousands more around the world. But only those with a strong falna were targeted."

The final words echo around the room and leave it in silence. A cold sweat is covering my body. I understand little of the tale, but I understand enough.

"That's horrible…" But it also explained so much.

Nodding, tears were forming at the edge of Eina's eyes. "I was the advisor for many of them. It was worse for the gods though. They're so in tune with everyone…"

Nodding mutely, there was little I could think to say. All I had was questions.

"Go ahead," Eina smiles. "I see that face, you still have more questions."

"The Zeus and Hera familias, what happened there?"

"Ah right," frowning it was quite obviously an answer she didn't like giving. "Well they were the strongest familias in Orario. But, they were completely wiped out in the fight. No one knows where Zeus and Hera are right now. If they're still in this world or returned to the world of gods."

With that the conversation had reached its finale. There was nothing more I could say with Eina on the edge of tears.

"Thank you Eina. I guess I'll be going."

"W-wait!" Staggering out of her chair, Eina grabbed my hand before I could make it to the door.

"W-what is it?"

"Just…" Hesitating,, Eina took a moment to compose herself. "I know I say this a lot, but please don't die down there. I can't… I can't lose anymore."

Tears dripping from her eyes, Eina stared at the floor, breaths coming uneven.

"I know its impossible for everyone to survive. The dungeon is too unpredictable, too evil. But still, even if only you return… It'll be enough."

"Eina…" Her name escaping, I have no immediate answer for her. On the surface her demands are ridiculous. The only way to guarantee I don't die in the dungeon is to not enter it in the first place.

"I sound like an idiot now, don't I?" Eina chuckles with a cute hiccup. Removing her spectacles, Eina wipes her eyes and stands up straight. Almost instantly the dignified guild receptionist has returned.

However, the small cracks are still there. The red tinge in her eyes, the faint trails of tears., not fully wiped away. More than that though, its her countenance. Every day without fail, Eina greets her customers with a big smile, trying her best for the adventurers who may not survive another day. That smile, that happiness is gone now.

Feeling bad, I pause leaving the room. Doing so at this point would be worse than pathetic, it would be a failure as both a man and a friend.

"I-I can't really…" Trailing off, I fail yet again to say what I'm trying to. The emotions are there, I know what I should say, but when it comes time to say it, I can't.

"It's okay Kirito," Eina comforts me with a fake smile. "I'll be better in a bit."

Just like that she lets me off the hook. Knowing my struggles at expressing my emotions, this heavenly girl lets me out of having to do so.

Gritting my teeth my body wavers on leaving the room. It would be so easy to do. Allow Eina to take the books back to the library and return to the counter. Go to my familia home, eat supper and fall asleep. But I can't.

"I can't promise you I won't die." Yes, that's what I was trying to say. "But I can promise I will do my best. I have to at least try to clear to the dungeon."

Nodding, some modicum of life returns to her eyes. "Thank you for that Kirito. I understand. And when you're in need of information or need someone to listen to you, or something else… I'll be here."

Giving each other a big smile, the shadow of death finally eases its grasp on the room.

---

Asuna:

"Hey Asuna, make sure your home by 3 pm tomorrow."

Looking up from my supper plate, the goddess has already moved on to other occupants. No doubt to relay the same message. As tomorrow was Thursday, the day before the raid, it made sense. Ensure your familia members weren't overworking themselves before a hard day.

But still… This is Loki.

Plus, some of the members she's talking to aren't coming on the raid. Eyes narrowing, I focus on the vermilion haired goddess as she winds her way through the dining hall. Not looking I scrap at my food. Without fail I track her as she wanders up and down the tables.

And… Where is she?

Heart freezing, I can't believe it. How could she possibly have left without me seeing it? I had vision of her the whole time.

"Oi, Asu-tan, you had a question for me?"

Flying out of my seat, I turn and stare at the very goddess I was tracking. Only seconds ago she was on the other side of the hall, pacing up and down table lengths.

"Hehe, oh that face on you is priceless!" Loki crows. "Maybe when you hit level six or so you'll be able to keep up with me."

Mouth flapping, I'm still unable to keep up with how this happened. If she had just disappeared that would have conceivable. But showing back up beside me only a short time later?

"Hey, focus," Loki says bored, snapping her fingers in front of my face. "Ask your question or I'm leaving."

"Oh, right. Why do we need to be back so early tomorrow?"

Blinking her eyes at me, Loki seems surprised by the questions. "Well to greet the rest of your familia members of course!"

"The rest? Huh?" Mind weighed down by my goddess' continuing mysteries, I can't keep up with the new revelations.

"Yupp!" Loki confirms happily. "You really thought I only had the twenty or so odd people before you guys showed up? My fifty strongest, anyone who has levelled up is currently outside the city. They're using the ban from the dungeon as an opportunity to see some places and train against surface monsters. Keep their skills sharp, ya know?"

Sitting back down with a crash, my eyes go blank with the impart of Loki's words. Fifty people, all level two. Suddenly I felt like a very small fish in a very large familia.

"Ahh, don't fret so much, Asu-tan!" Loki comforts me with a slap on the back. "You'll fit in in no time!"

Leaving with just those words as comfort, I feel faintly nauseous.

With so many strong Adventurers, do we even need to do anything to clear the dungeon?

The image of that woman from two days ago still played through my head. Her overwhelming aura, her untraceable speed. Put fifty of her on a battlefield and I couldn't imagine an obstacle they couldn't defeat.

Unable to finish my supper I throw the few remaining bites away and head for my room. Halfway there my feet pause and change direction almost unconsciously. Not to return to my room, but the bath. The perfect way to unwind after a huge information dump.

"Lind?" Turning the corner, I almost run face first into the blue-haired man. Thinking about it I've been running into a lot of blue-haired people recently…

"Oh, hey there, Asuna was it?"

Stopping my eyeroll is a challenge. I have no doubt he knows exactly what my name is.

Nodding I head, I seek to move past him.

"Are you excited for Friday?"

Barely containing my sigh, I come to a halt. Clearly this man has no consideration of when people don't want to be talked to.

"What do you mean?"

"The raid of course!" Lind replies happily. "We're the only two of the new recruits going!"

New recruits.

What a name for those of us trapped here from another world. He made us sound like people Loki had found lying around and recruited to her familia.

"Fun." Leaving it at that one word I walk past him.

"If you're scared, don't be!" Lind yells from 3 metres back. "I'll be there to protect you!"

Not answering I keep walking. If only Kirito and him could switch familias.

---

Kirito:

"You need to…" Swaying in place I think my head may explode. For the second day in a row, third if you count the shopping trip, Asuna had started off the day by dropping an information bomb.

Groaning, I need to place my hand on the wall to steady my body. "Over fifty level twos…"

By this point I was starting to get accustomed to the gap between my beta experience and the live servers. How we had only scrapped the surface of the dungeon.

It still wasn't fair of Asuna to continue to drive that point home day after day without fail.

Nodding Argo didn't look overly surprised by the information. Deciding I'd deal with that later I keep walking through the upper halls of the dungeon.

"Is something wrong Kirito?" Asuna asks with a tilt of her head.

Groaning, I'm not even sure where to begin with that question. So much about this scenario was wrong to me.

"Eh, Ignore him, Aa-chan. He's still just jealous you get to go on the raid and he doesn't."

Giving Argo a brief glare, I try to act like the words don't sting. But they do.

I want to go so bad!

To see these adventurers fight. To learn from their movements, their style. To really learn what it means to be an adventurer.

As time as gone on, a creeping sensation has worked its way into my thoughts. Slowly growing over time, these last few days have all but confirmed it. That what I know of the dungeon, what I think being an adventurer is, isn't correct. On the surface my answers to those questions would seem right, but at the core, I'm missing something. Something I may discover as I venture further into the dungeon, onto the eighteenth and below.

"So Asuna," Argo began casually, "do you know if you're going onto the eighteenth after the fight?"

"I haven't heard anything," the girl admits with a shrug. "I mean its possible, but I doubt they'd want to bring weaklings like me too far in."

"I see…"

This is the second time I've felt like Argo has known more than she's saying. This time I don't wait for later.

"Argo, you know what's on the eighteenth floor, don't you?"

Going silent, the fox girl nervously bites her lip, her eyes tracing patterns on the retentive stone formation.

"Yes." She admits reluctantly. "My God isn't quite as… reluctant to talk as most of them seem to be."

"And you're not going to tell us," I ask in disbelief.

"No," Argo sighs. "You'll discover when you get there anyway."

"Why not?"

Stunned into disbelief, Asuna picked up the mantel and asked the question burning in my mind.

"I guess because its not mine to tell you," Argo shrugs. "I'll tell you anything you need to know, but this isn't one of them."

"How much?" Finally getting my mouth to work, I fall back on beta ways with Argo. No matter what, she'd name a price.

Shaking her head, Argo sighs. "Sorry, Kii-bou, that's not gonna work anymore. Stakes are different nowadays, so the rules are too."

Biting my tongue, I stop my childish retort. She's right. These are no longer the happy-go-lucky days of the beta. Each one of us is settling into the patterns and swirls of our individual familias. Asuna is joining raids and learning what it means to be part of the elite. Argo is obviously figuring out her role and what information she's free sharing. As for me… I can feel it as well. A focus to protect my goddess. To ensure that we can live comfortably together.

The thought is almost worrying. That this familia structure has influenced us too much. How long until we prioritizing protecting our familia over people from our world? Even now, if I had to choose between Hestia and a random adventurer… I don't know what I'd do.

That's a lie.

I know exactly what I'd do, and it scares the hell out of me.

---

Asuna:

"Ohh! Ohh! Here they come! They're here!"

Loki's excited chants bring a smile to my face. The usually laid back goddess was practically hopping with excitement. No wonder, most of her familia had been gone for quite awhile.

The display is impressive. Of that there is no doubt.

The leaders ride at the head of the column, a banner with the familia emblem swinging in the wind above their heads. The emblem is a clown in front of a playing card. An image that fits Loki perfectly; and one I was slowly getting accustomed to.

Behind them came most of the other familia members on foot. At the back are multiple carts pulled by horses, supplies no doubt.

The hardy group is intimidating. Every single member looks like a hero in their own right. Their gear is fantastic: gleaming plate, huge weapons. Hands shaking slightly, I realize now why Loki made us where are adventurer gear. These people look like they'll only respect strength and will use this opportunity to evaluate us.

"Hey! There's my favorite adventurers, welcome back!" Greeting them with a big smile, Loki nonchalantly approaches the leaders of this terrifying column.

"It's good to be back Loki." Speaking gruffly, he dismounts his horse in one fluid motion. The leader of the familia, I'm certain. Despite his somewhat youthful appearance, his face is hard. As if he's seen too much, and all innocence has been stripped away. Strangely though, he's only my height. Examining him further, the obvious truth becomes clear, he's a half-dwarf. His wide shoulders and thick neck speak to his no doubt unbelievable strength.

"So, Goran, anything to report?" Loki asks.

Snorting, the man shakes his head. "Besides weak monsters and complaining, the trip was peaceful."

"I feel like that isn't quite true," a woman breaks in with a laugh. Gracefully getting off her horse she greets Loki with a deep bow. "It is good to be back my Goddess."

"Hehe," Loki laughs with a lustful look in her eye. "Now that is how one should greet their goddess!"

Walking a couple steps forward, Loki performed the most obvious fake-fall I've ever seen. Hands stuck out in front of her, Loki's target was evident, the girls' breasts.

Sidestepping it with a small sigh, she leaves Loki to crash to the ground.

Seeing Lind and I who had been flanking Loki, she smiles. "You must be some of these adventurers from another world that we've heard about. My name is Astrid, Astrid Autumn. Like you I haven't been in Loki familia all that long, only half a year or so."

"Aren't you the sub-commander though?" I ask disbelievingly.

"Somehow," she agrees with a smile. "Whether I want it or not, Loki determined I'm qualified enough for it."

The woman is a beautiful cat-lady. With long-shimmering black hair with matching cat ears and a tail to boot. In a strange pattern her armour is organised in a white, black, white pattern. Hanging off her left waist, like me, is a marvelous sheath containing what is sure to be a high-end rapier. From behind her a sleek, long black tail sways back and forth.

"Of course you are!" Goran breaks in, "You're basically as strong as me and nearly as good with tactics."

"I'm pretty sure being your equal at tactics isn't a compliment," the third of the group chimes in.

Walking up to them, he barely reaches over their waists. If I hadn't seen people like him during walking around Orario I would have been stunned, a prum. The halfling race that Philia technically belongs to.

"Watch your mouth, Phineas," Goran grumbles. "You may have aspirations to match the Braver, but aren't him yet."

"I told you," the prum growls, "to call me Finn."

"And I told you no," Goran repeats, as if used to having this conversation many times.

"Aww, ease up on poor Phineas, Goran." Loki teases.

Rolling his eyes, Phineas leans on his spear, a beautiful golden creation almost six-feet long. It was hard to imagine this small man fighting with it.

"Anyway, these two are Asuna and Lind, two of the more promising new recruits. They'll be joining you tomorrow as supporters."

Taking the goddess' words in stride, none of them look all that surprised by Loki's announcements.

"See you there." Getting curt acknowledgements, the four people keep going so that Loki can make introductions of the leaders that had been present.

"Well, they seem alright?"

Despite the unimpressed words, by the shake in Lind's voice, he's as terrified as I am right now. While they did nothing overtly violent or intimidating, they didn't have too. Their very presence was hard to exist in.

"Oh my god, is that another full-blooded elf?" Almost shouting the words, a gorgeous woman approaches. With hair the color of sunset, and sharply slanted ears, her race can be determined from a mile away, an elf.

Like me, her clothes completely cover her body, the red dress is covered by an orange cloak. In her hand, she wields a staff like me, but the difference between them is like night and day. Adorning the top of hers is a singular large crystal. The interior of which seems to flicker between orange and red like a living flame.

Without asking she reaches out her hands and touches my face. Moving it back and forth, she examines me.

Despite my fear, no instinct comes hurtling at me to make me punch her in the face.

"You can touch me?"

The question is instinctive. While there haven't been many opportunities or desires for me to tough people, this still comes as a surprise. Even with shopkeepers and my own familia members I make sure to keep a barrier between us.

"Of course I can silly!" She announces with a playful grin. "We're both elves of course, although it looks like you're on the other side of the spectrum."

"Spectrum?" No doubt my weak question gives me away as a fake.

Nodding swiftly, it seems the excited elf pays my ignorance no mind. "Elves vary greatly in terms of innate magic and proficiencies. I, of course, am inclined towards fire. This made me rather unpopular back home. After all, who wants a pyro running around a forest, am I right?"

"Umm, yes?" Blown back slightly by her overwhelming rant, I can't get a word in edgewise.

"Exactly!" She preens happily. "Whereas you I assume, are more healing based!" Confident in her assessment, she poses with her finger pointed right at my face, clearly waiting for my agreement.

"Umm, no." Pushing her finger down, the woman seems to deflate entirely.

"No healing magic?"

She sounds so depressed I have to say something. "I can cast water magic? Is that close?"

Smacking her forehead, she lets out a long groan. "Of course! I focused too much on the healing aspect of water and not enough on the actual element. My apologies… um, whatever your name is."

Unable to help it, I giggle. I can only hope this uncontrollable fire mage doesn't meet Rain. The two would feed off each until all of Orario was in trouble.

"Asuna, and you are?"

"Ah, right, I'm Mirel," she informs she a happy smile.

"Did you find one worth talking to Mirel?"

Butting in on the conversation, a man walks towards us.

"Pay him no mind, Asuna. This is just Droyman, the other elf in Loki familia."

Nodding my head to him, I stick out my hand for him to shake. It seems appropriate given the scenario.

Looking at it, he grimaces. "Please don't make me. I can't stand touching other people."

"Oh, sorry…" Feeling a little hurt I hesitantly retract my hand.

"Ah, like I said, he's a bit of a downer. Like his muddy nature suggests, he's a user of earth magic. I'd like to make fun of him, but he really comes in handy in a pinch."

"I-I see…" Unable to say more, I examine him again. Like his magic, he wears robes of earthy brown which match his commonplace hair. Unlike most elves, the small frown on his face has stripped away much of the beauty inherent in his race.

"So, we're it for pure elves?" I ask. "What about halves?"

Are we the only ones with magic then?

On my question the other two frown. This turns Droyman's face into an impressive scowl.

"Not quite," Mirel admits. "There is one more, at least there used to be at one point."

"Huh?" The words make no sense. How do they not no what happened to their familia member?

Looking at each other, it's clear that they don't want to talk about it. Finally, Droyman opens his mouth.

"I suppose you have a right to know," he admits. "This last elf has unbelievable magic. Even at level three she was sent on the final raid. All we know is that she survived the great reckoning. After that well… we see her occasionally and then she disappears again. We assume Loki knows what she's doing, but the rest of us don't."

The words are sobering and put a rapid end to the conversation. Walking silently, we fall in line with the procession. I hadn't gotten an answer to my other question, but it hardly seemed important at this time. Twilight Manor would certainly be different after today.

---

Real World:

Sitting on her living room couch, Suguha curled up under her favorite blanket. Staring at the TV, she still felt frozen. Her hands had no sensation left in them, and her feet were numb.

The reason was what the TV was broadcasting. She was pretty sure there wasn't a single thing not playing it. TV stations, radio, streaming platforms, you name it, it was about this.

A thin man with glasses wearing a fitted suit and smiling. So far, it had amounted to little more than that. Standing on a stage, media outlets were surrounding him like he was some sort of celebrity.

For a low-ranking government worker, this kind of fame was never heard of. Suguha doubted she would know any of the names of the people above him or below him.

But this man, Kikuoka Seijirou was an exception. The reason was the unenviable job he'd taken on. Lead investigator for the DOO Case Victims Rescue Force.

If Yukiko had been telling the truth, and Suguha was confident she was at this point, then he was about to reveal Kayaba's new rules.

However, there was a knot in Suguha's stomach. What Yukiko certainly told her was important, but it already called for a press conference of this size. What were they up to?

Unfortunately, there was no answer for Suguha except to wait for him to start talking.

With some invisible signal, the room on the TV fell silent. As one the pointless narrators that Suguha had tuned out also shut up. It became clear early on that they had no real idea that was going to happen.

"Thank you everyone for taking the time to hear me talk," the man began with an easy languorous smile.

No doubt its intention was to put people at ease, to make him seem approachable. For some reason, it caused chills to run down Suguha's back.

"As I'm sure almost everyone knows," the man begins, "the DOO servers have been given to RECT progress for management and service after the collapse of Argus."

Pushing up his glasses, the man hesitated for the first time. As if he couldn't quite believe what he was going to say.

"A couple of Saturdays ago, Kayaba Akihiko contacted RECT progress to inform them of a new condition affecting the state of DOO."

Placing his hand in his breast pocket, Kikuoka read out the memo containing the four conditions.

Suguha could hardly believe it. The impossible odds were aligning. She'd have a chance!

Right as the elation was consuming her, reality returned. Sure, the words of Kayaba were good and all, but there was still one large barrier. There was no way they'd simply bid off or sell off devices that would trap you in another world. It wouldn't get past regulations. But if that's the case, then why bother announcing the conditions?

Pocketing the memo, Kikuoka wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead. Oh yeah, he's nervous about something else, Suguha realized.

"So," Kikuoka began again, "I have, I mean the government has put together a proposal to begin a lottery. The, uh, 'winners', will be allowed to connect to the servers of Dungeon Oratoria Online during the period specified."

The end of Kikuoka's words were barely audible. The media was in a frenzy. Cries of murderer ran rampant.

Suguha, however, felt her heart stop. It is happening.

She has no idea on what on earth was possessing the government to think this was a good idea, but she didn't care. She had a chance. One more month. Just two weeks before her fourteenth birthday. Tears of joy began to leak at the corner of her eyes.

"I'm coming… Brother."

"To continue!" Kikuoka basically yelled into his microphone. "Everyone will be a volunteer! No obligatory signups."

"And how do you plan to screen these volunteers to ensure they are mentally capable of making this decision?"

"Great question!" Kikuoka praised the female reporter. "Before being approved they will have to talk to a psychiatrist who will ensure each person fully understands the scope of what they are about to undertake."

"Bullshit!" She spat back angrily. "Its impossible to impart the meaning of entering a world of death to people who are signing up to either chase after loved ones or to escape their current obligations!"

Spreading his hands, Kikuoka fired back with a calm smile. "Then, pray tell, how do you understand the meaning of their commitment?"

"Because my friend died in there! She only survived two days before… Oh god!" Breaking down, the reporter was unceremoniously dragged out of the room.

Shrugging nonchalantly, Kikuoka waited for the next inevitable question.

"Who in the government has approved this? Why wasn't there a vote in parliament?"

Smiling easily, Kikuoka appeared thrilled by the direction the questions were going. "Well, it certainly wasn't an easy decision, however, the plan has been cleared by my superior. As you may know, NerveGears have become a dangerous item with a recall on them. Nonetheless, they don't have a confiscation law attached. Why is that? Because like many things, it is up to you how you use it. It is not inherently dangerous. So, similar to sports like skiing, you simply need to sign a waiver claiming that you understand the risks associated with using it beforehand. Of course, minors will require parental consent…"

Even to Suguha's limited legal experience, this explanation seemed to be pushing the limits. Sure, people did dangerous things like climbing mountains and skiing, where one mistake could easily result in death. There are hundreds of bodies lying on the slopes of Everest, and yet… Was that not an oversimplification of this scenario? It was like that woman had said, could someone be prepared for the dangers of that world?

For the first time in a long time, doubt crept its way into Suguha's mind. Was she being overconfident? She'd never played a video game before. She knew nothing of the world her brother was currently trapped in. Suddenly her aversion to those interviews seemed childish. She'd need all the information she could get before entering.

"Do you expect us to believe that?" The man yelled angrily, veins in his face popping, "This isn't an extreme sport! It's a world of death! Even if they don't die in there, they will be there for years as the world turns past them."

Shrugging, yet again Kikuoka seemed unconcerned by the feedback. "Perhaps their whole world is now in DOO. If they no longer have a connection to this world, then any effort on their part to rescue the people who want to be here is worthwhile if you ask me."

The words carry a strange tone with them. Almost an echo.

"I guess that makes sense…" Sitting on her couch, Suguha found herself strangely convinced by the argument. Tilting her head, she wasn't sure why though. Almost as if something else was telling her it made sense.

In the press room, no further complaints could be heard. In fact, the whole room was eerily quiet.

"Well, if that's all of the questions, I'll hand the stage over to Shouzou Yuuki, the CEO of RECT progress, who will talk briefly on the state of the DOO servers."

Bowing his head, Kikuoka quickly left the stage and was replaced by another man. Standing tall, the CEO was an impressive figure who looked the part, even with the black bags under his eyes.

"The DOO servers are in a contained room that is well filtered, and temperature controlled to ensure their continued operation. Know that no one cares more about their continued smooth operation than me."

Suguha believed him. His words carried a sincerity that Kikuoka's had lacked. She felt the kindred desire in him as well. He too has lost someone to the virtual world.

Whether this was the plan or not, Suguha doesn't know, but it seems to be working. First Kikuoka takes the heat for a poorly reasoned plan. Then the CEO comes out and garners sympathy for the game all while ensuring that no hardware malfunctions will haunt the people connected.

"To prevent either sabotage or people attempting a direct connection to them, guards have been posted 24/7 around the server bunker."

More garbage information, Suguha didn't really care about. Listening to a little more to make sure, Suguha leaned back on the couch. Letting out a long breath she allowed the anxiety of the day to flow out of her and the bud of hope to start to bloom. Everything was coming together.

Assuming Yukiko had connections to help Suguha, she was well on her way. One more talk tomorrow and hopefully smooth sailing from there.

Until you get into the game.

Her brain reminds her. Smiling, Suguha discounts the thought for now. She has a month to learn about the world and how to play, what could go wrong?

---

Kirito:

"So, today's the day, huh?"

"Today's the day," I respond to Rain's question. On the way to the dungeon I walk between Rain and Philia who will be coming with me as supporters. I'd gone to Miach's store this morning to pick up some more potions. Prepping themselves with gear for the dungeon I'd offered to take them with me. Quickly agreeing, we approached the dungeon as a three-man unit where we'd pick up Argo, our last member.

Not only is it my first time going to the ninth floor, it's the day Asuna is out on a raid with Loki familia. It's a bittersweet thought. On one hand she'd be able to learn firsthand about the dungeon from the most experienced adventurers. On the other… she wasn't in my party. The thought hurt a lot more than it should for someone who wasn't even part of my familia or even a friendly familia. Based on how Hestia described Loki I'd say the two are about as far from friends as two of the deities can be.

"Huh? What's going on here?"

Philia's question is a good one. On the yard in front of Babel's front doors a massive crowd has accumulated. Usually there's people here, but this many is something I've never seen.

Then I spot them. The banners flapping in the wind at the heart of the amalgamation. On the left, the sigil of a clown in front a playing card, Loki familia. In the center, the caricature of an elephant head. From the few encounters I've had with the popular familia, that would be Ganesha familia. Finally, on the right-hand side, opposite of where we will pass, is the side image of a woman's face wearing a winged helmet. That too is an emblem I recognize, Freya familia. Rumours say they're the strongest familia in Orario.

As the crowd shifts, I realize what I've been looking at is spectators observing the actual adventurers. Getting a glance at them, I suddenly feel very small. Their gear is amazing. Without fail, each one stands straight and proud, confident in their strength. Compared to them, I'm nothing. The thought is humbling.

If this is what's left…

That's right, I realize with widening eyes. These powerful looking individuals… These are ones who were too weak to be killed after the great reckoning. Such a thing sounds absurd. None of these people are weak. What level does one have to reach to be able to look down on people at this level?

"Is that Asuna?" Philia asks.

"It is!" Rain agrees. "Hey Asuna!"

Somehow mustering the courage, Rain's shout draws the heads of the nearby Loki familia members. Almost as one they sneer at us. The weak adventurers trying to get in with the powerful familia.

"Hey guys." Saying something to her familia members, Asuna comes over and greets us.

"So, it's really happening, isn't it?" I ask rhetorically.

"It is indeed," Asuna smiles with a hint of longing. "Things have certainly changed in my familia with everyone back again."

Looking at the girl, smiling broadly with a large backpack attached, is a dizzying experience. She's so different from when I first met her in the dungeon. No longer was she recklessly diving forward. She'd found a place she belongs. I'm happy for her. I am.

Yet I can't block out the growing hole in my heart. She doesn't need me anymore. She has people far more competent to do the job for her.

"I guess this is goodbye then…" Words trailing off, I can't manage to get anymore out.

"What are you talking about?" Asuna asks with a tilt of her head. "If your going to the dungeon tomorrow, I'll be there to join you."

"Huh?"

Rolling her eyes at me Asuna sighs. "I made you a promise, didn't I? I'm not going to suddenly break that just because my familia has a bunch of strong people in it."

"Oh…" I'm sure I look really stupid right now. But that doesn't matter. She's not leaving. Its all I can do to stop a goofy grin from consuming my face.

"You!"

Another is approaching us from Loki familia. Glancing at the approaching figure, I realize what I've failed to put together all these times. "Lind…"

"Eh? You two know each other?" Asuna asks.

"Well…" I try to explain.

"I knew that I didn't get the whole truth from you before! You're walking around with two new women you've clearly trapped against their wills. I don't know who you think you are to try to talk to Asuna, but either leave her alone or I'll make you!"

Slightly shocked by the long rant, I have no response. How did he get so many assumptions about me after one bad interaction?

"Haha!" Breaking into laughter, all three of the women around me start laughing, at Lind.

Almost sighing from relief, its nice not to be the one getting laughed at for once.

"He doesn't even realize Asuna is the one trapped tighter than any of us!" Rain giggles.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Asuna pouts. "I can leave anytime I want."

Grimacing from the exchange, their words certainly aren't helping my standing with Lind.

Gritting his teeth, Lind looks moments away from drawing his sword, totally ignoring the large pack adorning his back.

Rolling her eyes, Asuna sighs. "Well, wish me luck! I'll take Lind and let you guys go. I'm sure we're pretty close to departing as well."

"Good luck!" Rushing forward, the pair of girls wrap each other in a tight hug, careful not to touch her skin I note.

Left as the last person, I have no idea what to do. Asuna stares at me with expectant eyes, but I'm still unsure what she wants.

"Good luck?" The words coming out as more of a question than a statement, I reach out my hand for a shake.

Asuna glares at me unhappily. "Men." Spoken under her breath, I barely hear her curse.

Extending her hand, we exchange a solid handshake. As she does, her cloak parts, revealing the dress underneath.

"Wow." All three of us had seen it. The blue material literally shimmered as light danced across it. Only the sight of it was enough to make me forget about the awkward parting I just took part in.

"W-well, see you tomorrow!" With those rushed words, Asuna grabs the still irate Lind and pulls him back to the midst of Loki familia.

Looking at my hand, I flex it a couple of times. As if to remember the sensation and implication that the gesture had implied. Asuna would come back. She'd promised.

---

Asuna:

"Hehe, so you've got a man in another familia, eh?" Mirel asked as we entered the dungeon.

Walking through floor five it was hard to believe I was in the same place that I'd almost died not too long ago. So far, I've almost seen one monster. Something started to spawn from a wall near me. Before the wall even finished breaking, a dwarf slammed a large hammer against the spot. As the shaking stopped it was safe to say the large hammer had destroyed the thing before it was even born.

"He's just a friend," I tell Mirel. That was what Kirito had called us yesterday. The word felt safe. Flexing my right though, it didn't seem like the most accurate word anymore. It was too simple to describe the history between us.

"Good," Droyman broke in out of nowhere. I hadn't even realized he was close to us. "The last thing we need are more half-elves running around. The only men you should concern yourself with are proper full elven males."

Hearing the pompous speech brought my blood to a boil.

How dare he tell me who's a suitable partner?

One second away from turning around and screaming at him, Mirel grabs my hand. "Ah, that's why I say ignore him Asuna. He isn't worth paying attention too."

"Hey!" Droyman replies indignantly. "It's a crisis! Elven principles continue to degrade and soon our race will die out and we'll be left with only half-breeds!"

"I swear if I get one more speech about how strong our children would be, I will let Asuna here knock your lights out." Mirel warns him.

Recoiling, Droyman sulked away from us. "They would be."

The almost inaudible words roll away like a mirage.

Letting out a huge sigh, Mirel gives me a knowing glance. "Sometimes I can't stand that elf."

Anger forgotten I let out a light laugh. I can't believe I'd missed that yesterday. "Are you two?..."

"Oh no, of course not," Mirel denies immediately. Unconvincingly too. "After all, how could I be satisfied with just one man? You know what I mean?"

"Uh, umm, what?"

Giving her surroundings a quick look around, Mirel leans forward to whisper into my ear. "I don't actually mind Droyman, though if you tell him that, you'll be sorry. But one just isn't enough. A woman has got needs, you know?"

Flushing, I knew what she meant, it just still seemed ridiculous. "Are they all umm, in the familia?"

Smiling, Mirel shook her head. "Men have big egos. They also have some deluded notions about a woman's purity. Pretty sure at least four different guys think they took my virginity. If they knew about each other they'd just start complaining and sulking. Ridiculous!"

Shocked, I was barely able to keep myself upright. I'm pretty sure my whole face was a scarlet on par to Mirel's robes.

How was she so brazen about things like this?

"Glad to see you're making friends." Coming backwards through the column, Astrid approaches us with an easy smile.

"Hey," I smile back at her. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing," she replies. "I just want you to walk with me so that we can talk about things since you're so new."

"Alright…" Giving Mirel one more fleeting glance, she waves me goodbye good naturedly.

"Excuse me…" Mumbling my words I try to follow Astrid back to the front of the column. But where the people seem to shift and open gaps for her to pass, I swear they intentionally block me. The massive backpack I'm wearing doesn't make it any easier.

Panting I finally break through to where Astrid and her party lead the column.

Back at Babel we departed in two groups to not entirely clog the upper floors. Apparently, we will meet back up at the entrance to the thirteenth. In my column, about half of the Loki familia members that came are here. Phineas and Goran took Lind with them in the first column. I had thought it was strange both Mirel and Droyman, who seem to be the strongest magic users in the familia, are both in this column, but it shouldn't matter.

"Hey, you did pretty well making it up here!" Astrid remarks with another friendly smile.

Eyes narrowing in suspicion I scan the words for sarcasm, but strangely I think she's being sincere.

"Why do you say that?"

Shrugging, the cat-girl seems perfectly at ease. "The veteran adventurers don't like seeing rookies trying to pass them. Need to make them earn their place."

They had been blocking me!

Grinding my teeth, I stalk forward beside Astrid. "Aren't familia members supposed to support each other?"

"We do," Astrid assures me. "It's just them trying to teach you a lesson. Know your place or something like that. Also, it's different for you from another world."

"How so?" I ask.

Contemplating the question, Astrid hesitates before answering. "Your rate of growth is so wildly different from ours, that it's insane. This is a blessing no doubt, but there's a drop of poison mixed in with it."

"And that is?" Talking quickly, Astrid's mannerisms and words have caused a hint of anxiety to enter my question.

"You don't get as much time to learn. You blaze through the floors barely becoming acquainted with the layout before moving to the next. Your skills and techniques don't get the same time to develop. I'm worried you'll push too far and not have the foundation of years of experience to fall back on."

With a small shudder I remember Kirito's fight from the shopping trip. Before then I'd have said Kirito's skill was second to none. But that man had turned around his fighting style with ease. It was also turning out that he had really been nothing special. No doubt Astrid far outstrips him in both talent and status.

"Oh look, an enemy!" Pronouncing that with a happy voice, Astrid jogs ahead of me.

"Huh?" Focusing forward I see a Kobold fighter approaching us, apparently unconcerned by our overwhelming numbers.

Roaring it spreads its arms to attack and…

It's dead.

I hadn't even seen Astrid move.

One second she was casually approaching it, the next…

"Well, no sense wasting it, I leave its stone to you Asuna!"

Nodding mutely, I jog toward the body. Kneeling down even in my state of disbelief I'm able to cleanly remove the stone before the rest of the column catches up. Afterall, its an action I've repeated hundreds of times at this point.

"Good… Good…" Astrid mumbles. "When Loki told me you're still very inexperienced I was worried, but you've done well so far."

"All I did was extract a stone," I retort. "But what was that slash, I couldn't even see it!"

Giggling slightly, Astrid covers her mouth with one of her gloved hands. The white material unmarred by blood or dirt.

"I am level three," Astrid tells me calmly. "I would be embarrassed if a level one could track my movements."

"R-right." I stutter out. "And Goran is even stronger than you?"

Titling her head in that distinctive way of hers, Astrid's black cat ears twitched back and forth in time to the swaying of her tail.

"Maybe," she concedes. "I'm faster but he's stronger as is the way of things between our races. He has been a part of Loki familia for many years at this point and has built himself up a reputation that landed him the position of captain."

"Do you want the position?"

"Not particularly," she denies with a shake of her head. "Too much pressure and paper pushing. A job I'm really not missing after our vacation."

Lapsing into silence I consider her words. Does this mean that Astrid is possibly the strongest adventurer in the world? Giving voice to my thoughts, I ask her.

Laughter, like clear peeling bells emits from her throat. Not just her but I can hear it from the party members who are within earshot.

"God no." She laughs. "You'll meet him fairly shortly. Leader of Freya familia, they call him the last knight. Level four. He's the only one I know of to have reached that milestone since the… Well since the old elites disappeared."

Disappeared.

Not dead, or any other synonym, disappeared. Filing away the information for later examination, I pry further into the power levels of the world.

"Is anyone else close to level four, or is he in a world of his own?"

"I guess I shouldn't have been so dismissive earlier," Astrid sighs. "I'll hopefully hit it in a month or two, and Goran and Phineas should be in that same ballpark."

"And the leader of Ganesha familia?" I press, "She's a level three as well."

Shrugging her shoulders, Astrid has no answer. "Adventurers don't reveal their statuses to each other; therefore, I have no idea how close she is to a level up. Plus, I haven't fought her, so I don't know her strength."

Chewing my cheek, I try not to get disappointed by the answers. Nonetheless, I think I'm starting to get a feel for how the top familias in Orario stack up against each other. It seems like Freya and Loki are vying for the top while Ganesha is settling in at a comfortable third.

"Ah, the Tenth floor, stay close Asuna."

"Huh?" Getting pulled out of my thoughts, I cross the first room of a floor I've never entered before. The ceiling is high, probably ten metres at the lowest point. Instead of the rock from the first nine floors, I'm met with an odd sight, grass. Short brownish-green tufts of it form a carpet across the floor. Likewise, every here and there, another tree. But strangely, every single one is completely dead and barren of greenery. Also, the trunk's shape is odd. Almost as if the top of them is a handle.

Walking past one I brush its wooden surface with my fingers. No bark. The way it feels is that its already been carved, something imitating the shape of a tree.

Suddenly worried I snatch my fingers back in fear. What if it's a monster?

"I'm guessing you don't know anything about this floor?" Astrid asks with a smile.

Shaking my head with embarrassment, I realize that if they were monsters, Astrid would have dealt with them already.

"Well, we have time!" She informs me happily. "But first, you should experience the floor yourself!"

Continuing our march to the seventeenth floor, I realize that this in fact just one room we are currently in. The walls approach from both sides and form an entrance way further into the floor. There I see my next surprise.

"Mist?"

Entering the room, I wave my hand in front of me and it swirls away. It doesn't wet my hand or my clothes. Plus, I notice no difference breathing in here compared to earlier. Does that mean it's some sort of chemical based haze?

"Don't think too hard on it," Astrid advises. "The dungeon has a million seemingly impossible tricks, this is one of them."

Nodding mutely, I unconsciously move closer to Astrid. Any more than twenty feet away is totally obscured. I only have to hope that the senior adventurers can see better in this than I can.

"Oh look! An Orc!" Astrid points out happily.

"Huh?" Repeating my same stupid shock of surprise, I try to locate this so-called monster.

I hear it before I see it. The thuds of its feet impacting the ground alert me to its presence, approaching us from straight on.

"Now check this out!"

Astrid instructs me.

"Oh my god…" the thing is huge. Mouth dropping, I was totally unprepared for something like this. Standing around three metres tall, the thing is ugly, and borderline obese. Also, it's whole body is disproportionate. The limbs are too short and its body too long. It's pale green skin looks almost sickly in the mist.

Stopping in front of our party, it reaches out at one of the trees.

"What it it…" But my question proves unnecessary. Grabbing the handle looking like bit at the top, the massive monster uproots the tree in one motion. Only now do I appreciate how accurate my deductions had been. It looked like a handle because it was a handle. It looked like it'd been carved because it had been. Carved into a weapon. The tree had no roots. Instead its bottom was spherical creating an intimidating cudgel.

Things change on the tenth floor.

Kirito's words seem all too real at this point. A gigantic monster that used weapons. This is totally beyond the scope of anything I've experienced, even that Wall shadow. Monster parties are merely something that happens, and you need to prepare for.

A group of these, Orcs, Astrid had called them would annihilate anything in its way.

How do you even fight something that big?

"Be careful!" Crying out, I can't help but experience a knot of fear as Astrid approaches the beast.

Turning her head, she gives me a funny look.

Heart in my throat, my eyes bulge as the Orc brings it's cudgel down on a distracted Astrid.

This time I see the strike, at least I think I do. Barely even recognizing the Orc as an opponent she splits its weapon with her own in one lazy slash. The Orc doesn't even have time to acknowledge its failure before another horizontal swipe splits it in two.

Looking at the scenario now, I realize how foolish my fear had been. These people have gone much deeper and fought far stronger. Trying to calm my shaking hands it's a bad thing if even these monsters are scaring me off.

"Well?" Astrid asks with a smile.

"I… It's a little overwhelming to be honest."

"I meant why aren't you getting its stone."

"Oh right…" Chastised I run towards the top half of the fallen creature. This is my first time trying to get a stone from something this large. Driving my extracting knife in up to its handle, I'm surprised how easily it penetrates. I thought the skin would be much thicker. Ripping downwards, I create a one foot opening or so.

Looking into the rip, I see the stone. Larger than any I've laid eyes on before. However… the thought of reaching all the way in front for it is… repulsive.

Saying nothing, Astrid merely tilts her head at me as the approaching column of people gets steadily closer to our position. If they have to stop because I won't grab a magic stone…

Closing my eyes, I say a quick prayer to any god that will help me and reach in. Wrapping my hand around the hard object, I pull it out of its natural resting place. Depositing the stone in my pack, I look nervously at my previously pristine cloak. Its not horrible… But there and there. Black spots from some sort of offal I'm better off not knowing about.

"And that my dear Asuna," Astrid informs me, "Is why supporters always bring along a special pair of supporter gloves."

"Yes, ma'am." Resistance beaten down; I meekly accept her teachings.

"Aww, don't be like that," Astrid sulks alongside me. Rubbing my head with her left hand she tussles my hair like how an older sister may. "It's just important that you experience these things for yourself. Your life is on the line every time you step into the dungeon. If we coddle you now, it could end up killing you."

"I get that, I just feel so unprepared…" I say with a sweep of my arm, gesturing to the entire floor.

"Well, there's a lot more yet." Astrid replies with a light smile, sympathy in her eyes. "I don't envy your position. You're learning the dungeon perhaps faster than anyone has ever done so before."

For some reason the challenge in Astrid's words emboldens me. If I want to catch Kirito, then this is the first step. With their knowledge, it won't be long until I'm at least level with Kirito in that department. Mind made up I lock eyes with Astrid.

"I'm ready."

Matching me, we share a determined smile.

"Well then, let the instruction begin."

---

Kirito:

"Are you going to stop sulking?" Argo asks as we sit down for lunch.

In one of the safe rooms of floor nine, the four of us sit around and chew on the stale bread and disgusting cheese. After the shopping trip, Rain, Philia, and myself could afford little else. I don't know about how Argo's financial situation is doing. There's no way that kimono had been cheap and yet she hadn't blinked at the price buying it.

"Seriously, Kirito," Rain agrees in an exasperated voice. "She has to go because her familia is making her."

"It's not that," I disagree with a shake of my head. I understand why Asuna has to go. While I don't think I've been 'sulking' as they describe it, I understand precisely where it came from. Taking the direct route to floor nine from the surface, we'd paused at occasional intervals to fight monsters. Some of those fights had gone slower than others depending on how much work I left for Philia and Rain to do. On the seventh floor it happened.

The Raid group caught up to us. Hearing the footsteps of tens of people, we entered a branching path to let them by. On its own, it would have meant nothing, except for the man who led them. As he passed by, my vision connected with his. I think he was a werewolf animal person. Standing over six feet his frame dominated the room.

The look on his face was one of recognition and disgust. As if I was a cockroach he'd found in his house, soiling his expensive carpets. Or was it touched with jealousy perhaps? Anger?

I knew I'd never seen him before because there was no way I could forget him. However, he almost seemed familiar anyway. The way he looked at me certainly seemed to suggest that he knows who I am.

"Yeah, you're definitely sulking," Philia laughed, joining in as well.

Frowning, I didn't understand. The girls tended to be eerily accurate with their estimation of my moods. But if I was merely contemplating the man, then why am I sulking?

Probably because it isn't about him.

Grimacing, the thoughts I'd tried to avoid crop up again. While watching the raid pass, there was someone else who I'd recognized in that group. The lady who gave me the elixir, Shakmi Varna.

The four of us had gasped as she walked by. Almost as if she'd heard the near inaudible sound from forty feet away, her head turned towards us, scanned us, and ignored us.

Is that why I'm sulking?

Lately, I've been trying to be more honest with myself, yet I don't like the implications of this. Ever since Eina had informed me of her age, she continued to tread on the edge of my thoughts. Was it because I…? No, that's impossible.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I figure out what it is. I want to become stronger than her. That's it. She's strong enough to stop all of my skill-driven strength easily with one hand. Having been shown the ridiculous gap between us, I want o catch up to her. Yeah, that's it. Definitely.

"Urgh!" Groaning Argo crumpled her hair between her fingers. "It's that lady, isn't it?"

As one, Rain and Philia's faces change from one's of mild concern and disappointment to harsh glares.

"Guess its true what they say about men," Philia sighs, "they always want what they can't have."

"And what they have is never enough for them," Rain grumbles as a follow-up.

"That's not!" I sputter in pathetic defense. "The three of you are enough for me!"

Instantly, all four of us blush as my poorly thought out words echo around the chamber.

"Better not let Asuna hear that," Rain replies, always the first one to recover from these awkward situations.

"Did you mean what you said?" Philia asks with a tilt of her head, a faint redness remaining on her cheeks that won't go away. "Are you trying to form a…?"

"I-I don't know what you mean." I hesitantly reply, positive that I'm missing some secret meaning here.

"You're trying to form a harem." Philia clarifies.

Harem.

The word echoes over and over again through my mind. Filling it with strange thoughts. Walking around Orario with Rain and Philia each tucked under an arm. Sleeping on the bed at home, cuddled tightly with Hestia… Continual images of all the girls I know flash though my head.

Get a grip!

Yelling at myself, I slap my cheeks to focus on the present.

"Well that looked like a resounding yes," Argo sighed, leaning back against the rock wall. "With his propensity for saving women though, I shouldn't really be surprised."

"N-no, it's not like that!" I protest. "You're my friends, just friends. I'm not like… uh…" None of the words seemed to flow right out of my mouth. This time it wasn't because my mouth wasn't working, and I couldn't get the words out. It was that all the words that came to mind were lies.

I had imagined them all as my girlfriends at one point or another.

I had thought about how beautiful they all are multiple times.

These weren't exactly the best defenses. But I'm a teenage boy! I rage silently. Somehow, I don't think puberty is an excuse that's going to work here.

Strangely enough, the girls don't say anything in answer. They merely sit there silently chewing their bread. Exchanging an odd glance amidst themselves, otherwise they stared at nothing, as if contemplating something.

Feeling that same sensation of cold chills down my back, I wonder what danger I've just incited now.

---

Suguha:

"How did you know?" Walking side-by-side with Yukiko we make an odd couple. I was dressed in the school uniform plus a light spring jacket to fight off the final chills of early spring. Yukiko on the other hand was wearing fancy black gloves and a luxurious long red coat. Buttoned up halfway she looked like a model ready for a catwalk.

Catching my gaze, she looks down at herself. "I'm a little overdressed for the weather, aren't I? Practically ready for a blizzard."

She'd mistaken my jealousy for curiosity as too how much she's wearing. Looking closer I can see the faint sheen of sweat accumulating on her brow. Regardless, she still smells like cherry blossoms.

"Why do you wear it then?" I ask, allowing myself to be distracted from my first question.

Grimacing, Yukiko hesitates. Giving me one, then a second glance she sighs. "I suppose you have a right to know. If you blackmail me with it then I only have myself to blame."

Looking at her seriously, my focus on learning about DOO has faded for the moment. How could any girl, or person really, pass up on what's to be a juicy tale?

Taking a moment to properly arrange her coat around herself, Yukiko talks while walking, no set destination in mind. Just anywhere away from prying ears.

"If you haven't figured it out by now… I come from a rich family. My mother likes to pick out my outfits and dress me. It's not so bad sometimes. Other times, like today, I'm dressed like an early twenties businesswoman."

Yukiko's smile is self-deprecating as she pulls on her coat as if to emphasize how ridiculous the thing is.

Shaking my head, I disagree. "You pull it off really well though."

Frowning, Yukiko doesn't immediately shoot down my compliment. What a strange scenario. It hasn't even been two weeks since I pinned this girl to the floor and punched her in the face. Now, here I am trying to cheer her up.

"It doesn't really matter if I pull it off," Yukiko pouts, "its about wearing these silly things and not getting to be a normal schoolgirl."

"I don't think that was ever going to happen," I chime in with a laugh.

"Was that a compliment of an insult, Suguha?" Yukiko asks with a faint teasing smile.

"Guess you'll never know," I shoot right back.

Both of us breaking into faint chuckles, we give each other small smiles. While we certainly aren't quite friends, I can feel a budding comradery. A shared drive and sense of humour.

Ending the moment with a cough, Yukiko continues. "Anyway, that was just to explain the outfits. The main source of money comes from Grandfather, or came from my Grandfather, I suppose."

"Came?" I ask, a sinking feeling in my heart.

Nodding quickly, Yukiko has the beginning of tears welling at the corner of her eyes.

"He was the head for security at Toto highspeed internet. They were ensuring that the NerveGear's connection was fast and secure. I still don't understand why he decided to check out the game for himself."

Breath hitching, I stare open mouthed at Yukiko. She too had lost someone to DOO. Except, that wasn't quite true, Kazuto is still alive. Her Grandfather had perished there.

"That day I snapped at you… He had died just the past weekend. I was so angry at him, and hearing you had a brother in there that was still alive… I don't know."

Reaching out, I grasp Yukiko's hand in mine, the only solace I can offer the poor girl.

Using her free hand, she caressed her cheek, right where my fist connected.

"I owe you an apology and thanks Suguha."

"For what?"

"An apology for what I did that day to you. You care about your brother so much and I made fun of that bond you share. And uh," Pausing a strange blush rises to Yukiko's cheeks, "thanks for punching me. It brought me to my senses…"

This time its my turn to blush, flexing my right hand I recall the sensation. The only time I've struck someone with my hands.

"Is that what I'm supposed to blackmail you with?" I ask, trying to get the conversation back on track.

Coughing awkwardly, Yukiko begins again. "Umm, not quite. You see, my grandfather is where it began, but my father is who you care about."

"I care about?"

Nodding, Yukiko explains, "You see, he works for RECT progress."

Practically shivering from the information, I'd heard the name just yesterday. The inheritors of the DOO servers. No wonder Yukiko knew so much. But…

"Why were you at the hospital on Sunday?"

"That? My father wanted to check to make sure the hospitals internet connection was up to stuff. He keeps pulling out hair saying stuff like the upload and download rates are too low to make sense. I don't really understand personally."

Frowning I didn't fully understand the words either, however, anything that could jeopardize my brother's life is a problem.

"Still not really blackmail material," I point out.

Shifting awkwardly, Yukiko looked like she didn't want to continue. "Well you see, the government went around collecting NerveGears after their capacity to kill was revealed. He thinks I don't know, but he confiscated a couple to perform secret tests on. I don't know what he's trying to figure out, but I know his possession of them isn't legal."

Now I was truly stunned. Here it was. The last piece I'd need. "Would you be willing to…"

Nodding strongly, Yukiko smiled at me. "Of course. I'll get you a headset and a connection path."

Stepping forward I wrap the girl into a tight hug. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Tentatively, Yukiko returned the gesture.

For over a minute we stayed like that, as she rubbed my back to calm my shaking figure.

"Are you sure about this though?" Yukiko asked.

Her voice sounded as weak as I felt.

Not answering I merely nod my head against her shoulder.

"If your sure, then make sure you survive. I'm not having your death on my head!"

Disengaging from the hug, I give Yukiko a big smile. Trying to put all of my confidence in it. While the words were aloof on the surface, I could sense the fear underneath them. A tangible beast that lurked in her eyes. Not fear for herself, but fear for me.

"I'll survive," I assure her. Holding her hands tightly, I try to transfer my feelings to her. My need to do this, my desperation to survive it. "And when I've returned, I'll tell you about it and everything I learned there."

"Okay!"

Returning my smile, the fear faded as we sealed our promises to each other. Another bond to help me return.