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.

21. Chapter 19

Author's Note:

'ello again.

I meant to get this chapter out last Thursday, but it took longer to write than I anticipated. Plus, I lost essentially the entire weekend to various things. Oh well, I still believe it was faster than my last two (Maybe).

Anyway, hopefully you enjoy it. I must say, things are progressing a lot slower than I'd initially anticipated. Nonetheless, things are still moving, which is a good thing.

Later,

-asdf

---

Chapter 19 – The Endless Trials

?:

"…Where am I…?"

The soft voice is the only recognizable sound in the darkness. A small figure, indistinguishable in the pitch darkness, tries to make out their surroundings.

"…This is… a wall?"

Continuing to explore their surroundings, the feminine voice is young and innocent. A newborn child exploring their world. Revelling at their newfound consciousness, the child finally discovered one part of the room that was different from the rest.

"This is… not a wall?"

Finding an empty space in front of her thin fingers, the child had encountered their first choice. To stick to their familiar home… Or to go on an adventure. Hand trembling in the slightly cooler air, a rush of new emotions struck the girl. Fear, excitement, uncertainty. Along with them, a deep-seated curiosity.

Mind made up; the child began on her path of discovery. A search for freedom.

---

Asuna:

"Is that all you have to say to me?" Pressing Kirito, I take another step towards him, ending well within the range of what's socially acceptable. Standing vis-à-vis, only a few feet separate us. My field of view narrows until his face is the only thing in it. Even the exhaustion and pain from my head fade as I lock in on him. Rain's right, I'm the one that ditched him, I'm the one that needs to put this right.

"What else do you want me to say?" Kirito answers softly.

"I… I just…" Words trailing off, my vision goes black for a moment as I stumble forward. As my senses return, I find myself wrapped securely in Kirito's arms. Body shaking slightly, I look hesitantly up at him.

"Why did you do that?"

"I-I didn't mean to!" I stutter back at Kirito's quiet voice. Face going red, I try and pull myself out of his grasp. Vision blurring again from the speed, I'm unable to stand upright. Starting to fall backwards, I stop a foot from the ground.

As my vision slowly straightens out again, Kirito's face occupies all of it. His concerned eyes hovering only inches above mine.

"You're completely out of mind, aren't you?" Kirito accuses me.

Nodding imperceptibly, I don't trust my tongue to say anything.

"You pushed yourself too hard to rescue me…"

Sniffing, I answer condescendingly, "I know my limits." Why did I say that?

Thankfully, Kirito smiles. "You always were good at putting me in my place. I'm getting a big head without you around."

"W-well, it sounds like I need to show up more often!"

"I'd like that."

A tense silence falls between us. As it does, I finally appreciate our position. Kirito's on one knee, supporting my back with his left arm. His right lies casually across my stomach, no longer being used to support me.

Moving, my feet, I try to stand back up again. It's too embarrassing to allow him to support me like this.

"Sit down for awhile," Kirito soothes me, pushing me towards the floor. Accepting the motion, I allow myself to be deposited softly against the rocky floor.

"We-we need to get going," I declare stubbornly.

"You are absolutely correct," he laughs slightly. "Something is wrong on this floor. But, without you, we aren't getting out." Leaving the ominous statement there, he extracts a mind potion from his bag. "Here, it's my only one."

Reaching hesitantly, I stop myself before I touch it. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Kirito answers confidently, inserting the vial into my hand. Allowing it to remain there for a moment longer than necessary, I relish in the contact.

Mustering my courage, I unstop the vial and down the whole thing in one gulp. Discarding the glass tube, I turn to stare at Kirito. "Are you going to say yes to dating Rain and Philia?"

"I… Uh, what?"

Pressing forward, I refuse to let Kirito escape this. "Are you planning to start dating both of them? Rain mentioned that they're trying to convince you."

"I-I, that's, I mean…" Bowing his head, a moment of silence passes before Kirito raises his head again. When he looks at me again, his expression is completely different. The fluster is gone, and his eyes are hard. Those piercing black orbs, with limitless determination behind them. "Yes. I want them to be happy, and I think this is the best way to do that."

"Oh… What about me?"

"Of course, I want you to be happy as well, Asuna."

Smiling ruefully, the hypocrisy of the words is plain as day. And yet… Kirito has clearly confronted this problem already. He's struggled with it and overcome it. "You know, I've had a goal since that first time you rescued me in the dungeon. I wanted to catch up to you. To become as strong as you were. To be able to stand beside you and declare that I'm your equal…"

"Asuna…?"

Mind made up; I bury that part of me that always acts aloof. The part that wants me reject everyone any time I display any small weakness or vulnerability. "As I got to know you though, it changed."

"…"

"Now, I want to be a woman worthy of…"

"GRAOOH!"

The trumpeting call echoes loudly through the room, drowning out my words. A wave of disappointment crashes through me as my chance disappears. The one time I was able to bare my feelings to Kirito: ruined.

"We need to leave!"

Pulling my hand, Kirito all but drags me to where everyone else is already prepared to leave. An exhausted Philia is regaling my familia with the tales of her trek through the floor with no aid but an injured Kirito. An injury I didn't fix. Silently berating myself, I pull my hand from Kirito's and draw my staff. My mind isn't fully healed, but it's good enough for a few casts.

"Are we fighting?" Lind asks as I show up. Even with the presence of Kirito he seems to be in a good mood. Whatever Rain did to help them hold the line against the swarm of monsters seems to have endeared the girl to the group of men. Even now, staring down another potential monster party, Lind doesn't seem overly concerned.

"No," Kirito answers, instinctively taking the position of leader. It irks me slightly, but I realize I also turned to look at him. "We're running out of resources. Rain, how's your mind doing?"

"I haven't used my magic at all," the girl answers instantly.

"Good, you'll act as our primary mage then. Philia and I'll protect you. Loki familia will be our spear to frontline any rushes."

The words are confident. They're a leader's words. As such, everyone just inherently accepts them. Heart fluttering slightly with pride, I jerk my head at Lind. The gesture was probably unnecessary, but he nods in acceptance. Waving his hand, the rest of the party forms up around him and leads the way out of the room.

Picking up the pace, we're almost running by the time we hit the corridor. Leaving Lind to set the pace, no one complains. Instead of running with them, I fall back beside Rain. "How long is your chant?"

"A little shorter than yours," She answers after a brief pause. Eventually deciding there was no reason to hide the information. "Forty seconds or so, I'd guess."

"You guess?" I press. The fact that she doesn't have it timed yet is baffling. Her party needs to know its length exactly so that they can plan ahead.

Blushing slightly, Rain snaps at me. "I'll do it in 35, happy?"

"All I wanted was a length." Returning to Lind's side, I pass the information to my familia. They accept the information stoically. After all, it means less to them then me. I'm the one that will have to coordinate their retreat back behind Rain when she unleashes her magic.

Rain's magic.

It's somewhat disconcerting that my one claim to fame has disappeared. I used to be the only one of the four that had magic. Now, upon hitting level two, all three of them got a spell. While I'm happy that they're getting stronger, it makes me feel useless. They have no need for me anymore. The three of them have continued running forward just fine without Argo and me.

"Monsters ahead."

Lind's voice brings me back to the present. Glaring at the pack of Al-miraj, I hand out orders. "Cut through them. Don't let the one's behind us catch up." Drawing my rapier, I move to do just that.

Running point first toward the pack, I continue to pick up speed until I collide with them. Speed far exceeding their reactions, a cloud of ash swirls about in my wake as I pierce through their formation.

Unable to keep up with what just happened, the rest of the monsters alternate between turning around to look at me and continuing to stare towards the rest of my party. The decision proved inconsequential as my party slaughtered the stunned creatures. In barely a couple seconds only ash was left in our wake.

Waving them forward, I fall in beside Lind again. The panting is heavier than it was before. The increased adrenaline and energy wasted on the rabbits draining more of our precious stamina. It takes me back to some of the first things I leant about the dungeon.

'The dungeon is sly. It's far easier to kill someone who can't fight back any longer. It will wear you down, one obstacle at a time. When you can no longer stand up straight, when you are out of items, out of resources, that's when the dungeon really bears its fangs.'

I've seen the knowledge be proved true numerous times before now. Kirito and Philia are a great example of that. Separating Rain from them, forcing them to a lower floor. Then, only after wearing them down did it send a large monster party to take them out. Sometimes I wonder why I still enter this insane place.

"Be on high alert."

"What?" Turning to look at Kirito, I'm confused by his words. Not only are they strangely formal, they don't make lot of sense. The monster party is behind us and we can hear it. What on earth does he want us to watch out for?

"This number of monsters, it's unnatural," he continues. "I'm worried what we will find when we hit the main path."

Frowning, I focus on running. Hopefully the rest of my familia can't see how uneasy the words make me. While we've definitely encountered more monsters on this floor than I expected too, there's no real evidence to back up Kirito's claims. What makes him so confident?

Constantly fretting over Kirito's claims, I continue the sprint in silence. The only accompaniment to my thoughts is the sound of labored breathing and the distant clicks of claws and hooves on stone. Simply running on this floor is hard enough. Every surface is uneven, taking concentration to maintain balance and find the next footing. Despite that, our party of level twos tears across the rocky hallway.

The somewhat familiar landmarks pass across my vision in reverse order. The room where we last rested, the corridor we fought a monster party in. Finally, we dash through the entrance where Rain tried to hold off four minotaurs in. The memory of her tearing into one with reckless abandon still brings a small smile to my lips.

At the same time, another group bursts out of the passage on our left. "RUNNN!" Barely pausing to give us a glance, the group continues through to the right passage, the way to the main route. Unlike us, their group is broken into sections. The frontline adventurers, and the flagging supporters, unable to keep up with the higher statuses of the adventurers.

Right on the heels of the supporters is another group of monsters. The horde of creatures waiting anxiously to devour anyone that slips up. Or for the supporters: anyone who can't keep up.

Taking an intercept route, I guide our party the only logical direction, towards the right exit as well. Reaching the destination, my feet begin to slow. We'll arrive between the adventurers and the supporters. Should we keep going?

Yes.

They aren't familia. They aren't friends. People die every day in the dungeon. Their safety is their party's responsibility. Not mine.

And yet, I find my head turning to glance back at Kirito. The motion is almost imperceptible, but its there. A shake of his head. He has no responsibility to these people, so why? Why is he risking the safety of his friends? The people he loves?

Regardless, to my confusion, I slow down. As one, my familia slows around me. I can sense the questions as I do so, but none speak. They know they'll need their energy. "Hold this entrance." I command as the supporters' rush past us. They don't even thank us. "Our mage will deal with the monsters."

Stealing a glance at Rain's face, it's white with fear as she takes up the position as backline mage. Falling back, I allow Lind to take point as the rush of monsters is almost upon us.

"Hey," grabbing Rain's arm, I force her to look at me. "You can do this. It's the same spell you've cast before. The same chant. Don't worry about your surroundings. We'll protect you."

Letting her go, I cast one last confused glance at Kirito before turning back to the entrance. This fight is a mistake. We should have run. He's winning no points saving those supporters.

"Shields up! Nothing gets through!" Barking my last commands, the point is moot as the familiar cacophony of battle breaks out. Thunderous roars overlap with resolute war cries. Each combatant trying to out do the other. A very real battle of wills that sets the precedent for the first collision. Weeks of rigorous training against the rage of unholy abominations.

With perfect coordination, my familia moves forward the moment before impact. The additional momentum is essential in grinding the monsters to a halt. Thrusting weapons as the same time, and screams consume the small room. Numerous monsters fall as their black blood gushes forth. These are crushed underfoot as the second wave lunges towards the defenders. This is the worst part about this tactic. Monsters don't care about each other. They're perfectly willing to let a comrade die if it means getting even a chance at hitting an adventurer. Therefore, whenever one is beaten back, or injured, the others simply run over it. Nothing is more important to them than killing people.

Eyes scanning back and forth, I wait in the center of the formation on anxious feet. In some ways, my position is the most important. If anyone falls down or gets injured, then I'll have to stop up the gap that's left behind. Or if… Mind whirring, I come with dozens of possibilities. Different actions I may be forced to take depending on what happens. All of them predicated on not only the movements of the monsters, but the fighting capacity of my familia.

With the power granted to me by my race, I see a slight shift of colour in the back. Being mostly hidden behind combat, I jump straight up. Easily cresting a two-foot vertical, what I see makes my blood run cold. A rabid minotaur. The nature weapon in its hands is already coated with black blood. Swinging with reckless abandon, it tears into everything it can see. During my brief flight through the air, we lock eyes. Less than a tenth of a second, but its enough. It has a new goal now.

It's powerful roar splits even the din of combat. A signal for what's coming. Looking frantically at Rain, I realize it hasn't been long enough. Each second in combat feels like a lifetime. She's at least fifteen more from completion.

"Split first right!" Screaming the words, I dash forward and hope they heard. As one, my familia moves. Heart swelling with pride at the coordinated movement, I dash into the opening they left me. The gap between the center and the first member on the right had expanded as the two halves took half steps in opposite directions. The coordinated motion allows for holes to be generated at specific locations in the formation whenever necessary.

Bursting through, I'm left in a sea of monstrosity. Counting on the speed granted by my skill, I charge. Flashing Penetrator, the ability to penetrate something in a flash of light, or so Loki says. A skill that encourages straight forward motion. A linear system of combat unsuited for battle against other people.

Rapier held at shoulder height; I finally lock unto my ultimate target. The minotaur is getting ready to run. Landform axe tossed aside, it's down on all fours, hindleg pawing restlessly at the ground.

"Hragh!" Leaving scattered monsters in my wake, I barely register the thrown tomahawks that pass behind me, my speed surpassing their expectations.

"Groah!" Answering my howl, the minotaur takes off to meet me.

In the blink of an eye, we collide. The distance between us disappearing in an instant. Throwing my arm forward, the thrust is ungainly. I've never tried to attack at such speed before. Powered by my skill, the strike threatens to rip the sword from my hand. The ripping sensation reverts into a stopping force as the tip connects with the monster. My momentum is far more than its defense can handle as the momentary resistance is blown asunder.

Just before I can celebrate, the world shifts. A sharp pain from my midsection is accompanied by a view of swirling stone.

"Gah!" Breath blown out of me, I land roughly upon the floor, my vision finally stabilizing into a single image. Trying to peel myself off the ground, I gasp in pain at the horrible sensation in my stomach. Looking down at myself, I groan. The minotaur's horn in sticking out of it. The tip went straight through the leather armour I'd begun to consider impenetrable. Only now does the true stupidity of my actions strike me.

Gritting my teeth, I force myself to rise. Looking down at my right hand, I close my fist around the air where my sword should be. Ripped clean from my grip as I bounced off the monster. The area around me is still briefly clear of monsters. All thanks to the same minotaur I impaled myself upon. With my blade missing the magic stone, its death throes are preventing the other monsters from getting past it to me.

Taking one sharp breath, I pull the horn out swiftly. A whimper threatens to get past my teeth as another wave of pain assails my body. But! I've seen Kirito fight through far worse than this! Holding unto the image of him standing up, leg still broken, blood pouring from where the white bone shone through, I force myself forward. Shifting the horn to my left hand, I prepare myself to dash towards the minotaur. I need my rapier back if I'm going to make it back in time.

5… 4…

The time left until the thirty-five seconds Rain claimed to need was drawing to a close. Taking one last deep breath, I run. Ducking under the claws of a Liger fang, I leap for the dying body of the minotaur. Strength finally beginning to fade, its motions are becoming slow and clumsy. Extending out my hand, my fingers close upon the hilt. At the same time, a hellhound appears above me. Waiting in ambush, the creatures pounce is too fast for me to use the rapier. Left hand instinctively rising, the horn proves its worth by effortlessly slicing through the weaker monster.

3…

Ripping my blade from the minotaur's chest, a distinctive crack echoes out, as the monster begins to fade into ash, so does the horn in my left hand. The sensation of a solid object just dissolving into nothingness is strange.

2…

Beginning to run again, my pace is slowed by my injury. Despite my status, the impact also hurt my endurance. A shortness of breath slows my steps. Feeling the writing on my back begin to burn, my skill pushes me forward. Far faster than I should be able to move in my condition.

1…

"Hah!" Pushing myself through the final ranks, I kick off the floor, yelling at the same time. Ignoring the concerning ripping noise coming from my midsection, I throw myself towards where Rain has finished her chant.

Zero.

Hitting the ground at the same time the thirty-five seconds expires, a burst of pain consumes me. As a scream tears itself from my throat, I almost miss the name of Rain's spell, "Thousand Sword Rain!"

Forced to watch through tear-stained eyes, the sight of her translucent blue blades is a welcome distraction from the pain. I can't see the results of her magic, but based on the volume of screaming, she's fulfilling her end of the deal.

"Can you heal yourself?"

"Huh?" Muttering in confusion, I gaze into Kirito's blurred face, the veil of tears obstructing my view.

"Can you heal yourself with your magic? We don't have any hi-potions left."

"We don't have time," I murmur back. Putting a hand on the ground I attempt to push myself to my feet. More monsters are coming. We need to get moving. After a second my arm gives out as my abdomen flares in pain. Already a puddle of blood is starting to form under me.

"Cast your magic," Kirito soothes me. "Leave the running to me." Without saying anymore, his warm arms surround me. His left around me shoulder while his right goes under my knees.

"But your arm…" I murmur in concern.

"Is not important right now," he insists. "Cast, now."

"Let it rise within me and heal.

Let my blood grant you life."

Each word is so hard to say. Not only is the wound causing me problems, but I also have to deal with the bouncing as Kirito sprints across the floor. Every now and then, another drop of his sweat falls on me. Taken together, my grasp on the magic feels weak and tenuous.

"You can do this Asuna," Kirito tells me fiercely. Perhaps detecting my surging doubt. "You sacrificed yourself for my pride. Now save yourself, alright?"

Is my injury that bad?

"I can't bear to lose you. So please… for me. For my own selfishness."

The anguish in Kirito's voice. Focusing on that alone, I find the magic easier to grab. To wash away that despair.

"Give your pain to me and find shelter in my song.

Give me your wounds and find harmony in my arms."

Even through my closed eyes, I can see the gold particles as they rise around us. I like this colour. It's a nice change from the watery blue that seems to occupy the rest of my life.

"I am the healer of wounds and arbiter of peace,

Undine's blood!"

There's little of the normal force behind my voice as I finish the spell. Instead, a sense of peace floats along with the quiet words. Despite my initial thought to keep the healing focused on me, I can feel the energy spread out. The magic searching for any and all injuries to heal.

Opening my eyes, I track the motes as they swirl around my party, most of them do indeed head for my wound. However, a surprising number go to Kirito's right arm. It must be worse than he's letting on. The remainder are then split between everyone else. No one is without injury after fighting this many times.

"I… I can walk now." I croak out.

"I don't think so," Kirito flatly refuses. "We're going a little faster than a walk. Besides, I get the feeling we'll need your other spell when we reach the main route."

"You think… More are coming?" I ask weakly. The thought of casting another spell is frightening. I hate that feeling of being unable to focus. Of passing out as my entire supply of mental energy runs out.

"I… Yes." Kirito admits reluctantly. "Every monster I've encountered on this floor has been heading in the same direction. Towards the main route."

"Why?" I ask pointlessly. I don't expect an answer and Kirito doesn't give me one. Only a concerned frown. Eyes closing again, I rest my head briefly against Kirito's chest. With my spell finished, the bouncing has an almost hypnotic feel to it. It would be all too easy to fall asleep.

Resisting the urge, I force my mind to work again. To churn back through the events of the day. Shift through the many different things that have happened. If anything, it should keep me awake. From that initial terror at the entrance to the fifteenth floor, where Rain's distraught face spilt the news of Kirito and Philia being lost on the other side of a rockslide. Then the argument that led to Rain spilling news of a different variety. One I'd already begun to wonder about. Whether either of them had managed to seduce Kirito yet.

This led me to the most important question. One I'd tried to confront Kirito with, in that chamber where we saved him. Am I really prepared to join? Should I not just give up on Kirito and focus on helping my familia? But instinctively the answer roars into my mind. I can never abandon him. Not and remain who I am.

Eyes snapping open, a wave of energy fills me. "Kirito, I never properly explained why I left the party."

"Is this really the time?" He answers weakly, probably taken aback by insistent tone. "You have obligations to your familia, I understand."

"That's not it!" I almost yell at him. Raising my head, my face is inches from his. Despite the speed of our travel not changing, his eyes are locked on mine. I don't know how he isn't crashing, but that's not important right now. "That day in the alley. The one where Syr was kidnapped… It was Freya familia that attacked us. It was because of me."

I wait anxiously for Kirito to yell at me. To berate me for putting everyone in danger. Yet the inevitable words never come. Merely a slight frown as his eyes drift back to the path in front of him.

"I… don't think that's true." The words start slowly but begin gaining force. "First, even if your familias are in a competition, it doesn't make sense to attack you out of the blue. Also, and I don't mean to sound conceited, it seemed like they were after me."

Frowning as well now, I try and think about that day again. The date beforehand had become but a distant memory, a small sliver of light compared to the darkness that covered the rest of the day. Like a narrator for a documentary, I hear my goddess' words as she talked to me that night. Identifying the attackers and telling me their most likely goal.

Did I just force myself to take responsibility?

Cutting through the delusions I'd put on the memories; I start to notice the inconsistencies with what I'd always assumed. A lack of noticeable motive. The lack of a follow-up. Plus, I hadn't even known Syr, she was Kirito's friend.

"I… I so wanted to help you that…" Collapsing back against Kirito's chest, tears well in my eyes. Burying my face into his shoulder, I whisper an infinite number of apologies. For the pain I caused him, for the chances I lost, and for the opportunities that are no longer possible.

---

11th-floor:

Each step sent a new stab of sharp pain up Leafa's legs. The pace was furious and unrelenting. Only two things kept her legs pumping. The first was the young cat girl beside her. Silica refused to give up the sprint down to the twelfth floor. She was absolutely determined to make sure Kirito was alright. He also happens to be the second reason.

Onii-chan.

Her precious brother. The one that saved her life. The one who was far kinder than he realized. He instinctively moved to help others. Even if he'd claim that he doesn't.

Leafa was convinced he'd found his way to sixteenth floor. Even if he had no intentions of going there, that's where he was.

"Do you think Kirito's alright?"

Silica articulated Leafa's thoughts with unerring precision. In response Leafa could only smile. That despite the ruthless pace they were keeping, Silica still found the energy to worry about him. Leafa wasn't sure she could even find the breath to reply.

"Kirito?"

Instead another voice interrupted their conversation. It was the woman leading the expedition. Standing just over six feet, she was taller than most of the men.

"Of Hestia familia?"

"Yes…" Leafa pants wearily in response. Despite the level tone of the woman's voice, she hadn't slowed their pace at all. "How do you know him?"

"He suffered injury on account of my failure. However… I somehow wouldn't be surprised to hear he managed to get mixed up in this event as well."

"You know him well?" Leafa pressed suspiciously. The thought of competing against this woman for Kirito's attention… That's a frightening concept.

"Not really. Only enough to see his potential… as well as the precarious position he's gotten himself into."

"Precarious position?" Silica queries. The woman's words were spoken with a touch of humour.

"You two don't understand? I find that hard to believe with how hard you're running to help him from a danger he may be involved in."

As comprehension clicked for Leafa, she stumbled, stride breaking. Left a couple metres behind the others. Face gone completely red; she was hard-pressed to catch back up. "Did-did he confide in you as to what his decision is?"

The woman only raised an eyebrow in response. "I think you have the wrong idea of our relationship." With that she resumed her place at the head of the marching formation.

Leafa and Silica shared a chastised look. Cheeks burning with humiliation, Leafa couldn't believe she'd just asked that. To the captain of Ganesha familia. The number of stupid things she'd done all because of her Onii-chan…

"Everyone be on high alert. We're entering the twelfth floor, the source for the first outbreak. Don't worry about decency, we'll be slaughtering our way through every monster we find until we reach the pantry."

In an instant, her words changed everything. Massive numbers of monsters roaming the twelfth floor. They'd just about died on the tenth. It was a sobering reality that came crashing back down upon Leafa.

"Let's go."

Just going with the momentum, Leafa found herself lockstep with Silica. The slightly shorter girl struggling to maintain the fast pace. Glancing at each other, they shared a panicked look. The only people they had to rely on for protection were from other familias.

"We'll be alright. She has a reputation for protecting people. If she didn't think they could, she'd have left you back on the ninth."

Heathcliff's words perfectly cut through the heart of the storm brewing in their hearts. "You… know her well?" Leafa asks surprised. Their meeting had been one of strangers.

"No, only her reputation. She does her best to protect all adventurers. It's pretty easy to find stories of people she's helped before. I'm honestly surprised this is your first-time hearing about her."

"I… don't get out much." Leafa admits to Heathcliff. The composed man merely raising a questioning eyebrow in reply. Thankfully, the roar of monsters interrupts the conversation so Leafa doesn't have to admit her very singular lifestyle.

As one, the seven Ganesha familia members fan out, entering an arrow formation. All six people on the sides wield a small shield and a short spear. As far as Leafa could tell, the lady at the point of the spear had no weapon.

"Groah!" Lumbering to face them, the orc wielded a landform club easily. Roaring, the monster swung the club down with a mighty two-handed blow straight at the indigo-haired woman. With a contemptuous sigh, she punched the club. A swift jab with the left hand.

As the forces collided, a giant boom was created. Pieces of the landform were blown across the room, shards flying in all directions. Without missing a beat, her right hand followed up. The wicked gleaming metal spikes on her golden cestus craving flesh. The punch didn't hit the ogre. It went through it. The absurd force of the blow carving a hole all the way through its midsection.

"W-what!?" Silica's screeched question was echoed perfectly by Leafa's stunned expression. It was the first time either of them had witnessed the power beyond level two. Into the realm of absurdity that high level adventurers could trod.

"That was quite the… hole punch, wouldn't you say?" Yuna chips in, stopping at the other girls' side.

Nautilus snorts at the bad pun, shaking his head slowly. "Been a while since I've heard one of those from you."

"How about, the whole feeling of the punch left the orc empty?"

Leafa and Nautilus groan as Yuna's attempts to be funny.

"I thought it was funny!" Silica shot back."

"Why thank you," Yuna accepts with a nod of her head. "It's rare to find someone with just exquisite taste."

The light-hearted joking helps ease the fear and ominous aura of floors they've been to before.

"Sounds like the real fight is further ahead."

"Yes captain!"

Completely ignoring the laughing girls, the woman led her familia onwards, towards sounds only her heightened senses could currently pick up on.

"I must admit, that was surprising," Heathcliff added on drily. The tone at complete ends with the words.

All Leafa could do was nod in agreement. No wonder she didn't have a weapon. All she needed was her fists to tear through these creatures. No, her fists themselves are weapons. Shuddering slightly at the thought of getting hit by that woman, Leafa forced her legs to move. As she'd thought, Ganesha familia hadn't slowed to make sure they were present. They'd do it with or without Leafa and co.

Getting closer to the second of the great chambers on the twelfth floor, noises began assaulting their senses. Distorted by the mists, the origin was still discernable. A great number of adventurers shouting at each other. Behind that, the shrieks of monsters.

Nerves escalating, the group enter the mouth of the chamber. Swirling at its entrance was a great many number of adventurers. Leafa wasn't prepared for how many she recognized. It seemed the whole of Take Mikazuchi familia was here, busy arguing with a red-headed man. What Leafa presumed to be the rest of his familia hung back. One girl that Leafa had initially taken to be one of theirs stood off to the side, nervously fingering her mace.

"Do it." The indigo-haired lady commanded to the man on her right.

"SHUT UP!" The bellowing yell cut through both yells and monster shrieks alike. Almost as one, the adventurers paled, fearing something far worse than the normal monsters. "We are Ganesha familia, here to deal with the monsters. Tell us what you know."

"Yes sir," Ouka replied respectively, bowing slightly. "We were merely discussing the best way to handle the giant flood of monsters trying to traverse these caverns."

"They are coming from the south-east end, correct?" The woman asked, interrupting Ouka's conversation.

"Y-yes." Ouka stuttered slightly in response. Unnerved at facing a woman of a height with him.

"Deal with the one's that are in this cavern to the best of your abilities, I'm going to deal with the source." Waving her hand, the group split into two. Half of the men following her to the south-east tunnel, the other half prepping shields and making for the cavern proper.

"Leafa?" A quiet voice asked, finally locking onto their presence. "And Silica?"

"Don't forget us," Nautilus grumbled from the back, making his and Yuna's presence known as well.

"What's that Chigusa?" Mikoto asked, following her gaze to the people hiding behind where Ganesha familia had been.

"Is Kirito with you?" Sachi asked, a hint of desperation in her voice. The stress of the situation bringing back out a long-buried fear.

"Kirito!?" The red-haired man broke in. Scanning the new entrants, he sighed in disappointment. "Got my hopes up."

"Did you say Kirito's here?" The short-haired girl asks. Like the man before her, her scans scan hopefully over the participants.

"W-why does everyone know my Onii-chan…" Leafa complained.

"Haha, it seems like I'm missing out on quite the fellow," Heathcliff adds on.

At this Leafa can only groan at the impossibility of it all. How on earth did her loner brother run off and become practically famous? Even the Ganesha familia captain knows his name!?

"Uh, their leaving us behind," Silica informs Leafa, pulling gently on her sleeve.

"Huh? Oh, that's alright. He's probably on the sixteenth."

"Sixteenth?"

"Is something happening there as well?"

As a cacophony of concerned voices assault Leafa, she's forced to retreat a step.

"Shouldn't you be… You know, fighting the monsters?" Yuna asks at this point. "I don't think the three members of Ganesha familia can clear this cavern on their own."

"I was also about to mention that," Heathcliff murmurs to himself. Leafa suppresses a small chuckle at the words, the only person close enough to hear them. "Now then, separate into your two groups and comb this cavern in opposite directions. Got it?"

Whether it was his silver hair, the hard glint in his eyes, or maybe something else, the adventures reluctantly nod.

"You have less members, mind if we join you?"

"Sure," the red-haired half-elf sighs. "The name is Klein. We're in Modi familia… and some extras." Gesturing with his hand, Klein included another red-haired man leaning against the wall. It also included the girl that Leafa now had an interest in. The one who knew her Onii-chan.

Straightening her back, Leafa walked determinedly straight at the girl with short, brown hair. As Leafa opened her mouth to ask her how she knew him, the girl interrupted her. "You two must be Leafa and Silica, right?"

"I… Yes," Leafa replied stunned. The girl had pointed at them as she called out their names as well. "H-how do you know us?"

"Kirito, of course," she answers, a sly smile on her lips.

"Well he didn't mention you to us," Silica snaps back with some irritation.

"Jeez, I think Kirito must be deaf. He said you were nice." The girl grumbles back. "Anyway, the name is Lisbeth. I'm Kirito's blacksmith."

"Ooh!" With twin exclamations, Leafa and Silica match the girl in front of them with the little they've gotten out of Kirito about his contracted smith.

"That's so cool!" Silica squeals, her previous irritation gone.

"Uhh, the others are leaving, we should join them…" Upon Lisbeth's words, the girls finally realize that Modi familia and Heathcliff have ventured onto their side of the cavern. Ganesha familia entered the middle of the cavern. As long as all three groups were diligent in their duties, every monster should be exterminated.

"Well… let's get to it," Leafa sighed, entering the twelfth floor and her first fight with the monsters within.

---

?:

"This plan is ingenious," a god laughed, the sound echoing through the ominous man-made room. "Just destroying the pillars would have been good, but this? Priceless."

"I'm glad you like it, my lord," PoH answers easily, his hands clasped behind his back. The two of them could do little but wait as the rest of the plan was carried out.

"This will destabilize the entire city. Even with Loki and Freya remaining, it won't matter. They may have the strength, but Ganesha holds the hearts of the people. They're the ones that maintain order, that get justice for the common person. When the surface hears of today…"

"They'll despair…" PoH finishes, ecstasy shining in his eyes. He could practically imagine it already. All of those people, settling into this world, forgetting the sins of their people in the old world. If one thing about the situation disappointed him, it was that he couldn't hold the knife himself.

"I must know though," the god queried, "how exactly did you know that she'd come? That the captain of Ganesha familia itself would show up with only a couple second rate guards? You've been here for only a few months after all."

"I'm good at people," PoH chuckles slightly. "The people here are insane, but they are still people. Their ideals betray them. I heard many stories skulking around the city about how selfless the captain is. All I had to do was follow the logical conclusions of my plan and figured she'd want to enter immediately to solve the problems."

At this, the god smiles sadistically. "I think we'll get along extremely well. Let's wait for Imizael to get back. Then we'll toast to the death of the Ganesha familia captain, the breaking of the new cane, the first blow heralding the end to the era of adventurers!"

---

Kirito:

Senses… Overwhelmed…

Slowly but surely, I was losing the ability to focus. Asuna's breath was tickling my neck. Her light body fit snuggly in my arms. At least the crying had stopped. At the same time, however, trying to sprint across the uneven ground while ignoring the stares of my companions is eating all of my focus.

"Mhmm…"

So cute…

Kicking the point of a particularly jagged stone, I stumble. The collision of my metal-toad bock on rock creates an unpleasant screech throughout the area. Asuna's head lolling to the side, it ends back against my shoulder as I stabilize.

Once again, I try and force myself to look at where I'm going. I can sense the displeasure from Loki familia that I'd disrupt their party leader's sleep. After all, she needs it.

The winding passages were starting to get slightly larger. Why it was designed like that, I'm not sure; however, the meaning is clear. We're getting closer to the main path. The differences can be subtle, but between passages on the extremity of the floor and the center, there's often quite a noticeable difference in their dimensions. Perhaps to accommodate for a larger number of monsters.

Like the thought was a sign, the floor began to rumble. There's only one answer, a monster party. Plus, there's the one behind us. It's just too many. There's no way this is a random event. It's not the monsters themselves seem particularly distressed either. They're just… moving.

For the first time, a small shiver of fear works its way up my spine. I'd never realized how much I depend on monsters behaving normally. The same independent walking, attacking anyone they find. All that's happening now is that the monsters seem to be travelling in the same direction. Like this quadrant of the floor isn't livable anymore. Isn't liv…

"Is there a pantry around here?"

My question pierces the sounds of running that had surrounded us. Leading the group, I can't see their expressions, but I can imagine their confusion as they glance at each other.

"Uh, yeah… I think so," Lind answers slowly.

Lind. He's a person I still can't figure out. Despite how he kept getting mad at me in the past, he's been nothing but cordial today.

"Can…" Cutting off my words, I stuff that line of thought. We need to focus on survival right now. "We have a decision to make. There's a very real chance that these monster parties will continue to follow us. Do we run straight for the fifteenth and risk dropping them on people, or try and drop them somewhere else?"

"Straight to the fifteenth," Lind answers instantly. "I'm not risking Asuna and the rest of my familia on this."

"That's a little harsh," Philia chastises him.

"No, that's the dungeon." Lind answers. "It happens, people get injured and they drop pass parades on other parties."

"It sounds cruel… But I think he's right, Kirito." Rain adds on. "We're running out of resources. Almost any other party is likely to fair better than us at this point."

I hate this.

Logically I know I have no allegiance to these people. Helping those supporters form earlier left Asuna in this condition. I know I can't help everyone. That people die in the dungeon everyday. So why do I feel like I'm betraying them? Leaving them to die?

"We make for the fifteenth."

Nothing answers my declaration except the continued pounding of boots on stone. After another minute, we were there: the main route. A left-hand turn and we'd be on our way back to the surface.

"Urgh… Did I fall asleep?"

So cute!

Looking down at Asuna's sweet face that is still drowsy with the lingering vestiges of sleep, I feel my heart flutter in reply. I wish I had a spare hand to poke her cheek. The innocence in her expression is a far cry from the warrior who refused to be beaten. Those days feel like a lifetime away. Finding her in the dungeon, trying to fight monsters with a club cosplaying as a rapier.

"Good morning," I reply, smiling widely at her confused expression.

"Huh… Argh!"

Realizing a distinctly un-ladylike scream, Asuna two-hand shoved her way out of my arms. Stumbling to a halt, the whole group struggles to stop as well.

Despite falling from a sprint, Asuna's level two status, combined with her own natural reflexes and skills, allow her to land on her feet. One leg spread to the side and the other beneath her, she stabilized her landing by planting her right hand on the ground.

As Asuna slowly stands up, an anxious ripple began to emanate among the group. We don't have time to stand still.

"Well, what are you standing there for? We need to go!" Cheeks glowing like a furnace, Asuna turns away from us and begins running towards the main route.

All I can do is sigh and shake my head in amusement. As strange as ever that one is. Nonetheless, as I begin running again, I find a peculiar sadness inside me. Without her weight, running is easier, I should be relieved. I'm not. I miss her weight, her closeness. Having her sleep on me…

A chill of terror consumes me. Almost gasping from the sensation, my head whips back and forth trying to find the source. On either side, Rain and Philia have begun running directly beside me.

"You were drooling."

"Ki. Ri. To."

"I… I was just…" Starting to sweat, what can I say? That I was just imagining having her fall asleep, her head in my lap as we take an easy day? Just as my panic starts to hit critical levels, the two girls just sigh.

"I guess I can't be too surprised."

"She was first after all…"

"Uh, what?" It felt like the conversation was passing me by. Doing just that, Rain and Philia simply stare at each other, whole conversations passing between them. Meanwhile, I'm left in the middle, head swinging back and forth as I try and figure out what's happening.

"I think it could work…" Rain says, clearly referring to things outside of my sphere of knowledge.

"Oh no…"

Despite the words being whispered, every member of the party clearly heard them. Asuna spoke them as she entered the main route. Skidding to a stop there, she stared, horrified, down the right path.

"What…?" But my question proved pointless as I turn the corner.

The sixteenth and seventeenth floors aren't flat. They go up and down, with caverns and corridors of varying shapes and sizes. There were also a few notable places on the floors where two paths crossed each other without meeting due to a difference in height.

Here as well, the passage sloped down and opened into a cavern. It provided us with a first-class view of the horror in front of us. This was the culmination of my previous fears. A sea of monstrosity that stretched as far as I could see. They were briefly paused, the occupants swirling around. There was only one option for why that may be: a party of adventurers wouldn't be returning to the surface. Another familia left wondering why they never came home.

"Oh my…"

"Can anyone stand against that?"

"We need to leave, now." I'm surprised to find the words are mine. Despite how much they hurt, they're the right ones. We can't stand against that.

"Kirito!" Asuna chastises me. "How many are… I mean… We can't!"

"We'll do as much good leaving as we will staying, I assure her. "We'll warn everyone we find to get out of here." Placing a hand on her shoulder, I try to transfer as much sympathy as I can. Somehow, like me, she's managed to keep her naivety. The same insane feeling that we should be able to make a difference. A hope that we can beat back the darkness that suffuses this world.

"Yes… We'll be saving people by leaving…"

I understood how Asuna felt. One final squeeze of her shoulder and a sad smile was all I could offer her. As I go to remove my hand, hers covers mine. It's only for a moment, but it's enough. To allow us to move on for the moment.

Nothing more needed to be said. As one, we all turned around and began to run for the exit. Nobody cheered or let out sighs of relief as we began to run again. Only a solemn silence accompanied us as we left behind the sea of monsters.

As we run, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Despite our assumptions that we are already out, it wouldn't take much to change. Only a small delay would allow the horde of monsters to catch up…

"You won't escape…"

Gasping slightly, I'm not sure if the words were my imagination or not. However, I do know one thing for sure. We're still in danger.

Crack!

The loud noise echoes through the corridor. Sliding to a halt, we all know what that sound signifies. A monster party. One of the dungeons nastiest tricks. How many times is this? How foolish are we for ever thinking that we can descend into these corridors of death?

"Stand firm!" Asuna calls out. "We push through them!"

"Yes!"

…So, this is Loki familia.

I can do little more than watch in awe as they arm themselves and begin charging forward once again. I've never felt so useless before. All I have is a knife from Philia. Even if my right arm is functional again, there's nothing I can do. After all, I can't fight without my sword.

Inserting myself into the center of the spearhead formation, I trail behind Asuna and Lind who lead us. The rest of their party spreads out to either side of them. Looking at them, a small flash of jealousy enters me. They look good together. The blue-haired leaders just seemed to fit. The mage and the warrior. Two halves of the same coin.

"Engage!"

Cursing myself for getting distracted, I watch with awe as the warriors cut through the emerging monsters with a calm dedication. All the while they press forward towards the far side. It transcends simple status. This is the teamwork of the strongest familia in Orario. Even if this party is new, it's easy to see the mentorship and training involved in forming the new ranks.

"We're going to get past…"

Whirling to Philia, I stare at her in terror. Did she really have to say that? Did she have to give the dungeon a chance to prove us wrong?

"GROAHH!"

"What the hell was that?"

Rain's question was valid as our forward momentum stumbles for the first time.

"Keep going!" Asuna shouts in encouragement.

Despite her voice not shaking, it pales in comparison to the creature that created the sound. Soon, its silhouette blocks out the far end of the corridor. It's one that's becoming all too familiar: a minotaur. However, as we keep running towards it, I realize how inaccurate that description is.

It's a subspecies.

Normal minotaurs stand about two metres tall. This one is pushing three. Its fur is blue and shaggy. To compliment the colour, its skin is paler as well. The horns are thick and pitch black. I've heard of this before. Within Eina's extensive notes, it mentions a rare variant of minotaur.

The raving minotaur.

"Push through it!" Asuna's call is the right one. The rest of the monster party is starting to regroup. We need to get past this beast.

Rushing forward with everyone else, a growing knot of fear in my stomach begins to form. Drawing a throwing pick, I palm it in my right hand. The thin rod of metal seems so pathetic when compared to a beast like that.

"Do you think you can use your magic?" Philia asks from beside me.

She's right, this is what my spell is made for, individual targets. Yet… "It won't work. I need a sword to cast it."

It doesn't say that anywhere in the spell description, but I can feel it. It won't let itself be used on this knife. No, I won't let it be cast on this knife. Maybe it's my ego, or some stupid sense of pride, but I can tell. As I am right now, it won't work.

"Kraa!"

At that moment, Asuna charges. Dashing forward, she leaves the rest of us behind. She still hasn't explained her ridiculous speed, it must be a skill.

"Forward!" Lind commands moving the rest of Loki Familia in hot pursuit. Regardless, the gap between them and Asuna only grows as she approaches the raving minotaur.

"GROOAH!"

Letting out that deep-throated howl once again, the narrow corridor shakes under the force of it. Holding my breath, I wait for the inevitable collision. In its right hand it casually grips the giant landform axe in one hand. It looks like a toy when held by a creature of its size, however.

I almost miss the swing.

The speed at which it's swung far exceeded my expectations. Crashing into the ground, the whole weapon was a blur to my eyes as it moved. A cloud of dust of small stone fragments are sent up in the weapons wake, obscuring our view of the beast.

"Kya!"

Releasing another battle cry in response, Asuna confirms her survival from the initial attack. Emerging from the fading cloud, Asuna rushes the creature again, her rapier making multiple attacks per second.

The rest of use are forced to stop as the minotaur responds in kind. Swinging the axe casually in its right hand, it also tosses in attacks with its left, as well as the long horns on its head. The wild nature of the assault prevents anyone else from getting close.

Gritting my teeth, that helpless feeling returns, even stronger than before. Why can't I help her!?

"Ah shit, I need you Philia." Whirling around, I see what Rain has already noticed. The remnants of the monster party we ran through has recovered and is out for blood. Hate in their eyes, they rush towards us.

"I'll help," I offer, drawing Philia's daggers.

Both girls glance once at each other before looking at me. "I appreciate it Kirito," Rain says, "but I'd prefer if you found a way to deal with that blue minotaur."

Chastised, I slam the knife back into a makeshift sheath in my belt. Turning back around, I try and analyze the fight. Everyone except Asuna seems confused about how to enter the battle. Spears at the ready, they bristle at the entrance to the intersection unmoving.

What can I do here?

Frantic, I turn back and look at where Rain and Philia have just now engaged the first monsters. While they're both expert fighters, we can't expect them to deal with the entire monster party.

Here goes nothing.

Not giving myself a chance to think about my actions, I draw a throwing pick and hurl it towards the minotaur's face. Moving a few feet to the right, I repeat the action, and then again. The first gets caught in its fur, the beast not even noticing it. The second manages to draw its attention. The streak of silver forcing a reflexive block out of the creature. Finally, the third strikes true. Puncturing the soft flesh under its eye, it forgets about Asuna briefly.

Her once magnificent cloak has been reduced to tatters. The flowing material getting shredded by axe and horn. Rather than attack, she uses the brief respite to take a break. Pushed hard since the first encounter, there's no doubt she's exhausted.

"GROOAH!"

Bellowing once again, the minotaur traces the path of the pick back to me. Eyes flaring in anger, a small trickle of blood winds its way down its cheek.

"Now's your chance!" I call to Lind and Loki familia. Gripping my knife hard, I prepare to use my skill. I'll probably need it to dodge this thing.

Kicking off the ground, the minotaur flies towards me. The acceleration is insane. Bracing my body, I force myself to stand still. Dagger in hand, I once again plead to those lines of hieroglyphs on my back.

What is your goal?

Pausing, I consider the question. What am I trying to achieve here? Dodge a most certain death blow from an overgrown bull-man? Yes, but it's so much more than that.

I want to save the people I love.

Smiling slightly at the thought, I feel the strength flow through me. It may be cheesy, but that doesn't mean it's not true. I love them, and I want them to continue to survive. The minotaur that once looked like it was flying has slowed down to a manageable pace. The boost to my senses and reflexes enabling me to quickly analyze its every movement.

Bravely holding the line, the collision between Lind and the minotaur is brutal. Not even recognizing his presence, Lind manages to carve a deep wound into the beast's leg. Regardless, it bowls him over, a nasty crack ringing through the air as something breaks be it armour or bone.

Continuing past the rest of Loki familia, the monster takes six more attacks, each one strong enough to down a weaker foe. With copious amounts of blood now pouring from its lower section, I regard the monster with some bemusement. Why is it so intent on me when the damage I did pales in comparison?

I get no time to decipher the information as the swing comes, all the beast's strength and rage behind it. Dashing forward, I don't fool myself into thinking that I can kill this thing. My only weapon is reaching the end of its life.

Even with my enhanced speed, I feel the very air shudder as the weapon flies past. Safe inside its reach, I angle the blade for its kneecap. The creature is so tall they're shoulder height to me. Bracing myself for impact, it still jars my shoulder. The now dull edge struggling to penetrate the monster's thick hide.

Gritting my teeth, I rely on my skill to jam the blade home. Eventually punching through, I dash through its legs to get behind for it. For the first time, the minotaur releases a howl that can be described as pain. As it picks up its weapon again, I realize the mistake of my positioning.

"Get down!"

Screaming the words, I dash back through the minotaur's legs as it whirls back around, the horizontal axe creating a circle of death.

Crunch!

"Aaah!"

Screams of pain accompany the sound of shattering equipment. The only silver lining is that screams mean they're still alive. Anger flaring, both at myself and the minotaur, I take advantage of its turned back. Lifting the blade with both hands, I force it through the back of its injured leg. As the beast screams in obvious agony, I refuse to give in. Twisting the handle ninety degrees, I throw my weight behind it and force it out the side.

With a loud screech, only the handle comes out. Staring dumbly at the broken weapon, the beast in front of me begins to fall. Only onto one knee, however. Using its one leg and an arm to support itself, it tries to compose itself from its grievous injuries.

"Die now."

The words are spoken with enough malevolent intent to freeze the air in the room. Nonetheless, it brings a smile to my face. With my skill activated, I get to watch Asuna's lunge in all of it glory. Kicking off the ground she takes three steps before taking to the air. Easily clearing her familia, she approaches its head that's still a metre and a half in the air. Twisting her upper body, the rapier shoots out from her side straight into the face of the stunned monster. Leaving her rapier buried inside it, Asuna daintily lands on the ground in front of me.

Behind her, the massive creature finally falls all the way to ground. A few twitches later, and it lies dead. Retrieving her weapon, Asuna unceremoniously buries it through the magic stone in its chest. The collector in me winces, even though I know it's the correct move. We don't have time to collect what was surely worth a small fortune.

Only once ash is all that remains of the once giant body, does Asuna's face relax. That expression of terrible focus and willpower slipping away into exhaustion. The face of a scared girl.

"Good job," Giving her arm a small squeeze as I say it, I examine the fallen Loki familia members. Four of them are on the ground and aren't rising. One is Lind who took the initial charge. The other three were hit by that destructive turn around blow.

"We need to go!"

Rain's voice screams down the corridor at the worst possible time. All of us go pale as we see the flood of monsters that are about to collide with the two girls resolutely holding the path.

---

Lisbeth:

"Uh oh." Face blanching, I hide behind my shield. The impact from the orc club still rattles my bones. Dazed, I stumble back a step, the world flitting in and out of focus around me.

"Don't be careless."

The rough voice criticizes me. Before the Orc can follow up, Welf dispatches it with that massive blade of his. As he does however, his momentum turns him around until his back is towards a bad bat. Gritting my teeth, I push through the shock and leap at the creature. With its attention on Welf, I easily crush it.

"Right back at you." I spit at him.

Whirling around, his eyes lock unto the bat I dispatched. He reluctantly nods in appreciation. I merely sniff in reply. Hefting my shield, I continue moving forward, looking for more monsters to fight.

The previous orderly movement has turned into a disaster. Countless monsters have been walking amid the cavern. As combat ensued, the noise simply drew more. It turned into a brawl where Modi familia soaked up the main wave of monsters. Their leader in particular was extremely efficient at cutting down the monsters. His katana was little more than streaks of silver light to my eyes.

Focusing back on my surroundings, I move in on a pack of imps. Eyes flickering back and forth between its various members, I maintain my defensive posture. These things are tricky. While they go down easily to one blow, it's hitting them that's always the issue.

Last time with Kirito I got an Orc to take them out. That's unlikely to work here.

"Need help?"

Muttering the words, Welf doesn't say anything as he steps up beside me. I'm surprised he's willing to fight beside me after what I… what he did. Racking it up to the urgency of the situation, I settle back and wait to block attacks.

Taking a look at my stance, Welf steps forward with an aggressive overhand swing. As the imps dash backwards away form the blow, those on the other side rush in and try to attack. Lifting my shield, I step in their way and easily deflect the claws. While they may be sharp, they have little force behind them. Besides a slightly unpleasant screech, they do virtually zero damage to my shield.

Smirking at the confused imps, I step back. Into the gap created, Welf swings his sword. Taking out three of them, I step past him to confront the other half of the group. The smooth teamwork causes a sense of sadness within me. How easily our old teamwork comes back. Despite our difference in opinion, I miss his easy big brother attitude.

Taking one of them out, I retreat again, allowing room for that massive sword of his to clear out the rest of them. Spying an armored out of the corner of my eye, I turn towards where its just now beginning its rush. Getting in front of it, I angle my shield so that it bounces off me and has its roll broken. Instantly, Welf is there, acting as executioner for the monsters I disturb.

"Haha, just like old times!" Welf laughs gaily, bringing his blade back up onto his shoulder.

For some reason, hearing him say it, reignites the flames of anger within me. Locking unto my next opponent, a silverback, I sidestep its slow punch. "Like you care!"

Stepping up to join me, Welf realizes a scathing blow at the creature with his sword and at me with his mouth. "You're the one that ended the party! Remember?"

"Grah!" Half war cry, half yell of anger, I dash forward, destroying one of the silverback's legs as it focuses on Welf. "Because you needed a wake-up call! You let people die!"

"Adventurers know the risk!" Welf spits back as he finishes off the wounded beast. "They shouldn't need to rely on me to save them!"

Not to be outdone, I find another opponent, an orc this time. Stepping inside its reach, I aim my mace for the base of its landform club. "This whole situation would be solved already if you used your talents! "

"Gragh!" This time Welf roars in anger as he finds his own opponent, a small pack of imps. Laying about him with his sword, he spits his words back to me. "No! It would break, like they always do! You can't rely on a blade that's going to break on you!"

The landform club shatters as the force my mace exerts exceeds its limits. Now weaponless, the orc stares dumbfounded at the handle it's left with. Not allowing it to regroup, I begin tearing into it with my weapon. "You're insufferable! You refuse to even try!"

"They make people weak!" Welf spits back. His blade covered with the remains of his imp adversaries. "My family fell into ruin because of them! Because they forgot what it means to be a smith!"

"You!" I reply, finishing off with Orc with one final violent blow to its head. "Are letting people die for your pride. But your right, that's not your fault. But you are putting yourself, and more importantly your party members in danger for your pride!"

As my words die out, I realize there's no longer any noise coming from around me. The rest of the monsters have been killed. Now, everyone is just looking at me. Slightly blushing, I don't know where to direct my eyes. Welf as well seems faintly embarrassed. Maybe something I said finally got through. Most likely though, it's just the fact that everyone is staring at us.

"Haha, can't believe I let myself get shown up by a pair of blacksmiths!" The red-haired leader laughs. Klein, I believe. "That was like a stage play there!"

As he continues talking, my blush only deepens. "Let's keep moving," I murmur, turning away from the group. Strangely, I find the two girls beside me. Silica and Leafa. Kirito's two new familia members. They match up well to the descriptions that he gave. What I wasn't prepared for was how cute they are. Both of their faces had no noticeable flaws to speak of. It's all too easy to imagine Kirito's eyes wandering at their house while they're changing… I need to keep a careful eye on that boy.

"Was your story true?" Silica asks instantly as way of greeting.

"W-what do you mean?"

"What you said to that man! That he could have killed all of these monsters but doesn't?"

"W-well… It's not him per say… It's just…" Trailing off, I glance back at where Welf is still being ribbed by Klein. Deciding it's pointless to protect what's public knowledge already, I tell them. "Despite still being level one, he can forge powerful magic swords."

"Magic…?"

"…Swords?"

Unable to contain my sigh, both girls flinch in embarrassment. "Are you two serious?" Staring at them, they begin to blush as well.

"Wait… Didn't that Sa… Sachi girl have one?"

"Oh! I think I did hear mention of that!"

"Ugh," I groan. "Just like Kirito. Anyway, they are swords that produce magical effects. Anyone can use them, just swing it at your opponents. Essentially, that guy over there can make the strongest magic swords of anyone in the city yet refuses to do so." Their reactions are nearly identical to the one Kirito gave when he heard the story. It brings a small smile to my lips, despite the circumstances.

Circling the rest of the chamber, we find only isolated groups of monsters left to deal with. It seems like the majority were attracted to one of the groups and destroyed. Eventually, we meet up again with Take-mikazuchi familia and the three members from Ganesha familia. Even without them saying anything, I can see how hard the past minutes were for them. Their armour is tattered and dented, their movements dulled with exhaustion. They probably faced more monsters then we did as the group in the center. That kind of fighting would take a toll on anyone.

As our three groups come together again, Silica and Leafa leave my side to go talk to one of the Take-mikazuchi girls. Is that the girl they mentioned? Sachi, was it?

Pushing my curiosity back on what they're talking about, I lounge around by the side of the group. Keeping a distance between me and everyone else yet remaining within easy talking range. The leaders of the three group are currently discussing their struggles on clearing the cavern in low voices. Despite being fairly close, I still can't pick up on the words their saying. Going off their facial features though, they aren't happy.

"Hey."

"Huh?" Flinching, I take a step back as I turn to the person who spoke from beside me. Narrowing my eyes at Welf, I wonder what he can possibly want this time.

"I just… Dammit!" As he verbally expressing his anger, I feel the tension leave my body. Standing up straighter, I examine him quietly as he tries to get his words out. "Look, what you said. For awhile I always put you into the same category as everyone else, jealous that I can make magic swords and they can't. Upset that I won't make magic swords for them. But… you're different. I realize now that it wasn't the power of swords you wanted… It was the ability to save people."

Stunned, all I can do is blink in reply. The stubborn, unbendable Welf, is apologizing?

"However, I'm still not going to forge the blades. I want to become as skilled as Hephaistos, no, even surpass her. The only way to do that is through making actual blades. I just wanted you to know, that I'm sorry for lumping you in with the others."

"Noted…" I murmur in reply as Welf stalks off again. Did that really just happen? Pinching myself, I'm a little over 50% certain that it wasn't a hallucination.

"Alright, everyone!" Klein calls out, "back to that intersection on the other side!"

Despite the vague wording, I understand the one he's talking about. It's where the rest of Ganesha familia went. Hoping they had an easier time of it then us, I run along with everyone else as the group gets moving.

"Did you make up with your smith friend?" Silica asks, her pigtails bobbing behind her as she runs with long, lithe strides.

"Kind of…" I answer, not liking the smile on the young girl's face.

She leans in conspiratorially despite the speed of our travel. "Are you two… you know, an item?"

"What!? With Welf, god no. He's like, four years older than me. If anything, he's like a big brother."

This answer seems to displease Silica who stands straight again. Her mouth chews for a while, clearly having another question she was hesitant to ask.

"Yes?" I implore.

"So… Do you… Like Kirito? I mean, like, like him?"

The question is hard for Silica to get out, her cheeks heating up as she asks it. Subtly, I notice Leafa closing in on us. No doubt she picked up the question Silica asked.

As I go to reply, however, I find myself conflicted. I have no idea what to say. Just based on how she said it, this girl is clearly enraptured with him. Leafa too if I'm not mistaken. Do they know about what Kirito did to Rain? What he's considering?

But that wasn't the question.

The question is whether I like Kirito. Of course I do. He's my first client. He's taught me more about combat than I could have hoped. He helped me with my problems. In return, I tried to help him. However, do I look at him the same way as this earnest girl does?

The scary thing is, I'm not sure.

So, instead of giving a concrete answer, I shrug. "We'll see. He's a good backup if I don't find something better."

The glares of hostility I receive almost knock me over. I'm shocked they're this mad. My friends and I from before would say stuff like this all the time. Always jokingly, but still! I thought my blasé attitude would get a small laugh, not this!

"How dare you treat my Onii-chan as an object!" Leafa growls at me. While Silica stays silent, I see the same judgement in her gaze.

"Geez, lay off would ya? I was obviously joking."

Instead of mellowing off as I expected, Leafa instead pushes once again. "So, do you like him then?"

"Why is it so important?" I ask exasperated. "Kirito's busy enough choosing women without my name in the mix."

"So, you do!" Silica presses triumphantly.

Throwing my hands up in the air, I give up. I don't want to talk about my feelings. I don't want to talk about dating people. Especially not to a pair of girls who haven't even finished puberty yet.

"Look," I practically shout at them. "If it happens it happens. I'm not going to be forcing anything, alright? I'm focusing on improving my smithing and leveling up. Something, I believe, the two of you will have to do in order to be helpful to Kirito."

My rather too loud words finally chastise the overeager girls enough. Their path steadily drifts away from mine, splitting off until they run by themselves. For some reason, I'm a little sad to see them go. Most of my coworkers are men. It's been a long time since I've had a conversation with a woman besides Hephaistos.

Before too long, we reach the opening of the tunnel where the rest of Ganesha familia went. After pausing briefly in the entrance, we enter. As we follow the path, the person at the front leads us down the tunnels, taking turns seemingly at random. One thing is consistent between them, however. It's takes me awhile, but when I figure it out, I can't help but gape in awe.

The floor is covered with ash.

As we get further along, the density only increases. How many monsters would it take to generate this volume? Far more than I'd ever want to meet. Did that woman do this?

"Sorry."

Still gaping at the ash, I'm surprised to find Leafa beside me again. She dragged a sulky looking Silica with her as well.

"Apology accepted."

"So, uh, anyway…"

The awkward greeting is sort of cute. They must have felt really bad after I snapped at them.

"What did you mean by Kirito choosing between different girls?"

Is that what I said?

"Well surely he told you about his fiasco with Rain?"

The two girls simply look at each other. "Fiasco?"

Looking at them curiously, I can't really believe what I'm hearing. Hadn't they yelled at him about it? "Yeah, Rain asked him out, then Kirito replied that he'd only accept her and Philia together or not at all essentially. Only he didn't really understand what he said until yesterday."

Both of them groan in twinned agony. It's obvious how much they care about Kirito's love life. Maybe they do indeed care about him more. Or they haven't matured as much.

Yeah, me, mature, that's a joke. Snorting in derision at my own delusions, all the stupid stuff I used to get up to comes rushing back to me. My friends ranked me as the most likely to have a teen pregnancy. Just because I'm a little impulsive doesn't mean!...

"I can't believe we never let him explain!" Leafa laments, hanging her head.

"Yeah, we just kind of fed of each other, didn't we?" Silica agrees dully.

"Kirito is someone you need to be patient with," I explain sagely, if not hypocritically, "he often has people's best intentions at heart, even if it doesn't seem that way."

The girls are about to reply further when the chamber opens into a larger area. As I realize what I'm seeing, my whole body starts shaking. From equal parts awe and terror. It's a room I've only heard of before, a pantry.

The giant chamber is one of the largest I've seen and is entirely devoid of the mist. In the center, where the crystal that feeds the monsters is supposed to be, is simply a shard. The ground around it containing the remains of it. I was told pantries are always swarming with monsters. Creatures that come here in order to eat. Now though… Ash.

At the center of it, stands one woman. The Ganesha familia captain. The other three are hanging out around the edges, maybe investigating something. She, however, merely stares at the crystal as clouds of ash circle their creator. It's an inspiring sight. To see exactly how much stronger one can get. I can feel the same recognition passing through the others.

"We need to be on the sixteenth floor." Her voice rings through the now empty room, commanding everyone's attention. "Come if you want, but be warned, the flow of monsters will probably be far more extreme than what we encountered on this floor."

With that she begins to walk away from the shard that used to feed the monsters on this floor.

"Wait," a voice interrupts her. It's the man that came with Leafa and Silica. His aura of command is second only to hers among the adventurers here. "What about this pantry? The broken pillar must be the cause of the migration. How do we fix it to stop this?"

"There's no need," she answers brusquely, barely slowing. "It will be fully reformed in about three and a half more hours."

He knows better than to ask how she knows that. Maybe she watched its growth and was able to extrapolate from that? Whatever it is, as long as it's accurate, then everything should be fine.

"Our primary objective on the sixteenth floor is to save lives. Assuming the reason down there is the same, then the situation will figure itself out by tonight. To do that, however, we will be dealing with the columns of monsters that will form as a result of their travel in the same direction. Now then, is anyone leaving us?"

Looking around, I'm tempted to take the offer. After all, like Welf said earlier, will I be any help on that floor? Can I even fight the monsters there one on one?

"I'm coming, Onii-chan."

"Hang on Kirito…"

Whispering their motivations to themselves, Leafa and Silica confirm their desires to keep going. Like hell am I going to tell Kirito that I ditched his familia because I was scared. Determined to protect them from harm, I straighten my back and follow Ganesha familia to the sixteenth floor.

---

Rain:

What do we do, what do we do, what do we do?

That one question repeats endlessly within my head. Injured members, and a horde of monsters. Staring at Kirito, he just stares right on back. Even with the minotaur gone, our situation has only worsened.

"Pick them up and run." Kirito decides. "we have enough manpower for it." Stepping forward, he himself lifts Lind into a fireman's carry. The strength he hides is impressive, the armoured man must weigh a ton.

"Sorry about this," he mutters, barely conscious. "I failed you… Asuna."

"No! No, you didn't!" She shouts back, tears thick in her eyes. That visage of the indomitable warrior broken again. "I… I should have… should have…"

"Let's go!" Kirito commands to the other three who are struggling to pick up their injured companions.

"Yes please!" Philia moans from the back. Whirling back around, I realize that she's been dealing with the front monsters all by herself. Cursing my stupidity, I jump back into combat. My swords barely resemble the magnificent blades they used to be. Nicks and cracks coat the entire cutting edge. Not that they're capable of cutting much anymore.

Dicing up a few monsters, I hear, no I sense the damage caused to the core metal. Wincing in pain for them, I move on to my next foe. Every monster that comes, I mercilessly cut down. I don't have the luxury of holding back or searching out weak points. Only killing them matters now.

"Fall back now!" Kirito's shout rings in our ears from the edge of the corridor. Knocking back the opponents in front of me, I turn around and dash. Sending a quick glance to the side, I make sure Philia is with me. Seeing me looking, she flashes a smile. I'm sure it's supposed to put me at ease, but all I see is the exhaustion in it.

With monsters snapping at our heels, I feel the desperation of the situation begin to reach untenable levels. Our ways out are shrinking. Beyond that, we are down to three fighters, Asuna and us. All too quickly, we catch up to the front group. Their pace isn't fast enough. They'll be caught, time and time again.

It's an unenviable position, but we're the only one's who can do it. Loki familia has already saved us. Now it's our turn to save them.

Can I risk her though?

"Philia, I want…"

"No, Rain."

"What?"

"You aren't doing this by yourself. I've had enough of watching you as you run off by yourself. We either do it together, or not at all."

"I…" Stunned by the ferocity of her words, I have to smile in response. "Of course."

"Although… Can you use your magic to collapse the ceiling?"

"I… That could work…" Murmuring, I turn over Philia's idea in my head. Blocking the path would buy us time. However… "That puts too much on you," I counter.

"Don't worry about that," Philia rejects, showing a strength I'm only now appreciating. "Kirito's shield is sturdy and in good condition. I can hold out for longer than you think. Besides, I have an idea on that."

"Are you ready then?" I ask as we approach a narrow opening.

"Of course," Philia answers, shooting me one final smile.

Nodding in reply, I swallow once and send a prayer that they'll get out. "Everyone! Keep moving to the exit!" Putting as much pomp as I can into the voice, only Kirito looks back frightfully. Eventually though, he too continues along the path away from us. Closing my eyes, I speak one more sentence using my idol advanced ability before starting the spell. "Philia! You can do this!"

Nodding confidently, she does the last thing I expect.

"Grant me the power to see beyond this plane.

I reject secrecy and swear myself to the art of discovery.

Astral eyes!"

With her magic on, she approaches the hoard of monsters. I want to ask why, to call out, or even just time to think about it, but that's a luxury I don't have. Swords held out by sides; I start my chant.

"Dance.

Blades of fire, Blades of Ice,

Obey your mistress and dance."

I can barely concentrate on the magic. In front of me, Philia is fending off monster after monster. The small alcove allowing her to face one at time. Now, though, a minotaur steps up to get rid of her. Roaring, it swings its landform club. Heart in my throat, I watch anxiously as she faces it down.

Stepping forward, she brings her dagger up, contacting the landform weapon at a point just below the 'blade'. I expected her blade to get knocked back, for the minotaur to cut her down. Thankfully, none of that happened. With a loud crack, the head of the axe separated from its shaft.

Her spell.

Gasping I can't believe that she managed to do that. To use her magic to figure out the weak point in the weapon. Praying that she'll be able to keep it up, I continue chanting.

"Sing.

Swords of Air Swords of Earth,

Obey your mistress and sing."

How long as it been now? Far too long. Attack after attack continues to rock Philia. I feel so useless just standing here singing, but I can't stop now. I must believe in her!

"Come and multiply, blades of light."

"Groah!" Roaring its displeasure, the minotaur from earlier gets over losing its weapon. Stepping forward, it slams a fist straight into the shield. Letting out a scream, Philia falls backward, her defense finally broken. I stifle an answering scream; I need to finish!

Transitioning into another attack, the minotaur lifts its leg to crush Philia. "Grr," Growling, Philia throws herself forward. The hoof landing just behind her, she drives her knife into its leg. "Now Rain!" Leaving her knife in its leg, Philia pushes off it and dashes toward me.

"Appear and fall,

Thousand Sword Rain!"

My swords glow with a faint blue light. Soon after, seven mirror images of them appear around my head. Turning my eyes up from the monsters, I command them into the stone forming the entrance. Tearing through the rock like butter, an ominous groan emanates, but it doesn't collapse. Gritting my teeth, I fire the next seven into the same area.

Once again, more of the rock is destroyed. However, it still isn't nearly enough. Only a pittance of stone has actually fallen.

One more chance!

"You can do this!"

Powered on by Philia's words and my own determination, I force these blades forward even faster. All seven blades move in a V-formation. Striking the rock head-on, they cut a massive swath through the foundation.

"I… failed…" Murmuring in horror, I match mutely as the monsters begin to enter the room.

"CRACK!"

The massive noise stops the creatures in their tracks. Looking up, all they do is watch as the entire ceiling begins to give out.

"Run!"

Pulling my hand, Philia drags me backwards, away from the scene of my magic. Yet, even as she does, I have to watch the scene that I've caused. The cracks, groans, and rumbles of breaking stone continue unabated. Underneath that noise is the screams of monsters. Ton after ton of stone continues to fall. The wreckage stretching both into this room and through the passage behind it. As Philia pulls me out of the room, the collapse ends. Only dust fills the air.

"That was amazing!" Philia congratulates me.

Coming back to myself, I turn around and run properly beside her. "No, this was your victory, your plan as well."

"No, I failed," Philia murmured sadly. "I thought I could use my magic as an aid to seek out weak points. To efficiently dispatch them."

"You did!" I insist. "Look at what you did to the minotaur!"

"Yeah…" Philia relents. "After that though, I couldn't focus. The blue lights around me… it was overwhelming."

"Hey," I comfort her, "you did well today. You saved Kirito when it was just you two. Now, you've saved us all again."

"Thanks Rain." She smiles back at me.

"Well," I yawn, my whole body is exhausted. "I think it's just about time to get back up to the surface."

"You know better," Philia scolds me with humour in her voice. "You should never give the dungeon the chance to prove you… oh no."

It's absolute chaos. Right at the entrance are Kirito and Loki familia. The four injured members are laying against the wall, Asuna standing above them chanting. Kirito is leading the efforts against the monsters in the cavern with Asuna's rapier.

To be blunt… He looks bad. Kirito appeared to be imitating how Asuna used her weapon. A lot of quick thrusts. Kirito simply didn't have the same experience fighting this way. When he was attacked, he'd flinch, exiting the stance and swing wildly at the monster. All before freezing and trying to stab at them against. The rest of Loki familia was thankfully doing better, their weapons still all in one piece,

"This is why you don't say things like that!" Philia groans, despair in her voice.

I'm the same. My legs feel leaden as I rejoin the group. Wearily drawing my blades, I can't imagine them lasting too much longer. My mind as well is beginning to run out.

"Undine's Blood!"

Spell complete, Asuna sags to the ground. Wrapping my arms around her, I grunt as I feel her whole weight shift to me. The magic seems to be doing its work. The four are steadily recovering, but… They don't look like they'll be fighting anytime soon. With Asuna collapsed in my arms, we're almost out of resources. There's no hope left.

"This is it… Isn't it?" Philia whispers sadly to me. "After all we got through…" Her voice breaks a little. The tears that holds back.

"No!" I reject her, a wave of anger creating a second round of energy within me. "I don't care if I have to cut down every last monster in this preispodnyaya, I'm getting you out of here!"

Laying Asuna down on the ground, I grab my blades from the ground where I dropped them to catch Asuna. Facing the chamber, I stalk towards where Kirito still maintains the front line. "Move." Surprisingly, he actually listens. Jumping backwards out of the fray, I catch a momentary glimpse of surprise on his face. Dismissing it for now, I give in to the anger inside me. To that bottomless pit of rage. I may have failed at everything, for my entire life, but I refuse to fail here.

These monsters will only get to my loved ones by crawling over a mountain of their corpses. Even if my blades break, or my body does, I won't give them up!

The next minutes are a blur as my vision fades to red. The faces of the monsters blur together. The effect getting more and more noticeable with each swing of my blade. The raw unrelenting anger in their eyes, reflected perfectly in mine. I feel… synced with them. An unrelenting loathing for an enemy you're completely unable to forgive. Sometimes it feels like I'm fighting the same creature for an entirety. Only later do I realize it was an entire pack of them. Slowly, I come to the conclusion that there are other people in here with us. Trapped in the central cavern when a flood of monsters cut off all retreat. That doesn't matter now though. I won't retreat. Can't retreat. If I stop moving, I won't be able to start again.

Eventually, I feel it happen. A subtle change in the feel of my right sword is all the warning I get. On the next impact, it shatters. The entire blade giving way at the same time. Missing a sword, I try to keep the same ferocious pace up. Nonetheless, I'm forced back. Step by step, blow by blow, I lose ground.

Off balance, I deflect the horn of a minotaur with my remaining blade. Pushed past its limits, it joins its compatriot in shattering. Now weaponless, I force myself forward once again. Grabbing at that same minotaur, I twist my body, throwing it to the ground by the horns. Jumping on top of it, I lash out. Fists flying, I can't take in my surroundings anymore. The only things I can see are my moving fists and the sound of the cracks they cause. I no longer know if they're from me or the monster.

"Rain!"

"Graaaah!" What caused that noise? It was bestial in nature. But then, why is my throat so hoarse? Discarding the pointless thoughts, I keep slamming my fists down.

"RAIN!"

"Huh?" Muttering, I feel myself getting dragged across the floor. Still, my hands are moving in front of me. Slowly working their way out then back to my sides. One after another. "What… am I doing?" Breaking down into a coughing fit, my throat feels destroyed.

What… just happened?

---

Kirito:

Holding Rain's body by the shoulders, I can sense my own body shivering. No longer from fear of monsters, or that one of us was going to die. No, this girl had overpowered all of those thoughts.

What the hell did she just do?

Rain had appeared more bestial than human. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. Tossing a minotaur to the ground like it's a child then proceeding to smash its head it with her fists. All the while screaming like a banshee. I felt like I didn't know her. So many questions fly around my head.

For a moment, I thought she was going to jump on me when I tried to drag her away. All the monsters now give our group a wide berth. As if a fear of god had been injected into them by Rain. I wasn't too concerned with them anymore; another large group had entered the other side and was steadily working their way through the creatures. These monsters would be finished off in the next few minutes. The real question is how much time Rain and Philia managed to buy us. The guilt that I left them alone to do that still eats at me.

"What…?"

Rain's voice is hoarse enough that I wince. The very effort of talking seems to be too much for her. "Shh…" Placing a finger over her lips, I force myself to wrap my arms around her. Despite what she did, she's still Rain. I force myself to remember that. We'll just have to figure out what it was later.

"Are you alright!?" Returning from combat, Philia almost throws herself on top of Rain. Dried streaks of tears coat her cheeks. Instinctively, I lift a hand to brush the remnants away. Philia barely even responds to the touch, keeping her gaze locked firmly on Rain.

"She can't talk right now," I inform Philia. "Also…" Trailing off, I notice a distinctive flash out of the corner of my eye. The sight of hardened wind blades tearing into monsters. Tracking it to its source, my heart stops beating. Perhaps equal parts fear and excitement flow through me upon seeing her standing there. My darling sister, Leafa. But why is she down here? It isn't safe!

Continuing to hold unto Rain, I stare mutely as she approaches. Behind her is Silica. I want to jump up and yell at them. Hug them and swear I'll protect them. Instead I do neither, I simply stare. My brain is overloaded from the numerous shocking events I've just had to witness.

"Yuna! Nautilus!" Philia's shocked yell informs me of the people behind them. The other members of Leafa's party. Finally casting my gaze around the room, I'm shocked to find I know almost every single person here. That's Klein's group, accompanied by… Lisbeth? And that Welf guy? Over there is Take-mikazuchi's bunch, the whole familia strangely enough. And that's…

Hands starting to shake, my mouth drops open in a mixture of disbelief and awe. I've never gotten to watch her fight before. When she does, it becomes more dance than combat. No, this is a one-sided slaughter. Yet, it's so graceful. Her tall frame bends and arcs around the attacks, each punch delivering another death blow. One thing becomes abundantly clear: even with my skill, I'm a long way behind her. It's both exhilarating and terrifying seeing how high this mountain goes.

"What's wrong with Kirito?" Silica asks as she approaches.

"Nothing," Philia answers for me. "Rain's the problem. Kirito is…" Following my gaze, she finds the target of admiration and smiles knowingly. "Kirito is starstruck."

"Star…?" Slowly they come to the same conclusion as Rain. Their glares are far less supportive than Philia's teasing smile.

"Haven't seen me all day and staring at her," Leafa mumbles. "So, this is the persona of the black knight in action, is it?"

"Hey," I protest weakly, "this is the first chance I've had to watch a level three in combat up close."

I thought my defense was pretty good. Apparently, it doesn't muster up as Leafa sniffs at me. Even Silica looks disappointed in me!

"Am I… dreaming?"

"Rain!" Shouting her name, I pull her up straighter so that her upper body is almost perpendicular to the ground. Her voice is still weak, but at least she's mobile.

"Why are you shouting in my ear?" Rain moans. "I can't be dreaming, you're always much more gentlemanly in my dreams."

"H-hey…" I protest weakly, but she's right. I shouldn't have shouted the way I did. Although the fact that I act better in her dreams is a little sad. Wait… in her dreams? "Y-you…" I can't finish the question.

As everyone turns their gaze to Rain, she seems to realize what she said.

"Yes! I dream about Kirito sometimes, so what?" Rain mutters, her embarrassment plain on her face.

"What's going on here?"

"You!" Leafa shouts, pointing her finger at the newcomer.

Turning my head, I smile at Asuna. "It's good to see you up."

"Thanks," she mutters. "Due to the fact that you're currently cuddling with Rain, I assume that we're safe for the time being?"

"Yeah, I think so…" I answer, looking back at Shakmi. She's currently cleaning up the final monsters. Everyone else is beginning to sheath their weapons. "Actually, how blocked would you say that column of monsters is?"

"Rain did great work there!" Philia insists. "The roof was caving in for minutes!"

"Good work, Rain." I congratulate the girl in my arms, patting her hand a little.

"Hmm, you can congratulate me a little more," She murmurs with a smile. As she leans her head back against my chest, I fully appreciate our position. With everyone looking at us, it's extremely embarrassing.

"So, you finally settled on one?" A new voice asks.

Letting out an embarrassed squeak, I throw myself backwards and to my feet. Rain falls roughly to the ground as a result of my sudden movement, but I can't concern myself with that too much right now. For she is standing right in front of me.

I'd imagined this meeting happening many different ways, but never like this. Surrounded by people I know, with my party completely exhausted. I'm not ready for this. I've accomplished nothing. I have done nothing that allows me to hold my head up high.

So, as I stare into her indigo eyes, I can only hold it a second before I let my gaze fall. "Thank you for coming to our rescue. We wouldn't have survived without you."

"Is that so?" The disappointment in her voice is palpable. I'm sure she was expecting more from me. But I can't. I'm not ready. "Well, do you…" Trailing off, her body posture changes in an instant. "Who's here!?"

The powerful commanding voice echoes through the cavern, ash floating thick in the air. Glancing around, I see more than one confused expression. Even the other members of Ganesha familia seem to not understand.

!?

Suddenly, I feel it to. A bloodthirsty intent to kill. It's directed at me, but I don't think I'm its primary target. Not today at least.

"Show yourself!"

"So, the new cane isn't all talk after all…"

Gasping, I recognize the voice. Indeed, from one of the passageways, a cloaked figure emerges. It's hard to tell how long they'd been there for. The thought is deeply unsettling. With their rapier already drawn, my body instinctively reacts, a wave of fear crashing over me. I'd gotten lucky to escape last time I faced this person.

Besides me, it seems like only Shakmi recognizes them. "You!? But I thought…"

"That I was dead?" The figure interrupts, "no, but soon you will be. Here, these are some of our last. I'd appreciate it if you took them."

The deadpanned, completely neutral tone at which the words are delivered at, make them all the worse. It's as if killing us is as insignificant an action as ordering a drink at a bar.

Hand going to the pouch by their side, the figure chucks its contents towards us. I stare mesmerized by the red shards that reflect the light in the cavern.

That other smith, Welf, gasps. "Inferno stones!"

"Inferno…?"

"Dodge!" Shakmi commands, shepherding us away from where the red shards slowly begin their descent towards us.

"Too slow." The figure informs us. The words are so disparaging, I can't help but to believe them. I don't know why, but the sight of those innocent shards of rock now fills me with terror.

My sister. Silica. Rain. Philia. Asuna, Lisbeth.

They're all here. Almost every single person that I care about in this world is currently present in this chamber. I should be able to do something. To be able to help them. So why can't I?

Inexorably, the figure's hand that threw the stones, moves to their other side. Grasping a weapon sheathed there, they pull it clean in one swipe. It's a red dagger, magic power humming across the entire blade. From its tip, a fireball shoots out.

"Salamander wool!" As Shakmi screams one last thing, my body finally starts working again. Grabbing Leafa and Silica, I throw them to the ground and jump on top. Huddling on top, I try and spread the material across all of us.

BOOM!

The whole world shudders and appears to disintegrate as bright light erases my vision. Eventually, I loss all sense of where I am. Groaning, I try and open my eyes. But… they already are open? "There's… no light?" What a change from only moments before. Trying to peel myself off the ground, my hand strikes flesh.

The girls!

"Leafa! Silica!"

Finding their bodies, I try and shake them awake.

"EH!? W-why are you touching there, Onii-chan!?"

"I'm, ah, sorry, Leafa. Are you alright Silica?"

"Urgh… I'm surprised you're complaining Leafa…"

"Huh!? I-I have to complain! It's the principal of the thing!"

"What's happening?" I ask in confusion. The silver lining is that they both seem to be fine. Or alive at least. Standing up, I take a summary of my body. Nothing seems to be broken. Now, however, I have to figure out where we are. Why is there no light?

Trailing my hand across the wall, I rapidly find every edge of the small space. We were buried by rubble from the blast? That explanation doesn't fit. Afterall, this little cubby seems designed to hold people. There's no way rocks fell in this specific pattern around us.

"Where are we?" Silica asks, her voice still a little dazed.

Pausing, I decide to go with the truth. "Honestly, I have no idea. This little bubble, or hollow, though, it seems to have saved us."

"Well, I hope the others are doing better than us…" Leafa adds on.

Sliding back to the ground, I reach out and touch the girls, gaining some measure of peace from the contact. Leaning my head back against the wall, I begin the wait, with either death or freedom on the other side.

---

?:

*UNREGISTERED INTERFERENCE*

"Uh oh…" The girl murmured sadly seeing the notification pop up. All she knew was that she didn't want those people to die. They'd be safe in that cubby, right?

*ACCESS RIGHTS REVOKED*

*BEGIN WORLD TRANSFER*

"World transfer?" The girl questioned, staring at the screen in confusion. Had she done something wrong. After leaving the chamber, she'd found this thing and played with it. Scanning image after image, she eventually settled on trailing a group of people as they tried to escape from a horde of deadly monsters. The whole thing had been very exciting.

Until that person in the mask showed up.

Why were they being mean?

Confusion playing the primary emotion in her newly formed brain, another wave of it consumed her as she felt her body begin to disintegrate. The sensation was most unpleasant. Frowning, she hoped that it would finish soon. After all, she needed to release the people that she'd encased in the floor.

Even as her body finished disintegrating, the girl never noticed the pair of eyes behind her. Glowing a deep red, they looked from where the girl had been standing to the console she operated.

"If I touch this… I'll follow her?" Murmuring half to herself, the larger girl stepped out of the darkness and awkwardly slammed her hand down upon the console.

---

?:

"So, it is done then?"

"Indeed, the inferno stone, magic sword combo was a cinch to pull off."

"Still, for a level three to go down so easily…" The god murmured in reply. "A little suspicious, no?"

"She was trying to protect others. She is someone who would readily give her live to save those without value."

"Now, now," the god scolds her. "Every life plays a role. It just tends not to the one they imagine."

"So, I'm done here?"

"You don't want to celebrate, Imizael?" The god prodded. "Today was a great victory after all."

"I'll celebrate when I die." The emotionless voice replied. Leaving it there, they exited the chamber, leaving the rest of the familia to celebrate the first blow against Orario.

"Wait," the God called, "how do you know she is dead?"

"The ceiling fell on her," the figure answered in a monotone. Their feet didn't slow, swiftly bringing them beyond talking distance.

"That one will be trouble," the god murmured looking after Imizael. Not for the first time, the god wondered whether he wouldn't be better off simply ordering their death. Leaving the decision for another time, the god left to inform the familia that the kill had been confirmed.