ACT I
ELF WAR
Chapter 13: Gathering Storm
A twig crunched under Kayaba's boot as he led the vanguard.
The air was cool, but not unbearably so. It was just the way the environment was programmed to produce within a dense forest, an effect that hindered a player's movement through the dense foliage.
The terrain hadn't changed much, Kayaba noted with some relief. A blessing, and one that they could use to their advantage when navigating the Eight Floor. He remembered most of the hunting spots and gathering points, making their grinding much easier.
"We're almost close," Kizmel said next to him. In the shadows of the forest, the dark elf was almost invisible save for her face which was the only visible part of her body beneath her purple cloak. The rest of the party, trailing in a line behind them, were wrapped the same way to better blend in with the trees.
Their arrival on this floor wasn't easy, though Kayaba had expected it after Yofelis's warning. True to the viscount's word, this was forest elf territory, and they had been ambushed the moment they headed for the main town, Lifren. Fending off the attack was brief, and they had only accrued minor damages, but Kizmel insisted they find the dark elf camp quickly before more forest elves attack them.
The trail they were following was not too far from Lifren, but it often zigzagged and branched in several directions to confuse potential enemies. Kizmel told them she knew the way, thankfully, having spent several weeks on this floor before the Great Separation.
Soon the camp's wooden palisade rose into view. The camp was identical to the one on the third floor, but twice its size. It was not hidden by a Forest Sinking Charm, however.
Kizmel must have noticed it too. Even in the rapidly encroaching darkness, a frown marred her striking features. She hurried toward the gate where two guardsmen stood. The party followed, Kirito jogging next to Kayaba.
"Why do you think it's not hidden?" he asked as they watched Kizmel briefly conversed with one of the guards.
"I don't know," Kayaba said. "But I suspect it has something to do with the notifications we saw earlier."
It was just before their brief skirmish with the forest elves. A notification popped up in their HUD, similar to the one that would appear whenever a player entered a town or a zone. But the name was unusual. Instead of the zone's name, it read: Forest Elf Territory Zone 5.
A minute after that, the forest elves jumped from the bushes.
Kayaba glanced upward. There was a new name now: Dark Elf Territory Zone 1. A host of theories raced in his mind, all of them presenting a terrifying implication if proven true.
The guards let them through after Kizmel showed her insignia as well as theirs. As they strode inside, Kayaba surveyed the camp's interior with interest. Instead of tents, a collection of log cabins sprawled along the west side, arranged in a grid. To the west was the a collection of other larger buildings. Smoke belched from a smithy's chimney, and voices drifted from an open-walled mess hall and kitchen. There was an item shop as well, and what must be the command center; it was taller than the rest of the buildings.
"It's like a town," Yuna said.
"It is a town," Kizmel said. "Narein is the second largest dark elf town. Only our capital on the Ninth Floor surpasses this, being twice its size."
They strode past a group of soldiers, who murmured and saluted briefly at Kizmel. Their equipment, Kayaba noted, were also of high quality. He glanced at Kirito and Asuna. They were eyeing the smithy intently.
"You have enough mats?" Asuna asked the boy.
"Not yet. But there are several good hunting spots around here. We can hunt there later."
Kizmel led them toward the command center. As they entered, a guard escorted them to the commander's office where a tall, heavily armored dark elf greeted them.
Baron Zelri was a cheerful and friendly elf. If not for his armor and gigantic warhammer, Kayaba wouldn't expect him to be a soldier; he seemed better suited as a leader than a commander. And like Yofelis, his behavioral algorithm seemed just as advanced as the viscount's.
He read the letter shortly after Kizmel gave it to him, then nodded and set it down on his polished desk. "I'll trust Yofelis's judgment," he said, his gaze raking over Kayaba and the others. "And to be honest, I'll accept all the help I can get. You said you've been ambushed by the forest elves?"
"Yes, Commander. A sizable patrol group, eight in all," Kizmel answered. "We slew two before the rest fled."
Zelri shook his head, brows furrowed. "That patrol group is just one of many. They often harassed the scouts, even slew some of them. We tried mounting a counterattack, but every time we did, they retreat to the safety of their fortress."
He motioned for them with his hand, and they followed him out of the office and into a room dominated by an oak table covered by a detailed map of the Eight Floor. Along the walls stood racks of weapons and suits of armor, silent and unmoving like sentinels.
Kayaba studied the map curiously. They were divided into colored sections, fifteen in all. Seven were in green, spanning the north and north-west forest. Three sections in yellow were scattered all over the plains near the center, and adjacent to them was a lone purple section, smaller than the rest, a blot near Lifren. More forest sprawled along the east and south, which was divided in four gray areas.
He glanced at Kirito. The boy was looking at it with narrowed eyes, and Kayaba could almost imagine the gears spinning in his mind. Asuna looked at him in concern, noticing his expression.
Zelri stood beside the table and gestured at the map. "As you can see, the forest elves hold half of the territory." He pointed at a large area in the north, swathes of forest dominating it. "This is their fortress. We tried assailing it once, but its walls are impregnable without siege engines."
They gathered around the table. Kayaba could see words and numbers scattered along the rough parchment's surface, scribbled in haste. He squinted at them. 50 was written on the purple zone, below the name "Dark Elf Territory Zone 1". Forest Elf Territory Zone 1 had 70 underneath it. And on the rest, except for the gray and yellow areas, were numbers that ranged from 10 to 25.
He tapped at a peculiar irregularity where there were two groups of numbers instead. "Why are there two sets of numbers here?" he asked, hoping that his intuition was wrong.
It was Kizmel who answered, "This is a battle map, Master Heathcliff. The numbers denote the troops of our respective factions." She grimaced. "And from what I see, only less than a hundred of my kin is here while the forest elves outnumber us by more than twice."
Kayaba drew in a breath, as did Kirito and Asuna. Kayaba turned to Zelri, realizing what the questline for this floor would be. "You want us to help you eliminate the forest elves?"
The commander nodded. "Eliminating them is the best solution, yes. But should that prove impossible, I was hoping to drive them out from the areas they control."
A conquest mechanic, Kayaba thought. But that was dropped during the developmental stage. He felt it was too unique for a Lower Floor. Not to mention, PVP wasn't SAO's main selling point. It seemed Cardinal had another twisted idea for it if she had brought it back. But how? His team never coded it into the system.
Another mystery to solve later. For now, he had to focus on the immediate problem. He glanced at Kirito. A notification window should have appeared to him by now. "It's the party leader's decision," Kayaba said.
Kirito's eyebrows knitted. As members of the Dark Elf faction, it was their duty to complete this quest. But Kayaba knew that the boy was struggling to make that decision. If the conquest mechanic would pit players against each other, which was likely, they had to tread carefully.
Then Kizmel spoke. "Commander, may I speak to them for a moment in private?" she said.
Commander Zelri nodded. "Of course. When you're ready, come find me at the armory."
As soon as the commander's armored figure left the war room, Kizmel turned to the rest of the party. "You don't have to do this if you're not certain," she said, without any trace of disappoint or displeasure.
Asuna shook his head. "It's unfair if we don't. We chose to fight by your side, Kizmel. That includes the rest of the dark elves."
"Even if it means fighting your fellow humans?"
The fencer hesitated. To fight means to potentially kill, they all knew that. Kayaba hoped it wouldn't come to such an outcome. But with Morte and his leader fighting for the Fallen Elves, there was no guarantee that the quest—and the entire campaign—could be completed without bloodshed.
"Maybe we don't have to fight," Kirito said at last.
Nautilus crossed his arms. "That's going to be hard to pull off. If we have to conquer zones, some of the larger guilds would guard it with their best members, especially if they can get something from it."
"No. I don't mean fighting other humans. What if the elves don't have to fight each other?"
Kizmel stiffened, as if she was struck by a paralysis dart. Kayaba slowly turned to Kirito, studying him. There was only determination and resolve in the boy's eyes. "They have been fighting for so long, Kirito," Kayaba reminded him.
"I know. But maybe that's the goal here. To stop the war." He looked at Kizmel, his eyes nearly pleading. "No one needs to die anymore."
A world where no one has to die. That was what Ayako had wished as well, before death's embrace wrapped around her. But was it possible in a death game? Kayaba's logical part knew it was a foolish hope. But the other part, the part that once dreamt of such a world… No, that part that was still dreaming.
He transferred his gaze toward Kizmel. She looked like she had swallowed something sour. "Will the dark elves agree to a truce if it comes to it?"
"It's our queen's decision, not mine or anyone else." She pursed her lips, her eyes unreadable.
"And if your queen agrees?"
Kizmel hesitated, unsure of what to say. "If she does," she finally said, though her words were halting, "then we'll all abide by it."
Kayaba nodded. "Of course, we still have to convince the other factions."
"The Fallen Elves might not agree," Nautilus said.
"We'll have to try," Kirito said, drawing closer to the map table. "If the forest and dark elves are going to fight for control of territories, the fallen elves would make their own move. We'll have to request a meeting with their leader if we see them."
"Assuming they don't kill us first," Nautilus said dryly. "But in that case, we'll have to find the forest elves before that can happen."
Kirito nodded. "Let's meet Commander Zelri, then."
###
The commander didn't refuse the plan when they told him. "The war has gone long enough," he said with weariness in his voice. "If this brings us one step closer to peace, I will support it."
He sent them on their way after that. As they left the armory with the new quest, Kirito brought up his keyboard. "We need to tell Argo about this," he said. "If we can stall the guilds from participating for a day, we can easily set up a meeting between the three factions."
"What if they don't agree?" Nautilus asked behind him. "You know Kibaou."
Kayaba shook his head. "Kibaou isn't bloodthirsty like Morte's group. He'll understand why we're doing this."
"And Morte's group? They might do something to stop us."
"They will," Asuna said with certainty. "But that's why we have to act fast." She glanced at Kizmel, stopping in her tracks and prompting the others to do the same. The dark elf hadn't spoken a word since they left the war room. She had a faraway look, as if she was remembering an unpleasant memory.
Kayaba could guess what that memory is.
Asuna touched her gently on the shoulder. "Kizmel."
Kizmel blinked rapidly, then shook her head. She flashed an apologetic smile. "Sorry. It's nothing. We should head out. It will be dark soon."
They walked to the gates. Once outside, Kayaba took the vanguard with Kirito. It was silent in the forest, but Kayaba knew that several dark elves lurked among the trees as sentries and lookouts.
There was a patrol group they were to meet, which would lead them to the nearest forest elf-held area. It wasn't necessary—their maps have been updated to show which factions controlled the zones—but the added protection would deter ambushes they might encounter along the way.
The dark elf zone was relatively small, but it still took them ten minutes to reach the edge. As they moved through the foliage, an owl hooted above them.
Kizmel stopped, and the party followed her. She looked up and whistled. An answering whistle came from the right.
The dark elves who dropped from the branches were garbed in purple cloak so dark they blended well into the night. Two had scimitars hung to their waists, while the other two carried long bows strapped to their backs.
"Lady Kizmel," one of them said, stepping forward. "We spotted wolf riders earlier prowling the perimeter."
"How many?" Kizmel asked.
"Three. They passed through here fifteen minutes ago."
With a frown, Kizmel turned to Kirito and Kayaba. "We would have encountered them already."
"Should we search for them?" Kayaba asked. They could harass other patrol groups and sentries. But more than that, they wouldn't have to forge deep into forest elf territory where they had no advantage.
Kizmel paused, ruminating over the question. After a moment, she nodded. "It seems the best option." She turned back to the sentry. "Which way did they go?"
The dark elf pointed east. "Pontel's group should have intercepted them by now, if they haven't yet. But we didn't hear a warning horn."
"Then we best make haste."
With the dark elves surrounding them, they set out once more, angling to the right. The trees rose above them, their interlocking branches supporting a dense roof of emerald leaves, dark in the night.
Kayaba scanned the area as they walked. Wolf Riders were ambushers, but with Nautilus in the center and Kizmel's sharp senses, it should be easy to detect them.
They wanderred in the dark, hands on their weapons' hilts. No one spoke, and the silence stretched on. Shards of moonlight pierced the tree canopy, patches of silver scattered here and there.
There was an incline up ahead, covered in moss and lichen. It extended a fifty feet in either direction, barring their way. They went around it, heading right.
A howl pierced the air.
The sound of sliding metal followed, and they spun as a dark shape, large as a horse, bounded from the top of the incline. The wolf snarled, mirroring the fierce cry of its rider.
Kayaba rushed to Yuna's side, absorbing the downward cut of a curved silver blade with his shield. He grunted at the impact. Around him, battle exploded.
The wolf snapped its jaws, but he bashed the head with his shield. His sword swept, deflecting a blow. The wolf lunged, and he retreated. Fighting wasn't their priority, after all.
"Stand down!" Kizmel shouted. Then she started speaking rapidly in her native tongue.
Watching his opponent closely, Kayaba stood in front of Yuna. The Wolf Rider's level was 20, two levels higher than her. If the negotiation went nowhere, they would have to defend themselves. But he found that unlikely; aside from ambushers, Wolf Riders usually retreated after dealing enough casualties.
Kizmel was still speaking, her saber lowered. When she finished, a forest elf with a green cape and a silver sash stared at her for a full minute before responding in the same language. It sounded like a question, and Kizmel replied briefly.
A pause. Then the forest elf spoke in Japanese. "And do you promise that there won't be any trickery?"
Kizmel nodded. "As long as there won't be any trickery from your side, then yes, I vow on the Holy Tree."
The forest elf's face was hidden by his silver helmet, but his eyes seemed to shine like stars. "We will leave and deliver your message."
There was no assurance of a response. But as the Wolf Riders raced out of view, Kayaba knew it was better than the alternative.
###
While they waited, they tackled some of the side quests around Narein. They had just finished their fourth ne—a fetch quest—and was on their way back to the town when Kirito stopped, staring at his menu for several seconds. "It's Argo," he said after swiping it close. "The guilds and players from the forest elf faction agreed to stop participating in the conquest."
Kayaba didn't miss the way Kirito said it. His eyes narrowed slightly. "There are more players who joined the campaign?" he asked. The rest of the party stopped at that.
With a grimace, Kirito nodded. "Apparently, some players are joining our side or the fallen elves'."
"Shit," Nautilus said.
"Language," Yuna chided.
"How many?" Kayaba asked. Why would the players start taking other sides now? The forest elf faction still held the best rewards for its quests, unlike the dark elf faction. He didn't know what the fallen elves were offering, but they be obscure enough to attract any new members.
"Fifteen in the last two hours." Kirito crossed his arms. "Ten on our side, five on the fallen elves. For some reason, they wanted to take part in the campaign."
"Do you think the conquest has something to do with it?" Asuna asked.
The boy shook his head, his expression troubled. "I don't see how. They know they'll have to fight other players. Unless…"
A chill crawled down Kayaba's spine, and it didn't have anything to do with the coldness of dawn. "Morte's group," he murmured. "They are player-killers."
Yuna's eyes widened. "We still don't know if the ones joining are player-killers."
"We don't," Asuna said. "But the possibility is high."
"But that many?"
It was a terrifying thought, Kayaba knew, that those 16 players could be part of Morte's group. And they were just the first ones; more would join in the following days. If they were all player-killers, the damage they could cause would be unfathomable.
"We'll have to assume the worst." Kayaba turned to Kirito. "Is there any way we can contact them?"
"I'll ask Argo. Even if we can't, we'll know who they are if we encounter them. For now, let's head back to check if the forest elves sent a response."
###
It turned out the forest elves did send a message. Kizmel brought the news to them upon their return.
"They agreed to have the meeting outside Lifren," she said. "General N'ltzahh and Lord Aremnas will be the representatives, along with their guards."
"Who will be the representative for the dark elves?" Kirito asked.
Kizmel shrugged. "Viscount Yofelis is the only noble with enough authority to make a decision. At least until we reach the Ninth Floor." She smiled. "But do not worry. His decisions rarely go astray."
It was comforting to know that, but Kayaba wasn't sure how the fallen elves would act. They couldn't lower their guard yet. "We'll escort the viscount," he said.
"Of course. I'll be accompanying you as well." She paused, her eyes downcast. "You're right. This war has gone long enough"
"Now we have a chance to end it," Asuna said.
The meeting was still two hours away, so they used that time to prepare for it. While Kizmel headed to the Seventh Floor to get Yofelis, the party completed some of the side quests. Kirito and Asuna gathered enough materials to upgrade their weapons, as did Nautilus.
"You're not going to upgrade your armor?" Yuna asked Kayaba while Asuna went to the blacksmith.
Kayaba opened his menu to glance at his equipment. He had gotten the armor set on the Fifth Floor, but he still had yet to upgrade it past its base form even though he already had the necessary materials and funds.
Should he? There was no choice. The campaign was nearing its conclusion, and the Tenth Floor boss raid was fast approaching. Within a week, if his estimate was right. He would need stronger equipment for that.
He closed his menu. "I think I will."
They approached the blacksmith at a leisure stroll. Asuna was already finished, it seemed, judging by the way she swung her rapier experimentally. It was sharper and had a more vibrant sheen than before.
"How many levels?" Kayaba asked while he waited for Kirito to finish.
The girl sheathed the Chivalric Rapier in one fluid motion. "Up to +12. 4S4A4Q." She grimaced. "Three attempts were unsuccessful, though."
"That happens often when the item has a high enhancement attempts."
Soon it was Kayaba's turn. He chose his shield first. Damage output was not his priority, and he was still satisfied with his sword's attack stats.
The burly dark elf took one look at his shield and grunted. As the enhancement animation began, Kayaba counted the hammer blows while keeping an eye on his HUD's clock. Ten blows in under one and a half minutes. The success rate was quite high.
Ten attempts were made, two of which failed. When the final ring faded into the air, Kayaba accepted his Stalwart Shield+8 4D4H. He tested its weight and, satisfied, slung it across his back.
Kizmel returned with Yofelis ten minutes later. As Narein's citizens gathered at the gates, Kayaba watched Yofelis conversing with Commander Zelri.
"Each representative will have ten guards each," Kizmel said while the viscount selected four of the commander's highest level guards. "But another group will be nearby in case something happens."
Kayaba nodded. A precaution, and one he would have also done if he were in Yofelis's shoes. "Won't the other two factions see it as a sign of ill will on our part?"
"Even if they do, it's certain that they would do something similar." She shrugged. "I don't see why they'll take it as aggression against them."
With preparations complete and the advance scouts on their way to the meeting location, the group finally set out. There were no horses yet, so they would travel on foot. But Kayaba preferred it that way. They could react to threats faster.
Monsters didn't approach them as they headed west, deterred by the dark elves' high levels. Or perhaps they were already cleared by the scouts. Unlike last night, the forest seemed empty and silent.
Odd. Kayaba picked at his memory for the quest line's general trajectory, but he was certain that this wasn't part of what his team had developed. There was no meeting between the factions, nor was the Fallen Elves even relevant.
But there was one quest. A rescue mission involving a dark elf lord.
He swiveled his gaze toward Yofelis, a dozen feet behind him. Four guards surrounded the viscount, and both Kizmel and Asuna trailed not too far. Nautilus and Yuna followed on the left flank.
It took Kayaba a second to locate Kirito, hanging back at the rear. He seemed to be reading something on his menu.
A Forest Elf Wolf Rider bounded into view.
Kayaba was already surging forward even before Asuna cried, "Kirito!" But Kizmel was faster.
"Protect the viscount!" she shouted, drawing her saber as she charged.
The others were already engaging the ambushers by the time Kayaba drove his sword through a Forest Wolf's chest, taking a sizable portion of its HP. It howled, swiping at him with glinting claws. The rider on his back slashed downward. Kayaba blocked it with his shield, then his sword glowed red.
The Sword Skill carved upward in a furious crimson light, obliterating the Forest Wolf's HP gauge completely. The rider leapt to the ground, lithe as a cat, and drove Kayaba backward.
Shouts and the ring of clashing steel filled the air. Kayaba bashed the forest elf with his shield, but the warrior evaded to the side and thrust his sword, forcing Kayaba to retreat farther.
He risked a glance at Yofelis. He and Kizmel were dealing with five enemies at once while his four guards were scattered around. Yuna and Nautilus fought another two, weaving through steel like serpents.
This isn't good, Kayaba thought. They're isolating Yofelis.
He caught a blow from his opponent, then swiped at the exposed chest, but the elf simply backed away, circling him. A good twenty feet separated him from Yofelis and Kizmel.
"Kirito!" Asuna shrieked.
Kayaba turned at once, and what he saw didn't make sense. Kirito was yelling from the saddle of the Wolf Rider, unmoving save for his head. On the HUD beside his name a paralysis icon flashed rapidly. And the Wolf Rider bounded away.
They were kidnapping him? That was no longer part of the original quest.
"Kirito!" Asuna shouted again, but another Wolf Rider blocked her way. She hissed, and her rapier was soon a blur.
A horn echoed from the right, then the left. Still facing him, Kayaba's opponent swiftly retreated into the trees. The rest followed not long after. When the last of their green capes melted into the trees, silence descended upon the party.
Asuna was starting to head toward the direction where Kirito was taken when Kayaba blocked her way. "No, it's too dangerous," he said.
The fencer's glare reminded Kayaba too much of Rinko whenever he did something she didn't like, and he forced back the smile threatening to split his lips.
"Master Heathcliff is right, Asuna." Kizmel placed a hand on Asuna's shoulder. "By now they would have regroup, possibly with reinforcements. You won't stand a chance."
"They planned this, that much is certain." Yofelis scratched an ear. "It seems he was the real target, not I."
"Because he's the party leader," Kayaba said, drawing everyone's eyes on him. "You may be important, Viscount, but I believe Kirito holds greater value."
"For what purpose?"
"That I don't know." Kayaba glanced at the party's status. "He's still alive, so we know they are taking him somewhere."
"Their headquarters," Kizmel said. "It's the only place I can think of."
It was plausible, but there was something not quite right about that. Kayaba shook his head. "No. They are expecting us to do that. It will be a trap." He looked at Asuna. "Can you contact Argo? Tell her what happened. Perhaps she can gather information about this."
She didn't move for a moment, her balled hands shaking. Then she nodded and opened her menu.
As she typed in her keyboard, Kayaba scanned the forest. "It's best if we head back. The Forest Elves might send a message for us."
The return trip to Narein was uneventful, though the soldiers were in uproar after hearing news of the Forest Elves' betrayal. Many were ready to march to the headquarters in vengeance and outrage.
"No, there will be none of that!" Yofelis had to shout in the din. "Not yet, at least. We believe that Master Kirito was taken to another location, and we need to find out where that is. Commander Zelri, organize a search party. Report anything unusual they may find."
Three groups soon set out from the town, but Kayaba knew they wouldn't find Kirito. This was still part of the quest, after all, and players were the only ones capable of completing it.
"Any news from Argo?" he asked Asuna when the crowd dispersed.
The girl shook her head. "Nothing yet. But she did say earlier that she'll share anything she finds as soon as she knows."
Kayaba nodded, then opened a map in front of him, studying it. A Mirage Sphere would have been a better option for this, but it costs too much. This would have to do.
He enlarged the western quadrant to fill the window, staring at the spot of the ambush. They only knew the general direction where Kirito was taken, but perhaps there was a hint.
The forest elf headquarters was due north. They had been ambushed in the south-west, at least twenty minutes away on foot. A wide expanse of forest spanned the distance, with a stream cutting through it in the middle. Wherever Kirito was taken, it had to be close for reinforcements to get there swiftly, but concealed enough from prying eyes to avoid detection.
"Found anything?" Asuna asked, her worry barely controlled in her voice.
Kayaba shook his head. "They couldn't have gone too far from their fortress. The eastern zones are too close to player towns. Anyone doing this quest would finish this quickly."
"Assuming those players are on the side of the dark elves. What if…" The girl's voice faltered for a moment. "What if the forest elf's side involved harming another player?"
Kayaba had thought about that already. And as much as he dreaded the implication, a part of him still clung to the slim hope that Cardinal was still a machine and wouldn't go against her basic algorithm. "This is a game, Asuna. Logic dictates that a quest shouldn't involve players killing each other."
"We don't know that." Her hands trembled again. "If the other factions have player-killers—"
"Then Kirito will do anything to survive." He fixed on her a firm gaze. "Besides, we'd know if he's in danger." Though that meant they had to find him before that could happen.
Asuna opened her mouth then closed it immediately, her eyes darting left. Her hand moved, interacting with her menu. Kayaba watched her eyes scrolling through an unseen message box, widening in the end. She looked at Kayaba. "Argo heard rumors of a tall tower in the northern forest."
"Where?" Kayaba set his map window to "Visible To All Players".
She tapped a clearing near the Tower Labyrinth surrounded by trees. "She wasn't sure. She just guessed it would be here."
Kayaba scrutinized it. The location was far from the headquarters, but from the looks of it, the clearing was a perfect spot to hide hostages. No one would bother looking for a tower near the Labyrinth.
He closed his menu. "It's possible."
They went to Yofelis. When Kayaba finished telling him about the tower, had a thoughtful expression as he examined a map. "That seems too far away for a hideout."
"Actually, Viscount, it is not," Commander Zelri, who had been standing to the side, spoke. "I remember now. I sent scouts in that area to see if the forest elves have set up a base there. Not a single one returned."
"I see. In that case, a scouting mission is warranted. I'll send a group to—"
Kizmel stepped forward. "If I may, Viscount, I'd advise against that. The Master Heathcliff and the others will already search the area, and I will be going with them. To send more will attract attention."
"You will be in enemy territory," the viscount pointed out. "If something happens, we'll be too far to send help."
"It's a risk we have to take," Kayaba said.
Yofelis stared at them long and hard. Worry filled his eyes, his thin lips twisted in displeasure. But he nodded. "Very well. However, I'll have you escorted until you reach the forest. There's no telling what our enemies have planned for us."
###
They were ready in ten minutes, and they set out with four guards.
Few monsters bothered them on the way, which Nautilus and Yuna cleared for the extra EXP. Kayaba and Asuna stayed in the rear, keeping up with Kizmel's long strides.
It was barely noon when they crossed a stream that acted as the border to the Forest Elf Zone 9. Here the guards stayed, setting up camp by the banks. They would remain until the party returned, with or without Kirito.
The trees loomed overhead, swaying gently from a passing breeze, their interlocked branches forming an impenetrable shield. If there was a tower somewhere within their vast expanse, it would either have to be no taller than the trees themselves or one would need to climb to the top of the highest branches to see it.
Shield in front, Kayaba took the first step. Kizmel and Asuna followed, while Nautilus and Yuna guarded the rear. They were soon plunged into semi-darkness, with only slivers of sunlight piercing the treetops. They weren't completely blinded, but it would be difficult to detect ambushes along the way, and they might pass by the clearing without knowing it.
"Kizmel, can you see anything?" Kayaba asked, stepping over a fallen branch.
"I can see just fine," came her reply.
They pressed onward, alert for the slightest sound. If there were forest elves here, they were certainly lacking in their defenses. But perhaps there was no tower judging by the lack of patrols, and the dark elf scouts simply encountered a monster.
Kayaba paused. If this was the lair of a field boss, they would be hard pressed to defeat it. They should have accepted Yofelis's suggestion of sending scouts first.
But it didn't matter now; they were here. And if there was indeed a field boss, they would simply have to escape.
A branch crunched under his boot. Squirrels chattered in the trees, and the sweet melody of bird calls filled his ears. The sounds nearly drowned out the soft padding of feet in the distance.
Kayaba stopped and glanced at Kizmel, but the dark elf's attention was already to the right. "Hide, quickly!" she hissed.
They whirled around for a hiding place, but there was none large enough for all of them. In the end, they settled behind the tree trunks, watching from the shadows as a pair of Forest Elf Wolf Lancers bounded into view, their paces swift but measured. They didn't seem to be actively hunting, and when the bulk of the wolves passed them by and disappeared to the left, only then did they move again.
"We were right, then," Nautilus said, still gripping the hilt of his sword.
Kayaba nodded. "The tower is somewhere here. But we'll have to be careful. There may be more patrols."
Their search resumed, slowly this time. Twice they had to stop when two more Wolf Lancer groups intersected with their path. The last pair nearly caught them after Nautilus stepped on a dead branch, producing a loud crack. But fortune smiled upon them when the forest elves continued with investigating the sound.
They had been traveling for ten minutes when Kizmel stopped, cocking her head to the side. They looked at her. "What is it?" Asuna asked.
The dark elf knight was silent for a moment, listening. After a minute, she eyed to the side of the nearly non-existent trail they were following. "I heard voices to our left."
"Are you certain?"
She nodded. "I can also see light. It's probably the clearing."
Griping his shield, Kayaba stepped out of the trail and crept in the direction Kizmel indicated, careful not to make a sound. The others followed.
The trees thinned. Dappled sunlight struck Kayaba's shield, and he lowered it to his side to avoid attracting attention. A few meters ahead, the foliage ended. Beyond that was unmistakably a wide clearing.
In the center of the clearing rose a stone tower that barely reached the tree tops, its walls were unadorned save for a lone window at the top.
A soup's spice-filled aroma wafted in the air.
Kayaba crouched low immediately. Leaves rustled as the others did the same. Around a blazing camp fire sat five forest elves conversing in loud voices. The clang of cooking utensils echoed in the clearing. They were still far away for their levels to appear, but from their shining spears and plate armor, they were probably as high as level 15.
It wouldn't be an easy fight even with Kizmel's help. And there were the Wolf Lancers too, which were at least level 18. The patrols would come running as soon as the alarm was raised.
Asuna must have thought of it as well, for she said, "We'll need a diversion."
"I'll do it," Kizmel offered. Her hand was already on the hilt of her saber.
Kayaba stared at her. If they would go by level alone, Kizmel was the best choice to lure the enemy away while the rest rescue Kirito. But he could already see the problems with that, namely what would happen if she died.
He shook his head. "No. If something happens, only you might stand a chance at rescuing Kirito. Besides, we still don't know how to rescue him. It may require your knowledge of the forest elves' architecture."
There was no door in the tower from which they could enter, and flying mounts didn't exist in SAO. The forest elves must have used a charm to conceal the entrance.
"I don't know much about the way they build their structures, but I'll trust your judgement." She looked at the guards. "We need to hurry, though."
Four pairs of eyes fixed on him. It was just like during SAO's developmental stage, when all members of his team would wait expectantly for his decision. But those were different. If he made mistakes, they could just go back to the drawing board.
Here inside the death game, even a small mistake could cost lives.
Still, there was one thing that was not too different; he had to act fast. "Nautilus and Asuna will draw the guards. Yuna and Kizmel will try to find a way into the tower while I guard them." If only Argo were here, her expertise could make this easier.
They nodded without protest. It warmed his heart to know that they trusted him, though that trust came with it a burden equally heavy to carry.
The guards were still hunched over their meal. At a word, he, Kizmel, and Yuna left Nautilus and Asuna, circling around halfway to the right. A minute passed, and once the forest elves were starting to spoon soup into their mouths, Nautilus and Yuna burst from hiding. The guards didn't notice them until sunlight glinted off Asuna's rapier.
Shouting, the guards scrambled to their feet and grabbed their spears. Asuna fell upon the first one, thrusting her rapier through the elf's right eye. He fell back with a cry, tumbling over the cooking pot and spilling soup and ashes into the air.
Nautilus charged toward the second as the first one flailed, his cloak smoldering. One of the elves rushed to help his companion, while the last two circled, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Kayaba watched the battle unfolding in the clearing. Asuna and Nautilus moved from one enemy to another, taking a portion of their HP gauges without depleting them, accumulating aggro. Most humanoid-type mobs wouldn't leave their area of influence unless threatened, and the same applied here in this situation.
After two minutes of hit-and-run attacks, Nautilus and Asuna disengaged, sprinting in the opposite direction.
The forest elves immediately followed. Just as the last one disappeared into the forest, Kayaba surged forward. If those two followed the plan, they would keep harassing the enemy to acquire aggro until a certain limit, where the forest elves would return to their original position.
Four minutes, maybe less. They had to be fast.
The tower rose before them, lone and silent. Kizmel, being faster, reached the base and circled around, searching for a mechanism that could reveal an entrance. But after several seconds, she looked at Kayaba and shook her head.
His brow creased. "Is there a charm hiding it?" he asked. Behind them, Yuna stood watch.
"Possibly." Kizmel touched her pouch. "But I don't have the skill nor the proper items to find out. Only our priests have such power." Her voice was laced with frustration.
"And there are no priests here or in the lower floors." Kayaba grimaced. A minute had already passed; the guards would be returning soon.
Think. What was the quest's condition? It was a minor quest, so he didn't bother supervising it. But he did review all of the quests his team had designed, many in passing glances. There should be something he could remember.
A loud clang sounded at the top, and they all looked up as the window burst open.
Kirito poked his torso out of the gaping opening. He was too high up for Kayaba to properly see his expression, but his voice carried relief. "Hey!"
"Kirito!" Kizmel shouted. "It's all right now! We're here to save you!"
Wolf howls echoed in the surrounding forest. Kayaba spun around, his eyes darting in every direction.
"You need to find the amulet that will reveal the door!" Kirito said. "It's how they brought me up here!"
"Where's the amulet?" Kizmel asked.
"A guard has it!"
Kayaba swore. They should have thought about that. But they could no longer wait for them to return. The wolf howls were getting closer.
He glanced at Kizmel. "We have not much time," he said. She nodded.
Raising her voice again, she said, "We won't be able to find before reinforcements arrive. We have to get you now!"
"How am I suppose to come down?" Kirito demanded.
"Jump!"
"WHAT?"
Even Kayaba had to raise an eyebrow at that. The tower was at least 60 feet tall. As high as Kirito's STR stats might be, he would still take fall damage.
Next to him, Yuna was equally flabbergasted.
Kizmel pressed on. "We have no choice!"
"Kizmel, I don't have wings!"
"Then I'll catch you!"
"WHAT!" Disbelief and embarrassment colored the boy's tone. "I'm not—"
"Don't be ridiculous," Kizmel huffed. "I'm stronger than you!"
"That's not what I mean!"
The foliage at the edge of the clearing rustled. Kayaba gripped his shield tighter, rooting his legs to the ground. To his surprise, Asuna and Nautilus dashed toward him. Not far behind them were the guards, their HP gauges still in the green zone.
"Switch!" Asuna shouted.
Kayaba surged forward. His shield glowed red.
The first guard flew backwards by several feet as he Kayaba rammed him. Then he was moving to the next one, parrying blows, swinging his sword and keeping the others from surrounding him.
Yuna leapt to his aid, her dagger flashing. Kayaba caught a blow that would have ripped into her back. He spun to avoid a thurst, sidestepping a stab from another elf.
And the wolves brayed in the forest, closer now.
"Kirito, we have to leave!" Kizmel said.
Kayaba glanced back. Asuna and Nautilus were already engaging three of the guards, but reinforcements weren't far behind.
He saw Kirito looking down in exasperation before crouching on the windowsill. Kayaba returned hius attention to his opponent, eyeing the elf's sword. Kayaba jabbed his shield, forcing the elf to retreat.
Then he heard Kirito scream, "Damn you, KayabaAAAAAAAH!"
Kayaba turned just in time to see Kirito already cradled in Kizmel's arms like a bride. The boy scrambled to his feet at once, gripping his sword.
"This way!"
Kayaba bashed the forest elf in the head, then followed the others into the forest along the direction they had come from. Crashes echoed in the forest, but tno one pursued them.
They didn't stop even after they broke away from the tree line and emerged into open ground. The Wolf Riders had an advantage here, and they would be hard pressed to defend themselves even with their dark elven escorts providing assistance.
The four guards were still waiting when they reached the stream. Upon stepping foot into the camp, a Quest Complete window appeared.
Kirito collapsed to the ground, huffing. "Let's not do that again."
Kizmel frowned, but said nothing as Asuna strode to his side. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. They just locked me up there." For a moment, their gazes met. Then Kirito cleared his throat as he rose to his feet. "How did you find out where I was?"
"Argo," Kayaba said. "You'll have to thank her when you get the chance. Otherwise, it would have taken days to find you. Now, why were you kidnapped?"
Kirito scratched his head. "Yeah, about that." He glanced at Kizmel, then to their escorts standing not too far behind her. "I think I know how to unite the elf factions."
"How?" Kizmel asked calmly.
The boy shook his head. "Not here. Besides, the Viscount will need to hear this too, and I don't to repeat the same story when we return."
The journey back to Narein was uneventful. Throughout their trip, Kayaba observed Asuna keeping close to Kirito.
A warm welcome awaited them at the dark elven town, but Kirito immediately insisted to have a private meeting with Yofelis. They found themselves inside the Viscount's office, and as soon as the door closed, Kirito turned to the dark elf lord.
"What exactly is the Sanctuary?" he asked.
The question seemingly caught Yofelis off-guard. His brow creased. "What do you mean by that, Master Kirito?"
"Please, just answer my question."
The viscount glanced at Kizmel for help, but even she looked confused. Shrugging, Yofelis settled into his high-back chair.
"The Sanctuary is where the Holy Tree resides," he began. "And it is also where our eternal growth and strength comes from. Without it and the power it possesses, we will age as you humans do."
"What happens if that power is unleashed?" Kirito asked.
"Then we will die, as does the Holy Tree. Our fate is tied with each other, Master Kirito. What happens to the tree will affect us."
The boy nodded. "Can the power be harnessed somehow?"
Yofelis frowned at that, and Kayaba stared at Kirito curiously. "It can be harnessed, yes," the viscount said slowly. "In fact, it's the reason for the war."
"So that's it." Kirito swept his gaze around the room. "The Sanctuary's power can be used to transport the elves back to the surface, and it will still have enough to help us clear Aincrad."
Stunned silence filled the office. Kayaba's brows furrowed. He had expected as much, but he still couldn't believe it; there was no code for such a thing. "Are you certain about this, Kirito?" he asked.
The boy nodded. "It was Aremnas who told me himself, though I deduced all of it from Argo's message earlier. Basically, the forest elves will use the Sanctuary's power to return to the surface."
"And the fallen elves?" Kizmel asked calmly.
Kirito met her gaze. "They will kill every elf, both in here and on the surface."
The dark elf lady knight scowled. "I won't allow that to happen."
"Neither will we." Asuna stepped forward. "Kirito, did you learn anything else?"
"Yes." He took a deep breath. "If the swordmasters help the forest elves, they will use the remaining power to create a smaller Holy Tree which could revive us when we fall in battle. If we side with the Fallen, they will weaken the Floor Bosses."
The silence was heavier this time. If what Kirito said was true, both options offered the perfect advantage to help them clear the game. Kayaba had no doubt that most players would choose to side with the forest elves.
"And the dark elves?" Asuna asked quietly. "What if they use that power?"
All eyes turned to Yofelis, including Kizmel. His shoulders rose and fell. "I'm afraid your guess is as good as mine. It's never been done before, though the Queen might know something."
"Then we must defeat the Eighth Floor Boss and meet her," Nautilus said. Yofelis nodded.
"I got a hint regarding the boss," Kirito said. "But I don't know how Kibaou and the other guilds will react to this if they learn about the Sanctuary's power."
"We'll have to convince them." Kayaba's words drew everyone's eyes on him. He continued. "If we don't, Morte and his group might use it against us. That's not something we want to happen." It was one thing siding with the fallen elves, but another when they had to ignore the player-killers' horrible actions.
Most of them nodded in agreement, but Asuna looked unconvinced. "And if they decide to side with the Fallen Elves?" she asked quietly..
Kayaba's reply was swift.
"Then we will deal with them accordingly."
Final update of the year! Have a blessed New Year, everyone!
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See you in 2024!