Sword Art Online III: Asgard
Chapter 13
"Well, that was a thing," Eugene the Salamander said cheerfully, smoothly sheathing the Demon Sword Garn.
"Indeed," Shiroe agreed, pushing up his glasses.
"Thank you all for your help," Asuna told the other two party leaders.
Kirito was surprised to only see four or five Log Horizon members, along with Eugene and two Salamanders. He hesitated to ask...
"Yes, we had losses," Shiroe sighed. "Naotsugi, Akatsuki, Maryelle, Isuzu and myself are the ones who survived."
(Anyone who 'died' in the dungeon would just re-spawn outside, usually at the last spot they saved. However, that didn't help anyone in the dungeon itself.)
"We started out with ten fighters and mages," Eugene said then admitted, "we clearly underestimated this dungeon."
"This was so cool," Yue the navigation sprite cheered.
Shiroe adjusted his glasses, "Since we are all here, would you agree to us all battling the final boss together?"
Asuka looked at the others, who all nodded or otherwise indicated agreement. "Certainly," she shook their hands.
Youko quietly asked Klein, "Should we really be saddling ourselves with them?"
Klein chuckled, "I forgot you're new."
"Oh?" Youko asked.
"Eugene's sword is one of the best weapons in SAO, short of Kirito's Excalibur," Klein explained, "and Log Horizon is a top guild. Plus, Maryelle is a specialized healer." He looked thoughtful, "She, personally, is probably why so much of the guild made it."
"Ah. Sorry," Youko nodded.
"No problem," Klein waved it off.
"All right, heal up everybody," Kirito said briskly. He addressed Eugene and Shiroe, "How are you doing for potions?"
"Right out," Eugene admitted frankly.
"We have healing and mana potions, but not many," Shiroe shrugged slightly.
Asuna did the math, "If we pool the healing potions, we'll have one each."
"I think the rest of the mana potions should go to Asuna, Leafa and Maryelle," Kirito said, "they can heal us as long as the mana holds out."
"Agreed," Shiroe and Eugene agreed.
"Everyone is healed," Leafa reported, "we should apply buffs before moving on."
Buffs were applied, then they went up the stairs to the final level. There were heavy wooden doors, though thankfully not giant tall. The doors were carved with an illustration of the Norse Tree of Life and the Nine Worlds.
"Let's go," Kirito opened the door and they headed in.
The room was dark, then suddenly torches flared to life along the walls. Two figures loomed over the combined party, silent. Then suddenly their eyes popped open, glowing red.
"Four health bars? EACH?!" Lux yelped.
"WE ARE VILI AND VE. THE BROTHERS OF ODIN, FIRST OF THE AESIR. UNLESS YE BE WORTHY, YOU WILL NOT PASS."
"Eugene, Shiroe, your teams take one. We'll get the other," Asuna said firmly.
"Right!" both agreed.
Sinon swiftly drew her bow, sending flights of arrows into the one.
Vili flinched as the arrows bounced off his face. Seizing the distraction Silica rushed in, slashing with her dagger.
"Damn. Have to hit the eyes," Sinon growled.
Liz charged in, swinging her hammer to draw it's attention. The hammer sent him skidding backward, but ironically didn't do much else.
Vili swung his huge sword, the blade glowing as it hit Liz. Nearly half her life just vanished, even as she was sent flying backwards much harder.
"Geh!" Liz chugged the healing potion.
Lux and Kirito charged in, swords a shining blur as they slashed. Excalibur, especially, was doing more damage, and they cleared the first health bar.
"I will destroy you!" Vili roared.
"Get in line!" Klein yelled, sheathing his sword in fire. The blade ripped a section of armor away, and the Aesir screamed.
"He doesn't like fire!" Youko noted, using a fire based attack too and noticably dropping the health bar.
Sinon chanted a spell, igniting her arrow as she aimed carefully. Like any good sniper she waited for the perfect moment... then sent a flaming arrow into his eye.
"Argh!" Vili howled in pain.
Asuna took a second to look over at the other group. Ve had also had been knocked down to just two health bars, mostly thanks to Eugene. Though Akatsuki's 'assassinate' seemed to deliver a critical hit every time.
"I'm out of mana and joining the fight," Leafa cried. Drawing her sword she gracefully swept in, slashing along Vili's belly, then leaping back.
Maryelle looked over at Asuna, "Give me your remaining mana potions. I'll do the healing."
"Thank you," Asuna opened a trade window to her, then charged into the fight.
"Go, Mommy!" Yue cheered.
Everyone was darting in and out of Vili's range, dodging powerful blows that would probably be lethal if they hit. They gradually carved the health bar down, then a backstab from Silica brought him down to one bar.
"By Ymir's blood, you will pay!" Vili yelled.
"His attack patterns will probably change," Kirito warned.
Vili raised his sword... then suddenly the floor around him exploded, pelting everyone with razor sharp shrapnel. He swung his sword down, and another burst struck them.
"Look out!" Lux shoved Sinon down, taking even more damage.
"Wait," Sinon blinked, then Lux' life ran out and she disappeared.
"Lux!" Liz yelled. She charged Vili, swinging the hammer into his already battered shield and shattering it.
"BASTARD!" Sinon roared, drawing arrows and firing them at rapid speed, sending them flying into existing wounds with pinpoint accuracy.
Kirito did that 'chain technique' again, switching sword skills as he ripped into Vili. Excalibur, of course, did more damage but even his normal blade was doing huge damage.
The last health bar was down to a third when Youko yelled, "Klein, let's go!"
Klein and Youko struck at the same time, flaming swords carving into Vili and setting his remaining armor aflame. Recovering a little faster than Youko Klein brought his sword up, then drove it into Vili's face.
His life dropped to zero, even as a few seconds later Ve went down.
"YES!" they cheered. Everyone received a huge amount of treasure, even as a passage opened at the end of the chamber.
"Think it's a trap?" Eugene asked tiredly.
Kirito shook his head, "According to the info we got, this was the final boss."
The group went up the stairs, where they found a gate similar to the ones that connected levels in Aincrad. There even was a similar activation switch. All around them stretched a whole new region to the game, possibly as large as Alfheim itself.
"Does anyone object to Kirito doing it?" Asuna asked
Shiroe and Eugene exchanged glances. "Fair," Eugene said as Shiroe nodded.
Kirito put his hand on the device, and the gate triggered. At the same time in Alfheim proper, a matching gate appeared, offering direct access to Asgard.
"We did it," Asuna murmured, taking Kirito's hand as players began to stream through.
"Well done, everyone," Kirito addressed the group.
"Kiri-boya!" Argo called as she ran up to them.
A newly revived Lux was close behind. "Sorry about dying, everyone," she apologized.
Sinon gave her a searching look, "You wouldn't have died if you hadn't saved me. Thank you."
Lux looked sheepish.
Argo grinned, "Great work, now I'll go scouting and get ready to do a new Argo-Guide."
"Looking forward to it," Shiroe said as the similarly revived Log Horizon members rejoined them.
"So!" Kirito clapped his hands, "Who wants to start exploring Asgard?"
"Damn it Kirito, we have to rest sometime!" Leafa scolded him.
"Ha ha ha...," Kirito laughed uncomfortably, "Right."
To be continued...
Notes: Will (probably) put this one on hold for a bit. I need to figure out what I want to be on the Asgard level, etc etc etc.