Author's note:
Bit short on the writing side, still took awhile due to the ending.
Last chapter for at least a month as I head out on vacation.
Enjoy!
Chapter 60 – Limping out
Alise:
"Ahaha… oops."
Unlike most times that she did something foolish, no one could find it in themselves to berate her. After all, they had all been around to call it out as well.
Picking up one of the sides of the egg, Alise turned it over in her hands. "So uh, where did it go?"
"Right over your heads!" Ardee answered happily. "Flew south to the fortieth."
"Oh… cool." Coughing once to clear her throat, Alise whirled to face the rest of the expedition group that were waiting for direction. "Well, good work on this expedition everyone! We accomplished our goals and lost nobody! No matter what else may have occurred, this is a perfect result!"
Not even the disbelieving faces that greeted her pronouncement could dampen Alise's mood. Some of them from her own familia.
"Did you hear Ardee, Alise?" Lyon demanded. "They have created a method of easily killing citizens and low-tier adventurers!"
Alise's smile twitched. "That's fine! Like I mean, how different is that from any one of us?"
"Trust us from the real world," Asuna broke in. "If there are guns in your world now, things are going to change."
"Ahaha," Alise forced a laugh. "Well, there is always something! Let's focus on our victory today and our immediate objective of returning to our nice soft beds… I'm sure some of you will be climbing into one together!"
Alise's distraction worked quite successfully gauging from the variety of blushes and not-so-subtle glances that were tossed about.
Most of them Alise had expected, but she wasn't ready for the glance that Nautilus sent Yuna's way, nor Ouka's blush.
Well well… Putting the knowledge away, Alise raised a fist, "Come on, onto our beds! I'll expect you there, Lion!"
"Huh!? D-Don't phrase it that way!"
"Huh? But if not me… then Ball!?"
"I am not an amazon!" The elf roared back, ears scarlet.
"Aww, but you do want to sleep with someone, right? If you ask nicely… Ardee can come too!"
"Oh, that's a great idea!" Ardee agreed, clapping the girl on the back. "Lyu makes just the best noises, doesn't she?"
"Oh, absolutely. Especially anytime you get near her ears and—"
"AHHHH!"
Ducking the blow from the wooden sword, Alise spun to the side as Ardee went flying from the attack. Alise had to take another step back to get out of range from the backstroke that came flying for her head.
"Aww, why are you being so mean?" Alise pouted. "We aren't lying!"
"You know why!" Lion protested. "Now lead us up to the surface—Quietly!"
"Fine, fine. Just kiss Ardee's wound better first."
"H-huh!?"
"Yeah," Ardee agreed standing back up and rubbing her wound. Her blue hair matted in that place. "Please Lyu…"
"…I hate you both."
Despite her harsh words, Lion did as asked and leaned forward to lightly brush Ardee's head with her lips. It barely counted but it was more than Alise had been expecting. Ardee actually froze, her cheeks turning scarlet.
"Whoa… You'll make such a good mum, Lyu!"
"S-Shut up and start marching!"
"Hai!" Agreeing heartily, Alise led them out of the camp and towards the thirty-eighth floor. It was a testament to the skill and determination of the group that they were even able to leave this quickly.
Just as Alise was praising herself internally for her great deflection of the issues brought up, Kaguya stepped up to walk beside her. "You understand, right?"
If the words were said out loud, they were quiet enough to be lost before emerging from Kaguya's lips. It was the only way to speak around so many sharp-eared people. Not just the first-class, but animal people like Silica would overhear even a whisper.
"Nope!" Alise screamed silently back. Even if she couldn't make the noises; a girl had a reputation to uphold.
"Idiot leader… Have you not considered the combat style changes that will infect the upper echelons of adventurers?"
Alise did not understand. "They are like powerful hand crossbows. What's the point of worrying?"
"Hand crossbows. Fool. Do you think the real worlders would have paled like they did for a powerful hand crossbow?"
Alise pouted. She never liked feeling stupid. However, this was one of those times where she could not get a grip on what exactly was happening. Were these guns actually that scary? It just shot a small piece of metal?
Kaguya sighed. "Imagine this, you lock blades with the warlord. Magic active to its fullest extent, you use both hands to try and contain his sword that he holds loosely with one hand."
Alise nodded along, able to vividly see the scene in her mind. The cockiness that he fought with, that blank slate of a face, maybe a small rise of an eyebrow that she was trying so hard and was still so weak.
"Then, with his other hand he whips out a gun and shoots you."
"Okay…" Alise frowned, "but how is that different from a hand crossbow?"
"You are faster than a bolt from one of those. But not one of these… bullets, right?"
"Well, how should I know?" Alise sniffed. "I haven't faced one!"
Kaguya turned around and waved at Kirito. The silent conversation flipping to real words. "Oi, boy, come here for a second."
Despite mild grumbling, he did approach, leaving behind some confused and grumbling girlfriends that had been demanding stories of what had happened.
"I thought you were beyond the boy thing…" Kirito glared at Kaguya.
Alise's co-captain only laughed and clapped him on the back. "You'll always only be boy to me."
"Hmm, and I could have sworn that—"
"A-Anyway, these bullets, how fast are they compared to bolts?"
"…Hmm, well let's see… I'm pretty sure that bullets tend to be faster than the speed of sound, that's around… 300 mel per second or so?"
"T-Three hundred?" Alise broke in. "That's like… really fast."
"Yupp," Kirito nodded. "Real real fast. While I'm no gun master, I know that we've created guns that can shoot bullets far faster than that. Upwards of one kilomel per second."
"So that's like what… from here to the wall… in one second?"
"Probably?" Kirito shrugged. "That may be a little less than a kilomel, but the outcome is the same."
Alise whistled. "Yupp, that's definitely faster than I can run! Nee Ais, if you levelled up a few times, think your magic could get you to that wall in a second?"
"M-Me?" The girl following behind them with a vapid expression blinked once. "Umm, maybe?"
"Typical Ais answer," Alise pouted. "Anyway, Kiri-boy, it is your responsibility to get us these things so we can practice!"
"Ehh!? Kiri-boy? Wait, no, why is it my responsibility!? Ardee brought the news!"
"So?" Ardee laughed. Catching up to join in on the conversation. "Don't you want to see my sister again?"
"W-What does Shakmi have to do with this?"
"Oooh, so you are still trying to seduce more women? I'm not sure if I'm impressed or concerned for you."
Kirito looked half ready to flee as he bit back an answer. "That is not what I'm doing. I just happen to interact with a few women. I have male acquaintances as well."
"Uh huh. Sure you do, boy."
Alise did pause at the warmth in Kaguya's voice. Cold, calculating Kaguya had taken years to let even Astraea into her heart. Even for herself, outside of her familia members, it was Kirito that she trusted far above any of the others. He should be similar to Asuna and yet…
"Do you have some kind of seducing skill?"
Alise's words kind of froze the air. She felt half a dozen different stares focused on her back all of a sudden. They were talking too loudly and had drawn everyone's ears.
Perhaps sensing the changing moods, no one spoke as they waited for Kirito's answer. It was a long time coming before the boy sighed in defeat. "Not exactly."
Kaguya and Ardee who had been waiting expectantly both pulled back at the answer. Trust being reevaluated as they considered their own emotions. Alise herself did not think that she was being manipulated, just that she had formed a bond with the boy more easily than to other people.
"Oh, don't look at me that way," Kirito growled. "My goddess describes it as a 'Relationship rusher', or something like that. Basically, it amplifies feelings. If you were to approach me as someone to dislike, I could quickly turn that emotion to hate."
"Ohhh, that's quite the double-sided blade you got there!" Alise laughed.
Kaguya gave her a sigh. "Double-edged sword."
"That's what I said."
"Oh, leave her alone," Lyra laughed, joining them at the front of the column. "She was the only person astute enough to notice and not tripping over her sheath like a certain someone."
"An invitation to punt you across the floor? Why, don't mind if I do."
"Oi!" Protesting Kaguya's treatment, Lyra ran around Alise. Becoming the center of a game of a tag with a violent outcome for losing, Alise laughed again.
Alive again.
The holes in their familia were still there, but they were learning to move on again. New people could not in any way replace the ones they were missing but they instead added on a whole extra layer of fun and intrigue.
So, with a pep in her step, Alise led them ever upwards, back to their homes.
Lisbeth:
"Ehh, Bell did?" Liz's shocked exclamation was one of multiple. Not even Lili or Haruhime really seemed to buy the story.
Camped on the edge of the thirty-sixth floor after a full day of marching however, the story that came out from the tier-one adventurers betrayed all of their expectations.
Pursing her lips, Liz struggled to hold down her flash of jealousy. Bell had provided a unique and essential role to the party that had gone down despite being barely stronger than her.
Liz, meanwhile, was left holding the hilt of her blade that had failed Kirito. When the fight ramped up, her skills had not been enough to protect him. And despite the way that he had laughed it off, Liz knew that he was disappointed in the way things had gone down on the forty-ninth floor.
I'm his blacksmith… and I failed to prepare him.
With her head bent, Liz's emotions swirled around, and no one noticed. There was too much excitement, too many questions surrounding how Balor was felled. The sacrifices that the girls made to open up a path for Ais and Bell.
Liz turned as she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Lefiya…?"
It was the last person that Liz would have expected to approach her. In the entire duration of the trip down, Liz had not spoken with her directly once.
"You aren't the only person that failed to protect the people you love."
"…What are you talking about?" Liz whispered back, uncomfortable by the overly familiar words.
"Don't you notice a name missing in these stories?" Lefiya continued unperturbed. "An elven powerhouse with a thousand spells at their disposal?"
Liz blinked and refocused, intrigue bringing her out of her melancholy. "What happened to you?"
"I failed and broke. Every time things got intense, I failed."
"…Why tell me this?"
The elf shrugged and rose to move. "You looked like you needed to hear it."
That didn't help… Liz glared at the elf that walked away from the story-telling session. Even if what she said was true, it didn't mean anything. Two wrongs did not make a right.
Unable to sit here and listen any longer, Liz walked away from the low fire towards the entrance where Yuna and Nautilus were on guard. The pair sat close together—not touching—just talking.
Liz could not get past them without them raising the alarm. No one left the encampment for any reason. The washroom was a hastily dug hole in the rocky floor with a rickety curtain set up. That meant that she was trapped in an alcove little more than twenty meters across. The exact same as the way down, except the tier one adventurers no longer had their own section. It was a single group that climbed back out of hell.
"Hey."
Jumping again, Liz turned to find Kirito. Her boyfriend shot her that awkward yet endearing smile he was so fond of. Many times, Liz did not understand why she had given her heart to a foolish boy with better women fawning over him and a death wish. Moments like this made inconsequential details like those unimportant.
"Shouldn't our hero be lapping up praise?"
"Me?" Kirito scoffed. "It was all Bell. I did nothing worth mentioning down there."
"…That's my fault, huh?"
Kirito frowned and grabbed at Liz's hand.
Recoiling, she turned away from him. "I'm sorry. I thought… I thought I could create something good enough for you. My pride almost got you killed."
Kirito was so quiet, Liz thought for a moment that he had walked away from her. Then he simply sighed. That one note carried enough disappointment in it to confirm her worst fears.
"Why do you think I came over to talk to you?"
"…Because of this." Liz whispered raising the broken blade in her hands. "I-I swear I'll get better. I failed this time but—"
Liz cut off as she was spun around. The force and strength in Kirito's grip could not be overcome nor ignored. Heart beating frantically against her ribs, Liz looked up at him with fearful eyes.
I don't get a second chance. He's going to…
Her thoughts were blown apart by a flash of white light as Kirito's lips pressed down upon hers. Body going limp, all she could feel was the warm wetness of his mouth and his solid body as he held her close to him. Within moments, her once icy body was beginning to explode with uncontrollable warmth.
Just as she began to reach her limit, Kirito pulled away, letting the blaze die down. "Thank you, Liz. Your gear saved my life more times than I can count."
"Huh? B-But it failed! This blade—"
"Did its job," Kirito assured her, running another hand through her hair. "Seriously Liz, thank you."
This kiss was softer, slower, and somehow healing. The truth of Kirito's statements was imprinted directly upon her soul. She could feel his gratitude and love for her in every action.
Ah, I'm an idiot… I bet the other girls never have these doubts.
Unable to suppress the question, Liz had to ask after Kirito pulled away again. "But what about the others? None of their weapons broke."
"Hmm, maybe," Kirito nodded reluctantly. "But you should have seen them in the aftermath of the Balor fight. Bruises stretching half of their torsos, broken arms, et cetera. Have you noticed Ais's shattered armour though, or Alise's? Some things survive, others don't. Besides, this magic sword was made to break, wasn't it?"
Liz skipped over the 'bruised torso' bit. She was comfortable enough with the current situation to ignore Kirito staring at the Astraea girls naked. "I actually missed those. Most of them don't wear armour, huh?"
Kirito shrugged. "It gets in the way of long magic chants and a lot of them are speed or stealth type adventurers."
Liz sighed, leaning her head against Kirito's chest. He had removed his armour and she could feel his body clearly through the thin shirt. "Thank you for talking to me. I still plan on getting better though."
"We all do," Kirito laughed, stroking a gentle hand through her hair. Closing her eyes, Liz breathed deeply through her nose, taking in that scent of him.
"Mhmm, but I'm going to improve even faster than you."
Kirito chuckled, his hand lulling her into a blissful sleep. "I look forward to that. I need all the help I can get to protect everyone."
"Yeah, you do." Nuzzling in deeper, Liz felt the pain of her failure heal. Kirito's soothing presence was a drug, and she was addicted.
Silica:
Riding on Kin's back, Silica once again shook her head at Liz. For the three days since they'd camped out on the thirty-sixth, Liz had a goofy smile on her face.
With her hearing, Silica had picked up every word of the exchange. She imagined that most of the people not fully engaged in the story had. It had been nice of Kirito to help her friend, but Liz's goofy smile was a bit much.
Entering the twenty-seventh floor, Silica forgot about her goofy friend and stared up at the incredible vista. Of every floor she had visited, this was her favorite. The massive waterfall, the beautiful azure crystals, the pure rivers.
The floor I met Pina on.
Placing a hand over her heart, Silica stayed silent as a wave of nostalgia and sorrow swept through her. Helping her endure it was Kin. The massive, dangerous monster viable to snap her head off was not the same as Pina, but just having him there as point of reassurance let Silica endure these powerful emotions.
"You okay?"
"Hmm?" Turning to Liz, Silica gave her a half-hearted smile. "Of course. Just excited to start fighting again."
"…You don't have to lie to me. I know you have Leafa to rely on but I still—"
"Kyuu!"
Silica's eyes widened as she sat up on Kin. The Deathclaw's interest was piqued as well as it raised its nose and started sniffing the air.
That sound… It can't be… A flash of blue feathers. Without thinking, Silica prodded Kin forward and the monster responded with alacrity.
"Oi, girl!"
A few calls followed after her, but Silica could not stop. Not now. Kin ran and Silica prodded him on. Faster, faster, faster.
She had to know. She had to.
It was clear that Kin was locked unto to something as he entered one of the side caverns without pausing and turned down another hallway. Nostrils flared; the dinosaur led her after the blue shadow.
Crystal shattered under his claws as Kin executed hard turns with the power of a level four monster.
"PINA!" Silica cried, her voice echoing through the hallways.
Where are you? Where?
Silica did not know why her heart already knew. It was a single tail feather. It could be not only another feathery dragon but even an entirely different species. Harpies had feathers and… Silcia did not know, it did not matter.
Pina!
Turning another sharp corner, they ran face first into a pack of Merman. Nearly a dozen strong, the half-fish people whirled on her and Kin, tridents at the ready.
Kin cared nothing for their attitude and lunged at the largest of the group. A fellow with more crystals decorating his beard than the others. He was clearly the leader, but that didn't make him invincible.
With a single flash, the massive sickle claws on Kin's legs bisected the monster into sashimi.
"Keep going!" Silica prompted and Kin obeyed. The remaining monsters were too stunned to give chase after losing their leader before attacking a single time.
Breaking through them, Silica finally heard what she was searching for, the frantic beat of wings breaking the air. The size, the speed, both matched exactly how Pina had flown.
Or any feathery dragon.
It didn't matter. "Faster, please."
Kin responded with alacrity, as the monster unleashed every ounce of speed it possessed to pursue their target. The pace was a neck breaking dash through twisting paths. Each step bringing those wing beats a little closer.
The distance between them shrinking ever so slightly. "It's… too fast."
That wasn't possible. Whatever they were chasing was far faster than Pina had been. This creature should not be on this floor. As evidenced by the fight against the mermen, Kin was far faster than any creature on this floor.
Or so Silica had thought.
"Hah… Hah…" Kin's panting grew louder as the deathclaw began to slow, energy drained from the sprint.
"…Don't get used to this." Reaching into her pouch, Silica withdrew a few magic stones. Reaching around she tossed them into Kin's open mouth.
Slowing momentarily to swallow, Kin's eyes widened with regained energy. Unleashing a loud howl of challenge, he took off again.
The slowing wing beats in the distance picked up with a burst of urgency.
Stop running! Silica command it mentally. Almost in answer, the wing beat slowed, labored with exhaustion.
With Kin's new burst of energy, the distance was now closing rapidly. Half standing on Kin's back, Silica prepared herself to jump off and grab her quarry.
Just as Silica thought the moment would never come, Kin burst into a wide cavern with a pool at the back. She made it just in time to see clearly a feathery dragon close its wings and dive into the water.
"Pina!"
Jumping from Kin's back, she dove into the water without a thought.
The water was cool, but not cold enough to shock her. Mind engaged with catching her quarry, Silica swam as fast as she could. Pina was a near-invisible streak of sky-blue in an azure world.
So fast! Putting very effort into her strokes, Silica tried desperately to track that slight disruption that the small creature's passage left behind.
Her advantages on land were stripped away in this watery world and replaced by weaknesses. Her sensitive ears filled with water and messed with her senses. Her tail that gave her exceptional balance was waterlogged and dragging her down.
Taking a few extra moments, Silica shrugged out of her jacket and shirt, pushing off her boots during the same time. With some weight gone, the water stopped fighting back as badly. It still felt like trying to walk into a strong wind. Her arms didn't move as they should, and she could not reach the speeds she desired.
As her lungs finally screamed at her, a different thought entered Silica's mind. Am I… dying?
It had to have been a minute at least since diving in. She couldn't sense Pina anymore. Only swim in the direction that the dragon had been moving. She could not turn around and the tunnel had narrowed to the point that it was clear that this was heading in only one direction.
Where are you…? "Pina…"
The underwater words wasted what little air Silica had left. Vision going black, Silica cursed her weakness.
Sorry, Kirito, Leafa, , Liz, everyone…
With a splash her head broke the surface. Air rushing into her lungs. Coughing desperately, Silica looked up into the darkened space confused.
She had stopped swimming, what… a blade rested against her throat.
"A human," a gravelly voice spoke. "You were followed."
"Kyu!"
That sound brought life back to Silica. "Pina!" Crying out for her friend, Silica knocked the blade aside, cutting her hand in the process as she stumbled for the dragon. Falling down, she found her. That cute voice, the same slick body and happy mannerisms.
Looking into those eyes, there was something different. Pina had always been smart. The light present was no longer that of a pet but a human. Complex thought and emotions lingered in that gaze.
"Huh… Pina?"
A force on her side pushed Silica over. Unable to resist she looked up at the wielder of the blade who returned it to her neck.
I have to fight back, I have to—
The face that looked down at her was not only not human, it was monstrous.
"Hello, human," the Lizardman spoke in a jovial yet sinister tone.
Uh oh, I'm hallucinating. "Hello… Lizard." Passing out, Silica wondered if her whole reunion with Pina was simply that.
Alise:
"Look, we can't wait around forever for her. She's strong enough that—"
"Enough," Kirito cut off Anakitty roughly. "You would leave a comrade you fought beside behind alone in the dungeon!?"
"No," the catgirl replied smarmily, "but she is hardly alone. That deathclaw of hers could cut through entire hordes of monsters for her."
"That doesn't help her get back to the surface if she is lost. We need to track down where she went and—"
"AHHH, stop it!" Alise demanded, covering her ears. "I'll go get her. Come if you want, Kirito."
The boy nodded once, and they set off. Only Ais and Leafa came along. The second girl looked particularly worried. Ais of course, never displayed much information.
"Do we have a way of tracking her monster?" Kirito growled, voice on edge.
Alise forced out a laugh. "Don't worry about that. We can find them. This cave section is not connected to the paths going up. In essence, it's a useless dead end that only gets explored by a small number to farm a few rare ingredients."
"Alise is right," Ais spoke up surprisingly. "It is small. I have only been here once… to fight mermaids."
"Yupp, yupp, what she said!" Despite Alise doing her best cheer-people-up voice, the siblings shared a concerned glace.
"That means she's injured," Kirito grunted. "We don't have long."
"Do we split up?" Leafa asked Kirito.
Pouting at being left out, Alise stayed silent as Kirito pondered. Finally, just as Alise was going to say something, Kirito nodded.
"Alise, Ais, can you two cover the more likely direction? You'll be faster without us."
"Well, Ais?"
"…I agree."
"Then, let's go!" Reaching a fork in the path, Alise led Aiz down the right junction. In only a few seconds they had created a gap between them and the Kirigaya siblings. They may be fast, but they weren't tier one yet.
"Awaken tempest, Ariel!"
Alise raised an eyebrow at the magic usage. Ais of course, did not react. The girl was only using the extra speed to keep pace as they tore down tunnels, covering incredible distance each second.
"Hey, so is this like half the speed of a bullet?"
Ais' doll-like faced only showed a small frown of confusion.
"Never mind." Focusing on the ground, Alise turned the corner into a pack of mermen. The reeling group was half dead. Its leader's body lay in three pieces and most of the others had serious cuts along their bodies. Alise kicked one as she ran through but otherwise left the things alone.
"At least we know what way she came."
Ais finally answered. "That was… weird."
"Hmm?"
"The leader's wounds were not the same."
Alise recalled the image in her mind. It had been for less than a second, but all first-tier adventurers were good at identifying battle wounds. The clean cut was from a scythe like weapon… probably Kin.
The other mermen… That had been a dull blade of some sort that ripped ugly gashes into the people it hit.
"Someone else is here," Alise surmised, her smile fading. Those cuts were not from Silica's dagger. Either they got help or ran into a troublemaker.
Ais only nodded.
With her eyes to the ground, Alise tracked the Deathclaw's path. There was now a faint track of blood behind it as well as cracks where the force of its step overwhelmed the crystal in the floor.
Soon… Something was wrong in the dungeon. The very air in this section was taking on that of the deep floors.
An irregular?
Drawing her blade from its sheath, Alise prepared for combat as she slowed down and entered a dead-end chamber.
"Kuuu…"
"Kin!?" Alise's eyes widened at the monster. Half dead, it lay slumped against the wall, blood spurting out in droves from a large cut in its side.
"So you two are the one's making the noise. Just when I thought…"
Alise did not hear the words. Standing before her was a phantom from the past. Matching green eyes, short cut red hair of the exact same shade.
The single word was drawn from out from Alise's very soul. "Revis…"
"…Alise." The woman replied, voice devoid of emotion. No, not just her voice, everything about the dead woman was empty.
"I-Impossible… You died! I watched you die!"
"Alise," Ais spoke quickly. "This woman is dangerous. Kin is—"
"HOW!?" Alise screamed. Her mask of perpetual joy and confidence shattering. "I held your broken, amputated leg in my arms! What are you!?"
"Isn't that obvious my twin? I'm a monster. You're in the way of my goals so—"
Alise could tell that she had completely lost the thing's attention. Her focus was drawn solely to Ais. Her dark-green eyes like death moss were fixed intensely upon Ais.
"Aria…"
Ais jerked back in surprise. "That name… How do you know that name!?"
The scream almost surprised Alise, but she could not care in this moment. Her dead sister had come back from the dead. Her expulsion from her first familia, finding Astraea, creating her new life… Ancient scars cleaved open again, spurting fresh blood onto her body.
"Kyu…"
Making a split-second choice, Alise darted for Kin. Opening a potion, she poured it on Kin's major wound. Reading her cleanly, Revis darted for Ais, red sword the same colour as the monster blood coating it swung down for Ais.
The wind-enhanced parry buckled under the force.
"I can't find the monsters, but I'll take you back with me."
"Tell me-!" Ais' determined sentence was cut off as Revis' fist smashed through the wind armour straight into the blond swordswoman face. A sharp crack sounded as the nose was broken.
Fast.
Finishing the healing, Alise darted between them, knocking the next fist aside. As Revis slashed uncaringly for her throat, Alise knocked it aside. The feat numbing her hand.
She's stronger than me but slower.
Dodging the next fist, she grabbed for the cloth around her sister's chest. Revis back up allowing the clothes to tear off in Alise's hand. Even bare-chested, she looked no different from any other woman.
She had the same beauty that Alise liked to brag about. Only Revis' took the eroticism and raw sexuality up to ten, abandoning any pretense about being cute.
"…You surpassed me." For the first time, there was emotion when she spoke to Alise. A hint of surprise and excitement. "Then I will be back."
"No! Don't think that I will—"
Revis' left hand was a blur as she reached for the holster on her waist and withdraw an oddly shaped piece of metal.
Danger.
Instincts saved Alise as she stepped to the side.
Bang, Bang, Bang!
In the smoking aftermath of the bullets' passage, her sister was gone. Alise was alone with Ais and Kin but not Silica. "Wait…"
Reaching a hand out for Revis, Alise let it fall.
"So, that's a 'gun', huh?"
"What… power." Ais groaned, climbing to her feet. "How is she so strong?"
"…I don't know," Alise replied regretfully. Stunned by the events, she could not even manage a smile. Reaching out, she grabbed Ais' nose and jerked it back into position. "You don't have the face to pull off a crookd nose."
It was supposed to be a joke. Alise could not find the expressions to make it work.
Despite the pain and rude statement, Ais only nodded gratefully.
"Now then, we need to find—"
Splash!
Whirling to the breaking water, Alise watched as Silica pulled herself out of the pool panting with the help of a feathery dragon.
"What the hell is happening?" No one had an answer for Alise's grumbled question.
Asuna:
"So, what are you making of all of this?"
The boy walking hand-in-hand with her looked puzzled as he stared out through the forest. The flickering of dying crystal light as evening came over the eighteenth floor made for a romantic setting. If you ignored the occasional howl of a monster, or the bugbear that Asuna had to stab through the chest as it attacked them.
"Honestly?" Kirito replied with a self-deprecating chuckle, "that I have no idea what's happening."
Asuna nodded in understanding. Despite the serious things that had happened to them in their return, she had a mission tonight. This was the last night of the expedition. Dinner with everyone was supposed to be in an hour and was essentially the end as a few of the first-tier adventurers were planning on running to the surface this night.
"I mean, Pina coming back to life is a bit odd if not completely weird given how monsters are born. But Alise's sister? No one in her familia even knew about the girl until now."
Asuna nodded, wishing she hadn't asked. "Umm, this is the last time I may see you for awhile… A long while."
"…Yeah. Loki familia is going on an expedition soon, correct?"
"Yupp…"
In the silence that followed, they reached the end of the path and came out in the location that Asuna had been leading Kirito to. Secluded on the edge of the eighteenth floor was a serene pool complete with a small waterfall that the Loki familia girls liked. Lefiya and Ais had already used it and no one else knew where it was.
"Asuna?" Kirito called out her name.
Face flushing, Asuna stared at the pool, hoping desperately for Kirito to do something, anything. He couldn't be this oblivious, could he?
"…I'm guessing you didn't get lost?"
Shaking her head, Asuna shut her eyes and waited. Praying.
Her prayers were shortly answered as Kirito grabbed her other hand in his. Eyes still shut, she waited desperately for his next words.
"I know being apart is hard, but we don't have to—"
"Please shut up and use your instincts for once!" Yelling out the words, Asuna flushed even brighter and buried her head in his chest.
She gasped as she felt his breath on her ear. "Last time I did that, you didn't seem to like it."
"Last time we—Uhh…" Protestations turning into a moan, Asuna's back arched as a bright flash of pleasure rushed into her from the tip of her ear. That single spot sent a flare of heat through her whole body.
On the forty-third floor, it had been only a single teasing suck and Asuna had not been sure that her body was going to cool down and let her sleep.
This was more.
So, so much more. Her sensitive ear tip bent and twisted under Kirito's tongue, each breath the touch of a feather, every caress a hot iron.
Unable to resist, Asuna lay panting in place against his chest, knees buckled as Kirito supported her upperbody. Just as Asuna was sure the bliss would kill her, it stopped. A cold wind tickling her now wet ear.
"Asuna, I want to bathe with you."
"Y-Yes," She replied weakly.
"I… Once we get in…"
Raising her head, Asuna smiled at him. In the midst of her rapture the previous embarrassment was gone. Words were suddenly easy things, barely consequential. The only way for her to express the depths of her emotions was with her body.
"Don't fret so much, I won't want you to stop." As she spoke, Asuna began to remove her dress with deft fingers. The fabric sliding lower around her body with each button that she removed.
Kirito swallowed, but Asuna was surprised that his gaze only flickered briefly to her rapidly revealing breasts. His eyes settled on hers as he stroked her cheek.
"I love you, you know that, right?"
"Shut up and take your clothes off."
"Yes ma'am," he answered with a wink and a smile.
As the kisses started, Asuna apologized mentally to the to rest of the expedition party. She would not be back for dinner.
Expedition Party:
Astraea Familia-
Alise 'Scarlet Harnell' Lovell Level 6
Level Six
Strength: D 528 → D 540 Defense: F 392 → E 405 Dexterity: E 481 → E 490 Agility: C 620→ C 629 Magic: H 170 → H 177
Hunter: F
Immunity: G
Fire Flash: H
Knight: I
Magic:
Agaris Alvesynth—Powerful fire enchantment magic. Can use spell key Arvelia to create explosions.
Skills:
Lubrude Bequia—Rare skill that raises strength in combat, Def and Dex in adverse situations, and Agi and Mag in fights against powerful opponents. When all three conditions are met, Str, Agi, and Mag continue to increase slightly for duration.
Batleate Asyrath—Enhances the effect of Lubrude Bequia in melee combat and magic power.
*New*Arvelia Asyrath—Increases power and versatility of Arvelia. Increases the rate of stat increase from Lybrude Bequia.
Kaguya 'Yamado Rindou' Gojouno Level 6
Level 6
Strength: E 407 → E 412 Defense: I 99 → H 103 Dexterity: G 201 → G 220 Agility: E 490 → D 505 Magic: I 90→ I 96
Immunity: G
Night Fight: G
Iai: H
Magic:
Gokou—Creates five blades of light that move in time to the wielder's sword. When paired with the Skill of the same name, surrounds target with five magical slashes.
Skills:
Kaina Blood—Enhances the power of attacks against humans.
Tekiheni—Increases the speed and power of attacks executed in the same motion as the weapon is drawn.
Yamikage—User's outline blurs and becomes indistinct at night while fighting.
Lyu 'Gale Wind' Lion Level 6
Level 6
Strength: F 386 → F 399 Defense: H 101 → H 112 Dexterity: F 311 → F 320 Agility: E 459 → E 475 Magic: E 443→ E 466
Hunter: F
Mage: H
Immunity: G
Magic Resistance: H
Chain Attack: I
Magic:
Luminous Wind—Wind and Light element magic that summons green stardust to attack. Stardust gathers in orbs that Lyu can release in waves as she chooses. Luvia commands individual orbs to explode at will.
Noah Heal—Heals the body and stamina. Takes time for full effect. More effective in forests.
*New* Astraea Record—Allows Lyu to copy magic from other members of Astraea familia. While chanting, user is protected by a barrier of crystals of light. Once finished, crystals are absorbed by the user and can skip the chant of the desired magic.
Skills:
Fairy Serenade—Increases magic effects, better at night.
Mind Load—Increase Str when using Mind. Active trigger.
Aero Mana—Increases attack the faster the user is running. Coats weapon with a blue aura.
*New*Astraea Varmas—Increases all stats in proportion to the number of familia members nearby. The greater the connection to each member the greater the boost.
Lyra 'Thrail' Level 5
Level 5→ Level 6
Strength: D 587 → I 0 Defense: C 699 → I 0 Dexterity: A 850 → I 0 Agility: B 772 → I 0 Magic: C 646→ I 0
Immunity: G
Synthesis: H → G
Explosion: I → H
*New*Nimble: I
Magic:
Mumu Main—Creates an afterimage of user and provides brief invisibility.
Wingus Smite—User enhances the effectiveness of bladed weapons. When thrown, user can control the path with their mind.
Skills:
Ratts Phil—Enables escape from most traps and tight spots
Agile Salt—Increases Agi in proportion to the danger of the situation and damage taken.
Incendiary—Charges devices to increase their potential. Particularly effective for explosives.
Hestia Familia
Kirito 'Black Swordsman' Kirigaya Level 4
Level 4
Strength: H 104 → H 194 Defense: I 86 → H 144 Dexterity: H 130 → G 204 Agility: G 207 → F 300 Magic: I 62 → H 112
Aura: G
Immunity: H
Dual-Wielder: I
Magic:
Gigas Cedar – Summons a branch of the unfellable tree to grow from the equipped sword.
Mirrored Blades – Duplicates the properties of the weapon held in each hand.
Skills:
Gilded Hero – Grants the user abilities surpassing their limit in times of great desperation or need. Particularly when aligned with a righteous goal.
Rain 'Infinite Blade' Karatachi Level 3
Level Three
Strength: D 571 → B 702 Defense: E 492 → D 585 Dexterity: D 524 → C 656 Agility: C 610 → A 825 Magic: E 422 → D 539
Idol: H
Immunity: I
Magic:
Thousand Sword Rain – Summons ethereal blades that shoot out at the user's discretion.
Skills:
Dual-wielder – Increases the user's strength when wielding two weapons.
Dancer – When the Idol advanced ability is in use, the user's agility increases substantially.
Philia 'Sharp Knife' Takemiya Level 3
Level Three
Strength: E 491 → D 582 Defense: E 452 → D 547 Dexterity: C 621 → B 756 Agility: C 614 → B 773 Magic: F 222 → E 309
Treasure Hunter: H
Immunity: I
Magic:
Astral eyes – See the flow of energy through physical obstructions.
Skills:
Sword Breaker – Grants the user's weapon increased ability to break what it encounters.
Leafa 'Fairy Knight' Kirigaya Level 3
Level Three
Strength: H 101 → H 199 Defense: I 77 → H 145 Dexterity: I 94 → H 172 Agility: H 185 → G 299 Magic: I 87 → H 167
Hunter: H
Immunity: I
Magic:
Wind Blade: Produces and shoots blades of hardened wind in the desired direction.
Lady of the Sky: Inhibits the user with the power of the Slyphs. Gives them mastery of the skies.
Skills:
Harbinger of Wind: Allows the user to infuse their weapon with magical wind energy. The faster the user is moving the greater the effect. Active activation.
Silica 'Dragon Lover' Ayano Level 3
Level Three
Strength: I 42 → H 109 Defense: I 57 → H 113 Dexterity: H 124 → G 172 Agility: F 222 → G 339 Magic: I 37 → I 94
Tamer: H
Immunity: I
Magic:
Fad Edge: Imbues the user's next attack with magical energy. Especially potent at cutting through armour.
Skills:
Dragon trainer: Increases the user's ability to tame Dragon-type monsters.
Strea 'Bloody Berserker' Level 3
Level Three
Strength: H 192 → F 309 Defense: H 111 → H 185 Dexterity: I 54 → H 102 Agility: I 55 → H 103 Magic: I 0 → I 0
Immunity: H
Berserk: I
Magic:
Skills:
Elegy of Darkness—Activates near death. Imbues the user with greater strength. Weapon strikes devour the energy of foes prolonging skill activation. Restricts mental capacity when active.
*New*Corrupted pulse—Activates Elegy of Darkness' devouring effect and provides a stat boost momentarily upon being injured.
Lisbeth 'Magic Sword Nut' Shinozaki Level 2
Level Two→ Level Three
Strength: C 631 → I 0 Defense: B 787 → I 0 Dexterity: D 512 → I 0 Agility: D 546 → I 0 Magic: I 0 → I 0
Forge: I → H
*New*Immunity: I
Magic:
*New*Mountain Fall: Enhances power of blunt weapon attacks. Particularly good at crushing armour and bending metal
Skills:
Aegis—Increases defense when using a shield.
*New*Imbued—Aids in transference of soul connection.
Sachi 'Lady of the Spear: Great Twister of Dimensions' Hayami Level 2
Level Two → Level Three
Strength: B 721 → I 0 Defense: D 527 → I 0 Dexterity: C 618 → I 0 Agility: C 698 → I 0 Magic: D 580 → I 0
Immunity: I → H
*New*Swift Strike: I
Magic:
Distorted Thrust – Allows the user to connect with its target, ignoring the intervening gap.
Skills:
Cleansing presence – Aids recovery from abnormal ailments affecting nearby creatures. Drains mind.
Mikoto 'Eternal Shadow' Yamato Level 2
Level Two
Strength: H 125 → H 145 Defense: H 103→ H 121 Dexterity: G 202 → G 241 Agility: H 150 → H 179 Magic: I 50 → I 68
Immunity: I
Magic:
Futsunomitama – Gravity magic. User calls down the divine blade to create a cylindrical area of highly increased gravity.
Skills:
Yatano Black Crow—Locates monsters encountered before in a small radius. Drains mind.
Yatano White Crow—Locates familia members in a small radius. Drains mind.
Bell 'Vesta's Light' Cranell Level 3
Level Three
Strength: I 0 → G 255 Defense: I 0 → H 191 Dexterity: I 0 → G 241 Agility: I 0 → F 379 Magic: I 0 → I 68
Luck: G
Immunity: I
Magic:
Firebolt – Swift strike magic.
Skills:
Liaris Freese – A strong desire increases rate of growth. The stronger the desire, the stronger the growth.
Argonaut – Charge skill. Gather energy into the point of the User's choice. Active activation.
Liliruca Arde Level 1
Level One → Level Two
Strength: G 210 → I 0 Defense: G 254 → I 0 Dexterity: F 391 → I 0 Agility: D 520 → I 0 Magic: C 604 → I 0
*New*Immunity: I
Magic:
Cinder Ella – Transformation magic.
Skills:
Artel Assist – Increases the weight that can be carried.
Command Call—Increases range of commands in battle. Size expands with battle size. Remote communication to familia members
Sanjouno Haruhime Level 1
Level One → Level Two
Strength: I 40 → I 0 Defense: I 94 → I 0 Dexterity: H 191 → I 0 Agility: F 311 → I 0 Magic: C 694 → I 0
*New*Mage: I
Magic:
Uchide no Kozuchi – Level-up Sorcery.
*New*Kokonoe—Creates up to nine duplicates of the connected magic.
Skills:
*New* Mikuzumenohou—Increases magic effect and mind usage
Yui Level 1
YUI-MHCP001
Level One → Level Two
Strength: C 666 → I 0 Defense: C 666 → I 0 Dexterity: C 666 → I 0 Agility: C 666→ I 0 Magic: C 666→ I 0
*New*Guardian: I
Magic:
Area of Peace – Creates a zone around the caster where occupants feel happier, their sorrow and anger repressed.
Skills:
Missionary of Peace – The user is able to block attacks from any creature that they have not attacked. Drains mind.
*New*Object Eraser—Allows the user to erase the existence of a creature they touch with a weapon or by hand. Higher the difference in level, the more likely it is to fail.
Loki Familia
Aiz 'Sword Princess' Wallenstein Level 5
Level Five
Strength: D 554 → D 564 Defense: D 544 → D 553 Dexterity: A 816 → A 827 Agility: A 814→ A 824 Magic: A 883→ S 900
Hunter: G
Immunity: G
Swordsman: H
Magic:
Ariel—Mind enchantment magic. Can be sent to others temporarily or turned into a destructive cone with Lil Rafaga
Skills:
Avenger—Increases user's attack power against monsters. Effect is greater against dragon-type monsters.
Lefiya 'Thousand Elf' Viridis Level 4
Level Four
Strength: I 32 → I 40 Defense: I 40 → I 52 Dexterity: I 65 → I 86 Agility: I 97 → H 121 Magic: H 197 → G 258
Mage: H
Immunity: I
Magic Resistance: I
Magic:
Arcs Ray—User creates a homing light beam. Can be detonated with Alio
Fusillade Fallarica—User summons fire magic to fall from the sky in a wide area.
Elf Ring—Copies any elven magic. Requires knowledge of the spell and its full chant.
Skills:
Fairy Canon—Increases the effect of magic. Doubles in effectiveness for attacking magic.
Anakitty 'Alchat' Autumn Level 4
Level Four
Strength: D 561 → D 574 Defense: E 447 → E 463 Dexterity: C 612 → C 627 Agility: C 654→ C 674 Magic: I 0→ I 0
Hunter: H
Immunity: H
Magic:
Skills:
Beast Sense—Further increases user's senses, particularly sight and smell. Active trigger, drains mind.
Deadly Greeting—First attack against an opponent has higher power. Passive.
Astrid 'Cat's Shadow' Autumn Level 4
Level Four
Strength: I 91 → H 114 Defense: I 77 → I 93 Dexterity: H 112 → H 132 Agility: H 144→ H 176 Magic: I 0→ I 0
Hunter: H
Immunity: H
Magic:
Skills:
Beast Sense—Further increases user's senses, particularly sight and smell. Active trigger, drains mind.
Slip Past—User more easily dodges attacks from opponents they aren't attacking.
Asuna 'Water Witch' Yuuki Level 4
Level Four
Strength: I 9 → I 94 Defense: I 5 → I 65 Dexterity: I 32 → H 141 Agility: I 45 → H 179 Magic: I 10 → I 98
Mage: G
Immunity: H
Fencer: I
Magic:
Vannforlengelse—Shoots water in the direction of the User's choice. Shape and force of the water is chosen by the user. Volume and power scale with level.
Undine's Blood—Heals specified targets. Can be used as a touch range to fully heal one target or distributed to many.
Skills:
Flashing Penetrator—Increases the user's speed when dashing towards enemies.
Child of Water—Increasing the potency of magic cast in or around large amounts of water.
Miach Familia
Nautilus 'Low Rookie' Nochizawa Level 3
Level 3
Strength: I 0 → I 47 Defense: I 0 → I 49 Dexterity: I 0 → I 43 Agility: I 0 → I 42 Magic: I 0 → I 0
Hunter: H
Immunity: I
Magic:
Skills:
Yuna 'Enchantress' Shigemura Level 3
Level 3
Strength: I 0 → I 44 Defense: I 0 → I 47 Dexterity: I 0 → I 71 Agility: I 0 → I 79 Magic: I 0 → I 99
Bard: H
Immunity: I
Magic:
Solo Sonata—Imbues the user's voice with magic. Effect depends on song and emotions.
Skills:
Accompaniment—Addition of musical instruments enhances Solo Sonata's effect.
Daphne 'Laurus Fuga' Lauros Level 2
Level 2
Strength: E 491 → D 505 Defense: E 467 → E 478 Dexterity: C 682 → B 707 Agility: C 664→ C 698 Magic: F 360→ F 370
Immunity: I
Magic:
Raumure—Protection magic that increases user's Def and a large Agi boost.
Skills:
Elios Passion—Raises agility. If being chased, grants the Escape ability.
Laurus Wreath—Greatly increases Def when exhausted or dying. Active trigger, creates wooden-like skin.
Cassandra 'Mirabilis' Illion Level 2
Level 2
Strength: I 95 → H 101 Defense: H 177 → H 189 Dexterity: G 235 → G 248 Agility: F 321→ F 341 Magic: D 570→ D 588
Treatment: I
Magic:
Soulight—User creates a healing area. Heals stamina as well. Effectiveness scales with mind used.
Cure Ephilaltes—Cures status ailments.
Skills:
Five Dimension Troia—Unknown
Take-Mikazuchi Familia
Ouka 'Masuratakeo' Kashima Level 2
Level Two
Strength: H 155 → H 176 Defense: H 143→ H 162 Dexterity: I 47 → I 56 Agility: I 40 → I 49 Magic: I 0 → I 0
Immunity: I
Magic:
Skills:
Chigusa 'Jian Girl' Hitachi Level 2
Level Two
Strength: I 23 → I 29 Defense: I 16→ I 24 Dexterity: I 36 → I 57 Agility: I 32 → I 41 Magic: I 0 → I 0
Immunity: I
Magic:
Skills:
Post Note:
BTW, Omori's original intention was to have Revis be Alise but cut it because it was too cruel. Which is why Revis never gets any development or a backstory. I think it could have worked, but would have obviously needed Lyu's influence and for her to be the main heroine of the story, not Ais. Which once again points to Omori seeming to always have better ideas for Lyu than Ais…
PS. Utility has become Dex again.
PPS. Forgive the slight level mix-up here and there. Main characters are consistent at least...