Floor 3 - Chapter 3 - ...It Pours
December 10th, 2022 - Floor 3, Lyusulan Camp
A few days had passed since the first night in the camp, and Jet, Koharu and Rain had started to get the hang of working in a three person formation, rather than the usual duo. In addition, they hadn't seen Klein and Strea since the first day, apparently due to Strea not knowing her own strength, and seriously overdoing her training... like brother, like sister, Koharu supposed. ''Morning, brother of mine, Koharu, Kizmel, and... new girl?'' - Strea glanced back and forth to check she wasn't hallucinating. Nope, there was definitely a red haired girl stood with them now. Almost instantly, Strea started smirking... a sure-fire sign that Jet might want to consider the pros and cons of being alive, over whatever his sister was planning... - ''Well, well, well... when did my little brother become such a heartbreaker? I'm sure Mom and Dad will love to hear about this, you know...'' - Yeah, living had more cons now. Jet, Koharu and Rain all went bright red, and started babbling incoherently, trying to present their sides of events, and clear up any misunderstandings... at the same time. The resulting noise made radio static sound like smooth jazz...
''I'm... I'm not- It's not like that!'' - Jet yelled, as his sister burst into hysterics.
''Yeah, yeah, I know. You and Koharu are good friends, and you and the new girl are forming a ginger's league... by the way, Redheads United. Remember to credit me for that one, yeah?.''
''It's not that at- wait, what? No, you know what, we're all just friends! I don't have feelings for either of them!'' - Jet lied. He did, but giving Strea that ammunition was akin to handing a child a chainsaw... a really bad idea. - ''I never said anything about feelings, little brother... I mean, I wouldn't judge you if you did...'' - Strea winked towards him, as Jet tried to process what she'd just suggested... wait... did she suggest that all three of us... nope! - ''IT DEFINITELY ISN'T THAT, STREA!'' - Thankfully for Jet, Strea tended to speak to him in English anyway, which he wasn't entirely sure if either Koharu or Rain knew well enough to understand the implications of his sister's teasing.
''Heh, you are too easy to wind up... so, who is the new girl, anyway?''
''Rain, this is Strea. Strea, Rain.''
''Privyet.'' - Rain bowed politely towards the older girl.
''She's Russian then...'' - Rain hadn't missed the obvious disdain in Strea's voice at that. Jet just glared at his sister in annoyance at her.
''Don't mind her, that's how she says hello. She's not what I'd call a normal human being, see, Rain... she is in fact... a moron.'' - Strea gave a look that suggested Jet wasn't long for this world. Jet just smiled dumbly back towards his sister... who mumbled something about 'giving him a moron'... not like he needed another one. She was there, after all. - ''Okay, onwards with today's mission. We're going to hunt down the Spider Queen... oh, what now?!'' - Jet sighed, as Klein held his hand up like a schoolchild.
Strea was fighting not to laugh. She was also failing miserably. - ''You do realise you don't have to raise your hand to speak, right?''
''You forgot me! Again!''
''Huh? Oh, Klein, Rain. Rain, Klein. Done now, we good?''
''Much better.''
Some time later, inside the Spider Queen's Cave...
The group had entered the caves, and at the suggestion of Koharu, had been leaving small indicators to mark their exit, should a hasty retreat be necessary. Upon reaching one junction, Kizmel had noticed something in the webbing - a small pendant type object, covered in webbing. Both of the duo noticed Kizmel's unhappy look at the discovery, before she spoke up - ''This was the crest of the commander's family. One of his relatives must've been amongst the scouting party.'' - Everyone present at least tried to look down in respect for the deceased. The group carried on further into the cave until they reached a ledge, overlooking a room, and more importantly...
''That is a big spider.'' - Koharu may have managed the understatement of the century with that one.
''Meep.'' - Strea was not good with spiders... and those were generally smaller than her hand. The one currently in front of her was larger than her car, a car that her brother had once described as being pointlessly large for living in a city...
''I believe we have an expression for this in Russia... Svyataya Bogoroditsa!''
''In English please, Comrade-chan...'' - Jet elbowed his sister to get her to shut up, and stop being pointlessly bitchy. It hadn't worked once in the past 17 years, but Jet figured he was at least due a win once... - ''Not now, Strea... but in any language other than Russian, please?''
''Umm, well... Holy Mother of God!''
''Looking at that thing... I think it ate the Holy Mother of God! It's freaking huge!''
''I believe our best strategy is now a simple one...''
''Hit it till it dies?'' - Strea felt confident in her abilities to be able to flatten the creepy crawly...
''Run like hell?'' - Jet took a more strategic approach to fighting it... which was not to fight it at all
''I think a tactical retreat may not be the worst suggestion currently...'' - And with that suggestion passing unanimously, the group exited the caves as fast as their legs would carry them...
...Right into Kirito and Asuna, who looked more amused than anything at the usually indomitable duo running for their lives... and at the massive group they were in. ''So, what happened to the 'I work alone' attitude, Jet?'' - Kirito looked amused at the exhausted duo.
''It never existed. I never said that, and 'ark who's talkin! Anyway, it's a little on the complicated side...'' - Jet understated.
''How complicated?''
''I take it these are friends of yours?'' - Kirito looked as if he'd just choked on the air around him, whilst Asuna looked... was that relieved?
''Yeah, they are. Noble warriors... even if one of them currently looks like a fish out of water.''
'Then you would be wise not to enter the cave. The spider in there is certain to be a formidable foe, and one we may need a larger force for...''
''Uhh, you might be about to get your wish there.''
''It's been... uh oh.'' - Jet realised how long they'd been there, and how much progress the remaining groups would've made.
''What's 'uh oh' mean...'' - Koharu asked, not comfortable with the sense impending doom that Jet's expression gave off.
''It means that the rest of the clearing group are on their way, and that our friends here were aiming to beat them, I assume?'' - Kirito simply nodded.
''Surely that's a good thing, right Jet?''
''Uhh, no, not really... let's just say the clearing group is currently more of a liability than an ally, especially after the last boss...''
''What did you do...'' - It was Strea's turn to look disappointed in her brother...
''Why'd you assume I did anything?'' - Jet feigned offence, knowing that he was kind of responsible for the current bad blood.
''I know you, that's why.''
''Fine, they got pissy about us being beta testers, and him being a beater-''
''Hold up! He's a beater?! Lemme-'' - Strea pulled out her weapon, and began to get into a fighting stance, before Jet stepped in...
''Strea, aside.'' - Jet grabbed his sister by the shoulder, and pulled her out of earshot for the group.
''What. If he's abusive, I'm ending him...'' - The edge to those words could've been used as a blade in it's own right.
''That's... not what beater means in this context. Portmanteau of Beta and Cheater.''
''Ohh...'' - The siblings re-joined the group.
''I... uhh, I owe you an apology. I misunderstood what that nickname meant.'' - Jet wished he'd got a Record Crystal on him... Strea apologising? That was rarer than hens teeth!
''Apology accepted... who is she?'' - Kirito asked, looking in confusion at how the two had acted around each other.
''Can we do introductions later? We might have enough people to take on that spider with very little risk now, and if we can do that before the Barmy Army arrives...''
''Wait... now you want to fight that thing? I mean, I'm in, but...''
''These two are practically aces when it comes to this. Combine that with Koharu and I, you and Klein, and Rain and Kizmel, there's 8 of us, all of us strong fighters. One spider shouldn't pose too much of a threat, right?''
''I think I can hear people...''
Jet raised his blade as a signal, before walking into the cave - ''Right then, we're going in fast and hard.'' - Strea smirked at the euphemism, but decided to give her brother a break... for now.
The group headed back into the dungeon, following the coloured pebbles they'd left earlier, and within a few minutes, they'd reached the Spider Queen... still as massive and monstrous as it had been 20 minutes ago... ''Okay, so this wasn't that large in the beta test...'' - Kirito looked more than a little surprised at the giant spider, whilst Asuna simply readied her rapier...
''Any idea on it's attack patterns?''
''Avoid the webbing it shoots. It'll slow you down with a debuff, and you won't be able to get it off quick enough.''
''Got it... where's the webbing usually come from, anyway?''
''Erm... it usually shoots from its rear.'' - Jet gave a look of disgust, before accepting it.
''Oh, brilliant. So avoid the shitty web, got it. Anyone gets hit, holler, and someone'll cover ya!'' - Strea shuddered at the thought of being hit by it, and the rest of the group didn't seem too thrilled at the prospect of being hit either.
The Spider Queen let out a cry, and raced towards the forward group - the ones whose job was to keep the beast's attention focused on them, whilst the rear group took out the beast. One of the spider's front legs made impact with Jet's shield, and threw him back a good 10 feet, but not before Jet's blade took a chunk off of it's leg, the spider crying in agony at the impromptu amputation...
The spider reared up again, and from behind, Jet could faintly hear someone's annoyance at being hit by the webbing, but not before he saw the lights that spelt death for the spider... two separate sword skills, hitting the bug simultaneously. The creature made one last pathetic cry, before falling onto its stomach, and disintegrating into pixels.
''So, who got hit?'' - Jet answered his own question almost immediately, as he noticed a pissed off looking Asuna webbed to the wall. - ''I always said she spent too much time on the web...'' - Jet internally punched the air in pride, getting to do a one liner. Everyone around him though, just looked at him with the most unamused looks possible...
''Not funny, Jet...'' - Koharu looked towards him in disappointment, shaking her head at him, as he simply shrugged unapologetically...
''Oh come on, she's fine...''
''No, I mean it just wasn't funny. A solid 2 out of 10, if I'm being generous.'' - The look of disappointment was in how poor the joke was, rather than how poorly timed it was.
''Which is also what she'd give you in general...'' - Jet fought back the urge to make any digs at his sister, and settled for flipping the bird at her instead, as they walked over to free the trapped Asuna.
''You look pissed.'' - As ever, Kirito was master of stating the blindingly obvious. Asuna was wearing a look that would turn armies around if she so much as glanced at them...
''Just. Get. Me. Down.'' - Jet had to wonder on that. How she'd ended up at a 135 degree angle, when she'd been stood upright at the point the web hit, Jet suspected only she would know... and his sense of self preservation made sure he didn't ask her that one.
A few minutes later...
''I hear something.'' - The faint noise of voices in the distance was only barely audible to the human members of the party, whereas Kizmel, probably by virtue of being an NPC, could hear them more clearly.
''I hear talking.'' - Koharu could faintly see them too, if she squinted particularly hard.
''I hear the noise of metal grating.'' - Jet mumbled.
''I do not hear the latter?'' - Kizmel looked at Jet inquisitively.
''He doesn't like one of them.'' - Koharu translated from 'Jet-ese' to any other language.
''Then we should take cover. Jet, Koharu, with me.'' - Kizmel held her cape over the trio, as Jet ducked down to ensure his head didn't cause any urban legends to form. Koharu get the worst deal, as Kizmel's chest plate began pushing against her head...
''You're sure this is the right cave? I mean, it looks like people were here recently...'' - To give him slightly more credit than Jet did, Kibaou wasn't stupid... just very... let's go with 'determined'. So determined, that he often completely overlooked the obvious.
''Dammit, the DKB must've beat us here!'' - A player in a white cloak, wielding a single handed axe, exclaimed, as he turned towards the cloaked trio. Jet looked at the weapon, and thought about the fact he'd never actually seen a one handed axe here.
CLINK - Jet's shield rubbed against a rock that was extruded - ''Shit!'' - ''Did that guy see us?'' - Koharu whispered up to Jet, who shook his head in response. Luckily the cloak hid them with about 95% reliability, so they were mostly safe, as long as they made no sudden moves.
After a few nail biting seconds, the ALS group moved onwards, and the trio could return to slightly more comfortable positions...
''I do not understand this apprehension. Are you not all working towards the same goal?''
''Yes... yeah, but there are... disagreements amongst us. About how certain people are treated.'' - Jet left out the bit where he'd not so subtly threatened them, and had told them where to go and shove their opinions.
''Well, now that monster is dealt with, can we please go somewhere to clean off? I'm still covered in web...'' - Asuna complained from somewhere out of Jet's line of sight. Koharu looked over towards Kizmel, who looked considerably less than pleased, considering they'd completed their mission...
''Kizmel, are you okay?''
''I just... it's this crest.''
''Is it cursed, or?''
''No, I just realise how many of us have lost family members in battle now.'' - Koharu hadn't noticed Jet glancing over at his sister, and being saddened at... her? Knowing her partner as she did, she wouldn't be surprised if he was blaming himself for her mere presence here.
''I'm... sorry. For yours, and for everyone's losses. I can't imagine what it's like to lose a family member in war.''
''Thank you. I truly believe that my sister is watching us now, helping us in our quest.''
''Your sister?''
''Tilnel, she was our best herbalist. I believe you three would've gotten on well together. In fact, I can't help but be reminded of her, whenever I look at Koharu.''
Some time later, over food...
''So... she's your sister. IRL, and you aren't some form of role players?'' - Kirito asked, having finished scoffing the food in front of him.
''Yes, and I take offence to you thinking of the latter.'' - Jet feigned offence. Mostly.
''You two look nothing alike. At all.'' - Klein pointed out the dancing elephant in the room.
''Well, yes, because I look like I did IRL... and she doesn't.'' - Jet had to admit, even he wasn't entirely sure how that had happened, but knowing his family, it probably involved some form of error, somewhere along the line. After all, it wasn't every day that your sibling shrinks in some areas, expands in others, and gains a completely different hair colour.
''On that note, how did you get around that mirror trick that Kayaba pulled?'' - Kirito asked.
''What mirror trick?'' - Strea looked blankly at the swordsman.
''You know, the first day... the mirror that made everyone look like their real selves?''
''Oh, simple. I wasn't here.'' - Everyone bar Jet reacted with shock. - ''Yeah, I've only been here a few days...''
Asuna was the first to ask the question on most people's minds - ''Then how did you get to that high level? I mean, all of us are front liners, and none of us are even at level 20 yet?''
''Uhh, that's... a good question. I... uhh... Jet, aside.'' - Strea yanked her brother away from the table at speed, eliciting a yelp from him, and out of the group's earshot. - ''I... uhh... I may have cheated. When Sam put me in, the beta data carried over, and well, whoever's account this was, I took all their data. If I admit that, I really am a beater...'' - Ignoring the fact that the term beater was meant as a derogatory nickname for one person, Jet looked anxious. Having been exposed to the vitriol that had spewed at the beta testers, Strea kind of had gamed the system, albeit unknowingly, and deserved that nickname more than Kirito did...
''I dunno, sis. I don't think they'll hate you, but...''
''Yeah, I know.'' - The siblings walked back to the table, and settled back.
''You didn't answer my question, Strea?''
''Hm. Fine, guess it's not gonna drop. When I ended up, the NerveGear I acquired already had beta data on it. I assumed they hadn't actually gotten that far, and that it was level 2 or 3, something like that. Turns out I got this avatar, and stats higher than anyone else. I swear I wasn't intending to cheat the system!'' - The look of anger on Asuna's face was terrifying, and the look of... something, on Kirito's face made Strea slink into her seat, almost like a child being berated by their parents. To Jet, it was a reasonable response. Almost all of them had been subject to some distrust for their prior involvement in the beta, and getting labelled as people to avoid, and then here comes this new girl... who was almost all of the things they were accused of being, and yet she's getting away scot-free. It didn't seem fair...
Koharu was the first to speak up in defence of the purple haired girl - ''She can prove her skills, and she clearly means well... even if I don't agree with how she's gone about it. We fought alongside her today, and on the first day of the elf quest, and she had plenty of chances to attack us, but she didn't. Same with any rewards, she never asked for them, and if Jet will vouch for her... I trust her.'' - Koharu left him in a precarious place. On one hand, yes, Strea was his sister, but... he didn't trust her. He didn't expect her to stab him in the back, or betray him like that, but she'd been selfish enough to take the path of least resistance when a difficult situation came about, rather than the right path. On the other, he felt that she was his problem. She'd essentially sacrificed herself to help him, and so he didn't doubt her morals in the current moment...
''I don't know. I really don't. How I'm looking at it though, Strea's our ace card. The moment any of the main guilds find out about her, or hell, Argo finds out about her, we are gonna have trouble on our hands. So for now, or at least, until any of us have levelled to that point, we need to keep that detail about her hidden. Hell, if we can keep her hidden, that'd be preferable.''
''Then I think we can help.'' - Klein spoke up, breaking the quagmire that group had found themselves in.
''Go ahead...'' - Jet asked whilst clutching his head, trying to think of his own solution.
''I'll have to ask everyone about this, but if we take Strea into Fuurinkazan, then that stops the guilds asking awkward questions for now. She won't blend in, but it means we can train her up a bit more, and keep her off the front lines.'' - Jet thought about it momentarily, and looked over towards Strea, who looked equally as shocked as everyone else, and just a bit annoyed, like a kid whose parents didn't trust them with a particular toy.
''Well, it's not my decision, it's hers. Strea?''
''I'll go with that option.'' - She begrudgingly admitted. It wasn't as if there were all that many options, anyway... and better the devil you know, after all.
Later that evening, in the Lyusulan Camp...
Jet, Koharu and Rain had settled in for the night, whilst Kizmel was on night watch duty. The two girls had fell asleep easily enough, unsurprisingly after the day they'd had, but Jet was still struggling to sleep, and checked his messages. Three new messages - two from Strea, and the third was from someone not on his friend list. The message was simple:
Meet me outside the Dark Elves Gate
01:00am
Jet checked his clock - 00:35am, and got up. Chances were that this was an ambush, so he decided on not making the same mistakes as last time. He woke the girls up quietly, and explained the situation to them, and suggested that they should keep hidden in the forest, whilst Jet made contact with this mystery contact...
''Urgh, couldn't you have done this in daylight instead. I might be bordering on nocturnal, but I don't think my partners are'' - Jet quipped to the cloaked figure. Koharu and Rain peered through a bush, getting a view of the mystery stranger... they were definitely male, and with spiky hair... ''It's Kibaou?!'' - To say both Jet and Koharu were shocked, would be an understatement.
''Sorry for that, but I couldn't risk either ALS or DKB finding out about this. Not when we've got someone trying to pit the guilds against each other...''
Next Time - Cloak and Dagger...