Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 49, Mujen) May 18th, 2023
Josuke now understood that he couldn't stand solitude.
Appearances aside, at his heart, Josuke Higashikata was a gentle soul. In every sense, he was a normal teenage boy making his carefree way in a quiet and peaceful world. He had little reason to fret, to grieve, to brood. However, when push came to shove, Josuke was not one to take hits lying down.
Whatever he set out to do, he wouldn't let his hesitation get the better of him. Be it an act of valiance or something a little more selfish, Josuke was the kind of guy who knew what he wanted and how he would go about getting it.
Personally, Josuke wondered if that changed the moment he entered this world.
Now, his life was far from normal. This world was life or death, and he had been absent from his humble life in Morioh for half a year already. He would have found comfort in knowing he was not alone, but that was not the case anymore.
That being said, a month had passed since the day he and Kirito parted ways and since that day, Josuke wandered the higher floors on his own.
These days, he longed for those times, when he could forget the constant danger in this place because he had his friends to keep him company. He had only known the Moonlit Black Cats since the end of last year, but that was a family if he ever knew one. A family he lost and dearly missed.
He walked the streets of the city as people left and right chatted amongst one another, mingling and going about their daily business as he usually saw. Mujen on its own was quite massive for a city in SAO, although not quite as huge as Floor 1's Town of Beginnings, but close in magnitude with its urban cityscape and huge array of shops.
Josuke couldn't remember exactly how long he'd been staying in this town, the days seemed to blur together all by his lonesome. However, Josuke hadn't forgotten why he was here, as this was the final floor before reaching the halfway mark of the 50th Floor.
After over half a year stuck in this place, many people had fallen to its challenges. If clearing the 1st Floor gave everybody hope to carry on, this next milestone would surely rouse the unwilling residents of Sword Art Online in resounding cheer. The frontline clearers were set to meet up once again to devise a strategy, anything to conquer the midway point of Aincrad.
Josuke continued to walk through the crowd. Some walking right past, others stealing glances his way. He paid them no mind.
A familiar feeling washed over him, a feeling he remembered from that first month in the game when he and Kirito went to join the battle against Illfang the Kobold Lord. The tingle of anticipation flowing through his veins, curiosity for what the next day would bring to him. The mild tang of fear in facing the gatekeeping beast waiting for them, but his greater fear of the lives lost drowning that out.
This then brought to mind his talk with Sachi that night in Taft.
Sachi…
Josuke's drive was now set. He wouldn't let anyone else die a horrible death like Sachi did, ensure nobody would mourn and grieve like himself or Kirito.
He didn't care how dangerous this next boss was anymore. He was joining the fight to save as many lives as he could.
Weapon Showcase:
Lv. 48 Gauntlets/Greaves: Trickster's Heel, Jacobo – Stories tell of a man who wrestled with God, someone who through force of will and spirit, managed in his plights and emerged the father of a nation. What challenge will you deign to wrestle?
Special: Faithful Fortitude: Defense increased by 10%, and increases incrementally by 2% every 15 seconds up to 10 times throughout a battle
Enhancement: +10
Damage: 400 (B)
Speed: 300 (C)
Durability: 500 (A)
Range: 1m (C)
Precision: 60% (B)
Rank: Rare (B)
Selling Price: 12,000 Col
Owner: JoJo
Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 49, Moon Prairie) May 18th, 2023
Josuke had arrived at what seemed to be the place of the meeting.
While the main frontline guilds were the ones sharing the location of the briefing, the operations would be impossible without the help of other players, which was why the information of the boss would be shared after the decisions had been made.
Argo hadn't been wrong. The top guilds were exclusive with their information, but while guilds like the KoB or the Army had no problem with sharing, the DDA was particularly stingy, resulting in the other frontliners conceding to their demands in order to maintain order.
Despite that, Josuke didn't have a problem finding the meeting. After all, he had a friend in his back pocket to help him find it, a certain money-grubbing weasel he had a considerable degree of familiarity with. A simple meet-up at the bar and a pass of Col, and he had the location lickety-split.
Argo had whined about him being cheap (he was not), but relented anyway. It was in times like this that Josuke was glad he had Argo to count on. As sleazy as the girl was, he wouldn't have gotten by without her help. Her knowledge of the game and many connections, he now had eyes on whatever he wanted, so long as he could pay for it. Besides, Argo had been making money off of his exploits.
If she was helping him, it was all the better for her to get on his good side, and Josuke knew that. So began something of a business partnership between the two.
Josuke looked around, finding a camp at the hills on the outskirts of Mujen. The place was heavily guarded, soldiers of assorted armor roaming the grounds. He could spot the familiar silver armor of the DDA, the heavy plates and helmets worn by the Army, even a select few bearing the red and white of the KoB.
Josuke took a breath and walked up to the entrance, as a couple of soldiers took notice of his presence.
"Excuse me, I don't recognize your armor. Are you with one of the guilds here?" The first guard asked as he stopped Josuke from entering.
"I'm not. Should I?" Josuke asked, keeping his guard up as his eyes flicked between the two.
"Yes! This particular battle we're preparing for is going to be one of the toughest yet, and in case you haven't heard, we're currently devising a strategy on how to defeat the boss! You can join in once the information gets out, but right now, this place is off-limits for solo players like you!" The second guard protested, leading Josuke to smirk, a smug aura surrounding him.
"Is that so? Well in that case, I guess I'm needed here. How about you guys stand aside for a bit?" Josuke grinned as he walked past, pushing the two aside.
Dumbfounded, one guard raised his weapon in indignation. "H-hey! Just who do you think you are?!"
Turning around, Josuke simply smirked again as the silhouette of Crazy Diamond revealed itself next to him, leaving the two at a loss of words.
"Nobody special. I just want to help out."
The guards didn't object to him and let him be as Josuke walked through the camp with his hands in his pockets, catching the glances of some of the soldiers.
At first, he dreaded the concept of people recognizing him on the streets if he revealed his Stand in the open again, but as he came to learn, Crazy Diamond came in handy when it came to the more stubborn or stuck-up players, and he didn't even have to throw a single punch for them to gawk in shock.
Josuke walked with confidence as he looked around. A huge amount of soldiers were present, and considering the scope of this next battle, he understood why. The others gave him strange looks, but nonetheless he kept walking. Hell, he wasn't even sure where he was supposed to go in here. Quite a large number of tents were set up around the area, housing several quarters and services for the soldiers.
"JoJo? Boy, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!"
Josuke could hear a familiar voice coming from within one of the tents, and a smile came to his face once he saw who called him. The man's attire was different from his battle armor from Floor 1, but he couldn't mistake that large frame of his.
"Agil? Damn, how've you been! I haven't seen you in ages!"
Josuke greeted the large man, smacking their hands together. For once, Josuke was glad to see one more familiar face.
"So, what've you been up to these past few months?" Josuke asked.
"Oh you know, helping out on the first couple floors, then it just got to the point where I had enough cash to take some business elsewhere." Agil replied, humming as he held his chin up in contemplation.
"Huh, so what? You're a shopkeeper? Blacksmith? You run a restaurant?" Josuke mused, taking a seat with the larger man against the tent as soldiers passed by them.
"Hah! Funny you say that! I've actually taken up posts as a merchant here, but me and the missus actually run a bar back IRL!" Agil laughed, leading Josuke to practically turn his head to him in surprise.
"Whoa, Agil! You're married?" Josuke yelled in indignation, leading Agil to laugh again in response.
"Yep. She was one of my regulars, then I guess we kinda clicked as time went by. I can only wonder what she'll say to me once I make it out of this godforsaken game." Agil wondered as he turned his head to stare up at the sky, Josuke following suit as he did the same, his mind wandering.
"I feel you, man. My mom'll kill me if I don't make it back alive." Josuke shared, his brain drifting towards anxious thoughts, leading Agil to turn to him.
"Is that why you're here? I've met plenty of guys who dropped out from the frontlines because they didn't have the stomachs to risk their lives. I get that, but at the same time, plenty of us here felt the same and are here for it. You the same?" Agil asked, as Josuke processed an answer.
"I guess. I've already seen people die in front of me, and you'd better believe I couldn't stomach seeing that sight another time. But if someone's gotta have the guts to bust everyone out, then that someone'll be me. I'm not gonna run from it. Instead of hiding away, I'll be out there saving people where they're dying. With my Crazy Diamond, I'll make it happen." Josuke declared, his hand reaching for the sky.
Agil looked at Josuke's eyes filled with a hardened resolve, not unlike some of the brave souls he saw around the camp, a gaze that burned with an ironclad conviction, the will to carry out justice no matter the cost. The spark of a righteous soul.
"Your Stand, huh? Heard you've been getting lots of press from it. It's basically an urban legend at this point." Agil muttered, looking as Josuke turned to him.
"Yeah. You can thank Argo the Rat for that. The wily little rodent'll do anything for a quick buck." Josuke deadpanned, well aware that Argo might grill him for that slight if she were within earshot, no matter how true.
"You making deals with Argo? No wonder you've gotten here on your own." Agil hummed, leading Josuke to nod in reply.
"A few bargains here and there, but no real baggage attached. It's a neat little deal. Think you can snag me better bank, Mr. Merchant, sir?" Josuke smirked, leading Agil to huff out a breath in annoyance.
"Well, I got one thing you might like to hear, and it comes with a walk-in contract with Agil's own Merchant Shop! One-time offer, so take it while you can!" Agil laughed, while Josuke cocked his head to the side.
"You actually own a shop? Where?" Josuke asked, leading Agil to shrink a bit. "W-well, not physically. It's a mobile business! Heard the next town up top's got greater space than any town since Starting Town! That's why we've gotta clear it!" Agil noted, leading Josuke to nod in understanding.
"Alright, then. In that case, cough up this one detail, then consider JoJo the Diamond Fist your first regular customer!" Josuke bragged as Agil hummed in agreement, the two men shaking on the deal.
When Agil's face started clouding over with a serious expression, Josuke could feel sweat rolling down his head as tension filled the air. Just what was he going to say?
"Word is, DDA's got a secret weapon up their sleeves. I'm not sure on the specifics, but from what I can hear, they've got a couple of Stand Users like you on the raid party!"
Josuke's eyes widened as he rose to his feet and stared Agil dead in the eye.
"Where are they right now? Do you know?"
Agil pointed a finger to his bare forehead to think for a second before snapping his fingers in realization. "The leaders are discussing strategy up in the command tent at the center of the camp. You can't miss it. It's bigger than all the rest. If you want to find your guys, I'm sure you'll find them there."
"Thanks, Agil! Catch you later!" Josuke briefly called out before rushing deeper into the camp, brushing past annoyed soldiers and nearly tripping over himself, leading Agil to laugh at his expense.
"That boy, he sure is something."
Weapon Showcase:
Lv. 40 Battle Axe: Minoan Labrys – The labyrinth hungers for more blood, more sacrifices, more challengers. Wield this weapon with the strength of a bull, to carve a path through the maze and anyone in your way.
Special: Bull Rush: Increase Damage and Durability by 40% when Health is below 50%
Enhancement: +6
Damage: 400 (B)
Speed: 200 (D)
Durability: 450 (A)
Range: 2m (B)
Precision: 30% (D)
Rank: Rare (B)
Selling Price: 10,000 Col
Owner: Agil
Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 49, Floor Clearer Meeting) May 18th, 2023
Asuna hated these kinds of arguments.
Back and forth, on and on without any real progress going forward. Nonetheless, she listened anyway as two of the leaders clashed and butted heads over the table.
By now, she thought she'd have gotten used to it, with her joining up with the Knights of the Blood Oath and participating in these past several Floor battles. Her presence now commanded respect, and so did those of the others here on top. However, it seemed nobody could agree on anything especially with the great stakes at hand.
"We haven't collected enough information on our enemy yet! I say we send out another recon team to analyze their attack patterns and phases!"
"You'd be risking their lives! Even if the boss room isn't completely closed off, there's still the danger of losing some lives in the process! We'd just be throwing away more muscle for our final assault!"
"A couple scouts or an entire team of clearers when it matters? It's clear as day, don't you see?! Every piece of knowledge we learn will save more lives!"
"Listen to yourself! Nobody gets left behind! We won't bargain with lives in a place like this!"
On either side of the table stood leaders from the Aincrad Liberation Front and Divine Dragon Alliance, both screaming at the other, going nowhere at all as Asuna pinched her nose and dipped her head in frustration, unable to do anything to intervene.
On one side was Diabel, now wearing considerably more expensive armor than when Asuna first saw him. On top of the uniform of the Army, he wore a sash signifying his commanding rank, colored blue to match his hair and to distinguish him from the other Army soldiers
On the other was a man she had only seen since she began appearing at these meetings. The man was tall and muscular, his defined facial features only outmatched in sharpness by the cold and calculating look in his eyes. The man's demeanor in every way reminded her of a strict drill sergeant, a man who understood his position at the commander's table and exercised his authority.
Representing the Knights of the Blood Oath, Asuna now wore their signature red and white armor, and could only watch in exasperation as the two leaders argued on and on, never reaching an agreement.
This was when Josuke walked into the tent, parting the curtain as all eyes in the room then turned to the boy.
"Hey, so is this where we're strategizing for the boss fight? Got room for one more voice?" The man asked flippantly, much to the surprise of the other leaders.
The DDA leader wasn't having it.
"Okuyasu."
Josuke felt a hand grab him from behind, causing him to turn around to face a soldier dressed in heavy armor. The man had an intimidating appearance, his face rugged with beady eyes, his hair styled in a flat-top boogie and his face bearing line marks, resembling a baseball's, running along both sides of his face..
All in all, the guy's appearance practically screamed, "delinquent".
"Oi, dumbass! You're not supposed to be here! Take a hike or you'll regret it!" The man snarled at him, his voice scratchy and guttural. Certainly a match for his appearance.
"H-hey, hands off! I'm just here to see what's with the holdup!" Josuke protested as he wrested free from Okuyasu's grasp, leading the soldier to growl under his breath.
"Your ears broken or somethin'?! I told you to beat it, so beat it!" Okuyasu yelled, as Josuke stood his ground.
"You gonna make me, jackass?" Josuke yelled back, leading a vein to pop on the man's face.
"Yeah! I'll bust you up good! You and that yee-yee-ass hai-"
"Keep talking, I dare you, punk!" Josuke roared, raising his guard and preparing to summon Crazy Diamond, when he heard a voice coming from the leader's table.
"JoJo, is that you?"
Josuke turned and much to his surprise, found Asuna staring at him curiously. His face softened as he remembered the girl's face since they last saw one another back on the First Floor.
"Asuna! You're here! How's it been?"
The DDA commander turned to Asuna with a questioning look, but sighed as he raised his voice. "Vice Commander, do you know this person?"
This was when Diabel spoke up with his own hand raised. "We do. He participated in the battle against Illfang the Kobold Lord and saved several lives. Mine included."
This particular testimony struck a chord in the commander's eyes as his brow quirked at the words. Sighing as he rose to his feet, the man eyed Josuke with interest. "The Stand user?"
"Y-yeah? What about it?" Josuke asked, choosing his words with caution as the man approached him with a menacing air.
"A close-range Stand with blinding speed and the ability to heal injuries… If what I've heard of you is true, then your help will be just what we need for my plans. Okuyasu, back off for a second."
The delinquent eyed his superior with a confused look before raising his voice. "W-what? But Bro… didn't you say that we didn't allow outsiders in the meeting? B-besides, why do we need his help when I got my own Sta-"
"Okuyasu. I will not repeat myself."
The man's voice rumbled in the room, radiating with an intimidating echo as Okuyasu trembled under his cold eyes before inching back to his seat. "A-alright, Bro… Sorry, Bro…"
Josuke gave Okuyasu a look of pity, before turning in front of him to see his "Bro" in front of him, his eyes scanning him up and down with deep contemplation, giving him an uncomfortable chill along his spine.
"So, the Diamond Fist comes to give his aid. Have you come to offer your sword on the frontlines?" The man asked, as Diabel and Asuna looked on.
Josuke stared back, unintimidated as he planted his feet in the ground with resolve. "I've come to save lives, and beat this thing. If you've got a plan to tackle this Floor Boss, I'd like to hear it."
The commander hummed in amusement as he nodded, Diabel giving him a perplexed look.
"Well, now that you mention it, we've sent in a few reconnaissance teams to observe the boss's attacks and behavior, but I believe we lack the sufficient information to make our move." The commander pondered, leading Diabel to slam his hands on the table.
"What he wants is to see the final phase of the boss's attacks! That means bringing its health into the red and tanking attacks before retreating! We'd be running a huge risk that way! Besides! What's the point in running if you want to get to the red?!" The Army leader yelled incredulously, pointing at him accusingly.
"I admit that we'd be running a huge risk this way. That's why I'm glad you've come, JoJo." The commander then smiled, facing Josuke, who pointed at himself with a confused look on his face.
"Me? Why would you-"
"Your healing ability. That's your Stand's power, isn't it?" The commander asked, leading Josuke's eyes to widen in realization.
"You want me on the next scouting team?"
"Yes, I do. If we have a competent team and your Stand to heal them, then that removes a substantial amount of risk, doesn't it, Diabel?" The commander reasoned, Diabel gritting his teeth before sighing in defeat.
"You have a point… Fine, Shooter. I'll call for volunteers to join the team." Diabel resigned, leading Shooter's gaze to turn to Asuna.
"And what will the KoB decide?" He asked, as Asuna held her chin in contemplation.
"I'll consider it. However, that depends on JoJo's participation." Asuna leveraged, her eyes locking with Josuke's, demanding a response.
Josuke took a moment to ponder it over. The way things were now, indecision would only greatly delay any effort forward, and to top it off, it would risk tension between the guilds, and their cooperation was vital to the clearing effort. Josuke didn't like this risky idea, but if he were to turn them down now, things would only nosedive from here.
Faced with no other option, Josuke inhaled as he spoke.
"I'll do it."
Asuna's lips then curved upwards to form a gentle smile as she stood up. "That settles it, then. The Knights of the Blood Oath will be counting on your help, JoJo."
"My greatest thanks to both of you. This is the way forward, trust my word on that." Shooter said as both of the other guild leaders stood up and turned to the exit. Diabel and Asuna both gave a small bow in Shooter's direction before leaving along with their respective guards.
As they were about to leave, they both turned to Josuke. Smiles formed on their faces, as did Josuke's. After all, it had been a long time since he last saw either of them. With that done, all that remained were Shooter and Okuyasu with him in the tent.
Josuke could feel the air stuffing up with tension between the three of them, Okuyasu observing him with an intense glare, while Shooter tended to his menu. While not directly looking at him, Josuke could sense a very strong feeling that the large man was keenly watching his every movement.
While this was happening, Josuke couldn't help but shake a strange couple of details he overheard earlier.
"That man… Shooter… He talked like he knew more about my Stand than I did. Is he a User? And Okuyasu… he almost mentioned something… does he have a Stand too?" Josuke thought as both players looked at him, before he heard Shooter rise from his seat and turn to Josuke, the chair scraping along the ground as he walked towards Josuke.
"Ah, where are my manners? I don't believe I've properly introduced the two of us." The man said before extending his hand before Josuke, his face dropping its cold edge slightly as he managed a smile.
"My name is Straight Shooter. I'm a general in the Divine Dragon Alliance. I've heard the stories about your role in defeating the boss of the 1st Floor, but I don't think I was fully aware of you until around a month ago."
"Floor 35?" Josuke asked, leading the man to nod.
"Yes. We sent a sizable party to seize the Divine Egg of Resurrection, but from what my men reported to me, you had us beat." Shooter noted, leading Josuke's face to blanche.
"Do you want it back, by any chance?" Josuke asked, on edge when he remembered how many soldiers they had sent for the item, but relaxed once Shooter laughed.
"No, no. Such things don't interest me in particular. Despite what you may have heard regarding the Divine Dragon Alliance, I'm not particularly hungry for shiny trinkets and items." Shooter mused, before Okuyasu raised his hand, excited in a way that reminded Josuke of a little child.
"I'm Okuyasu! Sorry about earlier! I just do what my Bro tells me to do!" Okuyasu greeted as he vigorously shook his hand.
Then, Okuyasu's eyes widened as if remembering something as he then turned to Shooter with a pleading expression. "Hey, Bro! Is it alright if I tell him? He's got one! Can I tell?"
Shooter sighed as he pinched his nose in what Josuke guessed to be frustration. "Okuyasu, we talked about this…"
"O-oh, sorry Bro…" Okuyasu apologized meekly, before Shooter looked up in resignation.
"Fine. Just this once, am I clear?"
Okuyasu's face brightened up with a great smile at his brother's words, before turning to a confused Josuke.
"Is it true that you're a Stand User? That's crazy! I'm the same as you!" Okuyasu stated excitedly, leading Josuke's eyes to bulge out in surprise.
"W-wait, say that again? You're a Stand User, too?!" Josuke exclaimed, shocked as Okuyasu grinned, a humanoid figure appearing behind him.
"Meet my Stand, THE HAND!"
The Stand had a white humanoid build, tall and stocky with blue armor resembling football pads, spikes lining its shoulders. Its head was cylindrical with robotic features, such as circular headlights for eyes. Josuke's eyes then drifted to its arms, curious at the mention of a name such as "The Hand." Sure enough, while both arms were similarly toned and robust, the right arm was slightly different, its palm decorated with a spiderweb pattern with two spherical bumps on its surface.
"What do you think? I heard all about your Stand in those stories, but I didn't think we'd meet this soon! Now that we'll be fighting beside each other, I think we'll have lots of chances to see what our Stands can do!" Okuyasu gleefully laughed, leading Josuke to laugh awkwardly, unsure how to handle this kind of attention, before realizing something.
"Hang on a second, you're joining the scouting team?" Josuke asked, leading Okuyasu to laugh as he pointed a thumb to his chest.
"Hell yeah, I am! Big Bro wants me on the team because of my Stand! With you watching my back, we'll be unstoppable!" Okuyasu exclaimed.
Josuke hummed in understanding, before Shooter stood up and faced Josuke. "I know it seems cold of me to do this, but being meticulous is a price I am always willing to pay if it means victory. Not just for me, but for everyone here."
Josuke nodded as he faced the general. "It's alright. I'll make sure you won't have to worry about anyone dying on this. Your brother'll be in capable hands!"
This brought a kinder smile to Shooter's face, one that Josuke hadn't seen before. "Thank you. Now go and rest up, the both of you. We meet back here for the mission 0700 hours on the dot, understood?"
"Got it."
"Sure thing, Bro!"
Stand Showcase:
Lv. ? Stand: Null Strike, The Hand - It is said that to eliminate a problem is to strike at the root. However, those with the strength simply remove it altogether. Nothing is beyond your reach. No man can stand before your power.
Special: Erase: Scrapes away anything with the right hand, completely erasing anything caught in the attack.
Enhancement: N/A
Damage: 990 (S)
Speed: 300 (B)
Durability: 250 (C)
Range: 2m (D)
Precision: 50% (C)
Rank: Unique (S)
Selling Price: N/A
Owner: Okuyasu
Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 49, Moon Prairie) May 18th, 2023
"He spent five whole months in the beta! Five months! All that time he wouldn't shut up about this game!" Josuke ranted on as Okuyasu followed closely, listening with intrigue.
It was getting late as the sun dipped down below the hills, the last rays of the sunset washing over the camp as soldiers of all parties went about their business, some retiring to the mess hall while others opted to train in the fields just outside. Okuyasu was quite a chatty fellow, as Josuke soon discovered when they began making conversation, the pair walking through the camp.
"Damn… Still, at least you had someone with the smarts and know-how to get by in this game. A lucky break, don'cha think?" Okuyasu mused, leading Josuke to smirk under his breath.
"Yeah, I suppose. Don't think I would have gotten by without his help, honestly. Even with a Stand, it doesn't change the fact that I wasn't very good at video games to begin with." Josuke muttered, his eyes gazing upward, his mind drifting to thoughts of his friend.
He wondered where he was, if he was staying alive like he had begged him to when they went their separate ways. What he wouldn't give to have those days again, but at least he was glad to have someone to chat with right now.
"Seriously? You'd think someone who wasn't good at games'd think twice about diving into a new place like this." Okuyasu wondered out loud, leading Josuke to huff under his breath.
"First of all, just because I'm not good at games doesn't mean I don't have fun. Second, I got this for my birthday. My old man was generous enough and gave it to me, so of course I'd try it out at least once. It's basic courtesy. One good thing he did I guess…" Josuke replied, leading Okuyasu to stare at him silently for a second.
"Your… pops, huh?" Okuyasu echoed, his eyes distant as he looked off, his mind clearly someplace else.
"Okuyasu?" Josuke proceeded with caution. This was territory he was wary to tread, just from Okuyasu's reaction.
"JoJo!"
That voice didn't belong to Okuyasu. Looking ahead of him, Josuke locked eyes with a familiar face.
"Asuna!" Josuke exclaimed, the girl in front of him smiling when he said her name.
"I was wondering when we'd meet again! Imagine my surprise when I saw you walk in on our meeting! How've you been these past few months?" Asuna asked, glad to see her old friend once more.
"Eh, surviving." Josuke chuckled, scratching the back of his head.
"So, I see you're getting along well with Okuyasu." Asuna noted, nodding in the rugged boy's direction, leading to him blushing up a storm and turning away awkwardly as Asuna giggled at the sight.
"You two know one another?" Josuke asked, curious at this interaction.
"Shooter brings his brother with him everywhere. Every time we'd meet to discuss strategy, he'd be there too." Asuna informed Josuke as Okuyasu nodded in confirmation.
"Yep. I'm basically Big Bro's bodyguard. I'd protect him with my life, and you know it!" Okuyasu declared confidently, as Josuke and Asuna mumbled words of agreement.
"Say, Asuna. Since when did you get to the leader's table at KoB? That's no small feat!" Josuke noted, scanning her body and glancing at her new red and white battle armor.
The Army and the DDA were larger and more active guilds, but the Knights of the Blood Oath stood out for one reason. Their admission margins were very exclusive, and as a result, their members were among the strongest players in Aincrad. It had been roughly half a year since Josuke had last seen Asuna, and in that time, it seemed that she had risen in the ranks to assume the rank of Vice Commander if she was discussing strategy with Straight Shooter.
"I did what you told me, remember? You told me to join up with strong guilds if they asked for my sword, and here I am. The result of a lot of hard work, let me tell you that." Asuna smirked as she tilted her head at Josuke inquisitively.
"Still, I can see how you got here! You weren't pulling any punches back on Floor 1! You even put Kirito to shame with that swordsmanship!" Josuke laughed, leading Asuna's eyes to widen in epiphany, as if she just realized something.
"Speaking of which, JoJo… Where's Kirito? I didn't see him with you at the meeting." Asuna asked Josuke, leading the latter to tense up, which didn't go unnoticed by the girl.
"Did something happen between you two?" Asuna asked, curious with a hint of anxious caution.
Josuke took a quick breath as he sighed, his mind returning to a dark place. "It's a long story. To be brief, we split up."
Asuna wanted to know what had happened, but from the distressed look on Josuke's face, Asuna could already tell that the cause was nothing good. Last she had seen the both of them, the pair seemed pretty much inseparable. Deciding not to prod further, Asuna stepped back.
"I see… Then I hope he's doing fine." Asuna muttered, voicing her concern.
"He better be. If not, then I'll beat his ass to the pavement." Josuke said, leading Asuna to sigh.
"Alright then. If you two don't mind, would you keep me company?" Asuna offered, spinning on her heel and turning her head back to face the two, leading them to perk up.
"S-sure… how 'bout you, JoJo?" Okuyasu mumbled out, turning to Josuke for his decision.
"We're good with that. Lead the way, then." Josuke agreed, leading Asuna to smile gently as she held her hands behind her back, gesturing her head with a nod to follow along.
"Try not to fall behind, yeah?"
Weapon Showcase:
Lv. 65 One-Handed Sword: Lightning Flash, Lambent Light – This mystifying blade must be wielded with a calm and elegant hand, akin to a true goddess's grace. When handled rightfully, it is said the blade can strike like pure lightning in both speed and power.
Special: Goddess Aurora: Movement and Attack Speed briefly increased by 200% and chance to ignore setup time for next Sword Skill on successful Combo Chain
Enhancement: +10
Damage: 250 (C)
Speed: 900 (S)
Durability: 250 (C)
Range: 2m (B)
Precision: 95% (S)
Rank: Legendary (A)
Selling Price: 90,000 Col
Owner: Asuna
Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 49, Mujen) May 18th, 2023
The town of Mujen really seemed to come alive at night.
Josuke walked with Asuna and Okuyasu as the latter was chatting his ear off, while the former would simply walk with a dignifying air, adding her own thoughts while giving the occasional giggle. At times like these, Josuke couldn't help but smile a bit.
The air of the city seemed to change as the lights flickered on, giving the streets a more inviting and festive feel as groups of people walked through the town, passing them by to chat amongst themselves, grab some dinner at the several cafes and restaurants, or clamor to the nearest bar to get drunk out of their minds.
The nightlife was far more excited than when Josuke would visit during the day, and he could practically taste it in the air.
"S-say, Asuna… Where exactly are we going? We grabbing a bite to eat?" Josuke asked, curious as the girl turned his way and gave another smile.
"We will be. But first we're picking someone up, someone I'd like the both of you to get acquainted with." Asuna noted as Josuke tilted his head in confusion.
"Ah! Looks like we're here!" Asuna said as she clapped her hands together, stopping in front of a building.
Josuke looked up and saw it was in fact, a decently sized inn. The building was a good dozen stories tall and looked considerably nicer than those he'd see in a place like Caiman Village. Just thinking about that monsoon-ridden floor gave him flashbacks to grinding hell.
Shaking his head to rid it of those thoughts, Josuke followed Asuna and Okuyasu through the door and into the lobby, revealing a homely interior. A couch was on the side of the room along with a few tables, as partying from the nearby bar could be faintly heard in the distance.
Asuna walked up the stairs, leading the two boys to follow suit as they walked up into a long hallway.
"H-hang on… who's this guy you want us to meet?" Josuke asked, catching his breath after walking a considerable distance at the top of the stairs as Asuna turned to face him.
"He's a Knight of the Blood Oath, and I'm thinking of asking him if he wants to join you two on the scouting mission. If he's coming along, then I'd like you three to get along with one another." Asuna replied with a hum, just as she stopped in front of a particular door.
Giving a firm knock on the wood with her fist, the group waited in silence for a brief moment before the doorknob clicked as it turned slowly, the door opening to reveal a young girl.
The girl in question had light brown hair, covered by a wide-brimmed white hat decorated with a feather, her cloak similarly colored as it covered her fancy-looking blue tunic. The girl's face brightened when she saw Asuna at the door, whose face lit up with a similar smile.
"Vice Commander Asuna! How are you!" The girl chirped in a sunny tone of voice as Asuna giggled at her demeanor.
"It's nice to see you, Yuna. Is Nautilus home? I'd like to speak with him." Asuna stated, leading Yuna's eyebrow to quirk as she turned behind her inside the room and raised her voice.
"Nautilus! Asuna's here!"
The noise of rustling in the back of the room was heard, before the creaking noise of weight pressing against the floorboards was heard, inching closer to the door before a new face revealed itself next to Yuna.
The boy at the door was dressed in what was undeniably KoB armor, with the cross motif and white coloration with red highlights. His frame was small and lanky, and his face was young and boyish not unlike Kirito's, framed by dark gray spiky hair. His expression was weak and timid, intensifying once he caught a glimpse of Asuna at the door.
"V-Vice Commander?! W-what brings you here?" The boy stammered out, before Asuna raised her palm before him, cueing him to quiet down. Once he did, Asuna coughed to clear her throat as she spoke.
"Nautilus, how about I treat you and Yuna to dinner tonight?"
The couple at the door blinked for a second. An awkward pause filled the area.
"Eh?"
Item Showcase:
Troubadour's Lute:
Play to increase range and effectiveness of Unique Skill, Chant. Skilled musicians can bring out its full capabilities and entertain the masses with harmony.
Uses: N/A
Owner: Yuna
Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 49, Firewood Restaurant) May 18th, 2023
"A scouting mission?" Nautilus asked, perplexed as he took another bite from his plate.
Asuna took a moment to sip from her cup before gulping down and facing Nautilus. "Yes. From what I've been hearing, you and Yuna have been training in your private time. Despite you joining the frontlines just recently, you've displayed surprisingly advanced skills with your blade."
"W-well, I wouldn't say that…" Nautilus mumbled with an embarrassed blush on his face, rubbing the back of his head with a weak laugh, leading Yuna to giggle beside him.
"Don't put yourself down like that, man. If Asuna asked for your help, then I trust her judgement." Josuke reassured him, leading Nautilus to hum in contemplation as he stared back down at his food, Okuyasu nearby stuffing his face.
"JoJo's right! You should be more confident in your own skills, Nautilus! After all, you're the one that trained with me!" Yuna exclaimed, leading the boy to blush as heat rose to his cheeks.
"Still… I don't know if I'll be cut out for that… I mean, a Floor Boss? With a team that tiny?" Nautilus raised his concerns as he poked at his potatoes, spearing one with his fork and taking a bite.
This was when Josuke tapped his mug with his finger while he held his chin up in his hand, elbow against the table, facing the boy with an understanding look. "Yeah, I guess so. If it changes anything, we won't actually be killing the boss. We're just checking its attack patterns and how it moves. Besides, I'll be there to patch you up when things go wrong."
Hearing this next piece of information, Nautilus's brows raised, signifying relief of some of his tension, before he let out another sigh. "At least that's one comfort…" he muttered under his breath as he raised his mug to drink.
"Come on, Nautilus! You should help out! If you still won't go, then I'll go with you!" Yuna chirped, causing the boy's eyes to bulge out as he heaved over to choke on his beer, Josuke reaching over to pat him on the back as he hacked and coughed.
"Y-Yuna! You don't have to go! If I go, I go on my own!" The boy argued, while his companion pouted in her seat beside him.
"Mou~! Don't be so pushy, Nautilus! I'm saying that we can go together to support one another! My Chanting can buff you in the battle, you know that! If JoJo couldn't help you, then let me!" Yuna whined as she leaned in closer to Nautilus's face, leading his blush to intensify.
"Say, Yuna… I thought that name sounded a bit familiar…" Okuyasu muttered as his face rose from his plate, leading Yuna and Nautilus's faces to turn to the brutish-looking boy.
"You're the Song Enchanter, ain't ya? That girl who performs concerts in the big cities and sings for passersby!" Okuyasu recalled, snapping his fingers as Josuke abruptly turned to face Okuyasu.
"W-wait, that Yuna? You sure?" Josuke asked. He had heard the stories, and even passed by one particular concert when he wandered the higher floors after parting with Kirito.
Asuna then promptly laughed as Yuna giggled all the while, as Nautilus donned a smile for the two boys in front of him. "Yeah, this girl here is Yuna, the Song Enchanter. The sweetest voice in all of Aincrad."
"Mou~! Way to make a girl blush, Nautilus!" Yuna whined as her face flushed red at her companion's description of her, throwing mock punches at the boy, who raised his hands to block them, laughing all the while with an amused grin.
"If Yuna wants to go with you, then I won't object to that, but I'm leaving it to you two to decide. I wouldn't come to you if I didn't trust your skills to survive, Nautilus." Asuna said, her eyes locked with his, as Nautilus sat with his head dipped in contemplation.
Nautilus had only one objective in SAO, to survive alongside Yuna and bring her back to the real world. He had gotten strong, indeed. His membership with the Knights of the Blood Oath was proof enough of that. However, he didn't get that strength from risking his life on the front lines like many of his compatriots in the KoB. Quite the opposite, in fact.
He spent nearly all his first months in Floor 1, practicing his Sword Skills endlessly until he leveled high enough along with Yuna. In fact, the only reason he had joined the front lines was because of Yuna. She was always so eager to lend a hand, to think of others ahead of herself. That was what he loved most about her.
Now, he was faced with a crossroads. Would he continue to hide away and let others risk their lives in his place, or raise his sword in the fight to escape the game? He contemplated on and on, before his thoughts drifted back to Yuna.
What would she have done? Well, that was obvious.
Nautilus gave his answer.
"JoJo, promise me something."
"Name it, man." Josuke smirked.
"At the battle, make sure Yuna makes it out without a single scratch on her." Nautilus stated as he stared the Stand User dead in the eyes.
"You have my word."
With that, Nautilus smiled as Yuna turned to him with red cheeks.
"Then we'll both be in your care out there, JoJo. "
Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Lv. 49, Floor Boss Dungeon) May 19th, 2023
"So, this the place?" Josuke asked, the scout team behind him.
Okuyasu was next to him, fully dressed in his battle armor and bearing his weapons in both hands. In one hand, Okuyasu held a sturdy-looking kite shield, while in the other he held a heavy-looking single-handed war hammer as he looked raring to go.
Nautilus was again, dressed in his KoB armor, gripping his sword tightly in hand. His grip relaxed when Yuna gently wrapped her fingers around his wrist, smiling brightly to lift his spirits with her lute slung along her back. The boy smiled back as he looked ahead with hardened resolve.
"Should be, according to Big Bro." Okuyasu noted, walking up to Josuke's side as the latter pounded his fists together, his gauntlets and greaves materializing at his limbs.
The room they were in was wide and spacious, as they faced a massive gate illuminated by two torches on either side. There was no door that opened or closed, but only a large arched gateway that peered directly into the shadows of the boss room beyond.
The group couldn't see the location ahead of them as it was obscured in darkness, but they were positive this was the boss room from the intimidating atmosphere surrounding the air.
This, however, did nothing to bother them as Josuke gathered his resolve along with the other soldiers that tagged along. Turning to face his allies, Josuke raised an armored fist in the air.
"Come on, guys! Let's make this great! Let's all make it out alive!" Josuke declared, leading the others to cheer along with him, pumping their fists in the air as Okuyasu raised his mace, then pointed to the void beyond the gate with a determined fire in his eyes.
"CHARGE!"
Next Up: The Blacksmith makes her appearance!
So, the Nijimura Brothers finally make their appearance! Hope Okuyasu didn't sound very OOC, because I have big plans for him in the far future. In case you're wondering, yes. Straight Shooter is Keicho's handle. The name is a reference to Straight Shooter, the second album released by Bad Company. I also thought the name sounded in line with Keicho's Stand, so I went with it. Yuna and Eiji also make their appearances! Whether I plan to get through with Ordinal Scale, I'll leave that up in the air until it matters. One thing at a time. Also, looking at The Hand's Stand Stats, it ranks "Destructive Power" as a B! W-what? I'm sure there's an explanation for that, but that just baffles me. Oh well, Stand Stats are whack anyway. As you can see from the preview, I plan to include Lisbeth in the story real soon, and thanks for reading my story and this chapter. Please leave a review, guys. I cannot further express how excited I get when I get a new review for my story. Love my story, hate it, leaving suggestions for the future, I'll take any words you have to share. Leave a follow to keep posted for the next chapter!
IzuOchaShipper99: Ooh~! Recommended at the price! Insatiable an appetite! Wanna try~?
Kira delenda est: I'm glad you came back! Now that you mention it, Argo really is like the Shigechi of SAO! As for Kira, yeah he'll be quite the challenge to face down with his Stand.
NotMrMundy: Thank you!