Legrue Corridor, ALfheim Online (Domain: Neutral) June 14th, 2024
After the battle, Recon rejoined the Sylph duo, carrying the two runaway bandits with him, both weighed down by Act 3's power. The two women let out frustrated noises as they attempted and failed to move, noting the leftover Remain Lights of their party members, vanquished in the previous battle.
"Let us go already! If you aren't gonna kill us then what's the big deal?!"
Asuna, Leafa, and Recon faced the two players, tied up together and unable to move.
"Why did you come after us?" Asuna asked, pointing her rapier threateningly at the pair.
The Cait Sith and Undine bandits groaned as they struggled against their bonds, the archer glaring at the trio of fairies.
"What's that supposed to mean? We're playing the game, fighting battles and grinding, isn't that the whole point?" The archer growled, directing a sour glare in Asuna's direction.
Asuna opened her mouth to speak, but Leafa cut her off as she stepped forward and squatted to meet their eyes. "True… but groups like you, made up of different races and fighting as a unit like that against other players, you're a PK squad. If there's anything I know about you guys, you aren't just in it for what you take from us."
"Your point?" The Undine asked.
"Who hired you?" Leafa asked, unsheathing her sword and pointing it at the two of them.
Both bandits stared at the blade, then turned their heads back up to meet Leafa's eyes.
"Why would we reveal that? Quite unprofessional to snitch on your clients, wouldn't you say? If you got nothing to bargain, then we don't have anything either." The Cait Sith scoffed, refusing to give in.
Unimpressed, Leafa's face bore a deadpan stare as she then turned to Recon.
"Want more pressure? Fine. Do it."
At her word, Recon's Stand appeared once more and struck the two captives with a punch.
"3 Freeze! Booyah!"
"Urk-"
*THUMMMM
The two bandits were suddenly forced against the ground by an invisible, overwhelming gravity, the stone cracking against the intense weight. The women struggled to breathe, their chests refusing to rise as their bodies strained to move a muscle.
"Heavy-GHH" The archer choked under the weight of the immense pressure, her cheek firmly compressed against the floor.
"W-what-khk the-" The mage managed to cough out, trying and failing to hoist her body back upright, leading Recon to take a knee beside them.
"Act 3's power is quite different from the other two, but it's real handy. Once he hits something, it becomes so heavy it sinks right to the ground. If the Valkyries don't kill you first, you'll still be in pretty bad shape with your lungs short of breath and your bodies crushed against the ground." Recon explained, the pair's expressions contorting in fear and pain.
"So then, tell us who sent you, leave us be, and I'll let you off the hook. What do you say?"
One second passed, then two.
Then the archer began to rapidly tap the floor with her palm, causing Recon's lips to curve into a grin of satisfaction, dispersing his Stand and its ability to release the two of them.
With the tremendous pressure lifted from their bodies, the two fairies shot up with gasps for air and collapsed on the floor, panting for breath to fill their lungs back up.
Asuna walked up closer and faced their captives. "Who sent you after us?"
The archer coughed, directing a sour look her way before sighing in defeat. "Earlier today, we got a hit on a team of two Sylphs and a Pooka from a bunch of Salamander bigwigs. Said that one of you had a Stand, too. From what they told us, seems that you squared off against one of their best lancer squads and won. Bet that gave them quite a fright."
Leafa put a finger to her chin, but then raised an eyebrow, confused. "Hang on a minute. Why would the Salamanders hire a bunch of mercs after us? Salamanders are tough and hit hard, and they certainly don't ever shut up about it. Normally they'd go after us themselves, right? Especially if they wanted revenge?"
The bandit mage perked up upon hearing this. "A-actually, I think I know why… When we got the hit, it seemed the entire Salamander army was ready to move, gearing up and ready for battle. Whatever's going on, it definitely seems they were planning something huge, and they weren't going to spare any men on it."
Hearing this, Asuna's eyes widened as she turned to Leafa. "Are they going for the World Tree? If their entire army is ready to go then-"
However, Recon cut her off. "No, that doesn't make sense. Bigger raids have tried before and failed. The ones we fought the other day didn't seem well-equipped enough for a fight like that, so I doubt the rest of them are any better. This has to be something else."
"Oh for sure. Now, you gonna let us go or what?" The archer asked, causing the trio to face her and her companion.
Asuna eyed Leafa, who nodded silently. Then she scrolled through her inventory and retrieved a small pouch of Yrd into her palm, tossing it to the surprised fairy.
"Don't come after us again, and you can keep that. For your troubles." Asuna smiled, the archer nodding silently with a slight grin as she walked off with the Undine.
Now alone, the three fairies proceeded to the mining town of Legrue. The town shone with golden light, illuminating the darkness of the cave. Asuna looked up and around as fairies of all races went about their business out around the streets.
The trio wandered around the small town, eyes shifting between the stalls of the market and the people walking about like them. Leafa bent over to take a closer look at the weapons rack at one of the stalls, eyeing a thin saber with curiosity.
Recon followed closely behind, glad to see his friend in high spirits, but turned to Asuna to find a different sight.
The Sylph was despondent, her eyes staring blankly ahead with her brows furrowed, like she was in a world entirely on her own and her thoughts. It seemed that Recon's observation was unnoticed, as Yui was staring worriedly at her foster mother from her breast pocket, clearly reading a muddy aura from her.
"Mommy…" Yui mumbled, as Leafa seemed to take notice that the mood had shifted.
"What's wrong, Erika?" The ponytailed blonde asked, Asuna finally snapping back to reality with her eyes bulging.
Asuna paused for a second, but shared her thoughts. "It's just… I can't get that out of my head. JoJo… he was here. He was right there!"
Leafa cocked her head, confused. "You talking about that Dark Knight? You stopped him right in his tracks, saved our asses! How did you do it?"
Asuna's expression hardened upon hearing Leafa's question, but she sighed and answered. "He was… a friend. A very dear friend."
"Friend? The Knight?" Leafa asked, met by Asuna's face, bearing an expression of grave absolution.
"His face, his eyes, his movements in battle, it was exactly the same. Whatever happened to him, I need to stop it."
"H-hold on, are you telling us that the Einherjar are… actual players? People? Is that what you're trying to find out?!" Recon asked incredulously, as if he didn't believe the words escaping his mouth. Beside him, Leafa looked just as unbelieving, her eyes widened with shock.
"He remembered me. That was him. I'm absolutely certain of it." Asuna said, her eyes shining with absolute confidence in her statement, completely sure of the words she was speaking.
Asuna stopped herself as she watched the fairy pair continue to stare at her in disbelief without saying a word, the air so silent she could almost see the gears turning in their heads.
Her face dropped as she let out a sigh. "Before he disappeared, he told me to reach the World Tree. I have to get up there, and now I'm more sure of that than ever. If you don't want to come along, then I don't mind. If this really runs deeper than I thought, I wouldn't want you to get strung along in whatever mess I'm getting into. This is my problem and for what it's worth, I'm really grateful for your help."
Asuna turned to leave, but was stopped when she felt a hand grab onto her shoulder from behind.
Turning back, she saw Leafa staring back at her. "Hey, don't talk like that. Besides, what's your plan gonna be once you get to Alne? You against a legion of Valkyries fighting an impossible uphill battle?"
Asuna blinked and shifted her eyes away for a moment. "I mean… how else am I gonna reach the top? If there's a way up, I'll never know unless I get there. Besides, I've had my share of impossible fights before. How bad could this be?"
Leafa rolled her eyes at Asuna's response and gave a small grin with a shake of her head. "That's no good! Don't you remember? I said I'd watch your back, and I'm not gonna go back on my word just like that, you hear? If you really believe you're gonna find whatever you're looking for up there, bet your ass I'll do whatever I can to help!"
Leafa's declaration left Asuna speechless as she watched the girl's spirit burn with vigor and resolve, reminding her so very much of the very people she was hoping to find waiting for her at the World Tree. She could see it clear as day, an infectious warmth boiling within that brought light and hope to those that Leafa bore it to. The same fire that Josuke and Kirito both brought to inspire so many in SAO.
She knew then that she could not convince Leafa to abandon her, nor would she have it either way.
Sighing, Asuna's face beamed with a relieved smile. "I guess that's that then. I'm in your debt, Leafa."
The golden-haired Sylph then lit up with a toothy grin and playfully smacked a hand against Asuna's arm. "There we go! There's that smile! Now come on! Out the tunnel and we're on a straight path to Alne!"
Leafa was then stepping up to a quick stride to the other side of the town as Recon followed close behind, the Pooka turning behind to see Asuna looking on with a content smile on her face.
"Hey, you coming?" He asked, as Asuna shifted her eyes down to meet Yui's.
The pixie girl beamed a bright smile at her, eyes flashing with a knowing pride in a way only Yui could. "We're gonna save Uncle and Daddy! We're almost there, Mommy!"
"Right behind you!"
ALO Magic:
VANIR: Essence of the Earth Gods. Conjured by the Vanir gods, the magic of Vanaheim holds dominion over nature and all living things. Those in command of Vanir provide varied blessings upon their allies, familiar and fairy alike, ensuring dominion over the hunt as well as the land.
Element: Nature
Specialization: Hunting, Recon, Utility Buffs
Affinity: Cait Siths
South District (Alne), ALfheim Online (Domain: Neutral) June 14th, 2024
Walking past the gates of the city, the group of fairies could only gawk at the sight before them.
The truly massive structure that stood tall in the center of Alfheim towered high, the scale completely unbelievable now that they were so close. The roots of the tree swirled and coiled to form the trunk of Yggdrasil, the tops of the roots even dwarfing some of the mountains in the distance as the rest of the tree was hidden by a blanket of clouds, as if the canopy pierced the heavens themselves.
Nestled at the base of the mountainous tree, encircled by the swirling roots was a hill, as buildings lined each level of elevation, all coming together to form an awe-inspiring metropolis overflowing with life.
The city spread all along the land covering the base of the tree, forming distinctly separate boroughs as Asuna could spot another collection of buildings just past the city before them, spread out in a location directly against the tree's base.
"So this is Alne…"
Asuna marveled at the sheer scale of the city, while certainly paling in comparison to a place like back home in Tokyo, she still recalled the size of city-centric floors in Aincrad like Algade and the Town of Beginnings.
She noted how unlike those cities, the land here shifted in elevation. Rolling hills and hiking inclines along the tree base inspiring districts at varying heights and paths climbing and descending. The trio walked along the street and Asuna turned behind them to see the horizon growing further as the land behind them seemed to move away.
It was still a wonder to her that the virtual world could yield such a vibrant metropolis, a thriving city that reminded her of the urban jungles back in the real world. A miracle that only the relentless resolve of Akihiko Kayaba could give life.
"Yep, not exactly my first time, but it's always incredible just to soak it all in, huh?" Recon laughed as he looked up and around, drinking in the magnificence of Alne.
Leafa gazed from building to building, eyes shimmering with childlike wonder as they scanned the wondrous city up to the massive tree. Asuna smiled with a mild chuckle under her breath, looking down to Yui, seeing her foster daughter doing the same, tiny eyes bulging with wonder.
"Enjoying the view, Yui?" Asuna asked, receiving a wide smile and an enthusiastic nod of her head in response.
"Mm! There's so much life in the air! Everyone's having so much fun! It's… nostalgic." Yui replied, a new glimmer forming in her eyes.
While Leafa and Recon paid little mind to that last part, Asuna realized she could sympathize. She remembered a time when all the players of the death game had eagerly come to Aincrad, seeking a world completely out of a dream, of a life beyond the bounds of reality. The excitement in the air, the pure sense of wonder everyone shared when they walked the streets of the Town of Beginnings for the first time.
For a moment, Asuna found herself there once again, seeing so many players together and enjoying the virtual world to the fullest. She felt a hand against her heart, and looked down to see Yui giving her a knowing smile of sympathy.
The little pixie sensed Asuna's feeling of nostalgia, and Asuna could see it in her expression.
"You guys alright?"
Asuna blinked at the sound of Leafa's voice and looked up to meet her eyes, waving a hand in reassurance.
"Fine! Let's keep moving!"
The trio continued to walk, the group eventually venturing past the outer districts to the city center. Around this area, the buildings seemed to reach their peak altitude, the rest of Alfheim behind them appearing like a mountaintop view. Furthermore, the people seemed most concentrated here.
Fairies of all colors, sizes, and races congregated along the streets, interacting and mingling with one another without a care in the world. The sight was incredible to Asuna, seeing so many together when not even a day ago, she had seen firsthand the sheer hostility between certain races.
She saw Cait Siths with their feline ears and massive Gnomes chatting animatedly. Black-clad Spriggans and blue Undines sharing meals. She even saw a Sylph girl holding hands with a boy in red, the couple very much glued to one another.
"So many different fairies altogether…" Asuna mumbled, Recon nodding with a grin.
"Yep. Obviously you got people playing ALO who don't care at all about the race for the tree, and those people gather in the neutral territory." Recon elaborated, Leafa adding a nod.
"The players beyond the mountains call them Rogues, like they're somehow a different cut from the rest of them. Never bought into that crap, not for a second. Why look down on people who just want to hang out and meet new friends? Isn't that the point of a virtual world?" Leafa muttered as her eyes wandered between the crowds of fairies around them.
Asuna thought back to Leafa's words back in Sylvaine, when they had set out on their odyssey together. Of how much she loved this world and how she wished things were different.
She then thought back to her own experience in Aincrad, and how she shared those same feelings. Aincrad was a deadly place, nightmarish beasts around every corner and the insidious threat of traps and deranged PKers that could end one's life in an instant. People who let delusions of grandeur and power get to their head, twisting them into vile monsters. Despite that, Asuna could never forget the beauty of such a place, the wondrous sights that would greet her on every floor and most of all the treasured bonds she formed there.
Bonds she was willing to give her life to preserve, even now.
It was moments like these when she felt her mind move in tune with Leafa's, when she realized that someone else understood her in a way few could. In a way it seemed her family never could. After so much time in a real world that could not comprehend the scale of her experiences, it was admittedly cathartic to finally feel validated.
"I guess everyone's here for their own reasons. Not like we're any different, right?" Asuna mused, her eyes staring up at the tree thoughtfully.
Recon gave her a glance and aligned his eyes to hers. "You make a great point… This world offers so much I can hardly believe it sometimes."
Asuna turned her head to the Stand User with a curious rise of her eyebrow.
"I've had my Stand for a while, but nobody could see Echoes. Not my family, nor my friends. I felt… alone, in a way. Like nobody really understood me." Recon mumbled, his expression indicating he was drifting off to a different place, until Leafa cleared her throat with a cough.
"Annie and I never doubted you for a second, though. Remember? Even though I couldn't see your Stand, she always believed you. I guess the signs were there from the beginning." Leafa laughed, causing Recon to blush.
"Y-yeah. I suppose. Then… I heard of the Sword Art Online incident." Recon then continued, peaking Asuna's interest.
"SAO…"
"Yeah. I heard the stories of people like me, people with Stands. Fighting the bosses and leading the charge, it was unlike anything I've ever heard. After feeling so alone with Echoes… I couldn't believe it. For the first time, people were seeing Stands and talking about them in real life. It was like… Echoes had finally become a part of the same world as me." Recon smiled with a glimmer in his eyes, Asuna quickly taking notice with wide eyes.
"I found ALO, and sure enough, people could finally see my Stand. They could see him. Touch him. Hear him. Dunno about you, but I've never felt more alive in my life. It's like my full self came to the surface for the first time. " Recon chuckled.
Asuna listened to Recon's story with awe. She knew that unlike Kirito, Okuyasu, and Griselda, Josuke had already possessed Crazy Diamond even before arriving in Aincrad. After all, it was the debut of his Stand that single-handedly kickstarted the rising reverence of Stand Users among the players. It was the appearance of his Stand that showed that hope was indeed possible within the death game, that heroes did indeed exist.
Then there were those who found the power of their soul later in their stay. People who unlocked their Stands via the power of the mysterious arrow. One of them being her beloved Kirito, a boy who found himself in the virtual world and grew into someone who she came to adore more than anyone in her life.
She knew people like Josuke and Kirito never came to SAO expecting to be seen in a different light, to have the embodiment of their spirits laid bare for all to see. However, she could only imagine Josuke felt the same way as Recon at some point. Having to keep such an integral piece of him hidden from so many people because so little could comprehend it.
Which then brought her thoughts to herself. In a way, she knew what that felt like. The Lightning Flash Asuna was a part of her, whether in the game world or outside it. She had heard it before, that SAO was just a game, like everything that happened there was completely inconsequential. However, Kirito believed otherwise, much like herself. Virtual or not, SAO had changed her. Revealed a piece of her she never knew she had.
She was a warrior, a leader, a mother. She was a hero. Back home, her parents could never understand, or sympathize with her, because they hadn't been there to watch her grow. After all, all they had seen was her lying prone in a hospital bed for two years. For all she knew, to them, she might as well have awakened an entirely new person.
Now, she felt frustrated for having to keep quiet and complacent. She remembered the agony of not knowing what to do, drifting aimlessly trying to adapt to her new life as she repressed that part of her that made its home in the iron castle in the sky.
Now, she saw this new world and the people who came to it. Not only to escape their worries, but to finally be seen in a way they never could in the real world. Lo and behold, she was doing the same right now. She had returned to the virtual world to save her friends above all, but part of her might have yearned to return to this place.
To a world where she could be herself in full, to escape the burdens and pressure of her reality. As these thoughts filled her mind, she stared at Recon and Leafa as they continued down the path. After all this time, maybe this was indeed why she never resented her time in Aincrad.
For all the pain, for all the trauma, she was grateful to the death game. For giving her a chance to truly embrace herself in her entirety.
ALO Races:
Undines: The Lake Guardians. Spirits of the water and practitioners of the arcane, the Undines are attuned with Alfven Magic, blessed with the highest magic stats of the races and are the only race unaffected by the underwater environment. A race for magic-centered combat and backline support.
Magic Affinity: Alfven
Perks:
High Magic
Increased healing effectiveness
Underwater combat
Weaknesses:
Low attack
Attack: D
Magic: S
Mana: A
Speed: B
Vitality: C
Stealth: C
Luck: B
Flight: C
Central District (Alne), ALfheim Online (Domain: Neutral) June 14th, 2024
The three fairies continued to walk through Alne, eventually reaching the apex of the incline. At this point on the path, the hill curved over to reveal its peak, resting at the base of the tree.
The three of them looked straight up at the sky and gaped in sheer bafflement at the massive structure jutting past the clouds.
"The World Tree…" Asuna found herself gasping at the incredible scale, feeling like an ant against a skyscraper. She could make out the shadow of a truly massive canopy mushrooming beyond the clouds, kilometers above their position.
Kirito and JoJo were supposed to be at the very top of this? It seemed absolutely impossible to imagine it.
"Yeah, it's so much bigger up close, isn't it?" Leafa replied with a smile, admiring the view as much as her.
Asuna's mind then turned to her objective. "Did anyone try to climb the tree from the outside? Doesn't seem like too hard a climb."
Asuna pointed at the roots, rising in a coil to form a swirling mass at the trunk all the way up to the clouds above. While the sheer height of the tree made it appear a daunting endeavor nonetheless, it seemed feasible to rest along the sloping roots and branches.
However, Leafa shook her head with a chuckle. "Nah, the developers made it extra sure that nobody could cheese this climb. The trunk's perimeter is off-limits to players. You can't get close to it to get a rest, and if you tried to fly the whole way up, you'd expire your flight limit before you made it even close."
"So nobody's even come close, huh?" Asuna muttered, only for Recon to snicker under his breath.
"Well, there was one time that came close. A bunch of fairies decided to piggyback off of each other and fly straight up. Creative, but it didn't work out. They barely scratched the canopy before falling to ground zero."
"No kidding…" Asuna gasped.
"Yeah, ever since that little incident, the devs freaked out and placed an invisible barrier just beyond the clouds. The only way up the tree is through the dungeon, past an army of Valkyries. Think you're up to the challenge?" Leafa laughed.
"Why don't we go and see ourselves?" Asuna asked back with a determined smile, picking up the pace as they strode up the path, nearing the dungeon with each step.
Eventually, the group came to a stop, rising up a staircase and facing a massive gate placed against the trunk of the tree guarded by a pair of massive Valkyrie statues. There was no doubt about it, this was the entrance to the World Tree dungeon.
As soon as they ascended the stairs however, Yui's eyes went wide as she gasped sharply, which did not go unnoticed by Asuna.
"What's wrong, Yui? Is everything alright?" She asked, concerned.
"They're here…"
Asuna's eyes went wide as Yui's words swirled in her mind, processing exactly what she was saying as Leafa and Recon stared at her, confused.
"Hm?"
"Daddy! Uncle! They're here! Above us in the canopy!" Yui exclaimed, jabbing a finger to the heavens as Asuna's eyes followed in an instant.
"Kirito…" Asuna gasped, a rush filling her body as she summoned her wings and burst into the air, leaving Recon and Leafa behind.
"H-hey! Erika, wait!"
She could hear their voices far below, but for now she couldn't give a single piece of her mind to care. Her goal was right there, right in front of her, and she was finally within reach of her friends. As she accelerated through the air, zipping past the clouds, her eyes firmly locked on the ever approaching branches above her.
Just a little closer, just a little further, and she would see him. She would finally see Kirito once again. If he was in any way similar to the state she found Josuke in, she didn't care at all. She brought the Stand user back, she would find a way somehow.
Then she hit something.
Asuna head smashed against a hard surface, causing her to reel back, completely stunned as she saw stars, rubbing her head before coming back to her senses.
Edging higher in altitude, she raised a hand and felt it press against something solid as a ripple reverberated over the invisible surface, causing the sky to ripple like a pebble in still water. This had to be the barrier Leafa spoke of.
Reeling back a fist and striking the invisible wall above her, Asuna's fist bounced right back along with her body flying back from the recoil. Gritting her teeth, Asuna could only stare up hopelessly, unable to move any higher thanks to this damn barrier.
"Mommy, we can't ascend further! This barrier is absolutely impenetrable!" Yui shouted from her pocket, forcing her to stop, continuing to gnash her teeth in frustration.
She once again felt useless, weak, like there was nothing she could do to move forward, and she hated those feelings to her core. She resented their return, and she desperately wished for them to go away.
Her dear friends were within arm's reach, right past this invisible wall, and she just couldn't reach them.
"Erika!"
Asuna then took a breath and slowly descended to meet the two fairies, concerned expressions on both their faces.
"What the heck was that? You just ran off without a word! We just told you, there's no way you can climb the tree that way!" Leafa yelled indignantly, eyes bulging as she tore into Asuna, Recon only warily hanging back as he let Leafa loose.
Asuna, however, balled her hands into fists and growled under her breath. "Sorry… I guess I lost myself for a second there… But I'm so close. I have to try! If I don't, then I swear I'm gonna to lose my mind!"
Leafa reeled back from the girl's outburst, but then grasped her shoulders firmly, causing her to look up and meet her eyes. "Hey, focus! We'll get to the top. But we can't do it this way. Just get your head on straight and let's get moving!"
Asuna paused for a moment, before sighing and relaxing herself, nodding.
"Yui?"
At the sound of her voice, the pixie emerged from Asuna's pocket. "Yes?"
"Find us the quickest route to the Grand Quest."
Weapon Showcase:
Lv. 50 Katana: Sakura Bloom, Harukaze – A precious fleeting moment is sometimes the most powerful, a single place in time and space where true beauty envelops the world around you. Capture the moment, become a petal in the wind, you are a cherry blossom in bloom.
Special: Spring Breeze: All [Aesir] Magic boosted by 20%, all Damage increased by 30% while airborne. Critical Damage increased by 50% while flying.
Enchantment: +20
Attack: 500 (A)
Magic: 400 (B)
Mana: 250 (C)
Speed: 350 (B)
Durability: 200 (D)
Range: 2m (B)
Precision: 85% (A)
Rank: Ancient (S)
Selling Price: 7,400 Yrd
Owner: Leafa
Bifrost Gate (Alne), ALfheim Online (Domain: Neutral) June 14th, 2024
"So then, what's the plan?"
The three fairies now stood at the massive gate at the tree's base. Tension ran through the air as they stared up at the structure, the sheer scale filling them with dread unlike any they'd known.
Asuna felt her mind flash back to her days on the frontlines with the Knights of the Blood Oath, commanding her troops as they led the assaults to clear floors and face monsters from her darkest nightmares.
She remembered that pit in her stomach that formed as the doors parted, the sensation of her nerves seizing as their strikes barely passed her skin, threatening to end her life in a fleeting second.
However, this place was no death game, and Asuna held that thought to heart.
She looked up past the gate all the way to the highest echelons of the canopy, to the branches brushing the heavens above. She thought of her friends, waiting there for her. Of the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel along her long journey.
She was almost there, and one way or another, she was going to make it.
"We see just how impossible this challenge is. We'll figure it out along the way." Asuna gave her reply, her words carrying confidence and weight unnatural for such a flippant statement.
Leafa watched her step forward towards the gate, her stride done without hesitation or slowing down, her eyes fixed on the structure before her, completely unwavering. Every movement she made was overwhelming with purpose, as if her entire reality was the goal she had set out to accomplish.
"You know we won't make it the first time, there's no chance in hell." Recon said as he unsheathed his blade, looking on nervously in the direction of the gate.
Asuna nodded her head lightly, but nothing about her stance changed. "I know. But if we're ever going to beat this thing, we need to know what we're up against first. After all, you don't win wars without knowing your enemy's weaknesses."
A chill ran down Leafa's spine as she heard Asuna's answer. It was a far cry from the kind of words she expected to hear out of a girl like her, radiating the kind of authority only a seasoned and firm military commander could. As if she knew exactly what she was talking about, and what she was about to get into.
Nonetheless, she took a deep breath and steeled herself with a confident grin. "Oh well… Guess we knew exactly what we were getting into from the start, didn't we? Let's do this! Just don't fall behind, y'hear?"
Encouraged by Leafa's display, the two other fairies returned her optimism as Asuna walked up to the gate, stopped as she watched the two massive statues on either side of the doors began to move.
"Thou who seeks glory in battle, thou who seeks the heights of Valhalla, does thou seek entry to the domain of the King?"
A booming voice echoed, the statues' eyes glowing a bright red as they lowered their swords, crossing them over the gates and denying them entry.
Asuna froze in awe at the sight, before a ping from her menu alerted her to a new prompt. Opening it with her finger, she saw the pop-up asking for confirmation to proceed with the quest.
Her finger hovered over the button, but she first turned behind her to her companions, a wary, but determined expression in her eyes.
"You guys ready?"
The pair turned to face each other, then back to her with a smile and a nod of the head, hands already at their weapons and at the ready.
Assured, Asuna inhaled slowly and steeled her nerves, her heart overwhelming with determination. Then she brought her finger down.
"I'm coming, guys."
"Then go forth, warrior, and prove thou art worthy of thy wings. Valhalla awaits."
With that word, both guardian statues raised their swords and reassumed their positions, clearing the way as the gates leading into the dungeon parted. Asuna looked ahead into the darkness and a wave of nervousness washed over her.
She remembered this grim feeling, like she was about to dive right back into another chamber of death back in the iron castle. Suffer the losses of more good men and women, fear for the lives of all under her responsibility. A familiar and oppressive feeling that she disdained and feared.
It was then that she felt a tiny, reassuring hand on her cheek.
"Mommy, it's okay. I'll be right here the whole way! Let's go and save Daddy and Uncle!" The little pixie cheered, radiating a contagious optimism that warmed her heart and calmed her mind.
Asuna's doubts cleared away and a powerful resolve shone through as she stepped through the doorway.
"Be careful, Yui. Let's go, guys!"
The trio disappeared through the gates and into the chamber, stopping as the doors closed shut behind them, entrapping them within the darkness.
Barely a sliver of light was left within the dungeon, the three fairies left with their backs to each others', covering every angle as their blades were drawn, preparing for an assault.
They knew the dangers of this place, each of them well aware of the rumors whispered of just how impossibly difficult the Grand Quest was, and this was all weighing in on them now, the pressure and tension so impossibly high it was almost as if they would crack under it then and there.
"Anyone see anything?" Recon asked, fishing another set of runes from his pack.
"I can't even see my own boots! You?" Leafa replied, her sword held in a sure and airtight stance.
"Yui, can you find anything?" Asuna asked as she drew her rapier close to herself.
The small pixie went silent for a second, a sign Asuna knew indicated she was scanning her surroundings for anything she could identify.
Then, a sharp gasp from the AI girl. Asuna grimaced as she processed the reaction. Nothing good could possibly come from this.
"I'm getting readings from every direction!" Yui called out, just as the lighting began to kick in.
The group huddled closer together as they looked up, taking in their surroundings properly for the first time. The sight above them left them speechless.
The entire dungeon consisted of a massive, spacious cylinder, the walls lined with crystalline gems that spread along the rim of the structure in rings. Asuna scanned the walls and counted them in the tens of thousands, perhaps more.
"Where?! Are they in those crystals?" Leafa asked, eyeing them carefully.
"Each of the pings are coming from those crystals! Be prepared!" Yui called out, Asuna then turning her attention directly above them, locking eyes onto a fixture at the apex of the dome.
She saw a small circle at the center of a petalled flower of stone. She had no doubt about it, this was the entrance to the top of the World Tree, and at long last, it was finally within reach.
Looking around her, she could still see the dungeon was completely barren. It was if it were patiently waiting for the group to strike first before landing the perfect counterattack to smite them all without a shred of mercy.
If that was so, then she had to be quick, quicker than the game could ever hope to be.
"On my go, we rush for the top!" Asuna called out as she summoned her wings, shimmering and ready for action.
Leafa and Recon nodded in turn and did the same, waiting for the call as the tension reached a fever pitch.
The air stilled to a paper thin edge as both players and the game waited for the first move to kick everything into chaos. Neither dared toe the line, none of the three knew what to expect.
Then Asuna raised her voice.
"NOW!"
With a powerful burst of their wings, the three fairies shot up from the ground and raced for the ceiling, a mad dash for the finish line while their path was still clear as day.
Seconds ticked by but dragged like minutes as Asuna watched her destination creeping closer and closer, her heart soaring and her hope climbing with each inch of distance she closed.
However, she knew one thing for sure, that it couldn't possibly be this easy. Something had to go horribly wrong at some point, right?
Of course.
Not even a second after they had left the ground, the crystals along the walls each began to glow and shimmer as they passed them. Appearing from the lights were fairies in pristine white armor, faces covered by helmets with black visors.
Each of them was armed to the teeth, weapons of all kinds in their hands as they all turned their heads in unison to focus their targets. Asuna, Leafa, and Recon all took notice and looked on in fear as more and more Valkyries emerged from the walls by the thousands, flying out to the center of the massive chamber to bar their path.
"Enemies, every direction! Good luck!" Yui called out before taking cover, hiding away in Asuna's pocket as she noticed one Valkyrie rushing out to attack her.
Intercepting the target, Asuna rushed upward with her sword pointed ahead. Gritting her teeth, she looked past the enemy and straight at the gateway above her. There was no way in hell she would let anything get in her way, not when she finally had a shot to the end of the road.
"FALL!"
Her blade skewered the Valkyrie through, causing the enemy to crumple from the force of her impact, but struggled to retaliate as Leafa followed suit and lopped off its head with her katana, killing it in an instant as the hostile fairy disintegrated into a purple fog.
Barely a moment after the first Valkyrie fell, two more rushed in from above as the trio watched the sea of enemies above them multiply to no end. Fending off both attackers and slaying them with a flurry of their blades, they could barely process their short-lived victory before a new wave would assault them once more.
Asuna clenched her teeth and growled, her blade dancing and flying through the air as she tried to maneuver herself through the sky while also trying to land her strikes. In her hand, she grasped the controller tightly as she strafed and maneuvered herself as tightly as she could. Despite this, she still fell short of her companions as she watched Leafa and Recon hold their own as well, to much greater prowess than herself.
Leafa was a true master of the skies, slicing apart her foes with her sword as she effortlessly dodged and deflected strikes aimed her way, her movements fluid and lightning quick. She was a speeding bullet, weaving through a storm of blades and fighting back with a tornado of her own strikes and spells.
Three Valkyries came at her from all angles, and her eyes tracked each one with precision only an expert warrior could produce. One swung for her neck and she ducked, allowing the second to take the blow in her place as it dove in. With its weapon stuck, the Valkyrie was helpless as Leafa sliced its head off, leaving her to raise her hand and blast the remaining fairy with a potent Aesir spell, a concentrated ball of air blowing the Valkyrie's chest open.
Truly, she was a warrior unlike anything Asuna had ever seen before.
While Recon could never compare to Leafa's martial talent, his spells flew out and sang in the air as he dipped and dove to dodge any Valkyries that swung at him. With each precious moment, he casted healing and buffs upon herself and Leafa, assuring they were topped up and healthy amidst this frenzy of a battle.
When a Valkyrie dove his way, he would whip out a rune and blast it with magical power, blowing his aggressor to smithereens. As a second Valkyrie rushed in with a spear, Recon swung his blade to knock the fairy off-balance as he then rushed in to stab his enemy in the chest, killing it.
Meanwhile, while Asuna was keeping up, she immediately noticed that she was falling behind. While she had no trouble fending for herself in Legrue, far from it, she now realized a crucial problem.
She hadn't fully adjusted to aerial combat.
On the ground, her skills from Aincrad translated perfectly, and she could revive the Lightning Flash she once was. However, she was currently balancing her bladework in one hand on top of maneuvering with an unfamiliar set of wings instead of her legs.
One Valkyrie slammed a battleaxe down on her sword, forcing her down and knocking her off-balance as she barely rolled to the side, getting grazed along her arm. Sloppily regaining her posture, she sliced out the Valkyrie's throat, killing it as it fell limp. It was only a smidge of reprieve, as Asuna saw many more coming for her.
With no time to adjust her muscle memory in time, she resorted to falling back on the controller. While it offered a tighter mode of motion, she couldn't help but feel handicapped with her sword limited to one hand while the other was stuck directing her wings.
Recon's eyes filled with worry as he faced the Sylph, casting another bout of healing her way to top off her vitality.
"You need to stop relying on the controller! Let go and free both your hands!" Recon shouted, tossing another set of runes to bind a swarm of Valkyries diving for him, allowing Leafa to hack them to pieces.
"Easier said than done, don't you think?!" Asuna grumbled as she drove her sword through another Valkyrie and hacked another in two.
Leafa finished off another enemy, looking above them with widened eyes to see that for every Valkyrie they slew, hundreds more would spawn in and bolster the ever-multiplying ocean of fairies blocking passage to the ceiling,
The swarm ballooned to such a size that the light from the ceiling dimmed, like a massive storm cloud brewing over to block out the sun.
Leafa had heard time and again just how impossible this quest was, but seeing it for herself was a reality check unlike any she could have ever anticipated.
"Guys, this isn't looking good!" She cried out, batting away another barrage of attacks from every direction, taking several nasty slashes along her body.
"We have to keep going!" Asuna yelled, eyes fixed on the gate above them, becoming increasingly obscured by the waves upon waves of Valkyries.
She looked all around her at the Valkyries all turning their heads to face her, weapons drawn and wings spread, ready to pounce at the slightest provocation.
Gritting her teeth, she looked up, seeing the light fade from the ceiling. Seeing her goal ebb away from view. She remembered the face of her friend, taken from her and twisted into something perverted. The memory of her cherished one, who was without a doubt just beyond that gate.
She couldn't take it any longer, and with a burst of wind, Asuna spread her wings and shot upwards at blinding speed.
Everything blurred together, the caphogany of voices and clashing of blades a storm in her mind, clouding over in an ugly mixture. One Valkyrie fell, then another, then another twelve.
One fell apart, another two had their heads lopped off in a fell swing. Another three were blasted aside by a magic spell. Nothing mattered. Nothing would stop her.
"IT'S RIGHT THERE! COME ON!"
Asuna screamed in her mind, veering along her wit's end as she barreled through the ocean of angry fairies.
Just a little bit closer-
*SCHINGG
Her arm was gone.
In a single move, before she could even see it coming, something had sliced her arm clean off her shoulder.
Reeling back in a panic, Asuna looked up to face her attacker.
The sight that met her caused a gaping pit to open within her.
Two figures stared down at her from above. The first flicked a katana aside, as if shaking blood off of the blade. The man was dressed in full scarlet bushido armor, an elaborate helmet complete with a mask, baring an oni's fangs to cover his face.
A ring floated behind him like a halo, backed by a set of four dark feathered wings and scabbards on both sides of his waist.
The second was a woman, dark hair braided under a helmet decorated with wings, obscuring her eyes under a black visor. In her hands she held a white bow, a circular shield on her back, from which a pair of shiningwings flapped, each feather sharpened to a blade.
Her armor so greatly reminded her of the countless Valkyries below, but something about her aura screamed danger in a way they could only pale in.
Asuna then turned her attention to their titles.
«Musashi, the Sword Saint»
«Brynhildr, the Valkyrie Queen»
There was no doubt about it, both of them were Einherjar.
However, her mind instantly flashed to her encounter with Josuke. How she had faced down her friend, stripped of his humanity and reduced to a mindless berserker.
The dread sank in as soon as she laid eyes on them, knowing they were just as likely to be the same, and she dreaded it so.
Of all the samurai she'd met in Aincrad, only one came to mind, and there was one woman in particular he'd grown particularly close to. She prayed to any higher power she could think of, desperately hoping that they hadn't somehow befallen the same horrid fate as Josuke.
Alas, the worst was yet to come.
Because the woman proceeded to raise her arm, cueing a figure made of wood and bark to phase into existence behind her.
Much to her horror, Asuna recognized it immediately.
"Appleseed Cast…"
The Valkyrie Queen threw her arm up, causing a web of trees to start springing forward from every side of the wall. They extended forward to meet in the center in an instant, completely blocking off the way to the gate, further deepening the pit of despair forming in Asuna's stomach.
"Erika!"
She heard Leafa's voice call out to her, as a green blur sped past her face and clashed blades with the samurai Knight, katana grinding sparks as Asuna could only watch, frozen in shock.
"We can't go any further! We gotta bail!" Leafa called out, holding the Einherjar off with visible strain, as she spotted Griselda nock an arrow into her bow.
Gnashing her teeth, she shifted her position in the air, placing the samurai between her and the arrow, as her opponent let out an angry growl in pain from the shot.
"B-but…" Asuna mumbled as her eyes shifted from her to her two former friends, as Leafa let out a yell, smashing a rune in her fist as a sudden, bright flash of light burst out from it, stunning both Dark Knights as she grabbed Asuna by both arms.
"Get ahold of yourself! We barely made it past those Valkyrie, and we're no match for two Einherjar on top of that! You said it yourself, we'll try again! Now come on, we need to go!" Leafa screamed as she shook Asuna in her hands, bringing her back to reality.
Asuna looked past Leafa to Klein, his face covered, but traces of his voice recognizable from the angry grunts he was making. All without a single trace of the light-hearted joviality he was overflowing with in Aincrad.
Then she looked over to Griselda, shaking her head as her teeth gritted under her helmet. Her Stand then began to turn its gaze to them, surging with spiritual energy and an aura of hair-trigger aggression.
Finally, her eyes locked with Leafa's. She again felt that terrible ache in her heart, of feeling completely useless, unable to move forward. However, her rational mind won over as she nodded affirmatively in turn.
"Dammit… she's right. I can't win this. I barely got through to Josuke, and that was just him on his own! We'll need a new plan!"
The two Einherjar then charged directly at the two fairies, Asuna and Leafa raising their swords to absorb the strikes. Looking to each other with a nod of the head, they pushed off and released a burst of their wings to speed downward.
"Guys! We got loads more incoming!" Recon called out from beneath them, fending off a horde of Valkyries on his own, barely scraping by as he took hit after hit from the hundreds of fairies diving at him from every direction.
"Recon! Hold on! We're getting outta here!" Leafa called out, sending a blast of wind magic to disperse the crowd. The spell shot at the horde, then exploded as the Valkyries were sent back against the walls and allowing some breathing room.
The three then sped downward together, but it was little use as arrows continued to rain down on them from above, as even more Valkyries continued to spawn at a blinding rate, hundreds more arriving to fight with each passing moment.
A sea of enemies formed below them, barring their way out, and Asuna knew at the sight, they were not letting them escape alive.
"We'll never make it out! Got any ideas?" Asuna asked, wincing as another set of arrows pierced her back and arms.
Recon released another rune and smashed it, causing a bubble of solid crystal to form around them, Valkyries everywhere converging in on their position, but failing to break through the barrier.
It allowed for some reprieve, but there was no time. Leafa took time to think, but was constantly interrupted as the sound of cracking was ringing all around them, the barrier was shattering.
"I'm almost out of MP. How many runes you on right now, Recon?" Leafa asked, as the Pooka rummaged through his inventory, letting out a sigh a second later.
"On my last batch. We're fucked. What now?" Recon groaned, only for Leafa's expression to turn serious.
"No, we still have a chance. With the last of my MP, I can give you a boost and hopefully you'll be able to get us all out!" Leafa exclaimed, Recon's eyebrow rising.
"You don't mean…"
Leafa nodded. "We need Act 1."
Asuna watched as silence fell between the three of them. She had seen Recon's Stand in action, and she had seen it in multiple forms, each with a fascinating difference in its ability.
She had never seen anything like it, not in Aincrad.
She'd seen Act 2, which could create physical effects from written words.
She'd seen Act 3, which could dramatically increase the weight of anything it punched.
If he was this hesitant to release Act 1, she could only guess what exactly it could do. She had seen powerful Stands before, such as Okuyasu's frightening ability of erasure or Kayaba's astonishing ability to control anything in the digital world.
If this had warranted such a reaction out of both Leafa and Recon, she had confidence that this Stand had the power to get them out.
"I-I'm sorry, Recon. I know what could happen to-" Leafa began to stammer, but was cut off when Recon replied.
"I'll do it."
Leafa's eyes went wide.
"Wait, b-but-"
Recon raised a hand, interrupting her words. "Yeah, I know. I'll get one hell of a penalty if they kill me, but if it gets the two of you back out without issue… I'll do it."
Leafa was left speechless. "Recon…"
Recon then summoned the Stand and Asuna had a good look at it. The spirit resembled Act 2 much more than Act 3, with the reptilian features and long tail, but it appeared to be far less humanoid than either, other than a pair of tiny, stubby arms.
The tail was far longer, taking up a majority of its body length, and in lieu of hind legs were a tiny pair of wheels.
In general, it looked far more diminutive than either of the other Stands, so this left Asuna wondering exactly what made it so powerful.
"Once the shield breaks, you rush for the gate. Top speed, don't you turn back. No matter what happens. You understand?"
Leafa and Asuna both nodded as Leafa conjured a spell, raising her hand to Recon as light flowed from her body into his. Recon's body glowed a bright gold, and he watched as his stats were rejuvenated and boosted.
Just then, the bubble cracked open like an eggshell and a scrambling mass of Valkyries rushed in for the kill.
At that instant, Leafa and Asuna shot off to the floor, while Recon went in the opposite direction, his wings shimmering as he sped upwards into the avalanche of foes.
"LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE! ACT 1!" Recon shouted, as the tiny Stand snaked at breakneck speed through the horde, landing blows on each and every Valkyrie it could reach, Recon himself diving and dodging arrows and blades coming at him from all sides.
"Ek kalla Surtr muspilli-"
All the while, he was muttering under his breath, rings of incantations formign around him as he chanted the spell. Meanwhile, Act 1 continued to dodge hits and strike each enemy, leaving behind identical markings to the ones he was chanting on hundreds of Valkyries.
The Einherjar dove for Recon, but the Pooka fended them off as best he could, deflecting a barrage of strikes from Klein, swords swinging and crashing against his blade. All the while, Griselda fired volleys of arrows from further away, striking his body and chipping away at him bit by bit.
Asuna and Leafa continued to race for the bottom, slicing apart stray enemies who rushed them, but they were getting fewer and further between, as Asuna watched almost every Valkyrie converge on Recon far above them.
"He's taking aggro because of his Stand…" Asuna mumbled, Leafa nodding in turn.
"Yeah. So long as he has Act 1 out, the Valkyries will keep hard-focusing the Stand Users in the area. We should be in the clear." Leafa smiled.
That left one more question, one that had Asuna quite curious.
"What exactly does Act 1 do? You were so hesitant to bring it out, and I haven't seen Recon use it before-" Asuna asked, only for Leafa to stop her with a raised hand, before pointing upwards.
"You can hear it, can't you?"
Asuna paused, perked her ears up and indeed, she heard something tht caught her attention.
Recon's words, his spell… repeated. Hundreds, thousands of times over, coming from what she could only assume were the strange writings on each Valkyrie Echoes had hit.
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
"No way…"
Leafa nodded. "In the real world, I'd imagine it's Echoes' weakest form. Not much you can do with the simple ability to write words that play sounds."
"But here… in a world where words and sound have power… it becomes Recon's biggest trump card."
Recon was at the end of his strength, and Asuna watched in horror as his pincushion of a body, peppered with arrows all over was impaled from all sides by multiple Valkyries, Klein winding up his blades and charging at him with a blaring roar.
"-gapa Niðafjðll!" – «Supernova»
Recon's final shout echoed across each etching he had made on every Valkyrie around him, repeating his words until they resounded ad infinitum like a chorus.
Just as Klein lopped his head clean off his neck, the spell took effect, each and every Valkrie marked by Echoes bursting in a terrific explosion of flames, as the sky above them lit up like fireworks on New Year's. The sound was deafening, as the explosions sounded off by the thousands, one after the other.
The entire ocean of Valkyries was swallowed by the blasts, almost as if the sun in all its radiance had spontaneously appeared above them.
"That won't hold them off forever! We're almost there!" Leafa called out, grabbing a stunned Asuna by the arm as they both neared the gate, Asuna watching as the blinding lights dispersed above her.
For as many Valkyries fell in the attack, more and more Valkyries continued to spring from the crystals lining the walls, now turning their attention to the two girls as Recon had perished.
A badly burned Klein then descended from above, his armor damaged in multiple places, as his mask shattered partway, revealing to Asuna his angry visage, striking her heart deeper as his lightless eyes burned directly into hers.
With a loud scream, he and the new wave of Valkyries rushed at the duo.
Swerving to dodge more arrows and strikes of weapons, Leafa and Asuna skimmed over the floor and inched closer and closer to safety.
"COME ON!"
At last, they crossed the gate and crumpled in a heap in the open sun. The remaining Valkyries cleared away from the gates, their flight sharply changing course like a flock of birds to return into the dungeon's chambers.
As Asuna lifted herself off of the ground with her arms, she looked behind her at the gates closing. Just before they shut, she saw Klein standing just beyond, eyes completely hollow as he stared at her, brows furrowed. He then slotted both swords into their sheaths at his hips, and took to the air, retreating back to the top of the chamber.
Then, it was all quiet as the two Sylphs collected themselves at the foot of the World Tree.
Asuna stood on her feet and was left with her thoughts.
It happened again.
Her hands tightened into fists as she could only brew in that bitter thought.
She was so close to the end, so close to reaching her friends, and she just couldn't break through that final barrier. Tears threatened to pool in her eyes as she collapsed on her knees, facing the floor and gritting her teeth in frustration.
They were all right. This challenge was nigh impossible. On top of the limitless avalanches of Valkyries overwhelming them and preventing them from making any progress, there were two glaring issues.
For starters, Klein and Griselda were guarding the final gate, and they were warped the same way Josuke had been. She had gotten lucky getting Josuke to slip out of whatever was affecting him, because she had knowledge of a tick she knew would jock his system, and on top of that, he was completely alone when they crossed paths.
With Klein and Griselda, it would not be as easy, especially with the inexhaustible army backing them up, on top of each other.
She knew there had to be a way, she knew she had to think over her strategy and find a way to brave the challenge, but with each revision in her mind, she could only draw herself to the sheer impossibility of this predicament.
All but defeated, she felt the first tear roll down her cheek as she cried freely.
"What should I do…"
"Mommy! You're okay! I'm so glad!"
A tiny voice reared itself as Yui emerged before Asuna from her pocket, a delighted expression on her face. Asuna's smile appeared at the sight of her foster daughter, comforted by her voice.
Patting the little pixie on the head with her finger, Asuna felt a small chuckle leave her throat before Leafa began collecting herself and turned to face her.
"Well, that was a whole mess and a half, wasn't it?" The golden-haired fairy muttered, rubbing the back of her neck.
"So those two Dark Knights… those also friends of yours? Girl, I swear, who exactly are you? You've got some boda fide demons in your corner!" Leafa began to laugh softly, but not before noticing Asuna's silence.
"Hey, you alright there?" Leafa walked up to Asuna, offering a hand, her face shifting into an expression of concern.
Asuna took Leafa's and stood on her feet before letting out a drawn sigh. "How the hell are we gonna get past this? You saw what happened up there. I just… even with all those Valkyries… how the hell am I gonna get past-"
"Hey… don't say that. We're gonna get your ass up through that gate. You know Recon didn't sacrifice himself just for you to give up, right?"
Those words rang with Asuna as she dipped her head, remembering the boy's sacrifice and noble stand against the hordes.
"Yeah. We can't do this next one without him. With Act 1's power, we might be able to stand a chance-" Asuna started, only for Leafa to cut her off.
"N-no, Erika. There's a reason Recon only brings out Act 1 in emergencies. He has the power to cast hundreds of spells all at once, but doing that drains his MP completely dry, plus the bounty system inflicts a greater death penalty on Stand users. Beside that, we just don't have the numbers. We'll need a whole-"
"Army…" Asuna said it the same time as Leafa, who looked her in the eyes in shared understanding.
"This might sound crazy… but what if the reason nobody's beaten this quest… is because it was never meant to be beaten by a single race alone?" Asuna asked, as Leafa's face twisted in confusion.
"That's impossible. Only one race could benefit from beating the Grand Quest. Even if we'd need multiple races' worth of armies to get past the Valkyries, there'd be nothing to gain from joining forces, y'think?" Leafa asked, which caused Asuna to put a finger to her chin as she connected the dots in her mind.
"What if… that was the whole point? They don't want anyone to reach the World Tree at all, so they do that by making sure no race wants to work with another to clear it?" Asuna asked, gears turning in her head.
"Hit the brakes for a second! Say you're right, and we'll need to unite different races and their armies to face the World Tree together, how in the world are you gonna find a way to make that happen-" Leafa then asked, as Asuna's eyes lit up, as if an epiphany had suddenly washed over her. She then grabbed Leafa's shoulders and stared her in the eyes, determination brewing within her.
"That merc we fought in Legrue. She said the Salamanders were gearing up for something. You got any idea what for? If not for the World Tree, then what do you think they're-" Asuna began as Leafa's own face lit up.
"Sakuya…"
"Who?"
Leafa separated from Asuna and placed a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide in shock.
"Sakuya's the Lord of the Sylphs. She told me she was getting along with Alicia Rue, leader of the Cait Siths, and was planning on establishing an alliance. If that's happening today then-"
"So you know too."
A third voice joined in, causing Leafa and Asuna both to turn rapidly to face the newcomer.
Standing a generous distance from them and locking a pair of furious eyes with Leafa was Annie, her dark hair snaking behind her and rippling with dark spiritual energy.
The girl was quiet, but Asuna could tell from a single look at her that she was a breath away from exploding, that she had them all on a tripwire, threatening to burn them all to ash should they say something wrong.
Annie's fists were clenched so tight Asuna could see them shaking by her side. Her hair furiously churned and writhed, like a gorgon's locks of ravenous serpents, like each strand was alive and just as furious as she was. Her eye, staring icily at the two of them, twitched erratically, a reflection of just how close she was to snapping completely.
Asuna was now on thin ice, and Leafa's silence enforced that thought.
"What are you talking about?" Leafa asked, her words calm and calculated, trying not to set her friend off.
"Not important. Where's Recon?" Annie asked bluntly, her voice simmering with rage.
"Annie-"
"I asked you a FUCKING QUESTION! WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?!" Annie's voice exploded as Asuna flinched, not just from the sheer rage, but at the sight of a familiar aura surging around Annie. A sight she had seen before.
"A Stand…" Asuna muttered, as Leafa shifted her eyes from Asuna, then back to Annie.
"Recon died in our climb. He'll be back, Annie. Why are you here?" Leafa replied as curtly as she could, very cautious in her delivery as Asuna noted the line of sweat forming on her brow.
Annie went silent for a second, before her eyes swirled with ten times the amount of utter hatred they held before.
"Of course you'd get him killed. That's just like you." Annie growled, causing Leafa to glare at her incredulously.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Sigurd told me you'd be here. Some bullshit about you conspiring with the Salamanders, leading them to some secret meeting." Annie grumbled, Asuna's ears perking up at the mention of the name, her mind racing back to the pompous high-ranking Sylph they had met in Sylvaine.
"Sigurd… figures he'd be scheming with them. Annie you know-" Leafa began, but Annie was having none of it.
"Of fucking course not. But I don't give a fuck about what he wants, or what he thinks. No… no, no, no, no… I'm here because of you." Annie directed her death glare directly at Leafa, eyes locking onto hers and threatening to burn holes directly through her skull.
"Is this about Recon?" She asked simply. The response was immediate.
"You stole him from me… You strung him along in your suicide mission… And now you sacrificed him so you could get away scot-free!" Annie hissed, her fury bubbling to the brim as Leafa took a nervous, but firm step forward.
"I told you, Annie. I don't do anything he doesn't agree to first. If you can't understand that-"
"SHUT UP. Always playing the good girl, huh, Sugu? You knew I loved him, you knew how much he meant to me… and you had to step in and fuck it all up… TELLING ME I NEED TO "BACK OFF"... THAT I NEED TO RESPECT HIS DECISIONS… YOU THINK I'M THE BAD GUY HERE?! YOU FUCKING HOMEWRECKER!"
Annie exploded, her voice screeching as her eyes bulged and narrowed, a wave of hatred bursting from her aura. Leafa immediately reached for her sword, and Asuna did the same, only for Leafa to place an arm in front of her, shaking her head.
"No. We don't have time. Annie's my problem. You deal with the Salamanders, got it?" Leafa said, as Annie turned her gaze to Asuna.
"Yeah, this isn't your fucking business. Butterfly Valley. Get out of my fucking sight before I change my mind and strangle you too." Annie's voice shook her to her core, but Asuna was calmed as Leafa put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine. Now go!"
Asuna made a reluctant nod and shot off into the distance, leaving the two fairies alone at the gate, facing each other with tension so thick it could pave the roads. Neither broke the silence or moved a muscle, as if a single movement was enough to trigger a catastrophic explosion that would eviscerate the both of them.
"Yukako… don't do anything you'll regret. For Koichi's sake." Leafa then said, her voice quiet and sincere, but her face firm and furrowed. Annie's face contorted in fury in reaction.
"The only thing I regret is trusting you, Suguha. I'm doing this for his own FUCKING good." Annie snarled, her hair extending and snaking out in all directions, writhing like tentacles.
Sighing, Leafa drew her sword and leveled it to face Annie. "If you really believe that, then I'll have to convince you another way."
Annie's face dipped, as she went silent. Her face was shadowed by her wriggling mass of hair, but Leafa then saw her shoulders shake and her voice reverberate from her body.
"Hehehehe… Hahahahahahaha… HAHAHAHAHAHA-!"
Her eyes, wild with unbridled rage and hatred bulged, solely focused on her opponent.
"I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!"
Both fairies moved in an instant, wings bursting with light as they charged at bullet speed toward each other. Leafa's face was one of complete focus as her sword was wound back, prepared to attack. Annie was wild and feral, her hair reaching out from her scalp like snakes wound to strike.
As they clashed in the center, two fairies-
No, two friends met in a duel of life and death.
Stand Showcase:
Lv. ? Stand: Strands of Desire, Love Deluxe - To love is to yearn. To adore is to desire. All your heart aches to attain shall be yours, so long as your heart beats with determination and the strings of fate align with your destiny.
Special: Prehensile Hair: User's hair is strengthened significantly and each strand can function to the user's whim.
Enhancement: N/A
Damage: 350 (B)
Speed: 400 (B)
Durability: 450 (A)
Range: 30m (C)
Precision: D
Rank: Unique (S)
Selling Price: N/A
Owner: Annie
Up Next: Love and Fire!
First things first, yes I'm sorry it took like half a year to update, I guess I'm getting less time to do this, although I do think Overwatch one hecking packed semester of art classes and stacking my portfolio was partly to blame. I'll still try to update, and I'm hoping to get this wrapped up soon. I'll be frank, my roadmap places at least three more chapters before Gun Gale. So I hope you're psyched for that!
Also, I know I shifted things around a bit, and I may or may not have had Mother's Basement's video to thank for that. I put the first climb of the Tree before the Eugene fight to have the Yukako fight work like that, and I hope it pays off in the next chapter.
ScruffinMcguffin: Glad the Valkyrie system works! Incorporating the existence of Stands into the world of SAO is the crux of this series and this was my way of doing it in ALfheim! Glad a bunch of my additions worked too, because half the time I'm debating whether or not I'm pushing it.
kevindonyarto9029: I understand what you're saying, but how else would this series work?
Aurum79: RELEASE HIM! Yeah, that Josuke reveal was one of the most important parts of my spin on the Alfheim arc, because of how much it reveals of what Sugou's planning and how different it is from the source. Glad it worked, and I hope you'll enjoy the next fight!
SSGSS Satiris: Glad to hear it! Glad you like my writing style, and I'm especially glad to hear that the characters and changes are done well! Believe me, I was in a similar position at one point, and it overjoys me to see that someone else is being inspired to move forward with their idea by my story! From what I can see, you're pushing forward with updating your story and I hope it all goes well!