A/N: Bit of a delay on this one, parts of the next arc are still incomplete so I wanted to hold off on this arc. Now then, Review Time.
To Isshion: I'm sure they'll have fun when they reach your floor.
Enjoy.
|March. 26th, 11:30|
|Sword Art Online, Floor 24, Town of Panareze|
The city of Panareze was designed as a man-made island in the center of the gargantuan lake of the floor, connected to innumerable other isles through floating bridges stretching out in all directions. Red stone pathways snaked out from the large cream-colored coliseum with a red curved rooftop around the archways, this was the teleport plaza.
From there, the main town venues, inns, and NPC homes dotted along the coast for an immaculate view of the various islands and beautiful waters. Along the borders of Aincrad were the many pillars that supported the iron castle above, leaving an open view of the real sky beyond Aincrad. Impassable mountains surrounded where the support pillars were found, leaving only the dozens of islands and the black labyrinth tower accessible.
Today, Nagi and Artorias met with their resident info broker for the latest update around SAO. "Seriously, this boss!?" Artorias slammed the umbrella table with her drink, leaning over until she was right up in Argo's face with big eyes. "The Devourer Fang is a rare drop from the floor boss!?"
"If I had known it was this precious to ya I'd have charged extrA," Argo's sly grin put Artorias back into a straight posture in her seat, just like a student to their teacher. "Nyahaha, I already got my pay, so I'm just messiN'."
"Is it true though? We checked the first floors of the labyrinth to see but it could be on higher floors," Nagi didn't want to assume but with Argo, he never doubted her information.
"Wish it were that simple, but as it stands, big ol' boss of the floor is the only drop spoT," Argo clicked her tongue, leaning back on her chair with her new outfit that, admittedly, Nagi sometimes stared at longer than he'd admit.
Her cloak was brown like the last one, but now it was shorter and had a dark brown belt that wrapped around to buckle in at the collarbone and unbuckled by her hips, and a lime-green stripe down the zipper line and across the hood. A green and black crop-top with orange suspenders attached to her brown shorts, leaving her stomach and lower back exposed.
Lastly, her dark leather boots with a brown, cream, and orange sash covering part of her left leg. Again, Argo's grin curled with a twitch of her whiskers, sending a message under the table while discussing details with Artorias about the Devourer Fang.
Argo: Likin' the view still :3
Nagi had to pull his menu up a little higher to hide the red staining his cheeks, unable to lie to save his life.
Nagi: It's not my fault, it looks really good on you
Argo: Which part? Is it your girl's smooth legs? Perhaps my toned stomach and back? I'm curious, or have ya been starin' at something different when I'm not lookin'? nyehehehe...
Artorias blinked, turning her head to where Nagi hid his face with his haori, steam rising up from his head thanks to the stupid emotional response system of SAO. "Uh, why's the boss looking like the sun's slow-boiling him?"
"Don't worry 'bout iT," Argo shrugged, but leaned onto her elbows. "Wanna pay for thaT? 3000 Col, exclusive deaL."
"No...~" Nagi whined into his clothing as Artorias appeared tempted, but since this was probably about the two love birds she expertly helped hook up, though to their knowledge no one else knew, not even Artorias. So, instead, she shrugged and paid for what she asked for.
"I'm all good, need the boss' brain cells intact," She petted her leader on the head.
"Guess that'll be it for mE," Argo stood up then her eyes flinched, remembering something important. "Say, gotta assignment it ya wanna trY?"
"What's the occasion?" Nagi recovered enough to speak at least. Argo smiled then waved a finger beside her.
"Heard rumors a risin' star player's been issuin' challenges to others on this floor, Kii-bou checked it out for me and came back sayin' he losT," The words 'Kirito' and 'Lost' took a few seconds to properly squeeze themselves into the boys' realities.
"HE LOST!?" They exclaimed, and Argo put her hands up in defeat by her shoulders, shaking her head.
"Not much ta say, Kii-bou put up a good fight and came up short, even A-Chan couldn't believe it 'till I told heR," Argo was a stumped as they were. Sure, Kirito wasn't invincible, but compared to most Clearers he was the best there was aside from those present in front of the Rat. "Say, where's yer loud and proud buddy todaY? This kinda thing would send him runnin' on water to fight the guY."
"Numbnuts wants Pinkie to make him a new trick weapon since his is pretty much useless now," Artorias scoffed, crossing her arms. "He's been carrying that thing since we met him, unfortunately, I'm surprised he's even done damage in boss fights, though I guess we cover that for him."
"He's attached to it, maybe he'll convert it into a material to use for a new one?" Nagi hazard a guess, then looked at his girlfriend. "So, this swordsman, where is he? We'll look into it and see what we can dig up, they could be a new Frontrunner."
"That's what Kii-bou said, but somethin' elsE," Argo paused, drawing them into her tale as her inquisitive expression hardened. "He said that they're 'truly living in this world', whatever he means by that, Kii-bou's not one for philosophy but I can bet it's importanT."
Downing the last of their lemonades with a quick 'cheers', the trio gathered their weapons and plotted a course for the location of this powerful swordsman as the sunlight bathed them from above. With a passing high-five to Argo, Nagi jogged to catch up with Artorias as they scooted past players to complete her request.
|March. 26th, 12:03|
|Sword Art Online, Floor 24, Shattered Isle Great Tree|
It didn't take much effort to find the location Argo mentioned, the duo stepped down the walkway where a distant group of various players was gathered, their chatter and the sound of combat ringing across the calm waves below. The island itself was large, but only supported a singular tree that overtook most of the land.
It resembled an elephant-ear tree with thick roots crawling across the ground dotted with various colorful flowers, some of the roots used as seating for the players clapping and applauding the performances. Interestingly, the roots arched to leave a wide dirt circle for combat.
"Someone knows how to draw a crowd, I'm almost jealous," Artorias smirked, waving an arm wide to stop Nagi. "Hold on, idiot incoming." The two hopped back as someone crashed to the ground before them, the duel called in favor of the mysterious swordsman.
"Ugh... where am I?" Klein's face was covered in red gashes, eyes spinning as his guildmates ran to his aid.
"Boss, you hanging in there - huh, hey there, Nagi!" Dale greeted with a surprised wave, beside him, Kunimittz helped to pick Klein up off the ground.
"Any luck?" Artorias questioned, though she knew the answer, pinching her nose. "Actually, never mind, I think I can connect the dots."
"That's about what I'm seeing," Klein's head spun, patting Artorias' head. "Go get 'em, buddy, I'll just... hang out here," Klein slurred, collapsing again as his friends held various expressions of humor and shame that this was their leader.
Nagi tapped Artorias' shoulder, seeing his boss' concerned look, so with a sigh, she put a hand on her hip. "Gods above, I hate my job... Ahem! Huh, would you look at those babes over there, swear, you don't find skin like that anywhere in Aincrad."
"What, where!?" Klein sat up straight, blinking before the deadpan stare he received from the redhead. "Ah, right, fighting and I lost, horribly, grah, I thought I had her too!"
"'Her'?" The newcomers echoed, turning to each other.
"He's talking about me!" A chipper voice drew them to the battlefield.
The rumored swordsman was a swordswoman. Her body was slim with a milky white complexion, lustrous and gorgeous, long, purplish-black hair, and red eyes. She wore obsidian chest armour over a bluebottle violet tunic that ended in a tailcoat, and a matching skirt with red and a dark purple frill. Black socks covered her shins with matching shoes leaving the rest of her legs exposed.
A red bandana wrapped around her forehead and under her fringe with a similar colored bow behind her nape with a black choker. A thin, black sheath hung on her waist. Her name was hidden, leaving her ambiguous.
"You're the mysterious swordsman that kicked Blackie's ass to the curb?" Artorias was both perplexed and surprised.
"'Blackie'? Did I fight someone like that...?" She tapped her chin, then smiled dumbly. "Sorry, I've fought like over sixty people already I kinda feel like most were a blur, hehe!"
"Over Sixity!?" Nagi, Artorias, and the Fuurinkazan guild gawked, even Klein's face lost its color again, fainting at how royally screwed he actually was in his own match.
Before another word could be spoken on the matter, her finger pointed straight at the pair. "Since you guys are new here, wanna battle?" Despite her child-like nature, those red eyes of hers were roaring with energy. She only appeared to be around fourteen.
"Boss?" Artorias inquired, and Nagi could sense it, the redhead was itching to test this 'undefeated swordswoman', but was holding back on whatever he chose to do.
"I'd like to give it a shot, if you don't mind?" Nagi asked, so Artorias chuckled, patting his back forward into the ring.
"Knock her down a peg for me, boss!" She grinned, Nagi turning nervously to the purplette grinning brightly. Something was strange though, Nagi couldn't place it, but he felt drawn to her energy.
"Who... are you?" He asked in a whisper as the crowd applauded the new match and placed bets. Despite basically being fresh meat to the slaughter, he couldn't help but wonder who she was.
"Beat me and I'll tell ya, deal?" She put her hand out, and an invite to a duel appeared.
"Deal," Nagi agreed immediately, shaking her hand and accepting the duel.
"Oh you can call me 'Zekken' if ya want, a lot of people have so far," She blushed slightly from the embarrassing name. "Some also called me the 'Absolute Sword', it's a little funny since I'm really a nobody until two days ago."
"That's okay, Zekken," Nagi clutched Nevermore, now +16, the highest he could enhance it. His Durability, Accuracy, and Quickness +8, 4, and 4 in order. It was his most powerful katana to date, and one he'd be able to use until the endpoint of floor 25. Nagi smiled with his own focused glare. "I'll call you by your name soon."
"Hahaha, atta boy, Nagi!" Klein cheered, swinging a fist.
"We're a horrible influence on him," Artorias wiped a fake tear from her eye, fist-bumping with the samurai.
Zekken's eyes narrowed, mirroring Nagi's concentration perfectly. Her stance with her dark purple blade, even the scent she gave off was unlike any Nagi had encountered. Faced with the likes of Kirito, Artorias, and even his enemies such as Arawn or PoH. This girl... was ethereal, there was no other way to describe it.
"My bet's on the Zekken!" Nagi's whole concentration fell, flabbergasted as he saw Artorias raise her hand.
"You're betting agai - oh, so that's how Kirito feels," Nagi finally understood that veil of betrayal and focused on Zekken.
{3, 2, 1}
The buzzer went off, and Nagi was the first upon Zekken, the girl's eyes widening with wonder as a rush of water erupted from Nagi's scabbard and across his blade instead of the standard glow of sword skills. "Whirlwind Slash!" He slid onto his knees, slashing upright into another spin, blade ringing against the girl's.
Zekken blocked it, pushing back with a gleaming lilac blade, the whirl of her sword striking in a peculiar angle, carving an Arabic '4' through the air, nicking Nagi's outer thighs as he slid back, but the girl was upon him in seconds, thrusting her blade toward his chest. Uchikesu sent the longsword into the dirt, leaving Zekken wide open to Nagi's quick draw with Iai, the water's arc skimming her breastplate, her body lurched backward to perform a handstand, rushing in an arc toward Nagi once more.
"She saw it coming that quickly!" Blocking a strong lilac Slant, followed by the purplette's own consecutive slashes that posed a greater threat than even Harriet's whip, leaving little to no room for his own attacks. She was overwhelming! Then her blade took on another purple glint, barreling down from over her right shoulder.
It was Vertical Square, with a flood of seawater, Nagi met the first strike with Scarlet Fang's vertical upswing. His eyes contracted when he found her blade had already carved a deep red gash through his black breastplate, slicing two following slants down his sides, and a final swipe through his waist, sliding behind him as his skill evaporated. When did she move behind him?
"She countered Nagi...?" Klein gulped.
"Woah..." Artorias was... star-struck, following Zekken's every move with wonder. Then she saw the guys of Klein's guild staring at her, and she coughed, a faint pink tint to her cheeks. "Well, I mean, she has beaten Blackie, so..."
Back on the battlefield, Nagi rolled away from two sweeping blows, then three thrusts that rang in his ears, Nevermore keeping her blade's edge from catching his skin, but he was starting to sweat, and Zekken barely seemed phased at all. "I have to use it then, it'll be my only shot," He drew back his sword in both hands, the flat side against his lower back.
"A new skill you say?" Within the sunken temple on floor 23, Shirayuki had requested their aid in purifying another temple. With Klein's aid, and their own parties, the field boss and said shrine was once again a safe haven in the swamps, candles lit to mask the stench of the bog outside.
"It happened on floor 16," Nagi explained, placing the purified lotus in his inventory while Klein stood watch outside with the others, discussing their rewards. "I checked my skills and it was just there... under Rising Sun, does the one you gave me and Klein unlock other katana skills?"
His way of wording the question would stump most NPCs, and yet, Shirayuki, calling their 'menu' magic simply offered him an earnest look. "The art does not belong to House Winter, solely, in fact, as I've stated before, all Houses ultimately worship the sun that bathes the one-hundred floors of Aincrad, and a technique from Houses long since forgotten has been handed down to those that remain,"
"Rising Sun is the first form, the one of which you described is the next," Even with her bandana on, the fabric moved, and her risen brow indicated she had a playful smile beneath. "Perhaps it is destined that you shall walk the path I myself am trying to accomplish,"
"What should I do?" Nagi wasn't sure about this, his proficiency with Rising Sun was only just scratching by 100, did that mean another would appear at 200? What were these unknown skills? How did they connect to the Path of Divine Sakura questline?
She rested a hand on his head, ruffling his raven-brown locks like a parent, it was oddly soothing to the young teen. "Hone your mind, body, and spirit, you will find the answers, we both will," She closed her eyes kindly. "I have faith in your abilities, young shinobi."
His left foot caught against the edge of a large root, and with breakneck speeds, and the buff Battle Spirit triggering automatically, the water gushed forth, a deep ultramarine that Zekken pivoted her sword to counter. Her brow knitted. "What's that noise? It's like the water's burning?"
"Hidden - no, Second Art-!" As Zekken's blade brandished toward his chestplate again, Nagi swung right to left in a blur, a tidal wave colliding in two crescents on either side of him, deflecting both of her thrusts. "-Solstice Haze!"
Taken back by the sheer strength behind the attack, the water aftereffect shrouded the shinobi long enough to dive at Zekken who was still reeling back. Prodding his blade toward her chest, there was a flash of lilac in her eyes and her blade threshed from her boots, striking a series of wide berths, twirling once through the air to cleave the world around her, bringing her sword down in a powerful slam through Nagih's torso. Several phantom slashes tore his HP apart, leaving him recoiling in the dirt and in the red, the system forcing his HP to freeze the moment it turned color.
"Even with... battle healing..." Nagi sighed, sitting upright as Zekken won the duel, everyone applauding both sides as the purplette waved to her adoring crowd, laughing. It was hard not to smile, she was without question the greatest swordswoman Nagi has ever met. "Guess I took her down a peg for you, Artorias."
"More like you hung yourself up on one," She quipped, arms crossed as she entered the empty space, tagging in for Nagi. "Phantom Rave, so your proficiency is that high, huh?"
"I only really use one-handed swords, and all the matches I've had helped boost it," She admitted. "Your friend's amazing, he's the shinobi from the frontlines, right? I heard he had sword skills that looked like water, but wow! That was really really cool!" Her energy was the complete opposite of the redhead's.
"Good luck, Artorias!" Nagi waved next to Klein, the guild patting their old temporary member on the back for a good fight.
"How's about we sweeten our deal, eh?" At the suggestion, Zekken frowned but with curiosity more than worry. Two pink eyes burned with passion. "Whoever wins spills a secret, how's that for a deal?"
"...hm... okay, deal!" She reached out her hand to shake on it, the duel request popping up as Artorias let her hand go.
"Oh, that includes anything, by the way, so I could tell you something about my real life... or just something underwhelming," She grinned cheekily when Zekken gawked, then made a cute pout with her cheeks puffed out.
"That's not fair, you never said that!"
"Not my fault you agreed without reading the fine print," Artorias rolled her shoulders.
"You cheater! I call hax!" She threw her arms down angrily, only fueling the red warrior's laughter.
"Man, you're too easy, Cupcake," Artorias quipped, drawing her sword with a black handle shaped like bat wings. The Absolute Sword wasn't to be underestimated, Nagi's defeat made that point clearer in person. It had been a while since Artorias felt this sensation give her goosebumps, a real challenge was set before her. "Now, things have gotten interesting."
The countdown disappeared, and the words 'BEGIN' flashed above their names, well, 'Zekken's' was still hidden. For once since this Death Game began, Artorias actually decided to 'try'. That dark purple blade inched closer to the red warrior's chest, a few pixels more and it would graze the leather jacket through to the shirt underneath.
Everyone let out a collective gasp, some choking on their own words when they heard the ear-raking scream of metal abrading at a certain angle as a silver blade inclined up Zekken's obsidian blade, parrying it high above the two girls. In that same frame of shock, Artorias ducked low, bringing her left elbow against what little skin was revealed on Zekken's stomach, twisting the skin.
Then came the follow-up palm heel strike with sword in hand, then the right elbow snapped quickly in succession, a rose blast effect knocking the wind from the purplette's sails. Zekken coughed, glaring back with her sword swept in front of her with a dive into Sonic Leap, striking against a cool clean shield as a pink blade slit across her hip in a Slant.
The Absolute Sword flung herself over the sword and shield user, blocking several jabs that gave chase, red and violet hair dancing between sword swings, neither side landed a real hit for a few seconds, but Artorias was holding ground, kiting her enemy toward the edge of the large tree trunk.
Artorias raised her shield, blocking four lightning-fast sword swings, carving a perfect square in the air as Zekken leapt back onto the tree, evading the Horizontal, tackling Artorias with her Vertical, spinning around in the air with her sword brittle against the redhead's. Disconnecting, Zekken performed two backflips, drawing her arm back to mirror Artorias.
Vorpal Strikes collided sparks of lilac and rose cast like snowfall when the two women passed each other, a gash on both their hips. Slowly, they turned, only for Zekken's serious demeanor to falter when... Artorias doubled back in laughter, hysterically clutching her stomach in jubilation.
"Uh, he alright?" Klein nudged Nagi who wore a delighted smile himself, arms crossed as he observed.
"Yep, just watch, they've just gotten warmed up." Nagi's comment didn't help to defuse Klein's confusion.
Eventually, Artorias collected herself, wiping a tear from her eye. "S-sorry, it's just that... I haven't had this much fun in so long!" She chuckled, a real smile piercing her tempered facade, eyes wide with gratification, raw fulfillment etched its way into her bones, right down to her heart and soul. "I'm relishing this, win or lose, I'm coming at you full force now, Zekken, show me what you're made of, don't hold anything back!"
Her words struck Zekken, her sword lowered with an unreadable expression. This energy bounced back at her now, others came here to knock her down from her high horse, some for the challenge, others for reasons that were self-centered, ulterior motives, none so much as made a dent in her abilities.
But this player before her, that look in her rose eyes reflected her own, there was nothing to gain but a sense of accomplishment and excitement. Artorias was fighting for the sake of the thrill it brought. Zekken's smile returned, and soon, warped into a fiercesome glare. "Same to you."
"Hey, boss-!" Artorias swung back her arm, disarming her grave shield for Nagi to catch with a small hop. "-hold onto that for me, 'kay?"
"Got it!" He held it up, and Artorias turned back, twirling her blade until its face reflected her own.
There was silence.
A foot adjusted itself.
The wind caught their hair, brushing their bangs to the left with a salty breeze.
Their bodies moved with perilous force, striking in a mirrored slant that rang throughout the island. Silver and violet colliding in a thrilling dance back and forth with steel, yellow sparks scarring the sky as thrust was met with a guarding blade and countered with a slash driven toward the air next to skin and cloth.
Zekken lunged from the right toward the ground, then back again into a sharp twirl that drove her sword across the reflective edge of Artorias' sword as it rose from under her left armpit, colliding as their faces contorted with distinct tension, veins protruding around their hands as Zekken's forceful slam threw them a few feet through the air.
People scattered as Artorias caught her feet against a bending root, pushing back just as forcefully, diving over the purplette with a glowing blade. Zekken flourished her blade high, repelling the sword skill guiding overhead and toward her back, holding her blade over her shoulder as the glowing 'A' burned in the sunlight.
Zekken spun around, twirling her blade forward into a low-stance, carving a lilac groove through the dirt as it rose sharply to slit Artorias' cheek, her own blade tip grazing Zekken's stomach, the lilac blast mingling with rose, dazzling the crowd with a purplish plume of smoke that was cast aside as Zekken leapt out to brandish her sword in both hands, swinging down with tremendous force, vaulting over the redhead's guard toward her back, staining the leather with a precise 'X'.
Her red eyes finched, seeing the leather boot digging against her stomach, Artorias spinning from one leg to deliver another Water Moon kick with her right sole. Twirling again to poise her longsword, lunging for the falling girl whose eyes regained their focus, countering her assault with two sudden cross slashes.
The purple-clad girl slid on her heels, toothy smile on display, blade erupting in a flurry of purple tones. Phantom Rave. Artorias was still grinning like she was on Cloud Nine, her own sword expanded into an aroura of pinks and reds. Two ultimate skills of the one-handed sword tree were about to clash.
The ground fissured underfoot, Zekken's sword from the right boot, Artorias' from the left. Two strong steel razors split the sky, then another from either leg to form two connecting crosses. Their swords came down hard, the thin edges of the swords connecting the entire way down, creating a ring of twilight dust by their feet, arcs of light billowing around them.
Then a simultaneous thrust, pitting the tips of the longswords against one another, the brittle tension crackling at the epicenter. They tore past one another, cutting their opponent's cheek before doubling back with a cry on either end, Diving to strike with two constant crescents that met at a fulcrum, bleeding red and purple lightning that disrupted the skill's final motion, blasting the pair away from one another.
It didn't stop, through the lingering luminescence of the skills they slashed relentlessly, cuts formed on either side, squeezing in an attack wherever possible as the heated exchange ramped up higher and higher, the two girls yelling at one another before hammering their weapons together twice.
Artorias whipped her body back, a cool edge digging across her left side while her own blade came within inches of Zekken's nose, herself fallen onto her backside when the announcement went off.
{ZEKKEN WINS!}
Both sides panted heavily, sweat dripping down their faces. Artorias was practically pinning Zekken, her sword keeping her propped upright with their eyes locked to one another. The red-eyed girl giggled, giving her opponent a toothy grin that Artorias reciprocated.
Then the crowd shook the whole island with their stomps and cheers, Col and drink sent flying for the battle to end all battles. "Never thought I'd lose... that's a new one," Artorias shrugged with her eyes closed, standing upright again with a hand out for Zekken. "Name's Artorias... a guy glitched in a female avatar."
The second Zekken took the girl's hand, she almost screamed it out loud but managed a shrieking whisper. "You're a guy!?" She looked Artorias up and down as she was pulled to her feet again. Artorias placed her thumb and index finger against her chin, smiling slyly.
"Does this handsome face not say otherwise?"
"No-no, it's... just wow, I... I thought everyone looked like... you know, them when Kayaba trapped us here," Zekken fumbled with her words, but shook Artorias' hand energetically. "Besides the point - That. Was. Awesome~! You and I were - we were - I haven't - words failing me!" She grabbed the sides of her head, messing her hair up as Artorias chuckled at the girl's antics.
"That's about every day for us," Klein approached, hand to his hip as the other punched Artorias' shoulder. "I knew you held back in our fights, but that was seriously overkill, you two could destroy the whole island alone!" The pair chuckled nervously at that. Klein pouting. "Now all that showboating makes sense, if I had your skills I'd flaunt it."
"It's a matter of knowing you can back up your bark with a vicious bite," Artorias pointed informatively. Her finger prodded Nagi's chest. "The boss is skilled too but is stupid nice that it's almost impossible for him to be anything but modest."
"I just want to help people, so my strength comes naturally with that way of living," The ravenette replied, and Artorias' gaze flattened.
"See whadda mean?" She huffed, turning to Zekken. "Well, guess now I see why Blackie lost to you, whatever you did before SAO... your skills are pro level, probably even beyond that."
The compliment made the purple-haired girl's face get all flustered, waving her hands. "I-I'm happy you think so - b-but I'm totally a long way away from that sorta playing field,"
"Sure, and the sky is green," Artoriasa rolled her eyes but said nothing else on the matter. "Guess we should contact the Rat and let her know the results, 'Unbeatable Swordswoman Is Real' in big bold letters, italic font too, gotta make it catching - huh?" A hand tugged at her sleeve.
Zekken then grabbed Artorias' and Nagi's hands with both of hers, eyes big with wonder. "Can... can you two join my party, pretty please!?"
"Say what?" They chimed, and Klein chuckled.
"Never a dull moment for you two, well, good luck to ya, seeya out on the field, keep your heads on straight!" Klein waved, patting their backs as he returned to his friends.
The girl bounced back a bit, tapping her foot awkwardly. "It's not permanent, just for this floor, but me and my friends could really use your help with something big, and I've been our here looking for the absolute best of the best," She explained.
"We'll help, right?" Nagi eyed Artorias, who shrugged, hands behind her head.
"Numbnuts is gonna flip when he hears this... I'm in," She smirked.
"R-really?" Zekken perked up.
"Sure, we'll help you and your friends, whatever it is." Nagi liked this girl, she had skill, an abundance of energy, and it was something else, something he couldn't quite place. "Have I seen her on the frontlines early on? No, I'm certain the only girl around was Asuna."
"Before anything else, what is your name?" Artorias had been bothered about it since they showed up. "I mean, if we're working together kinda seems like a thing an employer lets the employee know, aye?"
As if the thought only just struck her, Zekken stuck her tongue out, bonking herself on the forehead. "Oops, forgot about that, sorry,"
"Jesus, she actually forgot we can't see her name?/She's a little slow on some things it seems..." The pair thought.
With her sword planted on the ground, and her left hand on the pommel, she smiled brightly with a peace sign. "I'm Yuuki, a pleasure to meetcha!"
To Be Continued...
Oh My God! I have waited SO LONG for this chapter! Surprise, Yuuki is in SAO, and from the beginning of the game it appears - yeah, don't even get me started on trying to rearrange the timeline of events, I want to die. But, it's finally here, if the name of the arc didn't tip you off.
By the way, that was without question my favorite fight in this series thus far, Artorias and Yuuki going head-to-head had my blood pumping! I hope you enjoyed it too, I appreciate the support always; seeya in the next chapter, Players!
034 - Monument of Swordsmen
Yuuki requests the aid of Nagi and Artorias for an important mission. However, the bubbly girl receives a harrowing message...