|March. 29th, 18:42|
|Sword Art Online, Floor 25, Sunsinger Village|
It was time. Since it was only fair those that had started the quest should go with Shirayuki beyond the waterfall. The shinobi walked down the hidden, damp cave with Nagi, Daora, Artorias, and Klein while the Konno twins stayed outside to wait. Their feet echoed down the chamber until it widened into a oval-shaped cavern with two lit torches attached to the walls, illuminating the stark transition of uneven rock to smooth grey stone decorated with faded pictures and carvings of a forgotten era.
Shirayuki traced her hand across the pictures with a nostalgic glint in her eyes. "The world was ripe with splendour after the Great Separation, House Light was founded by those who had been lifted up with Aincrad's creation, from there, they sought to keep peace between the various races and factions that thrived over time across the many floors. My clan was founded too as their guardians under House Light," But her lips pulled into a frown, the murals now black and purple, twisting vines that scarred the pictures. "But an ancient evil had been brought from the world below, it festered before ravaging the lands, wanting nothing but Aincrad's extinction,"
Then her fingertips paused at the edge of yellows, oranges, and whites, banishing the dark vines and brambles. "House Light fought back this omen, giving up their lives to seal it away with the light of hundred worlds, but the Abyss lingers, and now it spills out, the cycle repeats, and the end grows near," Her hand stopped right at the middle of the mural, where a large circular hole lay empty. "And now, one of the relics of the fabled house lay within arm's reach, come, present the fragments together."
"Ready?" Nagi looked around, procuring his fragment that Shirayuki offered him after Danuja's defeat.
"After you, boss," Artorias wiggled her fragment.
"Let's crack this treasure wide open!" Daora snorted through his mask sharply, his own fragment at the ready.
"Yeah, let's do this!" Klein boasted, holding his piece.
One by one, the four parts were slotted in place, forming a large slab with a halo of flames, a second layer closer to the center, forming a sun. Extending from the sun were eight points like a compass. The group stepped back, hearing a loud thud and grinding of weathered gears or cogs buried in the mountain. But the tablet remained broken, and nothing changed, the door remained sealed, their faces dropping.
"Huh!? I thought it was supposed to open!?" Daora growled, banging his fist off the door to no avail.
"Tch, probably a puzzle or something we're meant to figure out on our own," Artorias tisked, looking around at the murals. "Shirayuki, any pointers?"
Unfortunately, her sour expression told them the answer. "I'm afraid... I do not know more than you. We knew it required a key, that being the tablet before us, however, no other details exist," While they scanned the chamber or verbally complained, Shirayuki noticed that Nagi was standing before the fractured tablet, waving a hand in front of it curiously. "Do you see something, my friend?"
"The crystals..." He murmured, drawing in silence from the infighting as he waved his hand, catching small shimmers of light. "This place is a relic of House Light, the key is in the name," Looking around to the two torches he pointed. "Smothered the light, there's too much,"
Shrugging, Artorias grabbed the right wall's and tossed it down to stomp out. Klein approached the left and did the same, now engulfed in darkness, only the roaring waterfall back the way they came indicating the way out. They waited in total darkness, but no one said a word as light struck Nagi's face, his eyes widened at the tiny streaks of white light that originated from the shards of crystal embedded in the tablet fragments.
Stepping back, the streaks shot forward, and bounced off a small deposit of red crystals in the lip above the tunnel. From there, the lines refracted and bounced from green clusters to blue on either side of the chamber. Some ricocheting off purple and cyan, to yellows, and oranges. All of them created a dazzling amalgamation of colourful streaks over their heads.
"Woah..." Artorias laughed in awe, clapping slightly.
"Truly breathtaking...!" Shirayuki marvelled, eyes wide.
Their heads turned back to the doorway, the tablet fragments shimmered, and the cracks between them were sealed with a golden glow, the Tablet promised in the rewards tab had been made whole again, and the gears of the entrance turned, causing the two halves of the door to split wide open with a rumble and trickle of dust from many years of neglect.
The cave expanded again into a tunnel, leading the group down into the depths of the mountain. The path sloped, forming into steps as the right side wall was peeled back in sections like windows, peering down into the cove completely hidden by a player instance. The name 'Shrine of Lumina'. Below was a rectangular building with its doors wide open before four large pillars supporting the front porch. Flowers bloomed around red trees, the leaves falling endlessly into a pond that led down toward the sea, a waterfall to the back left of the shrine.
"It's like a whole lost world vibe," Artorias whisled, the exit only a few steps away.
"To believe it was true... that there was so much concealed from our view," Shirayuki couldn't believe her eyes as they stepped out into the light. "I... I haven't been this close to a relic of House Light in so long..." Her voice was filled with sorrow.
While Nagi wanted to ask, Daora and Klein had already ran down the path toward the shrine. They followed, seeing them stand at the foot of the three doorways, candles and braziers lit inside. As one, the group stepped forward, and their treasure revealed itself. The golden shrine of the sun was bathed in riches. Gold, jewels, fruit, and many more offerings untouched by time, as though the metal was recently polished, and the food was fresh.
Daora grabbed a loaf of bread, lifting his mask a bit to bite into it. "Hm, still soft... what the hell!?" He yelled between mouthfuls.
"Curious, this place has preserved these offerings all this time?" Shirayuki eyed the headpiece of the shrine. Mounted on a rack was a single, sheathed katana. Putting her hands together, she bowed her head in prayer. Instantly, the others stopped picking or staring at the shrine and did the same less they failed some prerequisite, or just out of respect. "May these offerings grant us the blessings of House Light to extinguish the Abyss, to write the wrongs of our past - thank you,"
Lowering her hands, she reached underneath and carefully lifted the katana, holding it out to Klein and Nagi. "Young Shinobi, Samurai Klein, you both have dedicated yourselves to my cause, that which I am eternally grateful for, but more than that, you have given me more to treasure in life aside from my duties. Please, allow this to be a fraction of my thanks to you,"
Now it was time. One sword, one reward for one of them. Nagi had considered it alot on their way back, and so, he stepped back, much to Klein's surprise. "Take it, Nevermore's gotten me this far, but also, you're the one who saved me back at Acquisition, you've always looked out for me, and your guild when all this began. If anyone here deserves this blessing, it's you,"
"I... you sure? I mean, when's the next time a reward like this drops in the questline?" He asked, appearing conflicted with his wants and feelings.
Nagi smiled, standing with Artorias and Daora. "I think we'll manage,"
"Just take it, listening to you two have a modest feud will drive me to drown myself," Artorias groaned, running her hand down her face.
Klein turned back to Shirayuki, presenting the blade to him. Gingerly, he wrapped his left hand around the scabbard. Pitch black with golden decal along the bottom and mouth, forming into roaring flames down the underside of the sheath. The handle of the sword itself was much the same, black fabric woven with red diamond patterns across the grip. The guard itself was shaped like an orange and yellow flame. One name appeared in orange text, 'Sol Moeta', meaning roughly as Sun Burn.
Drawing the blade slowly with care for the relic. A clean black blade appeared with an orange flame pattern across the edge itself. Shirayuki smiled again, happy to see the look of wonder on the redhead's face. "You hold it well, Samurai, may it protect you in the days to come," Then, her quest marker vanished.
"Ah, t-thank you for this!" He bowed to her and to Nagi.
"Anytime," Nagi offered simply. Satisfied Klein had taken the blade instead of refusing it.
Quest Complete!
-Path of Divine Sakura: Fairy Tale-
The fragments of the Tablet of Sunrise have been found. Combine them and unseal the relic from a forgotten era.
*Create Radiant Tablet of Sunrise [X]
*Unseal the Chamber of Light [X]
Floor 25 | Reward ?
Now, the quest was labelled with hidden variables again, until the time came for the story to continue. "Now, claim your rewards, young warriors, but do leave some for the shrine for its charity,"
They took that to heart and collected rare coins and jewels to sell for Col later, even some rare accessories to boost certain stats like with the basic ones Nagi and Artorias gathered on floor five with Philia. Speaking of the redhead before them, Artorias was frozen at the two vials in her hands, filled with water by observation. Her lips were dry, and her gaze never left the two items that looked like they were weighing her hands down.
"Artorias-" Nagi began.
"I found them..." Her voice was barely a whisper, then it rose into a breathy chuckle. "I-I did it, I actually found them! Hahaha!" Now she was laughing hysterically, hopping in place. "I'm gonna have my real body back, haha, yes!"
"Huh, what's so great about some water vials?" Daora questioned before they were almost shoved up his wolf mask's nose.
"These 'water vials' are Seraphic Water, Numbnuts! The final ingredient to making the potion that'll fix my glitch! I'm home free at last, wooo!" She swung her fist high, and then, after pocketing them, ran for the pond outside and dove straight in. "God I hate this world so much! HAH!" Her fists shot out of the water.
Klein chuckled at the dramatic reaction while Nagi felt his body relax. He had never seen so much joy come out of Artorias, not since her fight with Yuuki that day. Being tormented by the state her avatar was in since day one had left a toll on her mind every day, one that almost seemed impossible to distract Artorias from. Now? Now that hard work had paid off, the parts were gathered, now all they needed to do was make it floor 29, the place where the 'Ruinous Gaze' lay waiting.
"Hahaha, his spirit certainly comes as a surprise, but to hear that more good has come from this discovery brings me joy," Shirayuki replied, pulling out her sake again. "Come, young swordsman, we must make a toast!"
Gathered around the shrine, all held their small glass as Shirayuki poured her precious drink. "For your courage-" She said to Daora who puffed out his chest proudly. "-For your resolve-" She spoke to Artorias who still wore a sheepish smile. "-For your selflessness-" Klein's face reddened at the praise from the beautiful woman, scratching the back of his head. "-and for your heart," She bowed her head slightly to Nagi, the young man feeling warmth swell in his chest.
"To our courage, our swords, and our victory as one - may the suns of a hundred worlds shine!" She raised her glass.
"Cheers!" They relished their triumph together under the falling red leaves.
|March. 31st, 11:35|
|Floor 25, Labyrinth|
After another long day of hard work from the Frontrunners, and three more deaths thanks to this floor alone, the two major guilds and several parties had gathered. Only after entering the massive temple that made up the base of the tower did the true test begin. ALS were the ones leading the vanguard as the others cleared the levels of the labyrinth. In other circumstances, only a raid party of 48 players would dare to confront a floor boss but considering they were at the quarter mark, a secondary team was on reserve, hence why it came to a vote that ALS would fight ahead given they had the most heavily defensive structure, and while Kibaou was alot of bark he could back it up when it mattered.
The place was crawling with Samurai Serpents, Assassin Acolytes, and other annoying mobs in a shine-styled set of chambers and hallways that were almost identical to each other. Smooth stone paths with stairs leading down into circular rooms supported by red pillars, the floor made of wood with a strange circle marking in a darker shade, same for the wall panels. Fixed to every doorframe were two goblets, lighting the chambers brightly.
"Say, penny for your thoughts, boss?" Artorias regarded as he finished off the last Assassin, discarding it into a corner to burst while the groups marched inward. "Any idea why that knight in shining armour is here? Guy's been MIA the last couple of floor bosses,"
Artorias referred to the man in red, Heathcliff, the same strange player that bested Nagi back on Floor 11 with Argo as witness. He carried with him a group of around twelve, himself included, all bearing similar coloured red and white armour. The Knights of the Blood Oath or KoB as Argo liked to put it. Nagi saw Kirito standing near them with Asuna as he spoke up. "From what Argo gathered, he's been helping his members level up and hone their skills, apparently to increase their reaction time,"
"Huh, so they're trying to do what we can do?" Yuuki poked her head in between Artorias and her sister who was eyeing the same guild herself. What Yuuki implied was that everyone who seemed to be a part of Nagi's party had pretty sharp reaction times.
"Excluding Numbnuts since he's literally an unstoppable moron," Artorias mouthed off to the side, thankfully, the wolf-headed boy didn't notice, too busy looking at his drops.
"Still, it smells like he's concerned or anxious about being here," Nagi wondered, eyeing the leader of KoB as he made his way forward. "I guess this floor boss has everyone on edge,"
"No kidding, but we've each other's backs and a reinforcement wave if things go south," Kirito replied, rubbing his nape. "Guess that's why Asuna's been weird lately,"
"Kirito, with all respect, you really are clueless sometimes..." Ran shook her head with a sigh, and the beater lost his 'cool' attitude.
"Huh, about what?" He blinked, again, oblivious that the fact his partner had already walked on.
"Case and point, Princess wandered off without you," Artorias pointed cheekily.
"W-wait, hold up, Asuna!" He waved after her, running to get back to his partner while Nagi watched the two, again, Asuna berating Kirito for his lack of self-awareness. The rest quickly followed suit, the rest of DKB having already moved ahead.
By the time Nagi's party and Kirito's reached the frontlines, a short ginger exploded at them. "About time ya caught up! Less talkin' more movin' next time, less ya wanted to be left out of the boss fight!?"
"Our bad, we're here now!" Kirito waved. ALS had 40 members ready at the large golden doors lined with weaponry burned or melted down into scrap at the edges, stacked against piles of armour. A mark of an unbeaten warrior awaiting another challenge. To join ALS was Kirito, Asuna, Nagi, and Klein. The others would be waiting to switch in for support, much to Daora's frustrations.
Once the doors opened, the whole scenery changed drastically. The walls opened up into a sinister purple sky with black clouds and streaks of blue lightning striking in the distance. Jinmaku lined the arena in black with dark purple insignias of a hand with an eye across the palm, the symbol of the House of Darkness. Four wooden towers to the corners, and the centerpiece, a large wooden throne with a strange, ominous purple light etched on the backdrop like a dark sun. Braziers dotting the edges to light up the military encampment.
"Woah hey!" "The hell, the door's closing!" "Kibaou!"
Several cries rang out as everyone twisted their heads around to see that the doors slammed shut, cutting off DKB, KoB and Nagi's party. Fixed into the doorframe above was a large hourglass that appeared to be counting down. "Guess we're locked in here 'till that sand runs out..." Klein grimaced, turning back to what rose from its throne. "Oi-oi, here it comes!"
A monster standing double in size to the players wore thick black armour with baggy tan pants with blue patterns along the sides. Large plated pauldron covered the biceps that had ripped through their clothing, revealing black skin and sharp claws. The feet much the same, the armour breaking away at the shins for reptilian-like feet. A white scarf hung around its neck, trailing down to the backs of its shins. The head wasn't even human anymore, a red Oni mask under a long black samurai helmet fixed with two elongated horns. It's piercing orange eyes locked to the players, and it hissed with along tongue, drawing its nodachi.
/-\Kagachi, the Samurai Lord - Lv. 55/-\
"This is the quarter point floor boss..." Kibaou grimaced, glaring back at the boss that remained where it was, watching the enemy instead. "This may be the toughest one yet. But never mind that! We've prepared for this moment, ain't that right!?"
His rallying cry drew a roar from ALS as he smirked. "Hell yeah! Now that's what I'm takin' about! Before that door opens again, we'll crush that boss and show 'em what us ALS members are made of!"
"Let's move in you guys," Kirito kept his cool, nudging Asuna.
"Right! Let's give this our best!" Asuna agreed.
"Klein, let's go!" Nagi yelled, rushing forward as ALS got into position. This fight wasn't new to the two of them. In this moment, they had one ace up their sleeves, one that'll whittle down all four health bars.
"Hey, don't just rush in, we need to watch for the katana skills' telegraphed attacks first!" Kirito attempted to hold them back but they had gone beyond his reach.
"Bah, we've been fightin' with katana's since floor one, have a little faith, Kirito!" Klein grinned, drawing out Sol Moeta alongside Nevermore. "If there's one thing we're best at fightin' its a samurai!"
"Just be ready to attack with all you got, Kirito, Asuna!" Nagi added as the boss moved before the tanks shifting into their squads. I slammed its blade through the earth, dark purple flames spreading across the blade as it was dragged through the earth, swinging upward in a powerful, flaming slant that threw most of the tanks backward. I twisted its hold, and brought its blade down in a parallel slant only for sparks to fly and its posture to break with a growl.
Both Klein and Nagi parried it in a criss-cross, now standing before the dark monster with the lightning scarring the background behind it. "I am Klein, the Crimson Samurai, leader of Furinkazan! Someone as pitiful as you has no honour to call themselves a lord of anything! You're long past being labelled a Samurai!" His body took on a harsh, red glow, spreading to Nagi who channelled the same skill. "Mark my words, myself and my friend will make this day your last! Attack!"
"Oh for... just get into formation!" Kibaou growled. "Wait 'till it's stunned then switch out the tanks for our DPS units!"
"On it!" Kirito yelled back, staring at Nagi and Klein taking the vanguard for the whole raid team. "C-can't believe how fired up Klein is. Sure, I knew Nagi was strong but Klein' really gotten that powerful, huh?"
"Of course, Klein's worked hard not just alongside Nagi but with his own guild, improving on everything you've taught him, just like you have with me," Then she frowned a little with worry. "I just wished they weren't so needlessly reckless."
"Kibaou, we'll draw his aggro, get everyone to flank!" Nagi waved as water flowed from his blade.
"Ya better keep its gaze, hear me!?" He roared over the clatter and noise as Nagi spun forward, slashing with Whirlwind Blade to parry the boss who steadied himself, slamming the ground in a large shockwave, throwing Klein back on his heels, blade bright orange as Sol Moeta struck with Striking Wave, puncturing the boss' stomach.
It howled, sword skills clattering off its back doing very little damage but chip damage was still effective before it's eyes shifted toward the ALS and Kirito and Asuna. From its free hand coiled an ethereal serpent. It struck out with its left, causing the glowing white snake to extend, striking through with true damage to inflict poison onto several targets. Kagachi threshed his arm wide, carving a wave of destruction with the serpent as tanks held firm from the impact.
As it retracted the snake, Kirito lunged with Horizontal Square, blocking high with the four strike for Asuna to release Oblique, parrying the boss as DPS players rushed the stunned boss, but Klein and Nagi again threw themselves in to counter with their katanas, pushed back by the boss' plunging charge as their health was singed by flames. Kagachi's recovery time was far greater than any other boss they've encountered thus far.
"His strength and recovery are insane..." Nagi gulped as lightning struck behind the boss, darkening its form and leaving only piercing crimson eyes to bear down on the raid team. "We'll need to pull out every trick we've got if we're gonna survive,"
"I hear ya..." Klein charged another skill into his sheath alongside Nagi, wave and tiger orange contrails aligning. "Ready to lead the charge?"
"With you," Nagi nodded, and they sped off, watching tanks shift back from constant wide strokes, the serpent arising once more to thresh and carve a trail of destruction through the crowd, many evading or blocking the serpent's collision course.
Nagi and Klein kept running, hopping over the body of the snake before sliding beneath an arch of its body. "Iai/Undulation!" Klein struck the shins with Kirito and Kibaou doing the same coming towards them, bringing Kagachi down as they cut off its sword skill for Nagi's unsheathed strike to the chest, the roar of a dragon resounding as several gashes appeared over its armour. It hissed at him, slamming its blade in Nagi's face, scraping down Nevermore before carving across the arena with Nagi digging his heels into the earth, gritting his teeth as the rising slant threw him into a backspin, landing with a stumble.
Sipping down a health pot, two tanks helped to block two horizontal strokes, parting the way for the raven-brunette to thrust forward with Ripple Thrust in tune with Asuna's own Parallel Sting. Red halos expanding around the rippling water effects against Kagachi. It then performed a backflip, left arm hiding half its face as the snake manifested in the sky, brought down with a sweep to whip through the earth and players with a venomous assault.
It lurched forward with a cry, several led by Klein tearing red lines across the boss's hip and forearm, dispelling the snake with a resounding 'smash' of glass, surprising Nagi with a small smile. "Infinity Moment!" A rare instance where several skills have accumulated another damage in an instance to release a burst of bonus true damage. Kagachi jittered and stumbled as the shards scattered, tearing away the first health bar into the second. "Kirito, Asuna, let's try that, it may be our best shot!"
"S-sure, gotcha!" Kirito huffed, tossing an empty health pot aside while Nagi handed one to Asuna to gulp down.
"Thanks, okay, let's do this carefully, on three..." She took a step while poising her rapier parallel with her face, a red glint covering the tip of her blade, pivoting slowly to follow the boss's attack patterns. "One..."
Kirito held his sword over his shoulder, turning it bright blue to reflect off his eyes, he saw Klein throwing himself wide, avoiding a two-handed Ichimonji from the boss as it send a fiery ripple through half the arena. "Two..." He breathed, eyes hardened forward.
Nagi spread himself out from the pair, watching the others of ALS rally with Kibaou, battered and knocked down due to the boss's constant charge attacks. Water coiled around his frame, manifesting into a scorching tide of flickering boiling water. His nose was filled by bloodlust, yet he kept his blade steady with a valiant cry. "Three!"
In a triangular formation around the boss, the trio bridged the gap, flying between ALS members like lightning. Klein kept aggro with the tanks, drawing its gaze far from those drawing near. Combining a deadly assault of thrusts from Asuna's Quadruple Pain, the vicious flurry stunning the boss from using the serpent attack, his back was then torn into at the same time with Phantom Rave from Kirito, wide arcs of bright blue light slicing through armour plating while a roaring blue sun of water came cascading down on Kagachi's nape, Nagi using the tanks as a vault point to strike down toward the samurai's feet with Rising Sun.
Their unification of attacks again triggered the helpful mechanic, causing a massive eruption of colourful sparks that stripped away over half the second health bar. Klein stepped in front of Nagi, guarding his post motion form, then more players dove in on the boss while it recovered slowly, battering at its form while Nagi and his friends pulled back to recover and adjust their positions.
"Crap, this thing's taken more damage than I thought, but we're shaving it down! We can do this, we can win!" Kibaou yelled, getting his tanks riled up to stand their ground against the boss now in the red on its second bar. "We've got a read on its attack patterns, come on, give it everything you got!"
Despite the cries of triumph from ALS, Kirito approached the short man with a firm look, holding his shoulder. "Kibaou, you haven't forgotten we've fought alot of bosses that change their attack patterns once their HP gets to a certain point, right?"
He shrugged off the Black Swordsman's hand, but didn't yell, in fact, he kept his eyes on his men and their HP closely. "Course not, I won't repeat the same mistakes. I'll pay close attention to the HP bar and the boss's movements, and so'll everyone else,"
"Thinkin' just cause everything's been okay means that everything will be okay is just conceited," He huffed, clenching his sword and buckler tightly. "To lose my precious comrades 'cause o' something like that, to suffer 'cause o' that, me and Lind are havin' no more o' that!"
It was evident from the scent Nagi detected, even just in the man's eyes, how much Kibaou truly treasured his friends, he was loud, rude, and short tempered, but he had good intuition, and a good heart, something Nagi respected a great deal. He and Kirito shared that thought with Kirito smiling gratefully to the man. "Kibaou... you really are fit to be the leader of ALS,"
The ginger seemed surprised to hear that come from the Beater, smirking coolly to appear aloof.
"Sorry to cut in, but I've got a really bad feeling!" Asuna broke their conversation with a worried look next to Klein who brought his HP back to full, the poison wearing off.
The second bar was reduced to nothingness. That's when Kagachi hissed, shaking its head wildly while all the vanguard pulled back, assessing the changes to the boss's mechanics as it plunged his nodachi into the ground like before, only it still knelt down in the dust. Kibaou saw this, scoffing at the telegraphed attack.
"Tch, I've gotten tired of that one! Tanks, move in and protect the others just like before!" Came his command, if they dodged like before, they'd score a few hits on its back until Klein and Nagi were able to draw aggro with the tanks again.
With a few comments from the ALS tanks, they approached to take Kagachi head on. It was the same out of three attacks the boss performed, and while it was nimble and had high recovery time between stuns, it was easy to evade with enough agility. There and then, Nagi picked up on what had been bugging his nose since the battle began.
Unbridled bloodlust. Like none he had ever smelt before.
"No... GET AWAY!" He screamed far too late.
From thin air, a secondary slash carved a thin silver halo around the boss, a clean cut of true damage through every single tank at once, an attack several times more powerful. Their health plummeted from the critical strike, their health... couldn't recover. Their bodies collapsed while Kagachi rose to his feet, clutching two katanas, his murderous aura potent as sunlight with streaks of lightning behind him as the walls of the encampment came down, revealing a war-torn battleground littered by armoured corpses and hundreds of weapons stuck out of the earth, the clear markings of two large blades scarring the earth. Kagachi's thousands of kills.
"No way... this can't be... this can't be happening..." A cold sweat fell down Kibaou's face, paled and frightened by the horrific sight. His feet moved all too late, rushing to the first man he could reach. "No, guys, don't die! Don't die on me!"
"No..." Nagi's face fell in horror, memories of Diavel... of so many that died...
Kibaou knelt before one tank, his armour shattering as he stared up at his leader with a mixture of fright and lingering hope. "I'm glad... you're safe... hurry, Kibaou... your orders..." But before he could touch the man, his body started to turn bright blue. "Take care... of ALS..." Then he shattered into thousands of pieces.
It was awful, watching Kibaou run to his men, only for them to shatter in his arms like glass. Nagi lost all feeling in his body, his throat dry as Kibaou managed to hold onto one as they spoke, staring up at the sky. "Sorry I won't be able... to join you on the hundredth floor... Kibaou..."
His face was paralyzed with sorrow, he couldn't move anymore, laying there as a voice called out behind him weakly. "Hey, don't make that face..."
"This is horrible... what even kinda face am I suppose to make seein' ya guys like this?" He asked, face beginning to tremble.
"It may have ended up like this... but I had fun playing the game with you, Kibaou..." The man smiled as his leader looked him in the eyes.
That brought up the ginger's rage, moving to the last man's side, his fist clenched over the red gash over the guy's torso. "What are ya saying!? Don't make it sound like this is the end!" But his feelings betrayed him, tears caught in his eyes. "Don't go, don't! This is an order as your guild leader! If you don't, I... I..."
The man simply smiled, and disappeared in a shower of polygons, they were all gone as panic among the survivors drew Kagachi near, his movements faster and far more fierce, but Kibaou could barely move at all as a rumbling from afar occurred, the doors had finally opened to a horrific sight for those outside. "It's all my fault... I killed you all..." Kibaou had failed.
Nagi stood there, clutching Nevermore so tightly it might snap in two. But then his aura burst with a roaring red glare, several skills went off without warning, and his form shifted into a blur of dark, crashing waves. "Solstice Haze!" Kagachi turned at the high amount of aggro Nagi projected as the vicious horizontal arcs tore into his legs. He held firm, swinging both swords simultaneously. "Renewal!"
Kagachi swung horizontal with the right against Nagi's follow-up strike, then another wide slant that intersected with the water shinobi's Solstice Haze as another shimmer of silver crossed his breastplate, causing more of his health to fall to cast the same powerful skill. Kagachi then repeated his own scorching skill toward the left, two powerful slants rang out against Nevermore, then he crossed his katanas, slamming them down only to miss Nagi who dove between them, cracking his boot across the monster's jaw with Water Moon, flowing straight into Crescent Moon for a kick-back over two vertical strokes that carved deep waves of energy across the battlefield.
"Switch!" From behind Nagi, a rose and amethyst flash struck the boss, forcing it to perform a backflip toward its throne to avoid the retaliation from the reinforcements. Yuuki and Artorias looking back at Nagi's furious glare. "Yo, boss, cool your jets before you get your head lopped off!"
"Nagi, please..." Yuuki asked in a gentler tone.
"I..." His eyes flinched, eventually lowering his head as Artorias smashed a health pot over his head to heal him, but his chest still felt like it was twisted in pain. "Sorry... I couldn't... do anything,"
More were dying as they spoke, those caught in the boss's new, far-reaching sword skills, like the normal katana skills on a grander scale. Artorias looked to Yuuki with genuine worry, she mirrored it too before the purplette walked over and embraced her cousin tightly. "It's okay... we can still help everyone, promise,"
"Right..." He gulped, feeling a little better with her frim grip on his arms. Slowly, his firm look returned. "We need a plan, everything about it has increased, but it lost this serpent attack that did true damage, probably to become that second sword,"
"Duel Wielding, maximizing offence over defence," Artorias clicked her tongue.
"Ya damned monster! Ya killed my friends!" Across from them, Kibaou grabbed his sword and pushed past Kirito, his eyes as hateful as Nagi's once were. He was blinded by rage.
Kirito quickly caught him by the arms, holding him back. "Kibaou, what are you doing!? If you charge at it now, you're going to die too!"
"Let go of me, Kirito! If this is where I die, then I'll die settling the score!" Kibaou roared, trying to fight off the Beater's grip.
"Enough!" To step between the two was Ran, her face equally as furious as she stepped toward Kibaou and promptly slapped him across the face. "The fallen ALS members didn't just die here so you could throw your life away! I know you're hurting, all we could do was wait until the door opened to see it, but you can't let their death's had been wasted, this is about more than your revenge!"
He rubbed the red handprint on his face, his gaze somewhat normal. "Ngh... I'm sorry, guys..." Shaking off his stupor, he glowered at Kagachi. "We've lost... everyone, retreat and switch places with those outside, don't get reckless!"
"Ya heard him, move! Nagi, need ya out here!" Klein yelled over the commotion, drawing the boss's glare as he narrowly parried the sudden assault of sweeping blades, his health being chipped away until the raven-brunette swung down with Rising Sun, knocking the swords back for Klein to thrust into the samurai's hip, forcing Kagachi to retreat with another dive, threshing his blades to conjure more wide contrails for them to avoid.
Over by the others, Heathcliff analysed the area and those present. "So, that's how the situation is... we KoB are here as reinforcements. Survival is first and foremost,"
"Let the DKB too, we should all be working together," Lind offered as well.
"KoB, we'll be proceeding with the battle formation as planned. Cooperate with the DKB and attack." Heathcliff commanded calmly. "Continue the attacks with no less than four people. Split up its wide sword skills to disperse the damage."
While the formation realigned with Nagi and Klein moving with the tanks in red and white, Asuna stood next to Ran and Artorias, the trio discussing how to proceed. "Hate to say it, but even I'm not entirely sure how to proceed, not without throwing bodies at this thing..." Artorias tisked.
"We can't keep this up much longer..." Asuna agreed grimly.
"This boss is unlike any we've faced, even the Divine Sakura quest wasn't this challenging," Ran worried how long they'd last in a battle of attrition.
Heathcliff approached the girls. "Asuna, what do you think of the current situation? I don't mean that as a cruel joke. Speak frankly, all of you. What do you think we must do to achieve victory?"
"Let me handle it and keep the extras out of my way..." Artorias rolled her eyes, but shrugged. "Doubt that will work, but hey, just an idea."
"Artorias..." Ran sighed, shaking her head. "I'll be honest sir, I'm not sure myself, I've never seen a boss as complex as this one before,"
"Hm, well..." Asuna bit her cheek, trying to think it through as Kirito has done many times for her. "Everyone's HP bars are still at high levels, but if we concentrated out best attackers into an all out assault, we may be able to overwhelm the boss's attack patterns, it lost a long-ranged move for a second sword and gained several skills, but that means we can break its posture faster,"
Then she eyed the commander of KoB sternly. "Kirito, Nagi, Artorias, Yuuki, Ran, and yourself. You six have to attack in a single coordinated effort to win,"
Heathcliff gave her a curious look. "Why us six, I'm trust you didn't pick us at random?"
"Heathcliff, you have the highest defence out of anyone in the assault team... no, of anyone here, excluding Daora's armour set's ability to deflect a single powerful blow," Asuna explained further as said wolf man threw Kagachi across the war-torn earth with his ax. "Nagi, Artorias, and Yuuki have the highest attack among all of us, while Ran and Kirito are by far the fastest, with Kirito's extremely perceptive reaction time, it has to be you six,"
"I see..." Heathcliff mused, mulling over her choices in a way Artorias has seen before. The eyes of a man playing chess with people...
Despite this, Asuna frowned a bit. "I'm sorry, despite this serious battle, the best I can give is abstract reasons,"
"No, I agree with your judgement. As a so-called 'game', choosing one with tenacity in battle is a fitting decision," Heathcliff assured her of this, but her expression refused to change.
"Thank you, but..."
"'But'...?"
"Not to sell anyone short, but you six alone won't be enough to out damage the boss before it kills one of you; everyone needs to surround the boss for you six to deal a simultaneous blow," Asuna affirmed.
"An 'Infinity Moment'?" Artorias blinked, looking around. "I mean, it's possible, but the more players that attempt it the harder it is to perform, and hate to say it, but we're all at different levels of skill here,"
"I agree, which is why we need everyone to hold off the boss long enough for you six to time it perfectly... but in order to do that, we need do something about our current fighting potential," She explained, rubbing her chin.
"I see, what do you have in mind?" Heathcliff asked.
"We need to strengthen at least more than half with a special buff, but to aquire it..." She trailed off as Kirito stepped into their circle, sheathing his sword.
"The Flag of Valor," He answered, the sacred item they had acquired all the way back on floor five, something he hadn't given away yet.
"Oh hell no, Blackie, how am I supposed to con people for Col if I don't buy it from you?" Artorias pouted, but reluctantly crossed her arms. "Fiiine, if we must..."
"You make it sound like this isn't a serious matter," Ran looked at the redhead who passively shrugged.
"Joking... in all seriousness it's our best chance," She agreed, looking to Kirito. "While it will buff the KoB members, there's on glaring issue..."
"Right, it's just my opinion, so..." Kirito couldn't give it away unless the other guilds all came to an agreement, it was the only reason he still held onto it with a worried frown.
"I don't mind! This is the very time we should be using your intuition!" Lind of all people agreed to it, falling back to recover and make the agreement.
"Thanks, Lind," And Kirito meant that sincerely.
"Yeah, thanks, Diavel Wannabe," Artorias smirked.
Then Kirito's expression became serious again, "If the Assault Team suffers a major loss here, it might become impossible to clear SAO. This is a critical moment. However, we need more than just us two in this agreement-"
"Ya got three!" From between Ran and Artorias shouted Kibaou, "It's not just you guys, count me in as well! I don't think anyone here would object to your plan!"
"You sure about this Kibaou?" Kirito knew how much he and Lind fought for weeks over the Flag of Valor, it was a priceless item for any guild, even if Artorias was a little self-centred, her intuition about how much people would pay for it was correct.
"Damn straight! The most important thing to clear SAO is to survive and beat this boss!" He declared, then his face flattened a bit. "And in a sense, using that flag is probably the most peaceful way of settling things... I might have to swallow a bit of my pride, but I'd rather take care of things peacefully like this," For once, the trio had come to a historical agreement. Now setting his harsh look on Heathcliff. "That flag should be used for the sake of all players, and by a guild that's purely dedicated to clearing the game,"
"I'll let ya use the flag, but Heathcliff, in exchange, you gotta settle the score for my fallen comrades!" That was his only requirement.
He gestured to the short man politely, "Very well, I swear on the name of the Knights of the Blood Oath,"
Kibaou relaxed a little, like a burden had been lifted. "Thanks, I... I mean it,"
Artorias opened her eyes, laughing once, "This day like... alright, ready when you are, Blackie," Artorias motioned for him to step forward as the battle rang out ahead of them. "Our guys won't last forever,"
Nodding, Kirito searched his menu on instinct, and in his off hand materialized the silver polearm with a white banner on the top, even Ran looked amazed by the interesting design for the item. The item was held out before Heathcliff by the Beater in black. "I, Kibaou, leader of the Aincrad Liberation Squad, do not object to using the Flag of Valor!"
"And I, Lind, leader of the Dragon Knight Brigade, likewise do not object to using the Flag of Valor!"
"Representing Nagi's party, do not object to the use of the Flag of Valor!" Artorias swallowed that pill, smirking a little. "Feels really cool saying that..."
"As witness, I, Kirito, agree with Kibaou, Lind, and Artorias and do not object to using the Flag of Valor!" Kirito smiled proudly as the item was clasped in his and Heathcliff's hands. "Here it is, Heathcliff."
And the item was passed on, "Thank you, all of you," He genuinely replied, raising the flag high. In doing so, the white fabric turned a deep crimson, bearing the crest of KoB. With a valiant wave, he thrusts it high, casting a golden aura over a large potion of the players among the battlegrounds of the boss room, several buffs appearing among them all. "Knights of the Blood Oath! All members charge!"
They rallied a warcry, taking to Kagachi's vicious strikes for those fighting to retreat behind, holding the boss in place. Despite this upset, Kagachi was anything but beaten, in fact, he only appeared stronger as the samurai attacked the new wave of enhanced players relentlessly, battering shields with rapid combos and slashes that pushed them to their knees. It was an army against a man representing one.
"Everyone! This will be the deciding moment! Worry not, for victory is within our grasp!" Asuna yelled loud enough to reach every corner of the battleground, all eyes briefly catching her radiant form among the strikes of lightning that hit the arena at random, a fierce fire in her gaze. "After all the battles I've been through, I've realized something. Even though we've been cruelly forced into this game by Kayaba, I believe that the game was designed sincerely,"
Nagi and Klein exchanged looks, them meeting, all the players they've helped along the way, it was... fun, really fun. Artorias spared Yuuki a look, even the annoying Daora who chuckled, holding a thumb back to the others with Ran smiling softly at them all, and to her sister and cousin. It was a death game without remorse, but there was an unmistakable beauty to it all, something Asuna only could see thanks to the Black Swordsman that stood by her side all this time.
"While the game itself has its challenges, I don't think it's inherently malicious or unbeatable, that's why, so long as we face it head-on, the possibility to clear it still remains!" Asuna meant it truly, with every fiber of her being.
"I think she's absolutely right," Heathcliff smiled, clutching his sword and tower shield now.
"Hah, a little too fiction, but hey, got my blood pumping again!" Artorias chuckled madly, grin wider than before.
"Thanks for that, Asuna!" Ran smiled with confidence again.
"Everyone...!" She smiled but then reverted back to her fierce persona, waving her hand wide. "I've got a plan, everyone! But I need all your help!"
"Could you tell us about it, Asuna?" Heathcliff inquired.
"Of course, leave it to me!" She didn't once hesitate, Kirito could see it now... how far she had come and grown. Asuna... had finally not needed his guidance. It was a strange feeling, but one he was proud to see.
"Come, all of you, let us vanquish it. As Asuna said, this is a critical moment," Heathcliff motioned forward to join with Nagi and Yuuki who exchanged places with Klein.
The group rallied for the six who moved in from every side. Kagachi swung both swords to banish the tanks, giving it ample time to move forward, plunging both swords into the earth, sweeping high to release two arcs of light. Artorias kicked off the battleground, slamming her shield into both attacks. "Switch!"
Yuuki and Ran swept past the redhead, using a simultaneous Horizontal and Vertical Square, diving under the samurai's scorching slashes to carve through the legs, rolling behind the tanks who blocked two thrusts to their backs. The katanas bounced, and from above Nagi swept the sky with Dragon's Breath, the shockwave throwing Kagachi backward. Kirito used the shinobi's back as leverage over a thrust of the left nodachi, slashing from the head down the chest, blue crescents tearing out behind the boss and through the dirt.
Kagachi leapt away from them, hanging in the air to catch a bolt of lightning along its right nodachi, sensing the imminent strike. Artorias slid onto her knees, holding her shield up for Yuuki to land on, "Shield Bash!" The strike threw the Absolute Sword to meet the golden blade head-on, her obsidian blade absorbing the massive amount of electrical energy into her own sword, her health suffered around 10% damage, but now her once glowing blade crackled with lightning as she swung a Slant, becoming a wide, erupting arc of energy that paralyzed the boss as he landed right in Heathcliff's path, his shield slammed into its back, followed by a two prong Horizontal Arc to the hips.
Yuuki was then caught by Artorias, "Nice, Cupcake," She winked as Zekken blinked and giggled with a small blush before Ran swept by with Nagi, both leaving a crossing gash through Kagachi's chestplate, knocking it backward as the third health bar was blown away.
"This is your chance, move in!" Asuna ordered, KoB and DKB surrounding the samurai who struck in every direction, unable to push through as every yellow bar player switched with a fully healed one, providing their strong attackers time to regroup.
Kagachi roared and thrashed, diving over the tanks to slam the ground with the right sword, twisting around to plunge the left through the dirt as it swept the right wide, tearing through the masses with true damage that tore HP bars in half. The shockwave threw them backward only for a wave of water to sweep through the dust and orange particles. "Dance - Water Dragon!"
"Graaaaah!" Kagachi turned to Nagi fully, the maw of a dragon colliding with his sword skills ferocity, causing ripples and wind pressure to expel between them.
"Renewal!" Continuing the sword skill for the cost of 15% of his health, Nagi parried every blow with relentless grit. The eight blow swung wide, carving across the guarding blades and edges of Kagachi's arms, tearing a good chunk from his health bar. "Switch!" Nagi grunted, throwing his body over the monster's head as a pair of blades descended from above.
"Meteor Fall!" Artorias and Kirito yelled, bringing the force of a comet down on the boss's head with a massive explosion to follow.
"Heathcliff, now!" Kirito grunted, tanking two slashes to his chest from the unrelenting boss who attempted to lop off their heads.
A wide shield saved the Black Swordsman, Heathcliff throwing the sword aside to plunge his sword down in a vertical, crimson skill, the likes no one had seen before, it left the commander wide open, his health dropping into the yellow from the secondary sword digging into his side, but when his came down, it dealt damage through Kagachi's armour, enough to lower it into the red.
"Let's do it, sis!" Yuuki cried out, twirling past another slam attack as Kagachi intended on using another bolt of lightning to super-charge its skills.
Both Konno siblings moved shoulder to shoulder, diving away from a massive Ichimonji strike, both using Snake Bite against the lowered arm, flipping past one another in synergy, the resulting connection disarming the boss as his blade spun and landed next to Nagi. He blinked, staring at the nodachi while the others rallied to overwhelm the boss intent on staying alive, but with most of the tanks still recovering from the true damage skill, most were kicked and thrown back with enough force, the boss was tearing through them, heading straight for Nagi, and in turn, his missing sword.
"Now, finish it off, Nagi!" Heathcliff called over.
"Kill this guy!" Daora and Artorias yelled as one.
"Go for it!" His cousins added in unison.
"Maybe..." Thinking fast, Nagi forwent defence with Nevermore, instead, he clasped it tightly, a crescent of water curling around his frame as his feet left the ground, drawing close to Kagachi. The samurai swung in a cross pattern, slamming the ground as Nagi rolled left, evading the shockwave, then right to close the gap as the wind and dirt kicked up. "Ripple Thrust!"
His sword plunged high, digging straight through the side of Kagachi's neck, pulling back hard, the towering samurai stumbled backward. Nagi leapt onto its chest, plunging Nevermore straight through the monster's chest before a hand grabbed his own chest, throwing him back as the remaining nodachi swung down for his neck.
Drawing Nevermore to his right, Nagi blocked the large dark blade, carving toward Kagachi as his sword threatened to snap as he slit the boss's wrist, twirling with a kick off the samurai's stomach, sweeping his sword straight through with a single Iai slash, drawing a powerful carve straight through its neck, bringing the towering floor boss of the quarter floor down onto its back, Nagi's blade splashing the dark skies with a fountain of deep blue water, followed by the millions of polygons of the defeat boss at his feet.
"It's... over..." He breathed in relief, body cast gold as well as everyone else, a single strike of lightning resounding with the white text above.
/-\CONGRADULATIONS!/-\
Despite winning, no matter how triumphant it could've felt in everyone, no one cheered, everyone was dead silent say for gasps of relief. With his head bowed, Nagi saw he had obtained the L.A Bonus. Hitting 'equip', he knew what he had to do, for all the ALS players that fell, he hoped Liten wasn't among the raid team. Gone was the Blade of Nevermore that carried him since floor 11, replaced with a blade of equal quality to Klein's Sol Moeta.
"'NightSky'..." Reading the text out loud, the katana was kept in a pitch black sheath with a silver base and lip embroiled with stars. Clasping the black handle with a white colouration beneath and a decorative charm of a star hanging by a black thread, the blade slid out, heavy in Nagi's hand. The false sky reflected off the midnight blade, causing it to turn silver. The flavoured text said in orange. 'Capture the stars o warrior of mine'.
"We... have won!" Nagi rasped loudly, keeping NightSky high for all to see. Finally, a chorus of war cries echoed throughout the chamber, for their victory, their courage, and those they lost to make it this far. None of them died in vain. Lowering his arm, he sheathed the blade and turned to the others regrouping to speak, all with various expressions over the course of events.
"It's finally over," Kirito sighed a small smile.
"Yeah..." Kibaou didn't feel the same energy as the others.
"Kibaou...?" Kirito knew why, he just didn't want to say it.
"Sorry for all the trouble," Whether he meant that about today, or in general, it was hard to say.
"What'll you do now?" Kirito asked the leader of the guild now a third short of their original numbers.
"I'll have to pay for my sins in my own way. Not that anythin' will ever make up for it. But I still wanna do somethin'," He was reflecting on it all, ever since that day after Diavel fell, Kirito's sacrifice, every moment and mistake since then. "Don't worry, I won't just throw away my life to try and make up for everything," Then, an honest smile crossed his lips, "It ain't just my life anymore. Ya taught me that,"
Everyone moved aside for the leader of ALS to depart for the entrance of the boss chamber, the remaining force of his guild standing by. He didn't look back at them, instead, he held his fist up to them. "Well, it's time for me to head out, take care. And... thanks for everythin', Kirito." In that he meant it truly.
"Will... he be okay?" Yuuki asked Nagi warily, watching the man go with many sins on his shoulders.
Nagi shook his head, he didn't know the answer. "Kibaou... he isn't Lind, the two are far too different. Whatever Kibaou was looking for, he found it, and now he wants to repay that debt, to us, and to his friends,"
"Think that's the best we can hope for..." Klein murmured, no less bitter about how this day transpired. "...I can't imagine how that feels, but I get where he's comin' from, wanting to avenge his friends and all that as leader,"
"...Oi!" Artorias spoke up, moving past Daora to catch Kibaou's eye over his shoulder. The ginger then saw the redhead hold up a thumb. "Do your best,"
The short man stared back at the Red Warrior, then turned to continue walking. With ALS departing, Heathcliff turned his attention to three in particular. "Now, Kirito, Asuna, Nagi; I will ask you once more. Will you not join the KoB?" Then the older man glanced over to Yuuki. "Your skills are also quite exceptional, Yuuki,"
"Hehe, appreciate it, but I've got my own guild to look after!" The purplette grinned bashfully, scratching the back of her head.
"Understandable; but you, Asuna, the tactical prowess and leadership you showed back there were phenomenal," Heathcliff praised. "You have the qualifications to become squad leader of Squad A. I'd like you to work directly under me as the KoB's Vice Commander,"
"But I..." Asuna was grateful for the praise, the fact is, she never expected her leadership there to work so fluently with so many players, especially Nagi's team given how freelance they were overall.
Then a gloved hand resided on her shoulder. "Why not? You should go for it, Asuna."
This surprised everyone present, no one more than Asuna herself who pulled away from his hand with a shocked expression. "Kirito!?" Her tone sounded insulted he'd even consider this, almost hurtful.
But the Black Swordsman's face briefly went serious. "I told you I won't join any guilds. I can only fight for myself and those around me," Klein winced hearing that too. "But you're different, you can lead large groups of people. You can fight to save more people. You've got the aptitude. I think you have the duty to do so as a player seeking to clear the hundredth floor... am I wrong?"
Now, her face held firm, but her sadness was still evident in her rising, snappish tone. "Kirito, what are you trying to say?"
Sighing, he answered. "It should be obvious... I can't operate as I'd like with you around," That hurt more than Asuna showed, more than she expected to. He was right, but why did it still hurt to hear him say it? "From the beginning, this has been a temporary party to find where you truly belong. We ended up fighting together for a bit longer than expected, but this is the chance you were looking for, right?"
"I've taught you everything I know and beyond, we've gone further than any Beta Tester could imagine, you've exceeded my expectations, though that was never hard for you," But Nagi felt it, Kirito... didn't want it to come to this, he was doing it all for Asuna. Showing an earnest smile, he motioned to Heathcliff. "Now that you've found where you belong, you won't need to deal with being dragged around by my reckless actions anymore."
"..." Her hands clenched at her sides, shovelling her sadness and betrayal under her anger. "So that's what you think, huh? ...okay... Heathcliff, I'll join the Knights of the Blood Oath,"
"Thank you, Asuna, I welcome you to the Knights of the Blood Oath," Heathcliff bowed his head to her.
Asuna passed Nagi and the others a forced smile, then immediately turned away, leaving without another word, but everyone saw her shoulders tremble ever-so-slightly. After they were far from sight, Kirito turned himself, looking to the stairway leading to Floor 26. "Yo, Kirito, bro... sure this is what you want? That was kinda..."
"A dick move?" Artorias pipped up. "Really ditching the Princess after all this time?"
"I don't feel like those were your true feelings... will you really be okay, Kirito?" Ran spoke up, eyeing Asuna as she grew further and further away.
Kirito himself stood by fine, looking back at them with a firm gaze, hiding how he felt. "It's fine, I should've done this earlier, actually. Well, see ya," With a curt wave, Kirito took off for the stairs.
"Grr... What the hell was all that about!? Why am I so angry that I could strangle someone!?" Daora expressed it perfectly as he twitched on the spot.
"Yeah, same here," Artorias grunted, eyeing Nagi. "So then, Boss, what's your take?"
It wasn't what anyone expected. Asuna and Kirito had finally parted ways, unlike with himself and Argo. Despite this, Nagi held a hopeful smile as he watched the Black Swordsman leave up the stairs, his tailcoat brushing under the false sky. "They'll meet again, not just on the front lines, but for real next time," Turning to his friends and family, he placed one hand on NightSky. "For now, we'll keep moving forward, there's still so much left to do,"
"RIGHT!" They roared as one.
A quarter of SAO had been cleared. A third of ALS was wiped out in a single boss battle, but the Knights of the Blood Oath have risen to fill the vacancy left in their place. There were still 75 floors of the Death Game above, they had a long way to go.
To Be Continued...
Next Arc - Red Like Roses
The Frontrunners have made it to Floor 29 in a staggeringly short amount of time thanks to Nagi's party, rather, due to Artorias. Determined to finally be free of his female avatar, Artorias becomes desperate to carve her way through Floor 29. Even if she has to abandon everything she's gained to do it.
By far the largest chapter in Misfits to date as we've finally a quarter of the way there... lovely. This whole floor was a massive undertaking for me, both in the structure of the Divine Sakura campaign, the introduction of Yuuki and Ran further, and overall the massacre at the Floor Boss, which in of itself was changed from being a Floor 10 boss to 25. This next arc won't be as mind melting for me, hopefully, but I'll not be uploading next week to rest and recharge.
I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support as always; seeya in the next arc, Players!
043 - Moonlit Potential
During their standard resource grind, Nagi's team runs into a familiar face with a new crowd...