|Sword Art Online, Floor 49, Town of Mujen|
|Dec. 24th, 21:00|
The 49th floor's town, Mujen, was modelled similarly to town during the Industrial Revolution, with a large church as the centerpiece next to a square. However, due to the approaching holidays, most NPCs across Aincrad spoke highly of the Christmas event, and for the whole month, snowfall decorated most of the floors, say for those where it didn't make sense, like deserts or large bodies of water. For the 49th, snow blanketed every surface, lights and decorations covered the town and even a Christmas Market for NPC and player alike to use or explore, with music for the holidays to boot. And the crowning jewel? A massive Christmas tree, a beacon across the whole city.
This was also an important date, as it had just been over a year since they all became trapped within SAO, and in that year, they finally were nearly at the halfway point. While players celebrated with friends or even loved ones, new and old, one sat on a bench alone, facing the large Christmas tree, brooding until a set of footsteps crunched the snow. His Search skill went off, alerting him to the familiar person who didn't try to mask their approach this time.
"Seems like you've be doin' some pretty intense trainin' latelY," Argo leaned against the back of the bench, facing away from Kirito with her arms crossed.
"Do you have any new information?" Kirito asked without missing a beat, his voice empty as he spoke.
"Nothin' worth chargin' foR," She shrugged.
"Some info broker you are..." He added coldly, but Argo took it on the chin given Kirito's mood as of late, keeping it professional.
"This is a new event that wasn't in the Beta, there's no credible source of infomatioN," She explained, standing up straight now while waving her hand. "On Christmas Eve, around midnight, the event boss, Nicholas the Renegade, will spawn, right underneath a certain fir treE," She turned a bit, seeing no reaction from Kirito. "Even the big guilds are in a frenzy searchin' for iT,"
Kirito then took a stand, making Argo raise a brow to look at him. "You've got an idea where it is, dont'chA?"
"Maybe," Then, he turned to walk away, and her facade broke slightly.
"You're not seriously gonna try and solo iT?" But her voice couldn't stop him from disappearing into the crowd, leaving her to lean back onto the bench again with a heavy sigh. "Dammit Kii-bou..."
"He's getting worse ever since the rumours from NPCs got around," Nagi, who had kept himself off to the side walked over, although, it was likely Kirito knew he was there. He too wore a forlorn expression. Both then took a seat on the bench properly, staring at the happy-go-lucky players enjoying the festivities, both of them mulling this issue over. "His level is higher than any other player in the game right now, bar maybe Heathcliff, but still..."
"He's gonna get himself killed, still blames himself for what happened to Lil Sachi's friendS," Argo noticed, while the rest slowly learned to accept it and move on, this event has spurred the guilt in Kirito to a self-inflicted degree. "Kirito's gonna go for this item, and probably wouldn't care if he kicked the bucket in the procesS," That had her hands grip her cloak tighter.
Reaching over, Nagi curled his hand around her left, freeing her cloak from the iron-grip, feeling her hand tense in his. "I have to do something, I know they'll yell at me, but I didn't want to ruin this time for the others. Only me, you, Klein's team, and Artorias know. I just hope we can reach him in time," Nagi failed Artorias when he was hurting, and that nearly tore their whole team apart. But Kirito? He didn't deserve to guilt-trip himself over what happened, and Nagi needed to be there for him. Artorias said he'd help since he wasn't fooled by their deception.
"Ya know he'll refuse to talk to yA," Argo pointed out, seeing the absolute conviction in Nagi's face. Then it clicked, a pit forming in her stomach. "...NagI..."
"I know, I'm going to fight him, I doubt could match his reaction time anyway," He smiled back, leaning downward slightly to peck her cheek, much to her surprise in public like this, seeing her cheeks dusted pink. "I'm going to do what any friend would, and be there for him each step of the way - tomorrow, we'll have time to enjoy the holidays together, okay?"
"Yer lucky I find this side of ya cute and all, idioT," She lightly chopped his forehead, making him chuckle behind a toothy smile. Even if it wasn't perfect, Argo smiled a bit too.
|Floor 35, Forest of Wandering|
|Dec. 24th, 23:50|
The whole field dungeon felt so much colder now that the snow settled in, a winter howl constant, and when nothing was around to impede a player's progression through the large woods, it felt isolating and dark, especially at night. Kirito ran heavily through the areas, warping from place to place, navigating with a map that cost a good penny to afford, using it to wrap around the whole forest. That's when it came into view, a dark silhouette in the distance, his own investigations and the map had proven their worth, he didn't need Argo's help, he was fine on his own.
Sprinting towards where the possible final warp to enter the event space was located, Kirito felt his senses sharpen, and he slid to a halt, turning right at a clearing to see another shimmer of light, another group had found a way to his location at the exact moment he arrived. So his skills were right, someone was tracking him since the start. When the teleport faded, Klein and his guild were present, same for Nagi and Artorias.
"Yo," Klein greeted nonchalantly.
"You followed me?" Kirito wasn't surprised Nagi was here, given he and Argo were close. Klein must've been roped in, same for Artorias.
"Pretty much," Klein shrugged. "Are ya after the resurrection item then?"
"Yeah," It was the only reason any of the top guilds were out here, why Kirito had any reason to be at a level higher than the others. He needed to find it, even if there was only a slim chance, he had to fix his mistakes and bring back... at least one of the Black Cats; who that would be, he'd leave to Sachi, even Keita if he even acknowledged either of them. Speaking of Sachi, she stood at the front with them, her face was tense, trying to gauge Kirito's expression herself.
"Don't risk your life for something that might be a sham," The Furinkazan leader tried to persuade. But Kirito didn't say anything back, his expression was emotionless. Klein finally got a little more demanding. "This survival game isn't a joke. Once your HP hits zero, that's it, you're-"
"Shut up," The Black Swordsman muttered.
"Trying to solo this is suicide!" Klein kept trying to reach their friend, hand to his chest. "Fight with us. Whoever gets the resurrection item can keep it, no hard feelings,"
"You know he won't risk that," Artorias spoke up, his breath visible in the air with a heavy sigh. "Do you really believe some magical McGuffin can bring back the dead?"
"You know I'd love nothing more than for this to be true," After a lengthy silence from her, Sachi spoke up to her former companion, seeing how he was destroying himself lately was something she couldn't stand to watch anymore. "Kirito, I want this more than anyone! But... if they've died, then... there's nothing we can do, even if we beg for it," Her hands gripped her spear tightly. "Please, at least hear us out,"
"...If I stopped... then I'd have no reason to still be here either," Slowly, Kirito gripped the handle of his sword. He had no right accepting Sachi's words, he was a dirty Beater that let them die a preventable death, and subsequently had Nagi and his friends suffer and watch, "I have to do this alone,"
Everyone of Klein's guys held their weapons on reflex but their leader's hand swung out to stop them, Sachi looked to Nagi with pleading eyes, but he too remained in a furrowed expression, this wasn't his place to speak. "Listen, I can't let you die here, Kirito!" But Klein's plea fell of death ears, seeing him draw his blade slightly.
"Everyone move forward now!" Artorias barked, Nagi too drew his own blade in time for them all to swivel around at the numerous teleport sounds behind them.
Now, over twice as many players appeared, all with their weapons brandished towards the group, some with sinister smirks on their faces. Silver-grey armor too. "It appears you were followed too, Klein," Kirito pointed out dully.
"Tah, looks like it," He smirked at his lack of foresight.
Artorias, however, chuckled at the large guild before them. "Oh man, oh man! The Divine Dragon Alliance - tell me, does your big boy boss, Sir Knight Wannabe, know you're here? And past your bedtimes too, tch-tch-tch," The brunette wagged a finger at them. "Shame on you, truly - but this surprise Christmas gift warms my heart,"
"They'll do anything for a rare item," Sachi didn't look all that happy they were here either.
"What should we do?" Issin asked, keeping his weapon arm steady.
"Goddammit!" Klein withdrew Sol Moeta. "Go, Kirito!"
"Klein..." Kirito was surprised he'd do this, given he was about to try and scare them off by attacking first.
"Go! We'll hold these guys back!" He demanded of the Black Swordsman, hearing the snow crunch in protest, then give way into a sprint off towards the final sector warp.
"Alright-Alright-Alright! Lady and Gentlemen, please keep all forms of praise until the end of the show!" Artorias swung Red Death to point at the nearest Divine Dragon with a toothy grin befitting of a devil. "But please, beg for mercy, it only makes me happier,"
|Dec. 24th, 23:56|
Kirito ran through the last stretch of woods, a wide, snowy path towards a fir tree that stood taller than the rest, a mystical, shimmering blue glow emanating from the whole circumference of the tree. Again, he ground his boots to a halt, turning to look over his head, seeing the distinct white and blue haori billowing to one side in the winter breeze. "Klein needs your help more than me,"
"I trust them to handle themselves, as I know you can do so yourself, however," Nagi took a step forward, eyes firmly on Kirito's dull but irritated glare. "I'm not about to just abandon my friend who's hurting,"
"I told you, this is something I have to do alone," He warned, clasping his longsword tightly. "Don't get in my way, Nagi,"
Nagi kept his hands free, one pressed to his chest. "I was there too, Kirito, remember? We fought so very hard, and we failed, you're the only one who feels responsible for what happened," He kept his voice from rising, yelling was the last thing he wanted this to come to. "Sachi has torn herself apart about it, even though she's over her grief, that doesn't mean she hasn't said how she wished she was this strong back then; we can't chance what's happened, but we can't let it kill us too. Please, Kirito... you, me, and Argo... we said we'd look out for one another, ever since Beta,"
Kirito only withdrew his sword entirely, turning toward Nagi. He opened his mouth to say something too-
*DING... DING... DING...!*
Both paused amid their argument, listening to the trees fill with the loud ringing town bell. That was quickly accompanied by the distinct chime of little bells, the kind you'd hear at Christmas. Neither had the time to bicker and quickly stood their ground, looking at the tree for the boss that would inevitably appear. Then, Kirito made a 'huh' sound, drawing his and Nagi's head toward the sky. Streaking through the night, two distant lines of light danced across the sky, just as though Santa had appeared in Aincrad.
Then their senses went on high alert, the bells stopped chiming, the town bell ceased instantly, and a large figure barrelled toward the ground. A heap of snow and wind was thrown toward them with extreme force, the pair standing firm against the impact until they could see it clearly through a white haze. It looked like a twisted version of Santa Claus with a pale blue face and yellow-white hair. It had red, strabismic eyes, and has a spiky moustache and beard. Clutching in a skinny white hand was a large, one-handed ax.
/-\Nicholas the Renegade - Lv. 78/-\
It appeared with four health bars total, and four levels higher than Nagi, while Kirito sat four above the boss itself at Level 82, due to his power levelling in the last month. It made this creaking noise when it moved, as though it were made of bark too.
"Can it," Kirito spat, either to the boss or to Nagi's words from before. That didn't matter now, he drew his blade low, then, rushed the boss with a wordless scream that reverberated off the trees.
Digging his toes into the snow, Nagi struck forward, diving left while Kirito took the right as Nicholas slammed the ground with his ax, causing a massive tremor down the middle lane, snow rising like a torrent. Water sliced the snow, whipping around Nagi who twirled at the boss's legs, consecutively curving slashes like a winding serpent, streaking the boiling edges of water while weaving around the boss's frame, evading its rapid chops. "Conflagration!"
Kirito used its distraction to lunge upwards, tearing Howling Octave straight across its stomach to its chest, kicking off the boss as it slashed him mid-air, using this, the Black Swordsman swept up and down, tanking a blow to the leg as a way to vault off the ax's crude head, driving the last attack down, spiking Nicholas's head with a blast of blue particles, the snow swept by the giant's legs. Kirito fell backward, parrying two cross-chops, slamming his back into the snow, rolling before diving straight back into the fray with reckless abandon.
There was no stopping him, so Nagi seethed his worry and wrapped around a tree, avoiding another tremor of snow sent by the ax. Leaving his barrier, he sheathed his katana, leaping over two low-bearing slashes, same for Kirito. Twisting in the air, Nagi unsheathed, a riptide of water leaving behind several deep incisions through the Renegade, knocking the boss back slightly against the large fir tree, ax still managing to strike down, forcing it's edge against Nagi's risen guard, the shockwave throwing him back on his heels a few meters, posture broken.
Ignoring this, Kirito used the lowered arm to run up the towering boss, hacking and slashing madly as he yelled loudly, blade bleeding blackish blue, carving deep through cloth and tough skin, grinding his sword's tip through the shoulder and neck, Savage Fulcrum bleeding the boss dry of the first half of its first HP gauge. Below, Nagi releasing a deadly blast of air pressure, a single slant through both legs concealed by the thick coat, another chunk torn from Nicholas.
Landing inches apart, Nagi and Kirito timed their sword skills, a current of roaring waves and the burning blue haze combined, releasing a cacophony of sparks and invisible slashes, stripping down the first HP bar in mere seconds. The unexpected Infinity Moment didn't stun the boss for long, the pair flung back when Nicholas spun around, sweeping trees and them with a blinding flurry of spinning slashes, two large gashes gouged out from their stomach, throwing them to the snow at half health each.
Picking themselves up, despite lowering the boss's first gauge due to Kirito's over levelled state, it was still going to be a vicious, possibly suicidal battle. When Nagi spared his friend a look, all he saw was his anguish, fury, and recklessness on full display. Kirito stood up, and immediately rushed in yet again, avoiding another several slam attacks that multiplied, sending tremors into the earth, shaking the forest. Forcing himself to stand, Nagi gripped his chipped blade in both hands, feeling the water effect of his skill erupt from the cracks, his eyes glowing deep blue.
"Just hold on, Kirito!" Not this time, he'd refuse to let Kirito fight this alone as Artorias nearly did months ago. He wasn't going to stand around being useless ever again! "Graaaaaaah!"
|Dec. 25th, 00:35|
It was a long, gruelling battle, thankfully, none of them turned orange as the Divine Dragon Alliance were the aggressors, still didn't mean nearly killing them didn't make the whole ordeal bitter. But when you have an egotist who took pride in making several of them cry and beg for their lives, it really helped lessen the guilt. Now, all of Furinkazan, as well as Artorias, sat on the ground, fully recovering with healing pots. Discarded weapons of the fleeing guild left as trophies, ones Artorias happily stole for himself.
"Happy Holidays to me~" He sang happily while everyone recovered their strength. Amidst his plundering, Artorias turned his head the moment a teleport effect emerged where he saw Kirito and Nagi vanish into.
The snow crunched under their boots, both with health lowered into the deep red, they had to have 10% or less HP remaining. Both walked forward, utterly exhausted from their own ordeal, having expended all manner of healing items once Battle Healing couldn't keep up with the damage the boss could dish out in such a tight window. It had no real sword skills, but it was the equivalent of facing down a Floor Boss with just the two of them.
"Kirito, Nagi!" Klein greeted, but his momentary jubilation at seeing they had not one, but Two of the revival item, one for each of them, that joy faded into confusion. Nagi looked down in defeat, trying not to show his disappointment, Kirito... was completely hollow, his eyes portrayed no sense of anger or grief... just an empty feeling. Then, Kirito tossed his item to Klein. "H-hey..." He managed to catch it in time.
"That's the resurrection item," Kirito stated, not baring to look in Sachi's direction.
"Lemme see... 'the target player'... 'within ten seconds'!?" It was true, the rarest, most valued item in the game... and it could only prevent a death not reverse it. Nagi knew it, deep down that feeling he wanted to be wrong was there, but, even if it was possible, how could they bring a person back? They'd have had their brains fried for months now, removed from their Nervegears and buried. Ten seconds is all they had to prevent it.
"Shit..." Artorias slumped on a discarded sword, looking down with his own bitter feeling.
"Do whatever you want with it," Was all Kirito had to say, walking away from them, lost and defeated. Sachi picked herself up to approach, but saw her leader rush to the Beater fist, grabbing the back of his coat.
"Kirito... Kirito!" Finally, Klein got him to look him in the eye, just as tears began to form for his friend now completely without reason or direction. "You... you have to survive! Survive until the end, please..." He begged him, allowing Kirito to leave.
"...see ya..." Is all Kirito had left, leaving Klein to collapse to his knees, unsure if his words even got through to his friend in time. Nagi wondered the same, but...
"...Sachi," Hearing his voice, the girl turned her teary eyes to Nagi's face, seeing him clench the revival item tightly. "...I... need your help, all of your help," Not yet, he wasn't done just yet.
|Floor 49, Town of Mujen, Inn|
|Dec. 25th, 03:00|
Kirito had returned to the now dark, quiet town, he wasn't followed this time, he was surprised he hadn't died on the way back either given his low HP, not like it mattered now, he failed, the Black Cats are dead and gone without any way to revert what he's done. He sat with his head on the desk, arms around it to hide from the world. His time of isolation ended when a beeping alert came through on his HUD. Lifting his head to dismiss it, he hit the icon. It said, 'Gift Box From Sachi'.
"Sachi..." How did she send this? He had blocked everyone - then it dawned on him, their inventories were still shared, she must've placed it in there! Without thinking, his finger accepted the gift, and from the text formed a single Record Crystal. Tapping on the crystal caused the center to glow golden, the visual moving with her voice.
~{Merry Christmas, Kirito. When you hear this, it's likely you'll be at your lowest point, and would stop speaking with anyone. How should I put this... well, for starters, the truth is I never wanted to leave the Town of Beginnings, but if I fought with thoughts like that, I knew I'd definitely die someday. That in itself is nobody's fault but mine. Ever since that night, you continued to assure me that I would definitely survive}~ She made a small noise, like a sigh. ~{So if I died, I'm sure you would try to place all the blame on yourself, and after what had happened, you did so for the others, for a situation that wasn't in your hands to dictate}~
~{That's why, for a while, I wanted to give back to you after all this time, something I felt should've been said long ago; And also, I've known for a while before that day what level you were, I caught a glimpse before. Even though I thought long and hard about why you hid your level and joined us, I never did figure it out}~ She giggled a bit. ~{But you know, when I learned how strong you were, I was glad, I was really relieved}~
~{So, even if I die someday... know I've never once held you accountable for what happened to Ducker, Tetsuo, or Sasamaru, I don't regret ever crossing paths with you, so work hard to survive, okay? Live to see the end of this world, find the meaning behind its creation, the meaning behind the presence of a weak girl like me... the meaning behind... how you and I met. That's my only wish}~ She asked of him, then hummed slightly. ~{I don't have much time, so I'll say this. Now, I'm going to return the favour to you... since it's Christmas, why not a song?}~
Gently, Kirito listened to Sachi beginning to hum, noticing a flicker of light outside his window. He glanced up as his heart clenched tightly, feeling a stinging in his eyes at her soft, soothing voice. Outside, he saw the street below was packed with people he knew. He spotted, sitting atop a cart and boxes, Nagi, Artorias, Daora, Mito, and Argo all holding a candle each. Around the street in front of the inn, Yuuki, Ran, Siune, Nori, Talken, Tecchi, and Jun. There was Nautilus and Yuna, the latter playing the same song Sachi hummed in the recording.
Agil and his Bro Squad; Liten, Shivata, Nezha, Philia, and Lizbeth. Lastly, Klein, Issin, Dale, Dynamm, Kunimittz, and Harry One. Standing in front of them clutching her own candle, humming in exact tune with the recording, was Sachi, smiling up to where Kirito was, while they couldn't see him, his eyes were covered by his bangs, tears streaking down his face when so much warmth poured into his heart. Fists clenched to the desk.
~{That's all I can say in this, Kirito... meeting you... and being together with you... I don't regret it at all... I'll see you again soon when you're ready... thank you, goodbye}~ And the crystal lost its light, clattering to the desk. Now, all of Kirito's supressed emotions flooded out, leaving him sobbing at his desk, hand covering his eyes as that guilt that tethered him, forcing him to shove everyone away... even Sachi, finally dissolved.
Outside his room, Argo leaned against the wall next to the door with Nagi. Both turned to look at each other, the broker having heard it all with her Straining skill. Nodding to her partner, his expression lightened up, hand pressed to the door for a moment. "We've done our part for him, let's leave him be, Sachi will be here for him when he's ready," That awful feeling lifted from Nagi's chest, making him stumble a bit when Argo wrapped one arm around his waist.
"I gotcha, HerO," She smiled gently, holding him tightly while one arm wrapped around her own back as the two left their best friend to his lingering grief, finally allowing it all to spill out on Christmas Day.
To Be Continued...
Next Arc - Two Worlds
The 50th Floor has been reached, but in three weeks, progress has been extremely slow on the questline to uncovering the Floor Boss's secrets. However, Nagi unveils a lead with a bizarre doctor who may just have the clues to not just a story before the Great Separation but in how to defeat the Floor Boss. The greatest battle the Frontrunners have come to face begins...
What a chapter, gave a little expansion to the battle since Nagi was there, and as you can see, two revival items; that will be important for later down the road, or not, who knows? And, seeing as only a handful have given me their choice on who Kirito will be with, and my own vote thrown in. Kirito X Sachi wins, it's not really a main focus but it'll play its part moving forward. Asuna will still be integral to the story despite this.
So yeah, don't like it, well... too bad, I guess; everyone likes a good change of pace anyway. My decree out of the way, we're finally here! The Big ol' halfway mark of SAO! This may take me slightly longer than a week skip to get ironed out but we'll see. I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support as always; seeya in the next arc, Misfits!
058 - Together We'll Rise
As the hidden questline for the 50th floor unfolds, Nagi and his party are given a well overdue upgrade to conquer this floor and beyond...