Chapter 9: The Rabbit and Swordsman
Deku moved cautiously through the shadowed halls of the dungeon. The dark, cold air clung to him like a damp sheet, and the narrow passageways made it impossible to tell when the next trap or enemy would spring on him. His sword was always at the ready, his mind hyper-focused on analyzing every detail, every sound that echoed through the cavernous maze.
He had come here solo, as usual. It wasn't out of pride or arrogance, but because, over time, he had learned that it was easier to move quickly, to think sharply, and to fight without distractions when alone. But there was something about this dungeon that made even Deku feel uneasy. Something felt off.
Suddenly, a rapid thudding of footsteps echoed from ahead. Before Deku could properly react, a figure rounded the corner at full speed and barreled straight into him. They both crashed to the ground with a loud thud, and Deku felt a sharp pain in his head as it smacked against the cold stone floor.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" a sharp, feminine voice growled from beside him.
Deku groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "You're the one who ran into me!"
They scrambled to their feet, both of them wincing slightly from the impact. As they began to dust themselves off, the ground beneath them rumbled. A loud *click* sounded from somewhere above, followed by the low grind of stone. Deku's eyes widened. The walls were shifting—traps were activating.
"Great, just great," the woman muttered, her voice filled with annoyance. "You triggered a trap!"
Deku blinked, feeling his frustration rise. "I triggered it? You're the one who was running blind through the dungeon!"
They both froze, eyes narrowing at one another. Deku was just about to snap back when he finally got a good look at who he had bumped into. His breath caught in his throat. Standing before him was none other than Rumi Usagiyama—Mirko, the Rabbit Hero. She stood tall, muscular, and fierce, her white hair tied back, and her sharp red eyes practically glowing with frustration.
Deku's inner fanboy threatened to burst out as he recognized her instantly. "M-Mirko?" he muttered, his muttering growing rapidly more excited as he pieced it together. "Oh my gosh, it's you! Mirko, the Rabbit Hero! You had just broke the Top 150 heros, known for incredible combat skills and your unrelenting drive to win every fight! I can't believe I'm meeting you—"
"Whoa, slow down, fanboy," Mirko interrupted with a smirk, folding her arms over her chest. "Let me guess, you've read all about me, right? Don't get too excited."
Deku felt his face flush, and he quickly tried to regain his composure, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "S-sorry! I just didn't expect to run into you here. It's just…wow."
Mirko raised an eyebrow. "You sure you're not too starstruck to fight your way out of this dungeon?" she teased, eyeing him up and down. "You look pretty capable for a fanboy, though."
Deku, still blushing, quickly introduced himself. "I-I'm Deku, by the way."
Mirko's eyes lit up in recognition. "Wait a second," she said, a grin spreading across her face. "You're *the* Deku? The Deku that goes by, The Black Swordsman?" She let out a short laugh. "I didn't this is what you'd look like. You're not what I imagined at all." She said still laughing.
Deku blinked, feeling both flattered and a little sheepish. "Y-yeah, I get that a lot."
Mirko laughed, but her eyes quickly turned serious again as she glanced around the now-trapped corridor. "Well, Black Swordsman or not, we've gotta figure out how to get out of this mess. You know, I didn't even want to be in this game to begin with."
"What do you mean?" Deku asked, intrigued.
Mirko shrugged, rolling her shoulders as if the situation didn't phase her. "The Public Safety Commission sent me. There were these mysterious murders happening in the real world, and the only connection between the victims was that they all died while playing some MMORPG. Not this game, though—something else. I was supposed to follow a lead, but then...well, Kayaba trapped us all here, and now I'm stuck."
Deku nodded, taking it all in. It made sense that the Public Safety Commission would have sent someone like Mirko to investigate something like that. Still, to think she had been trapped here just like everyone else.
"So that's why you're here. I always figured you'd be more into real-world fights," Deku said, half-joking.
Mirko smirked again, but this time, there was a hint of something deeper in her eyes. "Don't get me wrong, kid. I love fighting in the real world, but this? This is different. I didn't sign up for this, but hey, you adapt."
Deku hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been on his mind. "Why did you become a hero, anyway? I mean, I know you're one of the best, but I never knew your reason."
Mirko was quiet for a beat, then shrugged. "Why? Because I'm good at it. I like the fight. I like pushing myself to the limit and showing what I can do. Being a hero lets me do that every day." She gave him a sideways glance. "What about you? I've heard rumors about why you fight solo."
Deku was about to answer, but before he could, they were interrupted by a sudden growl from further down the dungeon. A group of monsters appeared from the shadows, their red eyes glowing in the darkness.
"We'll talk later," Mirko said, cracking her knuckles. "Looks like we've got some pests to deal with."
The next several minutes were filled with the sounds of metal clashing against claws and the grunts of battle. Deku and Mirko fought back-to-back, their movements almost synchronized despite only just meeting. Deku analyzed the monsters' attack patterns, giving quick calls to Mirko on where to strike. Her raw power and agility made her a force to be reckoned with, and she moved like a blur through the battlefield, kicking and slashing with ruthless efficiency.
Deku's sword flashed through the air, cutting through the enemies with precision. The two of them worked in perfect harmony, cutting through the waves of monsters with ease. It wasn't long before they had cleared the area.
"You're not too bad, fanboy," Mirko said, wiping the sweat from her brow.
Deku smiled at the compliment, but his mind was still focused on what she had said earlier. "I've gotta say, you act just like I imagined in real life—total confidence, like nothing gets to you."
Mirko's expression softened, just a bit. "That's not entirely true," she admitted. "Even I get scared sometimes."
Deku blinked in surprise. "Really?"
She nodded, though her smirk returned. "Of course. I just don't let it show. Fear isn't worth my time or energy. If it's out of my control, I don't waste time worrying about it."
Deku processed that, finding a new layer of respect for the hero. She was fearless, yes, but in a way that came from acknowledging fear and choosing to push past it.
As they continued deeper into the dungeon, they encountered several more waves of monsters, each one stronger than the last. But the real challenge came when they entered a massive, dark chamber. The ground shook, and the air seemed to thicken with an ominous pressure.
A hulking, grotesque creature emerged from the shadows—a trap boss. It was massive, covered in jagged scales, with glowing red eyes that burned with rage. It wielded a giant, spiked club, and its roars echoed off the walls.
Mirko's eyes lit up with excitement. "Now *this* is what I've been waiting for!"
Deku couldn't help but grin. "Ready?"
Mirko crouched low, muscles tensed. "Always."
Together, they charged at the beast. Their battle cries echoed through the chamber, loud and fierce. Anyone else would have run in fear, but Deku and Mirko? They thrived on the thrill of battle.
The trap boss swung its club, sending shockwaves through the ground, but Deku and Mirko dodged and weaved through its attacks with ease. Deku's analytical mind worked in overdrive, studying the monster's movements and finding its weak points, while Mirko went on the offensive, her powerful legs delivering bone-shattering kicks to the beast's body.
The fight was brutal and intense, each attack landing with a force that shook the room. Mirko's raw power was astonishing, and Deku found himself in awe of her strength. But they were in perfect sync, each one knowing exactly when to strike and when to fall back.
Finally, with a combination of Deku's sword strikes and Mirko's powerful kicks, they brought the creature down. It collapsed with a final, earth-shaking roar, its body disintegrating into pixels.
Mirko let out a breathless laugh, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "You might be just as crazy as me, kid."
Deku chuckled, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. "I think that's the best compliment I've ever gotten."
After the battle, they managed to find the exit, the dungeon now behind them. As they stepped out into the open air, Mirko stretched her arms and grinned.
"Well, that was fun," she said. "You're not too bad for a fanboy."
Deku smiled. "Thanks. It was an honor fighting with you, Mirko."
She gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Rumi, when we're in here. And hey, if we ever run into each other again, maybe we'll have a rematch. See who's really the crazier one."
Deku laughed, nodding. "I'd like that."
With that, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways, each one heading back into the unknown dangers of Aincrad, but both of them knowing that they had made a powerful ally in the other.
As Deku walked away, he couldn't help but feel a little lighter. Fighting alongside a pro hero like Mirko had given him a renewed sense of confidence. He wasn't just a solo player anymore. He was a fighter, a warrior, waiting for his next battle.