[Alfheim Online, New Aincrad, Floor 27]
[Yuuki's POV]
"-Do you think those defensive moves could have been random?" I heard Tecchi's voice first as I exited the respawn lantern with a defeated state. I swore we were close this time but nope, once our tanks fell it was all downhill from there. Me and Malzeno were all that remained before the boss crushed us too.
"After we fought so hard..." I was going to sulk until a familiar hand yanked me away to the side. "Wah, Z-Zeno!?"
He had a serious look on his face, the same when we ran into those guys looking for him on Floor 10, and those we met before the Boss Room. "You guys too, gather round," He said after sending a message off to someone but since his menu was private I could only see blank boxes. "We haven't the time to mull over our loss,"
After they gathered, he addressed us while crossing his arms. "Those guys we met before the chamber were part of the same guild we almost had a run-in with on Floor 10, Yuuki," Now that he mentioned it... the guild seal was the same! "They're from a notorious guild that focus solely on raids, Red Sainglenn."
I gasped as everyone else muttered with worry. If a guild like that was there... they weren't just farming in the labyrinth, they were after the boss too. What he said next made my heart plummet into my stomach. "If I'm a betting man, and I am, they scouted out for Floors 25, and 26, and likely saw you guys at each encounter,"
"What... does that mean?" I choked out.
His teal eyes weren't mocking or mirthful, he was dead-serious. "They used you to clear the floors, watched you since you're a small guild that's under the radar to bait out a boss' attack patterns, weaknesses, anything that proved valuable without a scratch on them."
"B-But, the door's sealed once we enter, so even if they gathered information, they never saw the fights themselves, right?" Talken was right, but seeing as Malzeno's brow creased, I doubt it was the case.
"Unfortunately, it's an oversight of mine, I should've been furrow but the boss had already appeared," He tapped his right foot. "During the last stretch of the fight, there was something by Jun's foot that scampered around, a lizard with the Dark spell 'Peeping' on it. It uses a familiar to attach to a player and steal their sight."
I felt hollow, my face paler than normal, "Does that mean... that the boss getting defeated right after we got wiped out on Floors 25 and 26..." I'm such an idiot. "That wasn't a coincidence then?"
"No question, explains their surprising timelapse too," Malzeno muttered, rubbing his chin. "You gave your all and they snuck up like a pit viper and used you to snatch up the win, who needs a broker when you have six reckless players to do it for you?"
"So that means this time we were duped again into being their stepping stones," Siune summed it up nicely, we were just there to boost their egos. If we lost now... how long would it take to prepare for 28? 29? Would... there even be enough time left?
"Unbelievable..." "Dammit!" "No..."
I grit my teeth, I hate this, why... what's so wrong about us achieving our goal? Was this how it would always be? Was this... just for nothing? "Sis... what do I do now...? How do we come back from this?" She would know, Aiko was smarter than me.
A soft hand rested on my shoulder, I looked up and saw that raw fire in Malzeno's eyes, and a winning smirk on his lips. "True, you were used three times, twice of which you failed, but this time you have something they don't," I wanted to ask what, but he said it for me with a wink. "A guy who's seen that boss fall before, and in much better time than those cheats,"
"You, w-what?" Nori stuttered.
"Are you...?" Tecchi murmured.
"Mind you, I didn't land the last attack bonus back then but hey, who's judging now?" Malzeno scoffed, kicking the ground. "New Aincrad sucks, can't even see the health bars anymore, what a pain - I don't get me started on the Beta Tester stigma people had, yikes..."
"You're really an SAO survivor...?" I found my voice again. That explains why he had a fear of using swords, why his reactions were more in sync with mine. He... he was like me for two years.
"Which is exactly why this master plan of mine is fool proof, lemme break it down," He flicked his hands out. "Currently it is 2:30 PM, sure, lots of people are on but I've had confirmation this raid wasn't scheduled for another week, seeing you guys as well as myself aiding the Sleeping Knights leader in resource gathering as shaken the wasp nest, now they're scrambling to gather as many players as possible, that'll take time any day of the week,"
"We'll reorganize in five minutes, and be back at the doorstep of big, tall, and ugly times two in thirty!" He proudly puffed out his chest like I would. "I like to think of this as Operation Party Crasher!" Malzeno cackled madly for a moment. "Just came up with that name! Man, I'm on a roll today with little sleep!"
I couldn't help but smile as my heart raced, wrapping my arms around his neck tightly. "Alright!" Giggling, I felt him rub my lower back gingerly before I looked to my newly invigorated friends. "What's the plan then?"
"Simple, effective, and a boot between the legs for Red Sainglenn." I already love this plan.
[Floor 27, Labyrinth]
In the time Malzeno had predicted, we stormed down the hallway that cut straight to the boss chamber, my heart was racing as I felt every ounce of strength I had rejuvenate constantly. "Alright, we're almost there!" I heard Jun holler as he sped off ahead of me.
"Oi! Hey now! Get back here!" I yelled, throwing my arms high in frustration for his longer legs.
"Not happening~!" He sang, infuriating me further.
Unfortunately, by the time I caught up with him, I crashed into his back as he came to stumbling stop. I wobbled but a hand to my head kept me steady. Huh, when did Malzeno get behind me? I peeked out only for my stomach to drop. We were too late. Over a dozen players were corralled around the entrance. All with that symbol, Red Sainglenn.
"Twenty-odd people, don't worry, with their numbers they'd stand no chance," Malzeno reassured me.
"Really?" That was a relief. We just had to get past them, with some quick thinking, I motioned for him to do what he did best, talk.
Malzeno approached a large gnome with blonde hair, "Yo," His call drew the man's attention. "Hate to be a bother, good sir, but could we trouble you by clearing the way for us to tackle the boss?"
He gave Malzeno an easy smile, "Sorry, kiddo, but it's off-limits,"
"'Off-Limits'? How come?" He was feigning ignorance again, prodding the waters, now I get it, that's why he was suspicious before.
"Our guild will be taking on the boss," The man replied. "And we're getting ready right now, so if you just wait over there for a bit?"
"How long will 'a bit' be exactly?" I could hear it in Malzeno's voice, his paper-thin act was crumbling. I felt it too, this guy, all of them, we're in our way!
"Well... an hour or so I would guess?" The gnome replied honestly, and that made the ravenette's façade fade.
"In other words, you're still waiting for the stragglers to catch up, I'd understand the situation would be different if you about to drop in but you aren't so what's the issue in letting us try? Hell, we're seven strong, you honestly think we'd survive?" He stated bluntly, but again, from how I've seen Malzeno act, he was trying to play the part of, and I quote, 'whiny, edgy brat who thinks he's so awesome and cool', yeah, his words not mine.
Thankfully, the blonde gnome had a calm head on his shoulders, "Sorry, kiddo, but my hands our tied, alright? It's an order from the higher-ups, if you have a complaint, visit the guild headquarters and talk it over with them. It's in Ygg City, so-"
"Oh, you're really not making this easy, bud, I-" I saw him reach for his bow but instead, I decided to put my own charm to work.
"Listen, you-" I tapped Malzeno's shoulder, passing him a wink. "-in other words, no matter how much more we ask, you have no intention of stepping out of our way, right?"
He sighed with a regretful nod, "Well, to put it bluntly, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"I see, then I guess we have no choice since you wasted my friend's time and all," The man smiled but so did I, eyes closed as I cocked my head. "Then I guess we'll just have to fight, huh?"
"About damn time," Malzeno dropped the act entirely. "You sure, Yuuki?" The murmurs in the crowd made me realize how screwed we are if we committed to this, so as one last act of assurance, I turned to him to impart the words etched into my head.
"Malzeno, sometimes you have to fight to get your point across, for example, just how dead serious you are..." I flashed him my smile, seeing his eyes glaze over with that look of clarity. "Stuff like that."
"Yuuki..." What's with that look? He wasn't hesitant to lift his bow though, so I guess he was just processing what I said.
"Well, that's the long and short of it!" Jun huffed, stepping forward with everyone else.
"I'm sure these guys blocking us are just as resolute. Like, 'even if I'm the last one standing I'm going to defend this place'," I recited, some stepping back, unable to choose how to act, that would be their downfall. I wasn't letting our dream die here. We had the aid of an amazing archer, an SAO survivor who had braved this world before, on our side! "Hey, isn't that right? You there!"
The blonde gnome stuttered. "Uh... we-we're all..."
I pulled Obsidian Rose from her sheath, and I lost my smile, I was done playing nice. "Come on, draw your sword." I dared. Again, he stepped back only to scramble to swing his battle-ax at me. He grunted as I felt the wind tug as two arrows punctured his wrist and chest to flinch him.
I channelled my sword skill, slashing in a rapid succession of straight lines, carving an amethyst square through his torso, flinging him onto his backside with his guild, his health plummeted into the red.
"W-what a cheap shot! You sucker punched me!" He growled, that kind demeanour evaporated.
"I hit you with arrows, not exactly a 'sucker punch', but-" I smirked as Malzeno drew an arrow beside me, the tip turning teal. "-I'll happily show you how out-classed you really are, so please, keep trying."
"Crap, it's him!" "The one the boss warned us about!" "The Ranger!" "Just like that Cait Sith with the blue hair!"
"Oi, you leave Sinon outta my legacy!" He pouted. "She has enough cred as is..." He nudged my shoulder, and our eyes met again under the intense glares of the guild before us, but for that moment, I didn't even acknowledge them, stuck on his face... that face... where... have I seen it before? That big grin, and those fierce eyes. "Ready to roll the dice, Yuuki!"
"Let's roll the dice, Yuuki!"
I felt my heart race again, my sword lighting up blue. "Yeah!" It's strange, I feel almost unstoppable beside him. It's different than with my sis or Merdia, it was really strong!
But sadly, those jerks smirked at us. "Oh, crap!" Nori cursed and our morale dwindled.
Behind us, the rest of the Red Sainglenn was charging toward us, they must've told them to hurry up. I saw Malzeno's face fall into a glare so I snorted lightly. "Sorry, Zeno, guess my short temper dragged you into this back-up plan,"
"But I don't regret it, because I just saw your best smile since we met!" I beamed, himself nodding to me.
He didn't look upset though, holding NTB tightly. "Eh, I'd have shot him if you didn't want to put your own two cents in." Our eyes faced forward. "Even if we fall here, I swear, we'll clear every floor this point onwards! We'll beat SAO for real this time!"
I didn't expect him to say that, but... it made my face hotter and that only brightened my sword skill. To beat all of New Aincrad... I...
*Boosh!*
Behind us, a gust of wind cut through our backs, and the people with smirks looked concerned and confused. "Sorry," That voice! Even Malzeno spun around, and his smile couldn't possibly look more cunning. A black sword stabbed the ground, the Spriggan that held back the reinforcements holding out his hand. "But this place... is off limits."
To his left, I saw a blue Undine raise a rapier, smirking alongside him as a small pixie bobbed between them. "We made it just on time!"
"Heh, hey there, Princess, Blackie." Malzeno chuckled lightly.
"Asuna... Kirito?" They were here...
We... had our chance.
[To Be Continued...]
[Author's Notes]
Okay, longer than the norm, especially considering what's next but I didn't know how to cut this one so to heck with it. Things finally heat up for the climatic showdown. I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support, seeya in the next chapter, Readers!