Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Prelude

It only took a small thing to change everything.

They were nearly there in defeating the first level boss, Illfang the Kobold Lord, when the final weapon he drew was unexpectedly changed from the Beta Test. Instead of the weapon they were used to, a simple curved blade, he drew a much more dangerous katana. Kirito, realizing a shouted warning wouldn't work, rushed forward to try to tell the front line fighters.

It was a fatal mistake.

The first swing killed Diablo, the expedition's leader, Kirito and stunned most of the 'tank' squad that was absorbing damage. The second swing, as the rest scurried about in panic, killed them. Kibaou, who should have taken command at that point, had frozen. Then it didn't matter after he fell in the third attack.

Agil, one of the leaders of a tank squad, got his people in position to block damage, while Asuna stepped up to lead the retreat. She had discarded her cloak, and maybe the surprise of seeing a woman there made the others obey. Or maybe it was the tears on her face. But somehow they pulled back, got the tanks clear and escaped out the doors back into the dungeon itself.

Still trapped on the first floor of Aincrad.

Hope of eventual escape extinguished.

The heroic knight they hoped to lead them out, gone.

As the prepared to fight their way back out of the Dungeon back to the Town of Beginnings they all wondered 'What do we do now?'

To be continued...

Notes: Basically what if things went to shit right from the start. My initial idea was that Kirito would shove Asuna aside and take a death blow for her, but the mechanics of the battle as shown in the anime didn't really work.

I have no actual issues with Kirito, other than him being the story focus. Taking him out means I can dwell on other bits, though if it helps I have a character in mind to replace him in 'beta test knowledge' who will be a regular cast member. More on that in chapter two...

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter One

Three months later...

Asuna Yuuki hadn't wanted to be a survivor, nor had she wanted to have people relying on her. Both things just kind of HAPPENED. And now she was just doing her best to carry on...

"Nothing weird going on, Boss," Argo the Rat reported as they finally made it through the gate at Tolbana, the town nearest the Labrynth Tower.

"Don't call me Boss," Asuna sighed as the three women advanced.

"Sure thing, Boss," the other young woman teased.

"Yuk it up, Liz," Asuna said dryly.

Argo the Rat kept a wary eye out even though they were in a town's 'safe zone.' Understandable, as folks had tried to kill her not all that long ago.

In the aftermath of the failed boss fight, several players blamed Argo and her guide books for things going wrong. The angriest group of people even got together and tried to hunt her down outside of town. Thankfully Asuna and Agil had also head about it, and the group wasn't willing to kill them, too. And they knew that Agil would probably take a few of them with him.

(In this Asuna was unaware of her own growing reputation in the players of SAO. Her leading the retreat was already becoming well known, as well as the speed and power of her attacks. 'Meteor' and 'lightning' were both names that were being applied to her by fans. It was entirely possible the gang was as scared of her...)

Agil also pointed out that if anyone was at fault, it was the players. They knew Kayaba had deliberately trapped them in this death game, so why would they assume he'd just leave things like they were in the beta test? It would have been stupid of him to give a huge advantage to the testers. So of COURSE he'd screwed around with them.

The other player survivors accepted that, reluctantly. Or they were just too scared of Asuna and Agil beating them up to act. Either way they dispersed, but after that Argo stuck to Asuna like glue...

"We should probably check into a inn, then re-supply," Liz noted as they moved through the crowded streets. The three women stayed close together, both to cut through the crowds as well as for mutual protection.

Another side effect of the failed boss fight was the rapid decay of the general social order. Things were already starting to go before, of course, with player killing becoming a thing as well as a growing knowledge that the only 'rules' they faced where the built in game ones. But after a group of the top players of SAO failed to beat the boss and break out of the first floor, a lot of folks fell into simple despair.

"Thank goodness we're not in the Town of Beginnings. It's becoming a total dive," Liz added.

"Hey, we found YOU there," Argo teased.

Lizbeth was working as a blacksmith in the Town of Beginnings, but was having trouble building a market. She was also looking for players to build experience with, so when Asuna hired her to maintenance her weapons, she asked to go along with them. And they did need a tank, anyway.

Somewhat more seriously Argo added, "Well, we are better off staying out of there. I heard there are even brothels opening up."

Asuna blinked. "How..." she started.

"Someone figured out how to turn the Morality System off. It's buried fairly deep in the options menu," Argo noted. She sighed, "And I suppose it's safer than fighting."

"Ewww," Asuna said flatly as the group walked into one of the Inns. Despite how packed the town was, the Inns usually had rooms available. Or, if you liked, you could rent rooms from NPCs. Liz stepped up to book a room as they waited.

"One room?" the innkeeper asked.

"Ooooh," a passing player noted.

"Don't get any ideas, buddy," Asuna scowled at him as Liz paid for their room.

"Besides, we're her harem," Argo purred as she took Asuna's arm.

"Yup," Liz agreed as she grabbed the other arm.

"Ack," the man hurried off.

"Hey!" Asuna yelped as she pulled free. "You two are going to totally ruin my reputation," she added as they went to their room.

"WHAT reputation?" Argo teased.

"Yuk it up...," Asuna sighed.

The three headed out into the town first. There were a lot of folks sheltering in the safety of the town, hanging out in the streets and so on. Players were understandably cautious about going out and adventuring. You could get killed...

"All right, that's the healing potions," Argo noted.

"Check the NPC armor and equipment shops. We've bought all the current gear, but something may have unlocked," Liz suggested optimistically.

"That's doubtful," Argo said with a sigh but they checked the shops anyway. No, there was nothing new added.

The three ended up back at the inn, and grabbed a table in the common room. They ordered food, then sat down and ate. It still annoyed Asuna that the game made you spend money on food... trapping them here was bad enough. But making them spend money on food, when they could be saving up for better equipment? Ugh.

"You like baths though," Liz teased, having heard Asuna's food rant more than once.

"Oh shut up," Asuna blushed.

Argo looked profoundly amused, but didn't add anything to that.

"We've all hit level fourteen," Argo said somewhat more seriously, "and we're not gaining much experience any more, even from killing powerful monsters on this floor. I think we've hit the level cap for this floor."

As Argo was their gaming expert, they all nodded. Plus she was a beta tester, though that wasn't something they brought up in public. The backlash against suspected beta testers had been building even before the level boss battle, and afterwards it had gotten worse. Asuna had even heard rumors of player killing, though she hoped those were false...

"We need to get people organized and make another attempt at the floor boss," Asuna said grimly, "or we'll never get out of here."

"A lot of folks have just given up," Argo noted. "They assume we'll never finish the game anyway, so why risk our lives?"

"The problem is, just staying in the game puts our lives at risk too," Asuna pointed out.

"Huh?" Liz blinked.

Asuna fiddled with her drink. "Out in the real world, we're functionally in comas," she explained, "but there's only so long we can stay like that. Eventually medical issues set in, even if you have the best care. And we don't know how long we have until that happens."

Liz looked blankly at her a moment. "Well, shit," she blinked.

"Crap," Argo agreed, then looked at Asuna. "How do you...?"

"My father's company is involved in medical technology," Asuna said vaguely.

"So basically... even if we just camp out on the first floor, we're still screwed?" Liz summarized.

"Exactly," Asuna agreed.

"Well, that should get some of the quitters off their asses," Argo mused. "We need a way to get the word out too. Especially in the Town of Beginnings."

"I'm sure you have a plan, information broker?" Asuna teased.

Argo grinned back, "Oh, I have some ideas, yes..."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The updated 'Argo Guide' appeared in the NPC shops for free a few days later, titled 'Emergency Medical Update.' They also managed to track down a MD to explain what would happen and why. He also estimated they had about three years, though that might be on the high side.

They spread the word in the Town of Beginnings via old fashioned posters on walls, though there was also a crude 'newspaper' starting up too. Thinker and Yulier, two partners, were running it along with trying to drum up support for another run at the level boss.

They announced a meeting in Tolbana in two days, ironically in the same theater that the first meeting Diabel organized was. They contacted Agil and got his word he was coming, and they put out the word to as many top players they knew. HOPEFULLY there would be a good turnout.

After they ran around preparing, they ended up back at the inn. "Argo, can I talk to you alone for a few minutes?" Asuna asked.

"Right," Argo nodded. "She turned to Liz, "If I scream 'Rape!' come save me."

"Will do!" Liz thumbed up.

"You two..." Asuna groaned as Argo just laughed.

Argo and Asuna went into the room they had rented, while Liz stayed down in the common room. "You want me to go into the boss chamber with the raid," Argo guessed.

"Figured you'd realize that," Asuna admitted.

"I'm NOT a combat build," Argo said flatly. "Why?"

"I need you brains," Asuna admitted. "We have no idea of Ilfang's new attack patterns or abilities with a katana. But you've seen the levels where katanas were used and can hopefully tell us."

Argo closed her eyes, her expression pained. "I wish Kirito-Boya was here. He made it all the way to the tenth floor and fought katana users...," she sighed.

Asuna reached out and squeezed her shoulder, "Me too."

Argo puffed out a breath, "I'll come along, but you realize a lot of players are not going to want to hear anything I say?"

"I trust you," Asuna said seriously, "and they WILL listen, or they'll answer to me."

To be continued...

Notes: So, I'm dumping Asuna into a leadership role a lot earlier than in canon. Which I think makes some sense, with the original leaders all dying. I'm going to bring in canon characters in general much earlier, as well as other changes.

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter Two

Yuuki Konno and her sister Aiko were watching the amusingly named Asuna Yuuki leading the meeting to take on the dungeon. The crowd of men and woman had come together in the afternoon sun to discuss the upcoming raid...

"You should TOTALLY marry her," the taller Aiko teased her little sister mercilessly, "then you'd be Yuuki Yuuki."

"SHUT UP," Yuuki hissed.

Aiko just chuckled wickedly.

Though if Yuuki was going to be honest, 'Lightning' Asuna was very striking, with her long strawberry blond hair and attractive figure. Plus she was quite charismatic too. If you had said a week ago that someone would rally the surviving lead players to attack the dungeon AGAIN, Yuuki would have said you were nuts. But here they were.

"Argo will be going in with us to offer any insights on the Kobold Lord's attacks. We think counters are possible," Asuna continued.

"It's Argo's fault things went wring last time!" a heckler called from the back, apparently feeling safely anonymous.

"No, it's that bastard Kayabas' fault. All Argo is responsible for is being unable to read his mind in advance," Aiko called firmly.

The crowd parted to reveal the warrior, whom looked visibly wilted.

"We'll go in tomorrow morning," Asuna added. "Please form up in squads of six, and we'll meet at the enterance."

"Come on," Aiko softly ordered her sister as they both hurried after Asuna once the meeting officially ended.

"Hey, what...," Yuuki complained.

"Miss Asuna!" Aiko called as she reached the small group.

"Yes?" Asuna asked as Argo and Liz looked on.

"We'd like to join your party for when we take on the dungeon boss," Aiko said briskly. "I'm Aiko, this is my sister Yuuki."

"Why would you want to...?" Liz started.

"Because all the other player groups are made up of just men and it'd get creepy." Aiko observed briskly.

"She's got a point," Argo noted.

As the other girls talked, Asuna looked over Yuuki. She was a bit shorter than Asuna, with an almost purple black cape of long hair. Like everyone she was decked out in basic armor, but in her case also died black.

"Well?" Liz addressed Asuna.

Asuna pulled her gaze away and nodded. "Sure. Why not," she agreed.

"You've sisters in real life too? How did you both end up here?" Liz asked as they walked back to the Inn.

"We're both really into gaming and got lucky," Aiko noted wryly.

"REALLY lucky," Yuuki added, laughing softly.

"If it helps, I just randomly tried on my brother's system...," Asuna observed.

Liz and Argo had both heard the story before, but both Aiko and Yuuki looked surprised. "You weren't even a gamer before all this?" Aiko blinked.

"Yeah. Luckily I met Argo and some others," Asuna waved it off.

Realizing Asuna was uncomfortable Argo changed the subject. "Were you guys brought in from the Aincrad Army group Thinker is trying to set up?" she asked.

"He and Yulier tried recruiting us," Yuuki nodded. "I think their hearts are in the right place, but I don't know if their 'share everything' idea is practical."

The group reached the Inn and headed inside.

"Welcome!" the NPC Inn Keeper said. "Would you care to renew your room rental?" he asked them mechanically.

"You're here too?" Liz asked, looking at Aiko and Yuuki.

"We have a room, but I think we'll do a few hours of materials farming. I'd like to try upgrading our weapons again before tomorrow," Aiko mused.

"Materials farming. Do we need to do the damn bees again?" Yuuki sighed.

"Hey, YOU picked the rapier," Aiko reminded her.

Asuna exchanged glances with the others. "Doing it as a group might be faster," she observed.

"Yeah, I'll help," Liz agreed. "But I can do the upgrade, okay?"

"Yeah, what the hell," Argo said.

"Thank you," a visibly surprised Yuuki beamed up at Asuna.

Weirdly, Asuna blushed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

They trooped in together a few hours later. They had fought mobs in several local areas to get the materials, then Liz had finished upgrading the weapons along with repairing everyone's gear.

"Nicely done," Aiko clapped her on the shoulder.

' "Lucky. I've flubbed upgrading once or twice before. It's as much probabilities as skill," Liz noted dryly. "I just hope it never REALLY goes bad on us."

"Agreed," Aiko nodded.

Argo was still mildly bewildered by her apparently being a user of a massive claymore. The sword was nearly as big as SHE was. But she had put her 'skill' points into physical strength, and could weild it like a pro. And with her health, she was a pretty good tank too.

Yuuki used a slim longsword, and was a speed/strength build, basically. She wasn't as fast as Asuna could be, but she was damn fast. Plus, she seemed to have slightly better reflexes than Asuna, which made up for the slight speed difference.

"We should rest up for tomorrow," Asuna noted as they checked in to the inn.

"There is a complication, ma'am," the inn-keeper noted to them politely. "There is only one open room remaining."

"WHAT," Argo blinked.

"We forgot to re-book our room earlier," Yuuki noted, blinking. "Shit."

Argo looked at Asuna, their de-facto leader. You couldn't really just camp out on the streets, it wasn't safe...

Asuna nodded briskly. "We'll split the room," she decided.

"And the harem grows AGAIN," Liz deadpanned.

"Harem?" Aiko asked, amused.

Argo noted, "Clearly the great Asuna-sama MUST have a harem."

"Oh, yes, Asuna-sama! Take me!" Yuuki joked, grabbing her arm.

Several passing adventurers watched, wide eyed.

"Could we JUST go up to the room, please?" Asuna groaned.

Argo snickered softly as they all headed upstairs. "It's a two bedroom suite, right?" she asked Asuna mildly.

"Yeah. We can just split up the bedrooms," Asuna agreed. "And I think there's a couch too."

They quickly confirmed there was indeed two single beds, and a couch. "Okay!" Aiko decided briskly, "Liz and Argo take one bed, Asuna and Yuuki get the other, I'll take the couch."

"Right," Argo agreed.

"WHAT." Asuna started.

"We'll see you in the morning!" Liz added as she and Argo went into one bedroom. At the same time, Aiko calmly set up on the couch.

"But..." Asuna started.

Yuuki gave her a sympathetic look. "I think we're stuck," she noted.

The bed was a single. Worse, it was a relatively SMALL single. "I suppose I can just take the floor," Asuna mused.

"It's fine, really," Yuuki reassured her.

"Uh huh," Asuna said dubiously.

They DID in fact get both of them onto the small bed. Asuna was faintly surprised at how fast Yuuki fell asleep. She was ALSO surprised at how a sleepy Yuuki ended up clinging to her like a baby koala to her momma.

Morning came, and Asuna was surprised she slept reasonably well. Yuuki, annoyingly was STILL curled up against her. "Ytuuki," she tried to get free. "YUUKI," she growled.

"Don wanna get up..." Yuuki groaned sleepily then rolled over on to Asuna.

'EEEP,' Asuna 'eeped' softly.

To be continued...

Notes: Slightly more comic chapter. Also, bringing in Aiko and Yuuki from later in SAO.

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter Three

There was a frightening screech as Ilfang the Hobold Lord's katana was blocked by the huge claymore.

"Holy shit," Agil managed, the huge fighter looking on in awe.

"Oh wow that's tough," Aiko yelped, angling her huge sword JUST right to deflect the blade, the sound of metal grinding on metal filling the room.

As they had discussed the attack squads rushed in between the massive swings, and the final health bar declined.

"He'll do a random, unpredictable attack once his health bar is that low!" Argo yelled out a warning, "We need to finish him off before then!"

Almost at exactly the same time two figures burst from the group, racing toward the kobold just as he was readying another swing. Asuna's strawberry blond hair glowed as she raced along, and beside her Yuuki was readying her own strike.

"LINEAR!" Yuuki yelled as both women's blades struck. The final life point disappeared, and everyone waited to see if there were more surprises.

"You got the last attack." an automated voice noted to BOTH Asuna and Yuuki.

LEVEL CLEARED appeared in the air above them all, and there was a huge sigh of relief.

A massive cheer rattled the chamber as the six squads celebrated, all of them recieving experience, gold and random items from the raid. At the same time, many of them slumped, exhausted after the long, intense battle.

"Ugh. I don't wanna move," Yuuki groaned as she and Asuna both collapsed.

"Me too," Asuna agreed.

"Nicely done," Liz complimented Aiko, the two and Argo walking towards where their fearless leaders had collapsed.

"Agreed," Argo nodded as she added, "I knew the parry could be done in theory, but actually pulling it off? Incredible."

"In theory?" Aiko blinked in surprise. "Thanks for telling me about that NOW," she said, punching Argo in the shoulder.

"Well, telling you that earlier probably wouldn't have helped," Liz said.

"Point..." Aiko conceded as they reached Asuna and Yuuki. "Hail the conquoring heroes!" she teased them.

"Big sis..." Yuuki groaned.

"Congrats," Liz added as she helped Asuna up.

"Everyone all right?" Argo asked, still nervous that this was all too good to be true.

"I think we actually pulled this off with no losses," Yuuki agreed.

"I saw you both got the last hit," Aiko noted, "get any interesting drops?"

Yuuki checked her inventory, noting she had gotten a share of the loot for clearing the level. "Nope," she said.

"Looks like it randomly dropped in my inventory," Asuna looked, "yea, not my thing." She moved it out of her inventory, "Yuuki, you have it."

"Oooh." Yuuki murmured, "Coat of Midnight. Yes, I likey." The long coat materialized over her, the black garb hanging slightly past her knees.

"Nice!" Argo agreed.

Agil, the tall, buff leader of the tanks, moseyed up to them. Apologetically he said, "The other squads are all busy trading drops they got from the Ruin Kobolds and shares of the Level Prize. Do you think you could go open the gate to the next level?"

"It DOES open automatically," Argo noted.

Liz added eagerly, "But it would give us first shot at stuff on the next level."

"Yeah, yeah," Asuna conceded.

"Can we tag along?" Aiko jumped in. "I like hanging with you guys."

"Yeah," Yuuki agreed. "Plus guys keep asking us to join their parties..."

Asuna smiled as she said, "Okay, okay, we'll go." She addressed Liz and Argo, "You okay with the sisters going with us?"

"Sure why not?" Liz agreed.

"More for the harem!" Argo added.

"Oooh," a nearby player jerked in surprise.

"Stop that!" Asuna scolded, blushing.

The group of five women left the chamber, heading up the spiral staircase to the next level, Asuna in the lead. "What can we expect next level?" she asked Argo as they climbed.

"Meas and rocky terrain. I think they researched Texas and Arizona," Argo noted wryly.

"Which reminds me... are you going to start doing Argo guides again?" Liz asked.

Argo gave her a LOOK. "Considering what happened with Ilfang, is that really a good idea?" she asked dryly.

"Most of us new players find them really helpful," Yuuki noted mildly.

"Agreed," Aiko added.

Asuna decided not to get into it. They reached a door, decorated with a bull's horns, oddly. She pushed it open, and the team emerged into sunlight.

"Oooh," all of them made a soft sound of surprise.

The doorway opened out to a sheer cliff, a stairway cared into the side going down. Unlike the varied terrain of the first floor, this one was a series of rocky mesas from one end to another. The upper parts of the mountains were covered with grass, making up grazing lands for the huge cattle monsters that populated the floor.

"Okay, enough gawking," Argo reminded them, "we need to get to get going to the capital, Urbus before the level's monsters go active."

"You have no poetry in your soul," Aiko complained mildly.

They headed down the stairs, then went the half mile to the town. Thankfully, nothing jumped them on the way. "So if we did SOMEHOW get killed, the gate would still open?" Aiko asked.

"In about two hours after we cleared the level," Argo nodded.

"People in the Town of Beginnings have probably heard we were taking on the Boss," Yuuki noted, "we shouldn't keep them waiting."

They entered the south gate, blinking as even the background music changed to something like a wistful oboe. Liz stopped them as she suggested, "Before we trigger the gate, let's hit the weapons and armor shops for upgrades."

"There IS going to be a rush on them, once the gate opens," Aiko offered reasonably.

"I occasionally forget some of you were hard core gamers before starting Sword Art Online," Asuna noted, but gave in.

They did in fact get some upgraded armor. However, there were no better weapons than their current gear, mostly due to their obsessive grinding and upgrading before fighting Ilfang.

"Go on," Yuuki gestured Asuna forward to the shimmering, still closed gateway hanging in air in the middle of town.

"Why ME?" Asuna asked.

"Someone has to," Liz pushed her.

Asuna's hand brushed the rippling surface of the fate, triggering it. She yelped as it suddenly blazed with a unearthly light.

"Better get back," Argo warned everyone.

Just then a steady stream of people raced through the opening. "Second floor! Whoo!" a random guy yelled.

"We made it!" another yelled.

"You guys ROCK!" a random girl glomped Aiko.

The group watched as the constant steam of people continued by, faintly bemused by the joyous crowd. Considering how down everyone had been when the first floor raid failed, it was all very heartening to see.

Finally, the five of them moved off together. "Okay, Argo...," Asuna asked her, "where should we start?"

To be continued...

Notes: Because of Argo already joining the party, I'll probably skip right over the 'How did she get the Whiskers' storyline. I'm also not sure if I'll do the blacksmith fraud story from the early Progressive books. Also a some point I need to have Yuuki and Aiko tell Asuna and the others about their medical issues...

Chapter Text

Note: I changed my mind about covering 'Argo's Whiskers.'

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter Four

The two ninjas charged after Argo, only to come up short when confronted by Asuna, Aiko, Liz and Yuuki. "You don't have to..." Argo started.

"She's our comrade," Asuna said coolly as she put her hand on her sword, "you want her, you go through us."

"Damn right," Liz agreed.

"We, the Fuma Ninja Clan, want the rumored Martial Arts skill to complete our ninja roleplay!" the first man said.

"Martial Arts?" Yuuki murmured.

"Ninja clan?" her sister Aiko added wryly.

"Look," Argo said, "the reason I never released the information was that the Quest can't be completed. That's how I ended up stuck with rat whiskers!"

The other ninja blinked. "So if you fail the Quest, you get the whiskers painted on?" he asked.

"Or worse. I never saw anyone else get painted," Argo explained. "And you get the whiskers painted on, THEN have to try to finish it."

The two ninja kind of looked at each other. "We will consider this and contact you later," they agreed, then bounded off.

"Well, THAT was a thing," Aiko muttered.

"So you discovered the quest, tried it and couldn't clear it?" Asuna asked a little while later.

"Yeah. That's how I got my whiskers for the whole SAO beta test," Argo admitted.

"That had to suck," Liz agreed.

"And to get the skill you had to smash the boulder," Asuna looked thoughtful. "Did you have to smash it yourself?"

"Huh?" Argo blinked.

"I mean, there's all those bull monsters on this level," Asuna continued reasonably, "couldn't you just bait one into smashing the rock for you?"

Argo looked at her blankly a moment. "I hadn't thought of that," Argo admitted.

(They all ended up completing the Quest and getting Martial Arts.)

"Should we tell the Fuma ninja?" Yuuki asked later.

"Ehhh. They were kind of a pain in the beta test," Argo revealed, "they'd bounce around, agitate the monsters, but when things got really serious they'd bolt."

"Toss it into the next Argo guide," Aiko suggested mildly.

Asuna frowned at her, as they all knew Argo was still undecided about continuing the guides. "All right,"she said briskly, "Argo said there are materials we can hunt to upgrade my rapier and Yuuki's sword, right?"

"Windwasps stingers, yeah." Liz agreed. "It's going to be a pain..."

"Well, let's go," Argo nodded.

It took over an hour for the four to harvest two hundred stingers for Asuna and Yuuki. The wasps were actually pretty weak, but it was very unnerving to have a giant bug flying at you. But the women managed, then provided the stuff to Liz.

"Success!" Liz declared as she passed the boosted weapons over. "We've filled both weapons upgrade slots, now," she added.

Asuna nodded. All weapons had a limited number off upgrade slots, though how many depended on the weapon and how well it was made. Using harvested materials (rare metals etc etc) a blacksmith like Liz could upgrade them, though there was always a chance of failure.

"Are there any special places we could get better weapons here?" Aiko asked Argo as they headed to another hunting area.

"Other than lucky weapons drops from monsters, no," Argo admitted. "Third floor has more quests for our group's weapons."

"Well, we'll manage with what we've got," Yuuki nodded.

"Ok. Now we need to farm supplies to upgrade Aiko's claymore and Liz' mace." Asuna said briskly. "Let's try to get it done by nightfall."

Bells were ringing, announcing the coming night as the group reached the level's main town, Urbus. All of them were panting and tired, straggling in through the main gate.

"I never want to be in a stampeded again," Argo groaned.

"Well, you did try to warn us," Aiko sighed.

They had been hunting a type of cow with steel hooves, which you could collect for heavy weapon upgrades. You also didn't need to collect as many hooves, as they were more massive. So they set out to an area they were known to appear and went hunting.

At first it went well. They bagged enough cows to upgrade both weapons. They decided on getting a few more just to be safe... and stumbled on a full herd, over 30 cows grazing.

The cows looked at them.

They looked at the cows.

Something triggered the cows aggression. They glared at them ominously.

"Run away!"

They managed to escape the stampede, but just barely. And so, they were back...

"Do you think they could have trampled us to death?" Yuuki asked, shaking her head.

"Probably," Argo sighed.

"That would be a really stupid way to die," Yuuki groaned.

"Let's check in at an inn," Asuna said, "it's been a long day."

"Bet you she wants a bath," Liz murmured to Argo.

"I don't take sucker bets," Argo answered.

"Huh?" Yuuki blinked.

"GODS I want a bath," Asuna added, then blinked as Liz and Argo giggled.

The NPC running the inn told them there was only two rooms left. They paid, and Liz, Argo and Asuna took one, Yuuki and Aiko took the other.

"Does the inn have bathing facilities?" Asuna had to ask.

"No, we do not," the NPC admitted. "There is a public bath though."

Asuna beamed, "THANK you!"

The group checked in, then headed out to get some food then hit the baths.

"So.. you like baths?" Aiko teased.

"I'm Japanese. We ALL like baths," Asuna replied mildly.

"Point...," Aiko agreed.

There were a LOT of steak houses in Urbus. Not surprising as it was the 'cow' themed floor, but it would have been nice to have some variety. They went into one, ordered, then ate at one large table.

"So is this technically the same cows that tried to stomp us?" Yuuki asked, pointing at her steak.

"Technically, yes," Argo agreed.

Yuuki visciously stabbed her meat, then cut a bit. "That's what you get for nearly trampling us!" she growled, then ate.

Asuna grinned, then cut into her own steak. "Hmm," she sighed.

Liz ate with surprising enthusiasm, while Argo and Aiko ate more gradually. They discussed the near miss with the cows as well as planning out the next few days.

"I've decided to do the Argo Guides still," Argo admitted, "but I want to re-check things against the beta," She added, "Would you mind coming along...?"

"Sure!" Liz agreed, Asuna nodding agreement.

"First shot at some of the quests? Certainly!" Aiko added.

"Big sis," Yuuki scolded mildly.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Ahhh," Asuna sighed as she soaked in the hot water.

Liz splashed water at her, "Don't fall sleep."

Argo was sitting nearby, and Yuuki and her sister was across from her. Asuna was a bit jealous of how well Aiko was developed, though she supposed it made sense. She was a bit older, after all.

"This IS nice," Aiko agreed, laying back a bit. Her breasts floated a bit in the water, and Asuna firmly stomped on her jealousy.

"Oooh, look at those!" Liz laughed, then gave the other girl's breasts a squeeze.

"Aaah!" Aiko gasped.

"Hey!" Yuuki growled, pushing Liz away.

'And I just wanted to bathe in peace...,' Asuna sighed.

To be continued...

Notes: I always wondered why Argo didn't just tel the Ninjas the quest couldn't be completed. I mean, that would have solved it... Also, luring a bull to smash the rock is how manga Asuna solves the problem in the Progressive series.

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter Six

Amusingly, Argo pretty much used them as 'test subjects' as they ran around the second floor, confirming the quests from the Beta Test.

Most quests were structured the same way: you would encounter a NPC with a question mark over their head. You talk to them, get the details of the quest, then go finish it. Then you talk to the NPC again and recieve a reward, usually a weapon or, in some cases, a rare item.

(Well, 'rare' in terms of the first few levels. Everyone was well aware that relatively, their weapons and such on these early floors were crap. But one did what one could.)

More rarely there were quests that connected in a chain, requiring you to finish the earlier ones before continuing. They usually lead to better and rare items, or higher level weapons. They could also be somewhat more dangerous too.

There were even quests that ran across several floors, but that would come later...

"Next time, YOU go in first," Asuna grumbled as she dusted herself off after the team raced out of the tunnel and collapsed on the ground.

"That totally was not in the Beta," Argo apologized as they heard the monster bellow angrilly off in the distance.

In a very 'Empire Strikes Back' moment, there had been a GIANT SNAKE in the tunnel they needed to explore for the quest. It had nearly eaten them, until Yuuki stabbed the thing in the tounge, making it back off.

"Way to go, Yuuki," Liz groaned.

Aiko was drenched in snake-spit. "It slimed me," she groaned, too.

"It's a temporary effect, it'll go away," Argo reassured her.

"STILL!" Aiko growled.

"Did anyone grab the stone tablet we were looking for?" Asuna asked tiredly.

"Got it," Liz waved the stone object.

"Oh thank goodness. I am NOT fucking with the snake again," Yuuki sighed.

"Ditto," everyone pretty much agreed. After resting a bit, they all got up and headed back to the nearby village where the quest was issued. They collected the prize, and decided to break for the day.

(Interestingly because they were out chasing Quests, and because they had their own blacksmith in Liz, Asuna never ran into the con-artist blacksmith that she and Kirito met. Another Beta tester ran into him, and realized what he had been pulling...)

"Let's grab an inn room first, they've been getting snapped up fast now that the players are advancing on this floor," Argo added.

There had been a rush of players onto this floor from the first, which was good. On the other hand, a lot of them were just hanging out in the city 'safe zones' and doing the minimum to raise money for food and lodging. Not good if they intended to clear 100 floors.

The five checked in, then went to eat.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The meeting room in Urbus was busy as the players met.

Thinker and Yulier had met out in the beginner fields near the starter city, and hit it off. Of course, THEN came the announcement they were trapped in the game! They survived, leveled up, and helped clear the first floor. Now they were trying to organize the 'Aincrad Liberation Army'...

"Two more casualties showed up on the Monument," Silica, a brown haired young woman reported, "Poh and Morte."

"They wanted to join, right? The knife guy and his friend," Yulier noted.

"Yeah. They said they wanted to join and help beat the floor bosses," Thinker agreed, having interviewed them.

"He seemed nice," Silica offered mildly.

"I don't know... there was something off about him," Yulier observed.

"Hmm," Thinker sighed. He didn't really want to speak ill of the dead. Worse, they needed the people, damn it.

Changing the subject Thinker noted, "I think we should try to level up on this floor as much as possible before going after the level boss."

Lind, who was the unofficial leader of the Dragon Knights, offered, "It could cost us any momentum we gained." He was there to help coordinate with the Army...

"Agreed, but I feel certain there's more surprises waiting for us. We need to be prepared," Thinker said firmly.

Lind hesitated, then had to ask, "Have you recruited 'Meteor' Asuna yet?"

Yuliver snorted, "They're calling her THAT?"

"I've heard Asuna-sama called 'Comet' and 'Lightning' too," Silica sighed. "She's SO COOL." she added dreamily.

Lind and Thinker exchanged amused looks at Silica's hero worship. "I did ask her," Thinker admitted, "but she turned us down."

"Huh," Lind nodded.

Of course they weren't 'official' Guilds in the game yet. There was a specific quest you had to do on the next floor. But they were organizing and preparing for it in advance.

"Agil and his muscle-men turned us down too," Yuliver sighed.

"Hopefully Asuna and him don't join up and form a guild," Thinker lamented, "or we'd loose all the good players."

"Damn right...," Lind agreed.

"I'd join!" Silica agreed cheerfully.

The other three sighed...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The Fuma Ninjas completed the quest, and recieved Martial Arts.

"Thank goodness the 'Asuna Solution' worked," one noted.

In the Second Floor Argo Guide, the information broker credited her teammate, Asuna, for figuring out how to beat the quest. Hence, the 'Asuna Solution.'

"Yes! And now we can finally complete our Ninja Roleplay!" the other declared.

"Indeed! Ninjas are clearly the best!" the first cheered.

Sadly the two ninja were so busy crowing about how great ninja were, they didn't notice the giant bull coming up to them.

"MOOOOOO!" it declared.

"Oh shit," both ninja whimpered then evaded frantically. Luckily the combo of their speed and agility stats got them clear, but it was frighteningly close.

"What happened to you two?" a player asked as they walked into town, exhausted.

"Training," one ninja lied firmly.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

One odd thing the Beta Testers noted: right up to the limit they reached, there was a ramen noodle shop on every floor. The quality and type varied, but it appeared there was one on every floor. Apparently the game's creator LIKED noodles.

The ramen stand in Urbus was out of the way, but was cozy and comfortable. Following the theme of the floor they only served beef noodles, but they were very dood ones. The noodles were firm, the broth was thick, and there was actual beef sliced into it.

The man slurped up his noodles off chopsticks, then sighed happily.

"Heathcliff," Argo nodded to the taller man as she sat down beside him.

"You okay?" he asked politely, "I heard some players came after you."

Argo nodded, "I got lucky, two of my friends saved me."

"I'm glad," Heathcliff smiled faintly, "I'd get bored without you coming by to bother me."

"Ha!" Argo chuckled.

Argo ordered, then they both ate quietly for a bit.

"Anything you've seen I need to worry about?" Argo asked.

Heathcliff slurped up some noodles then swallowed. "There's hints that another change has been made in the final boss," he admitted.

Argo looked attentive, "Oh?"

"Why go from a 'Lord' on the first floor to facing a 'General' on the second?" Heathcliff asked.

"It doesn't fit the pattern, assuming that there is one. There should be a Lord or King," Argo guessed.

"Exactly. And we have no idea of it's capabilities," Heathcliff sighed.

Argo scowled. "Well, assuming Kayaba wasn't a complete dick, there HAS to be clues about it on this floor. We just have to find them," she declared. She finished off her noodles and hurried off, "Wish me luck!"

"Good luck," Heathcliff waved as she hurried off.

Watching her go Heathcliff realized he had forgot to ask her about her new companions. Well, he could always ask later...

To be continued...

Notes: YES, I killed Laughing Coffin's founding members ( Poh and Morte) off. I never really liked the concept, tho I probably will keep player killers IN GENERAL as a thing.

YES, that's Heathcliff, who becomes leader of the Knights of the Blood and is later revealed as Akihiko Kayaba (the creator of SAO the game) himself. Before anyone yells at me, it's canon in the SAO Progressive manga that he was actually a contact of Argo's. Tho I did move his appearance up.

Chapter Text

Notes: Apparently, SAO Progressive will be getting an anime, now that Alicization is over. Looking forward to finally seeing Argo get animated. Ha!

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter Seven

Kayaba, the utter and complete BASTARD, had set up TWO bosses for the second floor. AS soon as number two appeared, everyone cursed him...

Heathcliff, in another part of the floor, sneezed suddenly. Not being a believer in that old superstition of sneezing when someone talked about you, he just ignored it and carried on.

"How bad were the losses?" Asuna demanded flatly after they defeated both bosses. Barely.

(Asuna wasn't a 'leader' exactly, but she was highly regarded by many players. While she hadn't said anything, almost everyone expected her to form a guild. So no one was going to object to her asking that...)

Lind sighed quietly. "We lost two groups of six nearly completely," he told her flatly.

Argo had warned the team leaders, and had even acquired a throwing disk weapon that had helped turn the tide, somewhat. But luck played a part in these battles, and the two squads had just been unlucky. Or the Bull King was very lucky, depending.

"Shit," Yuuki cursed softly.

"Were they...?" Liz asked.

"One was a group of players that intended to guild, later," Argo noted, "the Moonlit Black Cats. The others were just randomly grouped together."

"Poor bastards," Aiko muttered.

"Who's going up to open the Gate?" Agil asked them, the leader of the main tank team looking a bit sheepish. Once again, the two party leaders and various squad members were all busy dickering over drops and such. They really needed to organize a better system...

Asuna sighed softly then nodded at Agil, "I guess we'll head up."

After letting the raid leaders know, Liz, Yuuki, Argo, Aiko and Asuna made their way up the stairs, then out onto the new floor.

"It's all forests?" Aiko asked as they looked out at the trees.

"Yes," Argo said, "the entire floor is covered with them."

"So we need to go to the gate..." Asuna started.

"The town of Zumfut. It's made of three giant trees." Argo added.

"Of course it is," Yuuki made a face.

Asuna ignored that, "Open the gate, check the shops for new or upgraded gear, then start in on the quests."

"Let's go!" Liz urged them on.

When you first accessed a floor there was a period where they could get to the town in relative safety. But if they dithered too long, the monsters on the level would become active. No one wanted to be randomly jumped...

The group reached the town, and rapidly hit the shops. "Yes! Better armor!" Yuuki noted cheerfully as they bought the gear.

"Weapons will have more upgrade slots too," Argo noted. "The good ones will, mostly, be monster drops."

Having gotten the good stuff, they headed over and opened the gate between levels. Almost instantly players streamed through, cheering.

"It's lightning Asuna!"

"Yuuki! She's SO cool!"

"Aiko! Step on me!"

"PERVERT!"

Oddly, one of the fighters leading a group of fellow players kind of GLARED at Asuna. Weird.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Klein! Don't be an ass!" Dale, a slightly portly fighter, clouted him gently.

"Hey," Klein yelped.

Fuurinkaan, a 'guild' of real world friends who had entered SAO together, were lead by Klein. There were ten of them, and Klein had helped 'train' them by passing on tips he had picked up from a player named Kirito.

"I know you're upset your friend Kirito had died, but it's not her fault," Issin noted, the tall, tin man following.

"Yeah, it's that damn Kayaba!" Dynamm agreed.

Elsewhere, Heathcliff sneezed AGAIN.

Harry One added, "Now come on. We need to upgrade our gear, start doing some basic quests and wait for the next Argo Guide."

"Hey, I'm the leader here..," Klein complained.

"Then lead," Kunimittz reminded him, and the group headed off.

"Wait up," Sachi yelled, the new team member following.

The unlucky last survivor of the Moonlit Black Cats had been invited to join them by Klein, who felt sorry for the girl...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

As usual Argo put out a 'Argo Guide' with a disclaimer that she was still checking out the floor.

"The Elf War campaign?" Asuna asked as they headed out as a group.

"I'd like to check to see if it plays out as it did in the Beta Test," Argo admitted, "but if we do it, we'll be committed to a string of quests."

"Hmm," Liz frowned slightly.

"On the other hand, we'll have the chance to get better gear and items," Argo enticed them.

"Sounds interesting. Can we still do the Guild Quest too?" Aiko asked.

"Why do you want to form a guild?" Asuna had to ask.

"WE are forming a guild," Aiko corrected her. She looked at the other women, "All in favor of forming a guild with Asuna as a leader?"

Liz, Argo, Yuuki and Aiko all went, "Aye!"

"Opposed?" Aiko asked mildly.

Asuna puffed out a sigh. Well, everyone seemed to be behind the idea, so... "All right," she said aloud, "we can do that."

"Hurrah!"

"Someone else has to come up with a good name, though," Asuna added mildly, "I'm terrible at making up names."

"All right," a cheerful Argo said, "we'll head out of town and start the Elf War Quest, then." She then explained about the Forest and Dark elves, but that it didn't matter which side they joined.

"They're not good or evil?" Liz asked.

"Not in the sense we'd consider it. Each has their own POV, and based on that POV they're doing what they think is 'right'," Argo explained as they went out into the woods. "Listen for the sounds of combat," she ordered.

They stood in the foggy section of woods, then heard something to the northeast.

"Let's go!" Argo lead the way as they hurried.

"You said that it's a guy Forest Elf attacking a girl, in the usual scenario?" Aiko asked Argo as they ran.

"Yes," Argo agreed.

"Then we side with the Dark Elf," Asuna decided, the other women nodding agreement.

Argo looked at her friends oddly, "You should know it plays out based on a script. We can't save her."

Asuna thought of the innocent kids who had died in the boss fight. And everyone else who had fallen in this damn game. "We can try," she said flatly.

They came across a handsome blonde elf, fighting a shorter, purple haired woman. Immediately it felt like a lopsided fight, though the smaller woman fought valiantly.

"Here we go...," Argo muttered.

"What is humankind doing in this forest?" the handsome blonde declared arrogantly.

"Stay out of this! He will slay you," the dark elf ordered.

Argo blinked, "That didn't sound like the script..."

"Get away from her," Asuna ordered, pointing her sword at him, Aiko and Yuuki following. Liz hefted her made, scowling at him.

"Your blood will quench my sword's thirst!" the forest elf declared.

"Focus on defense," Argo ordered them, even as he charged.

Nearly twenty minutes later, the forest elf fell, dissolving into glittery lights.

"What," Argo blinked.

"What...?" the dark elf lady looked nearly as surprised as she took in her rescuers.

"What?" Asuna looked at Argo curiously.

"I've NEVER heard of anyone saving the dark elf before," Argo replied tersely, even as she wondered what would happen now.

To be continued...

Notes: YES, I killed off the Moonlit Black Cats early, too. AS far as I can tell they existed just to give Kirito another reason to be a angsty loner.

We don't actually see what happened with Klein in canon early on. Just that Kirito gave him some basic guidance, they were trapped in the game, then Klein went to find his friends and help them.

I like Kizmel, so I decided to keep her.

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter Eight

Argo was still reeling as she saw the cursor above Kizmel, a Non Player Character, yet... the event was scripted. No player that she knew of had saved either character. They died, a quest related item dropped. And that was it.

Seeing the bag of leaves that was always an item drop in this event, Argo pointed, "Miss Elf, is that yours?"

The Elf startled, then she bent down to gently pick up the bundle. "... at least we can protect the Sanctuary now," she said as she put the item in a pouch on her belt, then looked up and studied the band of women.

"What would have happened if we picked it up?" Liz asked Argo quietly.

"I don't know, but I think it would be bad," Argo replied softly.

"Hmm," Liz nodded.

"I must thank you," the Elf said as she bowed to them gracefully, "I am Kizmel, of the Elven Royal Guard. The first secret key has been protected." She paused, "Please come with me to our base, and the commander will reward you for your help."

Argo was relieved to see a question mark appear above her. That indicated the Quest was still ongoing... after things played out oddly, she had wondered.

"Now what?" Aiko whispered.

"If we want to continue the quest, we go with her," Argo shrugged.

"We would be honoured," Asuna told Kismel.

"Very well," Kismel said, "follow me."

Once again Argo had to fight back a surprised reaction. All NPCs had, in the beta test, only responded to simple Yes or No answers. Any sort of 'implied' agreement shouldn't have worked. Yet clearly, it had.

'Did Kayaba push through a major upgrade through between the Beta Test and now?' Argo wondered. He'd certainly upgraded the monsters. But if so, why...?

"Come on," Liz said as the group hurried after the Elf and Asuna.

"Right, right," Argo, Yuuki and Aiko hurried after.

Thankfully things played out as Argo remembered, after that. They went to the camp, (With Kizmel kicking a LOT of ass saving them from random monster encounters along the way), the group was presented to the Commander NPC and they each were rewarded with power increasing items.

Asuna, not surprisingly, was OVERJOYED at finding they had a bath...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Wait, we have to fight GIANT SPIDERS?!" Klein complained.

"Apparently. Could be worse," Dynamm noted.

The first Argo Guide for the third floor was out, including an full explaination of the Guild Quest. Several groups were interested, obviously, including Klein and his group.

"And it takes twenty hours to do all the errands, etc etc to get the Guild Crest?" Dale noted as he read the virtual document.

"Looks like it." Harry One agreed.

Sachi, their newest member, was still being pretty quiet. Understandable, as her friends had been wiped out. Still, she worried Klein a bit...

Hera, the tall woman tank of the team, cheerfully clapped Sachi on the shoulder, nearly knocking her down. "Buck up!" she boomed.

"Ooof," Sachi grunted.

"I saw we level grind around the city first," Klein suggested, "The Dragon Knights and Aincrad Liberation Army are both going to do the Guild Quest."

"Won't we all have seperate versions of the caves, etc etc?" Harry One asked.

"Depends on the timing. Two or even more groups could collide under the right circumstances," Hera noted dryly.

"Makes sense we let the impatient ones go first,." Dale agreed.

Sachi was a spear user, who (understandably) didn't want to get near monsters. She was not bad with the weapon, stabbing at the mobs from behind a tank like Hera or the others.

"It's too bad they don't have range weapons in SAO," Klein muttered.

"Kayaba is a asshole," Harry One muttered as he cut down another monster.

Sachi used her spear to gut another monster. "Do you think Kayaba's in the game?" she wondered aloud.

Several of the group exchanged glances. "If he is, he's probably some kind of end boss,"

"Then I am getting to the end," Sachi stabbed another straight through it's body, "and GUTTING the bastard."

There was a long beat of silence as everyone processed that. "Well," Klein finally noted, "it's good to have goals."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

In another part of the floor, Heathcliff sneezed.

"That happens alot," Agil noted. He and his group of tanks were working with several other players to finish the guild quest for Heathcliff, In exchange, he would provide cash and items he had found.

"I'd blame it on allergies, but..," Heathcliff shrugged.

Agil chuckled. They were heading back to town, having finished the various steps of the quests."You're a Beta Tester, right?" Agil asked.

Heathcliff looked around a bit nervously as he admitted, "Yeah. How did you know?"

"You knew how to complete this quest fast, and got us the rewards you promised," Agil said. He added, "It's okay. I already know a few Beta Testers..."

Heathcliff nodded, accepting that.

(In fact he had taken advantage of his knowledge of the game as it's creator. But he wasn't going to say THAT. He wasn't insane.)

"So, you're starting a Guild?" Agil asked curiously.

"Eventually," Heathcliff admitted.

Agil raised his eyebrow questioningly.

"I want to develop a good reputation first," Heathcliff admitted. "I only want to recruit the top players."

"Good luck with that," Agil shrugged.

To be continued...

Notes: Oddly Kizmel never introduces herself in SAO Progressive. They just read her name off her status. Which seemed odd to me.

Canonly I don't think Klein's group had women. Eh.

I'm STILL not really sure how to write Heathcliff/Kayaba in this. Should he be well intentioned? Or just kind of evil/nuts? Or what? Dunno...

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter Nine

The bath at the hidden Dark Elf village was only large enough for one, and they each took turns washing up. Asuna, of course, lingered a bit.

"We have no spare tents, but you can share mine," Kizmel said calmly.

"Wait..." Aiko blinked.

"We accept!" Argo jumped in.

"Good. Come with me," Kizmel said.

"Why do we need to stay the night?" Asuna whispered to Argo.

"We need to be here in the morning to get the next part of the quest," Argo explained. "Assuming it plays out like in the Beta."

"Works," Liz nodded.

They went across the camp to Kizmel's tent and went inside. It seemed unusually large, at least compared to other tents in the camp. 'I wonder if it grows based on how large the party using it is?' Argo wondered.

"Please make yourselves comfortable," Kizmel said as she hung up her armor, leaving her in a cross between a tunic and a skirt.

"Right," Yuuki agreed as everyone put their outer armor into storage.

"Eeep!" Asuna 'eeped' softly as Kizmel then calmly removed her tunic, revealing that she was nude underneath.

Kizmel seemed entirely unbothered as she added, "You may sleep wherever you wish." Then she casually laid down.

"Dibs on not sleeping by the naked lady," Yuuki whispered.

Everyone settled down on the blanket covered, soft tent floor, and surprisingly all fell asleep reasonably quickly.

Asuna woke up surprisingly warm. Yuuki, aparently, was cuddling her again?

"Hmm," an unfamiliar voice came from in front of her.

Asuna's eyes popped open to reveal that Kizmel was cuddling to her front. And, of course, still totally nude.

"Tilnel...," Kizmel murmured.

'Who...? Never mind,' Asuna thought, trying to nscoot away only to discover someone holding her from behind, too. Asuna shifted a bit, then realized it was Yuuki.

"Cold," Yuuki muttered then clamped on harder.

'Oh you've got to be kidding me,' Asuka thought, then saw someone walking over.

"Added someone else to the harem?" Argo noted mildly.

Asuka just sighed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE SPIDERS?" Klein demanded in a different tunnel.

Sachi stabbed a spider with her spear, "I have never been happier to be a spear user."

"God this is awful," Hera noted dryly.

"Damn right," Harry One agreed

"I hear fighting up ahead," Dynamm noted.

Dale asked, "What should we...?"

Klein hesited, then sighed. "If they're fellow players, we have a obligation to help them," he said with a sigh.

"Let's go," Hera boomed cheerfully.

They advanced up the tunnel, killing any enemies they encountered, before entering a larger chamber with a HUGE spider.

"Aaaah, spiders!" Lind yelled as the Dragon Knights fought the attacking monsters.

The other Dragon Knights were jumping into attack then jumping back, avoiding the long, dagger tipped legs.

"You've GOT to be kidding," Dymann sighed.

"Why couldn't we all be spear wielders?" Dale sighed as everyone charged in.

Together, the two groups beat the giant spider.

Then a SECOND giant spider turned up.

"KAYABA YOU ASSHOLE!" Klein yelled.

In another part of the floor, Heathcliff sneezed.

"Bless you," Yuiler said mildly, her and Thinker there to talk with him.

"Thank you," Heathcliff said.

Back in the tunnels, the groups each succeeded, then left to continue the Guild quest.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Asuna didn't want to discuss the morning glomp, and neither Kizmel or Yuuki brought it up.

"Find out what happened to a missing scout?" Liz clarified the mission.

The commander nodded, "Correct."

A question mark appeared above him, indicating a new quest.

"We accept," Asuna said, as a explaination mark appeared.

The group with Kizmel's guidence found the spider caves, fought the small fry, then found the giant spiders too.

"AGH, SPIDERS!" Liz complained.

"Yeah yeah," Argo chuckled quietly.

They found a token of one of the Pagoda Knights, who had been the scout. It was also the Knights that Kizmel belonged to, and she seemed very sorrowful at that.

"I'm sorry," Asuna patted her arm gently.

Kizmel gave Asuka a searching look, then smiled slightly.

"Another in the harem," Aiko muttered softly.

"Yup," Yuuki agreed.

"Shut up," Asuka growled at them...

Just as they heard a very loud noise. Every one looked up the tunnel, where something even bigger was coming towards them.

"Argo?" Liz asked.

Argo looked grim, "If it follows the Beta, it's a Spider Queen."

"Do we have to fight it?" Asuna asked.

"As we're not doing the Guild quest yet, no," Argo answered promptly.

"Then let's get out of here before it reaches us," Asuna decided. No point in fighting unnecessarily, after all.

The group fought their way back out, killing respawned spiders but, thankfully, no more giant ones. They made it out into the woods, them hurried back to the Dark Elf camp.

Kizmel told them, "I will report to the Commander. You are welcome to relax in my tent or use the bath."

"Bath!" Asuna said.

Everyone else chuckled as Kizmel left. "Do you think it makes a difference that we didn't fight the Spider Queen?" Yuuki wondered.

"We'll just fight it later, when we do the Guild Quest. And hopefully we'll get more chances to level up before then," Argo decided.

"Anyone want to bathe first?" Argo asked. Everyone looked at her oddly and Asuka added, I want to stay in there a bit, so I'll go last."

"I want wash up," Aiko said with amusement.

"Me too," Liz conceded.

Not long after Asuna was settling into the bath, sighing happily. The VR sensations weren't QUITE right. But it was certainly close enough. She leaned forward, taking a deep breath of the steamy bath water.

With a quiet sound, someone climbed into the tub with her!

"What...?" Asuna turned, then blinked at seeing Kizmel.

"Bathing alone can be awkward," Kizmel said, deadpan. "Wash your back?" she offered.

Kizmel, it turned out, was REALLY good at back washing.

Later, back at the tent, Argo looked at Asuna in disbelief. "She did WHAT?" Argo asked.

"Climbed into the bath with me," Asuna whispered back at a whisper.

"NPCs don't do that!" Argo whispered back.

"This one did," Asuna shrugged.

"Clearly Asuna's charm and beauty can even work on NPCs," Liz offered cheerfully.

"SHUT UP," Asuna sighed.

To be continued...

Notes: Interestingly, in the SAO tie in games, Asuna/Kizmel is an actual ship.

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 10

"We have completed the Guild quest!" Thinker declared.

"GOD that sucked," Yuiler sighed dramatically.

"Well, yes," Thinker agreed.

It already looked like there was going to be a rush on people forming guilds too. They had just done it, The Dragon Knights had finished, Fuurinkaan, Klein's group, and several more were also working on it.

Frankly, Thinker wasn't happy about it. He had been hoping they could organize the majority of players in a single large group. Everyone working together and sharing resources would, in theory, help them clear levels faster.

"There there," Yuiler noted, "all we have to do is demonstrate our Guild is more efficient. Then the others will join up."

Silica, their aide and a knife fighter, noted, "You DO realize Lightning Asuna is going to form a guild and poach all the awesome players?'

Both Thinker and Yuiler sighed at that.

"Also, isn't Aincrad Liberation Army a dumb name?" Silica said innocently as she drove the knife home.

"Ouch," Thinker winced.

"Please don't do my boyfriend ego damage like that," Yuiler chided.

"Sorry, boss," Silica shrugged. "And really, Dragon Knights is nearly as bad," she added, trying to be comforting.

"Stop trying to help," Thinker said wryly.

Silica just chuckled.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"So, we want to take advantage of the NPC blacksmiths?" Aiko asked, the heavy sword user looking at Argo thoughtfully.

"Yes, they're exceptionally good," Argo said, "especially for creating new weapons." She paused, "No offense, Liz."

Lizbeth nodded as she said, "None taken. I know I'm not high enough level yet to create high level weapons."

Like with fighters, the blacksmith class leveled up their abilities through use. So to start with Liz had barely been able to just maintain weapons, and had not acquired the ability to upgrade until fairly recently. Creating high level weapons was a long way away.

"And all of us have upgraded our existing swords to the max," Asuna agreed.

"There's also no 'failure' option, unlike with upgrades," Argo added.

It hadn't happened with Liz yet, thankfully, but it was possible to 'fail' a digital dice throw on an upgrade. That permanently removed the 'upgrade slot' that was tried, making the weapon ultimately less powerful. And as it was random, it could happen to any blacksmith.

"And everyone has enough materials?" Yuuki double checked. With that, they went to the village blacksmiths.

All of them took turns with the blacksmiths, and each put their old weapons into the materials. Yes, they could have re-sold the fully upgraded weapons, but Asuka felt there was a symbolic value in reforging them. Hammers clanged, metal was reshaped, and soon they all had new weapons.

Argo was studying the new blades with an odd look on her face.

"What?" Asuna asked, a bit concerned.

"No, no, it's good news," Argo said, "all the new weapons have maximum upgrade slots. They could last us several floors." All of them had gotten between ten and fifteen upgrade slots. The average for a good weapon on this floor was eight...

"Did that happen in the Beta Test?" Aiko asked curiously.

"Not all the time," Argo admitted, "and no, I don't know what that means."

"Huh," Yuuki nodded.

They met with Kizmel after that, and the group sat down with the elves for breakfast. It was porridge and fruit, but was reasonably filling.

"Will you assist us with another mission?" Kizmel asked once they finished.

"I...," Asuna started.

"Huh," Argo paused. "I just got a message from a contact. There's a meeting in Zumfut to discuss tackling the dungeon."

"Isn't that a little fast?" Aiko asked, surprised.

Argo shrugged.

"We should probably attend, if only to pour cold water over them," Yuuki suggested.

"Our missions can wait," Kizmel agreed. "Would you like me to transport you nearby via one of our charms?" she offered.

Asuna was tempted, but travelling between the village and town would give them a chance to level grind a bit. Plus they might get a lucky random drop."No, I'm sure we can manage," she told her.

Kizmel looked a bit disappointed, but nodded.

The group left the camp, heading out into the forest. Before it was out of sight they checked their maps, relieved to see 'Dark Elf Village' marked there.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"This whole meeting was an attempt to recruit for your guilds?!" Aiko barked, sounding offended.

Lind, head of the Dragon Knights, and Thinker of the Aincrad Liberation Army both looked profoundly sheepish.

"We're just trying to organize," Lind defended himself.

"Oh, come on," Agil the huge axe user scoffed.

Yuuki looked at the others. "WE," she emphasized, "are forming a guild with Asuna-sama. We're willing to work with you, but will not be your underlings."

"Of course, of course," Thinker said, not wanting to piss the ladies off. Especially since they had the knowledable Argo with them.

"How serious were you about tackling the dungeon soon?" Asuka asked pointedly.

"Somewhat?" Lind admitted.

"We've only just started the Elf War campaign on this floor, plus there are a lot of quests in general to do," Argo pointed out. She added, "And we learned about the extra boss last floor from quests, remember."

Thinker nodded, "Point. I don't know anyone else who's running the Elf War quest, could you finish up the parts on this floor, in case it's needed?"

Asuna nodded, "Certainly."

Weirdly Asuna heard a sigh of relief, even though there was no one beside her. 'It couldn't be?' she thought.

The meeting ended shortly, and Asuna and her group headed off.

"Kizmel?" Asuna asked quietly.

"You sensed me?" the dark elf's voice came from midair. "My cloak is charmed for invisibility, how did you find me?"

"I heard you," Asuna noted. 'How did a NPC get into a player town?' she wondered.

"I was concerned with how you were so quickly called away," Kizmel added.

They left the town, and Kizmel removed the hood of her cloak, becoming visible again to everyone's surprise.

"NPCs shouldn't be able to DO that," Argo muttered.

At this point, everyone just kind of ignored that.

"Okay, we're continuing to help you, Kizmel," Asuna said briskly, "let's head back to camp, then continue from there."

"My people appreciate your help," Kizmel agreed, her gaze lingering on Asuna.

"Another added to the harem," Aiko murmured.

"Shut up," Asuna muttered back.

Kizmel tilted her head to the side. "Any marriage would need permission from the Queen," she said, sounding just a bit regretful.

Yuuki had the faintest look of jealousy, then shook herself.

They worked together to finish stages of the quest. 'The Flower Offering' was a sombre one, as they gathered tributes to the fallen scout. They then went on a second operation to rescue a lost scout, successfully this time, only to discover it was an enemy elf in disguise.

"At least we stopped him from stealing the Jade Key," Aiko noted.

"He usually succeeded in the Beta," Argo noted softly.

"Huh. Interesting," Yuuki noted.

Kizmel returned to the tent after reporting to the commander, "We will assemble to hunt the spy. Will you join us?"

"We're in," Asuna agreed, "we said we'd help, after all."

"Indeed," Kizmel smiled warmly at her.

To be continued...

Notes: I may get details on canon SAO wrong. It should be noted I haven't got all the tie in materials, etc etc. So if something's off, just assume this is an 'alternate' SAO. Or something.

On one hand trying to follow 'Progressive' while on the other doing it different.

Chapter Text

Notes: I have NOT seen the new SAO Progressive film, and at this point have no plans to work it into this fiction. I'm not ruling it out, obviously, but...

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 11

"So what do we CALL our guild?" Yuuki asked as they helped chase down the spy.

"Asuna's Harem?" Liz suggested cheerfully.

"NO," Asuna growled.

"I'm okay with that," Aiko added.

"Ditto," Argo said.

"What is the requirement to join the harem?" Kizmel asked innocently.

"Just... don't worry about it," Asuna said with a sigh. Her friends were possibly corrupting a poor NPC. Geeze...

Taking pity on Asuna Yuuki changed the subject. "It looks like the spy is heading back to the caves, again," she noted.

"Hopefully we can intercept them..," Kizmel trailed off. "Ambush!"

A small band of Light Eves burst from cover. They were probably hoping to get them closer and attack, but Kizmel had spoiled that.

"Linear!" Asuna skewered one with a swift attack, once again VERY impressed with her new, upgraded rapier.

"WHO WANTS SOME!" Aiko yelled, swinging her new huge sword, making several elves actually flinch away.

Argo gracefully dodged and weaved as she used hand-claws and knives to drop enemies. "Once half of them are down, they'll bolt,"she called, drawing on her beta test experience.

Yuuki fought beside Asuna, their fighting styles similar as they cut the enemy down. "Watch out," she called out to Kizmel as two elves attacked her.

Kizmel, who was an elite fighter, demolished both in seconds, AND that caused the rest to decide to flee the battle.

"Hey!" Liz pointed at a fallen elf, "that's the spy!"

"Lucky," Asuna picked him up, "Kizmel, he has the Jade Key too, still."

"Once again we are in all of your debt," Kizmel said, taking the hey back.

"It's interesting how she says that just to Asuka," Liz murmured.

"Yup," Argo agreed.

Asuna GLARED at them both and they shut up. "We need to go back to the village, right?" she asked Kizmel.

"Indeed the Commander will thank you all," Kizmel said mildly.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Klein checked the Argo Guide again, nodding thoughtfully as he was planning out the level grinding they'd be doing tomorrow. He really appreciated having them, and made a mental note to tell her at one point.

"So, there's been a fight against the field boss, right?" Hera asked as they met in an inn in one of the smaller towns on this level.

"Yeah, Dragon Knights and the Liberation Front lead the fight," Sachi agreed quietly.

"Do you think we should, like, formally join up with them?" Dale asked curiously.

Harry One said, "Oh hell no. What if we end up having to carry weaker fighters?"

"It's not like we're the strongest fighters either," Klein noted dryly.

Arguably, the Dragon Knights and the Liberation Front were strongest of the guilds. Both were actively recruiting, and had certain exceptional members. And really, even some of the smaller guilds were stronger than they were...

"If I was going to recruit anyone, it'd be Agil and his buggies," Klein added.

"Or Asuna-sama," Sachi added respectfully.

"She's for sure forming her own guild," Hera shook her head. "Probably call it something awesome like 'Knights of the Blood' or something."

"Or Asuna's Harem," Klein joked.

Sachi blushed cutely, "Do you think those stories about her are TRUE?"

"Stories?" Hera asked, NOT having heard that.

"Supposedly her, Argo and Liz are a triad," Dynamm said dryly.

"Well, I heard thart her and Yuuki were a thing," Sachi said, still blushing. She added, "They look so CUTE together."

Klein wondered how things had gotten so off track.

"What about Aiko?" Hera wondered.

"I'd let her step on me...," Harry one sighed.

"Too much information," Sachi shuddered.

"All right," Klein changed the subject, "let's rest up. We've got monster hunting and quests to fullfill. I want us at the max experience you can get on this level before we hit the dungeon.:

"Right," everyone chimed in.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

They finished off the Elf War campaign quests for the level. There was a tearful farewell as Kizmel promised they would meet again on the next level.

Liz liked to joke about Asuna adding Kizmel to the harem, but it REALLY looked like Kizmel had been promising to see Asuna again, mostly.

Yuuki, interestingly, looked kinda jealous too. Huh.

"Okay, are there any other quests we need to do?" Asuna asked briskly as they met at the small village nearest the labyrinth.

"Unless Kayaba snuck something new in, I think we're done," Argo said dryly.

"Kayaba is a dick," Liz agreed. He had changed two side quests that now could either poison or kill you, that were non-lethal before. He really seemed to get off on making things harder.

(Ironically, the one who had done the edits was a subordinate of Kayaba's. When SAO was revealed to be a death game, he was struck with a huge case of guilts. In his defense, he hadn't KNOWN that would happen.

Also ironically, Heathcliff aka Kayaba himself got nailed by a revised trap. Thankfully non-lethal. To say the least, he was PISSED.)

"Lind and Thinker are racing to find the Boss Chamber in the labyrinth. Once they do, we'll organize for the raid," Asuna said briskly.

"We should get into the race to find it too," Aiko suggested eagerly.

"Leading a raid is a pain in the ass," Liz noted dryly.

"And I've only been gaming since I started Sword Art Online," Asuna added.

"Huh. Maybe you should lead a raid then," Liz pointed out. "You might need the experience."

"Yeah, no," Asuna shook her head. Changing the subject she said, "They're low on rooms in the inn, there's just two. We'll need to share."

Liz smirked, "Aiko, Argo and I take one, you and Yuuki get the other?"

Yuuki smirked, as Asuna flushed a bit.

They ate, then retired to their rooms, everyone getting ready to sleep. Despite it being a game, you still needed to eat and sleep, annoyingly.

"Hey, Aiko?" Liz asked.

"Yeah?" the slightly older girl responded, setting up to sleep on the couch.

"Does Yuuki... like Asuna?" Liz asked.

"Huh," Aiko murmured. "You mean, romance? I wondered why you toss the two of them together so much."

"Yeah, well...," Liz shrugged.

Aiko sat back thoughtfully, "Well, I don't think she ever seemed to like girls in real life, but..."

"Yeah. This is a unique situation," Liz agreed.

"Did you know you can get married in SAO?" Argo noted, amused.

Liz blinked, "You're kidding."

"Nope. I'm not sure WHY it's still in the game, but it's there." Argo noted. "It doesn't DO much, other than connecting your inventories."

"Kayaba is just weird," Aiko sighed.

There was a beat of silence as they all settled down to sleep.

"Think we'll actually get out of this game?"

"Asuna's sheer rage at all of this will get us through."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"WHY IS THE END BOSS A GIANT TREE?!"

"Shit! Poison! Antidotes! Antidotes!"

"This wasn't in the Argo Guide! DAMN YOU KAYABA!"

"Holy CRAP is Asuna-sama doing lots of damage."

"Actually, the whole Harem are being huge damage dealers."

"We're calling them that?"

"Just don't do it in front of Asuna herself. It pisses her off."

"Geh! More poison!"

"YUUKI AND ASUNA GOT THE LAST ATTACK AGAIN?!"

To be continued...

Notes: The SAO Progressive novels don't say how they defeated Nerius the Evil Treant, the third floor boss, so I just summarized it abit.

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 12

"Well, that's interesting," Argo noted as the group of level fifteen players reached the top of the stairway leading to the fourth floor.

"Yeah?" Lizbeth asked, the blacksmith nearest to her.

"The relief on the door's changed," Argo pointed, "Originally it was a figure walking in the desert, now it's someone in a boat."

"Kayaba changed things. Again," Asuna realized immediately.

"Almost certainly," Argo agreed as they pushed the doors open to hear rushing water.

"Rivers," Aiko noted as they advanced, "lots and lots of rivers?"

"Well, we need to figure out how to get to the starter town. I guess swimming is out?" Asuna asked Argo.

"You can," Argo admitted, "but it's very weird in VR compared to real life. Also if you're totally submerged, you lose HP steadily."

"Oh just lovely," Liz muttered. She looked around the rise they were on, frowning, "There's got to be an option, here..."

The group searched the small island, eventually finding a tree that produced dounut-like life preservers. Seriously. Inflating those gave them enough boyancy to 'safely' use the rivers and canals to travel to the beginner town.

"I'll leave a note for anyone who follows us up," Asuna said reasonably.

"WHY just in our underwear?!" Asuna complained as they headed south, then east.

"Well, the armor IS heavy," Liz noted. "It is weird that putting it all in storage negates the weight etc etc penalties for swimming."

"Try not to think about it too much," Argo noted.

Yuuki, Asuna, Liz and Argo had all stripped down to light tunics and underwear. Interestingly Aiko didn't even keep the tunic, calmly stalking around in bra and panties.

"What?" Aiko asked casually, "We're all girls here."

Argo noted her impressive bust, versus all their more modest bodies and fought back a sigh.

Liz gave her a sympathetic look, both shrugging slightly.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"WHY IS IT WATER?" Klein bitched loudly.

"Oh come on. You have to admit it's pretty," Sachi noted mildly.

Hera agreed, "Yeah. It reminds me of photos of Venice, Italy."

The starter town was all gleaming white walls and canals, where NPC gondoliers ferried you around. Annoyingly, for 50 col a trip. Which wasn't HUGE, you got more than that killing low level monsters, but it was annoying.

Harry-One looked at Klein, "Where to, boss?"

"Market. We need to see if better armor or equipment is out. And see if there's a Argo Guide out yet," Klein noted as they boarded a gondola.

"This is so cool," Hera beamed, clearly enjoying the ride.

Dynamm addressed the pilot, "Can you take us out of town too?"

"I can not do that," the pretty green haired woman said, "I only work in the town of Rovia."

"There's probably a quest we have to do for that," Harry One noted.

"Probably," Klein agreed.

They DID find the next set of available NPC made weapons there, as well as improved armor.

(As they had not done the Elf War Quest, they didn't have access to the better gear earned there. Nor did they want to go back to the Third Floor and try it.)

There was also a new Argo guide, with an even more blunt warning than usual on the front.

"Warning: this floor was completely redesigned?" Sachi read the front.

"Huh," Klein was reading, "ok, was originally sandy routes, not canals and waterways. So I guess it makes sense that her previous experience is iffy."

Sachi read, "Will revise, likely within several days."

"Huh. Do we sit tight until the revision gets done or...?" Hera wondered aloud.

"Do we want to wait that long?" Dynamm wondered aloud.

"It'll be more dangerous without the updated Argo Guide," Harry One pointed out.

"How about we stick close to town and do the quests around here first," Klein suggested, "then move out once the new guide is issued."

"Makes sense," Hera agreed as the others nodded.

Klein added, "I REALLY hope we don't have to keep swimming all over the level."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"That was SO much fun!" Asuna enthused after they and Argo had scouted around the town and it's waterways.

Yuuki gave her a surprised look, "Really?"

"I've always wanted to go to Venice and travel by gondola," Asuna admitted cheerfully. "It's been a dream of mine."

"The things you learn about people," Argo murmured.

Argo had also posted the 'warning' Argo Guide in the NPC shops. They had gotten resupplied and were looking at starting the Quests on this floor.

"It looks like the map of the town itself hasn't changed," Argo noted as they walked, "and the Quest NPCs should be where they were. There's just ONE new NPC we found."

"So we'll do the 'Shipwright of Yore' quest, since we'll need a boat anyway," Liz agreed.

"How much of a pain is this going to be to do?" Aiko wondered.

A LOT of a pain, it turned out. Asuna wanted the BEST GONDOLA EVER, and was determined to get it. Plus they needed one large enough for six, including Kizmel. So they would have to get the best materials.

First, Bear fat.

"GIANT BEAR!"

"Look out for the claws!"

"Aiko, YOU fight it!"

"WHY ME DAMN IT!"

"Look out!"

"WHY DOES A BEAR HAVE FIRE BREATH?!"

After a LONG fight, they managed to put the bear-monster hybrid (called Magnatherium, apparently) down. They got several 'Legendary' Bear Fats out of it, as well as claws and other stuff.

"Collect the lumber it knocked down during the fight," Argo noted. "It's probably going to end up a material we'll need later."

"That makes a weird amount of sense. Otherwise we'd need to pick up some kind of lumberjack skill," Liz noted as they put various logs in storage.

"Okay! Back to town for the next part of the quest!" Asuna declared brightly.

"Grrrr," Aiko, Liz and even Argo growled tiredly.

They unloaded almost everything they got (bear fat, lumber, claws and even bear pelts) to the shipwright, who promised them a ship in a day or so.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Wait... you can get SHIPS built?" Lind, head of the Dragon Knights, loudly complained the next morning. He and his guild had been swimming around, outside the city.

"Yes sir," Lux agreed, the young woman holding the updated Argo Guide. It explained how to find the Shipwright, the steps the quests took and so on.

Lux had joined up on this floor, and the blond haired woman was a little tentative. Still, they needed all the help they could get clearing levels, and she WAS pretty damn fast and agile. She carried her weight in any smaller team she went out with, too.

Lind VERY MUCH tried not to notice she was really, really pretty and well endowed, too. He was her boss (basically) and it was just ethically wrong.

"Sir?" Lux asked.

"Ah, right, sorry," Lind recovered. "We should get teams going and start collecting materials for the boats."

"The bottleneck is going to be there's just one NPC doing this for us," Lux sighed. "Want to bet there's going to be a line up?"

"Ugh," Lind nodded. Just a twinge bitterly he added, "And Asuna's guild is going to be racing ahead of us all."

"If we knew in advance, we'd do the same thing," Lux shrugged.

"Well, yes. Fair point," Lind agreed. And, he had to admit, he had been one of the folks that had turned on Argo, back on the first floor. If he had kept his head, maybe Argo would be working with them right now.

"I'll get together a team, we'll go into the south woods. Hopefully we can get all the materials in a few hours," Lux saluted and headed off.

Lind found himself watching the very curvy girl walk off, then shook his head. 'No no no! Bad!' he thought, sighing.

To be continued...

Notes: Lux is a character from SAO: Girls Ops, though her background is different than canon. No Laughing Coffin this time, so no being forced to work for them.

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 13

"It even has a RAM on the prow?" Aiko said excitedly, the taller swordswoman checking out the finished boat.

"It was an option from the materials we gathered," Asuna noted as they examined their pretty new gondola. It was a larger one, colored in punk and white mostly, and could fit the whole group with some extra room for Kizmel and others, if needed.

"Wonder if we'll have to fight on the rivers?" Yuuki wondered aloud, frowning.

"Probably," Argo noted, "they wouldn't make it an option otherwise."

"Oh, that is gonna SUCK," Lizbeth predicted.

"It'll be fun," Asuna said cheerfully.

"We also need to officially name her," Argo noted as a prompt window popped up. "It's part of the registry process too."

"When Kizmel told us about her sister...," Liz suggested.

"I like it," Aiko agreed, "the Tilnel, then?"

"Yes!" Asuna nodded excitedly.

"Okay, we'll go with that," Argo nodded as she imput the name.

"Thank you, girls, for making an old shipwright useful again," the old man noted as the group finally left.

"Trust me, you'll be busy," Liz noted as they went outside and saw players waiting to start the ship building quest.

"Good luck, boys," Aiko told them cheerfully.

The guy at the head of the line sighed, then hurried in.

"Okay," Liz looked at Argo, "what's next?"

"Do you even bother to read the Argo Guides I do?" Argo complained mildly.

"I do," Asuna noted.

"Brown noser," Aiko teased.

"I do too," Yuuki defended her.

"You know, it's getting late... we should go check in to a hotel," Liz pointed out reasonably. Of course they COULD go out overnight, but it was just that much more dangerous than daylight. And even though they were in a game, you did get tired.

Argo hesitated but nodded, "Yeah, fair." She paused and asked, "Did anyone think to reserve a room, earlier?"

Everyone sort of looked blank. "Well, shit," Aiko sighed.

"WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO US?" Asuna complained as they ended up sharing two rooms. Again.

"Because we're dumbasses who don't plan in advance?" Liz quipped.

"Well, yeah," Asuna conceded.

"Dibs on sleeping with Asuna," Yuuki called.

"I'll take the couch," Aiko agreed. "Argo, Liz, you get the other bed."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The Old Shipwright was kept busy, as various parties and guilds cycled through getting materials and making gondolas. It was a bit of a bottleneck on groups exploring the floor, as you NEEDED a ship to get anywhere, and it took a number of hours at least to get the ship built.

By next morning, Klein had managed to reach the front of the wait line.

"This SUCKS," Klein bitched.

"There, there," Harry-One sighed, waiting with his guild leader.

"Could someone hold my place in line? Please?" the redhead behind them asked plaintively. No one took her up on it. "Jerks," she muttered.

Klein noted her name was Rosalia, from the name by her cursor, and was using a halberd. She was good looking, but... something about her bothered him.

"She's good looking, but..." Harry-One nodded.

The lined moved again, and soon the two men got into the cabin and started the Shipwright's quest to build a ship.

Elsewhere in line, Heathcliff watched the goings on with amusement. He had realized this would be an issue... but not quite how bad of one. Ooops.

"Did you hear about Asuna's Harem?" several players were gossiping.

"They're not CALLING it that?" another asked.

"I would TOTALLY join," a third sighed.

"Dream on, my friend," another said.

"I want Aiko to step on me," a mousy woman sighed.

"Well, whatever works for you," the first dude noted.

'I'm VERY glad I locked off sexual options,' Heathcliff thought to himself.

"Hey, Heathcliff," a familiar voice came from nearby.

"Hello, Agil," Heathcliff recognized the big man. "Your tank guild is building a boat too?" he checked.

"Yup. Are you doing it solo?" Agil asked.

"Alas, yes," Heathcliff admitted. He wanted to build a reputation, before establishing his guild. He wanted the best of the best, after all.

"If you want to help gather materials, we'll assist you too," Agil offered.

"Thank you," Heathcliff nodded.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Lux had been one of the early ones getting a gondola built, and was now out working with a smaller guild, Golden Apple, that was allied with the Dragon Knights.

(Lind and Thinker were encouraging cooperation between the guilds, and so far it was working. Everyone pretty much expected them to start competing seriously EVENTUALLY, but for now, they were getting along...)

"Whoo hoo!" Griselda cheered as the boat raced down the river.

"Easy, dear," Grimlock chided, but she ignored him.

"Let her have her fun," Schmitt noted, the fighter sitting just behind him.

"Have we thank you yet for this?" Yolko asked Lux cheerfully.

"Yes, but you can do it again," Lux joked.

Grimlock grunted unpleasantly, but was still ignored.

"So what's the plan?" Caynz addressed the team leader, Griselda.

"We're continuing the Shipwright's quest," Griselda reminded them.

"Yeah, we have to follow this gondola, out of town," Lux agreed. The 'in town' gondaliers were up to SOMETHING, and part of this was to find out what.

"So it's part of the Elf War quest?" Grimlock asked. "We sided with the Light Elves."

"Me too," Lux admitted. "Dark Elves are creepy."

(On another part of the floor, Kizmel sneezed. As NPCs aren't supposed to DO that, she was very confused.)

They followed the ship to a underwater dungeon, and quietly followed them in. Keeping out of sight they saw them trading SOMETHING to a band of evil elves, though it was hard to tell what was in the crates.

"Quest log says we're done," Grimlock noted.

Caynz frowned, but he WAS right.

"Okay, back to town," Griselda agreed, even though they COULD have explored a bit more.

As they left Lux decided she did NOT like the feeling she got off of Grimlock.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The next morning, Asuna noted the Shipwright's Quest on the log did not read as completed. "Huh?" she blinked.

"Interesting. Go check with him, again?" Argo suggested.

Like Golden Apple they got the 'follow that gondola' order, and also explored the secret dungeon. Unlike the other guild, they explored further.

"Let's check out those crates," Yuuki suggested.

"Okay, WHY are they empty?" Liz asked, blinking.

"Ok, that is.. weird," Aiko agreed.

"Was this in the Beta?" Asuna checked with Argo.

"No," Argo shook her head.

"Maybe ask Kizmel once we contact her again?" Asuna suggested, just as two Dark Elves were passing by. Everyone shut up, as the man and woman talked.

"... and we'll be ready by the twenty seventh?"

"If those fools from the city continue delivering."

They moved off before anything else could be overheard.

'That's just in a week or so!' Asuna thought grimly.

To be continued...

Notes: I'm assuming every canon side character is running around at this point. Hence minor appearances. Might or might not use a few in bigger parts...

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 14

"GAWD I hate level grinding," Klein complained as they stood around one of the islands, waiting for monsters to respawn.

Hera nodded, "Still, it's not like we have a choice."

Everyone generally agreed that rushing through the floor would just leave you under-leveled when facing the floor boss. So you had to finish all the side quests on a floor, at least, and ideally spend time fighting monsters to push up your levels until you hit the level cap.

Sachi was killing a lizard monster, while the others guarded her. Mind you, she was finally getting near everyone else's level, and was a lot less hesitant too.

"Nice," Harry-one congradulated her, "remember to watch your back though," He moved in and cut down a lizard that had been going for her back.

"Thanks," Sachi said, sighing. "WHY do we get tired, in a video game?" she complained.

"Kayaba is a asshole," everyone chorused.

Elsewhere on the level, Heathcliff sneezed.

"Can you even get a cold in Sword Art Online?" Rosalia asked, the redhead working for him as a mercenary in exchange for him helping her with the ship building quest.

"I'm fine," Heathcliff waved it off.

"Someone must be talking about you," Agil teased, bringing up the old folk tale.

"Hmph," Hearthcliff grunted.

Back on the island, everyone had finished another round of monster killing.

"She's getting better," Dynamm noted quietly.

Sachi dodged a attack, then skewered the monster with her spear. There was a satisfying burst of light as it died, awarding her coins and experience. She could kill a moderately strong field monster with a single attack, now, where before it took two.

Hera killed another beside her, then both grinned at each other. "Well done!" she told Sachi.

"Ooof," Sachi grunted quietly. "Thanks."

"Now we just need to get some better gear," Klein sighed, "maybe there's something in the new Argo Guide?"

"Here's hoping," Harry One agreed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Achoo!" Argo sneezed.

"Why would you SNEEZE in VR anyway?" Liz wondered aloud.,

"Kayaba was a asshole," Asuna shrugged eloquently.

"Heh," Aiko nodded agreement.

The group was in town, and Argo had finished up her updated Argo Guide. It would have been nice if she could just upload it to the shops from where ever she was, but apparently you needed to do it in the main town on each level.

"Hey, Asuna!" one of the guild leaders waved.

"Ugh," Asuna sighed. "Go on ahead, I'll catch up," she told the others.

Yuuki lingered as Aswald of Silver Flags trotted up.

"Hey, I was thinking we could merge our guilds," the somewhat smarmy looking man leered at her. "I'm SURE we'd be stronger together," he clapped a hand on her shoulder.

"Hands off," Yuuki stepped up, scowling at him.

"Hey," he protested as she forced him backwards. You couldn't fight in the cities, but shoving could happen.

"Not interested," Asuna told him briskly.

"But...," Aswald started.

"Tend to your own guild," Asuna added, "I've heard you're pushing too hard, trying to clear floors faster. Rushing gets you killed."

"Hmph!" he grunted in annoyance, then strode off.

"I didn't need a rescue," Asuna noted to Yuuki mildly.

"Sorry, it's just...," Yuuki shrugged.

"Still, thanks. He was being a ass," Asuna added warmly.

Yuuki blushed faintly.

Liz murmured to Aiko, "Damn they are cute tho."

"Hmm," Aiko agreedly.

Argo also looked amused, if a bit annoyed too.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"AH! We're gonna die!" Silica squealed as the boat rocked and heaved.

"Got you!" Lux yelled, swiftly grabbing the smaller girl and yanking her towards the middle of the boat.

The 'mid' boss on this level was a giant turtle. Worse, you had to fight the damn thing out in the middle of a lake. To be blunt, it sucked.

Lind was leading the attack with his Dragon Knights, with Thinker's Aincrad Liberation Army (reluctantly) following his orders. With info from the new Argo Guide, since Asuna and her Harem had scouted out the lake first.

"Agil! To the left!" Lind yelled.

"Ooof!" Heathcliff grunted, having tagged along with Agil's tanks. He was honest;y regretting the choice, now.

"Hyaa!" Agil yelled as he swung the long handled axe, going a bit of damage.

"The shell soaks up damage like a sponge!" Thinker warned.

"We just have to pick away at it and keep moving!" Lind yelled back.

"Oh this SUCKS!" Silica groaned as they swept in for another attack.

"HOLD ON!" Rosalia yelled, steering the boat. They swept by the huge turtle, the five fighters on board slashing at the monster.

"It's readying a charge!" Klein called, recognizing the 'warm up' the monster did.

"TOO CLOSE!" Agil yelled as they were rammed, the group hitting the water at the boat capsized. A game mechanic automatically righted the boat after a minute, but until then they were vulnerable to the turtles bite and fin attack.

"Behind me!" Heathcliff barked to Agil, taking a hit on his huge shield, the whole boat getting knocked back.

"How did that not kill him...?" Lind blinked.

"Draw it's aggro!" Asuna yelled as they used their boat's ram to smash hard into the turtle's side, actually pushing it away.

"ASUNA IS SO COOL!" Silica and Lux sighed together dreamily.

"Ugh," Thinker sighed.

The battle finally ended, and for ONCE the 'last hit' was not awarded to Asuna and Yuuki. Surprisingly it ended up beingf Lux, who managed to get in a strike while the turtle was off balance and nearly dead.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The town beyong that battre was a boating village, Usco.

"Uh, Miss Asuna...," Lind looked hesitant.

"Yes?" Asuna looked at him warily, from the last time him and Thinker had tried to force her and the others to join their guilds.

"We're holding a Christmas Party in the town square of Rovia," Lind explained.

Asuna and friends hadn't noticed it was December 24th. The two 'BIG' guilds and some others had decided to hold a united Christmas party. They hadn't posted it around too much, but there were apparently a large number of players planning to go.

"Huh. Really?" Liz gave him a look, "this isn't another attempt to poach us away?"

"No!" Lind quickly defended their intentions.

Asuna said thoughtfully, "I think I'll pass." She turned to the others and added, "You can go if you want, though."

"Pass," Argo said immediately, remembering how most players had turned on her.

Lind winced, well aware of THAT.

Aika and Yuuki exchanged a glance then answered, "Nah."

"Also no. But thanks for asking," Liz added with a shrug.

Lind kind of deflated, and Asuna realized he had maybe intended this as a peace offering or something. "Well, you're all welcome," he said as he left.

"I kind of feel a LITTLE bad for him," Aiko noted.

"Eh. Serves them right for acting like assholes," Liz shrugged.

"Okay," Asuna said briskly, "let's check the various shops for new gear, then maybe get a room for the night..."

"Right," everyone chorused.

To be continued...

Notes: Trying to show some realistic RPG stuff, like l;evel grinding. We don't see that much in SAO. Also trying to show other characters than the leads.

So, should I try to use Rosalia, who was a Pker in original SAO, more? Or not?

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Interlude: The Real World

"This is all my fault," Kouichirou Yuuki sighed, the young man at a support group for families caught up in the SAO event.

"You didn't make her decide to try your Nerve Gear," Midori Kirigaya told him gently. Her nephew and adopted son, Kazuto aka Kirito had died in the game.

Kouichirou sighed, "Still."

Rurika Shinozaki, mother of Rika aka Lisbeth nodded, "I mean, I could have forbid Rika from buying SAO. But who knew this would happen?"

Kouichirou nodded, patting her hand.

It had been over two months since the madman Kayaba had trapped everyone who was logged into Sword Art Online inside the VR game. In the first few days there had been various attempts to get the Nerve Gear helmets off, killing all involved. Then the users started dying again, apparently due to dying in the game itself...

"It's the waiting and wondering that drives me nuts," a young woman sighed, "will SOMETHING in the game kill my husband?"

"I wish there was some way to see what's happening in there," another man grimly agreed.

"All we can do is hold out hope," Ms Shinozaki said sadly.

The group split up, and as they cleaned up the meeting room Midori Kirigaya addressed Kouichirou, "How are your parents holding up?"

Kouichirou winced a little and said, "They're not doing well. Dad blames himself for not paying enough attention to us kids, and Mom feels like the whole mess is embarrassing the family."

"I'm sorry," Midori patted his arm. "Have they seen anyone?"

"I've tried to talk them into coming along to one of these meetings, but...," Kouichirou shrugged awkwardly.

"It's not for everyone," Midori agreed. "My daughter, Suguha, refuses to attend, and instead has thrown herself into kendo."

"I heard she's a regional champ," Kouichirou nodded.

"She's good," Midori sighed, "but she needs to have something more in her life than school and fighting..."

"We all cope in our own ways," Kouichirou agreed.

"See you next week," Midori said gently.

Not long after Kouichirou returned to the family home, taking off his shoes in the doorway as he called, "I'm home."

"Welcome home, sir," the maid smiled warmly. She added, "I'm afraid neither of your parents are home."

Kouichirou winced, "As expected..."

Like any good maid, she totally ignored that. "Your dinner is ready to eat whenever you wish," she added gently.

"I'm really not hungry," Kouichirou sighed.

She looked at him worriedly, "You need to eat, sir... Miss Asuna would be sad if she woke up and you were unwell."

Kouichirou puffed out a breath, "You fight dirty."

"Yes sir," she conceded willingly and lead him off to dinner...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Huph!" Suguha grunted with effort as the young woman swung the wooden sword.

She had been doing drills for nearly a hour, now, and her arms and shoulders ached. But it felt good, like she was accomplishing SOMETHING.

"Suguha.." a voice came from nearby.

Suguha spun around, pointing the bokken at the young man, who jerked in surprise.

"Whoa!" Shinichi Nagata yelped in surprise.

"Shin-kun," Suguha relaxed slightly, "what are you doing here?"

Shinichi and her weren't friends, exactly, but he was one of the few kids brave enough to approach her. Plus, he had a friend who had gotten trapped in SAO, so he at least sort of understood what she was going through.

"Teacher said you skipped school...," Shinichi said, adjusting his glasses.

"The Kendo Finals are coming up," Suguha said evasively.

"I know it feels weird in school, when everyone knows what happened to you brother, Kazuto," Shinichi said gently.

"You don't know anything," Suguha blurted angrily.

"Suguha..." Sbinichi started.

"Mom told me... he was my cousin. And I never KNEW, and now he's..." Suguha trailed off.

Sbinichi listened as she rambled on about the death of her aunt and husband, and how her parents had adopted him before she was born. He listened sympathetically as she wound down with a tired sigh.

"Thanks," Suguha finally sighed.

Sbinichi nodded, "Are you going to be okay?" He paused, "Sorry, that was a dumb question."

Suguha chuckled, if a bit weakly. "I'll manage, I think."

"And please stop skipping class," Sbinichi added.

Suguha made a rude gesture, but she was still smiling.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Doctor Kurahashi walked through the ward, stopping at the special isolation rooms for patients with comprimused immune systems. Due to illnesses like AIDS, they cound no longer fight off illnesses, and could die from a simple infection.

Two patients were hooked up to the medicuboid, a very advanced medical VR system. It was meant to entertain and stimulate the patients, as well as control pain... instead, it had trapped both women in the hellgame of Sword Art Online.

"I'm so sorry," Kurahashi sighed.

"You couldn't have known this would happen," Seijirou Kikuoka noted, the black haired man having arranged to meet him there.

Kurahashi said bleakly, "I knew the medicuboid was experimental..."

Seijirou Kikuoka looked in at Yuuki Konno and her sister and asked, "Do you think we could remove the device?"

"We studied the plans for the medicuboid, it has the same hidden microwave emitters as the NerveGear," Kurahashi answered bleakly.

Seijirou Kikuoka nodded, "I see. How is their health holding up?"

"Surprisingly well," Kurahashi admitted. "But they have their conditions, and the issues everyone else in SAO are facing."

Everyone in SAO was effectively in a coma, and there was a limit to how long you could be in that state before medical issues started to set in...

"How long do we have?" Seijirou Kikuoka asked.

"At best, two years..."

To be continued...

Note: Short update, I know. Meant to be longer, but I had a hard time coming up with canon characters out in the real world. There's a surprising lack of characters shown, other than Asuna and Kirito's families.

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 16

The Christmas Party at Rovia was as big as planned, with MOST of the front line players there. There was plenty of food and drink, and a lot of talking and mingling going on.

"No Asuna's Harem?" Thinker asked mildly.

"Even YOU are calling them that?" Lind laughed.

Yulier, Thinker's wife, laughed too. "Well, everyone has nicknamed them that," she agreed.

"Not in front of her, though. I'm not suicidal," Lind added.

"Heh," Yulier nodded. She sipped her drink, "We need to mend bridges with Argo, I think."

All three sighed. None of them had been with the group that turned on Argo after the deaths on the first floor, but they all fully understood her not trusting anyone of them now.

"I'm not sure there's much we can do," Thinker admitted.

"Find the players that tried to kill Argo?" Lind suggested.

"They scattered once they realized they screwed up," Yulier pointed out. "And are probably still hiding out, even if we could identify them."

All three sighed again.

"Cheer up!" Silica declared, the smaller young woman smiling. "We beat the middle floor boss with no casualties, and it's nearly midnight!"

"Thanks," Lind nodded, "you're right. We should be celebrating."

There was a band playing, and the music was reasonably lively. "Dance with me?" Yulier asked Thinker, smiling.

"Of course, dear," Thinker followed her willingly.

Lind thought about asking Silica to dance, but worried people might think he was a lolicon.

"I CAN TELL WHAT YOU'RE THINKING," Silica pouted. "I'm still growing, darn it."

"Sorry," Lind shrugged. 'Maybe I can see if that Lux girl is around..,' he mused.

Silica sighed as he walked off. "If only there was a cool, mysterious hero type in a black coat I could long for," she moped.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The mysterious, black coated Yuuki Konno sneezed.

"WHY do we sneeze in game, darn it?" Liz complained.

They were in the village of Usco they were using as a home base as they finished exploring the river level. Before they attempted the dungeon between levels they were trying to clear all the side quests, just in case there were things they needed to know.

"Merry Christmas," Asuna said as their small, informal party met at a inn in town.

"Merry Christmas," everyone chanted back.

"Here," Aiko handed her sister a gift.

"I thought we weren't doing gifts!" Yuuki complained as she took it.

"It was a monster drop," Aiko said as Yuuki opened the package with a click, revealing a new armor piece that fit under her coat.

"Ebony Breast Plate!" Asuka read the item description. "Nice.. pluses to resistance and evade."

"Speaking of gifts," Liz handed something to Asuna.

"Seriously?" Asuna took it.

"We noticed you don't have much armor," Argo added, "Bracers of Defense. They boost your stats but don't cut agility."

"Pretty too," Asuna put them on.

"Uhm, Argo." Aiko handed her something.

"Seriously?" Argo gave the tall amazon a look.

"They're upgraded 'claws' Aiko admitted, "saw a player selling them, so..."

"Good. I got you this," Argo passed her a ring.

"If you're proposing, it's too soon," Aiko deadpanned.

"Alas, my heart belongs to Asuna," Argo joked. As everyone laughed she added, "It's a anti-debuff ring. It cancels low level poison and other debuffs."

"Well, last gift them," Asuna added as she handed a package to Liz.

"A new portable forge?" Liz blinked.

"It's upgraded from your usual," Asuna added, "I THINK it's still usable by your skills too."

"Did you PLAN this?" Argo wondered.

"No," Asuna admitted, "I guess we're just this type of person."

"Ha," Aiko shook her head.

Liz sighed as she took in the fish stew dinner, "I DO wish we had KFC or something."

"Isn't that for couples?" Argo asked impishly.

"Huh?' Yuuki and Aiko both blinked.

"On Christmas, loving couples often go to Kentucky Fried Chicken," Liz noted. She saw Asuna;s perplexed look too, "Never have?"

"No boyfriends, busy in school," Asuna admitted.

"Yeah, ditto," Aiko added and Yuuki nodded.

As they ate, Asuna had the weirdest feeling the girls were lying...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"You're kidding... it's SNOWING?"

Christmas morning the various players woke up to snow on all the floors they had reached in Aincrad so far.

"I don't know if this fits 'Kayaba is a Asshole' or not?" Klein mused aloud.

(Kayaba aka Heathcliff HAD actually intended snow on Christmas to be a little treat for the players. Admittedly, he hadn't anticipated it taking so long to break out of the first floor. Still, he hoped it wouldn't be too bad...)

"I LIKE snow," Sachi noted mildly.

"Hopefully it doesn't cause a combat debuff," Dynamm noted.

"Like slipping," Hera noted distrustfully.

"Shit. I hadn't considered that," Klein noted.

"Maybe wait until tomorrow before heading out?" Harry-one suggested.

"... Sachi looked out at the snow thoughtfully.

"What?" Klein asked.

"Have any of you done a snowball fight in awhile?"

The group exchanges glances, grinned, and rushed out into the snow.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"You know, I bet everyone else is taking a day off," Aiko noted as they took their boat up stream.

"Argo says we're nearly at the Dark Elf Fortress where we'll meet up with Kizmel," Asuna said apologetically.

"Well, gotta see your girlfriend soonest," Liz teased.

"Could you not, please?" Asuna sighed.

Argo, Yuuki and Aiko all looked amused though.

They went through a fog bank, and were blinded a moment, much like when they entered the Dark Elf village earlier. They emerged from the fog, then several gasped.

"Oh wow," Liz breathed out.

A gorgeous castle stood in the center of the lake, the Dark Elf flag fluttering in the breeze. The waters shimmered, even as some snow came down.

"I see a dock," Aiko pointed, "I'll bring us in."

At the dock several warriors saw them coming. Some stayed on guard, others hurried inside and them emerged with a familiar figure.

"There's Kizmel!" Argo noted.

They neared, tossed a rope and tied onto the dock. Gracefully Asuna jumped onto the gleaming stone, even as Kizmel hugged her eagerly.

"Welcome, Asuna!" Kizmel cried.

"Not her girlfriend my ass," Liz teased impishly.

"Shhh," Aiko scolded, amused.

"Huh, interesting," Argo murmured.

"Hmm?" Yuuki looked at her.

"In the Beta we would be challenged by guards first...," Argo mused, "I guess just another way Kayaba has changed things?"

:So we can't completely trust your experience?" Yuuki shrugged. "It's fine."

"Here's hoping," Argo agreed.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 17

Sachi stabbed out with her spear, driving the weapon down into a fish monster.

“Nice,” Klein told her, cutting an enemy down with a sword.

Of course, what he REALLY wanted to be using was a katana, but it was too early in the game for those to appear in shops or be a monster drop. And (so far) he hadn’t found a blacksmith who could forge him one.

In another part of the floor Lizbeth the Blacksmith, who was experimenting with forging exotic weapons, sneezed.

“Catching a cold?” Aiko asked.

“Someone must be talking about me,” Liz shrugged.

Back with Klein’s team, they were reorganizing after wiping out the last monster. “Still wanting better gear?” Harry-one teased.

“Don’t we all,” Klein admitted.

“No injuries?” Hera checked, though she hadn’t seen any red pixels on the guild.

“We’re fine,” Dynamm reported.

They were (it looked like) nearly done exploring the map to this floor of Aincrad. The boss fight was being scouted out by the two Guilds, the Aincrad Liberation Army and Dragon Knights. Klein felt a pang that his guild wasn’t one of the leaders, but they WERE a small guild.

“Okay,” Klein said, “let’s head back to town, check into the NPC shops then check in with Thinker and Lind.”

“Right,” his teammates chorused.

“And maybe get a good meal,” Hera noted. “One thing you can say about this game, the food at least is great.”

“There is that,” Silica said with a shrug.

Changing the subject Harry One noted, “I heard the boss is related to that Elf War quest that got mentioned in the Argo Guides?”

“I almost wish we had jumped in on that,” Klein admitted, “I heard you could get good weapon upgrades out of it.”

Dynamm pointed out, “Short of going back a floor and doing it...”

“We’d fall behind the leading parties,” Hera shook her head.

“We’ll manage,” Klein agreed. As they entered the village he mused, “Wonder if I’ll run into that cute Lux again?”

Hera casually smacked him one.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

“I’m so glad you made it here,” Kizmel said, the gorgeous Dark Elf pulling back from hugging Asuna.

“Me too,” Asuna admitted, even as (again) she wondered at how emotive Kizmel was. HOW? It was so strange.

“You didn’t have too much trouble?” Kizmel asked, gazing at her searchingly.

“Well, the Forrest Elves are tangled up with something involving the Boat Guild,” Asuna admitted, “but we handled that I think...”

“They’re on this floor?” Kizmel blurted, surprised.

“Guess they didn’t know?” Yuuki guessed quietly.

“Yeah, that is NOT good,” Argo agreed.

“We need to tell the Commander,” Kizmel said firmly. She only THEN really noticed the group, “Oh, hello.”

“Hi,” Aiko waved.

Kizmel turned to the watching guards and said, “Raise the alarm, I’m taking these humans to the Commander.”

“Yes ma’am!” one saluted.

“Might be jumping the gun a bit,” Liz noted as they hurried inside.

“The Forrest Elves were probably working with the Boat Guild to build craft to attack here,” Kizmel explained as they speed walked.

Argo nodded, “Agreed. Do you have enough forces here to beat them?”

“Probably no,” Kizmel admitted.

Asuna jumped in, “We can help! I can organize the other guilds...”

“We should talk to the Viscount,” Kizmel noted.

Liz was sort of hoping the Viscount would be a hot, tortured loner type. Maybe the sort of man who might rush ahead, dress all in black with a trench coat, and so on.

(Yuuki felt a weird chill, and was thankful Liz was mostly heterosexual.)

“Welcome to Yofel Castle,” the man said, oddly staying in the shadows, “I am Viscount Vofilis.”

‘Why can’t we see him?’ Liz pouted.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

“Wait, the final battle ISN’T going to be an attack on the city?” Lind demanded, the leader of the Dragon Knights frowning.

“Yofel Castle...,” Thinker nodded, “all right, it DOES make sense based on the Elf War route.”

“We have guild members playing that route,” Yulier agreed, “they concur. Though no one’s had their companion be like Kizmel.”

“Clearly, it’s Kayaba’s fault,” Lind declared.

In another part of the floor, Heathcliff sneezed.

Rosalia, one of his temporary party members, noted, “You do that a LOT.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Agil shrugged, “watch your side! That water beast is coming back!”

Heathcliff sighed, glad he had recruited competent help.

Meanwhile, back at the meeting, Lind noted, “So we think the attack will be in a few days?”

“We have scouts watching the rivers leading into the zone where the Dark Elf Fortress is,” Thinker nodded, “they’ll signal us when it’s time to move.”

Lind scowled. While his Dragon Knights were (arguably) stronger individually, Thinker and Yulier were MUCH better organized. In the long term, that might end up being a issue.

Silica trotted in as they paused, addressing Yulier, “Ma’am, several parties in and around the Fortress want to level grind against local monsters.”

Yulier looked \at Thinker, “I think it should be fine.”

“Just don’t do anything to annoy the Dark Elves,” Thinker added.

Lind nodded, “All right, I’ll get groups from the Dragon Knights out there. Are unaffiliated parties out there too?’

“Well, Asuna’s Harem of course,” Yulier noted, amused.

“Of course,” Lind rolled his eyes.

“And Agil’s tank group.. that adventurer, Heathcliff, is running with them,” Thinker added.

“There’s SOMETHING about that man I don’t like,” Yulier admitted, “I can’t quite put my finger on why though.”

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

“THIS IS THE BEST BATH EVER.”

“Asuna, keep it down,” Yuuki teased.

“Sorry,” Asuna laughed as they relaxed in the huge heated bath.

After they briefed the Count, Kizmel had suggested they base themselves out of the Castle until the attack came. Which made sense, but Asuna was reluctant. They SHOULD be out there, finishing quests and level grinding.

Then Kizmel mentioned the BATH.

“Are all human’s so obsessed by bathing?” Kizmel teased, the gorgeous Elf sinking into the water beside her.

“It’s a Japanese thing,” Asuna explained.

“No, it’s REALLY a Asuna thing,” Argo teased.

“Don’t be mean,” Asuna pouted.

“I’ve missed this,” Aiko said mysteriously as she and her sister relaxed nearby.

“Missed?” Liz asked.

Aiko paused, then seemed to decide something. “Yuuki, do you mind if I tell them?” she asked.

Yuuki also looked thoughtful, but nodded.

“Huh?” Asuna blinked.

Aiko said, “You know that Yuuki and I are sisters, but the reason we were both online when this happened was because we’re in the hospital.”

“Oh, no,” Liz breathed out.

“We use VR to have fun outside of our treatment,” Yuuki added. She made a face, “We never planned on THIS happening.”

“I’m so sorry,” Asuna said gently.

No one wanted to ask why both were in the hospital...

To be Continued...

Notes: I am debating if I want the girls to have AIDS. It’s just... a very strange disease to get, and I feel the author picked it for shock value.

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 18

Lux smiled wryly at Silica, the two girls talking. "I sort of have the opposite problem," Lux admitted, the pretty young woman sighing.

"Too many guys hitting on you?" Silica guessed, the smaller girl pouting.

"Yeah. And they can get pretty creepy too," Lux added.

"Not Lind tho," Silika asked worriedly.

"No, thankfully. Him and Thinker have been okay," Lux sighed.

Silica had a idea, "We should join Asuka's Harem!"

Lux sighed, "I don't think they're taking members right now."

"Oh," Silica pouted.

Lux gave her a look, "And it IS Asuna's HAREM."

"Asuna would never hit onb someone unwilling!" Silica protested.

"Point," Lux conceded.

"Hmm," Silica nodded.

"Besides, she had Yuuki and Liz keeping her happy. And possibly Argo." Lux mused.

"You think they're a quad... whichever?" Silica asked, scandalized.

"That's the rumour," Lux agreed.

"... I sort of envy her," Silica mused after a moment.

"Asuna?" Lux wondered.

"Her and Yuuki are SO COOL," Silica sighed.

"Yeah," Lux agreed with a dreamy sigh.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"ACHOO!" Yuuki and Asuna sneezed.

"Are you catching a cold?" Liz asked curiously.

Yuuki shook her head, "I'm fine, I think."

"Maybe someone's talking about us?" Asuna guessed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Heathcliff once again cursed the team of programmers who had 'helped' to create Aincrad and added bits without TELLING him. .

"WHY GIANT LEECHES?!" Rosalia yelped, stabbing one with her sword.

"This is awful," Agil agreed, the 'tank' cutting down another with a axe.

Back in the 'real world' Heathcliff as Kayaba had NOT included these disgusting monsters, and in fact hated the whole idea.

"Uff!" Heathcliff blocked an attacker with his shield then slashed it.

Not far away Golden Apple were facing the same monsters.

"THIS IS SO GROSS," Yolko yelped.

"Don't let them latch on! They have a life drain ability," Grimlock noted, for once not sulking.

"Yech," Caynz agreed.

"And they slime you when they die," Schmitt added, having killed one that burst all over him.

"Form up on me," Heathcliff yelled, "we can best fight them off together!"

Griselda hesited, then nodded. "Back to back! Protect each other!" she ordered.

The leech monsters tried to swarm them, but the groups chopped away until the beasts finally died off.

"That was horrid," Yolko groaned.

"Agreed," Agil sighed.

The 'gore' from the dead leeches soon disappeared once they were slain, but a few of the adventurers got a acid debuff, as well as some damage. They also saw piles of equipment, apparently another group of adventurers who had fallen to them.

"Well, damn," Grimlock cured softly.

"Shit," Schmitt agreed.

"We should get out of here in case they attack us again," Heathcliff offered, looking around them warily.

Griselda frowned at him, silently wondering how you got that cold to seeing death, even virtual like this. Still, he had a point.

Heathcliff noted how resentfull Grimlock seemed. And he had.. shifty eyes.

'He's going to be trouble, eventually,' Heathcliff mused as they escaped the leech's range.

"Thank you for the help," Griselda admitted, offering her hand.

"You too," Heathcliff shook it.

Griselda hesitated then said, "Would you be interested in joining a Guild? We could use you."

"I appreciate the offer," Heathcliff shook his head. "My companions might be interested."

"Sorry," Agil shook his head, and Rosalia agreed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"GIANR LEECHES?!"

"That was totally not in the Beta Test," another noted.

Klein and his Guild were near the Dar Elf Fortress, reading for the raid there. They were all leveling up, while looking for any new or interesting monster drops.

"But leeches? Seriously?" Klein visibly shuddered.

Hera agreed, "Kayaba was a ASSHOLE."

On another part of the floor, Heathcliff sneezed.

Back at the camp Harry-one added, "How nasty are they?"

"Not hugely... they life drain, and do corrosion damage. They can wreck your gear without killing you," Klein noted, having seen the report from another player.

"Ewww," Sachi agreed, the spear weilder listening in.

Dynamm nodded, the other fighter eating a fast snack. "It sucks so hard we have to eat and sleep in game, too," he sighed mournfully. "We could clear so much faster if we could go 24/7."

"Fatigue too," Hera agreed.

Ignoring that Sachi addressed Klein, "Do we know when we'll go after the Castle?"

"The Dragon Knights and Aincrad Liberation will let us know," Klein shrugged. "There's apparently a few side quests to finish, too."

"So, it's the elf war storyline," Harry-one mused aloud, "and the forrest elves havce gotten the ferry guild to build them boats so they can attack the dark elves?"

"Yup," Hera agreed.

"So why didn't they recruit players to buikld the boats?" Sachi wondered.

"It might cause player vs player fighting," Klein noted. "Officially, SAO is against that."

"Yet it allows player killing?" Sachi scowled.

"KAYABA IS A ASSHOLE," everyone chorused.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Yuuki Konno couldn't sleep.

Night had fallen at the Castle, and the dark elves had put them up in what, in the game, were luxurious quarters. The huge, fluffy bed was extremely comfortable, but...

"Do you need anything, adventurer?" the voice called.

Yuuki blinked as the dark elf maiden strode in. "Eeep," she eeped, seeing she was wearing just a barely there silken tunic.

The gorgeous woman casually strode to the bed, her smile warm as she said, "Kizmel has ordered we do everything to make your stay comfortabnle."

"Wait, I...," Yuuki started.

The maid tilted her head, "And you are most attractive, too."

The tunic hit the flood as the beauty climbed on the bed. "You don't need to," Yuuki squeaked.

"Let me take care of you," the elf kissed her lingeringly.

"Hmmm," Yuuki found herself kissing back.

The elf drew back, then seemed to shift, becoming the mirror image of Asuna.

"ARGH!" Yuuki yelped, coming awake in her bed, thankfully alone.

Her big sister Aiko looked over, having been sleeping in the next bed over. "Nightmare?" she asked, frowning.

A fiercely blushing Yuuki muttered, "Something like that."

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 19

“Naval battles. I HATE naval battles,” Heathcliff cursed.

The battle for Yofel Castle was both out on the water, and back at the castle itself. Adventurers and their boats were tasked with stopping the Forest Elves from reaching the castle, while other adventurers fought anyone who landed.

“Oh yeah,” Rosalia agreed, stabbing a Foresty Elf sailor.

“Ooof!” Agil grunted, shoving an attacker back.

“Shit,” Kuradeel yelped, the warrior stabbing at another.

(Kuradeel had asked to come along with the raid, and they were short of numbers. Frankle Heathcliff had his doubts about the man, tho he appeared capable.)

“We’ve got to try to keep them landing more troops!” Agil grunted,\

Rosalia rushed forward, stabbing another enemy before he could get agil.

“Thanks!” Agil grunted as he cut another down.

“Brace yourselves! We’re going to ram!” Heathcliff barked as they raced towards another attacking boat. The ram they attacked to their boat slammed into a Forrest Elf ship, shattering it.

‘Yes!” Kuradeel cheered.

“Be on guard! The survivors will go for us,” Agil warned as, indeed, the survivors tried to swarm their boat.

They drove the forest elves back, and they soon vanished.

“Does anyone else find that creepy looking?” Rosalia muttered.

“Yup,” Kuradeel agreed.

There was a moment of calm, as the attackers reorganized for another push. “Well done!” Lind, leader of the Dragon Knights, called from another boat.

“You too,” Heathcliff agreed. “How’s the fighting at the Castle?”

“Asuna’s Harem and the Aincrad Liberators are handling it,” Lind admitted.

( “Is EVERYONE calling them Asuna’s Harem?” Rosalia muttered.

“Pretty much,” Agil agreed.

“Damn...” Rosalia paused, “Well, she IS hot. I’d do her.”)

Everyone just ignored that.

Lux, also on Lind’s boat, pointed, “More ships incoming!”

“Ugh, form up and get readyu to fight,” Agil growled.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

“COME ON IF YOU’RE HARD ENOUGH!” Aiko yelled, swinging her heavy sword and sending forest elves flying.

“Sis..,” Yuuki groaned, leaping in and stabbing another.

Liz smashed another down with a mace, even as she saw another boat land and release more forest elves. “What are the guys on the lake DOING?” she complained.

Argo stabbed a dude, leaping back to dodge another. “It’s a game mechanic,” the beta tester noted, “even if the teams out on the lake sank every boat, some will automatically appear here.”

“That’s stupid!” Liz complained.

Kizmel cut a attacker down, looking gorgeous as usual. Beside her Asuna was a blur, swiftly cutting elves down.

“Holy shit,” Thinker muttered. He KNEW about how good Asuna’s guild was, but seeing it u[p close like this was another thing. They were wiping out waves of elves with frightening ease.

“Pay attention dear,” his wife chided, Yulier beside him.

“Sorry,” Thinker replied.

“We’re going to be overwhelmed eventually,” Yulier noted grimly.

Argo growled, “Did NONE OF YOU READ THE GUIDE I WROTE?”

Several people exchanged looks.

Argo growled, “We need to bring the lord of the castle into play.”

“Who has to do it?” Yuuki yelled as she dueled.

“Party leader who’s been on the Elf War route,” Argo answered briskly.

“Right,” Asuna nodded, “Kizmel, lead me to him!”

“Of course,” Kizmel agreed \and the two hurried off.

“Did she sound EAGER to rush off with Asuna?” Liz mused as dshe clobbered another.

“Yup,” Argo agreed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Viscount Vofilis was really, REALLY overleveled for the battle.

“Why can’t WE get a NPC like that?” Klein complained as they watched the one sided battle.

Viscount Vofilis just DOMINATED the fight with both special gear and unique attack moves. Plus the overpowered Kizmel. Of course. Mind you the sheer number of forest elves meant everyone was kept busy....

“HYAH!” Sachi ran through her attacker.

“Nice!” Dale congratulated her.

“Watch yourself,” Hera saved him from a knife wielder.

Harry-one cut down a third guy, even as the attackers slowed.

Dynamm looked around, “The boats have stopped.”

“Think that’s it?” Hera asked warily.

Asuka and her Harem and the ALF finished off the ‘boss’ fight, then cheering broke out.

‘FLOOR CLEARED’ the artificial voice declared.

“Oh thank fuck,” Dale muttered as the remaining elves mysteriously disappeared.

Sachi puffed out a relieved sigh as everyone got a boatload of experience, as well as a treasure drop for helping fight.

“And there’s the stairway up,” Harry-one pointed.

“Want to volunteer to go up and open the gate between levels?” Klein checked.

“Nah, I’m exhausted,” Hera noted.

“Ditto,” everyone chorused.

“Looks like a ALF dude is going,” Klein noted. “Ok, check your statuses, let me know if we got any items or such.”

“Mostly some weak plus one gear,” Dale noted. “There’s a Ring of Agility.”

“Sachi, you have an agility build. You want it?” Klein offered.

“Please,” Sachi smiled weakly.

“All right, let’s head back to town, see if we can sell off everything else to the NPC shops....”

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Lind, leader of the Dragon Knights, fought the urge to pout.

“Not everyone gets to contribute the same amound every time,” Lux pointed out, the pretty young woman with them as the battle wound down.

“We didn’t do much either,” the leader of Golden Apple added.

Lind looked over at Griselda thoughtfully. “Have you considered joining up with a larger guild?” he asked them.

“Err...” Schmitt looked sheepish.

“Not at this point,” Griselda said quickly.

Yolko muttered, “If we were, we’d be talking to the Aincrad Liberation Front.”

“YOLKO,” Caynz yelped.

Lind winced.

“So!” Grimlock changed the subject, “Anyone get any interesting treasure drops?”

“Sorry, boss,” Martyn patted Lind on the shoulder.

“It’s FINE,” Lind grit out, annoyed.

Lux gave him a concerned look, but dropped it.

Lind shook his head, “Anyway, let’s head back to town. The gate to the next level opens soon, and I want to hit the weapons shops there.”

To be continued....

Notes: I’m basically thinking of the Dragon Knights as the more reckless, but higher leveled types, while Aincrad Liberation are lower leveled but well organized and methodical.

YES that’s Kuradeel, who was Laughing Coffin and tried to off Kirito. As I killed off the founders, the various characters are just out there. I need to decide if he and Rosalia are going to go bad or not.... they will PROBABLY still be awful people, at least.

Chapter Text

Notes: I need to catch up on the LN, so I'm putting this on hold for a bit. As the 'canon' Fifth Floor was Kirito vs Player Killers, I'll MOSTLY be making it up anyway.

Sword Apocalypse Online

Chapter 20

"Welcome to the Fifth Floor," Klein declared as the small party of adventurers moved through the ruins..

"And the biggest location here, Karluin," Hera noted.

(Argo had gotten a basic 'Argo Guide' on the floor out already, though she was now out investigating what had changed from the Beta.)

"So, it's a city built in a ruined older city?' Sachi checked, warily looking around them.

"Yup," Dale agreed. "Treasure hunter's paradise, too."

"Before we do that, we should check the shops for new gear," Klein reminded them.

"Yes Dad," Harry-one joked.

The towns around the Level Gates had NPC shops where you could buy armor and weapons. They were still at the point where the best weapons and gear came from monster drops, then whatever was in the shops. Eventually player blacksmiths would start creating high level gear, but they weren't at that point yet.

"I want to at least get an armor upgrade," Dynamm noted, tapping his armor that they had gotten on Floor Three.

"Here's hoping," Sachi agreed, the young woman dressed in light armor that helped the spear woman move fast in battle.

Klein was happy that Sachi seemed more confident, now that they'd been working together a bit. She still wasn't the strongest fighter, but she was getting there.

"So, we have to go outside of the ruins to fight monsters?" Hera checked.

"Oddly no. There are catacombs you can access below town to do certain quests," Klein noted, have noticed that in the guide.

"Isn't that dangerous? What if you wander down by accident?" Dale blinked.

"Basically, don't do that," Dynamm said.

"Oh joy," Dale shook his head.

"We'll look into it once Ago revises the Floor guide," Klein decided, adding, "no reason to take extra chances."

"Fair," Hera agreed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"What a NICE inn," Asuna sighed happily.

"You're just happy it has a bath," Aiko teased, the older girl smirking.

"Well, yes," Asuna agreed.

Liz just chuckled. "Is the Elf War quest continuing here?" she wondered.

"I'll need to check," Argo noted, "but in the Beta it skipped to the next floor."

The group was sitting at a table in the inn's common room, eating dinner after they rented two rooms. They were used to sharing, and there was no point in wasting money.

Yuuki ate her soup, which was actually pretty good. Food in general in SAO was not bad, though there were exceptions. There was the one ramen stand a few floors back that was weirdly tasteless, and a 'sausage in a bun' dealer that was horrid.

"Going to miss Kizmel?" Liz teased.

"I am NOT," Asuna blushed.

"Yuuki can help keep you warm," Aiko volunteered her.

"Sis!" Yuuki yelped.

Argo snickered quietly.

Liz also looked amused. "I think you scandalized those kids over there," she nodded to a group of young men at a nearby table.

"It's not like stories of her supposed harem aren't going around," Aiko noted. She smirked, "I heard someone drew a dojin."

"WHAT," Asuna yelped.

Argo shrugged, "You're surprised?"

"Yes!" Asuna groaned.

"I mean," Liz noted, "there are hundred thousands of Japanese otaku who have time on their hands and draw manga in their spare time. So..."

"Ugh," Asuna sighed. "How... graphic is it?"

"Graphic they are," Argo smirked, "there are several."

"And very graphic," Liz snickered.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The Aincard Liberation Front and Dragon Knights guilds were scattered around the floor nearest the city, searching out side quests and fighting local monsters.

"RUN AWAY!"

Lux cursed, the silver haired young woman moving up to fight the dire wolves.

(The huge beasts were CLEARLY inspired by the US TV show. Was there copyright issues? Or did the programmers think no one would notice?)

"Stand your ground!" Griselda ordered as the battle raged.

Grimlock was too slow, and a dire wolf ripped into him. "No, not now..." he managed to get out as his life plummeted, A second wolf pounced, and he was gone.

"NO!" Griselda wailed.

Lux had no idea what was going on with her, but it wasn't something she could help. "We're not leveled enough to fight them," she yelled, "we need to support each other."

Schmitt nodded, "Protect each other."

Caynz helped guard Griselda, then Yolko and Lux hurried up to her.

"Damn it, Grimlock," Griselda shook herself. "Let's kill these furry bastards," she growled.

"Don't fight them solo," Lux added.

"Thank you," Mayu, a member of the Dragon Knights, muttered to her, "we.. kind of panicked."

"And got Grimlock killed," Lux added flatly.

The wolves were slain, and no one else was lost but... the Golden Apple guild was visibly shaken.

"What the hell?" Yolko demanded.

"It's our fault," Lux calmly took the blame, "one of our Knights panicked, and several of our members bolted."

Griselda scowled, but admitted, "Grimlock did as well."

"I'm.. deeply sorry," Lux added, bowing slightly.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Oh hell," Lind groaned as he heard the news.

"How did that happen?" Mito the purple haired swordwoman asked.

Mito had emerged as a powerful sword woman, and had joined with the Dragon Knights. She used a scythe, and was both capable against single foes AND fighting mobs. Silica thought she was AWESOME, right up there with Asuna.

"Several of the lower level fighters panicked," Lind admitted.

Silica, who had been taking notes, sighed as she mused, "We're trying to mobilize players who hadn't fought, so we'll probably have it happen again."

"Almost certainly," Mito agreed.

In addition to the players pushing to advance as fast as possible, there were a LOT of players refusing to leave the first floor and face actual danger. The Dragon Knights and Aincrad Liberation Army were trying to get those players helping with clearing floors...

"And we can't train them TOO hard, or they'll just quit," Lind sighed.

Mito added, "I think Lux did really well, as far as that goes."

"Hmm," Lind agreed. Lux had straightforwardly taken responsibility and handled the situation.

Mito nodded, "Possibly we should look into putting her in command of a party?"

Lind nodded, "It's a point."

"She did really well against the elves too," Silica added.

"Do you think we can recruit Grisella?" Mito wondered aloud.

"She and the other Golden Apple members seem determined to stay independent," Lind mused. He had asked at the last boss fight.. they were pretty firm.

"Understood," Mito nodded.

Silica mused, "And that Heathcliff guy... he's planning to form a guild too?"

"Looks like it," Lind agreed.

Heathcliff was weirdly strong, and charismatic too. And he was willing to pitch in, and was one of the leaders in clearing levels. But... there was something about him that bothered Lind, and he couldn't quite place what it was.

Silica's stomach suddenly grumbled. "Eep," she yelped.

"Let's break for dinner," Lind chuckled.

To be continued...