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.