[SP-F2] Breaking the Unbreakable (Complete)

[Trinoko 0]

He had been wandering the second floor aimlessly, taking notes on what sort of beasts roamed here, points of interest, so on. When he saw what looked like a cave in the distance, naturally he approached. When he at last reached the cave, he found it was blocked! Where the cave would have held an entrance, now there was a giant rock! Surely it would only be blocked if something valuable was within, he thought, and so he made it his mission to get past the rock!

[Trinoko 0]

The first thing he tried was the most obvious. He tries to push the boulder, growling in displeasure as he lacked the strength to make it even budge the slightest amount. His next choice of action was to take several steps back and draw one of his throwing blades from his belt. He focused and the blade began to emit a glow and a soft ringing sound. After a moment of charging he threw the blade at the stone, a loud clanging heard as it made contact with the stone... and ricochet! As the blade flew back and past Trinoko's ear he gulped and noted 'not to try that again' while collecting the blade from the ground.

[Trinoko 0]

After his failed attempt to move or break the stone with his only choice of weapon, he was a bit stumped, staring at the stone in thought and then searching his environment for a sign of what to do. Eventually his eyes catch sight of something in the last place he expected. When he glanced upward, examining the mountain which held the rock, he squinted and could barely make out the form of a hut. Doubting it could be any form of a coincidence it was there, he decided he would climb to the strange hut.

[Trinoko 0]

It was not going to be an easy task, the mountain not exactly accepting for those who would seek to climb it. Seeing few other choices he used the first grip he found and started the long climb. He could feel fatigue over taking him with each time he lifted his hand upward, working his way up along the stone wall. He had never been more thankful for his light weight and equipment!

[Trinoko 0]

It took nearly a half hour of climbing, with only slight cliffs to rest on until he had to start again and begin climbing, but finally he had made it to the hut which rested on the mountain's side. He took a moment to simply lay there on the hard stone, letting his virtual muscles rest and restore his stamina. He tried not to think about how he was going to get back down.

[Trinoko 0]

After resting for what he felt was a reasonable amount of time he stood, patting off the dirt and dust he gathered throughout the climb as he walked to the hut. It was a simple one, thatched and made primarily of stone. A piece of cloth acted as a door and he called inside. "Hello, is anyone in there?" Moments later a voice called back "Please, come inside." He smiled, glad to hear his climb was not yet wasted! He pushed the cloth aside as he walked into the hut to greet it's owner.

[Trinoko 0]

When Trinoko entered, he was greeted with the sight of a middle-aged man with dark skin and a heavily toned body meditating on a circular mat. Hoping he was not disturbing the man he said. "Uh, hello..." He takes a breath to calm his nerves "Perchance, would you know a way to break the stone at the foot of this mountain?" The man nodded, wordless for several minutes before saying. "The stone will never break from a weapon forged of mere metal. You need something far stronger." The man opened his eyes and moved onto his legs, shoeless. "Shall I show you how you will break the stone?"

[Trinoko 0]

When the old NPC ceased his words, a menu obscured Trinoko's vision. It was a quest! He couldn't help but grin when his hunch was proven correct. After scanning the quest over, noting it mentioned some sort of training, he hit the accept button at the bottom and the old man moved to an urn at the side of the room, motioning Trinoko over. When he did move to the man's side, faster than he had seen anything move the man ran his fingers along Trinoko's cheeks, making him gasp in surprise and jump back, grasping at a blade to realize he was unharmed. "Tradition. None may undertake the training without being marked beforehand." If AI could have humor, it showed in the man's face as he smiled.

[Trinoko 0]

Trinoko sighed in disbelief, sheathing his blade as he moved out of his combat stance. "Cute..." He groaned and looked around, spotting a mirror he looked into it to see three lines across each cheek, blood red. He touched the mark, only realizing it might smudge after he touched it! When no smudge occurred he raised a brow and tried again. It wasn't going to come off! The old looking NPC moved towards his door and said "Follow. We must reforge your body." Trinoko looked at the man with a raised brow, wondering what exactly he meant but soon followed, trying to fight the urge to keep wiping at the markings on his cheeks.

[Trinoko 0]

The man lead Trinoko out of the hut and towards a small cave that was hidden behind the hut. When the man gestured for him to keep following they entered into the cave. Even at the entrance, it gave off an intense heat. The heat only grew stronger with each step, until at last the cave opened up and he found himself in an arena of sorts! And all around it was lava, dripping form the walls, and pooling around the outside of the strange dojo. "This is where we will forge your body into a weapon. Your blood shall become steel, and your hands into blades."

[Trinoko 0]

Trinoko stared around the impressively deadly room. Momentarily blank in the mind so he didn't notice the man moving to the center of the room for a minute. When he finally caught himself staring he blushed and moved to the center after the man. The man moved into a fighting stance, nodding to Trinoko to do the same. "This is the most important part of your training. Use this stance, both to protect yourself and to lash out at those who would seek your harm." The man made several jabs and kicks, showing Trinoko first what to do, and then directing him to do it.

[Trinoko 0]

As the training persisted, his body warmed. Not only from the heat of the room itself, which already caused him to sweat heavily and remove the majority of his equipment, but from the effort of each punch. It was almost like the room itself made each movement a hundred times more impact and heavy. Soon the man stopped motioning but told him to remain in the fighting stance. The wise NPC stood in front of Trinoko, muscles flexed and back straight. "Focus your energy into your body, and then strike me. It matters not where or how."

[Trinoko 0]

Trinoko hesitated, unsure what it would accomplish. As the man remained there, waiting for Trinoko, he eventually gave a slow nod and then Trinoko focused, trying to focus on his legs like he would when preparing an art. Soon Trinoko's legs emitted a glow, and he then hooked his leg upward and jabbed forward with his now bared foot! As he made contact with the man's stomach the man was pushed backwards a foot and then stopped, clapping his hands in approval to Trinoko and saying to him. "You are ready."

[Trinoko 0]

Trinoko sighed in relief when the man seemed more than strong enough to take whatever he had to dish out. As Trinoko wiped his brow he was directed out of the cave, gladly moving out from the horribly warm dojo and into the cool air of the mountain! He swapped through his inventory and re-equipped his items, the NPC returning to his hut and saying. "You may return to the foot of the mountain and break that which blocks your path. Trust in the weapon that is your body and know nothing shall stop it."

[Trinoko 0]

Trinoko, by instinct thanks to years of weird kung-fu movies, bowed his head in thanks to the man who taught him how to use his body as a weapon. He had a feeling such a skill would come in quite handy for one who used throwing blades. Trinoko saw a soft glow beneath his eyelids and touched his cheeks, the markings gone and soon a quest pop up appeared, stating he had finished the quest! Trinoko did a little victory hop at the gaining of a new skill in the rewards! He moved to the edge of the mountain, hesitating as he looked down but sighing softly as he started to move himself down along the mountain.

[Trinoko 0]

He hadn't moved any further than five feet before it occurred to him to use what he learned! His hands and feet both began emitting a yellow glow as he jabs them into the stone! He climbs down, noting the damage he did to the mountain disappeared and somehow climbing down fatigued him less. Maybe it was only tiring as a test of will? He shrugged and happily, after some time, jumped the rest of the distance down and stretched himself, rubbing his sore muscles before heading towards the object of his malice. The giant rock.

[Trinoko 0]

Trinoko stared at the rock and grinned a little cockily, entering his newly learned combat stance, making a few changes to fit his drawing of throwing blades. He would need to get a holder to attach to his arm. When he felt he was ready, he took a long breath and focused. Just as before, the yellow glow covered his foot, leaving a trail of light as he kicked into the rock! Then, as if it had been waiting this moment it's entire virtual life, it shattered and fell apart! The path was now open to him!

[Trinoko 0]

Trinoko entered the cave after doing a little post-victory fist pump. It was dark, sure, but nothing that would blind a man. In a corner of the surprisingly small cave was a chest of sorts. A reward for breaking through it? As he kneeled down to open the chest, he prayed the gods of luck were kind. Trinoko's face was covered with a distinct look of despair as the chest was empty, giving it a little kick in defiance before leaving the cave with a pout. It seemed experience and training was to be his only reward.

[Trinoko 0]

As Trinoko left the cave, he glanced up, thinking he heard something, and just behind him a rock crashed into the ground RIGHT behind him at the cave's entrance! As he stared up, thankful for his life, he saw the old man waving and then returning to his hut. It seemed he was not to be the final person to complete this quest. Trinoko chuckled and headed back to Urbus to share his misery, potentially.

[Trinoko 0]

The very first thing Trinoko did upon arrival of the town was post his findings of the stone which could be broken for a treasure on a noticeboard, more than a little eager to let the other people of SAO go through the same tortures he did, however worth it they were in the end. With a nice hard day's worth of work behind him, he headed to the nearest inn for a loooooong sleep.

((Quest Complete!))