[SP-Multi Floor] Awake

[Alkor 0]

The smell of sulfur and molten earth were the last things he could remember. Alkor opened his eyes in a dark room with candlelight filtered in from the hallway. Where was he, and how had he come to be there? He was...

...

Racing toward the massive beast, Alkor surged upward with his blade and drove it deep. The boss' health began to drop steadily, but not before one of its many heads swooped round and engulfed him entirely. Surprised by sudden aggression against him when the tank still had threat-- high threat, at that-- the darkly dressed damage dealer lost hold of his blade.

He was awash in a sea of flame, but the warmth did not harm him. Not beyond the intangible damage it did to his digital presence. His health dropped at a similar ratio to the creature's own, and he rapidly struggled with his items until he found what he sought.

In the instant that it belched him out, the Teleportation Crystal reacted. Disappearing in a stream of crystal data, Alkor was saved from certain death only by his quick thinking.

But what came next?

"Oh, so you're awake?" the voice that greeted him was unfamiliar and feminine, and when he saw the NPC, she smiled. "You've been asleep for some time now."

"How long?" he asked.

"...you should check the date and time yourself," she said with a soft smile. "I'm not too good with that sort of thing, to be honest."

She gave a slight bow, and Alkor swiped his finger quickly in front of himself. His eyes fixed on the clock. "Years," he mumbled the word aloud. "I've been comatose for years?"

 

 

 

 

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

The town looked the same, by all rights. Hung over the maw of a dormant volcano, the town had been ideal for Alkor because people generally did not want to settle there. It was also a good practice ground for him, and presented mobs with a difficulty that had challenged him without overwhelming him entirely.

Now, it was a shadow of itself. Players had left it behind, and Alkor could only assume that they had long since left the Ninth Floor behind them. When he did find another player, he would ask them how far the Frontline players had come...

...and how far behind he was. His stats were the same- level 21, 430 HP...  had the others that he remembered gone on and become stronger? Did they even need him now?

No. That didn't matter. He still remembered how important it was for him to survive, and to assure everyone that he could protect did as well. Gone were the days when he was nothing more than a player in a game. Thom had a reason to fight, a real reason, and nothing would drag him back down.

"Hey," he called over to one of the greener looking Players who happened along on his path. "How far along are the frontliners now?"

"What, have you been living under a rock?" he laughed. "They're just about to floor 25. At the boss on 24 now, or should be anyway."

Twenty five.

"...thanks," he muttered, and the other man shrugged as he went about his business.

 

[Alkor 0]

The dark cloth flapped in hot wind as Alkor stepped out of the town and into the field. Steam vents and rivers of magma stretched out in front of him, reminding him of the first time he stepped out of a safe zone and into mortal danger. It wasn't quite so daunting, but he barely remembered the sensation of conflict anymore. He had to do something to refresh his memory.

Alkor wanted to catch up, but there was a lot to do before he ever got that far. He checked his equipment and items, his Col, and his skills as he trudged onto the dry hellscape. As soon as he did he get out in the open, the floor reacted. Aincrad was merciless that way.

The Lizard Warrior leapt toward him with its blade bare, screeching loudly in the way its kind was wont to do. Its HP bar was as anticipated, average relative to the floor level and challenge rating, but also hardly a slouch in terms of things he had faced in the past.

He swiftly armed himself with Nightbringer as it approached, but his reaction time was too slow. The blade bit air, narrowly missing the greenskin as it hopped deftly away from the strike. He snorted loudly and gripped the weapon more tightly, quickly forming a battle plan.

Alkor: Level 21 422/430 HP 40/42 Energy

7 Base Damage 3 EVA 2 Savvy 21 MIT

Lizard Warrior: 90/90 HP 27 Damage

 

ID# 131348 results:

 Battle: 2 Craft: 3 Loot: 12 MOB: 10

Alkor misses!

Lizard Warrior Super Critically hits!

27+2= 29 - 21 = 8 Damage!

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

The fleet-footed swordsman reeled away from the first strike, rolling to his haunches with his blade held out to the side. He worked quickly to control his breathing, silently glad for the [Athletics] mod that he'd invested skill points into. It made him quicker and more hearty, which helped tremendously when dealing with enemies. It also made him slightly stronger.

That became evident as he quickly pushed off the balls of his feet and began his onslaught anew, engaging with the lizard in swift swordplay. Their weapons clashed loudly and sparked, evidence of the strength of the Floor's threats as well as Alkor's own training.

It was almost like learning to walk again for the first time, but with help from steroids. Still, he proved too slow to evade the enemy as it scored yet another stunning hit against him. The blade knicked his armor and formed a red gash.

At the same time, however, Alkor did not fail to strike this time. His blade sank deep into the Lizard, digging out a small chunk of its health. He smirked as the creature staggered backward, bleating out a disdainful cry.

Alkor: Level 21 414/430 HP 39/42 Energy

7 Base Damage 3 EVA 2 Savvy 21 MIT

Lizard Warrior: 83/90 HP 27 Damage

 

ID# 131350 results:

 Battle: 6 Craft: 2 Loot: 7 MOB: 10

Alkor hits! 7 Damage!

Lizard Warrior Super Critically hits! 

27+2 = 29 - 21 = 8 Damage!

 

 

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

They clashed again, rushing toward each other recklessly. Their blades kissed. Alkor let out a powerful warcry as he activated his sword art. The blade began to shimmer faintly and take on a violent red shade, a stark contrast to his amber eyes.

It brought the blade high and brought it downward as he came upward from beneath. In the instant before their weapons could clash, Alkor unleashed his ability.

One downward stroke, which knocked the wind out of the creature, followed swiftly by two more blows, and finally...

The flat of his blade slammed downward into the beast's head, robbing it of its senses. When the stun was applied, Alkor quickly fell back to regroup. It was a good chunk of damage: but the fight was far from finished.

He fell into a balanced stance, feet shoulder width apart and showed only one side of his body to the enemy. The less of a target he gave, the less danger he was in overall. The Lizard would recover soon enough.

Alkor: Level 21 414/430 HP 33/42 Energy 

7 Base Damage 3 EVA 2 Savvy 21 MIT

Lizard Warrior: 50/90 HP 27 Damage

 

 

ID# 131351 results:

 Battle: 7 Craft: 12 Loot: 16 MOB 8

Alkor activates <<Horizontal Square>> and hits! [7×4=28 damage!]

Lizard Warrior is stunned!

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

This time, it charged with increased fervor. The stun effect had worn off, but it only served to enrage the creature rather than deterring it. Alkor twisted his hips into the motion as he brought his blade from low to high and parried the incoming strike. Both of them were thrown back by the impact, but Alkor managed to plant his feet just in time to remain standing.

He grit his teeth as he sprang toward the Lizard Warrior with his weapon at his side, now much more aware of himself. Everything started to flow back into his mind, from the Hydra down to the first Boar he had ever hunted in Sword Art Online. Everything was assisted by the game, but natural skill and training still translated through to the augmented reality.

The blade glowed hot red again as he came close, bringing it down at an angle, then ripping it back upward at the opposite vector to form a "V" pattern of red along the creature's torso. It wailed and pitched back, away from danger as the quickly adapting player bounced on the balls of his feet. 

The adrenaline rush was everything he remembered and more. Alkor felt alive again, moreso than he had since...

Since...

It had been a very long time. He let out a wistful sigh through his nostrils as he prepared himself for the last moments of combat. The enemy had already fallen into red health. He would be finished soon enough.

Alkor: Level 21 414/430 HP 30/42 Energy 21 MIT

7 Base Damage 3 EVA 2 Savvy

Lizard Warrior: 12/90 HP 27 Damage

 

ID# 131352 results:

 Battle: 6 Craft: 11 Loot 11 MOB: 6

Alkor activates <<Vertical Arc>> and it hits! [7×4= 28 Damage!]

Lizard Warrior misses! (6-3=3 BD)

Alkor's [Savvy] proc! (+2 to ACC on next attack)

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

The beast drew heavy breaths as it stared back down at the player, who had proven more than a worthy adversary. Aincrad always sent danger toward them whenever they were outside a safe zone. It wanted to challenge them and it watched as they prospered or failed without any real emotion. It was an uncaring god, the Cardinal system.

Perhaps Kayaba had found amusement in that parallelism.

Alkor seized his opportunity. The beast staggered over it's attempt to evade him, which ruined the attempt it made at reciprocity. With all the [Savvy] his armor granted, his blade glowed hot once more and he drove the final nail home. The Lizard twisted and writhed as Alkor split it in three separate places.

The blade ran through, back out, in, out, in, and out for the last time. Data streamed skyward as the Lizard exploded into fragments and dissipated from the virtual reality. Alkor took a long breath and exhaled sharply. Literal years had passed since his brush with death, and while he was behind, he was relieved that he wasn't starting over entirely. There was much work to be done, but the gap felt much less significant than when he first got the news.

With that in mind, Alkor put away Nightbringer and turned back toward town. Were his old contacts still good? Had new faces taken eminence in Aincrad? Would people remember him? Did people think he had died? There were many questions, and perhaps soon he would have some answers.

Alkor: Level 21 414/430 HP 30/42 Energy

7 Base Damage 3 EVA 2 Savvy 21 MIT

Lizard Warrior: 0/90 HP 27 Damage

 

ID# 131353 results:

 Battle: 4 Craft: 5 Loot 16 MOB: 1

Alkor activates <<Snake Bite>> and hits! [4+2 (Savvy) = 6] 

[7×3= 21 Damage]

Lizard Warrior is dead!

 

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

The triumphant return to Vulcan was only warm in the literal sense. There were no familiar faces to greet him, and no messages to respond to. The system had responded to him well enough; because combat went over without a hitch, and he had absolutely decimated that creature. His health rapidly returned to full as he headed toward the teleporter at the center of town.

Where would he go next? He would have to start learning the lay of the new floors eventually, and perhaps reconnect with other players that had forgotten him, or...

Well, best to cross that bridge when he got to it. There were a few faces he would struggle with, and he knew that. Hopefully that would be less painful than he thought it would. He had never been good with people.

How he would deal with not seeing them for several years, or explain his miraculous death defying stunt-

There really wasn't a good way to do that.

[Alkor 0]

The light consumed him for several seconds, and when he resurfaced, the biting cold of the fourth floor assailed him. It was much more inviting than the harsh heat of the ninth floor, and it held a great deal of memories for the Dark Swordsman. This was where he would start to deal with remembering what he had lost.

There were more players here than on the ninth floor, markedly. They came to gain strength and to rapidly boost themselves toward the Frontlines. Alkor remembered his own struggle, and it was the perfect place for him to jump right back into it.

He walked past the inn, a place where his former guild once met to form, and where it fondly had many of its meetings. Alkor had been more of a Black Sheep than anything, and a liability more than an asset. Lessa... Lessa had given him a lot of chances, despite his poor attitude and callous behavior.

He also remembered why he had been that way, and the conversation they had about it. Alkor wasn't sure how to make friends, or really even how to be a friend. But, he did know others deserved to be treated better than he had treated her.

It started to set in that maybe, she might be better off if she didn't see him.

He knew that wasn't going to happen, though. At some point, if Lessa was anything like the person he remembered, he'd inevitably run into her again while she was helping someone else.

[Alkor 0]

Then, there was Mari. 

That was the hardest thing of all, because his own emotions about it were so complicated. They had been thrown into complicated emotions. Her with the death of her daughter and a sadistic stalker that followed her into Aincrad to watch her suffer, and him with so many unresolved issues of his own. Those things had led to an inexplicable closeness as they sought comfort in one another.

She had taken his first kiss, but he had willingly given it. The very thought brought warmth to him as he traversed the chill, now moving along the path out of town toward the snow fields. 

Alkor was uncertain how that would work, now. It had been years, and if she had survived, it was possible that she would not forgive him for failing to tell her he was alive. Or worse, she might hate him.

His ideals about seeing the game through would never falter, but his resolve about how to deal with the people he had met in this world...?

Those things were much less cut and dry.

 

[Alkor 0]

There had been others. He was certain of it. He tried to recall names and faces, but it strained him. As the cold mounted and worsened, he knew he was getting closer to the Starglade. It was possibly the most beautiful place in all of the lower floors, and it boasted some of the more social memories that the player had from back then.

It was also a quiet place, perfect for dates, or simply for introspection. That was why he chose it more than anything else. When he reached his destination, he found an isolated position to sit and observe the night sky. 

There was something more pressing and urgent than any of the others trapped in Aincrad, something he could not find any answers about until they finished the game. Still, it weighed heavily on him.

"Grandma," he murmured quietly. Tears played at the edges of his eyes, and his face contorted in sadness. "I made it out alive. I'm coming back. I promise. You're still waiting for me, right?"

He could only hope that she was.

"I almost died, grandma," he said to the stars. "I almost died, but I made it. I made it because I promised I would. I'm not going to die until I see you again."

 

[Alkor 0]

It was quiet, and cold, but the wind was still this high up. There were braziers lit along the path, and the makeshift safe zone offered a degree of comfort players could take solace in. He huddled close to one of those heat sources and rubbed his hands together for warmth.

What was his next course of action? Sort through muddled thoughts and emotions? Check. He was still shedding tears over his reason for living, but there were other things to face. New people to meet, new challenges to experience, a whole series of worlds he had never seen.

Aincrad had given him a life where circumstance had robbed him of his. In a way, he was more than he had ever been during life outside, and these experiences would carry with him back into reality.

He hoped the rest of his family would receive him well, and that he could take his new mindset and reforge their relationship into something better. Gods only knew, Thom hadn't been much of a person before.

Not by any metric. His mother and father spurned him because of his lack of personality, and his sister had never given him much more than a few words on special occasions. His grandmother had been the only one he had any sort of bond with. But that could change. He understood the value of life now, and even if he struggled with human interaction, he knew their worth.

He knew they were irreplaceable.

 

[Alkor 0]

Alkor took a step along the path, snow crunched beneath his boots. Starlight poured down over his face and the cool air bit at him. He let out a long, relieved sigh. This was what it meant to be alive. Warm days, cold nights, and uncertainty that led to new adventures. In the real world or in Aincrad, it did not matter.

What did matter was how they used that time. Had he not grown, those experiences would have been wasted. Thom understood how all those interactions had fundamentally changed him as a person, and he had no desire to go back to the person he was.

The persona of Alkor was important for another reason. 

People had died. People would continue to die without intervention. Alkor was not an avenger- Alkor was a protector, a warrior who fought so that others could live. He had given himself the power to fight because others could, or would not. He threw himself at the Hydra without a thought so that the pathway to the end could be reached.

The time to hold himself accountable, and to set himself back on the path forward had come. He was done with finding himself, and his memories.

It was time to move onward.

[Alkor 0]

He swiped the menu open deftly and moved to open the messenger. There were no friends on his list, but the game would allow him to message someone provided they were on the same floor, and he did know her name. It was a gamble by all rights.

Lessa had no cause to remain on the lower floors if she had survived. If she was helping others, she would probably be on floor one, not floor four. The chance was still there.

He put her name in the field and started to write, letting his uneasiness settle more with each word. They would be faced with each other eventually, and it was better if they both were unsurprised by that fact.

Better, or worse- if she didn't get it, or she wasn't still alive, what then?

Again, he had to tell himself not to dwell on that. He would know after he hit send.

He hit the send button, and by some miracle, the message went through. He swallowed drily. 

"It went through?" he questioned. Wait. That meant... 

"She's here somewhere?"

 

To: @Lessa

It's been a while. I know this is sudden, but you're the first person I thought to reach out to. I'm trying to piece together what's happened for the last couple of years. You don't have to message back if you don't want to, but thanks for reading this at least.

Alkor

He hit the send button, and by some miracle, the message went through. He swallowed drily. 

"It went through?" he questioned. Wait. That meant... 

"She's here somewhere?"

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

The knowledge that Lessa had received his message put all new thoughts in his mind. What would he say? How would she react? Would it be as calamitous as some of their previous meetings? He took a deep breath and shook it off. It was set in stone at this point.

Instead of fretting over it, he decided to head back toward town. There would be plenty of opportunity to sort out the confusion and emotion when he got there. Until then, he would use his time to shake off a bit more rust.

Alkor hurried down the frosty ridge and down along the path. He practically slid at the speed he opted for, but now, he was just so excited to be alive. It was like never before, energy brimming up inside him and boiling over, threatening to burst him at the seams.

But he channeled it all into his movement, and continued to move with subdued Grace as the snow drifts tripped him up every so often. Alkor let out a laugh and a cry in the same breath, tumbling down the mountainside and back within sight of the safe zone.

He brandished Nightbringer and rushed headlong toward a mob.

 

 

[Alkor 0]

The Snow Wolf growled as he closed the distance between them. Its white pelt was almost the same color as the floor beneath them, but its eyes glowed a hot crimson and its breath roiled from between it's jaws. It sprang for him quickly, and he smirked.

The beast tumbled as he twisted his body out of the way, but the snow managed to delay him just enough that reprisal was impossible. Alkor gripped his blade tightly as he rounded to face the wolf, eyes squinted to stave off the cold.

Two predators, a single mind.

Alkor's [Savvy] proc went off as the beast went wide, granting him increased probability of striking the creature due to his evasiveness. It was the kind of trick a rogue in more traditional RPGs might use, and for Alkor, that was as natural as it got.

The beast snapped at him and barked as he settled into a combat ready stance, low to the ground and with his knees bent.

Alkor

Level 21 430/430 HP 40/42 E

7 Base DMG 3 EVA 2 Savvy 21 MIT

Snow Wolf 40/40 HP

27 DMG

 

ID 131439

Battle 5 Craft 4 Loot 12 Mob 6

Alkor misses!

Snow Wolf misses!

[6-3 = 3]

Alkor's [Savvy] procs!

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

He dug into the snow with each step, but he also remembered how it felt and slowly acclimated. Despite how it dragged him down, it also made him less of a target and the beast struggled just as much. It was unused to a more cunning enemy, especially one that could adapt to its surroundings. Much less threatening than the Lizard Warrior he fought previously, and yet it was also dangerous in its own right.

A weaker player could easily fall victim to something like this. With that in mind, he struck with the intention of putting it down, and activated his Sword Art. The blade once more shone a brilliant red color as the system urged his body forward.

The twin strikes of his <<Vertical Arc>> painted a crimson wound across the creature's torso as it limped backward, surprised by the vicious attack from the player. It was obvious that there was a gulf of difference between him and the beasts on this lower floor now, moreso than there had been before. Alkor could see his own growth.

Now, he could harness that power and climb the ladder.

Level 21 430/430 HP 37/42 E

7 Base DMG 3 EVA 2 Savvy 21 MIT

Snow Wolf 12/40 HP

27 DMG

 

ID 131441

Battle 4 Craft 2 Loot 2 Mob 2

Alkor activates <<Vertical Arc>> and hits!

[4+2 (Savvy) = 6]

Snow Wolf misses!

Alkor's [Savvy] procs!

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

He wasn't quick enough to capitalize on its weakness, even with the augments he received from his equipment. It managed to slip out of the way of his next sword art, squandering the energy spent to utilize it. Still, Alkor learned about his strengths and weaknesses, especially with the build he had chosen for himself.

It was important for any player in an MMO to understand their class and abilities. Endgame players were only ever successful when they knew what to do and when, and Sword Art Online's Frontlines were not only the same, but the stakes were much higher as well.

Alkor took the opportunity to settle himself and reassess the situation. The Wolf circled him with a quickness that came with being indigenous to the floor, but the darkly clothed player gave no quarter. He would not be taken unawares.

The wolf pounced once again, but Alkor scrambled out of the way. "Damn snow," he hissed ironically. It had always been some of his favorite weather, but it made combat much more strenuous.

Level 21 430/430 HP 33/42 E

7 Base DMG 3 EVA 2 Savvy 21 MIT

Snow Wolf 12/40 HP

27 DMG

 

ID 131442

Battle 3 Craft 5 Loot 13 Mob 5

Alkor misses! <<Snake Bite>>

Snow Wolf misses!

Alkor's [Savvy] procs!

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

He turned a full twist and lashed out three times. His blade sank deep into the wolf, which froze mid-motion as Alkor's damage was done. It sputtered for a moment before sinking to the snow and dematerializing as a stream of data. 

The darkly dressed player let out a sigh and shook his head. Even the least daunting of fights in this world came with the possibility of certain death, so one wrong move could be costly. Fortunately, he had learned quickly and early on how to survive. It was showing through now as he put away his weapon and checked on his stats. Soon, he would be able to invest more in either damage, or defense, or... well, there were plenty of options. Alkor was glad for it, too.

Then, there was the matter of Lessa. He would get a message back soon, he was sure of it. There was no way after all that time she would not have questions. He had them, after all. He looked around and headed back toward the path. That would be the safest place out in the deep snow for him to get some direction.

Level 21 430/430 HP 28/42 E

7 Base DMG 3 EVA 2 Savvy 21 MIT

Snow Wolf 0/40 HP

27 DMG

ID# 131443 results:

 Battle: 6 Craft: 8 Loot: 8 MOB: 3

Alkor activates <<Snake Bite>> and hits!

[6+2 = 8] for 21 Damage!

Snow Wolf is Dead!

Edited December 9, 2019 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

The light flashed in front of him and prompted that he had a new message. He had not expected to get a response so quickly, but as he opened it, Alkor realized why. He read the words several times and wondered at their meaning before it hit them. She had told him to go somewhere only he would know to go.

She didn't trust it. 

That made sense. If it were him, and she had seemed to disappear completely he would have done the same. Had time made Lessa quite so guarded? It made sense. Aincrad was a cutthroat world, and there were hordes of people in it who had become just as cutthroat themselves in a mad attempt to survive it.

Alkor did not have to respond with a message. He silently turned to head back to the Starglade, not far from where he already was. There, he could wait for her and make an attempt to compose himself. After all, things were probably about to get much more confusing and emotional.

To: Alkor

Meet me where we fought Orochi.

Lessa