[SP- F7] My Serpentine

[Alkor 0]

Case of Wurms

Rig was a strange little town. The Seventh floor was filled with mountains and rocky terrain but of all the encampments, this one was surrounded by a dusty sand bowl that wasn't quite the sweeping wasteland of floor five. It was the lowest point on the floor, which had a mountain peak at its highest.

The eerie screech that echoed through the town was attached to the quest that brought him hence. Alkor looked out from the tent where he'd been resting and toward the sky. "Sounds like it's taken flight again," he muttered to himself. "Things going hunting. This is probably my best chance to fight it."

He stretched out, languid and content after his nap. It was a long walk from the main settlement of the floor to Rig, and he figured he'd earned it.

The Snake creature had devoured many NPCs, and the Information Brokers were eager to send people in to help thwart the beast whenever they could. It was a good chance to hone his skills.

Alkor level 30

620/620 HP | 60/60 EN

10 Base Damage | 48 MIT | 1 EVA | 3 ACC | 1 BLT (BD 9-10)

Curved Sword Rank 5 | Light Armor Rank 3 | Athletics Mod

Blightsteel: T2 Demonic Curved Sword [Cursed | DMG | DMG | Blight]

Nightmare Bomber: T2 Perfect Light Armor [MIT | MIT | EVA]

[T1E3] Eye of Horus Enamel Pin
-- [ Accuracy III | +3 ACC. ]

[Alkor 0]

"Haven't even been able to get a caravan up the mountain in days," one of the nearby NPCs complained. "It keeps swooping down and snatching folks up. No one leaves the encampment. It won't come near the guards, but..."

"Who's to say that'll deter it forever," the younger man agreed. "Someone needs to kill the damn thing." Alkor felt the words sting like an accusation as he overheard them. He knew it was the System coyly attempting to put an idea in his head, and it was working.

"Seen it eat anyone?" the older man asked.

"No, never watched it do its thing," the other replied. "It either drags them under the sand or flies off somewhere. By the time it's back, no one knows where it took their remains."

"Maybe's a nest out there for someone brave to find." Both of them laughed at that. Alkor wasn't quite as amused. "It generally circles and comes down to land once an hour or so," the older man finally added. "I have seen it on the ground for about twenty minutes or so at a time. If someone caught it while it was sunning itself, that might be the best time to deal with the thing."

Alkor poked into their conversation at that point. "When it lands," he asked. "Where is that, usually?"

"Center of the dust bowl," the old man chuckled. "I'd avoid it if I were you. That's pretty risky stuff."

"Thanks for the concern," Alkor replied with a tight smile.

[Alkor 0]

The sand was difficult terrain under most circumstances, but it wasn't windy on floor seven like on floor five. Sandstorms were uncommon, rare even because the winds that did sweep over were largely buffered by the mountain range that comprised the majority of the landscape. Alkor was able to make decent time through the wasteland toward his objective.

The shrill cry of the beast circling overhead caused him to watch the clouds intermittently, worried the encounter might begin out of nowhere before he was ready. It could swoop down suddenly and smack him for an impressive amount of damage if he weren't careful. He wasn't interested in dying, and he'd had people make him promise to be vigilant about taking better care of himself.

Not that he didn't jump headlong into the fire anyway, in some situations. That was just... Alkor.

"Alright, he said somewhere near the center of the sand pit," Alkor commented as he opened the map data and surveyed his location. "I shouldn't be too far, now..."

[Alkor 0]

The shriek from overhead grew louder as he stepped on the point that the map depicted as the center of the desert. Rocks strewn about served as footholds where a Player might have better traction during a fight, but they were spaced out enough that one would have to jump between them if they wanted to attempt anything like that.

Sand slipped and sunk when weight shifted in it, and evasion became an afterthought. For this encounter, Alkor would have to be extremely sharp. His eyes flicked from one rock to another as the sound overhead became a ringing in his ears, and Alkor dove out of the way at the very last second. The serpent screeched in disdain as it went winging through air where Alkor had stood a second before.

It coiled around itself, spiraling in air like a piston pumping to keep an engine running. Weaving through itself, it cast an enraged gaze on Alkor and its health bar materialized in his HUD. 

"So you're the guy," Alkor greeted ironically.

Amphis Serpens hissed at him angrily before it tucked its head and disappeared into the sand. The bowl of dust began to swirl rhythmically as the beast swam through the granules, and Alkor immediately realized that where before he had only to worry about his footing...

...now he had to worry about attacks from below, and the ground attempting to swallow him up.

"...yeah, you're definitely the guy."

Alkor: 620/620 HP | 60/60 EN | 48 MIT | 0 EVA (penalty applied) | 2 ACC (penalty applied)

Amphis Serpens: 150/150 | 45 MIT | Damage per Attack: 70

[On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the boss will attack the two players with the highest Hate and poison them, dealing normal attack damage in addition to inflicting an unmitigatable DoT [20 DMG] effect that lasts 5 turns.
Due to the shifting sands and movement of the boss, players take a -1 penalty to Accuracy and Evasion]

[Alkor 0]

He watched from his perch atop one of the various rocky outcroppings as the floor churned. It would spring suddenly from somewhere, and his reaction would mean either a nasty hit, or him remaining intact.

This was the first stronger beast he'd faced, and though it was hardly the challenge of an upper floor mob, it had the ability to murder a lower leveled Player on its own. He'd heard from the Information Brokers some people had reported watching at least one death to the field boss.

But he wasn't about to become one of them. As he saw it burst from below, Alkor reacted. He hopped quickly forward to engage, and swiped fast at the creature's wiry form as it appeared. The snake twisted out of the way, clearly quick in its own right, but now, it was fully visible. The playing field had been leveled.

Alkor stayed low, ready to respond at a moment's notice. 

 

Alkor: 620/620 HP | 58/60 EN (-2) | 48 MIT | 0 EVA (penalty applied) | 2 ACC (penalty applied)

Amphis Serpens: 150/150 | 45 MIT | Damage per Attack: 70

 

ID# 158781 Battle: 2 MOB: 1

<miss>

<miss>

Edited July 12, 2020 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

Their dance became deadlier when the beast rose into the firmament again. Alkor kept his gaze on the undulating form of the serpent as it twisted round, and he crouched low in preparation to jump. It's coming, he noted as he brought his blade around, angled in front of his face.

...now!

It came crashing through the clouds with a screech. Alkor matched its violent gaze with his own determination. The open, venomous maw of the creature raked across the sky as it swept through air at him.

He threw himself upward, away from the creature's path of destruction. When he came crashing down, he did so to land in the beast's back.

Alkor stabbed his weapon into the back of the serpent and ran along the length of it, drawing a line of scarlet data.

"More!" he cried out, exhilarated by the conflict. "More!"

He rolled out into the air as the beast jerked around, attempting to dislodge him. Alkor fell toward the ground and hit the sand softly.

Alkor: 620/620 HP | 48/60 EN (-11) | 48 MIT | 0 EVA (penalty applied) | 2 ACC (penalty applied)

Amphis Serpens: 75/150 (-75) | 45 MIT | Damage per Attack: 70

 

ID# 158782 Battle: 6 MOB: 5

Alkor activates LEGION DESTROYER! A hit! 

10 × 11 = 110 - 45 = 75 damage!

Amphis Serpens misses

Edited July 12, 2020 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

The creature flailed wildly around and struck at Alkor as it angled toward the sand. He ground his teeth as he was forced off balance by the movement, digging into the sand in order to steady himself. "Dammit," he hissed as the shifting sands threatening to drag him under.

When the serpent moved, the sand went soft, quick, and attempted to swallow him. Alkor shifted and struggled against the overwhelming force. I'm not going to lose. I refuse!

He pulled up on one foot, attempting to rip it free. Alkor stepped down on the rock closest to him, dredging his leg out, looking to free himself. 

That was when the serpent surfaced. It peeled out of the sand right over top of him, raking talons viciously across his body. Alkor fell backwards hard, taken off guard.

He rolled over his shoulders and found his footing, then spat in the sand indignantly.

Alkor: 598/620 HP (-) | 47/60 EN (-2) | 48 MIT | 0 EVA (penalty applied) | 2 ACC (penalty applied)

Amphis Serpens: 75/150 | 45 MIT | Damage per Attack: 70

 

ID# 158787 Battle: 1 MOB: 6

Alkor misses!

Amphis Serpens hits! Alkor takes 22 damage.

Edited September 7, 2020 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

It whirred around in rage as it tasted blood. The intensity of their battle mounted, and Alkor found his own anger spiraling to match his drive. Flames deep within stoked to an inferno as he brought his weapon round and angled it upward.

Amphis Serpens sought to climb. It saw danger, and in that instant, looked for freedom. As it turned upward to take flight, Alkor brought his weapon slamming downward.

The beast deftly twisted and maneuvered away from what should have been a catastrophic end, by all rights. Alkor growled in frustration as he collided with the sand, a massive squall of the stuff billowing upward and outward around him. Given time, this fight could become an ordeal to watch- not that he intended to give the field boss that much time alive.

Alkor: 578/620 HP | 37/60 EN (-11) | 48 MIT | 0 EVA (penalty applied) | 2 ACC (penalty applied)

Amphis Serpens: 75/150

 

# 158789 Battle: 5 (+2) MOB: 3

Alkor misses

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

Alkor waited a half second before he turned his body. Instinct guided him, and his arm ripped outward behind him like a chef with a knife about to fillet a fish.

The winged serpent yowled, flinched, and writhed in protest as the weapon caught it, and Alkor set to work removing its scales. In a flurry of blows, the creature exploded into data.

He was on his way back to the encampment not a minute later.

"You killed it!" the old man cried out in disbelief as he reentered Rig. "Of all the things I've seen in a long time out here, that's gotta be the best in a while." Alkor trudged into the encampment and slumped next to the man showering him with praise. "Why, I figure we can get the caravan moving again and finally make some progress up the mountain."

"Anything good up there?" Alkor asked. They already knew what awaited Players deep within the dungeon, and they'd faced many trials since the Seventh floor had been the highest they'd cleared to. Still, it didn't hurt to humor NPCs. Sometimes it even paid off.

"There's a strange temple along the way," he said, "and if you manage to get high enough, word is there's some kind of creature up there waiting for a brave enough adventurer to take it on."

Alkor knew better than to give into that temptation right away. Maybe he'd save that one for a trip up the mountain with a friend. For the moment, the temple sounded like the perfect stop.

"Think I can rest here a little while longer, then move up the mountain with the Caravan when you send it off?" Alkor questioned.

"Mighty fine idea, son," he replied. "They'd be lucky to have a caravan guard with some chops. Sure thing, let me know when you're ready to go."

Alkor: 575/620 HP | 27/60 EN | 48 MIT | 0 EVA | 2 ACC

Amphis Serpens: DEAD

 

ID# 167703 results:

 Battle: 9

 MOB: 9

Edited September 7, 2020 by Alkor

[Alkor 0]

Alkor thanked the old man as he slipped into the back of the wagon, waving until the small encampment was out of sight. He felt the rattling of the wagon as it clambered up the path, probably a crooked wheel or a shoddy axle, but he never complained. If the worst he dealt with today was a bumpy ride he could keep his relative discomfort to himself.

Life was short, and the things that made it enjoyable were the ones most often missed. That's one of the number of things Aincrad had taught him. Because Alkor had torn through the enemy so quickly, there was plenty of time for him to rest.

This small event, the ride up the mountain in the wagon, was another type of blessing. He got the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the scenic view of this floor. That was something few Players actually did, because more often they sped through what quests they needed and went on to the next. 

He wasn't going to waste the chance. 

[Alkor 0]

The sky stretched out over the mountain range behind him as the path leveled off. Billowing, fluffy clouds swam through a gentle ocean of blue as the rhythm of the caravan rocked him like a babe in a crib. Alkor felt the strong urge to fall asleep, but he resisted it. They had asked him to come along as a guard, after all. 

If he was derelict in that duty, what would he tell the old man if something went awry? Alkor wanted to keep his word and remain accountable and trustworthy, even if the people he made the promise with were only NPCs. There was something about it- he knew, whether or not anyone else knew was irrelevant.

That was what his grandfather had called integrity. There had been many times during his childhood where he had the chance to lie about things, especially things that seemed unimportant or trivial. It also seemed like his parents knew the truth before they ever asked, so he never tried to talk his way around things.

But... "everyone lies." That's what all the other kids said.

 

[Alkor 0]

"It doesn't matter what anyone else does." He remembered the stern sound to that voice, usually so tired, distant, disinterested. When he was very young, the man was affectionate enough. He loved his grandchildren and wanted to spend time with them. As they grew older, he got more detached. He spent more time in his office and less time interested in the problems of their everyday lives. Thom remembered the strain between his grandparents, the way she pushed and how he pulled away. He was weary of the problems of living in an adult world. No one could fault him for that. He made it all the way into his sixties. By most metrics, that gave him the right to be tired.

"What matters is what you do. You might not know half of these kids in twenty years. Thirty, forty- God knows, the only person that anyone's holding accountable to your actions is you. If you learn that right now, life will be much easier for you." Alkor reflected on those words as the wagon rounded the mountain trail, winding upward. The world below grew smaller with each clop of the mule's hooves. "And even if these kids do stick with you that long- if one of them jumped off a bridge, would you do it?"

"That may have been too many lessons at a time for one kid," he muttered to himself.

His grandfather was hard on him, but he never once felt like the man didn't love him. Even when he distanced himself, even when he grew further away, and finally at the end, when Thom made the decision that he couldn't face the man. In those final moments, the regret consumed him. 

Alkor looked for a bottle that was nowhere to be seen. 

"I wonder if you'd tell me that not every problem can be solved with a bottle, or you'd ask me to pour you a shot," Alkor sighed.

[Alkor 0]

"Everything okay back there?" the kindly driver called back as Alkor settled into his makeshift seat, bags of rice and pillows stuffed into a corner to make it halfway comfortable. "I can pull us over if you need to take a pit stop?"

"Nah, nothing like that," Alkor waved his thanks without turning back. "Just thinking about things. Stuff I had forgotten about."

"I usually save that kind of thing for around the campfire or at the tavern, among friends. It always feels better to reminisce when you're not alone.  When you won't be sad."

"That so?" Alkor mused. "Don't happen to have a ten year scotch laying around, do you?'

The driver let out a laugh and shook his head. "A man of fine tastes. But no, you won't find anything like that around here. Rumor has it, someplace in the world there's a city that might have something along those lines. I just haven't seen nothing like it in a very long time."

"I'll keep that in mind," Alkor smiled. "But I guess I can take a rain check on drinks for now. Unless you've got something secret stashed up there and you're holding out on me."

"No such luck, I'm afraid," the man chuckled. "Wife made me swear off drinking and driving years ago. Its good advice, honestly. You should always keep your wits about you."

[Alkor 0]

Alkor yawned loudly. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks old man."

The driver only laughed and shook his head.  The youth of this generation lived a more carefree life and weren't always quick to take advice. He had doubts Alkor took those words seriously, but something about the way the man spoke made him think better of that first impression. "You're more careful than you let on, ain't you kid?" he inquired.

"You don't survive in this world without being careful," Alkor answered honestly. "And maybe at first, no, I wasn't all that careful. But if you manage to survive your first brush with death, you learn the lesson pretty quickly. I've had a few, but I've come closer than most folks."

Alkor didn't like talking about it much, but he saw no harm in discussions like that with an NPC. It wasn't like this driver was going to judge him for it. "But that's true in every aspect of life, isn't it? You only learn from what you experience."

The old man blinked. "You've got me there."

[Alkor 0]

"Just about to the temple. That's as far as you wanted to go, ain't it?"

Alkor roused awake from his short nap. The HUD only showed he slept for about ten minutes, so he didn't feel too bad about it. "Yeah, this is my stop. Thanks, Uncle!" he leaned through the fabric and offered the man a sincere smile as they slowly rolled toward their destination. He took his place next to the old man for the last leg of the journey, watching as the mule clip clopped to a full halt. Several monks rushed out to help unload some of the cargo as Alkor stepped down and turned to offer a respectful bow.

"Thanks so much for letting me ride along," he said.

"Think nothing of it," the old man smiled. "Because you rode along I felt safer and didn't have to slow down and worry about bandits. Even if they had shown, you would have been there. I know you're dependable." 

Alkor smiled a bit more when he heard that. "Not at all," he shook his head vehemently. "Nonetheless. You were a great help."

[Alkor 0]

The monastery was unlike anything he expected. It was not so crowded or busy as one of the Chinese sanctuaries where Shaolin or Buddhist monks practiced. Instead it had the more homely feel of a Shinto shrine, manned by a few dedicated keepers who mostly kept to themselves. No one greeted Alkor outright when he made his way to the gates. As he made his way toward the inner sanctum and removed his footwear, they only gave solemn nods of approval. He wondered to himself what the game intended by bringing him here, but he quickly found his answer when a monk finally did approach.

"Greetings, swordsman," the monk smiled and offered a respectful bow. "It has been some time since we have welcomed travelers from the foothills. I take it your presence here means you were the one who dealt with the beast that was plaguing Rig?"

Alkor nodded, albeit half heartedly. He didn't want to take too much credit. After all, it hadn't been a difficult fight. "Yeah, no big deal," he admitted.

"On the contrary, we have had to turn away prospective monks and send away many pupils to prevent them from starving to death.  Your actions have allowed the temple to resume activities, and while it's slow right now, eventually one day we might return to our full strength. Like ripples in the water, the smallest pebble can have far reaching effects. We are in your debt."

[Alkor 0]

Alkor stopped short as the man explained the effects of his seemingly unimportant actions. In defeating a field boss, he'd triggered a series of events that were broad sweeping. Impactful across the entire floor to the NPCs, and that would certain have further reaching implications down the line. Whatever that meant for him had yet to be concluded- but the feeling of elation that came from their thanks was all the validation Alkor really needed. 

"If you wish to stay with us, I can have a room promptly prepared at any time. Just let me know if you're in the area. Also, if you have any questions, I will answer them to the best of my knowledge."

Many questions about the seventh floor immediately popped into Alkor's mind, but at the moment, he had no intention of following through on any leads he might pick up. For the time being, his excursion into the mountains was purely a scenic venture. "Thank you for your hospitality," he said mindfully, "if you could prepare a room for the night, I would be greatly obliged. The trip down the mountain is a long one and I would prefer not to make it after nightfall."

"A sound decision," the monk quicker a brow. "The bandits are emboldened after the sun dips behind the mountains. It is the best time for them to strike and go unseen."

"Will the old man be alright?" Alkor questioned, alarmed. 

"Word has reached us from the checkpoint further up the mountain. He has stopped there for the night, and the guards are of equal quality to those that guard the main settlement."

Strong enough to discourage Players from committing crimes? Easily strong enough to deter NPCs. Satisfied, Alkor stretched himself out and yawned. 

[Alkor 0]

He slept late into the morning, uninterrupted. 

When Alkor awoke, the sounds of meditation in the distance piqued his curiosity. The resounding Om that permeated the entire temple cast a serenity over it that may have contributed to how relaxed he felt. There was no thought in his mind for conflict, nor anything deeper. For that moment, for as long as he remained stationary, there was nothing but the moment in which he existed.

It was the most peaceful thing he had ever felt, inside Aincrad or outside. Thom had been beautiful places, he had smelled things that put him at ease, he had taken supplements and tried various remedies, but nothing gave his anxiety pause like the sensation he felt upon waking up there.

"Will you be joining us for breakfast?" the voice of theneldthe elder shattered the silence, and Alkor glanced up to him with a smile. For some reason, he felt thankful; if the man had not spoken up or broken the trance, he might never have stood of his own volition. 

"No, thank you," he said graciously. "I have already imposed enough. I have work to get back to. I will visit again, though."

[Alkor 0]

They exchanged bows as the Elder left him at the gate. 

"You are welcome in these halls," the older man intoned in an archaic manner, the words resounding such that Alkor paused momentarily to contemplate them. He understood that some forms of hospitality transcended days and months, and that his actions could be viewed as heroism from a certain point of view, but the strange sense that he'd been accepted as a resident or member of the temple stuck with him.

Perhaps it would become pertinent at some point. He turned to address the man respectfully, hands clasped in a traditional one palm open, one fist pressed firmly against it fashion out in front of him as he bowed low. "You honor me," he said as he held the bow for several heartbeats and then stood upright again. "If ever you have need of me, I will hurry to answer the call. Please, only but let me know."

"Yours is a good soul," the Elder smiled. "That is enough."

[Alkor 0]

He replaced the blade at his side as he left the Temple behind him, headed now back down the mountain toward the main settlement. He had fulfilled his intention of staying in the mountain, both tackling the short aside and helping an NPC while catching a short reprieve from his quests.  Someone had told him that taking time to enjoy himself and resting would serve him better than constantly pushing himself and starting to go numb to the world around him. He'd seen that in several Frontline Players.  He'd been there. Nothing but the desire to end the game. 

Hollowed out, almost inhuman, driven to a single purpose. Had they forgotten how to be more than Players in a game? Was that one of the cruel realizations thrust upon them by Kayaba Akihiko? Alkor had to laugh as he put one foot in front of the other. Since being trapped, he'd come to both appreciate the man's terrible vision and hate him all the same. No one who made it out alive would ever be the same.

Some of them would be stronger as people for it all. Others would be broken and hollow. Alkor knew that he'd gone in almost empty. He was one of the few that could genuinely say SAO had been good for him. Of course, he'd never say it aloud.