[SP-F8] What Lurks in the Dark

Morningstar · March 28, 2022

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Floor 8
<<Monkey King>>
Party Limit: 3 | 20+ Posts
Repeatable for standard thread rewards and <<Monkey Agility>>

Quest Rewards:

1000 Experience Points
Each player receives:
- Monkey Agility (Uncommon Consumable [potion])
  - A strange potion that boosts the user's Evasion by 1. Lasts for one thread.
POTENTIAL REWARD | If Sewallus accompanies the party and survives
- Unlock <<TECH-D>> collected sword art.

Requirements:

Roleplay speaking with Remington.
Roleplay speaking with Sewallus.
Accept or reject Sewallus' offer to join the party for the quest.
Defeat the Monkey King.

Summary:

For years, the residents of Florenthia Village have feared a legendary creature that skulks about the forest below. Dubbed the Monkey King, this monster has claimed the forest as its own, its territory stretching far and wide. It is rumored to be utterly gigantic, with glowing scarlet eyes and intimidating musculature. Its menacing appearance isn't just for show - the Monkey King is capable of striking with such force and tenacity that the denizens of the floor built their homes into the canopy of the forest, lest it find their camp and decimate it in a furious rage.

When the citizens of Florenthia caught wind that powerful travelers had their made way into the eighth floor, they reached out for help. Though they imagined even the most powerful of warriors would succumb to the likes of the Monkey King, their desperation forced them to swallow back their morals and ask the unthinkable; go out and risk death to bring about peace for our people. Will you accept the challenge and put your longevity at stake for the NPCs of Florenthia?

Outline:

NPCs:

<<Remington>>
Remington is the zoologist of Florenthia, tasked with studying and categorizing the seemingly endless fauna that populates the eighth floor. While Remington is sarcastic and will usually act as though the Player is wasting his time, he is actually quite talkative and enjoys the rare company. He is a habitual smoker, and will puff away regardless of whoever it may annoy. He is intelligent, but has taken this to mean he is always the smartest person in the room.

He will explain to the character his encounter with the Monkey King alongside Sewallus, and his observations of the oversized ape as they fled. The Monkey King's behaviors can be best described as ape-like and overly aggressive. When it has a target in its sights, it will not relent under any circumstances, and will let nothing stand in its way.

If asked how strong or fast the Monkey King was, Remington will always reply with, "All I know is no matter how far or fast we ran, it was never enough. There are now craters instead of trees where we were attacked, and rivers instead of forest where it moved."

Remington will make it abundantly clear to the players that he refuses to leave the village while the beast still lives, which has put his very important research on hold. He urges the players to discover the Monkey King's weakness - or better yet, put it to an end. Only then will the citizens of Florenthia know peace, and he will be able to return to his passion.

When his dialogue has been exhausted, Remington will direct the players to Sewallus for more information.

Allies:

<<Sewallus>>
Sewallus is charged with the duty of acting as the leader of Florenthia's Guard. Though not rude in his speech or mannerisms, he is not overly friendly, and will always stick to the point. A man of few words, he'd rather save his breath for combat than waste it chattering away with the citizens or players. He wields a two-handed battle axe as his weapon, and those with a high aptitude for speech and clever dialogue navigation will prompt Sewallus to reveal that he was a lumberjack before being convinced to join the Guard. His pride and sense of responsibility won't allow him to say so, but he secretly wishes he could return to those simpler times.

If the players asks Sewallus how he and Remington escaped from the Monkey King, he will reply with, "It is difficult to say. It was not by the grace of our fleet feet, that much is certain. The beast either became distracted, or was otherwise disrupted in some way." He will leave it at that, offering no more details.

Sewallus will offer to aid the players in their hunt for the Monkey King, expressing shame for having fled originally, and a desire to extract revenge from the creature. The Player(s) may either accept or deny adding Sewallus to their party. If they choose to accept, Sewallus will not engage in combat with any mobs aside from the Monkey King, and will use Florenthian Howl as a post action for his first turn. He will attack any turns he is not using Florenthian Howl. Should he become stunned at any point, he will resume his order with the action that would have occurred on his stunned turn.

HP: 400/400 | DMG: 75 (100 on crit) | MIT: 50 | EVA: -1

Abilities:

Florenthian Howl | Grants Sewallus +5 Hate against the Monkey King. Requires a Post Action. Sewallus will use this ability on his first turn, and every second post thereafter.
Shatter | Upon a successful attack, reduce target's Mitigation by 15 before damage is calculated. This effect can stack up to three times. Shatter from outside sources will not increase the stack count, but will refresh the duration. Effect lasts three turns.

Enemies:

<<Monkey King>>
Players don't find the Monkey King - the Monkey King finds them. It is aggressively protective of its domain, and will ferociously hunt down any entities that trespass within its territory. Once it has its prey in its sights, it will stop at virtually nothing in its pursuit to annihilate them. So fearful of this creature are the residents of the eighth floor that not even mobs are willing to exist in any locale in which the Monkey King claims ownership. Wild and animalistic, this boss seems to go full offensive with wild abandon.

HP: 650/650 | DMG: 150 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 2

Abilities:

If a Tree Falls | On MD rolls of 9 or 10, the Monkey King will pick up a large tree and throw it at the party. This replaces the Monkey King's normal attack, automatically dealing 120 unmitigatable damage and inflicting stun to each target.

Epilogue:

If Sewallus did not accompany the party:

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If Sewallus accompanied the party, but died during combat:

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If Sewallus accompanied the party, and survived:

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Since ancient times, civilizations have passed on tales of creatures that lurk in the dark. Native Americans have the Wendigo. Shapeshifting ghouls are said to roam Persia. Japanese folklore speaks of Jorogumo: the giant spider. Aincrad was no different.

Those who lived in Florenthia Village knew the stories of the Monkey King, a beast that dwelled in the forests of the eighth floor. It was said that its size tripled that of an elephant and its strength tripled once more. A ruthless and violent creature that struck fear in the hearts of the villagers who lived nearby.

At least, that's what they told Morningstar. He'd never been the superstitious type but if villagers were afraid of something in the forest, it was probably the work of something he was capable of fighting. Morningstar leaned back in his chair, fiddling with his angel wing pendant. The weather was ideal; sunny but not overly warm. Not that he could see much of the sun. The treetops blocked out a majority of the sky, leaving little room for the light to enter through. Still, it made its way through the leaves and glowed upon Florenthia with its shine. He gazed out the window of their room at the inn.

Remington lit his cigarette. He took a puff, blowing smoke a few inches from his face. Even in this world, Morningstar hated the scent. It smelled like death, he thought. With his free hand, Remington shook his white hair. He pulled his bangs out of his eyes and looked at Morningstar.

"Now," he said, giving the cigarette a break, "Where were we?"

"You were about to tell me about the Monkey King," Morningstar replied.

"Ah, right. The legendary beast of the forest. Not everyone believes in it, you know? But it's real."

The man stood up, stepping off towards the table next to his bed. He knelt down, pulled open the drawer, and from it he withdrew a notebook. Holding the cigarette with his lips, he flipped through the pages. "There it is," he muttered with his mouth full. He brought the journal back to the table and placed it down in front of Morningstar. On the right-hand page was a sketch of something the likes of which he had never seen. It was hard to tell from the drawing but the creature seemed gigantic.

"This is the Monkey King?" Morningstar asked.

"That's right," Remington replied, taking another puff of his smoke.

"You saw it then?"

"Right again."

Morningstar stared down at the picture for a moment before looking up at Remington. "Tell me the story."

"I've been waiting for you to ask," Remington smirked.

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Edited March 29, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · March 28, 2022

Remington regaled Morningstar with details of his encounter with the beast of the forest. He set off on his expedition with a Florenthian guard by the name of Sewallus. For three days, they lived among the trees, studying the creature's habits and lifestyle. They learned what it ate, when it slept, as well as everything in between. Most importantly, they had discovered where it lived.

"Hidden deep within the forest, there is a cave of sorts. Actually, it's more like a big hill that's been hollowed out. That," Remington said, "is where you'll find the Monkey King."

He seemed to annoy himself with his phrasing. Remington scratched at his chin, picking up the journal from the table and shutting it. He returned it to its place in the drawer. "Or rather, it's where the Monkey King finds you."

Morningstar's eyebrow raised. "What do you mean?"

Remington sat back down, his gaze intense. "The moment you step into the king's domain, he'll know you're there. He'll try to take you by surprise and it'll work."

There was tension in the zoologist's sentences. He was afraid. The man had come face to face with death and somehow lived to tell the tale. It begged the question: how did he survive? While he was traveling with a guard, Remington himself was no fighter. Not to mention that if they had killed the beast, Morningstar wouldn't be sitting in that room at all.

"I don't know how else I can prepare you for this journey. It's intelligent. It's quick. It's powerful," Remington continued to speak but his attention was elsewhere. "No matter how far or fast we ran, it was never enough. There are now craters instead of trees where we were attacked, and rivers instead of forest where it moved."

A silence crept its way up the backs of the two men. Despite his studies, Remington knew nothing of the Monkey King's true capabilities. Nor did he have a plan for falling the beast. He took one last puff of his cigarette before putting it out in his glass of water.

"Speak to Sewallus. If you're going out into the forest, he'll want to join you."

Edited March 29, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · March 29, 2022

Remington explained that Sewallus, being a guard, spent most of his time near the town's entrance or during his breaks, in the barracks. Morningstar said his goodbyes to the zoologist, who was hopeful that the blonde would live up to his expectations. Off he went to the front gate of Florenthia, in search of his guide.

The door of the inn closed slowly behind him as he stepped outside. The air in the village was fresh and smelled of blooming flowers. He could hear faint sounds of wildlife echoing through the forest surrounding him. The gate wasn't far; it was a small settlement. Morningstar swished his hand, opening his inventory. He withdrew a potion. The small flask appeared suddenly in his left hand. It was a dark purple mixture that he'd received some time ago from a quest with an alchemist. To be honest, he'd forgotten about the item. He popped the cork lid off of the flask and put his lips to the edge. Then, he tilted it. At first, he couldn't put a finger on the taste. It was sweet but a hint of sourness was also present. It was almost apple-like. He drank from the small vial until it was empty. It shattered, not into shards of glass but rather, pixels. He felt a bit of strength enter his body as if the potion had somehow empowered him.

After a short walk, he arrived at the gate. A single guard was posted there. Normally, cities had more but since Florenthia was so small, they could survive with less. Morningstar approached the guard. While his armor was metal, it resembled the wood of a tree. The designs were detailed and intricate with a short cape extending from his waist.

"Sewallus?" Morningstar asked.

The guard's focus on the forest was broken and he turned to Morningstar. "Yes? And who are you?"

"My name is Morningstar. Remington sent me."

Sewallus opened his mouth as if to speak but seemed to change his mind. He turned back to the tree line. Squirrels and birds were the only creatures visible from where they stood. Something about Morningstar's introduction had caused the guard discomfort. He responded after some time.

"You're here about the Monkey King, then?" Sewallus asked.

"Yes. Can you tell me where I can find it?"

Sewallus shot him a determined look. "No," he began, "but I can take you there."

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Edited March 29, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · March 29, 2022

Remington had mentioned beforehand that Sewallus would want to join in on the quest. "This is your village," he stated, "I'm in no position to stop you from coming."

His words seemed to relax Sewallus. The man's wide eyes shrunk and a faint smile grew on his lips. "Thank you," he said.

Morningstar spotted another guard walking towards them from the left. Sewallus explained that his shift was at an end for the day and that another would be taking his place. He was free to come and go as he pleased. The new guard, whose name was Peter, patted Sewallus on the back. "Off you go, Sewallus. I'll see you tomorrow for another day's work."

The two stepped out of the gate and left the safezone behind them. The forest was darker than Florenthia was. The treetops were thicker and made it harder for light to creep through. Birds chirped from above, although it was impossible to tell where exactly they were. Morningstar followed Sewallus through the brush, dodging stray branches and stepping over bushes. He stared at the guard from behind, only now taking notice of his weapon of choice. It was a large, two-handed battle axe. The weapon matched his armor well, resembling the same type of wood.

"Remington mentioned that you two came in contact with the Monkey King," Morningstar stated.

"We did."

"How'd you escape?"

Sewallus paused as if considering how to answer the question. "It is difficult to say. It was not by the grace of our fleet feet, that much is certain. The beast either became distracted or was otherwise disrupted in some way."

The guard's response did not provide much in terms of information. But he could not blame Sewallus for not knowing the same way he could not blame Remington previously. The king was clearly dangerous. Gathering information on it would have been quite the challenge.

Morningstar · March 29, 2022

"The Monkey King is the biggest threat to our village," Sewallus stated, turning his head back to speak to Morningstar.

The further into the forest they traveled, the more difficult it became. Overgrowth was tricky to pass through for those who were not accustomed to it. That being said, the guard did not seem to have a problem with it, considering he lived there. It was more than likely that he ventured into these parts of the forest often.

"If we don't kill it, I fear what could happen to my people."

"Is that why you became a guard?" Morningstar asked curiously.

"I became a guard because I was asked to. Florenthia needed protection and I was the best choice," Sewallus explained.

Morningstar couldn't imagine that protection was needed against anything but the king of the forest. He could understand the fear that the NPCs may have had for it. He could also understand why Sewallus wanted to slay the beast so badly. Being called upon by the people of your home all while being unable to help protect them was a terrible thought. There was a need to prove oneself, Morningstar had seen it in the guard's eyes. He did not want to fail his village, his home.

"I was a lumberjack before, you know," Sewallus said.

His tone was different than before. There was pride in his voice, as well as a hint of longing. A nostalgic hum exited his lips as they continued through the forest. Morningstar spotted a black blur rush by overhead. He thought it looked like a raven.

Pretty, he thought.

Morningstar · March 30, 2022

Sewallus stopped, kneeling down in the bushes. Morningstar followed suit. They hid, quiet beneath the greenery, out of sight. The guard blended in perfectly with his tree-like armor. Morningstar's new cloak was black rather than his usual green but even still, it worked in the low lighting.

"We'll need to be careful from now on," the Florenthian said, pointing ahead of them.

Morningstar saw it. Remington's words resonated in his mind. "There are now craters instead of trees where we were attacked, and rivers instead of forest where it moved."

The craters seemed as if they were created by meteors slamming into the ground. Not only that but whatever trees had survived the attack were cracked in half and had fallen to the ground. Nothing was left intact. There was only a single water source but the changes to the land caused rivers to form where the forest once was. It looked like a warzone. A wasteland.

And the cave was not far from them. It was within eyesight now, maybe one hundred feet away. There was no sign of the king, though. Their best-case scenario was that the beast was inside, fast asleep. But judging by the time of day, that was unlikely.

"Ideally, we'll keep it inside. I don't even want to know how all of that damage happened out here. If it's in the cave, at least it's contained. There's a limit to what it can do within the walls," Morningstar said.

Meteor felt heavy at his waist. The golden blade differed from what he was used to. It weighed more than his old starter sword but the tradeoff was more power in his strikes. The status effects that came with the blade were what he was counting on for the fight. Sewallus' hands were obviously shaking but Morningstar didn't acknowledge it. They were going to be alright. They had to be.

Shade grew over them. Had the weather changed? It was still far too early for the sun to set. Morningstar kept his focus on the cave. He noticed that the spot that was once home to trees was still sunny and bright. The river water sparkled in the sunlight, perplexing the blonde. Why were the clouds only over them? He glanced up. Immediately, he recognized the brown-haired monster hovering above them. Blood red eyes and horns the size of a giraffe's neck. Greyish brown fur from its head down to its lower back. Hands the size of boulders and teeth that were half the size of Morningstar himself.

The Monkey King had found them.

Morningstar · March 30, 2022

Move.

He stared up at the beast, its incredible frame towering over them. His feet shook beneath him but the glare of the Monkey King kept him frozen. Sewallus' finally seemed to take in the situation. Morningstar could hear the guard's panicked voice but couldn't comprehend what the man was saying. It was like he was underwater and all sounds but the voice in his own head were drowned out.

Move, now.

His trembling hand moved to the hilt of his sword but he couldn't find the strength to lift it. The creature's mouth opened and the speed of its breath increased. Agitation covered the king's monstrous visage. Then, it roared. The sound of the frenzied scream rattled Morningstar and suddenly he could hear Sewallus pulling his battle axe from his back. He looked down at his partner and saw him moving back, away from their opponent. Morningstar did the same, running towards the cave, but the Monkey King leaped into the air. Seconds later, it slammed down in front of them, blocking their path. In an instant, the craters made absolute sense to the blonde. This was their enemy: the terror of Florenthia.

Meteor was pulled from its scabbard, radiant in Morningstar's grip. A glow like no other formed over the blade, appearing angelic. He shouted to the guard, who was off to the left of him. "Follow my lead!"

The monkey slammed on his chest, complete rage filling his eyes. He roared once again and Morningstar wondered, for a moment, if the people of Florenthia could hear it from that distance. He rushed forwards, his gaze set on the Monkey King with the intent to kill.

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Edited March 30, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · March 30, 2022

His "Charge" skill activated and Morningstar felt his speed increase ten-fold. The Monkey King reacted, however, lifting a heavy tree and launching it at the blonde. His eyes widened, realizing that dodging the log would be impossible. It was a fully grown tree and he was sprinting faster than he could control. He made his decision.

As the tree fell towards him, he leaped straight into it and slashed upwards. His blade, enhanced by a sword art, sliced through it cleanly. His speed boost came to a stop but now he was stuck in the air, face to face with the beast. It stared at him, looking as if it were about to swing.

He could take a hit. He knew he could. The monster raised its arm, its hand flat, and prepared to strike. Morningstar braced himself for the impact of the gigantic palm. From what he remembered, to his right was a river. If he was lucky, he'd land in the water and avoid hitting the trees or falling into a rocky crater.

A roar came from behind him. Sewallus?

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Edited March 30, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · March 30, 2022

Sewallus' voice matched the intensity of the Monkey King's. He shouted proudly, wearing the heart of his village on his sleeve and pulling the attention of their opponent. The Monkey King turned its gaze from Morningstar to Sewallus, lowering its arm. A glimpse of hope entered Morningstar's soul as he dropped quickly to the ground, landing inelegantly on his feet. He stumbled back into his warrior's stance, watching as the king began its slow, heavy steps toward the Florenthian guard.

The blonde had believed the guard's shaky hands were from fear but he was mistaken. It was pure exhilaration. The NPC had a dangerous look in his eyes, that of a person with something to defend. Something worth defending. The man howled once again, this time even louder than before. The Monkey King growled back, his speed growing with each movement. Soon enough he had broken out into a full-on sprint. He leaped into the sky and Sewallus raised his two-handed battle axe.

Morningstar watched from a distance, unable to close the gap between them. To top it all off, the beast was airborne and about to body slam the ground as it had done at the beginning. Something told him that this attack would be even stronger, however. He grimaced, gripping Meteor even tighter. The guard fully intended to tank a blow from the Monkey King. Was he strong enough to hold it off? What about recovering after the attack? Morningstar hadn't brought potions with him, foolishly.

"Sewallus!" He shouted, eyes wide as the humongous being fell from above.

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Morningstar · March 30, 2022

The weight of the beast caused it to fall swiftly, hitting the ground with an explosive crash. The impact caused waves of dirt to shoot up from the ground and the tremors launched Sewallus backward. He smashed into the base of a tree, splitting the top of it from the bottom half. He landed in a lunge, sliding a few feet before coming to a stop in the dirt. He didn't even appear shaken from the attack he had sustained.

They locked eyes and Morningstar saw the grin form on the guard's previously intense face. He smirked back, shocked by the animalistic behavior of his partner. The Monkey King had not finished, however. Morningstar had only taken his eyes off of it for a short moment when it suddenly leaped up again, repositioning to the top of the hill that held the king's home. They were at a disadvantage within its domain. On the hilltop, it had superior height and in combination with its strength, it made for a problematic scenario. Morningstar could hear Sewallus jogging up to him, axe in hand, but he kept his stare on the hill.

Sewallus snickered. "Tough one, isn't he?"

"You did warn me," Morningstar replied.

"What's the plan?"

"I've got more sword arts in me if you're able to follow up with them."

Sewallus' right hand left the handle of his weapon and touched Morningstar's shoulder. He grinned. "Take the lead, friend."

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Edited March 30, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · March 30, 2022

Morningstar nodded, taking the offense against the Monkey King. Like a wild cat, he leaped up the side of the hill. A familiar golden glow enveloped his blade once again, illuminating the battlefield. Entering flow, he dodged the raging fists of the beast. The first was easily readable and avoided with a swift roll to the left. The second came in the form of a swing; however, Morningstar was able to duck at the perfect time. The third was the closest to making contact with the swordsman. It appeared as if it would come head-on but instead, it curved. He caught on before it was too late and parried, pivoting his feet and dashing to the right. He swung his blade in an upwards motion, both hands tightly holding onto the hilt. It cut through the Monkey King's right hand, slicing it off.

The hand rolled limply down the hill for two seconds before disappearing into blue light. The Monkey King's wrist was red where it had been damaged. It roared in anger at Morningstar but they gave it no break or time to recover. He searched for Sewallus and caught a glimpse of him sprinting uphill from behind.

The man neared the beast and while it was on the defense, tried to make a move. He swung his great axe but every move he made was in vain. It was a quick enemy and the weight of Sewallus' armor made it a challenge for him to keep up. Still, he continued his wide sweeps.

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Edited March 30, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · March 30, 2022

Morningstar's paralysis kicked in and the Monkey King stopped its sporadic movements. He grinned, watching as Sewallus extended his arms with another swing. His shoulders and back rotated with his axe as it slashed into the beast's chest, leaving a long, red line in its wake.

A green effect of some sort had enveloped the battle axe as Sewallus attacked and afterwards, it disappeared. It almost looked like a sword art; however, the glow was different from what Morningstar had seen in his own sword arts and those of his comrades.

The Monkey King stood tall and unmoving, its eyes gazing down at the axe-wielder. Sewallus took a moment to rest and breathe, allowing Morningstar to take over. The blonde jogged over to Sewallus to confirm that he was okay. They distanced themselves from the creature, repositioning and giving themselves a chance to think.

"Good attack," Morningstar said, his breathing heavy.

Sewallus chuckled. "Same to you. One less hand makes this easier."

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Edited March 30, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · March 30, 2022

That being said, the fight was still the most challenging that Morningstar had ever taken part in. If this was the ability of a simple field boss, then what did a real boss look like. He imagined a creature ten times the size with the ability to hold its own against dozens of teams. He was no where near ready for anything that powerful.

He sighed, a grin forming on his face. "It won't be stunned for much longer. Let's get another hit or two in before it starts moving again."

"I'm tired of chasing it around. You're right," Sewallus admitted, "let's finish this."

"I have a feeling we won't have anything to bring back for Remington. It's a shame his research on this thing will go to waste," Morningstar said, giving his sword a warm up swing.

Sewallus laughed. "Remington will be happy if this thing ends up dying, trust me."

Morningstar nodded before dashing forwards to get in his final attack before the paralysis wore off.

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Edited March 30, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · March 30, 2022

The Monkey King was still. It could only watch as Morningstar approached. He aimed for its left side with the intent of slashing through it. Relief washed over him as he inched closer and closer, realizing that they would be okay.

In the beginning, he had been uncertain. At the very least, he was worried about Sewallus being unable to withstand the powerful blows from the beast. He had performed better than Morningstar had expected, however. The blonde flew towards the monster, leaping up to reach its waist. Meteor cut through, leaving a near-fatal blow and applying its bleed effect. He looked back up to the Monkey King from behind.

It was beginning to move again. Paralysis was wearing off and he was making small steps towards Sewallus. No matter what, Morningstar knew that the Monkey King had nothing left it could do to turn the tide of the fight.

Morningstar shouted to his partner. "Watch out, he's coming!"

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Edited March 31, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · April 1, 2022

Sewallus stood back, watching the ape inch its way closer and closer to him. He smashed his axe into the ground, howling one last time. The Monkey King roared back, albeit with less rage and energy than before. It was weak and nearing death. The bleed that Meteor had inflicted was crippling it. It was unavoidable.

Morningstar stopped rushing. He slowed down, giving himself a chance to rest. By chance, he looked off towards the tree line. There were a group of people, that he assumed were villagers, watching from a safe distance. Two of them wore the same guards armor as Sewallus. There were children there as well.

"I guess it's safe to say they heard us," Morningstar called out to Sewallus.

Sewallus ripped his axe from the dirt, the Monkey King now in range for an attack. He smirked at Morningstar's comment. "We'll give them a show, then."

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Morningstar · April 1, 2022

With one last futile attempt to change the tide of battle, the Monkey King wrapped its enormous hand around the base of a tree, ripping it from the dirt. He roared out, tossing the trunk towards Sewallus as if it were a javelin. Morningstar heard gasps from the crowd. He was as surprised as they were. Neither of the warriors had expected such an attack. He lifted his blade but knew there was nothing he could do. His armor protected him, but the tree slammed directly into Sewallus, putting him out of commission.

Morningstar gritted his teeth but suddenly realized that a separate tree was being hurled at him. It rolled towards him quickly, giving him little time to react. Even with one hand and essentially no health, the Monkey King was still a force to be reckoned with. Morningstar leaped, but part of the log nicked his leg and knocked him forwards. He tumbled to the ground but stopped himself from rolling down the hill. Pushing himself up with his hands, he made eye contact with Sewallus, who raised his axe victoriously.

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Edited April 1, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · April 1, 2022

Morningstar grinned back at Sewallus, who seemed to be cutting himself out from underneath the log. Standing up, the blonde could see that the Monkey King was out of options. Now completely unparalyzed, the beast began to charge towards him. It was slower than he had been in the beginning and due to its injuries, Morningstar had no trouble predicting its attack pattern. It swung its remaining fist at him, missing each time. He swiped Meteor in a horizontal arc, this time with a different sword art. The glow was still golden; however, it was a lighter ability. A swift cut that took less energy to use than his previous attacks.

Conserving his strength, he finished off the beast. It shattered into pixels, like the rest of the monsters that Morningstar had faced in the past. He fell to the ground, exhausted. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the group of villagers going to Sewallus' aid. With the help of the other guards, they lifted the trunk off of his damaged body and helped him to his feet.

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Edited April 1, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · April 1, 2022

A menu opened in front of Morningstar's eyes, acknowledging that he had defeated the Monkey King. His quest had been completed and slaying the enemy had given him rewards. A combination of col, materials, and a trinket of some sort were sent to his inventory. He swiped the menu away.

Exhaustion had kicked in. He was about ready to drop to the soft but battered grass and take a nap; however, Sewallus' call forced him to stay awake.

"Morningstar," he began as the blonde trekked over to the group of NPCs, "thank you for your help today. You've made all of Florenthia proud."

Remington joined in from the right. "I can continue my studies now, thanks to you and Sewallus," the white-haired man looked to the guard and then back at Morningstar. "If you ever need anything, you know where to find me. I keep that room at the inn year-round."

Morningstar chuckled, but Remington had not finished quite yet. "As for your payment, here is the result of my studies of the Monkey King."

Remington handed the blonde a vial of green liquid. It looked disgusting, to be frank. However, he accepted the gift gratefully, knowing that the man had put a lot of work into creating it. Sewallus grinned merrily, beginning his own speech.

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Edited April 1, 2022 by Morningstar

Morningstar · April 1, 2022

"I have one last gift for you," Sewallus said, "to thank you for your assistance with the Monkey King. I would not have been able to do it without you, my friend."

Morningstar nodded, allowing the man to continue. Sewallus mentioned a sword art called Shatter and the image of the guard's axe glowing green returned to his mind. At the time, Morningstar had been unsure of what it was but after the explanation from Sewallus, it made sense. It was a special sword art that only the guard himself could teach.

And he wanted to pass it on to Morningstar.

Sewallus lifted his axe and with some concentration, the odd, green glow enveloped the weapon's blade. Morningstar did the same with Meteor and after some time, it did the same. He wasn't used to his blade glowing any colour that wasn't a shade of bright yellow or gold.

"Thank you, Sewallus," Morningstar said.

"No," Sewallus placed a hand on the man's shoulder, "thank you."

Morningstar · April 1, 2022

The villagers, alongside Sewallus and Remington, parted ways with Morningstar. They walked off into the forest, leaving the blonde to himself. He dropped back down into the grass and stared out at the battlefield. The silence that he had found was beautiful. Not even a bird chirped near it. It was the calm after the storm that was the duel versus the great Monkey King. Perfectly tranquil.

Morningstar gave the sword art another try. He activated Shatter, using up the last of his energy. Meteor became green instead of gold and he thought back to the moment he had met Sewallus. Morningstar had been unsure of the guard at first. There was an aspect of him that was hard to read, one that did not become clear until the battle had begun.

Now that it was over, he saw the NPC as a friend. It was interesting to him how he could develop relationships with people that were not really people. Outside of the game, Sewallus did not exist. Perhaps one could argue that Morningstar did not either. Before Sword Art Online, he was someone else entirely.

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