[PP-F5] Blade of Dreams (Pepper, Saix)

[Saix 0]

Surging forward the large lizard like creature seemed to pounce, jaws opening in an attempt to take a chunk out of the swordsman’s body, and Saix went on autopilot, relying on the reflexes he had developed thus far in the Death Game, bring his <> up before him in an attempt to use the <> skill to repel the attack, and stun his opponent for a brief moment to open for a counter attack. The blunt head struck his shield like a heavy punch with a clang and spark of contact. He could imagine the teeth scraping and gouging the metal for a moment, before the creature was knocked back by his successful parry. Not wanting to waste time, he brought his sword to waist level, making a motion as though he were drawing the blade. The <> flashed blue, as he activated his sword skill, before whipping up and around in a blur from bottom-left to top-right in the second execution animation for the One-Handed Sword Skill <>. The <> released a cry as the blade bit into it's body, leaving a red gash, but one hit, even a critical, wouldn't be enough to put away this beast.

Saix: 13/13

Young Red Dragon: 6/8

[Saix 0]

Having drawn first blood, Saix shifted his buckler around before him, patiently waiting for the chance to strike. Many players might foolishly try to attack again, not mindful of their enemy's attack that would surely follow. Saix may not have completely mastered the monster algorithms yet, however even he knew that simply dealing damage would not prevent his enemy from attacking, so he compacted his body as best he could behind his shield, trying to present as small a target as possible for the inevitable counter attack, which came in the form of a claw swipe. This time he was not able to initiate the parry skill in time, and the claw dug into his shield, jarring his arm and dealing damage even through the armor. [censored] He had never fought this type of creature before, timing the parry was going to be difficult when he wasn't sure what type of attack to expect.

Saix: 12/13

Young Red Dragon: 6/8

[Saix 0]

Gritting his teeth and instantly reacting rather than allow the strange sensation of being hit to overwhelm him, Saix shifted his stance, bringing his sword to rest upon his shoulder and priming his next skill. His sword lights a ghostly blue as <> takes over, ready to release the skill. <> remains in <>, though it will soon be free to move again. Such low level creatures will not be using high level skills, and will only be delayed for a second or two at most thanks to <>. As Saix releases his skill, the targeted creature suddenly lurches, stepping to the side with a growl as his One-Handed Sword Skill <> shaves uselessly by the creatures head, missing completely. This battle was going harder then he thought. While he may not have been on the losing side yet, the creature's movements were simply too unfamiliar, it was throwing his pacing off.

Saix: 13/13

Young Red Dragon: 6/8

[Saix 0]

<> shifts it's body, turning almost completely around and letting it's tail sweep in a whipping attack aimed at the frustrated swordsman. Again Saix shift's his weight behind the buckler, hoping to repel the attack via his <> skill, and set up an opening to chain in another attack. This is his first reptilian enemy, and true to nature, it's movements are nothing like the creatures he has fought thus far. He feels off balance, unable to read the strange movements that seem so alien. The <> strikes his shield at an off angle, twisting the buckler into his shoulder and rocking him into a half spin from the impact. While the damage my be negligible, he still grits his teeth and watches his health gauge take another small drop.

Saix: 11/13

Young Red Dragon: 6/8

[Saix 0]

Refusing to sacrifice the advantage of <> pass him by, Saix once again cocks his sword over his shoulder in a second attempt at his One-Handed Sword Skill <> that had missed only a few scant seconds ago. This time he shifts his aim for the creature's broad neck, rather than trying to focus on the head, that he perceived as it's most obvious weak point. Better to aim for an easier target than fixate on a point he keeps missing. His sword glows blue as the Sword Skill primes, and with a grunt he releases his attack. The creature writhes before him again, narrowly avoiding his attack again. Saix feels a surge of anger, sloppy, he is being sloppy. This time he pushes the attack, unwilling to sacrifice more Hp without doing some form of damage.

Saix: 11/13

Young Red Dragon: 6/8

[Saix 0]

Without losing a beat, Saix brought his sword down and back at the waist, as though he were sheathing the sword at his belt. <> wasn't about to take his attack sitting down, as it reared back, no doubt prepared to launch an attack of it's own. Saix's <> flared blue as his attack activated, and without a pause he released his One-Handed Sword Skill <> in a seamless transition from his missed attempt at the Sword Skill <>. His skill was interrupted thanks to heavy blow to the midsection courtesy of a blunt reptilian head slamming into his gut. He grit his teeth in frustration, annoyed that his careful preparation for all this time seemed to amount to nothing when confronted with a creature that moved in unfamiliar ways. These reptilian creatures simply didn't move like anything he had fought thus far.

Saix: 10/13

Young Red Dragon: 6/8

[Saix 0]

Reeling backwards, Saix shifted his weight, drawing his sword up and cocking it over his shoulder as though he were going to attempt another <>, however with his weight distributed low, and his knees bent, the resulting sword skill would be quite different. His blade flared blue, and he narrowed his focus in concentration, determined not to miss this time. His skill wasn't exactly perfectly executed, but at least this time he was able to stay on target. His sword flashed down in a diagonal slash from top-left to bottom-middle before ripping back upwards in a second diagonal slash from bottom-middle to top-right. One-Handed Straight Sword's basic two hit attack, the <> skill. The motion of his sword skill left a glowing V traced in the air, and he felt a bit of that leaden weight in his chest lighten. He could do this, he just needed to focus.

Saix: 10/13

Young Red Dragon: 5/8

[Saix 0]

Even as his attack cut upwards and the <> hissed with indignation, Saix allowed his momentum to carry his sword back to his shoulder, once again cocking it back over his shoulder, letting the Sword Skill prime as the System Assist activated and his sword blazed with light. He needed to keep up the pace, trading blows back and forth would draw this engagement out, and run the risk of aggro'ing a second enemy if he was not careful. Down came his sword like a descending hammer, biting deep into his enemy's flank as he executed One-Handed Straight Sword skill, <>, Young Red Dragon recoiling from the unexpected change in tempo as it's health entered the dangerous <>.

Saix: 10/13

Young Red Dragon: 4/8

[Saix 0]

It was a reckless move on his part, but Saix pushed forward, not willing to lose momentum now that the battle seemed to have turned back in his favor. Drawing the blade back as he shifted weight to his right foot, before stepping hard with his left foot and shifting his weight as he moved into a swing, his sword flaring blue as the <> took over, turning what would have otherwise been a simple swing into a basic Sword Skill. But he had overextended, trying to capitalize on his momentum, and now it appeared he was going to pay the price, because as <> lurched back and forth, his attempted attack, One-Handed Straight Sword Skill <> passed harmlessly over the creatures head and body as it lowered itself in preparation for it's own attack.

Saix: 10/13

Young Red Dragon: 4/8

[Saix 0]

Dammit, he had fallen into a trap that he had drilled his friends relentlessly to always avoid. Never get carried away, never press the attack needlessly. If they wanted to survive, they had to fight smart, otherwise they would open themselves for an attack and would end up getting themselves killed. In his frustration, he had forgotten that most important rule. <> lunged forward, jaws opening in another attempt to gore him with it's stubby horns. Saix grit his teeth, trying to maneuver his shield between himself and the horned head. He was barely able to activate his <> pushing the creature back, before bringing his sword up over his shoulder and triggering the One-Handed Straight Sword Skill <> by reflex, barely even pausing to let the skill take effect before slashing with his glowing blade, carving a deep gash across the creature's exposed neck with a mighty critical hit.

Saix: 10/13

Young Red Dragon: 2/8

[Saix 0]

Aware that he had made a potentially grave mistake, Saix backed off, rather than trying to press his attack recklessly. <> gave a particularly malevolent hiss before following once again cocking it's body to the side and swiping out with a claw. This time Saix was better prepared, having seen the attack once before, so he attempted to bring his shield up in time to deflect the attack before he lost any more precious Hp. With a clang the swiping claw impacted his shield and was pushed back. Unwilling to sacrifice his opening, Saix whipped his sword down and to his waist as though he were trying to sheathe it on his belt, activating his skill and seamlessly switching into his One-Handed Straight Sword Skill <>, in a diagonal slash across the creature's body.

Saix: 10/13

Young Red Dragon: 1/8

[Saix 0]

With it's Hp almost gone Saix let the momentum of his swinging sword bring it back up over his shoulder, activating a second skill seamlessly and releasing his One-Handed Straight Sword Skill <> in one smooth motion, cleanly slamming down into <> head like a falling hammer, a blade shaped glowing blue hammer, that is. The final blow was enough to deplete the creature's health entirely, the dragon giving a final hiss before bursting into a prismatic cloud of dust with a sound like breaking glass. Savoring his victory, Saix stood and released a heavy breath. He was lucky, it appeared he had been able to snag his first <> from the defeated beast.

[Saix 0]

His Hp had not taken too bad of a beating, but the fight had proven much more difficult than he had anticipated. Fighting <> had taught him a very valuable lesson, that not all enemies in this world would be the same. Just because he had become familiar against the various plant and mammal type creatures he had encountered thus far, did not mean that he would be ready to face anything. He would need to refine his tactics and learn from this experience. at the very least he would be able to use this experience to caution his handful of friends on the dangers of facing unknown types of creatures that might move in unfamiliar patterns.

[Saix 0]

Letting his Battle Healing regenerate his lost health, Saix checked his inventory to take a look at this mysterious crafting material he was crawling around in caves to find. It didn't look all that special, though he remembered what the pint sized smith had said about needing to refine it before she could turn it into a sword. Colored a deep red and seeming to glow with the same inner heat and brilliance that the <> scales had gleamed Saix was almost reluctant to hold the item in his hand, as it really did look a large burning cinder. However, he chided himself and lifted the strange item, inspecting it, and thinking that despite it's hot appearance it was actually quite cool to the touch.

[Saix 0]

A rather menace packed hiss behind him is quick to shake him out of his inspection of his cool new item. Turning and stowing the item quickly, Saix blanches at the sight of another <> barreling towards him, this time coming from behind him in the direction he had come. So it appeared he had been incorrect, the <> were not simply confined too the antechambers, but could spawn and patrol the tunnels themselves... This could complicate things. But rather than dwell on that, he unsheathed his sword and raised his battered shield, throwing himself once more into combat...

[Saix 0]

Nearly 3 hours later a figure in battered armor wearing a rather tattered red mantle cape appears at the teleport gate in the bustling 5th Floor City. Despite his adventure Saix is alive, even if his equipment looks to have seen better days. The battles had been a little easier, following his initial problems against <>, and he was confident that he could handle facing the monsters again, if he ever needed to return to the caves. Making his way through the town, Saix stopped outside of a familiar shop, the smell of a hot furnace on the warm breeze. He had thought he was getting a deal when Ms Pepper had offered to forge his sword for free, but now he realized the sword was only a side benefit of the experience. Though it was likely not her intention, she had put him in a position to learn a very valuable lesson. That no matter how much data he gathered, it would be useless if he did not take it upon himself to become familiar with the things he took for granted about the enemies in the game. They may have been data constructs, and he may have been able to read up on their skills and weaknesses, but that didn't matter if he wasn't prepared to stand face to face with them. In the end, no matter how beautiful a sword Ms Pepper constructed, it was the lesson he learned gathering the materials, that would truly keep him alive. Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the shop and waited for the little blacksmith to notice him.

[Oske 0]

Pepper was working behind her counter, polishing a silvery sword on the wall. She placed her hands on her hips and sighed happily, then turned. She nearly jumped with fright. "Oh! Didn't notice you there, player. Do you have the smithing materials?"

[Saix 0]

Saix blinked at her response, before making a pacifying gesture with his hands and looking quite sheepish. "Ah, sorry miss, I didn't want to be loud and disturb you if you were doing something important." he said, before scratching the back of his head. Truly the NPC's in SAO were amazing, he could not think of another game where reactions were so life like. "Yes, Ms Pepper, I was able to retrieve the three <>, and have brought them back." he added. And boy had that not been as easy as he had anticipated. No matter, it had all worked out in the end. A quick flex of his hand opened his <>, a few deft movements later and his inventory had been opened. It only took him a few seconds to find the required items, and upon selecting them, 3 <> materialized in his hand. Politely Saix offered the items to the Smith.

[Oske 0]

"Perfect," Pepper exclaimed, snatching up the Dragon Heart Stones. She threw open the door behind the counter, dashing down the stairs. She paused for a moment, then called back up, "You can follow me if you want, player!"

As she said this, she was placing the stones into the furnace, melting them and watching the bubbles float to the surface.

[Saix 0]

Fascinated at seeing the Smithing Profession first hand from someone who was not a player just learning the Crafting Discipline, Saix did not need to be asked twice. He was quick to follow her, though at a safe pace as he made his way down the stairs. There he found Pepper, already working the furnace were she had deposited the 3 <> and was in the process of smelting them. He recalled that she had mentioned needing to remove the bubbles, and figured that this was the vital process she had been referring too. "Fascinating... The crafting process is much more realistic then I had thought, to allow a means of removing impurities from the metal alloy one is using." He remarks, more to himself than anything.