[SP - F1] For Whom the Bell Tolls [COMPLETE]

[Takao 0]

The preset weather conditions featured in Aincrad often provided him with an uneasy sense of déjà vu. Although he hadn't been trapped in the game long enough for these looping patterns to be easily recognizable, the sensations he felt from the days that felt similar were as clear as day. He remembered incredibly specific yet minute details about one day in particular, while the more important details had been all but forgotten. This day was remarkably similar, and the weather only proved to drive that point home. The warmth in the air, the slight hints of humidity that didn't quite feel precisely the same as it did in real life, even the direction of the wind and a few distinct cloud shapes. He didn't often visit the first floor, but on rare occasions, he did find himself compelled to do so.

Edited September 26, 2015 by Takao

[Takao 0]

Vast rolling fields of grass stretched out seemingly endlessly, and had he not had the large distinct pillar in the distance that provided him with a point of reference, he might've thought them to actually be without end. As was usually the case on the first floor, the fields he'd passed on the way to the slightly elevated hill were either occupied with players in groups big and samll, or entirely devoid of all life. This particular field fit the description of the former, a few players scattered around to hunt the weaker enemies. He slunk down against the tree behind him and rested his hand in his head as he observed in quiet contemplation.

[Takao 0]

On any other day, Takao would've been down in the fields, hunting or trying to help out the few players he saw struggling along the way. Most of them seemed fully capable of handling the low level monsters themselves, and there were plenty of groups nearby to help them regardless. Despite his gaze being firmly set on the fields filled with players, his mind wandered elsewhere. "What a weird mentality to have." His thoughts were running rampant in his head, yet his expression was entirely unchanged - nothing more than a flatline of emotion. "Thinking that somebody is of less worth just 'cause their numbers and stats aren't as high as yours, like we're not all stuck in the same boat at the end of the day." he huffed out a breath and shook his head.

[Takao 0]

Takao stretched his arms skyward and finally averted his gaze toward the clouds. Days of relaxation were few and far between, and even this likely wouldn't qualify. Before long, he'd undoubtedly find himself bored of sitting around and he'd go out to hunt something. But, for now, time had afforded him a moment's respite. "I bet you'd be double my level, man. You were always so good at that min-maxing thing you rambled on about." he mumbled in a low tone, his voice rumbling in his chest. It'd been too long now to justify tears, and too big a sign of weakness to be freely displayed, so he opted for a long-winded sigh instead.

[Takao 0]

With his gaze stuck skyward and his eyes strainined to stay open, he found his mind's incessant wandering only growing stronger. He shifted around and settled into a more comfortable position with his sword crossed over his chest and resting against the tree's trunk. Every small detail he remembered brought him back to the first few days. The weather was a big contributing factor, but the location even more so. "I kinda feel bad for teasing you about the dagger now. After the changes rolled out, I bet you'd of been able to kick my butt three times over." He'd opted to returning his thoughts to his mind, in favour of not seeming like he was crazy and talking to himself to any passerby.

[Takao 0]

His memories of the first week were blurry, but still strangely comprehensible. The weather on this particular day was almost identical to the weather of the day he'd nearly lost his life for the first time. Yet the finer details weren't what bothered him. It wasn't a question of whether or not he could take a mental field trip back to that time, it was whether or not he wanted to. It was just about time he did.

[Takao 0]

The two of them hadn't dared to leave the safe zone after Kayaba's announcement, but after two short days, they found themselves positively dying of boredom. The city was fast and expansive, yet it didn't offer them the kind of excitement they'd been craving. The kind of excitement they'd been planning to get from the game before its sudden, malicious turn. The situation they found themselves in had ended up being incredibly harrowing.

[Takao 0]

Takao and the only friend he had in the game, another male by the name of Yuudai, had made the choice to go out into the wilderness of the first floor three days after the death game announcement had been made. They knew each other offline, and were frequent sparring partners in their school's HEMA club. When the announcement that a game centered around sword play was being released alongside Full Dive technology, it'd be foolish to assume they wouldn't jump on the opportunity.

[Takao 0]

Takao and the only friend he had in the game, another male by the name of Yuudai, had made the choice to go out into the wilderness of the first floor three days after the death game announcement had been made. They knew each other offline, and were frequent sparring partners in their school's HEMA club. When the announcement that a game centered around sword play was being released alongside Full Dive technology, it'd be foolish to assume they wouldn't jump on the opportunity.

[Takao 0]

It'd been midday when they met their first opponent. A boar, just like the ones every single player before and after them would likely face as their first obstacle. Takao and Yuudai had a terrible habit of not reading the instructions. Tutorials were a waste of time, they preferred to learn on the job. Unfortunately, that had some terrible side effects. Side effects that were detrimental to their well-being.

[Takao 0]

It'd been midday when they met their first opponent. A boar, just like the ones every single player before and after them would likely face as their first obstacle. Takao and Yuudai had a terrible habit of not reading the instructions. Tutorials were a waste of time, they preferred to learn on the job. Unfortunately, that had some terrible side effects. Side effects that were detrimental to their well-being.

[Takao 0]

Their first confrontation with the boar had gone as poorly as one would expect. They employed their limited knowledge of historical fencing techniques, and they were sorely beaten for it. The boar's speed was greater than theirs, and their ability to react felt sluggish in comparison as a result of their low stats. Had they known about sword arts, the situation would've been able to have been turned around, but they had forgone that information in favour of their pre-existing knowledge. Takao had managed to land a few more hits than Yuudai, which centered the monster's aggression on him.

[Takao 0]

With Takao holding the Boar's attention, he found himself at the receiving end of countless blows. His health was low enough as it stood to begin with, so one hit after another brought him down into what had come to be known as the "danger zone" in no time. He found himself panicking, he couldn't move how he wanted to despite trying as hard as he could. The systems wouldn't let him. He couldn't swing as fast as he could in real life, and despite his technique being practiced, it didn't matter.

[Takao 0]

Takao winced as he remembered what happened next. The boar closed in on him quickly, preparing its finishing blow. He blinked, and suddenly Yuudai was standing in front of him. But it wasn't a poetically heroic situation in the slightest. The boar brushed him aside and turned its assault on him instead. He didn't feel the pain in the strikes, but Takao could see the distress while being too stunned to move himself. He only started screaming when the reality of the situation dawned on him, and Takao couldn't bring himself to move and intervene.

[Takao 0]

Takao ran a hand through his hair as the memories continued to flow freely. Yuudai was gone in seconds, his screaming stopped and was replaced by the sounds of his avatar shattering. He wasn't entirely sure what exactly had happened next, it was more or less of a blur. He remembered standing, and by some sheer miracle of luck ending the boar with a normal attack, but after that there wasn't much to reminisce. Aside from the location, atop the slight hill beneath the tree's shade, where he was currently sitting.

[Takao 0]

"I'm sorry, man." Takao exhaled his words amidst a side. "I'm really sorry." Even as he apologized to the thin air in front of him, no tears fell. He didn't feel the desire to cry in the slightest. Takao didn't necessarily feel sad - surely it was a sad thing to think about, but that's not the emotion that took prescedence, or in this case emotions. He mostly felt guilty that he let it happen, ashamed he hadn't done more, frustrated that he couldn't have done more, angry that this entire ordeal had been his idea.

[Takao 0]

Takao's jaw set as the memories faded back to the depths of his mind. There was a reason he found himself hanging around the first floor so often, despite constantly telling himself that he didn't visit the City of Beginnings or the surrounding areas frequently. There had been a few players - people - he'd more or less spared from a similar fate, and as his mind wandered, a scowl set in on his face. "How in the world could somebody be so narrow minded that they would think low level players are worth less than them? We're all just people, man!" he said aloud, rubbing his face in frustration.

[Takao 0]

"Stupid." he said as he climbed back to his feet and slung the scabbard of his sword over his shoulder. "So stupid. I swear I'm gonna slap the next person that says that to my face. Like, a hard slap, not one of those sissy ones. Maybe I'll do it backhanded too - yeah." His voice escaped as a low, guttural grumble. The emotions that were seeping out of him were uncomfortably unfamiliar, much different from how he usually felt. He shuddered slightly and shook his head, trying to get himself back to normal.

[Takao 0]

The desire to linger around where his friend had died as a result of his saving had faltered, prompting Takao to turn his back to the tree and start back for the path. He rubbed his face again and supported the weight of his head with his hand as he walked. The familiar weather settings had mostly been forgotten by now. Takao glanced up from his hand as the gates of the City of Beginnings sprawled into view. He rolled his shoulders and settled the strap of his sword, which he'd been holding up until this point, to a more comfortable position. He strolled past the gates and delved into the crowd that grew thicker and denser with each step. He continued to push through the hordes of people, slowly making his way toward the lowest floor's warp gate.

[Takao 0]

Takao approached the warp gate quickly after finally resurfacing through the people. It was amazing to see the city so lively despite the mortality of the game, and just the simple fact that he was out and about with other people around him was already enough to return him to his normal state of mind. More or less. He recited the name of the third floor settlement he found his shop-residence hybrid on, and disappeared in a bright flash of light.