So this is the updated chapter 3. I hope I didn't make you wait too long. Please read it again even if you read the previous chapter 3. The update I gave it had a serious impact. To those that didn't read the pre-updated chapter 3.. You don't want to. It was awful.
A little info: I'm going to use their in-game names while they're diving, and their real names in the world outside of ALO.
There IS combat in this chapter so.. you know.. if you don't like that.. I'm sorry. It's actually my first time writing a combat scene so.. Please don't cringe too much.
Oh! One last thing.. Yui won't be in this story. I know, I'm sorry. Yes, she's adorable, but I don't have anything set out for her. She'd just be a line or two during battle or something like that. I apologize once again.
Leave a comment/review letting me know what you think! Feedback is helpful!
Alright! Let's get into it!
Groaning as he woke up, Kazuto stretched his arms over his head.
What time is it? He thought while looking at the clock.
Reading 1:15 PM, he scurried out of bed, dressing himself as fast as he could.
Why didn't Sugu wake me up? He questioned himself, opening his bedroom door.
"Sugu!" He shouted through the house.
No response.
Worried, Kazuto searched the house, only to find that it had one occupant... Him.
I guess she's at Kendo practice or out with some friends. He thought, hoping he was right. It was probably the least of his worries.
Taking advantage of an empty house, Kazuto decided to take a bath. With the warm water releasing the tension in his muscles, Kazuto nearly fell asleep. He was too tired from the night before.. Unsettled by the memories of what happened, he decided that the bath was no longer relaxing, and got dressed.
Realizing that he was supposed to meet up with his friends in ALO, Kazuto went to fetch his phone, expecting to have a million messages of how he was going to make it up to them for being late.
:: MOST RECENTLY RECEIVED MESSAGES ARE AT THE TOP ::
"Did something happen? Are you okay?" - Asuna
"C'mon party leader!" - Keiko
"Did you forget that we're meeting up today? Everyone's waiting!" - Klein
"I'm spending the night at Rika's house. You were still sleeping when I was leaving so I left you alone. Did you grind ALL night? :P" - Sugu
Sleep deprived as he was, Kazuto sent an apology to those waiting for him, and dove into the world of ALfheim Online.
As soon as Kirito spawned into the living room of his virtual house he flinched at the welcome he received.
"Kirito!" The 3 players said in unison.
"Hey guys" he said weakly in response.
"You took so long I called Leafa.. Did you grind all night?" Asuna asked.
"Something like that" Kirito said avoiding her gaze, not wanting to remember last night.
"You had us worried. We can take on the mini-boss tomorrow if you want." Suggested Klein.
"Yeah!" Silica said, agreeing with Klein.
"No.. Let's go today" Kirito said. This is what he needed, something to take his mind off of what happened the night before.
"How much farther?" Complained Silica.
"We went over this the other day. The only way to get there is on foot." Kirito said, not really answering her question.
"Look! Over there!" Klein shouted, pointing towards mountains in the distance.
"That's it. Tokaar Caves." Asuna informed the group.
"Let's go then" Kirito said.
Treading lightly, the four players walked through the rugged terrain. With jagged rocks jutting out of the ground, and steam rising from underneath, the group had to be wary of where they stepped. Arriving at the mouth of the cave, they pulled out their weapons, about to enter until-
"Hello there!" A voice behind them said in a friendly manner.
The group turned around to see a man with a wide smile on his face. He was clothed quite casually, like how you'd be clothed in your house, not in the wilderness.
"Who are you? Why are you not equipped?" Kirito asked, noticing his cursor was green.
"I'm Coatl, a developer of ALfheim Online." He answered casually.
"Why would a developer be here?" Asuna asked.
"I'm here to examine the monsters I created. See if they're working correctly, and if there are any bugs." Answering casually once more.
Why would a developer be here? I've never heard of them going into the game to examine their coding personally.. Kirito thought.
"Would you mind if I tagged along? See how they fight?" Coatl asked. "I guess I should mention I won't be fighting alongside you, I'll just be taking notes." He continued.
Tagged along? I guess if he doesn't have any equipment, he can't fight, but if we weren't here.. Kirito thought, not trusting Coatl's words completely.
"If it helps the game, then by all means.." Kirito said as he started walking into the cave.
"Thanks" Coatl said gratefully.
Accepting Kirito's decision, the group walked into the cave, Coatl close behind them.
The cave looked to be pretty small, with the walls twice the height of a player. Everything in the cave was cracked, releasing an orange glow from each opening. Silica had mentioned getting hotter the closer they got to the cave, but it was much hotter inside. Kirito figured that the heat was coming from the same place the strange glows were being emitted from, he suspected it was lava..
"Who wants to fight the first monster?" Asuna asked, pointing towards a figure in the distance.
I have a bad feeling about this place.. Kirito thought. Something's not right.. I should go just to be safe. He continued.
"Let me start this time" Kirito said, cutting off anyone who was about to volunteer.
"O.. Okay." Asuna replied.
The group was clearly shocked by Kirito's sudden urge to fight. He never wanted to fight first, he was always pushing the others to get as much experience as possible.
I'll use both my swords just to be safe.. Kirito thought, as he unsheathed the other sword on his back.
As he approached the monster he noticed its ragged clothing, and dark color. It was almost fully black, save for a few brown streaks running along its body. It had a humanoid shape, almost like the Sentinels guarding Illfang the Kobold Lord, the Floor One boss in Sword Art Online.
Once he was close enough the monster took notice of Kirito, immediately sprinting towards him, lashing out with its claws without a second thought. Kirito easily dodged it and slashed the monster, now named Takir, horizontally with both swords. It snarled at him, clearly angry that it was hit with an attack. Another swipe came towards Kirito, once again, he easily dodged it.
Why is this so easy? It's like it's.. Kirito thought. Blind.. He continued.
Testing his theory, he stopped moving entirely, raising a hand to stop his friends from shouting, "Kirito!" As expected, Takir stopped moving as well. It stuck its snout in the air, and sniffed. A second later it swiped where Kirito had previously stood.
So they rely on smell too.. If that's the case- Kirito thought while dashing to the left, Takir swiping where he was a moment earlier. Taking advantage of its confusion, Kirito launched an attack, plunging both blades through the monster. Stunned, Takir could do nothing but accept Kirito's next onslaught of slashes, each strike faster than its predecessor. His final attack plunged a sword straight through Takir's chest, making him explode into hundreds of blue polygons.
ITEMS RECEIVED: Ragged Clothing, Charcoal
EXP RECEIVED: 847
"Good job!" Klein shouted as the party ran up to Kirito.
"That was amazing!" Silica said in awe.
"What did you get?" Asuna asked.
"Nothing much. Just some fuel for the fireplace." Kirito said.
That perched an eyebrow atop Asuna's forehead.
"Well done" Coatl said, coming up behind the group. "You caught on quick, was it really that easy?" He continued.
Kirito didn't respond. He still didn't trust him completely.
"Kirito makes everything look easy!" Silica said in envy.
"Is that so?" Coatl said in response. "I wonder what he'll do next" he continued.
Kirito didn't like the sound of that. Instead of saying anything he just kept walking deeper into the cave.
The next half hour involved the party fighting Takir over and over again. Since Kirito explained their weakness and what to do, it was easy to progress through the dungeon. Coatl had said that the journey to the room wasn't of any importance, and that the real challenge, was the room itself.
Upon arriving at what seemed like the mini-boss door, the group stopped to prepare, checking their equipment.
"Alright, who's ready? Kirito asked the party.
"I'm good" Klein said casually.
"Ready" Asuna replied.
"Same" said Silica.
Glancing over at Coatl, Kirito could tell he was determined to go through the door as well.
"Coatl, stay at the back of the room, and try not to draw attention to yourself. I can't promise your safety if you act recklessly." Kirito ordered.
He remained quiet.
"If there are no further questions.." Kirito said as he pushed the door to the mini-boss open, revealing a much cleaner area than the rest of the cave. No cracks in the ground, and a cool temperature, just a simple shield insignia in the middle. The room was hexagonal in shape. It was fairly large, giving plenty of space for players, or monsters, to run around. The room was being lit by an opening in the roof, the light from outside the cave shining through.
Scanning the room, the group noticed there wasn't a single monster.
"Did someone already defeat the mini-boss?" Asuna asked.
"Unless they ran past all those Takir's, then it probably hasn't spawned. Hey Coatl, I think you've got a bug you can re-" Kirito began as he turned to speak to Coatl, noticing his cursor wasn't green anymore, but purple.
"Everyone get away from Coatl!" He shouted.
His friends immediately jumped away from Coatl without a second thought, realizing why Kirito ordered them to do so.
"Why are you able to leave the room and roam around the dungeon!?" Kirito yelled.
"It's simple. I have a skill that allows me to do so. It may cost me two health bars, but it's worth it. I know your attack patterns, your reaction time, your speed. I've studied you since the beginning." Coatl admitted.
"Now.. Are you ready? It only gets worse from here." He continued.
"I believe that we're strong enough." Asuna answered.
"Let us see if you're right then.." Coatl said, starting to morph into something else, the mini-boss.
What was once recognized as Coatl had turned into Kotaal. Clothed in full black armor, wielding a longsword of greater length and width than Kirito's. It looked rusted, and weak, like its durability was so low it would break even if it struck wool. Though all of Kotaal's equipment was full of cracks, one would be wise not to take it lightly.
As Coatl said, well, Kotaal said.. The skill he previously used had caused two of his three health bars to be empty.
Would this be easier because he has less health, or was the information he gathered really that important? Kirito thought.
Without another thought, Kirito charged at Kotaal.
Suspense, suspense, suspense. Do you hate me? Chapter 4 will be the fight between Kirito and his friends, and Kotaal.
Did you get the joke? Coatl.. Kotaal.. No? I tried.
Please give me feedback! Anonymous readers can leave reviews too! Don't worry!
SIDE NOTE: I have a poll on my profile! It's at the top! It's about battle scenes and monster names! Please vote! Your answers will effect the story!
It takes a few seconds, and it doesn't bite. I'm serious.
EVEN MORE NOTES : IMPORTANT STUFF
I apologize for more unnecessary notes, but the updates to chapters will always be noted inside the chapters themselves. This is so you can go back and either agree or disagree with the changes. If you do: reviews and PM's are welcoming your feedback.
- changed dialogue to a more story format instead of essay format
- improved transition from the real world to ALO
- provided environment along with dungeon path/mini-boss room
- added Takir and Coatl
- increased Kirito's thoughts
- gave a much needed word count boost
I'm hoping to take at least 3-5 days per chapter. This will allow each chapter to be of good quality and not seem rushed. It will also reduce the need of an update to improve it.
I hope these changes are alright with all of you.
Special thanks: TheSilentSwordsman