Episode 98 - The Skull Reaper
November 7 - Year 2
Bladescape (SS): Lvl 102 – Two-Handed Sword – Search – Weapon Defense – Leather Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Sprint – Acrobatics – Blade Throwing – Extended Weight Carry - Greatsword - Rend - Reveal
Backbreaker (AJ): Lvl 96 – Heavy Shield – One-Handed War Hammer – Extended Weight Carry – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Fishing – Search – Martial Arts – Acrobatics - Sprint - Rend
AFCK(PP): Lvl 90 – Two-Handed Axe – Parry – Cooking – Weapon Defense – Martial Arts – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Blade Throwing – Musical Instrument - Rend - Search
Diemond (R): Lvl 90 – Heavy Shield – Mace – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Heavy Metal Armor – Tailoring – Light Metal Armor Forging – Heavy Metal Armor Forging – Jewelry Making – Extended Weight Carry - Rend - Search
Astro (PS): Lvl 94 – Two-Handed Spear - Purchase Negotiation – Armor Pierce – Acrobatics – First Aid – Light Metal Armor – Battle Regeneration – Weapon Defense – Parry – Extended Wight Carry - Search - Martial Arts
Joltron: Lvl 90 – One handed Axe – Heavy Shield – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Metal Refining – Cooking – One Handed Weapon Creation – Two Handed Weapon Creation – Extended Weight Carry - Acrobatics - Rend
Kirito: Lvl 96 - One Handed Sword - Dual Blades - Martial Arts - Blade Throwing - Parry - Battle Regeneration - Search - Hide - Sprint - Extended Weight Carry - First Aid - Fishing
Asuna: Lvl 94 - Rapier - Two Handed Spear - Light Metal Armor - Heavy Metal Armor - Parry - Battle Regeneration - First Aid - Acrobatics - Sprint - Cooking - Sewing
Klein: Lvl 88 - One Handed Curved Blade - Katana - Light Metal Armor - Shield - Battle Regeneration - First Aid - Search - Listen - Extended Weight Carry - Fighting Spirit - Sewing
Agil: Lvl 83 - Two-Handed Axe - Martial Arts - Parry - Leather Equipment - Equipment Appraisal - Tools Appraisal - Purchase Negotiation - Sales Negotiation - Extended Weight Carry - Cooking
A full party of Wondercolts. Bladescape had promised a full party of Wondercolts to head into the unforgiving death chamber of the Floor 75 Boss. They had no idea who the boss was, only that the ten scouts who entered the chamber were gone. The doors would close behind the raid party and teleport crystals would not work. It was a one-way trip to get to Floor 76.
Bladescape had chosen Backbreaker, Diemond, Joltron, Astro, and AFCK to be the Wondercolts squad. They would have plenty of defense and heavy hitting power, while still being as adaptive as possible. The only downside was the risk. If they didn’t make it, the Wondercolt Council as they knew it would be destroyed. They had a backup plan for the Wondercolts, but universally speaking, it wasn’t going to be good for clearing the game if this raid failed.
They were waiting in Collinia, the main city on Floor 75. Most of the raiders were milling around, waiting for one o’clock to come. Even Agil had joined them, since they needed more raiders, shutting down his shop. The drop list would make him very happy if he survived.
Klein and Fuurinkazan were also in attendance, and along with Agil, they had gone over to talk to Kirito and Asuna, who had just arrived. Both of them had silver bands on their left hands, Bladescape noted. Wedding bands. They must have come from their honeymoon to deal with this boss because things looks so bleak.
Things were tense. A crowd was gathering to see the raiders before they went off. The stakes had never been as high as they were now, and yet, all they had was thirty-ish players. They didn’t even bother to organize into formal groups because they had no strategy until they knew who, or what, the boss was. The players were all on the top of the curve when it came to levels, but it was still only about two thirds the number for a typical raid. They all knew this one would be significantly tougher than anything else they had faced. It was understandable that many in the Assault Team were afraid to come. Bladescape was too afraid to bring more than six Wondercolts.
The teleport plaza glowed and out came Commander Heathcliff, right on time. Heathcliff was in his crimson armor, flowing white cape His combined crucifix shield and longsword, Liberator, was out and ready, but with the sword still sheathed on the shield's back. With him was his personal paladins who fought by his side. Several other KOB soldiers were with them as well. Asuna saluted them.
Heathcliff looked around at all of the raiders and gave them all a nod. “It seems we’re all here. Thank you for coming. I believe you are all aware of the stakes. It will be a terrible battle, but I believe in your ability to emerge victorious. For the day of liberation!”
Everyone yelled, joining in with his enthusiasm.
Heathcliff turned to Kirito. “I need your help today, Kirito. Put your Dual Blades to the test.” The words were like cold steel, full of confidence. Kirito nodded back and Heathcliff turned back to them all. “Let’s get going. I’m opening a corridor to the spot right in front of the enemy’s lair.”
Heathcliff pulled out the other half of the corridor crystal Astro had set up the day before and raised it high. “Corridor open.” The crystal shattered and a blue light flickered ahead of him. “Follow me, everyone,” Heathcliff said. With a whirl of his cape, he went through the corridor first.
Bladescape and her party followed last after making sure there were no stragglers among the other raiders. The obsidian corridor was cold. The sharpness of the angles and shine reminded Bladescape of Joltron's obsidian shield. It was not a fun place to be, but it had been cleared surprisingly quickly and with no reported casualties.
Everyone was double checking their equipment. Bladescape had transferred her crystal pouch to contain only hearing crystals, except for a backup anti-poison and a teleport crystal, a contingency plan if either was necessary or could work. Her drug pouch had plenty of anti-poison and anti-paralysis potions in it, in case the boss could deliver either.
The scraping of Heathcliff's armor drew Bladescape's attention. "Is everyone ready? We have no information about this boss' attack patterns. The Knights of the Bloodoath will take forward positions to absorb its attacks. Observe its attack patterns as best as you can and strike back, being as flexible as you can manage."
All he got back was a bunch of silent nods.
"Well, best of luck," Heathcliff murmured before he strode to the obsidian door and put his hand on it.
Many of the players became tense.
Kirito patted Klein and Agil on the shoulder. "Don't die on me."
"Just worry about yourself," Klein retorted.
"I'm not getting knocked out while there are spoils to be had," Agil declared.
The doors groaned open and players drew their weapons. Heathcliff freed his longsword from its mount on the back of his shield and raised it high. He shouted, "Let the battle begin!"
He charged into the boss chamber and the rest of the raiders yelled their own war cries as they followed him. Bladescape kept her Wondercolts together in the stamped into the boss chamber.
The black walls rose up to a very high ceiling. Everyone lined up naturally into a solid battle formation. They had done this enough times to know how to enter a boss chamber to reduce the variety of risks bosses posed. Only when they were all inside did the doors begin to rumble, sealing them all inside. They were trapped inside, with the only way out being through the boss. The stakes had never, ever, been so high.
For a long moment, nothing happened. Bladescape held her breath and then let it out slowly, forcing herself to relax as they waited for the boss to appear. It had never taken this long.
“Hey,” someone yelled, trying to end the silence.
“Above!” Asuna cried out, drawing their attention to the ceiling.
Bladescape gulped as she saw the boss, hanging from the ceiling. It was a centipede of bone, easily one-hundred meters long. Its body was one giant spine, dozens of spindly, bony legs running down its length, each tipped with a sharpened rib. Above them sat a dozen articulating bone arms, the same as the legs but too short to reach the floor, and above those sat giant rib cage. Attached to its shoulders were two twisting, stumpy arms comprised only of the bones of a giant human's forearm, with bone-scythe blades in place of hands. Most disturbing, however was the skull, which sat with only a single vertebra separating it from the horror's shoulders. It was a twisted mockery of a human's, with an elongated cranium crowned with six stubby horns, and two sets of slanted eye sockets backlit by eerie red flames. Instead of one solid lower jaw, it had four, two to either side and detached in the middle so they could move independently like a snake's. The inside of each was completely covered with sharp fangs.
It was the “Skull Reaper.” Five massive health bars slid to full strength.
The boss released its grip on the ceiling, dropping straight down on the party.
“Don’t freeze up!” Heathcliff ordered. “Keep your distance!”
Bladescape ran with the other Wondercolts right behind her. They got clear of the dropping horror. As she turned to make sure she was ready for a defense, she saw three players had frozen too long. They lost their balance as the centipede slammed into the ground beside them. One of its scythe arms swung, slicing through them.
They were tossed into the air. The next thing Bladescape saw was the shattering of polygons as that horrible sound of death echoed through the chamber. One hit had taken them out.
Statistically speaking, at their levels, they all would have high enough health stats to handle at least one hit. With every level gained, more HP was given to the player. It was a constant in the game. Even average skilled players would have normally stood a chance in the boss fights.
Bladescape set her hands on Harmonic Salvation's pommel in the position for Greatsword. With several players already down from just a single hit, they each had to give it all they had. Kirito would with his Dual Blades, and so would Heathcliff with his Unique Skill, Holy Sword. Astro might use Infinite Spear, depending on if it was leveled up to make a difference. Bladescape couldn't afford to withhold Greatsword. She needed the extra power, no matter the consequences of its discovery.
The skeleton centipede raised off the ground and let out a twisted screeching roar that echoed off the walls. It charged into a group of players, its next victims. This battle could be over it a matter of minutes, with each of them dead.
The scythe swung but Heathcliff slipped in between it and the player. He was cool under the immense pressure the Skull Reaper was putting on his shield. The left arm swung around towards other players while Heathcliff held off the right. The Wondercolts were too far away for Bladescape to do anything.
Kirito got there barely in time to save the other players, crossing his swords to block the attack. But it wasn’t enough. He was going down under the sheer weight and strength of the scythe and it was cutting into his shoulder. Right before he was finished, Asuna slid up and struck with her rapier, adding it to the defense.
“We can manage if we take it at the same time!” Asuna declared to everyone. “We can do this together!”
Bladescape organized the Wondercolts into a new formation with the tanks out front, but close enough to support each other. They would need a fluid but stalwart formation to win this.
In the time it took them to reorganize Kirito blocked a retaliatory attack sent at him and Asuna and ordered, “We’ll stop its scythe! You attack it from the flanks!”
That was all the raiders needed to close the distance and unleash their own assault on the body of the monstrosity. They all kept it simple, to reduce delays. A long delay here would be a death sentence.
Before they could reach it, the Skull Reaper shifted and began to bypass Heathcliff, Kirito, and Asuna forcing them to pull back a bit. The three of them would do what they could, but the others were going to have to put on their own defenses at times.
Klein and Agil ended up with the Wondercolts as they reached the main damaging force. Klein had run the opposite way as his guild did when the Skull Reaper dropped from the ceiling. He was separated from them for the time being.
The other guild leader turned to Bladescape and shot her his usual, goofy grin. "You know, Kirito's going to fight like crazy with a pretty babe to protect."
"Good for him," Bladescape playfully shot back. "Maybe one day a pretty Swordswoman will find you tolerable enough to do the same for you!"
"Hey!" Klein exclaimed while Agil laughed beside him.
The Skull Reaper turned, coming towards them. They were the next target and it was time to test their defenses.
"Alright," Bladescape growled. "Tanks, give us the best you got!" Bladescape pointed Harmonic Salvation towards the bone beast.
The bone scythes slashed towards Bladescape. She stood firm. At the last moment, Backbreaker stepped out from behind to protect her Kaisho. She practically threw the Iron Bulwark between them and death. The shield sparked as the scythe slid along it, harmlessly out of the way. The other scythe came, trying to flank them in its sweep. Joltron and Diemond stepped forward together, and combined their crystal shields into a solid wall that stopped the scythe cold.
Astro rammed Dragon's Tale home over Joltron. AFCK bounced out from behind Diemond and hacked at the bones with Goede Splitter. Bladescape, Klein, and Agil jumped out from around Backbreaker and delivered their own hits. No one used anything fancy or high level.
In the flash of the last attack hitting, the Skill Reaper was gone, off swinging its scythe at another group. The momentary blocks by the Wondercolts allowed for Heathcliff, Kirito, and Asuna to get situated for their next set of defenses.
"We have to stay mobile and keep our strike group in front of it as much as possible!" Astro said. "Our tanks are strong enough, so let’s be the second blockers. Heathcliff, Kirito, and Asuna need support for that!”
No words were needed as they moved out, trying to slide themselves into a position to be targeted next or get in front of the next target. Sometimes it worked, other times, they were ignored. The algorithms running the Skull Reaper were complex, shifting and changing with an irregularity that would make finding a pattern a nearly impossible task. Especially with the surveyor's life on the line.
The Wondercolts became less maneuverable as the battle shifted. They had amassed ten others, several who knew how to use a shield, and when the scythes came, they had enough to block, unleash mid-level Sword Skills, and then the second set of shields could block them while the damage dealers took the delay.
It sped up the removal of the Boss' HP, but it was all chip-damage, slowly shaving off little bits until there was nothing left. There was no hacking off large chunks of HP from the Skull Reaper.
Half an hour passed with decent progress. Forty-five minutes had them in a winning position. An hour brought the end of the fight. No Wondercolts fell. Agile still lived. Fuurinkazan had made it through another boss battle, and Kirito and Asuna were alive as well. Of course, Heathcliff, their great and powerful leader, was also still standing.
It left them all on the obsidian floor, trying to recover. Bladescape wasn’t ready for it to be over. The congratulations fanfare had played, their drop lists had popped up, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t over. She was too tired to look at the drop list and the menu above it. In the fury of all the surviving raiders attacking the boss, she had lucked out to get the Last Attack Bonus.
Klein wasn't far away, on his stomach. Agil was on his back, spread eagle. Backbreaker had removed her shield so she could lay flat on her back. AFCK was on her side, gripping Geode Splitter and rocking a bit. Even she was out of energy. Astro, Joltron, and Diemond were in similar shape, but Bladescape couldn’t see them from where she was sprawled out.
Klein’s hoarse voice broke the silence. “How many did we lose?”
It was Kirito who responded, after pulling up his menu to look at the map. He had to count how many of them were left, and subtract it from the number that went in. “Fourteen are dead.”
Fourteen. Bladescape’s heart stopped from the horror those words brought. It was a worse dread than the Skull Reaper had been. Fourteen of Aincrad’s best were dead. That blow to the Assault Team was going to be felt for the rest of the Floors. It was just under half the number of raiders for this boss. There was a chance the Assault Team would never be able to recover the statistical impact of losing those players. Floor 75 might have become the end of their time conquering Aincrad.
“You can’t be serious,” Agil said, stalling out as he recognized the darkness that surrounded them.
Klein rolled over and looked at Bladescape. It was dreary and monotone, and he kept his voice low. “Hey, mind if we grab a bite to eat after this and talk about guild business? And another thing I noticed today about you?”
“Your treat?” Bladescape groaned, all from the mental stress of the fight.
“Yeah,” Klein plainly said.
Someone got up and then there was a thud that pulled Klein’s and Bladescape’s attention over to where Heathcliff was standing, and where Kirito was in position to run him through. But he wasn’t able to. A purple marker had popped up that was stopping his Sword Skill from finishing the piercing attack.
IMMORTAL OBJECT
Bladescape was confused. No human player was an immortal object. That was impossible.
“Kirito, what in the-?” Asuna said as she ran towards him, slowly stopping.
The system message blinked out, leaving Kirito standing in front of Heathcliff. Everyone had seen the label though. Kirito distanced himself from Heathcliff. Heathcliff was showing no emotion.
Asuna spoke again. “He is designated a system-level immortal object? Wh.. what does this mean, Commander?”
Heathcliff just looked at Kirito. Kirito spoke as he lowered his swords slightly. “This is the truth behind the legend. The system is designed to prevent his HP from ever falling into the yellow zone. The only things that can be labeled immortal objects are the environment, NPCs, and system managers, not players. But there aren’t any more GMs in the game - except for one.”
Bladescape’s hand silently found Harmonic Salvation. She was unsure what was happening, but she felt like having Harmonic Salvation ready was the smartest play.
Kirito continued to explain everything. “There’s something that has stuck in the back of my mind ever since I came here. I figured he had to be watching us from somewhere, managing and fine-tuning the world. But I forgot a basic psychological fact, something that even a kid knows.
“There’s nothing more boring than watching someone else play an RPG. Isn’t that right, Akihiko Kayaba?”
Bladescape lost her grip on Harmonic Salvation in quiet shock. The silent room gave her a moment to think. She remembered the Floor 70 boss fight, or rather, the mirror that told them who should go and who shouldn’t. The Commander had been told he would die if he went. If he had entered that fight, his immunity would have been exposed. It was why he bowed out and passed leadership onto her.
“Commander…” Asuna said, her words a dry and barely above whisper. “Is this… true…?”
Heathcliff only tilted his head for a moment before he finally spoke. It was to Kirito. “Will you at least tell me how you figured it out?”
“I first noticed something was off during our duel. You moved way too fast in that final moment.”
“I should have known. That was a painful failure for me. I was so overwhelmed by your attack, I had no choice but to use the system’s assistance.” He slowly nodded, finally showing some emotion. The corner of his mouth twisted up, a wry grimace. “My plan was to not reveal myself until the Ninety-Fifth Floor had been reached. But alas…”
Heathcliff broke his concentration from Kirito and looked out over them all. “Yes, I am Akihiko Kayaba,” He declared. “And I am this game’s final boss, the one who should have awaited you on the top floor.”
Bladescape couldn’t help but roll her eyes at how cliche it was.
Kirito agreed. “I don’t think much of your taste. The greatest player in the game turns heel and becomes the final boss?”
“But it is a compelling scenario, is it not?” Heathcliff asked in his usual, calm tone. “We had fun, but I wasn’t expecting to be exposed just three quarters of the way through. I had you pegged as the biggest wild-card element in the game, but even my estimates were off.”
Bladescape gripped Harmonic Salvation once again. A firm battle grip. This was the man who had imprisoned 10,000 people. He was the reason they just lost fourteen players today, and ten the day before. He was the reason they had a shrine back in their headquarters, for the members of Geigi Clan who had perished trying to free the regular players. The kids, Gin, Kain, Mina, Sasha, and the others, they were trapped because of him. He was immortal, but if anyone could break that status, Bladescape could. She had to believe the Equestrian Magic in her geode would break through, but she had to be tactical about it.
Kayaba continued. “I’d always expected that you would be the one to confront me in the end. Out of the ten Unique Skills in the game, Dual Wielding is the one given to the player with the quickest response time. That player should have been the one to stand before the final villain, whether triumphant or beaten. But you exhibited power beyond my expectations. Both in speed of your attacks and the sharpness of your observations. But...I suppose having one’s expectations betrayed is one of the best features of an online RPG.”
“You...you bastard…” a KOB soldier said as he stood up. “We actually swore our loyalty to you. We put our hopes in you! And you betrayed us…” He lifted his halberd. “You evil, twisted-!”
He screamed, charging at Kayaba in his anger. He took a huge swing. Kayaba was faster than his swing, opening a menu with his left hand and in an instant, the KOB soldier froze in midair. He clattered to the floor as the paralysis symbol joined his HP bar.
He wasn’t the only one. Bladescape felt a paralysis take effect on her. She seized up a bit, but didn’t lose her grip on Harmonic Salvation. She couldn’t see Klein or anyone else, with how she was now laying, only Heathcliff, Kirito, and Asuna.
Kirito had bent down to pick up Asuna who was also paralyzed. The only two free were Kirito and Kayaba.
Kirito turned back to Kayaba. “What are you doing? Killing everyone here to cover up your evil deeds?”
“Hardly. I would not be so cruel,” Kayaba said, shaking his head. “But I am left with no other choice. I must accelerate my plans and await your visit to the Ruby Palace on the top floor. I have been building the KOB to handle the powerful foes of the ninetieth floor and above. It is not my first choice to abandon you partway like this, but I think you’ve shown that you have the strength to make it on your own. However, before then…”
It became a contest of willpower between the two swordsmen.
Bladescape continued to fight against the paralysis effect. There was some maneuverability available and she was making good work of it while Kayaba was focused on Kirito. Her hand finally got to her drug pouch. She felt out one of the anti-paralysis vials with the tip of her fingers. This was another moment where using different vials for each drug was a lifesaver. Bladescape began to inch it up towards her mouth.
Kayaba continued. “I believe you deserve a reward for exposing my true identity, Kirito. I will grant you the opportunity to fight me in a one-on-one duel, right here and now. No immortality, of course. If you beat me, the game will be over, and all the players will be able to log out from this world. What do you choose?”
Asuna immediately protested. “You can’t, Kirito! He’s trying to get rid of you… We should pull back and think this through…”
Bladescape got the vial into her lips and used her teeth to open it and sucked out the mixture. Kirito wasn’t the kind of player to pass up on a duel like this, not when it meant freeing everyone. And neither was Bladescape. If the opportunity presented itself, Bladescape was going to make sure this ended here.
Still, the best choice was to fall back. The Wondercolts could pick up the slack and take the lead on clearing the Floors. The Knights of the Bloodoath were destroyed from this turn of events. There were KOB members that Bladescape would present with an offer to join the blue and yellow Wondercolts.
“You sick bastard,” Kirito muttered. “Alright, let’s settle this.”
“Kirito!” Asuna screamed.
“I’m sorry. But this has to be it. There’s no turning back now…”
“You aren’t going...to die, are you...?”
“Nope… I’m going to win. I’m going to win and I’m going to bring an end to this world.”
“Alright. I believe you,” Asuna said.
Kirito put down Asuna, and Bladescape began to slowly inch her way into a better position to assist him. She couldn’t let Kayaba realize she was free of his little trick.
“Kirito, don’t do this!” Klein protested.
“Kirito!” Agil shouted.
Kirito looked at them. He spoke to Agil first. “Thanks for all your support of the swordsmen in the game, Agil. I know what you’ve done. You’ve spent nearly all of your earnings helping to outfit players in the mid-level zones.”
Bladescape had suspected Agil had been shifting all he could to help the mid-level players, but he was smart about it. He was known as one of the best merchants in the game, and drove hard bargains when he needed to.
Kirito’s voice trembled a bit. “Klein...remember when we first met? I’m sorry for what I did...leaving you behind like that. I always regretted it.”
Those were clearly the words of a man expecting to die.
“D...don’t you dare apologize to me!” Klein yelled back, losing tears. “Now is not the time! You’re not going to do this! I’m not going to forgive you until I’ve at least had the chance to buy you a dinner back in the real world!!”
Kirito silenced him with a nod. “All right, it’s a deal. We’ll meet up on the outside.” Kirito flashed him a thumbs up.
He looked back at Kayaba, who was “kind” enough to let this all happen. He didn’t even blink over any of the conversations.
“I have just one request,” Kirito said.
“And that is?” Kayaba asked.
“I don’t intend to go down easily, but if I do die, ensure that Asuna can’t commit suicide right away.”
Kayaba raised an eyebrow in surprise but nodded assent. “Very well. I’ll see to it that she cannot leave Selmburg.”
“Kirito, you can’t! No...you can’t do this!!” Asuna protested, as she began to panic.
Bladescape’s heart stopped for Asuna. That was a horrible request. Suicide was bad, unethical to many people because it was a life lost, but so was forcing Asuna to not even have an option to live her life as she saw fit. If this ended that badly, the Wondercolts were going to mobilize to assist Asuna in whatever way they could. She was right near their headquarters and the swordswoman would be without any way to be what she had worked so hard to become.
Kayaba hit a few more commands on his GM menu. Kirito’s Health bar slid down into the red, and Kayaba’s matched it. One hit would mean death. A purple bar popped up next to Kayaba: CHANGED INTO MORTAL OBJECT. He was now just as vulnerable as any other player.
Bladescape stopped moving and adjusted to get a throwing pick. That would be her first move if Kirito failed.
Kirito and Kayaba faced off. Kayab was Heathcliff’s usual expression, unreadable. It was also difficult to figure out what had to be going on in Kirito’s mind.
“...to kill you!!” Kirito spat as he finally charged.
But he didn’t trigger any Sword Skills. He was going to beat him with skill alone. After all, Kayaba had designed the Sword Skills. He had to know all of them by heart, even Bladescape's Greatsword.
It was a duel of the ages, much better than when she had seen Kirito lose to Kayaba a few weeks prior. Kirito was relentless and fast. Kayaba was cold and calm, striking when Kirito was open. As it continued, the feeling that Kayaba was toying with Kirito began to rise in Bladescape’s stomach. Each time he blocked Kirito’s sword, he was that much closer to being able to run him through. It was a stalwart defense that Kirito couldn’t breach or flank.
Kayaba grinned as Kirito fell into his trap by triggering a Sword Skill. There was no breaking free from the combination attack once it was started. Kayaba took each strike expertly on his shield. Even without the system assisting him, Kayaba was an expert player with plenty of skill.
There was a screech above all the clashing metal and flying sparks. The sparks were joined by polygons as one of Kirito’s swords shattered. Kayaba lifted his longsword high, overhead.
“Farewell, Kirito,” Kayaba said.
Kayaba himself had just said the fun of online RPGs was how unpredictable they were. Just as the longsword was on its mission to kill Kirito, Asuna slid in between them and took the slash. She had broken free of his paralysis and sacrificed herself.
The look on Kirito’s face, he was ready to die. He didn’t have to deal with any consequences once he was dead. He was not equipped to deal with the death of his wife.
“That was a surprise,” Kayaba stated. “Almost like a story event in a single player RPG, isn’t it? She shouldn’t have been able to recover from that paralysis...as I said, quite unexpected.”
Kirito was lifeless. He finally bent down and picked up Asuna’s rapier, and made a halfhearted swing with the light sword at Kayaba. He made a swipe with Elucidator, but Kayaba easily batted it away and then ran Kirito through.
Bladescape faltered. She should have bolted forward, but after watching Kirito and Asuna go down, she needed to think things through. With Heathcliff betraying them all, they needed someone to step forward and lead. It had to be her, there was no one else in a position to take over, but she wanted to end it right there, not after another twenty-five floors and even more time spent in Aincrad.
Kirito’s health was gone, but he was still there, with the sword in his chest. His body was beginning to fade, but it wasn’t shattered. Kayaba faltered, shocked at this unexpected turn. This was a true testament of Kirito’s willpower. He wasn’t going to go down, somehow. He was fighting the system itself, and imposing his will on its programming.
Kirito screamed, a mix of pain, agony, and rage. Asuna’s rapier’s tip flipped up and Kirito ran Kayaba through. They were standing there, with their swords in each other’s chests. They both shattered into polygons, together.
Bladescape looked over at Klein. Everyone was free of the paralysis now that Kayaba was gone. There was both shock and panic on Klein's face at the scene they had just witnessed.
All across the floating castle known as Aincrad, all of the skies grew red as it was filled with warning octagons, just like they had turned during the tutorial two years prior. The sound of the game system rang out loud over every Floor all throughout Aincrad.
THE GAME HAS BEEN CLEARED.
THE GAME HAS BEEN CLEARED.
THE GAME HAS BEEN CLEARED.
Thunderborne (RBD): Lvl 91 – Rapier – Sprint – Acrobatics – Armor Pierce – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Leather Armor – Weapon Defense – Extended Weight Carry – Search - Martial Arts - Blade Throwing
Doombunny (FS): Lvl 98 – One-Handed Dagger – First Aid – Hide – Search – Listening – Battle Regeneration – Fighting Spirit – Familiar Communication (Colorra) – Drug Mixing – Reveal -- Fencing - Sprint - Armor Pierce
Kiefer: Lvl 92 – One-Handed Curved Blade – Parry – Weapon Defense – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Slash Weapon Forging – Katana – Martial Arts - Search - Armor Pierce - Sprint - Blade Throwing
Lessa: Lvl 89 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Light Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Equipment Repair – Metal Equipment Repairing – Armor Pierce – Search - Acrobatics - Wood Carving
Knightstar (TS): Lvl 85 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Equipment Appraisal – Parry – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Search – Armor Pierce - Purchase Negotiation - Sale Negotiation
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Its over
10735663
2 more chapters. This hits 100!
Not sure what the point of unparalyzing Sunset was here if she was just gonna stand there and do nothing. Maybe it'll have a point next chapter?
Kinda wished Bladscape did something. Even block the strike that killed Asuna
Whats the sword for at the top of the story ?
10735768
I was thinking the same thing, I kind of figured she'd jump him while he's distracted during the duel. Also it feels a bit anti-climactic for Sunset to just watch the ending happen.
10735794
10735707
10735768
Yeah, I played with a few things, but ultimately, I went with the reality that most people are ready to act, but then seeing someone else get shot or stabbed, they freeze. Sunset froze. She was preparing in case Kirito failed, he sort of did, then not. Otherwise she would have just been paralyzed watching it. Didn't feel like Sunset or Bladescape.
10735789
That is a cool piece that I had commissioned. I had one done in Sunset's colors as well. That one is supposed to be Harmonic Salvation.
...for an SAO crossover, why is Sunset dressed as Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha in the cover art?
10735884
I was thinking that when he went for the finishing blow on Kirito and Asuna jumped in sunset would have thrown her pick causing him to dodge before he hit Asuna. Then realising he was outnumbered he'd teleport away.
Or following the normal events more, he would dodge back from the pick and Asuna having just stepped infront of Kirito rushes him after he dodges the pick and then switch with Kirito like the first boss fight or switch with Sunset into a greatsword strike that he has to block allowing Kirito to swoop in and run him through.
Might not fit the Kaiaba being almost happy he lost to Kirito idea the original anime had but it was just how I saw it going when you mentioned her having antiparalysis potions on her going in.
So the game is finally cleared. Wonder what the last two chapter will be about then? I was actually surprised Sunset was a higher level than Kirito.
10735884
Still doesn't feel right. Tge one time to not stay to canon you do
10735898
I get asked that constantly. Because I put that cover together from 3 elements, all sources are cited in the description and were cleared for use. There are no sunset with armor drawings out there that work. The other one is the full metal Mordred and it was done by the same artist, but after I put the cover together. I didn't know it was Fate when I used it. Lol
10735919
He coasted for two weeks having fun with Asuna! Lol
10735906
I understand your point. That scene was developed very early on, when it was a 10-20 chapter adventure story. I'm putting the effort into Ruby Palace, which is coming along well. Hehehe. All the way to the top!
10735920
Eh...I kept canon for everything else. I'm not the happiest with it because there was no winning when I locked myself in to staying canon SAO. That is why I'm doing Ruby Palace.
I JUST realized we skipped kirito being a bad ass I have not read the chapter yet but I saw the title which just let me realize it rooCry
10735985
Which time with him being a bad ass? He that was 80% of the episodes.
10735884
I get that line of thinking, but I feel like after everything she's been through she should have been more than ready to jump in to the fight, even after seeing her friends die.
Still, I had a lot of fun reading this fic, even though I'm not a huge fan of SAO. Looking forward to the ending, and checking out what you're working on next. Thanks for writing!
10736007
Thanks. And Ruby Palace will be better. It's already significantly better. 7 pilot episodes, the first floor takes almost 20 chapters. Yeah. A whole, whole , whole lot better, more fun, with some really cool changes. As similar as it is, it is not. You should really enjoy it. It will be SAO, but definitely more EQG/MLP to it.
10735977
you did do minor changes. but again why have her unparalyized if it led to nothing?
10735935
Looking forward to it
So... Nothing really changed? How disappointing.
There was no point to the girls being there, why have Sunset get free just to do nothing? I had hoped for something, more.
10736040
The reason is because you know where it ends, but she doesn't. Sunset was ready to act, trusted Kirito since she was paralyzed as he accepted the duel. She prepared to be the backup, but watching Asuna go down and then Kirito, she faulted. That and by the time she recovered, Kirito wasn't gone. In the Amine, he falls, shatters, and then pieces back together. I stuck with the light novel, where he doesn't shatter. He starts to fade, but he never shatters. That effects how Bladescape acts, because he stays.
Hurray!!!! She got it!!!
10736079
Understandable. That will be Ruby Palace. I had been clear from the start, it was designed as a fun adventure tale, where they did stuff and Kirito save them and no one is the wiser that they were there. But it got way out of hand, and yeah. So, that is why I am doing Ruby Palace.
Huh... I didn't expect for everyone to be freed on chapter 98
10736125
then what's the point of having her unparalized!? This and Laughing Coffin fight are the two biggest errors in this story.
...I like how everyone is focused on the paralysis issue. But no one commented on the very strange character sheet at the bottom
Ps: you call Agil “Agile” once
10735977
I have a question if is this was going step by step anime how are we diverting cause I see your message here about the final floor I request a very broad vague answer that makes sense and I swear to higher powers if you say magic pretend I kicked you in the shin (I work construction hauling things by foot with steel toe boots 6 days a week)
10735991
The him vs boss monster solo saving the idiots in green
10736177
Laughing Coffin was cut for time, because Ruby Palace will be able to do it better. It was developing down a path I didn't want to go with Aincrad. I never had time to sort that conundrum out before I made my choice for Ruby Palace and to where to draw my line.
With the neutralizing the paralysis effect, I was either left with do nothing, which at that point I felt it would be better to have Sunset/Bladescape unable to see the fight, or have her not give up. It is more in her character to not give up. And that is the reason, character. The character doesn't know the outcome. You and I did because I stuck with canon, but she didn't. She was expecting to have to go for it if Kirito failed. Yeah, she stumbled and didn't, but he also didn't fail. She didn't need to do anything. It was a duel between two swordsmen, no reason to get involved. Kirito had it handled. But the character doesn't know the end. The character doesn't know the 100 chapter limit. The character had to be ready to take the next step, and the next 100 or 1000 steps to free themselves because beating the final boss and conquering Aincrad was what will free them. It just wasn't needed. I had to make her ready, even though Kirito succeeded. She wasn't right beside them. It was a big chamber. There was a lot of ground to cover.
I did the same thing with Merlin. I did the same thing with a lot of things since about Episode 50. I had to make sure that I never let my characters know there was going to be a sudden end. The other two dragon heads were never found. Klein didn't get to discuss that guild business with her over dinner. I have a ton of other things that I was preparing for but I won't spoil them for Ruby Palace.
The girls were never intended to worm their way into the story as much as they did. My original plan didn't even have them at the final boss battle. Then it expanded, and their involvement did, so it made sense that they would be there. Unfortunately, I had committed down a path that has its merits, but that I wasn't the happiest about, which is why I am "rewriting" it and making a full crossover, appropriately named "Ruby Palace" because it is going to go all 100 floors. From the Town of Beginnings, to the Ruby Palace. I've got a ton of free space to play above Floor 75, and I have plenty of twists and intricacies, things I was foreshadowing but never had time to get to, or they game was beaten before it could come about. I cut a lot of planned material out that you will get to see in Ruby Palace, because I wanted to appropriately finish the known ending, but get there as quickly as possible, and leave plenty of surprises for Ruby Palace.
10736204
Crap! I am not surprised I did. It is so easy to add an E to the end of his name. And yes, no one has commented on the alternative wing banner, or the other's stats. One person asked about the sword and another about Blade's final level being over Kirito's. There was a lot that happened in the chapter. I know, most of my readers knew how it would end, but there still was a lot there.
10736239
Unfortunately, we clearly know all of who was there, in the Anime and the Light Novels. There was no way to stay canon, and get the girls in on the action. I checked. I wanted it, but there was no substantial way for it to work.
10736234
I'm not sure I followed your question. If you meant me mentioning the Ruby Palace in my reply, and you have not read the announcement blog post, well that is the link to it. Track the story or follow me to ensure you get updates on the Ruby Palace and its release date.
10736273
then what was the point of doing this version then? I get some events stay canonish but at points where the Colts can do something and not let them. i get her not acting right away because Kirito is skilled enough to win. HOWEVER I have two counters to this.
1: From her spot she could likely see Asuna moving and go for a parry shot allowing Kirito to full out win.
2: This is Sunset we are talking about. she used to cheat to win. this is one time to bring that back considering this is the guy responsible for so many to die in a STUPID GAME.
With some of my own stories people complaining about how canon it is and where's the difference. at this final match is NOT the time for a pure canon event.
@Twilightdrgn I have a right to say what i want. and I am being civil. UNLIKE YOU!
oh and unlike you I didn't immediately block you.
Yes this is Minddrops story so the final choice remains there. but as a reader i have my right to critize a choice. Just like anyone who reads any book or watch any movie I can give my opinion on. i have not called minddrops any kind of name just feel this chapter finish is an error considering the story in general
10736340
I know. It felt forced to me as well. We hit a point where our protagonist wasn't the protagonist, or the antagonist. I never intended for Aincrad to be like this. Tramps around one some adventures, kirito wins, sets them free. A nice, happy, adventure tale. Which then grew, and changed. If I had known it was going to go where it did, and get the following it did, I would have done things differently. Hence why I am writing Ruby Palace. I have avoided specifics, but I have my bones to pick with this story. It is a great story so long as everything is kept in the context that SAO is canon. I've never broken canon. Gotten close, pushed a little bit, but I found the empty spots, capitalized on it, and created something amazing. Now, it's time to do that again, but with full alt-u crossover. I still need Asuna, Kirito, Klein, and the others to stay the same, so some things have to happen, but for the most part, I get to decide how it plays out.
Your Second point is something I need to consider more for Ruby Palace. It is a very valid point and I will look at how to incorporate that facet of her into the next one.
I may not always like the replies, but I do love hearing from my readers. Their opinions matter, not so much that I will not tell my tale of I think they will dislike it. Not every chapter will be a hit, not every story either. But feedback, constructive feedback, is always useful for me. It is my job, as the writer to make the reader feel the emotions, connect with the characters, and ultimately, to get the reader to agree with the character's decisions. That is a lot easier when it is your own story, with your own characters, not working off fanfiction. So even though this chapter may not have been a big hit, I am learning. My biggest issue was the roadblock I put by staying canon. I get that not everyone will like it. I understand and can sympathize with that.
It does suck that all I could really do was make Bladescape on deck, ready if Kirito failed. Asuna had to die. It's how Kirito had the strength to stay together and and run Heathcliff through. I didn't see much of a choice, and as a reader, you guys can offer a different perspective that I can't see. Maybe there was an angle for her to do more, maybe not. I'm unsure.
Please be civil. If someone has an issue with a chapter, let them. It's not your job to fix it or get involved. I'll work to explain anything I can. Not every chapter is a success to everyone.
I may not always like the replies, but I do love hearing from my readers. Their opinions matter, not so much that I will not tell my tale of I think they will dislike it. But feedback, constructive feedback, is always useful for me. It is my job, as the writer to make the reader feel the emotions, connect with the characters, and ultimately, to get the reader to agree with the character's decisions. That is a lot easier when it is your own story, with your own characters, not working off fanfiction. So even though this chapter may not have been a big hit, I am learning. My biggest issue was the roadblock I put by staying canon. I get that not everyone will like it. I understand and can sympathize with that.
Most of the questions brought up for this either were because I didn't write it well, or because I committed to canon and it screwed me. Our protagonist, Bladescape, couldn't be the protagonist or even the antagonist. That is the simple fact that was created by me staying Canon. In the end, I don't regret it, but I also has given me a reason to write Ruby Palace.
But please stay civil. So long as my readers are not outright attacking me or another reader, it is fine. It is their opinion on my story. I have only been attacked once or twice, and I don't think the individual continued to read. I'll deal with any attacks appropriately and we have moderators for a reason as well. When I get some of my other works officially published, I will have to deal with worse critics that any of my readers have been.
Message box is always open to hear more in depth reviews or to answer questions, and of course, to get suggestions. Ruby Palace is coming along nicely, but it still is a ways away from being at a place where I can release it. So any comments and suggestions, send them my way!
10736415
i get vocal because I care. been a very fun ride with only the two issues mentioned earlier.
I will give an example of my own story Born For Loyalty, where a human replaces Dash. early on so many complained how like canon the story was. my defense in those intances the human and Dash are too simialr for a change. But then I go and have her kill Discord.
this ending just felt like with just some moves Sunset could assist in the W. most of this story she didn't get the LAB but was key to the W. why not here. why give her Great Sword if it was barely used.
It just feels like so many things left on the table
Holy shit a lot of people maxed out some of their skills in a single chapter! Geez we must have missed one hell of a training montage!
On a separate note I can respect how you stuck with cannon. Before this point you have never shied away from telling us that so if you broke with canon now then that would've invalidated the work you've done up to now.
Now we are going to go into the epilogue of the story. All I can hope for is the Klein and Sunset story to be wrapped up well and Fluttershy finally being able to reunite with her animal friends!
10736025
I hold you up to that. I was hoping to see more about changes to the story but since you mentioned this version is stuck with SAO canon, it'll have to do. I'm actually eager to read up Ruby Palace to read a more original SAO crossover with EQG/MLP where the effect of the EQG/MLP characters and Equestrian magic leaking into the game to cause more "ghosts in the machine" elements where the other SAO AIs and game elements are......... "evolving".
10736443
Things were supposed to feel left on the table. That is the nature of what a story where you know the end is sooner than planned, but the characters don't. In the Light Novel/Anime, Kirito is rather short sighted, and he had no long term projects at the time.
10736663
Thank you. And the wrap up will be fun.
I understand how mindrop did what she did with sunset in this chapter, cause honestly, I would probably do the same if I saw 2 of my good friends die immediately in front of me. You have to see the story from the view of sunset/bladescape as if you were her, as if you just watched one friend die into polygons and the other fade before dying, it would be enough to break anyone, trust me.
Well… that was… way faster than I expected.
Let's see how you'll wrap up the final.
Great chapter!
Anyone else though feel like the first "Person" Bladescape should see on waking is Princess Celestia
Cannot wait for more though!
10739664
Haha. Thanks. It gets better, writing wise. I have improved, and when my editor comes on board, things improve a whole lot more.
I know I'm really late to this story, since I only started reading once it was completed. I want to say I really enjoyed the story as a whole, even though it was abit rushed at the end.
I want to highlight the feeling of desperation you portrayed in the assault team. how with 14 elite players down and Heathcliff no longer on their side, it felt impossible to regroup and complete the last 25 stages. It really puts into perspective why Kirito decided to accept the challenge, even if he knew the odds were stacked against him.
I'm glad you chose to stick to canon here. Breaking it will have invalidated the work you have put in to make this story canon. We know Asuna must die, followed by Kirito and Heathcliff together. There wasn't a way to slip Bladescape into the battle so you tried to push as far as you could. I can see why Bladescape won't want to jump in to help Kirito as well, since that could cause Heathcliff to cancel the duel and leave.
Overall, a well written story👍 Excited to read Ruby Palace🙂
10785201
Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it. Sticking with canon was tought. I can't wait for Ruby Palace!
We're they actually referred as wedding bands in the novels? Asking cause I learned of sao via the anime, not the light novel books.
No turning back now.
I needed a good laugh, thx Sunset.
Well I'll be.
Thx Kirito, if it wasn't for you, we'd have lots more people lost.