Amber Dire Mountain – Floor 1

<<HP-9,297/10,013>>

The overly-bestial wolf in front of Amber let out a soft, pitiful whimper, before collapsing to the ground and dissipating quickly into coding. She stared into the sky to judge the time while her health quickly regenerated. She only had a bit over a quarter of her battle healing skill left before she maxed it out, and was incredibly happy about it. The regeneration was nice, especially in times like these when death in the game results in her immediate and untimely demise in the world of the living.

Amber perused her inventory screen, noting that only a handful of coin and a hide had been dropped, and decided that enough was enough for the day. It had been a while since her run in with the self-proclaimed vigilante and the small group that had formed around her. She had honestly forgotten about it until now, as she started to descend the mountain. Somewhere in her mind was a thought if they were okay, but remembering the imposing image of the large man with the axe she quickly set it aside.

The walk was long and her mind didn’t have much to ponder unfortunately, so the thoughts kept coming back. Rolling her eyes Amber opened her inventory again and searched for her Teleportation crystals. Realizing she only had one left, her head immediately fell in disappointment and she sighed knowing it wasn’t worth wasting a resource such as a teleport crystal to simply avoid a long walk with only her thoughts as company.

After only about five minutes she groaned and opened her inventory again, stared at the crystal, and then shook her head before closing it. This was a cycle that was repeated occasionally, but she never actually used the thing much to her dismay. As she sat down to gaze at the teleport crystal again for a third time, she heard a singing voice carry on the wind. It was pleasant, reminded her of being in town, but in only a short moment the voice was gone.

Blindly and without thinking Amber raised her voice and called out, “Encore!” to the mysterious ghost voice on the winds. Silently chastising herself for being foolish Amber stood up and began her trek once more, before being immediately halted by the sounds of snarling. Immediately she readied her ranseur in the direction the snarling, then checked her HP which reassured her that she was once again at full. A dire-wolf stalked its way out from behind a boulder, and revealed itself to be much larger than those she had been hunting before.

<<HP-10,013/10,13>>

Immediately Amber went from being sarcastic and lost in her thoughts, to being deadly serious. She smirked slightly and twisted the spear a bit, “If we must…” as she finished her sentence the beast charged her, it’s HP simply reading ????. It snarled and barked ferociously as it closed the distance, and Amber mockingly did the same.

As It leapt through the air Amber smirked again, “Bad idea!” She immediately dropped to one knee and braced the pommel of her ranseur on the stone behind her, and as the beast began to drop she activated <<Heavy Lance>> and thrust the large spear forward catching it on the tip and with a roar she flipped it over her head and pulled the spear back as she turned to face the target. It still showed only the symbol for unknown HP, but that had to have been a decent blow. With her parry half the max skill, and her battle healing at almost three quarters, she felt safe enough to last a while against the beast, but she feared her lack of actual damage output might get her killed in this situation.

Slowly strafing around the massive dire-wolf Amber prepared herself for the worst. It took a step forward and Amber took one back, yet it simply raised its head and howled. Her eyes darted back and forth almost as fast as the thoughts in her head began to run, Summoning minions? Likely… A buff? Possibly…

Kiyomi - Dire Mountain

Kiyomi turned and ran away from the area as fast as she could, not wanting to hear anything more from him. He was pathetic in her opinion, so afraid of everything he'd rather do nothing. It was a different kind of fear that compelled her to run away then. It was a fear that his words would change her ideas, she was afraid to think she'd become to afraid for her own life, that she would forget about-

"Aaah!" was a high pitched scream that escaped her lips as she crashed into someone, and the two went tumbling down the hill in a mass of legs, clinks from wepons, and flying skirts. It was a long and painful journey to the bottom of the hill, and as the two came to a stop, her breathing was cut off by something squishy. Had she been able to see, she would have noticed a boy who came over and watched the two tumble down haphazardly.

Blushing and pushing the other person off, Kiyomi sat up and looked at the unlucky player she'd crashed into. It was a girl, shoulder length blonde hair, petite, with longer than average ears. "Oh...oh my gosh... gomen! Uh sorry! Are you okay." Traces of worry leaked into her voice as she crawled to the other girl. She looked young, and Kiyomi hoped she didn't break any bones.

Kei - Dire Mountain - Floor 1

Right as Kei was going to walk off the girl that was angered ran off and right away Kei was going to yell out but was a bit too late as the two female players crashed into each other. Kei cringed for a split second as he watched the two tumble down the hill recklessly due to the crash. Instead of just leaving he decided he would approach the two of them and see if they were alright.

Carefully making his way down the hill he reached the base of the hill and met up with the two girls he kneeled down and hesitated for a moment but finally forced some words out of his mouth.「Are you two ok…?」He scanned the area quickly and then looked back at the two of them.

Siren

Scratches, scars, began laying on her bare skin as she fell along with the woman that bumped into her. Feeling a fracture in her bone she let out a little squeal as she fell. Soon as she reached the bottom she was knocked out....her arm was severly injured and needed to be tended quickly. Her clothes were ripped, partialy ripped, branches leaves and dirty surrounded her body and clothing. Her health bar was at YELLOW ZONE.

<<HP>> 6,438/9,677 <<HP>>

Kiyomi - Dire Mountain

Kiyomi gasped when she saw the condition of the other girl. Her health had too fallen into the yellow zone, but she only had a few cuts and bruises. The girl before her looked....

"Oh my...Aaaaah!" she squealed again when a guy player came out of no where. Moving between him and her, she ordered him not to touch her. She reached forward and snapped her arm back into place. Kiyomi gritted her teeth as she did, knowing it probably hurt like hell, but she had to before she healed her.

Opening her menu, Kiyomi saw she still had one health crystal left and used it on the girl. It healed her almost to the top but didn't fully, so she used one of her viles of recovery potions.

She carefully raised the girls head to her knees and poured the medicine into her mouth, watching as her bar went back to full green. Sighing in relif, she poked the girls cheek.

"Sumimasen... please wake up."

SIREN

Groaned in pain feeling liquid seep into her mouth, feeling her bones healed fully, though bruises still covered her skin.
her eyes were blurry as she opened them only to see faint figures that were blurred from her vision, though she was healed
fully her brain was still unconcious from the damages of the fall. Her eyes closed once more, knocked right out.

HP- 9,312/9,677

Kei - Dire Mountain - Floor 1

Kei hesitated for a moment but no matter what that tumble down the hill seemed pretty painful. Right away the girl told him not to touch the one that was out cold from the tumble. He did as she said and stood back a little. He watched her as she started to treat the girl that was out cold. When she snapped her arm back into place Kei gritted his death and cringed slightly to the unpleasant sigh as well as sound that the arm made. Kei shook it off and then sat down on the floor right across the two of them. He watched quietly as the conscious one restored the health of the unconscious one but did not restore her own health. Without a second thought Kei reached into his inner overcoat pocket and took out one of his health crystals and handed brought it close to the girl.「Here use this you are injured and we are still in an area where mobs could spawn.」Kei wouldn’t take no for an answer if she had refused to use it on herself he would use it on her. He just didn’t want to be forceful so he first wanted to offer it to her.「Don't worry about repaying me for this I am doing it out of my own free will.」He said before she said anything about it.

Kiyomi - Dire Mountain

Kiyomi was at least relieved the other girl was okay. When the guy held out a health crystal for her to use she hesitated, before slowly taking it with a trembling hand. Instead of using it, she looked down at the girl.

"We need to get back to the safe zone. I wonder if maybe you have a teleportation crystal on you?" she used the crystal then and rolled her shoulders. They hurt bad, but nothing she couldn't handle.

"If not then this is what we'll do. You carry her and i'll fight off whatever mobs spawn near us. I know a shorter path to the city below, there is a pad there we can use." she stood up, and looked around. "I also have a bat wing. It will help us if any monsters get too close." she turned to the guy to see if he was listening.

Kei - Dire Mountain - Floor 1

「Hmm well I do have teleportation crystals but not one for a mass transportation, but I do have enough single use ones, but I don't know how an unconscious girl will be able to use it. Our best choice is to go with plan B.」Kei went into his menu and quickly changed into his armor and knelt down in front of the girl with his back facing her.「Alright help me get her on my back.」Whilst waiting for her to help the unconscious one onto his back he carefully scanned the area.「By the way I never introduced myself, my name is Kei.」He gave a small smile to the girl as he continued to wait.

Kiyomi - Dire Mountain

Kiyomi helped get the girl onto his back and introduced herself as well. "My name is Kiyomi." Her left hand went to her Saigo Rapier as she continued to speak. "Dont let my cursor color fool you, i wont let any harm come to the two of you. Follow me. She is our priority so be careful, i'll be moving fast. Do not fight a single mob unless im dead or nearly there." she said seriously before taking off to the left side of the mountain. She remembered there being a path leading straight to Dire Mountain City, the safe zone. With few mobs spawning there, it was their best option. If they moved fast and quietly, they'd be there in a mere ten minutes.

Kei - Dire Mountain - Floor 1

Kei nodded.「Nice to meet you Kiyomi and don't worry unless you physically try to harm me I won’t judge you just because your cursor is orange and don’t worry about her either I will make sure to keep her safe just make sure you watch out for yourself.」When Kiyomi ran off to the left side Kei followed behind her immediately without missing a beat. He adjusted the girl on his back so that he could move as fast as possible, making sure to keep up with Kiyomi.「Don't worry about me keeping up my sprint active is pretty high so even if you were to run I could keep up just fine even with her on my back.」

Kiyomi - Decending Dire Mountain - Floor 1

Kiyomi were surprised at the words of Kei, but said nothing, just turned her head and nodded to him. As she ran off, she kept a tight grip on her Saigo in case she had to use it. For a few minutes of running they were good, Kei kept up easily as they followed the carved out path on the rocky mountainside. Kiyomi knew their luck with avoiding mobs was going to run out, and sure enough, three Mutated Bats flew above the path and into her way. Activating her Shooting Star skill, Kiyomi sped up and jumped as high as she could.

"Out of my way beast!" she said as she shot across it, her attack making it's life go down to yellow. While still airborn, she did a flip activating her Quad Pain skill and once her feet touched the ground, she turned and attacked the falling bat again. The attack sent it flying backwards towards Kei who jumped and landed down on it hard. Its remaining HP dropped to zero and it exploded in a flurry of sparkles.

"Nice one." she told him and he smiled.

"Yeah- Kiyomi behind you!"

As she turned, one of the other bats hit her and sent her rolling to the side. She ended up recovering, but not without minor damage.

-Kiyomi HP: 8,900/8,979 >>> 8,022/8,979-

As she got to her feet, she took out her two throwing picks and aimed for its eyes before she threw it. One hit, but the other just missed and landed a few yards away. Before it could recover, she ran up to it and used Shooting Star.

"Hyaaaaa!" she yelled at her attack ripped off one of its wings and sent it falling, and like before she turned and used Quad Pain twice this time to kill it. Kiyomi sighed and turned, the third one was chasing Kei and the girl as they continued running down the side of the mountain. Dashing after them she yelled ahead, "Kei! Dont stop running! I'll attack it from behind!"

"You really dont need to remind me not to stop." he said simply. Smiling, she activated her Shooting Star skill again. Kicking off and jumping, she reached out and grabbed the wing of the creature before sheathing her Rapier in its head. As it flew around, bringing her up higher with it, it exploded into shining dust, the screen showing a CRITICAL attack. She started to panic as she fell, landing in a tuck and roll, painfully so, but she was greatful she survived it.

Kiyomi HP: 8,022/8,979 >>> 7,899/8,979

Standing up, and sighing, Kiyomi quickly looked over her award screen after hearing the satisfiying 'ping' of her exp bar raising to level 16.

4 Bat Wings

7,000 col

She was quite pleased with the earnings so she closed out the screen and followed the two. Eventually they made their way to the abandoned city below. At once, Kiyomi told Kei to head to the teleportation pad. They made their way there and the three took a trip to the town of Tolbana. Finally feeling safe, she put her Rapier away and smiled at Kei.

Tolbana - Floor 1

"That was fun, right?" she joked then became a bit more serious. "We should get a place to sleep. I'll pay."

After walking around the busy town, the three came upon a tavern and got a room. Kei led the way and placed the girl on the bed before claiming to be getting a different room and turning to leave.

"Wait..." she said before opening the menu and transferring him 2,000 col and asking for a friend request. Hesitantly he accepted both and left, smiling.

When he left she turned to the unconscious girl that lay on the bed. She felt a strange need to protect her, and felt guilty for hurting her. Sighing again and covering the girl up, she went to sit at the end of the bed. Pulling her green hood closer, Kiyomi suddenly felt exausted and balled up at the corner of the bed. She knew she had to watch after the girl, but she was so....

I'll just sleep for five minutes...

Moments later, Kiyomi was sleeping soundly.

The woman burst out in tears, and started to run away to far for him to be able to catch up. Well that certainly wasn't how I expected that to turn out. His face continued its grim look, and he sighed "Well I'm sure we will see each other at that meeting" he whispered to himself, and decided to call it a day. Maybe I should map the mountains while I'm at it, I have a few contacts that would like some information on the place he thought to himself as he stared off into the distance. "What is the worst that can happen" he smiled joyfully. Plus I might even pick up a few goodies of my own along the way.

He started to quickly move through the trees, but much to his dismay he noticed another person along the way already mapping the area. Dammit I'm to late he thought himself. Today just isn't my day, first I fail to not get yelled at this strange woman who has a god ego, and now I'm to late to map the area as it seems this informant had already got a decent look at the place. Well I might as well say high Richard put on a smile, and started to wave. "Hello, how are you on this fine day did you map anything important?"

Nathimys caught a glimpse of a person and changed his course slightly to trail after this person. He saw a flash, and suddenly a wolf was flying backwards away from the end of a spear. "Heh." He said, seeing several smaller wolves come from nowhere. "Time for fisticuffs." He sprinted out of the shadows, kicking a minion in the air then punching it, sending it rocketing against a tree, where it shattered into crystals. The dire wolf snapped at him, but her used the sword skill Uppercut to send it spiralling up into the air, landing back on its feet. Nathimys left the rest of its health to the spear woman, as he turned around to face three wolves.
"Wellllll then." He said, sweeping their legs out from under them. He picked one up, punted it, and expected to not see it later. The other two staggered to their feet, leaping at him, snarling. One latched on to his arm, attempting to tip him over as the other had a nice meeting with his fist. He went to the nearest tree, kicking the wolf while it was hanging on his arm into the tree five or six times until it too shattered into blue shards.
Turning towards the woman, Nathimys panicked as another wolf was sneaking up behind the woman. Nathimys kicked it in the air, leaped, and smashed it back against the ground with his fists. He stomped on its head for good measure. "So, how was your day?" Nathimys asked as he also strafed the larger dire wolf. As it broke concentration from him for one second, he ran at it, kicking it in the head. It flipped over onto its back. Nathimys sat on its chest like he might a person he was wrestling and punched it in the head and neck until it shattered into tessellated pixes beneath him.

SIREN

Staring....aimlessly around the room, letting her imagination flow, smiling, humming a songs, various songs that sang about hope
laying on bed as the woman was still curled up on the corner of the bed, " Thank you... " her voice was faint, soft, like a young girls
voice. Continuing to hum...as minutes passed by. Her hums..turned into lyrics..as she began to sing a song....

Sleep now sleep
And so fade sorrow
Sleep beloved sleep
Sleep now sleep
Afar tomorrow
Sleep beloved sleep
You are home this night

Her voice was in harmony, chanting the song..as the stars glimmered outside.
Calm, peaceful.....there was nothng to currently doubt.

Home of winter
Your home of autumn
Summer and spring
You are home this night
Lasting home
Eternal home
Your eternal home
Sleep of seven lights upon you
Sleep of seven joys

Finishing the song....looking towards the woman as she slept, smiling...calm as ever, wanting to thank the woman
many times..for saving her life, dieing was critical in SAO...no one ever woke up once they died...not even seeing
the last glimpse of light..

Kiyomi - Tolbana Tavern - Floor 1

Kiyomi's eyes had opened midway through the girls song, but she stayed quiet, unmoving as she listened to the words and her voice. They reminded her of the songs her mother used to sing back when she was at home.

When she was sure the girl was finished, Kiyomi turned slowly, lying on her back and looking at her. "Your voice...its beautiful. Like an angel." a few tears slipped down her cheeks to her ears. "I'm so happy you didn't die. Sumimasen..." she said, wiping her eyes with her palms. She then wondered why the blonde girl stayed with her...

"Are you not afraid of me?" she asked quietly. For some reason, this girl she just met made her really comfortable. She wasent even slightly afraid of Kiyomi, and as a result, Kiyomi felt relaxed and....

She didn't want to part ways with her.