Chapter 8: The Clichés
Lv 50
COL: 209
EXP: 2001/11172
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Agility: 120
Strength: 120
Blacksmithing: 1
Stamina: 50
Cooking: 1
Straight Sword: 102
2–Handed Blade: 1
Katana: 80
Rapier: 1
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All players should've automatically advanced once the floor boss is defeated. They just have to use the teleport gate.
However, that's not the case for the Aincrad we know today.
There was one message that I got after I cleared a floor boss before this.
[Solo to duo clearance of the floor boss does not allow a floor advancement to everyone]
This is exactly why you need to have at least 3 people on your team to clear a floor.
As for the boss... They'd respawn until a proper "raid" was held.
So yes, I've been abusing that mechanic for a whole month in order to get into level 50.
And yes, I have at least 15 Midnight Coats in my inventory. What a broken game is this.
[The Forgotten Dragon King is lost for words while looking at your inventory]
Now then...
(First Floor - Aincrad)
"The point is, we found the boss room."
There I sat away from all the people with a new set of gears. I didn't wear the midnight coat and covered my face with a skull mask.
Well... Kirito's over there trying to look around with his menu showing the friend list and a map.
Looks like he's trying to find me.
Anyway, it took a while but due to my interference, it's looking kinda better since they assembled the raid team faster.
Diabel, the leader of this raid is currently giving his speeches.
But my attention is placed on something else.
[Kirito: the map says that you're here. Are you the guy with a hood?]
[BallsDeep69: So you're not approaching me since you thought I would've been someone else? Just how introverted can you be?]
I saw him making a funny face from afar. He then looked in my direction, I can feel he sensed the grin behind my skull mask.
[Kirito: come over here.]
He's inviting me over, I can see another player beside him, hiding herself beneath a hooded cloak.
She must be Yuuki Asuna, the heroine of the series.
"Long time no see" I greeted them by the time I sat next to them.
"Where have you been this whole month... The friend tracking system showed an error you know?" He asked thus.
"I'm aware..."
"Just where in the world were you?" (Kirito)
"Not telling~" (Akihito)
"You really..." (Kirito)
"That matters aside... Would you like to join our party?" Kirito pointed to himself and the girl beside him.
"Sure... But there's something I need to ask both of you." This brought both the heroine's and main characters' attention.
"Hm?"
"These days... did you get strange notifs from the menu?"
Kirito seems to realize what I am talking about.
"Strange?" this time, the quiet heroine beside him speak up.
"That's right, for example... 'The Monarch Of the Beginning is intrigued in you' or... 'A certain constellation is gazing at you', something like that?"
"... Do you know what that means?" (Kirito)
Ah, so you did get the notifications...
"It means that these 'Constellations' are higher beings that watch us as if we are merely a kind of characters inside a huge screen. I bet they're enjoying it." I told them without looking at them.
[The Monkey King is looking at you uncomfortably]
[The Goddess of Night is pleased while looking at your uncomfortable demeanor]
[The Forgotten Dragon is smiling wryly at you]
"Anyway, whatever message you get... if any god is trying to offer you to become an 'apostle' or offering you 'Sponsorship', don't accept it" I stated thus.
[A Nameless Deity is expressing their anger at you]
Shut up, will you?
"I know at least that much..." Kirito stated these words.
"Hooh? What did the constellation say to you?" (Akihito)
"Well..." (Kirito)
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*Stupid Flashback sound effect*
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(A week ago)
---Kirito's POV---
Once I acquired the sword I want, I saw it...
[The Serpent of loneliness is wondering why aren't you at a party like anyone else]
"...The serpent of loneliness?" What, what is this? What kind of notification is that?
[The Avatar of Solitude is approving your actions]
"Approving? what is there to approve? I am just grinding all by myself..."
[The Hound That Guards The Gates Of Underworld is expressing his deep hatred towards you]
Now they're hating me????
What even are these???
*Ding*
[BallsDeep69: did you get any strange messages lately?]
He's quick as always...
Hm?
[The Avatar of Solitude is offering you power, in return, you will become his apostle. Would you like to accept?]
Apostle? uwa, sounds sketchy...
There's not even the Yes or No button, how am I supposed to pick an option?
should I... "No."
[The Avatar of Solitude is disappointed in you.]
I don't understand. But I do understand these guys are able to communicate with players through the system.
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--- Akihito Okamura's POV ---
"And that's what happens." (Kirito)
"You made the right choice" (Akihito)
[The Avatar of Solitude feels a little bit offended by your words]
"But even so, I don't get why some of them are hating me for some reason" Kirito suddenly stated thus.
"The Hound That Guards The Gates Of Underworld, right? The reason for that might be because of what we did to the dire wolves. Didn't you remember that we killed the Grim Wolf?" I may have angered him via something else though...
(A/N: The thing he did with the neighbor's dog)
"What a shitty feature...." (Kirito)
"I second that..."
[A certain administrator is displeased]
Just as we were chatting and having fun, the story seems to be moving forward. A guy named Kibau suddenly jumped into view.
Everything went the same as the anime so far, with a few stuff being much faster than the original story.
"My name's Kibaou, got that? Before we take on the boss, I wanna get something off my chest! We all know about the people who died so far, yeah? Well, some of you need to apologize to them right now!"
Yeah, Kayaba needs to apologize.
"Kibaou, I think I know who you're referring to... You mean the ones who are ex-beta testers, right?" (Diabel)
"Of course, I mean them! The day this stupid-ass game started, the beta guys just up and vanished, right?" (Kibaou)
Don't know about them, but I know I was relaxing at my own home. What's wrong with that?
"They ditched all us beginners! They snagged all the good hunting spots, and they grabbed all the easy quests, too! They were the only ones getting stronger in here. This whole time, they've ignored us like we're nothing!"
You're saying as if you won't if you're in our shoes.
"Hell, I'd bet there's some of them here! Come on out, beta testers! We should make them apologize to us! and we should make them all give up their money and the items they've got! They can't expect the party to trust them when they don't trust us! Why should we?"
The lion, the witch, and the audacity of this b*tch.
In the original storyline, a guy named Agil will come up to defend the beta testers, he would tell them that the free guidebook you can buy on the menu was made by the beta testers. Ultimately calming the rest of the newbies.
[The Forgotten Dragon King is frowning towards UserID: Kibaou]
But right now, that won't be the case anymore.
"Question~~!" That was me, raising my hand playfully while my legs crossed.
All attention automatically shifted toward me.
"If the beta testers won't do any of that stuff, what'll you do?" I asked r.e.s.p.e.c.t.f.u.l.l.y.
"Of course then we'll... We'll beat them up till they apologize, isn't that obvious!?" He exclaimed with a bratty attitude.
"Hmm...." I tilt my head with a troubled face.
"What, what is that face for?" (Kibaou)
"Well let's see... I was just wondering what you're so angry about..."
"Huh???" His Kansai dialect just made him look even scarier but... If anything, I just feel irritated at his face.
"I have a few questions then... Those few players that died throughout this month, can you list down how they died?"
"Wha-- there's no way I could do that all by myself can I!?? What kind of question is that? Are you retarded?"
I swear, I am itching to roundhouse kick his face right now.
*Ding*
[Kirito: Oi, What are you doing??"
"Then how is that the beta-tester's fault?" I ignored Kirito's message through the chat and proceeded to walk toward Kibaou.
"Didn't you hear anything I said from before you moron?! Hm?" He suddenly smiled.
"Haa~ now that I look at your equipment, you must be one of the beta testers aren't you!?" Brat, did your parents not teach you not to point at someone?
"Heh, what, did you get a little offended or something? You dirty tester!" (Kibaou)
"Is that the way you see it? Well..."
*Step*
"You may complain all you want, but the way I see it you're just throwing tantrums since you're doing worse than us"
*Step*
"But in any case, someone like you who can only complain when others work so hard will only be extra baggage in this raid" I delivered that line with a kind-friendly demeanor as you can see.
"Hey you two, stop fighting... We won't get anywhere with thi---" Diabel tried to interject but...
*Shing*
I unsheathed my sword and attacked Diabel. Why, you ask?
First, I need to make this coward tell everybody he's a beta tester. That way, my plan can go smoothly.
"!!!?"
However...
*CLANK*
Surprisingly my sword was stopped by Kirito's sword instead. Both of our swords glow with blue, as they clash and created the worst sound possible.
"Hooh~ that speed, you're probably around level 20 by now."
"What the hell---" (Kirito)
*Clank*
"---Are you doing, Akihito?!"
[The Forgotten Dragon King is surprised by your actions]
[The Goddess of Night is confused]
[The Monarch Of The Beginning is intrigued by you]
[The Monkey King is sitting on the edge of his chair]
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To be continued.
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