Ashrah

"Did you hear about that quest?" Vanguard overheard two young girls talking as he walked past, headed for a place where he could buy new items and equipment. "The one with the dragon?"

Judging by their equipment, he wagered they were level four or five. Not nearly high enough level to handle the danger he just faced. He turned toward them, and the other spoke up.

"Yeah, I heard. Apparently one or two other low level players undertook it recently and didn't make it out alive." Her expression looked a bit grim as she spoke. "I don't think we should touch that one."

"Yeah," the other girl shook her head vehemently, "me neither. That sounded dangerous to begin with, especially having to collect multiple items and fight lots of boss level monsters. Way too far over our heads."

Hmm...

Vanguard paused as the girls walked away, and he opened his menu. His gaze rested on the name of his newly acquired quest item, "Rhaegal's Emerald."

Purportedly, there were more just like it.

And the difficulty rating went up with each one collected.

Postings for field bosses that respawns across the first ten floors caught his eye immediately. More than half of them were recent findings, and it seemed that players flocked to those as a source of experience. That would be useful knowledge for him, and yet, how many softer players had taken that information into account and gotten themselves killed?

These sorts of things should not have been made public. Not this soon. He took one particular poster in hand, ripping it from where it rested on the wall and glanced over it. At least this one seems familiar.

Of the names listed, Sand Shark on floor five was one he recognized. There was Avalanche on the fourth floor, which he soundly defeated once upon a time, and at least several others he could not recall immediately.

One by one, he resolved to wade through that mire of postings and discern the difficulty ratings attached to them. On top of that, it would give him a massive experience boost and propel him toward his ultimate goal.

The Front Lines.

The twenty first floor glimmered with a crystalline splendor, and the light reflected a vast spectrum of colors. Instead of the natural sunlight found on most floors, Vanguard found himself awash in a violet glow. Magnificent waterfalls crashed on either side of the path as he walked it, and the pools at their base shone a brilliant blue. The stories told that this water was drinkable, and if that was true, this floor had the makings of a relaxing destination.

For now, though, it constituted the Front line, and the quests it kept hidden were yet undiscovered. While he was not among the floor clearing team yet, the Vanguard still wished to contribute in what small way he could. It would serve to enhance his abilities in the long run as well.

The dual nature of this realm did trouble him, however. A vast network of caverns and tunnels, it was easy for players to lose themselves in the labyrinthine and fall victim to powerful mobs. On top of that, players with questionable intentions could lure unsuspecting victims out into an area that they would never escape. Mapping it out would serve to minimize that sort of thing. 

The Cross-Headed Spear rested on his back, and his armor shone an ebon color as he moved through the low light and away from Tomoika. Whatever he might find in the depths, he was ready to face it head on. He paused only briefly when he heard a smattering of voices not far off the beaten path.

@Aereth

He left the broker with more questions than answers, but Vanguard only needed his services. They weren't friends. At best, the man would eat for several days and have a place to sleep, and that was the pragmatic outlook. He didn't care what the broker actually spent the excess on.

What occurred to Vanguard was the possibility that quests of higher difficulty were starting to appear across previously cleared floors. That meant the game was accelerating its difficulty all around, and it meant that weaker players would start to stumble across obstacles that might take their lives completely by accident.

He clenched his fist tightly. Well played, you damned game.

If that was the case, he needed to investigate further into just what kind of changes were occurring, and he needed to find in depth information about the kinds of mobs, bosses, and challenges that were being generated. The brokers were an excellent place to start, but before that, he needed a plan. 

The boards posted by the teleportation plaza often held their fair share of useful tidbits. Perhaps that was where he needed to go, first.

Vanguard struck off in that direction.

@Teion

I'd like to trade my ten tokens for a Simple Charm (Blue Tear)

He stood in the middle of the festival, staring blankly up toward the sky. The fireworks had started, or would soon start- either way, they reminded him fondly of a time outside Aincrad, and it felt as though the game were mocking him. He gripped the cork gun firmly in hand and held it out, aimed directly for the target.

Vanguard exhaled softly, peered down his arm and along the toy, and pulled the trigger. It popped loudly, the way such toys were wont to do, and the cork flared toward its intended target. It toppled over like he had kicked it himself.

He dropped the weapon, and the Col on the booth and accepted the tokens with his hand outstretched, palm up. As he walked away, Vanguard said nothing to anyone. It was as though he were not there at all, and the things he did were inconsequential.

He pocketed the winnings and headed deeper into the heart of the Town of Beginnings, where he could watch the sky light up in silence.

ID# 87788 results:

 Battle: 6(+2)= 8 hit!

10 tokens gained!

-50 Col

"It's supposed to be the starting quest for a chain," the broker reiterated when Vanguard returned to town, gem in hand. "I've got a lead on the next quest, but I'll have to send you the info once I've got it buckled down for sure. You know. Not rumors."

The man was still obviously hurt by the accusation, and as the armored player tucked away his spoils, the broker crossed his arms. "So, about that payment," the other man quirked an eyebrow and gave the faceless man an expectant stare.

Vanguard reached up, opened the inventory window on his HUD, and summoned a sizable amount of gold to his hand. He passed it to the broker without hesitation. "Hey, woah, this is more than we agreed," the weaker player felt a bead of sweat trickle down his neck.

"Your information was good," Vanguard replied. "Make sure to continue that trend in the future, and it will be worth your while."

"Y-you sure?" the broker asked uncertainly. "This is more than I've held at a time since I got to Aincrad," the man took the money in hand and blinked. "And definitely outside a trade window. You must not be worried about thieves."

"It's just col," Vanguard replied flatly. "Quests yield col, and slaying monsters. It's much easier to come by than real money."

"I... suppose that's true..."

. . .

Combat had become his primary nature. The world slowed as the Dragon raged, spewing its flaming breath and thrashing wildly in an attempt to survive. The struggle drove them to each other's throats, and more times than either of them could count, a player or an NPC ended up dead. It was an endless spiral, a dance of death that had become their only reality.

Only for Vanguard, it was his purpose.

Too many times, he had attempted to alleviate the pain that Aincrad created with kindness, in an attempt to make life liveable while they were still trapped inside. He had become just as much a victim as the others, playing into the sophistry, roped into the helpless belief that someday, it would end. Someday, the Frontliners would push through to the end, and they would all be free.

Someday could have been tomorrow, or in twenty years, but someday had yet to come.

Vanguard was sick of "someday."

His best friend was dead. That was the Crux of it all. He believed another lie, a careless whisper turned vile that gave him more hope that this world was anything but what it was. Aincrad allowed him to believe his friend could return. The reality stung, but the real pain came from knowing he had done nothing, and could do nothing.

There would be more pain, more heartbreak, and more struggle before Aincrad came to its end, but the end would come.

He would stand at the vanguard, and his lance would be the blade that struck the heart.

The beast swung seemingly in slow motion, but the reality was that Vanguard was much faster. His spear raced forward and the impact forced the hatchling to lurch. It let out a startled cry as it was lifted airborne by the sheer power behind the blow, and its death rattle chilled the world around it as Vanguard drove its carcass into the grass of the first floor.

It dissipated almost instantly into a stream of data, and in his open hand, a green gem materialized.

<<Mighty Charge>> activated

40 DMG

Emerald Hatchling: 15-(40-25=15)= 0 DEAD

Vanguard: 457/495 HP // 18/48 E (5 used)

ID# 87787 Battle: 7 Craft: 2 Loot: 1 MOB: 9

<<Vanguard receives "Rhaegal's Emerald"!>>

The sweltering heat of floor five only got worse when the wind picked up. Dry air did nothing but whip the grainy sediment around and smash it into unwitting travelers, creating undue discomfort and hampering travel. If not for his completion of <<The Traveler>> quest and the Extra Skill <<Survival>>, Vanguard would have been much more labored in making his way from Fortaleza. 

Most of the Fifth floor was a wasteland, sandstorms on top of a sandy hell. The area charted for the respawning field boss was more treacherous than most areas. The sands swirled around him as he walked, and the ground shifted. It made walking perilous, and his greaves began to catch if he was not careful to tread lightly.

Vanguard kept his spear in hand, ready at a moment's notice to strike. Outside the safe zone on floors above the first, enemies were more likely to strike at any time, from anywhere. This became more true as weather conditions became more sinister. Sandstorms numbered, in fact, as one of the most perfect covers from under which mobs could attack.

Most of those included Sand Scorpions, Dust Devils, and Lizardmen. Thus far, he had seen several scorpions, but none of them seemed to pay any attention to him. Maybe the storm's ravaging their visibility? he wondered. But that would mean the same could be said for him.

It was when the earth started to shake that Vanguard jumped to attention. "Someone triggered a boss spawn," he commented aloud.

It should have been somewhere in the immediate area. Vanguard strained to see, and someone in the distance appeared to be fleeing in terror from something... fairly massive.

@Aoda

Getting Aoda out of this alive.

The creature threw off the last attack with a defiant howl, and Vanguard fell backward to ensure it would not thrash into him and win an easy hit. With lance held tightly between himself and the beast, he had a fairly decent defense mounted.

It paid off. 

The dragon threw its small body toward him in a reckless tackle, which he callously threw off with a violent swing of his arm. It careened off the haft of his spear and sprawled out across the dirt gracelessly. As it picked itself up, Vanguard drew his weapon back and took a slight step back, lowering his body and drawing on his energy reserves.

The beast let out another angry noise, and Vanguard's armor clattered as his muscles contracted, his eyes narrowed, and he focused on his target. As much as the system aided his movements, the armored player had become familiar with his weapon and how to employ it in combat. He preferred to utilize his own muscle memory as much as possible.

The Repeat Offender glowed a virulent red color as he charged a Sword Art...

Emerald Hatchling: 15/125 HP

Vanguard: 457/495 HP // 22/48 E

<<Boss "Cute Roar?" Proc>>

Boss misses!

ID# 87779 Battle: 5 Craft: 6 Loot: 17 MOB: 1

The Dragon let out a less-than ferocious snarl as it finished burning the player, and Vanguard held up an arm to keep the warmth from his eyes. Aincrad had realism going for it, at the very least. He felt the flames lick at his armor and even threaten to burn the flesh beneath. While all of it was simple impulses sent across synapses in his comatose brain, everything seemed like he was experiencing it with his own eyes and hands.

He let the hand fall to his side and hang as he watched the creature throw a fit of rage, vomiting green flames and ichor. It almost begged to be put down.

Separated at birth from whatever mother birthed its egg, and within hours found before the might of a player intent on ending its life, the beast was almost vindicated in its indignation. Akihiko had a vicious sense of irony. He brought the spear up, gripped the haft in both hands, and slammed it forward toward his adversary.

It reeled from the first blow as Vanguard spun his weapon, ripped the blade free, and brought it back around once, twice, and a third time to rake the first wound open wide. Another thrust tore into the open wound and savaged the creature, and almost instantaneous thereafter, one last thrust gored into it for the last time.

The blade jutted out the other side of the creature just before he yanked it free. <<Vent Forth>> was currently his most damaging Sword Art, and his most brutal. He could see the hatchling shy away as its health meter fell drastically from green to red.

This fight is already over.

<<Vent Forth>> activated

100 DMG (10(5×2))

Emerald Hatchling: 90-(100-25=75) = 15/125 HP

Vanguard: 457/495 HP // 22/48 E (12 used)

ID# 87773 Battle: 7 Craft: 9 Loot: 9 MOB: 9

What came next startled Vanguard, though he was not moved to simply leave the creature be. The sound that rippled forth from its diminutive maw sounded less threatening than pitiful. Was the Cardinal System always so prone to emotional appeals?

In retrospect, it probably used them more than it did logic. The system was implemented to monitor brain waves and be aware at some level of the players' emotional state.  It probably even recognized Tobias as incredibly withdrawn and antisocial. The software used to have fail-safes that would eject at-risk players like that.

Of course that was overridden.

The Dragon reared back as he was inexplicably rooted in place by those thoughts, and it belched a spray of green fire that rippled across Vanguard's armor and tore into his health. Beneath the surging heat, the sound of its terror magnified and twisted into a sword easily misconstrued with hatred.

Vanguard knew better. Fear, hopelessness, and sorrow were no strangers to the ten thousand players trapped inside SAO. Some of them were just more aware of them than others.

Emerald Hatchling: 90/125 HP

Vanguard: 458/495 HP // 35/48 E (50-13=37 DMG taken)

<<Boss' "Cute Rawr?" Proc>>

ID# 87771 Battle: 7 Craft: 7 Loot: 19 MOB: 9

Three at once? That's a complex algorithm for the first floor, he mused, dimly aware that this quest might have been underrated in difficulty for someone less than half his level. Two adds made any encounter infinitely more difficult for someone at the recommended level, so this quest most likely led to something more than a little worthwhile.

It was probably a good thing it took so long for the brokers to find, because this particular chain might have sent several weaker players straight to hell. Fortunately for Vanguard, he had come a long way from "weak."

His spear glistened an eerie red color as he allowed the system to consume it with the intense power of a Sword Art. His body moved without his active control as the lengthy weapon glided through air and rent digital flesh in several vicious, sweeping strikes.

The flames shuddered beneath the weight of his thunderous blows, shivered, and exploded into fragments of data. Had they been allowed to last much longer, they would likely have proven a nuisance even for him. Got no time for that, he thought to himself.

Still, the dragonling appeared much less wounded by that attack than its minions. The beast must have had some sort of mitigation? He would investigate further with the next attack-

Provided it survived long enough to make it worth his while.

<<Trip Expand>> activated.

60 DMG. (10(6×1)) AoE

Emerald Hatchling: 125-(60-25=35)= 90/125 HP

Emerald Embers

(1): 50-60=0 DEAD

(2): 50-60=0 DEAD

Vanguard: 495/495 HP // 35/48 E (13 used)

Dragons were a marvel in any setting, and Aincrad offered no shortage of excitement where they were concerned. When Vanguard stumbled upon the beast at last, it gave a pitiful roar and turned on him. Jade flames roiled from its nostrils as it summoned the hellfire from within its gullet. Smoke twisted skyward, and the beast gave two great huffs.

The flames took shape, dancing embers that threatened to burn the player for daring to threaten their progenitor. Though it was unremarkable when compared to more legendary dragons, it had already prove to be a challenge in its own right.

Vanguard stepped forward, undaunted by the newfound Trinity of enemies. His inhuman gaze rounded from one mob to the next, considering. He pointed absently to the dragon first with his spear, then gestured with his free hand.

The universal sign, a finger drawn across the neck.

His challenge issued, the player held his weapon in both hands, haft parallel to the floor and over his head, tilted slightly diagonal so that the tip aligned with his target.

Let the games begin.

Emerald Hatchling found! It spawns two Emerald Embers to protect itself!

Vanguard: 495 HP // 48 Energy (+2 ACC/+1 EVA/13 MIT) 10 DMG 

Emerald Hatchling: 125/125 HP (DMG: 50 MIT: 25)

Emerald Ember

(1): 50/50 HP (25 DMG/ Burn 2 on 9-10)

(2): 50/50 HP (25 DMG/ Burn 2 on 9-10)

ID# 87757 Battle: 10 Craft: 4 Loot: 14 MOB: 4

It appeared that the oversized reptile was destined to evade him, as he continued to the far side of the area and searched high and low. He was not heavily invested in search skills as some players were, and so a it would prove a more difficult task for him than a Scout archetype player. There were items that also improved those parameters, but likewise he spent no time delving into those, either.

For Vanguard, the old fashioned way was tried and true. When he found it, the encounter was unlikely to last long. If this quest is geared toward lower level players, then it should last no more than a round of combat. Two at most.

His claw-like metallic fingers etched a line in the dirt, testing the dampness and depth of the soil. If anything had come this way in several minutes, it was likely that the ground would still be warm, or that there would at least be impressions from footfalls. When he found nothing, the armored entity narrowed his search.

If not over here, then...

He rose slowly and turned to the southwest, where still more unturned stones waited for him to investigate. By the end, the warrior would have his dragonling.

And he would complete his quest to slay the beastie.

Failed to find the hidden hatchling.

ID# 87756 Battle: 3 Craft: 5 Loot: 8 MOB: 7

@Teion If you're going to go with the transfer to target one, make it contingent on that player being actively in your party/raid group. That way, the system would just denote anyone not meeting that criteria as an "invalid target," and it couldn't be abused to pawn off hate on newbies, etc.

"Taint too many young folk around what cares to hear our tales these days," one of the older, gray haired veterans sat outside his tent chattered. Vanguard sat adjacent to him, head down. "It's nice when someone comes around willing to listen." The NPCs were programmed at length on this floor, specifically to talk about the abandoned Castle Blackwatch and its descent into ruin. There were players with an infinite amount of attention to spare for lore like that-

He just wasn't one of them.

"Time was when the old guard held it strong," the elder said wistfully, and something in his voice drew the armored player's attention. "Why, you could have sent platoon on top of platoon and barely shaken the walls."

There was a war on this floor, one that transcended life and death. The survivors had given up hope, but they still fought out of a grim sense of defiance. The dead continued to take, and the living continued to die. It was a losing battle, but more importantly, it reminded the somber player of his own life.

Fascinated with the brutal irony of it, Vanguard leaned forward and rested his palm on his knee. "The Old Guard fell in the end?"

"Ho ho ho," the veteran winked slyly. "That's what everybody says happened, but there's those of us who know better." The visor fixated on the NPC as he spoke, and Vanguard watched his expression carefully. If that was true, it meant there were things afoot on this floor no one else had explored.

And it meant that he might be able to prompt a quest out of the deal.

"Tell me what really happened," Vanguard instructed, "and what it means."

His gaze swept across the area slowly, as Vanguard was careful not to miss even subtle details. A more advanced mob could utilize the terrain to launch a sneak attack, and that could prove fatal to even the most seasoned frontliners. Fortunately, while he could not see the diminutive dragon, he could certainly hear that it was nearby.

Which meant it was hiding, but it had no intention of making itself known. It was less a matter of "find it before it finds me" and more of a "I can't kill it until I see it" situation. In the immediate sense, the dragon was safe. 

He had his spear already in hand, ready to lash out at the beast the moment it reared its head. Vanguard heard something like a roar, but it was so small and fragile that it hardly seemed draconic in origin. This particular quest is considered safe for beginners, the broker had explained. But it's the start of a longer chain, from what we gather. You have to finish this one to take the next one, and they scale in difficulty as you go through them.

And so, the scene unfolding before him made a great deal more sense.

Failed to detect the hidden hatchling.

ID# 87754 Battle: 8 Craft: 6 Loot: 11 MOB: 7

Vanguard walked along the path, past boar who seemed completely oblivious to his existence. After a certain level, the range at which a player attracted the aggression of lower level mobs became negligible. That meant he would only have to deal with enemies sent explicitly by the system to combat him- and those would number extremely few on floor one.

The alcove where he would purportedly find the Hatchling was tucked away in the plains, an area of the first floor largely unmolested by the weaker players. Since the inception of this quest, perhaps.

He watched the data stream and load as he approached, and once he got to his destination, he found an egg. A massive egg.

Hatched.

"It won't have gone far," he thought aloud. Search the immediate area. It will likely attempt to launch a surprise attack.

The Emerald Hatchling.

An unassuming name for an audacious quest. Dragons in Aincrad were rare, powerful, and dangerous. It was not far from the truth to say that even a newly hatched beast could prove lethal to an unprepared adventurer, even at a moderately high level. Victory lies in preparation, Vanguard reminded himself. Potions might be in his best interests, though he would not expend the coin if he could manage without them.

"The sightings give it relatively low health," the Broker mentioned helpfully. The man was still visibly wounded by the accusation that his information was no more than a rumor. "That means you shouldn't have too much trouble cleaning up, provided your equipment is decent. You look like you're a decent level."

Vanguard grunted in response.

"It spawns in a general area," the man added. "So you might have to search for it."

"I'll deal," the armored man responded flatly. He waved the broker off.

"..."

He materialized once more in the Town of Beginnings, surrounded by familiar sights and faces. The catcalls of local entrepreneurs, both player and non rose above the bustle of the market and vied for the attention of everyone at once. In half of the cases, they succeeded. Vanguard had not come to shop.

He rarely visited the first floor in recent times. Perhaps the last time he could recall was when he still spent time gathering materials and buying potions for the children at the church, fostering their Independence and ability to level up. He had not done that in nearly a year.

Instead of the warm, smiling face that this town remembered, he looked out at it through a dark simulacra, a view of the world distorted by his helmet. Vanguard strode slowly through the mass of people, all of them seemingly disinterested in his presence. It was nothing new, the sight of an armored player.

"There you are!" the information broker called out. "Tall, armor- jeez, fella, you weren't kidding when you said you'd be easy to pick out of a crowd."

The taller player stared down, his pointed gaze enough to send the intended message. Get to the point.

"R-right!" The broker stammered, scratching at his head. "So, thing is, the rumor mill is on fire with talk of dragons and such." Vanguard tilted his head. Had he come here on nothing but a baseless rumor? "But! Here's where it gets good, see," he leaned closer and dropped his voice to a hushed whisper.

"Someone got eyes on a hatchling here on the first floor," the man explained. "And I got map coordinated with your name on 'em, big guy. Provided you're interested. You're interested, right?"

Vanguard crossed his arms. "Where?"

"Not a big talker, huh?" The Broker shook his head. "Kids these days," he huffed. "They don't teach you guys how to talk to people in school anymore? Anyway," he threw up his hands defensively as the visor tilted downward. He could feel the heat of Vanguard's gaze. 

It could melt most men.

"Here you go, these are the coordinates," he started typing a message and showed the window to Vanguard. "Now, about that payment...?"

"When I confirm the kill," the player said. "And not before that. I don't appreciate paying for hearsay."

The broker gulped. Hard.

PM to join

"This is where it happened," the guide said as they pushed through the massive double doors, into a room with a dormant crater pooled with magma. Steam roiled off the lifeblood of the ninth floor, and the room pulsed hotter than anywhere else on the floor. At the opposite side, the stairwell that led to floor ten mocked them. "The ninth floor boss that ended the lives of two players. Only a few others have taken any, but this one is considered to be the most infamous pyhrric victory for the Front liners."

The visor of his armor fell on the other player, and he nodded slowly. After a moment of thought, he turned his gaze toward the memorial of a fallen floor boss, and the grave of a dear friend. "No charge," the other man waved his hand. "I get the feeling you need a minute, and I can get back to town easy from here." The man pointed toward the staircase and smirked. "Anyway, I hope you find whatever answers you're looking for, guy. It's hard to find any kind of peace in this world."

What a carefree sentiment.

The armored warrior watched the other man disappear before he finally looked deep into the lava, arms folded. So this was the place. The Vanguard exhaled loudly as he remembered the good times, before Sword Art Online, before any of the insanity. His best friends, and the times they shared, were trampled and stomped out by this fickle work of fiction turned into a living hell.

The magma churned, belched, and spat fire angrily toward his faceplate. The Vanguard stood, unflinching. When he saw the "!" appear, he immediately suspected the game of reading his thoughts. Damned Cardinal system, he thought.

Here, the heroes slew the mythic beast of many heads, its flaming breath their bane...

He read the words as the appeared across his HUD, dimly aware that the game was turning real experiences into legend.

"Mr. Steal your Girl?"

Grow a beard first. 

;)

@Aereth