Grave

I let Shaya go as she told me to, and looked on as she wobbled forwards. She didn't look like she was going to drop or anything, but she definitely didn't have all her balance back yet.

When she asked me what we were going to do in the forest, I grinned, "That's a surprise, Miss Shaya. I promise I won't try anything naughty though," I clarified, just so she knew I wasn't trying to make a move on her.

Man, I wanna visit whatever maid café you work at and be served by you and only you ;) You look absolutely lovely

Thankfully, I hadn't planned on any swimming that day. This girl was just about as delicate as I thought, and I decided I'd try to protect her the best I could. I felt her arm go around my shoulders and I tensed up for a moment, before relaxing and blushing slightly, "Yeah, s-sure," I stuttered. My ideals had been flipped on their heads that day, in a good way.

I tenderly placed my arm around her waist to support her, unsure of whether she minded or not. When she asked about my backup plan, I stood stock still before speaking with a half-frozen mouth, "Well... Um... You see, I didn't really have a backup pl-" I began, but then I realised what we could do, "Actually, come to think of it, incredible things happen in the forest, you know," I gave her a flirtatious wink, meaning the innuendo, but hoping she would get my actual meaning. 

Jeez, that was not the reaction I was expecting from her. However, I did attempt to comfort her. I crouched down in front of her and placed a soft hand to her hands on her head, "Oh, really? I'm sorry, I didn't know something like that would scare you..." I apologized, a sympathetic smile crossing my lips, "I guess I'll just have to find something else interesting to find..." I teasingly complained.

What she didn't know is how worth the journey would be. If I had to, I'd carry her (actually, I'd rather do that than have her tag along normally in the first place), but I wasn't sure if she'd let me.

I blushed as she complimented my name. Usually I'm the one flirting, but the tables got turned on me that day, and I must admit, it felt pretty damn good. I began to lead Shaya across the dark grass. I knew she was going to like the surprise; she seemed like the kind of girl who would.

We soon approached one of the signature small mountains of the second floor. I turned around to Shaya, "You can climb mountains, right?" I asked her awkwardly.

"Sounds like a plan," I agreed with a smile. I turned to look out over the fields to find the area I had preplanned to show Jevi. I spotted a group of three trees, the point I had decided to use as a marker. I turned to Jevi and gave a 'come' signal before striding towards the hill and sliding down.

I was soon stopped by a sharp pain in my ankle and I dropped to the grass, rolling down the rest of the hill. I got back onto my feet, favouring my injured leg, to see a large green snake - two of them, in fact - slithering down the hill at high speed.

I back-pedalled and fell over onto my rear as the snakes approached. I waited for Jevi to get there in cruel anticipation.

Thank god their bites weren't poisonous.

(Snakes will take turns in attacking. Your MD will control the second snake, but they will still use a hate system and so will we)

---

ID: 26057

BD: 2 = Fail

MD: 9 = Crit +1 (2 DMG)

Grave: 13/15 HP

Jevi: 19/19 HP

Snake #1: 10/10 HP [HATE: Grave - 1]

Snake: #2: 10/10 HP

I threw a frown as she basically insulted me, as if saying I wasn't cool. I am cool... Right? That's a debate for another day, though. She introduced herself as Shaya, and I gladly obliged by introducing myself back (with an added compliment), "Shaya... Nice name. It has a sweet ring to it. My name's Grave, kinda the opposite of yours," I gave her a kind of goofy grin.

I looked around the area, seeing if I could find something... Then I had a bright idea to melt what little ice was between me and this bright girl. I stood up, stretching, before looking down at Shaya, "Come. I have something interesting to show you," I told her with a warm smile.

I suddenly heard a female's voice right beside my ear. Many would jump at that, but me? No, I stayed still and replied coolly, "Nothing really. Just thinking about this virtual life we're all living," I told her, before I turned my head to look at her and...

My god, I could have sworn my heart skipped a whole five beats. Out of all the women I had met in the death game, this girl was by far the most beautiful. I kept my gaze locked on her face, as her confused eyes looked back at me.

I snapped out of it and shook my head, blushing lightly. I must have looked like a real creep to her. Bad first impression. I attempted to continue on the conversation, "H-how about you? What are you doing?" I stuttered, still recovering.

My eyes widened as she declined the offer. I was amazed she didn't take the offering. I saw the materials come back in another window and I stashed them, before clearing my throat.

"Right then," I began, "Shall we go kill something? Or would you rather grab a little something to eat and drink?" I asked, trying my hardest not to use the word 'date'. I wasn't even sure if Jevi were comfortable with that word...

How long had it been since I had been stuck in the death game? A few days? A week? Maybe even a month? I had completely lost track of time. Fighting monsters, getting loot and chatting up pretty (and sometimes stubborn) girls took up the time I would have used to check the date.

I'd made a lot of friends in SAO. Eliza, Xion, Emer and Jevi, just to name a few. How many would I have in the end? Would I even make it through? Where were my Japanese friends I was staying with? These questions did laps in the giant, wavy swimming pool that was my mind. I had to find some way to clear it, but I couldn't find out how...

I woke up beside the rock I had chosen as a resting place earlier. I had that same bloody dream; following a girl, with blue hair and blinding light covering her from the neck down, through a stone corridor. Each time I had the dream, five times at that point if I recall, I found a new corner. I could feel myself getting closer to what was at the end. Was it a monster? Another person? Hidden power? I knew I would find it one day, and hopefully when I needed it most.

I sat up from the rock and gazed out over the dark fields - darker than floor one at least - and large mountains. I was going to make it further, I vowed to do so. The light breeze played with my silver hair and upright black collar. What was going to happen that fine day?

I managed to get it on the backswing, slamming the blade into the flesh of the bug. However, it wasn't enough. I felt it continue to crush my immobile body as I kept pushing on the handle of the sword, trying to push it through.

I finally pushed hard enough to tear through the caterpillar, and I had to put my sword arm to my eyes to keep the bright light out as I felt the creature shatter.

I saw another tab pop up displaying my earning; One Crafting Material and nothing else. I frowned in disappointment.

---

ID: 26039

BD: 10 = Crit +2 (4 DMG)

MD: 10 = Crit +2 (3 DMG)

Grave: 5/15 HP

Cater-Killer: *DEAD*

LD: 4 = 1 Mat

I struggled to get out from under the caterpillar, but it only tightened its legs around my pinned body. I managed to slip one arm out and reach for my sword, but I felt the legs get tighter, crushing my left arm against body.

I felt for the handle of my sword and managed to barely grasp it. I swung around, barely missing the attacker and pulling my left arm in the process.

No way was I going to die by caterpillar suffocation.

---

ID: 26037

BD: 3 = Fail

MD: 8 = Success (1 DMG)

Grave: 8/15 HP

Cater-Killer: 2/8 HP

I leapt at the caterpillar and put my sword to my left, the blade glowing cyan as I swung it around, cleaving through the neck of the bug. I landed in a crouched position by the caterpillar, but the debuff took just too long to wear off.

The caterpillar spun around and reared its body up, before bringing it down on my torso, crushing me and pinning me to the ground. I watch my sword clatter to the dusty ground. As I lay there, almost helpless.

---

ID: 26033

BD: 10 = Crit +2 (4 DMG)

MD: 10 = Crit +2 (3 DMG)

Grave: 9/15 HP

Cater-Killer: 2/8 HP

The caterpillar rushed at me at a speed I wasn't expecting. It swung its long, green body at me and slammed into my chest. I swear that I felt more than a couple of ribs crack.

In response, I slammed the spike on the back of Severance into the bug's green flesh, letting it swing me around. As the creature stopped its spin, I tore Severance out and let myself fly towards the forest, landing neatly in the bough of a tree, looking down on my prey.

---

ID: 26031

BD: 8 = Success (2 DMG)

MD: 8 = Success (1 DMG)

Grave: 12/15 HP

Cater-Killer: 6/8 HP

I reached my left hand to the thread and grasped it as the caterpillar pulled me closer. I kept yanking on the thread, trying to break it, but to no avail. I was rapidly approaching the forest where the bug most likely had a host of offspring. I was desperate not to get eaten alive by giant caterpillar babies.

I pulled the thread up to my mouth, and my tongue was instantly covered in a vigorous bitterness. I gagged and almost upchucked on the thread, but I bit the bullet - or more correctly the thread. I chewed down on it, feeling the smaller fibres snapping under the sawing motion, each one producing a sour taste, like a lemon a week prior to being ripe.

Finally I bit through and rolled away, pulling the thread of my arm as I did so. I began to spit on the ground to get the taste out of my mouth as I picked up my sword. I stood up and looked the caterpillar in the eyes - at least I thought they were its eyes. I know nothing about bugs - and called to it, "You do not know how bad that tastes,"

---

ID: 26029

BD: 2 = Fail

MD: 5 = Fail

Grave: 13/15 HP

Cater-Killer: 8/8 HP

I felt my <<Battle Healing>> get to work once again, but not before I felt a coil of sticky thread envelop my sword arm. I spun around quickly to see a gigantic caterpillar in the forest! The game was just getting crazier and crazier.

At that distance, the caterpillar shouldn't have been able to damage me - or so I believed. I watched as the oversized bug yanked on the thread and I felt my shoulder pop from the sharp jerk, causing me to drop my weapon. I smirked as a determined mask covered my face, although I was still in the bug's grasp.

---

ID: 26028

BD: 3 = Fail

MD: 6 = Success (1 DMG)

CD: 12 = HP +1

Grave: 13/15 HP

Cater-Killer: 8/8 HP

The Bear spun around while I was still suffering the motion debuff from using the Sword Skill. I could feel it's raging eyes on me as I counted the last few seconds of the debuff. Three... Two... One... Even though I felt my muscles loosen up, I stayed in my crouched position.

The Bear rushed me and I could feel its presence getting closer and closer. When I felt it stand up to slap - yes, slap - me, I turned my blade ever so slightly and it glowed a brilliant violet. I spun around and slashed, the blade slashing right through the Bear's neck, cutting its head off and sending it flying. The giant brown body disintegrated into blue shards and a menu with my loot from the kill popped up; One Crafting Material and a Grim Tunic, a light armour piece. I let out a sigh at the name as I took it and equipped it.

It materialized on my torso and took the form of a high-collared black shirt with a slightly longer bottom that covered my waist. It didn't look too bad, in my opinion. I guessed it was time to find the rest of the set.

---

ID: 26027

BD: 10 = Crit +2 (4 DMG)

MD: 4 = Fail

Grave: 13/15 HP

Bear: *DEAD*

LD: 13 = 1 Mat + Good Item OR (Mob Health x5) Col

And a bite it took. I felt its enormous jaws envelope my ribs and crunch down. I wailed in - well, not pain, as the system nullifies pain, but something more like disappointment and pressure.

Thankfully, the Bear tossed me to the side and I tore Severance out of the tree with me. I landed on my feet and skidded for about a meter and a half. I felt the gash heal up slightly as my <<Battle Healing>> activated, before I pushed off, rushing at the predator.

As I got close, I didn't stop running. Severance glowed a hot white as I placed her blade to the Bear's side and dragged it along the length of its body, cleaving through its rear at the end.

Poor thing. Second time it'd had its ass cut open in the span of three minutes.

---

ID: 26026

BD: 10 = Crit +2 (4 DMG)

MD: 10 = Crit +2 (3 DMG)

CD: 11 = HP +1

Grave: 13/15 HP

Bear: 3/10 HP

The Bear went for another wild and somewhat blind charge. I rolled out of the way of the rushing beast and stood up. I attempted to take a slash at the Bear from my right, but my rolling had messed up my environmental perception and I sunk Severance deep into a tree.

My astonished eyes travelled to the blade in the wood, then back to the Bear. It was strolling up to me and most likely wanting to take a biiiiig bite out of my side. I tugged on the stubborn falchion, trying desperately to remove it.

---

ID: 26025

BD: 1 = Critical Fail

MD: 2 = Fail

Grave: 15/15 HP

Bear: 7/10 HP

There are days when I can find things to kill or break, and others where I can't and I just sit around, chatting instead. One particular day was the former, and not in a good way. I was walking along the treeline near one of the giant mountains when I heard a giant roar and saw a huge, bulky Bear come rushing out of the forest beside me.

I managed to side step the brown mass's charge and brought Severance around my body and into the giant beast's rear before it could turn around. I gazed into the glassy, brown eyes of my foe and waited for it's next move.

---

ID: 26024

BD: 9 = Crit +1 (3 DMG)

MD: 5 = Fail

Grave: 15/15 HP

Bear: 7/10 HP

I was too distracted by Jevi walking up to me and asking what the problem was to hear the scratching of a hoof behind me, "Yeah, something like th-" I began to say gruffly, but was soon interrupted by the stabbing of tusks in my rear. I attempted to push the Boar away, but it continued to push its tusks deeper into my flesh.

I turned my head and yelled at it over my shoulder, "Piss off!" I commanded as I brought Severance up and then down on the Boar, decapitating it and causing it to shatter into data. Sheathing my weapon, I took a deep breath in, then out, and turned my attention to Jevi.

"I-I'm sorry... I shouldn't have acted that way, just because I got shut down," I apologized, hanging my head. I felt my face become hot with embarrassment, but my attention was soon asserted to the menu that popped up. It showed the 40 Col and one material that I received from my prey, and came up with a nice idea.

I quickly opened a trade to Jevi and threw the earnings into the box in return for nothing and sent the request to Jevi, a guilty smile on my lips.

(I levelled up to level 6 before the update, and will stay that way until the post system is fixed)

---

ID: 25999

BD: 7 = Success (2 DMG)

MD: 10 = Crit +2 (3 DMG)

Grave: 15/15 HP (Level Up)

Jevi: 15/17 HP

Boar: *DEAD*

LD: 15 = Good Item OR (Mob Health x 5) Col + 1 Mat

Don't you just hate it when the tree you're sleeping against begins to move?  No?  Well, I do.  One moment I was sleeping peacefully against a large-ish tree, and then I felt the knobbly bit on the side spin around and conk me on the head rather heavily.  I quickly scampered away and fiddled for Severance, but I was quickly taken down by a solid kick to the knee.  I could have sworn it broke.  I finally slid my falchion out and swung her in a large arc from the left of my body, sinking the hook on her back into the 'flesh' of the small tree monster that was once my resting place.

I yanked on the sword and ripped the hook out the hard way; through the tree-person's side.  However, I was yet to be done.  I flipped Severance into a backhand position and swung from my right, the blade glowing a searing orange on the way.  The edge slashed right through the creature's 'belly', I guess as I felt my <<Battle Healing>> tend to my bruised cranium.

I really had to learn the anatomy of the monsters here.

---

ID: 25937

BD: 10 = Critical +2 (4 DMG)

MD: 9 = Critical +1 (2 DMG)

CD: 12 = HP +1

Grave: 14/15 HP

Miniature Ent: 13/17 HP

She called me an ass. She actually called me an ass. I frowned as she snatched up the scimitar and took position, only to tell me to actually do something. Strangely enough, I'd landed as many hits as her. I'd rather not try and keep my dignity than try and epically fail and end up losing it, but I guess that's just my personal opinion. I stood up and began to casually stroll towards the Boar, not charging it this time. Its glowing red eyes were watching me with caution, anticipation, waiting for its moment to strike...

It tried going for a sneaky ram with its tusks, but before my leg could be skewered I pivoted backwards and brought Severance down, ripping through the Boar's neck and sending it to the ground. I looked to Jevi and extended my hand to the Boar, telling her to make her move. I still had that faint frown on my face.

---

ID: 25898

BD: 6 = Success (2 DMG)

MD: 4 = Fail

Grave: 13/13 HP [HATE: 2]

Jevi: 15/17 HP [HATE: 2]

Boar: 1/8 HP

I was rather disappointed when Jevi ignored my hand and picked herself up, but I covered my eyes as she began swinging her weapon vigorously and without aim.

"Three..." I began to count down, "Two..." I could still hear that blade meeting nothing but air, "One..." all the confirmation I needed was another loud thump and the sound of a sword sinking into the dirt near me. I uncovered my eyes and looked over at the twice-downed Jevi, and then at her vertical scimitar. I strolled towards her, sliding her scimitar out of the ground as I went. I crouched down by Jevi's head, scimitar across my knees.

"You're crazy. I like it," I flirted with her, keeping the Boar in my peripheral vision.

---

ID: 25862

BD: 5 = Fail

MD: 8 = Success (1 DMG)

Grave: 13/13 HP [HATE: 1]

Jevi: 15/17 HP [HATE: 2]

Boar: 3/8 HP

I watched as Jevi switched in and slashed at the beast twice, taking out a large portion of its health. While she recovered from the attack, I took my chance and Switched in, aiming for an overhead strike, but the Boar easily misguided my blade and bolted through my legs...

Right towards Jevi. I watched as she was bowled to the ground in one moment, and then alone as the Boar slunk off the next. I jogged over to my companion and stretched a hand out to her, offering to help her up. Was I ever going to fully break the ice between us?

---

ID: 25859

BD: 1 = Critical Failure

MD: 8 = Success (1 DMG)

Grave: 13/13 HP [HATE: 1]

Jevi: 16/17 HP [HATE: 2]

Boar: 3/8 HP