Hirru

When Comes the Night

The daylight seemed to fall into a crimson haze over the horizon, casting a faint glow upon the river that flowed through the Shirajishi-ryū Valley.  A whirl and a whizz is heard before a plop comes from the water, a small splash before a red orb could be seen on the surface.  It bobbed up and down for a long.  After a minute or so, there didn't seem to be any life or care, as the little bobber fought against the current of the river it sat in.  There would be much more waiting to be had, it seemed.

The hunter sighed as he began to pull upon the line, which made it reel in a bit.  The desired effect would be a slight amount of movement on the bobber, and a lot of wiggling from the baited hook.  It wouldn't be much, but it was usually enough for something to bite.  Though, he did have to wait for the fish to finally take the bait and be snagged.  Hirru had set up shop on the pier where the boats were tethered, and felt that it would be a better place after his discussion earlier.

Earlier, he had asked Ariel for permission to use her dojo, so that he could have a 'talk' with anyone that wanted to actually work with him, but still had doubts.  His stunt on the 23rd floor, while trying to protect that dark elf boy, was a very sour topic for some people, as it caused a large rift in the front lines.  He had heard enough from both sides.  Each had their own truths and ideals, and Hirru explained everything to Hestia and Baldur.  He was still not sure if either really understood.  In the end, it was his voice that would change his impact on the front, not everyone elses.  However, the news set upon the newer members of the raid, and the students of Ariel's school seemed to murmur and talk behind him.  He couldn't hear the words, and it seemed that not many would confront him, even though he was willingly alone in that dojo.  After some time, he decided that it would be better to be outside.  The fresh mist from the river during the evening light would be better for his nerves.

A pull on the line would bring the hunter's mind back to the world around him.  He pulled back on the rod itself, while keeping the line from snapping.  A pull and a twist later, and the hunter was a proud owner of a old boot.

"Well, you're not very helpful, now are you?"

Hirru looked back up to his opened menu, where a sent message stood.  

Quote

To: @NIGHT

From: Hirru

Hello!  You wished to talk?

Hirru stats

 

The hunter was quite surprised by the lurching and churning that the wall was doing, before Freyd mentioned something about not being fair, as the thing swiped at both Freyd and Ariel.  Hirru had to duck down as it threw its rock hard arms out at them.  The hunter had not faced a mimic before, and didn't really have much information on them.  Though, that didn't stop Hirru from hurling himself down that arm, as his vision began to blink red again.  He was on his way towards a critical point on the mimic, and the trolls blood in his system was reacting to it.  Two sword slashes would ring out as he forced the sword art into motion, going across the arm itself and pushing it out of the way.  T more swings would rock the mimic, and make it unable to attack back for a bit, and a final fifth to make sure of it.

"That'll do y-"

The red in his vision took hold and he couldn't speak any further.  His movements became stiff before he was forced to stop moving.  Red lines could be seen upon his skin, as the trolls blood affected his movements.  The issue from earlier was happening again.

 

"Ha ha!  Well, I guess you would be curious about that.  I did make a fuss about Hidden's little stunt, but I did make quite a big one myself."

The hunter figured with how that whole mess went, he would be getting questions here and there, and this was one of them.  He was expecting more people to come to him about it, but it seemed that only a handful were really wanting answers.  One didn't even care about that and just wanted him to 'play nice', whatever that meant.  Although the motives were unclear for a couple, they all seemed to be roughly understanding, but that was only those that knew him before.  He had only told one person whom was newer to Hirru's eyes, and that was Freyd.  The hunter sat down while they waited.

"You may want to sit down for a bit.  I'll give you the short version, but it's still long enough.  Could pass the time until the thing comes up."

The woods around the area were tall and full of greenry, or so the hunter thought.  It would seem that the change in seasons was upon this floor too.  They would be seeing quite a bit more change fairly soon, especially when the next floor is unlocked.

EN Regen 3/3

Field Boss 5/10

Getting up after getting down, the hunter was trying to get back into a serious mood.  Freyd was able to get the prospectors health down quite a bit, while Ariel was able to take one down.  The only issue Hirru saw was that she only attacked the one with more health.  With an area of effect sword art, she would have easily been able to defeat the both of them.  Was she a single target specialist?  It made more sense with her weapon, but he never saw it until now.  What a tactician he was..  Couldn't see the differences in his allies combat styles after so long.

Shelob began to glow a dim yellow before growing into a brighter yellow-green.  A six string sword art that would target each limb around the body to keep the body from doing anything would be presented to the enemy.  He wouldn't live long enough for the stunning to affect him, but that didn't matter.  This was one of the few arts that Hirru knew wouldn't cost too much energy to use, so it was better to let loose on enemies that had little to no health left.  It was better than wasting his prepared Moon Strike Area of Effect art.  The force of the art, though, would send the man back before he exploded into nothing.  However, when that happened, so did a section of the crumbling dead end.  Light seemed to pour in from the other side.

"I didn't think I hit that hard.."

Loot Crazed Prospector#2

• ID: 201366 LD: 5+9=14 CD: 7
• 4 Mats (ODD LD/CD)
• 2100 Col
• T4 Rare Weapon UnID [201366a]
• T4 Uncommon Consumable UnID [201366b]

 

That was the difficult part of it.  He had seen the other entrance, but he did not look down it.  He only knew that there were quite a few of those yellow armbands coming from and going to that exit of the slums.  If anything, it was going to be a problem to get there without being spotted.  The both of them stood out far too much, even with the multitude of mercenaries and guards that roamed the streets, the two players were much better equipped and well off than some of the others around.  Hirru would doubt that they could work around any of the nobility, especially from Crozeph's little stunt during their scouting mission.

"A ghetto?"

The work escaped the hunter's vocabulary, as it was not the same as any of the lingo he had heard before.  He determined that it was probably something to do with lower branched, or slaves, like what he had seen earlier.

"That could work, though, yeah.  We'll have to find it.  There was a corridor back in the slums, where I saw a few of the Galteans going towards, or that's what I can determine from all of the arm bands that were prominent around the area.  Unfortunately, I can't track anything or anyone, but our search should still be effective.  Just need to get closer to them."

The hunter said before stretching a bit before heading off towards where they first found the slums.

In a turn of events that didn't seem real, the hunter was faced with a conundrum.  All of the parties were mostly together within the meeting, but the talks seemed to be going all over the place.  Even after the meeting, there were too many variables that were not piling up correctly.  Out of all of the parties, his had not a single supportive role.  Nearly everyone, except Shield of course, was a damage dealing player, whom mostly used katanas.  Hirru was taught a word some time ago about this, but was told to never utter it, as it was slang and slander to some ears.  He had much to learn about the outside world, and the best way was to continue forward.  To go forward, one has to sacrifice himself, if they were to see a proper future.

He had come to Baldur about the issue, and was surprised to find that Baldur was supportive of his goal.  After listening to the hunter, and his plan, it seemed that the gaijin was satisfied.  Having Baldur contact Raidou and his guild, Firm Anima.  The hunter was surprised by the swift response back, and that they would be able to help him with the proper procurements.  Four pieces of armor, that seemed to be easily linked together, as if they were made for each other.  After talking to his fellow team mate during a venture in the woods, Koga helped fuse the armor together into a brilliant armor set.  During the exchange, he also decided that some extra protection was required, and asked for a couple shields Hirru had appraised to be fused for energy conversion.

With everything made and done, the biggest thing came to be.  The hunter had the Skill Point Refund Ticket in his hand.  A golden ticket with black embolden text upon it reading:

      Skill Point Refund    
        1 use per ticket      

Hirru was only looking upon the ticket, as if it were going to do something unexpected, but instead the hunter was just anxious.  He had no idea if he could turn back into the hunter or not.  If not, what would he do?  He was planning to become a full support, and all he had to do was press the little blue circle signifying acceptance.  Acceptance that he was going to be something that he had never been before.  The thought raced through him a few times, but finally he presented the ticket, as if to a person who wasn't there.  The window came up that read:

Quote

 

System Administration
Warning!
This action will cause a full reset of player's skills!
This can not be undone, when activated.
Do you wish to continue?

O / X

 

Hirru pressed the blue circle.

---------------------------------------------

Outside the door of the 26th floor boss, in the damp and slimy hallway that the giant rat, Telicomys, called home, stood a lone player.  Covered from nearly head to toe in silver plate armor, except for an iconic red colored guantlet, this player would turn around to anyone that would come after.  He carried a fair sized kite shield on his gauntlet covered arm, and in the other was.. a wooden shinai.  To anyone that came by, they would give a polite wave in their direction, except for those on team 1.  That team would be bestowed a few potions and a few feasts, especially a feast filled with more food than what was already there.  To anyone that asked who he was, the player would laugh a bit, which would echo through their helm.

"It's just me."

As the player slowly unclasped a strap on his chin before he took off their helm to reveal very familair jade green hair with a red bandana keeping the hair up.

"Jade Healer, Hirru"

He would keep the helm off afterwards for anyone else.

Bestowing to Team 1 @Koga @Crozeph @Calrex @Baldur @Shield

Consumed

Hirru stats
Hirru | HP: 974/974 | EN: 96/96 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 187 | LD: 3 | BH: 41 | HLY BLS: 32 | MENDING: 2 | THRNS: 76 | REC: 8, Rested 0/2, No STM, No Shift |

 

Summary

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hyve1VKS7mBHmgvEHxw_IKNFsTfVSobSPcqMs-xyhTg/edit?usp=sharing

3.0 T4 Dungeon Wave 1: Random Dungeon Map
3.0 T4 Dungeon Wave 2: 18,000 col (each)
3.0 T4 Dungeon Wave 3: 60,000 col (split); 115 mats (split); LD Drop (Doubles W3 rewards, making them ‘each’ instead of ‘split’)

Word Count Check: 8652

 8652 words / 30 = 288*5= 1440*Tier

8652 / 300 = 28 seeds

 

Hirru receives:

20487 EXP (Word Count [1440*6] + 7750 [T4 Dungeon, 3 waves] + 25% from event)

108644 col (200 [1 page/2] + 78000 [dungeon] + 2300 [chest] + 3073 [Laurel, +15% of EXP as col] + 30% from event)

187 mats (10 [tag] + 115 [Dungeon] + 5 [chest] + 50% from event)

28 Seeds (Event)

2 tags:  ID: 201007 (CD 11); 201009 (CD 11); 201010 (CD 4)

3 UnID T4 Perfect Weapons [201009a/b/c]

 

Baldur receives:

24087 EXP (Word Count [1440*8] + 7750 [T4 Dungeon, 3 waves] + 25% from event)

109346 col (200 [1 page/2] + 78000 [dungeon] + 2300 [chest] + 3613 [Laurel, +15% of EXP as col] + 30% from event)

187 mats (10 [tag] + 115 [Dungeon] + 50% from event)

28 Seeds (Event)

1 tag: ID: 201014 (CD 12); 201015 (CD 4); 201017 (CD 4)

To be distributed (from chest)

T3 Perfect Weapon [199098a]

T3 Perfect Weapon [199098b]

T3 Perfect Consumable [199098c]

 

Mob loot rewards cannot be recovered.

Fusing Armor pieces using @Koga shop w/ permission (Compensation already sent his way) [Banker paid using 1 Demonic Shard & 3 Gleaming Scale]

Step 1

Step 2:

Step 3 (Crucial step)

 

The hunter whistled in surprise.  He didn't know that the newest member to the front lines was a blacksmith.  The look and feel of the shop reminded him of some friends that have long since retired from the front lines.  Xion, Beoreson, and Mack, the three blacksmiths that started it all for the hunter.  A smithy would be a sacred place for the hunter, even if he was just a merchant with appraising profession.  He had a new mission, which required a little bit of preparation.  It seemed that Firm Anima was there to help when four pieces of armor had come his way.  Each holding a precious commodity.  There was also a couple shields that he had appraised that he wanted to work on too.  All of this together was going to let the Jade Hunter become a Jade Healer.

"Hey Koga!  Mind if I use your services for a bit.  I got some armor and shield that need fusing.  Don't worry about the effort, I can manage most of it, but I'll give you something to compensate the efforts given."

Hirru gives 50,000 Col & 50 Mats to Koga.

Request:

1. Fuse 2 Perfect Heavy Armor T4 -> 1 Perfect Heavy T4 (Uniques included / Gleaming Scale)
2. Fuse 2 Perfect Heavy Armor T4 -> 1 Perfect Heavy T4 (Uniques included / Gleaming Scale)
3. Fuse the newly fused armors from step 1 & 2 into T4 Demonic Heavy Armor -> (All Unique / Demonic Scale & Gleaming Scale)
4. Fuse 2 Rare Shield T4 -> 1 Perfect Shield

Details Below.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3 (Crucial step)

Step 4 (Fusing Shield)

 

Acquisition Accepted

• Shop Post: Traveling Flame
• Transaction Date:  11/3/21
• Cost of Transaction: 2000 Col
• Crafter's Profession: Appraiser
• Crafter's Rank: Rank 4
• Item Name: Tenacity of the Violet Dragon
• Item Tier: 3
• Item Type: Trinket (1 Guarenteed Unique)
• Item Rarity:  Perfect
• Item Enhancements: Paralytic Immunity / Evasion / Luck Die
• Craft/Appraisal/Obtainment IDs & Rolls: 
  • Found ID: 197634
  • Rolled IDs: 200730 (Unique) - 7 = Para Immunity
  • 200732 - 2 = Loot Die
  • 200735 - 17 = Evasion
• Item Description: A silver necklace with a violet eyeball, reminiscent of a dragon's gaze. 
  • ~With a little luck and timing,  one can outrun even lightning.~

• Shop Post: Traveling Flame
• Transaction Date: 11/3/21
• Cost of Transaction: 2000 Col
• Crafter's Profession: Appraiser
• Crafter's Rank: R4
• Item Name: Ferocity of the Red Dragon
• Item Tier: 3
• Item Type: Trinket (1 Guarenteed Unique)
• Item Rarity:  Perfect
• Item Enhancements: Fireproof / Keen / Recovery
• Craft/Appraisal/Obtainment IDs & Rolls: 
  • Found ID: 197159a
  • Rolled IDs: 200737 (unique) - 5 = Fireproof
  • 200739 - 7 = Recovery
  • 200742 - 14 = Keen
• Item Description: A copper necklace with a red eyeball, reminiscent of a dragon's ire.
  • ~Fire can destroy, but it can also foster new life.~

• Shop Post: Traveling Flame
• Transaction Date: 11/3/21
• Cost of Transaction: 17080
• Crafter's Profession: Appraiser
• Crafter's Rank: R4
• Item Name: Electric Scale +4
• Item Tier: 4
• Item Type: Shield
• Item Rarity:  Rare
• Item Enhancements: Thorns / Paralyze
• Craft/Appraisal/Obtainment IDs & Rolls: 
  • Found ID: 199276a
  • Rolled IDs: 200680 - 12 = Paralyze
    • Reroll 1: 200698 - 19 = Thorns
  • ID 200683 | LD 4  | Recovery
    • Reroll 2 - ID 200709 | LD 5| Recovery
    • Reroll 3 - ID 200711 | LD 3| Recovery
    • Reroll 4 - ID 200719 | LD 9| Paralyze
• Item Description: A shield with rough venom covered scales that cover the outside layer.
  • ~Know not the Armored Zapfish, as their touch has laid low many fisherman.~

• Shop Post: Traveling Flame
• Transaction Date: 11/3/21
• Cost of Transaction: 2080
• Crafter's Profession: Appraiser
• Crafter's Rank: R4
• Item Name: Aurora's Embrace
• Item Tier: 4
• Item Type: Shield
• Item Rarity:  Rare
• Item Enhancements: Recovery 2
• Craft/Appraisal/Obtainment IDs & Rolls: 
  • Found ID: 199276b
  • ID 200688 | LD 2 | Recovery 
  • ID 200689 | LD 4 | Recovery
• Item Description: A shield with two slender arms appearing to hold the shield.
  • ~They say a cleric's home is where they hold the highest faith.  Wouldn't that be in the arms of a loved one?~

"Hmm?  This?  It's a spyglass, though, I got it on a particularly fancy place.  Instead of the long tube that other places had, this shop had this smaller one.  I liked it, since I don't normally have huge pockets or time to rummage around to find a shrunken tube thing."

The hunter chuckled a little at all that.  Out of everything that he had said, it was the lack of pockets that got him.  It was true that being battle ready was an equally required thing, but he barely ever used any of his items within it.  Anything that needed used was used outside of combat.  Maybe someday, he would need to.

"Hey, Koga.  Don't worry about what happened at the meeting.  Your inquiry was sufficient, and it gave thought about what we will be facing, even if it didn't sound like it.  Thanks!"

He was reminded of his first meeting, and how everyone looked down on him for speaking out.  It took him some time to be the tactician that he was today, but that didn't mean that he didn't have good insight that day.

En regen 2/3

3/10 field boss

It had been some time since the hunter had last been upon his old wagon, while properly looking upon appraising some runic inscriptions.  There were two of the items that he had recently found that he wanted to look at.  Two trinkets that already had golden runic slots upon them.  He had only ever seen these upon items with unique enhancements that had been found, but this looks like they are yet to be seen.  The hunter mulled over looking into these before seemed to come to the same conclusion.  If they were going to survive, then the hunter would have to think outside of the box.

4/8 appraisals today

Total 23160 col

Exp 70

SP Refund Ticket used (Sword Art Update ticket)

Link to 3.0 Conversion: https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/20787-30-conversion/?do=findComment&comment=637890

185 SP refunded.

The hunter sighed in relief as his stats went back to the way they were supposed to for a time.  It wasn't a really hard battle, even with Hirru's stats lowered, the boss did nothing to him.  It was just the healing factor that really freaked the hunter out.  It that thing could actually break into him, or cause their hate to fall out of touch with each other, they may have had an issue then.  Though, the hunter was really glad to see that his newest hunting partner could go with the flow, especially with his choice in weaponry.  Baldur would definitely be keen to look into this one's arts.  Looking upon the item that they just got, the rumors seemed to be true.  A shield based buff that can protect entire parties worth of a fair chunk of damage.  Couple that with a competent tank or support that can see the signs of an AOE, and the entire raid becomes trivial.

"Hey, let's rest up a bit.  We gotta find another one before the end of the day.  Two of these things is great, but two for each of us will be a great tipping point on the front."

Hirru says while pulling out a little glass spectacle.  He was told that if he looked through this item, any creatures spawn limit would be reset.  Though, while the hunter looked through it, it seemed that the desired effect would not come to pass.  They would probably have to wait a bit.

EN regen 1/3

Spyglass used - Field boss encounter 15 posts -> 10 posts

Hirru was slightly surprised by the sudden inclusion of weird phenomenon appearing on all the floors.  First of all was the appearance of the golden leaves that seemed to duplicate specific looted items.  The hunter had found four demonic shards, from his venture with Freyd.  It wasn't something that normally happens as the whisper had said.  Frankly, the hunter would be glad to go around and hunt a bit more, but he was tired from working around each floor and talking to people about the current state of things in Aincrad.  He was going to go to Baldur's and sleep in his room, but the intrigue of discovery was still in his mind.  He wanted to know where these golden leaves were coming from, and he had only one lead.  A skeleton that liked to joke around.

The hunter had only known of skeletons and other ghouls to appear on the tenth floor; a dark and depressing place that housed a large assortment of undead.  Though, the only city of Yomi was slightly better than the rest.  It was slightly lit up around the area with small lanterns, but they were all cold and gave no warmth.  The light was the only thing that was positive about them.  The residents being nothing more than the shadows of the past, as they did not exist anymore.  At least, that's what the hunter remembered.

The Yomi that he saw as he teleported in, was slightly more vibrant.  Candlelight, which shone much more brightly and warmly, scattered throughout the floor.  The silent nature of the floor seemed to be filled by a slight humming and sounds of whispered tones, all of which seemed to get louder as one would reach the inner city.  In the center of town, near a great blossom tree, whose leaves seemed to brown and redden with some change, one could see the square seem to liven up.  On closer inspection, it seemed that the leaves were slowly falling off of the tree periodically, piling up in some areas..  It was then that the hunter understood what was going on.  Players and NPCs alike have talked about this and he had experienced it before too.  The season known as Autumn.

"Hey, mister!"

The voice of a child cut through the visage, as the hunter looked down to see an incredibly disturbing sight.  The face seemed to be a rather distorted smile, one of malice and bloodlust, with crimson eyes that peered deep into ones soul.  Knife at the ready to take another life.  Hirru shook his head, while rubbing his eyes. 

"Saw you over there, and wondered if you could help us out."

With a second look, that image was no longer there.  Instead, the smile of a jubilant child appeared before him, rosy cheeks and all.  The child seemed to be wearing a green shirt with a yellow stripe through the middle.  A locket in the shape of a heart draped around their neck, and a knife in their other hand.  Hirru couldn't tell if the knife was real, but kept it close in his mind to be wary of it.  The child seemed to understand when the hunter's eyes were upon the object.

"Oh, this?  I was carving pumpkins with my partner over there."

They pointed over to a smaller child, whom seemed to dress the same as the older one, except their colors were of blue and violet.  The little one seemed to be sleeping, or they were, until Hirru's attention was brought to them.  Suddenly, the child jumped down from their little perch and walked over to the Jade Hunter.  Reaching out, the little one motioned out in a grabbing fashion.

"Sorry, he thinks you have a few pumpkin seeds on you.  They're quite good, if you cook them up."

The older one stops themselves, as the little one stops gesturing and goes around picking up little seeds here and there.

"My name is Oni, and that one is Kuni.  We're setting up a little festival here, but it didn't go so well.  No one wants to listen to kids, so we're just carving pumpkins and asking travelers for help.  Which is what I wanted to talk to you about.  Though, before that.."

His smile came back up while he was talking before Hirru noticed, it seemed to leak that same bloodlust from before.

"YoU hAvE a TAG On YoU..!"

"Huh"

Finally speaking for once in this entire conversation, the hunter would watch as the smile grew more as the boy pointed to Hirru's armored left hand, using the very knife in his hand.

"There's a tag there, on your hand.  It denotes those that have were able to touch a certain 'friend' of ours."

Hirru couldn't see anything, and wondered how the hell some kid could see anything on his armored hand.  Hiding the gauntlet from view, the hunter was quite worried at the sight of his hand.  Upon the back of his hand was an odd symbol, a blue heart with a single red slash through it.  When did this come up?  The hunter was trying to remember, but Oni seemed to answer him.  A certain friend?  That was when the hunter remembered the lead that brought him there.  On the way back from that island, Freyd and Hirru met up with * that guy again.  Jokes aside, they were on a monster slaying venture, and that guy did tempt them.  They both tried to grab him, but the hunter was the only one to lay a finger on the guy.  Was this the reason why he had this heart on him?

"To think that you would beat up a guy that you don't know.  You're pretty awful, you know."

"Listen, Oni was it?  I don't think making fun of someone that you're asking for help would be good for you."

Oni seemed to shrug at this as the cheeky smile never left his face.

"Sorry, don't usually see people like you around.  Though, you're certainly helping me out.  I was gonna ask you to tag that guy some more, if you ever see them.  Though, I do have something else you can help with.  Hey Kuni, can you bring over the little guy!"

Calling over to his little friend, Kuni, whom was just getting back to their little bowl shaped like a pumpkin.  They deposited some small seeds into it before turning to pick up a little flower pot.  In the pot, a singular flower could be seen.  The blue petals seemed to be wilting, although the stalk and leaves around the plant were vibrant and green.  An oddity on this floor, but so was everything in this square.  The little Kuni ran over to Hirru and gave the pot to Oni, before going back over to his bowl and sitting back down to possibly nap, once more.  Oni held the plant up, his expression this time of worry.

"Our dad wanted to grow this little guy, but it didn't seem to take on quite well.  It seems to be blue, well in more ways than just color.  Could you help cheer it up?"

An odd request came from the boy, and the hunter was not too sure how to handle that.

"You.. want me to talk to the flower?"

"Uh.. yeah.  Dad would do it all the time to flowers and plants, and they would grow up fairly nicely on that alone, sometimes."

"I think he's doing more than just talking to them."

"Hey, I'm not a stupid kid!  I know that they need food and water too."

The hunter was going to add sunlight to the list too, but remembered where he was.  Sunlight never appeared on the fully enclosed tenth floor, which is why everything was so gloomy.  Nothing on this floor was alive enough, except for some flora that could survive underground, and some creatures that were more spooky than dangerous.  Which brought the question around for Hirru; where did these kids come from?

Hirru took the potted plant from Oni and sighed.  He guessed he would have to talk to it.

"Just walk around town and talk to it.  You can talk about the town itself, the scenery and the people here.  You could talk about things you've seen, or people you got to know on your travels.  You're a traveler!  You must have thousands of stories from your life before."

Oni was right.  Hirru had stories from plenty of adventures, especially from his time in the Knights and before..

"Okay, I guess I'll give this a try."

The hunter would say before looking upon the two kids as Oni went back to Kuni, whom had produced a rather large leather wrapping from which a few interesting things could be seen.  He would have to return shortly to discuss what that was all about.

Prompt 1.)  Setting the Scene

Walking along the streets of Yomi, the hunter would begin to speak in his normal tone of voice.  He really didn't understand the nature of it all, or if this was really the right way.  He only kept the flower pot under arm, as he held it tight, being sure not to drop the tiny blue thing.

"Let's see if I got this right..  So, the home in which you grow, otherwise known as Yomi.  A desolate little town with little to no life to be found anywhere, except the lovely tree behind us and yourself, of course.  Though, I do want to think that the kids could be counted towards lives that count towards any living community here, but.."

The hunter remembered the face that the child, Oni made when he first saw him.  It made him cringe over the thought of whatever that child could really be.

"..I don't think they're part of the living anymore.  The children that protect you and give you life are still at the tree at this time, probably peddling wares using the seeds as currency.  I would rather not deal with the other one.  Too much to deal with there."

As Hirru crept along, the streets began to die down in excitement, and return to their dreary selves.

"So it seems the boys haven't had their influence spread very far in this town.  The merriment and festivities are all being held in the center of town, but these outlying homes are all back to their deserted homes and ghostly moans.  No, wonder you don't want to grow here.  There isn't anything that can easily live down here." 

Prompt 2.) A Symbolic Waypoint

"Although, this reminds me of another place that had barely any life in it too.  Except, this place was briming with light, but not so much any water.  You'd be lucky to find the occasional tree there, but where there was a few there would be water.  They were oasis and everywhere else was a vast and giant desert, or as we know it, the fifth floor."

Hirru could not figure how much time he had truly spent on that floor, as it was the easiest to traverse after the survival skill was obtained.  Not only that, but the hunter had the time of his life finding and besting the ruins and dungeons that spawned there.  It was how he got so good at finding things, as you needed to have a quick eye to see through the shifting sands.

"Personally, though.  I can't say that it had anything in particular that was interesting within it.  The ruins always changed and shifted with the sands.  The only things were these pillars that showed where safe areas were place.  Though, if I could choose another floor, I would say the sea turtle on the twenty fourth floor was quite the sight."

Prompt 3.) A Villain Most Foul

The thought of that day made him feel that it must be really weird now to not only be talking to a flower, but one that is part of the game itself.  It was only a few hours before seeing that sea turtle, and finding that it was part of a dungeon, that Hirru had to tell Baldur, Shield, and Beat about the lack of knowledge that he had on the outside world.  About his amnesia, that was the reason he had wanted to keep the boy, Durares alive.

"Did I really want them to live though?  I thought that I wanted to get the fight done earlier, but.."

He couldn't help to bring back all of the weird and odd things that he started to talk about while addressing different people's concerns.  He felt absolute disgust with himself.

"How could I have done something so stupid, for something that was probably wasn't going to work out anyway."

Hirru looked down at the flower and growled out.

"So, little flower, let me tell you something.  There was once a big dumb idiot of a Vice Commander, that thought that everything could be worked around, with a little forethought.  Trying to do things that he didn't really have too much knowledge on.  Well, this guy also believed that these people, monsters, and hell even you were real.  Dumbass, really.  That guy tried to stop an entire fucking front line raid team from killing a boss that looked like a child.  Can you believe that?!"

Hirru started laughing to himself aloud.  The laughing seemed to echo out into the dead streets, as he continued to walk among them.

"I do truly hate that guy sometimes.  He really fucked everything up for quite a few of us.  However, you know what the big problem is?  I can't do anything about him.  Why?  He's me!  I've been changing myself so god damn much.  Learning so much, but why does it feel like everything I do is meaningless?  The past that I created, the present that we are in.  I made that happen, so why am I still talking to a piece of data?"

He felt ready to just drop the pot and let it be smashed, but the lul of the little blue petals seemed to stop him.  Even if it was just data, made to look like a wilting flower, it still seemed to have some presence.  Especially from the petals that seemed to actually perk up a bit.

"Do you like that way of speaking, huh?  Okay, we'll go with that then."

Prompt 4.) An Attraction that Hurts

The hunter kept walking among the rundown streets.  It seemed eerily quiet, but the lights from a couple buildings over gave a life to the dead town.  Every so often, he would think that he could see a face in a window every so often, but the minute he looked, the figure would be gone.

"You know.  I miss all of my friends.  Everyone that I used to mess around with.  From the first one that I truly had a good time with, Xion, to Mack, and his charismatic ways.  Opal, Teayre, and Lowenthal, the ones that showed that me that not all orange players were bad people, and that there were some dangerous jade players.  Baldur for being there when I needed the support.  Mac, for being a brother when our guild was falling apart because of a leaderless duo couldn't do anything else.  Teion and Hestia for believing in me, even after the disaster of the 23rd.  Freyd, although a new friend, has shown me that being easy going can be more fun that being uptight and burdened.  Takao for giving me the inspiration to become a hunter, and to carry on."

Tears started to fill his eyes, some of which fell upon the flower's blue petals.

"There are so many more out there, like Lindow.  So many that I can't go and talk to anymore.  They're not here with us, anymore.  I want to talk with some of them.  Let them know how I messed things up.  How I miss them."

He fell to his knees as he cried aloud.  The cries seemed to resonate with the dark and dreary street, and even more so the denizens.  There were shadows in the windows once more, and a few that seemed to peer around open doors.

Prompt 5.) A Wish 

A bit of time would pass as Hirru wept his eyes out.  There was no one else around, as least nothing that was pinging his search skill, so he had no real reason to keep anything on himself.  He was talking to a flower.  The flower probably liked the water, even if it was salty, and just data.  The hunter proceeded to wipe his tears away.

"Now isn't the time.  I've lost so many and so much, but I can't let that get me down.  I've already tried to look into the past.  I've tried looking into my memories, especially the ones that I can't even remember.  I just wanted something, anything to come back.  Trying to find that one quest that tells you about something going on within your 'hearts deepest desires'.  It must have some way to show my my past, but.."

He got up from his crouched position.  The streets were as lifeless as ever, not a shadow in sight.

"..I don't want another episode to happen.  I don't wish for that to ever happen again.  I do hope to get back together with everyone in the front, but I doubt that will happen easily.."

Hirru yawned a little while he was speaking.  How long had he been walking around?

"I think it's about time to bring you back to your children."

Prompt 6.) Thank you!

He walked sluggishly back to the center of the town.  It seemed that the festivities were closing down now.  Oni was picking up a few of the pumpkins and putting them in a little cart, while Kuni was continuing to peddle weird little things on his little carpet.  Hirru would look at his wares, and thought about if he wanted any of it.  He yawned even harder, nearly letting go of the plant by accident, which seemed to worry both Kuni and Oni.  The older one was quick to check on him.

"Are you alright?  We haven't seen you in a while."

"Thank you, I'm fine.  Although, I am quite thankful for the time that you gave me with that little guy.  I was able to get quite a bit off my chest back there."

"I'm sure you talked it's ear off.  Was there anything else you wanted to add?  We're about to head home soon."

"Oh sure."

Hirru sat down on the ground with his back against the stone ledge that surrounded the Great Tree.  He gave one last look at the flower.  It's blue petals were quite a bit more vibrant, he thought.  Though, his eyes were starting to blur more from exhaustion too.  It could be the trick of the light, but were there always so many shades around the area?  He couldn't tell anymore.

"Hey, little guy.  Be good to your family and grow nice and strong now.  Be thankful that their father takes.. so much care in you.  As I am thankful for all of the friends.. that I do still have, and all the ones that I will make in.. the future.  The loved ones that I hope to see and remember..."

His eyes start to feel heavy, and they start to droop, even through his fighting over it.  It doesn't take very long.

"..I'm thankful.. for those that I can't remember too..  Cause I know that.. I have someone out there..  that I... care.. for.. but don't... remem.."

With that, he was fast asleep.  Kuni walked to Hirru and picked up the flower from the sleeping man, before giving him a little hug.  Oni would call him back to help with final preparations.

Conclusion

Oni walked back around the cart after loading everything back into the cart, and waited for their sibling to finish what he was doing.  Kuni was hovering over the sleeping body of the hunter, holding a sheet in place before gently placing it upon him.  The little one didn't want the man to get cold, as the candles had been put out.  Oni only shook their head.

"Come on, Kuni.  Mother and Father are waiting."

The young one nodded before helping himself up on the cart.  Oni grabbed the handles of the cart and started to pull.  There wasn't much to pull, but damn was it still heavy.  Why couldn't his father buy a mule.  They would struggle along, when the young Kuni looked back after setting on his little seat.  He would see the green haired hunter, surrounded by shadows.  Nine in total.  They all seem to be sitting with him, and just looked towards him, as if in longing.

Kuni looked on in a pondering look before Oni spoke one more.

"Shades have a longing for those that they knew in the afterlife, Kuni.  I'm sure those guys that were following him the entire time, were people that he knew quite well."

As they kept going, the cart with Oni and Kuni on it seemed to slowly disappear, as if it was never there to begin with.

Stats:

 

It seemed that Hirru wasn't the only one that seemed to have an issue with someone crashing a party, though this came from the one that Hirru didn't know much about.  He was reminded that there was much more activity around the other players than he would ever know.  He kept breathing slowly and deeply to alleviate any more of his anger that he wanted to subside.

Suddenly, Zandra's bird squaked and it threw his concentration off.  She was right, but they still didn't have everything together.  He was getting calmer, but there was still much in his mind.  All of it getting worse as Freyd and Baldur took the stand.  Freyd didn't much care for all of this gossip and seemed to already have what he needed.  Hirru would have followed suit, if he had not suggested that the hunter take his considerations of issues within the dojo itself. 

It dawned on Hirru then.  Something he long forgotten, but he was sure one other person in this room would remember.  A certain boisterous fellow with burning red hair and beard that loved to get into fights, but was always there to pick you back up after beating the shit out of you.  Hirru remembered that was the way he would settle disputes.  Let ones fists talk, and afterwards talks things out like proper people should, as aggressions are mostly taken care of.

Hirru didn't think that would work too well for him, as one of them would just murder him.

He sighed as Baldur went on a speech about the current situations they were having, as the situation between having very little information to go on except will the cannons be friend or foe, seemed to be the only thing people could talk about.  Both of them were right, and Hirru was wasting his time too.  There was much to do and grind out for everyone to get the proper buffs.

Hirru was instantly reminded of something.  He had prepared before hand, as the one that asked for the scouting party to assemble, so he had a few feasts prepared.  One such feast was combined into something that he had noticed Freyd using quite a bit.  A Gungnir shard, an item that could replicate any consumable placed into it near infinitely.  He had recently got his own and found that it has a recharge time, but does still replicate the consumable placed within after the timeframe.  A remarkable thing.

"I can field the damage potions and accuracy, mitigation and luck for my team, through feasts I acquisitioned before I called the scouting party.  Mind you, they're not the greatest tasting.  I'm not resourceful enough to get everyone a feast, as I am not that kind of crafter.  However, there is something that can help us."

Hirru pulled out his gungnir shard, which he immediately tapped.  It would unfurl, like a flower's petals opening for the first time, to reveal a platter of cooked fish.  It would look quite salty.

"There is this item called a Gungnir shard, that can replicate any consumable fused within itself near infinitely.  It seems to have a limit though.  It can't be used in combat, and can't be used consecutively, meaning it takes time to recharge itself.  My mitigation feast is currently housed within, so I can call upon its usage as a feast for a whole team, before it must recharge itself.  It would be prevalent to use feasts, but anyone can put whatever they prefer."

After a bit of talking, the platter would begin to deteriorate, as if its durability was heavily burning out, before the shard folded itself back together, and a little timer would appear on it. 

"I speak of this, so that everyone knows about them, can be on the look out for them, and have the possibility to have entire teams already buffed, without having to wait too long for crafters to keep up with us."

He nodded the last part to Zandra, whom he remembered had to work around the clock some times, to get potions out for entire raid teams.  Thankfully, the hunter had seen some promising players that out there that could help with consumable creations in both potions and food/feasts.  They would need quite a few to get this ball rolling, but if every person in a team could field one gungnir of every cook buff, they would be able to rush bosses in no time.

A message would come to him shortly after.  It was from NIGHT.  It was something about talking to Hidden.  Hirru sighed.  He was going to do that anyway, if she had an issue with him, that was.  What Hidden did was all due to Hirru being the dumbest person alive.  He didn't know that the child was not real, nor did he care at the time.  Though now, the hunter could tell after talking about the situation with Baldur, Shield, Beat, Hestia, and Freyd was that:  Hidden's actions were justifiable.  Hirru was essentially a small fence that needed to be pushed out of the way; Hidden just decided to cut the fence instead.  Hirru was fine with that.  What he wasn't fine with was sudden interruptions that were always cause by orange players.  Dear god, why did Opal do that so much!?

He would try to get Ariel's attention a bit.  Although, they seemed to be having issues of her own.  He had watched NIGHT with the attendant that refilled their cup a couple times, and figured that he would try the tea.  By this time, it was already cold, so the taste wasn't too great to the hunter, especially since he didn't have tea too often.  Preferred the darker stuff.  However, he would drink it all, and as he sat it back down, the attendant would be by his side.  Without motioning much, he would hold his hand over his cup.

"Please let our host know that I wish to use this dojo for a bit after the meeting, for the 'talk' I expressed earlier."

"What do we have here?  A bunch of thieves, ay?  Eh?  Well you can shove off!  This is our treasure!"

"Yeah, and we'll protect it from you lot.  We won't let you have our treasure!"

The two of them would call out to Ariel when they failed their first attempt at seizing a proper attack through, due to the terrain around herself and the prospectors.  This would also be slightly difficult for the hunter too, as Shelob was still the size of a bastard sword, and wasn't great to use in confined spaces.  Though that wouldn't stop the hunter from using a simple alternative.  Hirru was still well versed in one handed variants of sword arts from the straight sword vein, but those arts would make his swings that much wider.  He would have to grab the middle of his sword to do anything productive.  For some reason, the hunter thought that this would be something he could do.

Pushing forward into the view of the two, the hunter would rush towards them until he was close enough.  The usual three hit would be too wide, but the shorter range with the grip being in the middle may keep some control.  However, the loose terrain and cramped quarters seemed to get to the hunter as well.  He would slip too and fall beside Ariel upon his back.  The looked up in slight embarrassment and surprise.  Hirru had not had this much of a blunder in a long while, that it seemed funny that it happened to both him and Ariel.  It just about got him to chuckle aloud.

"Freyd!  It's a little trippy around here."

 

Hirru was starting to learn the patterns that this giant tree being would take.  First it would slam, then it would slam while healing itself.  This was the only pattern he could really see, as this next attack would bring the roots out of the ground to stop the healing process.  A foolish endeavor, as the hunter was faster to respond to its advances, and act accordingly.  The last hit would go to Koga, but the hunter didn't mind.  They were not fighting on the front yet, and there wasn't much need nor a care for the last hit loot from the floor bosses, as players could create their own boss weapons.  Hirru would sigh while slowing his thought processes, allowing the world to blend in.  To Koga, it looked like the hunter was using a katana based technique with a bastard sword, a completely odd and silly thing.

Soon, though, the art would be registered in the network, and the sword would glow.  Hirru would run to the left side of the treant, where it would be much harder to hit him from, and let loose with a two hit wide arcing strikes that would form a cross.  As the hunter did so, he would notice the armored bark around the treant starting to heal.  The shatter effect was losing it strength as the field boss tried to grab for him, but failed as Hirru jumped around a bit.  He wasn't fast, but it was enough to not be crushed.

"Take it out, Koga!"

 

"That is very true.  There is quite a bit that I still need to wrap my head around, I guess."

The hunter groaned as he felt the fatigue of overusing ones energy reserves as well as the constant strain to ones brain.  What was it that Shield talked about?  Everyone feeling fatigue from the exertion on their minds through the NerveGear?  Hirru was still having trouble coping with that knowledge.  A helmet that could control ones body in another world was still like a fairy tale to him, but it made far too much sense why all the players were the way they were, and none of the NPCs every felt the need to join them on the front.  Though, wasn't there a report of one on the twenty fifth floor boss?  The thought hurt the hunter..

"My contributions will grow once I work more on this build, as it were.  Higher chances to paralyze may not work on the boss, but I can work something else in that may tip the balance."

With that, the hunter felt the ping of the burst art being unlocked for him, and burst forward into the creatures awaiting grasp.  Rolling just under its attack, Hirru attacked the underside of the snakes neck area with a flurry of stabs and arcing slashes before ending in a wide slash.  The sea serpent writhed around frantically, but the beast was starting to slow down.  It looked lethargic, as there was only a small blip of a health bar left.

"It's almost done!  End the bloody thing!"

 

As stern as ever, which made the hunter that more eager to work through this.  He preferred the old Mac that he could joke around with and perform funny combination attacks with, but the hunter understood that those days were gone.  If that day were to ever come, it would be a long and rough journey that would test the hunter at every given point.  He was willing to do all of that, because it was all his fault that it happened to begin with.  It was his responsibility to take the burden now.

While waiting for Mac to reach him, the hunter would have observed the towns people and merchants around the area.  Not many really gave much information, but there were some people that he had not seen during their initial search.  These people were in heavily tattered rags, and seemed to be treated like trash.  He heard them being called Galtean.  It seemed that these guys were from another country entirely, from what people seemed to gossip over while one was beaten by a few guards.  Those thoughts with what NIGHT talked about during the meeting seemed to bring up how the Ladonians have unusual technology.  Hirru seemed to slightly understand that this meant that there were things that he wouldn't understand, and would require someone else to help interpret.  He wished he could bring Baldur, but he had to work with Mac on something, anything.

"I'll need your help with something near the slums, near where we found the labyrinth.  There is a corridor that leads out to another area.  I'm mostly going off of the information that NIGHT provided to us, and what to look out for.  Technology that surpasses our expectations.  The people around here are heavily tight lipped.  It seems this Inquisition that those children were afraid of, if you remember, is a very prevalent thing.  Those that speak about it will earn their eyes upon you.  So, we're going to work with these Galtean refuges, or slaves.  Whatever the word was, but we will probably have to work around some corrupt individuals and Galtean's that don't want to talk."

He mostly gave a small detail about it, but wanted that to serve a purpose.  These inquisitors were certainly going to find them, if the towns people were right on this.  However, that was his secondary goal, his first was to investigate these Galtean.  If they were refuges, then there may be information that they could provide.

"Frankly, we're going to stir up trouble, but it won't work with only myself.  Are you in?  If not this, then I'm sure we can call a few friends and handle the boss, for a little bit of information."

A little cheeky grin would pop up at the last part, but it faded just as quickly.  Now wasn't the time to be chummy.

Hirru could only smile while watching the insane antics of his partner, and could only wish that he too could perform with that resolve.  If at all a fleeting thing, Hirru could admire when Freyd let loose a bit.  There was much that the hunter still didn't know.  In fact, there were far too little things that the Hirru knew about Freyd, than vice versa.  The wanderer seemed to glide wherever he walked, without much care, but was sharp to details and ready to take action on the slightest impulse.  One could tell that his guard was never down, but when it was, it was only for that slight detail to come into his area of control.  There he was in control.

"You sure about that?"

He called back before rolling towards the giant serpent and under one of its coils.  It was stunned, but not paralyzed.  It could still thrash around, and the danger would allow the hunter to get some thrill out of it.  Using the first part of his art, Shelob would pull forward into a high arc.  While the blade dug in, the hunter stalled the art in a way for the fangs to hook in and launch him higher upon the creature.  This allowed the hunter to climb atop the serpent while dealing a second deeper strike while running along the length.  A finally burst of light shining through Shelob would direct the last hit towards the head of the effects of paralysis and venom were started to seep in from the other two hits, the serpent started to act rigged as the last hit shredded a large gash into the back of its head.

Using the hooks to glide down the snake without much harm, the hunter would sigh.

"It isn't much, but it's a decent attempt."

 

Hirru was quite astonished by the sudden turn of events.  With all of the information and gossip floating around, the hunter had still not entered into any of the conversation, and yet it seemed like everyone had heard him out while creating the teams in his head!  How?  He looked upon his hands as he sat, only now noticing the tea and the sweets upon the little table in front of him.  How long had they been there?, he wondered.  He was starting to get anxious when Calrex pointed out what he was thinking, and then Freyd fronting an entire team through his guild.  Hirru had completely forgotten about that.  How many guilds were out there now that could send out an entire army?  Most were only small groups of people, that he could remember.

The newest one had something right.  The cannons were not there for them.  This was something else, however, that would be a moot point.  They had no information about anything on this floor, except what NIGHT speculated.  Technology that is advanced enough to have flying ships, and highly irregular floor format.  Advanced..

There was too much information to not go on.  NIGHT had another idea that piqued the hunter's interests.  A scouting raid.  A group of players that could work out the kinks of the boss before the actual raid team would fight it.  It kind of made sense, but if the team could work out the kinks, wouldn't they just kill the boss instead of wasting all our time?  The hunter seemed to be muddling with that much while Baldur was pulling him into his team.  It snapped the hunter out of his thinking bubble as the intelligence was no longer an issue at this point.  Intelligence..

'I guess I don't have much of a choice, huh.', he thought

It was then that someone that he knew would pop up, but really hoped they wouldn't have showed up.  How many times has this happened to the hunter?  So many times has an orange player came up during a meeting or the actual raid meet up, and caused Hirru problems.  He could remember that one of them was the proctor and founder of this meeting, Ariel.  He could remember quite well how she talked Teayre into punishing Hirru for his insolence.  It only lead to Hirru leading his first raid, but that was only a fluke.  Everyone knew what to do, and they survived because he shut the fuck up and only worked within his team to squelch those acid pools.  However, that fluke had long gone, and he did have to answer for his actions on the twenty third floor.

He sighed heavily before continuing with the thought that Hidden had presented, and speaking properly for the first time throughout this meeting.

"Which is why we're all here now discussing the information given and formulating teams to combat it, instead of coming in late and worrying about problems of the past; we are working towards our future."

Hirru would continue.  His eyes were falling upon not just Hidden, but everyone in the room.

"Yes, I freely admit that the 23rd floor boss fight was a disaster, and I was the reason why.  I let my head get in the way, and it caused multiple issues throughout the front.  I would apologize, but that doesn't help peoples concerns anymore.  Results are the proper way now, and that is why I'm here.  To atone for my mistakes and work towards that future."

The hunter would talk with slight anger filling his voice as he continued.  He would remember Baldur's breathing technique that he taught him to calm himself.  It seemed to slightly work.

"My apologies for going off.  It's a touchy subject on all parties, including me.  Let's learn from it, and continue on.  Anyone that wishes to talk to me about the issue, can meet me once the meeting is done."

With that, the hunter was quiet once more.

"As much as a field boss would probably be good to work around, this floor's boss would probably diminish our stats.  Besides, I haven't faced this floor's field boss.  Any info, Freyd?"

The hunter would ask his fellow monster hunter about this <<The Watcher>>, or whatever it is called.  It must be fairly difficult, if its on the tail end of the 3rd tier bosses.  He had been on the tail end of the fifth floor field bosses status reduction.  It wasn't so kind to Hirru, as the strength and accuracy needed to bypass the Land Shark's hide was something that he had not missed.  He sighed while leading the three of them down.

As some rock formations merged together to form large rock golems, the hunter was starting to get annoyed by the amount of merging beings popping up lately.  It made him want to explode on there animated boulders.  With the force of a raging bear, the Jade Hunter burst forward.  Ripping into each and every one without fail, while really giving it to one of the golems.  His venom seeping into its cracks.  How did venom affect a construct?  Hirru obviously didn't know, nor care.  He would just give the signal to Freyd for the follow up.

 

Caching Yaki Hatahata Platter 197733 into Gungnir Shard

Name: Gungnir Shard (T4 MIT III Feast 6/6)

Tier: 4

Link:  https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/20966-pt-the-eternal-hunt-v302/?do=findComment&comment=643040 - Gungnir Shard
https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/20186-fr10-cookpk-shop-open/?do=findComment&comment=643187 - Yaki Hatahata Platter 197733

User: Hirru

 

Materials: Gungnir Shard + Yaki Hatahata Platter (T4 MIT III Feast) [197733]