Ryo

The golden eyes Aramail shook his head. "That's not the point! Have you learned nothing from this? If you're going to be a hero, how can you if you're not willing to sacrifice yourself for the sake of others!" The shadow shouted, causing Ryo to stop in his tracks. But he would, wouldn't he? Ryo's hands trembled slightly as the question floated about in his mind. He, he definitely would. He wouldn't back away, not like a coward would. A hero's life was self-sacrifice, facing up to any challenge even if it meant certain death. "If that's the case, why not fight Death Adder now? Stand up to him, maybe you'll beat him and restore peace?" The shadow said again, rushing Ryo. Ryo's eyes darted at the shadow. Ryo raised his katana, deflecting the greatsword aside causing it to clash against the cave wall. Ryo spun, his sword art slicing through the shadow person.

ID: 93808 BD:7 (hit) MD: 4 (6-20)(miss)

Ryo
Health: 420/420 +8 (from battle healing) -0
Energy: 35/42 +1 (natural regen) -6 (From Gen Getsu)
Eva: 2
Mit: 7

'Aramail' The First Demon
Health: 0/105 -54 from Ryo's Attack(Gen Getsu)
Dmg: 13
MIT: 2

Ryo attack again, his attacking coming close but Aramails speed outmatched it. The blue haired shadow did another overhead slash, only to have it bounce against the ground. "If you keep missing, you're never going to kill me." Ryo said, taunting the demon. "Kill you? No, I know I can't. I'm simply meant to wear you down. Soften you up for the bigger things goin' on inside your head." He said, smirking pointing to his own temple. Ryo grinned, having already realized this. "Oh, im fully aware. And Im sure that the rest of you are just a walk in the park." Ryo said, taunting again.

Need to add your skill otherwise accepted.

Ryo turned his open hand into a fist. "Damn him." Ryo said to himself. How dare Death Adder go around calling himself a 'hero'. "He doesn't know the meaning of the word." Ryo said angrily. Lowenthal was a hero, and in some regards, Zelrius was a hero. But Death Adder was not. He was a murderer abusing his power for his selfish reasons. And the thought of that made him sick. Ryo would need a plan for his future encounter with the man. Jomei mentioned that he was done with the subject, and wished to stop talking about it. Ryo sighed, calming down. "As you wish." He said, taking in breaths through his nose. Ryo let his mind run wild as to how to beat the man, but he was going to need more info about him if he was going to have any plan on beating him. "Well, I'll leave you be. And I wish you safety, and the best wishes amongst your travels." Ryo said, standing up. "And if you need me, or my resources feel free to ask." Ryo said, extending an open hand. 

Approved!

Ryo chuckled. "What a weird guy." He said as the waiter scampered off to get the pair their drinks. Ryo stared back at his menu, scanning for the soups. The bread bowl did sound good, but just not what he was interested in at the moment. "I think I'm gonna go with this sandwich here," Ryo said, looking at the small selection of sandwiches. "It looks good." He said, pointing to the sandwich on the menu. It was a grilled sandwich, which surprised Ryo that this kind of place knew what a grill even was. "So, when do you think the wai-"

"Aha~ The lovely couple! Your drinks." The waiter said, cutting Ryo off. Ryo sighed again, as the blissfully ignorant waiter set the drinks on the table. "Now, for food. What are we getting?" He asked, pulling out a small notepad. Ryo placed his order, and after Teion placed her order the waiter gave the pair a wink and ran off to the kitchen. Ryo sighed a sigh of relief as the waiter scurried off. "I like the service here, but he's a bit too upbeat for me." Ryo said, taking a sip from the porcelain mug. 

Ryo went over to the nearest table and pulled out the chair for Teion. "M'lady, your table awaits." He said, trying his best to sound like Pennyworth. After Teion had taken her seat Ryo took his own seat across from Teion. Ryo looked at the cafe's menu and noticed something, off about it almost immediately. It had more options for coffee and drinks than food. He looked at the 'food' section of it unable to grasp what was on there. A lot of breakfast items, which made sense it's a cafe and all with coffee as its main source of income. But there was protein packets of nuts and cheese, light salads, and some other healthy alternatives. Ryo chuckled. "How does one even make a salad, lighter?" He asked to himself, still staring at the menu. Perhaps they came at the wrong time, and the lunch and dinner menu was hiding behind the counter. Ryo sighed, unable to pick something that he wanted. "So, what do you plan on getting Teion?" He asked her.
"Ah, young love." A more elderly man had said, wielding a notepad looking at the two players. Ryo looked up, confused as to whom he was talking too as he turned red, and began to blurt out. "What? No, I mean. We just met, that's all." Ryo said, trying to regain the natural color of his face. "Ah, but of course! But I recognize a budding romance when I see one. Now, what to drink, hmm?" The overzealous waiter asked. Ryo let out a defeated sigh as he gave his order for a coffee.

Ryo let out a sigh as he leaned back into his chair, the leather creaking as he did. "Of course it's him." Ryo said, placing his head into his hand, leaning on the arm of the chair. It was Death Adder running around making trouble for the frontliners. Killing Takao, then Beatbox, now targeting Jomei. He probably wouldn't stop until he was bored with Jomei, and then eventually kill him. Ryo sighed again. More questions were asked, and answers were being given just not the right ones. Why was Death Adder showing himself now? Why was he doing this? Why was he targeting Jomei and his friends? He rubbed his temple. "This makes no sense. Why is he doing this? Just for fun?" Ryo said, starting to get frustrated. He sighed. "Besides, I thank you for the help. And answering my questions." Ryo said, looking at Jomei. "Did you have anything else you wanted to ask me?" Ryo asked.

Ryo held back his surprise when Teion admitted that she didn't know Beatbox all that well, but her description of him sounded more than that. Ryo touched his chin in thought. Beatbox sounded like a good guy, just flawed. Like everyone. Ryo had his luggage, Teion had hers, everyone had thier own to carry. But did the weight of it all have to go onto a single pair of shoulders? Perhaps that was thier downfall, his and Lowenthal's. They tried to take all of thier burdens alone, and they paid the ultimate price because of it. "Thank you, for sharing." Ryo said to Teion, thanking her for telling him. He placed a hand in her shoulder, or at least tried to despite his height, and gave it a pat. "I changed, and for the better." Ryo began. "I tricked people, I lied, and I hated myself. But, I've stopped almost of that now, and I'm learning to do more to forgive myself." He said looking at Teion returning her smile. He began to chuckle, then laugh. "Sorry," He apologized. "Was just trying to think of something to say, but kept coming up with Goofy things and pick up lines. So I'll say what I mean." Ryo said, clearing his throat. "Thank you, for helping me. And know that I'm always here for you if you need it." He said.

Ryo rubbed his eyes free of the water that had built up, remembering the day that he was saved and when he became a different person. "You're a good man Jomei." But his attention perked up when Jomei mentioned that he was targeted by another player. "Near death? By who?" Ryo asked, grabbing his notepad. If there was someone targeting frontliners, or just high levels players in total he had to know. Takao was slain, as well as Beatbox. And now Jomei had a near death experience. It was all to much of a coincidence. "Please Jomei, I need to know." Ryo said, wanting to pressure the situation.

"Lowenthal and I go back a good while." Ryo began. Jomei had asked how he had come to such information, and how close Lowenthal and himself were. "It was the first floor. And I had run into him in the Town of Beginnings near his original shop before he had moved to the eleventh floor. Well, we had just made it outside of the gates and into the wilderness, on our way to grind out some materials and would you have it, we were ambushed by a group of bandits." Ryo admitted, using partial truth. "Lowenthal aimed to take them on as I was to make my escape, but I couldn't just leave him there. So I stayed and fought with him. We were heavily outnumbered, so we ran." Ryo said, losing eye contact, thinking back on the day. "We ran so far, the way back to town was cut off so we had no choice but to head towards the second floor. Trying to lose them in the maze between floors." Ryo explained, his weight shifting. "Lowe and I triggered a trap, and had fallen into a dark crevice, none of us with night vision we couldn't see, it was only by sheer luck that Lowe found that switch otherwise we'd still be there," Ryo said. "The passage opened up into another maze, and it took us so long to get out. We spent two weeks inside that maze, but it felt so much longer. Lowenthal and I thought that we were going to die in there. So to keep our hopes up Lowe talked about the things he was fighting for. You, Piera, the memory of Velvet Room. Everything." Ryo said his eyes watering. "I didn't have anything to fight for other than myself, and Lowenthal told me that I could be so much more if I tried. Someone like me, who had nothing did nothing, and was nothing could be someone in his eyes." Ryo said, looking back at Jomei.

Ryo swung his katana wide causing himself to get off balance. he hadn't had to fight like this in a long while, and it was showing as the shadow took another hard swipe at Ryo. The shadow was trying as hard it could to dmg Ryo, but it was all for naught. Ryo's battle healing regenerate faster than the shadow could harm him. It was funny in a way, get your numbers high enough and you were basically untouchable. Ryo chuckled at his thought, he could calm down now without having to fear for his life. "So, what do you mean?" Ryo asked, cockier now.

ID: 93724 BD: 2 (miss) MD: 10 (ignores evasion)

Ryo
Health: 414/420 +8 (from battle healing) -6
Energy: 34/42 +1 (natural regen) 
Eva: 2
Mit: 7

'Aramail' The First Demon
Health: 51/105 
Dmg: 13
MIT: 2

Rather than attacking again, Ryo would let Aramail come at him and when he did Ryo would be ready. Aramail came at Ryo swinging his greatsword down heavily onto the ground where Ryo was. Ryo opened his attack by spinning at Aramail, slicing him in every which way. Aramail cried out and was pushed back from Ryo's attack. "There we go." Aramail panted. "That's the kind of guy who'll save people." He said again through his deep breaths. He readied himself again ready for the real flight. "Now show me whom I've left this world to!" He said, running at Ryo again. Ryo rolled out of the way, just now realizing that this was going to be a test of attrition. He'd have to watch his energy consumption otherwise he'd risk running low in the future fights. "The world you left to me? What does even mean?" Ryo asked, unsure as to what the shadow meant.

ID: 93723 BD: 8 (hit) MD: 1(3-2) (miss)

Ryo
Health: 420/420 +8 (from battle healing) -0
Energy: 33/42 +1 (natural regen) -6 from Gen Getsu
Eva: 2
Mit: 7

'Aramail' The First Demon
Health: 51/105 -54 dmg from Gen Gestu (9*6)
Dmg: 13
MIT: 2

Ryo gritted his teeth as he blindly swung at Aramail, his attacks not connecting in the slightest. Aramail sighed again and struck Ryo in the back. "Look, if you can't even beat me, how are you supposed to beat the other three?" Aramail said, slightly taunting Ryo. "Now, answer the question. Would you have done the same?" Aramail asked. Ryo gritted his teeth again as he picked himself off the floor. "No, I wouldn't have." He admitted. "I would've saved them, and I would've lived. Because I'm strong!" He said, his final words reverberating against the cave again. Ryo readied his weapon again and rushed at Aramail. "And what gives you strength?" Aramail pondered at Ryo. "Is it the selfish desire for power and fame, or is it actual selflessness?" He asked Ryo, ready to take any attack that he may have had. Ryo watched as his health dipped slightly, but his regeneration kept it topped off. There was no way that Aramail could kill him, not in this way at least.

ID: 93722 BD: 4 (miss) MD: 10 (ignore EVA)

Ryo
Health: 414/420 +8 (from battle healing) -6 (13-7=6)
Energy: 38/42 +1 (natural regen) -2 (from missing)
Eva: 2
Mit: 7

'Aramail' The First Demon
Health: 105/105
Dmg: 13
MIT: 2

Ryo tried the same tactic as before, with the same result. Aramil dodging, making a quip, but this time Ryo anticipated the hit and moved out of the way. "Well hey, we learned to dodge. Nice!" Aramail said, giving Ryo a casual thumbs up. Ryo gritted his teeth. "Shut up! This doesn't make sense. I've run this through my head, so many times and it refuses to make sense!" Ryo shouted, his voice reverberating off the walls. "I was supposed to be relaxing, and instead I'm in this world fighting a shadow. A term that I have no idea how I know, and of someone whom I never met before!" Ryo said, pointing his blade at Aramail. Aramail gave a sigh. "Look, man, nothing is that simple in the end. I mean, look at what happened to me. I died, but that woman and her girl lived on and retired from adventuring. I'm sure they're still somewhere on the first floor." Aramail said, scratching his neck. "Wouldn't you have done the same?" The shadow asked, with a bit more serious tone in his voice as he attacked again.

Ryo
Health: 420/420 +8 (from battle healing)
Energy: 439/42 +1 (natural regen) -2 (from missing)
Eva: 2
Mit: 7

'Aramail' The First Demon
Health: 105/105
Dmg: 13
MIT: 2

Ryo had just enough time to roll out of the way as Aramails greatsword slapped against the ground, creating sparks that lit the cave that they were in. The cave made Ryo feel uneasy, he didn't like them not at all. He never really did, but then again only the odd people really enjoyed caves and spelunking. But now wasn't the time for that. He drew his katana and went to the blue haired swordsmen, his attack more than ready. Aramile saw Ryo's attack coming and stepped aside with unreal ease, bringing his two-handed down on him. Ryo skipped a bit, trying to regain his lost balance as Aramil made a face at him. Gritting his teeth Ryo prepared another attack. "C'Mon, I know you've got more than that in ya'!" Aramail taunted. Taunt all he wants, Ryo thought. he was nothing more than an apparition that was faster then he looked.

ID: 93720 BD: 2(miss) MD: 10 (crit, ignore evasion)

Ryo
Health: 414/420 -6 (13-7=6)
Energy: 42/42 -2 (from missing)
Eva: 2
Mit: 7

'Aramail' The First Demon
Health: 105/105
Dmg: 13
MIT: 2

The first door was almost new in quality, but the damage it sustained made it almost beyond repair. If this wasn't mystical by some nature, Ryo assumed that he could kick down the door with ease. The handle was cool to the touch, and the smell of mildew hung in the air as he opened the door.

Stepping through, his eyesight darkened as he tried to get his eyes to adjust. There were two players in front of him, a blue-haired man shirtless with blue tattoos and another woman, female holding a child it seemed. Perhaps it was a younger Calrex or someone different entirely? Ryo rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out what this all meant. Soon enough, a skeleton arrived, giving the two players a handful. It seemed like a close fight until the blue-haired player tossed aside his greatsword and dove in front of the skeletons attack, sacrificing himself in the process. The man erupted into pixels, and the woman finished the skeleton with her next blow. She left the cave, leaving Ryo in a confused stupor.

"Yeah, she was a good woman. A bit misplaced thou." A voice said next to him. Ryo nearly lept from his skin, grabbing his katana. "Whoa, buddy. Take it easy, will ya'? We don't have to fight just yet." The voice said. As it approached, the shape became more clear. It was the man who had died from the scene before, but how? Why? "Look, I know you're confused and I wish I could explain." The man said, his yellow eyes glowing eerily in the dark. "But I can't just yet, so instead I'll tell you who I was."

"My name is Aramail. Or Chris in the real world. I joined SAO because I thought it was going to be a fun experience. Then, I ended up sacrificing myself to save a woman and her daughter. Funny how that works, huh?" The man said with a chuckle.

"This makes no sense," Ryo said, shaking his head. "I was told I had to face myself, but who are you to me?" Ryo asked the shadow in front of him. And for a brief moment, he thought as to how he knew that.

"It'll all make sense soon, I promise. But first..." Aramail said, drawing out a greatsword. "We gotta do this!" He said, rushing at Ryo.

'Aramail' The First Demon's Stats
HP: 105 (420/4)
Damage per Attack: 13 (54/4)
Mitigation: 2 (9/4)

Ryo sat for what felt like hours, and with each one he didn't feel any better. What good was this place, if it didn't work. Ryo opened eyes, expecting the world to be as he left it but it was different. He took in an audible gasp and stood from his rock. Fog covered his sight, for as far as the eye can see, fog so thick that it cut his vision to barely. Ryo squinted, noticing something move in the distance. Ryo took the plunge, stepping on the rocks as each one appeared back into his sight as he jumped. Making his way back to shore, he saw the figure move again. Ryo equipped his katana and chased after the movement expecting to find some sort of creature.

Ryo got what he wanted, but not what he expected. As he entered a small clearing the small figure perched up against a door. There were four doors by his count, and if he turned around a fifth. 'What is all of this? Some sort of, a hallucination?' Ryo's thought to himself. He gripped his katana's handle when he heard the dark shadow creature speak.

'Hallucination? No, this is very much reality. Well, as real as your mind makes it be.' The voice came from the creature, but there were no moving parts to indicate it's speech, or what it was speaking with.

'The doors hold the answers you want, just step through them and face yourself.' And the shadow creature disappeared. If the four doors in front of him were to be his challenge, then the door behind him was the exit.

Ryo checked his supplies and went through the first door...

Ryo's Stats

Ryo's body faded into existence as he teleported into the sixth floor. He wasn't feeling himself all that well. Teion had all but ignored his message, his recent conversation with Jomei revealed more about himself then he wanted, and training on the side was starting to take its toll on his mind. All of it was so stressful, balancing his side hobbies with his job and with his training. He let out a sigh as he made his way through the crowd to his destination. Shoulders checked into his, but Ryo paid no mind to them. He had much better things to do today, he couldn't falter in them either.

He made his way past the crowd and into the wilderness, hoping no one was currently using it. After a few moments of cutting through jungle and forest, he finally laid eyes on his prize. A large waterfall stood before him, depositing into a small lake. Stepping stones were laid out in front of him from the water's edge to the base of the waterfall. As he got closer, the algae and moss made the rock more slippery than the last. Making it to the final rock in the chain, and the base of the waterfall Ryo sat down, his pants absorbing the water left by the waterfalls powerful torrents. And Ryo closed his eyes...

Name: Ryo
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 1
Roll ID: 93718
Roll Result: 11
Item Type: Snack
Tier: 1
Quality: Rare
Enhancements: Vitality | Vitality
Description: A bitter piece of Dark Chocolate. Can be eaten to restore health. Restores 4 HP.
Post Link: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/15828-f-11-junes-food-court/?do=findComment&comment=535178

Current Stock

Tier 1

Tier 2

Tier 3

Tier 4

Feasts

Experience
83/159

Current Rank and Title
Rank 4 - Experienced Cook: Able to craft Tier 4 food. 5 crafts per day

Rolls and Experience Table
CD:
[1] = Critical Fail (Lose materials)
[2-3] = Fail (Lose materials)
[4-6] = Salvage (Keep materials on LD 11+)
[7-9] = Uncommon item (1 slot)
[10-11] = Rare item (2 slots)
[12] = Perfect item (3 slots)

LD:
[1-15] = No additional items.
[16-20] = Yields 1 additional item.

Photo Credits: Sumiya Pleasure House

Upon floor eleven there stands out an odd building in Taft, the signage marking a restaurant of all things. Despite the floor being entirely a fantasy version of medieval England, the exterior of the building has been modified to look like a feudal Japanese building. A bright red awning standing out among the vibrant white of the bricks. The building seems to be avoided by NPC's, not part of their programmed walking paths. Meaning this odd building out is player owned. The smell when you get closer is delectable, and as you approach you see the door has been retrofitted with a sliding wood door which stands open. Stepping in you meet a small counter adorned with a small hand bell. -Ring for Service-. Behind the counter is a doorway, which would lead into the main kitchen. The counter extends around to the side creating a 'L' shape with several stools in paper booths. Hungry, you ring the bell. A few seconds pass before a man with long violet hair steps out from the kitchen, wiping his hands with a cloth. "Aha~ Welcome. What can I do for you today?"  He places the rag into a pocket on the apron he's wearing. His violet hair tied away in a tight bun, a loose strand of hair invading his face as he smiles at you. Asking to see the menu, he happily takes a small piece of paper and hands it to you. Prompting you to take a seat around the corner, he ushers you in. "Please, have a seat. Take your time, and order when you're ready." He says, before giving a bow and heading back around to the kitchen.

You look at the menu...

On the other side of the menu pamphlet, you find...

Name: Ryo
Your Profession: Cook
Your Rank: 3
Roll ID: (leave this blank)
Roll Result: (also leave this blank
Item Type: (What food item you want)
Tier: (What tier the food is)
Quality: (Number of enhancement slots)
Enhancements: (What you want your food to do)
Description: (what you want your food, to....food.)
Post Link: (leave this empty)

Ryo nodded. "Cats are cute." He said, affirming her response. So cats, and designing characters. Ryo could work with that, how he didn't know just yet. But he'd come up with something, not like he would forget anything like that. He told himself, shoving the information into the back of his mind. "I'm a cat person too, but I've never owned one. Mom's allergic." Ryo said, telling Teion of his home life. Or was that getting too personal? He rubbed the back of his neck, thinking of what else he could say. He didn't want the entire walk to be in silence, he wanted to keep talking. But he was running out of things to talk about, and Teion was no help in the latter. She wasn't asking questions in the slightest. Who meets a stranger, and then decides that they're cool enough to take to dinner with the day off? Ryo's head spun, unable to think anymore. "If it's not too much for me to ask, but what was Beatbox like?" Ryo asked, unable to think of anything else to talk about. Having never met the man he wanted to know more about him. Despite him being dead, he shared something special with Teion, and Beatbox was a key member in the frontlines until his death.

Ryo let out a sigh of relief as Jomei backed away, the beads of sweat fading away. Thank goodness he didn't pressure further. Ryo wasn't sure if he could keep his composure around  Jomei if he kept pressing the situation. He didn't know how strong Jomei currently was, but there was no need to find out how strong. At least for now. "Right, so this is the part where I would say 'back to my questions' but I'm afraid that was all of them really." Ryo said, admitting the truth. "But if you have any for me I'm more than willing to answer your questions." Ryo said to Jomei leaning back into his own chair. It was a courtesy to answer Jomeis questions as best he could, after all, Jomei did answer his. And he was sure that Jomei would just be asking about how he knew this or how he knew that, which were all easily answered.