H3LL0

'Okay, last find was just so bad that it makes me want to destroy this cave.' He thought.

He continued to make his way through the dark cave, proceeding slowly, and carefully. 

'This is useless, and definetly a drag.' He thought. He gave out a long sigh, a loud one at that, then he started to head for the exit of the cave. On his way, he tripped upon a pile of bones, it may have been dark but he recognized that it was from a human skeleton. Ell fell down and went face to face with his reflection on a shield, forgetting about the dead body.

"Jackpot!" He nearly screamed. He added it to his inventory, stood up, and continued his walk. At the mouth of the cave, Ell was relieved that he finally got to get out of it, but then, he found himself face to face with a bear of long fangs, and yellow fur. Ell took out his weapon and was ready for battle.

H3LL0

Feral Pooh

Getting killed while grinding? Just what kind of mob does this guy grind? Ell thought. Normally, in the other game he played, Ell prefered to grind monsters who were at least 3 levels lower than him, that way it was fast and less dangerous.

He punched the rock as he listened to Hei, giving it one punch for every word that Hei said. He said something about how the hermit had an interesting AI, and that she knew alot of facts about Aincrad. "Oh yeah? Then would you mind telling me one of those facts she told you?" Ell hoped that he was going to say something he didn't already know.

As Ell continued to punch the rock, he noticed that he was not dealing mch damage anymore. 

'Hmm... Must be because I am already tired or I am not exerting that much effort as I did a while ago' He thought.

@Hei

"Thanks, Simba." Ell was getting comfortable around  Simba, perhaps this improvement may boost their chances of winning a battle with good communication because it was something that Ell lacked when he is partied up with strangers whom he do not know how to interact with. Soon enough, they reached the cave where they had to save a little girl from monsters. 

Ben charged onto two bats who were trying to get to the girl, but since it was dark, all three of them missed their attacks.

"Alright let's go!" Ell said as he charged onto one of the Giant Bats. He attacked with the Sword Art Side Bite, expecting to stun his target.

Ell went to flank one of the bats, and tried to stab it. Sadly, the bat moved alot and were pretty agile, this made him have a hard time of hitting them and the dark place they were in did not give him much luck either.

"Well this is gonna be fun." He said sarcastically.

@Simba @Benjamin Bookworm

Ell made his way outside the store, and walked in circles as he tried to absorb what just happened.

'What the hell was that? A kid -no -an NPC offering me a skill? Well that is what it looks like. What was it again? Merchant?'

Then he continued to venture towards the exit of the town. "Alright, just three items, I'll be back soon enough." Ell said talking to himself.

He continued his way to the forest. Keeping a sharp eye for items and unwanted monsters. He looked far and wide for an item so he could bring it back to Billy. When he looked inside a cave, through a small hole, he finally found one.

Ell found a potion, though it was named as an 'Unidentified Consumable'. He tapped the item, and sent it to his inventory. He let out a sigh and reached inside the hole for more items, but he found none. He searched deeper in the cave, in every crack, in every hole he sees, for another item to bring back to Billy.

"Hey you wanna learn how to cheat the sy- I mean make good sales? Follow me." 

Ell looked up and saw a child standing in front of him. He was around the age of 12 or 13, but he was quite mature. The child beckoned Ell forward, he was always okay with children that he trusted them always often. Like Yinangi for example. Ell followed the child quietly to a small store beside an inn. He followed him to the back where items were littered everywhere he looked.

"If you really want to learn how to be a Merchant, you have to be crafty and smart for this. You best know what you are doing. I'll show you how to identify an it- No! I'm all out."

Ell finally looked at the NPC’s name

‘Billy’

Billy pouted, grinned, then turned to Ell and said:

"Go get me some more, around 3, so I can show you how to do this." The kid pouted again and crossed his arms.

Ell was feeling good today, he walked around the Town of Beginnings instead of having a nap for a change. He then heard his stomach growl. 

“Of course, I get hungry, I guess taking a nap was a better idea, what a drag, well I guess I’m going to have to get myself a good snack just for today.”

He passed by a local who was selling sandwhiches for a set amount of col. His mouth watered.

I can’t even remember what those taste like, well assuming they taste the same as the ones in the real- wait, these ones are made with this world’s ingredients, so maybe it’s better. Ell thought.

Ell sadly ended up buying another stale bread. He did not want to spend more than he needed, he barely had enough Col left and he wanted to use them to but better items.

What a drag, this is such a stupid game. 

Ell listened to Simba’s opinion on letting the little girl die. He too was curious about what would happen if the girl dies, in some of the games he played, it was a restart. Ell gave Simba a nod then turned to Ben who was saying his opinion. Ben then asked if anyone needed something

“I’m good.” Ell said as he declined Ben’s offer for more potions and buffs. 

“This is enough.” He said as he took out the potion  Ben gave him and drank it. Ell looked at his stats. He noticed that his Damage stat went up. 

Well that is great. This quest should be finish soon enough. But speaking of stats... 

Ell proceeded to look at the stats of his teammates. 

Okay so we are all offensive. I have like zero mitigation, Ben has some, and Simba... this guy has to go front. But...

”I’m just a low level scrub, what the hell am I even doing here, what a drag.”

Ell listened to Hei as he explained what he had done to understand the NerveGear and Sword Art Online better.

Woah so this guy is so intelligent... Or maybe he is just hardworking and dedicated, or both! Either way we are opposites. Ell thought.

Hei told him to live his life in SAO the best he can and asked what Ell had been doing lately.

"Well, just you know, the normal grind stuff, accepting random invites, buying new items..." He said as he cracked his knuckles preparing to punch the rock. 

"You know, I am just curious..."  Ell started as he walked away from the rock and tried a new way of attacking the rock.

I wonder if a doing a running start would do the job. Then he started to charge at it.

Ell hit the rock with all his might in one punch. They finally half-lifed the rock, the crack Hei made widened.

"You seem to have met Yonaga before, exactly how many times have you done this quest?"

He turned to Hei to listen.

"You seem to know her well."

@Hei

“Ell. L-likewise. ” He replied nervously. He did not know Simba, nor had he heard of him.

But if he is a friend of Ben’s well I guess he is one of the friendly types too. He thought.

The player who introduced himself as Simba gave him a party invite. Knowing that this going to be his first time doing a quest in a party, he accepted the invitation in a second. “Th-thanks” He told Simba.

Ben welcomed him to the party and handed him a potion. He said that it was needed for the “nasties” in the cave. He took the potion as Ben started to walk. He rushed over ti Ben and whispered to him:

”I’m guessing this the save the girl in the cave quest, but did you ever think of letting that girl die? She is an NPC anyways, wouldn’t she just respawn? But either way we still need the rewards, so never mind.”

@Benjamin Bookworm @Simba

place hold

Ell was walking around the Town of Beginnings, he tried to remember what good quests to take in order to get better at the game as he approached a bench and started to seat down. Before his bottom reached his seat, he received a message and the "ping" that came with it made him stand back up.

Benjamin Bookworm, I don’t remember anyo- Oh! Scarf guy Ben! Yup that has to be this guy. A quest huh? Well I do need to level up so I guess... no, I wish this would not be a drag. He thought.

He went to the center of the Town of Beginnings and teleported to the Second floor. The medieval themed floor always did interested him.

”This never gets old.” He said out loud. He opened up his friends list and tracked down Ben.

Not before long, he finally saw Ben, an NPC, and another player who he did not know. He went to Ben who was taking potions and said: 

“What’s up?”

@Benjamin Bookworm @Simba

(OOC: I drank the DMG+ Potion... was that allowed?)

Ell watched as Hei combo hit the rock. Unlike Ell, Hei did multiple punches and kicks while at the same time dealing alot of damage.

Well doing those things are too much of a drag, but if that makes things much easier then what is there to lose? He thought. 

He took a deep long breath and then he exhaled. 

Okay, let us see if more Damage per Second deals alot more Damage than a concentrated one hit burst... Yeah! Game Science!

He the  tried to do the same things Hei did, at least what he remembered. He did some random punches and kicks like those he saw from the movies, or those from the other games he played. But in the end, he seemed to do no damage.

”But we don’t know the truth for sure do we? We don’t even know if time flows the same in here, I mean this just a game in my mind, you might not even exist and just a part of the game, might... But in the end none of those really matter.” He sighed.

@Hei

Ell walked around the Town of Beginnings looking for an Artisan. Good thing he knew one. 

Okay, so the guy is named Domarus, and he is from that Soviet Union guild... And the shop I am looking for is... What was it again? Stoned Painters? He thought.

Then as if on cue, he passed by a shop by the name of Painter Stones, he headed for the entrance and said:

"Oh, Painter Stones it is. Here is to good luck for me" Ell made his way inside the shop. There were alot of things inside, but one item piqued his interest, a wonderful ring that looks like it had the whole universe in it. 

Wow this guy is splendid. He thought. If he could make things like that then my order would probably be possible to make.

He walked up the counter and presented his order by sending a message.

"Uhhmm... Here." He said as he tapped the "sent" button. 

"Uhhh... Do I pay now? Or when I get my necklace?" Ell said nervously and unsurely, he wanted to get this over with fast because the dragon was starting to creep him out.

"Well of course you can't, but..." Ell stood back up and had a stretch. He went at the rock again, concentrating on his footing this time. He attacked with a right hook, it took longer than he expected for his fist to hit the rock. He hit the very edge of the rock, nearly missing it by an inch.

Good thing this one doesn't move, I would have obviously missed that if it did. He thought.

Then he hammered the rock with his left dealing damage to it.

"Honestly, I am not good at starting friendly conversations, but... It would be drag if we just punch this rock in silence, kinda seems..." He paused, he wanted to say 'like you regret being here' but he himself knew that that wasn't true

I think...

"So anyways, here is a question, did you really believe what uhh... what is his name? the big cloak guy? He said that if we die in the game, we die in real life. I mean if he already did trap us, there is no reason to believe every word he says, right?"

@Hei

"And this is why newbs should just learn to shut their mouths." Ell said as he eyed Outlander

Oh well, look's like proud over confident a**es like this one always find a way to sneak inside a wonderful game. He thought.

Ell started to walk away from Outlander.

"I would stop now if I were you, getting a bad reputation for any just sucks in my opinion... Unless of course that is what you want and you just don't give a f**k." He sighed as he went back to Froppy's side, he turned to Froppy and said,

"If you have the slightest care of our little team mate there feel free to go, I just wanted you to know that I thought that the three of us would be a start of a great friendship, but sadly, things changed when you know..." 

Ell paused as he clenched his fist.

"Telling a twelve year old to commit suicide? I don't think I want to be with someone like that."

@Outlander @Froppy

Ell received a message from Nova. He tapped the notification and read it. 

"About friggin time. Wonder what her team's score is, or what the score of the other teams are." 

He said as he walked way behind Dazia, Yinangi, and Tsu, careful of not losing sight of them for he does not know the way back.

Ell looked around for more materials to gather. He was anxious that they still had a few, as a former smurf, Ell wanted to always win his games.

"Just in Case..." 

ID: 95909 Result: LD: 15 -Success

Ell found a seven leafed clover. He first put it near his face and stared at it before adding it to his inventory.

"Nice. Now that is a good sign." He said as he stood up and continued to follow the three girls.

When Ell finally reached the meeting place, he gave the clover to Tsu.

"That is a plus one." 

He then looked for Outlander, who was one of his team mates. He found him lying on the grass, Ell walked over to him and asked,

"Where the hell have you been?"

@Froppy @Outlander

Ell was munching on some cookies when a young girl approached him.

”Hiya! How are you today?”

Ell knew whose voice was that, a voice as annoying as her’s was hard to forget.

”Hey Yinangi, it is me Ell.” He said as he took off his mask, tossing another cookie into his mouth.

Wait a minute, what the hell is a kid doing in a place like this alone? Well Fae has her escorts but where  is...

“Hey! Dazia! Over here! Talk to someone for once! You might even have a shot at something!”

“Shot at something?” Ell concluded that Yinangi might be looking for a date for Dazia.

”Oh no, no, not me... But scarf-guy right here is perfectly into it. Ain’t that right Ben?” 

He said as he munched on another cookie with a grin.

@Dazia @Benjamin Bookworm

It was minutes later when they finally reached the dark part of the forest. It was a place lime something straight out of a horror movie, a haunted forest.

”Right, first thing, first. Where do we find an undead treant?” Ell said as he hopped over a tree’s root.

”Hey Ezra you are you listening?” 

When he turned around he saw that Ezra was being carried by a branch. 

Undead Treant

"You have got to be kidding me" 

Ezra was screaming, but the treant's branch was covering her mouth. Ell heard a muffled "Help me!" From her. 

“Why does it have to be you who geys taken?!” Ell complained.

He took out his Golden Sun Dagger and charged in for an attack. 

One fight after another, I wonder if I can still win this game with zero deaths.

“Wait, that’s allowed huh...” Ell said to himself as he looked down, trying to search for materials at the same time.

ID: 95761 Result: LD =2

He then looked at Yinnagi, then his eyes shifted to Dazia and made his way to her. He walked slowly and cautiously, he felt deadly intent in the air, though he did not know from whom it was from, he would be cautious and doubt everybody around him.

“Wow there sure are alot of fights today, it sure is such a drag that none of them end, you people just love cliffhangers do you.” Ell said to everybody near him.

And then he approached Dazia and talked to her in a serious tone half-whispering.

”So I heard of your story from the kid, she told me that you killed that gal’s cousin, tell me then, why didn’t you cancel the duel? Such an unfortunate end.”

Ell’a tone then went back to normal...

”O-oh no. Maam please do ignore me, I am sorry if I have offended you and tried to peer in your life... Please do not think bad of me.”

He said as as he bowed

(OOC: Plot Twist was cool, commended for professional a**hole)

Ell followed Hei wherever he went. Through a valley, up a mountain and towards a hut. As they walked towards the hut, Hei pointed out the stone that he would break in order to earn the skill.

”That is enormous. Now I don’t know if I wanna continue or not.”

When they reached the hut, Hei greeted an NPC who seemed to be named Yonaga. She told Ell about what was the goal for the quest and painted whiskers on his face. Ell struggled and tried to shake her off but she was too tough and too fast for him to do so. 

“Hmph! Some rock ain’t gonna stop me from getting what I want.” He said.

“Well I’d like to see you try, skinny.” Yonaga replied.

Ell equipped the hand wraps Hei lent to him, and drank one of the potions he had brought for the trip. The hand wraps grew covering his forearm. 

Wow, I wonder if I could buy these, or something like these

”I always come ready, these aren’t prohibited right? I mean you didn’t say such. But it’s too late to stop me now!” Ell said as he hit the rock.

Ell lost his footing, slips and hits his face on the ground. He rolled over, lied down, and looked at the sky. 

"What a drag, get me out of this game..." He said with a beet red face and mumbled a lot of insults mostly stating how stupid he is.

Stats:

@Hei

“Never mind, Found it” Ell said  as he ran towards a table full of food. Cake, cookies, chocolates, and some other sweets were on it. “Heaven... It’s been a long time since my tongue tasted such treasure. I am so thankful I went here.” he said as he approached table a little more closer. He eyes the sweets with awe. He made a little ennie minnie moe on the different kind of food.

“So which one fir-“ Ell said as his finger stopped pointing at the cookies. Ell grabbed a plate, approached the rack, and took one.

“This better be tastier than Stale bread.”

He halved the cookie. He made a small bite at the half before inhaling the half.

“Mmm... that’s... mmm” 

He put the other half on his plate, Took the cookie container and left a plate with half a cookie on the table.

He started to walk back to where he left Ben, munching a cookie on one hand, and holding the container in the other.

@Benjamin Bookworm

"Uh huh, uh huh, party is good... came here to watch, yup to watch the contest... a drag yes I agree..." Ell said as Ben spoke while also looking at the cake with his mouth watering.

I have been eating stale bread all the time, I forgot what cake taste like, I guess being cheap have their down sides, but what can I do? Ell thought.

"So! Ugh... food, ugh... where did you get-" Ell heard a voice through the entire room, "Miss Fae, the princess of the new Dawn!"

When he looked for who the speaker was he recognized that it was Hei, introducing someone who obviously must be named Fae.

"And there are those types of people -royalty. A guild huh? You ever thought which one you would want to join? Or if you want to start one? And... Cake, where did you get some?"

Ell said as he continued to eye both the players of New Dawn around Fae, and the slice of cake Ben had.

@Benjamin Bookworm

"This is so wrong." Ell told himself as he equipped his suit and tie on and off repeatedly. He had been doing that, thinking about whether he had to attend the ball or not, for the past five minutes. 

I might just stick out. Sure, alot of people I know are attending the ball but I surely am not friends with anybody, yet, or ever. I didn't even bring a date, but I'm not attending the contest so... Ell thought as he unequipped his suit and tie.

He started to walk away, but then he quickly removed his glasses and equipped his suit and tie back along with his black mask lined with golden linen at its rim. "But free luxurious food might be inside, so might as well take the advantage." Ell said as he walked his way inside the building.

"Don't stick out, don't stick out, just find food, eat, and waltz away to the exit as if nothing happened because nobody knows who you are." He muttered to himself as he desperately looked for food when he suddenly bumped shoulder with a stranger.

"What a drag, sor-" He turned around to say sorry but stopped when he recognised the scarf that the person wore.

"Hey you're that scarf guy... Uhhh... Ban right?" 

@Benjamin Bookworm

“Finally, somebody who can put up a fight.” Ell said observing his buffs

So no Savvy this time huh, doesn’t matter, I can hit you as easy as pie any time.

"This should take care of you! My other sword art, Side bite, or not!" 

Guess I don't have the enough energy to perform it. 

"Round Accel once more!"

"Hyaaaaaahh!" Ell screamed as he charged at the Death Stinger. It too went for an attack at Ell but Ell was faster. He slashed the Death Stinger two times with his glowing dagger before it died.

Ell sighed as he looked at Ezra who had her back turned.

"Let us go, we still have none of the ingredients."

"What? No are you alright? Or maybe just a simple congratulations?" Ell replied as he followed her deeper in the woods.

Ezra ignored him, he might have got her worried for a second there but she was relieved that he was safe.

"Ready? I was already ready when I sent you that message." Ell said as he walked down the rim of the crater.

"A hermit huh? I bet he is one of those wise and strong monk looking kind of guys, since he is going to give me the martial arts skill. Oh cool look at that!" 

He then made his way to a crystal sticking out one of the tablelands he tried to pull it out.

ID: 95598 Result: LD =6 -Fail

Oh I forgot, I suck at this

"Uh oh, guess I am just wasting time, maybe I will save the exploring and stuff after we finish the quest. Sorry in advance but..." Ell made a short pause before continuing

”I know what we are going to break rocks, but I have no idea where... so uhh... please lead the way... I guess?”