Kataware

Kataware looked over to Eatos with a concerned look. She hadn’t even bothered to ask how strong Eatos was, but obviously the slow progression of the frontlines was getting to her. To be fair, it’s been getting to a lot of people. Kataware scooped up a ball of snow and proceeded to throw it as far as she could. “You’re included in that you know,” Kataware muttered underneath her breath, the words seemingly crystallizing and turning into frost.

The next words she spoke were more clear and defined as she raised the volume of her voice.  “More than just one way to help everyone, not just fighting the floor bosses.” Kataware ran through her mind, remembering all of the plans she had laid out in the time she had spent actively gathering information. Hopefully these two years weren’t a mistake. “I know of a few ways to help everyone, and I mean everyone, as I am right now. A profession for equipment, both people seeking to start and the veterans. A scout for the frontlines, but I don’t have to necessarily fight.” Kataware flipped through the pages of her mental notebook, making sure she had some feasible ideas in her mind. Otherwise, she ignored the theorized ideas, understanding that putting them in practice was much easier said than done.

“Also, never said I’d always be a solo player. Just, haven’t bothered actively looking for a guild. Either you gotta know someone in there, or you gotta get recruited some other way.” Kataware held up the tattered flyer. “Who knows? I might’ve joined these guys if they were fine.”

It was then the girl known as Amethyst got up and excused herself, explaining that she forgot that she had arranged some other plans. The girl with the long blue hair strided towards a crowd of people and was then swept away.

Kataware was skeptical that Amethyst had plans. Of course, Amethyst might have just been an early-starter, but the way she talked made her think that her plans were somewhere set in the future, rather than so early into this game. The word ‘eventually’ rang in her mind. However, she looked back at Tohru, or rather Fayetta. “I haven’t been outside at all, nor worked on levelling up yet. I’m trying to get a lay of the land. I bought this game to take in different sights, so I wasn’t prepared for this type of thing to happen.” Kataware turned towards the plaza where the announcement took place, remembering the blood that oozed out of the sky and the man in robes telling them that the only escape was by clearing all of Aincrad. “But I guess none of us were.”

Kataware pushed those thoughts away. The circumstances she found herself in were uncontrollable, something that she would just have to deal with as time went on. She knew that are her current state, that she was weak. With little to no items other than what she started out with and the few measly skill points, she had nothing else to her name. Weakness is only temporary. It only lasts as long as you can’t find your strengths. Kataware turned towards Tohru and gave him a small smile in return. “If you really want to do that, I’ll go with you. Safety in numbers, but in this moment, is that is what you really want to do?”

@Fayetta

That was a question she never understood. She always believed that she would be ultimately forgotten in the test of time, almost all people were. However, her philosophy was always to impact people’s lives as much as they can. A ripple effect means a strong beginning impact can mean big waves in the long run. Kataware scratched the back of Angel’s ears, her expression still icy.

“What I intend to do is to help clear this game. Paradise or not, we can’t live in here forever. The longer we stay, the more our real bodies deteriorate. The less we move within Aincrad, the more the clock does. It’s a race against time to return back to our real lives.” Kataware didn’t want to mention her plans of becoming a frontliner, very few people had what it takes, and even fewer people survived. “So, I see myself helping people, one way or another.”

Kataware’s soft smile grew as she saw Eatos get pushed down by Angel. “Well, that’s what I hope to do. Surprise people.” The silence was accentuated by the sound of the sighing wind cutting through the area. Kataware dropped her smile, taking on a more serious tone. Her voice and her expression grew more cold as she sighed as well. “Well, hoping isn’t the correct word.” Kataware knelt down to Angel and pet the husky, feeling its warm, double-fur coat.

“Hoping would mean I’m wishing for something to happen, but that’s almost as foolish as expecting for Aincrad to be cleared tomorrow.” Kataware turned towards Eatos and stared into her eyes blankly. “Planning. I wasn’t expecting to meet anyone here. Plus, it’s a lot like the First Floor in my opinion. A bright red cursor would be easy to see in this white winter wonderland. Though, the green matches the spruce and pine trees much more closely.” She did have to admit, that this wasn’t her first thought when she exited the inn, the realization came to her now. A bright red cursor against the snow, it’s like a sore thumb sticking out.

“Hm?” Kataware didn’t understand Eatos’ question at first, probably because she had made the reason she came to Frostbite Lake a bit more ambiguous than she thought it by only showing the flyer. “Ah, the flyer?” However, as Kataware thought of a response, she realized that she didn’t have a good reason to be looking for anyone, especially because the reason for her presence wasn’t even a good reason to begin with. This was something that was out of the ordinary for her, to be doing things on a whim without double-checking everything.

Kataware breathed in the brisk air and sadly noticed that the same feeling of fresh air entering her lungs wasn’t exactly replicated within the game. “Truth be told, I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here. I came here on a whim seeing that flyer. Could it have been a deliberate trap? Possibly. Am I looking for a guild?” Kataware paused, leaving that last thought unfinished. She couldn’t say that the thought never crossed her mind seeing as the copius amount of benefits that being a part of a guild could provide to her, but at the same time, she was never much of a sociable person. Kataware gave a soft smile and turned to Eatos. “Well, not any guild in particular nor in this specific location, at least. I’m still surprised I met you.” The sound of her laughter was muffled by the snow.

“Well, none that stay sane or alive long enough at least,” Kataware responded to Eatos’ comment about no man being an island in a matter-of-fact tone. “We’re typically programmed to be sociable creatures. After all, we need someone to take care of us for the first few months of our lives. Imagine how much isolation can harm someone’s mind.” She paused for a second, took off her gloves, and scooped a ball of snow into her hands. The cold was numbing, but not unpleasant. The cold, brisk air felt refreshing and helped clear her mind. “The weather could be a lot worse. At least it feels nice.”

Eatos then asked how she knew it wasn’t from a player killer guild or a trap. However, truth be told, Kataware didn’t have much thought behind it. “I saw the paper was tattered, torn, and old. Either someone was really deliberate, or this was a relic from a while ago.” Kataware chose not to mention the fact that she also forgot that this area was not a safe zone. That type of mistake seemed critical to her, now, and could have possibly been fatal. I’ll have to keep a comprehensive list of each floor and the safe zones now to prevent the possibility.

“Well, Eatos, I suppose it isn’t at all bad having a companion watch over you. After all, everyone needs someone to watch their back,” Kataware said as she watched Angel run after the ball. I could use someone to watch my back, too. Kataware struggled to not say that aloud because she was afraid of the implications it might give Eatos. Kataware didn’t desire to be pitied or given ultimate protection like all players still stuck inside the Town of Beginnings have been receiving from the frontliners, she cared about being seen as a person with potential worth. After all, networking would probably be an important part if she really wanted to be successful and if she was seen as weak, what purpose would she have on the frontline in the first place?

“Well, the reason I’m here is… Ah, better for me to show you.” Kataware gingerly pulled out the flyer from within her parka with the words ‘meet at Frostbite Lake’ inscribed onto it. “I saw this and decided on a whim and seeing as how I hear that the sights are beautiful why not come here?”

Kataware watched the familiar’s owner walk towards them and told Angel to calm down. Afterwards, Angel started acting like a puppy and appeared to be happy to be with its owner, even wagging its tail a ton. Kataware’s lip turned upwards into a small smile. Of course. Some people would enjoy having something like a pet.

Soon afterwards, the player inquired about Kataware’s name. She cleared her throat (a gesture that seemed to only have a social purpose as none of them in this virtual world really had a throat that could have something lodged within it) and responded. “My name’s Kataware.” Kataware took off the hood of her parka letting her straight, chestnut-brown hair fall below her shoulders and extended her hand out to offer a handshake. “Thanks for that, I wasn’t sure what to do in that type of situation. I wasn’t prepared to meet someone here. I usually hear that no one is here in the first place.”

@Eatos

Kataware jumped as the sound of crunching snow snapped her out of her train of thought. Looking towards the source of the sound, she saw a green ball quickly roll to a stop. However, something else caught the corner of her eye. A huge, blue-eyed husky came hurtling towards at her and she reflexively took a step back and lost her balance. Her green parka’s backside was now covered in snow. When the husky reached the ball’s location, it looked up to find Kataware.

The husky barked once towards Kataware as she started to get up and brush the snow from her parka. She then realized a possibly fatal mistake when it came to this location. This isn’t a safe zone. Kataware was about ready to run, thinking that the husky was a mob, but then later realized that the husky had a yellow cursor above its head indicating that it was either a non-aggressive mob or a familiar. It was then that she deduced that this must be a player’s familiar, mainly because of the green ball that the husky was probably chasing after. Kataware looked around her surroundings trying to find the husky’s owner and it didn’t take her long to find the telltale green cursor indicating the location of another player. “Excuse me,” Kataware yelled out. “Is this your familiar?”

Kataware finally found her response after the short moment of silence. “Both you and I know that isn’t the case.” She knew that the more she spent time with the Gemini was more time that she was playing Devil’s Advocate with herself, so she planned to prolong it as long as possible. To her, this was quite entertaining because she had the opportunity to learn more information from the exact opposite perspective, especially if it meant that she might learn something new.

However, the Gemini simply wasn’t having it. Its amusement quickly turned to anger. Its voice took on a tone that Kataware never heard herself take on. Her usually indifferent and rational mindset didn’t have much space for anger or anything past mild sorrow. The Gemini slammed the ground and yelled out causing Kataware to jump back slightly. “Do you think you’re so cool, acting as if you know everything?”

The Gemini’s facial expression changed from one of annoyance to confusion. Then it changed from confusion to amusement. And then it started laughing. “Are you- do you really think that just because I look like you that I should earn some special treatment?”

Kataware was surprised to hear it laugh. It had been a while since she had a hearty laugh herself, especially since she was never one to laugh out loud. Even in the real world, her outward expression of amusement was usually limited to smiling or chuckling. So to Kataware, the Gemini’s laugh seemed alien. However, it gleaned some valuable information to Kataware. She thought that this was probably the case, but she wanted to somehow confirm it anyways. The Gemini’s apparent personality was nowhere near Kataware. In fact, it seemed like they were opposites.

Kataware was more reserved, the Gemini was more expressive. Kataware was patient and willing to wait for the opportunity to present itself, while the Gemini made the opportunity for itself. Kataware was more observant while the Gemini, quite obviously after attacking Kataware’s armor to their detriment twice, was impulsive. Just like a mirror image, it looks exactly the same but is still my opposite.

“Why won’t you finish it already?” The Gemini’s voice, although previously masked, was clearly imitating her own. It was on the ground in the same vulnerable position that it landed in once it was defeated. “I know you could have done it just a second, and easily too. Why won’t you?”

Kataware saw the way she was holding the dagger. Although she had never wielded the dagger before, she had instinctively used the same reverse/edge out grip that the Gemini had used. Kataware pulled her hand back to her right hip and holstered the dagger. She sat down, cross-legged, facing the Gemini who was still on the ground.

“Why, why do you insist on doing this? Why do you not deal the finishing blow?”

Kataware played with the foliage surrounding them. She picked up a few leaves and, like she used to, began to take apart the leaf section-by-section, vein-by-vein. When she spoke, her voice was indifferent and seemed to lack any emotion. “I’m still trying to figure out whether to treat you just like another obstacle within this video game, or if I should give you some discretion.”

<<Kataware regains energy. Kataware goes from 1 EN to 2 EN.>>

<<Kataware regenerates health. Kataware goes from 18 HP to 20 HP.>>

Just as soon as Kataware had sliced off the cloak and was finally able to see the Gemini for the first time. She wasn’t too surprised at the appearance of the Gemini, seeing as how she had already clued in that it was the twin. Despite the lack of initial shock, Kataware needed to remind herself that this was simply another program within Aincrad as she had a fleeting thought of being her own worst enemy at this current point in time. It’s nothing but another AI in this death game.

The Gemini leaped forwards once again and swiftly transitioned from the forward/hammer grip to a revere/edge out grip and slashed at where Kataware’s abdomen would be behind the armor. However, much like before, most of the damage was dispersed by the armor and, instead, damaged the Gemini who fell on the ground limp. However, unlike the usual way most mobs and players would fracture into crystals and disappear upon defeat, Kataware noticed that the Gemini was apparently a deviant in this aspect. Why is it still here?

ID: 103988 || MD: 9

<<Kataware regains energy. Kataware goes from 0 EN to 1 EN.>>

<<Gemini attacks Kataware for 6 DMG. After reductions, Kataware is reduced from 19 HP to 18 HP .>>

<<Kataware’s Thorns activates. Kataware deals 9 DMG to Gemini, ignoring MIT. Gemini’s HP is reduced from 1 HP to 1 HP.>>

Kataware was caught unaware as the cloak landed on her head, blocking her view from the Gemini in front of her. Her mirror image took this opportunity to dash forwards while holding the normal dagger in a forward/hammer grip. Still facing Kataware face-to-face, or rather face-to-cloak, the Gemini thrust the dagger through Kataware’s right side.

Although the Gemini’s execution was near flawless and did tear into the cloak quite easily, the dagger only met metal and did not deal nearly as much damage as the Gemini had intended. In fact, Kataware distinctly felt the Gemini recoil after taking damage from the <<Thorns>> enhancement on her armor. I guess it paid off after all.

While fumbling around with the cloak in an attempt to get the cloak off of her head as quickly as possible, she swung her dagger blindly to cut off sizable chunks of the fabric. As they fell around her, Kataware noticed that the Gemini had already backed off and appeared to be getting ready for its next attack.

ID: 103975 || MD: 9 (+ 1 = 10) || BD: 1

<<Gemini attacks Kataware with 6 DMG. After reductions, Kataware is reduced from 20 HP to 19 HP.>>

<<Kataware’s Thorns activates. Deals 9 DMG to Gemini, ignoring MIT. Gemini is reduced from 10 HP to 1 HP.>>

<<Kataware misses. Kataware is reduced from 2 EN to 0 EN.>>

<<Stats:

>>

Kataware sat inside of a tavern of the fourth floor, her still-frosty breath contrasting against the steam generated by the tea in front of her. She grabbed the mug with both of her gloved hands and brought it to her lips and sipped at the hot liquid carefully. She put down the mug, and removed the parka hood from her head and let the chestnut brown hair she usually wore in a ponytail reach just below her shoulder-blades. Kataware would quickly regret this decision as someone opened the door to the tavern and the icy wind blew her hair in her face. And this is why I usually wear it in a ponytail.

After straightening her hair, Kataware noticed a roughed-up piece of paper settle down next to her drink. It was terribly beaten and shredded, as if it was extremely old. Kataware picked it up and the paper tore itself in another part. “Just how old is this thing anyways?” The paper had some writing on it, but most of it had already faded away. Kataware was only able to make out a couple of words, “meet at Frostbite Lake.” Other than that, the text was either gone completely or undecipherable. Kataware carefully pocketed the paper in hopes of not ruining it even more, before she stepped outside of the tavern.

It took her about eight minutes to arrive at Frostbite Lake, which was just barely visible from Snowfrost as the snow fell from the sky. The mountains sure was a sight to see, as they towered above her and she wondered if there happened to be any glacial icecaps being fed from the top of the mountain. She scoffed as that thought popped into her head. “That’d be some insane detail to this death game.” Kataware started to take in the picturesque sights of the lake, mountains, and the numerous pine and spruce trees that littered the area. While doing so, a fleeting moment popped into her mind. How insane would it be if the person that wrote that note actually showed up here? I mean, that paper was so old that whatever they came here for must’ve been so long ago.

@Eatos @Stryder

<<Topic Rewards/Transactions:

>>

Kataware was oddly relaxed as the cloaked figure led her outside of the safezone. She was still a bit on edge especially as any of the mobs on this floor could almost definitely kill her, but some guy instinct led her to believe that no mobs would appear before or after this quest finished. And if there are any mobs, it shouldn’t be too difficult to avoid them. After finishing that thought, she nearly fell down after tripping on a massive tree root. Or maybe not.

It took only two minutes before the cloaked figure decided that it was a private enough location and stopped to turn around. “I guess this will do.” The part of the cloak that covered its torso parted to show Kataware’s dagger and the Spiked Pauldrons that she was wearing at the moment. With a flourish of its cloak it threw off, Kataware’s doppleganger charged towards her, brandishing the dagger and aiming with the intent to kill.

The cloaked figure, however, was deaf to Kataware’s internal thoughts. “I'm looking to test my skills. If you beat me, I'll teach you a hidden skill. What do you say?”

Kataware sighed, realizing that there was no real escape from these type of annoying occurences. I might as well just appease whoever this person is. She tried to see if the person was concealing any weapons, but she was unable to find anything. In fact, when Kataware tried to position herself towards the opening in order to see if she could identify the person, all she found was a black void staring back. She was startled as she heard the voice speak again.

“What do you say?”

However, Kataware knew something was up. Seeing as how she was still a level 1, she knew she was vulnerable to external threats especially other players although the repeated script led her to believe that the cloaked figure was something different. As a test, Kataware quipped the Spiky Pauldrons that she had recently bought from some merchant named Shield and also her starting Dagger. “Alright, alright. Let’s just go. Let’s make this quick.”

As the cloaked figure began to lead the way, presumably outside of the safe zone, Kataware looked through her game menu. Eventually, she was able to find the quest log and found something quite interesting.

<<Quest Started: The Gemini.>>

She couldn’t help but laugh a small bit as she caught up with the cloaked figure. Let’s just see how strong this twin of mine is.

For the time being, it was working. No such player was giving her any sort of trouble other than the odd guy who was happened to stop by and ask if she really was a girl. Before walking away without turning back, she answered, ”That’s a really idiotic question. If you were really wondering, I am indeed a female of the human species.” Kataware did, however, rub the bridge of her nose as she worried how some of the men in the game would react to being re-introduced to society after Aincrad was cleared. After all, it has already been two years.

Other than that sole encounter with the male player, only the Amazons bothered her with a couple of greetings. Guess Kayaba really tried to make this world seem alive. Even if it meant just having thess NPCs roam about and greet players. However, her peaceful time roaming about the city was suddenly broken by a hooded figure wearing a dark green cloak approached her as she rounded the corner. ”You look pretty strong.” Just one day by myself. Nothing to stress me out, please.

Well, he certainly wasn't lying. Kataware was looking through her game menu which took a while as she still was not well acquainted to the game. However, after the 15 minutes of the announcement, she officially concluded that there it was indeed nowhere to be seen and decided to close the menu.

Looking around, there were a lot of people who seemed confused and within shock considering the situation that suddenly befell them. "No use staying here while everyone just mulls about." Kataware decided to see if she could climb any of the buildings or if she could simply get a better view of her surroundings. Upon a quick survey of the buildings surrounding the plaza, Kataware concluded that the best course of action in this situation was go to the building at the southern entrance that also had a rooftop access.

Upon reaching the rooftop, she sat on the edge, her feet dangling three stories above the ground. "Hopefully everyone back home is doing okay."

Kataware decided to visit a place a little more rustic. However, she didn't know that it would be like this. Her expectations of the tropical rainforest of Floor 6 was dwarfed by the virtual reality of the environment around her, much like how she seemed like a speck of dust when compared to the enormous sizes of the trees. In fact, she wondered if this was Aincrad's biggest floor, at least vertically. After all, she strained to see the top of the tree, especially as the branches and leaves intertwined with other trees.

She walked around for what seemed like hours, trying to avoid any mischevious NPCs and players so she could just enjoy this moment to herself. A luxury that she seemed to have less and less of as time has gone by. Her attempts to play catch-up has left her tired. After all, she was trying to compress some of the frontliner's two years' worth of work in as short of a time as possible.

((Skills, stats, equipment, and inventory:

))

"You don't make it easy to get here, do you?" Kataware shouted as she walked through the front door of the shop and took off her thin, brown coat that she often wore when she wasn't wearing any equipment. Looking around the shop, she was trying to find something within her budget but also something that she had deemed worthy the Col. However, to her disappointment, much of what she found was way outside of her budget. There was one item that caught her eye, though. She leaned forwards to inspect the Spiky Pauldrons. They're just 500 Col, and also just spiky shoulder plates. "I'll take it off of you for 400 Col."

Kataware quickly transferred the 400 Col to the shopkeep and took off with her item.

<<400 Col transferred to Shield.>>

<<Transferred following item from Shield to Kataware:

>>

((Talked this over with Shield in Discord)).

“Are you stupid? I can’t use them as weapons. They’re not gauntlets. Plus, you’d need another skill to even punch enemies.” Kataware paused as she suddenly remembered something else as well. “Wait, how am I supposed to make use of this when I get a shield?” Kataware took off the bracers and went to find the breastplate that she had identified but noticed that the table which had her helmet and breastplate on it was empty. She then heard the shrill voice of Billy the Merchant and him cackling.

“I’m really, really sorry guys.” Billy’s words obviously betrayed by his eagerness to get back to his stand as he inched away from Ansar and Kataware while wearing a smirk on his face. “Business is business. I need to have two out of three of those identified items. I couldn’t simply wait long enough for you both, so I just took whatever was available.” Kataware noticed that Billy had her breastplate and the helmet that she identified along with two of Ansar’s items as well. As soon as Kataware reached out in an attempt to grab her items, he sprinted off.

“Come back here!” Kataware ran but was unable to find any trace of Billy or his existence. In fact, the wooden stand that Billy was manning completely disappeared as well. “Great. Now I’m stuck with these bracers.” Kataware sat on the floor where Billy’s stand used to be and put the bracers back on her forearms and sighed. Today wasn’t that great. Always the realist, Kataware simply acknowledged the fact that things could have went a lot smoother, not wishing that any of today’s outcomes would have been different.

<<Removed Kanwa and Toge Kanwa from inventory.>>

NOTE: CD Roll is not mentioned and Rank is 0 because we have to submit item evaluations for <<Earning a Living>>.

“Kataware. Though if you want to shorten it, Kat’s fine,” she responded to Tohru and Faye’s question even though she had already mentioned her username earlier. “Though, I get the feeling that we might be addressing each other as our real names more often.”

Kataware listened to Faye’s and Amethyst’s short discourse on the “right” way of playing these games. Faye appeared to believe there was a correct way to win this game and prosper, but Amethyst disagreed. Similarly, Faye appeared to doubt his ability of being able to help out in this game, while Amethyst appeared to be taking things slowly, but also rationally. “Well, I agree with both of you, but also disagree with both of you as well. There is certainly than one way to play this game, more than one way to help. It all just takes time to getting used to. However, ” Kataware leaned back in the bench and held out her hand. “there’s certainly more to be afraid than death.” Kataware certainly knew that well. More than her own safety, she was worried about her family’s well-being and their ability to cope with it. “I mean, everyone left behind a little something.”

Kataware didn’t want to mention something about Tohru’s manga. If he was to share that detail out, that might be a different thing, but she was able to draw the connection between his username and a certain character that he often drew. “Guess a lot of us got blindsided, huh?” Kataware played with her light green shirt, picking at a couple of stray threads. “Well, it’s no matter. What matters is what we do going forward.”

@Fayetta