Cordelia

She was breathing. It was painful how hard she was trying to breath, really. 

"I'm fine! Really!" She exclaimed abruptly, turning around just as Oscar rocketed away. "Oh."

Cordelia shook her head. "Breathe, breathe, breathe," she whispered, pumping herself up as she prepared another San Ge. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Cordelia surged forward, raising her katana above her head one final time. Onimaru sliced through the electric horse, setting it aflame just after Oscar had. A bright light was emitted from her katana as she drove her katana deeper into the horse.

Cordelia ripped away her katana, watching as the horse's health surged to a few points away from zero. "Wait a minute--" Cordelia squaked, feeling herself lose her mobility as a large bolt of white hot electricity striked her. 

ID: 138957
BD: 9, Crit, [+7 DMG] [BURN PROC]
21+7=28x15= 480-37= 443

[4]Oscar 1039/1110 HP | 64/108 EN | 22 DMG | 4 ACC | 3 EVA | 106 MIT | 12 FLN | 36 BRN (BD8+) | SAVVY | VAMP-DEF | 44 BH
[2]Cordelia HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 126/140 | 21 DMG | 90 MIT | 6 ACC | 1 EVA | 6 HLY | 2 [36] BRN | FRST AURA | 42 BH [PARA]

[BRN] Taneuma 83/1500 HP | 275 DMG | 2 ACC | 2 EVA | 75 MIT -443 -36

ID: 138958
BD: 3, Miss

Cordelia's cheeks flamed in embarrassment and humiliation.

It was almost something to laugh at. Not once. Not twice! Three times! She had missed three times! This was a complete and utter joke at this point. Why her. Why now. Of all places and times to miss three times it had to be here? The last quest. The very, very last one?

The girl bit her upper lip. Complete and utter bull, that's what this was. Her shoulders sagged. She didn't even want to fight anymore. She just wanted go to a dark corner, cry, and maybe eat some ice cream. Maybe just face-plant into some mud. Maybe just tie a pile of rocks to her feet and throw herself into that lake. All determination she had just seemed to-- she didn't even know. Wither up and die right in front of her? Like her dreams? Like her will to live? 

ID: 138954
BD: 1, Miss [haha... HAHAHAHAHHAHA]

[3]Oscar 940/1110 HP | 79/108 EN | 22 DMG | 4 ACC | 3 EVA | 106 MIT | 12 FLN | 36 BRN (BD8+) | SAVVY | VAMP-DEF | 44 BH -170
[0]Cordelia HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 137/140 | 21 DMG | 90 MIT | 6 ACC | 1 EVA | 6 HLY | 2 [36] BRN | FRST AURA | 42 BH

Taneuma 963/1500 HP | 275 DMG | 2 ACC | 2 EVA | 75 MIT

ID: 138955
BD: 9, Hit

She wanted to kick the bucket. Haha-- yeah, not only did she miss once, no, no, she had to miss twice. In a row. This is exactly why she had trust issues with her katana. Why. This-- this was the last quest! Why couldn't the universe just let her have this? It was unimaginably unbelievable. She was sure this whole questline just hated her! That must be it! She has never had this bad of luck, like, never. Ever, ever. Only in this stupid quest chain! It's not like these bosses were hard, no, no. They were fine, but why did she keep missing?

"In, out. In, out," she muttered under her breath, her chest slowly rising and falling as she tried to keep her breaths even. "Just hit it next time. No big deal. It's not big deal!" She exclaimed quietly, whirling around just as she watched the stallion charge at Oscar.

"Not a big deal," she repeated, "he'll be fineee!" 

ID: 138951
BD: 1, Miss [i hate my life]

[2]Oscar 1110/1110 HP | 93/108 EN | 22 DMG | 4 ACC | 3 EVA | 106 MIT | 12 FLN | 36 BRN (BD8+) | SAVVY | VAMP-DEF | 44 BH
[0]Cordelia HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 138/140 | 21 DMG | 90 MIT | 6 ACC | 1 EVA | 6 HLY | 2 [36] BRN | FRST AURA | 42 BH

Taneuma 1167/1500 HP | 275 DMG | 2 ACC | 2 EVA | 75 MIT

ID: 138952
BD: 6, Hit

Cordelia's mouth hanged agape as she watched a blinding blue and white creature near the two. A horse? By all means, the whole electric thing was cool, yes, but a horse? It was. . . cool, not for a last boss in a questline like this but it was. . . cool. 

The girl recoiled as she watched the stallion deliver a bolt of electricity at Oscar, effectively immobilizing him. "Holy Jesus," she muttered quickly, unsheathing her katana to take it on. 

Her blade's reflective surface slowly turned into a pitch black as she dashed after the elemental creature. Cordelia held her katana over her head as she readied to deliver a San Ge, but unfortunately, an electric horse is uh-- pretty damn fast. Her blade slammed into the ground, splintering the earth just as the bright blue sparks of electricity whizzed by. The girl exhaled almost painfully as she ripped out her katana from the ground.

"Deep breaths, Cordelia. Deeeep breaths."

ID: 138949
BD: 1, Miss [fuk u rng]

[2]Oscar 1110/1110 HP | 93/108 EN | 22 DMG | 4 ACC | 3 EVA | 106 MIT | 12 FLN | 36 BRN (BD8+) | SAVVY | VAMP-DEF | 44 BH [PARA]
[0]Cordelia HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 139/140 | 21 DMG | 90 MIT | 6 ACC | 1 EVA | 6 HLY | 2 [36] BRN | FRST AURA | 42 BH

[BRN] Taneuma 1203/1500 HP | 275 DMG | 2 ACC | 2 EVA | 75 MIT

ID: 138950
BD: 2, Miss

Cordelia bounded after him. After weeks, maybe even months of trying to finish this questline, they were finally at the final one. To say she was a little anxious was a huge understatement, but she was a tad bit excited for what this questline would end with. She had fought a bear, the undead, a big-ass fish, a literal mountain, and a puma. . . so how strange was this final boss going to be? Was she going to fight a giant fire dragon? A massive water serpent? Or something as random as a living island? There were honestly so many possibilites, she wasn't even sure if she had even gotten close to what it actually is. 

She drummed her fingers against her arm anxiously as they neared the lake. How tough was this boss going to even be? Would it be as tough as all of the previous ones put together? Would it have weird mechanics like that mountain and lich? Or was it going to be a straight up fight like the bear and puma?

Cordelia bit her lip. Somehow, she could see herself in this girl's shoes. In fact, she had been practically saying the same thing al but a few days ago. Her eyes downcasted to her feet as she thought about what Oscar had said. She sighed, smiling softly at her. "You can be strong without all the numbers," she murmured, feeling slightly hypocritical. "There are plenty of heroes out there that aren't on the frontlines." Her thoughts drifted to Solei, and then to Oscar. Oscar was her hero way before he had reached the frontlines, and Solei wasn't even close to being there, yet she was sure many people could call him a hero.

"Maybe strong people don't die," she muttered, under her breath, placing her knuckles on her hips as she gave the girl a small smile, "but they certainly can fall. Take your time, Yuki, don't make the same mistakes as some of the more crappy people out there, myself included."

ID: 138947
LD: 6+6=12, +1 Material
Total Materials:6

Cordelia nodded her head eagerly. "Really? That'd be great! Oscar doesn't really cook the kinds of things my shop has, so it's hard to learn sometimes," she admitted, "but if it's coming from someone experienced like yourself, then I'll gladly take on your offer!" She exclaimed enthusiastically. 

The girl shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. She had never really considered herself even close to the frontlines, but the numbers don't lie-- she was only a handful of levels away from the rest of the frontliners, which was really odd now that she thought about it. She was but a mere newbie all but a couple of months ago, and now she was already ready for the next floor raid boss. The amount of time that had passed since then still amazed her.

"The frontlines. . ." she murmured, trying to find the exact words for it. ". . . I wouldn't call it anything special. Of course, that must sound like blasphemy to everyone, but it felt. . . the same to me, I suppose. Something like that." Cordelia sighed, crossing her arms as she lowered her head in thought. "I think players sometimes forget that frontliners are people too, just like them. We aren't some god-like entity. Heck, even I used to think that, but now that I'm finally here, it's not any different than being a lower tier. The only thing separating frontliners from everyone else is numbers, I think some people tend to think otherwise."

Cordelia chuckled as she looked up at the player sheepishly. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to get all philosophical."

ID: 138905
LD: 3+6=9, Fail
Total Materials: 5

"Ah, I was never really a cook outside of here," Cordelia murmured, pausing to think before she brushed off the weird interaction off. "Maybe that's why I only specialize in one dish," she mumbled, laughing to-- or more at herself. "Most of it just came from watching others cook," she chuckled, tapping the tips of her fingers together as she flashed the girl a sheepish smile.

"It's nice having someone to look up to like that," she commented, her voice trailing off for a few seconds before she came back to reality. "I certainly will! Mine's just outside of Snowfrost, you're welcome to come there if you want, as well. I've given up on trying to keep it lowkey. . . people just seem to find ramen no matter where it is," she shuddered, shaking her head. She had a small shop for a reason. She could barely serve one person, how would she be able to serve a whole shop full?

ID: 138901
LD: 6+6=12, +1 Material
Total Materials: 5

Cordelia released her hand from the girl's and grinned. "No, no. It's fine, really. I was already going to do that quest, it just so happened that you two were there when Ugzeke found me."

"Oh, you're a cook, too?" Cordelia clapped her hands together. "There seems to be a spike in those recently. . . I wouldn't have become one if I knew this many people were going to be cooks," she sighed, rubbing her neck with her free hand. "I run my own shop up on floor four. It's a small little ramen shop. It's not much but I do what I can. I don't go out of my way to try to make money. . . it's just so I can help out my boyfriend, but even then, he doesn't really need it," she chuckled sheepishly. 

The girl's peeked over the other's shoulder. "Oh, there's some," she exclaimed, skipping over to a patch of spring onion. "So, what specific foods to you make at your shop?" She asked, plucking a few stalks of the green material.

ID: 138899
LD: 20, +2 Materials
Total Materials: 4

Cordelia's ears perked, her chin slightly lifting as she faced a familiar pinkette. She silently wracked through her brain before it clicked. Ah, right. She was there when Cordelia had taken the Ugzeke quest. . . "Oh, it's no problem," Cordelia said, giving the player a smile. "Anyone would've done the same. It wouldn't just be me." The silver-haired girl stuck her hand out. "My name's Cordelia, pleasure to meet you." She looked over her shoulder, sighing in defeat when she couldn't find anything. "Just. . . material gathering. I needed some tier one things for my shop. I haven't crafted anything for the tier ones in a while, and I'm running a bit low," she sniffed, turning back to the girl. 

"Are you here to do the same?" She asked, tilting her head. It would be nice to talk to someone while she gathered. It would certainly make the task a lot less. . . boring.

ID: 138897
LD: 3+6=9, Fail
Total Materials: 2

Cordelia's shoulders sagged. She hated gathering. It still amazed her that people did this for fun. What exactly was so fun about looking for materials? Exactly! Nothing! It wasn't like she could just go hunt during this. She physically couldn't. Her level was way too high to have lootable mobs spawn here, which really sucked. So everytime she wants some tier one materials she must stick to. . . gathering. 

Shame. 

"Gah, it's so warm," she whined under her breath, shrugging off her jacket and capelet before she folded it her over her arm. She had forgotten how warm this floor could be. She was used to much more. . . chilly weather. She lived on a floor where it was completely ridges and mountains and had a shop on one of the coldest floors to date-- so she supposed it would make sense she would suddenly feel the effects of warm weather as uncomfortable. 

ID: 138891
LD: 11+6=17, +2 Materials
Total Materials: 2

Equipped Gloves of Caerus: +3 LD
Consumed Super Lucky Fancy Asian Cheetos: +3 LD

Day 22:

+52 EXP

"So you gotta promise me that even if something were to happen, you'll keep going."

Cordelia heaved a long sigh. Now wasn't the time to think about that right now. She shook her head and made her way to the teleport gate. She should be happy! This was the last quest in the chain that she and Oscar needed to do. After this, the two would officially be the first ones to finish the whole line! Exciting, right? She bit her lip. At least, she wished she felt more excited. The last quest they had done together seemed to have ended on a good note, but she still couldn't help but feel haunted by the thought that she might-- that she might one day lose him. . . if she did, she wasn't sure that she would be able to uphold his promise.

"Hey, Oscar!"

The girl hopped off of the pad and flashed him a smile wave.

"You ready to finally get this thing over with?"

Day 21:

+52 EXP

Cordelia leaned her forehead against his chest, taking it all in. "I think you'd refuse to die by bus, even if it did happen," she muttered after a few seconds of silence. She let out a long sigh. "Thank you. . . even if it feels like a brick to the face. I think I needed to hear it from you," she admitted quietly. Of course, being told that her best wasn't good enough didn't make her the most happiest person in the world, it was still something she needed to hear. She had come to terms that she wasn't perfect a long, long time ago. Having this conversation just seemed to solidify the idea. 

"Being with you has been the happiest time of my life, too," she murmured, wrapping her arms around him like he was a giant teddy bear. "Thank you," she croaked, burying her face into his coat, "thank you so much."

Cordelia wasn't sure what she would do if she had lost Oscar, or even anyone to this game. It had yet to ever happen to her, and it felt more like a curse than a blessing. She'd seen what grief can do to a person in SAO. As much as she told herself that she was stronger than that and that she would never fall into the hands of grief like that. . . she wasn't so sure anymore. 

"I love you too."

SUMMARY: 

5 SP [3 Quest, 1 Thread, 1 SP event]

Troll's Blood: A unique consumable that, when applied to a weapon, adds +2 DMG for the thread

2633 Col

Cordelia tidied up her hair before looking over to the two girls. "A-ah, it was really nothing," she exclaimed, shaking her hands with a bashful look on her face. "I'm sure anyone would've done it. . ."

Her attention turned over to the girl in pink. "Oh, thank you. Ah, yeah, I'm not quite there yet. . . but I'll definitely be at the next boss raid," she beamed, tilting her head. "No, no, it's fine. We've all been too curious for our own good before. I don't blame you," she chuckled wryly, sheathing her katana back in its scabbard. 

"Oh, right. Of course." Cordelia nodded her head as she looked over to the other girl. "I'm assuming that you want to get out of here too, right?" A sudden realization made its way to her head before she laugh nervously. "I forgot that you had originally asked me to get out of here, apologies."

Cordelia tilted her head. She somewhat knew Zandra. They did a quest together once, nothing really noteworthy, but she assumed that Baldur knew her-- they were both frontliners after all, so it was expected. Her eyes traveled over to the axe sitting in the corner of the shop. She vaguely remembered it from the quest with Zandra. Though, she was pretty sure she had yet to see it at its full power. 

She nodded her head. "I'm pretty Oscar has most of those things. . . but I can always offer a couple of buffs if he's okay with it," she shrugged, looking over to Oscar before she gave him a reassuring thumbs-up. 

Cordelia briefly glanced at the message before she turned to the two. "Oh yeah, are you two okay if I invite Mari along?" She asked, looking out the door. "She's waiting outside the Safezone on Floor Twenty-one right now. . . I just don't want to keep her waiting."

Cordelia tilted her head. "Oh, you have a shop here, too? Neat." She did vaguely remember her talking about being some kind of tailor. . . but she wasn't sure if she could fully trust her memories at the moment. 

"What would you have me do?"

She drummed her fingers against her cheek as she pondered. She wouldn't want to be too harsh on a little kid. . . her pale eyes glanced over to the young girl before she pursed her lips. Though, she didn't seem like the type of kid to want to be treated like a kid. Ah, this was certainly a problem. . . Though, she supposed that if she really to wield a katana better, it was going to have to happen. 

She let out a small sigh before opening her HUD. She wasn't exactly sure if she was going to enjoy this. . . but she supposed that there had to be a first for everything. Her fingers danced around the window for a few seconds before an pale blue katana materialized in the palms of her hand. Cordelia released an exhale as she reached up to remove her hair ornament, letting her silver hair fall down before she gave Setsuna a smirk.

"I want you to duel me."

Equipped: T2 Rare Katana: FRZ, ACC
Unequipped: Empress' Kanzashi

Stat Changes: LVL: 51 | HP: 1040/1040 | EN: 120/120 | 19 DMG | 25 MIT | 2 ACC | 2 EVA | 1 PARA VNM [DF]

Day 20:

+52 EXP

Cordelia stiffened up, cocking her head towards Rosary before she offered her a bashful smile. That was something she usually got. A small spark of joy ignited within her as she fought to contain a grin. 

"Alright, one more go!" She exclaimed, watching as Ugzeke come back from her paralysis. Like something straight out of a movie, the two stood head-to-head, still as a mouse, nothing heard but the faint whisper of the wind. Cordelia felt the tension snap within her, prompting her to be the first one to charge forward, Ugzeke following suit shortly after. 

The significantly larger being swung his great club down at the her, her breath hitching in her throat for a second before she grunted, lifting herself into the air just before it came down on her. The object sent the earth below her splintering into the air, tracking up dirt and dust along with it. 

"Gotcha." 

Cordelia raised her katana in front of her, blade down just as gravity began to take its toll on her. Black feathers erupted from her katana as her blade made contact with the head of the creature. Cordelia gritted her teeth, driving her sword deeper into Ugzeke before she felt his body start to crumble. She exhaled, releasing her grip on Onimaru before she jumped away from his shattering body. 

"Of all times to activate, you chose the killing blow?" She whispered to seemingly nobody as the batter dissipated into the air.

ID: 138752
BD: 9, [+7 DMG] [BURN ACTIVATES]

Cordelia: HP: 925/1040 | EN: 50/120 | 21 DMG | 45 MIT | 5 ACC | 3 EVA | 1 PARA VNM [DF]| 6 HLY | 2 [36] BRN +31 -14 

Ugzeke: HP: 0/1500 | 200 250 DMG | 35 MIT | 2 ACC [-36 1/2 BURN] -403

Cordelia bit the inside of her cheek as she prepared for another San Ge attack. Two more and this thing would be gone. She inhaled sharply, releasing the tension in her muscles as she swung her blade at the mob once again. The area where her katana had pierced seemed to ignite with flames as she hopped a few steps away from the paralyzed creature. 

"That should hold him off for a second," she muttered, looking back again at the two other players. A part of her felt guilty that she had to be the one keeping them waiting. She wasn't sure if it was all that great watching someone else fight. . . but they seemed alright enough. 

She relaxed. She would be fine. The next hit on that thing should be the last hit she needed, unless the system decided to screw her over again, that is. Cordelia released a breath she didn't know she had been keeping in. First solo fight in a while! She was impressed. She didn't do as bad as she thought she would.

ID: 138750
BD: 8, [BURN ACTIVATES]

Cordelia: HP: 894/1040 | EN: 64/120 | 21 DMG | 45 MIT | 5 ACC | 3 EVA | 1 PARA VNM [DF]| 6 HLY | 2 [36] BRN +31 -14 

Ugzeke: HP: 272/1500 | 200 250 DMG | 35 MIT | 2 ACC [PARALYZED] [-36 1/2 BURN] -280

Cordelia flashed them a vivacious grin. "Oh, don't worry about it, I'll be fine!"

Well, she was fine until she got batted by a wooden club again. The girl let out a small cough as she stumbled back to her feet with the help of her katana. "You aren't playing around, are you?" She muttered under her breath, watching as the paralytic venom set in again. By now, the flames had diminished from his swamp-colored skin, leaving a red tint to it. 

A ragged exhale escaped from her throat as she scanned over her health-bar. Not too shabby. Frankly, she didn't think she was going to be hit at all. . . but she was doing. . . well. 

Taking advantage of his immobilized state once again, Cordelia steadied her katana beside her. A few more hits and this thing was as good as gone. Her heels dug into the ground briefly before she charged towards the creature. She held her breath as she delivered a series of shallow cuts on the beast, littering thing and long marks along Ugzeke's skin. 

ID: 138748
BD: 6, Hit

ID: 138749
BD: 8, Hit [PARA VNM ACTIVATES]

Cordelia: HP: 863/1040 | EN: 78/120 | 21 DMG | 45 MIT | 5 ACC | 3 EVA | 1 PARA VNM [DF]| 6 HLY | 2 [36] BRN -135 +31 -14 

Ugzeke: HP: 588/1500 | 200 250 DMG | 35 MIT | 2 ACC [PARALYZED] [-36 2/2 BURN] -280

Cordelia's eyes widened a small fraction before she let out a small sigh.

"Relax, it's just me." The platinum-haired player stepped out from the shadows of the trees, giving the girl a brief wave. "No need to hide."

Her pale eyes gave the girl a once-over. "You look absolutely exhausted," she commented, placing her knuckles on her hips as she tilted her head. "How long have you been out here? . . . and why Floor Four of all places to train at?" Cordelia asked, her brows furrowing. She wasn't sure if this girl had the Survival Skill, but it was safe for her to say that she probably didn't. Which meant she was still most likely prone to the bitter temperatures of the floor, which certainly hindered her ability to train efficiently. Cordelia mentally shook her head. It seemed stupid to her to train in such a remote place in weather like this. It wasn't like she had to build up resistance to the cold, for she could just go ahead and get the Survival skill and basically never feel it again. It seemed inefficient, but she was sure that this Setsuna girl was letting on more than Cordelia knew.

"Anyway. You wanted help with training with a katana, right?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest with a crooked smile.