[OP-F1]Earning a Living

[Saix 0]

It was kind of amazing how far she had come. The last time she had prepared herself and left the comfort of the city to gather materials had been the first time she had struck out on her own since starting to play this cursed game. The press of bodies around her as she navigated the crowded streets of Starting City continued to make her uncomfortable, but it was not quite so bad this time around. She didn’t feel quite as uneasy. Maybe it was the fact that the players around her did their best to part before her, noting the fine armor and scarf, and realizing that unlike most of them, she was actively trying to play the game.

[Saix 0]

It suited Ayane just fine. She wasn’t exactly social and truth be told she felt suffocated when surrounded on all sides by the many players who had all but given up hope when Kayaba Akihiko made his announcement about how things were going to work in the game. Right about now all she wanted to was to save up enough Col to one day get a shop on a higher floor, where she could get away from the crush of depressing players who had barricaded themselves into the city. Despite that goal she doubted if she would ever end up fighting on the ‘front lines’ with the elite players who took it upon themselves to ‘clear’ the game.

[Saix 0]

It was ironic really, that she when she was ‘trapped’ in this game she felt far more free then she had at home, confined in the wheelchair that had become her life after the accident. Sometimes, in her dark moments, she wondered if the real reason she told herself she had no desire to join the front lines was because she didn’t want to be freed from the game. After all, she felt such joy being able to walk, run, and jump once again. If the game was cleared, she would lose all of that, and once again become nothing more than the crippled burden on all those around her, unable to take care of herself.

[Saix 0]

She frowned, trying to dispel such thoughts with a quick shake of her head, before forcing her attention to focus on the task at hand. She needed materials, desperately. Well, not desperately, she did have a few exotic materials left, but she was reluctant to use them when she was actively trying to increase her skill. It seemed such a waste to use such fine material on side projects that were meant to simply raise her Crafting Skill Level. Luckily, she had the perfect source of these basic materials just outside the city, grazing all over the rolling planes in the form of <>.

[Saix 0]

It was amazing really, the last time she had gone to collect these materials the prospect of facing the huge boar in combat had been exhilarating. But she had leveled several times since then, and was a far more skillful dagger wielder. She felt none of the trepidation of her first battles now, instead she simply remembered the boar’s habits and did her best to prepare herself for the relatively simple charging attacks, knowing that if she had the timing down, she would be able to easily avoid taking any rough hits. She had come far, to think that such thoughts seemed normal now.

[Saix 0]

Stepping out of the gates and onto the rolling planes she did not have far to wander before she encountered her first <>, a meter long blue wild pig with beady little crimson eyes. <> was the weakest of SAO’s monsters, and would not attack her unless she attacked it first. Many players used the <> like a moving target dummy, but it was wise not to underestimate the piggish monster. It had a rather nasty charging attack that could knock a player to the ground with great force. Of course, that was its only attack, and with a rather long charge up at that.

[Saix 0]

Stretching Ayane drew the dagger sheathed at her waist, flipping the <> skillfully in her hand. She had grown accustomed to this after all. Daggers may have had the shortest range of the SAO weapons, outside of the <> Extra Skill of course, but they were wicked fast, and had a remarkably short post motion delay time. For a small fighter who focused exclusively on speed and agility, they were a perfect fit. Though she did wish she had procured a higher quality weapon, her chosen crafting profession simply didn’t allow for weapon creation.

[Saix 0]

Not that it was without it’s perks mind you, thanks to her Perfect Armor and Rare Scarf Accessory she had picked up some rather nice bonus stats, which thus far had made up for her still using the <>. Setting herself into a loose and easy stance, she targeted the big <> and slowly exhaled, dropping back into the pre-motion of her attack, and smoothly launched the first of her Sword Skills, the Dagger Skill <>. She had practiced this one for several hours, and it showed, the three rapid fire stabs tore into the <> side like a hot knife through butter.

Ayane: 15/15

Frenzy Boar: 2/3

[Saix 0]

The slim dagger wielder smiled, letting the rush of combat carry her away. Yes, now she could have a little fun. She enjoyed her crafting profession, and the pretty things she could make, but there was something… visceral about the feel of combat, even if most of the moves were being carried out by the <>, taking a moment to dart backwards away from the enraged Frenzy Boar she lowered herself into a ready stance, anticipating the attack that would soon be launched her way. There, the beast pawed at the ground… Any second now…

Ayane: 15/15

Frenzy Boar: 2/3

[Saix 0]

Live a runaway truck the <> launched itself in her direction, it’s narrow little hooves tearing up clumps of digital soil as it loosed a piggy squeal like a war cry. This <> was the only attack the beast was programmed with, but that did not make it any less dangerous. In this world anything that could damage a player’s precious hit points was a very real danger. So Ayane waited, and at the last minute threw herself to the side in a graceful somersault. As she twirled in the air, she drew back her dagger, and lashed out as the beast thundered by, her <> once again tearing three quick slashes into it's hide. This time a red flash heralded her critical hit, depleting the beast's health down to zero. With a sound like breaking glass and a flash of polygons, the <> fell to the side and disappeared. Boy, that was much easier than it had been last time...

Ayane: 15/15

Frenzy Boar: 0/3

Loot Die: 20

+3 Leather Hides found!

[Saix 0]

Invigorated by the first success, which had rewarded her with a bounty of leather hides for her crafting, Ayane began a smooth jog towards her next target. It was doubtful that she would be getting much in the way of Col for killing monsters so far below her level, but she was at least having fun and sharpening her skills. Soon she would be able to level up her <>. Approaching the nearest <> Ayane slowly circled the beast, ensuring that when she attacked she could aim for the weak spot behind the base of the creature's skull. She had learned that each creature had a weak point, and did her best to aim at this point each time she attacked.

[Saix 0]

Not one to waste time admiring a giant pig, Ayane dropped into a crouch, preparing her second Dagger attack skill, the leaping charge type skill <>. She felt the skill 'charge', which was little more than a tingle down the back of her spine. Now all she needed to do was.... release! Propelled by the <>, she darted forward into a leap, rolling her body to stab downward in a powerful blow, <>! A flash of red let her know that not only had she succeeded in hitting the vulnerable weak point, but that she had landed a critical blow as well. <> squealed in rage, and twisted, pulling her weapon right out of her hand as it wheeled to face her, her dagger sticking out of the back of it's neck like a flag.

Ayane: 15/15

Frenzy Boar: 1/3

[Saix 0]

This should have been a disaster, after all without her weapon how could she hope to damage the monster? Instead, the slim girl simply grinned recklessly as she slipped backwards and opened some distance between herself and her prey. She circled the beast, moving to the side each time it tried to initiate it's charge. The <> could only charge straight forward, she had learned quickly that in such situations where she needed to open some space and think of her next move, she could move in a circular pattern to keep the beast from being able to charge her in a straight line. She might not have her dagger in hand anymore, yet she was far from helpless. With that thought in mind, she stopped, staying still long enough for <> to begin pawing at the ground.

[Saix 0]

With it's pre-motion complete, <> lowered it's head and gave a disgusted snort, muscles in it's stocky flanks quivering, before launching forward like a blue Ayane-Seeking Missile. Weaponless, Ayane simply grinned and threw herself forward, rushing towards the charging <> as though she sought a head on collision at high speed. Clenching both fists together and lifting them above her head, she waited until the absolute last second before bringing her intertwined hands down in a powerful blow atop the <> head, mere inches before it would have struck her. This was her trump card, the <> Extra Skill, and this was one of the many empty handed techniques she could use in a pinch <>. The powerful blow, another critical no less, blasted the final remnants of the <> HP away.

Ayane: 15/15

Frenzy Boar: 0/3

[Saix 0]

<> gave one last heavy grunt, before it's body burst apart as though it were made of glass. Ayane seized her dagger before it could fall, giving the blade a quick flip with a grin, before sheathing it at her waist. She wasn't aware of too many others who actively sought to use the <> skill, but it had saved her a time or two when she had been in need. This time may not have been quite as dangerous, but once again her ability to continue attacking, even without a weapon, was proving to be her ace in the hole. Thus far her outing was proving to be a good exercise, as well as providing some much needed materials. She figured that one or two more <> would be enough to qualify this little outing as a success.

Loot Dice: 5

+1 Leather Hide Found!