[SP - F1] "Individual Strength?"

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios was at the arch of Starting City. Wondering how his first time out there, by himself, would be. He's been out there, but always ended up in a group. Axios was still fairly weak and almost missed every single attack that he threw. Axios knew the dangers but Axios wanted to continue on. He wanted to get stronger, and knew that one of those ways were possibly going out by himself. Axios straightened his sheath that held his dagger with sweaty palms. Will anyone remember me if I die? Axios started getting depressed. Wanting to leave behind some sort of legacy, was something he wanted to do. Axios, slightly tearing up, walked outside and began his journey by himself. Walking the path he has for a few times, wondered how he would fare.

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios continued down the path, not meeting any resistance. His thoughts continued to wander as he walked. His mind raced, wondering if this was death in itself. Axios never paid it the fact that someone would die in real life if they died here. He reasoned that it was possibly fake and no one truly died, just ejected from the NerveGear and returned to their normal lives. However, Axios continued to survive as much as possible. He didn't want to try and die to check if his theory was real. Surely, it couldn't take much longer for the game to be cleared, right? Everything would be fine, I'm safe. I have... Axios looked around and saw only a boar charging straight at him. "Oh god," was all Axios could say before landing with a thud. The boar piercing his abdomen, Axios took a foolhardy stab at it, barely doing any damage to the beast. The boar backed off after the attack, probably still wondering why Axios was still alive after his first attack.

Boar: 7/9 ((-1 from normal dagger attack w/ Novice dagger skill +1))

Axios: 14/17 ((-3 from critical boar attack))

ID: 16015; MD: 10; BD: 7

[Axios Deminence 0]

The boar charged Axios once again. No longer stunned from not killing him with its first attack. The boar just proved too fast for Axios, the boar slammed against Axios once again; this time however a blunt attack. Axios landed on the stone path once again, and stood back up. His vision became blurry, the reason unknown to him. Axios saw 3 boars, instead of one, and slashed with his knife at the middle. His depth perception was messed up though, clearly aiming at the right one but the dagger landing in front of the boar instead of in.

Boar: 6/9

Axios: 13/17 ((-1 due to Success))

ID: 16038; MD: 7; BD: 5

[Axios Deminence 0]

The boar's relentless attacks continued. As soon as Axios seemed to get back up, the boar was already charging at him. Axios wasn't sure how much longer he could hold out. Sure, he wasn't in the yellow zone yet, but it once he was, it wasn't too far from the red zone and death. Am I going to die out here? Axios took another hit, the tusks cutting his abdomen. All Axios could do was hope for a chance to strike back, which never came.

Boar: 7/9

Axios: 11/17 ((-2 HP from Mini Crit Attack))

ID: 16083; MD: 9; BD: 5

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios was starting to lose all hope. Axios, swung his dagger at the boar, hoping to at least hit it with no avail. The boar took more time to charge this time, as if lining up his attack. Axios' arms became limp as he stood up. The boar charged once again, hitting its target. Axios slid back, almost losing feelings in his arms and legs. Heh... Wonder who'll and why people will remember me... Axios was starting to get damage emotionally, not just physically. It's as if Axios lost his will to attack back, as if he's accepted his fate. Almost as if Axios knew that this was going to happen, and he embraced the fact.

Boar: 7/9

Axios: 10/17 ((-1 HP from Success))

ID: 16084; MD: 7; BD: 4

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios begun crying. He didn't want to die unremembered, no impact on others, he had wanted to always be remembered. He couldn't have left himself to die, not without his objective in life. Whether or not that this death game was fake, Axios embraced it. That if this game continued for the rest of his natural life, he would make the best out of it. He wanted to help others, and he needs to survive in order to do so. Axios, tested out the sharpness of his knife and then charged. The boar, almost surprised, stood there. Almost completely still, until it started charging as well. The boar and Axios, both going towards each other, diverted contact at the last second. However, Axios had one advantage the boar didn't, Axios could attack at his sides much easier. Axios had left a cut at the boar's side, before swinging behind it as to not take chances. There's no use to helping anyone, if I'm not alive to help them.

Boar: 4/9 ((-2 HP from Mini Crit; -1 HP from Novice Dagger))
Axios: 10/17

ID: 16085; MD: 4; BD: 9

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios began attacking with a new vigor. Something created from his primal instincts that had only one objective, survive. Axios brandished the knife and kept on attacking the boar. One slice, two slice, ending up in a sum of damage. Axios began to push the boar back and the boar had nothing to do but comply. The boar was going to comply, Axios gave it no choice. Come... On! Axios slashed at the boar causing it to fall over. Axios' thoughts differed completely from his body, his thoughts were about the future. Deciding on what should happen next. That this fight should be done with, in fact, this entire battle should be done with. Nothing like the safety of Starting City...

Boar: 2/9 ((-1 HP from Success; -1 HP from Novice Dagger))
Axios: 10/17

ID: 166088; MD: 1; BD: 8

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios snapped out of his fantasy that was clouding what he was doing. He began to question himself his real reason for venturing out alone. Did he want to hunt? No... That couldn't be the case, I mean. I'm mostly a pacifist. However, a voice in the back of his head played devil's advocate and asked him if he really was. In that same moment, by a miraculous coincedence, the boar had attacked. Axios having panicked sloppily killed the boar during its mid-charge. The same voice droned on about how a pacifist wouldn't go outside of Starting City, or even kill a boar. It continued to lead down Axios a path, both physically and mentally. Physically, a path to the forest; mentally, a path to the darker workings of his mind. He was starting to become convinced what the voice was saying is true.

Boar: 0/9 | DEAD
Axios: 10/17

ID: 16236; MD: 5; BD: 6; LD: 1 ((No extra loot))

+1 Mat

[Axios Deminence 0]

The voice had become deafening. A windshield protecting Axios from the outer world, the ocean's impenetrable sound barrier, and a darkness creeping and feeding onto the light. Axios began to deteriorate. He wasn't able to focus much except what the voice said and how it talked. "The forest'll consume you...", and the voice became dead silent. Axios began to wonder, what has happened. He had forgotten everything from up to his beginning of the fight of the boar, and up to now. A small growl and jaw full of baring teeth appeared in the clearing. The forest was darker than Axios thought, he didn't know what he could do now. Then the wolf jumped at him. Wait wolf? It's alone... The wolf bit his shoulder and Axios in turn stabbed its back before it jumped off. It hurt more than anything else did. Axios was still damaged from... Something... The wolf started to circle around Axios, as if sizing him up. Axios' fear grew, worried for his life and started backing up to a tree. It knows it's stronger...

Wolf: 6/10 ((-3 HP from Major Crit; -1 HP from Novice Dagger))
Axios: 8/19 ((-2 HP from Minor Crit))

ID: 16238; MD: 9; BD: 10

[Axios Deminence 0]

The wolf bared his fangs once again and started creeping towards Axios. "Please," he began saying in a small, mouse-like voice, "Don't kill me..." The wolf showed no mercy in its eyes. Almost as if this wasn't a hunt to fill its belly, but a hunt to survive for another day. Axios wanted to help it, but knew that he would probably die before being able to. The wolf lunged at Axios once again and he dropped down to his knees. To his surprise, the wolf was aiming for a killing shot even though it could have probably killed Axios without the need for that. The wolf hit its head on the trunk and was stunned. He decided to take the opportunity to attack it again. Axios brought his knife down onto the wolf once again, not killing it however. The wolf stood back up and circled around Axios again. There's no more need for it to fight me. Why does it keep attacking? However, Axios knew the reason. Survival, Axios' first attack probably crippled it too much and it wouldn't be able to move for a while. This would be the wolf's last source of food. What am I thinking about, this is SAO. This is just code...

 

ID: 16437; MD: 2; BD: 9

 

Wolf: 3/10 ((-2 HP from Mini Crit; -1 HP from Novice Dagger))
Axios: 8/19

[Axios Deminence 0]

The darkness grew. Axios looked past the wolf and saw that the lighting in the clearing had disappeared. The transition from day to night was over. Axios could see even less than before. The wolf didn't seem hindered by the darkness much. Probably because it's been living in this forest since it's been spawned. The wolf started encircling Axios in the cover of night and darkness. Axios started randomly slashing out, trying to protect himself from the creature. It started getting closer, barely out of Axios' length. Closer, closer, then a jump. The wolf had been through a lot, it was natural that he would not have enough strength to jump properly. Rather than jumping over Axios' head, the wolf jumped straight towards his torso and into the path of his knife. Axios slashed the wolf, still not killing it. It's just code... It's not real... Axios had a hard time looking at the wolf.

 

ID: 16442; MD: 3; BD: 8 ((-1 from night = 7))

 

Wolf: 1/10 ((-1 HP from Success; -1 HP from Novice Dagger))
Axios: 8/19

[Axios Deminence 0]

As long as Axios hit the boar at least once, it would be fine. The wolf was still on the ground breathing heavily and short. It was gasping for air, hoping to reach survival. He slowly approached it. Code or not, the wolf was a wolf. Axios wanted to put it out of its misery. More sincerely than just joking around. "I'm sorry, it's just that you attacked me first. Now if you lay sti-", Axios was cut off. The wolf turned its head and snapped at Axios'. The wolf bit his hand, however it didn't hurt much. It just wanted to fight back if possible. Try to hold onto life, try to take vengeance from the man who was going to kill it. He stood over it and his knife fell. It plunged straight into the wolf's neck. The wolf took a few breaths before dying. Axios once again, backed up to the tree. He started crying. The wolf... Why... Axios stayed that way for a while. Crying softly and mourning the death of the wolf. Taking his knife, he sloppily carved into the tree:

Here lies a wolf. Slain by Axios. He regrets.

He stayed there for a while more. Looking at the sloppy words, he continued sobbing for a minute or two. The voice didn't come back yet. It didn't want him to forget that pain.

Boar: -2/10 ((-2 HP from Minor Crit; -1 HP from Novice Dagger))
Axios: 7/19 ((-1 from Success))

+1 Mat

ID:16449; MD: 6; BD: 9 ((Natural)); LD: 1 ((No extra loot))

((The tree carving is most likely going to be RP fodder and the voice isn't another entity. More like a part of him that is a side-effect of the bullying that he suffered in real life. For sake of clarity, this voice will rarely be used.))

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios just wanted to stay there, just for a while. It was so calming. The trees, the darkness, it felt as if he could sleep there. Axios didn't want to move on with his life. I wonder what happened with Szuriex, Zeri, and Noctis. Taking a quick look at his friend's list, Axios was surprised. Zeri wasn't there. He had to be there. His first venture out, it was real... Right? Szuriex was there and so was Noctis, but Zeri wasn't. He knew for certain that they had each other on their friend's list. No... This couldn't be... Zeri was stronger than Axios was in the beginning. He couldn't have... Died... Axios stood back up, empty after realizing an acquaintance's death. Not only did he know, but he also never bothered to notice until now. That thought alone bothered him. Axios started running out of the forest. This game... It's a trap. There's nothing calming, there's nothing beautiful about it... He kept on running. His shoulder bumped into trees a few times, but he continued on. None of that mattered, all that mattered was to see if Axios could be strong enough to live with it. All that mattered was to look up at the stars that the forest had blocked, to see if Axios could make out a silver-lining.

 

Axios: 8/19 ((+1 HP outside of combat))

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios kept running. Past the forest. Past the ideas of sorrow and death. His sole purpose at that moment, was to run. Try to get away from all of the hardships of life. Don't let them catch up to you. Live a good life, help others live a better one. He started to slow down. How long he'd been in the forest, he wasn't able to tell. How long he'd been running was even a farther guess from him. However, the sun started to rise. Looking towards the path, he saw Starting City on one side and the forest on another. The sun was directly to the side of him, it was probably one of the most beautiful things in SAO that he has seen and will ever see. Sadly though, the scene had to be tarnished. Axios was still on the fritz about Zeri's death. How it happened was beyond him, the only thing going on through his mind is how he could've helped. Any sort of help would have worked, no matter how futile. Axios aimed to make it to the end. He'd make it for those who couldn't and help those who can.

 

Axios: 9/19 ((+1 HP outside of combat))

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios was done with everything. He didn't care about the boar he was currently fighting. That was until it started doing a headlong rush. Axios was hoping to get back to Starting City without any trouble or fighting. He had enough for the day. Or days. Axios' sense of time was messed up in the forest, it would take a while for him to regain it. Everything happens so quickly. The boar missed. Apparently it didn't bother to turn the slightest bit. It rushed past him. Axios decided to use the opportunity and ride it like a rodeo bull. Of course, taking a stab or two out of it.

Boar: 8/12 ((-2 HP from Base; -2 HP from Major Crit))
Axios: 9/21

ID: 17589; MD: 4; BD: 10

[Axios Deminence 0]

The boar quickly retaliated, scraping its tusks across Axios legs. Pain seared through his mind. He wanted it to stop. No more. He didn't say a thing though, nothing coming out. Something that he had gotten a habit from not trying to how pain when being bullied. He simply let his silence ring out before preparing to retaliate too. The attack was sloppy, not much damage went between the two, and Axios hoped he could return to a safe place. Is there even any? Bullies in the real world, monsters in the SAO world...

Boar: 6/12 ((-2 HP from base))
Axios: 8/21 ((-1 from Success))

ID: 17688; MD: 8; BD: 6

[Axios Deminence 0]

The boar charged again. Too close to evade, too close to not miss. One second the boar was only a few metres away, the next he was right the tusks were in the torso, out the back. Axios coughed and swung his knife. The boar obviously knew better than staying too close. It allowed the tusks to slide out of Axios and backed off before the knife could even come close. Axios was now on all fours, coughing. They'd tell him that he'd feel pain, not anything close to the real thing. But Axios felt as if he got a real punch, probably got hit where his lungs would be. Looking down, Axios saw two gashes in his torso, close to the ends. He confirmed that it was the lungs, he kept coughing. Sharp breaths, shallow breaths, long fits of coughing. He couldn't get up, no matter what he wanted, it would take a bit longer for Axios to recover than just a few seconds.

 

Boar: 6/12

Axios: 5/21 ((-3 HP from Major Critical))

 

ID: 17697; MD: 10; BD: 2

[Axios Deminence 0]

The boar didn't wait long enough for Axios to recover. The tusks this time just bonked Axios on the head hard enough for it to hurt. He was now on his back. One hand holding his head, the other holding his chest. Was Axios going to die like this? The boar came over to inspect if it'd kill the player. Axios took a clumsy swing at it. Naturally, he didn't have enough reach and the boar just backed away once again. The pain started to subside, just a bit. He got up into a fighting stance again. The boar wasn't going to take him that easily. At least, that's what he hoped.

 

Boar: 6/12

Axios: 4/23 ((-1 HP from Success))

 

ID: 17701; MD: 7; BD: 2

[Axios Deminence 0]

Axios was ready for the boar's next attack. Maybe he could intercept them. Just maybe, he would be lucky enough. Sadly, his luck had ran out. The boar ran at Axios again and he was able to get out of the way quick enough yet late enough for the boar to not reposition itself. As the boar ran past, Axios tried to fall his knife onto the boar. Hopefully the neck. However, the boar was just too fast. Axios wasn't able to time his attack and it came way later than he expected it. He hit the air once again. Axios breathed in deeply. Trying to regain his posture, his ability. Axios looked at the boar again, hoping there wouldn't be a repeat of what had happened earlier. He doubted he could take a couple more hits like that.

 

Boar: 6/12

Axios: 4/23

 

ID: 17704; MD: 4; BD: 1

[Axios Deminence 0]

The boar and Axios met eyes. Never before has he seen something so... Red... Crimson... Bloodthirsty... He couldn't forget that these things are probably what had killed thousands of players seeking to help out and get out of Aincrad. If it was even possible. The boar attacked again, he was closer to death than ever before. Axios couldn't believe the things that were happening to him. His entire luck, his entire purpose in this game was to die. Everyone would probably die because of this game, there was no way of clearing Aincrad. It's been... A long time, he'd heard that they barely started fighting the boss on floor 10. They still had 90 more floors to clear before finishing the game. There was so many people waiting to get out of here. The boar struck, and so did Axios. The boar got the better hit, the abdomen. Any lower it would've hit the place where Axios never wanted a monster to hit, any higher would've been the chest. Axios did get a hit though, he was able to slash the head of the boar. They both backed off from each other. They backed off. Preparing for their next exchange of blows, preparing for what might be their deaths.

 

Boar: 4/12 ((-2 HP from Base))

Axios: 2/23 ((-1 HP from Base; -1 HP from Minor Crit))

 

ID: 17706; MD: 9; BD: 8