[SP - F3] Disappearing in the mists <<Search for the Hoya>>

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

"Who are you again?" this was the answer that the blonde posed to her traveling companion. The three were wandering around into the Forest of Wavering Mist at the 3^rd floor. This wasn't the first time the blonde had been to this floor, so you could say that she would've got used to the pointy ears but the truth was another one.

As the last time she was there...Ariel keep gazing at the male elf's ears. He was also the target of her question, the man clad in green clothing with daggers behind his waist. The man didn't even bothered to turn his head towards her as he replied in a serious voice. "I told you this before lady, I am Eryndir. Dammit why do I have to repeat myself!?" he ended up annoyed. He then turned around and stared at the woman's bosom then her eyes stating in a loud tone: "Listen i don't have to explain who I am to you! you just follow me and we will get to those minotaurs. Then I can become a Hero and you the one that helped me, the extra well-*cough* developed *cough* sidekick."   

The blonde already knew that, she just wanted to tease the guy a bit. He was acting all macho and stuff but couldn't avoid looking at her chest area so that is why the young man chose to walk in front of her. Ariel didn't mind him staring, she liked how he would blush each time he'd turn around to face her. And wasn't in the position to scold him since she too was starring at his ears, resisting the desire to pinch them to see if they were 'real'..or at least felt like the real thing. The sidekick thing did make her brows furrow while she showed a lopsided smile thinking: 'Yes....help, Okay Mr. Hero I'll see what you got when we find the Minotaurs at the end of this labyrinth. Until then all your boasting is white noise to me.' 

ID# 31199  LD: 8 (No Loot)

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

"Are we there yet?" asked the blonde in a half taunting tone, like a bored child. She was always the one to take initiative and say serious things to others, ending up scolding them. When she meet this wandering guy, Ariel found out that they were heading towards the same destination: the end of the labyrinth where a stone tomb laid. She was more interested in the item stored inside the tomb, which ....from what the information brokers told her, could upgrade an item's quality by one. She didn't particularly need the item itself but since this was a quest she was interested in the SP reward. She watched as the guy, who appeared to be 3 or 4 years younger than her, couldn't help himself from looking at that certain area and quickly evade his gaze in guilt. Seeing him act like that made it difficult for her to take him serious, thus her apparently carefree attitude towards him. Kimba on the other side didn't quite like him and started growling at him when they first meet in the woods.

ID# 31200  LD: 15 (Loot: 1 Material)

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

The brunette elf was annoyed and if this were a anime a vein could be seen pulsating and exploding around his neck. He let out a sigh and after a couple of more gasps and sighs he responded in an apparent calm voice: "No we aren't, don't worry miss I'll notice you when we arrive or meet a mob. Don't worry your pretty little head about it." To this, the blonde saluted him from behind and answered in a military-like tone: "Yes sir!" before starting to giggle.

 

She enjoyed these times, even if a certain white lion by her side kept a serious attitude while watching their surroundings. Kimba, for some reason was in a uncharacteristically serious. 'Could it be that she's sensing something that I don't?' the blonde asked herself while taking a quick sweep of her surroundings as well. Nothing could be seen so she decided to let her companion do the worrying part as they continued their journey.

ID# 31201  LD: 6

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

As the two were teasing each other, the surrounding mist slowly started raising from the ground, without them even noticing. The elf youngling displayed a immature behaviour, that wouldn't be surprising coming from someone with his youthful appearance. Ariel started thinking that, despite the longevity and wisdom, his kind was known for... the elf was indeed younger than her in lived years as well, not only appearance.

 

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

Looking at his body language and his manner of speech, deppen her initial suspicion. Making her guess or doubt, no more, that she had a unique encounter with a true elfling, on which the years haven't left their mark. That thought made her chuckle as she thanked her instincts once again, the ones that she deeply trusted. The same ones that helped the blonde stay alone all this time and keep her mental condition intact throughout this 'death game'. She had seen what SAO did to some, altering their behaviour to an extent that they weren't the same person.

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

"What!?"  asked the youth as he looked over his shoulder at the blonde.Ariel, lost in thought, kept gazing at the elf's back. His voice had the already annoyed tone but this time, it was mixed with a bit of honest curiosity. "Nothing" came as the jovial reply from the blonde, until she heard Kimba loudly growling by her side. This made the blonde instantly change from her current laid back state, to full combat ready mode. Now she was sure that furred her companion wasn't just growling at the elf but at something else, something more dangerous.

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

The elf may had been young but he was no fool. It took him a bit but he did manage to read the mood around him and notice that the mists around them were getting denser by the minute. He wanted to alert Ariel of his findings and ask about their next course of actions. As he turned his head towards her, with his mouth already half-opened, ready to voice his concern. He never got the chance as his mouth would close by pure reflex once he meet her eyes. He would see the blonde holding her left index finger over her red lips... mimicking the 'SHHHHHH!' sound with her mouth.

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

Whatever race or language, that was the universal sign for 'Shut up and don't move!' which the elf youth completely understand and acted accordingly. He continued to watch the surroundings and be prepared for whatever was out there. Then he saw the blonde motioning him to come closer. As he was within a decent range of her, Ariel insisted that he come closer, in the end she draw closer to him....very close. Her mouth was next to his left ear as she spoke:

"Took you long enough, listen. I think we have somebody on our tail. Did you say that there was only 1 Minotaur in the center right?" she asked in a very low tone. 

Feeling a bit awkward, the elf youth only nodded to her question. She then let out a  soft: 'Hmmmm' before continuing:

"Are there any other enemies in this labyrinth?" she asked while slowly drawing her weapon. 

Then the elf showed a confused expression as he answered with a determined voice:"There shouldn't be any other ones. Or at least that is what our legends say." 

Ariel then showed a smile as she stood up and entered a defensive stance that could cover her companion as well. "Well I guess we will just have to fight whatever is out there then!" she said, almost shouting to draw the attention of whatever was out there..hidden in the mists. 

In the next second a roar could be heard from their left side. Acting by pure instinct, Ariel shoved Eryndir to the side while made a leap towards the other way. The next instant a white figure made its way between them like a ragging bull. "What the???" she shouted as she was nearly hit. But she couldn't let the opportunity pass and activated her charge skill, leaving behind a golden-blue streak as she chased after the mob and stabbed it in the back, making the bull fall in face. She'd used the basic 'Linear' skill to close the gap between then and strike it at its left side, in the general area of the kidneys. 

 

ID:25998  BD: 6(4+2acc) MD: 4 (7-3eva) (savvy activated)

Ariel: 130 / 130 HP (29/30 Energy)

Dmg: 9 + 2 Charge  Dmg Mit: 25  Sword Art: Linear

Minotaur#1: 34 / 45 HP (-11) 

*Minotaur has 24 dmg

Edited September 11, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

The mob let out a horrid cry as the black blade pierced its flesh. The blonde assailant then took one step back but instantly extended her arm at maximum length, slashing the tip of her rapier in a quick navy colored thrust that was aimed at its distorted face from above. Her aim was true as always, even more so with the system assist that help her strike with pinpoint accuracy without even breaking a sweat. As soon as she felt she regained full control over her right arm she let out a arrogant snort. "These Sword Arts are pretty convenient aren't they."

Then she noticed that the mob didn't take any offensive ...well didn't take any action at all. It just stood there in one place like a statue. "Stun?" she asked no one in particular, preparing her stance for the next strike. She was full emerged in her battle mode, ignoring even the quivering elf NPC that remained glued to the ground from the moment the Minotaur attacked them.

 

ID:31164  BD: 6(2+2acc+1savvy+1 concentration) MD: 9 (stunned)

Ariel: 130 / 130 HP (25/30 Energy)

Dmg: 9  Dmg Mit: 25  Sword Art: Above 

Minotaur#1: 25 / 45 HP (-9) 

*Minotaur has 24 dmg

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

'Lets try something more advanced' thought the blonde as she slightly lowered her body center while raising her weapon. Keeping it perfectly horizontal as she was trained to do all these years. As soon as she entered the desired position, once again the system assist slightly took over her arm, correcting her trajectory mid thrust and adding a bit of strength into her action. At the first stab, the mob didn't even show any reaction at the sight of its torso being pierced. Not hesitating, the blond skillfully retracted the black rapier and thrust it a second time. Now the mob switched its gaze from a random direction onto the blonde and was getting ready to grab the thin blade. But it was too late, as by the time he touched the black blade, Ariel already retracted her weapon and stabbed the Minotaur a 3rd time. With a growl the beast instantly exploded into a shower of polygons. curiously in the same time the thick mist around them started lifting as well, showing a clear path in the labyrinth. The blonde then picked the randomly dropped material and turned her gaze towards the cowering elf, a bit further.

ID:31166  BD: 7(5+2acc) MD: 4  LD: 9 (No Loot)

Ariel: 130 / 130 HP (22/30 Energy)

Dmg: 9  Dmg Mit: 25  Sword Art: Accel Stub 

Minotaur#1: -2 / 45 HP (-27) 

*Minotaur has 24 dmg

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

"You okay there?" she asked in a flat tone, not a single shred of pity or concern in her voice. The elf youth looked up to her, still shaking in all joints: ' is this the same cheerful girl I walk with a few minutes ago?' he asked himself, mouth half open in amazement. This blonde had annihilated a thought legendary beats with no more than 3 moves and didn't even get hit once. Even more, her facial expression was one that showed great pleasure mid battle, some kind of battle freak to whom killing came like a second nature. A new wave of shivers crossed his body as he realized that, in this moment he was more afraid of her than the he was of the minotaur. As if hearing her voice give him a little more courage, the elf replied to her question with a growl 'Uhum'. Then he somehow managed to stand up, but couldn't bring himself closer to her.

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

Noticing his reaction the blonde showed a pained expression as she more or less guessed what he was thinking. Of course she would seem like a monster to him, a mere NPC that knows nothing about the reality of this place.A entirelly computer generated world that was initially made for the players amusement(herself included). But now the reality was that they were on the same level, mere pawns playing for the amusement of the one that designed the NPCs and trapped all the players in this death game. The NPC boy was probabilly putting her at the same level as the dangerous and scary monsters he knew from stories and legends. She let out a deep sigh, a bit relieved that he didn't just dashed away the moment he got the chance. Even admired him a bit for getting himself off the ground, even if he was hesitant to come by her side.

 

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

In any case Ariel wanted to finish this quest and collect the reward so she addressed the boy in a serious tone: "Hey are you planning to still tag along? I won't blame you if you want to turn around and head home. There's no shame in acknowledging your own weakness. You witnessed the minotaur being slayed, I think that would be enough to give you some notoriety back in the village." Then she turned around, preparing to continue her path in the newly visible path. Hoping deep down that he would reach to her and say that he would continue. ... 

but the world isn't a convenient world like that, even a virtual one like this. She bit her lower lip as she could hear the sound of someone running in the opposite direction of where she was heading. 'So that is your answer, huh? well at least you didn't stick for some crappy emotional break up' she thought as she started advancing on her own, grinding her teeth.

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

She made her way through the cleared labyrinth, the previous smog-like fog was now nothing more that a morning breze and the blonde could see clearly where she went. Going by pure gut feeling.. or better said, woman's instinct, after a couple of dead ends she found her way towards the center of the labyrinth. There there was no sigh of the previous fog and sunlight even found its way through the tree tops, onto the ground of the small clearing. There, the blonde could see a figure in the distance it was similar to the mob she slayed earlier... but it was much more bigger and more defined, muscle wise. It wielded a large shield and a short sword. As soon as she stepped inside the clearing, its eyes opened while flashing a dark crimson. 

"So you're the 'Aniki', I presume?" asked the blonde in a ironical tone as the annoying translation bubble showed the words 'Big Brother / Boss'

 

ID:31173  BD: 5(3+2acc) [LM activated] MD: 1 [Savvy activated]

Ariel: 130 / 130 HP  (28/30 Energy)

Dmg: 9  Dmg Mit: 25  Sword Art: None

Minotaur#2: 165 / 165 HP (-0) 

*Minotaur has 33 dmg

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

The blonde didn't even give the mob a change to attack as she entered the 'Charge' position while bringing her weapon in the optimal position to activate her currently most powerful most sword art. As soon as the preparations were ready, Ariel's whole body appeared to have been morphed into a blue-yellow flash, that lead from her initial point towards in front of the mob. She covered that huge distance in a blink of a eye and ended with a thrust towards its heart. The blonde's aim was true as always as once her weapon made contact with the mob, it staggered back a couple of steps and shook its head as if trying to process what happened to it. 

ID:31175  BD: 8 (6+2acc+1LM+1savvy)  MD: 1 [Savvy activated]

Ariel: 130 / 130 HP  (21/30 Energy)

Dmg: 9 +2 Charge  Dmg Mit: 25  Sword Art: Shooting Star

Minotaur#2: 88 / 165 HP (-77) 

*Minotaur has 33 dmg

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

As soon as she finished the initial sword art, the blonde retracted her blade and gave it a twist while thrusting. This activated the next sword art she had planed to use. She could feel her hand being guided hit after hit towards the mob's vitals, making it stagger backward with every hit. 'This is kind of boring' she thought after the second stab. The last one was aimed towards the head and as much as the minotaur tried to evade it, her arm would correct its aim midair and strike true. 'Kind of takes the joy out of fighting' thought again as she watched the mob with pity in her eyes. 'As I thought, lower floor quests are a pain, in regards to the satisfaction achieved when you finish it. But hey... a SP is a SP no matter how you gain it, right?' she asked...nobody in particular.

 

ID:31176  BD: 8 (6+2acc+1savvy)  MD: 1 [Savvy activated]

Ariel: 130 / 130 HP  (15/30 Energy)

Dmg: 9  Dmg Mit: 25  Sword Art: Penetrate

Minotaur#2: 34 / 160 HP (-54) 

*Minotaur has 33 dmg

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

'Then again....fighting it completely serious would be a bit of a drag right?' that thought crossed her mind as she evaded the mob's first attempt in striking her. It thrusted its shield forward them followed with a horizontal slash. But both of them struck complete nothingness as the agile blonde, with the help of her passive 'Acrobatics' skill, leaped backwards with a gracious back flip and landed out of its striking range. "Is that all you have? C'mon your little brother proved more of a challenge than his." she said in a taunting attempt as she entered her guarding stance, ready to attack or evade again, depending on the next minotaur's move.

 

ID:31181  BD: 1 [LM activated]  MD: 5 (8-3eva) [Savvy activated]

Ariel: 130 / 130 HP  (11/30 Energy)

Dmg: 9  Dmg Mit: 25  Sword Art: None

Minotaur#2: 34 / 165 HP (-0) 

*Minotaur has 33 dmg

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

Seeing the mob delay its action, as almost hesitating to attack her, the blonde decides to end his life instead of dragging this even longer. At this paint she lost all interest in this fight, this guy was a complete ant compared with the mobs located on the front lines. And as merciful girl she was going to put an end to his inferiority in the most rapid way. She quickly began to dash towards it and once in striking range, she activated a fairly simple sword art, befitting a opponent of this caliber.

First she aimed for its right shoulder, dodging the shield swing aimed at her.Them after reinforcing the grip on the black leather handle, she started slashing diagonally towards the belly. Leaving a blue light effect followed by a crimson streak of its blood. "I'm not finished yet!" she almost yelled to nobody in particular as she stopped her descend right around the belly and quickly began dragging her weapon upwards. It left the same gruesome visual effect until it reached the mob's right shoulder. In that moment the art disengaged and Ariel retracted her weapon.

 

ID:31195  BD: 8 (8+2acc+1LM+1Savvy)  MD: 5 (8-3eva) [Savvy activated]

Ariel: 130 / 130 HP  (9/30 Energy)

Dmg: 9  Dmg Mit: 25  Sword Art: Rip Ravine

Minotaur#2: 16 / 165 HP (-18) 

*Minotaur has 33 dmg

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

"Still not dead huh? You're more resilient than I thought, I'll give you that" said the blonde in a mocking tone as she watched the mob. Due to the use of that latest sword art its hands were now just handing by its sides. It dropped the shield and weapon as his superior members hung limp by his sides. In front of this pitiful sight, the player known as the crowned lion let out a sigh and shook her head a couple of times. "I honestly thought that you'd die with that last attack, this is starting to feel more like bullying than a fight." her eyes were accompanied by a small grin. "Not that mind it."

She starts dashing towards the mob and before almost ramming into it, she made a feint to the right and using the accumulated momentum slashed the general area in which he was in a V shape at the full length of her extended right arm. In the next moment the mob released a pained grunt before exploding into pixels.

 

ID:31196  BD: 8 (5+2acc+1Savvy)  MD: 5 (8-3eva) [Savvy activated]  LD: 15

Ariel: 130 / 130 HP  (7/30 Energy)

Dmg: 9  Dmg Mit: 25  Sword Art: Sweep

Minotaur#2: -2 / 165 HP (-18) 

Loot: 1 Material and 825 Col

*Minotaur has 33 dmg

[Ariel - The Crowned Lion 0]

Picking up the loot with a sigh the blonde then looked around her, the clearing was even more visible now as the remaining fog vanished. The blonde started walking towards the center, a certain structure piqued her interest. It was some kind of altar, modestly made by stone in the exterior while inside, a simple table with a white top resided. Taking a final look around her to make sure there weren't any surprises, she stands at the entrance of the shrine. Not feeling particularly inclined to pray she peered over to see what was on top of the table. Her eyes set on a simple pendant, with a gen depicting of a white crescent moon. With a shrug, the blonde picked up the item and tossed it in her inventory without reading what it did. She was sure that whatever it was, she would have no use for a random object from a low floor like this one. She turns around and starts looking for a way out of the labyrinth, now that her 'guide' deserted she thought that it will be more troublesome to exit this forest.

ID# 31197 LD: 4 (No loot)

Edited September 12, 2015 by Ariel - The Crowned Lion