[F7] A Solitary Travel

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom warped into the 7th floor. He looked around at the far mountain peaks, and he didn't know why but it made him feel relaxed seeing them, and the thought of traversing them made him even more calm after that. He didn't hesitate another moment, he wanted a solo walk through the mountain tops, he'd keep his eyes peeled to see the mountain lily's and various other materials that he could use for food plans. He needed to make sure he was ready for the next session of cooking food.

[Ssendom 0]

As he stepped foot outside the town of the town, he started thinking about the companionship that came with another player strolling with him through the mountain ranges. And then the thought dawned on him, he happened to have companionship with him for the rest of his life. He whistled loudly into the air, and down descended his purple fiery phoenix named Amethyst which landed upon his shoulder. "Why thank you for joining me for the stroll little one." He said with a smile as he scratched under the chin of his flame bird which responded in turn with a whistle indicating his happiness.

[Ssendom 0]

While walking up the mountain paths the bird made a different tone of a whistle trying to get Ssendom to look in the direction that the bird was facing. When he complied he realized how quickly he had traveled up one of the mountain paths, looking over the edge sat a massive valley with a violent looking river at the bottom of it. The bird looked at Ssendom and whistled again in a happier tone, "I know it's quite the view isn't it Amethyst?" He asked the curious little bird with a jolly nature to it. It again whistled in a happier tone since it seemed to understand what Ssendom could say.

[Ssendom 0]

After awhile he reached the rickety bridges that linked many of the mountains and their strange paths. Each different mountain had something different to offer, but it wasn't the largest mountain of the entire floor. There was a good 2 day walk to the bottom of the mountain that stood the highest, and was one of the least traveled due to the dangerous height limit. None had reached the top without a group and still no one sat upon the peak of the entire thing, and Ssendom looked to change that number. He would be the first to stand on top the highest point of the entire floor, and he'd be the only one to do it alone.

[Ssendom 0]

Amethyst stopped it's random flying patterns as it began to shiver and get inside the armor of Ssendom, he didn't think about how cold it was up this high. And he was certainly surprised that the bird could be cold as it was an embodiment of fire and was able to control it. He thought that the little guy could keep himself as an infinite heat source and wouldn't be affected by the elements. He was feeling bad for the bird so he let Amethyst heat up his armor, in fact he welcomed it since the bird was keeping his armor warm allowing him to ignore the coldness of how high up they were in the mountains.

[Ssendom 0]

 With heated armor and a napping bird plus some steak sitting in his inventory just in case he needed to eat. And since he had a way to make a bonfire thanks to the help of his fiery little pal, he didn't need to worry about the requirements for camping out. During his walk along the rickety bridges that would feel as though they are giving in under the immense weight of him and his armor, he thought about all the people he had fought alongside and spent time with throughout his travels in Aincrad itself. He knew most of them would be standing along side him at the face of the eleventh floor boss.

[Ssendom 0]

It was a calm and serene walk amongst the mountain tops. Though he was venturing far away from the bright lit area's of the first mountain which were heavily explored. Most people didn't venture on the other mountains as everything they needed was accessible on the surrounding closest mountains to the town. But nothing Ssendom did was ever normal or simple. Most people already got the hint that Ssendom enjoyed pushing himself to the extreme, always placing himself on the brink of death at any given moment yet at the same time always seemed so thrilled and enjoyed to be in such a situation at all times.

[Ssendom 0]

As he descended and ascended the winding paths of the mountainsides, as the night drew ever closer and closer so did the temperature drop. Ssendom not paying attention to anything of the sort since his eyes automatically adjusted to keep his vision as clear as if it were day due to his Night Vision. Often Ssendom found himself walking for hours upon hours at a time without a break or a rest due to losing track of time. It wasn't until he looked up into the air at the moon which wasn't nearly as blinding as the sun which helped him realize his own fatigue, "I should probably find the nearest cave so that me and the little guy can rest for night." He whispered to the bird that snoozed within his armor.

[Ssendom 0]

It was another hour or so it felt to find a small nice little cave that was right at the base of the mountain. He required a few logs to get a bonfire started so to keep the warmth of him and his pet going through the dead of night. Ssendom tapped his armor causing the bird to fly out of his chest plate and land upon his shoulder, It looked at him for a second before realizing what he needed. The bird flew down onto the ground and waited while he headed out to go find what was required for the two to sleep the night away. Upon getting off his shoulder he headed out of the small cave.

[Ssendom 0]

He strolled out for a little while, he opened his inventory HUD and placed away his Dusk Reaver as it was a thinner Greatsword of sorts. He scrolled around and withdrew his his brute-like sword Gorehowl and dropped the heavier blade upon his shoulderplate. Upon reaching a tree he lifted it and swung with might force in an attempt to chop down the tree in a single swing. As he cleaved the tree in two, he was hoping some material would drop off the branches as it fell. But with no luck all he got was firewood usable only for a short time such as a bonfire, he sighed placing Gorehowl in it's sheath then picking up firewood and stacking it upon his shoulder.

ID: 33559

LD: 8 + 1 (No Material)

Edited September 30, 2015 by Ssendom

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom returned to the small cave that his new found Phoenix friend had been sitting, awaiting his arrival. After reaching the middle of the small little place, he dumped all the logs in a small area to have be lit. He then stood up walked around the spot to grab rocks to make a campfire one might see in an actual camping trip in the real world. After everything was set he looked at his flaming bird, "Now light it so we may sleep." He said in a ginger and kind manner, even though his choice of wording was poor. The purple phoenix flew in the dead middle of the wood pile and used it's natural flame to create the campfire. With the room lit in purple flame, Ssendom rested himself upon the rock floor then closed his eyes as he dosed off into a dream state.

[Ssendom 0]

As the sun beamed over the horizon as early morning began, the bright light landing directly on Ssendom's face causing him to wake up. He sat up and turned to look at the campfire which was nothing by smoldering ash at this point and his faithful bird resting in said ash. He jumped up onto his feet and whistled to the bird causing it to wake up alarmingly, "Lets go Amethyst, this mountain won't trek itself you know." He chuckled as he began to walk toward the exit, the bird used this chance to fly upon his shoulder so it wouldn't have to fly any in the cold air altitude of the mountains of floor seven.

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom picked up his pace for the time he lost due to needing his sleep. The air was still a bit frigid since he was still high up in the mountains and Amethyst really did not enjoy the cold. The bird's body wasn't big enough to be able to keep itself warm, so it needed the inside of Ssendom's Dreaded Plate Armor to stay warm since it could heat up his armor enough. Ssendom was in more of a jog now instead of a brisk walk, he was interested more so now at the top of the tallest mountain. He kept his eyes on the path he was running to make sure he wouldn't make some bone head move and fall off.

[Ssendom 0]

After a few hours of traveling he was over half way to the mountain he wanted to climb and his determination was having him pick up his pace. Some time ago he started noticing the lack of player interference this far out to the ground. Long ago in the start of this journey he saw damaged bushes, piles of rocks, foot prints, all sorts of things that indicated player's walking on the floor. But out here, there were very few and seldom things that indicated a player came out here. And slowly but surely it was being affirmed to him that he would be the only player that had come out this far... He enjoyed the thought.

[Ssendom 0]

With heated armor he continued in good stride, thanks to his survival and athletics he wasn't ever being winded by this constant strain of movement. He kept going and going without pausing, focused and determined to keep pace to reach the goal he had put in his own mind. There was nothing that was going to distract him at this point, there were a plethora of materials just ripe for the picking and easily accessible since no one ever came out this far. But he had no interest in the materials, he would dedicate another time to finding materials. Just right now he needed to clear his mind, and he was succeeding at doing so.

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom was slowly beginning to feel comfortable again being completely alone, even though technically he wasn't alone thanks to his phoenix. Yet he still did long to converse with someone who was close to him, but unfortunately he was losing those closest to him. It was a sad to think about, yet still Ssendom's resolve stayed strong as it kept all thoughts of those whom have abandoned him and have lost contact with him away in a lockbox of sorts. He was closing in on the mountain itself, he then tapped on his armor to alert Amethyst and bring it out of his armor.

[Ssendom 0]

Once he reached the base of the insanely tall mountain he slowed down to a stop placing himself directly next to the mountain wall. The phoenix then flew out of his armor and looked at him. Ssendom scrolled through his inventory and unequipped his armor though the necklace he had received from Meokka still dangled from his neck. Once he was out of his armor and in his normal attire, he took off his shirt, gloves, scarf, and shoes in the inventory so he stood in nothing but his pants. He turned his attention to his phoenix friend, "Alright, you may go home. I need to this alone Amethyst." He asked the bird who nodded as it seemed to understand it's master and flew off becoming particles as it was unsummoned.

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom used his hands and feet to begin climbing the impressively tall mountain. He knew if he picked up speed he could just run up the mountain side no problem, but that would ruin the entire point of coming this far out for literally no reason but to reach the top of the mountain. He used his sheer strength in his hands and feet to climb the mountain as one would in the real world. He needed to climb it this way and this way only, it was a test of his fortitude, strength, and will to do so. Upon all of this, he only had one outcome; Succeeding, since the fall would be an instant kill due to how high up he was falling from.

[Ssendom 0]

Every now and again his hand would grab a rock spot that seemed good to grab and use for his ascension up the mountain side and it would shatter, but Ssendom's mental fortitude was above freaking out, he simply moved his hand to the next one and continued going. Even when a rock would give out under his foot, he simply moved it to the nearest one as he kept his pace up. Systematically he continued climbing so he could reach the top, he whistled a tune that appeared in his head as he went up. He was beginning to enjoy the climb, it was reminding him of the times he would be in the gym working out and when he was out in the wilderness doing his run to keep in shape.

[Ssendom 0]

Ssendom finally reached the tip top of the tallest mountain, the sky wasn't cloudy so he could literally see everywhere on the floor. It went for many more miles. Yet his goal was achieved, he was sweating profusely as his limits were tested. He could see the small town where the teleportation gate sat. He could see literally everything this floor had to offer, though he couldn't tell if people were standing or walking as he was much too far away to tell specifics. But he had ultimately achieved his goal, he forgot about what was bothering him mentally and was ready for the next task. Getting down from the mountain top.