18:00pm
forest house k4
night quickly came as the dinner has begun, with them all cheers with their cups clang to one another before they sat down, klein and agil doing a drinking game, while kirito look at it from the side
skoll was currently playing child games with yui while the asuna and the other were talking to one another, blesi was the only one remain silent as he continue to drink the soup asuna made
though he see his notification as he quickly drank up the hot soup before bring it to clean it up, he quickly tap the message as he see it was his brother writing :
"blesi, meet me later around 10 at the usual spot, i got some info for you."
seeing this he just hope no one awake like alice did, but hearing footstep he quickly close the tab while wash the bowl quickly, he look back seeing asuna had everyone bowl in the ready for a wash, with yui going alongside her
he quickly wash off his hand before stepping out of the washer, now he just have to wait though he can feel that someone was looking at him but he quickly shrugged it off thinking it was his imagination
21:30
blesi looking at the time as he see sinon, leafa, silica, klein have log off, while kirito and asuna had gone to bed with yui, while solmani decided to sleep in the dinner table, as blesi should have known that it was alice who have been watching him
"i should have know it was you" blesi chuckles "this time i wont hide it, i would like you to bring me to him" alice requested "so you can help kirito took his arm and one of his eye" blesi said jokingly "well, other than that..."
"fine, he didn't said i have to go alone or not, so i take it as a yes" blesi said looking at the message just to be sure before he look at the time once again "well i guess it's a good time to go" blesi said as he opened the door as he let alice walk out first before closing it quietly to not wake up anyone
21:55
blesi and alice quickly arrive to the usual place with the location unchanging just like last time, he look around wandering where jakul is before he see him sitting on a nearby rock facing to the lake
as alice about to call him, blesi quickly stop her as he decided to let him be the one to begin the talking, he step out a bit before said "hey, jakul"
jakul remain silent with his eyes closed but when he heard that voice he opened his eyes replied "blesi" before he got up looking back "i can see that you also bring a companion, no big deal, she can be my messenger anyway"
"let's get to the point, brother, so tell me what info do you got from me ?" blesi asked "i'm pretty sure you may know the general like i do, blesi" jakul said as blesi suprised to hear the mention of the general but he remained calm asked "the general, you mean ragnar ?, what does he have to do with it"
"impatience and reckless as always, blesi, well then let me satisfy it, i can see you have suspected the general long ago, is it brother ?" jakul explained "yes, eversince the poet attack" blesi replied
"much earlier than i though, well then, as you can see he had recently ordered me to plan for me to fight you, but i though why not make things much more fun, it would be quite unfair for you to face them all by yourself, right ?" jakul see blesi getting concerned of what he planned
"what do you plan to do, jakul ?" blesi asked hoping to get some answers "well, simple, i hope you meet them all 4 floors before the current boss of the latest floor" jakul replied as he look to alice hoping she get it all clear this time
"all you need to know is simple, we will, meet again, brother, and may our blade meet to end it all" jakul said as he had open the teleporter before looking to alice said "have a good sleep in wonderland, alice" as alice see him bow down as blesi calls out "wait !?" but he was gone
"4 floors before the current boss, wait, so it take place in-" alice said "aincrad, look like they plan it to be in aincrad...we need to ask kirito what the current boss is, he knew this more than i do" blesi said thinking good thing alice came
as he look to the aincrad tower on the sky, while wonder have they planned, whatever it was they have to fight them, if possible he should also brought them to the lords to decided their fate
he knew it would be risky for him but he is ready to accept the consequences but he didn't want kirito nor asuna to involve, with this question bugging his mind, he simply need to make sure one thing, whatever it was kirito should never face the general or else he will be put onto the list especially for those who support the generals ideas, the only person the supporter and general can witness are he himself
"blesi, are you all right ?" alice concerned seeing blesi was silent during the walk back " i'm fine" blesi replied before remaining silence during the walk back as they about to enter blesi asked "hey, alice, when the day came could you help me do one thing ?"
"i would like you to stop kirito, when i want him to stop, i would like you to help me in this" blesi said as alice wondered what had he planned "why !?" she see blesi is silent before he said "kirito had too much stuff in him, and i don't want to put more on his plate, so, i decided, when kirito about to meet the general, stop him, allow me to handle the general, if i win, i will bring the general to the court, allow me be the one to receive the concequences"
"concequences ?" alice asked "yes, knowing the general reputation, killing him, might led to people hunting down the murderer, and these few days living with you all remind me of the time i was at the sleeping knight when she was still there" blesi smiled before he continues
"and i could never thank you enough for this, not to mention, i don't want kirito to be worried of people come burst into this house to harm his family, with that, i decided to let me carry this responsibility as i should." blesi explained as he wonder what would alice response is
alice remain silence for a bit before she said "thank you, blesi..." blesi heard this as he smiled glad that alice have decided her choice, he quickly opened the door let her in before he do as they decided to wait to inform kirito and asuna about this while alice decided to get some sleep while blesi decided to sleep in the couch hoping the uncomfortable feeling of the couch let him wake up early
the next day
08:00
blesi was awaken as he see the time as he look to the two door in front of him, seeing they aren't awake, he decided to just sat there waiting, fifteen minutes have passed and a door was opened as alice come out yawning while blesi can see that they only need to wait for kirito and asuna.
15 minutes later
the door was knocked as alice go opened it to see sinon, silica, lisbeth, leafa, klein and agil arrive, as blesi think they can probably help in this as he see solmani or skoll had just woken up
before soon as everyone enter the house kirito and asuna bedroom door was opened as the two had finally come out, with blesi sigh in relief as he had something to talk to them " *clears throat* everyone, may i lend some ears from you all, i got something important to tell ?"
blesi see some of them standing while others sat on the chair as he look at alice who nodded in agreemment before he said "okay, last night when you all asleep and logoff, jakul had messaged me once again" blesi said showing the message
"what did he say ?" agil asked "he gave an info and he said that he and the others will be waiting 4 floors before the current floor boss" blesi explained he can tell that some find this info hard to believe especially if it was came from their enemy for fearing it could be a trap, but since jakul is the one organize it to blesi this source was believable at the very least
kirito wonder the current floor boss as he wonder if he heard any info about it before he remembers "floor 45, i guess he want us all to meet at floor 42, but just to be safe it is best we prepare in floor 41"
"i understand, best be prepare, anything can happen" blesi approved of the idea "though since floor 41 - 44 were all cleared, we shouldn't worry much, mostly just worry about spawning monsters and such" blesi chuckle hearing this knowing it as easy as killing an ant "seeing them and fighting them, it shouldn't be a problem for them anyway"
"since you have encounter jakul and ivar, let me give you all some context of others, we have xuanji or what they called the poet, skilled in spear, very sensitive so you can use it to your advantage but also beware, she goes all crazy on her attack, if possible i like asuna leafa, and lisbeth to handle the incoming attack" blesi explained thinking of it as chess
"we have tate, as they call it the shield, by the looks of it, so far he has the excalibur on him, he seems to fond using beast with the dragons around his neck, but can't say much from the encounter so take it with grain of salt, so i decided to let silica, sinon to handle the dragon just in case, while agil, klein, and kirito go ahead and fight tate" blesi continued worrying he may use some cheats and such
blesi think some more before said " i guess that is all"
"what about the general ?" alice ask "i didn't know much about him, not his way of fighting at least, all i know is that he was rumored to have never had his HP below yellow" blesi said as asuna and kirito reminded of someone "could it be ?" asuna look to kirito "no, it's impossible"
blesi hear this ask "what is it ?" as he see kirito face which concerned "nothing, it's just the general you spoke of reminded me of someone, someone i fought that have the same situation" blesi think it was impossible "it was a rumor, i can't be sure if it was propoganda and such, i might belief it was possible he may or may not heard of such rumor and decided to use it for his own need"
"true, a position of a general like him might do such a thing like this" asuna wondered before she curiousedly asked "may i ask, what will you do to them when we captured them" blesi simply said "kept an eye on them, i need at least two or three people in case one wasn't enough, if possible revive them when their time as a flame nearly end and kept them as an hostage"
"what are you going to do to them ?" leafa asked as blesi hand crossed "i will bring them to the lords to let them decided their fate"
"even your brother, jakul ?" kirito asked as blesi hear this in silence but he simply replied "yes" as kirito and asuna don't know what to say
blesi see everyone was in silence he decided to said "make some preparation we'll be going around 10" before got out of the couch hoping to let them make up their mind as alice look at blesi knowing blesi true intention
10:00am
floor 40
the teleportation port was on as kirito were the first to arrive before other follow with it, kirito quickly make their choice before soon they were transported to a chamber with light of flame flickering beside them, they expected monsters as they had their weapon ready
asuna hold his rapier as she uses the searcher noticing nothing was around this chamber, but they continue to walk slowly keep their eye on the surrounding, after about a minute they were suprise to see one thing
as two giant gates were in front of them, one of the left will lead them to the next floor but the other however, will lead them to 44 floor
blesi look to the others, before he said "kirito, you and the others go through the next floor, i'm going to the 44 floor alone"
"wait !" kirito call out as blesi looked back "how can you be so sure that the one all alone is safe ?"
"i don't, i expected some monsters or salamander soldiers blocking my path, but we need as much people to stop the other as much as possible, for me dealing with these soldiers won't be much of a problem, so best be resourful about it" as blesi got close to the door as he see the other go to the others
blesi look to the others and said "all of you, stay strong" before he see them push the door and quickly enter while blesi push the door only to see a red spear come charging towards him as he dodge the incoming attack by an inch from his face
he quickly drew his weapon to see many salamander mages in ready to cast their spells, with some shape in weapons, other shapes in red sphere, as it was prepare, blesi quickly ran as he see them prepare for fire, he ran in a few feet before their spell is fired, with blesi use his sword to deflect them quickly
meanwhile
kirito and the others had entered the room they quickly look to their surrounding wondering where it was, before they hear sounds, sounds of music yet they can't see where it was, while leafa wander who this could be the realization stops as monsters began to appear as they seems to act more aggresive, knowing this she quickly attack to defeat one of them and yelled "XUANJI, I KNOW IT'S YOU!"
she look around while continue to hitting the enemies before lisbeth dealth with the last one of them as asuna use the searcher, before she can summon it an spear suddenly charging towards her, with a shield lisbeth was able to reflect the spear with her shield in front of asuna
quickly xuanji appeared as she grab the spear mid air with her wings she quickly flew toward asuna, but with lisbeth shield she was quickly push back, but the shield couldn't resist much with the shield bar only 70% left, she see xuanji land in front of her while lisbeth kept her shield up, and the others prepare
xuanji simply got into her preparation, before looking to leafa "look like we meet again, young one" xuanji said before looking to kirito "i can see you brought your man here" lisbeth were wondering as she asked "what is she talking about ?"
"ignore me all you like, leafa, why don't you give up and accepted that we are the same, your love for your cousin, my love for my mentor, it's all the same, horrible and disgusting" xuanji said with open arms as leafa remain silent as xuanji believe she have her in control as she thought, with no improvement like last time
before leafa couldn't hold it but laugh, as lisbeth and the other wonder what leafa was laughing at, but when it stop leafa simply said "you though your tricks going to work on me once again *chuckle* think again, i'm just a young girl mistaken what loves is, because i have never experience them before, now with more understanding, i would say i never truly see my cousin as a lover" leafa said pointing his blade to xuanji
"but rather, as just that a family, you however, you as an adult and still linger on your mentor, now that is just disgusting" leafa said as she had her sword in the ready "lisbeth, asuna, let's beat this crazy woman and get to the next floor"
asuna and lisbeth were suprise to see leafa act like this but seeing she is confident lisbeth and asuna had their weapons in the ready while xuanji took a deep breath before had her spear lowered "since, you have the confidence to say that, then come at me, you little brat !"
with this word said the three charge forward as xuanji smiled while walking back slowly, dodging asuna attack with ease before kick her spear forward to attack asuna, only to see it parried by leafa though this give her an opportunity to turn around and given another thrust, this time leafa block it with her sword, as she quickly grab the shaft with one hand "asuna!"
asuna quickly with her rapier ready unleash volley of attack, each attack depleting xuanji health very quickly before she quickly grab hold of asuna sword, as she quickly pulled the spear back to made an attack, she expected an easy slice but her attack quickly reflected by lisbeth who had her mace opened for attack
not much time to react xuanji can only see the mace hitting her hips, before she knew it her healthbar only have 45% left while she was flown a few feet away
"are you okay, asuna ?" lisbeth asked feeling out of breath "i'm fine" asuna replied keep an eye on xuanji before leafa said "seeing her healthbar, i reckon you be careful of her attack, lisbeth"
"on it" lisbeth said as she look to her defenses, only 60% left before it will break "wanna use the switching" lisbeth asked the other "we can but look like one of us have to be attacker and parrier" leafa said as she saw xuanji is getting up
"i'll be the middle one" asuna said thinking her speed would be enough to do both "well, if it was your choice, then let's do it, now be prepared" lisbeth said with her shield ready
xunaji gotten up as she look to her health bar, before she pulled out the dagger, that have the word "wen ting" carved on it, before decided to had a dagger on one hand and the spear on the other, using it to parry asuna rapier
she know she going to lose in the end, but seeing her mentor name in this dagger is enough for her to felt comfort facing what in front of her, as with a deep breath she charge toward them with her spear attack at full speed, with lisbeth blocking some before parry
"switch!" lisbeth step aside letting asuna to attack, as xuanji had her dagger ready she quickly block some of the rapier but most of it still got to her, but xuanji quickly had her spear ready once again
asuna see the incoming attack quickly parry it calling "leafa!" before step aside to let leafa using her kendo skills, with xuanji quickly prepare to charge an attack with the two weapons glow, before it all ends
the two stand there still panting heavily as she had her dagger to attack instead of her spear, while leafa seeing her healthbar getting lower it stops, while xuanji see that her had began to lower down, as she fell just in time as it became zero, she look up reaching to the sky calling her mentors name before she was gone leaving only a flame on the floor
leafa sigh as she put back her sword seeing asuna and the other walk toward to see how xuanji goes, as she got close she see the dagger that didn't dissapear, she simply pick it up to see a word she couldn't understand, but she can guess it must have belong to the mentor she mentioned
she quickly put it beside the flame, now she will have to keep an eye as lisbeth sat down near the flame said "well i guess, it's time for us to guard this one, asuna, it's best you go to the next floor with the others"
"are you sure about that, liz ?" asuna asked for fear that two may not be enough "yes, though i think it's best we put their weapons away from her just in case" leafa suggested as kirito and the other had came close
"hey, leafa..." kirito ask though she remain silent as she take the spear and dagger away before replied "kazuto, in case your wondering, yes, i used to have those though, but now, i see you more as a family than a lover, so... think of it as me getting mature"
"my little sister have all grown up...good to know" kirito said smiling feeling proud about her moving on as he look to the other before leaving leafa and lisbeth to guard this flame