The crisp mountain air filled Strawberry's lungs as she stood at the summit, gazing out across the vast expanse of Aincrad's 2nd Floor. The world stretched out before her—rolling hills, deep forests, and jagged mountains that faded into the horizon. The wind was cool, carrying the faint scent of pine and snow. Despite the beauty of it all, Strawberry's mind was focused on the journey ahead.
Beside her, the old master stood quietly, his weathered face calm but his sharp eyes glinting with wisdom. His long, white hair flowed gently in the breeze, and his robes, though simple, conveyed the air of a man who had lived through countless battles. He was the Martial Arts Master, an NPC who had guided her through a grueling trial to unlock the Martial Arts Extra Skill—a skill that allowed her to harness her inner strength, channeling raw power even without a weapon.
Strawberry glanced down at her hands, still stinging from the effort it had taken to split the rock in half with only her palms. The task had seemed impossible at first, but she had done it—unlocked a skill that few players would ever know about. It wasn't flashy, but it would be invaluable in the battles ahead.
"Your journey does not end here, girl of the sword," the old master said, his voice low and gravelly, but carrying an air of finality. "This skill is but one step toward true strength. Remember, the greatest battles are fought within."
Strawberry nodded in acknowledgment, appreciating the weight of his words. This had been a challenge, but in the grand scheme of things, it was just another stepping stone. Aincrad's dangers were many, and each floor held more terrifying threats than the last. She'd already faced near-death fighting the 1st Floor boss, Illfang the Kobold Lord, and that had taught her the hard truth of this death game: every fight could be her last.
"Thank you, master," she said quietly, glancing at the old man.
The master gave a faint smile, then turned toward his humble hut. The structure was modest, almost blending into the rocky terrain around it, its wooden beams worn by the elements. A small plume of smoke curled up from the chimney, and the wind whispered softly through the cracks in the walls. This was his world, isolated and calm.
As he disappeared into the hut, Strawberry took one last look around the summit. It was time to leave.
Descending the mountain was no easier than the climb had been. The narrow paths wound steeply down the rocky cliffs, and loose stones skittered beneath her boots as she carefully made her way back toward the base. Each step required focus, especially with the weight of her recent achievement still lingering in her mind.
Muffin, her horned bunny companion, shifted uneasily on her shoulder. He wasn't a fan of heights, that much was clear. His tiny paws clung to her jacket tightly, and his wide eyes scanned the steep drops to their left and right with visible anxiety.
"I know, Muffin," Strawberry muttered, feeling the tension in his tiny frame. "But we've got this. We're almost at the bottom."
The path grew steeper, and at times, she had to grab onto nearby rocks or tree roots to steady herself. The forest below seemed distant, like a green blanket draped across the world. The climb down was treacherous, but the fresh air and the view reminded her of why she loved Aincrad, despite its deadly traps. It was a world built with beauty and danger in equal measure.
The wilderness was alive around them—birds chirped from the branches of nearby pines, their songs echoing faintly through the mountain air. A squirrel-like creature darted between rocks ahead, disappearing into a crevice as soon as it spotted her. The natural elements of the game were so meticulously crafted that, at times, it was easy to forget this wasn't real. The cool breeze, the smell of earth and bark, the faint rustle of leaves—they all felt real.
But Strawberry knew better than to let the beauty of this world lull her into complacency. Everything in Aincrad could turn dangerous in an instant. She had seen it too many times already—players who had been caught off guard, their lives snuffed out in a flash by a monster stronger or faster than they were. It was the reminder that always lingered in the back of her mind: every decision mattered here. Every step could be her last.
Finally, the path flattened out, and the trees grew thicker as they reached the base of the mountain. The ground leveled beneath her feet, and Muffin's grip on her shoulder loosened slightly, the little creature letting out a soft sigh of relief.
"We made it," she said, more to herself than Muffin. She reached up to gently scratch the bunny behind his tiny horns, earning a contented chirp in response.
Now that she was back on solid ground, it was time to focus on the next step of her journey. The Phantom Petal Paths. Strawberry had learned about the secret routes that crisscrossed Aincrad, hidden high in the mountains and accessible only to those with specific tools—namely, a scythe. The thought of having such a tool in her arsenal was intriguing. The Petal Paths were said to offer fast travel between floors, avoiding the usual grind of navigating the labyrinths and combat zones.
But there was one issue: she didn't have a scythe.
And that's where her mind turned back to the strange, glowing crystal she had found when she first met Muffin. The shard had an odd, almost magical quality to it, and she had the feeling it was connected to something more. Perhaps it could be the key to crafting a unique weapon, one powerful enough to allow her access to the Phantom Petal Paths.
"We need more materials, Muffin," she said thoughtfully, her mind already racing with ideas. "And I know just where to get them."
Her thoughts drifted to the 1st Floor—specifically, to a hidden quest she had encountered during the beta but hadn't fully completed. The Diary of the Dragon Huntsman. The quest had led her to strange, dangerous places, and the reward had been a gemstone that seemed to hold great significance, though she hadn't fully understood it at the time.
Now, she felt like the pieces were starting to come together. If she could gather more unique materials from that quest, she could take them to a blacksmith and have them forge a custom scythe. Something strong enough to interact with the petals.
Without wasting any more time, Strawberry set off toward the nearest teleport gate. The trek through the forests was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves as a breeze swept through the trees. She moved swiftly, the weight of her new skill giving her confidence with each step.
The familiar glow of the teleport gate shimmered in front of her as she reached the nearest town. Urbus—the largest settlement on the 2nd Floor—buzzed with activity. Players hurried through the streets, some gathering supplies, others preparing for quests. The atmosphere here was more focused, more intense than it had been on the 1st Floor, where new players were still trying to survive.
Strawberry didn't linger. She approached the teleport gate and called out the command that would send her back to the beginning of her journey.
"Teleport: Town of Beginnings."
The light engulfed her, and in a flash, she was gone.
When the light faded, Strawberry stood once again in the Town of Beginnings, the starting point for all players in Aincrad. The streets here were far less busy than they had been during the game's initial launch. Many of the players who had survived had already moved on to the higher floors, leaving behind those who struggled to keep up. She could see newer players—still cautious, still unsure of how to navigate this deadly game—mingling in the town square, some of them trading items, others practicing sword skills on training dummies.
It felt strange to be back. This place had been her home for the first few weeks of the game, but now, it seemed so small compared to the vastness of Aincrad. Strawberry moved quickly through the familiar streets, her mind focused on the task at hand.
As she walked, she kept her eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. The Diary of the Dragon Huntsman quest wasn't something that appeared on a regular map or quest log. It was hidden, requiring players to find clues scattered across the world.
That's when she saw it.
A small, tattered piece of parchment lay on the ground near a merchant's stall, half-hidden under a stack of crates. It looked out of place, the edges worn and the ink faded from exposure to the elements. Something about it caught her attention, and she bent down to pick it up.
As she unfolded the parchment, her eyes widened. It was a journal entry.
The handwriting was familiar—the same scrawling text she had seen during the beta.
"It didn't take much time for me to locate my first target. After all, I've been studying dragons since I was a young child. I always knew it was the job I wanted. Now I'll be doing more than I ever imagined. The task I've set for myself is a grand one indeed. Nevertheless, I've drawn a map of the area to ensure I don't get lost, and will likely need to draw more in the future. The dragon's lair should be close. I only pray that the creature is sleeping..."
Her heart raced as she flipped the parchment over, revealing a crude map drawn on the back. The lines were faint, but they were enough to give her a sense of where to go. The location wasn't far from the town, tucked away in a dense forest at the foot of the mountains.
Before she could dwell on it further, a quest prompt appeared in her vision:
Quest: Diary of the Dragon Huntsman Accept Quest?
O X
Without hesitation, Strawberry accepted the quest, and the map disappeared into her quest log. Her next destination was clear—the hidden dragon's lair, and whatever secrets awaited her there.
She grinned, her excitement building. "Looks like we're going on a dragon hunt, Muffin."
The little bunny chirped in response, clearly ready for the adventure.
With renewed energy, Strawberry set off toward the wilderness, the first step in a much larger journey already unfolding before her.
Next stop: The hidden dragon's nest.