SAO:PoA - Chapter Four

Floor 26th, February 21st, 2023

Nine players on horseback on the hills at the outsides of the city of Londanium. All of them heavily armed and somewhere on their armor, a combined symbol of and R and a K: the Royal Knights. Looking towards the horizon, thirty members of the Army some of them mounted, as escort of a wagon carrying, one of the leaders of the guild. An old friend of the Royal Knights.

Gawn: “Finally, Kibaou has arrived.”

Galahad: “At last, we will be independent of them.”

Bors: “Yes, I can already feel it.”

Percial: “We are free Gal”

Galant smiled towards them, and continued to over watch the coming wagon. The wagon was passing near to a small forest, at its left side. The only thing that separated them, a small steam, easy walked by any living being of the game. Most of the army members were worried, looking towards it. A transparent mist covering the air, you could just see just a few feet in front of you. Strange sounds of unknown animals and monsters were heard from it.

“WE ARE BEING ATTACKED!” shouted the captain.

He turned, a fast flash just in front of his eyes, and his friend felt from the horse. An arrow directly to his chest, shut from the forest, he turned back, dozens of middle armed monsters, similar to a human, yet blue skin. They were like Indians and helded multiple weapons: swords, shields, axes, spears. Above all, they were masters of archery.

Tristan: “PICTONS!”

Galant: “Attack!”

They started riding prepared to defend their allies.

“Protect the leader!” shouted their commander.

The soldiers surrounded the wagon as hordes of Pictons rushed towards them, crossing the river, and started an outmatched battle. The corps few could do against those advanced monsters, which easily outmatched and outnumbered them. A mounted player was easily thrown of the horse, several times axed, and killed. Other on foot soldier sheared the same fate, as he was surpassed by Picton swordsmanship, and other fall pray of the rain of arrows. Just the commander could battle the demons, as the others nearly managed to survive.

The royal knights approached fast as wind itself in for formation of battle, Galant in the front, and other four at both of his sides. He drew his sword as he let out a fearsome battle cry.

Galant: RUS!

He threw Balmung in the air, to grab it backwards, a stabbed a Picton that was about to kill a player, just in front of him other player is killed by decapitation; Galant immediately uses Stardust Slasher, beheading the demon. Gawn throws his tomahawk towards others meanwhile the brothers smash several with their war hammers, as Percival kills other impaling with his spear and Tristan shoots arrows towards an enemy, shattering into polygons instantly.

A picton is about to get inside the wagon, but Galant passes by slashing it and Guinevere, kills him.

Galahad: whoa!

Galahad sliced towards a Picton, he continues riding and saves a player, decapitating the axed monster. Lance arrives, jumps from his horse and slashes a thought the belly of a savage, as other approaches, he swiftly overpowers him with his Katana and uses the Sword Skill, Raijin no Seiken, cutting towards two monsters and deleting them instantly. Other monster trying to get into the wagon but is shoot to death by Tristan.

Percival continues to fight the monsters, slashing them with his dagger and stabbing it with his spear. An arrow is stuck into his arm, he removes it with his teeth when other archer shoot him, his shied saved him from the damage. He looks Tristan, and points with his spear to him the place, Tristan nodes, and shots towards it, killing the archer, stabbing it in his eye.

Gawn is about to look inside the wagon when a picton jumps in his back and starts stabbing him repeated times. He falls from the horse and grabs his mace, looking towards the monster, but it is shoot by other of Tristan’s arrows, Gawn turns and blocks the axe of a Picton, he slices its belly with his axe, spins and thrusts once more the axe towards the monster stomach, then finishes it with his mace in the same place.

Near the river, Dagonet throwns himself from the horse, smashing a monster with his hammer he gets up and rams Great Mjollnir to the face of the monster. A sword wilder picton attacks him he uses his hammer to block it and then stabs him with a spike. Bors saves him from other kicking him then he elbows it, spins slashing it with his other Knuckle duster and kills him with other kick.

“I’m always taking care of your ass Dag.” He said mocking him.

“Just luck, he was mine.”

“That what you always say”

Bors kicks other in the face, and stabs in on the ground, then kicks other that was getting up by the river, and then bocks other, punching several times, grabs the back of his neck, and hits him with the knee in the stomach, more times even, shattering into polygons.

Galant defends with Brave Shield, them spins and left elbows the picton, and then slays it from his leg up to his neck. Guinevere in his back parries as she cuts the monsters hand and cuts its head of.

“You are much better.”

“Because of you my…”

“Watch Out!” she gets to the ground

He throws his shield and hits an archer impaling him.

“Yet you have much to learn. Continue!”

Galahad gets down from his horse and slowly draws Galatine, two attack him, useless, he peacefully blocks them both, and slices them, killing them. Percival hurls his spear dives saving Galahad as he draws his dagger, hits a picton with his shield and slashes it on the face.

Lance deletes two more, other approaches, easily defends cuts of both of the monsters legs, then gets to its back, and cuts his throat.

Dagonets rams mjollnir and kills two more. Tristan shoots and kills the last archer. Bors block an axe with his weapons, then slashes the monster’s throat, the left side of his belly and finish it stabbing the back of his neck. He looks towards the woods.

“ATTACK ME! RUS!”

Gawn looks the other picton as he stands just before him, it attack him, blocks him with his axe, spins and smashes it’s face with his mace. He looks inside the wagon. Galant kills other the last one approaches, but Guinevere stops it, thrusting her sword in the neck of the monster.

He then goes to the wagon, where Gawn, Dagonet and Bors are. He looks the remaining Players of the Army, less than 20 alive, 10 of them have died in the battle. The rest of the Knights gathers around the wagon.

“What a waste.” Galant thought, as he got to the wagon.

Gawn disappointed, thrusts his sword to the ground.

Galant: “Bors.”

No one inside, just three arrows shut by the Pictons, stucked in the sides of the vehicle, whoever was inside, was already dead.

Bors: “We could not stop this from happening.”

Galant, looks to the ground, disappointed hits the wagon with his fist. He looks once more to the soldiers, get near the commander, and he notices something familiar.

Galant: “Kibaou was never in the wagon; here he stands, as commander of the soldiers”

Kibaou: “Galant, as smart as always. It has been a long time”

Galant: “Just a few months. Welcome to Floor 26th. Your strategy has improved.”

Kibaou: “Just a stupid trick, which can fool these mindless monsters.”

He stopped, as he again showed the same creepy smile he had 25 levels ago.

Kibaou: “I’m not the only one that progressed in my strategies; you also improved much since we last saw each other. These are the great Royal Knights that are much spoken on among the players, as one of the top guilds.”

He got down from his horse and stretch a bit his legs and back, then he the continued.

Kibaou: “I thought the Pictons were much more at the North.”

Lance: “Generally, but on the last days they have been much more though these lands, we ignore why.”

Kibaou: “For now, the best idea is to go to the city.”

Galant: “Yes. Tristan, I want you to research the surrounding area, Percival with him. The rest we are the new escorts of Kibaou. Don’t worry Kibaou, you will be protected.”

Kibaou got inside the wagon.

Kibaou: “I don’t doubt that.”

Galant took a look to the woods as he walked to his horse, making sure that no more monsters would come out. He mounted it.

Galant: “Let’s go!”

The Royal Knights mounted their horses, and walked towards the city. Galant and Guinevere in the front of the line. Just behind them, the rest of the guild, and behind the wagon and the remaining members of the Army.

Galahad: “I still don’t like that guy. Why is he coming to have the last meeting with us?!”

Gawn: “hey! Are you pissed?” Laughs from all of them. Gawn: “Galahad, it seems that you don’t even know how the members of the Army work; they don’t wipe their asses without arranging a meeting.”

Bors: “Yes, Galahad you want to be free, and you don’t kill.”

Galahad: “I don’t kill for fun.”

Dagonet: “Try it someday, you may like it.”

Bors: “That is carried inside of you.”

Galahad: “No. From tomorrow afterwards, this will only live in our memories; we can finally precede the next levels as we wish, without commands, embracing our freedom”

Gawn: “Amen to that. We are lucking to have not participated on the last boss battle, if not we would probably be dead right now.”

Dagonet: “we are lucking because we were on a mission, these bastards finally made a good decision for us.”

Bors: “Don’t say that bro, thanks to them, we are here, we achieved level 26 in just two months.”

Dagonet: “Yet, we still have as messenger the same shit that met us the first time, we even tried to change him, but they didn’t do anything. This same leaders were the once that misplayed the strategy against the 26th boss”

Bors: “Touché.”

Galahad: “No doubt, they are idiots.”

Galahad looked to his right, Tristan and Percival passed by him.

Percival: “Gal, we have just researched the area, there is no sign of monsters.”

Galant: “Good job, Tristan, tell your new “friend” to keep an eye in the area, guys, we are having the meeting at 8:00pm, so you have an hour and a half free.”

Tristan looked to the hawk they found just days ago, and spoke to him.

Tristan: “Horus, go.”

The falcon spread his wings, and flied circling the area, for sight of another bunch of monsters.

Percival: “I still can’t understand why you called it Horus.”

Tristan: “You know anything about history??”

Percival: “You know me; I am the worst student ever, in all subjects.”

Tristan: “When we are back on the real world, I will teach you?”

Percival: “And I will not have choice but to listen. Hey guys what we are doing when we get back to the real world.”

Bors: “I never thought about that, ehhh.”

Galahad: “Have a nice vacation, in the Caribbean or something.”

Dagonet: “I will have some good real food.”

Bors: “I’m on that to. And as soon as I’m able I will be back to my martial arts training.”

Gawn: “I will find some beautiful girl and begin a relationship.”

Everybody looked at him, as if he was strange, or an alien. To change the subject, Percival spoke.

Percival: “And what of you Lance, what will you do?”

Lance: “Well, if Gawn’s girlfriend will be as he spoke, I will spent some time in her home, she might need company.”

All of them laughed.

Gawn: “And what will I do meanwhile?”

Lance: “Express me your gratitude; your sons will be the same as me.” He went to speak with Galant, as all of them laughed.

Gawn: “That will be after I smash you with my axe.”

They continued to laugh.

Lance interrupted Galant’s and Guinivere’s conversation.

Lance: “What will you do, when we are back in the real world.”

Guinevere: “We are having a date.”

Lance: “You two never change.”

They laughed.

Galant: “Until then, we will continue fighting, not just for us, but for all the players here that seek freedom.”

Lance: “and your speeches will also never change”

They three smiled. They arrived soon to the small city of Londanium, the north of the 26th floor. It was the last city at that direction. They went the stables of the base of The Army.

Galant: “Kibaou, my room is yours until 8:00pm.”

Kibaou: “Finally, I needed some rest.”

Floor 26th, February 21st, 2023

8:00pm

The Royal Knights gathered in the central room of the base. A large circular light brown table, with space at least 20 was in middle of it. Most of them sited as a semicircle, Galant was in front of them, Guinevere sat two chairs at the left from him and Lance same distance, and the opposite direction of her. An air of joy and happiness filled the air, smiling and joking. Galant got up.

Galant: “Remember that we are the fortunate ones.

They all got up.

“Let us lift a cup, for all the brave and extraordinaire players that have fought and died by now, their memory will forever live in eternity.”

They all drank.

Percival: “FREDOM FOREVER!”

All: “FREEDOM FOREVER!”

They celebrated in respect of their fallen comrades, thought they did not know all of them, yet, for them, just the loss of a human life was matter for pay their respects.

Kibaou entered seconds. He was dressed with his new army outfit to show of his status above the common players. Strangely, he did not say hi.

Galant: “Welcome Kibaou.”

Kibaou: “What is this round table??”

Guinevere: “If you stand among us you are as equal to us, does not matter your uniform, or your degree. In this place, we are all jut common players.” He looked down on her, as he briefly walked towards Galant; he automatically changed the subject of discussion

Kibaou: “Galant and his Knights have bravely served Aincrad Liberation Force, where is what it is left of our honor. The Army lives in debt with you, for your last days as our allies!

Lance: “DAY not days.”

Kibaou moved down with his left hand, they all sat down. He continued.

Kibaou: “Unfortunately, since the last boss battle, our forces have halved since then. The army is going back to floor one, as you must all know. From now on you are an independent guild. The future of the clearing, is not in our hands, a new guild Knights of Blood, is assembling a reunion in a week in the central city at the south, for the strategies in next boss battle. Beside this, in the north, there has been seen a new danger.”

Galant: “Danger?”

Kibaou: “Yes, a strange being, known as Cerdic. I ignore if he is a player, a monster, a NPC. Or even a Boss.”

They all got up, surprised and shocked.

Galahad: “A boss cannot leave his room.”

Kibaou: “true, but we don’t actually know what or who he is. We do know, that he is accompanied by lots of monsters, pictons, and they are beginning an crusade, towards here Londanium.”

Gawn: "why is he acompanied by Monsters?"

Kibaou: "I ignore it."

He made a brief pause and took some water.

Kibaou: “Now, the contract that ends our relationship but before, I must speak to your commander. In private.”

Galant: “We don’t have secrets.” He took the contract away. Lance: “We are leaving. Let the “Leaders” speak alone.” Dagonet strongly grabbed his hammer. Bors took his arm. “Let us go bro.” He sheathed mjollnir once more and left, who seared his disapproval, disappointment and rage. Kibaou started their conversation. “There is one final order to you and your guild” “For us?!” Kibaou: “In the north, the commander of our guild, Thinker, was traveling trying to gather the remaining player of the army in this level. They are all in a small village, several kilometers from here, you must go and escort them back here.” “You order to us in this day, when we are finally done with our alliance!” He got up, tired of mistreatments to his friends for the selfish wills of The Army. “They have risked their lives for mission and causes that were not their own and now, when we finally can take destiny in our hands, you send us on a mission that is much more dangerous than anyone we have faced before! Tell me Kibaou, now I tell my friends that instead of continuing we are all going to die?! “If your friends are the best warriors of the army, you may survive. Besides, that is the risk of this death-game.” “I HAVE ALWAYS LIVED FOR MY FRIENDS AND MY GIRLFRIEND, I AM A LOYAL SOLDIER NOT A FOOL KIBAOU!” “WILL YOU LET LONE PLAYERS FALL TO THE WHRATH OF CERDIC OR THE MONSTERS? If you and your soldiers complete this mission, you are free, and we will sign this document. I promise.” He took the document, and prepared to leave the room. “Do not forget your promise Kibaou, because you will accomplish it. Break it, and there will be no corps, leader, nor God that can protect you.”

Drink is shared as music sounds at the atmosphere of an open air tavern in the outsides of the base. Gawn grabs a tomahawk and throws… almost bull’s eye. Gawn: “hahahahaha!” Percival also laughs. “All yours Percival!” The brothers are poker with other players. They lose. The two players are about to leave when Dagonet strongly slams his hammer on it. Dagonet: “rematch!” Guinevere and Lance are sited having a conversation. Galahad appears in the tavern. She immediately calls him. “Where were you?” “Just by there, promoting our shop.” “You never change.” “Never.” Percival throws a knife, Bull’s eye. Gawn: “Lucky.” An arrow is stuck on the back of the knife. “Tristan, what did you do?” “I just pointed to the middle.” Lance: “You know other thing that does not change your voice, sing! Guinevere: “Nooo” “Come on, the last one.” “I don’t want” “Stop the music! Guinevere will sing” The Royal Knights gather, incising on her. Guinevere: “All right I will sing” Claps from everybody. Gawn: “what will you sing?” Guinivere: “One of my favorites, “White Reflection” from Two-Mix, you have your guitar? “I never leave home without it!” He took his guitar, and started playing. Guinevere: I feel your love reflection In your eyes as they gaze back into mine Writing a distant, never-ending story

As if throwing off the sadness and pain, I flap my wings, and in my heart, I spread wide the wings of courage that you've given to me.

Ah... I want to feel the beat of this irreplaceable love so much, it's heart-wrenching and maddening.

I feel your love reflection passionately uniting our dreams into one, in our youth, we seek each other out, without being afraid of our own faults!!

I feel your love reflection In your eyes as they gaze back into mine Writing a distant, never-ending story! Galant arrived the place, he was shocked. That song was not any song, it was his favorite song. It reminded him of her, it had passed a long time since he last heard it, since he was trapped in that prison with the rest of his friends. He looked to all of them, moved by Guinevere’s perfect singing voice and the way she connected words in sonority; they showed pace on their heart, satisfaction, in other words, happiness, as if they had returned to the real world. Galant turned back and left, not wishing to delivering the new orders. Guinevere: “Galant” He stopped. She rushed to his arms and hugged him. Percival: “Galant!” Lance: “Galant” Gawn: “Come here, join celebration” Bors: “Rus! hahaha” They all came near him forming a circle. Galant: “My friends, brothers in arms. You have proved your bravery overcoming any limit” Dagonet: “Yes!” Galant: “But I will once again ask you to prove it” Dagonet: “Cheers” Galant: “We have one final mission, to finish our alliance with the Army.” Gawn, Percival, Bors and Galahad started laughing. The rest remained serious. Galant: “the leaders of The Army are in the north, Cerdic’s army is about to capture them. Our mission is to rescue them and escort them here. Laughts ended. Bors: “Let them take that matter into their own hands.” Gawn: “To the north, the Pictons are landlords.” Galahad: “the alliance we had with the army, it is finished. The pact is done.” Dagonet: “the knights that follow you have offered to risk their lives for you” he pointed at him “For you. And now you want more death? OUR LIVES?! YOU TAKE MORE CARE FROM THE ARMY THAN FROM US? Galant: “DAG! This are our orders. Weare leaving at tomorrows’ dawn and when we are back, we will go your way.” Dagonet: “WE ALREDY HAVE OUR FREEDOM, WE WILL CHOSE OUR FATE!” Tristan: “if you are afraid of the Pictons, STAY! Galahad: “IF YOU WANT TO DIE, I CAN KILL YOU MYSELF RIGHT NOW!” Lance: “Enough!” Bors: “The Army did not keep their promise. But Galant promises it. That’s enough for me. We have to go to hour home and get ready. He began to walk to the teleport plaza. Tristan followed. Dag! We are leaving?” Dagonet: “OF COURSE WE ARE, I WILL NOT LET YOU ALONE, YOU WOULDN’T COME BACK. I JUST SAID WHAT EVERYBODY THOUGHT.” He went the same way as his brother. Galant: and you Gawn? Gawn: “I’m with you. Galahad the same.” Percival: “the same for me.” Galahad, falsely laughed, and smashed the glass of water in the floor. They three went to the teleport plaza, with Lance with them, followed by couple. They all gathered in the plaza and teleported back to their home in floor 7. All: Teleport, Bratein! They arrived at the floor and walked, none of them spoke a single word. Just disappointment was seen in their faces. They soon got to their castle, Camelot. Each one of them went to their room. It was night a clock and it had been a long day. They had already eaten, so they went to sleep, until tomorrow’s dawn. Galant entered his room and took off his weapons and prepared them. He suddenly stopped, violently smashed his fist to the bed. Guinevere arrived at the same moment. Guinevere. “What happens?” He grabbed her from the neck. Galant: “I want mercy. But not for me. For them, because is their necessity. If they are protected in this trip, I will make any self-sacrifice that would be needed. If that is my life, I would gladly give it so that they may go back to the real world. I don’t want anything else.” “Why you two speak together and not with the rest of the guild?!” He turned back, it was Lance. “Continue. It does not matter, if you don’t fight the Pictons.” Galant: “Leave us please” turning to Guinevere. She left and closed the door. “She is my girlfriend and my best comfort while I have dark thoughts. Why do you question that?” Lance: “We can also help you at those moments.” Galant: “It is not the same. She is my girlfriend.” Lance enraged, tired, and went straight to the point. Lance: “Trying to fight that army is madness.” Galant: “We have already defeated Pictons.” Lance: “NOT AN ARMY NEITHER ON THAT REGION. How many Pictons? ANSWER! He sighs looking to the wooden floor in which we stand, and continued. Lance: Galant, do you have faith on this mission? Galant: “We must go to help them. It’s our duty.” Lance: “I am tired of hearing you command Galant, and do not speak about, The Army, freedom, this game, or Aincrad. If you want to remain in here in is aright. BUT DON’T MAKE OTHERS DIE! Galant: “AND YOU CHOOSE TO LET THOSE PLAYERS DIE??” Lance: “NO I CHOSE LIFE. AND FREEDOM FOR MYSELF AND ALL THOSE TRAPED!” He sat on the bed looked down and grabbed his head. Galant also sited. Galant: “tell me how many times we have won in presence of death. Being outnumbered and outmatched and we have won. With you at mi side, that will happen.” Lance: “Galant: you fight for a world that will never exist. NEVER. There will always be a field of battle! He got up and went towards the door. “Maybe I die fighting. It is almost sure. I hope that in a battle that I choose. But, if it happens and I die, make me a favor. Don’t put a tombstone with my name. Make a pyre in my honor. Burn it and throw those ashes to the eastern wind.” He left the room. Guinevere entered. “What has happened?” “Nothing. Let us rest, tomorrow will be a long day”

A middle aged man on his fifties with a long orange beard was among monsters. He was notably big, dressed with a light armor and a golden crown in his forehead, with the locks of his hair coming from his back and the sides of his head. His armor was green and green and carried large silver shoulder pads, and forearm protectors in both of his arms. He used brown boots and green pants. He carried a large Claymore on his belt, on his black, and axe, and on his right leg, a knife. Off all his appearance, his sight was uncommon. It was not as a regular player, it had something strange. He had lots of monsters rounding him, yet wasn’t attacked; as is the monsters feared him. He walked, a Picton appeared and attacked, but it was stopped by his comrades. The strange player got near him and touch the monsters forehead with his finger. The Picton stop and got up. He did the same with several more as he was attacked. One he had several of these monsters he spoke. His voice was calmed and easy, yet sounded tyrannical and despotic “Mi name is Cerdic.You will now follow my command. I am your lord from now on, until you die.” “what if we do not want, idiot.” answered one. Cerdic calmly got near of him, grabbed his sword and beheaded the monster. “Understood?” He got near some other powerful monsters, and spoke to them. “This is how you keep your leadership, with fist of iron.” “Yes, father” “Cynric, what did you have to tell me?” “We have found this one, a player” He was trembling in fear. It was a young player with just 16 years old. Cerdic grabbed his neck and lifted him. “You will help me now player. You are from The Army, I have already killed some from your guild. Where is the rest of your squadron?” “They are on a small village, with the leaders of the guild, gathering the last player to turn back to floor 1” Tell me where they are, I would arrange a meeting with them…

Floor 26th, February 22st, 2023 7:00am The Royal Knights teleported to Londanium. They went to the sables and prepared nine horses, and equipped them with necessary things, cleaned and sharped their weapons. Prepared emergency weapons. Gathered more arrows and healing potions. Kibaou arrived, just before they were ready for journey. “Thank you all you, for fulfilling your duties as allies.” Galant: “I still have other with my men.” Kibaou: “bring them alive.” They all mounted. And started journey, crossing the small city, entering the huge Forest of the Wanderers. Traveling towards the north, and the cold mountains. With a strange sensation of what would they encounter.