User blog:Shortkut/The NTF Saga: Prologue

 Prologue 

   

November 7, 2024: Floor 75 Dungeon 

            The assembled players spoke to each other in tense, hushed tones, shooting nervous glances at the large double doors that led to the boss room. The musical chimes of the game menu echoed through the dimly lit antechamber as they all equipped weapons and armor and readied healing potions and buffs.

            Zakira’s eyes panned the room. He couldn’t remember the last time so many guilds had come together for a boss fight. Most prominent of course were the silver and blue of the Divine Dragon Alliance, led by King Talon, and the scarlet and white of the Knights of the Blood Oath, commanded by Heathcliff. There was also the red and gray of Klein’s guild, Fuurinkazan, and the green of the Order of the Serpent, led by Ivy, the only female guildmaster present.

            And then there was Zakira’s guild, the guild he had helped create, Nine-Tailed Fox. His gaze roamed across his guildmates. Eight of their best players, divided into two parties of four, one commanded by Zakira, one commanded by Vox. Nine-Tailed Fox did not require its members to wear its colors, black and gold, but Zakira saw with pride that each of his teammates had altered their outfits in some way to honor the guild. Zakira himself had dyed his Stoneskin Cloak black, with a golden nine-tailed fox emblazoned across the back.

            Resuming his survey of the room, Zakira saw that several high level solo players had been recruited as well. He saw Kirito, The Black Swordsman, in the corner holding hands with Vice Commander “Lightning Flash” Asuna of the KOB.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            I suppose they’re together now, he thought with mild interest, about time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            Even Egil the merchant had closed his shop to join the assault. A sudden thought crossed Zakira’s mind.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            “Hey,” he murmured to Vox, “remind me to tell Egil he still owes us for that rare weapon we sold him.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            Vox turned to look at him. She wore black as always, but today her hair and eyes were a brilliant gold instead of their usual magenta. She gave him a puzzled look, then she saw Egil and smiled in amusement.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            “Wait until after the battle.” She said. “He’ll be too tired to come up with an excuse.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            “After the battle…” Zakira said, his eyes wandered and fell on the heavy metal doors. “Right. Yeah.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            Zakira had no clue what waited for them behind those doors. Nobody did. All they knew was a party of ten had passed through them and were never seen or heard from again. It was presumed that the boss room was an anti-teleport zone, just like the 74th Floor boss that Kirito had defeated. Some people hoped that was all there was to it, but since the 25th and the 50th Floors had introduced new mechanics in their boss fights, Zakira suspected this one would as well. Perhaps when the doors closed behind them they would be locked in, unable to retreat, forced to defeat the boss or die in the attempt.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            He looked around again at his teammates. His friends. Would this be the last time he saw any of them? His hand tightened on the hilt of his broadsword. No. Nine-Tailed Fox wouldn’t go out like that, he decided. They were among the strongest guilds in the game, and they had cleared their fair share of bosses. Maybe they didn’t have the numbers of the DDA or the experience of the KOB, but they made up for it in talent.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            Heathcliff stood at the front of the throng with his back to the doors and spoke. Zakira was suddenly reminded of Diabel, standing in front of the doors to the first boss room, almost two years ago. Zakira wondered if the KOB commander would meet the same fate, or if his legendary defense would save him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            “Everyone ready?” He asked. The room fell silent. No one spoke up, so he went on. “The Knights of the Blood Oath will be out in front, distracting the boss and blocking its attacks.” Zakira looked at Vox, eyebrows raised. Vox rolled her eyes. Her meaning was clear. The brave and noble KOB taking charge once again. “In the meantime, the rest of you have to stay sharp, and try to figure out its attack patterns.” His gray eyes roamed the room, resting briefly on Zakira and the other NTF players, then moved on, his face as calm as always. “I won’t lie, this battle will be hard. But I have faith that we can and will prevail.” He raised his voice to a shout. “For our day of liberation!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            A triumphant cheer rose up from the crowd. Heathcliff turned towards the doors, tossing his cape over his shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            “Yo.” Vox said. Zakira turned to look at her. She grinned and held out her fist. Zakira reached out and bumped it with his own fist, then the rest of the NTF group did the same. “Good luck out there, everybody.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            “Watch each other’s backs.” Zakira added. He locked eyes with Vox, and she nodded. The doors opened, and everyone began to charge in, yelling.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">            “Squad A, with me!” Vox said. Vox’s squad joined the charge, Zakira’s squad following closely behind, little knowing that the next battle would change everything, and bring the world they had come to know to an abrupt end.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">Author's Note: This will a series set in Sword Art Online, following several original characters as they journey through Aincrad. I will endeavor to keep it consistent with the canon but please point out any discrepancies you come across. I am new to the community, so please be patient if I make occasional mistakes. Let me know what you think! Hopefully more to come soon!