SAO:PoA - Chapter Five

Floor 26th, February 23th, 2023

Velron: “In three days we can arrive to Londanium, if we march without rest.”

Cynric: “We will not. In the city, which are the players there?”

Velron: “Corps from the Army, and other less numbered guilds.”

He stopped. But continued again, showing concern and preoccupation for the matter.

“And the Royal Knights, a guild allied with ALC. A boy named Galant is their leader.”

Cynric: “Galant? Who is this player?"

Velron: “It is said that he was never defeated on battle. It is also said that he is a fearsome warrior.”

Cedric: “Why should I trust you?? You are betraying your own people.”

Cynric: “tell me about the small village at the east.”

Velron seemed to refuse for a bit, he strongly closed his fist. Enraged and tired.

Cynric: “OBEY MY COMMAND!”

He opened both of his hands, and continued.

Velron: “The leaders of the Army are on a small village on the south, they were regrouping the missing men from villages round this floor. There must be 50 players, among them lower level players.”

Cedric: “We will attack them first; capturing the leader would be perfect for me. Besides that, do net let anyone escape though the south. Burn the villages, kill all the humans. Never leave alive a man, woman, or child capable of grasping sword.”

Floor 26th, February 24th, 2023

Nine horses ridded, thought the Forest of the Wanders. The place was from an amazing beauty. The green pines were covered by snow, falling like stardust from sky. Gigantic mountains could be seen at the distance, with the same white substance on their top. They arrive to place clear from the woods, just before them a small village.

Gawn: “Finally, we are here.”

Dagonet: “It seems that would last forever. My ass screams in pain from the saddle.”

Percival: “As do all our asses!”

All: "hahaha!"

Galant: “Enough of your asses, we have work to do. Let’s go!”

In the inside of him, Galant felt pretty much the same as his friends ,two days cavalcade had been a long trip towards the north, and it has not even finished. Yet in his heart, guilt was growing, for bringing them on this suicidal mission.

They ridded until the entrance of the small village, were a 3 meter wall surrounded it.

“Close the gate.” Called a voice heard from the inside.

The gate closes as it opened. An officer of the Army appeared up in the wall. For his makeshift amour, he was a Lieutenant.

“Who are you?” it was the same voice from before.

“I am Galant, the leader of the Royal Knights, a guild allied with yours. Open the gate.”

The gate opened, as the knights entered the village, yet inside, there was no village. Just tents and other homes made of wood and stone. There were at least 50 players including just 25 members of the army round them. Some horses and animals were round the place.

“What are you searching in this place?” called the commander of the corps.

“What’s your name?” said Galant, getting down from his horse.”

“Corbatz, I am Lieutenant of The Army.”

“My orders are to take you to the south.”

“But, that is impossible!” he responded.

“Where is Thinker? I am supposed to speak with him, not to you.”

“Here I am” said other voice.

A boy of at least 20 years, uniformed, at his back, a woman of the same age, with silver hair.

Galant: “We finally met. I am Galant, leader of the Royal Knights.”

Thinker: “Thinker. She is Yuriel.”

Galant: “My orders are to take you to the south immediately”

Thinker: “Corbatz has told you that it is impossible.”

Galant: “We don’t have much choice, but to do it.”

Lance: “A large Pictons is gathering on the north. Strangely they are being commanded by someone or something named Cerdic”

Thinker: “You are right, but we are not leaving this people behind.”

Galant: “No we are not.”

Galant got up on his horse.

“Everybody listen! A large horde of pictons is gathering in the north and going south towards this place and perhaps, even towards Londanium. Those that can, go to that city, those that cannot, gather their things, and will accompany us. We leave in one hour.”

Everybody started gathering their things and preparing horses, and coaches and wagons.

Thinker: “You are good for speeches.”

Galant: “Thanks, but this is not the time for compliments, gather your things my friends will help all these people. Tristan, Percival, research the area for signs of the Pictons. Be back in 40 minutes”

Percival: “It’s done Gal.” as he nodded and ridded his horse.”

Galant: “The rest, we will help the other players.”

As time passed, most of the players gathered all what they needed, and putted it on wagons carried by horses, ten of them on a long caravan, ready for the journey to the south.

The Royal Knights had a brief time to eat, Yuriel lend them some due thier tiredness. Thinker spoke with them.

Thinker: “I am sorry about this; you did not have to travel here.”

Galahad: “Yet here we are.”

Galant: “Kibaou told us this was our last mission. If we refused, our alliance would have lasted forever, we must advance, to gain freedom. For all of us.” Thinker: “He lied.”

They all looked towards him, their expression was shock, yet, somehow, they didn’t expect less from him.

Thinker: “He did it so no more members of ALC were killed, instead you.” Dagonet: “Piece of shit!”

He slammed his hammer into the ground repeatedly. Bors interferes.

Bors: “Relax brother. This won’t change past. We are here, that’s all that matters.”

Dagonet: “As soon as I see him, he is dead."

Lance: “Forget it, for now.”

Thinker: “As soon as we get there we will sing the end. I promise”.

Galant: “Thanks.”

Thinker: “No, it is I who must offer you gratitude from coming here and save us.” Gawn: “It is a bit early to tell us that. Save it for when we have arrived on the city.”

The chat would have continued, yet suddenly, Corbatz called from the wall.

Corbartz: “LEADER, COME HERE RIGHT NOW!”

Ther rushed to the wall, going up the stairs.

Thinker: “What happens?”

Corbatz: “There.”

He pointed outside the northern gate of the village. There was a player, covered with a white hood, he carried a young girl in her arms and he seemed to be wounded. Galant: “Open the gate! NOW!”

Corbatz: “I cannot. If monster could attack us the moment we rush to help them.”

Galant: “We cannot leave him alone; he is with a girl in his arms.”

Corbatz: “I will not open the gate.”

Galant: “And I will not leave them to die there. Fall to my command.”

Corbatz: “NO.”

Galant slammed a fist to Corbatz face, and he fell to the floor. He then jumped though the wall and ran to help the players.

Lance: “Screw this. Dagonet, Galahad, with me.”

He followed his friend.

Galahad: “We are insane.”

They got to the players, just 50 meters from the village. Dagonet got near the smaller one.

Dagonet: “She at least 12 years old, very young for a player”

Galahad: “Strange. The minimum age for playing SAO was 13.”

Dagonet: “She was a beast tamer, with a blue feathery dragon; she dressed in yellow, and a dagger. What was she doing here, at the north?”

Lance: “We will ask her and see.”

Galant: “What of him?”

He removed the hood.

Galant: “A girl.”

Lance: “What?”

She had long blue hair, styled to her right, red earrings and pretty face.

“Give me some healing potion Galahad.”

“Take it.”

He softly lifted her head and gave her the healing potion.

Galant: “I have never seen like this Lance, even with a girl.”

Lance: “It is nothing. I’m just being compassionate to her.”

Galant had known Lance for a long time, since they were kids, and he had never had compassion for anyone, nor felt kindness, except for his friends and this occasion.

Galant: “Okey”

Lance: “Sh! She is waking up.”

She partly opened her eyes; they were green emerald and shined as the jewel itself. Lance: “Are you alright?”

“It is a trap” she answered.

And arrow was shoot in to Galahads arm, other into Lance leg.

Guinevere: “GALANT!”

Galant: “PICTONS!!”

Pictons rushed towards them.

“Fall back!”

Lance and Dagonet lifted the girls, as Galant and Galahad covered.

Gawn: “Open the damned gate, NOW!”

Thinker: “OPEN IT!”

Guinevere: “Let’s go!”

Galant drew his shield and Balmung, A picton approached, he lowered all his body covering with his shield, making the picton fall. Other drew his sword towards him, but Galant clashed Balmung with it, and rammed his shield towards his face.

Galant: “More come!”

Galahad drew Galatine as other demon approached, thrusting his axe downward, Galahad flipped back, avoiding it. Then uses “Rage Spike”, it blocks it with his axe driving it outside the reach of his body, and kicks Galahad in the chest, dumping him to the floor. The then, rams his axe once more to him, but Galahad blocks him with Galatine and hits the floor.

Galant: Galahad!

A tomahawk entered to the monster face, killing it.

Gawn appeared, and drove his axe to a monster had killing it. He slammed other leg, leaving it without it and slammed its face with his axe. Bors jumps and knees a Picton in the face, then other approaches with a spear. He jumps and lowers his feet to the axe breaking it; he impaled the monster with the blade of his knuckle duster and punched it in the face killing it.

Guinevere drew Laevatein, she blocked one monster sword, flipped and delivered two quick blows in the chest, the monster tried to stab her but she quickly moved and cut the monster arm, then slashed it once more. It shattered into polygons.

Other monster neared Guinevere and sliced her back, she was at half of her HP. Then she kicked back to the monster and used Stardust Slasher on it while spinning in the air.

Galahad got up and faced other picton, it trusted the sword to his neck, and he defended with Galatine and slashed the monster in the body two times. He was countered by punched him in the face. He was on 35% of HP.

Picton: “We are not as the Pictons you have faced before.”

Galahad was frozen, he could not believe that. That monster possessed Artificial Intelligence, and it seemed to be quite adaptable. His father told him that there was no of such in this game. His thoughs ended as he was slashed once more. Galahad blocked it, but was thrown to the ground once more by a powerfoul punch to the face.

“You will now die human.”

Gawn: “Galahad NO!”

It once more lunged his sword downwards, but something stopped him. A spear had been stuck on his chest, second later and to his forehead arrow. Galahad looked at it, an explosive arrow, he ran from the place. The arrow flash lighted two times and exploded deleting the monster.

Percival: “It seems we arrive just in time.”

He graved his spear and ridded to the monsters implanting them. Tristan grabbed one of his arrows and shoot to the trees, killing the archers. He got down from his horse and drew Sicari, his new one handed Scimitar. A monster attacked him he easily countered and slashed the monster neck with sword skill Reaver. Other attacked; he blocked and cut the monsters legs from his body leaving its body in the ground.

Galant knocked a picton down with his shield’s edge. The last one came, he blocked him with his sword, and trusted it to the monsters body, but it managed to block it, spin and cut Galant’s left cheek. He then used Crescent Stardust Slasher on it, deleting it instantly.

Lance: “What has happened?”

Gawn: “Percival and Tristan appeared, saving all of us.”

Percival: “We looked at the area as fast as we could.”

Galant: “What of the girls?”

Lance: “They are inside the biggest wagon; they might me comfortable in there.” Dagonet: “We will have words with them later.”

Galant: “What did you find?”

Percival: “They are in northwest direction from here. Their army divided in two, a hundred monsters at least in each. One for the east, other to the south. Those will appear soon here.”

Galant: “And the only way to go south is by the east?”

Percival: “No, southeast, to the ridge of mountains. We could encounter the faction going east, but we do not have other choice.”

Tristan: “I have found something that may be of use.”

He pointed to the legless body of a picton, crawled to the forest as a snail. They all approached, turned it upwards, and began questioning.

Galant: “How can you talk monster?”

Picton: “I will not talk you shit-face human!”

Galant: “Tristan, see his words be more agreeable.”

Tristan grabbed his sword and cut off one of the monsters arms. Screams and pain were heard in all the forest. He did it once more to its left arm. Once more cries from the blue demon.

Picton: “STOP, STOP! The leader, Cerdic! It has this unique ability. By placing his finger to the forehead of a monster, it gains artificial intelligence that is how he created his army.”

Galant: “If you are killed, once you reappear, do you have AI?

Picton: “No.”

Lance: “Why are you here?”

Picton: “Cerdic commanded us to take advantage, and look to this place; they are coming here to kill the leader of The Army.”

Galant: “Understood, we should get ready.”

Galant was about to walk but the monster stopped him.

Picton: “I said what you ask, please spear my life!”

Galant: “You will reappear somewhere.”

Galant walked to the village with the Royal Knights behind him. Tristan slashed the monsters throat, following his friends afterwards.

Galant: “Ready all the wagons. We are leaving.”

Galant then approached Corbatz.

“Don’t you ever defy my command again. You shall die, if you do not help.”

Thinker: “To what he commands. It’s an order”

Corbatz seriously and pridefully looked towards his commander, he turned raged and red. His wrath towards the boy could not be bigger.

Corbatz: “Yes Sir.”

Somehours later, The horde had arrived to the place.

Velron: “I have found a trace of horse from the south, footfalls in the forest. But they do not return. They travel, light and fast. Once they arrived here they took all the players, and traveled south east, towards the mountains. They seem to travel slower than before also, and may be members of the army, or even, Royal Knights.”

A cynical smile drew on Cerdic’s face.

Cerdic: “We are almost on their backs. Boewolt, take 100 pictons, and rush to their backs. Yet do not attack the, wait as I arrive at tomorrow’s midday”

The large beast like monster Boewolt nodded. He then turned to the monsters and took a 100 of them.”

Cynric: “you should have commanded that to me, father.”

Cerdic: “Are you defying me? For that you need to grab your sword with your hand. As long as I live, I am the King of monsters and the Lleader. Do not question my command.”

Cynric: “If the rumors around Galant are true, he is no fool. Do you expect to wait in the snow, and announce his end?”

Cerdic: “That is exactly, what I expect”

The snowing journey to Londinum was by narrow way, which passed first thought the forest and later the Never-ending Ridge. It had just five meters width, just leaving way for one wagon to be at a time, several players walked beside them. The Royal Knights ridded from the beginning to the end of the line, making sure that nobody stopped, got lost.

Galant: “Tristan, go to the back of the caravan, make sure how far distance are the pictons.”

He nodded, and rushed back

Lance: “We are going to slow! The two girls will not live. There is time for Thinker, but no to the rest.”

Galant: “We will not leave them behind.”

Lance: “If that horde appears, we will have to fight.”

Galant: “Save your wrath for them!”

From the front, Gawn appeared, he seemed happy thought de horrible situation, they were going thought.

Gawn: “Good news, the teenage girl has taken up.”

Galant: “I would have words. Take me to her.”

Gawn ridded towards the front of the caravan, he stopped in the biggest coach. Galant god town his horse and putted his foot on the step outside the door, he tied his horse to the rood used for getting inside the transport. Lance did the same. Inside of the wagon were the two girls, Galahad was inside Taking care of the little one, Dagonet was giving him a hand.

Galahad: “Galant!”

Galant: “How is she?”

Dagonet: “Better. She is a brave girl, before briefly woke up; she told us her name, Silica. And then got into deep slumber”

Lance: “What is doing such a young girl inside this game?”

Galant: “By now that does not matter. I need you two ready for an emergency, we have to rush. Where is the older?”

Galahad: “Resting behind this blanket.”

Galant and Lance moved the blanket and passed. She was sitting near the open window with all her body covered with the hood, looking with nostalgia and sadness the to the back of the road, as if she had lost something. She then turned towards us, her sight changed instantly, just serious and watching every single moves of them two. Lance approached, with healing potion at his hand. She hit his hand the potion fell into the wagon floor and shattered into polygons.

Galant: “You shouldn’t be so rude, to the one that save your life.”

“I don’t need someone to save me.”

Galant: “Yet he did it, if not; you’d be polygons by now.”

Lance: “We have not presented ourselves. I`m Lance, he is Galant. We are members of the Royal Knights; we are travelling south towards Londanium though the Never- ending Ridge. Your name is?”

She did not responded, and continued to look by the window. Lance sat down. Galant did the same.

“If you don’t want to offer your gratitude, it’s okay, just please tell me your name.”

She looked to Lance eyes, as they made visual contact, she relaxed a bit.

“I am Elicia.”

Lance: “Elicia, why were you with that girl?”

Elicia: “I was on a quest, and found her.”

Lance: “Quest for what?”

Elicia: “YōkaiOuRyu no Katana.”

Lance eyes opened, amazed with her words.

Lance: “Impossible.”

She showed her hands; on them she had a long Katana. It was sheathed on a black scabbard, decorated in gold, crimson and orange. Yet the most incredible was the face dragon at the end of the handle.

Lance grabbed his katana and also showed to her. She was also shocked by this. Galant: “Sorry, what does this mean? I do not understand.”

Lance: “Our swords are related to each other, you could say that they are sister to each other.”

Elicia: “You could say that my katana is the “bigger sister” to your friend’s katana, they are also stronger together”

Galant: “Besides that, how did you appear by the small village?”

Elicia: “…”

Lance: “Please.” Elicia: “I was found by the pictons and captured; there I met a man on hiss mid-50, with a long bear on a crown on his forehead. He also seemed to be the leader of them.”

Galant: “Cerdic.”

Elicia: “That’s his name, I will remember it, and claim his head upon a day.”

Galant: “What did he do, that forces you to someday claim his life.”

Elicia: “…He forced me to go with that recognition team as living bait, alongside the little girl.”

Galant: “So she did not know you.”

Elicia: “No.”

Galant: “Thank you, for your words. Hope you can get on battle soon enough, until the, you are traveling with us, unless you wish to be killed by the pictons.” Elicia: “I will remain with you, for now.”

Lance: “Great, more swords that can hold sword would be of use. Galant I…”

He would have continued if Percival had not appeared, mounted on his horse speaking thought the window space. He seemed nervous and shocked.

Percival: “Galant, we have a big problem.”

Galant: “What may that be?”

Percival: “Better to show you that to explain it, COME!”

Lance: “I am going also.”

Elicia: “I will accompany you.”

Galant: “Are you alright.”

Elicia: “I AM, GO!”

They left the wagon, the others have stopped. It had begun to snow and winds hit their faces strongly, enough to not be capable of seeing, aside some meters in front of them. The seemed to have entered to large cleared space on the mountains rounding the canyon.

Percival: “Though here.”

Galant and the others walked to the first wagon of the caravan, Percival had left his horse.

“Let us walk a few meters.”

They walked a bit, in the same direction. The wind ceased a bit. Fifty meters in front of them, a deep dug trench, and behind it a tall wall, both covered the entire canyon. On the top of it, several Pictons, heavily armed.

Lance: “We should fall back through other way.”

Tristan: “Imposible.”

He had just arrived from the back of the caravan. He seemed to carry bad news.

“A picton’s horde is coming this direction; they will be here by tomorrow’s dawn. There is not time to fall back.”

Percival: “We are literally trapped between the wall and the sword.”

Lance: “How is this possible?”

Galant: “Nothing is beyond reach for the Lords of these lands.” Lance: “Cerdic and the Pictons.”

Galant: “It was always his intention to trap us upon this ridge. He will travel from the north with his army behind us. And when he comes, death shall follow in his wake.”

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