Sword art online : Protection

Chapter 2: Pushing Ahead

(Shirayuki's POV)

The next morning, I woke up the members and met them at the entrance of the inn. Everyone came out one-by-one. Ducker was still half-asleep and Sasamaru let out a long yawn.

"Good morning," I beamed. "What floor are we going to today?"

"Maybe floor 10?" Keita answered.

"Again?" Ducker whined. "If we go back there again I think I might puke."

Ducker had a point. We've been hunting on the 10th floor for months, and with the weaker mobs, we weren't getting as many col or experience points as we could. As other guilds climbed the floors as they unlocked, we stuck to the 10th floor. I had been urging Keita to go up for weeks, but he just wouldn't budge. 

"I think we should go to floor 20," Kirito suggested. "It's pretty safe for your-- our--  level, and you could level up faster."

"Keita, let's go there!" Ducker begged. "Tetsuo is so close to leveling up!"

Keita seemed to hesitate for a moment as he scanned our faces. He sighed in defeat.

"Okay," Keita said and turned to Sachi. "Can you handle it?"

Weaving her fingers together, she answered softly, "I'll be fine, Keita."

Ducker came behind me and wrapped one arm around my shoulder.

"So, do you have your healing crystals? I might need some healing."

I rolled my eyes and brushed off his arm. "Ugh... Nice try, but I think you'll be more than fine without me."

The guild headed toward the teleporting pad. I was almost jittering with excitement. I leaned over to Kirito and whispered to the quiet swordsman. "I've been trying to convince Keita to go up to some new floors for weeks... He must really trust you."

All Kirito could do was muster out a hesitant, "Y-yeah... I guess so..."

Standing on the pad, we teleported to the 20th floor. The teleport gate was placed in the middle of a dense green forest. I swiped my hand down to pull up a map of our location. We were set in the 'Sunlit Forest'. 

"Uh, Kirito? Are you sure about this place?" Sachi timidly asked.

"I'm positive," he said, reassuringly. "We can do this."

All in a group, we held our weapons in a tight grip as we moved further away from the warp pad. I looked over to Kirito, who looked calm. I must have been staring, as Kirito made his way over.

"Are you okay, Shirayuki?" He asked.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm alright," I said. "It's mainly Sachi I'm worried about..."

We both shifted our gazes to Sachi, who looked a little pale. Her hands were gripping tightly to her spear; knuckles turning white. Kirito turned back to me.

"She'll be okay, I'll keep an eye on her."

"O-okay," I replied. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

The moment was cut short as we heard bushes rustling nearby. We all froze. I could hear a strange ticking sound coming from my right just as Kirito shouted, "Duck!"

Warning us just in the nick of time, a huge praying mantis leg ripped through the bushes, aiming right for Sachi. Lunging forward, Kirito managed to push her out of the way before the claw could rip through.

"Sachi, are you okay?!" Keita asked in complete shock from the close-call.

"Y-Yeah... Thanks to Kirito," she answered, shakily.

Kirito pulled her up, "Don't thank me yet."

"Everyone, into formation!" Keita instructed. 

As we got into formation, Sachi lifted her shield to her face, as if to hide from it. Sasamaru was the first to strike, thrusting his spear forward and forcefully jabbing its thorax. Screeching angrily, the mantis' leg came down, making contact with Sachi's shield. The blow knocked her back.

"Sachi!" Kirito called. He ran to her, just as the mantis's leg came down again. Before it could land, he cut off its leg, successfully blocking any attempt for it to attack. While the mantis was dazed, Kirito called out to Tetsuo. 

"Tetsuo, switch!" he commanded.

Kirito quickly switched out of the way and let Tetsuo take the lead with his mace landing a heavy blow to the monster's neck. It let out a high-pitched cry as it exploded into pieces and disappeared. Suddenly, a banner appeared saying: 'Congratulations; level up!'

Tetsuo was now level 23.

"Great job, Tetsuo!" I said.

Most of us out of pure excitement crowded Tetsuo to give him our words of praise and encouragement. Kirito proudly sheathed his sword and smiled softly.

~*~*~

(Kirito's POV)

We took a break on floor 20's village to have some lunch. Keita was laying back on the grass while silently skimming through the Weekly Argo news. He suddenly spoke out of nowhere. 

"The assault team made it to floor 28... Amazing," he murmured. He paused before looking at me. "Hey, Kirito?"

"Yeah?" I looked back at him. 

"What's the difference between the lead group and us?" he inquired.

Well..." I began hesitantly. "They know all the fastest ways to get EXP, and they don't share the information."

Keita seemed a little disappointed by my answer as he responded, as he sighed. "Well, I'm sure that's part of it... But I think it's willpower."

"Willpower?" 

Keita sat up unexpectedly as he explained. "I suppose you might say it's the determination to protect one's friends-- no-- everyone. Right now, they're still protecting us. But I'd like to think that my will is just as strong as theirs."

I couldn't help but look back at the rest of the guild, quietly chatting and relaxing after a successful day on the 20th floor. Everyone seemed so content. I couldn't help but feel guilty. 

"Naturally, our first priority is our friends' safety. But someday, we want to make it up there, to the top with the rest," Keita concluded. 

"I see..." I muttered. I gave a small smile to Keita. "You're right."

Keita seemed to be a bit embarrassed by my response as he scratched the back of his head. "Heh, maybe..."

Out of nowhere, Ducker jumped down from the top of the wall. "Hey, leader!" he wrapped Keita into a headlock. "Lookin' good!"

"C-come on!" Keita choked through Ducker's hold.

"So, we're going to be up there with the Holy Dragon Alliance and the Knight of the Blood Oath?"  Tetsuo teased.

"What? There's nothing wrong with setting big goals!" Keita argued, grabbing Ducker's arm, trying to pry his grip off his neck. "First, we have to make it to level 30--"

There were clamors of doubt that quickly cut him off.

"That's impossible!" 

"No way we're doing that.."

Shirayuki cut off the complaints. "Come on, we can do this! Keita's got a good point, we'll get to level 30 and get stronger... I can feel it."

I quietly smiled to myself. It's a miracle that they've made it as long as they have. I believe Keita's leadership and Shirayuki's strong and hopeful attitude are the reason they've made it to this moment. If the Black Cats do ever grow up and make it to the front lines, Keita's ideas could change the narrow-minded atmosphere they have up there...

I looked up at the status that hung guiltily above me. 'Level 48'.