SAO: Life In The Underground

Huntress of the woods

The door closes with a soft click as I step out of my room. I glance towards Kai's room and debate whether or not I should tell him, I shrug and decide against it. It's only a quick routine sweep of the forest. Not like I'm going into a dungeon or anything. I walk down the wooden hall, the floor creaks at my footstep and I smile a little. This virtual world always amazes me, so many details. It's so realistic, aside from a few major factors. Like the fact that you don't need to eat, though for some reason eating in this world does bring some fulfillment. Odd, and the other thing is that there's no need for toilet breaks, which all in all is just plain weird. I take the steps two at a time, the bottom of my cloak taps lightly against my legs as I walk. I throw open the door and step out into the mostly empty street. This early in the morning, the town is empty of players and npc. Perfect opportunity to get first dibs in hunting. I pull down two fingers to open my menu, I glance at the map and look over the forest deciding on where I should hunt. I shrug and just decide to explore for a little bit. I decide to lightly jog, wanting to feel the wind on my face for a few moments. I close my eyes and let myself imagine i'm back in the real world, jogging in school in P.E or in the park with my siblings. I feel a pang in my chest and shake the image away. Too painful. The edge of the forest painfully reminds me of the days I used to spend hiking in my local forest. I knew every tree, lake and ditch and would spend hours building dens and hiding. I chuckle at the image of me playing with my dad. I draw my katakana and head into the forest. If I take out enough monsters I should be able to reach the next level. I come across a few easy kills, and after a while I get a little bored, I decide to climb the nearest tree, another habit from before SAO. The trunk feels rough beneath my hand as I lug myself up to the lowest branch. My strength stats make the climbing ridiculously easy, It's almost boring. I let my legs dangle and glance down at the forest, maybe I can see an easy target from here. A flash of yellow catches my eye and I frown watching the yellow blob get closer. I jump down and draw my sword, waiting for it to burst through the trees. I can hear its footsteps long before it gets to my line of sight, I hesitate. A little girl bursts out of the brush, tears streaming down her face. Her blonde hair trails behind her, her green eyes blotchy from the tears. She wears the basic clothing you get on the first day of SAO. She's such a little kid, why'd she get stuck hear? "Miss! Miss! Please! Help my S...Sissy!" She cries and throws herself on my legs. I stumble back at her weight and manage to prise her off me. I kneel down in front of her, and say soothingly. "Hey now, whats wrong little one?" She howls louder and shouts

"My sissy sent me to get help! She's in trouble!" She pulls my hand urging me to follow her. I follow without hesitation, after a few moments the girl sets off running. Surprised I sprint after her, she runs fast for such a small creature. I watch her figure disappear into a bush. I follow after her and burst into a clearing. The sun beats strong now that there's no cover from the trees. The clearing is empty. I scan the edges looking for the little girl and frown. "Hey! Where'd you go?" I call. The forest suddenly falls eerily silent, I glance around uneasy and draw my katakana. I go to head back the way I came and am stopped by a black figure I frown and lift my sword. It's a player, his hood is drawn, lips drawn into an amused smirk. What the hell? It steps forward, and I catch a flash of a tattoo on his wrist. Crap. The laughing coffin. That can only mean one horrible thing. This is an ambush. The girl was a trap to lure me here. I hear a snap and spin round, there's another one heading into the clearing. As I sweep the edge of the forest I count 5 more. That makes 7 all in total, way too many to take alone. Maybe if Kai had been here we'd be able to take them, but me against 7 of them is impossible. I assess the situation, they've all got to be at least level 60, I glance at my level. Level 70, the hunting had gotten me up that extra level, all the good that'll do. A wave of hopelessness washes over me. This is unfair, just when I get to a high enough level to get involved in the action I get lured into a trap. I'm not going to be killed by the game, I'm going to be killed by other players, other humans. As the figures step into the clearing I choose a target and dash forward, I life my arm preparing a sword skill and slash across the guys chest. Hiōgi, a three part combo, a slash up and down then thrust. His HP drops slightly and I hesitate, can I kill this guy? Can I murder another person? Its decides for me when he strikes back, my next combo sends him into the red. I lift my sword and then stop, I don't think I can. The hesitation is all he needs to fight back. I see the combo coming and block, he manages to get one direct hit. My HP drops by 3 bars. Tiny, almost no damage. This guy must be low level, maybe that means the others are too? Without thinking I slash at the guy again and he freezes. His HP drops to 0 and I watch with wide eyes as he bursts into hexagons. I freeze as well, I... I didn't mean to... I hear a loud shout behind me and spin around in time to see another guy inches from me. No time to block. My katakana clatters loudly on the ground a few meters from me. My HP drops by a chunk, this one is high level. I'm disarmed and surrounded. This can only end one way. My heart sinks as I observe the party. The guy who hit me snaps an order and one of them scoops up my katakana. He must be the leader, he steps forward with a smirk "The little girl's stronger then she looks." He purrs. I glare

"Afraid of the little girl?" I taunt, If i'm going down, then I'm going down with a fight. I dart forward and my fist glows blue as I punch him in the face. He howls and then his head snaps to me "You little bitch!" He lunges and I barely have time to stumble back before I find myself knocked down. "Your going to pay for that, you can die nice and slow." He brings his sword down into my leg, I watch my HP as it trickles slowly down. I would have thought you'd feel pain, but then of course you don't. It's the shock that gets you. I feel hysteria rising in my chest as my HP drops into he yellow. I bite down on my lip, no way is he getting the satisfaction. My eyes are fixed on my HP bar, when it empties I'll die. Maybe. It doesn't feel very real right now... I guess that's how it is for everyone... He lifts the sword and brings it down again, I can't feel where. My body just feels numb, my HP drops a large chunk then goes back to a slow trickles. I'm a few bars from the red zone. "Little girls like you shouldn't be in this game, what did you do? Steal your brothers game?" He taunts.

"Fuck you." I spit. My mind flicks to my family at home. My baby sister, I've missed her growing up, my little brother who I'd found the most annoying person in the world but now would give anything to hug him again. My mum and dad, my best friend, we'd spent so much time together, practically sisters. Then there's Kai. Who'd saved me on the very first day of SAO, he'd never forgive me for dying. My heart jolts as my HP dips into the red zone. There's only a small amount of HP left.... So close to dying, yet so far to how I thought I'd die. The guys words fade as my vision turns black at the edges. " I'm so sorry..." I murmur quietly.

3

2
The sword suddenly retracts. I keep my eyes closed for a moment listening to the clang of swords in battle, It doesn't occur to me that whatever the reason of the fight, it's someone here to save me. When I eventually prise open my eyes, which takes a lot of effort since they feel like they're made of lead, I see the leader on his ass and a guy standing over him, sword pointed. I blink a few times trying to focus my vision on the person. My eyes travel up his sword to his face. Relief floods through me, Kai. He's talking, but I can't hear him. His words sound fuzzy and there's a ringing in my ears. This is all psychological though. After living so long in SAO we've taken it as real. Kai slashes his sword and the leader bursts into hexagons, gone for good. Me and Kai both murderers in one day. Kai glances up at the rest of the gang, they exchange looks and turn running. Cowards. My HP drips to 1. Kai spins round and drops his sword, he yanks out a green crystal and holds it over me, shouting "Heal!" It crumbles in his hand and my HP jumps. "Haru! Are you okay?" He says concerned

"Brilliant..." I croak softly. He chuckles slightly, but his face drops. I sit up and rub my temple suddenly throws his arms around me, I blink baffled. "K...Kai?" I stutter.

"I thought you were dead..." He mumbles quietly. I blink and then smile softly

"But I'm not, you saved me... again." I joke weakly. He laughs and wipes his face. Is he... crying?! "Urm...." I say unsure. He pulls back and jump up, holding out a hand. I take it and he pulls me up. He turns away quickly, hiding his face and picks up his sword. My eyes flick to my Katakana and I swipe it up as well, sheathing it. "How did you know?" I ask quietly.

"Some blonde kid I bumped into in the forest. I didn't believe her but I followed just in case. When I spotted a scout I came running." I nod and let out a shaky breath. That was way too close... I turn around and force a smile "Lets go back home."