Sword Art Online: Knights of Aincrad

Chapter 4 - Tragedy

*March 31st, 2023*

Months have passed and so have floors in Sword Art Online. After clearing the first floor, hope filled all the players of SAO and they got right to grinding to clear the second floor and within a week and a half they accomplished that goal. The Knights of Aincrad also continued to be a driving force of hope being the number one guild in Aincrad but another guild was not that far behind them. A new guild by the name of Knights of the Bloodoath formed on the 23rd floor and quickly became one of the most well known guilds.

While most floors were easy to beat after the second, the player base as a whole seemed to be stuck on this floor. The enemies were way stronger than the previous floor, which wasn't out of the ordinary but these enemies were tremendously more difficult. This led to several meetings between the different guilds and on how to approach the field bosses as well as the labyrinth.

"I'm telling you these meetings just don't get any easier, especially with that Heathcliff guy and his guild" Bercouli said walking into the guild house, "Was a plan formed?" Fanatio asked, "Indeed, the ALC went ahead and took on the duties of taking out the field bosses and then giving us intel about the labyrinth before we all venture inside." Bercouli answered, "That's good, we've been on this floor for a month now and it's beginning to get extremely boring" Fanatio said in relief. Bercouli then noticed that the guild house was quiet. "Say, where is everyone it's quiet around here" Bercouli stated, "Well everyone but THEM are asleep, but judging on how late in the morning it is that can only mean one thing" "someone's about to have a rude awakening" Bercouli said finishing Fanatio's sentence. Just then an agonizing scream came from Deusolbert's room. "KIRITO! EYDIS! GET BACK HERE!!"

Loud footsteps came running down the stairs of the house and those footsteps belonged to none other Kirito, Eydis, Eugeo, and Alice who then quickly made it out the door. Over the course of time those four became the pranksters of the group. Part of it was for their own enjoyment but the other part of it was to keep smiles on the younger members' faces which Fanatio thought was sweet. Deusolbert then came down the stairs with a face soaked in water. When he realized they were already gone he just went back upstairs.

Once the four friends felt like they ran far enough they stopped for a break. "Man I thought for sure we wouldn't be able to get out of there in time" Kirito said in between deep breaths, "no kidding and it wasn't like these two were any help either" Eydis stated. Eugeo and Alice just shrugged their shoulders and the group began equipping their gear. After they all got equipped they headed into the combat zone.

Eydis felt very special to be included in the group she currently found herself in. Ever since she was saved by Kirito he's made sure that she got included in everything they did. Growing up Eydis didn't have any friends, just a younger sister to come home too. She didn't make any friends with her platinum hair and red eyes so she was genuinely surprised when Kirito came and helped her. Even her friends on the first floor were skeptical of her thinking she was some kind of witch but agreed to be with her anyways. It was when Kirito first looked at her that she saw only what she saw from her family, kindness. She was certain that she would die right there in the field but then he showed up and carried her to safety. In all this time she still hasn't properly thanked him, sure she said thank you but he literally saved her life. How does one properly thank that, a new sword? Eydis realized she'd been thinking for too long when all eyes were on her. "...Eydis!" Kirito yelled "Huh sorry I must've zoned out" Eydis replied. She then realized how close Kirito was to her face and immediately started blushing. "Are you okay Eydis? Your face is completely red" Kirito asked, "I-I'm fine I promise" Eydis said waving her hands in front of her face. Alice knew why Eydis' face was red purely because she's done the exact same thing whenever Kirito even just looked her in the eyes.

While the group was leveling Kirito received a message from Sortiliena. "Ooooo looks like someone got a message from their cru-" Eugeo was cut off by Kirito's finger, "We need to go NOW!" Kirito yelled taking off, "Wait up! Where are we even going!" Eugeo yelled back, "She's in danger!" was all Kirito had to say back. The group raced across the fields to a dungeon entrance and ran in. Soon they heard the sounds of swords clashing and ran towards the room. Weapons drawn they rushed in to see a horrific sight. Sortiliena's team was surrounded by monsters. Kirito's team immediately started attacking the monsters to keep Soritliena's team alive.

"Liena has anyone died?" Kirito asked as he fought by her side, "We lost Golgorosso but that's it, I'm glad you guys got here quickly enough!" The waves of monsters seemed to never end, it was like this trap was designed to kill whoever activated it. Kirito noticed his health was getting low and quickly pulled up his menu to grab a potion. Sortiliena noticed he was about to get attacked and rushed in beside him to finish the mob off, only to get stabbed in the back by a spear.

Time slowed down immensely for Kirito as he watched Sortiliena slowly look at him while noticing her life bar deplete to zero. As she exploded into particles Kirito was thrown into a fit of rage. Kirito started slashing and dashing through every enemy in the area and didn't stop till they were all dead. Once he was done he fell to his knees and started crying.

"Eydis, Eugeo, take everyone back to base. I'll stay with Kirito'' Alice said, eyes focused on the boy. Eydis and Eugeo silently complied and led the remaining team members back to base. Alice slowly walked over to Kirito and embraced his limp body. Together they sat in silence. "I never even got to tell her'' was all Kirito said before going silent again. Both of them continued to sit like that for five minutes before deciding it was time to head back. "Thank you Alice, I now know what I must do." Before Alice could respond he got up and walked to where he could use a teleport crystal. Alice on the other hand was afraid, the normal sparkle in his eyes was gone.