Sword Art Online: Hollow Fable

Chapter 2

'A semblance that shoots fire? Or maybe it was dust? Either way it's so cool!' Ruby Rose gleefully thought, as she soared through the air 'OH! And that sword! I wonder if it transforms, it looks long enough to transform into a rifle. But it could also be a shotgun too! Just thinking about it makes me even more curious!'

Ever since she was young, Ruby was always fascinated with combat. Especially when it came to weapons. From guns to knives, big or small, modified or not, Ruby would somehow find herself drawn to each and every one.

"Weapons are an extension of the user! They define us just as much as we do ourselves!" She always said whenever someone chided her for being overly zealous about weapons.

It was a principle she stuck by. So naturally, when the boy showed himself to be capable of fighting, she knew she just had to get a closer look at his arsenal.

The girl flung herself onto the roof and made her way towards the criminal who was standing on the edge of the building. Reluctantly, she forced herself to focus back on the situation at hand.

Ruby folded her weapon into its sniper rifle form and pointed the barrel towards the man, "Hey old man! Don't even think about trying to get away this time!"

The man tossed a disgusted look at her, "Persistent aren't you kid?"

As the words left his mouth, the sound of thrusters roared in Ruby's ears. A moment later, a huge gray airship hovered into view stopping in front of the orange haired man. A dazzling spotlight lit up, blinding Ruby as the man quickly boarded the ship.

"End of the line Red!" He howled in laughter, tossing a stolen dust crystal at Ruby's feet

For a split second, her eyes followed the crystal, opening up an opportunity for the man to strike.

He took it.

A red flare shot from the end of his cane with a deafening boom, heading straight for Ruby's head. Her eyes widened and she instinctively brought up her scythe in a vain attempt to protect herself from the blast. She braced her body for the worst.

"On your left!" A voice shouted from behind

The boy in black that she saw earlier had rushed past her, in his hand was a beautifully crafted long sword. Ruby couldn't help but notice a fluorescent blue glow being emitted from the blade.

Spinning the sword like a propeller, the boy created a makeshift shield which he thrusted in front of Ruby and himself. A faint grunt escaped from his throat as the flare exploded against the barrier in a fantastic display of sparks and flames.

"Wow..." Ruby whispered in amazement.

Throughout her time at Signal Academy, she had witnessed countless different sword styles each with their different specialties and quirks. Yet, she had never seen a style that possessed a defensive skill outside of parrying and blocking.

This guy was just full of surprises.

As the inferno subsided, the boy had jumped back and motioned for her to take the lead.

"Can you try shooting him?" He asked

Ruby nodded silently before training her aim on the man again.