Chapter 9: Dark Forest

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          Nearly everything in floor one of Aincrad had something to recommend it, verdant forests, arable grassland that stretched to distant horizon. The outlying world known as the Sword Art Online game had touch of all of those. But what it had in abundance was just raw data and information made by Dr. Kayaba Akihiko a necessary component in creating the virtual world. Knowing all of this wasn't prosperous enough for everyone.

            The routes of the Dark Forest were dim, and tonight the moon was only the barest sliver in the sky. There wasn't even the slightest glow from the stars in the sky. We were in the boundary of The Dark Forest area, south of City of Beginning.

            Yet somehow, despite the near-absolute darkness, I can still see due to my skill ability 'Detect.'

            It's been three hours since the acceptance of the quest but still, Syler, Kyle, Kitaro and me continued our journey despite the disadvantage of poor vision in the night.

            It was a split second before it happened, I sense that danger was coming and where it was coming from.

            "EVERYONE! EVADE!" I cried to inform my teammates.

Three silhouettes leapt at us, two coming head-on and another attacking from behind. I ducked forward just in time, feeling the impact hit the ground which would have decreased my health points and knocked me swiping through the air.

            I popped back up as it passed and lashed out with a swing of my sword, reaping into the featureless head of the nearest figure. Through the gloom I could make out the vague outlines of our attackers. The one I slashed was slowly standing up. The other two stood wary and ready.

            "Execute Formation Alpha Pattern" cried Kyle "Tank at the front, damage dealers at the middle and I the distractor will support you from the rear."

            We didn't have to see their faces to know who they were. A level seven Kobold Marauders, a rogue monster that appears randomly in any area in floor one. We already encountered them in the beta version. The Kobolds are peculiar monsters that can perform sword skills and implement different kinds of strategies (such as ambush, traps, etc.)

            They must have set-up an ambush and thought that they could get the jump on us.

            They came at us again, rushing us all at once. They don't have the numbers but they have the advantage of level which is an essential in surviving in this world.

            We have the numbers and experience in fighting them, but in this darkness, none of that really mattered. Syler met their charge head-on, his sword shone brightly with light green colour a sign of an activation of a sword skill called Dominate. A defensive sword skill which allows the user to parry and block numerous opponents all at once.

All four combatants fought swords and steels landing without any thought given to target or strategy. Each blow Syler landed brought a satisfying grunt and groan from his opponents. Kitaro and I on the other hand executed our own swords skills, our blades glowed pale gold like an inner fire, and we slashed and stabbed two of our enemies.

Sending our adversaries away for a few meters and creating some space between us.

I held my sword with my right hand, adjusted my centre of gravity and positioned my sword in my left waist. A bright purple glowed immensely from the blade of my sword. Torrents of hot wind blew out of the sword, and in a split second the sword skill was activated. With a powerful step with my left foot I dashed at the enemy in front of Syler with inhuman speed.

"HORIZONTAL STRIKE!" I shouted as I moved in frightening swiftness.

I slashed at the enemy Kobold horizontally, cutting it with chilling precision. The Kobold Marauder staggered backward leaving itself unguarded. Without a second thought I raised my sword with my right hand that stopped at shoulder height, and then adjusted my position. Finally the blade of my sword was surrounded by a light blue glow.

"SONIC LEAP!"

I lunged at the enemy Kobold again, but this time I aimed at its head to multiply my damage output. With lightning speed I swung my sword vertically splitting the enemy in two. The enemy Kobold Marauder exploded in a shard of polygons.

You have level-up

You have level-up

I changed my sights towards the other two Kobold Marauders but Kitaro and Kyle already engaged them.

Kitaro used his rapier to stab the thorax of the Kobold repeatedly, while the enemy Kobold lay helplessly on the ground and later then shattered into shard polygons. Kyle on the other hand dodges, drop and rolled to the left to evade the enemy attacks. She then activates a sword skill called White Streak. With a single swift motion, she swung her dagger upward cutting the enemy Kobold and then kicks the enemy in the abdomen with her left leg.

Knocking the enemy Kobold backward.

Kyle did not miss this opportunity and lunged at the enemy Kobold and pierce its throat with her dagger. The enemy Kobold burst into shard polygons.

 "Nice work everyone" said Syler while seating on the soft grass.

"It's hard to fight in this darkness" said Kyle "I advise that we should head back to the City of Beginning and wait for dawn" she continued.

"The enemy is more powerful but it also has its merit" said Kitaro "experiences gained are also multiplied by twofold" he added.

We continued our journey again, advancing deeper into the Dark Forest area. Just thinking about the enemy Kobolds send shivers down my spine.

I swipe my index finger and a menu appeared. I tapped the Item button to check my newly acquired items.

New Items Acquired

-Crude Short Sword - dmg 13¬17

-Basic Dull Short Sword — dmg 10¬13

I equipped the Crude Short Sword to slightly increase my damage output.

As I glanced momentarily I realized that she was not an average girl, her beauty had a certain glamorous.

Kyle has the appearance of a young woman in her late teens with a slender physique and soft, white skin. She has finely textured golden hair that seems as if sprinkled with gold dust. Her face shows some sign of naivety at the same time displays elegance. She is more muscular than some other girls I've seen, leading her to believe that her body is unappealing, but I believe that she is very feminine.


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