Gun Gale Online - Partners

Prologue

September, 2023
SAO, Floor 50

String!*

The sound of the blade scraping against each other as i drew my sword towards the enemies ahead of me. My muscles flexed as I gripped my blade, ready to strike. The man who was a head taller than me, was clad in a dark ponco, wielding his rapier. The other guys, not by far next to him, but he were still tall enough to make me look like a child. He stood there with his swords drawn out, ready to kill.

After a pretty intensed fight, i was knocked backwards, my sword clattering on the ground beside me, far out of reach. They had me cornered, there was no escape, they had been after me for some time now. As I crawled and try to reach my sword, my hand was being stomped onto by one of the men, his grin growing wide on his face, clearly enjoying himself. I gritted my teeth as I let out a groan.

"It's game over for you, Bell."

A light enveloped his sword as he raised it and plunge it down to my head. I closed my eyes, accepting my fate. But before he could finished the job,

"Not on my watch!"

A feminine voice pierced the air, a sound of a dagger hitting a hard surface rang in my ears, and as i opened my eyes, a girl, dressed in dark magenta tunic with dark green features on the neck and wrists, a black mini-skirt, as well as a chest plate protecting her upper body, was standing there, her back facing me.

The attacker stumbled back in shock, the girl quickly turn attention to me and offering her hand.

"Are you alright, Bell?"

She has straight, shoulder-length black hair and bright green eyes. I took her hand and got up.

"Yeah. Thanks for that."

"You're welcome, but we can't thank ourselves just yet."

She picked up my sword, and toss it to me. I quickly took hold of it. I faced the two attackers, they had now drawn out their own swords, and were standing side-by-side.

"Well, if it wasn't your annoying partner, shown up."

The man who i presumed as the leader, scoffed and looked at the girl who was next to me. She held her dagger ready, in front of her.

"Well, it's alright. As they said, the more you all came, more loot I can get from your body. Now, Prepare to die!"

As he spoke, both the attackers charged at us, their swords pointed right towards us. I could feel sweat forming on my palms, i tightened my grip on my sword. I gulped, trying to calm my nerves.

"Let's finish this together, partner?"

Her gentle voice sent a warm feeling within me as we look at each other for a second. I took a deep breath and held my blade up, focusing towards the two figures that charging towards us.

"Yeah, I'm with you till the end, partner."

The two of us charged forward, towards our attackers. We moved in sync, not breaking a single second of it, we both held our blade and dagger in our left hand. The attacker tried to take a stab at me, but I quickly slid away and move around behind him. While i did so, I could see the girl moving towards the leader of these attackers, striking at him, only for the leader to parry her attacks and thrust his sword at her chest. She jumped back, narrowly missing his attack. My body was already moving before my head could even think of what to do. As I passed the first attacker, I spun around and thrust my blade at him, hitting him square in the chest. He stumbled backwards and looked at his chest.

"Heh, not bad..."

He chuckled and gripped his chest that now has been leave with a red polygon mark with one hand, while his other hand gripped his sword tightly.

"Now, let's see if your evasion is as good as your attacking."

He charged at me with such speed, and i manage to withstand his sword attack. I held my sword against his, trying to push him back, but he had the advantage of his size, and it was getting harder for me to hold him back. With a huge amount of force, he manage to push my sword away from him and took a straight slashing movement. I manage just to evade it, but with a scratch to my cheek. I took a leap backward, taking a moment to catch my breath.

As i prepared for my next movement, my body suddenly felt weak.

"What the-?"

As I tried to move again, my body feels heavy and i kneeled down on the ground, no longer move.

"What's matter Bell? Somebody nailed your feet or something?"

He looked at me with an evil grin, as if he knew something that I didn't. I looked at my HP bar and saw a small yellow mark beside it.

"Stun effect? What are you...."

He grinned wider as he chuckled.

"Yes, Bell. My weapon has been fitted with stun effect, and with that puny defense of yours, you have fallen to my trap."

The girl who was still busy with the other attacker glance over to me, worry in her eyes.

"Bell, you okay? Hang in there!"

As she shouted, I tried my hardest to move, but my body refused to do anything but just kneeled there on the ground. This is no good. If this continue, I will get kill! I had to.... Keep trying.... To move!

"Very touching."

He said sarcastically and sighed.

"Well, you don't have to worry about that..."

He raised his sword and point it at me.

"I'll make it quick."

With that word, He dashed towards me with speed of a light. As he did, i could only closed my eyes as fear strike through me. Shortly, I could hear the sound of the swords piercing through a body. However, i did not feel any pain on me. As i opened my eyes, i was shocked with what i saw.

"Y-.... You alright, Bell?"

The girl was already standing in front of me. Shielding me with her body as she took a blow of the sword that was about to stab me through, Depleting all of her HP bar. Her green eyes filled with determination as she stood there as if she was ready to do anything to protect me, even at the cost of her own life.

"No....."

My eyes widely stared at her as my heart sank into my stomach. I could feel the pain of her sacrifice as tears formed in my eyes.

"It's ok, Bell."

She look at me with sad eyes while her lips is still forming that gentle smile.

"I'll see you on the other side."

However, as soon as she said those words, her body was shattered into a tiny pieces of crystal that floating through the air.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"