Unital Ring III: Rebellion In the Underworld

Monkey Business

Koharu

After the golem's defeat, the rest of the dungeon was less than trouble. Another boss did not appear before Koharu's green eyes spotted the half-crumbled doors that marked the end of the lair and the beginning of Unital Ring's second level.

While Koharu, still the leader of the joint Team Kirito-Crimson Squad team, gave everyone a a ten minute breaK to take either online or offline, she remained online and took a moment for herself. Throwing on a dark leaf-green cloak the Patter fashioned for her, she walked through the doors and out to the sight beyond her.

It was the first level, now far below her on the other side of the cliffs. Directly below her is the Great Zelletalio Forest, and a flickering orange light marks Ruis na Rig. Running from the woods down to the distance is the moonlit Maruba River, leading to the silhoutte of New Aincrad and, to the west of that, the more distant Stiss Ruins, ALO players' starting point in this game.

She was on New Aincrad when she, Lisbeth, Yui, and Silica entered the world of Unital RIng, and were fortunate to survive the chaos of the falling castle. They landed south of the forest, close to the Bashin's encampment at the time, and the rest is history. How much she had changed in seven days. 

Back then, she didn't know what to do. The system warning in ALO and the changes around her were overwhelming, but then Lisbeth, Silica, and Yui put their trust in her. She show strength to the Bashin and got their assistance in getting them to Kirito, Asuna, and Alice. The next night, she, along with Alice, Asuna, and Silica, held off more attacking players until Kirito, Jaymes, and everyone else arrived back home. 

Up until now, she was doing as she always done: Following Kirito. Following Asuna. Following Jaymes. But the moment she was thrusted into leadership, she slowly came to the realization that she didn't need to follow them. She wasn't the girl who cried on that first night four years ago; she wasn't the girl who died on that day two and a half years ago. She lead her team in a raid battle and Up to the next level in her own merit.

She now had the right to stand beside her longest partners as an equal. They may have thought that already, but she just needed to prove it to herself to see that.

"If only you were here, Jaymes. The  I could throw this in your face, hehehe... So have I proven myself to you, Lievre?"

"Urk..." Koharu partially turns over her shoulder, seeing Kureha's Arfa-Sys stalking her from behind. With her is Rei, greeting Koharu with a smile while the tanned Lievre coughs into the fist and looks away. "We-well... I guess so. You did bring us this far, so... I can see why that stupid Master of Rei's likes you so much."

Rei giggles and pushes Lievre forward. "That's not all you're gonna say, Lievre."

"S-shut it, you inferior piece of scrap... Ahem... I-I apo...apologize for my words the other night, too. And so does Mistress Kureha."

Kureha? She hasn't logged on...right, Yui, Strea, Rei, and Lievre can communicate with the outside world as AIs still. That means Kureha and Jaymes may know of their current progress. "It's okay, Lievre. I think you gave me the push I needed to hear. And you're just looking out for Kureha, aren't you? She's pretty cool."

"That's...what she said about you."

Rei steps forward. "I've informed Master that we've reached the second level of Unital Ring and that you lead the group. He says 'Good work, Koharu.' But it doesn't look like he'll be joining tonight."

Oh. It's closing in on ten at night, which is peak gaming hours, especially on a weekend. It's unusual for someone as drawn to games as he is to avoid this time period. "Did he say why?"