Sword Art Online DLC

Chapter 12: Return to Shadows

Rain began to fall on floor 26, it was late at night and Jyenka was outside training again. 

"It's started raining?" Jyenka said as he looked up. "Guess I should call it a night, wouldn't want to catch a cold... wait, can you even do that in SAO?" Suddenly, Jyenka felt an odd sense that another player was around. He used his scanner to look around but didn't find anything. "Yeah, I should get some rest." He sighed. But before he could sheath his double-bladed sword, a cloaked figure charged at him. Jyenka quickly blocked the attack but was startled and staggered slightly. "Who the hell are you!?" He exclaimed through gritted teeth. The cloaked figure just smiled and jumped back, then got ready to launch a second attack. Jyenka entered his fighting stance. "This PK'er, has picked the wrong opponent." He thought to himself confidently. The cloaked figure was using a 1 handed sword without a shield, meaning that Jyenka could use the speed of the double-bladed sword to his advantage. The 2 players traded blows until Jyenka saw an opening. "Gotcha!" he shouted and swiped his legs. The cloaked figure fell to the ground and Jyenka pointed one of the ends of his double bladed sword at him. "You lose." He exclaimed. Then, the cloaked figure began to laugh. Jyenka was confused, until the figure spoke.

"Damn kid, you can fight. Nobody has caught me like that in a while." He said while smiling. Jyenka lowered his weapon.

"Who are you?" He asked. The figure took off his cloak to reveal his well looked after black hair and an eyepatch over his left eye.

"My name is Atlas, sorry for the rude introduction. I just had to make sure you're the real deal Jyenka." He said. Jyenka backed off and he rose to his feet. "The way you fight, it's not like other players." He said.

"How do you mean?" Jyenka asked.

"Most players in this game would train to fight floor bosses and enemies, but you train to fight other players don't you?" He asked. Jyenka gave him a stern look.

"What of it? you worried I might turn into a PK'er?" He asked.

"No, quite the opposite. You train to fight other players because you hate Pk'ers." Atlas said confidently. "With that in mind, I have an offer I think you'll be interested in."

"What's your offer?" Jyenka asked.

"Allow me to formerly introduce myself. My title in this world is captain Atlas, the captain of the Shadows of Aincrad." he exclaimed. 

"Shadows of Aincrad? That's the guild Shoko was in." Jyenka thought to himself.

"The Shadows of Aincrad are a team I command, a team of PK hunters." He said. Jyenka looked at him with full interest now.

"You hunt PK'ers?" Jyenka asked. Atlas nodded.

"I'd like you to join my team Jyenka, your skills would prove useful in our fight against the PK'ers." Atlas said. Jyenka thought for a moment.

"I'm sorry, but I'm already in a party. I have things I need to do with them." He said while turning away.

"Don't you want to stop Laughing Coffin?" Atlas asked. Jyenka paused. "You could play a key role in taking them down." Atlas continued.

"We don't actually kill them, do we?" Jyenka asked. Atlas sighed.

"No, we let the assault team take care of things once we rough them up a little." Atlas said with a smile. "So? what'll it be Jyenka?" Atlas stuck out his hand. Jyenka hesitated for a moment but shook his hand.

"Ok, I'm in," his said with a stern look. Atlas smiled.

"Good." he said, then clapped his hands twice. When he did, 3 other figures emerged from the darkness. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet our newest teammate." Atlas said while looking around at the figures. "Jyenka, this is the team. The short girl over there is Selest." Atlas said while pointing at the short girl with brown hair.