Dragon Sword

6

I decided to go fishing a few days before I had to leave for the front lines. Amy and Drako went with me. When we got to the fifth floor Amy literally ran into a woman named Tame, a well-known fisherwoman of the area.

"I am so sorry!" Amy bowed to the older woman.

"What you doin' that for?" asked Tame.

"Um... respect." Drako was confused as well.

"Are you American, Tame?" I asked, recognizing the possible problem my friends had run into.

"Yeah. And your Japanese right?"

"Yes, well they are... I was with an exchange program... though that doesn't matter much anymore."

"True. You want some fish?"

"Sure. We'll take some fish." I opened my inventory and selected the item labeled 'Fish Sauce'. "Would you like some soy sauce? Amy made it herself."

We sat eating the fish Tame had caught with some of Amy's 'fish sauce' (as I had labled it). "I've never thought something that tasted that much like soy sauce even existed in Aincrad!"

Amy allowed her to take several bottles of it.

A few days later, Nishida, a well-known fisherman, hosted an event, which other fishermen came to watch. Kirito was there as well, fishing with the man. After struggling for a while they managed to pull a single fish out of the lake, which turned out to be The King of Lakes. Everyone including Drako, Amy, and I ran away in fear until Asuna, Kirito's only real companion, confronted the creature and killed it, but she took off her cloak in the process and everyone was able to recognize her, causing most people to run towards Asuna. Kirito was going to join in the crowd but, at that moment, he received a message. At that moment I received a message as well. It was a message from Heathcliff, a commander on the front lines, calling me to the front lines, three days early.

The next day, we all said farewell to Tame.

"I wondered if I would even be able to return to my old life in the real world. I've been thinking that this life, as a fisherman in Sword Art Online, was the best thing for me at such circumstances." Tame said to me.

"I used to think the same way until Lillyin reassured me to enjoy life to the fullest. I once even thought about suicide here until she convinced me otherwise." Amy smiled as she hugged me.

This seemed to convince Tame to rethink about living in the real world.

"I promise we'll return as soon as we can." I then took out a teleport crystal. My friends laid their hands on my shoulders. "Granzam!" and with that we no longer saw the 5th floor lake.

Upon our arrival, Heathcliff explained what was going on. "A group of twenty players had found the 75th Floor's Boss Room, but when 10 of them reached the center of the room, the door quickly shut and disappeared, leaving the other 10 players outside unable to assist them. When it reappeared 5 minutes later, no one could be seen there, neither the players, nor the boss. Because it was an Anti-Crystal Area, like the boss room of the previous boss, the players could not escape and were slaughtered by the boss. So a team of players from several guilds is being assembled to confront the dangerous boss."

As the time of the battle approached, Amy decided it best to not hide her true feelings. "I don't want to do this. I think that it would be better to live in SAO rather than risk our fucking lives in order to return to the real world."

Drako closed his eyes and slowly opened them. "What about all the bodies of all the players most likely being treated in hospitals at this very moment? Their condition could not possibly be kept indefinitely. Life in this game won't last forever. I'd rather live with you guys in the real world."

Whether we clear the game or not, there is a time limit and that we have no choice but to fight, I thought. I put my arms around Amy. "You don't have to fight with us, Amy. Remember that you could always go back home. You're not required to stay... just remember, if you participate in this battle, you will be a part of the front lines. There's always a chance of dying." I let go of her. "You don't have to come with me."

"Okay. Got it. I'll participate in this battle. I don't want either of you to die so even though there is a chance of death I will not leave you. I'll try to be brave."

Just before the battle, I bumped into Kirito. "Kirito."

"Dragon Boy." Kirito let out a small laugh. "If you're here participating out of the selfless desire to help your fellow gamers, then I guess you don't need to get any loot."

"Oh ha-ha. My goal isn't to help people like you. Not anymore. I'm here to save the people who wish to go home but aren't strong enough to advance on their own... people like my friends and the others I've meet. They all need help. More help than you ever did, you ass."

Before Kirito could respond to the angry comment, Heathcliff and the Knights of the Blood Oath's arrived. Heathcliff then used a Corridor Crystal to open a portal to the 75th Floor's boss room. After everyone got ready, Heathcliff gave a word of encouragement to the players. Meanwhile, I held hands with Amy and Drako in what looked like a prayer circle, "I will always protect you. Will you two protect me as well?" At that moment Kirito stopped beside the group. I dropped my friends' hands and looked at my feet. "Try not to die, Kirito." The large party then charged into the boss room and waited for the boss to appear.