Unending - a Sword Art Online Fanfic (being rewritten)

Chapter 28: The Test

And now that we've established the setting, the true plot can begin. Hope you like it.

Akari's POV:

Akari and her class couldn't believe it, a test already. What would it be over, and why hadn't they been given a chance to study?

"Everyone line up to head to the arena." Her dad said.

The students all lined up and followed him to the arena, lining up behind him once they got there.

"Hello everyone. I'm your principle, Aki Anii, and I have a very special announcement for you all. Today is the start of our first survival test..."

<Timeskip>

"Great. Just Great." Said Akari. Utsumi, Nagano, and her had formed a three man team for the survival test. They had thought it would be a walk in the park. Until they had heard the instructions.

"Everyone may keep their weapons and armor, but hand over everything else out of your inventories" Her dad said. "All food, potions, crystals, and items must be turned in. Once you've done so, your team will be given the supplies they will share with you for the duration of the test. If you are caught with something that didn't come from the supplies you were given then your whole team will be disqualified, understood."

The whole class nodded. One group at a time they all turned in their items. Then they were each given a small sack with supplies in them.

"I've got four health potions and a shielding crystal. Oh, and a signalling crystal as well. Cool!" Nagano said.

"I've got enough food to last us three four days; three days if there's four of us." Akari said.

"I've got assorted items for making ointments and such for medical purposes, as well as some spare weapons. Nothing fancy, just simple throwing daggers and a couple of short swords." Utsumi said.

"Great." Akari said. "Although, isn't it strange that we have supplies that look like they're meant for four people instead of three?"

"Yeah." Utsumi said. "What gives?"

"I'm glad you asked." Akari's dad said. Everyone jumped as he seemed to appear out of nowhere. "You see, this test is for a four man team, so for your fourth teammate, someone from class A will join you. Speaking of which, here he is now."

A blonde-haired boy with a stern and prideful face approached them. "Um, excuse me sensei, but why do I have to associate with these peasants? I am perfectly happy to join a team with my friends."

Akari's dad sighed and answered, "Because you need to try and befriend others your age that are outside your usual crew of lackey friends and servants. So I decided that you would be the perfect fourth person for this team."

The boy scowled at Akari's teacher, who scowled right back.

"Fine." The boy said. "But mother will certainly hear about this."

"By all means, please do tell your mother about this. I'm sure she'll agree that it's a great idea. Well, I'll leave you all to get acquainted.

(Note: I didn't mention this, but there are four classes, A, B, C, and D, of about fifteen people each. Also which class you are in has nothing to do with skill or wealth or anything like that. Akari's class is class D. Just because.And yes, there are other snobby rich kids in this story)

<Timeskip>

Kirito's POV:

The test was to find about a dozen different items or so that only drop from specific mobs on certain floors of Aincrad. Each team's score depended on how fast they could get everything on the list. To do so would require the knowledge they had learned in class about which mobs dropped what, and where those mobs were. It also meant that the team had to be able to fight well so as to take down the mobs quickly. In case they got into trouble, all teams had been given both a reusable shielding crystal to place down if they needed protection, and a reusable signalling crystal as well, so they could alert the teachers of their distress.

Kirito watched as each of the teams dashed off to retrieve everything on the list. He turned when he heard footsteps heading towards him.

"Hey Asuna." He said.

"Kirito, are you sure this is a good idea?" She asked worriedly. "I know she's strong but she's never gone out there by herself before."

Kirito closed the distance between them and gave Asuna a hug to calm her nerves.

"Relax." He said. "We taught her everything she knows. She'll be just fine. Besides, the items are only scattered across the first three floors, and she is part of a party of four. That is more than enough to fend off anything Aincrad could throw at them."

"I wish I had your confidence." Asuna said as they broke the hug.

"Here, let me share some of it with you then." Kirito said. He leaned in and kissed his loving wife on her lips. She immediately kissed him back. The kiss deepening as they stood there, oblivious to everything around them.

After a few minutes, they finally pulled back so they could get a breath in.

"Thank you for sharing." Asuna said.

"My pleasure. And don't worry about Akari. There's a reason that every team got a signalling crystal. If she is in trouble, I can be there in seconds. He held up a crystal that had a symbol on it that was identical to the one that was on the signalling ones.

"If any of those crystals go off I can teleport to where ever the signal is coming from within five floors."

Kirito watched Asuna sigh in relief. "OK. fine, you win. I'll stop worrying."

Kirito nodded and hugged her again. As he did so, he thought to himself, "Stay safe Akari. For your mother's sake, stay safe."

And there we go, not quite what I had in mind when I first started this chapter, but oh well. Sorry about it being so short, but I promise to try and make the next one longer. Speaking of which, Next should hopefully be out soon. Until next time though... BYE!!!