The Rogue Reaper (Sword Art Online)

Part 1: An Easy Solo Mission

Noct stalked through the dense forest, crouched low as he flew across the ground. His eyes scanned the ground and the trees as he moved, and the leaves made only the slightest crunch under his boots. At night, he'd be a shadow in the dark, but the scum Noct was hunting today were operating in broad daylight. There were three of them: three criminals, including at least one Red, who were terrorizing a particular region of the forest dungeon for the past two days, robbing the levelling players at knifepoint. Players had reported at least one death. Noct was dispatched solo, to eliminate the criminals and prevent further innocent casualties.

Such was the work of the leader of the Reapers Division in the infamous Mors Incarnatus PKK guild. In this death game that was the living nightmare of all the trapped «Tales of Aincrad» players, many of those who initially declared they would be Player Killers (PK) and Player Killer-Killers (PKK) turned strictly non-PK after the awful realization that not only was it impossible to log out, combined with the permanent-death rule of the Hardcore Mode server.

Even Noct's heart had skipped a beat and the overbearing feeling of helplessness in the air found its way into his stomach, making him feel ill when he heard the first person who lost all their HP, or health points, was now nowhere to be found. Nobody knew if there was a terrible fate for those who died in the game, as in popular anime like [Sword Art Online] or [.hack//], but regardless, nobody wanted to take the chance of one day waking up from the game a murderer.

Though, to say "nobody wanted to become a murderer" was not completely accurate. Just as in [Sword Art Online], Player Killers still existed, and in enough numbers to form formidably sized PK guilds. Lacking in empathy and a firm grip on the danger of the situation, the PKs coldly cut down anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves in an ambush or to lower their guard in the wrong place at the wrong time, despite player killing being forbidden and outlawed by the rest of the game's population. Hence, justice guilds such as The People's Army of Aincrad gained widespread support and a small company of new members, while the more extreme PKK guilds such as Mors Incarnatus found work, but few recruits.

Noct's silver skull guild crest on his shoulder flashed briefly in the light of a stray sunray. He slowed to a halt as he approached a small clearing. His acute, predator-like tracking skills led him to this grove, and here, in the sort of area where you would normally find at least a couple of players resting, there were only the trees and the ambient sound effects of chirping birds. Noct swiftly and soundlessly dived into the foliage.

As he sensed, a cloaked figure soon stepped out from behind a tree as a second cloaked figure entered the clearing. They spoke in low voices.

"There's one coming now. Hitoshi is bringing him. He said the guy has a pretty nice sword," said the second figure.

The cloaked player who had been hiding until now sneered. "Heh! I'll be the one to own it. I've been browsing around the shops for a new weapon, you know. This is better. It's free!" He laughed maliciously.

Their voices were distorted slightly; Noct suspected they were wearing masks. Indignance flared white hot in his chest as the two spoke, and his vision began to go red with anger, but he remained in the bushes. He'd love nothing more but to make them bleed, to make them beg mercy and forgiveness at his feet, but patience was the key on solo hunts. He softly unsheathed his sword. The dark tinted blade lent itself to stealth quite conveniently.