Sword Art Online Alternative: Underworld Burning

Chapter Three: The Dark Territory

Six months had passed since Eydis was summoned, and since then she and I had became very close friends. We had both become increasingly busy with patrolling, but finally came the day we could go on another mission together. 

"Aaah! I'm so exhausted!" Eydis and I were feeding our dragons, Kirimai and Ruri. I patted my dragon, Ruri, on the snout, causing her to breathe out a bit of smoke in relaxation. "I get it. We've both been on patrol for a long while with little break. Luckily this is the last patrol for a good time." Eydis cheered, "That's right! And we get to do it together!" My face got warm, "T-that's right...together." Eydis walked over to me and Ruri, feeding Ruri some fish. She looked up at me smiling, "And maybe when we get back we can try out the new bath on the 90th floor." I looked at her surprised, blushing, "A-a-are you sure!? I mean I'm a boy and you're a girl and-" Eydis blushed lightly, smiling sweetly at me, "I don't mind if you don't." I turned bright red, my heart beating really fast. Eydis patted my shoulder, then walked over to Kirimai and got on her back, "Now let's get going Arteo!" I nodded, still locked on the words she had said. I hopped on Ruri's back, patting her before taking off, following Kirimai and Eydis.

"I don't mind if you don't." The words echoed in my head, the image of Eydis' cute blushing face stuck in my mind. Eydis didn't mind taking a bath with me. I started having really steamy thoughts, my mind turning to mush. Ruri looked back at me with a confused look as we flew. "Don't worry about it Ruri. It's nothing." Ruri let out a soft growl, looking forward. I sighed, "I need to focus, right Ruri?" She growled in response, speeding up. I glanced behind me, seeing Eydis and Kirimai gliding at the same speed as me. Eydis' hair was flowing behind her, her red eyes staring down at the Human Empire below in wonder. "I wonder if she'd like to visit people sometime. I know I've had the thought of walking among humans." I looked ahead, seeing the End Mountains getting closer and larger. I could see the Dark Territory ahead, the red sky and earth looming in the distance. I took a deep breath, knowing the battle I had ahead.

Ruri and Kirimai landed on the edge of the Dark Territory next to the End Mountains. Eydis and I dismounted them, patting their heads. "Follow us in the sky, okay? Be ready to help if need be." Eydis said to Kirimai and Ruri. The dragons nodded, flapping their wings and taking off. We watched them fly up into the air, then looked at each other. "So what are we looking for?" I asked. Eydis thought for a moment, "I believe there was a report that a rogue dark mage had begun work with goblin blood to form a super illness. We suspect so they can feed it into the Human Empire and slowly weaken us." I had my hand on my chin as I listened, her serious expression not taking away from her beautiful face. When she finished I nodded my head, "Well I'd assume they're not working alone. Perhaps having goblins or other dark mages as allies." Eydis shrugged, "Well I guess we'll find out. Let's go!" Eydis ran ahead, causing me to run after her.

Eydis and I were wandering around for a while, unable to find anything more than a few goblins. Eydis sighed, "Ah well, this kinda sucks, huh Arteo?" I scratched my head, then heard a sound from behind me. I turned around, pulling my fingers back. As I did red glowing arrows formed from where my hand had been. "Burst Element!" The arrows flew forward, turning blue as they sailed through the air. The arrows burned through a rock, and as they did multiple cries could be heard from behind it. Suddenly multiple goblins emerged from the rock, holding others with burn marks covering them. Eydis rushed towards them, drawing her sword. It started glowing purple as she slashed through the goblins, cutting them all down in a flash. She then returned to my side, drops of blood running down her armor. "Gross," Eydis muttered, wiping some off, "I'll definitely need a bath after this." I chuckled, turning around to see tons of goblins running at us from multiple directions. "Eydis get ready!" I yelled.

I drew my sword, rushing towards them, slashing multiple down in one hit each. Eydis was flying through them, slashing the goblins left and right. As she spun through them it looked as if we were dancing...albeit a very bloody and gross dance. Eydis cast a sacred arts attack, multiple umbral hands emerging from a shadow in the ground, grabbing the goblins and killing them instantly. I formed a thermal ball, firing it in the center of a crowd of goblins. The ball exploded in blue fire, incinerating the goblins. 

As we slashed through them Eydis used a Sacred Arts, causing two duplicate Eydis' appearing next to her, each made of umbral sacred power. They formed little umbral orbs, firing them at the goblins. "They look just like her...what an amazing ability for her to have." I thought as I ran my sword through a goblin. "Arteo watch out!" Eydis shouted. As I snapped back to reality I slammed my face into a rock, falling back. The goblins seized the chance, rushing towards me. "Shit...I really screwed this up." I thought to myself.

"ENHANCE ARMAMENT!!" Eydis held her sword up, umbral particles floated out of the glowing purple blade, forming a massive purple cloud around all the goblins. I couldn't see, but I quickly got up, listening. I heard Eydis slashing through goblins like lightning, hearing them drop like rain in a storm. Suddenly Eydis appeared in front of me, her eyes glowing red in the darkness. She tilted her head slightly, smiling at me cutely. "You really saved my butt Eydis." I said, embarrassed. Eydis dispersed the dark cloud, pulling me close for a hug. She wrapped her arms around me, "I was worried. I thought I would be too late. You scared me." I embraced her, causing her to squeeze me even tighter, "I-I'm sorry Eydis. I never meant to worry you." 

"I love you..." 

The thought crossed my mind again. It had been months since I had truly had that thought. Embracing her while feeling her hold me in her arms brought that feeling back to me. 

That's when I saw it...

For a split second I saw the gleam of a crossbow...

The dart as it flew through the air...

And then Eydis collapsing into my arms...

I held Eydis in my arms, kneeling to the ground. I laid her down on the ground, examining her quickly. The dart was in her leg, a small vial connected to it. Empty. I pulled it out, tossing it away. I moved back up to her face. She was wincing in pain, sweat beading on her forehead. "Eydis! Eydis stay with me!" She opened her eyes, smiling at me through the pain, "Arteo..." I looked at her, afraid. "Ruri! Kirimai!" The two dragons soared down, landing next to us. Kirimai licked Eydis' cheek, looking up at me, sadness in her eyes. I put my hands around her leg, "Generate cryogenic element." Ice formed around the wound, which would slow the blood flow. I learned it from a priest in the church. "Ruri, Kirimai, protect Eydis." I stood up, my face darkening, "This'll only take a moment."

I started walking towards the dark mage, who had hopped down from their shooting position. I held my sword out, "Enhance Armament..." Blue fire burst from all around me, flowing out of my armor. I used a burst of flames to fly forward towards the mage. They held their hands out, The ground all around me beginning to glow. Dozens of goblins suddenly appeared, surrounding me. "Get out of my way..." I muttered. I turned my blade to the ground, "Release Recollection!" I stabbed my sword into the ground, an inferno of flames bursting around me in a circle, incinerating all the goblins around me instantly. With immense speed I appeared in front of the mage, looking her right in the eye. A look of fear flashed onto her face, followed by smugness. "You're too la-" I cut her head off instantly, a burst of fire following from the cut. I sheathed my sword, sprinting back to Eydis' side. I picked her up, jumping up and landing on Ruri. "Kirimai, Ruri, let's go, quickly!" Kirimai and Ruri took off, speeding back towards the central cathedral.