Accel World: Crimson Storm Princess

by Reki Kawahara

And then on the ground, similar to Haruyuki’s apartment, were buildings designed with sharp steel plates stuck on like objects. Right in front, the hazy fog covered Shinjuku, was no longer crowded with tall buildings, but was now like a fortress filled with an evil army. No matter how he looked, there was not any movement. As if it was totally uninhabited.

  Demonic city, while those words appear in his mind, Haruyuki asked Kuroyukihime who stepped out beside him.

  “It’s the first time I've seen this kind of field. Here, the attribute is...”

  “It’s «Chaos».”

  After that short answer, she turned her eyes shining with violet light towards Haruyuki and added.

  “You will eventually understand what that means. Instead of that, Haruyuki-kun. Looking at the scenery is fine, but there is something else that you should realize quickly.”

  “Wh... what?”

  While Haruyuki hurriedly looked around, he finally saw what he was supposed to.

  Up till now in duel fields, normally in the upper part of his view is shown his own and his enemy’s HP bars, right between them is the remaining time count starting from 1800 seconds. However right now, there is only his HP bar, and there is no countdown number.

  So far, the game application «Brain Burst» that Haruyuki experienced were, detailed fields that could only be thought of as reality, with perfect real five senses feedback that is ultimate technology, but the content was an old style one on one fighting game. At the moment he arrived at this «Unlimited Neutral Field», the graphics design only changed slightly, but he felt that the game suddenly changed clothes and became a cutting edge large scale network game, so he involuntarily shouted.

  “Th, there isn’t any remaining time...!? What does this mean...?”

  “Exactly what it seems.”

  The one who answered, was Niko who came up on his left side.

  “Here, there is not a dive time limit setup. That’s why it’s «Unlimited».”

  “Wha.”

  Again losing his words, Haruyuki desperately tried to think about the meaning of what he heard.

  “...Th, that is. We, «Accelerated» right?”

  “Of course, that’s right.”

  Kuroyukihime’s reply made his thought turning fully again.

  Brain Burst accelerated its user’s thinking by 1000 times while in a full dive in a virtual field. That’s why, even if the normal acceleration limit of 30 minutes are all used up, in the real world it would only have been 1.8 seconds.

  However, with no limit, that means.

  If just 10 minutes of real time is spent in this «Unlimited Neutral Field», that would be a length of 10,000 minutes - that is about 166 hours, which is around 7 days.

  Then, if he spent a whole real day...

  After he calculated with his fingers, Haruyuki murmured with a raspy voice.

  “Th... three years...”

  ‘Oh my god’. That is about equal to forever in time. That means, if he uses the command «Unlimited Burst», no matter how much homework he left behind, or slack off on studying for a test...

  “You should not do that, Haru.”

  At that moment, as if he perfectly traced Haruyuki’s brazen thoughts, Takumu said behind him.

  Turning around, he saw the avatar’s muscular shoulders shrug, and his friend continued with a sound containing laughter.

  “I too, came here just once before. At that time I was as excited as you are, also since 10 Burst Points were used, I thought it would be a waste to go home soon, so I spent 3 days inside. When I returned to reality, I had forgotten all about what I was going to do before accelerating, it was awful.”

  “That’s right, Haruyuki-kun. With just 3 days you can get away with forgetting what you were going to do, but if you spend 1 month, or half a year in here...”

  Saying till there, Kuroyukihime’s tone of voice became serious.

  “- when you return, your personality would have changed. Of course, compared to yourself up to that point, at worse your soul’s age would differ too. If you don’t want your family or friends to look at you with puzzled faces, you should not come here too often.”

  At the instant he heard that speech, one awaken voice rang in his mind.

  ‘- If you knew how much time that girl and I spent in the accelerated world...’

  Yesterday, Niko said that with laughter. The meaning of that, which is - .

  However before he can think ahead, he was lightly hit on the back by that person.

  “Instead of that, it’s time to move. At the time we accelerated, it would be still two real minutes before the train Cherry is on arrives at Ikebukuro, so we still have time though.”

  “Y, yea. Moving... that is to Ikebukuro right.”

  Two minutes of real time is over 33 hours in the accelerated world. While he thought that might be way more time than needed, Haruyuki moved his view towards the northeast direction.

  Beyond the blue black steel city that extended far away, he could make out a lightly floating huge structure. If that is Ikebukuro’s Sunshine city, the distance there should be about 6km, similar to the real world.

  “Let see... do we walk? Or run...?”

  “No way. Why do you think we have you here?”

  “Huh? That means...”

  In front of the dumbfounded Haruyuki, the pitiful crimson avatar held her hands together in front of her chest and tilted her head.

  “Carry me and fly, onii-chan♪”

  Haruyuki used his «Punch» and «Kick» to destroy the objects of deformed statues and iron bars set on the open terrace, and after his special gauge was maxed, he turned around while saying ‘Let see...’.

  There, were shapes of two Kings looking at him sharply.

  “He will carry me, since I have these arms. You can dangle below Silver Crow’s legs.”

  “Stop joking! Why do I have to do that humiliating thing? It is your avatar’s design fault, you go ride the train by yourself!”

  Between the two with sparking flashes that were not an expression but was really there, Takumu sighed and interrupted.

  “Then, let’s do this. Master on Haru’s right arm, and Red King on his left arm, have him carry you like that. And then I will dangle on his legs. Will that work, Haru?”

  “Ah... y, yea, probably. I can’t put out much speed though.”

  Moving to the front of the still unsatisfied Niko and Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki first extended his right hand.

  “Ex, excuse me.”

  He tightly held Black Lotus’ slender waist which had a lotus flower like armor skirt below, next he used his left hand to hold Scarlet Rain’s even more delicate body.

  Without a fragment of mental space for a ‘Yay, a flower in both hands’ kind of thought, Haruyuki slowly put strength into his shoulder blades, and opened up the metallic fins folded on his back.

  The wings that spread apart with a clear sound, soon released a light flapping sound. The virtual lift that was created made them float above the ground.

  He slowly rose, when he was about 1.5m above ground, he hovered.

  “Taku, it’s okay now.”

  “Yoroshiku, Haru.”

  Soon, Cyan Pile’s strong arms held onto around his calf area.

  “Then... we are going!”

  With his announcement, Haruyuki shook the fins with all his strength.

  Three extra people’s weight was a lot, but he still managed to accelerate and fly towards the sky. The steel terrace was left farther and farther behind, and the uninhabited, deformed city opened up wide below.

  “Oh... oh, incredible...!!”

  In his left arm, Niko shouted.

  “You are really flying! That is Seven Ring[7]... that is central train line huh. Wonder if I can see my school!”

  For Haruyuki, it was all familiar scenery. Even within the Normal Duel Field’s movement limit, he could still see not just Tokyo, but the whole district of Kanto.

  However, no matter how many times he saw it, the
feeling that welled up in his heart never seemed to thin. More than anything, this «Unlimited Neutral Field», according to Kuroyukihime’s explanation, is limited by the social camera network range - that meant it continued all the way to the edge of Japan.

  That is a scale that could no longer be called a game map. It is another world.

  “I see... this huh.”

  Haruyuki unconsciously whispered.

  “This is the true «Accelerated World» right. Always existing beside the real world... not an instant, but a permanent world...”

  “That’s right.”

  That short murmur, was from Kuroyukihime he held in his right arm. From the sharp shape, shining eyes turned towards Haruyuki and her strict yet kind voice flowed.

  “And this is Burst Linker’s true battle field. If you aim for level 9, eventually you will have to fight here, and win. ...Well, right now is not that time yet.”

  Does that mean his level is too low, or Haruyuki himself does not have enough ability?

  Realizing that a bit of impatience pricked at his chest, Haruyuki lightly nodded.

  “Yes... In, instead of that...”

  “Nn? What is it?”

  “Since this is a permanent map, that means, at this moment other than us, there are other Burst Linkers who dived in here right?”

  “Of course.”

  It was Niko who answered him. Haruyuki changed the way he was facing, and asked another question.

  “B, but, if that is the case... I don’t seem to sense anyone else...”

  The deformed city below was filled with cold silence, and he could not see any movement. Haruyuki thought it would be like the usual duel field, with duel avatar shapes here and there, so what does this mean?

  However soon, this time it was from Takumu dangling on his legs that made a sound.

  “Haha, that’s of course, Haru. The total number of Burst Linkers is around 1000, so at any one time the number of them that dive in this Unlimited Neutral Field is at most 100 people. Even saying it like this, for places like Suginami that does not have anything, not seeing anyone is a matter of course.”

  “Th, then... if we head towards the city center...?”

  “That is exactly it. That’s why we, and also «Cherry Rook» are aiming for Bukuro.”

  At the same time she said that, Niko knocked on Haruyuki’s helmet head.

  “Instead of that, if you keep floating and don’t move, your gauge will disappear.”

  “Ah, y, yea.”

  Haruyuki checked the small blue shining special attack gauge bar below his HP bar. Hovering does not use up a lot of the gauge, but it already lost about 10%.

  “Then, we will be taking the direct route.”

  With that announcement, Haruyuki again increased his wing’s vibration rate.

  Right below the hanging black clouds, he moved forward like sliding. Soon they passed the empty Seven Ring and entered Nakano.

  When his eyes captured the elevated central train line supported by awfully sharp pillars, he looked ahead casually. He saw something unexpected and murmured.

  “Ah... Th, the train is moving...!?”

  On the black shining rails, just made up of only two cars, there really was a train shaped long small shadow moving with heavy sounds towards the direction of Shinjuku.

  “You can really ride it. It will cost points though.”

  Hearing Kuroyukihime’s somewhat fun explanation, under the silver armor his eyes opened wide.

  “Wha... wh, who is driving it!?”

  “Fufu, you should check it out yourself someday.”

  While they were chatting, the train line was left farther and farther behind, in exchange he could see Yamate street. After they pass that, they will arrive at Mejiro, and then Ikebukuro.

  In the real world, Haruyuki usually went there to buy old styled game software and paper media books, but access to it from Suginami is unexpectedly bad. Either he took the train to Shinjuku and left from there, or rode the bus from Kouenji, both ways are right angle movements so it took time.

  ‘If I can fly like this it would be fun’, while he was thinking those carefree thoughts, at that time - .

  “Hey, Haruyuki-kun. Look at that.”

  Kuroyukihime who was riding on his right arm, pointed with the tip of her sword towards the east side.

  Haruyuki who looked that way casually, his overwhelming shock almost made him drop the two Kings he was carrying, so he hurriedly held them tighter.

  “Uwaaa... Wha... what...!?”

  On Yamate street where deep fog flowed, there was a huge slow moving shadow. It could only be said to be strange looking. Its full body form was like a four legged beast, but its body was flat like a stingray, and where the head was supposed to be, many tentacles dangled to the ground. At the end of long strong legs, like on a bug, two brutal looking sharp claws extended.

  And then its large size, no matter how you look at it, was about the height of a three storey building. Taking over three car lanes of road below, it slowly moved south.

  When its feet touched the ground, a ‘Booom’ like low sound shook the air, while feeling that, Haruyuki whispered in amazement.

  “What is... that?”

  “It is an «enemy». Created by the system, it moves, and is this world’s resident.”

  Continuing after Kuroyukihime, Niko blew a short whistle.

  “Seeing one that big all of a sudden, you are lucky. But, don’t approach too close to it. If we become a target of that class, even these members won’t be able to handle it.”

  “Target... you said, what, it will attack us!?”

  “The meaning of the word ‘enemy’, you should have already learned it in middle school.”

  He did not have time to retort to Niko’s bad mouthing, as Haruyuki hurriedly gained altitude. The strange looking huge beast did not seem to notice the people looking from above, and slowly continued to walk.

  “Wh... why is that dangerous thing setup...”

  “Why, you ask... that is...”

  Kuroyukihime’s reply faltered. Niko and Takumu too seemed to show they lacked the answer, so Haruyuki tilted his head.

  Then, Takumu who was dangling on his legs shouted with an undertone.

  “Ah, there, it’s just starting. The «Hunt».”

  “Hu... hunt...?”

  Right after that, the huge beast passing right under them suddenly roared, and Haruyuki jumped a few meters.

  “Uwaaa!?”

  The beast stood up on its two hind legs, and while the tentacles on its head violently shook, it roared again. However its opponent was not them, as Haruyuki soon realized.

  Farther south on Yamate street, there were many small shadows.

  At first he thought they were other «enemy», but he soon realized that was not the case. The many colored armored humanoid silhouettes - must be Burst Linkers.

  The large size person standing at the front raised its right hand and brought it down.

  At that moment, from the roof of buildings to either side of the street, many beam lines and actual ammo ballistic curves were sent, which exploded around the huge beast’s head.

  The huge body of the «enemy» was momentarily staggered, then with a ‘Yuoooon’ roar, its head turned towards one of the buildings. While its front legs scratched the air, it started to move forward with earth tremors.

  However, right before the huge body crashed into the building, the Burst Linkers taking formation on the road all released mid range attacks at the same time. The beast that stood while covered by many explosions roared in anger and changed its target, charging towards the people standing on the road.

  “L-look out!”

  Haruyuki shouted involuntarily. The huge beast’s front leg came down from far above, the one that looked like a leader was stepped on in one fell swoop and crushed - that was what it looked like, but the blue silver heavy armored duel avatar stopped the huge claw with his crossed arms.

  Even so it did no
t seem like they want to stop the beast and fight it there, while he guarded the people the rampaging huge beast was attacking, he slowly backed off.

  After pulling it a far enough distance away from the two buildings, from the rooftops all weapons were fired again, hitting the base of the huge beast’s tail. While the beast turned slowly to head for the building on the eastern side, this time the group on the ground chased it for close range attacks.

  “That’s a pretty nice party. The hate(AGGRO) control is good. Who is that leader?”

  To Kuroyukihime’s impressed question, Niko answered.

  “It should be a management member of the Green legion. But that party seems to be made up of random people.”

  With that conversation, Haruyuki finally understood what the fight occurring below him was for.

  “I, I see... those Burst Linkers are not attacked by that monster... They are going after it to kill it right.”

  “That’s right. That is a «hunt».”

  “That means, if they kill it, experience points... not that, Burst Points...?”

  “Umu, exactly that.”

  After Kuroyukihime nodded, Niko knocked on Haruyuki’s head.

  “Even you should have understood by now. The reason enemy exist in this Unlimited Neutral Field, that also is the reason why this field exists. Not just from normal duels, Burst Linkers can hunt here to level up as well. But...”

  “...That efficiency, is significantly worse compared to duels. That class of large size beast, even hunting with the risk of full annihilation, is similar to winning a duel with a same level once... that is about 10 points are gained.”

  Kuroyukihime who continued the explanation, paused there, and lightly shook her flowing form mask.

  “That is something that could not be helped. Hunting enemy in this world, is an act of creating Burst Points from nothing. That means, for the «Duel fighting game» that is Brain Burst, originally hunting in the Unlimited Field is just a method of supplementing points. However right now, that became about the only way that high level can be reached. The reason is...”

  “The mutual no invasion treaty... right.”

  Haruyuki murmured.

  “For high level Burst Linkers, even if they want to duel normally, they cannot strike in other legions’ territory. For that reason also, the weekend «Territory battle», due to the treaty cannot function...”