Sword Art Online - Volume 8 - Early and Late

by Reki Kawahara

  To shake off the chills that have yet to cease reverberating throughout my frame, I gave my shoulders a firm jerk.

  “It might be possible that the chance of it appearing was changed since β times… It’s not like it’s the first time I heard of a MMO that lowered the rate of rare drops with the start of official service…”

  “…That’s true… —So, what now? We did manage to level up considerably, and the durability of our weapons dropped by quite a bit, so returning to town for the time being might…”

  When Coper reached that point in his speech, a faint red light came to life under a tree, a mere ten meters or so away from us.

  Rough and unevenly-shaped polygon blocks were rendered, connecting to each other, forming a fuzzy image. It was a sight I was used to—the POP of a monster.

  As Coper mentioned earlier, we have gained quite a lot of experience points with the «excess farming» we’ve done until now, with both of us reaching level 3. The level suitable to clear the first floor was around 10, from my memories of the β period, so although it was still too early to proceed onwards, there was already no need to scramble for every single Little Nepent around. The color of the enemies’ color cursors was also changing from magenta to red.

  “……”

  The two of us stood still on the grassy patch, and continued absentmindedly gazing at the spawning. Within several seconds, the Nepent, number one hundred and several tens, received a distinct appearance of its own, setting out on its path with its vines coiling about. A lustrous green stalk, the proof that it’s alive; an unique speckled pattern adorning its prey-trapping mechanism; and above that—glistening a toxic red even beneath this dismal lightning, an enormous flower that resembles a tulip.

  “………”

  We remained watching that creature for several more seconds in a daze, before silently turning to each other.

  “……——!!”

  A muted war cry. Swinging our individual swords forth, with a vigor much like that of a cat assailing a mouse, we charged towards the «flower attached one» that had finally appeared and—

  Right before that, I did an emergency brake with both feet while restraining Coper who was beside me with my left hand.

  Why!? And as he turned towards me with that written on his face, I first flicked out the index finger on my left hand to grab his attention, then pointed it at what laid beyond the «flower attached one» far away.

  It was hard to see, obstructed by many trees, but the shadow of another Nepent was visible in that direction. Spotting it was thanks to the searching skill with my slightly improved proficiency at it. Perhaps due to not taking up the searching skill yet, but Coper had to strain his eyes through the darkness of the forest, taking several seconds before finally appearing to have confirmed it by sight.

  If the Nepent beyond the one with a flower was a normal one, there would be no reason to hesitate in attacking. But of all the absurd timings it could have appear at, a big lump just had to be right above that second prey-trapping mechanism, gently swaying around.

  If that were to be a flower as well, I would have no choice but to retract the proclamation of my «low real luck». That said, what was dangling on the end of the slender stalk of the second one, was a spherical ball with a diameter of around twenty centimeters—a «seed». If even a trifling graze was inflicted onto that, swelling out as though it could burst open any moment, it would immediately rupture and cause foul fumes to spread out. Those fumes would draw in swarms of rampaging Nepents, doubtlessly plunging us into peril from which we could not hope to escape, even with higher levels.

  Just what should we do.

  I was lost. There was the possibility of defeating the «one with a seed» without hurting the seed with my combat capabilities. However, that was not definite. If there was even the slightest chance of death, it would be best to be patient and wait until the ones with the flower and seed are separated, far away from each other.

  However, there was a single rumor I heard during the β period that added to my dilemma. Regarding the Little Nepent «with the flower», a precious, rare monster that drops the key item for a quest, if left alone without hunting it down, it would change into the extremely dangerous trap monster, the «one with a seed»… or at least, I believe I heard so, in those days.

  It was not impossible; or rather, it certainly was a plausible tale. Even while looking on from these bushes, the petals of the flower on the Nepent, moving about around ten meters ahead, could be seen falling as they fluttered, a perfectly round seed growing out, resulting in a group of two Nepents with seeds when counted with the other one there—or so it might turn out.

  “…Just what should we do…”

  I murmured thus without thinking. The fact that I faltered here was proof that I had yet to draw the line between danger and safety. In this state of hesitation, falling back seems to be the rational choice, but I have to question my rationality at this current moment.

  While I was frozen, as though afflicted by a stun-causing attack, Coper’s low whisper reached my ears.

  “—Let’s go. I’ll draw the «one with the seed»‘s attention, please finish off the «one with the flower» quick.”

  And without waiting for a reply, those boots from the initial equipment stepped forth.

  “………Got it.”

  I replied, following behind Coper.

  I had yet to resolve my hesitation. I had only put it off. But with this situation advancing, I could do nothing but to shift my focus onto this sword and avatar. If I was unable to handle even that, I would really die.

  The one with the flower was the first to notice Coper’s approach, twirling its body around. “Shaaaaa!”, the borders of the prey-trapping mechanism, appearing much like the lips of a human being, bellowed out while quivering.

  Veering to the right, aiming at the one with the seed further within, Coper still held the attention of the one with the flower. Having gotten closer, I took advantage of the opportunity, brandishing the sword in my right hand, with all doubts thrown to the wind.

  Even if it was a rare monster with an appearance rate of lower than one percent, the Nepent with a flower had stats barely any different from the normal ones. Its defense and attack were slightly higher, but that deviation meant nothing to me, having gotten to level 3 after over an hour of hunting.

  Even with all these doubts lingering in my mind, the accumulated experience of battles from the β period made my avatar move instinctively, evading attacks from the Nepent’s vines by parrying and stepping aside, piling up counterattacks one after another. Its HP gauge turned yellow in ten seconds, and I started up a sword skill to finish it off after a single jump backwards.

  With the increase in my one-handed straight sword proficiency with the numerous battles, it felt like the activation speed and range of skills have also increased. When the Nepent attempted to spew out its corrosive fluids, before managing to inflate its prey-trapping mechanism even halfway, its fleshy stalk was sliced apart by the blue arc of the single-hit «Horizontal» letting out a creaking sound.

  The shriek that echoed out too, was slightly different from the norm. The decapitated pitcher portion spun as it dropped to the ground, scattering away as polygons—but before that, the flower at the top of its head fell down delicately.

  A fist-sized ball, shining faintly, tumbled out from its insides. The thing rolled all the way to my feet, and just as it touched the tips of my boots, the Nepent’s trunk and prey-trapping mechanism blasted apart, one after another.

  I bent my body over, picking up the gleaming sphere—the «Little Nepent’s Ovule» with my left hand. In order to obtain this key item, over a hundred and fifty monsters must have been defeated, not to mention getting stuck in that state of indecision over one thing or another.

  As that came to my mind, I got the desire to idly sit down in some meadow, but it was still far too early to release this tension. I had to back up Coper, who was taking the responsibility
for drawing the attention of the dangerous «one with a seed» a short distance away.

  “Sorry for the wait!”

  Shouting out as I lifted my head, I dropped the ovule in my left hand into the belt pouch on my waist. It would honestly give me more relief if I opened up the window and stored it in my storage space, but it was not the time to leisurely operate it like so. I restored my grip onto my sword, and ran several steps—

  For some reason, my feet appeared to have stopped all by themselves.

  I didn’t understand it too. Just right ahead, the partner that I unexpectedly gained, Coper, was skillfully handling the Nepent’s assaults with his sword and buckler. Perhaps because he specialized in defense from the start, but it seemed that he had enough control to face this way, even in the midst of battle. Giving off an aura of seriousness, with slightly narrowed eyes, he stared into me—with those eyes.

  Something in his gaze caused my feet to halt.

  What was it? Why was Coper looking on me with those eyes? As if they were filled with distrust, or possibly pity.

  Strongly fending off the Nepent’s vine attack with the buckler, as Coper broke off the bout, he delivered a short line while looking at me, who was standing stock still.

  “Sorry, Kirito.”

  And he returned his sight to the monster, forcefully raising the sword in his right hand above his head. The blade glistened light blue. A sword skill was activated. That motion—was that of the single-hit vertical slash, «Vertical».

  “No… that’s bad, isn’t it…”

  Even with the confusion caused by the earlier statement, I murmured so with my mind numb.

  The upper portion of the stalk, a weak point of the Little Nepent, was obstructed by its sturdy prey-trapping mechanism, and as such, vertical attacks are ineffective. Additionally, there was a clear reason why Coper should not be using a vertical slash now. He should also be well aware of that.

  However, the sword skill was already beyond the point of no return. The avatar, half taken over by the system assist, kicked the ground savagely, and the glowing blade was driven into the Nepent’s prey-trapping mechanism—or at least, what was above it, striking that wobbling, round «seed».

  *Baaan!*

  That explosive sound shook the forest at a monstrous volume.

  This was the second time I heard this sound. The first was of course, during the β test period. At that time, the members of my ad hoc party carelessly poked it with a spear, and due to the swarm of Little Nepents attracted by the odor, the four of us at level 2 to 3 died before we could even try to escape.

  Coper’s «Vertical» that smashed the seed continued, slicing apart the Nepent’s prey-trapping mechanism as well, cutting through its HP gauge. The monster soon blew apart, but the vague green fumes left behind in the air and that queer stench that reached my nose did not fade away.

  Facing Coper, who had avoided the fumes and jumped aside with vigor, I spat words out in a daze.

  “Wh… Why…”

  It wasn’t an accident. That attack was intentional. Coper slashed that «seed» of his own free will, bursting it open.

  The original β tester who fought alongside me for this one hour repeated himself without looking at me.

  “…Sorry.”

  From the direction of that avatar, I saw a great number of color cursors appear.

  From the right too. From the left too. And also, from the back too. They were the Little Nepents drawn by the fumes. There was no mistake that every one of the individual beings POP-ed in this area were gathering, without a single one lacking. There were twenty in total… no, there were easily over thirty. It’s impossible; the instant I decided that, my feet began to try and escape by their own accord, but that too, was impossible. Even if I were to break through the blockade, the highest movement speed of Nepents was far higher than one would be led to believe from their outer appearance, and I would befall the attention of other monsters before I got away. Retreat was no longer possible—

  In other words, this was suicide?

  Was I dragged along, only to die here? Was Coper crushed under the pressure from the fear of «death in reality», wishing to retire from this death game?

  Frozen stiff as I stood there, I wondered vacantly.

  However, that guess was an error.

  Not bothering to even look at me any further, Coper, with his sword already returned to its scabbard on the left side of his waist, started to run towards a thicket nearby having turning to that direction. There was no hesitation in his movements. He had not given up on living through this yet. However.

  “It’s futile…”

  I squeezed the words that almost couldn’t escape out from my throat.

  The swarm of Little Nepents was flooding in from all directions. Slipping through any gaps, or cutting a path through with a sword would be difficult, and even if that actually worked, the enemies would impede any attempts to continue. No, in the first place, if Coper intends to escape now of all times, just why did he slice that seed with «Vertical»? Perhaps he planned to die, but lost his nerve upon seeing the huge mass of monsters, and thought of struggling to the bitter end?

  I thought through those things in a nook of my mind; over half of it already numb, as I followed behind Coper who dove into a small thicket. With the dense growth of leaves obstructing, his avatar went out of sight, but his color cursor was still displayed as—…

  It wasn’t. He shouldn’t have gotten twenty meters away yet, but Coper’s color cursor had vanished from my vision. He might had used a «teleport crystal» to perform an emergency retreat; was what I thought for a moment, but that should not be it. That item was terribly valuable, and there was no way he managed to buy it at the beginning like this, not to mention that the 1st floor had neither shops that sold it, nor monsters that dropped it.

  In that case, there was only one answer. The special effects of the «Hiding» skill. Erasing the sight of the color cursor from players, and not drawing the attention of monsters. Coper did not leave the second skill slot empty; he had already taken up the hiding skill. That might have been why when we first met, I did not notice him approaching me from behind…

  As I felt the ground quake beneath the groups of monsters gushing forth, I came to that conclusion, and finally—though it was much too slow, I realized.

  Coper was not fleeing from a suicide attempt after getting a taste of fear.

  He was trying to kill me.

  Monster Player Kill. As the name suggests, using neutral monsters to kill players.

  Going to the extent of breaking the «seed», gathering together the Nepents from all around. Followed by concealing nothing but his own body with the hiding skill, all by himself. Rallying over thirty monsters’ undivided attention onto me, who was incapable of hiding. A truly orthodox modus operandi, of how «MPK» works.

  Upon understanding that, his motive was clear as day. To steal the quest key item, «Little Nepent’s Ovule», that I picked up just a moment ago. If I were to die, the item would drop right there from within my equipment, or the pouch it was in. After the mass of Nepents have dispersed, Coper could pick up the «ovule», return to the village and clear the quest.

  “……So that’s it……”

  As I set my sight upon the horde of abnormalities, close enough for me to not have to rely on the color cursors any longer, I whispered.

  —Coper. He was not escaping from the reality of the situation. It was the opposite. He had already acknowledged the reality of this so-called death game, advancing onto the stage as a proper player. His decision, was to swindle, outwit and rob other players, for the sake of his own life.

  Surprisingly, I felt no enmity rise up within me.

  Even though I fell right into the trap, and was about to be murdered, curiously enough, my mind was composed. Part of that might have been due to my recognition of that single «hole» existing in Coper’s plan.

  “…Coper. You didn’t know about it, did you.”
<
br />   I have no idea if he could hear me, but I articulated so, in the direction of the thicket a slight distance away.

  “This must have been the first time you took up the «hiding» skill. It may be a useful skill, but it’s not quite bulletproof. Against monsters that rely on senses aside from sight, it’s not very effective. For example, something like a Little Nepent.”

  Rampaging as they assembled, a cluster of the predatory plants storming in like an avalanche, were clearly heading towards the thicket Coper was hidden in. He must have noticed how he constantly drew attention despite hiding by now. That was the exact reason why I took up searching over hiding.

  Feeling calmer than ever, I turned towards the rear, and laid my eyes onto the ranks of Nepents rushing in from there. The enemies from behind will be assailing Coper, so it’s fine to leave them alone. Before the situation concludes behind, if I were to annihilate those in front, there might just be a chance to return alive. Of course, the odds of that were one to ten thousand though.

  Despite death approaching close enough to graze me, I am still unable to face it as reality, and took up my Small Sword as I always did. Its durability was debilitated from the hundred and tens of battle it went through till now, with chips and scratches everywhere on its blade. If I were to wield it roughly, it might even break apart during this battle.

  Reducing the number of slashes to the minimum. Hitting exactly below the enemies’ prey-trapping mechanism, their weak point, with a «Horizontal» at full boosted power as I kicked off and swung my arm, I slaughtered each in one blow. If I wasn’t capable of doing that at the very least, it was certain that the worst manner of death would greet me when I lose my armaments.

  I heard the sounds of the monsters’ howls and attacks from behind, as well as Coper, who seemed to be shouting something.

  But I turned back no more, and focused all my senses on the foes I was up against.