EQG: Sword Art Online - Ruby Palace

Episode 75 – All In
Twenty-Fourth Day in the Month of Sakura (April 24) in the Year of the Griffon
Floor 59 — 5 P.M.

All current Wondercolts were at the meeting. Argo was insisting they all were there. After working on the quest with them and receiving their markings, it made sense, although she didn't know about Knightstar yet.

They were the first guild to arrive and they were looking spectacular in their uniformed equipment. Argo was in the darkest corner of the room, staying silent. Bladescape wasn't sure if she noticed the lack of Knightstar. The KoB arrived soon after, but Argo stayed in her corner. Bladescape nodded to acknowledge Asuna and Commander Heathcliff.

Bladescape smiled as Fuurinkazan came in, but it dropped as the DDA came in right behind them. Agil and other free agents arrived only a short while after. About seven hundred players were on the front line, but not many did the boss fights. About two hundred total, most in small guilds. There were always around fifty players from non-boss guilds trying to get into the raid. Some came alone, others in pairs or small groups.

"Argo," Asuna said, getting things started. "You were vague in your guide and you are here in person. The Wondercolts scouted the boss, but were driven back out immediately by three massive skeletons. The Knights of the Bloodoath made our own scouting attempt this morning and met the same fate. What else do you have for us?"

Argo nodded as she walked out of the corner to the center of the room where everyone could see her. "There was some particular trouble on this Floor. I had help from the Wondercolts dealing with a difficult quest. After that, there was a particular...issue acquiring the rest of the data. We won't have that problem from here on out."

"What exactly happened?" Asuna asked. "We only heard that the Info Broker Iliad was blacklisted and taught a lesson after selling bad info."

"I can't tell you any more than what the paper already circulated," Argo shrugged. "I know some of the players in the room were there that morning. I dealt with Iliad for his crimes against us. Done and done. Enough said.

“As for the boss, the Wondercolts know pretty much all I do and they can add anything they have deduced. What I know is this: Those catacombs you guys have been raking through are key. The main info quests which were connected to the Floor were all about a Necromancer. I see a battle full of skeletons, possibly the shadows, and maybe other undead, all led by that Necromancer. That is who we have to deal with. Thanks to Iliad, I wasn't able to track, kill, or confirm his death. In the one quest with him I got to finish, the Wondercolts and I did get to him, but he teleported out before we could kill him."

"So that's it?" Asuna huffed.

"That's it," Argo admitted. "Bladescape?"

Bladescape looked at Natora. Natora shrugged but approached the table. "First off, I was there for our scouting run. I really don’t believe those Skeletons are the boss. I believe it’s the Necromancer and when we go in, that is the real fight. He was likely controlling the skeletons, we just couldn’t push them back enough to see him."

Asuna nodded. "So go in heavy with tanks and lancers, force the giant skeletons back to get teams around to strike them from the back."

"No," Natora said, shocking them all. "I don't think we have to worry about them. The necromancer we faced was too smart. The big ones are a farce. We won't see them when a real team attacks. They are guards designed to keep scouting parties out. We had nine, how many did you bring in? Twelve?"

"Twelve," Asuna confirmed with a nod. "But, we have never seen anything like that before. I doubt it is a farce."

Natora shrugged. "At least let me tell you what we saw with the Necromancer. What we saw was him raising an army of normal skeletons. They were about the same level as the ones in the Catacombs. Not the bigger mid-level bosses, the normal ones. The Necromancer is weak to poison and has a low HP bar, but that might have changed for the boss battle. He can open portals and move between points. He opened a portal and ordered a group of skeletons through it to attack our other party. He escaped through his own portal after we dropped his HP far enough.

"I want this to be very clear. It wasn't an easy fight. However, we had an advantage or two we won't ever have in the boss room, and from the layout we saw, it will be the opposite. Back then, we had a height advantage to see him clearly. This time, he will be elevated on that platform on the far side of the room. Along with our height advantage we had a range advantage with some throwing blades. He was raising those skeletons in groups of twenty. About one group every four seconds. We will have a huge fight on our hands as he keeps the waves coming.

"He won't have time to raise big skeletons. At least not regularly. We need to keep the pressure up. Five skeletons a second is the rate we have to counter. I bet thirty seconds to raise a big one, if we even face one. Using my knowledge of similar quests from a variety of other games, he is going to be easy to kill, but getting to him will be the hard thing. I expect a long fight and believe we need to be ready to deal with a significant number of waves of enemies. We need to be focused on endurance, with a team specially designed to kill him."

"The Wondercolts need to all come," Argo added. "The quest we completed, the first of the four, the old man used some of his magic knowledge to give us an advantage boost against the Necromancer's forces."

"You got a stats boost from a quest?" Kirito asked from where he was in the crowd. He was weary of the information's truth.

"We did," Argo confirmed. "It made fighting the shadows specifically much easier. Way easier to see at the very least. See, track, and therefore kill. What took you guys days, we had in minutes."

"Fine," Asuna conceded. "Two squads for the Wondercolts. But their skills better be worth it. And you will need to fill that sixth slot with another player."

"Three slots," Bladescape said. "Doombunny did her part taking down Serigatal The Wolf Master. She doesn't want in and I respect that. We will need three players. Unless Argo wants to join us."

Argo just quietly shook her head no, but her eyes were piercing as she tried to figure out what was happening inside the Wondercolts. Asuna and Kirito were trying to figure it out too. Bladescape saw Klein quietly counting the Wondercolts he could see from his angle in the room.

Bladescape felt her legs get squeezed and then that rope slide up her body. As she looked down she saw the ripple of color and then felt a lot of weight transfer to her shoulders. Colorra's head was floating in front of her. It nodded three times. Colorra was in, which meant Doombunny was in.

"I amend that," Bladescape said, stroking Colorra’s smooth head. "We have ten available Wondercolts ready and able for this raid."

Asuna nodded her head slowly, still not sure what was going on. "Then if we are facing waves of enemies, we primarily need shield users and damage dealers," Asuna declared.

Asuna began to lay out the plan. They would not be able to slip through an army, so they would be putting up a big front. Kirito was put with Agil who was, as usual, running a non-guild squad. Besides those two, the rest of the squad used Shields. Fuurinkazan scored a slot and so did the DDA, although their members were mixed up to create well balanced teams. As usual, the KoB had a Squad and they would take the center position. Almost all KoB soldiers would be using shields.

Bladescape personally picked the two players she wanted for the Wondercolts. She needed two shields. First she chose Tagahashi, leader of the Imperial Dragoon Guards, who was a lancer. His black and gold armor looked sharp and he was a good captain and fighter. The other chosen was Lobelia of Meigibu. Bladescape was happy to be working with Lobelia once again. Her shield, sword, and beauty would be appreciated and well used.

When the meeting was over, the two of them joined the Wondercolts. Lobelia bowed, which prompted Tagahashi to not skip the cultural pleasantries. Bladescape bowed back to them.

"Thank you for having me," Lobelia said.

"Yeah," Tagahashi added. "It’s been a few Floors since I was picked. Thanks."

"I remember a skilled lancer," Bladescape said to Tagahashi. "And a good leader. That is why I picked both of you. Not by how often I see you in the Boss Raids, but how well you performed in the ones I saw you in. I chose you because of what you could add to our squads. Although I have no qualms about admitting that I know Lobelia on a personal level. I made my choice for the reasons stated."

“And I thank you for it,” Lobelia said. “I look forward to fighting alongside you once more.”

“You have a new sword,” Bladescape commented.

“Yes,” Lobelia said with a coy smile. She drew the silver falchion. The handle was wrapped in green leather and the ring pommel had several decorative ribbons, in Meigibu’s white and green, tied to it. “Kubikiri Orochi is a masterpiece crafted by the smith Kaiwan. He is an up and coming smith and it was his first masterpiece. I almost felt bad receiving it. Almost. After all, it was a custom order. He made it because and for me and was fairly compensated for his work.”

“Yeah,” Bladescape said, patting the handle Harmonic Salvation. “I understand what you mean. I’m friends with my smith, Lisbeth, and Harmonic Salvation was her second masterpiece. She was christening her new smithy by making it. Seeing it produced was an amazing experience.”

It didn’t take long to lay out what the parties would be. The Wondercolts were purposefully placed on the right flank. Bladescape would be relying on Lobelia to lead the second party, with Tagahashi as her second. Malus, Konpeito, Soryuto, and Kiefer would be under her leadership. Bladescape would try to cut through the horde, using the chamber wall for protection, with Natora, Thunder, Doombunny, Reisenki, and Diemond, in an effort to slide by the enemy waves and strike directly at the necromancer.

Back at their headquarters, Argo was waiting in the antechamber. Bladescape wasn’t surprised to see her. She let her in and took her to her room, rather than talk more openly.

"Knightstar?" Argo asked when the door was closed. "I noticed she wasn't with you, but then you said three before Colorra climbed onto your shoulders. Something is up, and it isn't a good up."

Bladescape sighed. "I trust you. We have a rapport. I need you to keep things quiet." Argo nodded in agreement and Bladescape continued. "There was an argument several days ago. I came in halfway through it. Doombunny broke a rule and the two of them got into it. I didn't handle it well, and Malus didn't either. Knightstar has backed out and away from her friends. She is in a dangerous head space and has put up walls. Literal ones by starting her own bookstore that sells her guides, too. I had no idea how much she had written down and compiled."

"Where?" Argo innocently asked.

"Algade," Bladescape replied. "The Guiding Star: Game Guides and Level Counseling. But don't screw with her mind. She is still my friend. In real life and in-game. Even if she has forgotten that for a bit and removed herself from the guild."

"I promise," Argo said. "She’s a Wondercolt. You’re lacking without her. Not that you can't handle yourself."

"That’s the tough part," Bladescape said. "We are lacking without her. Sure, we can handle it, but we are lesser without her and not because of her skills, but because she is our friend."

"Yeah," Argo said, with a nod. "But, now I have to ask, because we see where Knightstar went when she cracked. Doom has Colorra; Diemond has her clothes; Konpeito has baking; Kiefer, Soryuto, and Reisenki are all crafters as well; and Malus has, if I remember correctly, fishing. What of you? And what about Natora and Thunder?"

"I'm fine," Bladescape assured Argo. “And Thunder and Natora get into their own shenanigans outside of the clearing effort.”

"Bladescape, I am serious about this,” Argo pressed with a caring tone very unlike her. “More and more players are leaving the front lines because they are exhausted. They are used to living in here and have less to fight for. The Wondercolts have something to fight for. Something inside you, but you can crack. Your fight shows that. You said both you and Malus failed to respond appropriately to Knightstar. I know it wasn't intentional. I assume Malus left and you took the opposite stance as Knightstar."

"And then left," Bladescape added.

"How do you relax?" Argo pressed. "What is your escape from this reality?"

Bladescape looked Argo dead in the eyes. "I do Iaido on our roof when I can, but it has become more of a focusing tool before boss fights. My escape is knowing there is no escape until we beat this game. If I’m not fighting, I’m either sleeping or preparing to fight. If I’m not clearing, I’m training. That is my life and role in here."

"Everyone snaps," Argo shot back, not breaking eye contact. "Make sure you have something to fall back on where your friends don't have to worry about you. Knightstar didn't, or didn’t feel like she did, and that got her to leave and make a bookstore. Knowing a piece of what she had, I can only imagine how much material she had to immediately publish and sell. But that is beside the point. You need a safety net."

"She had way more than I realized," Bladescape admitted. "And that might have contributed to her break. She probably over-analyzed it, breaking everything down to numbers and equations."

"You are avoiding the question," Argo pressed. "Just don't lose yourself trying to save yourself. That never ends well. Especially with the stakes we have going on. Know how to live in this world, so you can make it to the end. We are eighteen months in and not even through sixty percent of the game."

"I'll look into it," Bladescape said. She let out a sigh as her own mind agreed with Argo. "In all honesty, I have no idea what that would be. It has eluded me. At times, I feel like a hand is pushing me forward and I have no option but to go with it, and make sure my friends don't get left behind."

"Do you really think you can be the strongest player?" Argo asked.

"Maybe," Bladescape stated with a sly grin. "Unfortunately, the balancing system of this game is very well done. The one who is the strongest one day, might not be the next. But I intend to be a top contender."

"And the top contenders are?" Argo asked, intrigued at the idea she was hearing.

"Heathcliff, Asuna, Kirito, and me. Klein, Agil, and Lind can't be discounted, although Lind has been rather silent the past few months. Agil’s shop keeps nudging him out of contention, but he could be a contender if he pushed. He shows us that this game is more than levels with the way he fights. Klein is moving up the ranks steadily. As good as Malus is, she is too stagnant with her giant shield and she knows it, but she’s exactly what we need in our raids. A cornerstone to build our attack off of. Doombunny is getting up there too, but she isn't strong-willed enough unless she gets backed into a deep corner. Her only edge is poison, which is a fair and legal edge. Yamato is a contender, but not a concerning one. Doombunny took him out of the race. Schmitt, too, is one to watch.

"But definitely, Kirito, Heathcliff, Asuna, and I are the top four players. No one else is at our level, mentally speaking. And mentality is the game. Thankfully the competition isn't between us, but against the system."

"You have given me some things to think on," Argo admitted. "But you also have some things to think about. Your pedestal is at the proper height, but all four of you are on flimsier pedestals than you realize. Knightstar was on one of the strongest pedestals for the clearers and it just crumbled, pretty easily too."

Bladescape nodded and Argo walked to the door to leave. Bladescape escorted her out. Konpeito gave Argo a bundle of cookies before she could leave.

Bladescape entered the meeting hall and found Natora at her seat, reviewing notes. She didn’t appear to notice Bladescape. Only a few days ago there was just one councilor at the table and that chair was now empty. Bladescape wasn’t worried about the politics within the guild, even with public acknowledgment about their inability to enforce rules outside of removal. What worried her was that Malus had walked out and left. Bladescape too had left. Knightstar had been alone as it all seemed to come crashing down around her.

They needed their friend back.

“Good, you’re both here,” Doombunny said as she closed the doors.

Natora peeked over her papers with a raised eyebrow as Bladescape took her seat. It was empty to her left. There were plenty of times where the seat on either side of her had been empty, but never permanently.

“What’s up?” Bladescape asked.

“I got the details of your visit from Malus,” Doombunny stated. “It’s even worse than I thought. If she hasn’t come back because of the necklace Diemond made, then we have to up our game. The major rift was between me and her.”

“That may be,” Bladescape said. “But she didn’t just walk away from you. She sees it as about us all. She lost faith that we were strong as a guild. She removed friendship from the equation.”

“That may be, but you can’t mend it,” Doombunny said. “Only I can. I caused her to eliminate friendship from the equation. I don’t regret my actions, only some of my words. Still, some things I said needed to be said.”

“You’re not wrong,” Natora said. “You said some very true things many of us forgot. Some things that are never easy to hear. What’s your plan?”

“Operation Midnight Redemption isn’t an easy plan,” Doombunny stated. “It will require a quest to retrieve some special materials and some time. I already have spoken to who I need to in order to investigate the viability of the plan. At this time, that’s all I will say.”

“Alright,” Bladescape said with a nod. “Do what you must. I trust that you will progress it at a good pace, considering all of the factors.”

“Unfortunately, this is one time where more time will be an advantage,” Doombunny stated. “It will mean a greater understanding of the void in her life. Right now, that void is small and easy to miss.”

“I understand,” Bladescape replied.

Doombunny was correct. If the geode necklace didn’t bring Knightstar back to them, then anything done over the next week would have no greater effect. Good wine was not made overnight.

BLADESCAPE: Level 79 — Two-Handed Sword — Searching — Weapon Defense — Leather Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Sprint — Blade Throwing — Extended Weight Carry — Acrobatics
NATORA: Level 75 — Two-Handed Spear — Purchase Negotiations — Sales Negotiation — Weapon Defense — Light Metal Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Acrobatics — Armor Pierce — Sprint
MALUS: Level 74 — One-Handed War Hammer — Greatshield — Heavy Metal Armor — First Aid — Extended Weight Carry — Battle Regeneration — Fishing — Search — Martial Arts — Rend
THUNDERBORNE: Level 74 — Rapier — Sprint — Acrobatics — Weapon Defense — Light Metal Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Armor Pierce — Martial Arts — Blade Throwing
KONPEITO: Level 74 — Two-Handed Axe — Cooking — Weapon Defense — Light Metal Armor — Martial Arts — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Music — Blade Throwing — Bard — Extended Weight Carry
DIEMOND: Level 75 — Mace — Greatshield — Sewing — Heavy Metal Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Light Metal Armor Forging — Heavy Metal Armor Forging — Extended Weight Carry — Jewelry Creation
DOOMBUNNY: Level 78 — One-Handed Dagger — Hide — Fighting Spirit — Blade Throwing — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Familiar Cooperation — Mixing — Listen — Reveal — Main-gauche
KIEFER: Level 72 — One-Handed Curved Sword — Slash Weapon Forging — Light Metal Armor — Weapon Defense — First Aid — Katana — Battle Regeneration — Slash Weapon Forging — Blade Throwing — Armor Pierce
SORYUTO: Level 70 — One-Handed Sword — Shield — Light Metal Armor — Music — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Fighting Spirit — Armor Pierce — Acrobatics — Extended Weight Carry
REISENKI: Level 72 — One-Handed Axe — Greatshield — Heavy Metal Armor — Equipment Repair — Metal Equipment Repair — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Cooking — Metal Refining — One-Hand Weapon Creation