Chapter 38 - My SI Stash #38 - A Worthwhile Endeavor by Rodrick Minett (Sword Arto Online) (1/2)
-First time I read a SAO fanfic and it turns out to be a SI-OC~ Lucky o(*￣▽￣*)ブ
Sypnosis: A floating castle. Immersion very few people had ever experienced. As an avid gamer, who was I to resist? As I, Riwet, ventured into Aincrad, little did I know that it would be the start of an event that will change me, for better and for worse. OC Self-Insert. Some OOC. KiritoxAsuna, SI-OCxSilica.
Rated: T
Words: 305K
Posted on: fanfiction.net/s/11915805/1/A-Worthwhile-Endeavor (Rodrick Minett)
PS: If you're not able to copy/paste the link, you have everything in here to find it, by simply searching the author and the story title. It sucks that you can't copy links on mobile (´ー｀)
-I'll be putting the chapter ones of all the fanfics mentioned, to give you guys a sample if you wan't more please do go to the website and support the author! (And maybe even convince them to start uploading chapters in here as well!)
Chapter 1
November 6, 2022
1st Floor
Lush green grass covered the ground that I walked on, and trees dotted my surroundings. I climbed a short hill and let out a smile. On the horizon, I saw a sweeping flat landscape, filled with the same vibrant green grass. Verdant forests and large mountains resided in the distance, as well as a large rectangular tower that stretched so high up that it almost pierced the heavens. Bustling settlements of different sizes were distributed throughout the floor, but by the far the biggest one was the Town of Beginnings, the city that I just came out of. And last but not the least, a breathtaking cloudless afternoon sky completed the scene.
And while I've got a soft spot for sci-fi settings, I couldn't deny that this was gorgeous. I know that the added immersion created by the NerveGear helped, but kudos to the game designers.
Sword Art Online…I get the feeling that this game's gonna be awesome.
I spotted movement on the corner of my vision. I turned to it and was greeted to my very first monster in the game – a Dire Wolf. It was in a relaxed state, slowly walking around and smelling the ground in front of it. Damn. He looks big, even from where I'm standing.
While it looked intimidating, I should start familiarizing myself with the combat. No doubt that I'm gonna face even more dangerous monsters as I play further into this came.
I took a deep breath and nodded. I crouched and traversed down the hill. I drew out my weapons of choice – a one-handed spear on my left hand. I also bought and equipped the very basic medium armor set that consisted of a metal b_r_e_a_s_tplate, and leather gauntlets and greaves.
I stalked the wolf for a short distance. After a few minutes, it stopped and sniffed something on the ground.
I was about to come closer when I heard something behind me. I hurriedly turned around and readied my weapons. Fortunately, it wasn't another monster, but another player.
”H-hey.” He greeted nervously. He had a standard shortsword and shield combo. His armor was the basic heavy armor set that was thicker and covered more of his body at the cost of movement speed. He looked determined, but very anxious.
”Hey.” I replied.
”Do you want team up with this one? I'm kinda new, so…”
”Sure. This is also my first fight, so yeah, let's do this.” I turned and nodded to the monster.” There's no way we can sneak up on it for too close, so once it rears up or something, we rush it.”
”Sounds good.”
The two of us silently approached the wolf. When we were about 5 meters away, the wolf suddenly looked up and round.
That was our cue.
We rushed forward. He swung his sword while I stabbed at it. With a high-pitched w_h_i_n_e, the Dire Wolf rolled to the side. But we couldn't finish it off. It recovered and barked at us before it lunged toward me.
Out of reflex, I closed my eyes and raised my spear in front of me to block the attack. I felt something slam on my spear and I almost fell back. I forced my eyes open and was greeted to the monster barreling its way towards me, its enormous claws bared into a forward lunge. ”…!” I let out a sharp breath and just swung wildly with my spear. I knocked it away, and it stayed still long enough for my buddy to finish it off.
”Haah…haah…we got it…we got it!” My buddy shouted before he slumped down and panted.
I slowly picked myself up. ”It was a bit too close for comfort there, but I'm glad I got out of it in one piece.”
”Yeah, you're telling me. Good thing that it was alone.”
I was about to agree, but then I heard something on the side. I turned to the source, and my eyes widened. The grass near us was rustling, and it was not because of the wind. ”Oh, no…” I muttered.
”What…is it?” He asked.
”…wolves…hunt in packs…”
Sure enough, the rustling came closer and closer before two Dire Wolves jumped out of the grass. Their enormous claws were bared, and one of them glared at me so intensely that it sent chills down my spine.
We're screwed.
”Oh, no. No no no.” He turned towards me. ”S-screw this! Let's just run. Run away now.” He said anxiously as he gripped his sword tighter.
”W-we can't outrun them. The moment we turn our backs is the moment they run like hell and tear us to bits.”
”W-what should we do, then?”
Before I could respond, the wolves leaped at us claws-first. The bigger one went for me like a speeding car, while the smaller one targeted my buddy, moving even faster.
Cue Music: Breath of Fire IV Soundtrack – Bastard Sword
”Holy shit!” My buddy jumped sideward to dodge, falling over.
”Gh…!” Cursing under my breath as I dove to my left, I was barely able to dodge the brunt of the wolf's attack, its claws slicing my right shoulder as it lunged past me and turned around, facing me. Three red gashes spread onto my shoulder. The wound was emitting eerie red particles.
I felt a burning sensation in my wounded arm, but the pain inflicted is only simulated and severely muffled. I doubt any sane person would try this game if the pain sensation is fully emulated. Grimacing, I quickly checked how much HP I lost. Displayed on my HUD, my HP dropped by about a quarter. Wow, that is a lot of damage!
I quickly got up and faced the wolf, which was strangely silent but tense, as if anticipating something. I darted forward for a stab, but it quickly jumped back and started barking again. Interesting. Am I seeing things, or is that a pattern?
Years of playing video games told me that mobs, especially mobs found in the starting area, tend to be easy to beat, because they're either pathetically weak, or have very exploitable weaknesses. Testing my hunch as the wolf lunged, I dodged to my side again, this time completely evading its attack completely. Again, it landed past me and quickly turned towards me, silent and alert.
I rushed towards it, my spear poised. Come on. Take the bait. Reacting to my action, the wolf jumped back.
That signaled my attack.
I leaped again, closing the distance. I knew it. Bait its dodge and it won't be able to move for a short while. It's now or never!
”Die!” With all the strength I can muster, I delivered a hefty stab. Yes! My attack connected! After a small but noticeable spark of red particles, the wolf was sent flying a short distance. Thankfully, there was no blood. While it was in mid-air, I noticed that all its HP was depleted. It exploded into bluish particles and disappeared.
Victorious, I smiled and let out a shaky sigh of relief.
”Look out!”
My buddy's scream snapped me back to reality. I turned to where he is. A wolf was bearing down on me as it ran full tilt. I froze up, unable to move.
My buddy tackled the wolf to the ground. The wolf managed to knock him to his back, trying to bite his face off. My buddy was holding it back, blocking its fangs with his own sword. I saw his HP take a serious hit. ”Aaah!”
I quickly made my way towards him. With both hands on my spear, I prepared to strike at the wolf. In my rush, I failed to realize that the wolf disengaged from My buddy and tensed itself, ready to react to my charge.
The wolf dodged to the side, evading my attack. It then tackled me on my side. I staggered backward, reeling but able to maintain my footing. My HP again dropped about a fifth. The wolf then bared its fangs and leaped for a bite. Shielding myself, I raised my right arm. It promptly lodged its fangs into my arm.
I grit my teeth, a pained grunt escaping from my mouth as I dropped my spear in panic and used my other hand in trying to pry the damn thing's jaw open. I can see from the corner of my eye that the rest of my HP was dropping at an alarming rate.
Fortunately, My buddy quickly got up to his feet. He swung his sword and was able to slash at the wolf, hacking its HP to about a tenth. I felt its fangs loosen on my arm.
”Raaaaagh!” Following My buddy's attack, I let out a loud cry and, overwhelmed by adrenaline, raised my left arm and punched the wolf in the face, finishing it off.
A message appeared with a small fanfare: