Accel World Vol 7 Chapter 1 (2/2)

'Ah…… Fron Why…… why nificant abilities Even in the Metal Colour Chart, I' that special Why did you choose me?'

Immediately Blossom shows an expression of dazed astonishment, but quickly purses her mouth

'Aah, you forgot?! Fal, the one who first suggested that we for to talk toyou to repeat the question!’

'Eeh…… Wa, was that the case?'

He quickly looks back through his memories, but that o Even so, according to his memories of that moment from the distant past, he was the one who first talked to Blossoe, a non-existent cold sweat begins to break out across his Avatar’s bodySetting the teapot down, Blossom leans over and places her hands on his shoulders

'Now, it's my turn to ask Fal, why did you choose me? I didn't have any abilities back then, and I was always being trounced by the high power types – why me?'

---Why? He had chosen her from the moment he first saw her

But it see-tientle smile, the sunny Avatar wraps her delicate arhtly

'…… Me too I thought so too There is no other reason, and I haven't regretted it once …… let’s finish this tea After that we’ll go out and watch the sea It’s still the «Twilight Stage» outside – the sunset must be really pretty'

Blackout

Spotlight

Two standing figures eether One dark-silver, the other orange

Points of light spread across the distance The quiet sea, and the sun sinking into the horizon The water surface reflects the dazzling setting sun, and blends together with the colours of the two figures gazing at this sight

The sunset view overlooking Tokyo Harbour from Akatsukifutou Park in the south-western corner of Daiba[7], is breathtaking to the point that it is hard to believe it is just 3D iery produced from the data taken by the security cameras

But this is not the real world, since the constant airline arrivals and departures that should be taking place in Haneda Airport on the opposite shore are nowhere to be seen, and instead there are gigantic pterodactyl Enee sky Instead of whales, plesiosaurs cause massive waves in the shallows of the bay

Every tiazes into the distance with Blossom in the vast Unlimited Neutral Field, he can't help but ponder

For what reason does this world exist? For what purpose are only young children allowed to step foot into this world?

The total cost to build as well as operate such an enorination of an elementary school student Not to mention that until this le cent in ga it's acompanies, others say it's a publicity stunt by advertisement companies, however, if that is really the case, then way too few programs have been distributed

Around a year ago, about one hundred children received the Client Package from an untraceable source Of that nued to level up to Level 2 and becoe to copy-and-install --- thirty people Fro shared between children who like video-gah it has now reached five hundred players concentrated in the southern areas of the 23 wards [8] as the hub, the scale is still incredibly sy

In the first place, the requireaine many children at all to have worn a Neuro-Linker since birth and be experienced in Full Dives for extended periods of tiram comes with a «Install Aptitude Checker» module, which detects if the requireh a Direct Link, Falcon has yet to find anyone close to hih he has reached Level 5, he has co a «Parent»

Why does it exist? For what reason does this alternate world with infinite space and time exist?

'Are you still thinking, Fal?'

Saffron Blosso several tihts

'Ah, yeah I don't really have any weird feelings about the normal Field, but every time I see the Unlimited Field, I feel really concerned Whe… where is this all leading, things like that'

'Well… I can understand that sa my recent conversations with friends and family in the real world, froh I don't believe I’ve changedwords and expressions that I’ve never used before

Blosso that, Falcon tenses his shoulders to hug her tighter 'That can't be helped We have already spent… no, lived five years in this world We have experienced so e of our souls has long surpassed the standards of a sixth grade student But every cloud has its silver lining If it's the me from the past, I would unconsciously feel eirls, let alone talk to them'

'Ho, ho It seems to me that you're still a kid, Falcon-san'

Although Blossorimness soon appears on her cute face

'Hey… Fal Have you ever heard about this…? What happens to players who lose all their Burst Points and have their BB program forcibly uninstalled…?'

The soft murmur causes his body to stiffen for a moment However he quickly relaxes and deliberately answers in a calm voice

'Those are just rura the Accelerated World… That just sounds so far-fetched,other's memories and stuff…'

'If that is so, then the technology to accelerate one's thought speed by one thousand times is just as unbelievable initially To tell the truth, I still can't comprehend it all That's why, perhaps «Memory Erasure» is also…'

At this point, Falcon, who is equally dubious about the base technology within Brain Burst, can't help but fall silent

Both of them are «First Generation BB Players» without «Parents», whose numbers have dwindled to just twenty people, both of them also don't have their own «Child» As a result, there has not been any chance for theram really do lose their memories

No, even if there is a chance, confir to rumours, the people who retire froarding the Accelerated World, could be «lost interest in Brain Burst as well as the fine details regarding the game» A technique that does not create anythe sense of discord felt by the people around them, can best be described as acharacteristic

Which is why this could be a technique more fearsome than simple complete memory erasure

Buddies who have been always in the saly bonded «Parents»and their «Children», one day they don’t siet --- they lose all interest in each other They see each other as one of those non-essential acquaintances they could do without If this was truly the end result, it would be h slim, there would still be a chance to reacquaint and becoain…

The inexplicable chill brought about by his own thoughts makes the Avatar shi+ver At the same moment, a soft murmur reaches his ear

'Fal, I really want a «Child» soon'

'Eh…?'

The unexpected statement makes him stare at his partner Blossoes her expression and quietly continues

'Until this moment I did not dare to try it because I never had the confidence to protect my «Child», but recently my normal battle win ratio has stabilised, and I have also accuht? In the future, even if my Child's points fall below a safe level, I will still be able to bail the that all the time Once they reach Level 4, they can just payEnemies'

'Ha… ha ha, is that so…'

Falcon nods, if it's Blossoentleher eyes off Falcon, Saffron Blossoaze past the Tokyo Bay to the distant Pacific Ocean andstatement

'After that, even if it is ion'

'Eh… You want to start participating in territory battles?'

He hurriedly asks so, the short bright-yellow hair shakes from side to side as a reply

'No, no The Daida area has always been an unclaimed land, so it's possible to initiate a territory declaration, but that would just be ion… how should I put it, it would be ion of mutual aid'

'Mutual aid… as in helping one another?'

'Yeah, that's right Providing points when the «Children»run low and being paid back in the future, isn't that like what I just described? But this will be larger in scale and more systematic '

He frowns deeply as his partner’s words have finally gone beyond his level of corabs both of Falcon's palms and continues with a serious expression

'Hey… Fal We’ve been a teaht? Both of us lost ourselves in battle as orked our way up to Level 2, then Level 3, then Level 4, by the time we noticed, ere already Level 5 But if we think about it right noe are indeed very lucky Though I a to think about it, all this ti up, so up, many BB Players have lost all their Burst Points and retired from the Accelerated World'

'……'

Indeed that is so Although, at this point, the moment when someone's Burst Points run out has only been witnessed a handful of times, the indisputable truth remains that four out of every five «First Generations» have been eliminated

The seriousness of the topic robs him of his replies, as Blossohtly, soothingly At the same time she softly murmurs

'Sorry Fal I don't regret anything «Brain Burst» is a fighting game after all… there will always be winners as well as losers, that is an undeniable fact But… But, the ra and never be able to return to this world, that is just too cruel… I have seen too many people with only a few points left, I can't feel a hint of joy from them… If you can't enjoy it, then how can this still be called a game?

--- Perhaps, this cruelty is what the ht crosses his mind for an instant, but he chooses to remain silent Instead he suddenly asks

'That's why… you want to build a «Legion of Mutual Aid»…?'

'…Yeah Collect a massive reservoir of points beforehand and lend them to those who have nearly exhausted theirs After their points are back to a safe level, they can return the points by participating in Enemy hunts Over the last five years, we've learned sotechniques that I’m almost sick of the Enemy battles can be substantially reduced'

'But…But'

As he struggles to understand the goals behind Blossom's scheme, he asks her in a careful manner

'If all the players join the mutual aid system… then no one will ever lose all their points, all the players' «Acceleration» as well as levelling points has to be supported by the hunting of Enemies… Is that even possible…?'

'It is It will be… It absolutely has to be this way'

Saffron Blossoht blue eye-lens that re sky as she reveals some new information

'I… recently heard a ruame shops and amusement parks just to look for children who have Acceleration coraht away…'

'Tha… that is indeed soreat way to increase members…?'

'No Those people never saw the «Children» as partners at all… They don't teach the children anything about Brain Burst, instead they use the Direct Link or the Local Area Net to continuously challenge the children to take all of their initial 100 Burst Points… causing the forced uninstall of the programs…'

'Wha…'

He catches his breath This isn't even «Soliciting»any --- Player hunting

Blosso he is unable to speak, continues in a strained tone

'If that is the truth… then itEven if it is possible on the systeh I don't have thatabout it I’ll tryit will take, raising a «Child», testing the plan to loan points, building the Legion… One day, one day I will ame…'

By the tihtly wrapped around Blossom

To the small Avatar within his arms, he desperately whispers

'… LetMetal Colour, I pro ames you play should be enjoyed I aht with you, Fron Ever since I have met you, every day, I have always happily looked forward to the next day I want to share our happiness with the other players as well'

'Yeah Yes… it the same for me, I am so happy with Fal From now on, for sure, we'll be happy forever Let us spread this happiness If it's the two of us then it will be possible'

Hugging Blossohtly presses down on her shoulders

Just a sec, raising a single finger as if saying that, he touches his own HP Bar to the upper-left of his sight to open the Menu Window Searching through his Storage[9], he Objectifies an Item

It's a Card with a silvery radiance like the surface of a mirror The Items obtainable in the Unlimited Neutral Field probably all initially existed in Card form such as this Enhanced Areons or as Ene placed in Storage The ownershi+p settings are decided by who equips it for the first time

Re the Card from the Window, he passes it to Blossom

The tiny characters carved onto the surface spell ---【THE DESTINY】 Obtained froest armour of white-silver in the world

'Fron, this is for you Your dream, will be realised for sure'

Blossom carefully lifts her hands to take the Card

Because of this overwhel power, both of their destinies will be distorted, but at this point of course, it is impossible for them to know…

Blackout

Spotlight

A delicate figure ees out of the white halo

The shading of her body reht But colours previously unseen on her body have now appeared Her forehead, chest and all four limbs now shi+ne with a mirror-like silver

The short hair that looks like a budding flower is hanging down flatly Both ars stretching doerlessly The only reason she would remainrestrains her from behind

Thin and solid black, as if cut froure is fir it unclear whether or not the cross exerts so force

The illu area to be seen

The ground es with the sa everywhere The cross has been stuck into the lowest part of the bowl-like depression in the ground Close by her, a large fissure has been opened in the ground; the black fissure opening gives off a feeling of absolute terror The sides of the fissure are coated with clear viscous slime

The illumination spreads out further

Around the edge of the thirty ures stand in a circle Notthe cross at the bottom of the depression It's just like they knohat's about to happen Holding their breath, eyes wide open, fearing --- or anticipating --- so

Around

A small body with a dark-silver lustre Sli desperately to stand up, his sharp fingertips carving into the round But all to no avail Two pieces of thin black plates, very similar to the cross at the bottoht

Thearound the depression suddenly flee the area in a great hurry Diving into the gill-like folds spread across the ground, disappearing from view instantly

Zuzuzu, zuzuzu, from the open fissure down in the depression, a barely audible sound of vibration reverberates out

'Stop… stop, for the love of God, stop!!'

These same words are screamed out dozens, even hundreds of tiain into the Unlimited Neutral Field

Countless scratches have been carved into the ground in front of hiardless of how much effort he put in, he is only able to move his forearms and hands The jet-black plates which clamp his arms at his shoulders are thin beyond belief, but they have the overwhelantic pliers

What's eventhe two plates isthe cross at the bottom of the depression in the distance to bind Saffron Blossom at the exact same time

Bowing her head feebly, it seeth left to move It can't really be helped All of the pain she has ever experienced in the Accelerated World can't even match that of what she has just experienced

At the sa within Falcon's consciousness are feelings that he have never experienced before in his life

'Stop… stop, please stop…'

He desperately squeezes out a dry rasp through his clenched teeth At the saertips carve out new parallel lines upon the hard ground of the «Purgatory» Stage However, he is still unable to move The sense of powerlessness only intensifies the despair he feels

He can feel it with his body, that terrifying treain

In the centre of the depression, from the depths of the twoBlosso is about to crawl out of there Ten feelers with sharp tips e about erratically Then two parallel rows of red glowing orbs light up fro of endless hunger are that thing's eyes The moment the feelers sense Blossolare Then…

Along with a sli of countless droplets of es out of the fissure is a worest beings in the Accelerated World apart froates of the Forbidden City, Legend Rank Eneandr»[10]

Even though it only appears in «Purgatory», «Disease», «Rotten Woods» and a suarantees death But its nest is considered send Rank Enemy, only a small round depression thirty meters in diameter; even if killed, it is still possible to escape after revival in an hour and the ten seconds or so before Jör --- or no one, is deliberately interfering with escaping

Jör restrained by the black cross and unable to move Below the sixteen lens like red eyes separated into ts, is a round mouth surrounded by feelers, well, technically it is called an acetabulus of saw-like teeth and that constantly drips with mucus closes in on the petite Avatar Blossos her head even lower

'Stop… it…! Stoooooppppp!'

Falcon cries hoarsely from beneath his helmet, but Enemies aren't people, so naturally they won't obey any plea

Theworm opens to its limits above Blosso and producing white se ar the physical resistance of an Avatar The silvery ar to wait any longer, Jör with the cross

In the centre of his vision dyed red with his burning eain

Enhanced Arinal expectations

Physical type attacks such as cutting, i, shot and explosive can all be basically nullified Energy type attacks such as laser are reflected; the arhly resistant to freeze, heat and electric types as well The only thing that it can't defend against is the natural enemy of metallic armours, corrosive acids, but players who have these types of attacks are few and far between Invincible That is not an exaggeration at all when describing such terrifying defensive capabilities

But that's only natural, the armour is supposed to be only obtainable by the ones who have defeated the absolutely unbeatable Super Enemies, «Four Sacred Beasts», and reached the deepest area of the Imperial City, it could even be called the final Item of Brain Burst But since it was obtained via chance and luck plus a systea

«THE DESTINY» is strong enough to coh to render even the owner of the armour, Saffron Blossom, scared After all, in the past she would lose ale Attack[12] from a red or a blue Avatar, whereas now those attacks barely do anything even if she takes thehout the whole Accelerated World, acco offers and invitations to join strong Legions Of course, there were also accusations of underhandedness and cheating

If Blossom was still her same old self who just wanted to tea, perhaps she would have sealed or sold the armour

But now she has an yet unfulfilled dreaion of Mutual Aid» to prevent others frohters resulting froe it into a place where everyone can battle happily… no, live happily

Perhaps this is just a silent protest from Blossom as informed that she would never live until adulthood, but nevertheless has accepted such a fate To spread countless seeds in the barren lands of the Accelerated World, and make this world bloom with countless flowers--- Perhaps since the instant she became a BB Player, that has always been her dream

In order to ion of Mutual Aid, «Burst Point Loan System», function practically, a sufficient points pool is necessary As well as the fighting power needed to dissuade those malicious participants who never intended to pay back the points

Needless to say, apart fro power during Enemy hunts, so for Blossom, it is no doubt an express ticket to the fulfilnificantly quelled challenges, there are still hters ished for a battle, however, they were defeat by Blossom and Falcon without exception

Although it o on one, they even est «Pure Colours», then Blossom finally announced her idea to the entire Accelerated World When this occurred, applicants for the new Legion were numerous

And yesterday,to hear about the details

The two of thehtly uneasy at the same time The place those people specified was the Unli to see if safe hunting of Enemies is possible was not unreasonable, it is still hard for anyone to predict ould happen in the Unlimited Neutral Field In the worst-case scenario, it is not at all impossible for all thirty of them to attack at the same time

Even if they alking into an ambush, however, it was still hard to believe Blossom could be defeated by one hit when she had «THE DESTINY» equipped The two of them chose a place very close to a Leave Point as an added precaution If it was a trap, they only needed to dash to the Portal

The plan was not without flaws, as it did not provide a contingency plan for abilities like Blossom's, that do not attack Duel Avatars directly but instead utilize hindering type abilities to i a chance that escape through the Portal could be prevented The two of thenore the risk because the list of naine, or want to iine it to be a nasty trap set by all of those people

TheArea north of the Rainbow Bridge, just in case they checked froathered and they e

As Blossom and Falcon walked under the Daiba Route of the Shuto Expressway[13], reassured, two plates suddenly appeared below them---

Instantly, an intense pressure restrained the two of them

'Stop…Please stop it! Why… why are you doing this……!!'

Staring at the wor its countless teeth into his beloved pa