False Optimism

POV Switch - Kirito (1st)

My sword swayed treacherously to the left, almost slipping from my hands as I used it to block a bandit's sneak attack.

Without my sword in his way, he grinned and slashed his sword in a firm downwards arc.

Bending my knees and sidestepping like a crab, I managed to avoid his attack, and raised my sword to thrust a large hole through the side of his neck.

He fell to the wooden floor, in the middle of the hidden door which he had emerged from.

Asuna raised her hand to her heart, worried, but tried to hide it. "Kuradeel's going to be pissed, he said we should leave a bandit alive to interrogate about the boss."

"It's more exciting going in blind," I replied curtly.

"Huh, I never thought of you as a thrill-seeker..."

"We can't all be as prim as you. Anyway, should we wait for him to catch up, or fight the boss? If he stays behind, he can help out the smaller players who're also taking on this bandit hideout."

"We did say we'd wait for him, right? Couldn't it be rude to stand him up?"

"As I said, a prim and proper lady," I taunted.

"...Lies. Alright, let's go in."

As the door to the Bandit King's room opened, Asuna raised her rapier in preparation. However, there was no sign of the boss.

"Looks like another surprise attack is coming..." she said.

Her voice was slightly flighty, with a touch of hysteria, because we were both incredibly tired after waking early. Honestly, my voice was probably sounding a bit grumpy, or at least gravelly, but I wasn't in a bad mood.

"Yep. Keep your weapon ready, we'll search the room until we find him or he finds us."

"Aye-aye. Got it, I'll search the back."

She strode reluctantly forward into the room, and was immediately attacked from behind by the Bandit King's large cleaver. His burly form jumped down from a massive, hollowed clock above the doorway.

She managed to raise her rapier in time, deflecting the attack, but still took a long cut to the arm. Some blood spilled across the floor.

The Bandit King continued attacking, but her light legs danced away backwards with her sword flashing from side to side effortlessly to parry attacks. She made a few ventures forward with long thrusts, but the Bandit King managed to catch them on his buckler.

As I ran in, she caught his sword on the base of her rapier, and bounded forward to thrust deep into his chest in a counter-attack. With her leaning forward into the attack, he tried to grapple her and pull her to the ground.

However, in seconds my sword was embedded sharply across his wrists, and he had to let go.

"Thanks," Asuna murmured, as she aimed a thrust for his throat. He just about managed to kick her legs out, and her rapier only scraped the edge of his shoulder as she fell.

Screaming like an ape, he tried to follow up by stabbing her through the chest, but her rapier quickly flitted up to catch the strike. I tried to swing for the back of his neck, but he immediately ducked low to dodge the strike.

Her white tights rose, as if weightless, to wrap around his head and hold him in place. This improvisation made it easier for me to lean my sword down and thrust right through his neck.

He fell to the ground, clearly on the edge of death, and his sword scattered to the side. Though practically in his death throes, he still had enough in him to wildly flail his arms and strike Asuna's sides, leaving a bruise on her lower thigh. She flinched backwards in pain, and her legs flew up instinctively trying in vain to get away from his low punches.

Before he could attack further, I dropped to the floor above him, to smother him. Since he was barely alive, it was easy to pacify his arms for a few seconds. However, he mustered up his remaining strength and threw up his shoulders, almost sending me flying.

Asuna's raised left leg flashed out, wrapping it around my head to keep me anchored in place, then her rapier darted frantically to stab a slightly nauseating bloody hole through the burly Bandit King's bald head. I felt the boss go limp beneath me, and Asuna calmed down and let her leg slide until her thigh was sliding over my head.

She waited for a few seconds before getting up.

I raised an eyebrow at her risqué antics, and she frowned stroppily and stepped roughly on me on her way up as if I had spurned her and she was seeking revenge.

"You should thank me for saving you, you know," she said, hiding any emotion. "There's a window behind you, and you're on the second floor. It would be quite a fall."

I looked back, and saw a window on the right wall, which I had ended up in front of without noticing. Huh. It was seriously unlikely that he could throw me out of it, since he would probably only throw me a few meters at most, but I suppose she was at least observant.

"Oh, so there is. Thanks, Asuna."

"Is that all the thanks I get?" she pouted. "I don't care, but you're so stand-offish."

"...Fine, help me up."

Sighing, she stretched out her hand, and I took it as I stood up. She was trembling slightly, and her skin was passive and soft.

Leaving the two-story bandit hideout through a staircase in the boss' room, we sat down on the grass outside to rest after the long fight.

"You look tired, flushing all over," Asuna said quietly.

She looked more tired than me, with her eyes half closed to reveal her eyelids glittering faintly blue.

"You dragged me out here at 3 a.m., of course I'm a bit tired. You are too, aren't you?"

"Honestly, yeah, my eyes are still a bit hazy. But we have to do more training, right? I wouldn't mind just resting here, otherwise."

"No, you're right. We should prepare to take on the tower tomorrow. I hear Heathcliff volunteered for our Guild to do most of the heavy lifting."

She pursed her lips. "Exactly."

"So, who the hell is this Heathcliff guy? I've never seen him, but I keep hearing about him making pronouncements... somewhere."

"Oh, Heathcliff? I saw him a few times on the first day, but he's barely around. I don't even know where he is."

"Really? You're one of the biggest KoB members, and still don't know where he is? I mean, there's cold and detached leadership, and then there's 'hire a private eye if you want to contact your leader.'"

"Yeah, but... He's one of the most powerful players, we're lucky to have him. In fact, I heard he has an ability called Divine Blade which nobody else has. Can you imagine that? Out of all the other people here, not even one, how's that for feeling special? But yeah, his leadership could do with a bit of a personal touch, huh."

"At least he has you in the Guild to make up for it."

"I try, but people get tired of me. You saw all the guys yesterday, screaming at me because how dare I say that the Laughing Coffin weren't the culprit." She tried to sound calm rather than venting her indignance, but her voice took on an almost manic edge when she was this tired. "So, what rewards did you get for being the first one to reach the treasure in that cave?"

"Well, I wasn't quite the first. Actually, I was the third. But the other two were repelled by a booby-trap that sent a guided dart at you as soon as you opened it. It must have tranquilized them or something, because they were out cold in seconds. I managed to dodge it, but it was a close-run thing."

"Huh. Your reactions really are amazing, that's why I only slap Kuradeel. You're also too forward, but I'd never catch you."

"Oh, I hoped it was because you liked me."

"Me? Hush. Everyone knows I'm a cold icy beauty, you should know better."

"'Cold, icy beauty'? Don't get ahead of yourself. At least two of those are false."

Yuuki blushed. "You shouldn't underestimate me. Anyway, so what rewards did you get? A sharp tongue?"

"No, as much as it would help in dealing with you. Instead, I got a skill named Dual Blades, apparently it lets me use abilities with two swords. It said I was the only player who could use it."

"Really?" She leaned her head lightly on my shoulder, and spoke in a soft chirp. "So, how do you feel? Special? Like you're one in a million?"

"Honestly, it's a pretty difficult skill. I'm still focused on figuring it out, before I feel good about it."

"Hm. You could, you know, just relax and celebrate for once. Yeesh. Anyway, why not show off the two swords?"

"I only unlocked some basic stabbing skills for them." I turned towards her. "You know anywhere I can stick them in?"

"...Well, you'd better work on your skills first, or you'll make a mess of things." She put a hand gently on my thigh. "But two blades do sound like they'd make quite an impact, you're impressive enough with one."

"Hm. Thanks. It's probably the only part of me that impresses a sourpuss like you. It's a pity that I'll have to wait for a while to demonstrate, since I think the next dungeon is about a 15-20 minute walk away?"

"Yeah. But it's fine, I still have the rest of tonight to be impressed by it." She leaned clumsily over my lap as she pushed herself up. "Should we get going now? It's not long until the next dungeon."

Her waist swayed lightly from side to side as she stood over me, with her white and red dress, illuminated only dimly by the starlight, fading like melting candlewax into the darkness.

As I got up, I found that my eyes had misted over slightly, and I felt dizzy. I used the pale colour of her dress to guide my way up, and found myself standing, awkwardly enough, right in front of her. Before I could step away, she kissed me for a few seconds, then withdrew without a word.

Dumbfounded, I just nodded in acknowledgement, and we began to walk onward.

She leaned over me gently as we walked, clutching my right shoulder.

Everything will be alright.

POV Switch - 3rd

The Fallen God paced his large, red-curtained room.

Although things were going according to plan, he was trying in vain to figure out a fitting end to the tower challenge. The final boss currently in the game seemed like a let-down, just a large female orc named Kamala. She might be an annoyance for players, but nothing more serious than that.

Soon, a servant ran into the room, relaying a complaint. "Sir, the admin of the Japanese server, Arthur, has sent a message to Xing about misconduct from a fellow admin. Xing gave me a letter for your eyes only.. Should I leave Xing's letter here for you before I go?"

"No, stay," the Fallen God said. "Arthur is probably a vexatious litigant. But tell me, since you think this letter might interest me, what are some serious accusations that you think would be important enough to bring to me?"

"Why, that's not my business to say, sir. It's up to you whether something is a serious offense."

"No need to be hesitant. Go on, answer me. That's an order."

The servant scratched the back of his head nervously. "Alright. Well, maybe the admin was violent, or was interfering with the game, or stirring up a mutiny, sir."

"So you think it might be about that?"

"I don't know, sir, I'm not supposed to look. But yes, I'd imagine it was something like that."

"Good. I've been considering something similar. If players had to face a final challenge at the end of a long series of fights, what would be a serious challenge? What would be the equivalent of violence, or mutiny here, do you think?"

"Sir, game design isn't my thing. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to ask an admin. I can call one to talk to you in an hour. From how it sounds, after a long series of fights, one of the most difficult challenges would be just laying down their arms."

"Perceptive. But it's fine, no need to get an admin. I'll be asleep in an hour, right. I just need someone to bounce ideas off. Please answer my last question."

"Alright... Well, I guess a large creature, like a minotaur, something really, um, destructive and that mauls most people in seconds.. And it interfered with how the game is usually played, like, their skills or equipment don't work the same way."

"Excellent. It sounds quite like the rogue admin. So their 'controls' go haywire, like pilots in the Bermuda Triangle?"

"Yes, sir, you understood immediately."

"No need to flatter me for being able to listen. Everyone should, but few can. If the boss were to mess with things enough, it would be like a whole new challenge and not just a repetition of the last 99 levels. I understand what you're saying, that they should be like a deer in headlights for the final boss. But what does it want?"

"Um, as in what are its aims?"

"Yes."

"Understood, sir. It might want to eradicate them or possess them as its own army, or something? Maybe -"

"That sounds good enough. This isn't well-known, but I can actually access players' accounts, and if they're dead then I can just run around as them slightly. Obviously, I try to be careful with that, because rumours will spread if I'm seen doing it too often. However, if people's loved ones showed up again, but betrayed or manipulated them, I could easily transform that into a possession story where the final boss is taking over the dead. What would you feel, if any dead loved one revived and then betrayed you because of a creature?"

"I don't love anyone, sir."

"Not a parent? Spouse? Sibling? Fancy?"

"No, sir."

"...I see. Maybe you've been living like this for too long. Or maybe you're just wise. Well, what would you expect most people's response to be?"

"Anger and helplessness, sir. People are always angry and always helpless, but now it would be much worse."

"Exactly. Thank you. Anyway, I will read the letter now. Go back to Xing, and tell him that he has a good sense of humour."

"Aye-aye, sir."

"Also, what was your name?"

"Ashoka, sir."

"Ashoka? But you look like you're French or Spanish, not Indian."

"I don't know why I'm named that, sir."

"I see. Anyway, thank you, Ashoka."

"You're welcome. I'll take my leave now. Be assured that I won't tell anyone about this meeting."

"Of course not, you don't meet anyone who I don't trust anyway... Kind of myopic, I guess, but people are rascals and I doubt you're missing out on much."

The servant was already on his way out, and quietly left the room.

The Fallen God confidently walked up to a screen behind a panel on his room's wall, and typed in a new character's name, 'The Angel Beneath.'

Delaying the character customization for now, he instead switched over to look at the stats of a character whose name he had heard before, named Daisuki.

POV Switch - 1st (MC)

The caves are mostly made of narrow pathways, but it's not that difficult to navigate.

I thought there were some kind of violent monkeys entering the cave, but it turns out that it was just the Indian NPC playing some awful 'Bollywood' music. He seems to have been joined by a few mates, as well, having a party of some sort. Indians, even when being serious, have large, primitive dances and worship towards the elephant God and the cow. It can then be extrapolated just how primitive, subhuman and ridiculous they will be when holding parties or other festivities that are not even serious or pious.

However, the noise should be the only problem they give, since I'm already some distance into the caves.

Soon, in fact, the noise and even the light from outside the cave system began to fade. The air turned chillingly cold, as the cave passages lost contact with the world outside.

If this 'Cleopatra' lives here, how would she put up with the cold over time? I doubt that she's warming up the place that much, I'm nearby and can't feel any warmth from ahead. At most she'd have a few torches. Maybe she's not exactly a human, so the cold doesn't phase her? I should be prepared for that, at least. She'll probably be humanoid, but might be different in some way.

Honestly, I'd probably be best off killing her, even if the NPC hadn't supposedly fallen in love with her. What he thinks doesn't matter to me, even if it's probably important to him. After all, in his culture, his love for her is the very definition of 'true love.'

People say that the Roman Catholic faith is terrible, because it might be associated with a few priests molesting children. However, love has a lot more to answer for. It has encouraged far worse things. For instance, it has driven Japs to incalculable levels of degeneracy, worshipping anime and harems, it has driven Indian people to pine over 'bobs and vagene' as much as their ancestors pined over Brahmacharya, and it has led the West to a culture of promiscuity and so much degeneracy that they enjoy K-pop and become weebs. I personally don't believe in love. However, if you do, then you should at least hold it to the same standards as you do the Catholic Church.

Nonetheless, I will hopefully get good rewards from this. After all, Cleopatra was known as a ruler of Egypt, so a character named after her is probably quite wealthy.

And the Indian NPC will give me additional rewards and EXP, after I do a Salome and present her dead body to the NPC.

Eventually, after clambering through a bunch of cold tunnels looking for the way forward, I managed to sight a large, semi-circular wooden door at the entrance to a cavern. This must be her lair.

It doesn't sound like there are many people here, so at least she's probably mostly alone.

Soon, she will be dead.