SAO - A New Matrix

About SAO:

Aincrad is an iron-and-stone made floating castle that has about ten kilometers floor base diameter, three kilometers at the top, with a hundred floors stacking straight upwards. It means that each floor's diameter is a bit smaller than the previous one.

-I-

[Neo's POV]

"Dire Wolfs, right in front of us!" I shout.

After a brief meeting at the Northwest Gate with Lisbeth, we immediately depart towards our very first adventure. If we want to accumulate strength, going to the next village is a priority. There, we will find better quests that will greatly boost our power and Col in a short period, something impossible to achieve at the Town of Beginnings.

While we were running following the road, my secondary skill [Detection] found two mobs spawning in our way.

"Stay behind!" I start the motion for my skill.

[Counter]

My right hand shines with a white color. The moment the wolf lunges at me, in the middle of the air, I punch it in the head, shutting down the bite attempt and making critical damage. Thanks to [Counter], the critical damage goes x2, ensuring a one-shot against the monster.

Once I dispose of the first obstacle, I prepare myself for the next one.

What? Instead of facing me, the «Dire Wolf» that was behind the first one circled me and went straight at Lisbeth. Why? I was within its range at first!

I see my mistake now; I didn't check how it works the «Aggro» mechanic when you are in a group. I played as Solo Player in the Beta, and just assume monsters will face the first player they encounter.

Damn! "Lisbeth, begin your skill!" I urge her. "Raise your mace!"

The brown-haired girl can't hide her fear: Wide eyes and shaky mouth. I don't blame her, I was expecting to kill both mobs too. To my relief, she starts the motion of [Crack]...however.

The «Dire Wolf» reached her first, clinging with its fangs on the left shoulder of the young girl. I made a run to get rid of the mob, when the red-glowing mace smashed against the head of the monster, instantly deleting it. Lisbeth's legs gave up, her knees touching the ground.

"You okay?" I arrived at her side.

"S-somehow..." She quivered, looking at the ground and regaining breath. "It wasn't like the boars from before." She looked at her health bar.

I nodded, accepting her point. "Even if the monsters have the same skeleton rig, each one has different attack timings and patrons. Once you have it, you will be able to oppose them easily." Fortunately, that «Dire Wolf» was a mere Lvl 1. Less than a quarter of her HP was depleted.

It should be fine if we keep going.

"Hey," the mace user snapped out of her distress a bit. "What was that? I mean, didn't ask the first time we met, but you aren't using any weapons."

"Indeed." I made white sparkles with my left hand while I got it closer to her face. "This is my first skill: [Hand-to-Hand Combat]. As you may guess, it allows me to perform «Unarmed» skills, simple as that." The glow subdues.

"And I was thinking those wraps were just a roleplay or something." She alluded to my arms and legs equipment. "Makes sense now."

"I might be in my last year of middle school, however, I don't have chūnibyō (Eighth-grader syndrome) my fair lady, thank you so much." I faked being offended with a huff.

She giggled in response. Good, that was my intention.

"Let's go." I offered my hand. "The sun is setting. We must arrive before we lose daylight."

She took my hand, stood up, and we resumed our race.

...

We should be halfway.

I was about to make a mini stop to explain to my...party member about the danger we must face before reaching the Village of Horunka, when we caught a peculiar view.

Sitting in the pathway were two female players, one with long loose chestnut hair while the other with long purple ponytail hair. We ran past them, but from the corner of my eye, I could see Lisbeth maintaining her watch on them as we moved.

I reduce my speed. "Wanna see what is happening there?" Lisbeth turned at me. "It's your call."

"...Okay." The freckles' girl reversed course, dashing towards the duo while I followed her.

The two female players seemed to be in the middle of some distress (not surprising) as they hugged each other. "Uhm!" The mace user interrupted their private moment, and the two separated a bit. "It's everything fine?"

Being close enough, we got a better sight of the duo...and I can't help but admire their beauty. Not like Lisbeth isn't attractive, but the scale of these two was on another level. Especially the chestnut-haired one, damn, she could easily be a model in the real world.

"We are good, thank you." The ponytail one replied, gripping her Scythe a bit harder the moment her eyes landed on me. A distrustful one, huh. Not like is misplaced, since all the 'death game' Mambo Jambo happening. I noticed her red eyes were seizing me.

"Hi." I bowed slightly. "Are you both trying to reach the next village?" I decided to inquire a bit, ignoring the wariness in the environment.

"We...uh..." It seems the scythe user won't give us anything. If she doesn't want to talk, we should leave. They seem fine enough for m- "Wait!" She raised her right hand towards me in a sign of 'stop right there'. "You..."

What? I'm not a stalker, I hope she doesn't make any unnecessary accusations. Why does she look at me as if I'm a board to throw daggers at?

"You are the one who made that stunt back at the square!" She snapped her fingers in realization.

...Well, I should have expected that.

I made a face as if trying to regain a distant memory. "Hmm...did I? I think I did something like that perhaps...a long time ago..." Will faking Alzheimer's save me from being recognized? Attention is not something I'm particularly seeking at the beginning of the game.

The blueberry-haired woman stands up, the pommel of her weapon clacking against the floor. "It's been less than an hour." She deadpanned me with some indignation. "And your accent is quite noticeable."

"...Will you believe me if I say I'm his twin brother?" I said with a nonchalant expression. Now the chestnut-haired beauty joined in the deadpan contest against play ball and we can dep-

"Neo, you are a terrible liar." Lisbeth betrayed me with no hesitation. Woman, you are giving my name! "Forgive him. He may speak and look suspicious...wait, that makes him suspicious...uhm..." Is she already throwing me to the dogs? "But he is a good man. A good suspicious man!"

...

"Good safe there," I retorted at her sarcastically. "I will make sure my next partner doesn't sell me out so early. It's unfortunate, but we shall depart ways premature-"

"Hold on!" Lisbeth instantly panicked while grabbing my arm. "I'm sorry! I overstep our boundaries, please don't leave me behind!" She punched me with a full [Puppy Eyes] skill.

It's ineffective. "It's done, we are divorced," I decided to keep playing with her. "May you do well by yourself, miss Lisbeth."

"Nooooooooooo!" Her despair is real. She truly thinks I'm gonna abandon her. "Wait, 'divorced'?" She muttered in realization.

"Pffff!"x2

A couple of chuckles came out from the unidentified women, followed by a full laugh in response to the silly situation.