No one's POV
Currently, Zora, Kirito and Leafa were walking through a very dark alley and Zora used a night vision magic and gave everyone night vision.
Leafa: Everything looks way brighter now! So this is night vision magic? I guess Spriggans are good for something after all.
Zora: Put that way, it kind of hurts.
Kirito: I don't know if that was a compliment or an insult?
Leafa: Your practicing the magic you can use that's the important thing. And projecting illusions is one of your specialties.
Kirito: Illusions?
Leafa: Yeah, to trick people with. It's cool, but it's not gonna help anyone much in combat. But, you never know, in a life or death situation your lame Spriggan magic might actually come in handy.
Kirito: Now that was an insult.
Zora: That hurt even more.
(Timeskip)
As the three of them continued to walk through the cave, Zora and Kirito were trying to memorized their spells,
Leafa: Your just memorizing the word. You have to learn what the word mean first, then match them with the effect of the magic. That's how you memorize spells.
Kirito: I never thought that in a game I have to memorize words from a different language.
Leafa: Oh and just so you know, the higher rank spells have about 20 words.
Zora: Holy crap...
Kirito: I'll just stick to fighting then...
Zora: Now that's what I'm talking about...
Zora and Kirito did a fist bump and Leafa just sighed.
Leafa: Would you both quit complaining!
Suddenly, Leafa got a message notification.
Leafa: Oh someone messaging me. Sorry I have to get this.
Zora: Go ahead...
Kirito: Sure...
Leafa opened the message and it was from Recon.
Leafa: It says, I was right, be careful, s-
Leafa looked confused after reading it.
Leafa: S?
Zora: What's wrong?
Leafa: Well...
Rio and Yui then popped out of Zora and Kirito's pocket.
Yui: Papa, Uncle, I'm picking up movement behind us.
Kirito: Are they monsters?
Rio: No, they're players. And a lot of them. 12 in total.
Leafa: Your kidding? 12? I've got a bad feeling about this. We better take cover and wait until they pass us.
Zora: Okay, but where?
Leafa: Just leave everything to me.
Leafa grabbed Zora and Kirito's hand and dragged them into an opening in the wall and then cast a spell to make a wall to hide them from sight.
Zora: Wow...
Leafa: We can talk, but we have to be really quit! Anything louder than whisper and it's gonna break the spell.
Zora: Roger...
Kirito: Okay...
Yui: They'll be coming into view soon...
As the three of them waited for the players, Zora and Kirito narrowed their eyes.
Zora: What is that...? Do you guys see that?
Leafa then looked surprised.
Leafa: Huh? No I can see anything. They're not visible yet, are they?
Kirito: I can tell it's not a player. It's got red eyes.
Zora: Yeah, kinda like a bat?
Leafa looked at them shocked and looked and then saw a red eyes bat flying towards them and she jumped from behind the wall.
Kirito: H-Hey, what's wrong?
Zora: What'd you break our cover?
Leafa: Because that thing out there is a high level tracing searcher! We have to destroy it!
Leafa then used a wind type magic and took out the tracer.
Leafa: Come on! We got to go!
The three of them then started to run down the cav.
Zora: Can we just hide from one of your spells again?
Leafa: they already know we're here! The enemy knows we blew up their tracer. Hiding's not gonna do us any good. We won't be able to fool them. Beside that bat was a fire element familiar. That could only mean that the one that our tracking us are...
Kirito: They're Salamanders?
Zora: Not them again...
Leafa: But why would a group of Salamanders be way down here?
As they were running, they then saw a massive lake.
Kirito: Wow, check out the lake.
As they continued running, they started to make their way down the bridge leading to the city, but suddenly a wall emerged from the ground and blocked their path and Zora and Kirito both drew their swords and tried to break through, but couldn't.
Leafa: That won't work.
Zora: Why didn't you tell us sooner...
Leafa: Oh right, like it's my fault you guys are in a hurry. It's an earth magic barrier, so physical attack can't break it.
Kirito: Can we jumped in the lake and swim around it?
Leafa: Nope. At least not unless you want to be lunch. The water's filled with high level monsters. The undine are the only who can take those kinds of things on.
Zora: then I guess the only option left is fight.
Leafa: I'm not gonna argue with that, but it won't be easy. If the Salamanders have a high level earth magic, it could only mean one thing. They have a powerful mage on their side.
The three of them drew their swords and Kirito and Zora looked back at Leafa.
Kirito: Leafa, I know your good with a sword, so don't take this the wrong way, but could you back us up from here on out?
Leafa: Huh?
Zora: We need you to stay behind and focus on healing us. That way we can fight harder and not worry about our HP.
Leafa then nodded and jumped back and as the Salamanders started to get closer, Zora and Kirito rushed at them, but the two of them were blocked by the Salamanders tank, but the force of the attack took some of their HP, but the mages in the back just healed them.
Leafa(mind): They're targeting them with everything they got. They're countering Zora and Kirito perfectly!
Suddenly, the mages then shot a fire magic and it hit the two of them, putting their HP in the yellow.
Leafa: Kirito! Zora!
Kirito: This is gonna be harder that I thought...
Leafa then used a spell and healed Kirito and Zora.
Zora: Let's go! We can afford to die here! You go for the sheild and I'll go for the healer!
Kirito: Right!
Kirito then rushed towards the shield users and Zora jumped over him to attack the Healers, but the mages behind them blast Zora and sent him flying along with Kirito and Leafa then healed them again.
Leafa: That's enough, Kirito! Zora! If we lose it just mean an extra couple hour of flying! Let's give up while we can!
Kirito: No way...
Zora: We'll never give up... as long as I'm alive, I'm not gonna let anyone in my party die. I won't let that happened again!
Zora and Kirito looked at the Salamanders and the both of them started screaming.
Zora and Kirito: AAAAHHHHH!!!
Zora and Kirito both rushed down the Salamanders again. Leafa looked at Zora and Kirito completely shocked and Yui and Rio then flew up to her.
Rio: Hurry, this is your only chance!
Leafa: Chance? What do you mean?
Yui: You have to use all the mana you have! Hurry and focus on shielding them from the next magic attack!
Leafa: U-Uh, Okay, but I don't think is gonna help.
Leafa looked at Kirito and Zora then looked back at Yui and Rio nodded and started to use a spell to shield Zora and Kirito and blue butterflies started to fly around them and the mages then shot another barrage of fire spells, but the barrier Leafa made was blocking them.
Yui: Do it now, Papa! Uncle!
Leafa then looked over and saw that Zora and Kirito both raised their swords into the sky and started to chant for an illusion spell and Leafa looked at them confused.
Leafa(mind): Their using illusion magic. But all that's gonna do is make them look like a giant monsters.
Rio: Go get them Papa! Uncle!
Fire started to swirl around the two of them as it started to die down. Zora and Kirito both had transformed into two separate monsters, Kirito looked like a carbon copy of The Gleam Eye from SAO and Zora was wearing a black suit of armor with multiple tendrils and a glowing red eyes and Leafa looked at them completely and utterly shocked.
Leafa: Is that, Kirito and Zora?
Both Zora and Kirito looked toward the Salamanders and the two of them let out a monstrous roars and the Salamanders looked at them terrified and the two of them rushed towards them and started to tear them apart.
Kirito and Zora started crushing the tanks with their claws and the two of them looked at the mages in the back and roared at them.
Zora and Kirito then rushed at the mages as they tried to run away and the two of them started slashing them with their claws and Zora looked toward the leader of the mages and he looked at him completely terrified and jumped into the lake and got killed by the monsters swimming below and Zora grabbed the final mage and went to bite off his head, but Leafa stopped him.
Leafa: Wait Zora! Hold on don't kill the last guy!
Rio and Yui: Isn't our Papa amazing?
Zora narrowed his eyes and dropped the mage onto the ground and Leafa point her sword at him.
Leafa: Okay, if you want to live you better tell us who sent you after us!
Mage: Never! Kill me if you want!
Leafa: You got it!
Leafa was about to strike but she heard Kirito laughing.
Kirito: Oh man, that was cool!
Kirito and Zora then came out of their monster forms and walked over them.
Zora: Man, did we go on a rampage!
Kirito then approach the mage.
Kirito: Hey, that was an awesome fight! That was a good plan. If we were alone, we wouldn't last a minute against you dorks.
Leafa: What are you telling him that for, Kirito?
Kirito: Let me handle this. Listen up I want to see if you and I can make a deal.
Kirito then pulled down his menu and showed the Salamanders some items.
Kirito: Check it out, those are all the items and money I won after beating your asses. All you have to do is answer our question and they could be yours! Sound good?
Mage: Seriously?
Kirito: Totally.
Kirito and the mage then started to laugh and Zora just smirk and Leafa and the girls just sighed.
Leafa: Men...
Yui: They such a simple minded creatures.
Rio: Yeah, it's like they forget we're even here.
Zora: Hey, I'm right here!
Leafa and Yui and Rio: What It's true...
Zora looked down and started rolling his body.
Zora: Well my feeling are officially hurt!
Leafa and Rio and Yui just sweat drops.
(Timeskip)
After Rio managed to cheered Zora up, the player started explaining.
Mage: Earlier this morning I got an urgent text from G-Takusu. He's the leader of the mage squad. Anyway, I got this text telling us to meet hime here. And when I showed up he said he needed 12 of us to go on a hunt for 3 players. At first I thought it was overkill, but well he said you took out Kagemune, so it made sense.
Kirito: Who is this Kagemune?
Mage: He is the leader of the lancer squad and he is known for hunting Sylph. Yesterday, his party got wiped and had to retreat. That was you guys, wasn't it?
Everyone looked at each other and looked back at the Mage.
Leafa: Wait, why is G-Takusu so interested on getting us out of the way.
Mage: The order came from the higher ups. Something about you interfering with the plan.
Zora: What Plan?
Mage: hey, I'm just a grunt. They don't tell me anything. And I'm pretty sure something really big is about to go down. When I log on today, I saw this bid swarm of Salamanders troop heading up north.
Leafa: No way, they'r trying to clear up the world tree, aren't they?
Mage: I doubt that. The army would need at least ancient-class gear, which is what we've been saving for. That's everything I know, I promised. You weren't lying about your end of the deal, were you?
Kirito just smiled at the Mage.
Kirito: No. I'm a man of my word partner.
Leafa: Ughh...
After the whole fight the three of them started heading to the town.
Leafa: Hey, that big ugly monsters that was tearing everything up. Was that the both of you or an illusion?
Kirito: Yeah, I don't remember...
Zora: I think so...
Leafa: What do you mean?
Zora: That happens sometimes. In the heat of battle I'll snap and can't remember a thing afterwards.
Kirito: Same here...
Leafa stopped walking and looked at them surprised.
Leafa: Wow, scary...
Zora: I think I remember most of was last one. Like I know I used that spell Yui and Rio suggested. I also remember getting huge. I remember losing my sword and then grabbing people.
Rio: And you were eating them, remember that?
Yui: That was disgusting.
Kirito: Oh yeah, I totally felt like a monster. I'll eat people and everything.
Leafa: So, what did they taste like?
Kirito: It kinda grilled meat just before it gets burn. All crispy and juicy.
Zora: Wow just wow. That is so specific.
Leafa: Okay god sorry I ask.
Kirito then smirked and grabbed Leafa's hand and put it in his mouth and she screamed and slapped him.
(Timeskip)
After reaching the town, the three of them walked in and Kirito had a hand print on his face.
Leafa: Wow, So this is Legrue?
Kirito: Ow... that hurts...
Zora: Sometime I wonder why your my brother. You are such an Idiot.
Rio: And you shouldn't be biting people, Uncle!
Yui: That one was your fault, Papa...
Leafa: I'll say!
Kirito: Why is everyone ganging up on me? I was just breaking up the tension with some stupid joke.
Zora: That was not a joke! You don't go around biting people. Especially someone you just met.
Leafa: Bite me again and I'll cut you in half!
Kirito: Yes ma..am!
Leafa then walked over to a weapon stand to look at the weapons and the two of them walked up to her.
Zora: Hey I just remember something. You goy a message from your friend right?
Leafa: Oh, I totally forgot.
Leafa then went to check her menu and saw Recon wasn't logged on.
Leafa: Recon's not online. Maybe he's asleep?
Kirito: Why don't you log out and give him a call?
Leafa: Yeah I think I better check in with him. I'll only be gone a sec. Wait for me here okay? Yui, Rio, would you please keep an eye on my avatar.
Yui and Rio: Us...
Leafa: Yeah, to make sure your Papa doesn't mess around my avatar when I'm out!
Rio and Yui: Copy that Ma'am...
Kirito: You got to be kidding....
Zora: I didn't even do anything...
(Timeskip)
As Zora was sitting next to Leafa's avatar and Kirito was eating something, Leafa's eyes then opened and stood up.
Leafa: I have to go!
Zora: Welcome back, Leafa.
Rio: Yeah welcome back.
The four of them started to make their way toward the exit.
Leafa: 40 minutes from now, in the valley of the butterflies, the leaders of the Sylph and the Cat Sith are gonna have a meeting.
Kirito: Mind if we ask a couple of questions? Before we get there.
Leafa: Go ahead.
Zora: If the Salamanders attack the Sylph and the Cat Sith. What are they gonna get?
Leafa: For one they stopped the alliance from happening. And if the Cat Sith found out their leader died because a Sylph turn traitor, they'd be pretty pissed wouldn't they?
Kirito: Super piss...
Leafa: It's a good way to start a war between the Sylph and the Cat Sith that's for sure. It's also a good way to get rich, if you take out the leader of a territory you get 30% of the money. You can invade its hometown for 10 days and charge whatever tax you want.
Kirito: No way...really?
Zora: You can do that?
Leafa: Seriously, would I lie to you both. This isn't your problem, Kirito, Zora. It's a sylph problem, you guys don't have any reason to get involve and risk your life over it. If we go to the meeting the chances are we won't make it back alive. And we'll probably have to start over from Swilvane again. But, this could work for the both of you.
Leafa stopped running and Kirito and Zora looked back at her.
Leafa: You want to get to the top of the Yggdrasil, so you might be better off working with the Salamanders. If they can pull this off it will give them the power and resources they need to make an attempt to raid the Yggdrasil. And since you guys are a Spriggan, they might hire you as a mercenaries. So if you wanted to kill me you could. I wouldn't hold it against any of you.
Kirito: It's just a game in the end. Anything goes right?
Zora: If you want to kill you kill, if you want to steal you steal.
Kirito: A lot of people think like that, more than we care to know. And in a way We get it.
Zora: Even I used to think like that. But non of that is true. In a virtual world, there's things you have to protect because is a virtual world. Someone special taught me that. If you give in to your desire in here, it's gonna change who you are in the real world. The player and the character are one in the same.
Kirito: Leafa, you're a good person, and we wanted to be your friend. So it doesn't matter what the reason is, there's no way in hell that we attack a friend for our own benefit. Is something we'd never do.
Leafa looked at the two of them shocked and tears streaming down her face.
Leafa: Kirito, Zora... Thank you...
Kirito: Sorry, it was arrogant of us. It's a bad habit.
Leafa: No, it made me happy.
Zora: Come on we're wasting time just standing here. We gotta go!
Kirito: Yui, Rio, Lead the way!
Yui and Rio: Leave it to us!
Kirito then grabbed Leafa's arm.
Kirito: Try not to get left behind.
Zora: -_- You do realize I'm faster than you. But oh well, we're going full speed.
Both Zora and Kirito started to run at full speed and they run past all the monsters in the cave and the three of them saw the exit.
Leafa: Monsters!
Kirito: There's the exit!
Zora: Let's go! We got an alliance to save!