The central plaza of Floor 1 in Aincrad rose like a vast heart of stone, surrounded by medieval buildings with pale walls, slanted reddish roofs, and arched windows that seemed lifted straight from an ancient European village.
At its center, a circular fountain stood proudly, its carved figure sending a stream of crystal-clear water into the air, glimmering with silver sparks under the overcast sky.
But the sky didn't show its usual vibrant blue. Instead, a dark gray shroud unleashed a persistent drizzle. Droplets pelted the wet cobblestones, forming puddles that distorted the reflections of nearby towers. The air carried the scent of wet stone, mingling with the murmur of the rain and the fountain's flowing water.
Suddenly, bluish beams of light materialized in the plaza, expanding until they formed a complete human silhouette. The flash of their appearance contrasted sharply with the gloomy rain, blending solemnity with a macabre undertone.
The newcomer's gaze dripped with a strange fascination. A smile spread across their face: not one of happiness or impatience… but a twisted, sinister smirk. A depraved smile that radiated both pleasure and hope simultaneously. A disgustingly amused grin.
—So this is the game of death… how thrilling… how thrilling… —they said in an impatient tone, tinged with delight—. Just thinking of the screams of agony when they die by accident, their flesh torn, intestines scattered… How realistic this world is, I might even be bathed in blood… I can't wait…
The player who had entered last, after the grand presentation, began walking at a leisurely pace. His boots echoed on the wet cobblestones as he moved between dark wooden benches. That's when he noticed a hooded figure sitting, swinging her feet back and forth as if playing, completely oblivious to the solitude and the heavy atmosphere.
He stopped, curious about finding someone there. Curiosity pushed him to approach.
—Hey… what are you doing here? —he asked, voice laced with intrigue.
The hooded figure took a moment to react. She stopped swinging her feet, remained still for a heartbeat, and finally lifted her head. The hood shifted slightly, revealing a fragment of her female face: pale skin, delicate features, and a serene smile, so calm it felt unsettling in that context.
—You know it's not polite to talk to a stranger without introducing yourself first, right? —she said, her tone playful, almost teasing.
—Huh!? Why should I introduce myself to you? I've had enough shitty jobs out there to repeat the same here, girl. —the player growled, his rough voice dripping irritation—. Just because you're pretty doesn't mean I can't hit you.
The man was cloaked in a dark, heavy mantle, rough and frayed by time. His hood sank low, hiding his eyes in shadow, blending with the dimness. Beneath it, layers of indistinct clothing were visible, a faded vest barely peeking out. His arms and legs were wrapped in strips of cloth, like bandages hardened from wear. Thick, worn leather boots pressed into the wet ground with a dull crunch.
The rain soaked him relentlessly. Water darkened his cloak, clinging to his body, droplets dripping from the frayed edges of his hood. The cold wind whipped his layers, carrying the sharp scent of wet earth.
In front of him, the female player remained still. Her fragile, hunched silhouette rested on a rocky surface. The hood of her darkened, rain-soaked cloak nearly concealed her face, shrouding it in shadow. Occasionally, the wind pressed the fabric against her face, revealing just the delicate contour of her features.
The vast cloak covered her form like a mound of wrinkled fabric. From the lower edge peeked a tattered lace skirt, dirty and worn, and beneath it, boots with soles almost smooth from use. Rain trickled in fine threads along the fabric, and from her sleeves emerged cold, thin, bandaged hands, motionless as if the cold had no power over them.
When she finally lifted her head slightly, her voice sounded calm, almost playful:
—Because it's natural when meeting someone… it's good manners, especially among adults. Don't you think, Oni-san?
Poh clicked his tongue, irritated.
—Tsk… just call me Poh, girl. Now answer my damn question: what are you doing here all alone?
The hooded girl let out a soft giggle before answering.
—A pleasure, my name is Risu. It's nice to meet you, Poh. And regarding your question… I'm simply enjoying my mobility. —she said calmly, as if unconcerned with her threatening tone.
He frowned.
—Uhmm… are you dumb or something? —he asked with disdain.
She lowered her gaze to her bandaged legs, letting the water drip over them.
—Hehe… well, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? —she replied with a serene smile—. No, I'm not dumb. I'm just enjoying being able to walk for the first time… that's all.
An awkward silence fell amid the patter of rain. Poh raised an eyebrow, unsettled by her strange words.
—You're sick… aren't you?
The girl smiled, though there was a sharp edge in it, as if hiding something that shouldn't be spoken aloud.
—Sick…? That would at least be a relief. No, I'm not sick. I'm dying.
Poh didn't blink.
—I see —he replied calmly, as if the declaration meant nothing.
Risu stared at him intently, as if measuring whether she had shaken him. Then, she crossed her arms beneath the rain.
—And tell me, Poh, how did you get a copy of the game? Not everyone can obtain it… unless they camp outside the shops for days. And you don't seem like that type.
He let out a dark laugh, baring his teeth in a grimace.
"Hehehe... Let's just say I borrowed it from a fat otaku who didn't want to pay me for my work. The pig used the 'if you're late, it's free' policy. I got fired and went to his house to complain... When I saw the ad for this Kayaba Akihiko guy on his TV, I didn't hesitate. I took off his helmet to go home and tried it on myself. And here I am. —His gestures became exaggerated, his words laden with an unhealthy excitement—. Feeling your own blood, your life slipping away... Going mad just to survive! That's the best way to live... and to die.
Risu nodded gently, tapping her hand with her fist as if she grasped the idea.
—I understand. You came here to let out everything you carry inside. To turn your pain into a shared experience. You want others to know the same suffering you endure every day, right? So they can value their own lives.
—Huh? —grunted Poh, hurt by her interpretation, glaring at her.
But she didn't back down. She stepped forward, lifting her face to the rain, and her voice gained firmness:
—Even if you deny it, your actions aren't ordinary. Only someone who has suffered too much can speak like you. And I don't judge you. In fact… I like you. You know? We're almost the same. I came into this world because I wanted to walk. Since birth, my illness confined me to bed. Doctors gave me four years to live, if lucky.
Poh, unaware, had sat on a wet bench, staring at her as if unsure whether to laugh or pity.
—So when I saw Sword Art Online, I thought: I don't want to die in a hospital. I want to live with a healthy body, even if it's here. And now… your words gave me another purpose. I want to show all players the true value of life. That fleeing isn't cowardice, that being afraid isn't weakness. I will be that fear in this world. —With that, she removed her hood, revealing her face.
Silver hair fell wet over her shoulders, glowing with an ethereal hue under the storm. Her purple eyes, steady and serene, looked at him with unwavering conviction.
—So tell me… do you want to be my friend on this adventure? —she asked, with a half-smile.
Poh's heart shuddered for a moment. In his mind, Risu's silhouette warped, transforming into another figure, a tender, warm smile… and the cry of a baby echoed in his head. The illusion shattered like broken glass, returning him to the cold rain.
—…I… yes. What were you saying? —he stammered, trying to regain composure.
—That if you want, you can join me. Let's form a group, a clan that makes players respect fear instead of burying it under empty smiles. After all, despair and hope always walk together.
Poh looked at her silently. Then, theatrically, he bowed in a mock salute.
—Tsk… If I can make others suffer, then yes. I'll join your cause.
Risu laughed softly, raising three fingers like she wore a princess dress, and returned the bow with exaggerated elegance.
—Then it's decided. From now on, we are not alone.
They began walking toward the city gates, rain accompanying their steps.
—And what should we call our group? —Poh asked lazily.
—"Assassins"? —he suggested without thinking.
Risu puffed her cheeks in disappointment.
—That name's boring. If you kill, you're already an assassin, no fun. —She paused a few seconds, then snapped her fingers with an idea—. It will be "Smiling Coffin."
Poh raised an eyebrow.
—What kind of name is that?
—It's simple. Because when we kill, we'll be like a coffin: cold, bloody, carrying their bodies. And smiling… because we'll awaken players from the false dream they're trapped in.
The man looked at her silently, then let out a low chuckle.
—Mmm… doesn't sound so bad, if you put it that way.
—Right? —she said confidently, stepping toward the forest beyond the city gates—. It's time to shine, Poh. Let's go, Smiling Coffin is just beginning.
Poh followed, his usual bored expression on his face, though a twisted smile played on his lips as he thought:
—(In this lawless world… I can be the villain, or the hero, if I wish.)
And together, under the relentless rain, their steps vanished into the darkness of the forest.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 7th, 2022 — Western Forest
The crunch of damp leaves underfoot broke the silence of the trail.A group of seven people walked in an uneven line, chatting among themselves while one of them, relaxed at the rear, strummed a medieval guitar, its chords softly vibrating through the trees.
—"Seriously, I still can't believe they gave you that beta armor," one remarked incredulously, eyeing the dull shine of his companion's gear.
The one being addressed shrugged, scratching the back of his neck with slight discomfort.
—"Well… I was surprised too, but honestly it feels more like a decorative piece, you know? Unlike you, who actually has a sharp mind, Aomine."
The named one clicked his tongue, annoyed.
—"Hearing my name thrown around so casually is something I still haven't gotten used to. But… I can't really say anything. All of you already call me that all the time." He sighed, resigned.
A light laugh from another in the group broke the tension.
—"It's also easier to pronounce. But adding to the conversation… I got this shield, which is supposedly from floor fifty. However, it's just for show. It doesn't even have half the strength it should. Looks like I'll have to level up with it." Gundou lifted the shield, showing it with disdain.
Their gazes immediately shifted to the weapons of the two girls in the group.
—"So… does that mean Elsa's daggers and Historia's bow are…?" someone asked hesitantly.
Michael, the one with the guitar, stopped playing for a moment to calmly intervene:
—"Simple illusions, it seems. Or… maybe they're real, but only work at the level we're at. Most likely, as we level up, they'll grow stronger too. It'd be strange if they gave us high-level weapons from the start without that condition."
Silence reigned among the seven as they walked along the hidden forest path. The wind carried the murmur of the leaves, and now and then the song of an insect broke the stillness. It was then that Keyki, always burdened with the label of being the most nervous and fragile of the group, decided to break the quiet.
His trembling voice echoed more than he expected.
—"And… where exactly are we going now?" he asked into the air, without looking at anyone in particular.
The reaction was immediate. Everyone, except Michael, sighed heavily. Looks of annoyance, disappointment, and even anger shot at him like invisible arrows. Keyki felt his chest tighten.
—"Good thing you asked, Keyki." Michael smiled with a playful gleam in his eyes.
—"You had to ask…" Gundou muttered, turning his head with a severe grimace.
Keyki's body froze. It was as if the entire forest warned him that such a simple question was going to cost him dearly. And his hunch didn't take long to intensify.
The group, which until then had followed the path marked by other players, suddenly veered into the thicket. The undergrowth crunched under their boots, and branches brushed against their clothes as they advanced. The air filled with the distant buzzing of insects and the scattered songs of birds hidden in the canopy. After a few minutes, the vegetation parted, and before them appeared the dark mouth of a cave.
For Keyki and Yuna, the discovery was unsettling; uncertainty weighed like a stone on their hearts. In contrast, Aomine, Historia, Elsa, and Gundou exchanged looks that confirmed the place was not unfamiliar to them.
—"If this were the normal beta, I'd be excited… but now that we can actually die, I'm not so eager to get this item you're talking about. What exactly will it do for us, Michael?" asked Aomine, crossing his arms with distrust.
Michael, still wearing his confident smile, replied with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
—"Come on, don't be so negative. You know well that the Royal Honey of the Queen Rear Bee is worth its weight in gold."
Gundou snorted.
—"This is going to hurt…" he warned dryly, as if preparing everyone for the inevitable.
Historia, with a resigned air, raised a finger and added:
—"I suppose we don't have a choice. I don't want to keep eating just hard bread… And in this world, if you don't learn all the ingredient combinations, your food ends up ruined." The bitter memory made her frown.
—"I trust that we'll manage." Elsa smiled with a faint blush on her cheeks, though the sweat drops on her forehead betrayed her nerves. Her tone was so innocent it almost sounded forced, as if she were trying to encourage the others more than herself.
Her words made Michael laugh sincerely. The spark on his face showed he had already made his decision and nothing would make him back down. The rest, resigned, began to prepare for what was coming.
Meanwhile, Keyki, overwhelmed by a fear rising like a tide, instinctively hid behind Yuna, seeking protection.
—"Don't you see we could die!? Why do something so risky? We barely escaped with our lives not long ago… and now you want to steal directly from a hive! This is madness…"
The tremor in his voice resonated as strongly as the rain beginning to fall on the forest leaves.
Michael turned to him, this time with a more serious air.
—"Relax. This time we'll use a different tactic."
Confusion flickered in Keyki's eyes… and also in Gundou's and Historia's. However, Elsa and Aomine instantly understood what he meant.
Michael raised a finger and pointed at the young woman with the guitar.
—"We'll use Yuna-san. Her music can soothe them. Sometimes bees enter a state of calm when they hear certain melodies…" His smile returned, serene and confident. "It's only a hypothesis, but I think it's worth trying."
The air tensed immediately. The cave's darkness seemed to watch them, as if sensing the audacity they were about to commit.
—"Are you crazy?!" —Keyki raised his voice, the tremor disguised as anger—. "You know it's dangerous… and even worse if Yuna-chan is the one playing lifeguard! It's better if you guys go, and we… will wait here."
A brief, almost uncomfortable silence followed his words. But it was broken immediately, one after another, as if they had all agreed to throw verbal darts at him.
—"Coward." —spat Historia, crossing her arms.
—"I thought you were a man." —added Elsa, her tone cold.
—"I don't know him." —said Gundou, turning his face with total indifference.
—"I think you dropped your manhood on the floor." —Aomine finished, not bothering to soften his words.
The phrases struck Keyki like arrows straight to the heart. His body shrank, his expression twisted into a mixture of pain and shame. He wavered a little, as if his pride had been pierced completely. In the end, he slowly stood up with a comical, trembling gesture, looking at them with eyes full of humiliation.
He didn't expect the final blow to come just then.
—"It's okay if you're afraid, Keyki-chi." —Yuna said with a calm smile and a sincere sparkle in her eyes—. "I'll go, you stay here. You'll be safe, and I… will protect you."
Those words were the finishing strike. If before he felt wounded, now it was as if he had been buried alive. That even Yuna, the kindest person in the group, considered him weak… was too much.
With a sudden surge of wounded pride, Keyki clenched his teeth, straightened his back, and took a firm step forward. His voice came out louder than he expected, though the trembling in his legs betrayed him.
—"I'll go first!" —he declared, puffing out his chest. Without looking back, he stepped into the darkness of the cave, trying to maintain the pose of someone brave.
Michael, who had been calmly watching the whole scene, let out a short, cheerful laugh.
—"Good." —he raised his arm, pointing toward the cave—. "Let's go, Keyki. Clearly, your time has come."
One by one, the others began to follow. Footsteps echoed at the entrance of the cavern as the air grew denser and more humid. The outside light gradually faded, replaced by the gloom awaiting inside.
Thus, the seven embarked together on their first mission in this new and cruel world.
The dampness of the cave seeped into every corner. The rocky walls, covered with dark moss and droplets falling from above, returned a faint echo with each step. The air was heavy, charged with that smell of wet earth and confinement only such a deep place could hold.
For the moment, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The silence, broken only by the crunch of boots against gravel and the constant dripping, conveyed a deceptive calm. Even Keyki, usually tense, seemed to smile with slight relief.
—(For now, there's no one. If it stays this way, what if they give up and we go back?)—he thought, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
But that illusion didn't last long.
From deep within the tunnel, a golden light began to pierce through the shadows. At first it was faint, as if something were reflecting the flame of a nonexistent torch, but soon it grew brighter, pulsing, almost hypnotic. And then, the sound came.
A low buzzing, multiplied by dozens of echoes, spread through the cave and froze the blood of them all.
—"Looks like we're getting close to danger… be ready to execute the plan." Michael's tone sounded cheerful, yet there was an undeniable tension in the air.
Instinct made Keyki step back. His feet slid on the gravel, almost tripping, as he sought refuge near Yuna, who stood beside Aomine.
—"And what's the plan?" —she asked, not taking her eyes off the growing light.
Aomine stepped forward calmly, as if he had been waiting for this.
—"Oh, it's a bit complicated… we have to repeat the sound the bees make so they don't mistake us for enemies. This game is so realistic that sometimes they won't attack if you 'greet' them back. It worked in the Beta. It was my idea… in the end, we got the honey. Well… with a few stings for Gundou and Michael." He spoke with a surprising calmness.
Keyki swallowed hard, his eyes wide.—"Stings? They'll attack us by stinging us?" —he asked, fear obvious in his voice.
—"Well, yes. But don't worry, they only have two real attacks. The first is Pollinate: they release pollen over an area, making us hallucinate and unable to react in time. The second is the Sting. They aim their tails and pierce without hesitation. There are two kinds: those that simply cause damage, and those with venom… those leave the stinger lodged inside and kill slowly by poisoning." Aomine explained with the same serenity as if he were talking about the weather.
Yuna smiled, her eyes glowing with excitement.—"Wow… that sounds amazing."
—"That's terrifying!" —blurted Keyki, shrinking behind her.
Aomine turned slightly toward him, his tone steady.—"Don't be afraid. Just don't breathe in the pollen, move to a clean area to recharge oxygen. As for the sting… it has a flaw. They can only attack in a straight line, like a charge with no change in direction. If we can make them crash into the cave wall, they'll be stuck and unable to get free for a while. The venomous ones… those must break their stinger, but the normal ones can pull it out after about seven minutes of being lodged."
The echo of his explanation resonated off the walls, as if the cave itself approved of his strategy.
—"That really is a good plan. Now I get why you're the brain of the group." Yuna praised in a lively tone, as though the tension in the air couldn't dim her energy.
Keyki, silently, watched Aomine.—(That's so smart and detailed… I'm jealous…)—he thought, biting his lip in frustration.
Meanwhile, the buzzing grew. Now it was no longer a distant murmur, but a constant vibration that made the ground tremble beneath their feet.
In the vast golden empire of the Eternal Hive, where the air felt like an invisible ocean saturated with pollen and the sun barely filtered in through fractured rays of light, echoed the wings of thousands in motion.
There dwelled the guardians of the honey: the Rear Bees.
They were not mere insects, but creatures seemingly forged by alchemy between nature and arcane magic. Their bodies were covered in a silver exoskeleton that gleamed like polished steel, and from their joints spread golden plates, like tiny elven armors that sparkled with each movement. Four translucent wings, bathed in a prism of colors, harnessed the energy of the environment and let them maneuver with the grace of a hypnotic dance.
The most fearsome thing, however, was their sting.The Commons bore an iridescent green, almost luminous, pulsing with the fury of life itself: they would strike again and again, without rest, until their enemy was reduced to silence. They were a tempest embodied in tiny bodies.
Beyond them, floating with solemn air, were the Armored Violets, matriarchs of ancient lineages. Their amethyst sting gleamed with a sinister radiance, as if a spiritual poison pulsed within. They didn't need to strike repeatedly: a single sting was enough to invade the body like ink in water, paralyzing muscles, clouding senses, and finally claiming their victim's life.
Hundreds of these creatures soared in perfect concert, accompanied by the sweet, intoxicating aroma of honey dripping from the combs. The hive's interior was a labyrinth of cyclopean structures, hexagonal cells that looked like they were made of liquid amber. Luminous honey flowed like slow rivers through the cracks, illuminating the vault with golden reflections.
—"Wow… this really is a huge hive." —Yuna murmured in awe, her eyes sparkling at the sight.
Keyki, however, stepped back, swallowing hard.—"There are too many Commons… and the specials are closer to the honey than them…" —he said, voice trembling.
—"That's natural." —Michael replied with confidence—. "The specials are the true guardians. They guard the purest honey in the hidden places of the hive… and that's what we need."
Aomine narrowed his eyes, watching the flow of the swarm.—"The problem will be tracking them. The Commons always accompany them, and telling them apart won't be easy. They react differently to response sounds… mixing them up is a huge risk."
Elsa stepped forward firmly.—"I think I could sneak in, looking for a point where they split off."
—"Sounds like a good plan. I'll follow behind, in case they try to attack you." —added Gundou with a confident smile.
Both began to prepare, adjusting their gear like one sharpening a promise.
—"I'll watch from a distance, from a high point. I'll warn of any suspicious movement." —said Historia, moving toward a rocky ledge that gave her a privileged view.
Aomine turned his head toward her.—"Historia, if you notice any change… I want you to report it to us. This is the official launch, they always alter something between the beta and the final version."
She nodded silently, her hair waving softly with the breeze flowing from the hive.
Michael, meanwhile, sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes as if in meditation. Beside him, Aomine remained alert, calculating patterns with his gaze.
Yuna watched the scene, somewhat lost.—"Do they always work like this?" —she asked quietly.
Michael let out a somewhat sheepish laugh.—"Yeah, basically. When things get rough I rush straight into combat. Aomine is the brain behind it all. In moments like this… I'm almost useless, hehe."
Keyki, hearing that, lowered his head.—(At least I'm not the only one… for now, he and I are the same… right?)—he thought, with a clumsy attempt at comfort.
—"They're a complete team… How lucky to be part of something like this, even if I can only use my music…" —Yuna said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
Keyki turned to reply, but Michael interrupted him first.
—"And that's important. Your music can calm the Rear Bees. Don't belittle yourself, Yuna-san. Everyone here matters. At the start, I was an impulsive idiot who couldn't stand following orders. In the beta, nobody wanted me in their groups. I went alone, and though I advanced, in the end I always fell. Gundou was the first to join me, even though he was a rookie… then came Historia, then Elsa, and little by little we started to understand what it meant to be a team. But something was still missing. At a school tournament I met Aomine. Even though I hated him, his strategy always defeated us. That's when I realized he was what we lacked: the brain. I sought him out, made him my friend, and thanks to that we formed what you see now."
Michael's tone lowered, almost nostalgic, as he raised his gaze toward the hive's ceiling, as if recalling something distant.—"In the beta… I was the first to finish SAO. But Gundou, Historia, and Elsa died in the attempt. It was my first victory… and also the most bitter. That's why, now more than ever, I'm grateful to have them here. In this world where death is real… having a team, having friends, means everything."
The silence weighed for a few seconds among them. Even the bees' buzzing seemed distant for an instant.
Aomine, listening from behind, turned his gaze away with a faint smile.—(That was embarrassing…)—he thought.
Michael, slightly blushing, spoke again.—"Now you two are part of it as well. The more people we have, the stronger our bond will be. And if the time comes… we'll live together, or die together. Like a family… if you want, of course."
—"Shi! That's it, Michael-san. Now I understand why you're the leader. You're a good guy." —Yuna answered, raising her thumb with a radiant smile.
But Aomine raised a hand to silence her: the bees had reacted to the sound being too loud. Yuna immediately brought both hands to her mouth, bowing slightly in apology.
Keyki, however, couldn't take his eyes off Michael.—(No… he's on another level. He's warm, like a light in the middle of so much darkness. Like an older brother… Maybe this world isn't so bad…)—he thought, with a faint smile.
At that moment, Aomine opened the system chat. Names began to unfold: Historia first, then Elsa and Gundou. His strategist role activated, each reply measured, each instruction clear.
The mission now moved into dangerous territory.
"I think we already have a good point to move forward. With this, we'll manage to take the honey," Aomine remarked calmly, adjusting his gloves while his eyes never left the movements of the swarm.
Upon hearing that, Michael immediately stood up, his smile radiating confidence. At his side, Keyki and Yuna also rose to their feet, though their steps were far less certain.
(I'm ready… this time I'll prove my worth) Keyki thought, clenching his fists tightly.
Minutes later…
"Why…?! WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?!" Keyki screamed, his eyes wide with panic.
The scene was chaotic. Everyone was running desperately through the cave, slipping on the damp floor and ducking low-hanging stalactites. In their hands, each one carried chunks of honeycomb overflowing with golden honey, so heavy they seemed to be lugging blocks of liquid stone. The buzzing of the Rear Bees thundered behind them like a growing storm.
"First, whoever wins should store the honey in their inventory, don't be idiots! Carrying the weight makes you slower!" Aomine shouted with an authoritative voice, pointing toward the exit that barely glimmered like a distant halo of light.
At that, Keyki and Yuna exchanged glances, realizing how Gundou, Historia, and Elsa—who had already stored their pieces of comb—were running much faster than them. Their faces burned with shame, and they quickly imitated the action, making their honey vanish in a flash of the system menu.
"So that's why they're faster!" Yuna complained, cheeks flushed as she picked up her pace.
"And that also explains your loud question that attracted even more of them!" Aomine retorted, briefly turning toward Keyki. "Everything was going fine: your song calmed the bees, the collection was perfect… but the moment you got distracted and sang so off-key… they went crazy and now they're chasing us like you insulted their entire family!"
Keyki nearly tripped in shock."N-no way! I just improvised a little!"
"Well, your improvisation almost got us killed!" Gundou added with a nervous laugh, clutching his shield tightly to block the bees striking at them from the flanks.
"Focus!" Michael roared, unsheathing his sword to knock away a Rear Bee diving straight at them. "We have to reach the river before they completely surround us!"
The buzzing became deafening. Behind them, dozens of green and violet flashes lit up the cave's darkness like a storm of blazing arrows. Every wingbeat was a threat, every glow a warning that death was only a mistake away.
And still, amidst the chaos, they all ran with a clumsy yet undeniable synchronicity: seven players struggling not only to survive, but to protect that honey which might mean a vital difference in this world.
—
The group, drenched by the storm and weighed down by damp clothes, staggered into the nearest village. The sky was blanketed in dark clouds, and the few oil lanterns flickered, struggling against the cold wind slipping through the narrow streets. Exhaustion was etched on each of their faces; Yuna broke the silence with a sneeze, hugging her own shoulders to keep warm.
The wooden houses, with slanted roofs and fogged windows, seemed to whisper promises of rest. But before they reached the village inn, something halted their steps.
Ahead of them, another group appeared, walking from the opposite direction. Their condition was, if not the same, perhaps even worse: boots caked in mud, untreated scratches, hollow stares. The air grew tense, as though both groups carried the same invisible burden. Silence reigned for a few seconds, until Michael, unable to bear it, stepped forward and spoke with that radiant smile that defied any misfortune.
"Hello, nice to meet you, my name is Michael," he said, raising a hand in greeting.
From among the strangers, only one responded. He walked forward calmly, revealing his figure. A crimson bandana was tied across his forehead, with strands of light brown hair falling to the sides. His face, lined with stubble, showed fatigue, but also a certain steadiness that even weariness couldn't erase.
The trembling lantern light highlighted the white leather vest he wore over a sleeveless dark shirt, worn thin by use. At his waist hung a small pouch, and in the shadows, almost hidden, the handle of a knife gleamed with metallic reflections. Earth-toned pants and light boots completed the image of an experienced traveler—or perhaps a mercenary who had walked too many roads.
His deep brown eyes scanned Michael's group from head to toe. Despite his relaxed posture, it was clear his entire body was ready to react to any threat. He didn't seem like an enemy, but neither like someone who trusted strangers easily.
"Hello, nice to meet you too. My name is Klein," he finally responded, his voice low and steady.
Michael tilted his head slightly."You all seem down. Did something happen?"
Klein's group gave no answer, only silence. There was no need to ask further—the defeat was written in their gestures.
"I see… Looks like it's been a hard day for you. But don't worry, that's how everything starts," Michael said gently, his smile unwavering. "When you try something new, failing is normal. What matters is to keep trying. My group didn't have it easy today either, but… we're still smiling. You know, in a world of sadness, a smile can give hope."
Klein's expression softened ever so slightly."Yeah… I guess," he muttered, though his voice still dragged with discouragement.
Michael, noticing that, chose not to push further and continued toward the inn, followed by Yuna, Keyki, Historia, Elsa, and Gundou. However, Aomine, walking at the rear, paused when he caught Klein's vacant gaze. There was something in his expression: fear, exhaustion, doubts piling up.
Aomine sighed and opened his inventory.
"Here," he said casually.
Klein blinked in surprise."Huh?"
In front of him, Aomine extended a piece of golden honey, glowing even under the faint night light.
"Why are you giving me this? Do you know how much it's worth? I've heard in the southern village they pay fortunes for it…" Klein asked, bewildered.
Aomine smirked sideways."Maybe, but I figure food always helps. Pair it with the inn's free bread and share dinner with your friends. Resting is part of moving forward too."
Klein stared at him in silence, moved."I…"
"Just take it. Think of it as my way of introducing myself. Next time, you'll owe me something just as valuable, alright?" Aomine added with a teasing tone.
Klein nodded, bowing his head slightly."Yeah… I will. Thank you."
"Well then, see you."
"Wait," Klein said, raising an arm to stop him.
Aomine turned, one brow raised."Yes?"
"Your name. If I'm in debt… the least I should know is the name of the one I owe."
Aomine chuckled softly."Aomine. Nice to meet you, Klein."
"Nice to meet you too," Klein replied, his tone steadier than before.
Aomine then jogged to catch up with the others, who were already waiting outside the inn. They eyed him sideways, some with knowing smirks. Historia was the first to speak up, mocking, followed one by one by the rest. He, however, chose to ignore them—though he couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his lips.