[Chapter 19]

[-•¤Yuuki¤•-]

We both levelled up exponentially, gaining 5 levels from just a single boss. It took less than 3 minutes for us to beat it, almost as if it was a miracle. But, I'm sure it's... because of me.

I did it again, purple lightning coursed through me during the battle. My sword injected staggering amounts of electricity into the digital flesh of the dragon.

I don't understand, it happened only a few times before. When Aiko...

It's like the world bent its laws. Why... Why then, why now, and how?...

My questions grew in number as I walked alongside the Crimson Rose, he noticed my blank appearance and asked:

"Hey, you alright?"

I couldn't answer immediately, of course, unsure if I'm actually 'alright' or not. Though I decided to share my thoughts with him regardless since he most certainly saw what happened.

"I... didn't know what exactly happened back there."

"What do you- oh..."

"The sword skill I used was one of my originals, but I never knew it had a lightning element inside," I stated. "It happened once or twice before but I still couldn't make sense of it. It shouldn't have been possible, right?"

Akato explained his observations to me, giving a second opinion on the matter;

"Hmm..." holding his chin, he wanders off into his mind.

"There does exist elemental weapon skills in Alfheim after the release of the new server update, you recall? The Devs used the seed's code from SAO, which already consists of weapon skills ready to be used, then foraged it to create a system of their own. The choreography of the skills remains the same, so did their names, Horizontal Arc, Vertical Arc, Slant. Only with an additional bonus of the elemental application feature given by the player and their preference, does the two systems in SAO and ALO differ. This makes way for more damage potential for the skills and gives new content to the players."

His methodic approach was rather sophisticated as if he's read about them from a textbook.

He continued; "Easy to say, we're using the sword skills from SAO's Aincrad but with some special elemental flare. On that note, there are some exceptions to this system. The Ex Skills used by a handful of players that vary in terms of rarity, consist of a fixed element to them. In other words, they're unable to change their predetermined element, unlike the base Aincrad Skills.

"Like yours huh?" I now questioned, realizing I haven't asked him yet regarding his unique set of skills. I was planning to when we meet up with the other party members.

"Exactly, the Tyrfing Inferno Ex Skills I use have a fixed element to it, 'Fire', or in its description, 'Flames of Nordic Bonds'. As you can see," he quickly had his UI on display for me to observe with a stroke of a finger, "There's no option to alternate its core element."

"Ohhh~! You can remember all that stuff?"

"Ahah. You're underestimating the number of effort players like me take into account when it comes to in-game info." He smirked.

I wonder... "Your friend Kirito has one too, I take it?"

"Good question! He used to, yes. Then it got removed, so he could only use Aincrad Sword Skills for the time being before the Devs decide to allow him access to it again. Though his methods of using the aforementioned skill aren't without a few minor tweaks he came up with to slip in some more damage. That being said, he and I remained equally tied in terms of battle power despite that setback. That little method he used, he calls it Skill-Connect."

"Well, as for me, I don't have access to any Ex Skills. I can only use the Aincrad skills you mentioned along with some of my Original ones. The problem is, Original ones cant have elemental effects. As you said, there's no option for it. While Aincrad's have the option to alternate elements by the player and the Ex Skills have a fixed element to them, Original Sword Skills aren't allowed to have any at all. It's strictly impossible."

Hearing my words, he began to think. Eyes closed and arms crossed.

So this is how he is when gathering his thoughts, eh?

After a while, he replied.

"It's the same with me." He says,

"Huh?"

"I should've died against Eugene, but I didn't, remember?"

He stopped for a moment, focused his eyes on me intently as he spoke.

"I shouldn't have been able to move that fast, I shouldn't even still be logged in. I shouldn't be using that... sword skill..."

"You... remembered what happened?"

"Yeah."

He must've gained some recollection after experiencing the fight earlier...

"The sword skill you used... I heard it was called something like... Di- uhhh Diaa~ uhhh."

There goes my bad memory again, causing me trouble when I needed it the most. Crap.

"Diablos Nero." he clarified.

"Yeah, that one-"

"I don't have it yet."

"What? WHAT? Wait so how did you pull that off?" I begged for an answer to my confusion.

"I'm not exactly sure..." yet no answer was given.

"It's still locked in my skill tree. I'm still under-levelled to use it, yet somehow I unlocked it by accident for only that one specific moment." He continued.

In the middle of our theories, which I sort of enjoyed discussing, a message popped in front of Akato. I couldn't read it since he turned away from me the second he saw who it was from.

I asked:

"Hey, what's that?"

A short breath was stolen by the man in red.

"..."

He didn't answer...

"Akato?"

He just froze. I couldn't sense a single thread of emotion from him, was it bad news or good news?

"Hey, your guild leader still exist here~. Is something wrong?"

...

He's not... responding?

"GH-!"

A surge of wind mildly pushed me away.

The density of the air multiplied and began to drain me of breath. I-I... couldn't breathe, nor keep my eyes opened. It's a menacing sense, it came out of nowhere! What's happening?!

"A-...Ka...To-"

The wind stopped the moment I held his shoulder. The pressure in the atmosphere eased and I could finally fill my lungs. I, fortunately, calmed the surging rage.

He continued to stand unbothered, not so much as to glance at me.

"Sorry, but I have to go...".

"... eh?" The words bore disappointment deep within me...

"Huh? Wait, but the raid! It's in another few hours!"

"If I don't go, there won't even be a raid..."

"What?..."

The red cloak I held escaped from my clutches as he ran straight towards the exit. Without saying a word, no 'goodbye', no 'thank you.'

Akato...

"Wait! Wait, please!"

He didn't turn back... and I was there... alone again.

... Lost.

.

-=[]=-

.

Don't leave...

[The End of Chapter 19]

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Author's Notes

This is the first sign of understanding Incarnation. What is Incarnation? Well, I suggest you watch SAO Alicization. I promise you, you'll get it eventually. Akato's Incarnation during his fight with Eugene was half-conscious. A False Incarnation. He will develop this state of mind further soon, so keep reading!

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