02x16 - The King of the Giants

[bunniefuu]

Yui? What's wrong?

Um... this is just

a guess on my part, but...

Regarding ALfheim Online, compared to

other VRMMOs created under The Seed,

there's one significant difference.

And that's the fact that the Cardinal System

running this game isn't a feature-limited version,

but a copy of the full-spec system

used in the old Sword Art Online.

Full-spec version?

The original Cardinal System

has an Automated Quest Generator feature.

It gathers legends and folklore

from around the world via the network,

whose proper nouns and story patterns it uses

and adapts to generate infinite quests.

Then was this quest

auto-generated by Cardinal as well?

Considering that NPC's behavior just now,

it's highly possible.

If that's the case, depending on

how the story progresses,

it's possible that you'll end up

going all the way.

According to the data I've archived,

this current quest, along with the Norse mythology

that ALO itself is based on,

includes a so-called Final Battle.

It's not just that the Frost Giant tribe

will be attacking from Jotunheim and Niflheim...

...but from even further down,

from a fiery realm called Muspelheim,

the Flame Giant tribe will also appear

and burn the World Tree to the ground.

The Twilight of the Gods... Ragnarok!

Impossible! There's no way that the game system

would totally destroy its own maps... It can't possibly...

The original Cardinal System has the authority

to completely destroy its World Maps.

The reason is because the old Cardinal's final task

was to destroy the floating castle, Aincrad.

No way...

My shop!

And I still haven't even

met my soul mate!

Even if this Ragnarok

really does come to pass,

wouldn't it be possible to restore the server

from the backup data?

If the Cardinal System's

auto-backup feature was used,

only the player data could be rolled back.

It wouldn't include the fields.

Hey, I got it!

Ah, no good.

What skit are you doing?

Yeah, I was gonna call the GM

and ask him if he knew about this...

But it's after hours

for Human Support.

Well, it is a Sunday morning

at the end of the year.

Big Brother?

The time...

Right.

Anyway, let's rush down

to the lowest level!

Right!

I've been walking in the light all this time

I've been following footprints

that didn't exist until yesterday

Although I've been in a maze with no goal,

with a map drenched in rain

I have no regrets at all

If I cry out

I'm sure my voice will reach you

The sound of the bell in the beginning of the story

Will connect us during our journey

The future world that you envisioned

Will lead you to a sky of that day

And will make our dream come true

and even go beyond miracles

The future world that you envisioned

Exists somewhere even now

Let's add layers of our dream

and reach the true pure light

Ah on give for my way

"King of the Giants"

Dammit!

This is looking bad, Big Brother!

That gold one has

crazy physical resistance!

Yeah...

Damn! If only we had a mage

who could cast an att*ck Spell in our party!

Who are you to talk?

That would only make the black one

with its higher magic resistance move forward!

Could this be any harder?

Shockwave att*ck! In two seconds!

One! Zero!

Kirito!

At the current pace,

my MP will be exhausted in seconds!

OK...

Big Brother...

The medallion... It's already

more than percent dark now.

We won't have time

to start over from the save point...

I-I see...

You guys! Now that it's come to this,

there's only one thing we can do!

It'll leave us wide open, but if we use

sword skills with magical properties...

...we might be able to inflict damage

on the gold one!

Do or die! We've got to wipe out the gold one

with a concentrated sword skill att*ck!

Hell yeah! Been waiting for you

to say the word, Kiri-dude!

Silica! On my count,

cast the Bubble Spell!

Right!

Two... one...

Now!

Pina! Bubble Breath!

Go!

Kirito!

Gone rigid, huh?

This is it!

All right, you chump...

On your knees, now!

All right!

Anyway, what was that just now?

Do I have to say?

Of course!

I've never seen anything

like that before!

It's an Outside-System Skill.

Skill Connect.

Skill Connect?

You know how ALO introduced sword skills

in the last update?

But Unique Skills like Dual-wielding

and the Divine Blade didn't get implemented.

Yeah, but just now,

you slashed it with both hands...

That wasn't Dual-wielding, okay?

Huh?

I activated my Single-wielding sword skill

with each hand, alternately.

Although I can only keep it going

without any lag three or four times, if I'm lucky.

You know, I just had

a total déjà vu moment!

Anyway, what was that just now?

Do I have to say?

Of course!

I've never seen anything

like that before.

An extra skill.

Dual-wielding.

It's just your imagination.

Come on, we don't have time

to stand around chatting.

Leafa, about how much time

do we have left?

Uh, right...

If we keep up our current pace,

we should have another hour or so.

I see.

Yui, this dungeon's made up

of four levels in all, right?

Yes.

The area of the third level is equal to

about percent of the second level.

The fourth level is virtually

just the Boss Room.

Assuming the Last Boss fight

will take us minutes,

we'll have to reach the Last Boss's room

in the next minutes.

At this rate, "King of the Giants" or whatever,

we might as well just go for broke!

All right!

As soon as everybody's HP and MP is fully replenished,

let's make short work of that third level!

Right!

Okay, all that's left to deal with

is the Last Boss!

Please...

Let me out of here!

It's a trap.

It's a trap.

It's totally a trap.

Right... It's a trap, right?

A trap, I guess?

What do you think, Yui?

She's an NPC.

Just like Urd, she's connected

to a Language Engine Module.

However, there's just one difference...

This person has an HP gauge.

If she has HP, that means that

we could be in for a battle, right?

It's a trap.

Yes, it's a trap.

I'd say it was a trap!

Of course, it might not be a trap,

but we can't afford to take any detours now.

We've got to get to Thrymr's room,

even if it's just a second sooner.

Uh... right.

Well, yeah, I guess.

Please... somebody!

Please!

It's gotta be a trap, right?

It's a trap. I know it.

Yeah, but even if it is a trap...

Even if I know it's a trap!

Even so, I...

I just can't bring myself

to leave her behind!

Even if... even if that

leads to us failing this quest...

Even if Arun is destroyed...

Saving her now despite all that--

that's how I am!

That's what it means to be a samurai!

I'm gonna save you now, okay?

Thank you, Fairy Swordsman.

Can you stand?

You're not hurt, are you?

No, I'm all right.

Whoa!

It's kind of a long haul to the exit,

but can you leave on your own, miss?

I can't just escape from the castle like this.

Not until I take back my tribe's treasure,

stolen by Thrymr, the King of the Giants.

Please... won't you take me with you

to Thrymr's room?

This is starting to get fishy, don't you think?

--You got that right.

--Yo, Kiri-dude!

Ah, man... All right, all right!

At this point, we have no choice

but to follow this route to the end, right?

It's not like we're % sure

it's a trap yet, anyway.

All right! You can count on us, Miss!

"A chance acquaintance means a shared fate."

Let's go demolish that jerk Thrymr together!

Thank you very much, great swordsman!

Hey, don't utter weird proverbs

in front of Yui...

"An NPC would like to join your party.

Do you accept?"

--My name is Klein.

--Freyja?

Her MP is really high.

Is she a Mage-type?

Judging by the dungeon's structure,

if we go down those stairs,

we'll probably reach the Last Boss's room.

He's probably way more powerful

than the previous bosses,

but from this point on,

our only hope is to go all-out, no tricks.

During the first phase, we'll be on defense

until we grasp his att*ck patterns.

I'll give the order

to launch a counterattack.

When the boss's gauge turns either yellow or red,

the patterns should change, so watch your back.

Last battle! Let's go, full speed ahead!

Right!

I've never heard of a spell

that boosts your MAX HP!

How many Yuld is this in all?

Little bugs are flying.

I can hear the annoying buzzing

of their wings.

Let's see.

Before they can wreak any havoc...

...shall I just crush them?

Winged insects of ALfheim,

have you been seduced by Urd

to burrow all the way down here?

How about it, you puny little wretches?

If you tell me where

I can find that woman,

I'll let you have all the gold in this room

that you can carry. Well?

"A samurai guffaws

even when he's starving!"

Do you really think that I'd fall for

such a cheap temptation just like that?

Ah! Is that you, Lady Freyja?

If you've emerged

from that cage,

perhaps you've made up your mind

to become my bride?

Did he say bride?

Indeed.

That young lady came to this castle

in order to become my wife.

But the night before the banquet,

she tried to snoop around my treasure vault,

so as punishment,

I locked her inside an ice cage.

Hey, Big Brother. I think

I read about this in a book once...

Thrymr and Freyja... Stolen treasure...

That was... Um... I think...

Who are you calling

your future wife?

Since it's come to this,

these swordsmen and I will defeat you,

and take back

what you stole from me!

That's the spirit!

Just what I'd expect of Lady Freyja,

whose beauty and valor are renowned

all the way to the ends of the earth!

But they say the more noble the flower,

the more satisfying it would be to snap it.

After I've wrung the life out of these puny insects,

I'll be sure to shower you with extra affection!

You bastard! Over my dead body!

I, Lord Klein, won't allow you

to lay a finger on Lady Freyja!

Ah, I can hear the buzzing of their wings.

What do you say? As an advance celebration

for claiming all of Jotunheim for my own,

why don't I start by demolishing you?

Here he comes!

Listen closely to Yui's instructions...

For the first phase, do nothing but evade!

(You need a time machine?)

We stand side by side with our carefree faces

Talking about the same old things

While the heroes on TV look busy

as they fight for the future

It feels cozy here with you,

more than anywhere else

What can I do? I used to like being alone,

but I can't go back to that time

Even when we have our silly little chats

We don't say we're happy or sad,

because we're so much alike

Those days like an adventure movie

have long since gone

But I hope this appalling flood

of fond remembrances never ends

(You need a time machine?)

Next time: "Excalibur."