CHAPTER 6.1 - Wind Fleuret

"It's fine, isn't it? I'll just be hunting the small fry because according to the strategy guide until that bull is defeated, wind wasps will continue to spawn" Asuna saw someone behind the tree "It's good for me. I'll just collect materials" The branches of the plants moved so she confirmed that there is someone behind of those "However" She went there and took Kirito out trying to hide from there "A peeping cat, caught red-handed"

"What?! Even though I was using the hiding skills?" Kirito is shocked that Asuna sense his presence "You're improving huh"

"As punishment, you have to help me collect material" The players were surprised to see Kirito so they stopped what they were doing

"Beater!" They throw an angry look at Kirito

"He won't interfere with the bull, so you can relax, as long as the main force does its job properly" Asuna assured them

"Hmph! Do whatever you want" Kibaou turned away he didn't care if Kirito joined or not the assault campaign

"Just don't do anything unnecessary," The new leader of the assault team said and walks away

"Ah.. Sorry.. But I'm off, for me, a timid person like me, being surrounded by so many people who hate me is a bit uncomfortable" Kirito was lying, he was thinking that his presence is a burden to Asuna's reputation

"If I cared about looking like your comrade, then I wouldn't have you out in the first place" Asuna was right guessing Kirito's worried "Anyway, where the heck have you be-" Asuna couldn't finish her words when they heard the voice of the Assault Leader and Kibaou

"Our average level is much higher than yours! Shut up and leave the attacking to us!"

"No! To succeed Diavel-san's dying wish, we The Dragon Knights will stand in the front line!!"

"What! Did you say Dragon? Down my spine! But if you're a man then you should be a tiger! A tiger!!"

"I heard that once they make it to the 3rd floor they're going to make that their guild name. Last time you said to me, 'You should join a guild'" Asuna suddenly remembered what Kirito said before

"Yeah, but you better choose the good guild" He looked at them again "Not that guild that they will make" They gaze diverted to the group of people who are wearing full-equipped armor, their levels don't look high, but their equipment looks pretty sturdy.

"Their weapons all have a +3 increased to their base level too, I think. Do you know their name?" Asuna frowned slightly

"Legend braves.." Kirito laugh the appearance of its member is different from the meaning of the legend brave

They are now on the battlefield, while the assault team was practicing or rather fighting.. "Hurry up! Don't tell me what to do!" Kibaou said "Hurry up! You're slow!" The 'New Leader' said to Kibaou

Asuna and Kirito was fighting the butterfly monsters

"Hey! Kirito-Kun you know what?" Asuna talk to him, she came up with a good idea "In a restaurant in the next town they have tremble shortcake and big ice cream"

"Ah, that delicious but extremely expensive one, right?" He started salivating while imagining the image of the shortcake and ice cream "Are you going to treat me?"

"The loser has to treat" Asuna smiled wickedly and dash towards the butterfly monster and attack it "27..28..29.."After that Asuna won

"Let's go to Taran.." They just left the assault team because it looks like the fight between the 'New leader' and Kibaou will continue

***Taran***

They enter the restaurant and order "You look great, you're skills improved" Kirito said and looked at her wind fleuret

"Of course.." Asuna holds her rapier "Thanks to this.."

"Asuna.. Even if you max out its upgrades to +6.. The wind fleuret won't be able to hit anything when we get to level 3" Asuna was shocked hearing that "When that happens if you want to survive, one day you'll be forced to swap for a stronger sword." Kirito took off his eyes to Asuna, he could not last seeing Asuna's sad face "It sucks, but sooner or later.."

"No, I don't want that to happen, all this time swords have just been tools to me, to use my skills and instincts and the weapon would fight for me until the very end" She grabbed the fleuret "That was what I planned to do, but.. When on the first level you introduced this sword to me, I felt a little guilty but I was touched.. This is light as a feather, it was as if it held part of my mind.." She remembered all the battles that she used her fleuret "It was helping me, it's been a hard trip but we've come so far if threw it away, it would be such a pity" Kirito smiled hearing her

"SAO's weapon creation system begins with melting the sword into its base and then picking a new sword to make from a selection" He explains

"So.. The sword's soul will continue living on?" Kirito nods "If this sword and its soul were transferred to another sword, I would fight with it to the very end" Asuna's eyes widened at the NPC's waiter coming in their table, it carries their order

"Her is your part.." Asuna sliced the cake and give ½ of it to him same as in ice cream. Kirito was planning to complain but Asuna quickly pulled out her rapier so he didn't do anything.

"That was so good, what do you think Kirito-Kun?" They were already out of the restaurant

"Yeah, probably even better than it was during the Bata.." Kirito checked the time "Uhm, there is not enough time to grind.."

"Uhm.. Yeah.." Kirito was thinking of asking Asuna to go out for a short date? "Hey, Kirito.." kirito still spacing out, he is thinking about how he will ask Asuna "Could you.. Stay with me for a while?" Asuna said seriously

"Sure why not?" He quickly looked at Asuna, he can't believe that she ask him to stay with her "Hmm.." he blushed in his thought 'This is the time.. Asuna wants to go out too'. Asuna looked at him too and smiled

"Let's go upgrade this sword!" She cheerfully said. Kirito's life seemed to collapse

"Are you all right Kirito-Kun?"

"Yeah.. Upgrade.. Just upgrade of your sword" Kirito said in low voice still disappointed. So Asuna pulled him and looked for a black-smith to upgrade her fleuret

"Ah, there's one there!" Asuna pointed to the Black-smith on the sidewalk "Good evening!"

"Good evening too, you want to buy something, or do you need repairs?" The black-smith ask

"I want to upgrade! My wind fleuret from +4 to +5!" Asuna said, "Upgrade the expertise stat!"

"Don't worry, we've got time, calm down for a sec" Kirito said players and NPC's staring at them because of Asuna

"Okay.." He accept the request and started the procedure of upgrading the fleuret of Asuna by hammering it in the fire, the sound of iron hitting the fellow iron can be heard in that place

*Clang Clang Clang*

"How many more times until the upgrade limit?" Kirito asks the Black-smith

"Two or more.. It won't fail until it reaches +6"

"But if you got maxed out mats, then the success rate should still be around 95 percent. Then.."

"You've done what you can, it'll be okay.." Asuna smiled at the Black-smith "What I can.." Kirito suddenly stiffed and turn his face in red when he felt Asuna holding his hand "You know even if it fails, it won't break completely, right?" She wants assurance

"HAHA, why would something like that hap-" Kirito didn't continue what he was going to say when the fleuret suddenly vanished as if it destroyed