CHAPTER 6.2 - Wind Fleuret

Kirito pulled Asuna away from that place while walking he decided to face Asuna "This may sound conceited, but you may be able to perform better because of this"

"Thank you, but I want to be alone" Asuna walked away. She decided to go to the park near that place the cold wind blows and her tears started to flow, for her the Fleuret is her companion, how she can reach the 100th floor Boss if she doesn't have her sword "losing your sword is like losing your life.." She murmurs as her tears flow down her cheeks.

"Hey! Asuna-san Right?" She gently wipes away her tears and looked at the man who called her

"Uh, Dagger-Kun?" She said while sniffing

"It's been late, what are you doing here?" Dagger-Kun seat next to Asuna. She didn't say anything she just looks at the sky, only the light from the lamp post illuminates the whole place. The man noticed that Asuna did not have her rapier "Uhm.. It destroyed.. Your Fleuret.." He heard the news that there were players who after upgrading their weapon it suddenly broke before it reach the maximum level of enhancement

"Yeah, and it won't come back.." Asuna's eyes started to watery. She relays on her rapier now that it was gone she feels like she is already dead

"I have heard from players that after they try to upgrade their weapon, it destroyed. That's the new penalty that has been added by the designer. In the Beta-test you can upgrade your weapon until +6 if you're already reached the second floor. Without penalty or if there is penalty enhancement failure is at worst -1 meaning you still have +3 or maybe +4. But like what I said there is a new penalty" He explains

"I guess.. I should leave now the assault team" Asuna stared at her hands imagining her Fleuret "How can I fight if I don't have any sword.."

"In the town of the beginners on the first floor, there is a place where the player starts a quest to obtain an anneal blade, but players do not know that there is a special rare type monster living in the lake near their.." He caught Asuna's attention "If you defeat that monster you can use it as a material for a sword"

"But.. How can I defeat that monster if I don't use any sword?" That was impassible for Asuna

"You can use this" He handed a dagger to Asuna "I know I told you before that this could not be helpful in battle however if you transfer your skills from your rapier into this dagger it could be killed some high-level monsters" He handed to her 5 daggers "And besides you can get your sword again.. So stop crying like a baby HAHA" He tries to ease her feelings

"What?! How?!" Asuna quickly brought her face closer to the man's and held him in the shoulder and shook him very fast "Tell me?! What I need to do! Dagger-Kun!!" She was encouraged that it was still possible to restore her fleuret

"I'm dizzy.." Asuna stopped after hearing that "Like what I told you if you defeat that rare monster on the first floor you can use it to make a new sword or restore your sword.. Not all players know this, but in your data information there is a piece of information about your sword" Asuna check it and she saw her fleuret "As you can see all the information about your rapier was still restored in your personal data information from its design, color, durability, etc.." The man gets one of his daggers and throws it on the tree "If you have the materials needed you can use that information and make a sword very similar to that one you've lost" The dagger he throw was disappear and became fragments

"The soul of my fleuret will transfer to that new sword?" Asuna took a dagger and stood up

"Uhm.. Kind of.. However.. Before reaching that place you need to face a lot of difficulties like dangerous mountains region ruins, valleys, and more difficult monsters.. I'm sorry but I can't give you the map like what I said it's too dangerous" Asuna looked at him directly into his eyes

"What is the difference between trying to go in that dangerous place and staying on the beginner's floor?.. If I will die then be it but until my last breath I will fight.." The man sight and smile after hearing that from Asuna

"I will give you the map but in return.." It impressed him even more. He sends an invitation to Asuna "Party with me.."

"Err.. You know what Dagger-Kun? You don't need to come with me, like what you said it was too dangerous.. So-"

"I'm not busy you know? What if you didn't come back and your friends looking for you at least I can tell them what happen to you and another thing.." He gets another dagger and throws it "Who will pray for your soul if you die Haha.." He joke

Asuna just smiled and accepted its invitation

"Kouki.." She saw his name "Kouki-Kun.. Thank you for helping me" Asuna smiled

***Tolbana Town***

They stayed in the inn located on the first floor because it was already late night they decided that they would go to the Horunka Village tomorrow to start their journey, she forgot to say goodbye to Argo and Kirito she was sure that they will look at her. Asuna lay down on the bed and stared at the bedside table next to her remembering her rapier, she always put that on her side bed table but now it was empty. Asuna feels empty..

***Next Morning**

"Hey! Asuna-san" They are now on their way to Horunka Village, it was located to the northwest of the town of the beginnings' on the 1st floor

"Uhm?"

"Do you want to practice throwing daggers? This is the best place to do that. Once we entered that forest of the Horunka Village we will encounter little Nepenthes.." Little nepenthes were level 3 plants monsters found on the 1st floor of the Aincrad.

They entered the forest and hide in the bunch of trees. They saw the little nepenthes from the distance, despite being called little there was nothing little about this predatory plant as it was a meter and a half tall. Its lower body consisted mostly of countless roots that were used to move around. It had two arm-like vines with pointed leaves attached to either side of its body, just above the roots. The center of its head held a wide red mouth with viscous liquids dripping out of it as it opened and closed.

"As I said, the key is your first action.." He said seriously "If you get your first action right and activate a dagger skill.. Always remember that focusing on your target the system will correct your aim and ensure the hit. It's like how you active your sword-" Asuna didn't let Kouki finish his words she came out of her hiding place and faced the little nepenthes. "Wait! I'm not yet done!!- Hays hard headed"

She got the attention of the monsters so they planned to attack her. She followed the instruction of Kouki, she paused for a second and she focus on the target which is the little nepenthes in the middle the skill activates then she sprints towards the monster and throw her dagger and the monsters quickly become fragments

"That was fast.." Kouki was stunned seeing how Asuna killed the monster in just three hits of the dagger. "She threw the dagger faster than anyone else.."