SAO: Strawberry Bunny

Gianna led them back through the cave and out into the cold, mountain air. The wind howled as they emerged from the tunnel, but it was nothing compared to the sudden rush of wind that followed. Strawberry looked up just in time to see the massive shadow descending from the sky. Ormi landed gracefully in the clearing before them, her large, majestic wings folding against her back as her glowing amethyst eyes fixed on the group.

Ormi was unlike any dragon Strawberry had ever seen. Her scales were a brilliant amethyst, shimmering in the light like precious gems, and her massive form exuded both grace and power. Her presence was awe-inspiring, yet there was a softness in her gaze, as though she carried a great burden.

"You've brought guests," Ormi's voice echoed in their minds, soft but commanding. She was speaking to them through Gianna, who seemed to be acting as a medium for the dragon's telepathy.

"They're here to help," Gianna said, her tone respectful as she addressed the dragon.

Ormi's gaze shifted to Strawberry and Quinella, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Help? From outsiders? It's a rare offer, but the situation grows dire."

"We've heard about Gaindogrig," Strawberry said, stepping forward. "We know he's planning something big, and we want to stop him." This questline is so interesting. I bet this continues onto the next floor too.

Ormi let out a soft rumble, almost like a sigh. "Gaindogrig… yes, he grows more ambitious by the day. He captured one of my hatchlings, and now he plans to use his goblin army to raid Taran Village. I've kept myself hidden for years, but Gaindogrig's actions threaten everything. If he isn't stopped, the village will fall—and worse, my hatchling may never return."

Strawberry could hear the weight of sorrow in the dragon's voice, and it tugged at her heart. Ormi, despite her size and power, was not a warrior. She had lived in secret, protecting her eggs and hatchlings, but now her peaceful life was crumbling around her.

"Why can't you fight him?" Quinella asked gently. "You're a dragon. Surely your strength—"

"No," Ormi interrupted, her voice filled with sadness. "I am a mother, not a warrior. I have no talent for combat. Gaindogrig has never discovered me, but if I reveal myself to fight, it would only bring more danger to my hatchlings. The goblins would know where to find them."

Gianna turned to face Strawberry and Quinella, her expression serious. "That's why we need your help. Gaindogrig needs to be stopped before he can attack the village, and before he has a chance to harm Ormi's children. I've done my best to protect them, but Gaindogrig's forces are too strong for me to handle alone."

Strawberry exchanged a glance with Quinella. It was clear now why they had been led here—this wasn't just about defeating a powerful enemy. It was about protecting the innocent, both in Taran Village and in Ormi's nest.

"We'll help," Strawberry said firmly, her hand resting on the handle of her scythe. "Tell us what we need to do."

Gianna nodded, her expression grateful. "The goblins are camped just a few miles outside the village. Gaindogrig has already sent them to prepare for the raid. If we can weaken their numbers before they move, it'll give us an advantage. But be warned—if we attack, Gaindogrig will likely join the fight himself."

Strawberry's grip tightened on her scythe. "I'll take care of the goblins."

"I'll head to the village and warn the people," Quinella added. "They'll need time to prepare defenses in case Gaindogrig's forces make it through."

Gianna nodded. "Good. Once you've dealt with the goblins, return to me. We'll figure out our next move from there."

Ormi's gaze lingered on Strawberry, her eyes filled with both hope and fear. "Please," she said softly. "Bring my daughter home."

Strawberry met the dragon's gaze, her resolve hardening. "I will."

With their plan set, Strawberry and Quinella split up, each heading toward their respective objectives. The battle to protect Taran Village—and to stop Gaindogrig—was about to begin.

The sun had dipped below the horizon by the time Strawberry approached the goblin camp. The shadows of the mountains stretched long and dark, perfect for someone with her skillset. She crouched low behind a cluster of rocks, her eyes scanning the camp below. Dozens of goblins were scattered around the area, gathered around makeshift tents and campfires, their guttural voices carrying on the wind as they prepared for the upcoming raid.

Strawberry smirked. They had no idea what was coming.

Drawing on her wire-wielding skills, she flicked her wrists, sending the nearly invisible wires flying out into the camp. They wrapped around the nearest goblin's neck, and with a quick tug, she pulled him silently into the shadows. The goblin didn't even have time to scream before he was gone.

One by one, she moved through the camp, eliminating her targets with ruthless precision. Her Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon hummed in her hands, eager for blood, and she used it to slice through the goblins' ranks with deadly efficiency. The camp was chaotic, but Strawberry was faster, smarter. She darted between tents and shadows, her movements fluid and graceful as she cut down her enemies before they could raise the alarm.

But as she neared the goblin chief's tent, a massive shadow loomed over the camp.

Strawberry froze, her heart pounding as a terrifying roar echoed through the mountains.

Gaindogrig had arrived.

The mountains echoed with the sound of his deep, guttural roar, reverberating through the rocky terrain and sending chills down Strawberry's spine. She had faced powerful enemies before, but there was something about the sheer presence of Gaindogrig that made the air itself feel heavier, as if his very existence was bending the world around him.

"Great," Strawberry muttered, pressing herself deeper into the shadows behind a rock, Muffin perched on her shoulder. "Because what I really needed today was a massive, angry, demon-looking dragon wannabe crashing my assassination party."

Muffin chirped softly in response, his little eyes wide as he peered over her shoulder to get a better look at the towering figure stomping through the goblin camp below. Gaindogrig was a monstrous creature, his hulking form covered in dark, jagged armor. His eyes glowed a fiery red, and two massive horns curled back from his forehead, giving him the appearance of a demonic overlord. His wings—large and leathery—spread wide as he let out another earth-shaking roar, causing several goblins to scatter in panic.

"Okay, Muffin," Strawberry whispered, "I've got two options. One: I go down there, slice up those goblins, and pretend the big angry guy doesn't exist. Or two: I scream like a little girl and hope Quinella gets back in time to save me."

Muffin tilted his head, clearly considering both options. Then, he let out a short series of squeaky chirps, as if weighing the pros and cons of each approach.

Strawberry sighed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Option one is the only real option. Thanks for the pep talk, bud."

Muffin puffed out his chest proudly, clearly pleased with his contribution to the strategic discussion.

With a smirk, Strawberry adjusted her grip on the Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon, feeling the hum of power pulsing through the weapon. She could sense the eagerness in the scythe, the way it seemed to vibrate in anticipation of the coming fight. If Gaindogrig wanted a battle, then she was more than happy to oblige.

She crouched low, her eyes scanning the camp as she plotted her next move. Gaindogrig was stomping toward the center of the goblin camp, barking orders in a guttural language that she couldn't understand, but the goblins seemed to respond with frantic obedience. They scurried around, grabbing weapons and forming a disorganized defense around their leader.

"Well, this just got a lot more complicated," Strawberry muttered under her breath.

Muffin let out a soft chirp, almost as if to say, You think?

"Hey, you're not the one who has to fight that thing," Strawberry shot back playfully. "You're just here for the ride."

Muffin's ears perked up indignantly, and he wiggled his nose in protest, as if trying to remind her that he was a vital part of the team. After all, who had found the hidden cave entrance? Who had warned her about the goblins earlier? Muffin. That's who.

"Alright, alright," Strawberry whispered, stifling a laugh. "You're a very important member of the team. How could I forget?"

Muffin chirped triumphantly, his little chest puffing out with pride. It was clear that the little horned bunny saw himself as much more than just a passenger on this adventure.

Strawberry took a deep breath, her playful banter with Muffin calming her nerves. She needed to focus. Gaindogrig might be a massive, fire-breathing menace, but he wasn't invincible. And if she played this right, she could still take out the goblin chief before Gaindogrig fully mobilized his forces.

"Okay, time for action," Strawberry said softly, her eyes narrowing. "You ready, Muffin?"

The bunny chirped enthusiastically, hopping onto her shoulder and curling up beneath her hood like a cozy little ball of courage.

Strawberry grinned. "That's the spirit."

With that, she slipped silently from her hiding spot, moving like a shadow through the camp. The goblins were too distracted by Gaindogrig's arrival to notice her as she weaved between tents and boulders, her scythe at the ready. Her assassin's instincts kicked in, and the wire-wielding skills she had honed made her movements fluid and precise.

The goblin chief's tent was just ahead, and Strawberry could see the hulking figure of the chief himself, standing outside and barking orders at his underlings. He was larger than the other goblins, his skin a sickly greenish-gray, and he carried a massive, rusted sword that looked far too heavy for someone of his stature.

"Perfect," Strawberry whispered. "Let's take him out before Gaindogrig notices."

As she crept closer, her scythe glinting faintly in the moonlight, Muffin suddenly chirped loudly, startling her.

"Muffin!" she hissed, ducking behind a crate. "What are you—?"

But then she saw it.

A small group of goblins had broken off from the main group and were patrolling the area near the chief's tent. If Muffin hadn't chirped, she would have walked right into them.

"Alright, you win this round," Strawberry whispered, glancing down at the little bunny. "But we need to be quieter."

Muffin looked appropriately chastised, his ears drooping slightly, but he stayed nestled in her hood, his little body tense as they waited for the patrol to pass.

Once the coast was clear, Strawberry sprang into action.

She flicked her wrist, and the thin, nearly invisible assassin wires shot out, wrapping around the nearest goblin's neck. With a quick, silent pull, she yanked the goblin into the shadows, dispatching him before he could make a sound.

"One down," she whispered, her eyes locking onto the goblin chief.

Muffin, now silent, seemed to be watching the action with the intensity of a seasoned warrior. Or at least, a very intense bunny.

Strawberry moved quickly, darting from shadow to shadow until she was within striking distance of the goblin chief. He was still barking orders at his minions, unaware of the assassin creeping up behind him.

"This is it," Strawberry whispered, her grip tightening on the Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon. "Let's make this count."

With a swift motion, she sprang forward, her scythe slicing through the air with a deadly whistle. The blade glowed faintly, its pinkish light trailing behind it like the afterimage of a falling star. The goblin chief barely had time to react before the blade connected, cutting through his armor and flesh in a single, fluid motion.

The goblin chief let out a strangled cry, staggering backward as blood poured from the wound. Strawberry followed up with a quick, decisive spin, the Moonlit Rose Waltz—a special skill unlocked by her scythe—activating as she delivered the final blow.

The chief collapsed to the ground, dead before he hit the dirt.

"Nice," Strawberry muttered, flicking the blood from her scythe. "One goblin chief down, and Gaindogrig is still—"

Another earth-shaking roar cut her off mid-sentence, and she turned just in time to see Gaindogrig charging toward her, his red eyes blazing with fury. The ground trembled beneath his massive feet as he stomped through the camp, his enormous wings unfurling as he let out a terrifying, bellowing cry.

"Okay, Muffin," Strawberry muttered, taking a step back. "Now might be the time to panic."

Muffin let out a high-pitched squeak, burrowing deeper into her hood as if to say, Yup, definitely time to panic.

But before she could even think about running, Gaindogrig was upon her, his massive clawed hand swinging down with the force of an avalanche. Strawberry barely had time to dodge, her body twisting to the side as the ground where she had been standing exploded in a shower of rocks and debris.

"Alright, big guy," Strawberry growled, her adrenaline kicking into overdrive. "Let's see what you've got."

With a quick flick of her wrist, she sent her wires flying toward Gaindogrig, aiming to wrap them around his thick neck. But the demon dragon was faster than she anticipated, his tail whipping around and smashing into the ground where she stood just moments before.

Strawberry leaped into the air, using the wires to pull herself up and out of harm's way. She swung through the air like a deadly pendulum, her scythe glinting in the moonlight as she prepared for her next strike.

Muffin, despite his earlier panic, peeked out from her hood, his little eyes wide with excitement. He chirped softly, almost as if to say, This is insane, but I'm here for it.

"Glad you're having fun," Strawberry muttered, her heart racing. "Let's just try not to get squashed, alright?"

With a fierce grin, Strawberry swung toward Gaindogrig, her scythe at the ready. The battle had begun.