SAO: Strawberry Bunny

Strawberry's heart pounded in rhythm with her movements as she swung through the air, her assassin wires taut and ready for her next strike. Gaindogrig's enormous form loomed below, his fiery red eyes tracking her every move, his massive clawed hands slashing through the air in a frenzied attempt to crush her.

"Okay, Muffin, remember when I said this was going to be fun?" Strawberry muttered through gritted teeth, dodging yet another deadly swipe from Gaindogrig's tail. "I lied. This is not fun."

Muffin let out a soft squeak of agreement, his little body tucked tightly into her hood as he held on for dear life. Strawberry could feel him quivering against the back of her neck, and she couldn't blame him. Gaindogrig was like nothing they'd faced before. The sheer force behind his attacks was enough to level an entire camp, and his speed—despite his size—was terrifying.

"You've got this!" Muffin's squeak was almost encouraging, or maybe it was wishful thinking on Strawberry's part. Either way, she smirked.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," she muttered, using her wires to yank herself out of the path of another ground-shaking strike from Gaindogrig's massive claw. The scythe glowed faintly in her hands, the Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon almost humming in anticipation, as though it was hungry for the battle.

Gaindogrig roared again, his voice echoing off the mountainsides like a crack of thunder. His wings flared wide, casting a massive shadow over the entire goblin camp. The few goblins who had survived the initial attack were scrambling in every direction, trying to avoid both their master's wrath and Strawberry's onslaught.

Strawberry landed deftly on a pile of rubble, her scythe spinning in her hand as she took stock of the battlefield. Gaindogrig was furious—his monstrous form barreling through the remnants of the camp in a blind rage—but that also made him predictable. And predictability was something Strawberry could use to her advantage.

"Alright, Muffin," she whispered, her eyes narrowing as she sized up the massive demon-dragon. "Here's the plan. We need to wear him down. He's strong, but he's not invincible. We just need to keep him angry and off balance long enough for an opening."

Muffin chirped in response, his little paws digging into her hood. Stay alive and make a plan on the go, his tiny expression seemed to say.

Strawberry grinned. "Glad we're on the same page."

With a flick of her wrist, the assassin wires shot out again, wrapping themselves around one of the boulders Gaindogrig had knocked loose in his rampage. Using the wires to launch herself into the air, she spun her scythe with deadly precision and dove toward the demon-dragon's massive back.

The blade of the Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon glowed a brilliant pink as she descended, the intricate pattern of roses and thorns etched into the weapon shining like a beacon of destruction. She swung the scythe with all her might, aiming for the exposed scales along Gaindogrig's spine.

The blade connected with a sickening crack, sending a burst of energy rippling through the air. Gaindogrig let out a furious bellow, his body twisting violently as the scythe bit deep into his flesh. But despite the force of her attack, the demon-dragon's hide was thick, and the blow, while damaging, wasn't enough to bring him down.

"Seriously?!" Strawberry shouted in frustration as she leaped backward, narrowly avoiding a retaliatory swipe from Gaindogrig's claws. "That should've taken a chunk out of him!"

Muffin poked his head out just enough to chirp a suggestion. Maybe aim for something softer?

"Easier said than done," Strawberry muttered as she landed on her feet, rolling to avoid another massive swipe. "But you're not wrong. We need to find his weak spot."

She scanned Gaindogrig's massive form, her eyes narrowing as she tried to spot any vulnerabilities. His chest and back were covered in thick, spiked armor-like scales, but there—just beneath his wings—she could see a small patch of exposed flesh.

"There it is," she whispered. "That's the sweet spot."

Gaindogrig let out another roar, his massive wings unfurling as he prepared to take to the skies. The ground trembled beneath his feet as he pushed off, sending a gust of wind that nearly knocked Strawberry off her balance.

"Great," she muttered. "Now he's airborne."

As Gaindogrig soared above the camp, his shadow cast across the entire landscape, Strawberry quickly wrapped her wires around a nearby pillar of rock, using it to swing herself upward. She needed to get higher—needed to get close enough to strike that exposed weak spot beneath his wings.

"Hold on, Muffin!" she shouted as she swung through the air, the wind rushing past them.

Muffin squeaked in alarm, his little claws digging into the fabric of her hood for dear life.

Gaindogrig's wings beat rhythmically, creating powerful gusts of wind that threatened to knock Strawberry off course. But she was determined. She adjusted her trajectory, her assassin wires pulling her higher and higher until she was level with the demon-dragon's massive form.

"This is it," Strawberry muttered, tightening her grip on the scythe. "We're going for the weak spot. No more playing around."

Muffin chirped in agreement, clearly ready for the final strike.

With a powerful swing of her wires, Strawberry launched herself toward Gaindogrig, her scythe poised to strike. The pink glow of the Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon flared brightly as she aimed for the exposed flesh beneath the demon's wings.

Time seemed to slow as she approached, the rush of air in her ears fading into silence. Her heart pounded in her chest, her pulse echoing in her ears. She could see every detail of Gaindogrig's form—every scar, every scale, every ripple of muscle beneath his skin.

And then, with a swift, precise motion, she brought the scythe down.

The blade of the Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon sliced through Gaindogrig's flesh like a hot knife through butter. The demon-dragon let out a bloodcurdling roar of pain, his body convulsing violently as the scythe's magic surged through him. The glowing roses and thorns along the blade flared with power, pulsing in time with Strawberry's heartbeat.

"Got him!" she shouted triumphantly.

But Gaindogrig wasn't done yet.

Despite the deep wound, the demon-dragon twisted in mid-air, his massive wings flapping furiously as he tried to dislodge her. Strawberry held on tight, her wires anchoring her to his body as she struggled to keep her balance.

"Muffin, any ideas?!" she shouted over the deafening roar of the wind.

Muffin chirped frantically, as if to say, Survive first, ask questions later!

"Right, survival plan it is," Strawberry muttered, gripping the scythe tightly. "We just need to finish him off before he finishes us."

With a fierce yell, she yanked the scythe free from Gaindogrig's flesh, the glowing blade slicing through muscle and sinew as it pulled free. Blood sprayed through the air, and the demon-dragon let out another roar of pain as he thrashed violently in the sky.

But Strawberry wasn't about to give up now.

With a powerful swing, she launched herself toward Gaindogrig's head, her scythe spinning in a deadly arc as she aimed for the final blow.

Gaindogrig's eyes locked onto her, his fiery red gaze blazing with fury. His mouth opened wide, revealing rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth, and for a moment, it looked as though he might swallow her whole.

"Not today!" Strawberry shouted, her scythe glowing with the full force of its magic.

With one final, powerful strike, she brought the Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon down on Gaindogrig's neck. The blade cleaved through scales, muscle, and bone in a single, decisive motion.

Gaindogrig let out one last deafening roar before his massive body went limp, plummeting from the sky like a falling star.

Strawberry quickly released her wires, swinging herself free just as the demon-dragon crashed into the ground below with a thunderous impact that shook the entire camp.

Breathing heavily, Strawberry landed gracefully on a nearby rock, her scythe still glowing faintly in her hand. Muffin peeked out from her hood, his little eyes wide with awe as he looked at the fallen form of Gaindogrig.

"Well," Strawberry said between gasps, her hands trembling with adrenaline, "that was… intense."

Muffin chirped softly, as if to say, You think?

Strawberry couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, okay, you've got a point."

As the dust from Gaindogrig's enormous crash settled, Strawberry took a deep breath, her heart still pounding in her chest. The massive body of the demon-dragon lay motionless at the center of the ruined goblin camp, his red eyes now dimmed, lifeless. She was exhausted—her muscles ached, and her pulse still thrummed with the intensity of the battle—but she had done it. Gaindogrig was defeated.

Muffin, still curled up in her hood, peeked out and chirped softly. His little nose twitched, and he hopped onto her shoulder, his eyes wide as he surveyed the destruction around them.

"We did it," Strawberry said, a small smile playing on her lips as she gave Muffin a gentle pat. "Barely, but we did it."

Muffin let out an approving chirp, his little chest puffing up with pride. It was as if the tiny bunny had been the one to bring down the demon-dragon himself.

Before Strawberry could catch her breath, a rustling noise caught her attention. She instinctively gripped her scythe, still on edge from the battle, but before she could react, Quinella came running through the ruins of the camp, her silver hair flowing behind her like a banner in the wind. She was out of breath, her eyes wide with concern as she skidded to a stop in front of Strawberry.

"You're alive!" Quinella gasped, her elegant demeanor faltering slightly as she took in the sight of Gaindogrig's massive body and the sheer destruction around them.

Strawberry gave her a tired grin. "Barely," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow. "But yeah, I'm alive. You're late."

Quinella crossed her arms, catching her breath. "I had to warn the town! You're the one who decided to take on a demon-dragon all by yourself."

"Well, you're here now," Strawberry said, teasingly. "Better late than never."

Quinella raised an eyebrow, her eyes flicking to the fallen Gaindogrig. "You fought that thing alone?"

Strawberry shrugged, leaning on her scythe. "I had Muffin with me."

Muffin let out a proud chirp, his little ears wiggling as if to say, Don't forget about me!

Quinella's expression softened as her gaze fell on Muffin, the little bunny still perched proudly in Strawberry's hood. With a graceful, almost instinctive motion, she reached out and gently scooped the horned bunny into her arms, cradling him against her chest.

Muffin, who had already been basking in his own sense of importance, chirped in delight, his ears wiggling with even more enthusiasm. Quinella smiled warmly, her usually composed demeanor softening as she hugged Muffin close, her arms wrapping around the tiny creature like he was the most precious thing in the world.

Strawberry stood there, leaning on her scythe, feeling an odd pang that she couldn't quite place. Jealous? Of Muffin? She blinked, baffled by the thought. It wasn't like she wanted to be squished up against Quinella's chest, right?

She snuck a glance at the silver-haired beauty, her eyes trailing over Quinella's delicate features and the way her long silver hair shimmered in the fading light. There was something so elegant, so effortlessly poised about Quinella, it was hard not to be captivated. Even the way she held Muffin, her violet eyes warm and soft, made her seem… well, unreachable, like she belonged in some ancient painting of noblewomen and divine creatures.

I'm terrible at remembering faces... and names, but I swear I've seen those eyes before. Hmm, I'll have to spend some time figuring where later.

Strawberry's gaze shifted to Muffin, who had fully nestled himself into Quinella's embrace, clearly enjoying the situation. The little bunny's eyes were half-closed in what could only be described as bliss, his tiny paws twitching as he settled into the plush comfort of Quinella's chest.

Lucky bastard, Strawberry thought, almost begrudgingly. Muffin was living the dream—being cuddled up against a beautiful, ethereal woman without a care in the world. Strawberry adjusted her grip on her scythe, trying to shake off the strange mix of amusement and mild envy creeping through her.

Just then, Muffin lifted his little head and caught Strawberry staring. He gave her a look that could only be described as smug, his tiny bunny mouth curling into what seemed suspiciously like a grin. His nose twitched mischievously, and there was a glint in his eyes that said, Look at me, I'm living the life.

Strawberry narrowed her eyes. "Don't get too comfortable, furball," she muttered under her breath, though there was no real bite to her words. Muffin had clearly won this round, and she wasn't about to challenge him on it. Still, the cheeky little bunny was enjoying this far too much for his own good.

Quinella, oblivious to the silent exchange between Strawberry and Muffin, continued to stroke the bunny's soft fur, her expression serene. "He's such a charmer," she murmured, not noticing the way Muffin was now giving Strawberry a full-on smug I win look from the safe confines of her arms.

"Yeah," Strawberry said dryly, sneaking another glance at Quinella, "he's really good at winning people over." Especially beautiful, silver-haired ones, apparently.

Muffin let out a happy squeak, as if to rub it in, and burrowed his face deeper into Quinella's embrace. The bunny was clearly milking this moment for all it was worth, and Strawberry couldn't help but roll her eyes.

As they prepared to move on, Strawberry tried to refocus her thoughts on the tasks ahead, but every now and then, she caught herself sneaking glances at the silver-haired beauty holding her smug, sassy bunny.

Yeah, lucky bastard, she thought again with a wry smile, shaking her head.