SAO: Strawberry Bunny

A burst of vibrant light filled her vision, and a rush of sound swept through her ears—like the whoosh of air, the hum of distant machinery. Her body tingled, weightless as the real world seemed to melt away. A dazzling array of colors and symbols danced across her eyes, the system-loading screen of SAO filling her field of vision as her senses adjusted to the new reality.

In the span of a heartbeat, everything shifted.

The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, with fluffy clouds drifting lazily overhead. She could feel the cool breeze brushing against her skin, the faint scent of flowers and fresh grass filling her lungs. The sounds of distant wildlife and the low hum of magic vibrated in the air. Every detail was so real, so vivid, it was hard to believe she wasn't actually standing in this strange, magnificent land.

Memphis... no, in this world, she'd go by Strawberry, grinned as she took it all in. The weight of a sword strapped to her lower back, the familiar light armor hugging her frame—it felt good to be back. To be in a world where her skills truly mattered. Where she could use her reflexes, her precision, her mind to dominate once more.

The avatar staring back at her in the reflection of a nearby window was a perfect mirror of her new self—lean, athletic, with soft, striking features. Her androgynous face was framed by messy, pink hair with streaks of black, and her piercing silver-blue eyes glinted with a mix of mischief and determination. She was a blend of her old and new life—Memphis Slater and Memphis Fraser. Two lives, merged into one. 

Her gear consisted of black shorts that reached just below her knees, a long-sleeved pale pink shirt, a black leather chest plate, and the typical shoes a player gets when they first start playing. She missed the oversized hoodie jacket that she usually wore during the beta testing. Two weeks before the beta testing was finished, she had a blacksmith commission it using cores she had looted from the 10th-floor boss. It was her pride and joy, and now it's gone. Hoodies were one of the best things created. 

"Stupid developers and their stupid rules. Resetting all of us beta testers' levels and gains once the game launched was a dumb rule. Saying, "It's to make the game fair. Bleh!" Strawberry kicked a stray pebble and strolled through the starter town, heading straight to the Harunka village instead of grinding in the fields like the other players. She enjoyed fighting opponents who were at a higher level than she was, but preparations were also important. It wasn't fun otherwise. And she wanted to be the first to beat the boss. First-time clear rewards were always an advantage point.

Stopping to buy some health potions, she set off at a quick pace, moving through the throngs of new players. She passed through the town's main gates, leaving behind the sea of beginners and the safety of the starting area. The grassy plains stretched out before her, sunlight shimmering over the fields as a gentle breeze brushed past. She could already see players dotted across the landscape, swinging basic swords and weapons at low-leveled boars and wolves. This early in the game, everyone was focused on gathering XP and learning the combat system.

The journey to Harunka Village was uneventful, but Strawberry made sure to stay on high alert. The path was relatively safe at this point in the game, though she occasionally spotted players testing out their combat skills on roaming monsters. She avoided them, not wanting to waste time or get caught up in low-level battles. Her real challenge awaited her in the village.

The small, remote village of Harunka was exactly as she had imagined: humble and quiet, with a few simple houses made of wood and thatched roofs. The villagers, NPCs all, went about their daily routines—some tending to crops, others walking back from the nearby forest with firewood in their arms. It felt like a world alive with people, yet isolated from the larger game world that hummed with activity elsewhere.

Strawberry made her way straight to the largest house in the village, her heart pounding with anticipation. The quest she was about to undertake was not common knowledge, but it was something she had discovered through deep research in the game's beta phase. Few players would know to come here right away, and fewer still would know about the Anneal Blade hidden as a reward. The game had just launched, and the cooldown system meant she needed to be the first to accept this quest to prevent others from getting the reward before her.

Approaching the door, she hesitated briefly before knocking.

Moments later, the door creaked open to reveal a kindly-looking NPC woman with graying hair tied in a neat bun. She wore a simple dress, her face lined with age, but her eyes were warm and welcoming. Strawberry immediately noticed the faint smell of something simmering in the air—food, perhaps, though the NPC made no mention of it.

"Ah, a visitor," the NPC woman said in a soft, weary voice. "It's rare to see someone so far from the main town. Please, do come in. I don't have much to offer at the moment, but I can get you a cup of water if you'd like."

Strawberry knew this was part of the quest. The offer of water was a subtle hint—a test of the player's awareness. The pot simmering on the stove, though unspoken, was meant to suggest something wasn't right. She had read about this in the beta notes; the pot was a clue, meant to push players to ask more questions.

"Thank you," Strawberry said, stepping inside. The house was simple but comfortable, the scent of the simmering stew stronger now that she was closer to it. The NPC led her to a small table and brought her a cup of water.

Just as she sipped the water, a soft, ragged sound echoed from the other side of a door—coughing. It was faint but persistent, the weak, hollow cough of a child struggling to breathe.

Strawberry placed the cup down and glanced at the NPC woman, whose expression had grown somber. The woman sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging as she took a seat at the table.

"You've heard, haven't you?" she said, her voice thick with sorrow. "That's my son… he's very sick. I don't know what to do anymore. I've tried everything I can think of, but nothing works."

Strawberry's pulse quickened. This was it—the moment the quest would begin.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Strawberry asked, trying to sound concerned. She knew the story behind this NPC's plight, but she had to play along, fully immersing herself in the role of a helpful adventurer.

The NPC woman looked up at her with tear-filled eyes. "There is something," she said, her voice trembling. "In the forest to the west of here, there is a rare plant—a Little Nepenthes. They say its flower has healing properties, powerful enough to cure even the most terrible illnesses. But it's dangerous to go there… the forest is filled with monsters. I can't go myself, and there's no one else in the village brave enough to help."

"I'll do it," Strawberry said, her voice firm. "I'll find the Little Nepenthes and bring back the flower."

The NPC woman's eyes widened in gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered. "Please, hurry. My son doesn't have much time left."

With that, the quest officially began. The Secret Medicine of the Forest was now hers. Strawberry stood, nodded to the NPC, and left the house with a sense of purpose. She opened her quest log, confirming the details: travel to the forest west of Harunka, find the Little Nepenthes, and bring back its ovule to heal the NPC's son. It was simple on paper, but she knew the real challenge lay ahead.

The forest loomed large as Strawberry approached. The trees were tall and thick, casting long shadows over the ground. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in shafts of light, giving the forest an ethereal glow. It was peaceful, but she knew better than to let her guard down. The deeper parts of the forest were home to aggressive monsters, and while she wasn't looking for a fight, she couldn't avoid them forever.

As she ventured further, she encountered her first Nepenthes—large, pitcher-like plant monsters with gaping maws at the center. They swayed menacingly, their vines snapping like whips as they sensed her approach. Strawberry readied her sword, bracing herself for combat.

The regular Nepenthes were not what she needed, but killing them increased her chances of encountering the special version—the Little Nepenthes with the flower. She needed that specific one to complete the quest.

She darted forward, slashing at the nearest Nepenthes with precise strikes. The battle system was as fluid and immersive as she remembered from the beta, and Strawberry felt herself falling into the familiar rhythm of combat. Each swing of her sword was met with a satisfying impact, each dodge and parry timed perfectly. The Nepenthes hissed as it tried to wrap its vines around her, but she quickly severed them, cutting the monster down.

For the next hour, Strawberry fought her way through the forest, methodically clearing out Nepenthes after Nepenthes. She didn't allow herself to get frustrated, knowing that the flowered variant had a low spawn rate. It was all part of the challenge.

Eventually, after slaying a particularly tough Nepenthes, she spotted something different in the distance—a glowing figure among the trees. She narrowed her eyes and crept closer, her heart skipping a beat.

There it was. A Little Nepenthes with a bright, glowing flower blooming atop its pitcher.

Without hesitation, Strawberry charged forward, her sword at the ready. The Little Nepenthes, sensing her presence, let out a screeching sound and lashed out with its vines. But Strawberry was faster. She sidestepped its attack and swung her sword in a wide arc, cutting into the monster's body. The Nepenthes screeched again, more vicious this time, as it retaliated with a venomous spit that narrowly missed her.

Strawberry dodged, her movements fluid and precise, and slashed again, this time aiming for the flower. Her blade cut through the stem, and with a final screech, the Nepenthes collapsed into a heap of digital fragments. As the monster dissolved, a glowing item dropped to the ground.

Little Nepenthes's Ovule. 

Strawberry picked up the item, her heart racing with triumph. The rare quest item gleamed in her inventory, a testament to her patience and skill. Now all that was left was to return to the village and complete the quest.

Back in Harunka, the NPC woman greeted her at the door, her eyes wide with hope. Strawberry handed her the Little Nepenthes's Ovule, and the woman let out a gasp of relief.

"You did it… you really did it," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you… thank you so much."

Strawberry watched as the NPC hurried into the back room, where the child's coughing had grown weaker. Moments later, the sound of quiet relief filled the house. The child was cured.

The quest was complete.

As a reward, the NPC returned to Strawberry and handed her a sword. It was beautifully crafted, its blade gleaming with a faint, ethereal light. The Anneal Blade.

"This sword has been in my family for generations," the NPC woman said. "It is my most precious heirloom. Take it, as a token of my gratitude. May it serve you well on your journey."

Strawberry took the sword with a sense of accomplishment. The Anneal Blade was hers, and with it, she had an advantage few players would possess at this stage in the game. She bowed her head to the NPC, offering her thanks, and left the house.