Asuna Memory 003

She's annoyed at the boy dressed in black standing opposite her, paying as little heed to his words as possible as she checks the durability on her rapier, her current health level, how much experience she gained from the last fight.

"How long have you been down here?"

Annoyance only increases. Why does it matter to him? Why does he insist on bothering her?

"Three days, maybe four. Are you done? The next monster's going to spawn soon, so I need to get moving."

She starts to move past him, ready to fight the next monster. She's aware of the exhaustion that's racking her body, but she's not afraid of it. No, she almost welcomes it. She's not certain just what it is she's so looking forward to, at least not yet.

Then the boy's voice interrupts her again. "If you keep fighting like this, you're gonna die."

She stops, turns around to face him, serving up the most piercing stare she can manage.

"We're all gonna die anyway. There's no way to beat this game. The only difference is when and where you die. Sooner... or later..."

Those last words passed through her lips before she tumbled to the floor, darkness overtaking her as she finally passed out from the exhaustion, unable to even say the last words she wanted to.

For once, I'm choosing my own path.