As they got closer, Drifter realized the other players had already noticed them. They were well trained. No one gave the Reavers an overt glance, but it was clear from the way they rushed up to finish off the mobs while subtly repositioning to meet a sudden attack from the party.

"Not newbies, then. Not all of them, at least."

"I think I recognize a handful. Aspiring clearers, but not quite there yet."

"Well, they are now. Whoever that white-haired guy is, he whipped them into shape pretty good."

Drifter, Yuna, Nautilus, Kirito, Asuna, and Sinon chatted casually as they unhurriedly made their approach. They didn't have any nefarious purpose, and it would relax the other group. Although, they had twice as many people as the Reavers, so who was supposed to be nervous?

No one was an answer. Everyone was also a pretty good one. You never knew what was going to happen, so it was always better to be prepared.

"They stopped acting like they hadn't noticed us already. I think they recognize us."

"It stands to reason they did. I know the fame is worthless, but we do have six titled players here."

It was wild when Kirito said it out-loud. SAO had 13 titled players, 8 of which were in Reaver's Requiem, Dragon Tamer Silica being the newest addition. And that was if you didn't take into account how many people said Dark Elf Kizmel with a capital D and E, in which case it would be 9 out of 14.

Sometimes small things like that made you proud.

"Mornin'! We need some of those << Iron-Shell Tortoises >> for a quest. Mind if we take a corner?"

Kirito opened the conversation cheerfully. The introverted geek still resurfaced sometimes, but the Black Swordsman was much more prominent these days.

Drifter scanned the other guild - and they had to be one, with the color-coded equipment - with his eyes. 12 people, a nice mix of damage dealers and tanks. All of them used swords, so they lacked a little diversity in Drifter's opinion, but then again, this was Sword Art Online.

Now that they were closer, Drifter agreed with Asuna. He definitely recognized a few faces in passing. Mostly upcoming mid-level players, who had now clearly started to spread their wings.

"Of course. The map is everyone's property."

The other guild had relaxed visibly after recognizing them. Reaver's Requiem had one of the best reputations amongst the frontliners guild. Not really because they were more friendly, but because the comparison was Kibaou the Challenger and Dragon Knight Lind.

The man who answered Kirito was very clearly the leader. Guild leader, probably. A lean build, tall, with long grey hair that somehow screamed 'dignified'. Mostly red armor, although detailed with white, and a one-handed long sword along with a crux-shaped shield. He was at least two decades older than the average clearer age - mid-twenties. But he carried himself with confidence and exuded calmness. And those eyes unnerved Drifter.

They were deathly still. The spearmaster couldn't feel any emotion in them, like a pond you could not see the bottom of. His gaze passed over each Reaver without a change before settling on Kirito. Drifter shivered, his hair's standing on end, and he wasn't the only one.

"Drifter!"

Yuna shout-whispered in his ear, and her gentle but firm grip on his arm made him realize he had started to raise his spear and shift his body into an offensive stance. A quick glance revealed the rest of his party doing much the same, although they also caught themselves and stopped.

Drifter didn't think any of the other guild's players but their leader noticed it. The grey-haired player definitely saw it, but his emotionless eyes showed no ripples.

They were like a mob's eyes.

The sudden realization caught even Drifter by surprise. That was why his gaze was so uncomfortable.

An instinctive dislike for the older man. Not out of any established emotion. Just a gut feeling. That was what Drifter felt.

He didn't act on it. What was he even supposed to do? Attack the other player just because he didn't like his eyes?

"I'm guessing you already know us, but I'm Broken Spear Drifter from Reaver's Requiem."

But someone who could give him, a veteran frontliner, such a strange feeling definitely wasn't normal. So Drifter metaphorically pushed Kirito aside and put out his right hand for the older man in introduction.

The other Reavers exchanged glances and raised eyebrows. This wasn't like Drifter. And the way he used his title, which he normally hated, sounded presumptuous and demanding.

But they said nothing, and, if the other guild noticed, they also didn't show any reaction. And the older player didn't miss a beat when turning to grab Drifter's proffered hand in a strong grip.

"I'm Heathcliff. It is a pleasure to meet you, Broken Spear Drifter. And also the rest of you, Black Swordsman, Lightning Flash, Aero Huntress, Indomitable Knight, and Songstress. Your fame precedes you. You have my thanks for all the effort you and your guild have put into clearing Sword Art Online."

That last sentence nipped any aggression Drifter had right in the bud. He couldn't, nor did he have any reason other than instinctive dislike, to slap the proverbial cheek Heathcliff offered. The man was nothing but polite. And even his gratefulness seemed real, the first sign of emotion his eyes showed.

Drifter's actions mellowed, and he swept his gaze over Heathcliff's guild. Some of them were calm, some were nervous. There was one particularly boisterous and burly man that reminded Drifter of Orlando. They were all wearing the red and white armor.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Some faces are familiar, but the guild certainly is new. Am I correct to assume you are the guild leader, Heathcliff? You definitely carry yourself like one."

It was a heartfelt compliment. Drifter never bought much into his fame, but he was aware he had a real effect on other players, especially lower leveled ones. It wasn't anything as fantastical as an aura, just the fact that he had fought all those battles and bosses, and they hadn't. And they knew it.

Heathcliff didn't appear to be nearly as affected as his guildmates. Or at all. The grey-haired player nodded.

"Yes. I am the guild leader of the Knights of the Blood Oath. We are a recently established guild, less than a month since the foundation."

"And you are already near the frontlines?"

This time it was Nautilus who raised the question, and the other Reavers also narrowed their eyes. They had seen from afar that the Knights of the Blood Oath (KoB?) had dealt with the << Iron-Shell Tortoises >> without any particular problems, but for a guild not even a month old to already be here was pure recklessness. And yet, Heathcliff seemed to be anything but.

"I was lucky to find very talented players in the mid-floors. They just hadn't had the opportunity to develop those talents yet."

'I am that opportunity' was what Heathcliff left unsaid. Arrogant, but also true. If they survived long enough.

"Aiming for the frontlines?"

"Assault Team. It would be remiss of us not to. Everyone needs to give it their all if we are to beat Aincrad."

There was no disagreeing with that. And the Assault Team always needed fresh blood. Their casualties might not have been that many since the 10th floor, but they were the hardest to replenish.

"I hope to see you there someday. Don't rush more than you have to."

It was a genuine warning that Kirito gave, with no underhanded intentions. Every player life was precious. Except Laughing Coffin, but they were monsters anyway.

"We will take every precaution possible, Black Swordsman. But correct me if I'm wrong, you didn't get to where you are by always playing it safe."

Heathcliff's tone was flat. Kirito and the Reavers narrowed their eyes. That was a dangerous stance to take.

"We take risks where there are no better options, Heathcliff. Or when the losses would outweigh the gains if we tried to play it safe, as you put. But frontliners are the most careful players in SAO. You don't live long enough to get where we are otherwise."

The statement was chilling on its own, but the look in Kirito's eyes had the KoB players gulping and taking two steps back. Heathcliff had crossed a line he shouldn't have.

The man himself, despite being the target of at least three glares, didn't seem affected. If anything, his face took on a slightly interested expression.

"I misspoke, Black Swordsman. I'll see you in the frontlines soon."

Heathcliff nodded his head fractionally, then turned around and led his guild away without hesitation.

The Reavers' party watched the Knights of the Blood Oath leave with furrowed brows. They weren't narcissistic enough to believe that other players should worship them, but the complete lack of interest - or anything really - from Heathcliff wasn't amongst the normal reactions they usually received.

"I can't tell if he's arrogant, despondent, or just plain boring."

Yuna fiddled with her harp. Sinon spat and turned to fire at the closest << Iron-Shell Tortoise >>.

"Don't like him."

Normally that comment would have elicited some sort of response along the lines of 'you don't like anyone' from one of the other Reavers, but this time no one disagreed with the archer.

"Did you see his eyes?"

"Hmm. I wish they had stuck around. I wanted to watch him fight from up close to see if he's really all that he's playing up to be."

"He holds himself well. Cold demeanor aside, I mean."

"What do you think, Drifter? Will we be seeing him again?"

Asuna asked the spearmaster, who was casually stabbing an << Iron-Shell Tortoise >>. He had always been the better judge of character between them.

Slashing down with a << Vertical >>, Drifter killed the mob and stopped to think. After a few seconds, he nodded, then shrugged.

"We will at least hear from them. If nothing else, about how Heathcliff got his guild exterminated trying to take on something they weren't ready for."

Such harsh words would have effectively killed the conversation if the participants weren't frontliners. As it was, Kirito, Asuna, Sinon, Nautilus, and Yuna just frowned and nodded. If what Drifter predicted did come to pass, it wouldn't be the first time, nor the last.

-----------------------

Akihiko Kayaba, who went by Heathcliff inside of Sword Art Online, didn't look back at the Reavers' party. His subordinates, the Knights of the Blood Oath guild members, already knew him well enough not to make a fuss about their sudden departure.

There was a reason why Kayaba had entered SAO and assumed the identity of Heathcliff. Two, actually. The first was to groom worthy frontliners, and lead the Assault Team to the 99th floor, whereupon he would reveal himself as the final boss and betray them. Hence why he established the Knights of the Blood Oath guild.

Every game needed a plot twist right at the end, otherwise it would be boring.

The second reason was a selfish one. It turned him into a hypocrite. But Kayaba couldn't resist. He wanted to see his heroes with his own eyes, not through screens like everyone else. He wanted to interact with them.

To confirm he had made the right choice, criminal as it was.

The short encounter with the main party of Reaver's Requiem was the first time Heathcliff met frontliners face-to-face. Met his chosen heroes.

He had made the right choice.

Reaver's Requiem was a strong guild. Heathcliff himself felt the lightest twinge of regret that they were so united. He would have liked to poach a few of their members, the tamest ones, but knew it would be a futile endeavor.

It was a pity. Heathcliff would eventually end up betraying the Assault Team, leaving his guild, the KoB, without any leadership and lost. He needed someone who could take the reins and lead them to fight the final boss - him. Lightning Flash Asuna, Aero Huntress Sinon, Merchant Warrior Agil, Ran, and Griselda were all potential candidates he had initially selected, along with those from other guilds such as Shivata. However, they were all taken.

Black Swordsman Kirito and Broken Spear Drifter had never figured in his list. The former was too independent and headstrong to blindly follow him while the latter was simply too mature. Broken Spear Drifter was not someone Heathcliff wanted observing his every move.

Despite being the creator and god of Aincrad, Heathcliff wasn't arrogant. He wasn't worried about being bested by others - his own technical skills were higher than any single frontliner - or killed - he had the system protection that kept his HP from falling below half. But if his real identity, that of Akihiko Kayaba, was discovered too early, it would ruin his carefully laid plans. That couldn't be allowed.

Well, all of this was unimportant now. For the moment, Heathcliff was just the insignificant leader of a newborn guild. He had to train his subordinates well. Their moment to shine, his moment to shine, would come soon.

After all, it wouldn't do for Sword Art Online to only be interesting every 10 floors.