[center][h1][color=aqua]Umichi[/color][/h1][/center]

Stifling a yawn, Umichi got up from bed. With heavy eyes, he focused on the top of his vision. It was early in the morning. Just a little after 7:30 AM. With Winter beginning, the sun rose a little later each day. It seemed the world of Aincrad had seasons much like Japan. Or at least it seemed like it at the moment. It was the 5th day since they were stuck in SAO, and each night Umichi was up late, training and completing quests. Last night was later than usual, getting only about four hours sleep. Well, it wasn't much different from  the low amount of sleep he had in his everyday life. However, it meant that he was most likely a couple of levels ahead of the others, considering how much more fighting he does in his own time. It is not that he is trying to get ahead, but, that he has trouble sleeping in the first place, so why not spend it productively? Other players were out at night to avoid the larger number of people who train and quest during the day.

Stretching out, Umichi approached the window and opened it. He wondered if Suki was on the roof. It seemed like she did it from time to time, if not, all the time. He bathed himself in the artificial/virtual sunlight, while flicking down the menu with his right hand. Equipping his clothes, armor and weapon, he noticed a notification, correction, a message from someone.


[quote][b]To:[/b] Umichi, Pryor, Suki, Tatsumi, Yui, Tsukia Ayame, Fujiwara, Yuki, Jax, Tsukiya

[b]From:[/b] ??????????
[b]message:[/b]
Hello, Dear ones!

I've been watching you! And i have decided that you are worth my notice. You have proven that you can be somewhat of a challenge, and that would be amusing for me. If you would like to accept this challenge, to beat me, and save the game, I suggest you meet. There's a nice little place in Horunka village, where you may just find something to help you one your way!

Mwahaha[/quote]

Reading the message, he found everything thing ... odd. With what was said, there was only one person who it could of been, given it wasn't just junk mail of sorts. The fact that there is no sender, makes it more likely that it was him. [i]But ... is this really the way he types messages? I can't imagine that he would write this, but ... who else could it be? Someone having access to a console? But how? Where? Would they not have been locked out afterwards? The Cardinal evolves, so it would most likely block it out ...[/i] Umichi was deep in thought.

He checked his equipment once more, his stats and skill slots. Everything seemed in order, even having upgraded the [b]<<Single-handed Straight Sword>>[/b] weapon skill twice. Although leveling it has slowed since. Most of Umichi's gear had been random drops, with a number of quest rewards. His [u]Anneal Blade[/u] being upgraded was letting him take down enemies very easily. He had heard rumors of Horunka Village having hardly any Little Nepents around, due to a number of people trying to get an [u]Anneal Blade[/u]. He was lucky to get one before so many people tried to get it. He did try to get it again, but, he had no luck, instead, he had to help a number of people getting caught in the Nepent trap.

After everything was in order, Umichi headed downstairs, to the common room. Seeing that Suki had only entered the room a little before him, he noticed Pyotr was already sitting down. He heard her call out to Suki, [color=136119][b]'Morning Princess. I guess you saw that message too, huh?'[/b][/color]. 

[color=aqua]'Morning Suki, Morning Pyotr.'[/color] Umichi called out to the two girls. Walking over to the table, he pulled a chair out for Suki, letting her sit first, before pulling his own to sit down. [color=aqua]'I assume you both have read that message?'[/color] he asked. [color=aqua]'Well, we can discuss it once the others wake up.'[/color] Continuing he opened up his menu and selected Suki, and offered a trade. [color=aqua]'You have still been using that [u]Stinger[/u] haven't you? Here I found this rapier called the [u]Entwining Epee[/u] last night. It should be better than the [u]Stinger[/u], at least it was when I compared it to one I saw in the shop.'[/color] Umichi would sometimes give some of the drops he had found to the other party members, depending on who used what weapon and armor, etc.