Suto couldn't stand to watch this any longer, it just wasn't natural. In all of their time as friends not a single one of them had fought with another, and he'd certainly not expected Fitch to be at odds with Yari. Their friend having lost her memory was an emotional experience, sure, but fighting with one another wasn't going to help it any. That aside being unrecognized by his friend was pretty painful in of itself; they had done quite a lot together, both outside and inside of Sword Art Online, and to think that could just be forgotten... Knowing a good friend should be there to try and help he felt quite guilty at leaving, but if he couldn't handle it himself then what good was he to his friends? Fighting back tears the entire way Suto shuffled back to his room, not even registering that he'd bumped into someone as he was on his way there. Not a second after he'd gotten inside and shut the door did he finally break, tears slipping out as he slumped against the door.

Just what were they going to do now? The game was only a quarter completed and yet their group may well fall apart. There had been plenty of parties like theirs in the game, friends who stuck together right away and kept going together. Through some circumstance, be it a death, a betrayal or just differences groups would break up and friends turn their backs on one another. That wasn't going to happen to them, was it? Despite his own outgoing and energetic attitude Suto wasn't handling the game very well, and he needed his friends there to help him. Both Fitch and Yari were strong, and while he might be good at the game that didn't mean he was a strong person. Heck, right now hew as crying like a baby while they needed help. Rubbing at his eyes with the heels of his hands Suto let out a shaky sigh, pulling his knees up to his chest and resting his chin on top. It was a possibility that he may need to find a new group, should theirs split up. He wanted to be optimistic about it and think it would work out but even the initial reactions to Yari weren't promising. 

So imbedded in his dreading the Monk had barely noticed someone knocking at his door, or more pounding really. Feeling the wood shaking at his back Suto glanced behind himself, sniffling as he wondered who it might be. The voice shouting wasn't one he recognized, yet she sounded awfully mad at him for whatever reason. Was it someone from the Clearers? He really didn't need this right now, but if he just sat here in silence he was skeptical she'd go away. Sniffling once more Suto wiped his eyes on his sleeve, rising to his feet and putting a hand on the doorknob, taking pause before pulling it open. He'd expected a woman perhaps, or maybe someone a bit... More imposing. Instead of either of those he glanced down and found a younger girl glaring up at him, blinking confused before smiling uneasily and giving a small wave. "Uh... Hi...? Can I help you?"

[hr]

[i]Clang![/i] [i]Clang![/i] [i]Clang![/i] The sound of metal striking metal resounded through the high-arched halls of the dungeon, carrying on for quite a ways from the scene of the battle. Numerous rooms and corridors were devoid of any life, the monsters in them having long since been slain. The dungeon itself was fairly unremarkable, just a small labyrinth with no real boss, moderate loot and a long respawn timer on its inhabitants. If anything it was a training grounds, and due to its otherwise minimal rewards it would likely not be a place frequented by players. For most training was only worthwhile if you could get something out of it, be that item drops or a large sum of Col, something to supplement the experience. Everyone needed the latter, but many wanted more to show for their efforts. Others, however, were perfectly content with just the experience.

A dodge to the left, the sound of a heavy metal blade slamming into the ground and breaking the cobble bricks that made up the floor. A slight blur of movement, a red streak, and a second later the sound of a monster letting out a howl of pain. Raising its blade again the centurion, a mechainical-humanoid took a wide swing at its target, cutting through nothing but air as the player evaded it again. Smashing its blade into one of the stone pillars in the room it became temporarily wedged, giving the player ample opportunity to react. First a lunging thrust into the gears of its abdomen, followed by a slash that brought it to one knee, and finally another, back-handed thrust which drove a blade through the back of its helmeted skull, cracking the steel as the dagger easily penetrated the armor. With a grinding sound the centurion released its blade, steam leaking from its joints before it fell forward, crashing into dozens of small shards as it vanished. As with every monster slain a small window would appear, Col as well as a few items for crafting appearing on the menu. 

What level was he now? 25? 26? Curiously the [url=http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire4/10082008/a/1/7/4/a174364653c3c0_full.jpg]player[/url] brought up his menu, scrolling to his stats screen in hopeful anticipation. Seeing his level only as 26, and just barely above the mark he let out a sigh, closing the menu and hanging his head. "Jeez... Power-leveling is impossible in these dungeons, these things aren't worth anything!" How was he supposed to get ahead of the curve like this? As it stood the Clearers were a good few levels above him already, there was no way he'd be able to catch up to any of them doing this. At least, not in any reasonable amount of time.

"Oh, come on Cress, we're making good time!" a female voice chimed in, sounding from across the room. Walking over to join the redhead, the [url=http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb480/Yumekichi11/picture%207/8e047514.jpg]girl[/url] smiled at her companion, her smile changing to a look of confusion as he seemed to remain crestfallen. Letting out a sigh she reached out, smacking him on the back a bit to hard and near knocking him over, grinning enthusiastically as she did so. "We'll get there, we just have to keep working at it! So our method is a bit slower than the Clearers', that doesn't make it worse!"

"Actually... I have to agree with him Asari,  our method isn't the greatest," another man chimed in, [url=http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire3/c2b9401d5c27986e7619863d9e66e3411415244537_full.jpg]this one[/url] a bit older than his companions, and taller as well. Looking around the empty room he let out a sigh of his own, sheathing his blade before dusting off his hands and placing them on his hips. "At this rate we may catch up by the time they've begun clearing this floor, and we'll be behind them all over again. I'm beginning to think we need a change of pace," he added, closing his eyes and shaking his head. Hearing a sudden rush of footsteps and getting the feeling of being glared at he slowly opened his eyes, blinking as he found the lone woman of their group staring up at him.

Asari glowered up at her larger friend before finally letting out a huff, folding her arms under her sizable chest as she turned away. "Listen to you two, you're already getting down on yourselves! It's only taking a long time because you're making it!" she said, turning back and pointing up at the other man, "Yato, didn't you say it's going to take time and patience? Well, those were your words, so no complaining out of you!" Besides, even if they were behind the Clearers for now they were still higher levels than most, probably even able to join the clearing groups of the so desired. Smiling to herself Asari punched one of her hands into her fists, feeling all pumped up as she pointed down one of the corridors. "Enough rest men, let's keep moving!"

"Asari... This is the end of the dungeon," Cress replied, smiling amused as he watched his friend deflate a bit, "But hey... We can come back to it once everything has respawned. Maybe while we wait we can go and check out the fields a bit? Or go grab a bite to eat, I'm kind of starving."