Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer

Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer is a side story of the Sword Art Online series. It shows events three months after Lisbeth creates the «Dark Repulser» for Kirito.

Aincrad 48th floor; August 2024
After three months of using Dark Repulser, Lisbeth realizes that the sword will eventually become less useful. As Kirito gets to higher dungeons, he will be able to find a better sword from a rare drop. Plus, Dark Repulser had already used 42 of its 50 reinforcements and was currently +39. That would mean that there were only 8 more chances for reinforcement, and Kirito had asked her to get the blade to +40 today. She understood that Kirito had spent countless of hours hunting for the required materials (well over a hundred materials) so that he could continue to upgrade the sword. Kirito also mentions at this time that he got his dragon leather cloak from a famous tailor in SAO named Ashley. Lisbeth understands that when Kirito's sword is out of reinforcements, he might not come back to see her again. Seeing the worry on Lisbeth's face, Kirito tells her that he has a hunch that he will defeat the final boss with Dark Repulser. It seemed only right given the name of the sword. Filled with confidence, Lisbeth finishes reinforces the +40 sword. After saying that she doesn't think she could handle another stressful reinforcement like that, Kirito pulls out Elucidator and asks for it to be reinforced to +40 also. Lisbeth lets out a long sigh.

Trivia

 * This story was published in "Sword Art Online: Lisbeth Edition", with the non-canon side-story, "Extraordinary Ordinary Days".

Sound of Water, Sound of Hammer Звук воды, звук молота