The central district of the 75th Floor, Collinia—a sprawling stone city reminiscent of medieval Rome—buzzed with the energy of the "Opening Festivities."
It was understandable; only two days had passed since the players broke through the 74th Floor. Today, however, a scheduled event was about to pour fuel on the flames of that excitement.
"The strongest knight, the 'Holy Sword' Heathcliff, versus 'Dual Blades' Kirito and 'Dual Spears' Mitsuki."
The duel with Heathcliff, which carried the stake of our mandatory recruitment into the Knights of the Blood, had somehow evolved into a massive spectacle staged at the great Coliseum—the very symbol of the city.
"Ah, this is likely the work of Daizen, the financial officer..."
"That greedy, money-grubbing man...!"
Betting pools were already in full swing. Beside a weary, smiling Asuna, a vein of irritation throbbed on Alice's forehead. Standing before them, Kirito and I could only gape in disbelief.
"Mitsuki. Is there anywhere we can teleport where no one will find us?"
"I wish for that with all my heart, but..."
If we ran now, we would lose more than our chance to reclaim our honor; our reputations would be permanently tarnished. Considering why I had accepted this duel in the first place, I couldn't back down.
As we were ushered into the waiting room, I thought of the crowded baseball stadiums I used to see on the news back in the real world—a small mental escape from the reality of the mob outside.
"Listen closely. Even if the rules state the first strike settles the match, taking a direct hit with your equipment is still dangerous. If you feel things are going south, forfeit immediately!"
"We know..."
We sat on wooden benches in a corridor repurposed as a waiting room while Asuna bombarded us with warnings and advice.
"Kirito's 'Dual Blades' and Mitsuki's 'Dual Spears'... I know you both possess otherworldly strength, but the same applies to the Commander's 'Holy Sword.' Neither Asuna nor I have ever managed to pierce that ironclad defense. How do you plan to handle him?"
Against an absolute defense, only two options remain: overwhelm the opponent with speed they cannot track, or deliver a blow powerful enough to shatter the guard. Asuna excelled at the former, and Alice at the latter, yet both had failed against the Holy Sword. Against Heathcliff—whose HP had never dropped into the "yellow zone" even against Floor Bosses—simple tricks wouldn't suffice.
"In situations like this, it's better to rely on our combat instincts rather than overthinking. We'll find a way."
"You're remarkably calm... but perhaps Mitsuki is right, just this once."
"Well, it is what it is. We just have to fight with everything we've got and win. I'm heading out."
Kirito opened his menu, equipped his white one-handed sword, and stepped out into the arena first. We followed, watching his black-clad figure from the Coliseum entrance.
The duel between Kirito and Heathcliff took place amidst a deafening roar of cheers. The result was Kirito's defeat.
Kirito began with a relentless dual-sword assault. Though momentarily taken aback by the strength of the Holy Sword's defense, he gradually began to outpace the Commander. When the opening appeared, he unleashed his sixteen-hit combo, "Starburst Stream." The final strike was inches away from landing after the sheer momentum of the attack knocked Heathcliff's shield aside. Kirito, Asuna, Alice, and I all believed the match was over.
However, Heathcliff's shield snapped back into position with unnatural speed, blocking the sixteenth strike entirely. He then countered Kirito, who was frozen in the post-skill delay, ending the duel instantly.
"Even Kirito couldn't defeat him..."
Asuna whispered, stunned. I felt the same, but a nagging suspicion tugged at my mind—a strange, unsettling feeling I couldn't quite name.
"I'm sorry. I lost."
During the ten-minute break, Kirito returned to the waiting area and apologized to Asuna. None of us blamed him; instead, we offered our praise for a spectacular fight.
"Seeing his power up close makes me realize he exceeds all expectations. How did it feel out there?"
"Let's see... his defensive power is as legendary as they say, but I don't think he's invincible. That is, assuming we use our Unique Skills. You can deal with the shield bashes if you anticipate them."
"Honestly, even from where I was watching, Kirito's swordsmanship was equal to the Commander's—at times, he even seemed to have the upper hand. If you can maintain a relentless flurry of attacks, a chance for victory might appear."
"So the secret lies in mastery over two weapons... easier said than done."
While handling two weapons shared logic with the "Dual Blades" skill, controlling two spears required a vastly different level of coordination. Replicating Kirito's feat would require a Herculean effort.
"It's almost time. Good luck, Mitsuki."
"I'm counting on you. Go get some payback for me."
"Leave it to me. In return, make sure you collect my remains if I get crushed."
Kirito and I traded a quick joke and bumped fists. I shared a final nod with Alice and stepped out, spears crossed on my back, into the heart of the exploding crowd.
In the center of the Coliseum, Heathcliff and I stood face-to-face.
"Phew... fighting both of you in a row is quite exhausting. My match with Kirito was on a knife's edge; I might actually lose this time."
"Jokes sound like insults when you can't manage a proper expression on your face. Remember that."
"Fair enough, I'll keep that in mind. Shall we skip the small talk and begin?"
Just as he had with Kirito, Heathcliff sent a duel request. I accepted, selecting the "First Strike" victory condition. The countdown timer appeared between us.
I drew my weapons from my back; he slid his sword from the shield he held. We fell into our stances.
"If I win this match, I expect you to keep your promise. You remember, don't you?"
"Of course. Come at me with everything you have."
I shifted my mind into combat mode, filtering out everything unnecessary. The noise of the crowd faded, and the spectators vanished from my sight. I even discarded the desperate urge to win—it only creates needless tension.
By the time I finished adjusting my focus, the countdown hit three seconds.
—— DUEL!! ——
The starting whistle blew, and the crowd's roar peaked for a second before falling into an expectant hush. Unlike Kirito, who had charged immediately, both of us remained motionless.
Heathcliff and I stared each other down in total silence. This stalemate lasted nearly twenty seconds. Boos began to drift from the stands: "Hurry up!" "Are you guys asleep?" but the noise never reached my consciousness.
Realizing a stalemate would lead nowhere, I broke my stance and began a slow, deliberate walk. Heathcliff showed a flash of surprise before he, too, began walking toward me.
Step by step, the distance closed. We stopped at a specific point. One more step would put him in my spear's range. Simultaneously, I would be within range of his shield bash.
Our eyes met—and in the next heartbeat, spear collided with shield with violent force.
"Tch—!"
I didn't retract my right spear after the shield deflected it; instead, I let my hand slide down to grip the base of the blade firmly. At the same time, I closed the gap instantly and raised the black spear in my left hand with a short grip. The black blade clashed against his cruciform sword, locking all four weapons together.
Heathcliff tilted his shield to the left, letting my spear slide off the surface. The momentum pulled my body forward—straight into the side of his heavy shield, swinging toward my face.
"Kh—!"
At the last millisecond, I recoiled and caught the lunging shield with my knee. My lean leg couldn't stop the force, but I used the momentum to spring backward and create distance.
"Hmm... your reaction time is equal to Kirito's. You also possess a sharp tactical wit—it only makes me want you in our guild more."
"I'll take that as a compliment. Here I come!"
We kicked off the ground simultaneously, colliding head-on. Every thrust from my right spear was met by his shield; in turn, my left spear constantly parried his sword strikes.
Though it looked like a deadlock, I had a sliver of hope. He likely hadn't noticed it yet. To turn that hope into a win, I had to force him into absolute defense!
He was human, too. If this high-speed mental and physical strain continued, he would hit his limit. That limit—where he would inevitably try to break the stalemate with a "Shield Bash"—would be the moment of truth. Until then, I couldn't let up.
Widen your vision. Don't miss a single twitch. Increase the attack speed. Strike his sword harder! More, more, more, and more!
Color began to drain from my world. Sounds drifted further away. The silent, close-quarters combat—fought at a range even tighter than the spear's length—slowed into a long, drawn-out scene. In this state—!
I began integrating "Counters" into the flow, something I hadn't used while we were trading blows evenly. My right spear attacked relentlessly while my left expertly manipulated his sword, parrying and immediately following through with counter-thrusts.
As expected of him, Heathcliff caught onto the rhythm of my counters after a few exchanges. He switched from standard slashes to lunging stabs that were harder to counter. But this was still too easy!
I parried every silver thrust he sent. In my hyper-focused state, having seen Asuna's "Lambent Light"—the fastest blade in Aincrad—so many times, his stabs seemed slow enough to make me yawn.
Gradually, my left spear stopped countering and began crushing his attacks at the moment of their inception. Before I even realized my reaction speed had surpassed his, the moment I had been waiting for arrived.
"—— Nn!!"
He shifted into a "Shield Bash" stance, turning his massive cruciform shield sideways. But before his shield could lunge—my spears ignited with the light of a Sword Skill.
"Ooooooooooo——!!"
The 15-hit dual-spear combo, "Meteor Storm Glanzer." A barrage of strikes like a falling meteor shower hammered the pristine white shield. He had no choice but to remain on the defensive until all fifteen strikes concluded. I poured every ounce of my strength into the skill.
4—5, 6—!
Stabs and slashes erupted from my right and left spears—I hammered them into that shield without mercy.
8—9—10!
As I reached the final five strikes, I felt a slight change in the sensation of the impact. With each following hit, that feeling grew clearer and stronger. Simultaneously, Heathcliff's expression began to shift.
—Too late to realize it now!
"I've got him——!!"
With that certainty, I unleashed the final strike—a thrust with everything I had!
But suddenly... my world stopped. Or rather, his world did.
It was as if time had been cut. Like watching a video skip a frame, the sequence of space broke, and Heathcliff's body slid sideways.
My final strike pierced empty air. The emerald aura shattered into light particles. In return, a blade glowing with a brilliant crimson light carved through my body.
Our HP had been gradually chipped away during the fight. My bar, which had barely been green, instantly flashed yellow. At that exact moment, the final whistle blew.
"Hah... hah... ——!"
What just happened? I winced at a sharp pain deep in my head and looked up at Heathcliff. I was on the ground; he stood over me. He didn't say a word to the loser. But unlike before the fight, he looked at me with the sharp gaze one reserves for a formidable enemy. Then, the "Holy Paladin in Red" turned and walked away.
●○●○●
When Heathcliff stepped inside the stadium tunnel, he stopped abruptly at the sound of a "crack." He looked down at the shield in his left hand.
The cruciform shield that had withstood the furious assaults of two Unique Skill users now bore deep, jagged cracks.
It wasn't fatigue from back-to-back battles. This shield, which had blocked the attacks of countless Floor Bosses, was something he took pride in; it shouldn't have been easily damaged, even by a Unique Skill. Looking at the timing... it had to be that boy with the twin spears.
"No spear can pierce Heathcliff's shield." That was an achievement no boss or elite player had ever accomplished.
It was hard to believe, but with terrifying precision, the boy had focused every single strike on the exact same point on the shield. He had been on the verge of literally breaking through it. In fact, if Heathcliff had tried to block that final fifteenth strike normally, both he and his shield might have been pierced through by that grey spear.
"The second hero who shouldn't have existed... I didn't expect him to go this far."
●○●○●
Two days later, Asuna and Alice visited Kirito and me on the second floor of Egil's shop, which we were using as a temporary shelter. Their reason for coming was obvious. We put on the equipment Asuna had brought and stood before the mirror, staring in disbelief at our own reflections.
"..."
"How long are you going to keep scowling? Asuna said it looks great on you, didn't she?"
"That isn't the issue. Well, maybe it's part of it, but—"
In place of my usual grey coat, I now wore the uniform of the Knights of the Blood (KoB)—a blinding white tunic adorned with a stark red cross. I began the trek toward headquarters alongside Kirito and Alice, though Asuna had gone ahead.
"Are you still bitter about losing to the Commander? That isn't like you."
"But... I was so close! If that last strike had connected, the result definitely would have—"
"I've heard this enough. If you aren't satisfied with the outcome, challenge him again later. Stop acting pathetic and quit dragging the weight of your defeat behind you."
As I grumbled, Kirito—walking beside me—let out a small laugh.
"Still, when I think about how the openings I created during my fight paved the way for you to almost shatter his shield, I feel a bit of regret too. Right, Alice?"
"That's... true, I suppose. Hmm, Asuna?"
I looked up at Alice's words. She was walking in front of us, pointing toward the main gate where chestnut hair swayed in the wind. Asuna was waiting for us.
"Thanks for waiting, Asu— wait, did something happen?"
Asuna looked just as annoyed as I had been moments ago. She delivered the message from the Council.
"According to guild regulations, all new recruits must undergo training led by the squad leaders of each site. It's a competency test to measure your abilities."
"And they're asking these two to take that test as well?"
Asuna nodded silently. Alice covered her face with her hands in exasperation.
"The Commander already saw their strength in the duels. There's no need for this. I told them that, but they insisted it was the 'rule.' I'm sorry, guys."
"Is this training just a one-time thing?"
"Yes. Fortunately, they haven't interfered with daily floor-clearing operations."
Since the other side had made some concessions, a stubborn refusal might put Asuna and Alice in a difficult spot. I decided to just accept it as a single day of nuisance.
"Fine. We lost the duel and joined the guild... let's just get this over with."
"Right. I'll head out then."
We split up. Kirito headed for the West Gate while I went toward the East Gate, where our respective squad members were waiting.
"I apologize as well. I didn't expect them to be so rigid."
Alice followed me to see me off. I noticed the corners of her mouth twitching upward slightly.
"You look happy for some reason."
"Ah... no, I mean—I realize the timing is bad, but as you said, I am a little happy. Until now, the title 'Beater' followed you both everywhere, and you faced baseless slander. I secretly hope that by fighting alongside others, those misunderstandings will fade. I hope the Knights of the Blood becomes a place where you can feel a little more at ease."
It was true that the guild members I had fought with during boss raids or missions treated me like any other player, even if we weren't close friends. There is a saying that facing death together reveals the truth. Perhaps that was it.
"Then I'll have to be a model student this time."
"Just try not to get distracted by rare monsters and cause trouble for the other members."
"Yeah, yeah—I'm going."
Two players stood by the East Gate. I approached them with a bit of tension, knowing I'd be fighting at their side for the day.
"Ah... I'm the new recruit, Mitsuki. It's a pleasure to meet you."
I tried to offer a polite greeting, but no one responded. I clearly wasn't welcome. Instead, a tall man—evidently the squad leader—began explaining the training details.
"Our squad will head to the Labyrinth area on the 55th Floor via the Eastern path. We will meet Commander Godfrey's team in front of the Labyrinth, then penetrate it together as a six-man party to reach the 56th Floor. To evaluate your crisis management skills, I am confiscating all your crystals."
"All of them? Even the Teleport Crystal?"
"That is what I said, isn't it?"
Confiscating healing or detoxification crystals was one thing, but the Teleport Crystal was a lifeline. I started to protest politely, but I stopped when I saw the other member handing over his crystals without a word.
As I pulled items from my storage, I considered hiding one of each type since the menu isn't visible to others. However, fearing he might ask me to make my inventory "visible" for a check, I surrendered everything honestly. Seeing how thoroughly he checked the bag, I realized I had made the right call.
"Let's move then. Don't fall behind."
The irony of that statement—coming from someone far below my level and stats—made me let out a small sigh. Thus began my first mission after joining the Knights of the Blood.
●○●○●
Meanwhile, back at the guild headquarters, Alice and Asuna were waiting anxiously. Asuna was practically glued to the map screen, monitoring their positions via the friend-tracking feature.
"Asuna... don't you think you're being a little overprotective of Kirito?"
"Ouch, that hurts. But aren't you worried? Like, whether they can get along with people other than us..."
"And why are you assuming I'm worried about Mitsuki?"
"Huh...?"
"Eh...?"
A sudden silence filled the room.
"I never said anything about Mitsuki... hooo?"
"W-what is that look? And why are you getting so close?!"
Alice realized she had walked into a trap. She turned her face away from Asuna, who was now wearing a mischievous, knowing grin.
"I've been thinking about this for a while. Alice, you love Mitsuki, don't you?"
Alice stood up so abruptly her chair screeched against the floor. Her fair cheeks flushed a deep crimson. An answer wasn't even necessary.
"W-what are you saying?! M-Mitsuki and I... l-love... no. I mean, if you mean I admire him as a person—!"
"I don't mean that. I'm asking if you see Mitsuki as a girl sees a boy. As a romantic partner."
"I... I know nothing about matters of love. Is what I feel for Mitsuki... truly... love?"
She asked the question shyly. In the next moment, Asuna gripped Alice's shoulders firmly.
"To find out, tell me how your relationship started!"
Alice felt flustered by her best friend's intense curiosity, but she began to tell the story of their meeting to change the mood.
"And that's what happened..."
After Asuna's thorough interrogation, Alice ended up confessing not only their first meeting but all her memories with him. Asuna crossed her arms and reached a single conclusion.
"Yes, there's no doubt. That is 'love.'"
"L-love...?"
"I'm sorry, Alice. It seems I underestimated your feelings for Mitsuki. This has gone past admiration. This is love!"
"Asuna, you're being too loud!"
In SAO, rooms offered a degree of acoustic privacy as long as the door was shut, but screaming could still bleed through. If someone overheard, the Vice-Commander's dignity would be shot.
"Listen, why don't you just confess to him? From my perspective, Mitsuki seems to think quite highly of you, too."
"I think... it's better if I don't."
When Asuna asked why, Alice began to speak her heart slowly.
"Mitsuki carries so much on his shoulders right now. The souls of those he couldn't save, the hatred of survivors, and the cruel words of fools who believe the rumors. He accepts it all as if it's the punishment he deserves. Even though he worries about Kirito, who is in the same position, he neglects himself to an extreme degree. That man is far too hard on himself."
"That's true. I feel it, too. Mitsuki and Kirito are definitely hiding things from us. They hide them so we don't worry."
"It might be easier if he just confessed everything. But I don't want to burden Mitsuki with my selfish feelings right now. So, at the very least, I want to be the person he can safely lean on when he's about to collapse. If I can support him as his partner... that is enough for me."
"Alice..."
"When Mitsuki asked for my help during the 74th-floor boss battle—when he asked me, not Kirito or Asuna—I was so happy. For the first time, I felt like I had become someone he could rely on. I have to work harder because of that feeling. His back, which I thought I was finally getting closer to, feels like it has moved away a little again."
Asuna hugged Alice tightly, moved by her smile.
"Ah... what is it?"
"Alice, I'll work hard, too. I'll do my best to support Kirito and the others—so that one day, you can properly tell Mitsuki how you feel."
"Asuna... thank you."
●○●○●
Back in the field, Mitsuki's squad was moving through a small canyon. We encountered a few monsters along the way, but for someone like me, who stayed prepared for the front lines, 55th-floor mobs were nothing more than trash. I was killing them with a single spear thrust before the leader could even issue an order.
"At this rate, we'll reach the Labyrinth in fifteen minutes."
Thirty minutes had passed since we left the city. I sighed internally at the slow pace. If I were with Kirito—or if we just ran—we would have arrived long ago. But the leader, who carried a massive greatsword, was excessively cautious.
Well, prioritizing safety isn't a bad thing, I thought, opening the map idly. Thanks to my mastered "Scanning" skill, any monster within a hundred meters would appear on my map. I was trying to cooperate with the cautious leader, but then...
"Wait... what?"
The moment I ran a wide-range scan, I thought I saw a single orange marker for a split second at the five o'clock position.
I stopped walking and turned immediately, staring at the top of the cliff. If their hiding skill was only average, I would have spotted them, but I saw no trace of players.
"Hey, what's the hold-up?"
I explained the situation to the leader. He just mocked me. "I doubt anyone has the guts to commit crimes on the floor where the guild headquarters is located." Logically, he was right; the marker might have been a ghost or a glitch. Still, I asked for permission to check the clifftop alone.
"You'll cause us trouble if you keep acting like a reckless solo player. We are in training; you follow my orders. Even if someone is there, they're no match for us."
PKers who committed crimes on the middle floors were usually low-level, as killing players granted no experience. However, they couldn't be underestimated if they compensated for stats with stolen high-tier gear. The leader knew this, yet he prioritized the training routine.
Should I ask for the Teleport Crystals back? No, if I pushed him further and created friction, our guard against external threats would only drop. I had to back down.
I continued moving, running wide-range scans periodically as a form of silent protest. Not wanting to be distracted by the map, I wiped out every monster in our path. I'm not sure if that was why, but we arrived safely at the meeting point in front of the Labyrinth.
"The other team... hasn't arrived yet. We'll take a break until they do. I'll hand out the rations."
He tossed me a bag containing dry city bread and a bottle of water. Compared to the sandwiches Asuna made, this was tasteless. I sighed in disappointment.
I uncapped the bottle and checked the map, activating my friend tracking. Kirito's location appeared—he was the only friend in the other group—but he was stopped about halfway. If that massive axe-user I saw with Kirito was Godfrey, his speed was clearly hampered by choosing power over agility. Kirito was likely suffering over there, too.
As I thought this and took a drink... in that very second, the two squad members leaning against the wall and rocks collapsed to the ground. Before I could process what happened, a sudden weakness flooded my body. I fell, powerless.
I knew this feeling.
"Paralysis poison...?!"
A yellow status icon appeared next to my HP bar. Looking at the scene, the water I had just drunk was spiked.
"Hey, what is the meaning of this?!"
"I... I don't know! Kuradeel prepared the water...!"
The name struck me like a lightning bolt. I knew the other team consisted of Kirito, Godfrey, and Kuradeel. There was no way they were unaware of what had happened between that man and Kirito.
"Regardless, hurry! Use a Detoxification Crystal...!"
As I tried to tell the leader, a cold shiver ran down my spine.
"Well then, here's a question for you..."
I heard a voice and footsteps from behind. Simultaneously, two players wearing tattered brown rags appeared in front of the other members. Their markers were orange.
"Those two paralyzed idiots over there are about to die... but who exactly is responsible for their deaths?"
"That person" stopped as he stepped over my prone body, then crouched beside me and laughed gleefully.
"The correct answer is—you, Mr. 'Split Spear.' Or should I call you 'Dual Spears' now? Though you only have one out right now."
"Tch... Ryugi...!!!"
"Oh, I'm glad you remember me. We didn't get to meet when the raid group attacked us. If you had forgotten me, I would have killed everyone here out of sheer sadness. You should thank Mr. Split Spear's memory, you understand?"
He addressed his words to his two orange companions, not the guild members. His friends laughed. The orange marker I saw in the canyon wasn't an illusion. Along with the distance, they used those rock-colored rags to boost their hiding stats and bypass my "Scanning" skill!
"Are you planning to take revenge for the destruction of 'Laughing Coffin'...!"
"Hardly. To me, 'Laughing Coffin' was just a fun place to play. Despite their numbers, there were very few I actually got along with. And those few... you threw them in the dungeon. I have no one left to talk to, and I've been bored to death."
I couldn't read any malice or hatred in Ryugi's expression as he toyed with a dagger. In fact, his lack of readable intent made me feel an instinctive revulsion.
"Then I heard a rumor that Mr. Split Spear joined the famous Knights of the Blood. So, I grabbed some 'friends' and came to see you ahead of schedule. So, how have you been since then? Do those scenes still play in your dreams? Does the memory of those fools dying suddenly strike you? Do you wish you could forget it all?"
"How... could I ever forget...!!"
"Haha, exactly! Otherwise, how could a guy like you—who pretends to be a hero of justice despite being a Beater—kill five people in that raid? I felt relieved hearing that. You really do have the talent."
Ryugi snapped his fingers. The two companions standing over the leader and the other member drew their weapons, waiting for the signal. Seeing this, the leader shouted:
"Y-you bastards... what do you think you're doing?!"
"Huh? You're saying that in a situation like this? The guild really is short on talent. It saddens me to see an idiot like you sent to the front lines."
At Ryugi's gesture, a blade fell onto the back of the groaning leader. The wound caused by the serrated, saw-like blade was different from normal injuries; it flickered with a red and black light. He was inflicted with the "Bleed" status. His HP began to tick down like poison, but unlike poison, it wouldn't fade over time. Unless he used a specialized bandage or potion to stop the bleeding, the damage would persist.
Worse, the "Bleed" status was stackable. More wounds meant a faster death.
"I'm a nice guy; I'll give you time for your last words. Go on, nothing to say? If you stay silent, this man will just keep hacking at you until you die."
The player holding the saw had bloodshot eyes and waited for Ryugi's signal like a rabid dog—in fact, he looked ready to lunge even without it.
"Tch... if you don't want to be thrown in a cell, leave now! Commander Godfrey will be here any second...!"
Before he could finish, the blade fell again. A new wound, and a stacked Bleed.
"Are you serious? Ah, here's a question—why hasn't Commander Godfrey arrived yet?"
Ryugi asked with bored indifference. The leader said nothing. Either he didn't know the answer, or he knew it and refused to believe it.
"I told you, I recruited some friends. He must be enjoying his time over there right now."
Friends... he means Kuradeel. It was hard to believe he had been with them since the 74th floor. They must have exploited his hatred for Kirito after that incident.
(Dammit, how many minutes has it been?! Hasn't the poison worn off yet...!)
Status effects from poisons usually fade after five minutes, but if it was a Level 5 (Maximum) paralysis poison, it was a different story. One dose could paralyze a player for ten full minutes. I had an antidote, but I couldn't move my body, and I didn't know what they would do if I made a reckless move.
"Alright, let's start Round 3!"
The blade fell a third time. With three stacks of Bleed, the rate of HP loss was terrifying even for a front-line player. The leader's HP bar slipped into the red.
"W-what do you want?! What is your goal?! Don't you want to go back to the real world?!"
"Oh, so many questions. I can't answer them all at once. Let's see..."
Ryugi feigned thinking. Meanwhile, the leader's HP was ticking away moment by moment. He was going to die.
Suddenly, my eyes met the leader's. He said nothing, but I felt a message.
(I leave the rest to you.)
I felt like I actually heard his voice.
"Hmm, in the end—does a Player Killer (PK) really need a reason? That justification ends everything. So, that's how it is."
"Tch, stop—!"
My voice rang out in vain as the fourth strike fell. The serrated blade sank into the leader's neck. The blade moved back and forth a few times, the head rolled, and the severed body exploded into blue polygons. Simultaneously, the crystals he had confiscated from us scattered on the ground as inherited items.
"Oh... ohhh...! Amazing, so this is what it feels like to butcher a human! This is insane!"
The player who killed the leader didn't look at the items. He was screaming in ecstasy, wearing a delirious expression. He wasn't a normal human. The word "serial killer" flashed through my mind.
"Haha! The raid group probably thinks they silenced 'Laughing Coffin' for good with that attack. But didn't it occur to them that there would be remnants? These two are the craziest of the bunch. I told them: since we're in a game, why not try ways of killing you can't do in reality? Do you know what they said? They said they wanted to try hacking a person to pieces just once. Funny, isn't it?"
Ryugi's words weren't funny; they didn't even sound like a joke. The saw-wielder lunged toward the other guild member—a one-handed sword user.
"Hey... stay back! Stay away from me!"
"Hah, wait a bit. We'll have fun later. It's time for the long-awaited last words. Got anything to say?"
Despite their agitation, the saw-wielder and his companion stopped as Ryugi ordered. The sword user began searching for any words that might save him, thinking this was his only chance.
"I-I'll give you money! And all my items! So please...!"
"Hmm, items are fine, but money is useless to us. We can't enter cities, remember?"
"Tch... then... then that person! Kill Mitsuki first! He's a 'Beater'! He must have useful items for you!"
"Wow, selling out your guildmate that easily? Where did that elite pride go? Well, he said it, so what should we do, Brother 'Split Spear'? Should we kill you first?"
"Do what he said. Kill me first."
I was the highest level here, and I didn't think these killers surpassed Ryugi. Thanks to the time the leader had bought, at least three minutes had passed since I started timing the poison. I didn't know the exact level of the paralysis, but if I could endure their attacks for seven more minutes...!
As I gathered my resolve, I didn't notice—lying prone as I was—Ryugi's cruel smile.
"Sacrificing yourself for someone you barely know, who sold you out without hesitation? Is that the essence of a hero? I can't let a hero like that die in a place like this, can I?"
He snapped his fingers. Immediately, the sword user's scream pierced my ears. When I opened my eyes—which I had closed instinctively—I saw the sword user pinned to the ground by the massive greatsword that had belonged to the leader.
"Hey... hey, what are you doing?! I told you to kill me! Come here!"
"Alright, today's main event! The 'Butchering a Knights of the Blood Member' show begins! First—the right arm!"
His arm was forced up, and the saw fell. With every movement of the serrated blade, an agonizing scream echoed through the canyon.
"Aaaaaagh! Stop! I don't want this! Nooooooo! Save me! Help me! I'll apologize! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
I watched the player's limb being hacked before me, red damage effects scattering like real blood. I heard the pleas and the sobbing. I strained with everything I had to move my left arm, which was finally starting to respond. Nearby sat the "Detoxification Crystal" that had fallen from the leader's bag.
(Just a little... a little more! Please... let my hand reach in time...!)
Ryugi must have noticed my struggle, but he did nothing to stop me. He seemed to enjoy watching my struggle and desperation. Regardless, I couldn't stay silent while someone was being murdered. Just a little more—if I could just touch it with a fingertip...!
My fingertip finally brushed the crystal.
"Detoxify——!!"
The green crystal shattered, and the paralysis vanished. I tried to sweep Ryugi's legs as I drew my spear from my back, but he dodged the movement. But my priority wasn't him—it was those butchers!
"Ooo—— Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
I lunged forward with incredible speed, staying low to the ground, and drove my spear toward the saw-wielder's throat. The grey blade sank deep, and a muffled groan escaped his throat.
I swung the spear, throwing the man's body into his companion. Both crashed into a nearby tree and stopped moving. I repositioned my spear. The most dangerous enemy was still there.
"Oh, it seems I talked too much. Time flies when you're having fun."
"Fun, you say... don't mess with me. Player lives aren't games for your entertainment...!!"
"Excellent. That look gives me the chills I like. But not yet. A little... just a little more and it'll be complete."
"Stop this nonsense——!"
As I prepared to charge Ryugi, he smiled gleefully. At that same moment, I felt a movement behind me.
I stopped abruptly, gripped my spear in a reverse hold, spun, and threw it with all my might!
The two-handed spear throw skill, "Meteor Impale." That red meteor—the reason I was nicknamed 'Split Spear'—pierced through the bodies of the two killers who were trying to finish off the dying sword user.
Due to the massive level gap and taking a full-power Sword Skill, their HP plummeted instantly. Their bodies shattered into digital fragments without a sound.
"Hyo—a magnificent double kill. I've seen something beautiful today. I'll withdraw for now. I'll come to see you again."
"Tch, wait——!"
I tried to pursue the fleeing Ryugi, but something grabbed my foot. I looked down; it was the sword user. He had lost his left arm and was in a pathetic state, staring at me with a pleading gaze.
Should I save him? I'd lose Ryugi if I did. But...!
"Dammit!"
I slapped my own face to regain focus, choosing to save the life in front of me.
"Please... help... me..."
"Wait, I'll help you now...!"
First, the Bleed status. It could be fixed with a Hemostatic Potion, but I didn't know if his HP would last long enough for me to pull it from storage and make him drink it. I didn't even have time to check the rate of loss. So, healing first.
I made the decision in less than a second, searching for a pink crystal among the leader's scattered items. Fortunately, I found a "Healing Crystal" nearby. I grabbed it and pressed it against his body.
"Hea——"
Thwack.
Before I could finish the activation word, I felt a small shock. A small dagger was buried in the man's head. It was Ryugi's final, parting gift using the "Throwing Dagger" skill.
—al. If I had managed to voice that last syllable, he would have lived. I was stunned by the flying dagger, but I hadn't intended to stop speaking.
Yet, mercilessly, his body exploded in my arms. The Healing Crystal, having failed its task, fell to the ground with a dull thud.
The sound of laughter echoed from somewhere far away, ringing obnoxiously in my ears.
●○●○●
When his marker disappeared from the map, Alice caught her breath. She stopped running and tried to calm her panic. He had indeed vanished from the map, but the name Mitsuki was still present on her friend list. He must have returned to the city using a Teleport Crystal.
Wondering where he might go, Alice pulled out her own crystal and warped to the 59th Floor, Danac, worried about Asuna who must have met up with Kirito.
Alice brushed off the teleport dust and scanned the plaza. She saw a back wearing the white and red uniform heading deep into the city. She followed.
She found him at the end of a crowded alley. He was near his house—and at that moment, a man stepped out from behind a building to face him.
"Hahaha! Finally back, Mr. Mitsuki! This time, you're going to give me information on the 'Dual Spears' skill!"
It was the man from the information agency, still stubbornly watching the house. Alice stepped forward to intervene.
"Quiet."
"Of course I'll be loud! This is news about a Unique Skill that's been secret for too long! Hahaha!"
"Shut up..."
"Mitsuki?"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up... don't laugh... in front of meeeeeeeeeeee!!!"
Mitsuki grabbed his ears in agitation, then suddenly drew his spear and raised it toward the man!
Clang!
The spear didn't hit the man; it was parried by a silver sword that intervened with the speed of the wind.
"Get a hold of yourself! You aren't the kind of person who does things like this!"
The information broker fled, trembling with fear, hiding behind Alice. The spear that Mitsuki had swung with all his might now held no power. The emerald blade fell to the ground.
He seemed to regain some awareness, but he turned his back without looking at Alice.
"Wait! What happened to you?!"
No answer.
"Mitsuki!"
Before he could enter the house, Alice grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. She lost her voice. His eyes, which never met hers, were dark and sunken in a deep, hollow gloom. Alice had seen those eyes only once before, in the distant past.
"How..."
Alice lost her strength, and her hand slipped from his shoulder. Feeling free, he opened the door and entered silently.
"Wait—"
Her reaching hand didn't find him. Only the sound of the door closing remained.
(Why... won't you say anything to me?)
Alice walked back with heavy steps, feeling a sense of despair. She called out that she would return in the morning.
When she reached her home and received a report from Asuna confirming her and Kirito's safety, Alice felt no relief. She struggled to respond when Asuna asked about Mitsuki. She simply replied, "His life isn't in danger," and wondered if that was enough.
She forgot to eat dinner and spent hours hugging her knees on the bed until she realized it was past midnight. Alice finally decided to sleep and lay down.
Suddenly, a system message appeared in her field of vision.
— Mitsuki has been removed from your Friends List —
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