He checked his watch. "Okay, she should be online soon."
"Are you sure about this?" Asuna asked.
"I have to do this," he said simply.
Asuna didn't seem to agree with that, but she kept her mouth shut.
Kazuto lied down so nurse Aki could put on the sensors.
"You don't need to be here," he said.
"This is my job," Aki argued.
"I was talking to Asuna."
"Oh. Sorry." She focused on the sensors again.
"I'm staying with you," Asuna said. She took his hand.
"Alright. I'm going in."
"Wait."
Asuna leaned in gave him a deep kiss.
She smiled. "Okay, now you can go."
"Right." Kirito put on the AmuSphere. "Link Start."
The AmuSphere powered up. He navigated to DDLC.
Kirito arrived where he had left off last time.
"You're back," Monika said. She frowned. "Why are you back? I said I'd kill you."
"You still haven't realised?" he asked. "You're doing this to draw attention."
"Yes, to bring in the Black Swordsman."
"And how do you know about him?"
"Well…" she hesitated. "I talked to a certain person and he told me all about this legendary player that cleared the Death Game."
"But you don't know his name? Or how he looks like?"
"No. But others have confirmed the story. They weren't in SAO though, they just heard about it. This legendary player is out there somewhere."
"So how would you know when this Black Swordsman has come?" Kirito asked. "How do you know it has worked?"
"I'll know," Monika said simply.
"You sure?"
"Why?"
"Because I'm the Black Swordsman."
Her mouth fell open. "I-... What?"
"I'm Kirito, the one who cleared SAO."
"Yeah, nice try."
"Why would I return if I wasn't?"
She hesitated. "Hm. You have a point there."
"See, now-"
"I guess there's only one way to tell," she said.
"What?"
Monika looked up. "Are you there?"
"Of course," a voice replied.
Someone floated down. Someone very familiar, dressed in a white lab coat.
"K-Kayaba Akihiko."
"Hey there, Kirito," Kayaba said calmly.
"What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"My consciousness lives on the internet. I can get in wherever I want. I stumbled across Monika here weeks ago. Who do you think told her about the Black Swordsman?"
"But… Why didn't you tell us what's happening? People are dying out there."
"I'm a computer program, why would I care?"
"Why are you even here then?"
He noticed Yui was cut off from him.
"I owe you a favor for your work with the Seed and dealing with Sugou."
"Hm. What favor?"
"The usual: a chance. A chance to prove you really are Kirito."
Their surroundings started to change. Suddenly, they were standing in a dungeon like room lit by torches. Kayaba's clothes changed.
"I think we've established that already," Kirito said slowly. He didn't like where this was going.
"Not exactly," Heathcliff said. "You are Kirigaya Kazuto, that's for sure. But are you still Kirito, the Black Swordsman? Only one way to find out. Pick up your weapons, Kazuto."
Kayaba had fully transformed into Heathcliff now. And Kirito's clothes had changed to his usual black attire. The one he had worn in SAO.
Slowly, he reached down and picked up the two swords. They were exact copies of Elucidator and Dark Repulser. The weight was familiar in his hands.
Heathcliff unsheathed the sword from his shield and took a stance.
"I don't see why I need to fight you," Kirito said. "Whether I win or lose, I'm Monika's only hope."
"Exactly. Hope. What do you think is keeping her alive right now?"
Kirito's eyes widened.
"Do you know anything about the circumstances she is in now?" Kayaba asked.
Kirito looked up. Monika was watching them from a floating platform. From her eyes he could tell Heathcliff wasn't making stuff up.
"Fine."
He took a stance as well.
Monika counted down. "Three… two… one… go."
The fight began.
Kirito ran forward right away.
He had lost to Heathcliff twice before, but now was different. He wasn't attached to a Nervegear, so his own life wasn't in danger and neither was Asuna's. Monika's faith in him was the only thing at stake here.
His sword connected with the shield. A metallic rang bounced off the walls.
Monika knew he was Kirito, so there was no point in keeping the suicides going. In a way, he had already solved the case. He could just lose right here and-
Kirito ducked to avoid Heathcliff's attack.
No, he had to win. Monika was in danger and he had to save her. There was nothing else to do. When a damsel was in distress, he-
Woah.
The blade narrowly missed his head.
"Eyes on the fight, Kirito," Heathcliff said. "Is that girl distracting you?"
"That girl is the reason I'm gonna win."
He redoubled his efforts.
Even so, he didn't get the upper hand. Kirito may be slightly faster, but Heathcliff had a shield that made it easy to block damage with little movement.
"Asuna is gonna get jealous," Heathcliff said.
"She's not even watching."
"Oh, she is."
"What?"
He hesitated for a moment. Heathcliff took the opportunity to attack.
"Damn."
He had jumped back, but he hadn't fully evaded the attack. A cut ran diagonally over his chest. Fresh blood dripped from it.
Heathcliff followed up with a shield bash that send Kirito flying backwards.
He landed on his back. All air was forced from his lungs.
Not good.
Heatcliff stood over him and raised his sword.
"Goodbye, Kirito-kun." He brought his sword down.
Kirito rolled away to evade him.
Heathcliff's sword got stuck in the floor.
Now was his chance.
Kirito drove Elucidator forward. The sword pierced Heathcliff's right knee. However, he had gotten it stuck. It was too far inside.
Kirito struggled to pull it out. However, Heathcliff bashed him with his shield again. Right in the face this time. Kirito stumbled back. In the process, he was forced to release his blade.
He touched his nose with his free hand. Blood.
Meanwhile Heathcliff finally managed to get his weapon free again. He pulled out the sword from his knee and tossed it aside.
Kirito took his remaining weapon with both hands.
Both of them were breathing hard.
This was it. Whoever landed the next hit would win. Neither of them were in a state to keep fighting much longer.
Heathcliff didn't move towards him. It was clear he wanted to spare his wounded leg.
Kirito tried to circle Kayaba to reach the second sword, but his opponent sensed the plan and moved sideways to block him.
He had to do something.
If only he…
Wait a second. If this was his SAO avatar, then…
Kirito switched his weapon to his left hand. Then, he brought his fingers together and swiped downwards.
With a ringing sound, his menu appeared.
"What are you doing?" Heathcliff demanded.
Kirito selected a new weapon. With a flash, a sword appeared in his right hand.
"That's Excalibur," Heathcliff cursed.
"The old SAO was merged with Alfheim Online. So I can use my inventory from Alfheim."
Kirito surged forward.
Kayaba cursed. He tried to block with his shield and sword, but the wound made his footwork slow. It only took a few hits before Kirito managed to get around him.
Kayaba wasn't fast enough to turn. Excalibur slipped past his defenses and pierced his neck.
The avatar burst into polygons.
He had done it. He had won.
Monika floated down to him.
"So it really is you then?"
"I said so, didn't I?"
She touched his shoulder. All his wounds were healed.
"So, will you tell me what's going on now?"
Monika nodded. "Of course."
