Apologizes in advance.


It's been a month since the Christmas event. I've had my guys looking for "The Destroyer", but nothings popped up. I heard some commotion outside and went to investigate. I walked in on one of the guys killing our blacksmith. I grabbed some rope and threw it around his throat then reeled him in, as I placed my foot into his back and pulled harder on the rope. After awhile, he exploded and the rope dangled from my hand.

"What the hell is going on here!?"

"Smithy and Geoff were fighting over something, Smithy found." Philia said.

"What's so important about what the smith found?"

"Supposedly it's a smithing book. And only a skilled blacksmith can identify the book."

"Well, you've peaked my curiosity. Where is this book?"

"I think I heard them say it's in possession of a mercenary group."

"Professional courtesy be damned, I want that book. Find me that book." I turned to Philia. "Come along Philia. We need to acquire an asset."

Five minutes later

"So who are we looking for?"

"You are hunting for a skilled blacksmith."

"How will I know who's a blacksmith?"

"A spy spotted a highly skilled smith on the 50th floor."

"How will I know where they are?"

"Trust me, you'll know when you see them."

I saluted Philia as she walked into town.

While she was gone, I decided to get some more information about this book. I opened my menu and messaged The Don, a member of the Pact that was formed between me, him, a man named du Casse, and another man I never met.

"Hey Don, what do you about a Book of Blacksmithing?"

"There's common ones you can buy in shops. Then there's a unique one that requires a skilled smith."

"Latter."

"Not much, though I did hear that someone supposedly found it."

"And the name and location of the supposed founder?"

"Kage, fort on the 25th floor. I'll send the coordinates."

I messaged Philia and told her to take the smith to the 25th floor, and we'll meet outside of town.

"Here we go."

I bolted into town and jumped rooftop to rooftop until I was near the gate. I hit the ground and rolled into the teleportation gate, I called out my destination. Upon arriving on the 25th floor, I took to the rooftops again and made my way out of town. Philia was waiting for me near a big tree, while the smith unconscious at her feet.

"How'd you get her out without drawing attention?"

"I said she was drunk and I was escorting her home."

"Resourceful as always."

I propped the smith up against the tree and lightly patted her cheek.

"Wakey wakey pinky. We have work to do."

When she woke up and opened her eyes she started to panic, but I managed to put my hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

"If you try to call out for help, we will kill you. Understand?"

She shook her head and I removed my hand.

"What do you want with me?"

"I'm glad you asked. It's really quite simple, we need you to identify a book. But we don't have it, so you'll be accompanying us to its location."

"What's so important about this book?"

"That's classified. All you need to know is that if you cooperate with us, we will let you go. I promise."

Philia and I took the smith towards the fort.

"You're never gonna get with this. I know powerful people, who will hunt you al-"

SMACK!

I spun around and backhanded her, causing her to fall to the ground holding her face.

"You would do well to remember who's in control here, Liz. I will not tolerate being talked back to, or threatened. Even if it's an empty one."

Phillia helped her off the ground as I continued walking. After a couple of minutes, we arrived just outside of the fort.

Kai came up behind us a few seconds later and I pulled him aside.

"We found so information about the book. Apparently there are five of these books and they're suppose to be found on one of upper floors. Floors the Clearers have yet to clear, I'm talking 60 plus."

"So how do they have one now?"

"That's the thing. No one knows."

"So your telling me that somehow, a book from one of the higher floors, managed to find its way down here and no one knows how or why?"

"...Yes."

"Strange."

Kai and I went back to the girls before heading into the fort. The fort was eerily empty, so we stayed vigilant as we progressed through. At the end of the fort were three people. One looked like a leader and the others looked like guards.

"That must be Kage. Kai, you're with me. Philia, you stay with the smith."

Philia opened her mouth to say something then stopped herself when she thought about our situation.

"Give us five minutes, tops."

"You take Kage. I'll deal with the guards." Kai said as we drew our swords.

I charged towards Kage with Rage Spike, slashing his back, and threw a pick at the nearest guard.

"You must be Laughing Coffin's leader. It'll an honor to kill you." Kage said.

He ran towards me with his sword rised.

I rolled out of the way and blocked as he swung down on me. I pushed back and kicked him in the chest, knocking him back.

Once on my feet, we ran towards one another and clashed.

"Ugh, you're stronger than I expected." Kage said.

"And you're weaker than I expected."

I managed to grab his sword out of his hand, cutting his hand off, and started slashing him to pieces. He was on his knees with a sliver of health left, with a blade against his throat and another aimed at his heart.

"What are you waiting for? Do it!"

I plunged the sword into his heart while removing his head. I put his sword into my inventory and looked towards the table where a book was. The book looked ancient, nothing like a blacksmithing book and when I opened it, the pages were blank.

"Liz! Get over here."

Liz walked over and I tossed her the book. As soon as she grabbed the book and looked at it, it started to change.

"Is it a blacksmithing book?" I asked.

"It's a Master blacksmithing book."

I grabbed the book and flipped through it.

'Specialized armor, weapons. How to affect the design. There's a lot of interesting stuff in here.'

"You got what you wanted. You said you'd let me go once you had the book."

"Change of plans."

I snapped my fingers and Kai and Philia knocked Liz out.

"Take her back to HQ. And make sure her friends list is erased, if it isn't already."

As they walked away, I looked at the book one last time.

"Oh yes, she will be a great addition to Laughing Coffin. Once I condition her."


A few hours later, Lisbeth awoke in a strange room with her arms and legs tied to the bed. Kirito emerged from the shadows.

"Wha-? What's going on? Where am I?" She said.

Kirito was silent. Then he cracked a smile.

"Hell, my dear. You are in hell."

He walked closer to the bed.

"I'm gonna break you, hurt you in a way that doesn't leave any marks. I'm going to break your soul, and then build you back up again."

Kirito snapped his fingers and five men walked into the room.

"Go nuts, boys."

The men smiled and as Kirito left, there was the faint sound of zippers being unzipped.