Chapter 9

Floor 22

Oct 24 2024 1550

Obsidian Caverns

Agil was at half health as he dodged another dagger strike. It was going all too smoothly, then the PK's struck, in of all places, the boss room.

"I should thank you for visiting, I haven't had a kill in a long while." A familiar redhead with whip blades was doing what seemed like a figure right with them.

In the middle of the room appeared a grim reaper looking type NPC. Complete with scythe.

[The Fatal Scythe] appeared as it's name and five health bar's filled.

S0l0 gawked a moment before moving for the door. In one swing five PK's were downed.

"Kill it!" Rosalia charged. The boss then disappeared.

"Where-" A scythe blade came from the opposite wall and killed a few more of Titan's Hand.

Asuna blocked a PK's strike against Liz only to have the PK turn to pixels.

A familiar looking girl with kick blades smiled at her as she flip kicked another PK aiming at Silica.

The kickboxer went from PK to PK. But she was trying to help get her new guild out. When they were almost out they ran into a raid party, lead by Legion. The fifty plus group let the players in S0l0 colors pass with barely a notice.

Soren looked angry as she landed a heavy blow on a knife wielder.

"JUSTICE!" Soren screamed.

"Tana!" Ducker pulled her back and behind him.

A player in Army colors pulled all of S0l0 that was present to the back of the raid group.

"A boss just appeared-"

"[Hard Point Jester]?"

"No. [The Fatal Scythe]."

"We have no data on that one."

"What did it do?"

"It started on the closest players."

"Which was the PK's."

A few PK's ran and put their hands up.

"We give-"

"You shall be judged."

"Yes. But they'll live." Soren gave a sharp look to the Army.

"Soren. They have up. Besides, it looks like these were press ganged into being a red player." A familiar looking male Commissar strode up.

"Fine."

The look Soren gave Lawton was arctic.

A corridor opened up and Kirito, Sinon, Ducker, and Yulier appeared.

"Thanks."

"We still owe you."

"Where's the squirt?" Liz looked confused.

"She turned out to be an AI." Sinon seemed to be holding something precious.

"Did you guys like my gift?" Ducker had a smug look.

"You did that?" Sachi looked at him dourly.

They heard screams as the doors opened again. More PK's died as a familiar red head with whip blades threw them down.

"I surrender."

"She's guilty of many crimes. Soren, she's all yours." Lawton smiled at both shocked looks.

"Rosalia of Titan's Hand. For the crime of murder and forcing others to commit the same crime, you are sentenced to death." Soren brought her hammer down on the red player that was already in the red healthwise. As the pixels shattered the rest of the red guild surrendered to the Army. As they were being bound and transported to the jail Soren walked up to Kirito.

"She goes to." She pointed to Tana.

"No, she's a green player." Kirito stood in front of her.

"I agree, she's green." Dredd stepped up and Legion went to a knee.

"But sir-"

"She defended her own and helped scout this place out. She's on probation." Dredd have a challenging look to Soren.

"As you will sir." She bowed her head.

"Now we can commit to beating the game." Kirito looked to Yulier and Dredd.

"What's he doing here?" A familiar looking spiky orange haired player pushed his way through. "Arrest that PK!"

"No." Dredd stood in front of him.

"Kibaou. Thinker is back at HQ." Yulier have him a hard look.

As he pulled his weapon he heard clicks and others pulling their weapons.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Ducker smiled. "She would love it if you did." He pointed to Soren.

Indeed Soren did have a smile.

"Yulier." Kirito looked to her.

She nodded to two of hers and one aimed his musket at Kibaou.

"Kibaou, you're under arrest. The charge is treason."

"You're taking the word of a beater over-"

"I was there." Yulier's response got everyone's attention.

"Oh I see what this is…" Kibaou backed up.

He then rushed Yulier and some Army rushed to defend her, but when he went past her his true target was Kirito. He nicked Silica and turned orange, he didn't have a chance as a hammer came down and Soren aimed her pistol.

"For the crimes of treason against your guild and the attempted murder of a guild leader, your sentence is death." She shot him and he was no more.

"Damn...why..?"

"I guess he didn't want to be put in the same prison as he had put others there." Yulier had a sad look.

"Let's get this wrapped up…" Agil looked to the raid party.

xXx

Floor 45

Nov 5 2024 1420

Mountain of Fury

Silica and Kirito were at the base of the volcanic mountain. One other person was there in red samurai armor sans helm.

He pulled his nodachi and waited.

"Are you guys sure you want to get this egg?"

"Yes Klein. We have a frost, and my onee-chan wants a fire." The swordsman in black smiled.

"Kirito, Silica, you're both nuts." Klein charged getting the dragon's attention.

Quickly Kirito vanished, leaving the little tamer to backup Klein.

She rushed in and planted a few dagger strikes. Klein landed some good swings and dodged a gout of fire as the dragon breathed.

Silica landed behind the head and loosed her shot, and humped off as the angry fire breathing reptile tried to buck her off.

When they saw Kirito they bolted. The angry mass of scales rushed after them only to be met by players in Holy Dragon Alliance colors.

"Tell me you didn't?" The sergeant looked to a smiling Kirito.

"Yup, we did. I suggest you run with us."

"We were after that egg."

"After it's trai-"

"We aren't selling her." Silica's tone said it was final.

"I guess she stays with us. Are you going to argue now or run?" Kirito and Klein were farther away with Silica.

"Fine. Retreat!" The Alliance sergeant shook his head.

When they were far enough away Kirito looked to a happy Silica.

"Hey! We still have business with you."

"It's not our fault you didn't get here sooner." Kirito stood like he was ready.

"True. But then we heard you took in a PK. We've heard many things."

"Don't. You have no idea what he's sacrificed to get this far."

"What has he sacrificed?"

"Floor 50." That's all the warrior in red had to say.

"That was a massacre." One of the others in the Alliance shuddered. "I was there. He was a meat shield for someone that was in Blood Oath."

"And he's done more." Silica spoke up. "My Onii-sama has protected players and passed information."

"Besides, we got here first."

"And we're leaving."

With that they transported out.

xXx

Floor 75

Nov 6 2024 1636

S0l0 Guild House

Asuna looked at Kirito and shook her head.

"No, I won't make anything nuclear."

"Aww please...I promise to get that one ingredient from floor 43…"

"Tempting, but...no."

"Please-"

"The others have to eat it too."

"I don't mind it spicy." The little tamer walked into the restaurant part of the guild house.

"Ugh…" Asuna threw her hands up in the air.

Silica have Kirito a wink.

"See-"

"You better get it." She pointed a spoon at him.

"Consider it done." The black swordsman smiled.

"I'll go with." Silica got up and walked up to him.

"Ok lets jet."

xXx

Floor 43

Nov 6 2024 2013

Banshee's Demise

The mob raised it's caplock musket and the undead finger pulled the trigger. The shot went wide and missed. Kirito appeared behind it and it's health bar evaporated as he let loose a flurry of strikes. Silica double jumped behind it as it turned to face Kirito. She pulled her pistol and pulled the trigger, causing the [Skeletal Musketeer] to vanish.

"Good one."

"Got another trash gunblade."

"Sell it cheap." Kirito shrugged.

"Is Sinon ok?"

"Yeah...she's getting everything ready for the next boss room. It's been found. What has me worried, there's nothing on this boss."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing. At all. Guess who is leading it?"

"Who?" Silica looked confused.

"Heathcliff."

"Will he still not drop below the yellow?"

"I guess so."

"What are we getting again?"

"[Explosive Root]."

"Oooo…."

"Super spicy heaven."

Two more mobs appeared and she looked over at them.

"Hono u~oden!" The same dog sized lizard appeared and breathed it's fire, the mobs screamed and wreathed in the white hot flames and they watched as the health bar's hit 0.

"Why the trump?"

"Felt like it." Silica stuck her tongue out at him.

" 'Some days you want to watch the world burn?' "

"Something like that."

"What's that?" The lizard was now following her as they walked.

"I don't know."

"With Titan's Hand being imprisoned or dead...can't be a PK."

"You never know."

"Check it out." The lizard went forward to only cock it's head in confusion.

"What's this?" Kirito looked over at the lizard and what it was looking at.

A red root twitched again.

"Found it." Kirito smiled.

"Why don't we go to that safe zone and camp out, it's been forever since we've done that…"

"Sure."

She giggled as they mounted up. As they were riding there was silence, but not an uncomfortable one.

xXx

Floor 43

Nov 7 2024 0455

Ghost Forest Safe Zone

The fire died down and Silica looked over to Kirito's sleeping form and smiled. 'I wonder why he didn't ask her sooner? But then again I knew it was going to happen…' She looked over at his left hand that has a gold ring on it. 'Maybe in another life we could've...but he see's me as a sister. I know I've gained something.' She then went down memory lane.

Floor 42

June 6th 2024 2255

Sapphire Fields

Sinon and Kirito looked at each other and smiled.

"That was a great hunt…" Agil stopped as he noticed Silica having a hard time to not giggle.

He then noticed Kirito and Sinon.

"Ducker, Sachi, Asuna, Silica, let's get some of this gear in the venders."

"Yeah, sure. Can you feel the lo-" Ducker started, but was elbowed by Sachi.

"I'll stay." Silica sat down as the others sans Kirito and Sinon mounted up.

"We'll send ya a message…"

When the others were gone and Kirito was looking at Sinon in a particular way did Silica smile.

They then heard a noise which caused them to look.

"This one ought to fight good."

"Yeah...my yowler is no joke either."

There in the distance was two players, both looked to be tamers.

"Boy, ya better put your money where your mouth is, or did ya write a check that your ass can't cash?"

"Oh your on."

Silica got a nod from Kirito.

"Don't have too much fun." Sinon shrugged.

They followed the other tamers till they found a natural bowl that was lined with spectators.

"IN THIS CORNER WE HAVE THE HOUSE CHAMPION GORGON THE BASILISK! AND IN THE CHALLENGER'S CORNER WE HAVE FROSTY THE CHIMERA! PLACE YOUR BETS!" The announcer was dressed in green and tan leathers and had a very normal companion with him, a boxer. The dog was lounging around by his owner. A bookie came over and looked at them. "Gonna get in the ring?"

"No." Kirito looked to Silica and then to the pit where the animals were at.

"GOING ONCE! GOING TWICE! LET THE FIGHT BEGIN!" When the announcer dropped his arm both tamers told their companions to fight.

Silica looked even more pissed and Kirito looked more grim as the fight went on. When the basilisk was going to look to be the winner, one would think they would call the match, but no. The lizard with the stone making stare tail slapped the chimera and shattered it. The owner looked pissed, but not too heart broken.

"God dammit...now i gotta catch another one."

Silica couldn't take it anymore. "That was your companion! Whats wrong with you?"

"Looks like we have another bleeding heart. All they are is just data sweetheart." The owner of the basilisk just shrugged his shoulders.

"You don't get it numbnuts. How you treat that 'data' is how you treat people."

"You want to have a go?" A dangerous tone was in the owner's voice.

"Sure, one on one. No animals." Silica looked to him and he smiled.

"You don't-"

"I'm your big brother. It's my job to make sure you're happy."

"IN THIS CORNER WE HAVE KIRITO! LEADER OF S0L0! AND IN THIS CORNER WE HAVE NAGASU OF DARK FOREST! PLACE YOUR BETS!"

As bets were placed the little tamer with the small blue dragonling took a seat.

"Here's the deal, I win, this gets shut down. Permanently."

"And is we win, we'll take all your money, and all of your animals."

"Deal." He sent over the duel request. It was accepted and they were in the small bowl of the arena.

[3]

Kirito got into the ready position. Nagasu pulled both of his pistols.

[2]

Kirito pulled both of his blades and waited.

[1]

Nagasu took aim and was ready to fire.

[Begin!]

He fired both of his shots only to miss completely, Kirito dodged to the side and then rushed the tamer. Nagasu dropped his pistols and pulled a dagger and a spare pistol and strafed. Kirito rolled to the side and scissored off one of his legs, his health dropped severely. Nagasu buried his dagger in his shoulder and then placed his pistol against his head and fired, his health dropped to the latter stages of the red.

"Say goodby." As Nagasu was going to make a killing blow, Kirito brought both of his swords in and cut off the arm that had the dagger and sliced through his midsection. As his health dropped to the red he summoned a [Dire Dragon-Wolf] and it ran to attack Kirito.

Silica summoned a [Wyvern Flame-Hatchling] and it breathed a gout of fire on the land based scaly quadruped with some fur. It then breathed a ring of white hot fire around the duelers effectively cutting off the attack of the now wounded [Dire Dragon-Wolf].

"Back off." Kirito cut off his other limb which brought him to ten percent of his health.

"I give."

"THE WINNER! KIRITO OF S0L0!"

"I called for some help." Silica was at his side as Sinon came up.

"Who?"

"The Army."

"I...I don't want to see you do that again...ok? Please promise me that you won't cut off people's limbs…"

"You got it."

Sinon handed him a health potion and then went up to Nagasu.

"Here's a health potion, seeing as you can't drink it yourself." She then put it to the guys lips and as his health rose did his limbs reappear.

"I wouldn't have done what you just did."

"Then learn from this. If I hear of you doing something like this again to anyone in S0l0, or anyone in general, I'll talk to Legion." When she saw him pale at that she left him.

Silica was petting the snout. "Good Hanguri-en(ハングリー炎)...good…" She gave him a treat which he snapped up eagerly.

"And I agree with her, no more dismembering."

Floor 43

Nov 7 2024 0545

Ghost Forest Safe Zone

She looked up as she saw him get up.

"Your turn for sleep."

"Thanks Onii-sama…"

As she laid down she then turned away from him as she heard him start to make some breakfast for himself.

'At least he stopped being so brutal…'

xXx

Floor 75

Nov 7 2024 1420

S0l0 Guild House

The representative of Blood Oath sat and looked at S0l0 with a constrained look.

"Listen, I don't like you guys. But our leader wants you with us on this raid. I don't know why, but he wants you there."

"You expect is to-" Kirito stopped Asuna with a gesture.

"What's in it for us?" This made the group quiet. "Will we actually be respected and be backed up? I remember floor 72."

"It's Heathcliff's order." The man in Blood Oath colors was all but biting the words out.

"So, answer the mans first question." Agil crossed his arms.

"...You will get first pick of any dropped items and all of the experience."

"That's not right or fair. Keep to the rules." Sinon gave a scathing look to the rep's surprised one.

"B-But-"

"I agree with Shino. But because he ordered it means he's short handed." Kirito put his arm around Sinon.

"Besides, it ought to prove something to the rest that will be there." Asuna had a hard expression.

"Yeah, that some of us are honorable." Ducker was messing with a watch.

"What's the info on the boss?" Sachi had a neutral expression.

"All we have is just a name. [The Skull Reaper]. All it says is that artillery is allowed."

"So there will be cannons and gatlings...I don't like this." Liz had a thoughtful expression.

"I'll have Nibbler as a backup." Silica smiled.

"Is he leveled up?" The rep looked to her.

"Yes, she is." Silica took some delight at the man's expression.

"Will we be riding in or-" Ducker was looked at with a confused expression by the rep.

"In case we need some backup for the boss, I'd rather have her for that." Silica got a nod of approval from Kirito.

"Then it's settled. We'll go. But treat us respectfully." Kirito looked to the rep.

"I will pass the message." The rep bowed his head.

"Want some food before you go?" Asuna offered some food in a bowl.

"Sure, what's in it?"

"A taste of home." She smiled.

Kirito bit into it and smiled, Silica the same. Agil, Liz, Ducker, Sachi, and Sinon bit in and put it down. They drained their waters quickly.

The rep took a bite and it felt like he bit onto a volcano. Quickly he was chugging his water.

"I told you, I don't like to make anything nuclear."

xXx

A/n: Any feedback will be appreciated. If need be tear it apart. Remember, theres no such thing as a bad review, as long as you explain the 'why'.