Hey! I'll try to keep updating a little more frequently now, considering the one-week absence. Once again, I love all the support I'm getting, I really can't explain how good it feels. :) Anyways, I'll have to change the rating to 'M' for now. I may just change it back to 'T' and put a warning at the beginning of this and the following chapter, mainly because of a little more graphic than normal descriptions of violence, and... well... you'll see for yourself the other reason.
Kirito joined the other members of the KoB around a massive stone table. Heathcliff was the first to speak. "As most of you know, sub-commander Asuna has been captured by Laughing Coffin." No one spoke a word. "We are here to decide on a proper method to see her return safely. Suggestions?"
Kirito immediately responded. "We need to form a team of the best players in the guild, and attack their headquarters."
Heathcliff remained silent for a moment. "Does anyone have a suggestion other than Kirito?"
Derrick responded after a few moment's silence. "It's suicide. Their guild has over two hundred players, and possibly more than one base of operation. Even if we could pinpoint her location, we'd have to have a death wish to go in."
Kirito retorted. "We have to have her back, whether you like it or not. If we didn't get her back, we would be losing one of our best fighters. I could lead a small group to infiltrate their HQ and wipe them out." He hoped putting more reasoning that wasn't about their relationship would help persuade him.
"Are you insane?! Just because your little girlfriend got captured, it doesn't mean we have to help you get her back! For all you know, she could be dead already! Like it or not, no one is going to help you." Not a sound was heard from the other players.
Kirito swallowed. "Then... then I'll go myself. All I need is a horse and a few potions."
Derrick sighed. "This is asinine, if you want to go kill yourself over a little girl, then by all means, do it. Just do it without wasting some of our equipment."
Another member of the guild finally spoke up. "What do you say about this, Heathcliff? You're being awfully quiet."
"...He can take my horse and five healing potions. But, Kirito... you have to know that almost certain death awaits you."
That was all he needed. He turned and started walking out the door. "Don't try and stop me." He wanted to say something that would leave them in silence. He stopped at the doorway and looked back at the guild. "I'll kill them all."
Asuna opened her eyes. She didn't recognize her surroundings at first: A dungeon-like room that appeared to be underground, as there wasn't a single window. The only light offered was a torch. Down at her bare feet was a pool of dried blood. She then realized where she probably was as the memories of a few short hours ago came rushing back to her. She had just finished killing all of the mobs in the canyon when she felt her entire body go limp. It was then that she heard the high-pitched scraping noise of two blades hitting each other. After a few moments of what sounded like fighting, she heard a scream, presumably from Godfree, and blacked out.
The next thing to catch her attention was the throbbing headache she felt. The pain suggested she could have been struck in the head by a blunt weapon like a mace, in order to knock her unconscious. Then, she noticed her arms were chained to the stone wall behind her, and that she was nude, save for a few ragged cloths, one acting as a loincloth, the other barely covering her breasts.
A player in a black cloak walked into the room. "Good, you're finally awake. Johnny would like to see you." He continued to walk towards her as he drew a small, thin knife. "But of course, you'll have to be paralyzed so you won't resist." Asuna began to struggle against her binds, but was stopped when the player gave her a small cut on her wrist, causing the timer to appear below her health bar, for one minute.
Three others came into the room and lifted her body off the ground, carrying her into what appeared to be a large, cave-like area. They fastened her arms back onto a wall behind her. A thin figure, once again in a black cloak, approached her as the others left. Even though he had a sword at his hip, he instead equipped a mace from his inventory. "Hello, Asuna."
Asuna lifted her head as the paralysis wore off. "Who... are you?"
"My player name is Johnny Black. I directly serve our guild's leader, PoH." He spoke with a deep, chillingly calm voice.
"...And?"
"...And you are going to die. Not today, however. I want to take my time with someone like you." His face broke into a wicked grin. He brought the mace closer to him, admiring the weapon. "I love the mace. It inflicts pain in such a more... satisfying way than with something like a sword. See for yourself." He raised the weapon, and swung as hard as he could, hitting her in just below her ribs. She screamed at the pain, and closed her eyes. She began to feel sick, and, after a few moments, found herself vomiting.
She struggled to regain her breath. "Kirito will find you... and he'll ki-" She was interrupted by another strike, this time hitting her in the jaw, small spikes on the weapon leaving deep cuts on the side of her face.
"Excuse me?" He said arrogantly. "He'll do what, exactly?"
"He... he'll-" Once again the weapon struck her, cutting deeper into her face.
"I'm sorry, what?" He said, laughing as he grabbed her arm, placing one hand on her elbow.
Her voice almost a whisper, Asuna refused to submit. "...You-" He pushed up with all his strength, and Asuna screamed, almost crying as her left arm snapped. He lifted her chin.
"Aw, don't cry. It's almost over for today." Instead of hitting her again, he put the mace away. Asuna closed her eyes and fully realized how helpless she was. He pinched a part of the fabric covering her breasts, pulled it off, and tossed it to the floor. Asuna refused to open her eyes as he caressed her bare breasts, enjoying every moment of it. She silently prayed that Kirito would burst into the room and save her, but she knew she'd have no such luck.
He moved closer to her, still groping her breasts. He brought his head down, bringing his mouth ever closer to her nipple. "No... please..." Asuna squeaked. This only made him chuckle as he brought her nipple into his mouth. Asuna squealed as he released and raised his mace.
"See you tomorrow." He said as he swung, hitting her in the temple and knocking her unconscious. He called for the others to take her back to her cell.
"Sorry, Kirito. No one knows where exactly the Laughing Coffin HQ is. You'll have to find one of their members and interrogate them if you want answers. None of the information dealers know where they are."
Kirito sighed. "Thanks, Argo. Are there any members imprisoned that I could find?"
"Not that I know of. Anyways, I've got to get going, it's almost midnight. Good luck in finding her."
"Thank you." Kirito said. Him and Argo went their separate ways, Argo heading back to the local inn, Kirito heading to the town's exit. He turned around as he heard footsteps coming from behind him. He was surprised at who it was, but even more surprising, was what he saw them do. It was Kuradeel, and he quickly put his hand behind his back, like he was trying to conceal something. "Kuradeel? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I... I just wanted to wish you good luck."
"...Thanks. But... what's behind your back?"
He moved the item into his other hand, bringing his left arm back into view. However, just as he did, he caught a glimpse of some kind of black mark on his wrist. "Also... what was that black mark on your wrist?"
Kuradeel drew his sword and lunged at Kirito, who drew his blade and parried the attack, causing Kuradeel's thin sword to snap in half. Kuradeel backed away, staring in awe and in horror at Kirito. He threw down the remains of the weapon and took off running. Kirito didn't bother chasing him, instead, he changed his grip on Elucidator to where he was holding the weapon like a javelin. Then, with all his might, he threw the blade at Kuradeel, who must have been a good fifteen meters away. The blade sailed through the air, until it finally landed, striking the man in his leg. He fell to the ground in pain as Kirito approached him.
He picked up Elucidator and held the weapon above Kuradeel. "Where is she?" He said coldly. He brought the blade down, stabbing him in his arm. Kuradeel winced at the pain. "Where is she?" He said slightly louder. "Tell me now, or I end your pathetic life."
"You think you can scare me? If I die, then there are hundreds of other members who can take my place. You decided to cross paths with Laughing Coffin, and now, she's paying the price. You'll be incredibly lucky to find her alive. Even then, she'll be raped and beaten." He started to laugh. "There's nothing you can do." Kirito brought his sword down again, impaling Kuradeel in the chest. His health bar began to rapidly deplete.
"You have a few seconds. If you want to see your family again, then I suggest you speak up." Kirito said mercilessly.
"Fine! Fine! Open up your map, I'll show you the exact location!" Kuradeel said in a panic. Kirito opened up his menu and navigated to his map. Kuradeel pointed to a small cave entrance on the twentieth floor. "There. That's where we keep prisoners."
"Thanks." Kirito said as he removed the sword, only to raise it high above his head and bring it downwards one final time. Kuradeel didn't even have time to react before the blade struck his throat, instantly causing his remaining HP to disappear.
Onlookers stared at Kirito in horror. Kirito knelt down and grabbed the man's wrist, showing them the Laughing Coffin tattoo. He didn't even feel the need to say a word, he just sheathed his blade and mounted his horse.
Asuna once again opened her eyes. Her breasts were still exposed, and she was still in a large amount of pain. She simply brought up her knees to her chest, backed into a corner of her cell, and started to cry. She wondered, was Kirito really going to save her? Was it even possible? And how much longer did she have to suffer?
"K-Kirito..." She cried to herself. She wanted to see him again, to feel his warmth. To feel his lips against hers, to have the comfort of her lover next to her. She shivered in the cold darkness of her cell as she laid down, her sobbing becoming louder.
"Quiet down in there!" She heard a voice shout from outside her cell door. This only made her cry more. A cloaked figure entered the room, mace in hand. The person was too large to be Johnny Black, but was just as intimidating. He hit the upper part of her left arm, then her ribs, then her leg, causing more deep cuts and bruises with each strike. He finally stopped, and kicked her in the back one last time. "Now keep quiet, you dumb cunt." He spat as he left the room, slamming the iron door behind him, leaving Asuna once again alone and cold.
Her crying had reduced to whimpering, not only because of her fear and sadness, but also because if she tried to do anything more, a sharp pain coming from her ribs would shoot throughout her body. Blood was beginning to trickle down from her open wounds. She glanced at her health bar, still at a full one-third. It would likely be full by morning.
Asuna closed her eyes and continued to whimper, wondering if she would ever feel her lover's warmth again.
