October 20, 2024
Floor: 75
Collinia

After agreeing to the condition of the duel, Heathcliff said that the duel will be at Collinia. The people heard that there will be a duel between the commander of KoBO and the Black Swordsman Kirito, so they all gathered themselves here and waiting for the duel in anticipation.
At the back of arena
Asuna is scream at Kirito for his stupidity. While Naruto is crossing his hands and eyes leaning to the wall.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid... Why would you agree to that?... And you too Naruto, do you really think you could defeat the commander? He is a commander for a reason, you know"
She turn her head to Naruto to lecture him with a scowling face.
Naruto opens his eyes and turn to Asuna to say:
"He may not win against Kirito, so maybe I won't need to fight him. But if he does win, then..."
Suddenly, Naruto's eyes gleaming dangerous with so much bloodlust that Asuna and Kirito widen their eyes and take a step back.
"I will not hesitate to use my full power on him. In this world, only him and Kirito can force me to use my full power"
Then his eyes return to normal, Asuna and Kirito breath out in relieve. Asuna then turn to Kirito and say:
"When I see you use dual-wielding, I thought your strength was a tier on it's own. But the commander has a unique skill too..."
Kirito look ahead seriously and say:
"Yeah, I've seen a few times. Divine Blade, a skill that maximizes both attacks and defense. The increasing in attack is impressive, but the boost of defense even more so..."
"I've heard that his HP bar never even reach yellow zone" said Naruto look at the ceiling with serious face. Then he turns to Kirito and say:
"This will be tough, Kirito. Maybe even tougher then fighting bosses. But I believe in you. Also maybe watching your battle, I can find his weakness"
Kirito then looks up at Naruto and smirks:
"Yeah, I am not going down without a fight. I will try to expose his weakness as well. But it will be tough, I know for sure. His defense is practically impenetrable"
Naruto put his hand on Kirito shoulder and smiles:
"Just do your best!"
Kirito looks at Naruto determined and say:
"Yeah!"

At the arena

The people is cheering loudly for the two person stading at the middle of Arena. Kirito and Heathcliff standing face to face. Heathcliff says and looks around the arena at all the people that surround them.
"I am sorry, Kirito. I didn't realize this will be such a big deal"
"I receive a percentage of the entrance fee" said Kirito looking at Heathcliff.
"No. After our fight you will be a member of my guild, so is your friend Naruto. I'll treat this as a mission" said Heathcliff prepare to start a duel but Kirito interrupt him.
"About Naruto... Why did you challenge him to a duel? You knew perfectly well, that Naruto hasn't do anything in involving to take Asuna away, its all me. So why did you challenge him?" asked Kirito narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
Heathcliff looks at Kirito then Naruto, that is stand far away from them at the back and answer:
"That's right I know from the very beginning that Naruto-kun hasn't do anything in taking Asuna away. But I have a reason of my own to battle him. Also if l've manage to make Naruto-kun to join my guild too, then we will be unstoppable"
Heathcliff opens the menu and challenges Kirito to a duel. Kirito receives the invitation and press accept.
Naruto is watching at the both of them with serious face. The timer begin to tick and the count go down. Kirito prepares to unsheath both of his blades, while Heathcliff prepares to unsheath his blade from the shield. When the countdown went to zero, Naruto mutters:
"It's begun!"
With that Kirito rush at Heathcliff with impressive speed and stab forward. Heathcliff just raise his shield calmly to protect himself from the attack. Kirito begin to slash rapidly using both swords. But all the attacks were useless, as Heathcliff just blocks all with his shield. Seeing an opening in Kirito's defense, Heathcliff slash up at the opening force Kirito jumps back in surprise.
Naruto not taking his eyes even for a minute from the fight, continue to analyzes the battle:
"Not even a slightest opening in his stance. What will you do now, Kirito?"
Seeing Kirito jumps back, Heathcliff decide to change to offense and charge forward and using his shield to strike Kirito in the gut. The attack cause Kirito to fly back at a certain distance. Heathcliff continued to charge forward. Kirito grit his teeth angrily and activate Star Burst Stream to attacks rapidly. But Heathcliff just blocks all the strikes with his shield.
"Excellent reflects!" Heathcliff praise Kirito.
"You too. And that shield of yours is strong like hell" replied Kirito smirking back.
With that the two charge at each other with blurred speed and slash at each other. One trying to slash at each other and dodging the opponent's strike at the same time. Kirito increase his speed in the slash, but Heathcliff also increasing on his attacks but also with his shield to deflect Kirito's attacks.
Asuna watching the battle and clutching her hand nervously.
"Kirito-kun..."
"Are you worried about him?" ask Naruto still looking at the fight. Asuna turns to Naruto and answer:
"Of course, I am! And why do you so calm? Didn't you worry about Kirito-kun too?"
"Just believe in him" said Naruto glance sideways to Asuna
Suddenly, Kirito stabs forward quickly when Heathcliff tilts his head aside and manages to injure him. Then he continues to attack even more faster rushing at the shield to breakthrough. Kirito's rapid strikes manages to breakthrough the shield, and cause Heathcliff to lean back and grit his teeth.
Then just as Kirito about to slash down at Heathcluff, for a second, but he was stunning. But that second was enough for Heath cliff to move his shield to block the strike. Kirito widen his eyes surprise and shock.
In the back, Naruto also notice something was wrong and narrows his eyes.
'Its not imagination. For a second, Kirito was stunned and because of that Heathcliff manages to avoid the strike. What the heck is going on there?'
Heathcliff side-steps Kirito and stabs him at the shoulder. Because of the shock that he still has not recovered, Kirito couldn't dodge the strike and was stabbed. The strike was powerful enough to send him to the ground. Then the panel appears to declare Heathcliff the winner of the duel. The people bag in cheering loudly. Kirito just look up at Heathcliff in surprise. Naruto come out from the back moves to Kirito. He gives Kirito a hand to helps him stand up and say:
"Good job, Kirito! I will take over from here!"
Kirito grabs Naruto's hand and stand up then turn to Naruto seriously:
"Be careful, his defense is top notch. I barely able to breakthrough."
"Yeah, thanks for the warning. Go to Asuna immediately, she is worried sick about you" said Naruto and walk to the centre of arena.
Heathcliff turns to Naruto and say:
"I can finally measure my strength with a man that is called Hirokiri Battousai. With this win, you will joint guild and we will be unstoppable"
Naruto just closes his eyes and smirks:
"I have no intension to lose. I've made a promise to my sensei that I will be number one. And I plan on keeping that promise"
"We will see about that... But first I want to change a weapon. You don't mind right?" ask Heathcliff looking at Naruto.
Naruto just looks surprises but say:
"Yeah, I don't mind. Just change to any weapon you like"
"Then I will return in a minute, as this gear is not for for this weapon"
With that Heathcliff go to the back to change.
The people hearing that there will be extra fight between Hearhcliff and Hitokiri Battousai begin to cheer even louder. Asuna near Kirito is asking if he was ok. Kirito just nod his head then ask Asuna:
"Did you commander use the other weapon before? Why he decide to change Naruto with different weapon and gear?"
Asuna shakes her head and answer:
"I don't know. It actually the first time, I am hearing that the commander can uses other weapon"
Some minutes had passed, and finally Heathcliff walks out in a kimono with some guard piece on his clothes and in his hand is a katana. Naruto just looks at him with narrows eyes.
"Sorry, for making you wait Naruto-kun. But now I am ready" said Heathcliff standing with Naruto face to face now.
Kirito and Asuna looks at each other surprise, as that was the first time they saw the commander wearing something and holding anything other than the sword in a shield.
The countdown begun its count, both Naruto and Heathcliff changes to their stance. But when Naruto looks at the stance that Heathcliff's take, he eyes widen like dinner plates and so is Kirito, as they recognize the stance. It was the basic battoujutsu stance that Naruto is taking right now also.
"H-how?...W-why? How do you know that stance?... Are you also..?" shouted Naruto shock then his eyes widen in realization.
"That's right, Naruto-kun. It's as you are thinking. I also managed to find that cave. I am also the Hiten Mitsurugi ryu user!" said Heathcliff smirking at Naruto's shock face.
At the stand, Kirito and Asuna, all the people there is shocked at this fact as well.
"I-I thought Naruto was the only user of that style. But to think the commander is hiding this style..." muttered Kirito widen his eyes at shock.
"Yeah, it shocks me as well. I think this fact has shocks all the players. But Naruto even more so" said Asuna still shock and turns to watch at Naruto's expression.
Lizbeth sitting somewhere in the stand, looking at Naruto worriedly:
"Naruto-kun!..."
At the arena
Naruto still shocks at the seeing then he glares at Heathcliff and shout:
"That's not possible! I won't accept this! I am the only user of this style!"
Heathcliff just smirks back at Naruto and say:
"Seems that fact that I am using this style had shocked you. I'll make you join my guild, Naruto-kun!"
Naruto's hair shadowed his eyes and the air around him seems colder. The people in the stand that was far behind could still felt the shiver ran down their spine. Naruto looks up with his cold blue eye and say emotionlessly:
"The fact that you are using this style won't change anything. I will annihilate you for being a copy-cat"
Naruto charges forward at Heathcliff like a bullet. Heathcliff pointing the tip of his katana to the ground and slash up:
"Hiten Mitsurugi ryu-Doryusen!"
The debris wave caused by Doryusen immediately heads to Naruto. Naruto jumps aside to avoid the wave. Heathcliff charge forward and use Ryukansen: Tsumuji and spin like a drill at Naruto. Naruto not hesitate to use Ryukansen: Kogarashi to blast Heathcliff away. Heathcliff being blasted away by Ryukansen: Kogarashi grunt a little, then he looks ahead to see Naruto charge at him in a battoujutsu stance.
"Hiten Mitsurugi ryu-Hiryusen!"
Naruto rotates rapidly and shoots the sheath at Heathcliff. Heathcliff manages to jump backwards to dodge.
"I will take things seriously from here" said Heathcliff narrowing his eyes and charges at Naruto at blurred speed. Naruto was shocked at the increasing at the speed that he barely able to deflect Hiten Mugen Zan of Heathcliff's. But the force that Heathcliff applied still send Naruto flying. Naruto stand up from the ground and glares at Heathcliff. Heathcliff looks down at Naruto and ask:
"Will you surrender now, Naruto-kun? You can't win against me! I am the true master of Hiten Mitsurugi ryu"
Naruto hearing that shouts back:
"I am not going to lose to you! I will prove to you that I am the only successor to this style"
Then he charges forward with a speed that Heathcliff is barely able to see. Naruto appears behind Heathcliff and use Ryusosen to strike his opponent's back. Heathcliff couldn't dodge the strike in time, as Naruto's was increased. He slashes back, but Naruto jumps in the sky and shouts:
"Hiten Mitsurugi ryu-Ryutsuisen!"
Heathcliff dodge to aside and waiting for Naruto to land to perform Ryukansen. But Naruto expected this and brought his sword to the back to deflect the strike.

In the stand

All the people just watching the fight in excitement. They knew that the fight will be good, but they never expected it to be this good.
"I can't believe Naruto is holding his own against the commander. Even though the commander uses the same style" said Kirito not taking his eyes of the fight.
"Yeah, Naruto is really amazing! Never seeing anyone that go toe to toe with the commander" said Asuna in awe.
Lisbeth sitting in her sit smiling and looking down at the battling figure of Naruto and say softly:
"I believe in you Naruto-kun!"

With the fight

Heathcliff seeing his strike miss, grit his teeth then charge at Naruto and uses Ryukansen: Arashi. Naruto uses his own Ryukansen: Arashi to deflect the attacks. Heathcliif increasing his speed to appears behind Naruto and mutters:
"Hiten Mitsurugi ryu-Soryusen: Ikazuchi!"
Naruto manages to dodges the first strike, but he couldn't dodge the strike the was being drawn from the sheath. As a result he was send flying to the wall.
"Kuso!... That was pretty hard strike!" muttered Naruto open one of his eye. Then he notice the stance that Heathcliff and looks in horror. Heathcliff has change his battoujutsu stance to normal kenjutsu stance.

In the stand

Kirito and Asuna recognized the stance and widen in horror.
"That stance... He will performs that move that Naruto uses against Gleam Eyes!" said Asuna turning to Kirito worriedly.
"Yeah, no doubt its that move. Hiten Mitsurugi ryu-Kuzuryusen. The move that strikes all nine vital spots once with Godspeed" said Kirito narrowing his eyes then turn to look at Naruto.
"What will you do now Naruto? Can you really dodge this technique"
With the fight
Heathcliff stand in a normal kenjutsu stance and looks at Naruto:
"It's over Naruto-kun! Kuzuryusen is the ultimate move that can't be dodge. You can't win against me now. As a Hiten Mitsurugi ryu user, you also know that right?"
Naruto looks at Hearhcliff silently for a minute then decide to reply:
"Yes, it's true that Kuzuryusen can't be dodge if I am not faster then the user. But... Do you really think that Kirito is the only one with extra skill?" ask Naruto and point the tip of his foot the the ground then begin to tap the ground.
Heathcliff hearing that widen his eyes then smirks and turns to Naruto to say:
"You are bluffing. You don't have extra skill. But even if you had it that won't help you to avoid Kuzuryusen!"
"We'll see" said Naruto still tap the ground with his foot.

At the stand

Kirito,hearing Naruto's declaration that he has extra skill, also surprise at that. Asuna turns to Kirito to ask:
"Do you know that Naruto has extra skill, Kirito-kun?"
Kirito shakes his head and say:
"No. I didn't know that he has extra skill. Though I am curious. What kind of skill is that?"
Then Kirito looks back at the arena.
With the fight
Heathcliff decide to warn Naruto one last time.
"It's your last chance Naruto-kun! Surrender, or pay the consequence!"
"I am never gonna give up!" shouted Naruto.
"So be it! Hiten Mitsurugi ryu-Kuzuryusen!"
Nine strikes flying at Naruto at once. All the people's heart stop for a minute looking at the scene before them. Lisbeth just covering her face with her hands. Kirito and Asuna shout Naruto's name. Suddenly, Naruto disappears right before the strikes could hit him. The ground was crashed down by an unknown force. Heathcliff widen his eyes at shock and surprise. The invisbible force moves to Heathcliff with such speed that it tearing the ground while moving. Naruto appears right in front of a shock face of Heathcliff and say:
"Hiten Mitsurugi ryu-Ryushosen!"
Then strike Heathcliff to the jaw with such force that sends him high in the sky. Then Heathcliff crash down heavily to the ground and lying motionlessly.
Naruto is kneeling on the ground panting heavily.
"What...was...that...move?" ask Heathcliff weakly.
Naruto turns to him and look down at him and answers:
"The extra skill that improves speed to inhuman level-Shukuchi"
Heathcliff hearing that smilies tiredly:
"Well, you've won congratulations. Never expect you to have such move"
"Don't put yourself down. You are the toughest opponent that I've ever fought. The bosses are just a joke compared too you" said Naruto looking at Heathcliff respectly.
"Haha, thanks for the compliment then. But Kirito will join my guild from now" said Heathcliff looking at Naruto.
"Yeah, a deal is a deal after all. Well I will go now then"
With that said Naruto turns to leave.
The crowd is cheering loudly at Naruto and clapping their hands applauding him. Kirito and Asuna rush to him to congratulate him. Then he feels someone embracing him from behind. He turns back and see that Liz is embracing him.
"I was so worried for you! How dare you do something is foolish that accepting the challenge to the duel from a commander of the strongest guild!"
Naruto just smiles tiredly and hugs her back:
"I'll not do something like this again. This is the last time, I promise"
Then Kirito decide to ask and looks at him annoyed:
"And why didn't you tell any of us that you had extra skill?"
Naruto scratching his head and sweatdroping:
"Oops... Forget?"
Asuna just looks at him with annoying expression then grabs her forehead and sigh:
"You really are..."
"But now Kirito must join the KoBo, as he lose the duel" said Naruto looking at Kirito.
"Well, it can't be help. I've lose the duel after all. We will head to the HQ right now. What about you?" said Kirito then turns to Naruto to ask him.
Naruto looks at Liz and say:
"I will spend some time with Liz"
"Then take care of yourself" said Kirito then he and Asuna walk away. When they left, Naruto turns to Liz and say:
"Well, lets return to our home. I think you should cook something awesome to celebrate my victory. Don't you think?"
Lisbeth smirks at Naruto and lean on his shoulder:
"I am very lazy right now. So we will go to the most luxurious restaurant to celeb rate ok?"
Naruto rolls his eyes at that, but nod his head. With that the two went to the teleport zone and teleport away.