New Event 9: The End Of The Sword
"You sure about this? I won't go easy," said Kirito, the Black Swordsman.
"I need another unique skill, just like you, and I never asked you to," responded Kishiro, the Black Onslaught.
"Should we make it quick, then? First-strike rules?" asked Kirito.
"Not a chance. Half-loss mode. I'll watch my crits, don't worry," said Kishiro, raising his fists.
"Haha, you'll have to catch me first!" said Kirito.
The two players agreed to the terms and the sixty second countdown began.
They were in an arena, on floor 99, just below the final boss. Floor 99, known throughout the player-base, was Dream-Space. Upon entry, the level had randomly generated using data from the rest of the tower. Bosses from lower floors were common enemies. Rare items, impossible scenes, and nothing but the highest level players could be found there. The arena where Kirito and Kishiro were about to fight was one from floor 86's design, the Crystal Caverns where Kishiro and Anko lived. The entire structure was made of diamond, glowing white from within, and enough seats to hold the starting number of players, ten thousand. The duel had been planned, so naturally almost every player in Sword Art Online was in attendance. It was a chance to see two legends of the game meet in battle. With their respective in-game wives cheering them on, Kishiro and Kirito watched the clock count down to zero...
Kishiro rushed in, knuckles together.
"Fist skill! Level 2! Quake!" he yelled, punching the ground when he got close to Kirito. Stumbling him would allow Kishiro to end the fight quickly, especially with skills like Thousand Rain and his unique skill Step Control.
Kirito jumped to avoid the effect, slashing downward with both his swords. Kishiro swayed to the side, activating another skill.
"Balance Control!" he yelled, letting the system take over. Kirito hit the ground, managing to block with Dark Repulser in time to avoid most of the damage. Slashing with his other sword, Elucidator, Kirito hit Kishiro under the ribs mid-punch. Both jumped back, Kishiro having taken more damage, but having more health to begin with.
"Air Bullets!" yelled Kishiro, punching over and over at Kirito, launching spheres of rushing air at him.
Kirito was able to slash most of the attacks out of the air, taking only one or two glancing blows. While he was distracted, Kishiro ran forward again. Kirito slashed at him, but Kishiro jumped clear over his head. Hitting the ground behind him, Kishiro used yet another skill.
"Dire Straight!" he said, turning and punching at Kirito, aiming for the chest.
Kirito crossed his swords to block, sliding back over the ground from the force of the blow. Kishiro wasn't done, however, activating another skill in close range.
"Dire Uppercut!" said Kishiro, swinging his other fist up under Kirito's guard.
"Sonic Leap!" yelled Kirito, activating the skill in time to jump back and avoid Kishiro's attack completely. Still in midair, Kirito's skill now carried him forward to strike Kishiro, defenseless.
Kishiro hit the dirt, rolled, and stood, looking at his health.
"Damn! Now this is a fight!" said Kishiro.
Kirito chuckled a bit, agreeing.
"But... I think we're about done," said Kishiro, raising his fists again and walking forward with his guard up. He couldn't block attacks with his arms at all, but having his hands up let him strike faster.
"Zen Stance," said Kishiro. His health regen was inactive in duels, but the skill also sharpened his focus by increasing the amount of frames-per-second he saw and processed. It artificially increased his reaction time.
Kirito, unfamiliar with higher level martial arts skills, assumed it was a mix up with his Rage Stance, since HP regen didn't work. He dashed forward, slashing several times.
Kishiro swayed, ducked, and intercepted every strike, getting exceedingly close.
"Thousand Rain," said Kishiro, starting with a low punch to Kirito's ribs.
Kirito, slipped his Dark Repulser in the way of the strike, beginning to panic. One thousand raw hits was a nightmare for anyone, even in a restricted duel.
"Starburst Stream!" yelled Kirito, beginning his own fifty hit skill. That saved him fifty one hits total, but after that, he'd have to block the rest on his own reaction time. Kishiro's obsidian fists and Kirito's rare swords clashed again and again, faster and faster, letting sparks fly and creating quite a spectacle. Kirito's skill quickly exhausted, however, leaving him to block the rest of Kishiro's skill without system aid. For almost two full minutes, Kirito managed to block every strike, the skill slowed by Kishiro's inability to land a hit. After almost seven hundred successful blocks, Kirito missed a punch for his stomach. The moment it struck, Kishiro let the skill barrage, blowing through Kirito's guard and lifting him off the ground from the force of his strikes. Kishiro used the final hit to slam Kirito into the ground, preparing to continue his assault without system aid. Kirito rolled back, using the force of his impact with the ground to escape. As Kishiro punched the dirt, Kirito activated a skill.
"Horizontal Square!"
Kirito slashed left and right, both intercepted by Kishiro, stepped passed his enemy and slashed again. On the fourth slash, Kishiro seemed to move faster than normal. The world slowed. Kishiro used his passive unique skill, Step Control, on the last strike of Horizontal Square. His obsidian boot slid over the dirt, pushing Kirito's dominant foot further away from his rear foot. The result crippled the force of his blow and sent him tipping off balance. Before Kirito could fully fall, Kishiro slammed his fist into the side of Kirito's head. Kirito barreled in the opposite direction, rolling in the dirt and stopping. His health? Just under 50%...
The crowd thundered and a window announced Kishiro as the winner with 58% health remaining. The window turned red with white text in the next instant, announcing what everyone was waiting for.
-Unique Skill: Armored Ghost earned-
-Passive. Allows ultra-short range teleportation-
-Cannot be used more than once every five seconds-
Kishiro attempted it for the crowd, running forward, flickering, and appearing a meter to the left. He skidded to a stop, ran in the other direction, then flickered again, appearing to run to the right ninety degrees. Another short stop, and Kishiro pumped his fist, then went over to see Kirito. Asuna had helped him to his feet and Anko had run out to the field as well.
"That was one fight I doubt I'll forget," said Kirito, sheathing his swords and rubbing his stomach.
"The same! Thank God these aren't real bruises!" said Kishiro, patting his arms. His armor might have kept him from being cut up, but the bruising was unavoidable.
"Why don't we go get something to eat? It's our last three days here, and we've never gotten to talk much," suggested Asuna.
She was right in that the two pairs didn't know each other well, despite being on the clearing team together. She was also right in that, in three days time, the clearing team planned to end the game soon, one way or another. Everyone able to fight the final boss was present on floor 99, about thirty players. With two bosses left, one right after the other, all of them had agreed on the morning three days from this day. The four left the arena to eat lunch, talking and sharing stories until well after nightfall before finally going home. Their final days peaceful, all players looked now to the clearing team for hope...
"What the hell is that?!" yelled one player.
"This can't be a boss!" said another.
The very floor of the castle was shifting and molding, trying to attack them in the floor 99 boss room.
"How do we hurt it?!" yelled out yet another player.
"Look for a power source! Look for a monster hiding! A switch, anything!" yelled out Asuna.
Players scoured the small room, searching the walls, the floor, scanning the ceiling, all the while avoiding attacks. No one had been hit yet. Kishiro even tried punching the floor, hoping to see a health bar appear. No success. No door to escape. Crystals useless.
"Kirito! Hit the wall!" yelled Kishiro, still near the center of the room.
Kirito did so, but didn't actually hit anything.
"It's an illusion!" he responded. キリトは「幻だ!」と言っていた。
"Dream-Space, people! It's fake! Get out of the room, run through the wall!" yelled Kishiro, regrouping with Anko and running at the wall with her. Players were already disappearing through the fake walls. Once the last player exited the false room, the room vanished. The players now found themselves in a void, every surface like shifting mercury. Silver mixed with gray mixed with black, constantly swirling, shifting, overlapping, and flowing. A few players got dizzy from the lack of obvious up and down orientation.
"Keep it together! This is it!" yelled someone.
They were more right than they could have ever wanted to be. From the mercury, figures rose up before every player, an exact copy of each of them. Kishiro's double had silver X's instead of orange ones, but nothing else was different. Anko's had a silver scythe, and a body made of solid silver. Any player with exposed skin only saw silver on their double. Each double had the exact health of each player, the same skills, the same stats. An exact copy of all their battle data. Fights broke out everywhere, each one being an even match. As the fights began to drag on, still no one damaged. Then players started losing confidence. One was struck. Then a few more. Soon people were starting to be worn down, the illusion taking its toll. Someone couldn't stand the thought of an illusion like this working. With no other way to help the other players, they spoke out.
"It's a trick! Don't let it psyche you out! We've come this far, getting better every day! This is just one more training exercise! You're better than this thing! You, right now, are better than you yesterday, last night, or five minutes ago! Prove it!"
It was Kishiro, a martial artist at heart, giving the speech. Fist met fist, obsidian on obsidian. Blow for blow, trick for trick, Kishiro was perfectly matched with his double. But as some players could see out of the corner of their eyes, Kishiro wasn't struggling. He was fighting on instinct, like always, but watching his opponent. Watching himself. He'd fought others, adjusting his fighting skill and wisdom to beat them, but it had always been a dream of his to train against himself. Now he could. He was. This illusion was not him. It was who he had been yesterday, and that just wasn't enough to him. Kishiro was the first to strike his illusion and remain undamaged. His true advantage came when his illusion began to "panic," pulling one of his own tricks. It jumped over him, activating Dire Straight to attack him like he'd attacked Kirito during their duel. But that was three days ago, and if yesterday wasn't enough, three days ago was child's play. Kishiro couldn't block like Kirito had, since he had no weapons. Instead, his entire being exuding calm confidence, Kishiro used Step Control. Even with system aid, his double couldn't recover from the loss of balance when Kishiro moved its foot aside. Kishiro hadn't used a single skill yet. He needed them for the final boss. With his own skill and power alone, he struck his double while it fell of balance. The double rolled, righting itself, and charged again... But it had already lost, it just didn't know it yet...
Kishiro was the first to finish his double, instantly rushing to the player with the lowest health and double-teaming their doppelganger. Doubles began falling at last, more and more players ganging up on them. When the last fell and not a single player had died, a cheer went out. Weapons were raised, hugs and hand-shakes went around... Until several players noticed that no victory had been announced. Despite that, the door to the next level appeared, several meters in the air. A floating staircase led up to it. The door itself was painted a red color, carved beautifully, and all down its doors displayed the names of every boss from the rest of the tower, each crossed out except the name at the top. The players ascended the staircase, opening the door to a castle's courtyard at sunset. Before them all was the castle above the castle. The final boss' domain atop Aincrad. The end of Sword Art Online.
The doors to the castle were pushed open, taking the strength of every player in attendance. They stepped into a massive echoing room, a throne at the other end. On the throne, carved of simple stone and wood, was Heathcliff. His sword and shield rested on either side of the throne, leaned against its sides. He stood, applauding respectfully.
"As I expected of you. Congratulations, players. You've made it to the end. For the pleasure of all remaining players, and for the world, this battle is now being broadcast on public television and many live-streamed videos worldwide. I will now explain the rules of this engagement. There are thirty three of you. As such, three of you may be chosen to face me in one-on-one battle. The three chosen will receive all stats and skills of ten other players. If the one fighting me dies, the ten connected to that player also lose all their health. Some of you may think this is unfair. I will show you why it is not."
His health bars appeared, each one displayed actually three. He even displayed his stats and skills.
"Choose your players wisely. Defeat me, and you will all be set free. Fail, and the game ends anyway. I trust you understand."
"What?! No! That's not fair in the slightest!" called out a player.
"No? Then, tell me, who else aside from you all possesses a unique skill? Did you forget the rules? Only players with unique skills may challenge bosses this high up. You are the only players who have such skills, and you all entered at the same time. With no players left to challenge me, unless a player happens to earn one before this battle ends, the game ends by default."
As he spoke the players realized their mistake. He was right, as he knew he was; it was their fault for overlooking that fact.
"Now choose, and let the first step forward."
A long time passed, discussions were held, votes taken, and a plan formed. Kishiro stepped forward first, a sixty second timer in his display. Another was in Kirito's display. An open duel, with death match settings. Kishiro challenged Heathcliff, also leaving it as an open duel.
"While I will accept an open duel, the system will prevent anyone else from attacking me. But it was a good try," said Heathcliff, confident he'd seen through their plan.
The two approached each other, Kishiro's health increasing ten-fold along with his other stats.
"I'd say may the best man win, but we all know I'm going to lose here. And normally I'd be modest, but I'm fighting a murderer. Good luck, though. Because not even luck will save you," said Kishiro, raising his fists.
Heathcliff just narrowed his eyes, picking up his sword and shield and stepping down from the throne to face Kishiro.
The two began, from the beginning with Kishiro on the offense. Heathcliff watched him fight and Kishiro let himself be watched. Finally, Heathcliff started trying to counterattack, beginning to exploit openings and avoiding the openings Kishiro left on purpose as traps. As he wore Kishiro down, Kishiro used Zen Stance, useless for health regen in this duel, but increasing his reaction time and allowing him to land several heavy blows. His Step Control gave him a few more, but he still hadn't used Armored Ghost. In fact, he'd never used it since earning it besides against his copy. As Heathcliff wore him down, he pulled boss tactics from all his fights in the tower: he changed his entire fighting style when his health went below 50%. One second he was punching Heathcliff's shield, the next he was behind Heathcliff, punching him in the back. Heathcliff stumbled, his health taking a major blow. One of the players supporting Kishiro had back-stab skills, and it showed. Heathcliff spun, hiding behind his shield, his eyes wide.
"Quite unexpected! To think someone could surprise me in my own game!" said Heathcliff.
Kishiro didn't respond. He pushed his advantage. Punching less, moving more, Kishiro swayed left and right, dashed in circles around Heathcliff, jumped over him, and always teleported when it was least expected. Kishiro was a living fighting style. But Heathcliff was a boss just like all the others, and he would change his style below 50% as well. When he did, it was Kishiro who began to lose, and quickly. Heathcliff had activated the unique skill he'd had as a player, doubling his attack and defense. Soon Kishiro was below 10%, breathing heavily, about at his end. Inside his helmet he smiled. He dashed forward, then teleported the remaining distance, catching Heathcliff off guard.
"THOUSAND RAIN!" he yelled, beginning his skill with a swift uppercut. Heathcliff did his best to focus, and blocked almost one hundred hits before he was surprised again. Five seconds had passed. Armored Ghost could be activated again, and it activated even in mid-skill. Kishiro appeared behind him, still punching. After another five seconds, Kishiro teleported again, again avoiding Heathcliff's guard. With his final hit, Kishiro sent Heathcliff into the air.
"DIRE UPPERCUT!"
Kishiro flew into the air with him, both now halfway to the tall ceiling. Kishiro teleported above Heathcliff as he spun to guard, avoiding his guard again.
"IRON FLESH! RAGE STANCE!"
With his attack nearly tripled and his weight off the charts, Kishiro dropped on Heathcliff with a punch stronger than any attack he'd ever done or would ever do again. When the two hit the ground, the beautifully crafted floor shattered, dust exploded into the air, and the ground shook from the force of the attack. Players began to cheer over the attack, but all cheering halted when the dust began to clear. Kishiro was over Heathcliff, Heathcliff face down. But Heathcliff had shifted his grip on his sword, stabbing right through Kishiro's Black Onslaught obsidian armor using the same force Kishiro relied on. Kishiro's health dropped to 0, he slid down the sword, and shattered in a flash of blue light...
A window appeared, announcing the winners of the duel. Heathcliff looked twice.
"Winners?!" he said, baffled.
The window turned red with white text, announcing a new unique skill.
-Unique Skill: Sword Ghost earned-
-Passive. Allows short range teleportation-
-Cannot be used more than once every second-
"What?! Who!?" said Heathcliff, looking toward the crowd. As Kirito stepped forward, Klein held up a blue crystal. In another blue flash, Kishiro fell from the air just above Heathcliff. Kirito used his new skill, teleported, and caught him, laying him on the ground.
"You-! You can't! It's not-!... This is impossible!" said Heathcliff, taking steps back, shocked beyond reason.
"That revival crystal was your idea, Akihiko Kayaba. You just didn't expect someone to hold it this long. And it was you that accepted the open duel without checking the participants," said Kirito, drawing his swords.
Anko ran out to get Kishiro, helping him back off.
"We don't need a third player. Your health's only gone up by 33%. And if Kishiro could do that much, how well will your 'chosen player' do?"
Heathcliff's wide-eyed expression changed.
"Why don't we find out," he said, standing and preparing for the fight...
-As of November 7th, 2:55PM, the game as been cleared-
-Apparent time: 4 years, and 2 days-
-Actual time: 2 years, 1 day-
-Surviving players: 6147-
-Experiment successful, data for Project Acceleration collected-
-Sword Art Online, system purge initiated-
-Sword Art Online servers clearing, players logging out-
-Thanks for playing!-
終わり、本物