Chapter Nine

My personal alarm woke me up at 7:30. I chose this time, so that I have around 30 minutes to think about the situation now, to prepare my equipment, but also, and most importantly, to be able to look at my husband while he's sleeping. Jin would sacrifice his safety long enough for me to heal myself. Though I'm so grateful he does this, I still yell at him afterwards. With the usual. "That was so dangerous, what were you thinking?! You could have died!"

With his smooth voice he'd say. "I'd rather die with you, than have you die alone!" Then he'd kiss me, and I'd be too flustered to stay mad. Though it's sweet, it's unfair because I can't do anything!

It's now 8:00, and Jin is slowly waking up. With a long yawn, he finally notices I'm right next to him.

"Morning, Elena!" Jin smiles.

"Morning Jin! Sleep well?"

Jin answered with a nod. "Yeah, I did! Did you?"

I nodded. "So, Jin, what are we doing today?"

"We've been away from the front lines for a while now. I suggest we start clearing the dungeon again."

I nod. "What about Alexis? She still seems pretty shocked from what happened the other day!"

Alexis had told us about a horrible encounter she had with a player named Brant. I couldn't help but cling to Jin as she told this horrible story, but what made me fear the most, was what Jin had said afterwards.

"So, this player had put a paralysis poison inside the drink? Interesting..." He scratched his chin. "The only way to obtain it, is to level up your alchemy skill. Though the skill can be useful, because you can make HP potions, there have been players like him, who use it to make poisons that affect other players. These players then proceed to PK with said potions. This technique is widely known with the PK guild, "Laughing Coffin"."

"PK GUILD?! I COULD HAVE DIED?!" Alexis was scared, and I couldn't blame her.

"Normally yes, but he made the mistake of inviting you into his home. Meaning that you'd be in the safe zone. He couldn't kill you, but that didn't stop him from doing... that. However, if we run into him again on the field, be very careful. We don't know what kind of tricks they'll try to play."

Shaking my head of these thoughts I asked Jin, "Are we going to run into the Laughing Coffin?"

"I doubt it... But it's still a possibility."

I nodded. "Alexis!" I called through the house.

Alexis opened her door, still half-asleep. "Yeah, what is it?"

"We're going to the dungeon to help the clearing groups. You coming with?" Jin asked.

"Why would you ask me a question like that? That's just insulting!" Alexis pouted.

"Because we might run into the "Laughing Coffin" so I wanted to be sure you were up for it."

Alexis looked worried for a minute before giving a weak nod. "If you're here to protect us, then I think I'll be okay."

"Right! Then let's go!" Jin picked me up off my feet and rushed out the door.

"Wh-What are you?!" I let out a scream.

Jin laughed. "I thought I'd carry you to the teleport gate!"

"Well warn me next time!" I was pouting, but my heart was racing.

"But then you wouldn't have had your reaction!" Jin laughed more.

Alexis smiled while keeping up with Jin's speed. "You two really are a good couple!"

"Thank you!" I smiled.

We reached the teleport gate and went to the 75th floor, where we ran to the dungeon.

The monsters were difficult, but we used the switch and were able to take care of them easily. Jin would take most of the damage, and create a point for us to attack. When Jin first did this, I'd yell at him, but then he said. "I can take more hits."

I don't know how long we were in that dungeon before we couldn't continue anymore and decided to head back. While on this floor, we all leveled up a few times. Jin had reached level 90 now. It's amazing how much EXP he's been getting.

"That was a good run!" Alexis exclaimed."

"It was! And we got some great gear too!" I smiled.

"We did. We got Alexis an awesome sword!" Jin looked at Alexis' sword. It looked badass, with fire erupting from the blade. Obviously, there isn't any magic in SAO, but it looked like it did.

"We'll be taking that loot now!" We looked toward this voice, and Alexis looked very worried.

"I-is that?" I asked Alexis. "Brant?"

"Ah, so you told them about me?" Brant started. "This makes it easier." He licked his lips. "Who's your friend? She's HOT!" I hid behind Jin.

"That..." Jin's voice was deep and cold. I never saw him like this before. "Is my wife. and you're not touching her, or Alexis you bastard!"

"So you think you can protect both of them, keep both of them to yourself?! You sir, are greedy!"

"If I have to be greedy to keep Alexis from getting hurt by bastards like you, then I'll just have to live with it!" Jin pulled out his sword.

"Oh, so we're going to fight?!" He licked his lips again, and let out a psychotic laugh. "Fine! Just me and you, and if your girls interfere... I'll take them for myself!"

Jin looked at me. "You heard the man. Let us settle this. I promise that we'll head home soon."

"Confident in your abilities?" He smirked.

"Confident enough to kick your ass!" Jin charged at Brant with his sword, readying a sword technique. Brant put his sword out, ready to dodge the low attack that was coming, but then he moved as fast as his Agility would allow him, and attacked him from behind. "Don't tell me that's all you can do?"

"Tck." Brant turned around and slashed at Jin, but Jin pushed himself back to dodge it, and slashed at his stomach. Brant's HP bar went down to yellow. He charged his sword and attacked at Jin towards his head. Jin casually deflected the attack with his shield, and shield bashed him, about three times. Brant's HP went to red, and he went to the floor.

"PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" Brant begged.

"Fine..." He backed up. That's when I noticed that Brant smirked.

"NO WATCH OUT! JIN!" I screamed.

"Wha- Oof!" Brant had stabbed Jin in his stomach, and his HP slowly began to drain.

"JIIIIIINN! DON'T DIE ON ME! PLEASE!" I screamed.

"So you used dirty tricks so that I'd lower my guard huh?" Jin laughed. It wasn't his usual cheerful laugh that I was used to, but a cold laugh, filled with hatred. It made me shiver. "You'll have to do better than that!"

"Hah! Big talk for someone who's stabbed! You can only watch as your HP drops!" He laughed some more.

"So you think that I'll just give in like that?! Just because you've paralyzed me?! I don't think you get it. You're just a player in my way. I swore to myself, to avenge Jace's death, that I'd clear this death game, and allow Elena and Alexis to return to the real world. I won't let you stop me!" Jin used an antidote crystal, and pulled the sword from his stomach. "Now, to finish you!"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" He snapped, and Alexis and I were grabbed from behind with a dagger at our throats.

"JIIIIN!" I screamed again.

"Elena! Alexis! You bastard! You can't just have a fair fight can you!"

"You've guessed it. Now, give me that sword and all money you have on you, and I might let you go. But if you lay another hand on me, I'll kill your girls... But not before we have a little fun!" He snapped and their daggers started to cut off mine, and Alexis' clothing.

"STOP!"

"Jin, it'll be okay!" Alexis said in a calm voice.

"Yeah, we'll be fine. This won't affect our real bodies anyway!" Though I said this, I was still scared. Not for my saftey, but for the safty of my beloved husband.

Jin looked down... "Fine. You can have the items and money... Just leave those two alone." Brant walked closer to Jin. Just then, Jin prepared two throwing knives, and hit both the men in the neck, causing them to let go. That's when I took out my rapier and slashed the guy repeatedly. As I continued to slash at him, his HP dropped rapidly, till it reached zero and his body shattered. I looked over at Alexis, and she took care of the guy as well. We both looked over towards Jin, and he was pinned once again.

"You bastard!" Jin spat in his face. "You're not going to get away with this!"

"Oh, but I will!" He laughed again. "Another step, and your man dies!" He put a dagger up to Jin's neck.

"NOO!" No. He can't kill Jin! Not my Jin! Is there anything... Anything we can do?!

"Elena! It's two against one. Don't let him get away!"

"But he'll kill you!" I put my hands to my chest. "I won't let you die!"

"Elena! Trust me! It'll be alright! I won't go that easily, just attack with your best ability. End it quickly, both of you!

"But-"

"DO IT!" I was scared. Though Jin's life was in danger, he yelled at me. I felt that he knew what he was doing... So I looked at Alexis, who was thinking the same thing, before she nodded. I nodded back and we charged at our enemy, Brant. We both used our strongest Sword Skills, and his HP depleted to Zero and shattered, but he left behind a dagger that was in Jin's neck.

"JIIN!" His HP depleted to zero. "NOOOOO! DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME JIN! I can't... I CAN'T CONTINUE ON WITHOUT YOU! JIN!" His body glowed blue. It was time for him to go. Just then, when he was about to shatter, a small gem appeared from our shared inventory. It glowed in front of Jin, and shattered. That's when his body stopped glowing, and his HP was back to 20%.

Jin opened his eyes. "That was not fun..."

"JIIN!" I gave him a giant squeeze. "I thought you were dead!"

"It was a holiday event. Kirito informed me about it. If you use it within the first ten seconds after a player's health becomes zero, it revives the player. However he said he had gave it to a friend of his named Klein. After talking with him about what happened to Jace... He gave the item to me after he had me swear to protect you two with my life." Jin paused before continuing, "He said it was a 'one time use', so I wanted to be sure that it wouldn't be wasted. I would have used it earlier, but both of you were captured and I didn't want the possibility of losing one of you. That's why, when he had me pinned, and it was just one death, I knew it'd be alright." He smiled, then kissed me. I was so happy, tears were flowing from my eyes as I kissed my love back. "I'm sorry I didn't let you know. I feared that if he had caught on, it wouldn't have worked..."

"No. It's okay." I shook my head. "You did what you had to do, and I'm grateful for it!

"Right. Let's head home!" Jin grabbed my hand and we teleported using crystals. Though it was a waste of money, we obviously didn't care. We just wanted us to get home safely.

That night, when I was cuddling with Jin, he got a message. When Jin answered it, he looked worried.

"Are you okay?" I rubbed his chest.

"That was Heathcliff. He said we're fighting the boss of the 75th floor tomorrow morning."

"I see..."

"And considering the pattern... Every 25th floor has been much harder than the previous... I fear for our safety."

"We'll just have to be careful!" I snuggled against Jin.

"Yeah. We will." He rubbed my back. "Goodnight. Elena!"

"Goodnight Jin!" I slowly closed my eyes, and fell asleep in my love's arms.