Chapter 14

November 2nd, 2024

I took a deep breath. "I think I've fallen in love with you."

I exhaled slowly and continued. "I'm fairly certain about this. I know how my emotions work and I know what I'm feeling." I fell quiet and waited; silence was the only thing that I could hear. I didn't look at Argo, choosing instead to stare at the crackling fire in the fireplace. Part of me wanted to blurt out, 'Just kidding!', take everything back, but I ignored that insistent mental voice. I meant what I had said and I would face the consequences. I knew doing this was going to hurt one way or another, but it would have been harder and more painful in the long run to hold on to what I knew. I had examined the pros and cons, weighed the possible outcomes, and made my decision. It had been hard to tell Argo, but I needed to do it.

My emotions were strange things. As Yui had mentioned, I rarely shifted from my emotional equilibrium of a general malaise, only showing more than just trace emotions when I was with my friends and I could lower my shields. I controlled myself by constantly watching what I was feeling; at first, it was a matter of understanding what caused the emotion. After enough time had passed, however, that had become so automatic that it seemed like I didn't feel anything at all. That wasn't necessarily true, obviously, as I was still human and still had emotions as evidenced by the fact that I had fallen in love with Argo. The important thing, however, was that I almost always knew what I was feeling and why I was feeling that way. When I started having strange reactions to Argo's presence, I was confused. I had never experienced love before, and as such I had no idea how to control it. I had a vague idea of what it had to be; after all, I knew what my other emotions felt like. Infatuation was out, as it required a person to be physically attracted to another - something I would never have to worry about. Affection for my friends was the next most likely candidate, but that could be ignored as well; I had felt affection for Kirito and Asuna, and the emotion for Argo was stronger than that. It could only be the same thing that Asuna and Kirito exhibited; love.

I knew intellectually I was capable of falling in love; I just never expected it to happen. I was asexual; that only meant that I felt no physical attraction toward either gender. I could still feel emotional attraction toward others, though as a result of my deliberate isolation from others and inability to trust others enough to allow myself to emote normally I had never felt that particular tugging. But with Argo, I could drop my shields. I trusted her and could allow myself to, well, feel. It shouldn't have been a surprise to me to find that I had fallen for her, but it was so far out of the realm of possibilities that I had considered that it was a complete shock.

The silence stretched on interminably long, and I stared resolutely at the fire, refusing to move. Part of me wanted Argo to simply stand up and leave. It would be less painful that way. I heard a sniff from where Argo was sitting and I turned despite myself. Argo rubbed away the last traces of tears on her face. "Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that?" I sighed. This was going to be difficult. "A year, Rythin. A full year to hear you say that you liked me. That you even considered me a friend." Her voice was angry, but her face told a different story.

I closed my eyes. How could I have known? I'd never had a reason to believe someone could like me in that way - I wouldn't have been on the lookout for it. For someone as used to searching for hidden meanings in everything, I had simply never thought to search for that particular motive. "I'm sorry, Argo. I didn't know -"

"Of course you didn't know!" Argo interrupted me. "You're the most emotionless bastard I've ever met." She evidently hadn't met Heathcliff. The thought raced through my mind, but I didn't laugh. "But no matter how many times I told myself that, it didn't matter. Even when you told me you were asexual, it didn't help."

"Why?" I asked her. "Why me? What about me could possibly be attractive?" I was a thoroughly unpleasant individual to be around at times, and I knew it. I didn't particularly deserve anyone's affections, let alone something of the magnitude Argo was talking about.

Argo shook her head. "I don't know. It's just the way you are, with your attitude and your sense of humor." I couldn't tell a joke to save my life. Instead, I just made a series of dry observations that always poked at something. Myself, the person I was talking to, the events that were transpiring; anything I could poke fun at I mocked. If anything, it was Argo's sense of humor that was responsible for any amusement she experienced. I just made the observation and let people decide if it was funny or not. "You don't give a damn and you don't care who knows it."

"Argo..."

"That's why I stayed with you when you asked. Because it was for you." She glared at me, but I could tell her heart wasn't fully into it.

I looked away. I hadn't realized I was hurting her. I felt guilty, but I couldn't afford to soothe my conscience. "I love you," I repeated, tasting the words. It felt nice to be able to say that to someone at long last. "And no matter what happens, I will never stop loving you."

Argo didn't respond. Instead, she stood up and walked over to where I was sitting. I shifted over to make room for her, and she sank into the seat beside me. I reached out and placed my arm around her shoulders. She leaned in, resting against my shoulder. I was reminded of the previous December; Asuna and I had been in almost the exact same position. The only difference was that I hadn't returned her affections. We sat in comfortable silence for some time, enjoying each other's company and staring into the fire. It only gave off a little warmth, but that didn't matter. I could feel Argo's heat beside me, warming my core. It felt nice.

Unfortunately, all nice things must come to an end. I stood up and walked over to the nearby window, resting on the window sill. Even without looking, I could tell Argo was watching me, confused. In her place, I'd be confused as well. The person I had been interested in was interested in me; it seemed like a fairly straightforward path to follow. I was deviating from anything that was remotely sensible. "Argo...I love you." I knew I was repeating myself, but saying that to her felt right.

I could feel her grin. "I know."

I closed my eyes. "And that's why I can't allow myself to do this."

A stunned silence filled the air. I turned back to find Argo staring at me, completely shocked. "Wh..."

I shook my head. "Argo, I'm possibly the worst person available to get into a relationship with." She started to say something else but I kept talking, preventing her from saying anything until I was finished speaking. "If you were to get into a relationship with me, you'd hate it, and me, quickly."

"That's not true! I-"

"You'd have a significant other who would never touch you beyond a hug." I stared at her, willing her to understand. "You know I hate physical contact. Any sort of contact more intimate than a hug is extremely distasteful. I've never tried, given my general hatred for humanity, but I have a very good imagination." I wasn't sure if the hate came from fear or the fact that I was asexual, but it didn't matter. To be perfectly honest, it wasn't hate, but rather a apathetic distaste for others. I called it hate just so people would understand; giving it a common label saved me time and effort explaining myself and let me avoid interactions with others. I felt my heart clench as I watched Argo; her eyes were wide, and she was drawing away from me. I knew that what I was saying was having an effect. "I can't make you happy, Argo."

"But you do!" she said. "I'm happy when I'm around you!"

"You're not like me," I said. "You need someone who can fulfil more than just your emotional needs." We were dancing around the subject, but it was clear that both of us knew what I was talking about when she flushed slightly. I softened my tone as I watched her. "I will never hurt you on purpose, Argo. Even now."

"Then why are you saying these things?"

"Because they're true, damn it!" I shouted suddenly. "Because I want you to be happy for more than just a while. If you stay with me, you'll wind up unhappy and bitter. If I let you make this mistake, you'll be in pain later and it will be my fault. I don't want that!"

"Rythin..."

"I care about you, Argo. You're one of the three people I actually care about. I want you to find someone who can make you happy." I closed my eyes and shook my head. "I'm not that person, and I'll never be that person. For you or for anyone." I couldn't afford to be selfish and hurt her. No matter how much it cost me - or her - in the short term.

Argo didn't respond for a long time. I keep my eyes closed, hoping that when I opened them she'd be gone. I started counting slowly. One, two, three... I reached eight and suddenly I felt Argo embrace me tightly. I opened my eyes to see her looking into my face. I couldn't tell what she was searching for, but I could guess, as I knew her fairly well. Her eyes were searching my face, asking – begging – for me to relent. I couldn't. I turned my head to the side and felt her recoil slightly. "I'm sorry, Argo."

She didn't say anything. Quietly, she withdrew, picked up her supplies, and walked out the door. She paused in the frame, as if to say something, but visibly stopped herself.

The door closed behind her, and my heart felt like it broke in two. It hurt to watch her leave, even though it was for the best. I knew I'd been the one to make her leave, but... it still hurt.

I sat back down to read my book - it was a very good book. The rest of the day passed in silence. I skipped dinner; I had no appetite. I finished the book I was reading and got started on the next in the series. I was rather glad that Cardinal had chosen to import all books in a series; I had picked up a series that looked interesting just a few days before. It was an enjoyable distraction from the situation I had managed to find myself in. At the very least, I could ignore my own pain by drowning my mind with other input, and the only things I'd found that could distract me sufficiently were books and fighting. And fighting, right then, was too dangerous.

Regardless, I went to sleep feeling detached and alone. I didn't find it difficult to fall asleep, although my mind kept going over the conversation with Argo earlier. I did what had to be done, even though I didn't want to do it. I loved Argo, and nothing would ever change that fact. I did what I needed to do for her to be happy. It was a shame that I had to break her heart to do so, but the sooner she got over me the sooner she would be able to find someone else. It hurt, thinking about how she walked out, but I needed to get used to that feeling. It would feel the same way every time I saw her with another person.

I would be a terrible significant other in any case. I wouldn't be able to trust the other person, and in turn they wouldn't be able to trust me. I'd never be comfortable out in public with them, and I'd be an all-around terrible person. Someone I had spent a bit of time with during a group project in my freshman year of high school had approached me one day. She confessed that she had liked me for some time; naturally, this was surprising as I hadn't done anything to catch her interest – in addition, she was relatively popular. At the time, I still hadn't realized I was asexual - all I knew was that I hated other people. Still, I had spent time with her and didn't feel like being an asshole. I was strange my first year of high school: quieter, less overtly an ass, less calculating. I said yes, and we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. For about a week. She wanted to go to a school event, and me being the paranoid antisocial individual with sociopathic tendencies I was, I refused. I didn't do public events. She broke up with me the next day. I had also managed to make an enemy of her older brother, his friend, his friend's boyfriend, and several others. I only managed to avoid being ostracized fully thanks, strangely enough, to my ex-girlfriend. She knew that I was different, and she didn't hold a grudge.

I turned over on my side, staring at the damaged armor at the wall. It stood strong, even when I had failed. I needed to be strong, just like the armor that I wore to protect myself. Thinking that, I fell asleep.

November 6th, 2024

The anniversary of our second year trapped came and went without my notice, as the next several days were spent in a bit of a daze. I didn't leave the house often, only leaving briefly to grab some food when I was hungry. That usually happened only once or twice a day. I didn't feel hungry that much. Eating was a solitary affair; I went to an inn, sat in a corner seat, and ate my meal. I didn't stop to talk to anybody walking to or from the inn. When I was home, I occupied my time reading and playing music in equal proportions. I read through the rest of the series I owned, playing music on my instruments when I finished a book or when I felt like taking a break. Most of the time I just played what was suggested, not particularly caring what music I made, but from time to time I played one of the folk songs I had learned. It helped that I was reading the stories they came from.

I had purchased an upgrade to all of my instruments. No longer did I use old and damaged instruments; I had saved enough to buy new and pristine instruments. One, my harp, I had received from fighting a bonus monster at the end of a quest. The other two I purchased. They were the only things that helped me stay sane, giving me something to focus on while I was not reading. I sang occasionally, using my voice to give myself something else to be distracted by - I had gotten better; I'd never be good, but practice and time improved most things. I had three stands, one for each of my instruments, and while I was staying at home, they stayed there at all times. I had taken them with me when I was out adventuring before settling down, although I hadn't been doing that as of late.

It was during one of the songs I sang along to that a knock sounded at my door. I stopped playing abruptly, halting the music. The severed note floated in the air before dissipating. The knock came again. Standing up, I sighed, put away my harp, and walked to the door. There weren't many people that would come to my door and knock; most players wouldn't be in their homes during the day, instead choosing to spend their days fighting or socializing. I was again the anomaly, spending time in the solitude of my own home. There were only three people who knew where I lived; Kirito, Asuna, and Argo. I didn't expect to see any of them at my door. I didn't expect to see Argo in any sort of non-professional environment, and the last I had heard of Kirito and Asuna they were busy trying to fish up some giant monster or something. I had no idea why they wanted to catch a fish-god, but I didn't really care. I opened the door and stepped back in surprise.

"Hey, Ry." Argo was standing at my door. "Been a bit."

"A-Argo? What..." I swallowed, trying to cover my utter confusion. I probably failed. "What are you doing here?"

Argo smiled. "I thought about what you said." She brushed past me, stepping into the room behind me. I automatically closed the door, still trying to process the fact that Argo was not only in my house but she wasn't mad. I blinked several times, trying to understand what had just transpired. "Just one question." Argo was standing by the fireplace, watching me with a small smile.

"Which is?" I said, morbidly curious.

Argo smirked triumphantly. "A little bird told me you can sing."

I closed my eyes. "I swear I am going to hurt them." I opened my eyes and glared at Argo. "Which one was it?"

"Ah ah, that would be telling." She waved a finger at me. "You know the drill."

I rolled my eyes. "And I'm not buying the information because I'm cheap. So, what do you want?"

Argo looked away. "I want you to sing for me." I sighed, once, twice, a third time, each time becoming louder and more drawn out. "Oh, don't be like that."

"I'll be however I want to be."

"What about how I want you to be?"

I smirked. "I'm my own man, and that's how it's going to stay. I'm a solo player, after all." Argo grinned. We were getting back into our old routine of snark and counter-snark. It was a familiar pattern, one we had danced often.

"Please?" Argo asked. I winced internally. I couldn't say no, not to her. Not after what I had said to her.

I sighed. "Fine." Walking over to the chair by the fireplace, I sat down. There wasn't a fire; it was too early in the day to start one. "What would you like to hear?"

Argo sank into the chair opposite mine. "Oh, I don't know." She waved a hand. "Whatever you feel like. Whatever you were playing when I knocked."

I calmly watched her. "I wasn't playing anything."

"You weren't reading, and I know you can't be idle for long."

"You know me far too well." I laughed. "Fine, you win." I pulled out the harp again.

"That's fancy."

I glanced up at Argo. "That's right, you haven't seen it, have you?" Argo shook her head, and I bent over the harp again. "It's nothing special, just a better one than I had before." Argo didn't ask where I got it and I didn't volunteer the information. I had no need for money either. "Alright, then." I scrolled through my menu of songs that I knew the words to - they were limited to the folk songs I had previously played. "This one...no, not that one... Possibly..." I glanced up at Argo; she had adopted a look of extreme patience and suffering. "I'm not playing the one I was playing before."

"That's a shame."

"You don't even know what it was."

Her nose twitched slightly. "If you don't want to play it, it was embarrassing for you."

"Bah." I laughed. "Ah, this one. This one is good." The lyrics were relevant, even if the subject matter was based off of something different. I started strumming the harp, and my fingers started glowing as the system took over. In the dead, dark hours after midnight...

I watched Argo out of the corner of my eyes as I played, trying to guess her reasons for coming back. After our brief argument several days before, it didn't seem like she would be back. It was strange; she said she had thought about what I had said, but she was back anyway. If she really was going to find someone new, she wouldn't do it by hanging around my place. I didn't have a harem of either gender tucked away in my house - if she wanted that, she would have talked to Kirito. She had to be in my house for another reason; she had asked me to play for her. It was always possible that she was trying to make a statement; by coming back after I had pushed her away, she could be saying that it didn't matter what I said, that she would wait for me to be ready.

On the other hand, and far more likely, she could be trying to reaffirm our friendship. The friendship between me and Argo was something I greatly valued; after all, she was the third person I cared about. If I had managed to sever the bond of friendship, I would have likely told myself it was because I was a fool for trying to make a friend in the first place. I liked to believe that I was a better judge of character than that; in any event, Argo had seen me at my most vulnerable. She would have understood that I would recoil back into myself if she cut off all ties between us. I had been doing that, partially, by not leaving the house or fighting. Nothing had seemed that important, and I realized with a rush that I had been falling back into my old patterns. It wasn't the same as before; I still had Kirito and Asuna as emotional supports, even if they were slightly removed.

…I discovered I owe you my heart. I let the final notes ring for a bit before falling silent. It was another one of those folk songs that I'd sung to Asuna, a long time ago. This one was different, though, a more traditional love song; the singer started out nice enough, if detached from others, but when someone needed him and he gave his help freely he learned that his cold heart was thawed by her at the same time. It was a fairly apt description of what I had gone through, although naturally some things were different.

"That was nice," Argo said.

I leaned back in the chair, harp resting on my lap, and pierced Argo with my gaze. "So why did you come back?" I never was good at avoiding the elephant in the room. "I would have thought you'd be out and about by now, fleecing idiots and selling information." I grinned.

Argo shrugged. "I thought about what you said."

"I know. You've said that already," I said with a sigh. "If you've thought about it, you shouldn't be here."

"I thought about it and I decided you were wrong."

That was a surprise. "Huh?" That was the only thing I could say. Nothing else would come to mind; I prided myself on being unflappable, but that rendered even me speechless.

"You were wrong. I don't want to find someone else. I've got you." Argo met my gaze and held it. Neither of us blinked for a time, each searching the other's eyes to find what they were hiding.

Slowly, I smiled. "You're being ridiculous, you know."

"I know." Argo smiled. "But so are you. If I really did find someone else, what would happen?" I didn't need to answer; she had asked a rhetorical question. "The two of us would drift apart." I looked away. There was no way to respond to that. "You mean more to me than that."

"When did you know?" I was curious on how long she'd kept it from me.

Argo paused before replying. "It was a year and a few months ago. You had dropped by to pick up some information and money, and I realized that I didn't want you to leave."

"That's so sweet," I drawled. "Maybe with your help I'll finally be able to love and be loved in return."

"You're making fun of me, aren't you."

"Got it in one." I laughed. "Ah, I missed this."

"Then you shouldn't push me away like that," Argo said.

I sighed. "Argo, I do love you. But this..." I waved my hand, gesturing to myself and Argo, "...can't happen. It won't." Argo started to say something, but I interrupted. "I will never abandon you or let you drift away from me. I'm too selfish, remember?" The idea of letting one of my very few friends slip away because of something that stupid was utterly ridiculous. I opened up to very few people, and letting one of the extremely limited number of people that I could relax around slip away from me would not happen so long as I was still alive.

Argo's eyes shimmered in the light. "Ry, I just..."

"It's fine, Argo. Believe me." I leaned back. "I've lived this long alone, what's the rest of my life compared to that?"

"About to be cut short," I heard Argo mutter. I grinned.

"Just find someone that makes you happy, and I'll be fine." I paused. If I knew my friends right... "By the way, who had money riding on the outcomes of this?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Argo said. I didn't say anything - I calmly stared at her. I knew her too well to be fooled by that. She fidgeted briefly before relenting. "Asuna and Kirito."

Grinning triumphantly, I transferred 1000 Col to her for the information. "I knew it." I reminded myself to make them pay for that. "Who placed bets on what?"

"Asuna put down 2000 Col on the two of us getting together, and Kirito placed 1500 Col on you not feeling the same way."

I laughed. "Cool. Neither won. That's poetic justice right there. Jerks." I grinned. "So when did this happen?"

"I told Kirito about how I felt last month. I needed to talk to someone about it." My face must have shown my skepticism, because Argo grinned. "Oh, don't look like that. He's good at keeping secrets."

"I know. Dual Blades, remember?"

"Right. Anyway, after he and Asuna got married the subject apparently came up when they were talking about you."

"They talked about me? No accounting for some people's tastes, I suppose. Continue."

Argo shrugged. "They placed their bets and waited."

I grinned suddenly. "Can I be the one to tell them? It will make my day to see their faces." The two of us shared a mischievous grin before I stretched. "Suddenly, I'm rather tired."

"Can I use the guest bed?" The question was unexpected but not unwelcome.

I glanced at Argo. "I have no opposition to you using either bed." Argo grinned, but didn't reply. Cautiously, I stood and embraced Argo. "Gods, I missed you." I hadn't realized just how much until she was back in my life. Even if it had only been a few days, they had felt like they were stretching out interminably.

Argo returned my hug. "I missed you too, Ry."

"You weren't going to give up, just like that, were you?"

"Never." I could feel her grin. "I'd be one poor information broker if I gave up when things got difficult."

I returned to my seat. Argo took the floor, leaning against the table. We were in our usual positions by tacit agreement. I triggered the fire from where I was sitting, letting the rush of warmth wash over me. Argo stretched indolently, basking in the warmth as well. Time passed more quickly with her around; before I knew it, it was 6:00 and I was starting to get hungry. I didn't get food right away, choosing instead to play a lively tune on my lute. This particular song had lyrics to them, being a relatively popular song, and I hummed along softly. Argo politely pretended not to notice.

The ringing notification of a message startled me, breaking my concentration and startling me. I fumbled, missing fingerings. Grumbling in disgust, I put away my lute and pulled up my menu. I felt my face grow cold as I saw the name of the sender.

"Ry? What's up?" Argo was looking up at me. "Your eyes just went distant." They were probably cold and hard. I felt the old anger start to stir and ruthlessly crushed it, schooling myself into calm.

"It's Kayaba. He wants something and I don't know what he wants," I growled. "I don't like this." Despite myself, I opened the message and read through Kayaba's message. "Ah, crap."

"What?" Argo pushed herself up and leaned over the side of the chair. "What's wrong?"

"Kayaba says that a survey group of twenty found the boss room on the front lines and went to explore."

"What's so bad about that?"

"When half of the group entered, the doors slammed shut." I grimaced at the message. "Idiots didn't expect a trap, probably. When the doors opened five minutes later, the room was empty. All ten of the survey group members were dead and the boss was nowhere to be seen." I sighed. "My presence has been requested at ten tomorrow morning for a debriefing."

"Requested?" Argo asked.

"It's not really a request," I grumbled. "Bastard wants me to help come up with some sort of plan on the fly. What does he think I am, a computer?" Sometimes, I regretted showing off as much as I did. Then the moment of insanity passed and I was back to my usual self.

"I have faith in you."

I rolled my eyes. "That's what I'm afraid of." I realized I was getting worked up again; with an effort, I calmed down and controlled myself. "Regardless, there's nothing I can do except go. Apparently, a giant raid group is being put together." I grinned wryly. "Everyone who's anyone will be there, as far as I can tell." I glanced at Argo. "I can bring a plus one. You wanna come along?"

Argo twitched her nose, but shook her head. "Nah, it's fine. I can get the report secondhand." I didn't say it, but I was glad she turned down my offer. It would be dangerous - it was a quarter milestone boss, as well as one that nobody had any information about whatsoever. I didn't want to split my attention between the boss and Argo, and I was glad that she had the common sense and survival instincts to stay well out of the way. "Just make sure you kill that thing."

"That's what I do best, after all. Murder things with extreme prejudice," I quipped. Argo snickered and I grinned to myself. I tried to put the matter out of my mind and went back to my instrument. I plucked at the strings of the lute apathetically, not really trying to make music. It was just something to do while I tried to decide what to do about the meeting with Kayaba. I had to go, naturally; I was starting to get bored doing nothing. It was time that I stretched my mind again.

The rest of the night passed without incident. Argo decided to sleep in the guest bed; I was only slightly disappointed.

November 7th, 2024

The glow of the warp gate faded from my vision. I blinked, and then stepped off the gate. A small detachment of guards from the Knights of the Blood were waiting for me. "Hello, boys. So nice to see you," I drawled. I didn't bother waiting for them, instead striding forward. "To what do I owe the honor?"

The guard beside me had the grace to look somewhat embarrassed. "We're a security detachment."

"Hm." I thought for a moment. "For my protection or the crowds'?" I hadn't made many friends the last time I visited Granzam. The guard coughed and looked away, refusing to answer. His refusal was answer enough in itself. "Don't worry, I won't attack anyone. I've got no reason this time." At least, I wouldn't attack anyone on this floor, I said to myself.

The rest of the trip was spent in silence. I pretended the guards didn't exist and they pretended they just happened to be walking in the same direction as me. I ignored them, they ignored me, politeness was preserved. Before long, I swept into Kayaba's office. "Hello...Heathcliff. It's been a bit, hasn't it?" No sense in pretending to like him.

"Greetings, Rythin." Heathcliff's voice was as calm as ever. "The briefing will begin momentarily. There are several players still en route."

I turned my back on him and walked around the room. The other high-ranking members of the Knights of the Blood watched me uneasily. They had heard of my reputation and my rampage. I could feel their eyes drilling into my back, but I refused to let it affect me. My hackles were already up as a result of being in the same room as Heathcliff; being glared at by several people was nothing special.

The door swung open again and I looked over my shoulder to see who was entering. I felt my features freeze into the mask of neutrality as I identified the two players standing in front of the door. I turned to glare at Heathcliff - that wasn't part of the deal. In fact, that was the exact opposite of the deal. However, I should have expected it - to someone like him, people were just pawns in the game. I quickly reviewed my choices and selected option three; one and two were unsuitable for different reasons, most of which involved the fact that I didn't have the luxury of telling Asuna and Kirito that I had lied to them for two weeks. Nevertheless, Heathcliff's actions demanded a reaction. Even if they hadn't, I would have been determined to get revenge anyway - he had broken his word and as such I had no more obligation to keep mine.

He met my gaze steadily, but broke away first to greet the two players. "Kirito, Asuna. Good of you to join us. It's a shame you had to cut your vacation short."

Asuna smiled. "We couldn't say no to a request from the leader of the Knights of the Blood, could we?"

"You should have," I grumbled from the wall. Kirito and Asuna looked over in surprise, but grinned when they realized it was only me. "I didn't spend this long trying to get you two together just to have you come back to the front lines after two weeks." I walked over to stand beside the two. It was time to put my plan into action, and that would require that the two standing beside me had no idea what I was going to do. They couldn't suspect anything; I needed them completely unaware when I pulled my stunt.

"Now that everyone is here, shall we get started?" Heathcliff said. "I've called you three here because, frankly, we need you." He was very good at manipulating people, I realized. That was a very good line to spin, especially because it played to Kirito and Asuna's desire to help others. It didn't do anything for me, though. But he knew that. "We have found the boss room on the 75th Floor. Yesterday evening, we sent a raid party to explore and gather preliminary information on the boss. Half of the party was eliminated and we have no idea what happened to them."

"The recon team was wiped out?" Kirito gasped. The recon teams were always made of highly-trained players; they gathered useful information and as such needed to be able to survive. Their death was admittedly alarming.

"They were scouting for the upcoming boss fight." Heathcliff sat calmly, fingers laced in front of him. "It was a party of twenty members, taken from five different guilds." I glanced at Kirito and Asuna out of the corner of my eye, taking in their determination. They were standing firmly side by side, drawing support from one another. I deliberately adopted a stance slightly more aggressive, clasping my hands behind me and feet shoulder-width apart. It would give me more balance and slightly more presence in the room, even though I didn't say anything. I didn't trust myself not to be more antagonistic than was necessary. "Ten of them reached the center of the room, then the boss appeared. That's when the entrance closed, cutting them off from the rest of the party."

"They walked into an anti-crystal zone..." Kirito's voice was strained. He didn't have a very good history with anti-crystal traps.

"Precisely." Heathcliff didn't react at all. "And it couldn't have been more than five minutes or so when the door finally opened." I already knew this, of course; it was in the message he had sent me. He knew I wouldn't have come unless it was something intriguing. "The room was empty. There wasn't any trace left behind of the ten soldiers...or the boss."

Asuna and Kirito gasped. "You're kidding," Kirito said.

"Now, more than ever, clearing the game needs to be everyone's number one priority." I resisted the urge to spit at Heathcliff's words. That wouldn't have helped my situation any. "We're going to launch an attack with the largest group we can assemble."

"You can count on us to fight with you," Kirito said.

I sighed when the five players behind the desk looked at me expectantly. "Yeah, sure, I'll help out." I privately reviewed my performance and mentally grinned. I had just the right amount of reluctance that they would assume it was from my dislike of people rather than anything personal. If I had been too forthcoming and agreeable, Kirito and Asuna would have definitely noticed. And I couldn't refuse; I needed to be there.

"This needs to be clear." Kirito's voice was calm and very deadly. "Asuna's safety is my priority." I felt a grin tug at my lips. "If things start to get hairy in there, I'm going to protect her. That's not negotiable."

Heathcliff leaned forward. For the first time, his expression changed. He smiled coldly. "A person with something to protect is a strong ally to have." I gritted my teeth, but didn't change facial expression. What a bastard. "I'm expecting a good fight from you." I clenched my hands behind me. That line was so laced with double meanings that I was torn between wanting to vomit and wanting to punch him in his smug jaw. I forced my anger back down, restraining it once more with the chains of self-control. A small part of me realized that what I was doing wasn't healthy, that forcing the anger down would only cause a larger explosion later, but I needed to play my part to the hilt and as such ignored that small bit. "We leave at one. Be on the 75th Floor, ready to leave." He stood up to leave, the rest of the Knights of the Blood following his lead. He swept out of the room, the other players trailing behind him. He likely had to arrange other meetings and discuss things. I fixed the appearance of the four players in my mind, matching them with the names I had already gathered. I'd need to speak with them later.

Silence fell over the room. I relaxed against the wall closest to the door; Kirito leaned against a pillar while Asuna took a seat on Heathcliff's desk. She sighed. "Three more hours of waiting." We had to kill time until the raid was ready; I would have played a song on the lute - the only instrument I had brought with me - but Kirito and Asuna were talking. "What should we do?" Kirito didn't reply, looking straight ahead into the distance. Asuna smiled. "What's wrong with you?"

"There's something I have to ask you." Kirito looked away. "But I don't want you getting mad at me." He hesitated slightly before continuing. "Instead of going to the boss fight, could you please stay here?"

Immediately, I turned around and walked out. I was willing to stay with them for anything except marital drama. I drew the line at family quarrels - I valued my life far too much, especially since I was a friend of both people involved. If I stuck around, I'd have to take a side, and that was something I would not do. In any event, it was a useful excuse to go talk to certain influential individuals I'd noted earlier. Any other point, I would have had to make some sort of excuse. It was possible the excuse would be weak or have holes; if Kirito and Asuna snooped around, they'd find out things I didn't want them to find out.

I exited the room and looked around. I set off in a direction; it was likely the four people I needed to talk to would be in the same room. I poked around the more heavily guarded areas; if they were in the vicinity, they'd be with guards. I asked each guard if the four were in the room. I managed to find them after the third or fourth try. I entered the room; Heathcliff was not in the room with them. That was good. "Hello, gentlemen." They looked up. "Don't bother standing, I don't give a damn. I would like to talk to you about something." Option three part one: gather a small group of players willing to trust me.

"What would our strategist like with us?" asked the player on the left. He was evidently the spokesperson for the group.

"First off? Not your strategist." I thumped my chest. "Solo player here. Second, I need to know if you would accept a standing order from me."

"What kind of order?"

"There will likely be an incident after the boss fight if I'm still alive. When the time comes..." I leaned forward. "...you might have a chance for revenge. When they're no longer immortal, attack."

"Revenge? Immortal?" He stared at me uncomprehendingly.

I nodded. "Yes. Things will make sense when they happen." I turned to walk away. "I'm sorry I can't tell you more, but that would compromise the mission. Opsec and all that, you know." I didn't get to spin that line often, and I used it any chance I could get. I remembered something just before I reached the door. "Before I go, however..." I pulled out a recording crystal. "Please speak your names clearly." They looked at each other, curious, but complied. I paused the recording, saving it for later. "In the event that I die during the fight, wait for either Kirito or Asuna to contact you." I nodded to them. "Thank you very much, gentlemen. I apologize for taking up your time." I walked out the door, leaving them slightly confused. I had other places to be and not much time to do what I needed to do.

I walked to the warp gate and stood on it. "Teleport, Collinia." The glow filled my vision and I felt the expected sideways wrench as my body shifted locations. Jumping twenty floors at once was always awkward. The glow dissipated and I stepped forward out into the clearing. I hadn't spent much time in the floor aside from the duel between Kirito and Heathcliff, and I took a few minutes to look around and enjoy the sights. The floor was remarkably similar to the 74th Floor, complete with dirt ground and blue skies. I much preferred these kinds of surroundings to cold, wintry floors or dark, dank surroundings that would be more at home in a horror game. Needless to say, I definitely didn't enjoy the 13th Floor very much. As I stepped off of the gate platform, several groups of players looked at me curiously, wondering if I was the main attraction, but turned away after it appeared that I was alone. My brief fifteen minutes of fame was over, it seemed. The duel had drawn attention from my own Unique Skill; I wasn't being mobbed in public, at any rate. I didn't mind. I didn't like the attention. I looked around, searching for the people that I needed to talk to. I found two of them in conversation, and I walked over. "Klein, Agil. Excellent seeing you two."

"Well, if it isn't Rythin," Agil said with a laugh. "Haven't seen you around the shop recently. I was thinking you found another place to sell your stuff."

I shrugged. "Nah, just haven't been fighting for a while. I'm taking a break from almost getting myself killed."

Klein feigned shock. "Whoa, you're getting lazy, man." I laughed, and he grinned. "So what'd you want us for?"

"What, can't I just come up to two people and engage in conver-" I stopped. "No, I can't finish that with a straight face. I need to know if you two would trust me enough to be given orders to be executed later, even if they don't make sense."

Klein blinked, confused. "So let me get this straight," Agil rumbled. "You're asking us to follow orders that won't make sense until we carry them out, and possibly not even then."

"Exactly," I said.

He shrugged. "Sure, why not." I was reminded again that he was usually easygoing. It was only during price negotiations that he was at his full potential.

Klein grinned. "Yeah, you're the smartest guy in here, right? Why wouldn't we do what you say?"

"Because I'm a sociopathic asshole with a profound lack of empathy and no problem manipulating people toward my own ends?" I asked. Klein and Agil stared at me, jaws dropped, until I laughed. "Basically, there'll be an incident after the boss fight. When it happens and the target isn't immortal, do your best to kill it. Thanks, guys." I pulled out the recording crystal and asked them to speak their names clearly. They obliged and I put it away. "See ya. Oh, and by the way?"

Agil looked at me. "What?"

"Kirito and Asuna'll be around pretty soon. Say hi to them for me, but don't mention this, alright? If anything happens to me, wait until Kirito and Asuna call for you." I grinned and walked away. I could trust them to follow orders. They were good fighters, and so I expected them to be alive at the end of the fight. If anything, I was more likely to end up dead.

I went around, gathering more players. I kept the lid on this very tight, only talking to a few people. I needed to keep this quiet for as long as possible; after all, masterminding a conspiracy was dangerous, even for me. If Kayaba somehow found out that I was planning to expose him, he'd take steps to ensure that I was dead. I didn't feel at all guilty about breaking our deal - my silence for Kirito and Asuna's vacation - but he had already failed to hold up his end of the bargain. If he had wanted me to remain silent, he shouldn't have brought Kirito and Asuna into the fight. I had no doubt that he had messaged them at the same time he had messaged me. By the time I finished talking to the players I had picked out as possible allies, I had fifteen people who had agreed to my terms. Nobody had declined; I had read the players correctly. Some had hesitated, but all had agreed in the end. They had all been witnesses to my plans at one point or another - I helped ensure that players didn't die during the boss raids. They were all relatively trustworthy; not all of them were part of the upper echelon of command, either. Two of the players were regular soldiers in the Holy Dragon Alliance; they were battle partners and worked well together. I hoped they'd survive; they probably were going to die, in all likelihood.

I tapped my chin, searching the crowd. If I had guessed right... I saw a familiar brown hood and grinned. As usual, Argo was among the crowd. My assumption that Argo would be at the gathering despite not knowing where or when it would be was, in fact, correct. As usual, the smart thing to do was to live as if she was lurking behind every closed door, listening in. I drifted through the crowd, making my way slowly toward her. I didn't want people to know I was discussing anything with her - if news of my small but potent conspiracy leaked, she would be in danger. I was likely being paranoid, but it was a habit. I worked my way through the crowd, occasionally drifting back and forth, trying to avoid physical contact with others. I hated crowds. Before long, I stopped right beside Argo. "Hey."

She turned. "Ry, so good to see you."

"Don't call me Ry. Anyway, got something for you." I took her by the arm and drew her along with me, ignoring her protests. I moved her away from the crowds and into a secluded alleyway.

"I like the alleyway. Is this where you're finally going to reveal that you're not actually asexual?" Argo quipped.

I paused and tapped my chin thoughtfully before shaking my head. "Nope. Still not interested in sex. Sorry." I grinned. "I do have something for you, though. Here..." I pulled out the recording crystal. "Same thing as the other one. Get it to Kirito and Asuna in the event of my death." Option three contingency: in the event of my death, give the names of all the conspirators to Kirito and Asuna. They'd know what to do.

"You're not gonna die, idiot." Argo grinned. "You're too good for that."

"Probably am!" My voice was far too cheerful for the words. "When I die, just make sure they get those two crystals, okay?"

"You're an ass, Ry," Argo muttered.

"Yep. The crystal contains a list of names, some familiar, some not." I shrugged. "I'm trying my hand at conspiracy now. Why do yourself what you can have others do for you?"

"Every time you talk I wonder how you made it through two years of high school without getting punched in the face."

I smirked. "Practice."

"Well, regardless..." She leaned forward. I had no idea what she was doing, and as such I was completely blindsided when she pressed her lips against mine. I absently noted that Argo was delivering quite a few surprises in a rather short amount of time. She broke away quickly. "For luck, alright? I'll even keep this quiet for free." I didn't respond, still completely shocked. I could only blink in response. "See ya, Ry!" She walked off, going back into the crowd. I watched her go, still shocked. As far as first kisses could have went, that wasn't too bad. It didn't really do anything for me, given my particular list of mental problems, but it wasn't terrible. I was tempted to go after her and confront her about what she had just done, but I chose not to. It wouldn't serve any particular purpose.

"That was... a thing." I muttered. I glanced at the teleport gate, and saw two more figures stepping off of the platform. I recognized the uniforms, if nothing else; the only Knights of the Blood member that would be with a figure in all black was my friend. It was about time - I needed to talk to them. I started to approach, but I saw Klein and Agil strike up a conversation. I backed off, deciding to let them chat. They needed to talk a few things out, and I would feel tense and on edge, orchestrating a conspiracy and keeping Kirito and Asuna in the dark with one hand and being a friend with the other. Instead, I occupied the rest of my time ensuring that my plan was ready. I was prepared, but there were so many different things that could go wrong that I had to be ready to restructure almost everything, given whatever parameters had changed. I had built enough flexibility into my plan to account for everything except complete annihilation, and if it came to the worst outcome I would be ready for that as well.

In the distance, I saw Asuna and Klein start laughing. I smiled; they were enjoying themselves. The sound of the teleportation gate activating again caught my attention, and I looked over. My fists clenched as I saw Heathcliff striding forward, guarded by the four high-ranking members of the Knights of the Blood. I watched them as they walked forward. After they passed, I shifted around through the crowd of players, making my way toward my friends. I stopped just beside them without a word, still watching the receding figures of Heathcliff and his entourage.

He stopped at the edge of the clearing. He raised his right hand, grasping a tall blue crystal. I narrowed my eyes; there was no reason to use a Corridor Crystal when we could simply walk to the boss room. With a raid party of the magnitude assembled, nothing would have been able to stand in our way - we would have rolled over any monsters that were stupid enough to attack us. It fit, though; as the GM, Heathcliff could spawn any item he wanted. He had no idea the true worth of a Corridor Crystal because for him, it was just a screen-tap away. For the rest of us, we had to work hard or pay through the nose to get one. "Corridor, open!" The crystal in his hand glowed a brilliant white as the air in front of him started rippling; its job complete, the crystal shattered. Heathcliff turned around. "Well, here we go." He walked forward and was swallowed up by the air, instantly transported to the matching gate just outside of the boss room. I looked to the side; Argo was standing just off to the side, watching the players. Our eyes met; she gave a small wave. I grinned.

Group by group, the parties filed through the portal. As a solo player, I could go whenever I wanted, but as a gesture of loyalty I followed Kirito and Asuna. They were the only two people that I trusted on the raid. We were the last players through the portal, as it dissipated after I crossed through. I heard Asuna say something, but I paid only cursory attention, enough to understand her words but not enough to register them. I was too busy looking around the Labyrinth. I hadn't explored any portion of the Labyrinth, as the exploration of this particular floor was during the time I had taken off. The ceilings were high, and the columns were sharp. There was no evidence of deterioration in the corridor, which told me that the boss would be extremely dangerous - as a general rule, the fancier the Labyrinth the more dangerous the boss. I could feel my body tensing already as the general feeling of nervousness filled the air. The other players dealt with their nerves by whispering anxiously amongst themselves - I couldn't do that as a result of being generally antisocial. I looked at the door - it was smooth brass, towering high above even the tallest players. Its decorative designs were nothing like the crude carvings on the door to The Gleam Eyes. These were fancy and ornate, a smooth symmetrical pattern. That was bad; this boss was going to be more difficult than I had anticipated.

"Everyone ready?" Heathcliff's voice rang out over the murmurs of the players and the sound of status screens opening and closing. He stood calmly in front of the door, a pillar of strength. "The Knights of the Blood will be out in the front, distracting the boss and blocking its attacks." My eyes narrowed. Sure they would, and you'd be right in there with them, secure in your safety thanks to the system. "In the meantime, the rest of you have to stay sharp, and try to figure out its attack patterns." He searched through the crowds and locked gazes with me. "Rythin, we will be counting on you." I placed a mask of neutrality over my naked hate as other players turned to look at me. It would have been suspicious to be glaring that obviously at the raid leader. Heathcliff addressed the assembled players as a whole again. "I won't lie. This battle will be hard. But I have faith that we can and will prevail." His voice was calm and strong. "For our day of liberation!" His sudden shout apparently inspired the players as they all gave a loud cry of determination. I looked around, slightly confused. It wasn't that great a speech, and I wasn't at all inspired by him. Then again, that could be due to the fact that I knew just who Heathcliff was. I looked to the side - Kirito was just as grim as I was, though likely for different reasons. Standing slightly behind him and Asuna, I saw her reach out to take his clenched fist. She leaned in to whisper in his ear; whatever she said apparently reassured him, as he lost some of his tension and smiled at her. I looked away, reminded of who wasn't there beside me. It was for the best, of course.

Heathcliff pushed at the door, letting it slowly creak open. Every player waited, weapon unsheathed. I had my Nightblade out and ready; if it was possible, I'd try to get in, poison the boss, and get out unscathed. Hopefully it would be weak to poison. I heard Kirito unsheathe his two swords. "Don't die, guys," he said. I grinned - I had no intention of doing so. Just like Kirito to be worried about the rest of us.

Klein grinned. "Heh. Same to you, buddy!"

"I'm gonna make a fortune off today's drops," said Agil. "No way am I missing out on that!"

The doors slammed open with a resounding thud. "Forward to battle!" shouted Heathcliff. The assembled players charged forward with different war cries, each mixing with the others. If I had been the target of the raid, I would have been thoroughly terrified. As everybody spilled into the boss room, the cries died off in confusion. We were all on a single large platform in the center of the room. It was dark, and I couldn't see the ground over the edge. The boss was nowhere to be seen. Everyone waited with bated breath for the boss to reveal itself. The door slammed shut behind us and disappeared, locking us in the boss room until we killed the boss or died trying.

I heard a rattling sound, not unlike the sound of bones clicking together, and I thought quickly. If the boss wasn't on the platform or the walls, there was only one place for it to be. "The ceiling!" I shouted. I looked up, trying to find its location. My eyes were quickly drawn to the pale shape on the ceiling. My eyes focused on it, and I backed up unconsciously. The bone legs twitched, eerily reminding me of a centipede.

"It's The Skull..." whispered Klein.

"Reaper..." gasped Kirito. I briefly wondered why all of the bosses recently were death-themed. What looked like the Grim Reaper on the first floor, and now a boss literally called 'Reaper'. I realized that my thoughts were completely absurd, though I assumed they were that way as a means of coping with the giant skeleton centipede clinging to the ceiling. It was understandable.

The Skull Reaper hissed, eyes glowing red as the health bars quickly filled. My eyes widened as I realized it had five health bars, one more than usual - I wasn't sure if this was a feature of all bosses starting now, or if it was only the milestone bosses. Either way, it didn't matter; Kayaba would hopefully be dead at the end of the fight and the game should end with his death.

"Stay away from it!" shouted Heathcliff. Immediately, the various players underneath it scrambled to get out of the way as it dropped from the ceiling. "Spread out!"

Two players didn't move, staring at the descending boss and trembling. They were the two regular fighters I had brought into the conspiracy. Kirito shouted at them, telling them to move; they finally tried to get away. The Skull Reaper landed, sending out a shockwave that knocked them over. A gleaming scythe-like arm sliced forward, catching them both in the torso; they were sent flying and died before ever reaching the ground. I was down two people who could fight.

"That was one hit!" exclaimed Klein.

"Man, we are so dead," was Agil's contribution. I agreed with him, but didn't say anything. I needed to watch the boss and try to figure out the patterns of its strikes.

Suddenly, The Skull Reaper lunged forward, scuttling toward a group of players that hadn't gotten far enough away. Heathcliff lunged forward as well, meeting the strike with his shield perfectly. He didn't move, absorbing all of the impact on his shield. Normally, that would have drawn the monster's aggro towards him. Instead, The Skull Reaper shoved him aside and swung its other arm at the player Heathcliff had protected, killing him instantly. I nodded in thought; The Skull Reaper targeted the more vulnerable players. That was good to know; it could be used to our advantage by surrounding weaker players with the tanks and creating a lure to distract it. The Skull Reaper scuttled around quickly; its multiple legs gave it unparalleled mobility. It leaped, soaring over our heads; I heard Agil say something, but I ignored him. I was trying to fit the various patterns I had noticed into a cohesive whole that would let me abuse the system's loopholes. So far it had only attacked using its scythe-like arms, which told me that its back was vulnerable. The Skull Reaper landed and swung, trying to kill another player. Kirito lunged forward, catching its attack with his twin swords. I watched as he fell to one knee, the scythe biting into his shoulder. The Skull Reaper was so strong, even Kirito couldn't stop its attack. It swung with its second arm, trying to kill Kirito. Heathcliff came out of nowhere, blocking the strike. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Asuna dash forward, rapier glowing green. She struck the boss over Kirito's shoulder and it recoiled in pain. What magnificent teamwork, I thought, and I rolled my eyes at my thoughts. Even my thoughts were sarcastic. But there would be time for that later. The Skull Reaper slid back and halted. From where I was, I couldn't hear the conversation, but Kirito nodded.

The Skull Reaper dashed forward, slamming its blade down on Heathcliff's shield. "Me and Asuna'll deal with the scythes," Kirito shouted. "Everyone else, flank it and attack!"

I nodded and spun my Nightblade for a second, enjoying the small dexterity exercise. "Time to experiment." I dashed forward, taking advantage of the brief moment of distraction to slip under the boss. "Huh." No matter what happened, Future Step showed me that I was safe so long as I was directly under the main spine. "This is convenient." I heard the other players charge as well; I couldn't waste much time. I sliced with the Nightblade and grimaced as the damage marker showed up red instead of green. Unfortunately, the boss was resistant to poison - an expected outcome, naturally, as it was probably classified as an undead creature. I sheathed the Nightblade and prepared to start striking with my fists. Blunt damage was usually good against undead creatures - their bones were brittle. I struck again and again, the boss's body shuddering with each blow. It reared back, and I scrambled to get clear of its legs. If one landed on me, I'd be in deep trouble no matter what Future Step said. I laid on my back after rolling clear of the legs, and my heart skipped a beat as The Skull Reaper's tail flashed over my head. I looked to the side; two more players burst into polygons and Agil was standing, arm heavily damaged.

I pushed myself to my feet and started shouting orders. "The main points of attack are the scythes in the front and the tail. It is incredibly strong, capable of killing you in one hit if it strikes in the torso. If possible, try to block with your weapon or arms. Kirito, Asuna, and Heathcliff have the scythes occupied. It's our job to kill this bastard. Safe places to attack are between the legs and under the body. Don't stay under there too long; just get in, attack, and get out." I paused, making sure everyone had heard me. "It'll swing with its tail if you stay near it for too long. Damage type is likely blunt or slashing, so everyone who's not entirely sure of their ability to dodge attacks get near someone with a large shield." I cracked my knuckles. "A behavior pattern that's emerged is a tendency to target weaker members in order to lower the number of possible attackers. Non-tanks, watch your health. Tanks, make sure you block what you can." When I said tanks, I was referring to the build of defense that turned some players into mountains of HP and armor. I had specialized in mobility rather than protection, trusting in my speed and Acrobatics skill to get me out of danger; that explained why my armor consisted only of the Bloodwyrm scales that fit like a second shirt and my diamond gloves.

The Skull Reaper hissed, rearing back. Its legs twitched abhorrently, like movable ribs, and I felt my lips curl in disgust. I hated insects. I checked the damage we had done so far; the bars hadn't decreased, and I took a deep breath. This was going to take a while. I launched myself back into the fight, trusting Future Step and my reflexes to keep me alive. Agil and Klein fought by my side; Klein followed my lead by sliding under the boss and striking with the point of his katana, while Agil attacked from above, slamming his axe down into the boss's back. It reared up in pain, giving me the chance to strike at a back leg while it was supporting all of the boss's weight. It snapped with a satisfying crack, opening up the ability to get in and out faster. It was possible that striking the legs would slow the boss down, especially if we could destroy everything on one side. It was worth a shot, and I told my plan to Klein. He nodded and went back to attacking, trusting that I knew what I was doing.

The fight raged on, players switching in and out as needed. I had to take a break occasionally to heal and catch my breath after a leg caught my arm while I was trying to dodge. The tail was dangerous, lashing out quickly. Several times I almost died, barely managing to block it with my gloves. They were convenient, giving me added protection and increased striking power. I had, at times, used them to parry a sword blow; blocking and turning aside the tail was just a matter of scale. The edge would grate along the gloves and be deflected, allowing me to close in. I was one of the few players that used hand-to-hand as a main combat method; I was one of the even fewer players who used two separate styles of fighting at different times. I was equally deadly with the dagger and my fists, which allowed me to combine the fighting styles during regular fights. In this case, however, I only used my Martial Arts attacks as the Nightblade's poison was ineffective. My fists and legs glowed with the different colors of the skills as I slammed them into the side of The Skull Reaper over and over again. I didn't spare the time to see how much we were damaging it. That wouldn't have been smart. All I could see was the various effects of the sword skills players were using, the various bursts of light appearing as their swords collided with the boss's form. I couldn't take the chance to check in on Asuna or Kirito, leaving me no choice but to trust in their ability to stay alive. In any event, Kayaba had mentioned that the Dual Blade wielder was the one destined to kill him. I didn't believe in his talk of destiny, but it was true that Kirito was the one most likely to be able to finally kill him. If anything, Kayaba would be sure to keep Kirito alive just so that he could have a good fight.

I needed to make sure I was there to see it. I had promised Kirito and Asuna I'd stay alive, after all. I had never broken a promise to them before and I didn't intend to start.

Edited 5/28/16: Rewrote a little bit of the 'Wah wah Argo left' scenes. I like it better this way.

Rythin's gonna expose Kayaba because he broke his word. Rythin half-expected it, to be honest. That's why he was that prepared.

The full plan for option three:

1) Gather a small amount of players willing to trust Rythin

2) Tell them to attack when 'the event' happens. Don't tell them the event to maintain the element of surprise

3) At the end of the fight, when everyone is mentally tired, attack Kayaba with the Nightblade. Force him to reveal himself

4) Have the small amount of players attack Kayaba after forcing him to remove his immortality by offering to duel him

Contingency) Record a message crystal detailing the plan and the names of the co-conspirators and give it to Argo to be delivered to Kirito and Asuna in the event of Rythin's death during the boss fight.

Option one involved having Kirito and Asuna distract him from the front while Rythin sneaked around and stabbed Kayaba in the back, while option two had Rythin expose Kayaba and install Asuna in the seat of power, ensuring that everything would still run smoothly. There were more options as well; option four involved a public but solo assassination attempt.

Rythin's good with plans, you see. And figuring out how to kill someone that's unkillable was a fun challenge for him.

Many thanks to everyone who favorited, followed, or left a review. Special thanks go to Antex- the Legendary Zoroark,realisticFantasy, and silverhawk88 for being dedicated reviewers.