Chapter 26- Black VS Sliver

Ever since I started this fan-fiction I had one duel played out in my head and that was between Mikael and Kirito. And I had this duel since I was wondering who was stronger since we are told Kirito was above Mikael in the Beta but Mikael was able to beat Yuuki while it only implied that Kirito could beat her as well as it took both of them to defeat Heathcliff. As the duel continued to play out I began to measure them in different area from Kendo which Mikael would win to skill which end in a draw and then finally to a look at which was stronger Guardian Slayer or Duel Wielding. Eventually I reached my answer and this was want it was.

Mikael POV- One week after Chapter 25

I was unable to sleep as I continued to think about something that Klein asked me on Sunday. It was actually strange that Klein ask me something that I couldn't answer straight away but this was a complex question that had some many answer to them with whatever factor you took into detail.

(Flashback)

Everyone was sitting in the play room in Black Castle relaxing after the recent boss battle we had fought. It was due to me and Kirito launching the stream combo that exposed the bosses' weakness and allowed Sinon to deliver the killing blow. We all held are drinks up and cheered as I said "To the Black Knights." They all responded "To the Black Knight" as our glasses all collided in a loud Clink. We then sat down and began talking about the Boss fight. "You know that was smart to combine the Star Burst Stream and Inferno Burst Stream, Mikael" Asuna told me. "Well it seems to be a combination that work all the time so it made sense to use it on boss" I responded. "Well we should be glad that It works otherwise that boss would have taken a lot longer to beat. How on earth on to you can up with these strategies, Mikael" Agil told me before asking a question. "Honestly it just luck. I watch the bosses first few attacks and come with ways to counter them but after that it just luck that my attack does some damage" I answered him. "Is that how you beat Heathcliff" Klien asked me. It surprised me since none of us had talked about that battle at all. "That battle was just luck. When faced to face with Game Master that the only thing you can rely on. Plus, I had Kirito's help" I told him, trying not to tell him the truth behind how I knew how to beat Heathcliff. Because truth be told it wasn't luck but I knew that Heathcliff had reached his limit during our battle.

Heathcliff kne2 that I could tell that since Boss Beater had another ability and that was I could analyse a boss and it's attack and as Heathcliff put it "He was the final boss." It was only recently that I discover that Guardian Slayer had this ability as well as three other that I didn't know about but I feared what would happen if someone was to learn about this since the last time something like this happen it had a negative effect. I noticed that Klien looked down as he put his hand on his chin like he was thinking. "Uh oh Klein is thinking again" Liz said before everyone laughed since it was abit funny since in all the time I had known Klein every time he thought of an idea it was often silly. But I had a feeling that this time was different and I was right as Klein then asked "Mikael do you mind if I ask a question." "Go ahead Klein ask away" I replied and prepared myself for his question. "Who is the strongest, you or Kirito" Klein asked me. It completely surprised me since I never thought about it since I always saw Kirito as my equal whenever it comes to a fight but I didn't really know which of us was stronger since we have never fought against one another. Klein then noticed that I was thinking and said "What wrong Mikael, do you have an answer." I then looked at him and said "No I don't since both me and Kirito have done thing that most players could do even with the right training but no matter what angle I look at that question I can't come up with a clear answer."

Everyone looked at me surprised as Kirito said "Mikael right no matter what angle you look at there is no clear answer." I looked at Kirito and he nodded as if he understood what I was thinking. Klein then said "There may be one way to find to the answer." "No" I told Klein, knowing what he was about to suggest. "What is it Klein" Kirito asked. "What if you and Mikael had duel right now" Klein told him. "Sorry Klein but I have to agree with Mikael on that. If we had a duel right now neither of us could go all out what with Asuna, Yui and Sinon watching since they would worry about us and we would worry about harming them" Kirito explained to him. I nodded in agreement with him which only seem to disappoint Klien and everyone else as I heard everyone sigh. "That a shame, if you two were to fight I'm sure a lot of people would pay to see that. Just imagine it, the Black Sword VS The Black Swordsman" Agil said, breaking the uncomfortable silence as everyone except Asuna, Yui and Sinon to nodded in agreement. "Sorry everyone but I doubt that will happen" I told them. Me and Sinon then got up and logged off.

(End of Flashback)

I continued to toss and turn as I couldn't get want Klein had said out of my head as I was slightly curious as to how a duel between Me and Kirito could go. I knew that I wouldn't get sleep this way so I thought 'Well might as well try and sleep in Alfhiem since that always worked in the past.' I then picked up my Amusphere and boot up Alfhiem Online. I soon found myself in front of Black Castle. As I was about to enter I noticed that someone was stood nearby. I then walked over to see who it was, only to find out it was Kirito looking up at the moon. "Hey brother" I said to Kirito who immediately looked towards me. "Oh hey brother, I could seem to sleep so I logged on to try and see if I could sleep. What about you" he replied. "I had the same problem, ever since Klien suggested that duel between us I kept think about how a duel like that would go" I responded to Kirito. "I know a duel between the two of us would be something but there is nowhere in Alfhiem where we wouldn't be seen if we had a duel" Kirito told me. I then remembered that I created an area that no one had access and it was endless. "There might be a place brother. As a GM I can create area that exist outside of Alfhiem. So if we had a duel their no one would see us and we could go all out. What do you say to that?" I told him. He thought about it before he responded "Well if do have such a place then let have ourselves a duel." I smiled before pulling out a white teleport crystal.

We were soon teleported to this endless white void. "Where are we" Kirito asked me. "We are in the area I call the Infinite because there is no end to this area" I told him. "So shall we begin" I asked him as he then nodded in response. I then set up a duel as I soon reached the option of time limit. "Hey how long do you want the duel to be" I asked Kirito. "Let same sixty seconds, that should be long enough for this duel to be over" Kirito replied. "Okay but add the bonus time option just in case" I told him. I soon clicked agree and the request was sent to Kirito who clicked yes the minute it appeared. As soon as our name appeared above, I activated Guardian Slayer but remove my mask so Zeon or Alicia could help me. "Why'd you do that" Kirito asked me with a surprise tone in his voice. "Well I want to fight you without the use of A.I" I told him. "Well okay" he replied before he then drew his long sword and Excalibur as I pulled out Moonlight Sin and Lighting Blaze. We both took up a fighting stance as the countdown reached ten. I immediately charged at Kirito with the skill 'Lighting Strike' the minute the word 'begin' appeared. Kirito immediately leaped into the air catch me off guard. He then activated a sword skill called 'Sonic Leap.' I was swift in dodging out of the way as his attack caused a large amount of smog to appear.

I blind for a while as Kirito came charging at me. I was able to dodge out of the way but it cut across my arm. Mine and Kirito's sword began to collide as he continued his assault and I blocked and counter. By the time I leapt back, both me and Kirito were covered in cuts as we had both lost half our health. We both looked at the countdown as it said there was twenty-minute left. "Hey Mikael what to say to one last clash of skill" he asked me. "Okay what skills do you suggest" I replied. "The two skill we have continuously use. Your Inferno burst stream vs my Star burst stream" he told me. "Okay" I replied before we both took up one last fighting stance., We then charged at one another as I yelled "Inferno burst stream" and he yelled "Star Burst Stream." Both of blades glowed as our skill clashed landing several blow on one another however Kirito's attack came to an end while I still had four strike left. Kirito managed to block two of them but the third blow hit his stomach. I then came in for the fourth blow which I aimed at Kirito's neck and was about to make contact when the word 'Finish' then popped up. We then turned to where our name was to see beside my name 'Winner' while beside Kirito's was 'Loser.' I looked into further detail and saw that I had only won by 1HP difference. We then both fell to the floor exhausted with the duel. "Wow that was one of the toughest duels I have ever faced" Kirito said as he breathed rapidly. "I know that was the first time a duel got my blood pumping" I replied. "Hey should we tell the other" Kirito asked. "Sure why not, it will give Klein his answer but instead of saying I won why don't we say it ended in a draw" I responded. "Okay" he said before logging off. I then did the same and was finally able to get to sleep now having an answer to the question of who was the strongest but I knew that duel could have gone either way.

End of Chapter 26 and wow what an exciting duel, the strange thing is this actually had three ending to it. It had this ending, an ending where Kirito pieces Mikael's chest at the end and an ending where Mikael struck Kirito's chest instead of aiming for the neck. I also notice when I was writing this Mikael didn't use GM skills or Ascension and that was so he was on equal level with Kirito since if he had he would have overpowered Kirito and we don't want that. In the next chapter Cooking done by Sinon, Fishing with Kirito and a sex scene. Enjoy