The final day of the tournament begins.

Chapter 29 Online

The tournament will end today and we'll see who comes out on top. It was early morning, and like my habit now, I was sitting on the edge of the cliff my feet hanging over the water. I only had to wait for the others to awake, and then head to the Colosseum and end this tournament. I sat looking over the seemingly endless ocean and let my mind start to wander. In the tournament I was the last one of my team that made it to the finals, and now I had a challenge ahead of me. I realize many of the other players think the tournament has no meaning and just holding others back from clearing the floors, but I had a reason to arrange this tournament. In the time that I have spent in this world, I have been forced to fight different players that wanted me dead, Demise, Laughing Coffin and at one point Taking, and the one thing I realized in the fights was I had no idea how to fight players that use different weapons or styles, so my reason for starting the tournament was to allow other players to fight against different styles of fighting, so they will have a better chance to fight off pk-res if they are attacked. Of course no one knows that and I don't plan on telling them, but if they ever get into a fight with a pk-er then they might realize it. I lay back and look at the sky as my mind continues to wander, and a thought came very sudden and made me think of something I haven't thought of for some time. The real me, my family that awaits the day where I escape, but it also made me realize something I never thought of before. My party have people that care about them in the real world too, waiting for them to awake...and it's my goal to make sure that happens...even at the cost of my own life. My party will escape, even if I don't. I had to get that off my mind for now, we'll only at the 32nd floor and I'm getting ahead of myself anyway, the first thing I need to concentrate on is finishing the tournament and then moving on to the 32nd floor and prepare to fight the floor boss.

"Hey Dark!" A voice calls from behind

I turn and see Sienna calling to me from a second story window "Hey." I say standing up.

"You seem to go outside a lot lately."

"It helps me think when I have things on my mind."

"Thinking about the finals today?"

I walk towards the house, so I'm under the window "That, and a few other things." I tell her.

"Like what?"

"Just realized that you and the others have people in the real world waiting for you to return."

She looks at me confused "You didn't think of that before?"

"Nope. The only time I really thought about the real world and the people in was when I was on the first floor and that was before I met you or Lea or even my temporary partner NightFang."

"NightFang?"

"Oh, yeah. You don't know this. I met him on the 1st floor and we teamed up to take on the Lizard forest, where I took the boss lizard down. Later he asked if I wanted to take the test to join the guild he was also in, Legion. I accepted and he set the test up. I went to the location to find him standing over a young girl, Lea, with low health and he told me to join Legion, which he revealed the true name as Demise, I had to kill her. I refused, attacked him, killed him and I became an enemy to Demise."

She went quiet for a moment then spoke "So, that's how Demise decided you were an enemy?"

"No...only Marks', I was never attacked by any under Doom's command."

"That's the only time you thought of the real world?"

"The only time I really thought about it...Thinking back now I'm surprised I handled the situation so calmly when I learned about him and when I learned we were stuck in the game...I was always the panicky one in my family."

"Really? You seem to handle things calmly. From what I've seen."

"I know...I guess getting trapped in this game might have shocked me so much that I couldn't panic and I realized to get out of this game I had no choice but to keep my cool, and do my best to escape."

She smiled "I remember seeing you panic once."

"Sure you did." I said in a teasing way "When did you see me panic?" I challenged her.

"Remember when you met me?"

"When I followed you and asked you about your speed after your fight in the 5th floor?"

"Yeah. Do you remember why you had to leave?"

"I got a message about..." I stopped and knew she had me.

"When you heard Lea had been captured, you panicked and took off. That's one time you didn't keep calm."

"Okay...you got me." I said raising my hands in defeat.

"Yes I did." She looked behind her into the house "Sounds like the others are awake. If you want to head to the Colosseum now and make sure everything is ready, you can. We're come when we'll ready."

"Sounds good. I'll head there now. See you there." I headed off.

I was the first player at the Colosseum and I was on the stage making sure the lotto would work to pick the pair fighting and I heard a voice.

"You're early."

I turn and see Kirito standing there "I'm the one who set this up, I couldn't be late."

"You were yesterday. You're just here on time because you're a finalist."

"That's part of it. You're a finalist too, so we might face off."

"Too bad you won't defeat me if we do."

"Don't underestimate someone you never fought." I say turning back to the lotto.

"That's a big mistake, especially when that someone took out a player that was 40 levels higher then himself."

"Doom...I would have died with not for you and the others...I almost died a few times in that battle..."

"But your party member...The girl, I didn't catch her name, the one that took a hit for you."

"Sienna."

"She saved your life, not only does that show how mach your party wants to protect you but I think your party might have been able to take Doom with out me or the other two that were there."

"You helped by calling Grim...it's too bad he died..."

"Yeah...I went back to the hideout to see if I could at least get his scythe...but when I got there it was gone."

"His scythe was gone? It wouldn't have disappeared...uh-oh..."

"What?"

"Just thinking what if a Demise member survived and took the scythe...it's an insanely strong weapon, so if I have to fight against it, I could lose."

"No. Grim would have made sure all Demise members were taken care of."

"I hope you're right." More players started to enter.

"Looks like the tournament will be start soon."

"Yeah." I respond, seeing my party enter "It will be starting soon."

"Good luck Dark." Kirito said walking away

"Good luck to you too."

I checked the stands making sure the 8 finalists were here.

"Today is the day the finals start. But before we can start the finals we have to cut the 8 we have down to 4. So without further delay, the first battle is" I spin the lotto and two names come out "Kirito VS Regen!" Regen...she was the one that saw me fight Takumi the first time and told me I was lucky that she caught me in town so she wouldn't have to hunt me down and kill me...like she really could. Kirito and she came down into the arena. Regen had a battle-axe ready and Kirito drew his sword.

"You look like you could be a formidable opponent." Kirito said.

"Thanks. You look pretty tough yourself." She smiles sweetly. How in the world can she be a pk hunter, when she seems so nice, honest...that type of person is not cut out to be a Pk hunter.

"All right. Let the first battle of the final day, Begin!"

Regen made the first move, running directly at Kirito, axe poised to strike. Kirito easily deflected the strike, making her lose her balance and he dealt a blow to her stomach. She moved back and readied for another attack. Kirito got ready to defend against her next attack. She ran and jumped high up and bought the axe down against Kirito's sword, he holds her back, almost to easily. He pushes the axe away and slashes at her again. She stops the attack and then looks at me.

"I surrender. I have no chance of winning."

"You've hardly tried to fight..." I pointed out

"He defended my attack easily, I can't defeat him."

"Okay...The winner of the first match is Kirito!" Regen left the Colosseum and Kirito went back to his seat. I spun the lotto and two more names came out "Asuna VS Gino." Asuna came down in her red and white Knight armor and her rapier and Gino, a male came down wearing complete dark blue armor along with a mid-night blue cape, his weapon, a short sword with it's hilt wrapped in the same sade of blue as his armor and the blade a shining silver.

"Let the second battle start now!"

Asuna decided to attack first and she ran and sent Gino to the ground right away. He got up.

"Just what I would expect from vice commander of the Knights." Gino said as he looked for an opening. Asuna moved quickly and stabbed her sword into his shoulder.

"You're leaving yourself open while you look for an opening."

"Or I got you where I wanted." He stabbed her directly under her shoulder blade. She pushed back and a status effect appeared with her health bar, it looked like a broken bone.

"Weakness..." I heard Asuna say.

"Yup. My sword can inflict weakness on my enemy."

"I'll still be able to defeat you!"She used he speed and stabbed into his stomach, but it didn't go really deep.

"You made a bad move." Gino stabbed her leg and she stumbled back "Now your leg is also weakened. You can't use your speed as effectively now." She moved back and it was clear the injury damaged her leg.

"Ow...So my strikes are weaker and my speed is reduced..." Asuna knew she would have a hard fight ahead of her. She was still above Gino's health. Asuna was at 90% and Gino was at 70% from the shoulder and stomach wounds. Gino walked towards Asuna, know she couldn't move very fast. As he went to stab her she rolled and brought her sword up and stabbed him directly in the jaw. He stumbled back and she thrust forward and stabbed just under his ribcage. He moved back and out of her range.

"I might be weakened, but if you let your guard down I'll win easily." Gino had gone to 50%.

"Then I won't let my guard down." Gino ran at Asuna and stabbed at her and she moved, but her cheek was still cut. Asuna stabbed into his foot and as he tried to pull back it tore his foot a little.

"Ow!" Gino said looking at his foot.

"Told you." Asuna said mockingly.

"You won't get the chance to do that again!" He pulls a small knife from a hidden pocket and threw it at her and she deflected it with her sword.

"You were saying?" She said walking closer.

"I'm not done yet." He threw another knife and Asuna stopped it close the gap between the two of them and stabbed into Gino's throat. He fell to the ground holding his throat. A normally fatal blow, but since health can't go lower then 10% and since she is weakened he won't die. His health drained until it hit the 10%.

"The winner is Asuna!" I shouted

Gino got up and still holding his neck he left. Asuna headed up stairs and sat down.

"The next battle is" I spun the lotto and the paper flew out "Dark VS Zizitsu." My battle. With someone I don't know. I went into the arena and so did my opponent, as he stood oppiste from me I heard cheers and saw a group of girls cheering for him, even though the battle hadn't started, a fan club. Zizitsu's armor was black, with a few purple lines making a cross along his chest plate. His weapon was a spear with a metal handle and a violet head and he also had a small purple shield...it could have an effect.

"Looks like you have a fan club." I said referring to the girls.

"Yeah. I've grown use to it seeing as they follow me pretty much anywhere."

"Sounds like you're popular."

"To some I seem to be. Ready to start the fight?"

"Straight to the point, alright the battle shall begin now!"

I waited to attack knowing his spear would be able to hit me before I have a chance to use my sword, so I waited and watched for an opening. He seemed to have the same idea seeing as how he wasn't moving either, but there's always a way to provoke people into attacking.

"Cutting Edge!" I shot the wave at him and he uses his shield to stop it and realizing I'm not going to come into range he rushes at me, holding his shield ready to defend him and spear ready to strike, just like Angelica has done before. I hold my shield in front of me and ready myself to take the impact. He connects and I feel myself get pushed back quite a distance. I move my shield and quickly slash down his chest but he expected that and uses his shield to hit my head and I stumbled back. He thrust his spear forward and hit my shoulder and he moved back. I checked and saw I had been poisoned and he had been burned by my sword.

"I was right. Your spear can cause poison, but my sword can burn."

"I can see that." He said seeing his armor and skin had been burned. He charged at me again and I waited until the last moment and moved to the side.

"Flames Of Demons!" My sword burst into black flames and I appeared in front of Zizitsu and hit him up, and started hitting him while he was in midair, keeping him there. I stopped after a while and he fell to the ground. He got to his feet and I saw he had dropped to only 50% and I was at 40% thanks to the poison.

"Looks like my poison is taking it's toll on you."

"Yes, it is. Too bad I am serious about winning this battle."

"So what can you do, you're poisoned and losing health even as you speak."

"So I'll do this. Thee In The Depths Of Hell I Call To You, Take This Body As Your Own And Defeat The Enemies That Stand Before Me!" I rose my sword into the air, before anyone could do anything and black flames engulfed my sword.

"What are you doing?"Zizitsu asked

"You're see in a moment." The flames disappeared ,my eyes turned red, my right arm turned red and grew claws, my left hand, my shield hand turned thicker and grew shorter duller claws, but this time I subdued the Demon that tried to control my body.

"What the..." Zizitsu muttered.

"I have to take you out quickly or I'll use this battle." I appeared in front of him and stabbed my claws through his armor and into his body, I quickly pulled them back and stabbed my sword through his chest, holding it there, allowing the hot blade do it's work. I pull the blade out after a few seconds and stop my skill. I checked my bar 15%. I saw Zizitsu's go from 20% to 15% to 10%.

"Looks like the burn did it's work. I've won this battle." I heard his 'fan club' boo.

"That was a good battle DarkBlade." He said

"I agree, it was."

He gave a small smile and walked back up. I went back to the stage.

"Dark, you used a dangerous move." Sienna said, disapprovingly.

"I know...but I won."

"That move could have taken you below 10% and you might have died."

"Maybe I got a little to serious about winning."

"You did."

"I won't do that again. Can the last two players who have not fought, Zero and Zen, come down here and prepare for battle?"

Zero came down with a silver long sword. Every time I see him he has a different weapon. Zen was an archer, using a bow that looked to be made of a durable red stone, but he also had a dagger at his side in case he of close combat. He had on armor made of a shiny blue metal.

"Let the battle start!"

Zen wasted no time in loading an arrow and shooting it at Zero. Zero moved to the side, drew his sword and closed the distance in between them and slashed through Zen's bow with one strike. Zen reacted quickly and drew his dagger, but not before Zero could get a strike on him cutting his shoulder to his hip. Zen swung his dagger, trying to his Zero, but he easily stops it with his own blade. Zen pulled back and tried to stab into Zero's chest but once again Zero stops it, keeping up against Zen's speed. Zen tried once more and Zero stopped it with the hilt of the sword, then he swung his sword up, cutting up Zen's stomach, to his neck. His bar went to the 20% already and Zero stabbed into his chest and pulled down as he pulled it out, leaving a huge gash in his chest. Zen's bar dropped to 10%.

"The battle is over! The winner is Zero!"

Zen walked away without saying anything and Zero went back up to the stands.

I went to the front of the stage.

"We have now cut the 8 players down to four and we can start the semi-finals. The two battles that will take place in this round are, Kirito VS Asuna and Dark VS Zero. We will begin the semi-finals now. Kirito and Asuna please come to the arena." Kirito and Asuna came at the same time and stood opposite of each other.

"Let the semi-finals begin!"

Kirito and Asuna got ready to fight.

"I hope you've improved since the first floor, Kirito." Asuna said to him.

"I have, and you have too Vice Commander."

"Only the guild needs to call me that, now prepare yourself!" She ran at him and attacked and He easily stopped the attack.

"Looks like you did improved, but can you match my speed?" Asuna asked moving behind him.

"I'm sure I'll manage." Kirito said stepping to the side and swinging his sword up and taking her off her feet and onto the ground. Asuna got to her feet and Kirito moved and sent her to the ground again. Asuna flipped back wards out of Kirito's range and readied herself. She dashed ran him and managed to cut his cheek a bit before getting behind him and attacking again. This time Kirito reflected the hit and only got his shoulder cut.

"You can manage my sword a little, but not completely." Asuna said moving back and thrusting at him again, he stopped it with his sword.

"True, but you have less health then me, and it's easier to get you to 10% then me." He pushed her sword away and stabbed at her, connecting with her chest below the heart dealing a nice chunk of damage. Kirito was at 95% and Asuna was at 60%.

"The fight isn't done yet!" She dashed at him and attacked rapidly, cutting his chest and shoulder. Kirito blocked the final attack and cut just below Asuna's neck. She moved back, hoping to find a way past Kirito's defence and counter attacks. As she was doing that Kirito ran at Asuna and swung her sword, and managed to cut her shoulder, but he quickly moved to her side and swung again. She swung her sword hoping to connect but ended up hitting nothing but empty air and Kirito, who had gotten behind her cut her down her back, bringing her now to 30%. She moved quickly and stabbed Kirito right through his stomach.

"He looks like he can take a speed type fighter easily." Sienna said watching the fight closely.

"Yeah, but Asuna isn't giving up either." I pointed out.

Kirito stepped back after taking the stomach wound and then dashed quickly. He hit Asuna from the front, then just as quickly he moved behind and struck her from behind and finished the combo with a slash down her back. Her health dropped to the losing point, 10%.

"The winner is Kirito!"

"That was a good fight Asuna. I would expect nothing less from the vice commander of the Knights."

"Thanks Kirito...you were a worthy opponent."

Both of them headed back to their seats.

"Zero, come down to the arena now." I went into the arena and waited. Zero came down.

"So I'm up against you Dark?"

"Yeah...the only time we fought before was when you tried to arrest me, Lea and Sienna."

"My mistake. Ready?"

"Yeah. I'm ready. This battle starts right now."

Zero ran at me and I rose my shield. He connected and like last time we fought each other I felt my feet get pushed into the ground from the strength of his attack. I dropped my shield and moved back.

"I'll use my strength alone, no defence." I smiled.

"Being a little cocky?"

"Nope, I'm faster like this and holding my sword with two hands increases my power as well."

"Then go ahead." He came at me and as he swung his sword I moved, but he quickly reacted, slamming his sword into my stomach, sending me flying into the wall. I moved from the wall.

"Ouch...you're still strong as ever." I ran at him and he swung his sword at my feet. I grabbed over it and slashed down his back and across, making a t on this back. He swung and I ducked under it, stabbing into his chest. He moved back making it so I couldn't gt another hit on him.

"You're fast..." He said

"I know. Not as fast as Sienna, or Asuna, but I can still move faster then many others." I pointed my sword at him and it burst into flame "I'm gonna try and end this. Dragon Flame!" I appeared behind him and my sword had stabbed through his back and came out of his stomach. He moved forward, removing my sword from his stomach and he swung his sword back, connecting with my head. I feel to the ground and my vision went blurry. I could still make out Zero and as he tried to stab me I jumped back.

My sword burst into flames again "Flaming Edge!" I shot the flaming wave at him and he stopped it easily with his sword. I had 75% percent just from being hit in the head...how much strength does this guy have? He had 40% from all my attacks. I ran at him and he got ready to attack. I stabbed my sword into his stomach and I felt his flame enter my chest. I did move back and neither did he. My sword was burning him, inside and out, but he was refusing to move back, as he twisted his sword, causing more damage.

"This battle ends here!" Flame Whip!" My sword burst into flames and with no where to shoot it since I didn't remove my sword, the flame whip exploded in a small orb of fire. I jumped out and so did Zero. As it disappeared I saw Zero had hit 10%.

"This battle is over."

He nodded.

"The semi-finals are over now." I turned to the stage for a moment, then to Zero and he had disappeared "Again...how does he do that?" I staggered back to the stage, after grabbing my shield, still damaged from the fight with Zero.

"So the finals now?" Doran asked talking for the first time.

I nod "The final battle between myself and Kirito will begin in 5 minutes." Giving me time to take a potion and heal myself.

"You're up against the one that defeated me." Angelica said "Make sure you beat him."

"I'll try my best. Although I'm not to sure I can take him. He's a beta tester and not only that but he's a strong fighter...this tournament has shown that."

"You'll win." Sienna told me

"I'll find a way."

"He beat the vice commander of the Knights...when you fought her Dark didn't you only tie her?" Lea asked.

"Yes...but she's a speed type fighter, I use strength and speed if I need it." I opened my inventory and took a potion out and drank it "I do know one thing, I better not underestimate him."

The time for the final battle had arrived. Myself and Kirito were in the arena ready.

"The final battle of the tournament starts now." I said signalling the battle start.

"Good luck Dark."

"Same to you, Kirito."

We both waited and I knew I had to make the first move "Flaming Barrage!" I shot the multiple waves at Kirito and he easily avoided them. He moved closer to me and I drew a line in the ground with my sword.

"Barrier!" The blue force field appeared and Kirito jumped into the air and hit it with his blade, shattering it. I jumped to the side before his sword hit me.

"You shattered it with one strike...impressive." I readied another skill.

"I'm stronger then you think." He ran at me and I used my altered skill.

"Flame Rope!" My sword burst into flames and a rope of flames shot out and went towards Kirito, he tried to dodge, but it hit him and wrapped around his ankle and slammed him into the ground. He got to his feet, the rope still burning his ankle.

"I didn't expect that." He looked at his ankle.

"It's my Flame Whip's altered skill. Also it can do more." I pull my sword towards me and the rope pulls Kirito into the air and towards me. I thrust my sword out and the rope around Kirito disappears and he get impaled on to my blade. I try to pull my blade out, but he's holding it in his free hand.

"That's a pretty good move Dark." He bought his sword down on my shield arm and then pulled off my sword, stabbed into my shield arm's shoulder and my grip on my should loosened and h hit my shield out of my grasp with his sword. He moved back.

"Without the shield you can't use the altered skills, right?"

"Correct...you heard that in my battles, didn't you?"

"Yeah. You need to be careful what you say where potential enemies can hear."

"I wasn't thinking I guess." I walked towards him and he did the same. We kept walking until we were a foot from the other, both in range of the others attack. Who would try to act first. I sudden swing my sword and he moves and avoids it, dammit. He swings his sword against mine, hitting it away.

"No sword, no shield." I mutter "I could try and get them...but I'm sure you won't just allow that." I face Kirito and close the gap. He swings at me and I duck and punch him directly in the jaw.

"Hand to hand...I remember seeing that before."

"It helps...especially when you get disarmed a lot...like me."

"But is it any match for a sword."

"Nope..."

He swings his sword and I try to duck, but he expected that and aimed for my legs, tripping me. He rose his sword and stabbed it into my chest and I couldn't get up.

"Dark, this battle ended the moment you lost your blade."

"Not really." I grabbed the blade and pushed up and managed to remove it. I rolled to the side and equipped the Expired Light Dagger I still had and ran at Kirito, he was caught off guard as I ran at him and just before the blade connected with his throat, he managed to stab upwards into my chest.

"I got careless...I can't believe how much strength you have to have gotten me to 10% already..." I stab back, removing his sword from my chest "The winner of the tournament is Kirito!" The crowd cheered.

I presented the prize to Kirito. The crowd was leaving and my party came to me.

"You lost..." Angelica said, glaring at me.

"I couldn't beat him...he was too strong and I was disarmed."

"You should have done better!" She kicked my ankle again...this is the third time.

"Okay, sorry, you don't have to kick me all the time..."

"You tried your best at least." Sienna said trying to cheer me up.

"Yeah, and you came in second."

"I know. I'm not upset, just slight bothered." I smiled.

"Dark!" I turned and saw Takumi and Asuna coming towards me.

"Hey."

"You put up a good fight out there...it's to bad you lost." Takumi responded

"Yeah...I know..."

"Anyway, have you noticed how almost none of the Knights except me and Asuna are here?"

"I did. Why?"

"What do you think they are off doing?"

"I don't know...hunting?"

"Nope. I sent them scouting."

"For the boss?"

"Yup...and they sent a message telling me it's been found."

I smiled "I'm ready to head to the location now."

Takumi smiled back "Just what I wanted to hear. Onwards to the 32nd boss!"

Chapter 29 End

FINALLY THE TOURNAMENT IS OVER! I thought it was a good idea...but it got boring and eventually I just wanted to end it...well now I can continue writing about Dark and his party trying to complete the floors...I already have the next 4-5 chapters planned out. So hope you enjoyed this godforsaken tournament, which if you haven't guessed by now I think was hell to write...Anyway, good day/night to you all.