Notes: This is my story that I posted from another site, but I also thought you guys would like to read it as well. Enjoy and tell me what you think about the story.

A dense fog emerges from the shadows with unknown origins. The thick cloud of mist made everything around me vanish, except for the two of us, staring each other down. I imagined the mist was most likely an illusion I perceived. An uncertain duel was about to decide the fate between myself as Kirito, the Hero, and Heathcliff, the supposed Demon King in his world.

I've been in this situation before, fighting Heathcliff in the Arena. However, the feelings I have with this battle is vastly different. My resolve completely shifted from trying to become the strongest in the game to survive, to end the death game once and for all. Drawing both my Elucidator and my Dark Repulser from their respective sheaths, I channel all my willpower into them as my life depends on the succession of this outcome. Strengthening them at an attempt to nullify the Demon King's nearly invincible defense and end everything in this world, I hoist my blades before darting at him.

I knew I was worried about everyone involved in this death game. Beating the Demon King was the only goal I cared about for their sake. I thought about all who care about me and my safety.

Even those that I have seen turn into countless shards of data, it still haunts me to this very moment. I slightly become uneasy, unable to shake what appears to be a dull pain. The intensity grew significantly after I thought of Asuna and what I was getting myself into. I did not want to think about living a world without her.

'What if I lost? Would she give up despite my efforts trying to give her a chance to continue her life for my sake?'

I pondered these questions considerately.

Swift and piercing, the pain was at its peak and quickly dispersed to give me the time to react. I realized this duel wasn't about fulfilling my ambitions, but fulfilling everyone's wishes to end this world. So that they could see a brighter future tomorrow.

I shake away any doubtful thoughts, I know I must discontinue all the torment that was brought upon us since day one. I know they can never return to both SAO or the real world once they die, even though I deeply want them to come back. Forever dispersed into the virtual world by countless fragments of data, my memories of them are the only things that I can salvage.

'I have to end it all here with this battle,' I reassured myself.

'If I cannot end this, then it is likely no one will be able to beat the game.'

I position myself elegantly, unusual for myself to become this sensitive about balancing before the first strike. I tense up for a brief moment, before I sporadically dash towards his shield.

'This is a fight to the death,' I said to focus myself.

'That's right. I'm going to kill him!'

Unleashing as much speed and power without break, I sprint in a straight path. Ignoring all sense of risk and fear from my mind, I make my way towards him and his shield. I am aware that he can also bash me with the shield like last time, I had to continue unleashing attacks without triggering a skill to provide myself any time to avoid his Holy Sword. The combination of metallic clanging of the shield and clashing between swords made it feel like our duel was going on for hours on end. I couldn't tell if I was even weakening him, but it was the least of my concerns. I keep my pace and try to aim for any possibility of an exposed torso, all while he focuses on defending each strike that approach his way. My eyes lock into his, constantly searching for a moment to breach any sliver of vulnerability that I could find in his defense. Each swing seemed more futile than the previous attempt, but I couldn't accept such a result. I have to be faster.

'I can't rely on Sword Skills. I can only trust in myself.'

As I psych myself up, I continue to unleash a few more swings to make sure I barely give him any room to counter.

'Faster… I have to move faster,' I thought to myself again to keep myself alert.

I lunge a few more blows onto his shield, and get irritated towards Heathcliff's smirk while he thwarts my efforts to damage him. My body recoiled after he shrugs his shield. He negated any thoughts about the possibility of weakening his durability. I tried to get a hold of my blades once more and attempt to perform as many combos as I possibly can. The constant barrage did little towards the defense that presides before me. I was nearing my last moments, but I still wanted to keep pushing forward despite everything that happened. I try to land a few more blows, but he was agile and accurately blocked each attack with his shield.

I realize my mistake as I accidentally performed a skill, which gave Heathcliff the advantage in our duel.

'I'm sorry, Asuna. Live on without me!' I said comfortingly to myself.

My own fatal error cost my life, but still held onto the idea of breaking through Heathcliff. Nearing the completion of the combo, I strike once more towards him directly. Upon impact, my Dark Repulser broke apart against his shield. As a result of my recklessness, the skill I performed by accident opened me up for a lethal blow by his Holy Sword.

"Farewell, Kirito," Heathcliff said to me in a firm voice.

After hearing him say my name, I brace for what is about to be my end. Then, I witnessed what appeared to be someone with flowing chestnut hair, who sprinted and attempted to spare their life into the path of the Holy Sword. The sword produced a deep cut that slashed through their armor.

I froze in place. Witnessing someone's life about to end instead of my own. Blaming myself once more, I failed to protect another soul from this world. I knew it was Asuna, but there was nothing about what emerged from this sudden reaction. After she apologized and said farewell, she shattered before me into countless shards. Uncontrolled data that dispersed from me with no way to recall them. I immediately got up and peered toward an empty void, with Heathcliff nowhere to be seen.

Puzzled, I tried to look for any sign of him, but every second I felt more pressured into seeking him. I realized this was a dream, but I couldn't shake this feeling within my soul. This feeling was stressing me out and I didn't want to get worse. I try to control myself and continue walking into this unfamiliar void, calming myself despite this being a reenactment of my battle with Kayaba. After several steps, a giant oval mirror appeared before me. I approached the mirror so that it can reflect myself in its entirety. Seeing my reflection from head to toe, I was still in tears from what I experienced.

"What's going on?" I mutter in disbelief.

Still uncertain about what was happening, I continue looking around the emptiness around me. There was absolute silence for several moments, still unsure what occurred. I look at the mirror again, about to tear up and beginning to breathe uneven due to the guilt. This time, the mirror glowed and shattered in large chunks that were in suspension around me. Slowly drifting around my body to briefly peer into each shard. I noticed they weren't reflecting myself, but revealed images of the past experiences I had throughout my life. Each piece of the mirror showed me every memory I had experienced. They were experiences with different people I had met at least once, my own childhood memories, the memories of loved ones, and tragic recollections of those that fallen before me. Each memory started to stockpile my emotions exponentially. What was soft tears, became endless streams of melancholic cries.

However, I attempt to think of those from my tragic memories I glanced at briefly:

'Daivel...'

'Coper...'

'Sachi!...'

'Eugeo!'

Every memory flooded into my mind, I realized I was in a dream. I am now dealing with the aftermath of my actions, seeing all the mistakes I've made in my life. Seeing the brief experience with Moonlit Black Cats guild and their disastrous fate caused by myself as a beater, unable to shake the guilt. The intense boss floors through Aincrad that made me witness the demise of many attempting to clear the death game. The infamous battle with Laughing Coffin and the Clearers, not to mention their rampage with Death Gun in GGO. Then seeing my best friend Eugeo from the Underworld. Seeing our fond memories, then seeing him bloody, and bisected...

"Damn it, what is happening to me?" I shout in a panic. "Why now?"

I tried to get a hold of myself and flee from the shards, but the pain became worse the further I went. I kept running into the void to get away, but was met with an unsettling sight that I hope would be erased. Many fallen players, people that I knew and befriended, even those I murdered, were presented in grotesque and unsettling, repeating poses in the moments of their deaths. It is as if they were decaying, searching for who was responsible so that they could be at peace.

I could not look at their faces directly, I did not accept what I was seeing in front of me. They kept answering my name, to get me to look at them. I pleaded to them to stop, even laying my entire body facing to the floor as a form of begging. I cried bitterly, wishing for the pain to cease from the constant requests that bombarded me. I shouted at them to stop calling my name, but the voices became louder every time I attempted to retort.

"Kirito! Help us! Kirito!"

"Please stop calling my name," I said to them.

"Kirito! Kirito!"

"Please stop," I said with irritation.

"Save us Kirito!"

"Please…"

Slowly, the noises became softer and less frequent. Although I kept my eyes shut for what seemed like hours, I wanted to make sure the voices were completely gone. I had to calm down again, I did not want this guilt to eat at my heart again. I've improved on handling myself these past few years, I shouldn't be dealing with this again. Not now. Not ever.

I raise my head, and noticed a figure mimicking myself. At first, I thought it was another mirror reflecting my onyx hair, but he wore a dark blue uniform laced with white and gold trims on the edges of his garments. The most prominent feature upon his face where his golden, honey irises that glowed profoundly. The more I stared at its increasing glow, the more anxious I was about him and his presence. My breathing was becoming erratic, I couldn't keep calm with the remaining spirit. I felt varied emotions from this man, as if they were my own. I tried to stabilize my breathing as best I could before I could concentrate again.

I sobbed uncontrollably again, as the emotions I released were in the form of bitter tears. I was unable to withstand the gravity of what I witnessed, I knelt onto the ground while I stared at his gaze.

"KIRITO!" The mysterious figure shouted at me.

The second I heard his voice, I was jolted by its energy. I attempt to evade any attack this might inflict on me, but I remain in the same position despite my sudden moment of his voice. He started his own stance and attempted to rush me. Still gazing at his dash against me, I brace myself for the impact. I wasn't sure what will happen at this point.

"Kirito-kun!" Another familiar voice whispered. A soft, yet profound sound that froze both of us in place.

"Asuna?" I responded in confusion.

A bright flash appeared before my eyes, unsure what was the cause of it. I thought it might be an explosion, and accepted what was to transpire. Everything around me dissipated into nothingness, and the flash blinded me.
I close my eyes shut for as long as I can, making sure there was no other surprises. I eventually loosen up, and open my eyes again.

Slowly, I realize where I am at and it soothes my very soul.

'Finally, I'm home.' I thought to myself.

I'm safe...

Initially upon waking up, I was breathing sporadically. I look around the room, still motionless on the bed. I attempted to point out everything in the room to calm myself. I started with each door that either led to the hallway, the closet, or the private bathroom. I continue pointing out objects in the room, such as chairs, desks, and shelves. Listing them off as if I'm counting inventory.

I glanced above the desk with the assortment of photographs and picture frames. I softly smiled at each photo at a distance, nothing was missing. I shift my eyes towards who was still next to me in the bedding. It was none other than my wife, whose voluminous chestnut hair was scattered across the linen, resting peacefully with a tender smile.

I checked the clock that hanged on a wall pointing towards us. It was about six in the morning, the date was November 7, 2029. I didn't want to wake Asuna, especially since my forearm is underneath her upper back. Work wasn't until nine for her, and I had the day off for today. There was no reason for me to get up. However I did feel like cooking breakfast for her when she does wake up, I owe her that much.

'I'll stay like this for the time being,' I thought to myself.

I turned my head towards Asuna, grinning softly before turning back and observing the ceiling. Figuring out what to do today.

Thank you for reading Chapter 1!