Chap 19 – Frozen Blood

It's been a year and a half since the day Kirito died in the Underworld. Life in the outside world continued; however, Kirito remained stuck in the past; refusing to dismiss what had happened between himself and his best friend, Eugeo. "What could I have done differently?" Kirito asked himself daily, determined to find an answer. But no matter how many times he replayed their final battle in his mind, it always led to the same result; his death…brought on by Eugeo. Kirito rubbed at his temples, frustrated that he had once again failed to save the one person who was like a brother to him.

Kirito checked his smart phone, twenty minutes until his evening class started. He glanced up, watching the snowflakes make their way to the already whiten ground. Suddenly an icy wind kicked up; causing Kirito's scarf to bellow behind him. Kirito snuggled deeper into his winter coat then let out a sad sigh, "All this snow and ice, it makes me think I'll see Eugeo and his Blue Rose Sword, but the reality is we're no longer in the same world. I'm here in Tokyo, working towards a degree in computers while Eugeo is…" Kirito grimaced as an ache filled his heart. "…in the Underworld, married to the Administrator. What kind of life would that have been for him?" Kirito stared hard into the snow and ice, trying to envision it; however, Asuna's sweet voice interrupted; bringing Kirito back to the moment he was logged out of the Underworld.

"Oh Kirito!" Asuna cried out upon seeing her fiancé wake up. She had been so worried. Kirito slowly sat up, his cheeks wet, with what Asuna mistakenly believed to be tears of joy upon seeing her. "I've missed you so much!" She kissed him then wrapped her arms around the raven-haired boy. Kirito stared unseeingly; his arms laying limp at his sides. "I'm never going to let you go again!" She sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Suguha looked at Sinon, her expression full of worry. Kirito may have returned, but he certainly didn't share the same excitement Asuna did. Ten minutes later, Alice was awake. She silently got up before watching Asuna and the others fret and fuss over Kirito. Alice dusted off her plain blue dress then waited for her chance to talk to Kirito.

"Alice?" Sinon asked as she made her way towards the once golden knight. Sugu followed quickly behind, wanting to give Kirito and Asuna some alone time. "What happened?" Alice shifted her gaze to the raven-haired boy. She knew exactly what occurred between Kirito and Eugeo. She watched as the blonde thrust the Blue Rose Sword through Kirito's chest. She heard the words passed between them as their friendship was rekindled; brief as it was.

Alice shivered as she recalled how Renly looked, looming over Eugeo, his decayed state even worse than when she and Kirito had faced off against the boy knight. She couldn't unsee how Pontifex and Eugeo had kissed while Kirito's life points dwindled down to zero. Alice wanted to avenge the black-haired boy but didn't have the chance; for Administrator had gone into labor. It was shortly afterwards, that Alice helped to deliver a healthy baby boy. Once the golden knight handed Pontifex her son, Administrator ordered Eugeo to end Alice's life; which he did without any hesitation.

"Please tell us." Sugu said softly.

"I would prefer if Kirito told you." Alice said flatly; earning frowns from the two girls. "I do not wish to share things he may want to keep private."

Kirito never did tell Sugu, Sinon or Asuna what happened. He chose to keep those memories bottled up.

"Kirito!" Asuna called out as she ran to join her fiancé. She was wearing a white coat; her long, orange-brown hair held back with a pair of red earmuffs. She was carrying two cups of hot coffee, one in her left hand and one in the crook of her right elbow. Kirito took the one on the right, an expression of guilt and sadness on his face. "Kirito," she began, her tone sounding like that of a scolding mother. "Stop worrying. I told you I'm fine." She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. "Doing things with my left hand gets easier every day. As for this," she looked at the stump of her once dominate hand. "…it's not going to stop our wedding from happening. I still plan to be a beautiful bride."

"And you will be." Kirito smiled at Asuna. "But first, we both have to graduate." He took a long sip of his coffee.

"Of course. My parents would be livid if we didn't." She hooked her arm around Kirito's as they walked together. "Me, on the other hand, I could and would marry you today." They locked gazes, their faces warming. "Then we could look for a house…." Asuna continued; talking with great enthusiasm as she imagined being Mrs. Kitigaya Kazuto. "…and pick out names for our kids…"

"Kids?" Kirito paused, for upon hearing that word, the name Eion popped into his head. He was then transported back to when Alice told him about Eugeo's son.

"He was small with light blonde hair and light green eyes. He looked to be normal. No wings or elongated ears." Alice said. "I do hope Eugeo and Lady Pontifex raise him well and he becomes a decent person; however, with the babe's parents being who they are, I can't even predict how he'll turn out."

"Ki-ri-to." Asuna stressed each syllable, bringing Kirito back into the present. "Are you even listening to me?"

"I have to get to class." Kirito muttered before dashing off. "Thanks for the coffee, Asuna. I'll see you later."

OOooOOooOO

Class ended early for Kirito and as soon as he left the classroom, he whipped out his cell phone. "Alice?" He texted.

"I'm here." She answered quickly.

"We need to talk. Can I call you?"

"Sure, give me ten minutes to get home."

Over the past year, Kirito and Alice had become close friends. The time they'd spent in the Underworld was the glue in their relationship; however, over time, Alice grew tired of speaking only of the virtual world. She was brought to the outside world for a reason; to prove that AIs can live among regular born humans. But to do that, she'd need to familiarize herself with human customs and obtain an education from a university.

One day, Kirito surprised Alice by enrolling her in a business school. It was here, she quickly fell in love with something called a Degree in Management. The skills she learned while commanding others from her time as an Integrity Knight, helped Alice decide on an emphasis, Leadership. Currently, she was excelling in her classes and keeping extremely busy, but when Kirito needed her, Alice was always there for him. She knew the black-haired boy struggled to move forward, not wanting to forget about a certain someone.

"Everything okay?" Alice always began the conversation with the same question.

"Asuna talked about our future today…" The raven-haired boy began.

"And…"

"She mentioned kids and I…."

"You thought of Eugeo's…"

"Yeah…"

"Kirito," Alice lectured. "Eugeo made it pretty clear he wanted nothing to do with us. Why must you keep torturing yourself with thoughts of him?"

"I can't explain it."

"You're obsessed with him." Alice stated flatly.

"I just can't move on with Asuna until I know things are okay for Eugeo…and his kid." Alice sighed, knowing that Kirito wasn't going to give this up. "It wouldn't be fair to her if I'm not fully committed to our marriage."

"I miss Selka." Alice surprisingly spoke about her dear sister, not wanting to hear about Asuna any longer.

"We have to go back."

"But Rath said they wanted us to progress here, in this world."

"Kikouka will always need me." Kirito stated firmly.

Suddenly both their phones buzzed. Kirito and Alice looked down simultaneously; for they both had received the same message.

Come to these coordinates. You are needed for a special assignment.

"Speak of the devil." Kirito grinned.

OOooOOooOO

Kirito and Alice had just reached the bottom of a steel ladder. It started from within an everyday, ordinary building then led into a secret underground facility. "I knew Kikouka still had connections to the Underworld." Kirito said with an excited grin, his grey eyes dancing around the darkened space. "So, where is the bastard hiding?" Kirito and Alice walked around the large room; it contained two levels and no windows. A russet railing capped the edge of the second level as whitewashed masonry fell beneath that said area. The floor and ceiling were made of white tiles and all four walls were made of the same white stone as seen on the staircase leading to the upper floor. Rectangular, institutional type lights flickered off and on. Suddenly, a giant computer screen was turned on and its displayed image instantly drew their attention.

The Underworld looked quite different from the last time Alice and Kirito had seen it. The normally blue, partly cloudy sky was now blood red with an array of black clouds. There were no lush, green fields; for they had been replaced with an ugly, barren wasteland, complete with dried up rivers and lakes. The once picturesque mountains now resembled monsters closing in on what was left of the Underworld.

Inside the four equal parts of Centoria, stood a multitude of homes and merchant shops. These, however, were either in ruins or gone completely. The stone walls that had divided the capital city and protected its residents from outside dark creatures, had collapsed, giving free access into both the Human Empire and the Dark Territory. Smoke floated up from what appeared to be isolated camps spread randomly throughout the land. Slow drifting mist made its way across the screen, forming an ominous shadow above the once beautiful and colorful world. The Central Cathedral; however, remained in pristine condition.

"Disturbing, isn't it?" said a voice Kirito would always know. Both he and Alice turned to find an older man appearing from within a hidden passageway. There was a smaller figure behind him, their feature's masked beneath a dark cloak.

"What the hell happened?" Kirito ground out.

"There's been an outbreak." A young woman answered while removing her hood. She revealed herself to be Kirito's friend, Sinon. The black-haired boy baulked in surprise; for he had not expected to see the gun expert.

"An outbreak?!" Alice and Kirito asked in unison.

"Yes, and as you can see…" Kikouka replied before stealing a glance at the screen. "…the problem has gotten quite out of hand. That is why, I have asked Sinon to join you both. She will be a great asset."

"And why is that?" Alice questioned.

"Because I'm a good shot," Sinon smirked. "…and I'm going to teach you how to use the most effective artillery against them."

"Them?" Alice shared a nervous look with Kirito. "What about the residents? Are they…okay?"

"We aren't sure." Kikouka answered.

"Exactly what are we getting ourselves into?" Kirito asked bluntly. "And don't sugar coat things."

"You're going to survive and stop a zombie apocalypse."

OOooOOooOO

"Alice…" Kirito called over his shoulder while standing at the front of a small tent. A cool breeze ruffled his hair and clothing as the last of the sun's rays fell into their temporary shelter. "…wake up." The golden knight slowly opened her eyes before pushing herself up from a rather hard cot. "We're here." Kirito turned back; his grey eyes narrowing at the sight before him. "You have to see this."

Alice swung her graceful legs around the bed; her eyes catching sight of pants? Her face reddened as Alice took in her new attire. She was wearing a black crop top, which was not only skintight but also accentuated her breasts; the tops of them on full display. A thin belt rested around her hips as it held up chestnut colored cargo pants. Her feet were encased within sturdy black boots that were laced up to her mid-thighs and upon her head was a black bandana. Her hair was loose, but she quickly corrected that by grabbing a piece of scrap fabric and fixing it into her typical braid.

Alice stood to her full height then passed a small table with three cups and a large canister upon it. Apparently, Sinon and Kirito had already hydrated themselves; therefore, she grabbed the third cup and downed the rest of the refreshing liquid. Water never tasted so good. Alice then noticed the strange weapons which lined the tent. She went to examine the artillery when Kirito called for her once again.

"Coming." Alice rushed over and pushed up one of the tent's flaps, "I was curious about the firearms…"

"Is that all?" Kirito asked playfully as he glanced at Alice. The girl's cheeks turned a million shades of red. "Don't worry, you'll get used to your new avatar, just as Sinon and I have."

"You don't think it's too…" Alice stated, clearly embarrassed.

"Integrity Armor and a big flowing skirt won't cut it against zombies." Kirito said. "Besides, that outfit looks good on you." Alice felt her heart flutter. Kirito stepped outside the tent and stretched his hands above his head. "Sinon should be back soon. She's setting up some target practice."

"Oh?" Alice stared at the back of Kirito. He was dressed in a simple black tee-shirt which pulled across his lean build. On his back was a black, leather holster which crisscrossed in an 'x' shape along his shoulders; inside were two small guns. Kirito sported dark cargo pants, in which every pocket was bulging, and heavy-duty boots. He cracked his knuckles, bringing her attention to his hands and the midnight-colored fingerless gloves that covered them.

"Are you going to forgo your Night Sky Blade?" Alice questioned; her tone sounding irritated. "I will not choose these metallic toys over my Osmanthus Blade."

"They may not be our divine weapons," Kirito said as he pulled out his dual guns. "…but they're all we have right now." Alice grimaced. "Honestly, though, they're a better choice against zombies, especially since the only way to kill them is to put a bullet through their brain."

"You mean we have to get close to them?" Alice turned white as she thought of Renly.

"At times, yes." Kirito narrowed his eyes. "Look out there, Alice. You and I…we're partially responsible for this."

Alice shifted her line of sight; the Underworld, it looked far worse up close than on the screen back in the facility. There wasn't a spec of green anywhere, only scorched, dry land. Nothing walked, ran, flew, flowed, or grew. There was only a bleak nothingness. The air was thick with the taste of blood and remnants of smoke. Alice coughed, her eyes watering. "What do you mean…" Her eyes briefly met with Kirito's. "…we're responsible?"

"We failed to kill Renly." Kirito replied bitterly. "And because of that, the Underworld has suffered greatly."

"We can't be the only ones to blame." Alice said. "I'm fairly sure Lady Pontifex thought she had gotten rid of Renly when she threw him out the window from atop the cathedral."

"That probably only pissed him off more." Kirito checked the automatic on his first gun. "Zombies are resilient. I'm guessing that once Renly hit the ground, he just shook it off and walked out of Centoria."

"But Lady Pontifex tied him up and gagged him with multiple leather straps."

"That's right. Forgot about that." Kirito rubbed his chin in thought. "So, now I'm thinking Renly definitely had help."

"You think it was Cardinal?" Alice asked.

"No. She had no choice but to kill Renly." Kirito locked his other gun's ammo into place. "Cardinal knew the repercussions of leaving him alive."

"If Cardinal was aware of the dangers then what stopped her from ending him?" Alice asked warily.

"Something had to have happened."

"I'd still like to know who would have helped Renly." Alice said. "The guy looks terrifying. Who'd be brave enough to even approach him and why for that matter?" Silence floated between Alice and Kirito as they tried to figure things out.

"Nice to have you join us, Alice." Sinon spoke as she came into sight. "I was beginning to think it was going to be just Kirito and I." She spun her rifle within her fingers before sliding into her holster on her back. "Not that I'm complaining, of course."

"I'd never abandon Kirito." Alice spat.

"I can see that as well as some other things." Sinon raised a brow; her teal eyes looking down on Alice's appearance.

"I didn't pick this top." Alice snarled as her arms wrapped around her chest. She then let her azure eyes roam over the pale-haired girl. Sinon wore an unbuttoned green and black flannel with a black V-neck shirt underneath. Her pants were made of denim with ripped holes at the knees. Sinon's boots differed from Alice's as they tied up to above the gun expert's knees.

"Are the targets ready?" Kirito spoke, drawing the two girl's attention onto him.

"Yes." Sinon replied. "I have them arranged for a beginner."

"I haven't been one of those since I was a child." Alice muttered, feeling slightly humiliated.

"Listen to what Sinon says and follow what she does, and you'll be proficient in no time." Kirito said while flashing a smile.

"What about you?" Alice quipped. "Don't you need some instruction?"

"I'm already familiar with guns and how to use them."

"If you are experienced then you will teach me." Alice said directly.

"I would but I'm eager to explore the area." Kirito answered. "We may not see anyone now, but I know people are out there. We saw their camps on the computer screen."

"But…"

"Don't worry, I'll be careful. We need to find out what's been happening." Kirito headed out into the unknown.

OOooOOooOO

Kirito had been walking for the past two hours, through what he believed was the Dark Territory. His grey eyes constantly roaming the silent, desolate land for any signs of life. "Where are these camps?" Kirito muttered; for he was becoming both irritated and highly concerned. "I know what I saw on the computer screen." He pressed on but not before turning on a small flashlight as the sky darkened to a deep purple.

After another thirty minutes, it was completely pitch-black and as bad luck would have it, his only material-based light went out. "Great." Kirito said sarcastically as he tossed it aside then tried Luminous Element. He was pleasantly surprised to spark a faint light. "At least it's something." After another fifteen minutes, a putrid smell filled his nose; setting him on edge. He doused his sacred arts then froze, expecting to see something. Whether it was a zombie or an actual live person, he could only hope for the latter.

When nothing came into view, Kirito exhaled the breath he was holding then stepped cautiously towards the source. He wasn't shocked to find human bodies, all of which were in various stages of decomposition. Kirito shook his head sadly then continued through the small village. The stench of death was so overwhelming that after only a few moments, Kirito emptied his stomach. Seconds later, he heard a woman's scream.

OOooOOooOO

"I've got these two!" Ronye, now age thirty-six, called out to her friend while slashing her blade at the two zombies before her. They growled and hissed in retaliation; their hands reaching out for the swordswoman. With perfect precision, Ronye executed a Horizontal Square and ended the two ghastly creatures.

"This one's mine." Selka, a woman of thirty-two years, stated with confidence as a fire arrow shot from her hands. It quickly embedded itself in the rotting corpse's head. The zombie toppled to the ground, the flames slowly diminishing. Both women may have stopped the threat, but Ronye and Selka couldn't save a third woman from being killed. They stood outside their camp as darkness closed in on the two women.

"Ever think it would be easier to just let the zombies have us?" Ronye sighed in defeat as she jammed the blade of her sword into the woman's forehead. "We're going to end up like her anyways." She then took the edge of her tattered skirt and used it to wipe off the blood and gore.

"We can't give up." Selka knelt beside the deceased lady and offered up a prayer. "Stacia may still show us a way to win."
"Stacia." Ronye said with mockery. "How can you continuously pray to her when Stacia's done nothing to stop this?"

"It just hasn't been our time yet."

"You think an eighteenth year of this hell will bring about a miracle?" Ronye challenged the nun.

"…"

"Hey!" A male voice startled the women. "Is everyone okay?" Kirito asked as both parties remained hidden in the darkness of night. "I heard a scream."

"We're fine. Can't say the same for that lady though." Ronye replied nonchalantly. "Those damn nikuya…"

"Nikuya?" Kirito blinked in confusion.

"Do you refer to the flesh eaters as something else?" Selka asked while standing up and dusting off her shabby habit. "If so, you must not be from around here."

"I call them zombies." Kirito answered honestly. "As for where I'm from, let's just say I've traveled quite the distance to find you."

"Without the aid of others?" Selka questioned; her face etched with concern.

"I left two girls back at my camp. One of them needed some rapid training."

"That gave you reason to traverse this land by yourself?" Ronye was stunned by this over confident individual.

"Well, I also didn't want them to get hurt." Kirito said. "I know Sinon can handle herself but if anything were to happen to Alice…"

"Alice?" Selka interrupted the boy's thought.

"She's a friend of mine."

"Come with us." Selka blindly reached a hand out and Kirito gladly accepted it. "We will continue this conversation within the safety of our camp."

OOooOOooOO

"You're not focusing on the targets." Sinon reprimanded Alice for the umpteenth time. They were currently a few hundred yards from their tent. The pale-haired girl watching the blonde line up various shots amongst randomly placed debris.

"Yes…I…am." Alice growled as her grip tightened on a handgun. "The bullets just aren't going where I want them to."

Sinon sighed. "We don't have time for you to struggle with this."

"I'll get it." Alice ground out before firing off another shot. This one missed the mark completely. "That's it…" She tossed the weapon on the ground. "I'm taking a break."

OOooOOooOO

Kirito was sitting inside a medium sized canvas tent as he awaited the two women he ran into earlier. He was seated on a wooden chair next to a table. They told him to wait here while they cleaned up and gathered some food.

"Those women, not only do they seem knowledgeable about the zombies but they held their own against three of them." Kirito recalled, for he'd almost tripped over a nikuya after taking ahold of Selka's hand. She quickly explained where the other two laid. "Perhaps Alice, Sinon, and I could join up with them."

Kirito grew tired of sitting and so, he stood up, anxious to check out this tents' artillery and supplies. He saw knives, swords, axes and make-shift baseball bats scattered on the ground. There were burlap bags filled with water jugs and bundles of wrapped bread and dried meat. One corner had a crate that was halfway full of medical supplies such as bandages, herbs, small stones, and even mead. Full backpacks were placed beside four sleeping bags.

A glimmer near the front of the tent caught his eye. "Is that…" Kirito took ahold of the familiar sheath then held it delicately within his two hands. "How'd you get here?" He started to pull the Night Sky Blade out when two shadows appeared outside the tent. He paused then cocked his head when hushed voices spoke.

"Take this to the prisoner." Ronye said, her voice emitting no empathy, as she handed Selka a small bag. "It should be enough to sustain him for the next two days."

"Must we treat him like this?" Selka whispered harshly as she took the very light sack. "He's one of us."

"Is he?" Ronye retorted.

"It just doesn't seem fair."

"Stop feeling sorry for him." Ronye quipped. "You know how dangerous he is. Having him restrained guarantees our safety."

"But what if the nikuya come?"

"They can have him." Ronye narrowed her eyes. "Think of it as retribution."

"I can't believe how cold you've become." Selka said, her voice wavering before she dashed off. Seconds later, the tent flap lifted and in walked Ronye. She stopped midstep upon getting a good look at the black-haired boy. "Ki-Kirito?!" The woman's voice cracked; for she'd never forget her former mentor and crush. "But…how is this possible?" She locked gazes with Kirito. He seemed just as shocked as she was. "It's been years and you haven't changed…at all?"

Ronye looked down; ashamed of her older state. No longer was she the pretty teen from the Sword Craft Academy. Ronye had matured into a woman whose physical attributes had contributed to a hard-led life. Her round face that once held inquisitiveness and love for Kirito, had become gaunt and grim. She kept her chocolate colored hair styled with the same blue ribbons, although her locks had lost their glossiness of her youthful days. A simple cloak covered the remains of a tattered and bloodied shirt and skirt.

Kirito secured the Night Sky Blade to his hip then went to stand before his former page. "Tell me what happened, Ronye." He spoke softly as he caressed the woman's cheek. He was happy to see her and just now, he realized how much he had missed Ronye. "I want to know everything; including the mysterious prisoner you're holding."

"He's not worth mentioning." Ronye quickly spat. "But I'll tell you the rest. However, I must know, why do you look exactly the same as when I was nineteen? That was so long ago."

"Ahh…." Kirito placed a hand behind his head and gave a sheepish grin. "…good genes?"

"O…kay." Ronye raised a brow skeptically. "Let's sit. It'll be more comfortable while I get you caught up." They both took a seat on the thin bedding.

"What year is this?" Kirito asked, wary of the answer.

"405 HEC."

Kirito paled at the amount of time that had passed…seventeen years.

"You seemed surprised."

"I didn't think I'd be gone for that long." Kirito stated rather guiltily. "I'm sorry."

Ronye gave a sad smile. "I got married."

"You did?!"

"It didn't last long though…a nikuya killed him." Ronye said casually as she reached into one of the canvas bags. "After that, each day was pretty much the same…killing nikuya and survival." She offered a slice of bread to Kirito. He bit into with gumption as she pressed on. "But I should start from the beginning." Ronye's eyes glossed over as she remembered the last day she saw Tiese and what had become of her friend.

After quite some time, Tiese had finally opened her eyes. Ronye went to hug her friend, but stopped as a chill raced up her spine. She cupped her hands, unsure of this bad feeling. "T-Tiese?" She squeaked out. The red-haired girl growled at Ronye; her milky eyes locking onto the frightened girl. Seconds later, Tiese lashed out.

"System Call: Create Barrier!" Selka rapidly responded; causing Tiese to crash into an invisible wall. "Form Cage!" Next, three more barriers fell around Tiese; giving Ronye and Selka time to scramble away.

"What's wrong with her?" Ronye asked anxiously while watching Tiese claw at the air like a savage animal. "Why is she acting like that?"

"I don't know." Selka replied with a gulp. "But she seems a lot like how Cardinal described Renly."

"Wait!" Kirito interrupted Ronye. "Tiese's a zombie…or nikuya?"

"Yes." Ronye admitted miserably. "Cardinal obviously lied when she said Tiese was going to be fine. Guess that mage deserved her violent death when Selka and I came across her mutilated body."

"Cardinal is dead?" Kirito asked in surprise; earning a nod from Ronye. "What happened to Tiese?"

"I don't know."

"Hmm…I'm sure that cage Selka made didn't hold Tiese long. She's probably the one who found and helped Renly." Kirito thought as he swallowed the last bits of his bread. "The next question is, where'd they go?"

"I hope to find her someday." Ronye spoke softly. "I want to be the one who kills and saves her."

"I'll be with you when you do." Kirito gave a curt nod of his head.

"Thank you."

"What happened next?" Kirito asked eagerly. "Did you come cross Administrator or Eugeo? Do you know what happened to the baby?" Ronye grew quiet. "Tell me!" Kirito asked a little too aggressively.

"Selka and I… we chose to retreat after the incident with Tiese." Ronye said; her gaze not connecting with Kirito's. "We were so scared. I'm sorry, Kirito, I know you want answers."

"If that's really true then how did she come across my Night Sky Blade?" Kirito thought. "She's hiding something."

"Two months later, people starting talking about their loved ones becoming monsters." Ronye continued. "At first, these claims only heightened people's awareness but once the statements were validated by people's own eyes, there was panic, chaos and fear. Everyone pleaded to the Pontifex for help, but Administrator had shut herself up in the Cathedral, ignoring our pleas."

"Administrator left eighty thousand people to fend for themselves?" Kirito was stunned. "She knows they don't know how to actually fight. What about the Integrity Knights? Didn't they protect the Human Empire?"

"Integrity Knights stopped showing up." Ronye grit her teeth. "I believe Administrator and her precious pawns wanted nothing to do with the pandemonium going on outside the cathedral. And now, because of their reluctance to assist, the population is less than twenty percent."

"In the human realm?"

"No, this number includes the residents of the Dark Territory." Kirito paled at this devastating news.

"Ronye! Ronye!" Selka whispered from outside the tent. "He's making a scene again."

"I have to go." Ronye said gravely as she stood up.

"Let me come with you." Kirito said while standing to his full height.

"No. Just stay here." Ronye raced out; leaving Kiritio alone once more. "This shouldn't take too long."

"Oh no, I'm done with waiting." Kirito gave chase, but kept out of sight. He saw Ronye and the other woman enter a nearby tent. After a few minutes, he followed them inside and was stunned to see the dark silhouette of someone chained to a post.

"Why must you continue to be a nuisance?" Ronye growled as she hit the prisoner with a burst of sacred power.

"I told you." The young man ground out. "I'm looking for my dad. Now let me go!"

End Chapter 19