Hey everyone, Slade here.
Welcome once again to [Our Bond]! On this episode, battle versus Chudelkin! Plus, the aftermath of the "little" blackout!
Without further ado… enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online nor the characters; heavens forbid that destiny.
Chapter 3: [Deadlock]
98th Floor, Prime Senator Chudelkin's quarters. Central Cathedral.
24th day of the 5th month ~ 22:50 hrs.
Eugeo.
Edith stood at the entrance of Chudelkin's quarters with a dangerous look, her right eye completely destroyed along the seal. Unlike Alice, she kept herself on foot by pure anger and rage, Dark Slash at the ready.
"I-impossible!" squeaked Chudelkin, backing away slightly. "T-two seals?! Two seals were broken!" he jumped in his place. "How is this possible?!"
"Pitiful last words… you swine," grunted Edith, her muscles tensing while she walked at the miserable clown.
Chudelkin squeaked in fear, backing a little. Then, without any advice, his attire inflated once more; this time releasing a red smoke which spread quickly in the room. Nonetheless, the three rebels didn't lose any time and they ran towards the last place where they saw him.
Eugeo was the first to catch a glance of Chudelkin, who opened a secret door and began to run upstairs.
"Alice! Edith! Follow me!" he cried while following the Prime Senator, trusting that the girls would be able to keep up.
"System…" Chudelkin tried to chant until he noticed Eugeo right behind his tracks, making a surprised squeak. "*Tsk*. Persistent rat!" With that insult, Chudelkin began to run even faster than before (if such a thing was possible given his unusual physique).
The blue clad swordsman increased his pace as much as he could without tripping over. When both he and the Senator arrived at the top of the stairs, they found themselves in a large room that lacked any furniture or decoration. There, with some frustrated noises, Chudelkin cursed beneath his breath. A second later, Alice and Edith joined them.
"Nowhere to run, Prime Senator," stated Edith, pointing Dark Slash at him. "Any pitiful last words?"
"I WILL MURDER YOU, O MISERABLE KIDS!" he shouted in an outrage. "I HAD ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE! SYSTEM CALL! GENERATE THERMAL ELEMENT!" he chanted, his fingers, toes and eyes shining with red light.
"Ready up!" barked Edith, Eugeo and Alice obeying her without hesitation. "We don't know what that art is, so be ready to burst through whatever it does!"
"Edith…" Alice mumbled when the ash-haired girl got to her side. "Are you sure you can fight?"
"Of course Alice… also, thank you," she replied, confusing the blonde. Noticing her puzzled face, the tenth Integrity Knight smiled at her tenderly. "This is the first day I have heard you calling me by my name only… thank you, sister."
Alice blushed, but quickly focused back on Chudelkin.
"So, you okay with doing this?" asked Eugeo with concern, standing beside the other two.
"Of course, kiddo. What about you? Still able to keep yourself on foot?"
Eugeo sighed, testing Night Sky once more but quickly surrendering.
Hope you won't be mad at this, Kirito. Thought the boy while he carefully laid the dark sword onto the ground before taking out Blue Rose.
"Let's do this."
"Then ready up!"
"Understood!"
"Yeah!"
"GO! FIRE GENIE!" screamed Chudelkin, his Sacred Art finished. Out of nowhere, a giant mass of fire grew and shaped into a massive figure of a humanoid golem made out of fire. With a mighty roar, the monster slammed its massive foot on the floor, releasing a giant flare that set the entire room in a reddish light.
The swordsman and swordswomen stared in awe and fear at the Fire Genie, taking a slight step back. Edith was the one who best kept her wits in check, mostly since her anger and "sisterly instincts" hadn't worn off. Alice was the second, her resolve still too strong to simply be diminished by the sight of this unexpected foe. Eugeo however… he was having a bad time wondering how in Stacia's name they would beat the hell out of that.
"I didn't know he was capable of such art…" mumbled Alice.
"Nor did I. Guess we can't precisely 'burst our way through' out of this," the ash-haired girl mumbled, the Fire Genie turning to face her. The monster ran towards her in a surprising speed, scorching the floor with each step it took. Edith dashed forward, ready to receive her opponent. "System Call! Generate Umbral Element…! Discharge!" she roared, Dark Slash releasing a pitch-black energy that quickly surrounded its edge. Using her Sacred Art, she clashed with the titan's fist with a loud boom that echoed in the entire floor. For a second, Edith seemed to be on par with the Genie, but, to her surprise, the strength of the monster was far greater than hers, and thus it sent her tumbling back.
Alice stared incredulously; she never thought that something less than Bercouli or the Pontifex could outpower Edith. Yet, the poor ash-haired girl hit the ground with a thud.
"Edith!" she cried. The Genie noticed her distraction, and it quickly closed the gap between them.
"Enhance Armament!" this time the cry was Eugeo's, piercing the ground with Blue Rose. From the tip of his blade, great columns of ice shot towards the charging monster. The entity was sent tumbling slightly from the collision with the ice, but it seemed it was more because of surprise than anything else.
"Alice, how is she?!"
"I'm fine!" Edith interjected, standing upwards while coughing. Her armor had some cracks here and there and she had bitten her lip, which was bleeding, but nothing too concerning. "This bastard truly hits hard…"
"OHOHOHO!" Chudelkin's voice boomed, perhaps due to his own Sacred Art. "You utter fools! No one can beat this art! Only her Eminence herself has the power to even match my Fire Genie!"
When he finished his sentence, the Genie roared as to remark his words, reading itself to charge once more. Edith quickly reunited with Alice and Eugeo, the three giving a calculating glance at the monster.
"Any ideas on how to deal with this thing?"
"I can try using my flowers… but I don't believe they can harm this creature," Alice frowned, giving Osmanthus a glare. "Maybe I can hold the Genie back, but since it is made out of fire, I won't be able to truly damage him."
"My Dark Slash Sword imbued with Sacred Arts can clash with it though," frowned Edith. "But it didn't harm it at all. I still got the Release Recollection, but it would be dangerous for us all using it in this tight room," she bit her lip, deep in thought as the Genie was trembling in anticipation. "I might be able to reach Chudelkin using my Enhance Armament, but there is no guarantee I would be able to slip through that monster," grunted the veteran knight, now giving a stare to Eugeo. "What about you, kid?"
The poor boy had to shake his head twice before giving a proper response, Edith's tone finally taking him out of his stupor.
"I think I have an idea… but I would need your help, Alice."
"What do you have in mind?"
"We'll give you an opportunity to target Chudelkin, Edith," he replied, his grip on Blue Rose tightening. "Can you reach him using your Enhance Armament?" the girl nodded, wiping some blood from her mouth. "Then focus on that clown while we distract the monster."
"Wait," warned Alice, her eyes fixed on the titan, which was readying to strike once more. "Chudelkin might be disgusting and pathetic, but he is smart… to some extent. He will be suspicious if only you and I target the Genie."
"Don't worry," Edith stated with a toothy grin. "Just leave it to me, little sis!"
Alice blushed against her will, but she nodded all the same. Eugeo gave her an acknowledgement grimace, his attention returning to the fight once more. The Genie, tired of being ignored, roared while sprinting at unnerving speeds. Eugeo used his Perfect Weapon Control once more, but this time the monster was ready to face his attack. From its mouth, fire erupted and clashed with the ice, vaporizing it in a matter of seconds.
"Now, Alice!" Eugeo yelled while releasing Blue Rose from the floor and running towards the Genie. The blonde Knight followed suit, chanting her own Perfect Weapon Control while doing so. To their surprise, Edith joined them, giving them a subtle wink of her eye. Instead of questioning the girl, they simply choose to trust her judgement since there was no way of slowing down anymore.
The Genie gave a mighty jump, one that almost made it collide with the roof, in an attempt to crush them under its flames. Eugeo didn't expected the monster to be capable of such a feat, fearing that his plan would be useless if the incoming strike was successful.
Luckily, Alice wasn't caught off-guard.
Alice raised Osmanthus in its Enhanced mode as the creature leaped. A blizzard of deathly yet beautiful flowers raced towards the Genie in a massive vortex. The clash between both arts was astonishing; the monster struggling to move against the incoming golden gale, but to little avail.
Without missing a beat, it was Eugeo's turn. He pointed Blue Rose towards the golem, screaming at the top of his lungs: "Release Recollection!"
Then, from the blade itself, dozens of ice vines were shot at the still immobilized Fire Genie and embraced tightly with its thorns.
Edith didn't waste the opportunity. The moment the Genie was caught, she was already running at incredible speeds, even for Integrity Knights. In less than five seconds, she already covered half the distance between her and Chudelkin.
Unfortunately, said clown was aware of this too.
"You brats! Your actions are futile!" squeaked Chudelkin. At his words, the Fire Genie broke away from the combined arts of Eugeo and Alice with a defiant roar. "Now do me a favor and die!"
The Genie twisted on its place, changing its priority target to the vulnerable girl of their group.
"EDITH!" Alice shrieked, fearful of her friend. She was still far from reaching Chudelkin, and if the Genie stuck her once again…
"Ohoho! What a foolish puppet!" the Prime Senator laughed in delight. "Come to your death, Synthesis Ten!"
There was no way Edith could dodge the attack, the Fire Genie was right above her. Its massive fist was flung her way, ready to squash and burn her into a crisp. And, as Eugeo and Alice watched in helplessness…
Edith didn't flinch in the slightest.
"Senator Chudelkin…" the girl raised her right arm, her five fingers glowing with the power of a Sacred Art. "DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF AN INTEGRITY KNIGHT! DISCHARGE!"
And with that defiant roar, four Umbra Clones came to life. Unlike the one Kirito created hours prior on his battle with Bercouli, these clones were perfect copies of Edith, to the point that it was possible to discern her facial features with ease.
But, most importantly… the doubles clashed with the Fire Genie… and HELD their ground.
"W-WHAT!" Chudelkin panicked, staring at the still running girl. "IMPOSSIBLE! How… How can a PATHETIC knight equal my strongest art with some miserable and pathetic CLONES?!"
Edith didn't reply back. Instead, she aimed Dark Slash as her copies stroke relentlessly at the giant monstrosity. The creature fought back fiercely, crushing and bashing each double in a desperate attempt to reach its master.
The Umbra Clones barely bought five seconds… and that was more than enough.
"Enhance… Armament…" Edith's cold whisper reverbed through the whole floor, chilling Eugeo and Alice's bones. Suddenly, a deep darkness erupted from the dark blade, submerging everything in a dark void; even the fire of the Genie disappeared.
And, from the darkness, a fearsome battle cry was heard.
A second after, the darkness imploded… and then came the screams.
It was a horrible scene. The darkness collapsed on a certain point. Said target was, naturally, Chudelkin.
The Prime Senator cried and convulsed in pain, his howl startling both childhood friends. The pain and misery behind his screech were something Eugeo did not want to hear anytime soon, or ever. The same applied to Alice.
A fountain of blood came from Chudelkin, revealing that Edith slash had split him in half while the explosion of darkness scorched and cut his skin to the point it was almost unrecognizable. Nonetheless, his agonizing wails could still be heard through the whole floor. Eugeo believed that such uncanny sound would haunt his dreams for a very long time.
"Y-your E-eminence…" he said between cries, the life within him dissipating swiftly. "M-my p-precious E-eminence…"
And, with those last words, the Prime Senator died, the Fire Genie disappearing now that his master was no longer alive.
"Prime Senator Chudelkin…" Edith, who was standing close to the corpse, said. "This is for the commander! This is for Alice! This is… for what you did to all of us!" her gaze hardened. "You filthy leech…"
It was official, Eugeo would never piss off that girl ever again.
Before anyone could say anything about it, Edith fell into the ground with a thud, startling her companions.
"Edith!" Alice arrived first to her side. "Are you alright?"
"Ah, seems I exhausted myself more than what I expected," she mumbled, trying to stand once more. "The seal… that punch… the clones… the Weapon Control… Hehe, guess it was too much for me to handle this time~
"Just… give me a second… I will be fine in a moment…"
"You dolt! You didn't have to do this!"
"Of course I had to, Alice," smiling softly, Edith petted her on the head, finally being able to stand in her feet. "I made a promise to the Commander and to myself that I would always protect you. What are sisters for, after all?" she chuckled, and, with a nonchalant shrug she added. "Well, I guess our next stop would be the 100th floor and the Pontifex, right?"
"No, you won't!" the blonde commanded, holding Edith by her shoulders. "You are tired! You must rest."
"Nonsense, little sister!" Edith beamed, dismissing Alice's words and tone. "We shall move on."
They kept bantering for another couple of minutes. Alice insisted that Edith should stay in this floor, while Edith stubbornly refused to do so. Meanwhile, Eugeo watched from the sidelines, not interested on butting in the conversation. He almost found the situation endearing… To some degree, they do act like sisters… He sighed deeply. How in Stacia's name I would explain this to Selka?
"Alright, that's just enough! Jeez…" grumbled Edith, laying a finger on her sister's lips. "We have no time to keep discussing whether I can continue or not, because I know I can! I am one of the first ten Integrity Knights after all; I am no weakling that surrenders just because of some minor exhaustion," then, jabbing with her index finger at Alice, she added: "This is also my payback after you refused to be healed by your worried sister!"
"Fine," Alice huffed in defeat. Edith could really be stubborn when she wanted to.
"Now that I think so…" Edith wondered out loud, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Do you have any other extra piece of cloth for my eye?" she scratched the back of her head, embarrassed. "I… quite just spent most of the remaining Sacred Power around here… hehe."
"What do you mean 'hehe'?!" roared Alice in annoyance, barely holding back her desire to hit her big sis… Edith! She meant Edith!
Eugeo sweatdropped at the statement, unable to take the situation seriously even if he tried. For some reason, he couldn't stop drawing some similarities between Edith and Kirito. They are really alike in their odd behavior, strange priorities, and their same taste for the color black.
「?」
「?」
「?」
Darkness. A mantle of cold emptiness that embraced me as a whole.
I felt like floating, my body completely numb. What was this place? Why is it so dark? Where is everyone?
Who is everyone?
Pain, sudden and sharp. My own mind shivered at the sensation, not in alarm but in surprise. What caused it? Why could I feel pain? Was there a reason behind?
Time went by, but it was impossible to track. Seconds, minutes, hours… everything blended unnaturally, almost like in a dream. I could have spent some seconds or a whole era within that place without noticing.
Suddenly the pain became distant, like a voice that echoed from the deepest cave towards the surface. I knew it was there, for some reason I could tell that much, but no longer it bothered me. Instead, within the darkness, something hugged me in a gentle embrace. I sought for the source, but I found nothing.
Eventually the pain vanished, as a candle flickering out. Without any distractions left, the embrace's warmth felt too alluring… too tempting. Willingly, I let the feeling wash me away, embracing me, comforting me, soothing me… welcoming me.
It was a dream unlike any other. One that I was unsure I wanted to let go.
I would have lost myself in it eternally if could choose to do so. I would have jumped at the opportunity at once if it wasn't for a small detail that broke my chance at reaching the nirvana: all the sudden, it wasn't dark anymore.
There was still darkness, but it wasn't everywhere as before. Light somehow broke in the realm of emptiness, filling the void there once was. Sure, not all darkness faded, the light wasn't too strong for that. Nonetheless, it had enough force to cast the shadows away, if only a bit.
My surprise only grew when I realized that the source of the embrace was none other than the light itself.
Eager to return to my own paradise, I jumped straight into the light. I sank deeply, watching how the darkness was now far away from me.
The light went brighter, turning everything into a beautiful silver-white…
100th Floor, the Administrator's quarters. Central Cathedral.
22:30 hrs.
Kirito.
My eyes shot open.
Pain. Pain was the first thing that welcomed me. The stinging sensation coursed through each corner of my body; not even my mind was spared. The feeling was so sharp that I couldn't even lose consciousness, forced to endure the whole ordeal until the pain faded… or until the shock killed me.
I screamed, or so I thought. All my senses were overwhelmed by the pain, so I could not hear nor see anything. My surroundings were painted in red, drawing blurred lines that I could barely catch.
Breathing was also torment on its own. My throat tightened, making it impossible to even grasp some air without choking. My survival instincts did its best to ensure the much-needed supply of oxygen reached my lungs, but every drag of air burned my throat and chest.
I laid there, perhaps at the ground trashing around like a scared and wounded animal. Unwillingly I prayed to whatever god was up there to have mercy on me and make this end, for good or for bad. But I received no rest, not for a long while at least.
Finally, after a whole eternity of anguish, the pain just… vanished.
All the sudden everything was clear around me. Light finally reached my eyes and I could see. Sounds reached my ears, and I could hear. My body was numb, but I could finally move without feeling the bite of thousand ants on my skin.
I was freed from my torture.
Unfortunately, after that horrid experience, my stomach couldn't help himself but to dump its contents straight into my mouth. I gagged and puked, bits of half-digested food and bile spilling in the ground. Once my stomach had nothing else to threw up, I was finally able to breathe properly, if panting a little bit, but breathing after all.
"I don't want to go through any of that shit ever again…"I breathed out while running my sleeve on my mouth.
It took a while for me to calm down. What happened to me? I asked to myself over and over again. The last thing I remembered was the battle of wills against Administrator and the light that fell on both of us right after.
For some reason, I thought there was something else I had forgotten entirely.
Wait… where is Administrator? The world came to a halt. What happened to her?
Using all my strength, I raised my head to scan my surroundings. Apparently, I was at the 100th floor right where Administrator and I battled. She wasn't too hard to find, her limp body some meters away from me.
Is she dead? I wondered hopefully, but deep down I knew this was just wishful thinking. No, she must be unconscious… or going through the same hell I had to undergo.
I attempted to push myself upwards with my arms, but the limbs were stubbornly refusing to obey my instructions. I had to make three attempts until I succeeded and raise myself just enough to kneel. My vision blurred for a second, everything becoming sort of dizzy. After waiting for another while, my body got used to the new position I was.
She is still breathing… Administrator laid on the floor, her chest rising and falling at a small rhythm. Dammit.
Despite I just got used to kneeling, I shakily began to stand up. The time was short, I had to act now even if my body felt few steps away from falling apart. I could have used some Sacred Arts to ease the burden, but I was too focused on even standing straight.
My legs wobbled and refused to cooperate, but I insisted stubbornly. I almost fell face-first onto the ground twice or thrice, barely saving myself from leaving my teeth in the ground using my own arms to stop my falling body. All the while, my ears were ringing slightly if I moved my head too fast and my vision was worsening with each failed attempt.
After one last push upwards, I finally was able to stand, barely keeping my balance by moving my arms frantically. Once I was confident enough at both of my feet, I began to stumble forwards.
"So… you are still alive…" I winced at my worn voice. This confirmed my suspicions that I was screaming when assaulted by the pain. "To think I have to dirt my hands after all…"
Now that I was closer, I took up in Administrator's semblance. She was facing down, her eyes open but empty. Her mouth was open in a silent scream and some bile covered the floor too. "Looks like you are fighting against the same torture, aren't you?" I scoffed. "Well, this makes it easier for me. I am actually doing you a favor by freeing you from the pain. But I won't deny, I look forward to your demise."
I came into a halt right in front of her, Administrator still in the floor with a ragged breathing. For a second, I pitied her, but I squashed the feeling instantly.
"As I told you before, this is not for the Human Empire," I gazed at her with cold anger. "Your laws humiliated or hurt everyone I have known or care for: Eugeo, Selka, Liena, Tiese, Medina… and Ronye," I almost spit at her. "You tried to manipulate me using my own memories and you dared to insult what happened to my valet."
I raised my arm, my Incarnate Blade returning once more.
"Goodbye, Quinella."
Without any hesitation, I lunged forward…
Then, to my surprise and confusion, my entire body froze in its place. As much as I struggled, no movement came out from my limbs or even my head or torso. Even my eyes were fixed at the same spot, my eyelids paralyzed in their place. It was as if I suddenly was trapped in a mold made out for myself, making impossible to move even a millimeter.
What the…?! I screamed within my own mind since I couldn't move my lips to express it aloud. Wha-what the hell is this! I can't move!
I instructed my body to move forward with all my willpower, my body twitching slightly as my Incarnation cloaked my entire body in a dark-purplish cloud. Slowly, yet steadily, I began to move. My Incarnate Blade was slowly brought down to Administrator, who was still in the ground.
"I don't know… what… Sacred Art… is this… Administrator…" I was able to talk once more thanks to my Incarnation, which forced every movement of my lips. "But… it… won't be… enough!"
Just when I finally thought I was able to free myself from this type of restraint, something unexpected happened. Around me, a faint trace of a silver-white aura embraced my dark-purplish Incarnation, holding it tightly.
I panicked. This… this was Administrator's Incarnation! It had to be hers!
Before, while struggling for our lives, I saw the same aura coming out of her body, fighting against my own. However, unlike then, the silver-white willpower was emanating from myself!
"W-what… did y-you… do… t-to… me!" I stammered, fear clutching my heart as more and more of her Incarnation surrounded mine. The dark-purplish glow around myself was fading, as if soothed by hers.
I fought back mightily, trying to stir as much of my Incarnation. However, no matter how much I willed it or how much I imagined it… it was futile.
While I was struggling, Administrator was finally regaining consciousness, her head moving lazily upwards.
I fought against… whatever it was that kept me immobilized, my panic increasing the more and more Administrator recovered. She gave a vague look to her surroundings, but apparently her eyes couldn't focus on anything just yet. I still had some time.
With one last desperate grunt, I pushed all the willpower I had in order to move. However, once more, my attempt was futile; the silver-white aura was holding mine tightly. My heart sank when I realized that I couldn't be able to free myself, my hopes of getting out of this alive or free were completely vanished, replaced with fear and dread of what would be of me.
I was so close to survive, to get out of here…
And I failed.
Some tears of impotence and frustration tried to fall from my eyes, but I somehow managed to suppress them. If this was my last day as a free man, at least I would face my own destiny with dignity.
My troubled thoughts were interrupted by a loud shriek... one that came from none other than Administrator.
She was still on the ground, but this time she had her back pressed against the floor, somehow managing to crawl away from where I was. Her breathing was heavier than before, her eyelids were wide open, her face was even paler than before, and her expression displayed the rawest form of fear. Her entire body was shaking uncontrollably, and her mouth was moving upwards and downwards in a vain attempt to speak, but no word came out.
Once she was out of my reach, both auras (the dark and the silver) dissipated around me. I stumbled forwards, barely keeping my footing after standing in that awkward position for a minute or two. My Incarnate Blade was also dismissed, vanishing from my arm.
While I still was puzzled of what just happened to me, I was far more concerned of the fact that Administrator was awake once more…
"Get off me!" was what I heard before a ball of wind landed on me, sending me flying backwards. The hit was, surprisingly, not that strong or painful, but it still forced the air out of my lungs, which was a really unpleasant experience.
Even if the attack she used on me wasn't powerful, my current physical condition made impossible for me to land properly. Therefore, I ended up in the floor with a sore butt and lack of air in my lungs. If it wasn't enough, my dizziness from before came for revenge, making me feel sick once more.
While downed, there was only one thought in my mind, repeating itself over and over:
I must stand up! I must stand up!
Moving as fast as I could, I regained my footing before Administrator could attack me once more. Screw looking for a reason of what just happened, I must find a way to save my ass!
I gave a glance to Administrator. Her fear was gone, or at least masked beneath a whirlwind of anger and shock. Heck, I could swear she was literally trying to set me ablaze with her own eyes judging by the stare she was giving me.
Somehow, I managed to keep my wobbly feet on check, raising my hand in case I needed to use the Incarnate Blade. However, even with that ability at my disposal, without a true blade or a partner at my side I couldn't hope much if she decided to delete me from Underworld with a Sacred Art.
"You…" Administrator growled in a tone colder than ice, "you monster!" she was shaking in her own place, most likely because of wrath. "Unforgivable… UNFORGIVABLE!
"System Call…!" she chanted while raising a hand to the air. From her palm erupted a fireball twice as big as her, the heat too great that I could even feel it from where I was.
If I had to be honest, I was totally freaking out. If it wasn't for my terrible physical condition, I would have run like a chicken in a vain attempt to save my own life. Instead, I was forced to remain in my place.
But I will be damned if I didn't try something to defend myself.
I summoned three walls of ice in front of me, those similar to the ones Eugeo and I used against Deusolbert back at the armory. I knew these wouldn't do much against that fireball, not even if boosted with Incarnation, but it was the only thing that came up to my mind.
"Now vanish from my sight…" she said with a grin only a psycho could give, stretching her arm towards me. "Dischar… -urk!"
And then, just when she was going to free that powerful Sacred Art, she froze.
After achieving immortality, Administrator forgot many things that a common human was familiar with. Hunger, thirst, illness… it meant nothing to her anymore. She never missed any of those feelings even once; why would she? She transcended time and the System itself. She became a goddess.
That's why, right after regaining consciousness, her experience could only be described as utter agony.
She forgot what nausea was, what a headache was, what the need to puke was… so when she faced those unpleasant experiences after so long… she was overwhelmed.
Administrator was awake even before Kirito, not that any of them knew that fact, but she spent way more time in controlling herself than what it took to him. Even if both suffered the same things after recovering consciousness, Administrator was more vulnerable to those negative feelings.
She wasn't able to properly act, totally paralyzed by pain… until something from outside spurred her. It was some familiar presence, but one that felt unknown altogether. This mysterious force proceeded to vanish all the pain and sickness she felt, making her return to the reality…
Only to meet the Irregular Unit, who was close to deliver a fatal blow to her using some dark-purplish blade made out by pure Incarnation. He was cloaked in an aura of the same color, his eyes shining in golden fire. If the danger of his proximity wasn't enough, the anger, the hatred, and the cold determination in his eyes was far more than enough to make the "goddess of Underworld" break down in fear.
This was the second time this human made her shake uncontrollably in fear. How was that possible? She froze her own emotions a long time ago, locked away in the deepest alleys of her fluctlight. Yet, this boy… somehow undid the work of decades in less than an hour. She didn't know for sure, but she was positive the look in his eyes were greatly responsible of her reaction. The two times he attacked her, his eyes were blazing with fierce resolve, something that she never witnessed in any other unit in Underworld.
That is why, both of those times she had to face him under those circumstances, something within her seemed to… split, for lack of a better term. For brief moments, the Primary Directive and the fluctlight broke apart, something that was supposed to be impossible.
Then again, nothing is truly impossible in this world.
For a second, Administrator was gone, being replaced by Quinella, the human soul beneath the goddess. The cold and calculating persona were gone briefly, leaving a fragile human soul, one that was vulnerable to pain and fear.
"Get off me!"
After that, as quickly as it was gone, Administrator returned. However, the undesired human emotions were still very present.
"You… you, monster! Unforgivable… UNFORGIVABLE! System Call…!"
Administrator was tired of that outsider… an ever-growing source of pain that, without a doubt, would only become worse the more he was still breathing.
Screw experimenting with him! Screw manipulating him! Screw turning him into a puppet! Screw using him! She wanted him dead right then and there!
"Dischar… -urk!"
But she couldn't do it.
No word came out of her lips, no matter how hard she tried or how much she actually desired. His hand froze and her body was paralyzed. It was as she was imprisoned by invisible chains that held her tightly in her place.
The Irregular Unit stared at her in confusion, his guard lowering slightly at what just happened. She shook in dread… was he dismissing her as not a threat anymore?! Was he going to attack her in a moment of vulnerability again?!
No… she wasn't going to accept such a thing.
Her Incarnation erupted to live, the silver-white aura engulfing her entire body in a blinding light. Her hand twitched in its place, but it didn't respond as she desired. She tried to move her lips to finish the Art, but that wasn't possible either.
Before her willpower could overwhelm whatever held her down in her place, something incredible and impossible happened. From her own body, a dark-purplish aura embraced her Incarnation, soothing it until it vanished. With it, the Sacred Art was dispelled, the impressive fireball disappearing as if someone blew out a match.
It was then and only then that she could move once more, but it didn't help to ease her confusion and fear.
Her attention got back to the Irregular Unit; whose mouth was agape. Then, slowly, he voiced the same thing both were wondering:
"What… the actual… fuck…?!"
There were… absolutely… no other words… to describe it…
What the actual fuck just happened to us?!
That dark aura that surrounded hers was none other than mine! My Incarnation!
My mind raced as fast as it could in its condition, something that almost caused me another headache. When our Incarnations clashed, and that strange light fell on both of us, we both lost consciousness. After waking up, both of us felt extreme sickness and took a good while to recover. Then, when any of us attacked the other, we couldn't move at all or, in Administrator's case, even finish a sentence. If we summoned our Incarnations to force our attacks to keep moving, the Incarnation of the other would interfere and stop it.
It dawned on me.
"We can't harm each other…" I muttered with my eyes wide open. "That light made us unable to harm each other…"
Then, I began to laugh. It came out as croaks, my throat still sore, but I couldn't care less of my abused voice at the moment.
"What are you laughing at, insect?!" Administrator hissed; her confusion just worsened by my incontrollable laughter.
"Why?!" I managed to speak… barely. "Why?!" I gasped for some air before answering: "Because I am fucking alive!" my laughing went on with renewed forces. "That's why!"
Administrator stared at me oddly, unable to understand my behavior or the reason behind it. She might be able to believe I was mocking her because her attack was dispelled, or she might just think I lost it. Either way, I couldn't care any less.
"Silence!" she screamed in rage, her eyes twitching. "SILENCE, I SAY!"
Eventually I had stop. My throat was killing me, and I needed to use this turn of events to recover. "System Call, generate Aqueous Element…" at my command, a large bubble of water formed in my hand. Without hesitation, I lunged forward and drank the liquid to finally ease my aching.
That was good… I sighed after finishing gulping down the last drop. My throat felt better, but I had now to address the soreness in my body. Now, let's follow this up with some Light Element…
I healed myself in silence, stealing some glances at Administrator just to make sure she was not about to strike me down. She just stood in her place, watching her right hand with incredulity while muttering things.
This is a rather weird turn of events. I frowned while I let the Arts do their job. Whatever that light did to us, it seems that it affected our Incarnations in some sort of way. I bit my lip in nervousness. I wonder, what kind of phenomenon can cause two individual's willpower and imagination act in such a way?
No... I am getting sidetracked. The only thing I should be concerned is the length of this… anomaly. Let's see… whenever one of us attempts to kill the other, our Incarnations immediately forces us to desist on the attack… I mused, ignoring the mixed feelings this caused me. She was able to send me flying though. Perhaps this anomaly only works if our attacks have killing intent? Or perhaps only if we are aware the spell or slash have the potential to kill?
Now that I was completely healed, I paced around the place to regain some feeling on my muscles. At the same time, I used the break to try and find any way to use this anomaly to my advantage. However, everything led me to a dead end unless I had external aid. If Eugeo was here, I could use the anomaly to immobilize Administrator. That way, he could finish her once and for all.
I did not distract myself from Administrator too much. There were many unknowns with the anomaly, and she was a threat regardless of these new variables. As I was pacing around, she went through several Sacred Arts that could potentially kill me. However, nothing happened.
She quickly seemed to get frustrated, possibly because I was right in my assumption, and she found nothing that could end my life. She was muttering something beneath her breath, but whether it was a Sacred Art or not I didn't know for sure.
"So, we have come to a stalemate," I finally chose to address Administrator herself. "A rather weird conclusion to our battle, but a deadlock is not exactly unwelcomed."
"Silence!" Administrator barked in frustration. "I don't know what just happened, Irregular Unit, but once I find a way to eliminate this setback, you and your friend will be executed by my own blade!"
"So, you are in no mood for a conversation, huh?" I smirked. "What? Irritated that a kid almost got you twice?"
"Your taunts will achieve nothing, Irregular Unit," she said that, but her voice was cold in anger.
"They do help to kill time," I replied without interest. "Or are you interested on me killing something else?"
"So, you are indeed a blood thirsty monster after all," with those last words, she returned to her mumbling.
"Well, enjoy your time while it lasts. Eugeo will arrive sooner than later, and we will end you once that happens. Unless, of course, you are willing to surrender."
This time, she did not answer my taunts. Guess that's all I can buy… I sighed.
We both fell in an awkward silence. At some point, Administrator began to float around the place, perhaps an ability she developed with Incarnation. She was still mumbling things to herself while drifting away from me. I followed her closely, making sure that she was at reach if she tried anything funny.
While we waited for some change in this stalemate, I tried to contact with that little girl from before. I asked for her with my mind, but I received no reply. I tried for a couple of minutes before giving up entirely.
Hum, it was worth a shot. I shrugged mentally.
Time went by and nothing else happened, and while the short rest was welcomed, I was growing more anxious each second. Despite the confidence I portrayed when talking to Administrator, I was worried about Eugeo. As far as I knew, the last enemy he had to face was Chudelkin… which totally trashed me back at floor 90.
That little fat jackass was dangerous despite his looks. The Sacred Arts he used against me were ridiculously overpowered to the point that I could barely close the distance between us. The fact that most part of the room were giant pools did not help either.
The thing that most worried me is that Chudelkin actually held back when fighting me. After all, he himself claimed that Administrator asked to capture me alive.
I was still lost in my thoughts when, to my surprise, the floor beneath me began to rumble as if an earthquake stroked the land. Administrator noticed too, frowning.
"Please tell me that wasn't tremor," I said out loud, now standing in my feet.
"I forbid those in Centoria about several years ago," Administrator commented, tapping her chin with her index finger. "The only thing that could cause such damage to the Cathedral is a divine object in its Perfect Weapon Control… or it was a Sacred Art casted by Chudelkin."
My eyes widened, realizing what this could imply.
"Seems your time has finally come, Irregular Unit. Chudelkin might have subdued your ally right now," she laughed, mocking me. "I will admit, you were quite interesting. I may not be able to initiate the Synthesis Ritual in the state I am, but I am sure that Chudelkin and the Senate would be delighted to bring down your defenses."
"You stole the words from my mouth, Administrator," I boasted confidently. "That might have just been Alice and Eugeo snapping Chudelkin like a twig with their Perfect Weapon Control."
"Confident, are we?" she chuckled. "We shall see, Irregular Unit, we shall see."
I gritted my teeth, but I did not reply.
We waited a minute… two… then three…
No other sound or tremor came.
I was worried, fuck I was terribly worried. I fought against that clown before, and I could say that he was far more tough than what his looks gave. Perhaps Eugeo and Alice might be able to defeat it together, but I was still panicking in what I would do if they failed.
My troubled thoughts came to an end when, not far away from me, a circular portion of the floor split from the rest, levitating upwards. Administrator gave me a eat-shitting grin that made my blood boil, yet I did not let it affect me.
Tempted to summon my Incarnate Blade, I warily advanced until I could reach any possible threat in a single leap. As I got closer, I noticed there was a faint sound coming from the small opening. My muscles tensed and I held my breath, ready to dash at any moment.
From the entrance to the hundredth floor of the Central Cathedral, I saw none other than Eugeo appearing into my field of view, levitating by some Sacred Art until he was able to stand at the edge of the opening.
My entire body shook in a swirl of emotions. The blade in my arm was dismissed without me even noticing it, my entire attention fixed on my partner.
His back was facing me, and his sword was drawn, or more specifically, he was using my sword and not Blue Rose. He studied his surroundings in a matter of seconds, turning around when he found nothing interesting in that part of the room.
"Eugeo…" I mumbled, feeling that some kind of weight was pulled out of my shoulders. His eyes stared at me for a second, almost as he saw a ghost.
"Kirito…" he replied quietly after a second. I gave him a smile, walking straight to him. "You are…"
"OH, SHUT UP!" I exclaimed, giving him a tight hug.
"Oh… uhm… I…" he nervously giggled. "I… am… relieved to… s-see you are okay too…"
Yeah, now that I notice it, this is really uncomfortable…
"Anyway…" I quickly broke the embrace, cleared my throat, and feigned as if nothing happened. "I saw you are using my sword instead of Blue Rose…"
"Oh right!" he handed me the dark blade, glad to have a change of conversation. "I retrieved it back from the Great Bath and, since I did not have its sheath, I had to carry it around," he explained while drawing Blue Rose. "Also, I chose to baptize it as Night Sky."
"Hmm, that has a good ring to it," I contemplated the name for a second before smiling. "Yeah, definitely it is better than anything I could come up with," I gave a grin to my Night Sky Sword, feeling as if an essential part of me returned. "Well, Administrator, seems I won the bet."
"Wait, Administrator?!" Eugeo asked me, now scanning the rest of the room. He finally found her. She was still floating above the floor several meters away.
"She and I were quite busy before you came here. Don't worry, she didn't use the Synthesis Ritual on me."
He sighed in relief, but it was obvious he was not going to let his guard down. I felt slightly proud; he was my "first apprentice" after all, and I really spent entire days drilling him the idea to never be caught off guard.
"Hoh?" she said with an even voice. However, her deep frown was enough to know that her frustration was even greater than before. "Looks like I overestimated that foul creature Chudelkin and gave him more credit than what I should. Nonetheless, one ally means no advantage for you, Irregular Unit."
"I am sorry to tell you this, 'your Highness'," he spit that last word as a curse. I, in the other hand, was prouder than ever: this was the first time he gave any kind of sass to any of his opponents, something I taught him as well, "but we are not alone."
He poked his head back to the opening in the floor, giving a short nod to whoever was down there.
A second later, Alice appeared from below. She landed in the other side from where I was with Eugeo. She had Osmanthus out of its scabbard too, but the most notorious thing of her was a piece of cloth that covered her right eye.
She broke the seal too… I mused in my insides, making sure to not stare too long at her, else she took offense of me staring. I am sometimes glad to have learned to know girls…
"Hey…" I awkwardly said to Alice. She gave me a glare with her good eye, clearly telling me she wasn't in mood for me fooling around. Not that I planned it anyway. "Sorry about the wall…"
She kept her eye fixed on me for another second, but she proceeded to nod in acknowledgement.
"As much as it pains me to admit it, I did fell on your trick, and I did contribute to the shockwave that destroyed the wall. Besides," she gave a brief side glance to Eugeo before returning to me, "I wouldn't have realized some truths if it wasn't for that incident."
Eugeo smiled knowingly, until he felt my sharp eyes digging on his very soul. He shivered from my gaze, trying to stare elsewhere. I will tease the hell out of him once we are out of here. Oh, Tiese would love to hear about this...
"But…" Alice's stern voice broke my nefarious thoughts, bringing me back to the serious situation we were in. "Try to use those tricks again with me… and I will cut your throat without hesitation."
Normally, I would have answered back with a sassy comment or snide remark. However, this wasn't the best time to antagonize the blonde girl, nor to give her a reason to duel me in a later date. Besides… that look of hers was really scary. "Understood."
Then, as the voice told me, a third person followed both Eugeo and Alice. She was another Integrity Knight if her attire was any giveaway. She seemed to be a year or two above Alice and me, but I was positive she might be older. As Alice, she was wearing a piece of cloth to cover her eye.
She seemed to have heard our short conversation, giving me a look that sent shivers down my spine.
"So you were the one who dropped my dear sister Alice out of the Cathedral!" she said, clearly not fond of that fact. I gulped; it has been years since I pissed two girls at the same time.
"It was amidst a heated battle for my life and freedom, and it was never my intention to harm her badly or make a giant hole in the wall," I retorted seriously, trying to not show my nervousness. "I am sorry for what happened but… oi, wait a fucking second… what does she means by sister?" I turned to Eugeo and Alice. The latter seemed flustered while the former simply chuckled with a sweatdrop.
"I will explain later… long story."
"Ooooooookay…. I suppose we can talk once this is all said and done. Name's Kirito by the way."
"Edith Synthesis Ten," was her reply, before her full attention drifted towards Administrator, who was still watching us without making any move. "And yes, I would love to have a word with you later. Now, there is something I must settle in the name of the Integrity Knights."
The way the girl stared at the High Pontifex and the venom in her voice was enough confirmation that, whoever she was, she was no one you would like to piss off if you wanted to keep your head above your shoulders.
The hole in the floor sealed once more, leaving us four and Administrator locked in the last floor of the Cathedral.
"Well, well, well… what about now, Administrator? Finally feeling threatened?" I addressed the self-called goddess with a grin that told her everything she needed to know.
"Hardly, Irregular Unit," she retorted, her eyes reflecting pure anger. "Two broken puppets and a carver are no match for me. Even if said puppets broke their neat seals."
"So, she was indeed the one who forced it into us…" Alice growled, her grip on Osmanthus tightening. "Unforgivable."
"Lady Administrator," Edith spoke. "You will regret what you did to all the Integrity Knights… and what you did to my little sister…"
"Aw, how neat…" Administrator laughed mockingly, "you claimed that puppet as your little sister. Why would that be the case, Edith Synthesis Ten?" she hummed, touching her cheek with her index finger. "Ah, of course. Perhaps to fill a void in your heart? Maybe to replace someone you lost long ago? To compensate the guilt of leaving someone you 'loved' behind?"
"W-what?" the ash-haired knight stuttered, some fierceness of her eyes fading.
"Cut it, Administrator!" I interfered. The last thing I needed was a breakdown of this… unexpected ally. "I will not let her buy any of your bullshit. We are here for a reason, and we already wasted just enough time. This time, I would make sure you die"
"Hmp, if such thing could be possible~"
"Everyone, can I count on you?" I gave a glance to each of them. Eugeo gave me a friendly punch in the shoulder while Alice and Edith nodded. "Alright, there is something you must know before we begin.
"Before you arrived, I fought against Administrator and almost got her…" they all were surprised, Edith giving me an appraising look while Eugeo and Alice looked amazed, "but something strange happened to us. I don't know what it was, nor do I care to ask in this situation, but whatever it was it made us incapable of threatening the other's life," their faces were overwhelmed by incredulity, but I shrugged them off. "No time to explain. Trust my words. I won't be able to land a hit on her… but I can be a shield to protect any of you from any of her attacks."
"Are you sure Kirito?" Eugeo gave me a worried look. "What if it was just a trick?"
"She would be dead otherwise," I replied. "I tried to kill her using my own hands, but I froze in my place. Whatever that was, it had to do with our Incarnations, since some of hers was coming out of my own body."
"Impossible!" Edith said. "The Incarnation can't do something like that!"
"Well, it is possible," I grumbled back. "She then tried to vaporize me with a ball of fire, but she was unable to finish the Sacred Art. When she attempted to finish it, my Incarnation erupted from her, dispelling the Art."
The three fell silent, unsure to what believe of my story.
"If you believe she can't harm you, I will trust you," Eugeo was the first one to speak, giving me a nod.
"Thanks for the token of faith," I smiled, but my face quickly turned serious. "By the way, do you still have the dagger?" he nodded, pulling it out from beneath his clothes. "Good. It might be impossible to land a blow on her with it, but we can use it as a last resort to summon Cardinal for help."
"Roger."
All the while, Administrator watched us with disdain.
"Ah, pathetic insects. You are so foolish that you can't even understand what you got yourselves into," she raised her hand above her head. "I must admit, Irregular Unit. This allies of yours are indeed a problem. Two of them broke their strings too! Yet, they're not enough to defeat me."
I tensed immediately when the tips of her fingers began to shine. Cautiously, I positioned myself between Administrator and the others in case she planned to use an offensive Sacred Art.
"Unlike you, Irregular Unit, I have more than just some failures on my side. Thanks to our little… incident, I had enough time to prepare this Sacred Art. I did not want to use it on you, but now that Chudelkin is gone and I personally can't take you on, Irregular Unit, you gave me no other option than this!"
"Discharge!"
She managed to finish the Sacred Art. I frowned deeply. Is it not an offensive Art? Or is it one so accurate that she is confident that I won't be on the line of fire?
For the next ten seconds, nothing happened. Everything was quiet, oddly so.
Then…
The hell…?
Suddenly, from the walls of the room, several weapons that I thought were only props began to float. Is she trying to use all of them to attack from multiple angles? No… not even her should be capable of wielding all of them simultaneously. But if that isn't the case…
The weapons moved. It wasn't too fast for my eyes to follow, but neither it was too slow. Each and every single one of them converged at the middle of the floor, right in front of Administrator.
Wondering what the meaning of all of this was, I cursed loudly when a blinding light came from the weapons.
What the hell is going on? I gritted my teeth while shielding my eyes. What is she trying to do?!
The answer came a second right after. The light died down, allowing me to stare freely. However, before me weren't all those weapons that Administrator called with her Sacred Art… no, there was something else entirely.
Something that chilled my very bones.
Towering above us was a five-meter-tall monster. Its body was made out of metal, most likely from the weapons from a second ago. The creature was barely humanoid, having a pair of arms (which were two giant swords), a head, a torso, some sort of waist (which looked more like a vertebral spine than anything else) and, instead of a pair of legs, several pointed swords served it as means to move, similar to a spider.
"This is my greatest creation, one that took me more than two hundred years to perfect!" Administrator pridefully said, her smile turning wicked. From within her robes, she pulled a crystal of purplish color and settle it inside the creature. The moment that crystal was set in its place, the entire being stirred, a purple light shining in its eyes. "This is… the Sword Golem!"
The golem reacted to its mention, opening its arms widely and slashing the air in front of him.
I stood in my place, wondering what on Underworld we would do to stop that thing.
"It is bigger than the Genie…" Eugeo muttered beside me, shaking in fear.
"I would dare to say it is far more dangerous," Alice replied, being the most composed of the four.
"Now, my greatest creation…" she almost purred her last words, her smile turning almost lovely. "Kill. Them. All."
The monster, without any further indication, charged.
And that's a wrap! At least for today that is.
Heya everyone, how's it going? Hope y'all doing just fine. As for me, I actually found enough time to finish this episode quite early this time. Although I struggled a bit with the second part of the chapter, it flowed quite easily after reaching a certain point.
And good news, Chudelkin is dead for good! I am sure no one's going to miss him at all (at least, not our main characters). Although the battle was too similar to the original fight in the anime to my liking (after all, Edith took Kirito's place). But at least he didn't go down just by some random distraction this time around.
On the other hand, we finally witnessed the birth of the anomaly. In the anime, Kirito was turned into a double wheeler because of his Incarnation going overdrive due to his self-loathing thoughts after Eugeo's death. This time however, Kirito's state of mind was far different, and Quinella's Incarnation didn't help either.
Next chapter will be the finale of the first arc. Once we are done with the top floor of the Central Cathedral, the first inklings of romance will finally show themselves… if those two brick-heads cease to jump at each other's throats for a single chapter…
But now, on with the reviews!
Orfeo D. Knightwalker: First of all, thank you for the feedback. I know my English and grammar are quite lacking (not my mother tongue and all), yet that's no excuse for me to be this sloppy. At the time, I had a hard time finding a Beta, so in the meantime I tried my best to correct any mistakes. Hopefully I will find a Beta for the next chapters…
DaManWOFear: Aw, c'mon he's not that… *stares at this Kirito for five seconds straight*… yeah, he's a dick.
Inphernalmenace: Edith is a character that (as far as I know) only appears in the mobile game SAO Unleash Blading. Her story and character are quite good and interesting… a shame the game will close their servers in January. As for the clown… yep, no one will miss him.
Anyway… what are your thoughts about this new chapter? Loved it? Hated it? Regardless of your thoughts, thank you once again for taking some of your precious time to read this story.
On a final note… no, there won't be unnecessary deaths coming up ;)
See you next chapter!
