A/N: Who else can agree that Laughing Coffin is the worst of all? If there are people out there who thinks they're awesome, you're all insane. I can't imagine how this will affect Lightning since she's been really close with her guild. It'll certainly affect Rokel since they're all he has.


MAY 4th, 2023. FLOOR 16, CROSS HILL

Thunder rumbles softly in the distance.

It rains heavily the cold kisses my skin once it seeps through my hooded cape and armor.

I'm down on my knees, in front of the gravestone for my former guild, the Lunar Twilight. Just weeks ago, we were assaulted by the murder guild, Laughing Coffin. We were in a dungeon just earning some money to celebrating buying a house, then we found one of their traps and triggered it.

I was the only one who survived the assault. Rokel and I became the remaining members of the guild.

As for Hakomo...Hakomo.

'You were a member of a murder guild? You didn't have any right to be right us!'

I can still picture the day I met Hakomo after the attack. He had just finished buying a house, even had a set of keys to prove it. He wondered where everyone else is, so I told him the truth. He was shocked to hear that I use to join Laughing Coffin, even after the part I told them I didn't know who they were and I wanted nothing to do with their criminal ways.

I'm not Hakomo, but I do believe the way he's feeling is that everything he now believes is a lie. Even since he dies by doing suicide. He stands on the edge of the floor. Panicking, I try to stop him, but by the time I reach him, he already falls off the Aincrad.

He was right. I'm the reason the guild was killed. If I hadn't kept being a member of Laughing Coffin a secret, I could have warned them about the trap. But I didn't. Instead, I let them fall for it...then watch them die.

Rokel didn't take the news very well either. As soon as he awakens, he heard the news that Laughing Coffin assaulted the members of the Lunar Twilight. He knows I still live, but that doesn't make him feel any better.

He hasn't spoken to me since. But I have heard that he joined Silica's guild, the Dancing Fairies.

The sixteenth floor is a dread forest. Nothing but gray leafless trees, dense fog. It's like a cemetery, but for the entire floor.

My message icon beeps. I've received a new message. I accept it and the window opens.

'We're about to have a meeting in ten minutes. Arrive on the tenth-floor field on the southern floor. Zaza.'

After closing the window, I stand and walk away.

During the attack, I convinced Laughing Coffin to take me back as their member. At first, they didn't believe me, but then PoH decided to test me...by killing a player. On the next day, we found a Wavemaster for me to kill. I did attack him, turn me into a Murder player. But in truth, I set the whole thing up.

As I was fighting the player, I throw my attacks on the robe he was wearing, without putting any harm to his body, until its durability was low enough to destroy his armor. The second it does, I tell the player to teleport. I tricked PoH into thinking I killed a player by giving a final blow to trigger the death of the players' robe.

Fake Player Killing.


FLOOR 10, SOUTHERN FIELD.

The very reason I join Laughing Coffin is to put an end to their madness. I can only get one chance to destroy one of their assault attacks, and I choose the one that destroyed my guild.

A Diamond Trap.

While I join the guild, I've been gathering information. There's only one person who has the skills to forge this kind of trap. Johnny Black. If I kill him, then Laughing Coffin will no longer have the chance to use the Diamond Trap ever again.

I lay in wait. Waiting for the right time to make my move. Once the time comes, I will avenge the deaths of the Lunar Twilight and every other player that fall in the hands of Laughing Coffin.

I arrive in the Southern Field. In a small cave is where 'my guild' awaits. "What took you so long?" Johnny Black asks.

"Nothing. Nothing important." I say.

I sit, joining in on the circle. "All right. Let's begin the meeting." PoH looks at the one member. "Ra'zul. What information did you seek?"

"Right, boss. I have found us a target. Floor 16, in the Darkwind Forest." Ra'zul says. "A small guild called NORA."

Hearing that name has me spooked. I didn't show it much, thank goodness. Just risen my eyebrows and jumped a tiny bit. Hopefully, nobody else noticed. Normally, I wouldn't care about Snow's gang, who runs that guild. But they do have one member I care about. He's the very reason I came to this death game. If I let him die, it'll be all for nothing.

"I've heard of them. They make a lot of cash just hunting the fields and dungeons. They're gonna be a big catch." PoH says.

"Ah! Yes, they are, boss! And I have the perfect trap set for them!" Johnny Black says. He holds out one of the Diamond Traps. I can't imagine what makes this any different from the other abominations he's made.

"Once they earn enough money from their hunts, we'll ambush them," PoH says.

I just sit in silence, looking down with my arms crossed. I hate being in this guild. And hearing how they're going to assault Hope just festered my anger even more. Now I know when I must strike.

"Hey, newcomer?" I snap out of my mind. Zaza is calling me. "What's the problem? Aren't you excited about taking on a hunting guild?"

The thought of beating up Snow's childish group usually pleases me. But killing them is something I would never do, even since there's Hope involved.

"Yes...of course, I am." I struggle a little to say it.

"Excellent," Zaza says. "So the plan is simple. We lay in wait, watching them in the shadows. Once they earned enough Krystal's, Johnny Black will place the trap then they'll go for it."

"All right. We'll meet up on the 16th floor in one hour." PoH says.

I'm surprised to hear that. "Shouldn't we just head there right now?"

"Trust us, this guild hunts all night," Ra'zul says. "You know what they say: All good things to those who wait."

I know that will be true for me. I'm waiting to make this guild pay for their crimes.

Once the meeting is done, I disappear into the shadows, by hiding behind the jagged rocks. I lay in wait for the other Laughing Coffin members to walk away.

I open my menu, scrolling through my friends' list until I find Hope's character on my list. I send them a message, telling him to meet me on the third floor, alone. Make sure that he isn't followed.

He replied with a paused okay...


FLOOR 3, ANCIENT RUINS.

I stand underneath the arch of stone that lends into the Ancient Ruins. Up ahead, from the wild forest, is Hope. He is searching, looking for me. I stay hidden, calling him out in a whisper. I can't expose my location. Laughing Coffin is probably watching in the shadows and I can't blow my cover.

"Psst! Hope!" He must have heard me, he turns to my direction. I wave at him to come to me.

Hope hesitates then comes. Once he's close, I pull him into my hiding spot. I need to keep him out of sight. "Lightning's what's the matter?" I'm silent. Hope how looks horrified. "Your cursor is orange! And that mark...You're with Laughing Coffin?"

I put a hand over his mouth, silencing him. I need Hope to be quiet. "Shh! Quiet!" I remove my hand. "I'm not really with the guild, I'm just undercover." I push him down onto his knees. "Now get down. They might be watching...listening."

Hope mouths an 'oh' then nods. "Okay. I was at the meeting and I learned that they're going to attack you and your guild in an hour."

Hope is shocked to hear that. "What? They're going to kill us?"

"Calm down. They won't. I'm just warning you." I say. "All you need to do is warn your guild and hide in a safe town for the night."

"Okay...but what about Laughing Coffin? Wouldn't they get suspicious that their..." Hope clears his throat. "Targets didn't arrive?"

"Don't worry about them, they'll never suspect a thing," I say.

Hope nods. "All right. I'll go warn the NORA crew. Thanks a lot, Light."

After Hope leaves, I make my preparations for the 'hunt' as well. I called in a favor from Leafa and had her made me a feast for the group, with bottles of water. However, the bottles are not going to be regular water. In truth, I have stolen one of the poison vials from the guild bank. I pour a single drop into each of the bottles.

It's time to give these monsters a taste of their own medicine.


FLOOR 16, DARKWING FOREST.

Our wait goes on all night, even for me.

The other members of Laughing Coffin are growing either bored or impatient for Hope and the NORA crew to show up, but they don't. The good thing is that don't suspect a thing about me warning them.

I keep my eyes on the clock. It's exactly 8:30 PM. We've been here for over two hours, I'm surprised they didn't give in to frustration and impatience.

"What's keeping them?" Zaza asks.

"They should have been here already." PoH looks at Ra'zul. "Ra'zul. Are you positive this is the place?"

"I'm certain about it, boss. The information is flawless." Ra'zul says.

I don't get why they're calling PoH boss. He isn't the real leader of this guild. I haven't met the real leader, but I know it's not him. He's more of the vice leader.

"I'm getting hungry. Wish we had some eats." Johnny Black says.

That is my cue. "Well...luckily I bought a picnic on the Auction House." I open my menu, selected the picnic feast in my item list. The basket appears in my hands. However, everyone just looks at me like I have food stuck in my face. "What? You must always come prepared."

"Who cares? I'm starving!" Johnny Black says.

I pass out the food and drinks. "But before we eat, how about a toast?"

They easily fall right into my trap. All the six members raise their bottles and take a sip. I let the bottle touch my lips and raise to make it look like I'm about to drink, but I stop before the water gets a chance to pour out. All the other members are drinking. Once they notice I halt my drinking, they realize what's happening. But they are too late.

One-by-one, each of the members falls. They have been paralyzed.

I smirk as I stand on my feet. "New...newcomer? What is the meaning of this?" PoH asks.

"You monsters fall right into my trap," I say. I remove my hood, revealing my face. I approach PoH. "All of you will pay for destroying many players in this game. Especially my own guild!"

I draw out my sword. I impale it right through my first target: PoH.

I dig my blade through the data of the Laughing Coffin members. I'd say through flesh, but we're not flesh and bone in this death game. Only characterized data.

"Tell me. How does it feel? Being assaulted when you're powerless to fight back?" I ask PoH, as his HP slowly depletes. "Scared? Helpless maybe? It's not fun is it?"

Once PoH's HP turns to 2%, I move on to the next Laughing Coffin member. For the next five minutes, I spend draining their HP's. I stop as soon as I get the fifth member down to 2%.

"Relax. I'm nothing like you. I'm not going to kill you all." I say. "But I do hope this will teach you all a lesson...but just in case, I'm gonna put an end to your Diamond Trap plans." All the members look at me in horror. "By killing Johnny Black."

I turn to Johnny Black. I'm caught by surprise that he's healing. "What the?" The paralysis stat wears off, and Johnny Black is instantly on his feet, daggers out. On his side, a small vial drops. I recognize it as a Remedy potion, used to cure any effect status.

"Humph..." I position myself to fight. "At least there will be honor in this battle." There certainly won't be. Amodar once told me there's no honor in fighting someone who can't fight back.

I make the first strike. Johnny Black blocks most of my attacks. I give him a punch with my free hand, he blocks with his arms, then jumps over my sweep kick.

"Get her, Johnny Black!" Zaza says.

Johnny Black fights back. Since his dual wielding, he attacks fast. I mostly dodge his attacks in between my parrying. On his double strike, I leap back. I land, charging up my Ravager ability, then unleash it. Johnny Black didn't dodge it in him, ends up getting cut in the stomach as I rush past him.

I quickly turn once I stop. Johnny black is charging towards me. We attack each other, dodging and parrying. Few of our attacks made it through, cutting down our HP's overtime.

The both of us are down to 25%. I'm surprised that the paralysis didn't wear off on the other members. The vial I must have stolen must have been the long-lasting stuff.

"What kind of monsters would take advantage of a death game just to murder people?" I ask in frustration.

I strike fierce against Johnny Black. I give him a sweep kick, knocking him down. I have my blade at his throat. He holds it back by blocking with his daggers.

"Says the woman who's killing another player!" Johnny Black says.

Johnny Black kicks me in the stomach, causing me to fall back. Johnny Black and I get back on our feet and continue attacking. Johnny Black is pretty skilled, I'll admit.

In the end, we both charge up our sword skills, then unleash it with a charge. Everything felt like it's in slow motion once we came face to face, and we both strike.

We stand still, frozen in place. My HP remains the same, I dodged his attack so easily. But I can honestly say he didn't dodge mine either. Johnny Black drops his weapons then falls to his knees. I look at his HP Gauge, it's slowly dropping until it's completely empty.

Johnny black is dead.

His avatar shimmers. I slowly approach him until I'm right at his side. Johnny Black looks up at me. I can't see any expression since he's wearing that black bag over his head.

"You...truly are...one of us." Then he shatters.

His words echo in my head, I'm nothing like these monsters. What I did was for justice. Not out of insanity with thirst for blood.

I sheathe my sword, then walk away without saying another word. Many of the Laughing Coffin members bark at me as I walk away. All in anger. Few about vengeance. Others in strong words I'd rather not mention.

What they say means nothing to me.


FLOOR 16, ABANDONED CHURCH.

The second I got back into town, Shinon sends me a message. She told me that Rokel is hurting. At first, I was on alert, then once I continue to read, I realize she means emotionally. Rokel must still be upset about the Diamond Trap incident.

I go to the place where he and the other Dancing Fairies are at. The Abandoned Church.

When I arrive, I see Leafa, Lisbeth, Shinon, and three other members just outside the old cathedral. "Lightning. There you are." Lisbeth says.

"How's Rokel doing?" I ask.

"Not so good. We tried cheering him up, but he's really down in the dumps." Leafa says.

That's a bit unexpected. Knowing Rokel, I thought the girls would have cheered him up. And I don't mean in the same reasons for Klein and his guild of sexists.

"Silica is in there right now. Hopefully, she'll have a better chance than the rest of us." Shinon says.

Just then, Silica walks right out looking depressed, even with Pina laying on her head. "He's still pretty upset. Not even a date could cheer him up." Pina even groans in depression, lowering its head. I swear, it's like that creature speaks with her sometimes.

Everyone is just silent. I exhale through my nose then walk right past Silica. "I'll go talk to him."

The inside of the church is pretty damaged. No worse than the church in sector 5 slums of Midgar. In the end, right in front of the Cross statue, which is more of a T since the top is broken off, is Rokel on his knees, softly sobbing.

As I walk closer, I can feel my chest tightening. He's depressed and I'm the very reason why.

"Hey." I softly said as I put a hand on his shoulder.

Rokel turns. His cheeks stain in tears. "He-hey...Lightning." He says with a sniffle.

I get on my knees. "Look, I'm sorry about what happened with the guild...It's all my fault."

Rokel slowly shook his head. "N-no...I don't blame you for the attack." Rokel pauses, a little too long in my opinion. He looks down in depression. "I just...don't get why this is happening to me. First I get a bully...I lost my parents. Get trapped in this...death game...now I've lost my guild." Rokel pulls his knees to his chest, wrapping her arms around his legs. "I have lost...everything."

I pause for a moment, I know that feeling. "Look, I know losing everything you care about is pretty hard. Just remember, I told you that my parents died when I was young."

"Well...yeah. But you still have your sister and Espeon." Rokel says.

"True. But, what I'm trying to say is that even though you lose something, you'll still have something that's worth living for." I say as I gently stroke Rokel's hair. "Let me tell you this: You may have lost the Lunar Twilight guild, but you still have me. I'm always here to look out for you." I set my hand on one of his knees, then I give a small smile. "You also have a Silica. She's your girlfriend after all. That has to mean something."

Rokel lightens up. I guess I made him realize he still has someone he cares about. "Don't forget. You're in a new guild. I've known half their members and they're very friendly and supportive." I look back at the cathedral door, then Rokel looks as well.

Leafa, Shinon, Silica, and Lisbeth are standing by the door, then they wave at us. "Listen. I may not know what you're going through, but I do know how it feels to lose someone close, and it's hard. You must understand, you're not alone. We're all here for you."

Rokel is silent. The other Dancing Fairies walk in to join in. Lisbeth, Shinon, and Leafa stay a few feet away. Silica sits next to us with Pina on her lap.

I'm hoping he understands what I say is true. Tears fill the kids' eyes. He leans his head onto my shoulder, sobbing. I wrap my arms around him, pulling Rokel into a hug. Silica joins in, giving a hug from behind. Pina even crawls onto the boys' lap and rubs its head on him.

It's a long night for Rokel, but we're all here for him.