A/N: Lightning and Rokel had it pretty hard since Laughing Coffin destroyed their guild. Rokel may have shown it by giving in to despair, but Lightning shows her sadness in different ways. Such as vengeance. One can only imagine.


MAY 7th, 2023. FLOOR 16, CROSS HILL.

Rokel has been recovering from his trauma over the loss of his guild. He's still upset about it, but no more than from the start. Silica keeps sending me messages about how he's doing. Normally, I'd see something like this as harassment, but I did ask her to keep me an update on Rokel's condition.

I'm now visiting the graves of my former guild. Ever since the attack, I've decided to become a solo player. I figured it's best that I distant myself from everybody, even from Hope. Laughing Coffin knows me too well. I've become a number 1 enemy to them, even since I destroyed their Diamond Trap attack plans. If I get close to anybody, I just know I'll end up putting them in danger.

Being a solo player isn't as tough as Leafa says it is. I even followed Rokel's idea of setting up solo professions.

First Aid. Alchemy. Inscription. Skinning. Fishing. Cooking.

I only have one slot of profession left and I have no idea what to use for it. Maybe Blacksmith for making myself some armor and weapons. But Lisbeth demands that I should instead visit her shop for anything. Well, I suppose it would save me some time and trouble. I need to focus on leveling if I'm going to survive.

Strength in this world is an illusion, but it's also by the best tool of survival.

After visiting the graves, I return to my questing. I am now going against the Dread Ravens in the dread forest. These things are no problem for me since I'm level 92. I'm on a cooking quest where I need to get some of their flesh.

The ravens here are a hard fight. Whenever their HP turns yellow, they take flight, either flying away or perhaps just doing out-of-range attacks.

Finally, I've had it.

I slam my sword to the ground in frustration. Fighting as a melee is really annoying. If only I had my Gunblade, I would shoot those chickens into oblivion. But I don't. I'm in Warlords Wrath Online with only a sword. I'm not Lightning of the Guardian Corps. I'm Lightning the Swordsman.

I put a call in for help to anyone on my friends' list. Only Shinon and Leafa could make it.

I spend the next twenty minutes with Shinon and Leafa, getting my kills on the Dread Ravens. I tell them to shoot them down fast once they fly away. I handle damaging them when they're grounded.

"You know, you don't really have to become a solo player if handling these monsters alone is frustrating," Leafa says.

"It's fine, Leafa," I say.

"Well, don't you want to join a different guild?" Shinon asks. "How about ours? We could use a Swordsman. Plus, I'm sure Rokel will feel happy having you around again."

I'm sure it will, but I can't risk Dancing Fairies being at the risk of Laughing Coffin. "I appreciate the offer, but I must decline. It's for the best."

I begin walking away. "It's not because of the murder guild incident isn't it?" I stop walking away hearing that. "That's not going to happen with us. We're a strong guild. We won't fall so easily, even at the hands of Laughing Coffin. Big Brother is once of us, even though he isn't an official member. With him around, Laughing Coffin knows not to mess with us."

I say nothing else, I just keep walking away.


FLOOR 11, KARADOR.

After turning in the quest, I soon return to Karador, the large city of the Inflamed Legion floors. I'm getting sick and tired of flying enemies becoming a problem for a melee like me. Being a solo player is a lot harder than I thought.

"Hey, what's up Grumpy Dumpty?" I look up to see Kirito looking down at me.

"Shut it, Kirito," I say.

"Still upset about that guild incident?" I look at him astonished. He's heard of what happened? "Leafa told me everything."

I scoff hearing that. "Of course she would. Then again, I'm surprised it wasn't Twilight."

"Can't blame you for thinking so, she is a bit of a...blabbermouth," Kirito says.

"She is, but Espeon still loves her," I say. "What do you want?"

"Nothing." Kirito sits right next to me. "Just got back from hunting. Thought I take a stroll around town." Kirito crosses his arms. "So, you becoming a solo player. You need any tips or advice?"

Like I need advice from some kid on how to fight. I know how to take care of myself in the field of battle. In both the real and the virtual worlds. Still...I suppose he might know something I've been having trouble with, such as all those flying creatures.

"Well, lately I've been having trouble with flying monsters. Every time I come close to kill them, they fly away, or switch to aerial assaults." I say.

"Ah, yes. I understand. Which is why I avoid them." Kirito says.

"Good to know," I say unpleased. "But seriously, what can I do to fight them."

"Well, the way I see it, there's only two chooses to solo them. Kill them quickly or use a paralysis on them." Kirito says.

"I'm trying, but their defense stats are too high for a quick kill. And I'm at least 200 skills away from poison enhancements in Alchemy. Double that from Inscription for offensive spells." I say.

"Next time, learn professions in the beginning when you're a low level," Kirito says.

I draw my sword out, holding the tip at his throat. "Watch your tongue, gamer-boy." He seems nervous. That's unexpected since he should know I can't do actual harm to him from inside the safety of the town. I sheathe my sword. "Anyways, I do have one more profession in store. I can't decide what to use it on. I tried Blacksmithing but Lisbeth demands I leave out of it."

"She's probably just telling you so just so you would come to her shop. Plus she didn't want any competition." I'm starting to think Kirito might be right. "But if you need help looking for a final profession, I can help you out with that."

"Well, that would be nice, I suppose," I say.

Kirito and I take a look around the professions of Karador. I'm just surprised at how large this city is underground. About every professional trainer is in this district as far as I know.

"How about this one?" I look at the profession for Engineering. It's mainly about making and handling dynamite and bombs.

"No thanks. I'm not very good with making bombs...or disabling them...or even managing them." Kirito looks at me confused. "It's a long story. Don't ask."

"Uh...okay then." Kirito walks over to the next profession. "What about farming?" I cross my arms looking at the trainer and all the grown fruits and vegetables beside him. "Would really help out with cooking, wouldn't it?"

"Probably would. I don't know, I always have Fishing for it." I'm mainly more of a fish eater since I live in a beachfront town. "What else is there?"

Kirito shows me around with each profession there is. Leatherworking. Lumberjack. Mining. Jewelcrafting. Herbalism. Tailoring. Nothing really sticks. Kirito talks about finding a suitable profession as we wander down the halls. I look browse while we wonder. Until something caught my attention.

"Hey? What about this?" I ask.

I'm pointing at the small hut that has multiple weapons. Guns. Bows. Swords. Whips. Axes. You need it. But it's not a Blacksmith. We actually passed the Blacksmith profession trainer four trainers ago.

"Oh. That's a Weapon Fusion profession." Kirito says.

At the same time, I'm surprised and confused. "Weapon Fusion?"

"That's right. Weapon fusion. It's where you combine two weapons into something new. They say in the Beta Tests that they perform powerful skills." Kirito says.

"Really? So you can fuse any weapon? Even the Gunblade?" I say, with hope.

"No one knows, cause no one uses it," Kirito says.

Now I'm surprised to hear that. For something that would seem amazing, everyone would probably want to do it. "Really? Why not?"

"Well, because it's too hard. Once you make the weapons, they're difficult to learn and use. Everybody does want to take the easy way out since this became a death game." Kirito says.

I see what he means. Why risk your life on hard tasks in this death game? "So, in other words, nobody wanted to risk-taking difficulties."

"Well, yeah. Normally, difficulties are what made this game so fun back in the Beta Testing." Kirito says.

"Yeah. Well, I use to wield a Gunblade back in the real world. It's a risk I'm willing to take." I accept the Weapon Fusion profession. Accepting it, I not only gain a new window opinion, but my skill list has been updated.

Gunblade
Swordbow
Whiplance
Axeflail
Tessens, which are fans fuses with daggers.

The list is long going, but I don't bother to continue. My mind is only focused on the Gunblade. "Well, everybody has different opinions. But if you want to use a Gunblade, I would suggest focus on leveling up that skill."

"Yeah, well. There's no way a gaming system is going to stop my years of military training." I say.


FLOOR 16, CROSS HILL.

I fuse my current level 81 sword with a level 50 Pistol gun, making a level 79 Gunblade weapon: Saberflame. I finally get to try out the Gunblade once again after being trapped in this death game for six long months. Kirito decided to come along. His words were 'this should be interesting to watch.' I know he means he knows this will end badly. Once I prove him wrong, I'm gonna beat the stuffing out of him. But I'll make sure I do it in a town, so I don't deplete his HP. I've been a murder in this death game long enough.

I encounter the first mob, Unholy Swordsman, which is a skeleton in little armor and with a shield and sword. I try using my Charge ability, but for some reason, my attack isn't charging. It's like my Sword Skills can no longer be activated. I now rely on my own skills.

The Unholy Swordsman attacks. I dodge and attack it from the side. I'm astonished. The creatures HP didn't deplete. Not even a little. I attack the monster several times while avoiding its own attacks. I'm not able to harm the creature, not even a scratch.

After a while, the Unholy Skeleton hits me hard. I get knocked back and lose some of my HP. The Skeleton approaches me. I hold my Gunblade at is. Just before it attacks, it shatters. It's been destroyed.

I look beyond the glimmering crystals to see it is Kirito who destroyed that monster. "See my point? Even though you are...highly trained in the real world, you are not fully skilled to wield a new weapon, such as the Gunblade, in this world."

I growl. I can't believe this stupid game is getting the best of me. "Well? What am I suppose to do now?"

"Level your skill. I'd suggest starting at the lower levels. Where your current skill is at an equal scale to the lower levels." Kirito says.

I can see what he means. When I started playing this death game, my max skills in everything started at 4. Since I'm level 92, my skills can go up to 368. My Gunblade skill is currently on level 17 from all that fighting against the Unholy Skeleton, so now I have to go all the way to the second or third floor to begin leveling my weapon.

"I really hate this game!" I say. "I'm starting to wonder if it's worth coming here."

"Well, maybe now you'll think twice before doing crazy stuff." If my Gunblade skill wasn't so low, I would slice his head right off. Kirito's message icon appears. He opens it, reading his message. "The Vice Commander of Knights of the Blood Oath is calling an Assault Team meeting."

"If it's another floor boss fight, I'm in no condition to do it. I used my strongest sword to make this Gunblade." I explain.

"Then I'll tell her you're sitting this one out. I'm sure she'll understand." Kirito says.


FLOOR 16, ELITE DUNGEON

Asuna did not understand. We are going against the next raid boss and, as a member of the Assault team, I am supposed to come and participate. This is going to end badly for me. This is the last time I ever waste away my weapon to do something unprepared.

Luckily, Kirito is able to back me up. During the dungeon, he holds aggro on the monsters. I attack, but only to raise my skill. Kirito does fight, however. He's a Swordsman player, not some taunting dummy...and Snow.

We finally made it to the boss room. Slowly, we open the door and enter the room. Nothing but darkness from the start. The room doesn't lighten up, but something strange happens.

One-by-one, players are teleported. They vanish it, nowhere to be around. All the players get teleported until I'm the only one remaining. On great.

I draw my Gunblade out, ready to strike, even though I don't stand a chance with only skill level 149. "Greetings traveler." I flinch and leap back. I look to see it's some strange Wavemaster. He seems powerful, but he's also a ghost. I can see right through him. "You have made it pretty far into my tower."

Tower...the dungeon is known as 'Final Guardian's Tower'. "Yeah...so what if I am?"

"Well. While you're visiting. How about a friendly game...of Chess?" The Final Guardian gestures to the field as the room brightens.

The entire floor is some ballroom and the floor is a checkerboard of black and white. On one said is my raid team. The other are NPC armies. Everyone is shocked and confused by all this.

"What is going on?" Asuna asks.

"I can't move at all. What kind of boss right is this?" Klein asks.

"This wasn't even on the Beta Testing," Kirito says.

This is certainly a strange boss fight. "Let the games begin. Make your move...Lightning."

I'm surprised by how this fight works. It's like a chess game. I'm the player, and the raid team can only move on my command.

Before I begin, I look at the situation. A group of Swordmen and Assassins are the pawns. Hope and Leafa are Bishop. Rokel and Shinon are Rooks. The Crusaders are Knights. Asuna is the Queen and Kirito is the King.

If Kirito dies, it'll probably be a game over for all of us.

But then that would also mean if I take out the enemy king, then the boss fight would be over.

"Okay...Uh, Shadownight, move from D2 to D4." I command.

I think carefully over the boss fight. I don't want to risk killing any players. One thing I learned is that Shinon and Rokel can only attack, at long ranges, when there are no players in their way. It gets hard to keep up with everything once I use more players. Most of the Pawn Players are endangering of dying at the moment I'm barking at Hope and Leafa to heal. The surprising part is that Leafa's healing is greater when she's playing Bishop.

Right now, I'm having Kirito stay in place, while Asuna defends him. They don't really enjoy their positions very well, especially Asuna. The Vice Commander being forced to play bodyguard to a solo player.

"Your strategy is incredible." The Final Guardian says. "But perhaps we should add a little sizzle to this steak."

The next thing I know, three places on the board are on fire. Underneath the King and two Pawns. "What in the!?" I can see they are suffering damage from the flames. "Kirito! Move from D1 to E1! Klein! C5 to B5!" I can't make any orders for the last one cause he is locked in combat with a Knight. This is bad cause soon, his HP reaches zero and dies. "You're cheating!" I shout at the Final Guardian.

"All's fair in love and war, milady." The Final Guardian says.

I want to cut this NPC down, but he's a ghost. I can't physically hurt him. I can only beat him in his own game...somehow.

The game fight goes on for a while. The enemy only has five pieces left. Meanwhile, I only have fourteen players remaining. The pawns are not so lucky to move around.

"I got a clear shot of the king!" Shinon says.

"Fire!" I order.

Shinon loads her bow, charging up a skill then fires. The king gets hit in the head but is still standing. Shinon fires again, only the king blocks it with his shield. "I can't break through his defenses!" Shinon says, continuously shooting her arrows.

"Rokel! Move from A1 to A8! Klein! Move from D6 to D7!" I order.

The two of them do as I order. Klein is able to reach the King to attack. While the King is holding off Kleins attacks, Rokel can assault him from behind. What I didn't predict is that he would quickly switch as soon as Rokel hits him with one of his fireballs. It doesn't matter, when he does, Klein or Shinon would get him.

"Finish him!" I shout.

Klein, Shinon, and Rokel attack all at once. Shinon and Rokel make their attacks early since they're at a long-range. The King suffers massive damage from three attacks at once. Rokel's Fireballs caused him to stagger, which gave Shinon and Klein the advantage to attack while he was facing in their directions.

The king dies.

There is a long pause. None of the passes move, and the remaining Knight that is attacking a Crusader stops. There's a small shake. The remaining enemy pieces vanish, then the rest of the raid team are released from the spell the Final Guardian placed upon them.

"Intriguing. You are indeed a worthy opponent. I accept defeat." The Final Guardian says.

The large 'Congratulations' appears and we all earned our results in defeating the chess event. "Young heroes. Let me tell you this: You all wish to vanquish the Inflamed Legion?" Personally, I don't care cause this isn't real. But I probably have no other choice since this 'Chaos' monster could be the 20th-floor boss. "All of you must learn, the Inflamed Legions number is infinite. This world is dying and its people turn their blades to one another. Should you wish to defeat the Inflamed Legion, you must bring the Clans of the Wolf, the Worshippers of the Light, and the Bearers of the Shadow together. Cast aside their differences and banish the Legion, for good."

The Final Guardian taps his staff to the ground and vanishes, then the gate appears. "Bring the two factions together? How is that possible?" Leafa asks.

"There's probably an event or a quest for that," Kirito says.

"Well, it can't be that hard. We've already brought Yrel and Slave together." Shinon says.

She has a point, but that doesn't mean this is going to be any easy. Even if the two are a leader and the Chieftains son. The trial up ahead is going to be difficult, but we must press onward in order to beat this game.