Hey guys, Extremepokemon here and don't mind me, I'm just doing looking at some OST's that I'm deciding to use on the battle scenes in future chapters, but that's for another time, so let's focus on this 1, a lot of people wanted to see what's going on with Kirito and I'm going to give it to you, so let's get to it then but I will warn you, this may be the most emotional chapter I've ever written as well as controversial, also, I'll be using brackets to let you know if we're in the Mind of our Black haired badass, again I must state that I don't own Sword Art Online as it's owned by Reki Kawahara rightfully, now with that out of the way, let's begin.
Chapter 3: Salvation
We start where all the glow trails have entered Kirito's heart and he glows ice blue around his body, even the broken Blue Rose Sword begins to glow as we see PoH looking confused and angry as he grabs Asuna by her neck violently and chokes her.
"Tell me, what did you think you were going to accomplish with whatever the hell it is you've just done?!" Asks PoH in anger as Asuna just smiles back in defiance.
"Something you'll never know understand about, heart and soul as well as the passion to fight for everything that means so much." Says Asuna gasping for air as PoH tightens his grip on Asuna's neck causing her to struggle for air.
"The heart and soul, you say, well Lightning Flash, that will be all for nothing soon cause soon Vector will be obtaining the objective and those stupid bitches you sent will be destroyed along with that group of morons as we speak before this world gets consumed by the God of Death." Says PoH with that sickening smile on his face.
*Can't breathe, losing vision and strength, Kirito, please wake up from whatever you're suffering from, we need you now more than ever!* Thought Asuna as her vision becomes blurry with PoH once again laughing with blood pouring down his face as he continues to choke the life out of Asuna.
"ASUNA!" Screams Yuuki with tears streaming down her face as she tries to reach for her sword but she can't knowing that her best friend might get killed because of her anger.
"Yes, soon it'll all be over before I can finally avenge my family that you and your backstabbing assholes took from me by ridding all of you once and for all, and I'm going to start with you, Lightning Bitch!" Yelled PoH in a rage causing everyone to gasp with fear as he looks ready to deliver the final blow to Asuna's neck with his butchers blade.
Before he can deliver the final blow, we head to the wreckage where some fires are dying down and some parts are crumbling around before heading underground to see Kirito still glowing gold all over his prone body with his 1 and only hand touching the Blue Rose Sword with it glowing ice blue.
(Inside Kirito's mind)
we then see a change of setting with a white background with what looks to be a classroom with a black chalkboard, a single desk and chair with Kirito looking like he's asleep, he's wearing a school uniform with him stirring and shaking his head before looking around to find no 1 else is there.
(Yawns) "Ah, man, what a sleep I just had, it felt like a long dream." Says Kirito as he packs up his things, with the Classroom disintegrating into dust and the area changing to his bedroom.
*Hm, what's going on here, this can't be normal, can it?* Thought Kirito as he grabs his Nervegear and puts it on before laying on his bed comfortably, he closes his eyes.
"Link Start!" Says Kirito with the room disintegrating to dust as well as his clothes with the environment changing from his bedroom to the beautiful grass area of Floor 1 of Aincrad, otherwise known as the Town of Beginnings, his clothes are now his starting clothes.
*This definitely can't be normal, 1 moment I'm in my classroom, the next I'm in my bedroom, now I'm in Aincrad, just what's going on here?* Thought Kirito as he looks around when the scene changes again to the town's center with multiple people staring at a massive hooded figure wearing a red cloak.
"Welcome to my world, my name is Akihiko Kayaba, the games creator." Says The figure with everyone looking a bit uneasy.
"Yeah, this is definitely not normal, can someone please explain what's going on?" Asks Kirito to himself with no one answering.
Kayaba continues with his talk of the world and the rules including the logout button issue, the death in the game will result in death in in Real World etc, when he finishes everyone starts panicking with Kirito now looking around seeing people panic, some of them crying, he even sees some of the pushing and shoving just get to the next town, all this makes him feel uneasy.
*God, what on Earth is going on here, everyone is panicking, I wish I could do something to help them, but I can't since they'll find out that I'm a Beta Tester.* Thought Kirito with a look of regret on his face as the area and his clothes again turn to dust, the area changes to a Dungeon with he and 4 others are about to claim an award from a chest, the 4 are Ducker, Tetsuo, Sasamaru and lastly Sachi, the 5 of them enter the room with Kirito looking a bit uneasy with Sachi turning to face him.
"What's wrong Kirito, you look a bit out of it?" Asks Sachi with a look of curiosity.
"I have this feeling Sachi, it sort of feels like Déjà vu, like I've been here before, you understand what I'm saying right Sachi?" Says Kirito with Sachi putting her hands on Kirito's cheeks.
"I know where you're coming from Kirito, I had this feeling a lot of times like I was being watched by somebody and it definitely feels like we're being watched by Kayaba." Says Sachi as she looks around with Kirito placing his hands on her shoulders.
"It's ok, we'll get out of this alive, I promise." Says Kirito as he was about to place a kiss on Sachi's lips, Ducker interrupts them, telling them to get inside with Sachi holding Kirito's hand as they walk inside the room, but when Tetsuo opens the chest, a red light flashes over them with monsters spawning in, the 5 fight them off very well until Ducker slips over his footing with 3 Dark Dwarf Miners killing him with their pickaxes, Sasumaru strikes them down in anger, he then goes after more monsters until his anger gets the better of him when 2 Granite Elementals swipe him at the back and the stomach with their hands causing him to shatter into particles, Sachi and Kirito gasp in shock with Tetsuo having tears in his eyes.
*Damn it, you will not be forgotten, I promise you that, I'll make these bastards pay for taking you away from me.* Thought Tetsuo with a look of grief and anger as he tries his luck by clearing out some of the monsters, only to get overwhelmed, leaving Sachi and Kirito who are holding each other's hands.
"Kirito, what do we do?" Asks Sachi looking terrified and desperate with Kirito gritting his teeth.
"We've got no choice but to fight our way out, Sachi, can you trust me?" Asks Kirito with Sachi nodding to him.
"I trust you Kirito." Says Sachi as she readies her spear and Kirito readies his sword.
"Ok, let's do this." Says Kirito as he and Sachi begin the fight for their lives, they work so well together with double team moves, Sachi uses her spear like a bo staff and Kirito is being aggressive to the monsters, they clear them out and strike them down so much that an opening is revealed.
"Come on Sachi, we can make it." Says Kirito as he grabs Sachi's hand and they run for the door with it beginning to close.
*Damn, it's going to be close.* Thought Kirito as he increases speed with multiple monsters trying get a hit on them, they jump over the Dwarfs and slide under the Elementals legs, slicing them off, with the door closing faster, they slide under the door at the last second with the door closing.
(Pants) "Phew, that was a close one, who knows what've happened if we got stuck in there for good?" Says Kirito catching his breath with Sachi doing the same.
"Yeah, but we would've made if it weren't for…" Sachi was about to say until she starts to collapse and fall backwards with Kirito catching her before she hits the ground.
"Sachi, please hang on!" Says Kirito with tears coming out of his eyes when he turns Sachi to reveal that she had been struck by a Dwarf in the back as it's pickaxe is sticking out.
"It's ok Kirito, you've made me have the best moments of my entire life and I'm grateful for that." Says Sachi with small tears flowing down her face.
"Don't say that, don't you dare say that, we're going to make it past this hell and we're going to save as many people we can." Says Kirito as he lays Sachi on his arms as Sachi puts her hands on Kirito's cheek.
"No, I feel like my time here and in the real world is over, but don't fret, you need to save everyone here for me, my love." Says Sachi before placing her lips on Kirito's lips as they kiss with tears coming out of their eyes, they separate with Kirito looking at Sachi.
"Sachi, I won't forget you for everything you've done for me." Says Kirito sounding choked up.
"I know you won't, please don't quit, keep fighting till the end, do.. it.. for… me." Says Sachi before her HP gauge hits empty, Kirito gently lies her down with her turning into small particles after she closes her eyes, Kirito looks at the floor with tears hitting the floor.
*Sachi, I promise that I'll do it for you and for everyone here.* Thought Kirito as he cries when the area again turns to dust as he goes to another area, this continues over several area's where he experiences tragic moments in his life again, even failures that he hasn't experienced before, this ends with the battle with Heathcliff as Asuna takes a hit for him and falls onto his arms, telling him not to quit fighting and turns into particles, he angrily defeats Heathcliff until the area turns to black with Kirito collapsing to his knees with tears coming out.
*I failed, I failed them all, I can't be a hero if I'm going to screw it up all the time, maybe I should just fade away to nothingness.* Thought Kirito as the area again changes this time to ALO territory at the top of the giant birdcage where Asuna is held hostage by Sugou Nobuyuki aka Oberon, the Fairy King, Oberon uses gravity magic to harm Kirito and to bind Asuna in chains in which he cuts her skin using his knife, with Asuna crying, he disgusting licks her tears and continues to cut her body, Kirito again uses his anger after a lecture from his old enemy to overpower Sugou, the area changes to a beautiful sunset where Asuna and Kirito hug each other with tears in their eyes.
"Are you ok Asuna?" Asks Kirito with Asuna wiping her tears off her face.
"I am now, thanks to you but I feel like I won't be able to remove this stain of Sugou from my life, I don't want to go back there." Says Asuna as she cries into his chest.
The scene changes to black again with Kirito looking at his hands as they are filled with blood after looking at the lives he's taken.
"Who am I that does these horrible things?" Asks Kirito to himself as the scene changes again.
Kirito goes through all the bad moments through GGO and Ordinal Scale, that includes Eiji pushing Silica to the ground after her asking for help, watching Asuna losing her memories, Sinon panicking after learning of Death Gun's plan, the scene finally changes back to black with Kirito on his knees, fear struck over what he has gone through, now he looks like a shell of his former self.
(Outside of Kirito's mind)
We head back south where Alice's group are fighting with everything they got against the Dark Territory forces, Leafa and Sinon are fight against the merged Gabriel who's holding them off with ease.
"Really, if this is the best you can do, then when the rest of the forces show up, it'll be like taking candy from a dumb, pissed off baby just like I'm going to take your friend's soul." Says Gabriel with an evil look on his face.
"What do you mean the rest of the forces, take a look, all you got are grunts, they aren't going to help you." Says Sinon as she fires her sniper rifle which Gabriel catches it with his fingers, he then crushes it with ease.
*Damn, how are going to beat this guy, come on Kirito, please save all of us from this man's evil plot.* Thought Leafa as she swipes away an Orc.
"Well, good thing I'm prepared to show how wrong you really are, get ready to face your end!" Shouted Gabriel as he snaps his fingers to erase majority of the Goblins and Orcs, then in their place to the shock of everyone in the Human Empire side enters the Council of 10 members and their armies appear except for the Pugilists and the Dark Knights leader as well as Lipia.
"Impossible, that's impossible, how can they be alive, they were dead where we last saw them." Says Eydis with a look of shock and anger.
"It's real simple if you were a God, but alas you're not, now prepare yourself for your demise!" Says Gabriel as he gives the command for the Council of 10 leaders to attack and starts to ooze out dark energy.
*Come on Kirito, please don't give up, come back for us, we need you now more than ever.* Thought Alice as she looks determined.
(Inside Kirito's mind)
"Who am I, I'm just a player that can't do anything right, I'm useless." Says Kirito with a moping look on his face.
"Are you quitting now?" Asks a familiar voice that Kirito knows so well.
"Are you quitting after everything you've been through?" Asks the voice again.
"No, I'm facing the truth, I've done more bad than good, I've lied, cheated, killed just to stay alive. I've even hurt people that I care about." Says Kirito with tears coming out.
"So you are quitting, after everything you've pushed through, even I couldn't stop you." Says the voice with Kirito looking around.
"Huh, you're…" Kirito was about to say when a figure appears wearing a lab coat with a white shirt and necktie, he also has metallic eyes and short hair.
"Yes Kirito, it's been a long time since we last spoke which was the Ordinal Scale incident." Says Kayaba with a calm, stern voice.
"Why are you here, why now?" Asks Kirito with a now depressed look.
"I'm here to get you back into the fight, look what's been going on since you've been in this state." Says Kayaba pressing a button on a remote with multiple screens showing what Asuna, Alice, everyone have been suffering from.
"Asuna, Silica, everyone, what's been happening to them, also how are they alive after what I've just been through?" Asks Kirito with a concerned and confused look.
"What you've just gone through is nothing more than a nightmare that your mind thinks it's real, all those you've cared so much for are alive, but I doubt they can hold on for much longer, look at who Asuna is battling against." Says Kayaba as Kirito looks at the screen to see Asuna struggling against PoH as PoH gives off a sickening grin.
"Asuna, and that can't be, that's the Laughing Coffin leader, PoH, how is he in Underworld?" Asks Kirito looking concerned.
"He's here to destroy what I worked so hard for, but he's not the leader, this man is." Says Kayaba as he presses the button again to show Gabriel fighting off Leafa and Sinon.
"Who's that fighting Leafa and Sinon?" Asks Kirito as he watches.
"That is Gabriel Miller, the leader, he's even somehow made the dead come back and fight for him, he's after Alice who you've saved from the Right Eye of Seal." Says Kayaba with Kirito looking at his hands which are still filled with blood.
"I can't, I can't go back, not after everything I've done to myself, to those I've promised to look after." Says Kirito with tears slowly coming back out.
"But you won't be alone." Says a voice that causes Kirito to wipe his tears away as 2 more people appear, 1 of them has ice blue eyes and hairstyle like Kirito with his colour being honey blonde, the 2nd person is a younger version of Alice as she's wearing a white and blue dress with brown shoes as Kirito looks at them.
"Alice, Eugeo." Says Kirito with Alice and Eugeo nodding back.
"Yep, it's us." Says Alice giving a cheerful smile.
"How are you here, Eugeo, I saw you die on the top floor of the Cathedral and Alice, your memory was gone." Says Kirito looking confused and shocked.
"True, we may no longer be alive now but that doesn't mean that our memories will fade away, let's change the scenery shall we." Says Alice as the black area changes to a bright sunny sky and beautiful grass flowing in the wind.
"Hey, don't look at the things you've done as negative, look at them as positive feelings cause without them, you wouldn't become the person you are now, take it from us and them." Says Eugeo as more people appear, they are the Moonlit Black Cats, Diavel, Cardinal, Eldrie, people that have died in Kirito's past.
"Ducker, Cardinal, Diavel, Sachi." Says Kirito as Sachi walks forward to hug him.
"Shh, it's ok, you can stop blaming yourself for what happened to us, what happened to us was all on us and that secret you've kept, it's ok, I get it, I would've done the exact same thing if I was in your situation." Says Sachi as Kirito looks at the rest of the people who smile back.
"Thank you Sachi, but this isn't the reason why you're all here, isn't it?" Says Kirito with Cardinal stepping forward.
"Straight as an arrow, aren't you Kirito, no we're here because of what you lost that is most important to your memories, the heart and soul, ah, perfect timing, here come the very things that can restore you to your former self ." Says Cardinal as the glow trails from everyone appear and enter Kirito's chest as he gasps in breath and closes his eyes as the people look at the multiple screens playing everything Kirito did throughout his life, from entering SAO, to slaying his first wolf on Floor 1, teaming up with Asuna to take down Illfang the Kobold lord to that emotional talk with Sachi, Saving Silica from the Drunken Apes to that badass moment on the bridge against Rosalia and Titan's Hand, Solving the Golden Apple mystery to the time he spent with Lisbeth, from duelling Kuradeel to single handily beating the Gleam Eyes with a tiny amount of HP left, from duelling Heathcliff to having his first kiss with Asuna, from fishing on floor 22 to unmasking Kayaba and finally clearing SAO to that beautiful scene with Asuna with the sunset as Aincrad destroys itself, the screens now show his ALO moments from saving Leafa from the Salamanders to his hilarious first flying moments, taking out the Salamander Mages with his monstrous appearance to that talk with Leafa, fighting Eugene and winning to that scene with Alicia and Sakuya, from having that emotional moment with Leafa to reaching the top of the World Tree and dethroning Oberon, Storming Thrymheim to that epic Skill Connect on the Minotaurs shocking everyone watching, defeating Thrym to pulling out Excalibur, from that group moment with the Sleeping Knights to that badass scene where he shocked everyone by cutting away magical projectiles, the screens once more change to GGO and Ordinal Scale moments from first finding out that he was a girl to the guys stupidly trying to seduce him, beating the Untouchable to driving that 3 wheeled motorbike with Sinon, deflecting bullets with his Kagemitsu G4 with Sinon looking amazed to that intense moment with Sinon, taking out some of the competition in Battle of Bullets to that heartfelt discussion in the cave while waiting for the remaining players to be within their sights, from deducing Death Gun's identity and beating him in their sword fight to that hilarious but touching scene of Sinon using the Plasma Grenade to kill themselves to win the B.O.B, the screens then change to all moments of Ordinal Scale with Kirito cleaning house with all former SAO bosses and beating the true final boss with everybody in the Ruby Palace and finally saving everyone from losing their memories while earning the top spot of Ordinal Scale.
The screens change to all of Kirito's moments inside Underworld from meeting Eugeo to cutting down that stump, beating the Goblin from killing Selka to training Eugeo in his Sword Skill, witnessing the Cedar tree being cut down to walking with Eugeo to Centoria, duelling Sortiliena to practicing with his Night Sky Sword, facing Volo Levantein to gardening his flowers and gifting them to Sortiliena, from having the pep talk with Tiese and Ronye to saving them from Raios and Humbert's disgusting punishment and saving Eugeo from being executed by Humbert, breaking out of jail to escape to that heart-warming scene with Cardinal, defeating Desoulbert to incapacitating Linel and Fizel, fighting Fanatio to the elevator part, to fighting Alice and breaking the wall to telling Alice about Selka and Alice losing her right eye, from talking to Bercouli about where Eugeo went to confronting Chudelkin, from receiving the shock of his life when seeing Eugeo becoming an Integrity Knight to facing him in battle, to confronting Quinella and taking care of Chudelkin to changing his look to his SAO look and beating Quinella and finally having that tearful and heart breaking farewell to Eugeo.
The screens finally fade after all the moments in Kirito's life has been shown with Kirito opening his eyes as Sachi goes and hugs him with tears in her eyes.
(Music plays: Anima by ReoNa)
"Kirito, I'm so proud of you of everything you've done, you should be too of what you've done as there's never been anyone that can do all those extraordinary things.", we all forgive you of every wrong doing you've done." Says Sachi wiping her tears away before placing a kiss on his lips as they close their eyes to kiss with passion before separating.
"Sachi, you were the very first 1 I fell in love with but you got taken away from me too soon." Says Kirito hugging Sachi.
"I know, I love you too but now you need to focus on the bigger picture here and that's stopping PoH once and for all before he and his partner can destroy this beautiful world that Kayaba made." Says Sachi with Eugeo nodding.
"Yes, you're right Sachi, Kirito, please take our hearts and souls and show those evil men what it truly means to be a hero." Says Eugeo as he and everyone else except for Kayaba place their hands on Kirito's heart which they glow.
"Kirito, I just wanted to apologise for my behaviour to you in front of Lady Alice, it was highly disrespectful of me to step out of line and lash out like that, I just hope you can forgive me." Says Eldrie with Kirito giving him the thumbs up.
"It's cool Eldrie and I promise that I'll save Alice with all I've got." Says Kirito before looking at young Alice.
"Just remember that you're not alone in this 1, you got all of us and your friends by your side." Says Alice smiling.
"So, are you ready Kirito?" Asks Eugeo holding out his hand.
"I'm ready, I'm ready to take out my past once and for all." Says Kirito as he puts his hand on Eugeo's, the blood on Kirito's hand instantly fades away into nothingness and everyone puts their hand on top of Kirito's hand.
"Kirito, before you go, I need to give you something." Says Kayaba with Kirito looking at him as Kayaba holds his hands out and opens them with his right hand holding a ball the size of a marble and the left a key.
"What is it?" Asks Kirito with a curious look on his face as Kayaba hands him the ball and uses the key which causes the white shell to rip to pieces like paper revealing Kirito in his Cathedral clothes.
"This is what I've made using the Seed, when you need it the most, you'll know what to do with it, take it, use it at the time you and your friends need it." Says Kayaba with Kirito putting the ball away.
"Kirito, please take all my memories to the other Alice when you see her, she'll be happy to remember my past since I won't be needing them anymore, I'm with the boy of my dreams now." Says Younger Alice looking at Eugeo who blushes.
"Kirito, I wish you and I could be together, we would've been great together who could have kids." Says Sachi with a look of sadness until Kirito puts his hand on her cheek.
"Sachi, I can't stay here forever but you along with everyone else will forever be in my heart." Says Kirito with Sachi hugging him.
"Thank you Kirito, now go, be that hero you were always meant to be and save everyone from their demise." Says Sachi before separating.
"Kirito, it's time, you ready to go and save the world once more?" Asks Eugeo as he once again holds his hand out.
"I am, I'm ready to go but I won't be by myself, won't I?" Says Kirito as Eugeo puts his hands on his shoulders.
"You won't be, me and everyone here will be by your side no matter what, now let's go and save the world 1 more time." Says Eugeo as Kirito holds his hand and they levitate to a bright light.
(Outside of Kirito's mind)
We see Kirito twitching his fingers on the handle of the Blue Rose Sword before gripping it tight, as the gold glow is absorbed into his body and the Sword's glow absorbed into itself, we see Asuna is struggling for air after she was thrown to the ground by PoH, she tries to get to her feet with resilience but PoH swings his butchers blade again which hits her rapier causing her to go down to 1 knee with her being heavily exhausted as PoH drives his butchers blade again only for Asuna to deflect it and stagger, annoyed at this, PoH knees her in the stomach, causing her to spit out blood as PoH grabs her by her hair and smiles like an evil fiend.
"So, any last words before I avenge my family starting with you and your stupids friends?" Asks PoH in a sadistic sickening look on his face as Asuna pushing him off of her and gives him a crotch chop in defiance before giving him the birds, shocking everyone else except for PoH.
"You can go straight to Hell for everything you've done you evil, psychotic piece of shit." Says Asuna defiantly with PoH grinning more insanely as her kicks her in the stomach again, forcing her to her knees as he rises his blade.
"Always defiant, even when nearing death, I've expected nothing less from you, now Lightning bitch, Die!" Yells PoH with everyone else screaming and crying as PoH comes close to striking the final blow, only for another explosion to go off at the wreckage, startling everybody and causing them to look at the wreckage, more parts fly off as a golden flash enters the sky and a bright red in the form of a human body glows, the glows slowly fades away to reveal Kirito in his old SAO Attire with his eyes closed as everyone gasps in shock with majority of people crying tears of joy like Asuna, Silica, Lisbeth, Sortiliena and Ronye as Kirito opens his eyes, revealing a blue glow as he holds both the Night Sky Sword and the Blue Rose Sword as his black jacket bellows in the wind.
To be Continued: Next Time: Saviour
Wow, what a Cliffhanger right, now that Kirito's back, I can officially say that Business is about to pick up as he goes 1 on 1 against PoH, I can't wait to see it, I'm just getting excited telling you about it, I even can't wait to see the anime version too, now like I said last chapter, it's been a toss-up for OST's to use in the fight scenes but now I've got some awesome ideas for them, also next Chapter, I'll be using an Opening and Ending Song, can't wait to see that, also, don't think that this'll be the last we'll see Eugeo cause the reason Kirito's eyes were glowing blue is to signify that Eugeo is with him too in spirit, now for those wondering what this chapter was about, this was about Kirito facing his fear of failure and finding forgiveness from everyone that in his eyes harmed themselves because of him, so next chapter will be action packed and emotional, so yeah I want to once again thank all of you who've read this story as well as those who've favourited and followed as it motivates me to continue to be creative and write awesome stories like this to you so you can be happy even in these unprecedented times, so once again, thank all of you for reading this chapter and I'll catch you all in the next chapter, Peace out.