The Tournament Begins pt 1

There was a silence between the two males. There was something familiar in Kirito's eyes that Yusei couldn't put a finger on while Kirito also believes the same.

"Sorry" Kirito apologized for almost tripping into him.

Yusei shifts to the side leaving more room for Kirito to enter. Kirito smiled back awkwardly to Yusei and walked in. Yusei's eyes notice the two swords on his back.

"Where did you get those?" Yusei asked.

"Oh" Kirito said, forgetting that he had theses on.

Normally in this game these swords shouldn't exist. Only guns and other items someone in the military would use. Although, judging by Yusei's character, it seemed like he was a new player.

"Well actually I...made them" Kirito responds.

"made...how?" Yusei asked.

"That's a long story and process-" Kirito said until getting a cold stare from him.

"Tell me" Yusei said, like an order.

"Uh…" Kirito said, stepping back a bit, feeling his intensity. "If you're looking for a weapon...I can help you out, just follow me"

"But I have no money?" Yusei asked.
"I can lend you it" Kirito said, turning back and sending a friend request to Yusei who looked surprised seeing the screen appear in front of him. "Click accept"

Yusei did and now the two were on each other's friend list. Kirito clicked on Yusei's name and sent 10,000 into Yusei's account who blinked a few times.

"Why are you doing this?" Yusei asked why he was being so kind.
"I'm just that kind of guy...plus I don't need the money" Kirito said smiling. "I enjoy earning it with my friends"
"I see" Yusei said.

"Hello everyone" said a male with an excited tone.

Every tv screen had the word tournament on it. Kirito and Yusei both turned serious.

"You should all know that the Tournament is about to start..I advise you for any last minute participates to register now"

Kirito took a step forward and saw Yusei doing the same. They both started walking in the same direction. A few players were lined up in front of panels so they could register. Yusei saw Kira putting her information.

"Are you going to participate in the tournament?" Kirito asked him.

"Ya I am..seems like you are too" Yusei states.

"You shouldn't," Kirito said in a serious tone.

"What did you say?" Yusei asked with anger in his eyes.

"It's safer if you don't participate...trust me-" Kirito exclaims, worrying about what Nautilus will do.

"Don't tell me what to do" Yusei states walking to a panel. "I only take orders from me"

Kira finishes her registration then sees Yusei access the pane;. She goes to him.

"Hey Yusei what did I tell you-" Kira said.

Before continuing to the next page. Yusei looks at Kira in the corner of his eye.

"You're not the boss of me" Yusei said in a deep tone, turning his head around to face her.

"What?" Kira replies, giving a glare. "I'm not asking this because I don't want you to be in this tournament. Our lives are at risk-"

Kirito was right next to the two on a different panel. His ear took in what she said. "Wait...are they here like me?" he thought, trying to eavesdrop.

"Remember when you saw Max...you went in recklessly without thinking and now look where we are and even when I first met you...you tried picking a fight with someone stronger than you-" Kira exclaims with a serious expression.

"Enough….you don't know me-" Yusei said glaring at her.

"I don't...not even you know yourself" Kira said glaring back. "Don't think the training you had those months made you strong enough to take on an army by yourself"
"I don't need anyone...I'm fine on my own-" Yusei states.

"So why did you ask Tenso for help uh?" Kira said. "I'm trying to save your life-"
"...There is no reason to do that…" Yusei said in a cold tone with his eyes shadowed.

A small noise distracted Kira who looked at the panel in front of Yusei. It said registar. She looked back at him and saw the coldness in his eyes. She felt her legs shake but she stood her ground.

"Stop trying to be a hero...and leave me alone" Yusei said softly walking past her. "From here on out...we are enemies...I'm playing to win"

"Fine...don't come haunting me when I win" Kira said softly, keeping her eyes in the same direction.

Kirito gulped seeing the two argue. He noticed everyone else was watching. "Seems like this is not going to be an easy tournament" he thought.

OOO

Yusei was in front of a shop with a variety of weapons on the wall. Kirito came from behind him feeling a little awkward, unsure if he should bring up what just happened.

"Welcome" said a computer standing behind the counter. "Feel Free to search for what you want"

A screen pops up in front of Yusei. There were huge lists of items not on the wall. He started scrolling.

"It's your first time so I think a-" Kirito said.

"Done" Yusei said.

"What?" Kirito said surprised how long that took him to decide.

"Well thats all of it and you can take your weapon of the wall"

Kirito watches Yusei about to reach for the light saber but is fooled. He picked a sniper gun. Not something he would buy himself if he just started out. Although, Yusei's expression looked serious when he first met him. Kirito could sense a dangerous intent from him.

"You're still here?" Yusei said, turning to Kirito.

"Hm?" Kirito said, shocked. "Well I thought you still needed my help"

"No" Yusei said, walking away. "But I'll return the favor, thanks"

Yusei gave a small wave. Kirito rubbed his temple and shook his head. He didn't understand him. But, his act of kindness is done for the day. It was time for him to get serious. He had someone to stop. He looks at the screen above the bar in the building. He saw the list of player names participating. Underneath Crimson Devil, is Nautilus. He couldn't remember anyone by that name from SAO. Kirito wanted to know why he is here. Who helped him get here.

OOO

The tournament was about to start. Every participant was in the waiting room, preparing themselves. Relaxing their nerves and getting into the zone. Kira had an outfit change that gave her more movement. She was wearing a skirt along with a short sleeve blouse coloured light blue and a white light vest. She had a strap in each arm and leg. She had a belt with a golden circle bucket. She was tying her hair into a ponytail and saw some guys staring. She gave them a cold stare causing them to look away. When she lifts her arms, her belly button shows.

Apex was with his group getting ready. He looked at Kira then looked at the other side of the room where Yusei is leaning against the wall being in his own world. He never looked away from the floor. There was something wrong with him but it isn't his responsibility. He was going to win this.

Kirito was walking around the room wondering if Nautilus was here. He wanted to get him disqualified right away. He soon bumps shoulders with a red haired female.

"Oh..s-sorry" Kirito apologized to the female with blue eyes.

Kirito quickly walks away leaving the female player confused. "Where is he" Kirito thought, getting impatient. The room light went dark. A violet light came from the corner of the room.

"The tournament is about to begin"

OOO

In the dome building, there were players watching the screens that were viewing the arena where the tournament was going to take place. It was certain landscapes. The desert, forest, mountains and an abandoned city. Many of the players were excited for the tournament. Except for one girl with light aqua blue hair. She was staring at the list of participants.

"He's here," Sinon said softly.

She received news from Yui that Kirito was in GGO. It seems like it was true but she's confused why he entered into this tournament. She sensed there was a problem. She quickly got Asuna on the call.

"Asuna...he's here," Sinon said.

There was another player looking at the screen as well. She had long beautiful black hair. Sinon glanced at her and instantly got jealous and what she didn't have developed. She stared at her chest in shame.

OOO

Yusei notices a timer counting down from ten. It was going to be time. There was a set of rules to issue a defeat in this tournament. It will either end in when a player's life is zero or they forfeit. He wasn't going to let either of those happen. The time went to zero.

He raised his head and found himself in the abandoned city. He himself got a wardrobe change. A dark red long sleeve shirt with a bullet proof vest. He had black jeans on. He soon hears a loud bang behind him. It caused him to run for cover. "A sniper" he thought with a bad aim. He hid behind the wall trying to peak out to find where the shooter was. He pulled his head back hearing another shot. The wall in front of him was hit. He was breathing heavily and could see his heart rate. He needed to calm down.

Kira was in the forest. She was standing in an open area and could sense people nearby. She smiled luckily her senses still work here. She turned on her lightsaber that was a golden colour.

"Lets dance" she said to herself.

A few shots were heard coming from the forest. Kirito was in the desert surrounded by a group of players. He had his lightsaber out and a pistol. "Brings me back" he thought with a smirk.

OOO

"Kirito" Asuna said looking at him on the screen with relief in her expression.

"It seems like he caught himself into trouble," Sinon states.

"So you think he's after someone?" Asuna asked.

"Yes. what other reason is there for him to join this tournament instead of coming to us" Sinon said a little pissed.

"But who" Asuna started looking at the other screens and didn't notice anyone out of the ordinary.

OOO

A grenade was thrown into a window of a building. It explodes causing the player to camp there to run out but quickly sliced from behind by Yusei. He saw the player dematerialized into crystals. He starts running sensing a few other people nearby that started to shoot. He dropped down a smoke bomb that covered the area.

The shooters were confused and couldn't react fast enough. Yusei sliced their head showing no hesitation in his eyes. He heard something come behind him.

"Hmph" He said, feeling a bullet go through his arm. He fell behind a wall.

"Looks like we are in the same area" Apex said softly, looking into his viewfinder

He made himself comfortable on-top of a tower. He started shooting again at Yusei's location from both ends to give him a message that he is trapped.

"N-NO!" a player screamed, getting pierced through in the middle of Yusei and Apex.

Yusei peaked through a hole to see what happened. Apex shifts his view to the player with the visor. "Nautilus" they both thought reading the player's name.

"A lightsaber won't do you any good against me" Apex states pulling the trigger.

In an instant, Nautilus split the bullet in shot and turned toward the direction Apex was. He started walking, gripping the handle of his saber.

"Crap" Apex said, and started shooting rapidly.

However, each shot got blocked by Nautilus with no stress. There are no signs of fear of being shot. Apex needed a different strategy. He threw over a flash bomb blinding the area. He starts running to a different spot. He sensed something coming and jumped out of the way.

"What the hell...how did you get here so quickly?" Apex said in shock seeing Nautilus.

"You're just slow," He replied, raising his blade.

Apex quickly turns, cutting down the bullets coming to him. Yusei had his gun aimed at Nautilus.

"You seem like a strong player," Yusei states, reloading and firing again.

However, these bullets came with more force and exploded the moment Nautilus cut them which caused him to run trying to get out of Yusei's range. Just by observing how Apex handles Nautilus, he came up with a way to approach Nautilus. He may not be an expert sniper but he knows how to control power. He reloads again, adding a different type of bullets. He pulls out another item. He throws a grenade up in the air. Nautilus watched the grenade.

"That's your big mistake" Yusei mutters shooting at the opening.

Nautilus tried blocking but it wasn't one bullet at a time. A cluster of bullets came to him. The grenade soon hits the ground creating a big blast causing the smoke to blind the players.

"Woah..you saved me-" Apex states.

"My payment for you telling me about this Tournament" Yusei said staring at the cloud of smoke intensely.

"Uh? Payment?" Apex said, confused about getting up. "For that..I hardly did nothing except try to put a bullet in your head-"

Right after, Apex had the tables turn on him this time. Yusei had his finger on the trigger. Apex could feel the tip of the gun against his forehead.

"I could do the same to you," Yusei said in a cold tone. "But your not my target"

The cloud of smoke disappeared. It revealed Nautilus who stood but had a small upgrade. His suit had strikes of violet light.

"He isn't a normal player," Apex said.

"He's more of a swordsman," Yusei said, reloading his weapon.

"Want to tag team" Apex suggests, changing his weapon.

"I don't need help" Yusei said, starting to walk to Nautilus.

"Really.." Apex said with a soft chuckle. "I believe I might know this player...there are rumors about a certain player...known as the reaper"

Yusei didn't flinch by the name. What he sees in front of him is an obstacle, standing his way to Max.