The Monster Virus

Kirito didn't expect the speed of Nautilus movements. They were unnatural. After each swing, Nautilus appears right next to him already about to strike. His sword skills weren't impressive but his speed was what got him off guard.

Kirito finds himself pinned on the ground by electric rods paralyzing his movements. He was defenceless. He couldn't move a muscle. Nautilus stared him down not showing signs of retreat. Kirito's vision starts getting darker the more he blinks. At one point he felt like he was back in that cloud of darkness. No sound to hear, no colour to see, nothing to touch or smell.

He felt like his body didn't exist. It was only just his consciousness existing in the darkness. He came back to reality but the feeling was the same. Kirito could only see a few minutes of his life slowly depleting. "It's all over," he thought. He couldn't do anything except watch. Flashes of his life came to his thoughts. The friends he created and the adventures he had with them. Especially with Asuna. Her smile was shining brightly in his thoughts until turning dark the moment she got sliced trying to protect him. That moment came with emotions that started choking him.

A dark cloak slowly begins to consume Kirito who looked in pain by the facial expression he is making. Nautilus could tell he is in agony. His sword glowed with the same energy that was consuming Kirito.

"...The survivor of Sao...the only hero that is known by everyone who suffered in that hell" Nautilus states raising his sword. "Only you and your group were recognized...and not the others who were also fighting"

OOO

"No!" Asuna shouts with tears falling from her eyes. Sinon tried holding her still.

Asuna was trying to jump into the screen that Kirito was in. She was causing a scene that made Kira worry. She didn't think gamers would react so seriously. Then again, that is her boyfriend but still. Her reaction alone is giving her goosebumps. "What if...he's actually" She thought looking back at the screen. Another surprise came that made her jump from her seat.

OOO

Flashback

The darkness that consumed both him and Asuna felt like it was suffocating him with the memories of his past. Painful memories that haunt him to this day. The lives that were lost because of him. The regret, the sadness and even the anger with himself. "Is this causing these feelings to come back?" he thought unable to stop the memories from coming or emotions that he kept hidden inside.

"Kirito…" A faint voice called his name. "Kirito!"

He hears a yell in the distance that sounded like Asuna. Kirito turned his head in that direction but felt a heavy weight keeping his head in place. He catches a glimpse of a sticky note that came falling slowly to his chest. It was the only light in the darkness.

Remember, who you are and why you are here…-P

Kirito knew who wrote the note.

OOO

Just like everyone who was watching, Kirito had the same expression. Life came back into his eyes but shock appeared in his face. There was a shadow looming over him that he didn't expect. His mouth was slightly gaped open. The scene in front of him reminded another of when Asuna intervened.

"..w-why.." Kirito spoke slowly with all his strength.

Standing before him, who had his head slouched forward a bit was Yusei. Nautilus is surprised as well seeing him using his body as a shield and taking the piercing attack. Yusei felt his whole body tense up and freeze in place. He coughed and started getting dizzy. His health bar slowly decreased.

"I didn't realize...you were also weak" Yusei spoke softly gripping the hand of his lightsaber. "This is my payment for helping me"

"What?" Kirito thought confused how just helping him with something small led him to sacrifice himself for someone he doesn't know.

The sword in Yusei had darkness covering it. Yusei had his hair shadowing his eyes. In an instant, he swiped his blade up slicing Nautilus arm straight off with ease. Nautilus quickly jumps back.

"Where are you going?" Yusei spoke in a cold tone.

Yusei quickly pierces Nautilus right through with no hesitation and not only his blade went through his gut but his whole right arm.

"Gragh" Nautilus said turning his head to Yusei who stared at him with cold dark eyes.

Nautilus shatters into crystals right in front of Yusei whose health bar was close to finishing. Kirito felt goosebumps seeing how fast that was. Yusei began walking over to him slowly. His hair still shadowed his eyes. He kept his weapon pointed to the ground.

It didn't take long until Kirito figured out what he is planning to do. Just when he thought he was safe, Yusei raised his lightsaber.

"This is what you get for being weak...if you don't fight without the intention to kill, then why fight at all" Yusei said in a cold tone about creating a hole in Kirito.

"ERROR"

A message appeared in between the two causing them to be teleported out.

OOO

"Yusei and Kirito disqualification for suspicion of hacking"

The message appeared on every screen. The two soon arrived back into the lobby in the same position that they were in the game. Kirito on the ground while Yusei had his hand like a fist close to Kirito. Kirito's eyes were widened. If it wasn't because of the error, Yusei would have definitely killed him.

"KIRITO" Asuna shouts running to him.

The voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned his head to Asuna who quickly engulfs him in a hug. Right after, Yusei collapses on the floor.

"Yusei" Kira said softly, looking worried, moving close to him.

"What were you thinking?" Kira thought, scared for his life. He knew the risk and just sacrificed his life like that. She looked up at Asuna who looked relieved seeing Kirito. As much as she wants to be angry at Yusei, he did save a life. Which reminds her.

"We need to talk" Kira spoke to Asuna and Kirito.

OOO

Darkness filled the space. Small flashes of an image randomly appear in the space. One flash appeared larger than the rest revealing a small boy with an expression covered in fear and despair

Yusei quickly awakens feeling the wind return to his lungs and starts to cough. He sat up and realized he was moving in a wagon. Kira was sitting on his right while Kirito and Asuna were on his left. Sinon was in the driver seat.

"What happened?" Yusei spoke confused.

"Well after you passed out...we started talking" Kira replies. "And it seems like Kirito here is in the same boat like us"

"He is?" Yusei spoke softly, turning to him.

"Ya" Kirito said, rubbing the back of his head. "I found myself teleported into this game and from what Kira had told me...the only person that knows the way out is your friend Max-"
"He isn't a friend," Yusei said, glaring at Kira for giving false information.

"Fair...you don't act like friends but you know each other that's clear" Kira states. "Your going to have to tell us what you know because there is much more on the line now"

"What do you mean?" Yusei asked.

"Nautilus I believe he was working with Max...killing off players here which actually kills them in real life" Kirito exclaims.

"He must be using this world since it's easier than the real world" Asuna said, Yui appeared on her shoulder.

"There is also something strange glitches happening in this world recently" Yui states.

"So tell us what you know-" Kira spoke.

"What does this have to do with me" Yusei states in a serious tone. "I have nothing to tell you about him...plus it isn't your business-"

"What's wrong with you!?" Kira said, raising her tone in anger. "Why isn't it my business-"

"Because it's my own!" Yusei said standing up caused everyone else to stand.

"Woah..calm down back there!" Sinon states feeling the whole wagon shake.

"She's right..let's take a deep breath here" Kirito suggested.

Yusei ignores him and jumps off. He starts walking off in a random direction. Kira kissed her teeth sitting back down with her arms crossed.

"Fine then! Stay stuck here if I care...be all alone!" Kira shouts that he froze Yusei in place for a second until he walked again.

"I'm going to get him," Kirito said, jumping off too.

"Hold on Kirito-" Asuna said.

"Wait mommy-" Yui said, pointing to her shoulder. "Something is coming"

"What do you mean?" Asuna asked, getting worried.

The wagon soon stopped. Sinon notices the sky glitch. Yusei and Kirito both stopped moving, feeling unsettled. Something was nearby and Kirito knew what.

"Whatever you do..don't go near that thing" Kirito spoke.

"What thing" Yusei asked

They were near a forest. A loud roar echoed and a beast that tormented Kirito came out. Kirito quickly pulls his sword out while Yusei just stares at the thing.

"What is that!" Kira said in shock.
"A monster glitch...it's unkillable and whoever it touches teleports them somewhere in this world" Yui states.

"Kirito...run!" Asuna shouts.

Yusei couldn't describe what he was seeing. The features of this creature were not clear but he notices it walks on four legs. His curiosity began moving him close to the creature that wasn't acting like it was with Kirito.

"Kill" a deep voice echoes in Yusei's thoughts.

There was a familiar feeling he got when he got closer to the monster. He slowly reaches his hand out to it. "What is this….power" he thought, feeling electrifying and excited. There was a dark glow in his eyes.

"Yusei...what are you-" Kirito said but it was too late.

Yusei pierced the monster with his arm and it began consuming Yusei entirely. A burst of energy came out that blew Kirito away.

"Arghh...ahh!" Yusei shouts in pain feeling his whole entire being getting flooded by power he never felt before. The glitch began getting worse causing violent shakes and bursts of energy.

"Whats happening to him" Kira said in a worried tone.

"I don't know...this never happened before" Asuna states.

Yusei couldn't see or hear anything. It felt like something inside him was trying to pull the power in but the power had a mind of its own. There was a tug of war and Yusei was in the middle. He continues to scream. The memory of his parents death kept repeating in his mind.

"Kill...killl...KILL!" The voice in his mind grew louder.

That's when the energy began merging with Yusei transforming his appearance. In just a few minutes Yusei was on all fours. His features completely change from human to beast. He had claws and sharp teeth. There was a deep red energy covering his whole body along with dark blobs of energy. A pair of tails came out but were split making it seem like he had four. He grew the size of the wagon.

Kirito was shaking in his shoes being closer than the rest. Kira felt her heart being squeezed.

"...he's...a monster" she mumbles to herself.

OOO

"ROOOAAARRR"

The force of the roar was intense enough to push the trees back. Kirito made eye contact with the beast and went into a defense stance. He couldn't believe what just happened or why. The beast came running to him. It jumps and Kirito quickly brought his swords in front of him like a shield.

The force of the impact launched Kirito away. "It can touch me" Kirito thought, realizing he wasn't teleported to a different location. That meant one thing. Kirito changed his position and planned to attack. He calmed his nerves and looked straight at the beast.

"Arhhh" Kirito shouts dashing with speed.

The tails from the monster sped to Kirito who blocked it and slid to the side of the beast, striking at its side. The monster groans in pain but the cut quickly gets repaired.

"It can take damage" Kirito states and figures out a plan. "Yusei….I know you can hear me...snap out of it"

A growl just came out of the beast. Kirito looks at Asuna and Kira. For his plan to work, he is going to need help.

"Sinon-" Kirito said but she was already in position.

She was hiding in a bush with her sniper locked and ready to shoot. Sinon had her eye locked on the head of the monster.

"Just tell me when" Sinon replies back through the voice call.

"Asuna...I need you" Kirito said, showing no signs of fear which made Asuna come to his side.

Just being in his presence calms her. She looks straight at the monster with no fear.

"What next?" Asuna asked.

"We are going to return him back to normal...that glitch wasn't a glitch after all….but a virus" Kirito exclaims. "We need to seperate it from Yusei"
"Ok...so how are we going to do that-" Asuna asked.

"By smacking him upside the head" Kira said walking to them in a cold tone. "He went too far trying to do things alone….if he only once listened to me!"

Kira was angry. She pulled her lightsaber and dashes straight in.

"Wait!" Kirito calls her but it was already too late, her face was covered with determination.

The beast watches Kira and begins wiping its tails at her. She dodges them and jumps about to strike but gets blocked by the tails. The monster raises its claw at her but gets intercepted by Asuna.

Kira lands back on the ground and looks at Asuna.

"Thanks," Kira said.

"We have your back" Asuna said, smiling at her.

The beast went rushing to the girls but Kirito makes it in front of them slashing away causing it to jump back. Kira is surprised to see the two in action. It made her smile, having their help. She looks back at Yusei.

"YUSEI!" Kira shouts. "Listen well...we are going to force you to come to your senses"

He just growled and glared at her. He dug his nails into the ground and started rushing to her. Kirito dashed right after him. The tails began to attack him again, he blocked each one and slashed them away.

The beast lunges at Kirito who made his sword cross preventing the beast to claw him. He quickly slides his swords down against its chest causing it to fall back mid air.

"Switch" Kirito said softly moving to the side.

Both Asuna and Kira quickly came in close to the beast with their swords pointed directly at its chest. Asuna quickly stabbed the beast with incredible speed along with Kira but stopped charging her weapon.

"Switch" Asuna said, moving to the side.

"ARGH!" Kira yells seeing the opening and slammed the light saber into the beast chest that started to moan in pain.

Kira gets slapped by the beast and hits the ground hard. Asuna called out to her. The beast looked at the blood sliding down her face. Kira had one eye open staring right at the beast. A bullet was fired at the beast exploding into an electric net that wrapped around the monster causing it to fall on the ground.

"...n-no...m-more" Yusei voice said weekly in the thoughts of the beast.

The beast's eyes closed shut and only darkness can be seen.