LATE GAME Ch.5

Game Over

The night of November 6, 2024…

I lay awake inside the cabin of Rheas, a girl I've become acquainted with about a week ago. For the past few days though, I felt like I was the only living being inside the house.

Rheas's brother, Issei, died the same day I met him. In a shocking turn of events, he entrusted the care of his younger twin sister in my hands…

That magnificent bastard, what kind of mess did you pull me into?

But I couldn't complain because I… I had a little sister to take care of.

I looked at the girl sleeping next to me; her hair was a messy bundle covering her cute sleeping face. With my left hand, I rubbed the back of her head, a habit I picked up in my old world…

Though I felt the pain vanish once before, it seemed like the feeling of hopelessness hasn't dawned on me yet. Oh, how I wanted the feeling of sweet haven once more; the scattered gadgets, the irritated faces of my folks, the numerous books I kept in my bookshelves.

No, I can't be weak right now. I had to be strong for this girl I still didn't have the heart to call my sister.

Otherwise, the two of us would just break down. It was counter-productive.

Dang, I still haven't sold those eight bottles of soy sauce. What day was the final battle going to start again?

Then it dawned on me. It stabbed me in the back with the words "You're outta time, player."

Crap, it's tomorrow. What do I do? What can I do?

With a light nod, my head fell into the pillow I tried so hard to get away from. Immediately, my mind was taken into the vast oblivion known as the land of sleep.

Morning…

I woke up with a tingling sensation on my nose. When I opened my eyes, I found a mass of brown hair covering me from my chest to my face. I was washed with horror when I realized that a cute girl was sleeping on me, and this girl happened to be my newly adopted sister.

What horrified me wasn't her beauty, rather what my manly instincts hungered. I silently prayed to the God above that morning wood wasn't an issue in this game.

I gently pushed away the head of my resting companion, only to realize that she was awake.

"Good mornin', Rheas. Sleep well?" I asked. She nodded.

"Well now." I said. "Could you please get off me? This is weird."

Hearing my reaction, she jumped back with a terrified expression, her eyes mixed with fear and embarrassment.

Damn, this was one girl easy to embarrass, huh?

"Uhm, yeah. I'll get started on breakfast. What would you like?" She asked softly.

"Dinosaurs, but seeing how that's impossible, I'll have some fish." She giggled a bit as she went to prepare my food. For the past week, making her laugh slightly was the most I can get out of her after what happened to her brother. It's a lot of progress, if I do say so myself.

After she finished cooking, we sat opposite each other on our respective chairs in front of the dining table. Halfway through, I felt the need to speak up.

"Today will be the last day here in Aincrad, and I need to be there to see the last big thing."

She looked up from her plate, her long brown hair a bit straighter than it was this morning.

"I'm coming with you." She demanded. I shook my head.

"It'll be dangerous, so I need to be there only because I feel the need to save more than a dozen lives from that beast. It's a one hit kill, you know."

But she shook her head, and she said with more conviction than earlier, "I'm coming."

"Can't you see?" I scolded. "You could die!"

She stood from her chair and proclaimed with all her determination flowing out.

"I need to see the monster that killed my brother! I want to see it burn in hell for what it did to my family."

I sighed, reluctantly nodding from the edge of my seat.

"On one condition though; you have to stay behind me at all times and not get hit, got that?"

Happily, she nodded.

I shrugged my shoulders and continued eating my fishy breakfast.

A Few Hours Later…

We were now in front of the boss room, the boss room after which the final battle commences, unless this was Hollow Fragment of course.

To be honest, the game wasn't that bad, although this is coming from a fanboy, so feel free to judge me.

They were about to open the door, so I took the time and went to Heathcliff.

"Commander, it would be in my interests to be the tactician in this battle, would you kindly..?"

He nodded, good.

"ALRIGHT, MATEYS! LET'S GET THIS BALL ROLLING AND FINISH THIS DARN QUARTER QUELL!"

Huzzah! Everyone screamed their respective battle cries as we ran into the room.

"I need you all to follow my orders." I dictated. "Everyone, to the sides of the room; that way, the boss can't have a definitive target. Commander! Kirito and Asuna, can I trust you three to block its strikes?"

After hearing an affirmative grunt, I then yelled.

"It's above us! Go to your places! NOW!"

And seconds later, a giaint freaking skeleton-scorpion hybrid crashed in the middle of the room.

"Be careful, guys! This is an OHK kinda guy! I need Kirito and Asuna together at all times to block its attacks from the left hand-thing. Commander, you take the right pincer-thingy and block that crap with your big-ass shield!"

After making sure things were going with the plan, I went in front of its big skull head.

"LOOK AT ME, I'M A TARGET!" I yelled as loud as I could, Doctor Who style.

Hooray for me.

Holy crap for everyone looking at me.

Free food for the boss, if it could crack the immortal object status thingy, that is.

"YOUR MOTHER HAD SO MANY BONES, SHE WAS CALLED THE WHORE OF BABYLON!" I taunted.

"YOU'VE GOT SO MANY BONES I'D HAVE THOUGHT YOU REMOVED THE ETHICS CODE OPTION!"

"YOU'RE SO DARN CREEPY, THE BOOGEYMAN CHECKS THE CLOSET EVERY NIGHT FOR YOU!"

"I KNOW YOU'VE GOT BONES, BUT DO YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO USE THEM?!"

"YOU'RE SO UGLY, EVEN KIRBY WON'T EAT YOU!"

"DO YOU HAVE AN OEDIPUS COMPLEX? BECAUSE THAT'S A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE!"

The rounds of insults were enough to get its attention and I got it to chase after me over everybody else. Meanwhile, they kept attacking its vulnerable body, chipping away its health little by little.

By the time it actually got close to hitting me, its health was down to its last bar.

I needed a distraction.

"Look! Boobies!" I pointed behind it.

It got a hit on me, and I flew about ten meters high, and twenty meters across.

Lol, that didn't work. Guess I'm out of the fight, so let's just hope they finish it without casualties this time.

(Asuna's POV)

I watched as Grey was thrown into the air, the immortal object sign showing. Some players looked curiously as his indestructible body flew off into the air. I was one of them, though I believe I was looking for a different reason.

I continued blocking the boss's attacks, its health was going lower, and lower, and lower…

*Crash!*

It exploded into a thousand polygons, the fight was over, or so it seemed.

I sat on the stone-cold floor, looking at my comrades doing the same, everyone was exhausted.

"Kirito," I said, "how many people died?"

I saw him open his map. "…Huh, no casualties this time. I bet it's thanks to Grey, but…"

I saw him stare at the commander with eyes filled with suspicion and anxiety.

"… That kid's immortal, what if he's Kayaba?.." We heard the others say from near us.

"Yeah, he survived that thing, what if he only pretended to help us..?"

"If we don't kill him… He just might take advantage of us…"

Oh no, they think Grey's a threat!

"… How do we kill him if he's immortal..?"

"He's unconscious, we can probably take him…"

No, no, no! After everything he's done for you, that's how you replay him?!

I have to do something! I look at Kirito from behind me…

Then I heard a grunt, as Kirito struck the commander, only to see…

Oh no, the commander's an immortal object too! Does that mean that he's…

"Akihiko Kayaba." Kirito declared. Everyone turned to see a hint of a smile written on the commander, no, Kayaba's face.

"How are you so sure? Isn't he an immortal object too?" The commander said, pointing at the body of Grey.

"I believe in him." Kirito shot back. "We had him testify, and we've got more than enough proof that he was telling the truth." He's talking about Yui, isn't he?

"You on the other hand have no reason to be an immortal object. Give it up, Kayaba."

Akihiko Kayaba was the commander all along… Darn it! Why?!

"We all forgot one rule, one piece of Psychology that everyone, even children should've known. Nothing is more boring than watching someone else play an RPG!"

The surprise on Kayaba's face soon became laughter.

"How'd you figure it out?"

Kirito stood his ground. "At first, it was at the duel we had. You moved impossibly fast and you were able to block one of my attacks, one that should've finished you off."

"I'm impressed. I gave the skill of Dual Wield to the one person here with the fastest reflexes. I certainly didn't expect you to realize this early, though. I planned to announce myself after the 95th floor and I was going to be the final boss at the 100th floor."

That's..!

"Since you were the one to find this out on your own, I'll give you a chance right here, right now."

Everyone went silent.

"I will let you face me, and if you defeat me in one-on-one combat, I'll let you free. Of course, I'll remove my immortal object status to make this a fair fight."

No… Kirito, it's a trap! Don't fall for it!

I stood up to warn him when a certain ailment stopped me.

Kayaba, he paralyzed everyone. He put on this status for everyone except for Kirito!

Kirito! No! Don't fight him!

"I'll accept your challenge." Kirito declared. "With one condition though."

Kayaba nodded.

"I don't have any plans of losing, but if I do die, make it so that Asuna will be unable to kill herself for a short while."

NO!

"KIRITO, THAT'S CHEATING! NO!"

With a sad smile towards me, he took steps toward Akihiko who was currently disabling his Immortal Status.

"Are you ready?!" He asked.

With a nod, Kirito equipped the blades on his back, the Elucidator and the Dark Repulser.

Then the duel started in a shower of sparks.

It was Kirito's blade against Kayaba's blade, his other sword for Kayaba's shield.

It was the battle of the two strongest players in the game.

I could only watch as Kirito withstands hit after hit until…

No. It can't be…

I have to save him, I have to! As long as I could breathe, I should be able to get there in time…

Like that, my body moved on its own, getting the hit to save my precious Kirito. The only reason I'm alive is because of this person, and I don't CARE what happens to ME!

"Brother, no!" I hear from a distance.

Before the sword could graze my skin, a grey coat blocks my view…

(Grey's POV)

Crap, I missed the end of the battle. I was desperate for a strategy, okay? The first thing that came to mind was "BOOBIES" so I didn't have much of a choice.

It failed anyway, can't let that pull me down.

As I opened my eyes, I saw blurs of light unfold before a dark room, swallowing all the darkness.

As soon as I could hear, I could hear no longer. Darn these sword sparks.

Wait, swords?

Holy mother of cows in a plane, the fight started without me!

I have to change the future, just so I could rub it in his immortal (mortal?) face.

You killed Rheas's brother, Aki. Now Shinji needs to put you down in the dirt.

As the swords started wavering, I knew Kirito had made the mistake of using a sword skill in a fight with the guy who made them.

They were gonna survive, sure. They were gonna have the happy ending, okay. The thing is; hell if I don't make that Kayabitch pay!

"Brother, no!" I heard Rheas scream from a distance. I wanted to stop so badly, to hug her for as long as I'm alive in this world with her.

This one something I needed to do…

Sister.

In moments, a sword was buried in my chest. The Immortal Object status didn't pop up, was this the power of a GM?

"GREY!" I heard the shouts of Asuna and Kirito behind me.

I looked up to the shocked face of Heathcliff, the avatar of Akihiko Kayaba.

"You said you wouldn't meddle in this affair, it's only right that you lose your life." He said with a smirk.

"Screw you, Aki." I managed to gasp. "I enjoyed shocking you, no matter how long it lasted. Remember the day you became my bitch for even a second."

My eyes wandered for a bit, resting on the brunette girl lying on the ground, crying my name.

"Don't worry, Rheas. I'll come back like goddamn Robin from Fire Emblem Awakening. Then I'll find my way back to you, and be a big brother for once."

Then I looked into the eyes of the man who took my life.

"This is goodbye, bitch. With regards, Shinji." With a smile, my body disappeared in polygons, forever leaving the world of Aincrad.

I smiled seeing three familiar swords sticking out of Kayaba's now dying avatar. So they killed him, good job, my OTP!

I was able to die with a smile on my face, that's something I never would've expected.

Once again this day, I felt my essence get sucked up into oblivion, probably for the last time.

I closed my eyes for the last time.

…

Any second now…

…

Dying is so slow, who would've thought?

…

Hello? Isn't heaven going to take me now? Isn't hell? Isn't anyone going to take me?

…

Well, screw it. Might as well open my eyes and woah!

I'm not dead, I'm just… High?

Literally high, I was miles above Aincrad, and I could see it through a transparent floor.

"Grey?!" Two familiar voices screamed.

I watched as Kirito and Asuna snapped into view. What were they doing in this sunset meant for only the dead? Then again, they WERE the ones who were supposed to come here in the first place.

That was when they died, though. So why are they here now?

"It's either Kayaba did some self-destruct crap or you two did hara-kiri just so you could see me. What the heck are you two doing here?!

Kirito shrugged. "I dunno, we felt like we were being teleported after the last hit. Me and Asuna managed to get Kayaba, so there's that."

"We're not dead, are we?" Asuna suddenly became anxious. "You're here! But you're dead!"

I shrugged.

"I thought dying would be peaceful, but with you two here, guess it wasn't my time yet."

Then we heard a cough behind us. Looking back, we saw a labcoat-wearing Akihiko Kayaba.

"Damn, dude. That coat looks fiiine. Can I borrow it?"

Aki sighed at my antics.

"I wanted to congratulate you three for finishing the game and freeing all 6 000+ survivors of SAO." (I noticed that with my actions, more people survived)

"Why did you do all this?" Kirito asked.

"Honestly, it feels like I've forgotten." Aki replied.

"Dude, who forgets that kinda crap?" I asked out loud. "If it were me, I'd say WORLD DOMINATION or some bad guy monologue. Heck, you don't look like you're one of those super evil mad dudes who want lasers on their sharks."

Kirito waved his hand. "Don't mind him. Carry on."

Thankful, Aki went on and on about the crap I already knew. To keep myself entertained, I watched as Aincrad crumbled in the distance.

"I hate heights." I mumbled to myself.

After Kayaba finished with his story, I heard him say something I thought he'd never say.

"Again, I'd like to congratulate the three of you for finishing the game. Even you, Shinjiro Aragaki."

I smiled at him.

"Haha! I'm the only one here who has the honor of using Persona 3 references, you dick! But I appreciate it."

As he was fading, I asked him.

"Are you a bad guy? Or are you just anti-social enough to have no regard for any life including your own?"

He was gone now, but the wind seemed to pick up his response.

"A question to be answered at another time."

I sighed.

Kirito and Asuna were sitting a few meters away from me, watching the destruction of Aincrad, which included their home; the log cabin from Floor 22.

"I'll leave you two be… Unless you guys want a threesome, because I'll be up for it!"

Kirito shakes his head, chuckling as he did so.

Damn it, I was serious about that, though I guess that's okay. I'll just choose a partner from his harem. The unseen, unloved waifus…I can't wait!

Alas, I'll have to be a real life solo player until then, that is if I had a physical body in real life. Seeing as I'm just an ego inside this game, I highly doubt it.

I'm sorry, Rheas. I hope you aren't hurting yourself too much…

Oh God, Rheas! What have I done?! I can't just leave her!

Seeing as there's no way out of reality, I sigh. While I still exist, here's a wish that you'll have a happy life. I'm sorry I wasn't able to be your brother…

"Hey, Grey."

I turn around and see Asuna wave at me, motioning me to come closer.

"Thank you, Grey. You saved our lives, who knows what would've happened if we died out there, right?"

I shook my head. "You died there and still lived because you overcame the powers of the game master all by yourselves. I wasn't meant to do that, but…"

I saw them raise their eyebrows, clearly asking for an explanation.

"I had to avenge a certain someone, no matter how meaningless it looked like as his death saved a lot of people. It might not have been much to many people, but it meant a great deal to me."

I saw them nod, and I watched in the distance as Aincrad finally fell apart. I watched as the white light gradually came closer to swallowing us. Whether or not I survive remains to be seen, so…

"Congratulations, you two. You're the real heroes here; always were, and always will be."

Asuna shook her head. "No, Grey. You're one of us now."

Kirito nodded. "You deserve some of the credit. You may not have been here at first, but our future will forever be changed because of you, so good luck, wild card."

I wiped away… tears? "Goodbye, you two. Don't let me stop your blooming relationship, God knows I love seeing you two happy."

They nod, and then kiss each other for the last time as our consciousness fades from this once foreign, yet now familiar place.

So this is nothingness… A weightless void of nothing over here, nothing over there, and-

HOLY CRAP, I'M FALLING!

END OF BOOK ONE.