Chapter 10 / A Solo Player:

Amazement. That was the emotion that Kirito should have been feeling. If it had been any other day then the golden-tinted orb of light would have astounded him. But it wasn't any other day. It was today. The worst day of Kirito's life.

He had thought that nothing could have topped the deaths of his old guild: the Moonlit Black Cats. He was wrong. Adira was dead. Or dying. He didn't know which alternative was worse. Adira…

Kirito shook his head, attempting to clear his thoughts. He couldn't think about that now. He could grieve later. He needed a level head if he was going to defeat the Demon King. How was he going to defeat him?

The Black Swordsman paused, unable to find an answer. He'd been beaten by the boss before. Even Adira and himself together hadn't been enough to defeat him. So how was he going to do it? He could slowly diminish the Demon King's health bit-by-bit, playing the long game. But that would require being healing constantly to keep himself going. Kirito groaned…he didn't have any health crystals left.

His face hardened. It didn't matter. He had to take the boss down. He had to avenge Adira. But then…what good would it do? The Demon King was an npc. Defeating them would change nothing. It wouldn't…it wouldn't bring her back.

Doubt entered his mind. Why was he fighting? What was the point? Adira was gone either way…realisation suddenly hit him. That was why he was fighting. To end this game event. To stop the Dusk Demons before they could hurt anyone else.

Kirito reached out his hand, firmly placing it upon the glowing orb in front of him, filled with determination. He knew what he was fighting for now. He was ready.

The orb teleported him to a different realm. The place looked like a barren wasteland, bronze rust scattered across the plain. The edges of the space fell into a black void of nothingness. Ahead, Kirito could see the Demon King. He was stood with his back to the player, glowing slightly with an ethereal light. His health bar still maintained the damage that the players had taken earlier. At least there was something going Kirito's way. He turned as the Black Swordsman approached, menacingly drawing his weapon as if in slow motion. The solo player mirrored his action, both waiting tensely for the other to strike first.

The Demon King took the initiative, leaping forwards suddenly, disappearing into a thread of light before re-appearing directly in-front of Kirito. The player barely managed to block the King's attack, rolling away to put some distance between himself and his foe.

He seems to have absorbed Adira's abilities too, Kirito thought, desperately attempting to form some sort of battle strategy. He suddenly froze as he realised his mistake. The boss could cover distance easily with his teleport dash. As if in tune with the player's thoughts, the Demon King dashed towards him again, his sword skimming Kirito's thigh, who twisted in an attempt to dodge. The Black Swordsman recovered quickly. He had to get in close. Keep the boss from using any of his attacks with range. That would limit their options.

Kirito sprinted forwards, clashing his blade against the Demon King's before they could attack for a third time. The boss pushed back against him, his superior strength overpowering the player. Kirito quickly unlocked their swords, ducking underneath his opponent's swipe, unleashing a quick combo before pulling back slightly.

The Demon King's health was now teetering around the mid-range. Kirito quickly resumed his offense, unwilling to let up in the fear of the boss overwhelming him. Most of his hits were either dulled or negated altogether by his opponents armour, but it didn't discourage him. There was no backing out now. The only way he could go was forwards.

He pushed himself further! Faster! Kirito had to win! His mind swirled as he desperately tried to form some sort of strategy. What could he do? This would have be the perfect time to utilise his unique skill…if he could have. He didn't carry a second sword, he hadn't seen the point. No other blade compared to the Elucidator that he wielded at this very moment. He was beginning to regret his decision.

He grunted as the boss quickly countered, landing another hit on him, this time slicing through his ribs. Kirito's health bar was teetering slightly above the red zone. He staggered slightly, taking a moment to recover before launching into another offensive fury.

He needed to stop over-thinking. His thoughts were only distracting him, leading him down paths that he couldn't afford to travel right now. Kirito relaxed his mind, moving his body on instinct and reflex alone. Every strike the Demon King attempted to take was either blocked, dodged or countered. Every gap in his opponent's defence was exploited. The Black Swordsman was no longer a person. He was a machine, unable to slow down. Unable to stop.

The Demon King raised his sword into the air, striking the ground before him. Kirito smiled. Finally. He'd been waiting for him to attack like this again. The Black Swordsman brought his luminescent blade up in-front of him in a protective stance, digging his heels into the ground as he positioned his body in preparation for the shockwave. The majority of the damage was blocked by his sword as he slid back slightly, his health now resting on a worryingly low 6%. Kirito didn't falter for a second, instantly charging his Sonic Leap sword-skill. He shot forwards, the Demon King still in the process of retrieving his weapon from the ground. He was defenceless. Kirito took the opportunity, his sword connecting with his opponent's neckline, removing his head from his shoulders.

The solo player skidded to a halt, breathing heavily as he began to come down from his adrenaline fuelled high. Behind him, the Demon King fell to his knees, his head and body exploding into millions of bright shards. Kirito looked up in confusion as the scenery around him began to shudder, glowing with an ethereal light. It wasn't over.

Asuna was situated back in the castle grounds, watching in horror as the spire at the top of the battlements began to glow, golden lights swirling around it in a frantic dance. She felt a pang of fear inside of her. Kirito was still in there.

The whole plain began to shake, as if an earthquake had befallen the place. The edge of the ground started to disintegrate as the void beyond consumed it. The Black Swordsman watched as his impending doom grew closer. He gazed over the glowing orb floating across the field. It could take him back. He could escape…but why? What was the point in continuing on? What would he get out of it? What more could he lose?

He stood immobile as the world collapsed around him, unable to move. Unable to take a step forward. Unable to continue. Unable…or unwilling. Kirito couldn't see the difference.

His mind suddenly sparked, bringing a recent memory to its forefront. "I want you to promise me that you won't give up! That you'll survive this world! That you'll make it home to your real sister!" He had promised. He promised Adira that he would survive. That he would make it home. Kirito wanted to. He really did. But home was such a long way off. There was no guarantee that he would make it, no guarantee that he even could. Was it worth trying?

Kirito was lost, unable to escape the emotions of grief as they swirled inside of him. He couldn't bear to experience any more loss. If he went back, he could lose her…Asuna.

Asuna. How would she feel? How would she feel if he left her…if he died. Kirito willed himself to take a step forwards. He couldn't put her through this. He couldn't let her feel the way he did right now. If he wasn't going to survive for himself, then he was going to survive for her.

The Black Swordsman shuffled forwards, placing one foot in front of the other as he slowly made his way across the room. The chaos around him was nothing but a minor detail. He no longer noticed it. All he could focus on was the orb in front of him. His way out of here.

Kirito stopped in front of it, pausing for a second. Was this what he wanted? To go back to all that pain?

His hand reached for the orb, seeming to move on its own, bypassing all of his pessimistic thoughts. He reached out, his arm shaking as he unsteadily placed his palm on the object. A radial light was emitted, consuming everything. That was all that was in front of him now…light.

Some Notes for Y'all:

-I am a bit sceptical about the first part of the chapter. I wanted to show Kirito's inner turmoil and thought process, but I'm not sure how well it came out. I didn't want it to just be an action thing. As I've said before, the aim was to make this story a character piece. So I wanted to show some emotion too.

-I know that the previous Dusk Demons did not have health bars, but I felt as if the Demon King would, being a boss designed to be tackled by a group of players. One critical hit would be too easy for a boss level enemy.

-In case you didn't know (although you probably did) the Elucidator is Kirito's black one-handed sword.

-One more to go!

-Musical Choices:

#Beautiful Lie / Hans Zimmer & Junkie XL

#Closing the Wormhole / Blake Neely