XII: What lies beneath, the soul of a friend
When was it…
That I start being controlled by Yuuto?
…
Ah, ah… ha…
How stupid of me…
I was never able to lie to myself, bringing all the pain to me…
It was just the complete opposite of Philia… I was overconfident in my own capabilities…
Run, Philia, run…
"It's over…" a player in the Knights of Blood armour panted, his sword slipped from his hand and dropped to the ground.
The raid launched at the red guild, Laughing Coffin ended as the last member of the guild thrown himself at the sword of a raid party member, finishing himself by the sword of others.
17 LC members, 7 crusaders dead in the fight. 2 dead by the blade of the Elucidator.
"Let's regroup, we need to gather all survivors to retreat." a crusader of the Army suggested.
Asuna… she went further down to help Philia- Kirito suddenly remembered that they were split up.
"Kyaa!" Asuna's voice came from further downwards, and as Kirito looked in the direction, Asuna was sent flying by an attack, landed near him.
"Asuna! What happened? Hang in there!" the black swordsman ran to her side and immediately used a healing crystal on her. The last small red triangle of her health went back up to yellow in the middle point. Looking at her cursor however, it was orange.
"Asuna, what happened?" Kirito asked the half conscious Asuna.
"She got defeated, that's how." a young girl's voice came from the depths of the dungeon. Alexia and Carmen, both now in a jagged cloak and mask, stepped from the shadows and pushed the tied up Philia to the crusaders' feet, whom quickly cut the ropes tying her hand quickly, as they recognize her.
"Kirito…" Philia turned to the swordsman, "Please save Presto… he is somehow… somehow being controlled…"
"Controlled?" Kirito asked in confusion.
"Presto… he is no Presto." Asuna spoke with a weak voice. "I accidentally hit him when I was fighting one of the Laughing Coffin members… No, he did that on purpose."
"Ah… what a shame… the fight's over?"
A stultified voice further attracted more crusaders. Out came Lento in his crimson armour and with yet again, a Joker card mask on his face. Turning to his right, he stared at one of the Laughing Coffin members, both hands tied at the back for a while.
"Are those… hidden Laughing Coffin members? How many more are there?" a small turmoil arose from the raiding party. "But… the man in the middle has a green cursor…"
"Dancer, bring that fellow to me." his voice suddenly became cold as his hand pointed at the man with an orange cursor.
Without a word, Carmen brought the kneeling man who was not guarded properly by his collar from the back and dragged him in front of Lento. The man looked up and saw a mask he was used to.
"Ah, Commander, we are sorry to have failed the mission, thank you for coming back to safe—"
"Who told you I am a saviour?" Lento questioned the man, at the same time, his slightly longer than usual scimitar was out of the sheathe, passed the man's neck, stopped at the right side, stopping his words as he didn't even noticed he has been killed. Fragments of blue shards scatters in front of him.
"Nobody asked you to give up killing, even if it means getting yourself killed." Lento's muffled voice spoke out loud and clear, as if talking to the already dead man.
"That guy… he is killing his own comrades!" One of the crusaders shouted out.
"Let's get him before he kills more people!" another charged at the masked Lento along with the former one.
But Kirito's "Detection" skill picked up one more entity in the shadows. "Wait, don't attack!"
"Naoki… you beloved brother is under attack… won't you save it at all costs? Do it." Lento whispered back into the shadow. The two blades were coming down quick on each sides, aimed directly at him. But before they noticed, a white shadow slipped between the swords and Lento, as the blades fall, it hit the man who put himself in front of the masked Lento, and at that moment, both crusaders' cursor turned orange.
"What? There's one more!" One of the crusaders realized the target was not hit.
"Naoki… remember, do not kill them." Lento's voice whispered into the the white clothed man's mind.
Presto then held up his greatsword, just before the both of them landed for the jump attack, swiped from right to left, pushing them away with a single motion, sending them flying. Lento's scimitar suddenly broke into pieces, as his hand jerked forward, the broken blades flew through the air and finished the two crusaders.
"What kind of weapon… is that?" Kirito squinted at the blades, though the scimitar was broken into pieces, there are chains linking one piece and another up. A chained sword. Increases the range of an sword to an absurd amount, but not lacking in offensive power.
"Hmm… still not enough…" Lento sighed, "I need more sacrifices… Hey, how about I kill all of the people here? That should work."
"Should we retreat? We are in no condition to fight…" one of the crusaders asked.
"Idiot! We can't let this guy get away scott-free, even if it means risking our lives!" another shouted back, "Hold your ground! Let's take out the one with the greatsword first!"
"Naoki… all of these people want to harm your brother… now you know what to do… You can however kill the one with auburn hair and blue eyes..." Lento put one hand on his brother's shoulder, once again wormed his way into Presto's heart.
Back then, when delinquents of other areas picked a fight with Yuuto, I tried all I can to protect him, but it was futile, the wish of me protecting him grew too strong…
It gave birth to my alter ego, one that only has a single purpose…
Protect Yuuto. Clear all that make harm to him.
When did he, figured out to use this to his advantage? When did he start loving crimes?
I'm such a failure being a brother.
I protected him too much.
Crusaders of different guilds all charged at the swordsman. Presto then swiftly started cutting through those who appeared in his view. The next thing the crusaders knew, they are on the edge of death.
Spin, duck, jump, slice. No sword skills were used at all. He took the hits from the crusaders, turning their cursors orange, and proceeded to attack them, maintaining his green cursor. People charged in, people flung back. No matter what they tried, the swordsman defected their attacks, but made sure they do not die. On the other hand however, Lento started going around the dungeon, taking out the tied up Laughing Coffin member, one by one. Their faces before death, remains a disturbed smile, as if freeing them from whatever they were chained by. At occasions, his scimitar broke into pieces, flew through the air, piercing the crusaders with little to no health, then resumed to killing the Laughing Coffin members again.
"This is messed up… I can't leave Asuna like this… but if I do not help, more people are going to die…" Kirito fell into a dilemma.
"Kirito," Philia walked to the Black Swordsman, "Can you please tell me, what should I do? Nao asked me to ask you for help before he got controlled. Please, help me… and him." Her voice cracked a little.
"To be frank… I have no idea." Kirito spoke the truth. "I cannot leave Asuna, not without the masked guy going around killing players with Orange cursors."
"So can I do something, at all?"
Kirito fell into deep silence for a moment, then he looked back at the auburn haired girl, "You might have to fight Presto on your own."
"Eh?"
"I don't know what happened to Presto, but this is not the real him." Kirito looked at the emotionless face of Presto, "Not with those eyes. It's not a status alignment as well. You might have something that can make him return to normal, since you two have been together for so long."
"Something that I have can make him normal… I don't have that, but…" Philia unsheathed her Sword Breaker, "Lento can!"
She took off with great speed, charging towards the masked Lento, "Give Naoki back!" her dagger pointed straight at him, not with the desire to kill, but one with the wish to save Presto.
As expected, the swordsman in white noticed the attack towards his brother. He swiped those in front of him away, and with incredible speed dashed to block the attack.
I feared the orange cursor so much… but the fact that he taught me cursors doesn't mean everything, made me so stupid… that I am willing to go orange again, for him.
*Stab*
With a great thrust, Philia's dagger went into his chest. But his health is not even in the red zone. He lifted the Sanyouken, preparing to cut down the one he vowed to protect at all costs. Philia took out the dagger, and as the greatsword slammed down, the jagged edges of the dagger held the 30 kg weapon in place. Sparks between the blades flew and made a piercing screech.
"Naoki… please, remember me and your vow… return to the normal self!" she struggled to say out the words as she used all the strength to defend herself from the greatsword. At the same time, she grabbed his left hand, one that he holds nothing, and guided it to her chest. "Please, remember this heartbeat, remember everything!"
*Ba-dum*
What was that?
*Ba-dum*
Heartbeat? Could it be?
"Naoki, some crazy girl guided your hand to her breasts, saying remember me and stuff like that."
That's Philia. Stop it! Stop harming her!
"I can't do, she tried to kill Yuuto."
Then I don't care!
"Hmm… you are losing your wish to protect Yuuto…"
So what?
"Do you want to bring all the pain of protecting him upon yourself again?"
"Nao!"
I have made up my mind.
"... Then, from now on, no matter what happens to him, it's your business. In return, you can make me protect other people."
You are such a terrifying entity, you know?
"Heh, at least it's good to see myself back at senses."
"Nao, please! Return to normal!" Philia rolled to the side, dodging the slice from above. The Sanyouken however, curved it's path and just barely swiped above Philia's head.
"This style of fighting is vastly different from what I have seen… No, it's an evolved form?" Kirito pondered from a distance. "Just before the greatsword hit the ground, he jumped and leaned, making the attack changing its path. If the normal Presto focuses on the basic footwork and body physics, then this Presto uses irregular acrobatics, which requires strong reaction and focus. In a sense, whatever is manifesting him makes him even stronger."
"Nao, please stop! You have to snap out of it!" Philia pleaded, using all her strength to block another attack. But soon, her grip slipped, and the greatsword slammed beside her. The sheer power also made her fall on her back.
"Nao… Naoki!" Philia's tears rolled straight down her cheeks. The merciless blade of the greatsword shimmered as tears filled her eyes. It was held so high up, that it only appeared as a line in her sight.
"Sorry, Asuna, wait for me." Kirito unsheathed his Elucidator and dashed right at him. "Stop, Presto!"
The greatsword started to fall, right at Philia's head, the fatal blow was in motion.
"Crap, I'm not able to make it in time!" Kirito thought.
"NAOKI!" Philia shut her eyes closed, used up the last of her breath, and screamed out, in hopes of reaching what remains in his soul.
Please, Naoki…
*Clank*
"Huh?" Kirito stopped his sprint, questioning what he saw.
The greatsword landed beside Philia, instead of going past her. The grip on the handle loosened, and Presto's arm dangled downwards. Whatever empowered his body seemed to have left him. Philia opened her eyes just a bit, and the line of light flooded her view.
"I am sorry, Philia, I am sorry."
His weak voice was sounded once again, whispering into her ears. His eyes slowly returned to the blue ones he used to have. His breathing was heavier than that of a cow's as if his lungs were deprived of oxygen, taking in as much air as possible. His knees fell forward, and he keeled in front of Philia.
"Forgive me, Philia, forgive me…" Presto spoke again.
"What's the matter Naoki? Take her down." Lento rested his unique scimitar on his shoulder, looking at the changed Presto.
Philia looked once again into Presto eyes, as her's cleared up. The blue eyes of Presto, returning, as well as his soul, and his guilt, his emotions. And there is one look on his face, that not even Philia herself have seen.
Tears, rolling down his face. Was it the fact he felt sorry for what he had done? Or was it that he was shocked by how differently his brother reacted? But they knew very well. He broke one of his promises.
She threw herself to the keeling swordsman. "It's… not your fault… Nao…" Philia comforted him, "Welcome back… you dummy…"
"Oi, the heck is this lovely-dopey crap? Cut it out." Lento started to walk closer to the two, speaking in disdain.
The look on Presto's face immediately changed to that of a more serious look, as he wiped away his tears, patted Philia on her head, and picked up the Sanyouken that was lying on the floor. "Wait for me, Philia, I have some ties to cut." his gentle eyes looked into Philia's, comforting her, then he stood up and turned around. Though gentle, fury resides in them, staring at his masked brother.
"Nao… please don't…" Philia let go of his clothes.
The remaining crusaders stopped their assault on him as they felt his presence changed completely, their hands held their weapons tight, but so is their fear that held them back from charging in. The fear that a storm is brewing, and if they got caught in it, death becomes inevitable.
Lento looked at the blue eyes of Presto from under the mask. All obedience towards him left, so is the white iris. "You bastard… the Alter Ego left you! All thanks to that auburn haired girl brat…" he sneered with a hint of anger, "There goes my plan, oh well, I reached my goal anyways…"
"Shut up." Presto rested the weapon flat on his left palm and pointed it at his brother.
"Huh? I can't hear—"
He immediately ducked and rolled as he saw the Sanyouken's metal tip charged at him. It was a split second, but he was sure that the handle extended.
"Another Legendary weapon? Give me a break, the last one with the claws gave me way more trouble than it has." Lento threw the scimitar into the air and caught it again after it gone through a revolution.
The weapon retracted as Presto started dashing at his enemy. The recoil hits when the handle was back at it's normal state, and Presto used it, the left leg stopped and the right foot crossed behind it, spin, and even Lento blocked the attack, the blow connects with it's sheer force and send him tumbling away, as well as taking away half of his health.
"What brute strength, you could have used it better if you continued to work for me." His scimitar broke into the chained form, "But it doesn't matter."
With a slice, the blades attached to the chains moved in and slashed across Presto's chest. Every blade that connects the virtual flesh counts as a hit. For that, Presto took 5 of them.
"The reason I am killing people," Lento stated, "Is that I can get the Unique Skill 'Darkness Blade'. Do you have any idea what that does?"
"I don't care."
"You have to! It's very important, because you should know how it works, and know that you will never beat me. Listen up, in every RPG there must be skills that regen health for the damage they deals. 'Darkness Blade' is that same concept. Except now it heal me per hits. Look at my health."
Kirito looked at the speaker's health bar. The health used to be in yellow has now extended, and gone back in the green.
"Paired with this scimitar, terrifying, eh?"
"Do I care?" Presto charged at his brother again. The greatsword keeps on slice away at his enemy, but so is the chained sword of Lento's. The two traded hits with each other, one continues to fall slowly, while the other was kept at the green.
"Nao! Get out of there, you can't win!" Philia wanted to go in and stop Presto, but the blades on the chain surrounded the two, and there is no way others can go in.
It's a hurricane in the midst of the battleground.
"I have tasted Presto's attacks before… they are strong, but the masked guy's heal nullifies the damage output." Kirito analyzed the battle, "Should I use the Duel Blades now? Or should I wait? No… I can't even trust Presto now, not after that white eyed state. I can't charge in like this either… damn it!"
And at last, the White Wargod falls as his health was brought to a critical low.
"I don't need people who oppose me, so goodbye, brother." Lento bid his brother farewell, and he promptly drove his sword straight down his chest, bringing his health down to nothing.
"So… people will now know the secret of Nao…" Philia murmured.
"So, who is up next?" Lento pulled the sword out and turned around, asking for more people to challenge him.
"Who said I am done?"
The masked killer turned again and saw that the pixelating hand of Presto crawled up to his shoulder, his body slowly standing up, and soon, returned to normal, his blue eyes staring at his mask.
"Why, why you won't die, why you are back, why you are always so special? Why? Why? WHY?" Lento shook his hand away, stepping back in disbelief and anger.
"Are you serious… he came back from the dead!" "His health was down to zero, everyone saw that, right?" "Is this a bug of some sort?" "Does this mean Kayaba Akihiko was lying…?"
The chatters of the crusaders started like wildfire in the summer. Nobody knew how Presto was immortal, but they were the ones to believe that it was nothing more than a bug.
"Presto… what exactly are you?" Kirito also questioned what he saw.
Presto tightened his grip, and slashed diagonally at Lento's face. He was too shocked to move an inch, and moments later, the mask fell apart into two pieces, clean cut. It was then Lento noticed it and started clutching his face.
"My mask… my mask! I can't let people know my identity, no!" he shrieked, "Retreat, RETREAT!"
The two following girls immediately rushed by him and one covered his face, the other used a teleport crystal, as they escaped before the crusaders gave chase.
"Hey you!" the crusaders turned their attention back to the white swordsman, "What exactly are you? Everyone you touched dies but you don't, are you an AI or what?"
The crusaders started to move in inch by inch. Hands shaking as their hearts beat faster than they have been. They saw it, anyone who dared to get close to him will get shredded to ribbons. They saw their allies die in two hits. One from the masked man, but most of the damage came from the man in white.
A dangerous man indeed.
"This is bad." Philia suddenly realized, "Nao probably have never told anyone about his 'Immortality' because he didn't want to make others feel unjustified. I should probably stop—"
"Everyone, I know this would be a shock to you all, but please listen me out for a moment."Presto sheathed his greatsword and removed his headgear. "I know every one of you saw that I came back from the dead. Yes, that is right, I created the bug that the cardinal couldn't even fix, that made me unkillable."
"Stop lying! Are you one of the people afflicted with Kayaba to spy or even stop our progress?"
"Well…" Presto scratched his head, "You hit only half of the nail on the head, I am an acquaintance with him, but we have no intention of preventing players from beating the game. Instead, he wants you all to beat it."
"Nao, what are you doing? Why are you telling them all this? Didn't you tried to hide this?" Philia forcefully turned Presto facing towards her, asked him with a worried tone. Despite her questions, Presto's lips curved a little, forming a subtle yet heart-warming smile.
"Because I knew what will happen to me, I am doing this." He kneeled down and patted her on the head like usual, "Sorry Philia, but this is my self-inflicted punishment for breaking my promise. Do not stop me."
"Naoki…"
"Back to the point, I am sorry for the casualties I've caused, and I have no any other excuse for it. Therefore, I have to repay for what I've done."
Presto inhaled slightly, then he whispered a command, "System login, ID, Presto." The familiar light blue hologram interface then started circling around Presto.
"Game Master… console!" Kirito gasped.
With a few taps on the screen, the health and the cursor of the crusaders all returned to green, except for Presto himself.
"Unfortunately, this is all I can do." Presto disabled the console, "Having the GM console doesn't mean being God. I cannot bring back the dead. Now, I ask for one thing."
"Don't be ridiculous! You call this your redemption?" one of the crusaders shouted out in fury.
"Put me in the jail."
"Huh?"
"Presto, " Kirito walked up to him, "I cannot say it for sure, but when you were attacking us… you weren't yourself. Don't take all the blame upon yourself…"
"It's not like that. What the Alter Ego does is what I do."
Alter… Ego…? Philia and Kirito both thought, But Alter Ego doesn't work like that!
"Ah… sorry, I spoke too much." Presto turned back to the crowd, still pointing their tip of weapons at the threat, "Anyhow, send someone with me then you can lock me in jail."
"Idiot… complete idiot…" "Who the heck asks to be jailed?" "Then… you, send him to the jail."
One of the crusaders inched forward, the sword still in his hand, and took out one of the corridor crystal.
"Kirito… remember, too many promises will bind us… and take care of Philia for me." Presto didn't turn his head.
After that, the blue light enveloped the two men and disappeared from the spot.
"Presto…" Philia clenched her chest.
21 LC members, 11 crusaders dead as the final result. 2 dead by the Elucidator, but 4 tasted the edge of Sanyouken, 8 dead by the blade of the Lento.
The sound of teleportation echoed through the dark hallway. "Here it comes, the first Laughing Coffin member." the guards whispered.
At the end of the hallway, however, the one stood in front of them is who they refer to as the White Wargod.
"No way…"
What's the matter? Lento?"
PoH's voice bring a subtle sarcasm when he greeted his comrade, who have just teleported in.
"Shut up." Lento returned the "Polite words", looking at PoH who was sitting on a rock up on the ledge, staring in the distance, one leg hanging off the rock.
"By the way, a little birdie told me your brother who defeated you asked himself to be jailed." PoH still didn't turn his head, "How strange."
"Great. Now it makes killing him way more difficult." Lento looked the other way.
"Well then, good luck doing whatever you want. Famous genius Yamada Yuuto." PoH bid him farewell, and walked away from the Scimitar user.
*Creak*
"Come inside. I'll go get some tea." Philia asked Kirito into his house.
"Ok… sorry to bother you." Kirito followed her into the cabin and gently closed the door behind. "So, what did you call me over here for? Is it something important?"
"I'll get straight to the point," Philia sounded and looked troubled, "I don't know what to do anymore, after Nao surrendered himself to the jail. I still can't wrap my head around it. Even if he like, broke our promise, he doesn't need to do such a useless act." Philia sat down and poured a cup of tea, handed it over to Kirito, "It feels like… he was avoiding me. You must know something if he asked you to help him. That's how he does things subtly."
"Actually, if what I think is right, your feeling isn't far from the point," Kirito didn't sip the tea, but just put it in front of him, "He is avoiding you."
"But, why? He doesn't have to go that far…"
"Most probably, he fears that his other side will go berserk again and harm you," Kirito explained, "the part where he broke the promise is a ruse, I do not know what promise you two made, but it doesn't matter. What matters is he is distancing himself from you to protect you."
"This is messed up…"
"The second reason, most likely is he feel guilty about helping the masked killer."
"For your information, the masked killer is Nao's brother. Is this the reason? He doesn't seem to be the type of man who feels guilty to kill if provoked."
"I don't think who the masked killer changes a thing. But he might be guilty of killing people out of his control." Kirito avoided Philia's gaze, "It makes what I've done less serious… I still can't forget the faces of the ones I killed. Still, he was helping to kill innocents, against his will. I should hate him for helping to kill, but this just becomes way more complicated."
"One last thing is really bugging me. He said that he was controlled by an 'Alter Ego'—"
"But it doesn't work like that."
"Yes, it technically isn't an Alter Ego." A familiar voice came from the hallway. The two turned, and Ying was leaning against the wall, the door that was supposed to lock her up was wide open. "Presto remotely disabled the lock. He told me to tell you everything if you talked about his Anima and Persona problems."
"She is?" Kirito asked Philia.
"Ying, a real life friend of Naoki."
"So you want to hear it or not?" Ying asked again.
"Hey, heard the news?"
"Yeah, t'was spreadin' 'ike wildfire."
"White Wargod… Nah, White Reaper suits him way better. He can't die, he is crazy, and he is just dangerous in all aspects."
Whispers of prisoners were all about one of the newer inmate. Not only the prisoners knew of the news, but everyone in Aincrad. "Crusaders victorious against Laughing Coffin." Newspaper wrote, "But the notorious White Reaper (Shiro Shinigami), formerly known as White Wargod exposed with dark secrets."
"White Reaper huh? Hey, Wolf, you were spying on him before, aren't ya?"
"Maybe." a cold voice from the shadows of the cell's corner came, "But my main goal now is to get out of here. I can't do that without my claws though."
