July 19th, 2024 (Floor 28: Wolf's Den)
"They're getting more and more active. Someone has to do something, Ri."
"I know, Argo." I sighed, propping my feet up on the coffee table. Argo, like always, had more than her fair share of secrets about the game. Information was her trade and, whenever she parted with it for free, there was something big coming.
The Laughing Coffin was bigger and more active than ever before. Argo had spent weeks going from source to source and she estimated that the orange guild had taken down over 200 players in the past six months. They were the leading cause of player deaths but many in the assault team thought the guild could be reasoned with. As a result of that optimism, several messengers had been sent and, one by one, each had their names crossed off at the Monument of Life. It was more than wasteful; it was criminal. Everyone was either too afraid or ignorant to put a stop to it.
"I'm moving for a coalition, but the Hunters can't take them down by themselves. We need the backing of other guilds and we need solid information. Until we can get information on the Laughing Coffin's numbers and the location of the headquarters, we're stuck in a battle of attrition. The others on the assault team keep sending messengers, but none of them have returned."
"If I can get the information on the hideout, would you be able to get the coalition moving?" Argo asked, her eyes narrowed. I was a little apprehensive at the savage gleam in her eye and I had a feeling that Laughing Coffin was about to learn about the Rat's claws.
"Yes."
"That's all I need to know. I'll see you soon, Riva."
August 23rd, 2024 (Floor 7: Crystal Catacombs)
I didn't see Argo for nearly a month. When she appeared again, her cursor was orange and her eyes were dark. What mattered to her, though, was that she had the intel.
After we had the information on the orange guild's location, getting the assault team in gear was almost easy. We amassed a force of almost 50 high level players and descended into the dungeon where the hideout was supposed to be. Led by the Divine Dragon Alliance, we moved into the Crystal Catacombs, a dungeon that had been clearer out long ago.
The Hunters and I had never spent time in the Catacombs. We had spent the majority of our time at the front lines, leaving only when a quest or the hope of a rare item drew us away. Coming here now, I had a second reason for staying away.
Whether it was the prolonged presence of red players or the natural ambience of the dark rooms, the Crystal Catacombs put me on edge. My detection skill was going haywire as my mind invented monsters that weren't there. In these halls and corridors, I couldn't trust even my own senses and that terrified me. I kept a hand on Brightroar's hilt, trying to calm my heartbeat.
Lis had insisted on giving me the weapon. She told me that it was her contribution to keeping me safe. She wanted me to feel that protection in every dungeon or labyrinth and, faithfully, I switched out my barunum blade for the sword.
"If the tip we got is good, we should be near Laughing Coffin's base." There was no doubt in my mind that Argo had been fooled. "Before we charge in, let's keep one thing in mind: these guys are red players. Once the battle starts, they're not going to think twice about killing anyone of us so don't you hesitate. You do, and you're dead. However, we are at the advantage. We outnumber them, we are higher leveled, and we've got the element of surprise. Hell, they might even just surrender. A guy can dream, can't he?"
I started, my senses picking up a new threat. I looked up, drawing Brightroar in a flash as the first wave of Laughing Coffin jumped down to ambush us.
It was a bloodbath. Players tore other players apart and, at the end of it, nearly all of the coalition had an orange cursor hanging above their heads. There was one above my head, shining down on me, and I found that I couldn't look away. Brightroar clattered the ground and I wasn't the only player to fall to my knees.
There were thirty Laughing Coffin members according to Argo's intel. About ten had surrendered during the fight, but twenty-one had refused and were killed. One of the Laughing Coffin members was killed by my own hand.
Eleven members of the coalition- including eight clearers I'd fought with for months, trusted my life to- were gone, killed in the skirmish.
There was a guild somewhere in Aincrad who was created to battle against orange guilds. Argo had worked with them before; she was their link to players who had witnessed PvP crimes and provided intel for their vigilantism. They called themselves PKKs- player killer killers. While the goal was to capture orange guilds and throw them in the Iron Palace, they knew better than most that that wasn't always possible. Their motto was "kill one, save many," and, in the wake of the raid against Laughing Coffin, I had to remind myself of that. Ten good players were gone, but thirty bad ones were gone or imprisoned. Everyone that was left? Well... They had to find their own ways to deal with it.
The Hunters retreated back to the Wolf's Den, ashamed and terrified of what we were becoming. I had killed one LC member, Kirito had killed two, and Heidan one. Lis and Silica were waiting for us when we got back to the 28th floor and they'd both cried when we came back. Whether it was relief that we came back at all or horror at the orange cursors hanging above our heads, I wasn't sure.
I didn't know if I would ever be sure.
Kill one, save many. Kill one, save many.
That mantra was great for keeping me distracted during the day but, at night, saying it to myself a thousand times wouldn't stop the nightmares from coming.
October 4th, 2024 (Floor 28: Wolf's Den)
Amidst protests, I led the birthday girl back into the living room. While it wasn't exactly a surprise party, given that she could probably sense everyone inside, we all figured that it was the thought that counted. Even Asuna had ditched her bodyguard and contributed what she could. With her recently maxed out cooking skill, she provided a feast and a massive layered cake for the party goers to enjoy.
"Happy Birthday, Silica!" everyone shouted once I pushed the smaller beast-tamer inside. She stumbled, glaring at me, before blushing and bowing her head.
"Th-Thank you!"
She looked stunned to see the amount of players that had shown up. The Wolf's Den wasn't a small place, but it was totally packed. All of the Hunters, the wolves, and Pina were present, as well as Asuna, Lis, the Fuurinkazan, Agil, and a handful of other clearers.
We hadn't really celebrated birthdays with parties before today, but Silica was special. As the youngest of us, she had always felt insecure with her place among the Hunters. Today, though, she was 14 years old. Finally old enough to have bought her copy of SAO for herself, she had earned her place as one of the death game's best and brightest.
After today, I would finally let her participate in boss battles. She had worked hard and, at last, she was on par with us. Well, maybe not all of us but definitely Taka. She would be working full raid support with Blake but she'd finally be able to stop waiting at home for us to come back from a big fight. She had probably been ready to fight in the 73rd floor boss battle but I decided against it.
"You know what we haven't done in a while?" Maisie said suddenly, looking up from the dishes she was drying. I looked up at her, yawning. The party had lasted a lot longer and was a lot messier than we'd expected and now we were all stuck on clean up duty. That is to say, all but Silica. She had shamelessly pulled the 'kid need more sleep' card and was probably snuggled up nice and cozy with Pina. The brat...
"What haven't we done?" I was washing the dishes left over and I passed her a cleaned plate. I didn't understand how SAO made some tasks like cooking so simply but others were just as arduous as they were IRL.
"Mapped out a labyrinth," she answered. Heidan, who was trying to clean up some sort of sticky spill on the stairs, poked his head around the corner.
"We mapped out the 72nd labyrinth," he pointed out. Maisie scowled and threw her towel at him.
"That was ages ago! We should go to the 74th floor. Tomorrow," Maisie declared. Asuna brought in a new load of dirty dishes for me to wash and she nodded solemnly.
"I agree with Maisie. The Hunters should map out the 74th floor..." she commented. Then, with a grin, she added, "But only if I get to come with you!"
"You're not even a Hunter anymore, Asuna. Don't you have stuff to do for your guild?" I asked dryly. She pouted.
"It's not like the Knights have any levelling quotas to fill. Besides, it's been a while since I had a day off. The commander can manage without me."
"What about your bodyguard?" I asked.
"Who cares? She can ditch him!" Maisie replied with a grin. She offered her hand to Asuna. "Welcome back, Lightning Flash!"
Updated 22:16, 1.27.2022