Chapter 22: Halfway Done.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online

Sinon's P.O.V

I let Zero go ahead since I know that guy would not defeat this girl… Tomomi is one of the sub-leaders of Scarlet Temptation and it seems she has a hidden blade hung on her leg which is hidden in her Yukata… I am very confident in my skills as an archer so I wouldn't be beaten so easily by the likes of her… Tadaiku's battling Yusharo but in my observation, Tadaiku will win in the next 5 minutes since his weapon acts like a chainsaw but not exactly. It's a Zweihander that can grow blades by willpower.

Tomomi was speedy but she just doesn't beat my speed… As an archer, I must be fully prepared to evade or back away from attacks since I'm just wearing the usual light armor which is the perfect choice for an archer. I shot a few shots of arrows but she dodged 8/10 so this battle can take a while. I have a secondary weapon which was a dagger on my belt just in case but I think if I had to resort to using a dagger then I'd get defeated since I'm not the close-combat type here unlike Tadaiku…

"Fufufu… you really are afraid of me, aren't you? Just fight me player to player and would you just use close quarter combat? I can kill you anytime now…" Tomomi, who was just struck by 15 arrows all in all in our battle was still standing like it was nothing although her HP was in late green probably because I'm Level 92 and she's 94 or now. "When I get serious… even Hozume will fear me you know… I can really 'kill'…"

"Are you sure you're okay with underestimating me like that just because you are higher of a level?" I pulled something which triggered one of the traps I set at her exact location. "This arrow trap should do nicely… Tomomi, don't think I haven't went to close combat yet… while you were close to me I had a sufficient amount of time to set a trap on the ground so that's why I took a hit from you not so long ago…" When the string was pulled, some arrows hit her from behind due to the trap and I flipped while landing the 'Crippling Arrow' skill on her.

Those hits were probably enough to slow her down a bit so I was about to get an arrow from my quiver but it seems I have run out… where did all the other arrows go? I was very sure I had over a hundred arrows in my quiver and I only used about 30-50 on her so far. She gave a sadistic smirk as she pulled out a weapon which replaced her rapier into a katana which looked a bit like… Wukure's if I remembered. She didn't change her armor yet so she isn't serious just yet…

"You call those attacks a hit?! Don't make me laugh!" She seemed to have finally cracked. "You think just because you have a unique skill that only you have means that I can't beat you?! Huh?!" A big touch of pain was what I felt when she surprisingly managed to hit me immediately even if she was about 30 meters away.

"N-Nani? How did you-" The blade sunk deeper as she pulled me by my hair as she deepened the blade but I made myself attempt to calm down and breath less heavily but I couldn't stop the pain I was feeling.

"I see you haven't learned about the rare armor pick up I acquired when we defeated Floor 81… this is just an evolved version of my old armor so prepare for my true power as a sub-leader…" She had me defenceless there so I tried to reach for my dagger but she slashed it away before I grabbed its hilt. "The fun has just begun so I'll let you slide right off the blade…" She kicked me and removed the blade swiftly which made a digital wound on my stomach area and so I fell to my knees gasping for air.

"I-I can't let you go on with this…" I waited to reach for an arrow since the arrow ammo replenishes automatically. "I might not be a higher level than you but I can defeat you…" I prepared for an arrow but she charged right before but I was expecting this to happen anyway… Instead of shooting, I stabbed her with one of my arrows then I made a shot causing her to stagger back a bit but she recovered quite quickly if you ask me.

"Y-You're still able to move?! My blade is coated with one of the most efficient paralyzing potions I made! How can you even still move?! This is just not fair!" She gasped in surprise as she quickly took off the arrow that pierced her.

"Yes, you may know how to coat all of your weapons with paralysis but that won't stop us from attacking anymore… A kind soul has just given all of us a crystal to be immune to paralysis for one battle so I used it just before you appeared… Your paralysis may affect everyone including Kirito but your paralysis potions aren't even close to effective than Laughing Coffin's potions!" The urge of the 'hunt' (or should I say anger?) developed in me and I began using 3 arrows simultaneously but she cut all the arrows down with her blade.

"If I were you then I wouldn't be so confident if I knew what I was planning to do… this is the end, the only archer of Sword Art Online!" She laughed insanely as her brown armor was replaced by a newly equipped black heavy armor with spiked bracers and a longer katana but before she did that I already shot 50 arrows continuously which made me tired out.

We were both in late-yellow HP so I was getting quite worried but I mustn't… If I let myself fear in this moment then she'll land the final blow at me so I must stay in my calm, cool and collected personality for now… but I felt a scorching pain behind my back right before I shot my next arrow… I heard Tomomi's laughs as she slowly used a teleport crystal with her glove so I turned my head to look at the one who stabbed me and it was… Is that Havuki?! No… he's Mishoro… he looks just like him so I was mistaken…

"Sorry Sinon... A.K.A Asada Shino… I am Mishoro and I am the prime brains of Scarlet Temptation and I am ranked third…" Mishoro announced and his red eyes were really threatening me but I managed to stay cool even if a small blade was struck into me. "You shall be taken as a hostage so faint…" He used Embracer on me but I countered by kicking him on his leg but he spun and slashed at me making my HP dangerously low.

"N-No…" I felt my eyes becoming suddenly heavy but I was still opening them. "I-I can't lose like this… not in a two-on-one match… I can't accept this kind of loss…" I tried to stand.

"I wasn't supposed to resort to violence but you left me no choice! Yokoshiro Hozume is almost ready so I must take a hostage… but you really piss me off…" He lifted his blade after he kicked me aside and was ready to stab. I felt the paralysis already but how…? "Goodbye Asada Shino…" Before he stabbed me, a shadowy figure parried the hit and made an entrance with his ripped clothing which looked kind of like a cape now.

"I won't let you hurt her!" It was revealed that the shadowy figure was Tadaiku. "As long as I'm here, I won't let you lay a single touch of a blade on her…"

"Tsk…" Mishoro spat.

"Arigato Tadaiku-san…" I muttered as I coughed out digital blood. I was stabbed too much times by the both of them… I have exceeded my limit… "I'll give you the responsibility of defeating him then… I can't go on…" I shook then I was on the ground unable to move due to paralysis. I'm depending on you I guess…

Tadaiku's P.O.V

"You little… I may not be able to defeat a girl in arguments but you have crossed the lines after doing this…" I unsheathed my special Zweihander which grows out small blades due to willpower. "A painful double assault… you Scarlet Temptation never learn… You made the wrong mistake when you decided to do a double assault to poor Sinon-san…" The blades grew wildly as he gave a 'not amused' face.

"What? You mad?" Mishoro's cold look gave an icy atmosphere but there wasn't really ice, it's just an expression. "A level 95 with a weakness to arguments with women… ironically you're the only one in Sword Art Online that is a complete mystery to me so who are you really? It doesn't matter anyway… after I'm done with you then I'll put away Asada Shino by taking her out of her misery…"

"Don't underestimate me… I defeated that Yusharo guy in 7 minutes… if you attempt to lay a finger on any of my friends… my Zweihander will cut your whole arm off…" A threat came from my mouth as I glared at those red eyes of his. "I warn you… I do not want to fight so I suggest that you go away and leave us alone… or else you'll see how my Feral Zweihander will feel against your neck…"

"Oh? A threat coming from such a person like you? I am an assassin so I won't be that easy to defeat… You shall receive the same fate as Sinon…" Mishoro appeared behind me and was about to do the classic spin-slash but I countered him with my Zweihander resulting to his mini blades breaking upon contact. "N-Nani?! Nice fluke hit…"

"We are fully different in terms of goals… you Scarlet Temptation is destroying but my goal is to stop you all and protect everyone because that's the kind of person I am!" My sky blue eyes met his burning red eyes… This battle should be a hard one… "A man with strength would willingly risk his life…" I did one of my Kamikaze Feral skills which made both of our HPs in early-yellow just by that then he pulled out more of his mini-blades.

He may be faster but I managed to parry all the hits he attempted to land with those mini blades. My Feral Zweihander was a unique event item I got when I went to the Tunnel of the Blades and did the quest which was in Floor 23 and I just kept refining it by Lisbeth's ever since. Mishoro was very masterful I had to admit. Even if he can only use it one-handed and not dual wielding, he can still do quick and powerful attacks with just one hand that holds the blade so I must say he's a worthy opponent to fight with.

Mishoro also looks a lot like Havuki but the difference is that Havuki uses a scythe while Mishoro uses small assassin-like blades so that's the reason why Mishoro is significantly faster than him. He also has this item shaped like a cube, probably used for trapping… that's what my hunch says at least. He hurt Sinon-san so I must make him face the consequences for doing such a thing to her and so here I am clashing with him and pushing him back bit-by-bit. He was not bad for being 4'11…

"It's useless to resist, Tadaiku… I don't let any people who interfere with my task survive this… I will kill you right here and now and that Asada Shino woman will perish by my blade as well…" He attempted a barrage but it was a bit different from before. "This is when things get fun… I will be the one to attack you relentlessly until you yield and lay on the ground dead…"

"As if I'd give in so easily… when things like this happen then I become quite restless and energetic…" I parried most of the hits and barely evaded the ones I couldn't. Even if my Zweihander's a bit heavy, I can still carry it like a normal katana. "There is someone depending on me with her life and I will never throw away her trust… I will develop my powers and use it to protect any of my friends at any cost so I will not let a mere barrage of hits defeat me!" I held the hilt tighter and did a slower but stronger attack which gave a massive hit to his chest.

"I admit that wasn't bad…" He had some digital blood dripping a bit on his mouth but he wiped it off and spun then he disappeared which made it look like he teleported then I saw him right above me. "You cannot dodge or block this hit this time…" He slashed downward and he was right. My reaction time was too slow and I got caught in the hit but since I'm resilient I managed to snap out of the stagger and stand firm again and waiting for him to attack again.

The battle was longer than I initially expected… this guy is two levels below my previous opponent but he survived longer and he's also trickier in the pattern so this battle can be called good I guess. Sinon-san was still paralyzed by the continuous paralyzing effect so I just have to stall just a bit more time so that she can recover from it and be able to protect herself once more. My Feral Zweihander should him up until that happens so my plans just might go smoothly. We were both in the passive stage so that our strength could recover so no one made the next move until we clashed but clashing doesn't help.

"If you still haven't noticed then you must have gotten too much damage from my Feral Zweihander… the ability isn't simply to grow out blades but It can also sap the energy you use in skills so that is why you've been slowing down second-by-second…" I informed him as I delivered a hit but he managed to kick the hit away.

"I may have underestimated you… You are actually someone that I can use my full potential on… don't think I've been going all-out these past minutes against you for I'm just getting started…" He removed his lower-face-mask and charged in but he was stronger that the other clashes and he even got the chance to weaken my leg by kicking it strongly. "The Preparations are almost complete as we speak… currently while we are fighting, Scarlet Temptation had dispatched some of the members to capture some weak players that mean something to your guild… like that little beast tamer…"

After he said this, some kind of messenger NPC appeared and gave something to Mishoro so it seems like someone must have used the outdated messaging system of making an NPC do it… who did it I wonder… Anyway Mishoro backed away far enough to be out of my range and opened the item and it was actually a note. He smirked after he read it then he looked at me with a smug expression and so he equipped his lower-face mask once more.

"What would that item be?" I questioned as I scanned the area for any traps that he may have laid while I wasn't looking.

"Hehe… I finally know your identity! Okudaira Takanori! The plan has now taken place and I must attend to my base of operations… we will finish this in the final battle…" Mishoro teleported away and at the exact same time where Sinon recovered from paralysis and shot him on the arm with an arrow then he was fully teleported.

'No… I didn't get enough information out of him and I haven't managed to defeat him too… how did he know my name as well?' I got some breathing room as soon as he disappeared and I saw Sinon getting up. 'At least Sinon-san is okay but I have a hunch that we have some sort of place to meet with the others but where exactly?'

"Well done Tadaiku-san… Arigato for protecting me in my critical paralysis state as well. We're going to find Asuna and the others at the new hideout of Scarlet Temptation so let's prepare the necessary supplies…" Sinon held her shoulder like it was in pain, worrying me. "We shouldn't stay here much longer… time is running and we really need to go…"

"…H-Hai, Sinon-san… I'm glad you are feeling better now from those two battles… I must apologize for the matter of making you fight all by yourself…" I bowed my head. "I may have vanquished my opponent but I didn't kill him… he escaped before I could deliver the 'coup de grace'… After that I hurried here and I was just in time to save you but not help…"

"*sigh* Let's go already… we are wasting time by acting all leisure-like around here even if we have to be somewhere…" She seemed to have forgotten all about the incident and began ensuring me that she's right. "Things that must be done haven't been done yet so we must reach there before 'it' happens…" She looked quite grim as we were heading towards the teleportation area.

Silica's P.O.V

I don't know how long I was out when I reported to Deira-san about what happened but I happened to finally regain my consciousness and recovered enough to stand up. Lisbeth-san told me the directions to go before I left so I was thankful. I was just Level 75 so I won't be able to do much but I'm confident that I would not be a burden to the others like before. I'm only support which made Koyero join support as well due to Radiance so he gave up on the frontlines to be a support and help me as I do… so it's like a medic thing.

I haven't seen Koyero that much ever since this incident occurred… He's been training with Kirito-san, Vukso-san and Deira-san so he didn't have any time to be with me during those crucial moments… I don't have that much of a good idea but I think that something's up and there will be some unexpected things that will happen… I heard of that glitch that attacked Yumi and caused her leg to be weak all this time until now…

Pina was with me and was big enough for me to ride on but I can only ride on him for a short flight distance since it may begin getting hurt if I repeatedly ride on Pina. I've been making Lisbeth refine my dagger weekly since if I do it daily then my Col would deplete too low. Koyero was the cook whenever it was lunch or dinner although Pina hates almost anything he makes… I like his cooking but it doesn't taste as good compared to Asuna's cooking since it's already maxed out while his is still 610/1000.

Anyway I was approaching the point of where I was supposed to go but suddenly… something hit me… literally. I couldn't tell who or what hit me but I could tell that a hilt of a blade has hit my head with an extravagant force which made me fall on the ground and rub my head in pain. I scanned the area but the presence was gone then it hit me again, this time knocking me out…

… After some time…

"Hey! Wake up already… Silica-san." A familiar voice was calling me but I couldn't see since someone seemed to have blindfolded me. "You are now being held as the momentary hostage… so behave yourself."

"W-Who are you?! I demand a— Wait… you look quite familiar to me… can you be—" I was interrupted by this mysterious person who abducted me and it was at the time where my vision was about to stop blurring.

"That is not important right now, Ayano Keiko…" The voice from that person stated then turned his/her back on me and began leaving. "We shall lure out the beast within Yanaihara Koyero so it would be best for you to prepare with your job of being the bait for him…" The figure chuckled softly while leaving my presence.

What am I going to do this time? I was able to escape the old hideout just because Vukso helped me out that time but how am I supposed to get outta here this time?! … Who's there? Is there some kind of punishment or something that was coming? I hesitantly waited for whatever came until— I found out it was just a person of average height with ear-length messy black hair with somewhat amber eyes. He had a muffler (scarf) wrapped around her neck which gave him quite of a cute look for me.

"Hello… I am Husharu and I'm here to rescue you." He simply told me as he suddenly removed the bindings from me from my chains. "We don't have much time— so please hurry…" He twisted and turned around as he opened a gateway and pulled me by my wrist.

"Tell me who you are first!" I demanded for an answer as he was dragging me. "You are a complete stranger to me so how could I trust you then? Vukso was an exception… he was a hired mercenary whose contract was finished so why should I do the same now?"

"You may think the shadows cannot be trusted twice but at situations like these... The shadows— can be a rare and dependable ally… I may be not of a good Level since I'm Level 87 but trust me… I am the only hope for escape left…" Husharu made some kind of speech which I couldn't decipher well but understood a bit at least.

"What do you mean by that?" I tilted my head out of curiosity.

"Sometimes you must collaborate with the enemy rather than depending on one's self— A helping hand shall always reach out to those who experience misfortune like you… even if the one who heeds the call is not of this guild or that guild…" He muttered as he gave me some crystals… A gold, silver and healing crystal…

"N-Nani?! What's this for? Why are you even helping me in the first place too anyway?" I protested against his idea of this 'escape'.

"The idea is ironic if I may say… you must get back to your cell and say nothing of the sort to anyone… you must hide these crystals from sight and use the golden one at the opportune moment… and I mean the hostage exchange part…" He explained then I was suddenly back in the same place with crystals in my inventory… weird…

Whoever that person was, I don't know if he's with us or against us… he seemed neutral to me… He gave me these crystals but I thought the golden crystal's effect was revealed to be able to use one of the highest skills once per use but this golden crystal's information was filled with '?' so I have no idea what its effect does. This really is mysterious… as I look closer— I see some particles in it so it wasn't the same crystal that Sinon-san used so what is it I wonder… I will follow his instructions but I have to wait a very long time… what will happen by then?

Havuki's P.O.V

It was me and Vukso with me as Level 94 and him as Level 93 V.S Ze as Level 91 and Dark Radiance Klein who was Level 90… Their Levels may be lower but theirs skills were quite enough to make it an 'anyone's win' battle because of Ze's dirty tactics and Klein's uncontrollable power that was forced unto him… I pity Klein at this stage but if we defeat him then he'll get back to normal. Vukso and I have thought of a new move even if we have just met again… we work well together… I am using Redemption and he is using the hybrid sword, Arbite so I wonder what we can combo with.

"Not bad for two people with no tactics at all! You two always attack without planning!" Ze easily predicted us as Klein parried the hits but we managed to land some small weak hits on Klein so we could turn him back to normal but his defenses were very formidable. Vukso and I never separated with each other in the battle since Ze's the advantageous type and will take that opportunity with some kind of trap I'm guessing…

"We won't let those childish traps of yours catch us if you're thinking, Ze!" Vukso momentarily spun around with his Arbite and it ended up like a small tornado that blew away Ze but he stood again easily. "After we defeat the both of you, I swear that I'll make you pay for causing Havuki pain…" He growled as he inserted his giant blade on the ground.

"What do you think you'll be using that big blade for…?" Klein who was controlled by the somewhat glitchy Dark Radiance suddenly reappeared right in front of the both of us. "You will—" His words were cut off when I clashed with Klein before he reached Vukso so I pushed him back with my scythe and I was now prepared for my scythe-based attacks from then on in this battle.

"I will not let any foreign force hurt my friend Vukso… I hope my scythe shall make redemption upon you Klein and free you from this torturing and controlling glitch…" I was in the way of Klein as my scythe grabbed hold of his leg and made him slip. "Outside forces shall be tested by my scythe Redemption— I will stall the both of you until Vukso-san finishes his charging then that's when it begins…"

I was all ready to fight them both myself but I think Ze will just be the observer again and just watch the fights so he can be safe… he's a coward and one of the lowest ranks in the main force of Scarlet Temptation. Vukso and I were former elites and mercenaries of them so we have experienced his terrible ways like sacrificing teammates just for his own benefit… I detest this gut not because he killed me but to what happened to all the ones he killed like that. How unwise for him to stab me at my back that day… The favour will be returned to him…

"Ze… you caused the separation of me, Vukso and Deira… so how do you think I'll forgive you? Should the stars cease to shine or should blood flow from you like a river? It's your call Ze-san… I am not your pawn anymore and I will never be one ever again…" I spun redemption like how a helicopter's propeller spins very fast. "As a memento, Redemption will slice you like a tomato with its juices exploding… Here I go Ze-san…" I lunged at him in incredible speed even if my scythe was fairly heavy.

"Not in your lifetime! You can't kill me!" He pointed at my direction and that is where Klein was about to clash. "If you can't even vanquish the Dark Radiance that is controlling Klein then you just proved to me that your bark is worse than your bite!" He laughed like a maniac and it seems that he thinks he can block me… I'm so annoyed now that I can do this…

"Right now even a blade imbedded with evil and darkness can't stop my tantrum on this one… Redemption will slice you…" I cut through Klein sword and gave a big cut on his chest which made him get to mid-yellow HP. "Ze-san I will not let you hurt my nakama any longer! I—" Ze threw Crystal Powder at me then he kicked me very hard which made me get blown away… I looked like a Level 80 right now…

"Havuki!" Vukso's eyes trembled as he saw me on the ground with digital blood flowing. "You…" Vukso finished charging up that destructive skill of his. "I'm gonna kill you both! You fiends! How dare you hurt Havuki like that even if he just came back! Redempting Concealment!" He swung his sword which made a shockwave that made Klein's HP to 0 and making him back to no normal due to the HP being Dark Radiance's and he even made Ze fly away and hit a tree on his back, making him early-red HP.

"Tsk… you're lucky that I have stuff to do at HQ… the revival is almost complete and my job was to stall the both of you… I don't care for this small fry anymore…" Ze kicked Klein away. "We will meet again in the final battle…" That coward muttered as he teleported away.

It was no time to give chase to him for there's a man down and that man was Klein… I hope he's alright… it wasn't his fault that he was overwhelmed by Dark Radiance since it is the embodiment of darkness which only responds to Figo-sama for reasons unknown… He has given me Redemption as my weapon and he even made Lisbeth refine it so many times for me and saved my life so how can I leave Azure Sky if I owe him my life and loyalty?

"Oi, Havuki. Is that Klein guy alright? He still looks under the weather in that state so we should carry him somewhere first before we head to the place." Vukso seemed to become relaxed after he used that move since it's a hard move to pull of I guess. I taught him that move by using mental messages with him while we were fighting Klein and Ze so he combined Redemption and Concealment since I gave him a fragment of Redemption temporarily.

"Hai, Vukso-san…" We both carried Klein and he is quite heavy… I still remember the time where we first refined a weapon but that's a story for a different time. "The fight draws near… I can feel it resonating in myself… we must take him somewhere safe hastily…"

Deira's P.O.V

I have figured out that their hideout was in Floor 81 so I messaged the others that this is their location. I don't know what apparently happened but I might as well initiate the first attack so I went in just a few moments ago. The place wasn't as guarded as it looks… Of course there were traps but I easily saw through it and evaded anything that attempts an attack. Traps are predictable as long as you keep your cool when facing one. I sensed someone approaching thanks to my observing skill being at max…

This presence I feel is definitely the presence of my old master, Tukorop who taught me the sword-sheathe combo so he's my sensei but after training with, 2 months later he became part of Scarlet Temptation and I have no idea why yet. He was getting closer and closer which provoked me to unsheathe my blade and grab my sword sheathe with my left hand.

"It seems you have finally arrived, Deira-san. I hope you're ready for another teacher V.S student battle because this time I'm really ready for it now and I'm serious…" He did the same but since he was left-handed, he held the blade with his left hand instead of his right hand. "I won't be going easy on you like last time since I really was underestimating you that time and I forgot about your skill of Radiance…"

"Tukorop, please move out of the way or else you'll leave me with no choice but to use force on you… I know that you won't hold back now and so will I so I will apologize in advance for any grave injuries I cause to you and any blood that will be spilled in this game…" I stated my words before we clashed. "Whatever may your reason of joining them is futile to stop this fight now… even if you were threatened by them or forced by them to join, it will make no difference… you chose the wrong side and can't defect to the other side…"

"I already knew the consequences of my actions so don't lecture me my student… I'm the one who's supposed to lecture you… you're wide open in numerous areas." He managed to stab me slightly on the side which made him get the first strike. "It's kind of like a kill or get killed situation now… if I do say so myself…"

"A mere stab will not finish this… Tukorop-sensei… Radiant Armor V2…" In exchange for a big reduction in my stamina bar, my defences were increased to times 5. "Let's see if you can land one of your miraculous big-damaging combos on me with this buff that lasts for 1 minute on…"

The clashes gradually became longer as the battle kept going. My stamina kept decreasing since Radiance's cost is for the user to sacrifice some of their stamina which means my energy and drive for attacking drastically decreases. My blade which I made myself was getting a bit dull on the edge… maybe because I didn't sharpen it recently… no matter. Luckily, I have extra blades in my inventory just in case something like this happens so I'll be fine unless he figures out my weak spot or something.

"Impressive, Deira-san… the sword-sheathe combo style I taught you hasn't rusted even a bit. The corridor we're fighting in may be small but you're wrong… it's big enough for people to use their weapons so it is alright!" He leaped into the air as he spoke and began twirling his blade and sheathe than used the momentum to slam unto me but I blocked easily, at least that's what I thought I did. "If you notice, my attacks damages durability instead of the person I'm fighting if I wish… that is the reason why your arsenal is beginning to get low durability…"

"Tsk… I knew something was up with those weapons of yours. That was actually the reason? My— how could I have not guessed any sooner so I could defeat you last time…" I scolded myself for not noticing this part at all in the past. "Tukorop-sensei, allow me to have a good duel with you without any funny business… please…" I requested him since that's how I wanted our fight to be. Fair and square.

"… I accept your request then… my student." He deactivated every trap in our area and we were ready to duel for real to see who will win. The teacher or the student will win and the other one's fate is sealed… "By doing this, we don't have to worry about anyone interfering with our battle for this one will decide both of our fate so it's not a good idea to be hesitant for I will not hold back…

End of Chapter 22

Author's Note: Sorry for the late update minna but I had some school with lots of things to do so I didn't have time to write much plus there wasn't any Internet so please forgive me… Arigato gozaimasu. The Extra Scene will also move on to the next chapter due to lack of time so please be patient.

Battles and Results so far:

Kirito V.S Rujikiho- Kirito technically wins since Rujikiho retreated.

Wukure V.S Okasa- The battle ends in a tie and Okasa has joined Figo's guild newly named Azure Sky. Wukure and Okasa have done such a hard battle that they are currently resting in their headquarters.

Vukso and Havuki V.S Ze and Klein (Dark Radiance)- Vukso and Havuki win by the new special skill that Vukso learned from Havuki. Ze retreated but Klein was now back to normal Klein so thay are carrying him somewhere safe.

Tadaiku V.S Yusharo- Tadaiku wins against him in less than 10 minutes but he gets quite damaged after but it was nothing to worry about.

Sinon V.S Tomomi- Sinon was about to win until Tomomi teleported away and Mishoro appears.

Tadaiku V.S Mishoro- Tadaiku's determination to protect just ended up with a tie between these two people.

Quorora and Koyero V.S Figo (Dark Radiance)- Quorora wins with a little help from Koyero. Although the battle seemed quite difficult she managed to defeat her sempai who was possessed by Dark adiance and made him back to his former self.

Hozume V.S Mishoro- Mishoro wins and brings Hozume away after knocking him out but not killing him.

Deira V.S Tukorop- In progress. This will continue in the next chapter.

Zero V.S Ku- Zero wins by a landslide but Ku escaped before getting arrested so what could Scarlet Temptation be planning with all these events?

Next Chapter: Do Friends hurt Friends?