Chapter 9: Traitor of the guild. Flames of Vengeance and Pain.
I do not own SAO or Rurouni Kenshin.
A few hours have passed since Sachi saw Jin cry tears of blood from his eyes. The Moonlit Black Cats felt sorry for him going through such a terrible ordeal.
"Jin… You don't have to go any further that would cost your life… You have done what no normal player could possible do…" Keita said.
"Our leader's right, Jin. Why don't you join with us? You can't possibly clear this nightmare alone…" Sasamaru said.
Jin was silent, trying to convey his answer. However, he was having a mental conflict whether to join the guild or not. He remained still, thinking on what his choice will be. Everyone waited for the answer as the tension suddenly got thick.
"Very well then… I'll join with you guys…" Jin relented.
Everyone smiled in response when they heard him accept the request to join the guild. Before they could celebrate, Jin suddenly received a message from Kirito.
-Come to Floor 55. We have a meeting with the guild leader from the Knights of the Blood Oath. Asuna also requested you to come.- The message said.
Jin sighed in response. He then looked to everyone.
"Looks like I have a meeting to attend to. The celebration must be delayed since this meeting must be important." Jin said.
"It's okay, Jin. We'll wait till you come back." Sachi said.
Jin nodded before setting off. Before he had a chance to step outside, Sachi then hugged Jin from behind.
"Please… Stay alive for us…" She said in a sorrowful tone.
Sachi then felt a liquid drop on her hand. She then noticed it was tears from Jin, who was silently shedding them.
"I will…" Jin said, wiping his tears off.
Sachi watched Jin as he disappeared in the horizon, heading to the teleport gate.
######
Jin arrived in Floor 55, noting the town he was in.
'Granzam… I remember coming here to help Lisbeth find the ingot needed for her to make Kirito's sword in the West Mountain…' Jin thought.
Nearby, Kirito and Asuna were waiting for Jin. They noticed him, looking concerned.
"Are you okay, Jin?" Asuna asked.
"I'm fine… More importantly, how are you guys holding up from the info brokers?" Jin asked.
"We barely escaped from them since everyone heard about our skills." Kirito said.
A large crowd of players began to gather at the trio. This prompted them to start running.
"They don't let up, do they?" Jin asked.
"They don't… Better start running, fast!" Jin said.
Asuna smirked before taking off in a peel out, holding Kirito's left arm. Jin used his natural speed, catching up to Asuna with little effort.
######
Within the outskirts of Granzam, a large canyon was in view. It was more of a wasteland in appearance. Jin managed to look around the area before noticing Asuna.
'So this is where the Knights of the Blood Oath reside… Perfect place to hide away from PK guilds or prepare for a defensive position.' Jin thought.
He then noticed Asuna near him, looking surprised.
"How on earth are you this fast? You just looked like a bullet in that speed…" She asked.
"A perk of using Shukuchi… It allows me to passively increase my speed by using a variation of the skill." Jin explained.
The trio noticed a large building in view of an open area of the canyon. It was a large, fortified white castle, complete with flags that had the Knights of the Blood Oath symbol.
"This must be the headquarters." Jin said.
"Yes, this is where the Knights of the Blood Oath reside." Asuna answered.
"Good place for them to have the advantage in battle thanks to the geography." Jin said.
"No time to nitpick. We need to see Heathcliff, the leader of this guild, for an important meeting." Kirito said.
Jin sighed, keeping himself quiet while he followed the trio to the meeting room.
######
Heathcliff was waiting on his desk for Asuna to arrive with Kirito and Jin. He heard the door open to see the people he was expecting.
"Ah good. All three of you are here." Heathcliff said.
"Dispense with the pleasantries, for time is running short. Let's proceed with the meeting." Jin said.
"Going straight to it, I see… Very well. Despite we being called the number 1 guild in Aincrad, our resources are running thin. We've also lost some of our forces back in Floor 67." Heathcliff explained.
"Your point is?" Kirito asked.
"You're drawing my vice-commander, one the most important people, away from the guild." Heathcliff answered.
Asuna was about to refute, but Jin held her back.
"If you claim her as a VIP in your guild, you've done a poor job in judging who has the qualifications for being her bodyguard." Jin scowled.
"I apologize about Kuradeel for causing trouble to you all." Heathcliff responded.
"Do so. Also, be sure to send a member to watch him… Something about him feels wrong, something that I can attribute to a bloodthirsty person." Jin said.
"If you say that, then I'll be sure to have one of my commanders keep watch of him. In any case, we can't sit back as you continue to keep our vice-commander away from duty. Kirito, Jin… I want you two to fight me with your swords." Heathcliff said.
"I'm not the one whom you should challenge. I was only dragged into the mess." Jin said, his eyes starting to turn red.
Kirito and Asuna noticed his eyes changing and were on guard.
"Regardless, I wish to fight you both. If you both succeed in defeating me, then Asuna is free to do whatever she wishes. However, if either of you lose during my fight, then you'll become a member of my guild." Heathcliff said.
"Cast your thoughts aside of me joining this guild. I recently joined one not too long ago." Jin reprimanded.
Everyone looked at the Fiery Swordsman with surprise. They didn't expect to hear that from him, not even considering to join a guild.
"Which guild did you end up joining…?" Heathcliff asked.
"The Moonlit Black Cats. A small guild that lives in peace. I won't disclose the location since I want them to enjoy a peaceful settlement." Jin answered.
"In that case, when we have our duel, if you win, you can stay in your guild. However, if you lose, you know the answer." Heathcliff said, leaving his last choice for Jin to know.
"I already know… Abandon the guild I recently joined and stay in your guild. However, I don't intend to join a guild by force. Don't think you can simply request for me to cooperate just because of my strength." Jin warned.
"We'll see. I'll have my duel with Kirito first." Heathcliff said.
######
Jin arrived in Floor 50 in a coliseum for the battle to start. He was watching from the entrance to the battle ground. A large number of people gathered to see the duel.
'Heathcliff may have made a mistake to try and challenge Kirito right off the bat… This risks him in both of us knowing about the skills he can use.' Jin thought.
He then recalled seeing Heathcliff using his skills in previous battles to clear the game.
'The Divine Blade skill… Considered the most powerful skill on Aincrad, it has the passive ability to dramatically raise the user's strength and defense. Looks like I'll be fighting against the strongest player in terms of stats compared to weapons…' Jin analytically thought.
######
At the coliseum battle grounds, Kirito was wielding both of his swords. Heathcliff had his sword equipped on his right hand with a shield on his left arm.
"Let's begin our duel. Whoever has their HP go to the red zone loses." Heathcliff said, starting the duel.
A countdown of 20 seconds began. Both combatants were tense, ready to fight. The seconds of the countdown were slipping slowly to the fighters.
'I don't know how he fights, but I need to start using my trump card if I have a chance to know his combat prowess. He uses a shield in conjunction with his sword, but I don't know any other skills that he possesses, other than his strongest skill.' Kirito thought, sweat dripping from his skin.
The countdown eventually hit zero. Both combatants anticipated for one another to strike. Kirito moved forward, ready to strike at Heathcliff. He merely moved his shield in front of him, blocking the sword attacks.
'He anticipated where I was about to strike… He knows what he is doing…' Kirito thought.
Kirito continued his assault on Heathcliff, who blocked his attacks with little difficulty. The leader of the Knights of the Blood Oath immediately parried Kirito's attack. This gave him the chance to attack his opponent, moving his sword forward in a stab attack. However, Kirito blocked it off by crossing his swords in a scissor guard, diverting the attack away from touching his face.
'He's good… I could honestly say that he could make me go for a run of my money…' Kirito thought.
Heathcliff decided to fight on offense, forcing Kirito on the defensive. This prompted him to parry or block the attacks. He then performed a back flip, gaining some distance between him and Heathcliff.
######
Jin watched the duel carefully. For most of the people watching, Kirito and Heathcliff were moving in blurs. However, Jin was able to track them down with ease.
'They're on a stalemate in this duel… If anything, the only deciding factor for either one is taking a hit. Whoever takes damage, it'll be the deciding factor.' Jin thought.
Asuna was nearby, watching Kirito fighting Heathcliff. She had a worried expression on her face.
"Simmer down, Asuna… Kirito is not one who would simply fall from a duel like this that easily." Jin reassured.
"I'm worried about him because he's doing this for my sake… Plus, he got you involved and risk you abandoning the guild you are in." Asuna said.
"Knowing this, it won't faze me." Jin said.
######
Kirito awaited Heathcliff's next attack. The leader of the Knights of the Blood Oath charged forward. In a surprising moment, Heathcliff used his shield as an offensive weapon, punching Kirito on the gut.
'He used his shield…!' Kirito thought, having his breath taken away.
Kirito was forced to jump back in response, noticing Heathcliff charging at him. They clashed their swords, parrying each other before moving back to get some distance. The Black Swordsman then leaped forward, using his Vorpal Strike skill to pierce the shield, but it had little effect. There was no scratch on it, but it gave Kirito some breathing time, knocking Heathcliff back.
"Nice reaction time. I'd say that you can face the Blaze Swordsman and be victorious." Heathcliff complimented.
"That shield of yours is rather strong. Even if my agility is higher than a normal player, not even I would survive against the Blaze Swordsman. He would take me down without blinking an eye." Kirito admitted.
The audience was cheering wildly for the two combatants. Everyone never expected the match to be intense. Kirito and Heathcliff dashed forward, fighting in dominance to overwhelm one another. Most of their attacks were parried while some manages to nick each other. Their HP gauges were decreasing to borderline yellow.
######
Jin kept a careful watch of the duel. He took notice that both combatants were in a stalemate.
'They're evenly matched… I'd say it would be a good time for them to use their specialized skills, lest one loses the duel.' Jin thought.
Asuna wasn't faring any better. She watched nervously as Kirito and Heathcliff were fighting fiercely, creating a small dust storm. She then decided to talk with Jin.
"Jin, who do you think would win this match?" She asked, uncertain.
"I'd say Kirito would win this… His Starburst Stream is capable of immense power, equal to the Vorpal Strike. However, it's more versatile and capable of overwhelming a shield user. If he has the time to use the dual wielding skill, now would be a good choice." Jin explained.
######
Kirito began to move fast, trying to fight through Heathcliff's shield. Their HP was at 50%, turning yellow. It was a deadly dance of swordplay.
'Not yet…! I can increase the speed…!' Kirito thought, pushing himself to the limit.
Heathcliff struggled to block off Kirito's relentless attacks. He decided to take a chance to attack and stab him, only for Kirito to tilt his head away, scratching his left cheek. This left him open momentarily, allowing the Black Swordsman to return the same attack to the leader of the Knights of the Blood Oath. This caught Heathcliff off-guard from Kirito's sudden attack, making him turn serious.
'It's now or never… Time to use it!' Kirito thought.
His swords flashed in deep blue, indicating he was using Starburst Stream. He began performing the initial combos, forcing Heathcliff to hold his ground. Each strike was forcing his grip on the shield to loosen considerably. Kirito took the initiative and a powerful x-shape attack with both swords. The force of the attack was so strong, it knocked Heathcliff's shield off, leaving him open.
'Now's my chance!' Kirito thought.
Kirito raised his Elucidator to make his final strike.
######
Jin began to notice something from the distance. He noticed Heathcliff whispering to himself. This forced him to read his lips on what Heathcliff was saying.
'Moral Code Removal? What is Heathcliff up to?' Jin thought.
This prompted the Blaze Swordsman to watch the match with an intense stare, knowing something was about to change.
######
Kirito noticed that Heathcliff was moving his shield at impossible speeds to block his attack. This left him completely off-guard, allowing Heathcliff to retaliate with a clean hit on him with a smirk. Kirito realized he lost the match upon his HP reach the red color.
'I lost… But how though? He moved his shield beyond the maximum parameters in speed…' Kirito thought.
The audience cheered loudly as the match of Kirito and Heathcliff was over. However, they all awaited the time for Jin to fight against him.
######
Jin frowned upon seeing the outcome of the duel. He knew something was wrong the moment Heathcliff uttered the words he read from his mouth.
'Something tells me this Heathcliff is more than just a leader of a guild. How would a person be able to achieve privilege from the system?' Jin questioned in thought.
His questioning was put to halt when he noticed Kirito coming in with a disappointed expression. Jin sighed, knowing Kirito felt his pride was wounded.
"I know what I saw, Kirito. I won't let him get the drop on me." Jin said in a calm tone.
"Be careful, Jin. Whatever he did, it caught me in surprise." Kirito said.
Asuna went to Kirito, feeling worried for him.
"Try to soothe him, Asuna. He looks shocked of what happened." Jin said.
Asuna was about to say something to Jin, but she saw him enter the battleground, ready to fight against Heathcliff.
'Jin, I hope you can forgive me of risking you to leave the guild you recently joined…' She thought.
######
Jin was waiting for Heathcliff to arrive in the battleground. Heathcliff eventually arrived, ready to fight. His HP was restored from the damages in the previous duel with Kirito.
"So… Ready to commence this duel?" Jin asked.
"Ready when you are, Jin-kun. I won't be as easy as from what you saw in the match." Heathcliff said.
Both combatants used the menu interface and agreed to accept the duel conditions.
"Same rules as the previous duel?" Heathcliff asked.
"Same rules." Jin said.
Heathcliff applied the rules and commenced a countdown. The audience was cheering wildly than usual. They were now awaiting to see what Jin was capable of in the middle of a fight.
'He's still using the same fighting style against Kirito… That shield of his is rather tough to fight off. I may have to use some of my skills that can extend my cutting range.' Jin thought.
The countdown was slipping by, raising the tension in the coliseum. Jin's eyes turned red, indicating he was ready to fight. He brought Amaterasu out, making the sword flicker with flames. Eventually, the countdown ended.
######
Kirito and Asuna watched as both of the combatants were ready to fight. Both knew it would be a shocking duel to see.
"Kirito-kun, do you think that Jin can take down Heathcliff?" Asuna asked.
"I have my doubts since the duel from earlier. Knowing him though, he may have a chance." Kirito replied.
Both were uncertain to know of the outcome of the duel. They began to watch as the fight started.
######
Heathcliff started off by dashing at Jin with his shield out on front. The Blaze Swordsman noticed what his opponent was about to do. He performed a forward flip, effectively dodging the attack with grace, catching Heathcliff off-guard. This allowed Jin to follow up with his first attack.
"Hiken: Shukuchi San!"
Using the sudden speed to his advantage, Jin quickly closed in and delivered a quick slash to Heathcliff. This forced him to swing his shield to block the attack. He ended up receiving a few nicks from his attempt to block off Jin's assault.
"Such speed… You would easily overwhelm Kirito at that rate… Now I see why even he would have a hard time." Heathcliff commented.
'He's trying to get a feel of me… I'm not falling for that.' Jin thought.
Heathcliff decided to go offensive, dashing to Jin with his shield. This forced the Blaze Swordsman to swing his sword on the shield to divert the attack away. However, he was left open for a second, allowing Heathcliff to attack him. Jin quickly raised his sword up to block off the attack, which caused Heathcliff's sword to make a shallow cut near his right eye.
'So that's how it goes… Well then… If that's how you want to play, then you'll see why no one should fight against me…' Jin thought.
A sudden aura of heat erupted from Jin. Heathcliff noted the air was getting warmer from the sudden release. He then looked at Jin, who was preparing another attack.
"Hiken: Homura Dama!"
Jin wreathed his sword in fire and made several attacks, forcing Heathcliff back. He knew the cutting range was extended due to the flames dancing on Jin's sword.
"That's certainly a troublesome skill set. Using fire to extend your cut range is rather ingenious to hold me back." Heathcliff commented.
Jin paid no heed, now knowing that Heathcliff will anticipate his next attack. However, he smirked.
'That's only the tip of the iceberg, fool…' Jin thought.
######
Kirito and Asuna were watching the duel and was surprised he was using his weaker battojutsu skills.
"What is Jin doing? Why attack Heathcliff with a low level skill?" Asuna asked.
"He's gauging his opponent, trying to assess on how the duel will go." Kirito realized.
"Gauging? Are you saying that Jin is learning on what Heathcliff is doing?" Asuna asked.
"I have a feeling so." Kirito answered.
######
Jin then dashed forward, moving at fast speeds thanks to Shukuchi. Heathcliff moved his shield in front to block off his next attack, only to be shocked at what he saw.
"Hiken: Shingu Renge Henka: Kasai no Senkai!"
Jin was in a rolling somersault, acting like a flaming buzz saw. Heathcliff held his shield as hard he can, but he was forcefully pushed back to a wall, allowing Jin to push forward and knock the shield aside. He kept his skill active, causing Heathcliff's HP gauge to decrease to the yellow zone. Heathcliff noted that Jin lost only 14% of his HP in comparison. The audience was excited, evident from their loud cheering to see the Blaze Swordsman in action.
"I'm impressed… You managed to inflict greater damage on me." Heathcliff said in compliment.
Jin remained silent, not wanting to waste his breath. He then followed with another skill to end the duel. This prompted Heathcliff to say the same words during the duel with Kirito.
"Moral Code Removal." Heathcliff muttered.
######
Kirito immediately noticed Heathcliff increased his speed parameters once more. He was shocked to notice the sudden change.
'He… He's doing the same thing when I fought him… He increased his speed parameters again!' Kirito thought in shock.
Asuna was worried that Jin may not join his guild. She watched as the duel got tense as time passed.
######
Immediately, Heathcliff dashed forward in intense speed for a second. He attacked with a Vorpal Strike, but Jin stood still. He raised his sword in a kendo stance before swinging it to the side. The sudden attack deflected Heathcliff's sword, shocking him.
'He… He parried my attack, despite me raising my speed parameters beyond the norm…! Who is he?' Heathcliff questioned in thought.
######
Kirito was beyond shocked. Everyone that saw the sudden occurrence was shocked to see the sudden turn in the battle.
'Jin countered Heathcliff's speed! He was able to prepare himself for anything to the point of anticipation!' Kirito thought, unable to comprehend how Jin was successful.
Asuna was also shocked beyond belief. She couldn't believe on what happened. It was like a fictional samurai fight, but the duel in front of her said otherwise.
######
"It's over…" Jin said.
Channeling fire on his blade, Jin counterattacked.
"Hiken: Houken!"
The flames condensed on to the sword, extending its length. Heathcliff attempted to block the attack, but he was met with full force from the power. The force caused him to be blown quite a distance before impacting on one of the walls of the coliseum. This caused his HP gauge to reach the red zone, signifying the end of the duel. Everyone was shocked that Jin was able to defeat Heathcliff.
"Guess that means I'll remain in the guild I'm with then." Jin said, shaking his sword from the flames.
Heathcliff was still shocked of the sudden outcome. He couldn't find any simple explanation as to what happened.
"How were you able to deflect my strike like that? I was moving at fast speeds." Heathcliff asked.
"I took some time to train on kendo prior to playing this game. It was a teaching passed down from my sensei, who told me to wait for the chance to attack." Jin replied.
Jin then walked away as the crowd roared with excitement. He was questioning on Heathcliff to himself.
'Something about him is very strange. No player should manipulate their stats like that. Only a person working in the MMO would have GM privileges to do as he or she pleases with their character's stats. I'll worry about this later one.' He thought.
######
Sometime later, the trio was in Agil's Item shop. Kirito was showing dislike of his uniform. Asuna giggled, seeing his disdainful expression on his face.
"Couldn't they have something less flashy than this…? Why can't I keep my usual black clothing instead?" Kirito asked.
"This is one of the less flashy uniforms in the guild. It does suit you nicely." Asuna complimented.
Asuna then turned her attention to Jin.
"You know that you nearly risked losing the duel, Jin… Why are you such a heavy risk taker?" Asuna asked.
"Death no longer phases me. I guess you could say that constant fighting made me more composed, especially when I'm in an intense battle." Jin replied.
Asuna was internally debating on how to sympathize with Jin's response. Kirito collapsed on a nearby bed, placing his left fist in front of his sight.
"I never thought I would be in a guild again…" Kirito said.
This got Asuna's attention, hearing Kirito's muttering.
"I'm sorry for dragging you two in this mess." Asuna apologized.
"It's fine. I'm already reaching my limits as a solo player." Kirito said.
"I won't be with the guild I'm in for long though… It's a temporary recruitment, since I have to continue fighting." Jin said.
"It does make me feel better on what you said, Kirito-kun. Jin-kun, you're pushing yourself too harshly if you continue staying alone… Don't you feel lonely?" Asuna asked.
"I'm used to it. It's not anything out of my norm." Jin replied.
"I also want to ask you two something… Both of you have been avoiding guilds up till now. Why were you doing so and why avoid close contact with other people? It isn't because of your skills or being beta testers, is it not?" Asuna questioned.
Jin and Kirito remained silent for a full minute. Asuna was concerned of their silence before Kirito decided to speak.
"I did join a guild one time. Jin didn't but he stayed with them temporarily. It's a tiny guild, consisting of five members. It's called the Moonlit Black Cats. To be honest, their levels were much lower than mine and Jin's. I thought if I revealed my true level, they would reconsider in making me join them. Jin knew what I was doing at the time… He kept the secret hidden from me. The way they interacted comfortably made me covet the same bonds the guild shared with one another. However, on a fateful day…we wounded up in a trapped room in the Labyrinth on Floor 27. Jin was with us during that time…" Kirito explained.
Asuna was listening intently as Kirito paused before continuing.
"We were able to survive thanks to Jin's efforts, but it left me emotionally scarred… I almost led them to their deaths without knowing of the trap that the room had… Once we escaped, I told the leader of my real level and status as a beater. He kindly told me that I will still be invited to the guild, regardless of what I am. Jin, on the other hand, took it the worst. He snuck out from us, fighting monsters to the point of exhaustion. He was nearly killed in the process." Kirito finished.
Asuna was shocked to hear how much Kirito was suffering emotionally. She also glance at Jin, who was having a far off expression on his face. Her attention shifted to Kirito. She placed her hands on Kirito's face and made him look at her.
"I won't die and neither will Jin. He has been through a lot and so have you, Kirito-kun. The reason I'm saying this is because I'm the one who'll protect you." Asuna said with a gentle smile.
Asuna hugged Kirito closely. He was confused in to how to respond. He remained silent, not even moving.
"Jin… Please try to stay alive… We're your friends and we can't bear to see you continue this way…" Asuna said.
Jin remained silent but he made a subtle nod from his head. A soft breeze blew from the open window, causing his hair to billow.
"I'll be back. Just to take care of some business." Jin said.
He brought out his warp crystal.
"Teleport: City of Beginnings!" Jin said.
######
Jin arrived at the Town of Beginnings. He was making his way to meet with the Moonlit Black Cats.
'I've accepted their invitation to join their guild. It's now or never.' Jin thought.
He walked into a small apartment building, where the Moonlit Black Cats resided.
######
Keita heard a knocking sound from his door.
"Who is it?" He asked.
"It's Jin." Jin replied.
Keita immediately opened the door. He was pleased to see the Blaze Swordsman.
"Ah, you're here. That's good. Now we can commence our guild meeting." Keita said.
"A guild meeting behind the scenes? What's the topic?" Jin asked.
Keita smiled before the other members came into view.
"Congratulations in joining the Moonlit Black Cats, Jin." Everyone said.
This caught Jin in surprise. He didn't expect a sudden congratulation party to occur. The calming atmosphere made him smile, albeit faintly. Sachi was the first to notice.
"You should smile more, Jin-kun. You look really nice that way." She said.
Jin's face flushed in response. This made Sachi giggle, seeing how embarrassed he looked.
######
The date was October 23, 2024. Jin arrived in the guild headquarters of the Knights of the Blood Oath. He looked calm, but internally, he was high strung.
'To think that Kirito messaged me that Kuradeel would be joining him on a training regimen… No way in hell I'm letting that guy near my friends.' Jin thought.
Asuna noticed Jin about to enter the headquarters.
"Jin, what are you doing here? I thought you're with the Moonlit Black Cats." Asuna said.
"Is Kirito still here?" Jin asked.
"Yes. Why?" Asuna questioned.
"I need to warn him… He's with Kuradeel and I don't like him for several reasons." Jin said.
By then, Kirito and Kuradeel came out with another guild member. He was a huge man with thick, shaggy orange-brown curls and he looked like an axe wielder. He was wearing a white and red Knights of Blood Oath uniform with a white cape, a metal chest plate, metal shoulder plates and bracers and brown, leather gauntlets. Jin kept a wary eye on the man.
"It's okay, Blaze Swordsman. Kirito's in good hands." The man said.
"Better make sure since I can't trust Kuradeel for his previous actions. Name?" Jin asked.
"Godfree's my name, and I'll be training Kirito with Kuradeel in the Labyrinth here in Floor 55." The man named Godfree said.
Jin felt somewhat calm with the man's personality. He loosen his arms before sending a friend request to him.
"My name is Jin. I'm pretty sure you know about me from Asuna." Jin replied.
"Oh? Adding a new friend so suddenly? I also heard about you from her." Godfree said.
"It's to help keep an eye out for you guys. I'm just weary with the number of people I've lost." Jin said.
"That's understanding. Thanks for the concern, Jin." Godfree said.
"I won't be able to come to the training regimen you guys are doing so I'll wait here." Jin said.
Godfree nodded in response. He then turned to Kuradeel and Kirito.
"Gentleman, please present to me your crystals. Don't worry, I won't use them. This is a training exercise for us all in regards on how we will use our skills." Godfree said calmly.
Kuradeel and Kirito reluctantly gave him the crystals they possessed. Jin was uneasy, not liking what may happen later on.
"Okay everyone! Let's go!" Godfree said cheerfully.
"Yeah…" Kuradeel and Kirito said with a dull tone.
Before they left, Jin gave a sharp glare to Kuradeel, who was intimidated from the staring.
"Do anything to them, and I'll turn you into cinder." Jin warned.
"I-I apologized to Kirito…" Kuradeel said, shaking.
'Somehow, I don't think that's the case.' Jin thought.
######
Kirito, Godfree and Kuradeel were at the dungeon entrance in Floor 55. The trip took them about half an hour by foot. It was a vast canyon with no plant life in the surrounding region.
"Okay! Time for a break." Godfree announced.
Kirito and Kuradeel sat down on the ground, showing some exhaustion from the trip.
"I'll distribute the food to everyone." Godfree said, opening his menu.
He then tossed two bags. One for Kuradeel and Kirito, respectively. Kirito opened his bag only to find a loaf of bread with a small glass jug of water. Sighing in seeing he wasn't given Asuna's home cooked meal, he opened the jug and began to drink. Kirito noticed Kuradeel didn't touch his food or water at all. He just gave a smirk at Kirito, seeing him drink the water along with Godfree.
'Oh no…!' Kirito thought.
He then tossed the glass jug away, causing it to shatter. However, his fears was realized. He couldn't move his body as he felt stiff.
'Paralysis!? He must have added paralyzing poison into the water!' Kirito thought.
Kuradeel stood up, cackling manically at seeing Godfree and Kirito paralyzed. He had a crazed expression on his face.
"What is the meaning of this…? Kuradeel, weren't you were the one who brought the water to us?" Godfree said, struggling to move.
"Use the antidote crystal! Hurry!" Kirito shouted.
Kuradeel noticed what Godfree was about to do. He quickly went him and kicked the antidote crystal away.
"This is all a training regimen, isn't it Kuradeel?" Godfree asked, not understanding the threat he's in.
"Godfree-san. You're such a fool. I know you were more muscle than brain." Kuradeel said, equipping his sword.
"What are you doing? This isn't part of our training…" Godfree said.
Kuradeel raised his sword up and swung it down on Godfree's back. Godfree watched with horror as he saw Kuradeel's face with a crazed expression. The color cursor above him turned orange.
"Stop!" Godfree pleaded.
Kuradeel didn't listen to Godfree, continuing to effectively slice him down.
"Listen… Our party was attacked by a gang of criminal players out in the fields! Despite your valiant efforts, you were slain! I returned alone, having survived the ambush and killing the criminals!" Kuradeel said with glee, laughing.
He then raised his sword up to do the finishing blow to Godfree. The man could only watch in seconds as his life was taken from him. He disappeared in blue polygons.
######
(Minutes earlier)
Jin was inside the guild headquarters of the Knights of the Blood Oath, sitting in the guest room. He was twitching, uncomfortable of seeing Kuradeel with Kirito. Asuna noticed how agitated he looked.
"Calm down, Jin. I'm sure they're okay." Asuna said.
"I know… However, I can't trust that guy. He looks the type to kill you from behind." Jin said.
He then opened his menu to check on his friends. He scrolled down to see the name Godfree, only for it to suddenly fade away in gray before disappearing. This got him in complete shock, forcing him to stand up.
"We have to go to the Labyrinth, NOW!" Jin said, showing his anger unrestrained.
Asuna was surprised on how he was acting.
"Why are we heading there? Did something happen?" Asuna asked.
"Yeah. Godfree's dead." Jin said, shocking Asuna.
######
Kirito was deeply shocked on what happened. Kuradeel then turned to Kirito, intending to finish him off.
"Hey, because of a kid like you, I had to kill an innocent bystander." Kuradeel said insanely.
"For what you have done, you sure took a lot of pleasure in killing him. Why would someone like you join in the Knights of the Blood Oath? You'd be better with any criminal guild." Kirito said.
"Quite an interesting person, you are. I'd say you have sharp eyes." Kuradeel commented, removing his lower armor on his arms.
Kirito was shocked to see a familiar symbol on the left arm of Kuradeel.
"That symbol…! You're a spy of Laughing Coffin!" Kirito said.
"That guild was the answer as to how I was able to concoct that paralysis potion. Whoops. Better stop talking before the paralysis wears off. Time to end this!" Kuradeel said in mad glee.
He stabbed Kirito's left arm, causing the young swordsman to scream in pain. Kuradeel moved the sword around, cutting off Kirito's HP.
'The paralysis is still in effect… Damn it… Wear off already…!' Kirito thought.
Kuradeel continued to torture Kirito to death. He stabbed Kirito's right leg, shoving the blade around.
"How does it feel, knowing that you're about to die? Tell me, would you?" Kuradeel asked, insanity already evident.
Kirito's HP was dropping down till it hit the yellow zone.
'Am I…going to die…here?' Kirito thought, feeling his death close to him.
"Hey now! Say something… You're about to die! This is all for killing us and defeating our leader!" Kuradeel said, accidentally revealing his plot.
Kuradeel kept cutting Kirito, bleeding his HP down to the red zone. Kirito closed his eyes, feeling a sense of hopelessness. He was not willing to die without Asuna, but he couldn't move any more.
"Time to die!" Kuradeel said with glee.
A fiery breeze suddenly got Kuradeel's attention. He looked up and noticed a fiery comet ramming him on the face with enough force to send Kuradeel flying to a nearby wall of rock. It was Jin and Asuna.
'They made it in the nick of time…' Kirito thought with relief.
"Kirito, are you alive!?" Asuna asked.
"Just use the healing crystal… I'll deal with this…maggot." Jin said, holding a snarl back.
Asuna wasted no time and used the crystal to heal Kirito's HP.
"Thank goodness I made it in time." She said in tears.
"How did you know that I was in danger?" Kirito asked.
"Jin told me that Godfree died and he brought me here as he raced his way to find you." Asuna said with tears.
They then turned to Jin, who was lurching with a menacing aura, scaring Kuradeel.
"Jin, don't! Are you planning to kill him!?" Asuna shouted.
Jin didn't respond immediately as his anger was taking over his reasoning.
"Asuna… Take Kirito and get away from the canyon…" He said.
Asuna didn't reply nor didn't she leave.
"DO IT!" Jin shouted, flames racing around him.
Asuna and Kirito were shocked on the sudden tone. They were unable to move as they watched Jin moving to Kuradeel.
"Y-you aren't going to kill me, are you?" He asked with fright.
"Kill you…? I'm not going to kill you…" Jin said.
Kuradeel was having some relief from Jin's response.
"'Kill' is such a baby word. I'M GOING TO BURN YOU AND HURL YOUR ASHES IN THE AIR!" Jin bellowed.
Kuradeel was now frightened. Jin then slowly brought Amaterasu out.
"Hiken: Shukuchi Ni!"
He quickly lopped off Kuradeel's arms off. This made him scream in pain, seeing his arms hacked off. Jin's next attacks then came.
"Hiken: Homura Dama!"
He then sliced off Kuradeel's legs, leaving him unable to move.
"D-demon…!" Kuradeel said.
"Demon… How fitting for someone like you, Kuradeel. You and the rest of Laughing Coffin shall perish. NOW REPENT FOR YOUR CRIMES IN HELL!" Jin bellowed.
He raised his left fist, forcing his fingers to straighten like spear before pulling it back. The hand glowed in a fiery, yellow aura as Jin pierced Kuradeel's chest, killing him instantly.
"Damn you… Blaze Swordsman… I hope you rot in hell…" Kuradeel said, disappearing in blue polygons.
Jin looked at the ground, where Kuradeel was bleeding out before Jin killed him. He made a smirk, only it was one with a cold spirit.
"I'm not the one going to hell. You will, Kuradeel." Jin said, countering Kuradeel's last words.
######
Asuna was shedding tears, obviously guilty for letting Kuradeel harm Kirito and killing Godfree.
"I was so scared that I thought I was going to lose you… If it weren't for Jin stopping him, I would be too late… It's my fault…" She said, sobbing.
Kirito then turned and captured Asuna's lips. This left her in surprise, unable to speak.
"My life is yours now, Asuna… I will make sure we will make it to the end." Kirito said.
Asuna held Kirito closely as he continued speaking.
"Asuna, I want to stay in your place tonight…" Kirito finished.
"Okay." Asuna said.
######
Kirito was with Asuna in Floor 61, at the town of Selmburg. He was in Asuna's place, drinking tea after eating a recent meal. Both were quiet, not saying a word. Kirito noted she finished drinking from her cup.
"Okay!" Asuna suddenly said, placing her cup on the table.
Kirito was unsure on what was about to happen. Asuna then turned the lights off, making Kirito uncomfortable. She then opened her menu and all of sudden, Asuna undressed herself, leaving her in her underwear. This shocked Kirito upon seeing the sudden action.
"Please don't stare at me too much… Please hurry and get undressed, Kirito-kun… It's awkward if I'm the only one like this." Asuna said, feeling embarrassed.
"T-that's not I mean, Asuna…! I-I just wanted to stay here for the night. I didn't mean it like this, but I'm at fault for not fully explaining." Kirito stuttered, flustered and keeping his eyes closed.
Asuna looked at Kirito, whose eyes remained closed while his face turned red. She looked at him for a few seconds but she was also embarrassed. She suddenly tensed up, showing she was getting angry. Kirito could hear her voice becoming angry, causing him to stumble on the floor, blinded.
"You IDIOT!" Asuna said, making her right arm glow in a pink color.
She punched Kirito so hard, it sounded like thunder.
######
Sometime later, Asuna was asleep. Kirito remained awake, but he had a soft smile. He then poked Asuna's left cheek, waking her up in the process.
"I'm sorry… Did I wake you up?" Kirito said.
"It's okay. Kirito-kun… I need to know something… Why Jin told us to leave the area?" Asuna asked.
Kirito was reluctant to answer, but he decided to respond.
"Jin has been hunting down every single PK guild across Aincrad up till now. Titan's Hand, Shinigami, Hades, even Laughing Coffin etc. All these guilds he hunted down were due to their crimes in killing the innocent." Kirito explained.
"But that also means he's a murderer as well! He shouldn't go that far to doing what he's done!" Asuna said.
"I know that! However, Jin killed off his heart, suppressing his emotions for the most part. He had changed drastically ever since the boss battle on Floor 1. When he heard news of the rise of PK guilds, he stopped for nothing and began hunting them down. Once he heard of a player killing another for their pleasure, he hunts them down, regardless of moral choice." Kirito said.
"Couldn't he send them to prison? That would have been a better way than staining his hands with blood." Asuna asked.
"No, it's not that simple. Once one becomes a killer, they get drunk of their own strength and keep killing others to satisfy their bloodlust. Simply putting them in jail doesn't guarantee they'll stop killing. Jin knows this, henceforth he kills them in cold blood. Sometimes, the shock of it, due to the last words of the slain, affect him severely…" Kirito explained.
Asuna couldn't help but sympathize on Jin's part. She held Kirito close, not wanting him to suffer the same thing.
"I hope you aren't developing the same ordeal Jin is dealing with… I'm afraid of how you'll deal with it." Asuna said.
"I won't be like Jin… I'm not strong willed compared to him." Kirito said.
Kirito began to think for a minute before he began speaking.
"Let's take a breather for a week. I know a place, a cabin for that matter, in Floor 22 called Coral Village, where we can rest peacefully. Plus… We can get married." Kirito said, blushing.
Asuna was shocked of the sudden confession. She smiled and cried tears of happiness. She held him close, now finding someone she can be with.
######
Jin was in Floor 1. He was now resting in a different room from the Moonlit Black Cat's headquarters. He couldn't sleep, due to Kuradeel's last words haunting him.
'Am I…a demon…?' He questioned to himself.
Jin then heard his door open. Sachi was out from his room. She could tell something was on his mind.
"Jin… Is there something wrong?" Sachi asked.
"Sachi… I guess I have something that has been plaguing me… Tell me this though… Am I…really a demon?" Jin asked, uncertain on what to hear.
Sachi was deeply shocked to hear what Jin was asking. She went up to him and hugged him in response.
"What happened to you…? What caused you to ask this kind of question?" Sachi asked.
"I…had a brief scuffle with one of the surviving members of Laughing Coffin. He nearly killed one of my friends, but I managed to intervene. However, my anger took over my reasoning and I…" Jin said, pausing.
Sachi saw how the Blaze Swordsman, whom everyone was afraid of due to his accomplishments, was breaking down mentally. It was a pitiful sight to see one of the strongest players in SAO break down in confusion and self-questioning.
"You have been holding it all in… All your emotions were suppressed when you were hunting down the PK guilds. They're now nonexistent thanks to you." Sachi reassured.
"Even so… I have done things that I'm not proud of. I'm a murderer in cold blood, Sachi. I've killed the people here in SAO, despite my ethical choice. I know it was morally wrong, but I had to endure this pain. It'll forever stay with me as a scar." Jin said.
Sachi held Jin closely, doing whatever she can to help comfort him of his pain. It was proving arduous.
"You never wanted to get close to others because of this overwhelming pain… I understand that you don't want anyone to go through on what you have been through. However, it's still wrong to handle this on your own." Sachi explained.
She held Jin's head and placed it on her laps. A wet feeling then caught her attention to her lap from where Jin was laying down. She could hear haggard breathing coming from him. Sachi realized that Jin was crying.
"It's okay, Jin. I'm here for you." She said.
Jin's crying was quiet, but his haggard breathing was loud enough for Sachi to hear his sorrow. She kept his head close to her lap, soothing him from his pain.