I don't own Sword Art Online or Mataras the Red Swordsman. Sword Art Online is owned by Reki Kawahara. Mataras the Red Swordsman is owned by Mataras the Author. I only own my OCs.
Chapter 6: Grimlock, and The Laughing Coffin
Akira soon noticed where the dagger came from, and saw a cloaked figure standing across the rooftops.
"Watch Schmidt!" he called, as he bursted out the window with Kirito, and Mataras right behind him.
"Take point!" Mataras called to Akira, as the trio jumped rooftop to rooftop in pursuit of the hooded figure, trailing right behind them, Kirito wasted no time as he threw a few darts at the mysterious player only to see the player protected by the safe zone effects, with purple hexagons showing where the darts would hit.
Akira was just about to grab the figures cloak when the bell rang, and the player vanished in a flash of blue light, just before though, Akira saw what the player was using just before they disappeared, a teleport crystal?, he said to himself, now he was wondering who the mysterious ghost truly was, if one at all.
Akira instantly skidded to a stop as Kirito, and Mataras caught up with him. "So much for our lead." Akira said with his teeth gritted in fury.
"Aye. We almost had the fellow in our grasp." agreed Mataras
"No, I believe we've gotten all the info we needed to solve this this mystery." Kirito said.
"What do you mean that, Kirito?" Akira asked in confusion
"I'll explain once we're back with the others." Kirito pointed out. On the way back to the others, Akira picked up the dagger that fell onto the ground where Yolko was struck, and had a feeling it was also created by Grimlock, from the way the blade was designed.
As soon as they opened the door, Akira quickly ducked under Asuna's rapier, which was pointed at them. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" she demanded as she sheathed her weapon.
"Call it a gut instinct." replied Akira, just as Kirito punched his fist into the wall and a purple hexagon appeared with the words, 'Immortal Object', written inside.
"How is this happening!? The safe zone is supposed to keep players from killing each other, now this is another player has been killed in this town!" he growled
"Well, you said you would figure something out." Akira said
"Aye, and we'll help out in anyway we can. That is a promise." Mataras nodded
"That robe belong's to Griselda," the quiet mutter was coming from Schmidt, as the group turned to see them. "So that had to be her ghost! Yolko was right all along!" he rambled
The group realized that he wasn't thinking straight and about ready to break down, so they sent him back to his guild, away from the crime scene that was once a safe zone.
"There are two things that don't add up." Kirito said as they walked around town. Akira nodded in agreement.
"One: why would a ghost need to use a teleport crystal? And how can they even use one? None of that makes any sense." he said
"That's right, and the other is something we all really hate to admit, but the rules of SAO are all essentially fair. So that means, nobody should be able to kill players in a safe zone, unless of coarse your the GM. The system protects us in the safe zones as much as they try to kill us on the fields." Silica said, recalling something from earlier.
These two points stumped them, thinking in silence. They were right, so something else had to be going on when the two events happened. If they weren't struck down from beyond the grave, how else could a player die while in a safe zone.
"Well, why don't we figure this out after having some lunch." Asuna suddenly said. This surprised the group as she pulled out a picnic basket, and handed out some sandwiches.
"Did… you make these?" Kirito asked, shocked at the kind deed Asuna performed.
"Yeah, I can cook, surprised?" smirked Asuna. "Better eat it, otherwise the durability will run out."
"Okay." Akira replied, as he took a bite from his. He was surprised from the explosion of flavor came from it as he continued eating.
"Whoa, This is really good!" Kirito exclaimed between mouthfuls "For a Vice Commander, you rock!" Asuna chuckled from the compliment and continued eating. The others did as well.
"Hey, Asuna? Could Silica, and I get together with you for a cooking skill session?" Sachi asked, Silica nodded at the idea.
"Alright, sounds like a plan." Asuna responded.
Kirito seemed to way too excited with the idea, that he jumped when the girls glared at him dropping his sandwich in the process, and it broke into little pieces.
"Aw…" moaned Kirito as he dropped to his hands and knees on the floor where the sandwich was. He wasn't moving after that moment, which caused the others to wonder what exactly he was doing.
"Hey, Kirito, are you crying?" Asuna asked.
"SHHH!" hissed Kirito. He then looked up to the others, and finally figured out the mystery. "I was right!" he called out, "I… no, We didn't see anything at all. We only thought we did."
"All right, Kirito, let's hear it." said Akira as he took another bite from his sandwich.
"The system doesn't let a players HP drop to zero in a safe zone, but, it's a different story for the durability of an object. Kirito said.
This caused Akira, and Mataras to think on it as well, and started to get the same idea on where he was going on the subject.
"When an object breaks, it looks like a player breaking," he said
"Care to explain that for us a bit more, Kirito?" asked Diabel
"Remember when Kains was hanging with that sword through him, well his HP wasn't dropping but the durability for his armor was. When it dropped to zero, he must've used a teleport crystal to make it look like he was killed." Mataras said
"And what Yolko?" asked Sachi
"I get the feeling she had the dagger on her the whole time, remember when she went to get some tea made, did she, after getting our drinks, turn her back at all when she came back." Kirito stated, with the girls silent he nodded and continued, "She was probably focusing on her armor's durability, and when it reached the single digits, all she had to do was act like she was hit."
"And why would they go through all this trouble in the first place?" Asuna asked
"Schmidt, of coarse!" Akira replied, "Yolko recounted the vote, and Schmidt was one of the members that voted to keep the ring. And when they convinced him that Griselda had returned from the grave to get revenge, he would likely slip up and make a mistake in admitting his role."
"His role?" repeated Silica
"I doubt that he would be strong enough to kill her himself, so he probably had some backup, or a third party was involved." Akira said
"I'll give you three guesses…" Kirito sighed
"Laughing Coffin?" asked Silica
"Probably," nodded Kirito
"I think Schmidt might have something to do with it, probably leading the murderers straight to her." Mataras said, "Hmm…"
"What is it?" asked Asuna
"I'm getting this feeling that we're forgetting something, but what is important is that we solved the mystery." he shrugged in response
Akira, however, was in deep thought, "What happens to the item storage when players get married?" he asked
"They get shared inventory." responded Kirito, "Wait… that would mean…!"
"It doesn't matter who killed Griselda! Grimlock would get the ring anyway!" Akira replied
"You're serious about this are you?" Asuna asked
"Dead serious," nodded the three boys
Mataras then fixed his astare to Sachi, "Check your friends list, Yolko should still be there, if our theory is right," He said
Sachi nodded, and did so, she was surprised to see that she was still alive, "She's on floor 19, on a small hill outside the town."
"So is Schmidt," added Kirito as he searched his friends list
Kains is probably going to be there also," Akira nodded, "I get the feeling that they're about to get a confession from the wrong guy."
"Let's head over to floor 19 ASAP, we need to tell them the truth." Silica said
Not half an hour later, Kirito, Akira, Mataras, and Diabel arrived on the scene, jumping of their horses, and heading to the others. When they arrived, they found Yolko, Kains, and Schmidt, but stayed hidden as another man appeared revealing himself as a tall man dressed in a black cloak and suit, with a hat on top covering his black hair, and glasses covering his eyes. Akira then realized that this man was the one who made the dagger and Guilty Thorn, Grimlock.
"Hello, comrades," Grimlock said, "Long time, no see."
"Grimlock!" Yolko gasped, "What are you doing here?! I thought didn't want to help us any further after making those weapons for us."
Grimlock smirked, "That's true, but the real reason why I didn't want to help you in learning what happened to Griselda is simple. I am the reason she's gone." he confessed
This bit of info shocked the whole group, even the cats, they tried to tell them, but Grimlock decided to do it instead, he chuckled as the news sank into Yolko and the others.
"Y-You killed Griselda?" Yolko gasped, then tried to get to him, but was stopped by Kains, as she screamed at the top of her voice, "How could you?! Why would you do that?! Was it for the money?! Is that why you killed your own wife?!" she collapsed in Kains arms, sobbing.
Grimlock just stared at the trio, and chuckled, "Money had nothing to do with it. I killed her because I had to, becausee she was my wife in the real world as well!" this shocked everyone in the area. "She was my wife IRL, yes, but ever since we came here, she changed, and I couldn't do anything, so I killed her, and settled with her memory!" he explained in fury and excitement, then he calmed down, "Also, now that you know the truth, I'm afraid I can't let any of you three live now." he said.
"What are you saying?" Yolko cried out in fear, only to get an answer when Grimlock snapped his fingers, and soon, three men also dressed in black robes appeared, but the cloaks they wore were much messier, with tannish strapped pants and black gloves showing a picture of smiling coffin on the right hand. One had skull mask covering his face with his hood over, wielding an Estoc, the second was the same, held a dagger, and his face was covered in a black sack, the third, like the others had a purple sash mark on his face, and wielded a butcher knife. These three men were in fact none other than members of the murder guild, Laughing Coffin.
They were just about to strike, the Cats struck, alongside Asuna, "Laughing Coffin! Stand down NOW!" Akira cried out carrying a rare form of rage at them, "This is your only chance to come quietly, otherwise, you'll have to deal with the entire assault team!" he growled
All four boys of the guild, drew their swords, ready to fight, settling into their very own stances.
The three murderers paused. This gave Akira a chance to press on homeward at the trio. "And don't act so surprised about this, it should a rare honor to be in in presence PoH!" he said, pointing his sword at the middle LC member wielding the butcher knife.
"What?! That man is PoH?!" questioned Mataras
"That would make sense for Grimlock to get him, after he didn't have any love in his heart whatsoever!" Kirito replied
After hearing that, Grimlock looked shock, and slumped to the ground, as Kains, and Schmidt grabbed him the arms, moving away from the group. Akira then growled, and lunged, only to blocked by the estoc user of LC. "Nice sword, maybe I'll sell it when I kill you!" he said, narrowing his eyes behind his skull mask.
"Don't be so sure, Red-Eyed Xaxa!" smirked Akira, "Silica! NOW!" A large blue crystal soon appeared from the tree behind him, he caught it, and shouted out, while grabbing the arm of his opponent, four words.
"TELEPORT! TOWN OF BEGINNINGS!"
Akira instantly vanished, taking one of the caped murders with him. Everyone gasped at the revelation, Xaxa wasn't taken.
Akira had left, with PoH, to the Town of Beginnings.
The members almost froze out of shock, "You're going to pay for this!" growled the dagger user, revealing himself as Johnny Black.
"I wouldn't if I were you!" Asuna, and Sachi stood right behind the two, and Silica appeared right after, all glaring a stare like venom.
"Surrender!" Kirito growled. Mataras snarled beside them.
The two members of LC growled back, but then sighed, dropping their weapons in surrender.
Mataras rushed in at that moment, grabbing the two from behind lifting up, and bashing the two into a head butt, knocking them out.
"I can't believe that actually worked!" Diabel smirked, The Moonlit Black Cats had just captured the three leaders of Laughing Coffin.
The group then turned to see Schmidt, Kains, and Yolko coming towards them, and offered thanks for saving them.
"Party, our place, Asuna, your invited too." Mataras said, as he pulled out a corridor crystal, the group had earned enough col to buy another one.
He opened it, and tossed the two members of the murder guild in, and followed them.
As soon, as the duo arrived in the town, Akira used the moment to strike at the shocked LC member, hitting him on the head with hilt of his sword, knocking him out. Soon enough, three men in greenish grey armor appeared on the scene, one with a red sash on it.
"What's going on here?! I'm with the Aincrad Liberation Force!" asked the leader.
"My name is Akira, of The Moonlit Black Cats! I'm here to turn in a member of Laughing Coffin! Meet the legend himself, PoH!" said Akira, he decided to check on something, grabbing his grim hand and swiped down his menu. He grinned when the three initials showed up.
"The leader of the red guild?" asked one of the soldiers
"Oh yeah, I would also appreciate if he was thrown in jail right away, one of my members will be arriving soon, and with two more arrests." Akira said.
Two of the liberation army soldiers grabbed PoH by his arm, and the third had his sword drawn in case he tried anything.
Akira watched as the men took PoH away, and started to look around, players from all around the town were looking at him, then bursting instantly into cheer.
"He just arrested the Leader of Laughing Coffin!" One player cried out
"Isn't that Akira? The Azure Swordsman?" asked another player
"From The Moonlit Black Cats?" asked a third player
This caused Akira to gulp, grab a teleport crystal, and instantly vanish.
Later that evening, the team regrouped at their home on floor 2, to celebrate this victory.
"Here's to all of us, to Asuna, and to The Moonlit Black Cats!" Kirito grinned
The group all raised a glass in a toast, and cheered. After all, why wouldn't they, taking down the leading members of Laughing Coffin, allowed them to have a bit of joy.
"We wouldn't have been able to do this if it wasn't for Akira, and Silica's idea." Diabel smiled, "Good job you two." he nodded
Asuna, Sachi, and Silica made a large amount of food for the celebration, but just they were about to dig in, they heard a knock at the door.
Akira went to answer, only to receive a man with long grey/white hair wearing a red coat and dark grey trousers.
"Heathcliff?" Akira asked. This was a surprise for him. Normally, the leader of The Knights of The Blood Oath himself, wouldn't come out of Grandam, the 55th floor, but when he did, it was normally for a very good reason.
"Akira, good to see you after what was heard." nodded the older player.
"Yes sir, we're all glad that Laughing Coffin's leader won't bother any players anymore." Akira said, and then asked, "Are you staying long? Would you like to come in?"
"No, I won't be staying long, I thought I drop by and offer you my congratulations on the accomplishment you made today." Heathcliff said, holding out his hand.
Akira took it, and shook, "Thank you very much, but it was Silica's idea, she got the crystal of a very rare monster drop." he said
"Really? Isn't she the young beast tamer?" asked Heathcliff
"That's right, and before you ask, no. You can't have her." said Akira in a glare
"Fair enough, in the end, it's her choice isn't it?" Heathcliff replied. He was about to turn to leave, when he paused, " I would, however, appreciate if your guild and Asuna would come and debrief me tomorrow, but for now, return to your celebration." he said, "Good night, Akira."
Akira watched him go as he replied, "Goodnight… Commander."
Akira closed the door, and returned to tell them who was at the door, explaining what happened. This give an Asuna an idea.
"Remember when I told you about my friend who can appraise?" she asked, as soon as the group nodded, she continued, "Well, she maintains my rapier, and my newest one. Her name is Lisbeth, and she's really good at there job being a blacksmith."
"Can she make swords?" Kirito asked in interest.
"If she can get the right materials, she can what ever you need." she responded
"Sounds like we got a plan for tomorrow." Mataras said.
"Yeah." Akira nodded, "How about we meet with Heathcliff first, and head over to your friends place."
"Sure." Asuna agreed, "as soon as were done, we head down for floor 48, get something to eat and then head over."
"Sounds good to me." Kirito replied.
The group decided to friend Asuna, figuring that she deserved it after everything that happened.
Silica: Your son can be scary sometimes.
Lauren: I know, but he rarely does that.
Akira: Hey you two, what are you talking about?
Lauren and Silica: Nothing important!
Kirito: Still it's nice to know Laughing Coffin won't be any trouble.
Mataras: Can we excite him?
Asuna: No way. He might be helpful for information.
Mataras: If you say so.
Lauren: Still, what you did was very brave. I'm very proud of you.
Author: Next time on The Azure Swordsman The Lost Fragment. Chapter 7: Lisbeth, and The Dragon's Cry.
All: LINK START!