Chapter 16

Author's Note: I'm back, bitches! Alright, first things first, last time I said 2 more boring chapters. I'm cutting it down to one. Namely, this one. Then we get to the really fun/depressing stuff! Oh, boy!

September 17th 2024

"Booooooooooooooored," I said, drumming out a small beat on the floor.

"Quit complaining," Liz replied, hammering away at whatever sword she was making. "Just because I'm busy doesn't mean you have to sit around. Go up to the 72nd floor, do some grinding. Something."

"Can't. It's gonna be mobbed with people, now that Laughing Coffin is out of the way."

"Exactly. The time to send a message that you're still here. Wouldn't want everyone to think you disappeared again."

I glanced up. She hadn't brought that up since…since I came back. I hadn't told her about the Reaper. I didn't want her thinking I was crazier than I actually was. So, naturally, she didn't have a reason for me disappearing.

"And if I did? If everyone can remember I'm just a player when they're confronting me, I lose an advantage. If people think I've died, and I show up out of the blue, it adds a sort of fear factor-."

At this point, she finished the sword she was making with a final hammer blow, and spun fast, her eyes blazing. "And what about your friends?! Huh? What happens to us when you disappear?"

I scrambled for an explanation. This was new. We hadn't had a serious fight in…well, ever.

"Yo-You've got the ring! Your friends list! You knew I was fine!"

"I knew you were alive! That's it! For all I knew, you were done with me!" I was overloaded. I wasn't prepared for this.

It might come as a surprise to you, but…I'm not good with people. Ask me to fight a 50-foot tall monster? Done. Fight with my girlfriend? I'd rather be anywhere else. I had to get out of there.

"I'm going out," I said, getting off the ground and scrambling for the door.

"Really?" She flicked through her menu, and pulled my scythe out of our shared inventory. My eyes widened. "Can't do much without this, can you?"

I manipulated mine, searching for another weapon, but with Lisbeth keeping my one weapon in perfect shape, I sold every other one I picked up. I still needed to leave, but I wouldn't get far without a weapon…

'Wait, I'm in a weapon shop!'

I grabbed a sword off the wall. "I'll be back."

"Oh, no you don't!" She made a grab for me, but I pulled a teleport crystal out of my inventory and whispered my location. I disappeared in a flash of light just as she reached me.

The city of Taft formed around me.

Well, that could've gone better.

No kidding. You ran?

You know me. Not one for confrontation on anyone's terms but mine.

Yeah, but…this is Liz we're talking about. You're going to go back, right?

Of course…We both just need some time to cool down.

I analyzed the sword I'd taken from the wall. It wasn't huge. A simple one-sided, thin, straight blade, with an angular tip. Brown leather wrap around the hilt. I recognized this from the sword types. It was a ninjato, basically a katana without the curve. The sword in the real world didn't exist, a product of Hollywood, but it was coded into SAO just the same. Wait, no. It was different from a ninjato. It didn't have a handguard, for one thing. And it was longer than the usual short sword, extended to about 60 cm. It was a wicked blade, strong enough keep me alive even if I didn't know how to use it.

Speaking of which…I needed to talk to someone. Not about the issue directly, but just some company. And it wouldn't hurt if they could teach me how to use the blade at the same time. I opened my menu, selected Kirito's name, and sent a message.

"Hey, man. Mind meeting me on Floor 11?"

"Floor 11? Seems a little low level for us, isn't it?"

"I maxed out my Scythe skill, looking to get into swords. I need someone to show me the ropes."

"Yeah, sure. I'm not doing anything. Be there in a few."

I equipped the sword, and it bound itself to my left hip. A few minutes later, Kirito walked out of the teleport gate, eyebrow raised. "So…you're into swords now?"

"Yeah. Thought it might be a good backup weapon."

"Well, let's see it," he said, holding out his hand. I drew the blade, the steel blade glinting in the sunlight. "Not bad. Alright, hold it like you're ready for me to attack you." I didn't know what to do, so I stepped forward with my left leg, resting my weight on it, and held the sword out in front of me with both hands.

"That…actually works." He gave me a weird look, then glanced at the sword.

"It's a one-handed sword, you don't have to use both hands."

"Yeah, but it feels right."

"Oh? Prove it."

"Fine. Come at me." He got a slight grin, then pulled his sword. I bent my knees, preparing myself. It was a safe zone, so the worst we could do to each other was the knockback effect.

He launched across the plaza, his sword swinging down to my left side. I spun my wrists, bringing the blade down to block the strike. We struggled for a second, before I elbowed him in the chest, and he staggered back. He grimaced, and then stabbed at my chest. I knocked the tip aside with my blade, then stepped forward with my right foot, stabbing his chest. His eyes widened in shock before he launched across the plaza, coming to rest against a building.

"You got in a lucky shot," he said, as we left the plaza and headed for the nearest dungeon.

"Yeah, yeah," I replied, sheathing the new blade.

(X)

"So, uh," Kirito said, standing back as I faced down a lizard man. "What's the real reason you're down here?"

"I told you," I replied, ducking under its strike and swiping across its ribs. "I wanted to learn swords."

"Oh, please. I know you well enough that you'd never give up that scythe until it was pried from your cold dead hands."

"Switch," I said, jumping back. He stepped in, slamming his sword down on the enemy's guard, once, twice, finally breaking the block.

"Switch," he said, and I jumped in, sweeping up with my wrists, the blade going up from the hip, ending at the head. It shattered into pieces, and the XP screen came up. "So…are you and Liz okay?"

"Yeah," I said, a little too quickly. "We're good."

"Yeah right," he said. "She talks to Asuna, you know. Lisbeth wants to know why you disappeared a few months ago. And so do I, as a matter of fact."

We were alone in this part of the dungeon, so I lowered my hood- my bandanna was already down- and glared at him. I came down with him to get away from this topic. I wasn't going to talk about it, not until I could get my thoughts straight. To my surprise, he straightened, and glared back.

"I don't want to talk about this," I said.

"I'm not the same kid who begged for your help back in December, and I'm sure as hell not the kid you scared the crap out of two years ago. You can't scare me with a mean look and a bandanna."

I set my jaw as I tried to collect my thoughts.

"Do you ever get the feeling when you fight that you're…losing control?"

He gave an answer I wasn't expecting. "Sometimes, yeah. The boss fights, especially. The raid on Laughing Coffin. I don't always remember exactly what happened. Why?"

"I got like that. With the guy who was dueling people, the one you asked me to handle. He…He threatened Liz, and…I lost it." The Reaper could stay out of this for now. "I tore him apart. I was scared. I'd never felt that way before, that much rage. I was terrified that I'd lose control again, hurt someone. Hurt Liz. So I hid."

"And that's when it started? You're sure?"

"The ban hammer dude?" Technically, he started talking after…that dream, but I assumed he was talking about when the Reaper took control. "Yeah, why?"

"Because…uh…That's when I started forgetting things." I tilted my head. My subconscious was screaming that there was a connection, but I just couldn't piece it together. "It started a little bit before that, but…When I went out with Asuna that day, we had to take a shortcut through a dungeon. She claims that I tore through an entire horde of orcs, and I don't even remember it."

There's gotta be something here, right?

If he's got his own version of me in his head, he's hiding it pretty well. And you remember the things I do.

True. So he's not exactly like you and me, but it's too much to just be a coincidence.

Agreed.

A chime broke the silence as Kirito got an alert. He opened his menu, glancing at it. "Hey, I gotta go. Think you can handle yourself down here?"

"Yeah, I'm sure I'll manage."

"Alright. See you when I see you."

(X)

It was late at night when I finally decided to head home. I'd organized my thoughts, I knew what I was going to tell her, and all I could hope was that she would forgive me.

The orc slammed its axe down at my head, and I raised my guard, meeting the strike. I stepped in, spinning, and sliced its belly open. It shattered, and I sheathed my blade. I turned for the exit, only to see a wall of shield bearers. Their shields were locked, roman style, swords prepared. It was a formation, it was organized, and it was too uniform to be a red guild.

"You have about five seconds to get out of my way," I said.

"Well, well, well," said someone behind the line. The shields momentarily parted, and a man in heavy armor stepped through. "When we heard rumors that the Reaper was down here, with a sword no less, I didn't really believe it. And yet…here you are."

"And here you are, flapping your jaw. Any reason, or are you just flirting with me?"

He chuckled. "Oh, I've got a reason. It's come to our attention that, several months ago, you came into a…certain weapon. We have a proposition for you. Give us the Ban Hammer."

"And…how do I benefit from this?"

"We allow you to leave this dungeon." At his words, the shields locked. They were blocking the doorway. I did a quick calculation. They were all high level tanks, I'd be lucky to get past them with my scythe. With the sword…I was out of luck. I couldn't even use the disguise skill in the low stooping cave corridor. They'd picked the perfect choke point. In a dungeon too. I couldn't teleport out, couldn't be tracked, and couldn't be messaged. They'd been planning this trap.

"It doesn't exist anymore. I scrapped it. It made some nice lumber."

"Funny. Your lies aren't going to work here, not on me. Not on the Holy Dragon Alliance." I should've guessed. They would do anything to get me, or to get a rare item. Here, they had the chance to do both. "Give us the Ban Hammer. Now." I had one option. Retreat.

"You'll pay for this."

"We'll see. How long do you think you can be besieged? I suppose we'll find out, after a few days."

I took a few steps back, finally turning, and walked back into the dungeon.

(X)

Kirito's POV

October 13th 2024

I yawned as I walked into Liz's shop. I'd given her and Seth a little over a month to reconcile before going back for equipment. Asuna thought that it was a bit long to stay away from her best friend, but I'd seen Liz mad before. Usually, Seth could calm her down, but if she was mad at him…it might be a bit intense. I hadn't heard anything from either of them, so I assumed things were still…rocky. But my equipment was nearly broken, and there was no one better than Liz.

"Liz? Seth? You guys in here?" My eyes focused in time to see the mace flying at my face. I yelped and ducked behind a counter, and the weapon slammed into the door, knocking it shut. "What the hell?!"

"WHERE IS HE?!" screamed Liz from somewhere in the storefront.

"Who?" I shouted back.

"SETH! He went out with you, and never came back! What have you done to him?!"

My eyes widened in shock. He never came back? But…no, he said he was coming back, so…why would he…?

"When I left him, he was fine! Said he was coming back to apologize!" There was a beat. "I'm gonna get up! I'd appreciate it if I didn't get hit with a mace!" Silence. I slowly stood up, and, thankfully, no weapons came flying. "We both know that running off isn't like Seth."

"…He did it once already."

I thought back to our conversation in the dungeon. "Yeah, I know. But he was trying to protect you."

"Protect me?!" She stood up from behind the counter, her puffy eyes blazing. "He ran off for a week! All I had from him was a damn ring that, for all I knew, meant nothing to him! And now it's been a MONTH!"

"Look, it's really not my place to explain. But I can take you to the dungeon we went to. Maybe we can find some leads there."

"Fine," she said, grabbing some gear and rapidly stowing it in her inventory.

"But, first, uh…could you repair my gear?"

(X)

Seth's POV

October 11th, 2024

I was losing it.

I hadn't had any food in a week, and I had, at most, a few drops of water left in my canteen. I'd been chased all around a dungeon by some very stubborn shield-bearers, and all the time, the Reaper was trying to disrupt my control, constantly making his case on why he should be released.

After the third day without food, I started to listen.

He got me to set traps for my pursuers. At first they just incapacitated them, paralysis knives set on a trigger. Then I'd threaten them until they emptied their inventories. After the first week, the Holy Dragon Alliance stopped sending people in, opting to quietly barricade the entrance.

So I had to take the fight to them.

I'd lure individuals or small groups out by allowing them a glimpse of me running down a passageway. A few inexperienced soldiers would follow me, and I'd fight them. Without their tight formation, I could take them out with the blade. Once the attacker lost a limb or entered the red zone of their health, they pretty much did whatever I wanted. I checked every hour to see if my scythe was back in my inventory, but Liz was probably keeping it in her private inventory or one of the containers in our house. I couldn't touch it.

After the second week, I was only dealing with Veterans. People who'd done countless fights. People I used to fight alongside. They couldn't be lured out of formation, and none of them would budge.

Thus began the isolation. Three entire weeks alone with my thoughts, the Reaper whispering in my ear. No one had come for me. Kirito didn't care enough to check in with Liz. Liz had apparently given up on me. I was alone.

This wasn't a new situation for me. I grew up alone, and I'd gotten pretty good at it. But then I'd met Liz, the one woman who could see right through me, and Kirito, the kid who wasn't afraid to stand up to me. I'd gained friends and family.

And then I fucked it all up.

THAT was a new situation.

I'm not…proud to get into this next part, but…I lost control. The Reaper managed to catch me off guard a total of two times. The first time it wasn't hard to gain control again, I just had to concentrate. He was mobile for a grand total of 4 seconds.

The second time, however…It became more difficult. When I pushed at his control, it was still malleable, moving at my touch, but it didn't break, if that makes sense. Kind of like being trapped under a large sheet. No matter how much you move, try to shove it off you, it just…presses in. Smothers you. He made it halfway to the entrance that time. After I regained control…

So this is the way the Reaper dies. Not with a bang, but with a whimper, he muttered.

I will give you everything I have on me, if you just shut up.

That's not exactly much you're offering, since we've been in here for over a month!

What do you expect me to do?

What I WANT you to do is pull up your skirt, tighten your thong, and stop being such a panzy!

I don't need this shit from you! Everyone out there already expects me to be all doom and gloom because I carry a scythe. I don't need it from some fucking voice in my head!

I'm not telling you that you need to carve your way through mounds of civilians! But these people cornered you! They have you hiding in here like a dog! You should fight your way out!

That's not how I do things.

How did you think you would die?

I was startled by the question, but I reverted to the easy answer. I've never really thought about it.

Aw, Seth, I'm disappointed. You forget, I'm inside your head. And we both know that you always thought you'd die backed against a wall, facing overwhelming odds for the "greater good". And here you are, chance in hand, and you're hiding! Why?! Because you're afraid!

Of course I am!

There was a long pause after that.

In case you've forgotten, the entire reason we took on the Death persona is so that people would be scared of us, so we didn't have to be scared of them. But I don't have that edge anymore. They know I'm a player, they know what I won't do, and they've cornered me because of it.

Exactly! This is why you need me!

Need you? I laughed. I need you like I need a hole in the head.

Wait here long enough, and you'll have both.

Just shut up!

Another pause.

Alright, kid, I'm gonna level with you. I winced as my own condescending phrase was used against me. This game might not have actual starvation, but you still feel the pain of hunger. It's been…what, more than a week since we ran out of food? Few more days, and you won't even want to move. So, here's the deal. Tomorrow: I won't speak. I won't try to influence you. You can make your own decisions. You can do something productive, or just curl up and cry. Whatever you want. But the day after, when you finally realize the only way, we fight our way out. Like we always imagined.

…And if we die?

…Ah, everyone dies. The questions are only when, how, and what people say after. Will people remember you as Seth, the coward who spent the last days of this Death Game hiding in a cave? Or are they going to watch the Reaper beat this game?

That's a hell of a pep talk.

Does that mean it worked?

I put my head back against the wall of the cave and took a deep breath.

Let's do it.

(X)

Shivata's POV

I stepped outside the dungeon, opening my menu as I got a message alert. I opened it up, and nearly winced when I saw it was from Yamata.

"We're having some serious trouble with these trade negotiations with the KoBO. Having any luck with the Ban Hammer?"

"No. The Reaper is as reclusive as ever."

"Dammit, Shivata. I told you to get this thing a month ago!"

"You also said it would be a simple job, 'a few days max'."

"Look, Heathcliff is almost as stubborn as the Reaper. If we don't get that Hammer soon, we're gonna have to go to war. If that happens, we'll need to pull you back anyway. Send them into the tunnels. They'll find him eventually."

"We might lose a few men."

"Acceptable losses. Give the order."

I sighed and turned around to head back inside, when my right-hand man exited the tunnel. "Sir," he said. "You'll want to see this."

(X)

Seth's POV

I stood about 10 feet in front of the shield wall, sword drawn. I could almost hear mutters running up and down the shield wall. It didn't matter. I heard them all cease as their commander came up behind them. That did matter.

"Well, well. Who do we have here?"

"Cut the crap. Pretty nice barricade you've set up here."

"Yes, that's what happens when a group has a competent leader."

I cocked my head to the side. "Really? Have I met him?"

He smiled, taking his sword and shield and ordering a break in the barrier. He stepped through and rolled his shoulders. "Keep him from leaving," he ordered his men. And then he charged.

His shield was out in front, his sword off to his right. I dodged to my right, managing to avoid the shield bash he sent my way. He turned, with a wide swipe from my left. I raised my sword, blocking the strike, and then moved in, slamming my elbow into his chin. I stepped back and tried to slice at his face, but he raised his shield in time, and I had to back up.

He stabbed at me, and I knocked his sword to the right, stabbing at his arm. I managed to find a chink in his armor, and he groaned as a hole opened up in his arm. I backed off, leaving him injured. He roared, then charged at me again. I ran at him, jumping up at the wall to the right. I pushed off that, coming up over him, and stabbed down where his armor ended around his neck. I landed behind him, slicing at the back of his legs, and he fell to his knees. I stabbed blindly, and the sword went through his neck. A second later, he exploded into nothing.

I faced the shield wall again, flicked my sword into the ready position, and waited.

One of the shield bearers turned to face someone behind the line. "Tactical retreat?"

"Tactical retreat."

They all turned and ran for their lives.

(X)

I stepped out into the open air, shielding my eyes from the light with my hand. After weeks in the dark tunnels it was kinda hard to adjust to the midday sun; everything was blurry. It was funny, I thought I could see Liz charging across the field towards me.

It took me until she slapped me to figure out that I wasn't hallucinating.

I rubbed the sore part of my face as I tried to get my eyes to focus on her. "That is for leaving when I was talking to you." And then she threw her arms around me and crushed my ribs. "And that's because I missed you."

I grinned and chuckled, hugging her back. "I missed you too." I looked past her, seeing Kirito and Asuna standing farther back.

She adjusted herself, placing her chin on my shoulder. "No more secrets, okay?"

"I promise."

Author's Note: SORRY THAT TOOK SO LONG, GUYS. Seriously, I think that's the longest break we've had in a while. But I had Christmas, and then I bought Skyrim on a Steam Sale, plus all the normal trying to get into college stuff. But! More recently I've been working on my cosplay for Kami-con, the last day of which is tomorrow. So, if you happen to be attending that con, and you see a guy in a Delsin Rowe cosplay, remember. The Code Phrase is: "The Pancake has landed," to which I will respond "But how many times did it flip?" ANYWAY! Next time, we'll get some more interaction with Kirito and Asuna, the joys of being a third wheel, and one of the most epic moments in the series. Also, don't forget to go check out my new RWBY story, Team NTSD. I'm really looking forward to a lot of stuff I've got planned for that. Anyway, I'm incredibly tired, so I love you guys, don't forget to follow, favorite and review, and I'll see you guys next time.