I do not own Sword Art Online or any of the characters.
Test
"There's nothing more boring than watching someone else play an RPG. Is there, Akihiko Kayaba?"
Everyone gasped and fell silent, staring at Heathcliff. What Kirito said made sense. Which is why no one was sure which player to doubt.
"Just for my curiosity's sake, would you mind telling me how you figured it out?" Kayaba requested.
"The first time I knew something was up, was during our duel," Kirito stated. "Remember when you turned the Tables on me? That move was way too fast."
"Yes I thought so," Kayaba nodded. "It was a mistake to think that would go unnoticed by you. But you were so strong and so fast, the only choice I had was to engage the system's assist mode. Yes, I am Akihiko Kayaba, and now that my identity has been revealed, it should come as no surprise that I am the final boss on the top floor."
"So the strongest player in the whole game ends up being the final boss, kinda cliche isn't it?" Kirito scoffed.
"Actually I kind of like that angle," Kayaba stated. "One thing's for sure, I always thought you'd be the one standing before me at the end. You know dual wielding is a rare skill. The kind that's only given to the player with the fastest reaction time. He is the hero of this story. The one who rises up to challenge the demon king. But you, the power you displayed exceeded my expectations. I guess these unexpected twists and turns, are what make MMORPGs so thrilling to play."
"Our loyalty," a Knight of the Blood Oath off to one side snarled, gripping his sword tightly. "Our hope. How dare you? How dare you!? HOW DARE YOU! ? !"
He leapt into the air, slashing at Kayaba. Kayaba summoned his menu, pressed a couple of buttons, and the player crashed to the floor, paralyzed. Kayaba began pressing more buttons and one by one, players began dropping, all being paralyzed indefinitely.
"Kiri...to," Asuna gasped as she too was effected.
Michael felt his own kick in and dropped, struggling to move his limbs. It was possible, but not enough to be able to do anything except use the menu, and barely that. Finally, everyone except Kirito was down.
"What's the plan now, huh?" Kirito spat. "You gonna kill everyone here and cover it up or something?"
"Oh God no," Kayaba chuckled. "That wouldn't be sporting of me. No, I have a better idea. I'm going to head to the top floor and wait for all of you there. I'll be inside the Ruby Palace. It's a shame I have to leave you all so soon. I've spent lots of time developing the Knights of the Blood Oath and other elite players. Oh well. You're all strong, so I'm sure you'll reach me. Eventually. But before I go. Kirito, I feel you deserve some kind of reward for discovering my identity, so...I'll give you a chance."
"Chance for what?" Kirito asked.
"To fight me one on one, right here, right now," Kayaba stated. "Oh and, my immortality will be deactivated. Defeat me and you clear the game, and all of the players will be able to log out from this world. No strings attached. Whataya say?"
"Don't do it, Kirito," Asuna pleaded. "I don't like it. We should fall back."
"...I have to," Kirito growled after several seconds. "Okay then, let's finish it."
"Kirito," Asuna gasped.
"I'm sorry," Kirito smiled. "I can't run away if it means ending this."
"You better not die, you here me?" Asuna said, worry clear in her voice, and for good reason.
"No, I'm gonna win," Kirito stated. "I promise I'm gonna end this world."
"Okay, I believe in you, Kirito," Asuna said.
Kirito set her down gently, careful to turn her head away from the upcoming fight. Then, he drew his swords.
"Kirito, don't!" Agil shouted.
"Kirito!" Klein shouted.
"Agil," Kirito spoke up. "Thanks for supporting all the players in the game. Since day one. Yeah I knew. You act like you're all about the money, but I knew you spent it all on helping the intermediate players level up. Klein, I'm sorry I bailed on you that day. I think about it all the time. Damnit Kirito. Don't you apologize. Don't you dare apologize now. i won't accept it. I'll never accept it until we're on the other side and you're buying me dinner God damnit!"
"You got it," Kirito nodded raising a thumbs up. "See you on the other side. Michael-"
"Save it," Michael snorted standing, menu active but displaying nothing except ever changing ones and zeros. "I ain't letting you fight someone who could cheat and not have anyone do anything about it alone. Besides. I'm going first."
He quickly entered some code into the screen and Klein was cured. Klein blinked then stood, grabbing his sword.
"I got ya," Klein grinned raising the blade.
"No," Michael snapped, making him freeze. "You're only up so you can use that item you mentioned if I need it."
Klein sighed but nodded and Michael swiped a hand, his menu returning to normal. Kayaba began to press buttons on his own menu but Michael and Klein both refused to drop from paralysis again.
"What did you do?" Kayaba demanded.
"Don't pretend you didn't know," Michael chuckled. "I'm a hacker. A cheater, if you prefer. It's how I was able to level up so fast, how I survived a couple of the fights I was in, and how I'm now immune to your paralysis."
"Level up?" Kayaba demanded.
Michael reached under his shirt, pulling out a necklace with a teardrop shaped jewel pendant.
"It doubles the amount of experience I get," Michael stated. "Very helpful when you're a half year late and need to be useful."
He put the necklace away and opened his weapons menu. After a moment, his sword and shield vanished, being replaced by a second Liberator, matching Kayaba's.
"That's..." Kayaba gaped then narrowed his eyes. "Did you hack you way through that fight too?"
"No," Michael chuckled. "I actually had some help for that fight and they gave me this. This one weapon that would give someone the ability to challenge you without the Dual Wield skill. Because your Holy Sword skill is granted by the Liberator, of which there are only two. Am I wrong?"
"No," Kayaba snarled. "There are two. So, you want to test your skills?"
"I do," Michael nodded. "But first, I have one question."
"And that is?" Kayaba grinned.
"Alice Johnson," Michael said seriously. "Is she alive?"
"Alice Johnson?" Kayaba blinked.
"Goes by the gamertag Destiny's Angel," Michael stated.
"Ah yes," Kayaba nodded. "I do remember that one. Strange girl her. Smart though. Not unlike yourself. She enjoyed training and leveling up through floor jumping. Or dungeon camping."
"I know," Michael nodded. "Now answer my question."
"What does it matter to you?" Kayaba asked.
"She's my sister," Michael stated. "We haven't spoken for more than three years, but I heard from our mother that she had logged onto Sword Art Online. Unfortunately, I didn't find out until a week before I logged on a half year ago."
"I see," Kayaba nodded. "Then I suppose you deserve to know. She's dead. She died roughly eight months ago. She was camping in the dungeon we were trying to clear and foolishly joined in the boss battle before restocking on healing items. As a result, she did not survive the fight."
"I see," Michael nodded. "I thought as much. She always was reckless. Very well. Shall we begin?"
"Yes," Kayaba nodded as both drew their sword. "Let's see this skill of yours."
They both charged, slamming their shields against each other's before spinning and slashing, both blocking the blade. They jumped back then charged, swords glowing blue. Their swords sparked off each other's shields before Michael spun, sword glowing red and sparking against Kayaba's shield eight times before he slowed to a stop. Kayaba raised his sword which glowed red. As the sword descended, Michael grinned and spun, blocking it. Kayaba stared in disbelief as Michael raised his own sword, readying the same ability.
"My ability had a shorter movement penalty," Michael stated slashing.
Kayaba managed to raise his own shield, the ability sparking against it before stabbing at Michael, his blade sparking against it before glowing yellow and whipping around, sparking against the shield again. Then, Michael stepped forward, slashing at Kayaba. Kayaba managed to block three slashes before Michael spun again.
"Damn you," Kayaba snarled, Michael's sword sparking against Kayaba's shield rapidly.
The moment Michael finished, Kayaba stabbed him. He pulled the sword out and Michael leapt back, wincing.
"Ouch," Michael growled, health only slightly above halfway, level with Kayaba's own in terms of percentage. "Nice hit. Shall we?"
He sprinted forward, slashing at Kayaba and Kayaba blocked it, stabbing downward at Michael. They began to trade blows, neither using an ability. Then, after roughly four minutes, Michael spun sword sparking against Kayaba's shield eight times. Kayaba raised his sword, the blade glowing red again before slashing. At the last second, Michael dropped, raising the shield. However, Kayaba's sword cut through the shield, splitting Michael down the front. Michael staggered back, health dropping as his sword and shield shattered.
"It's over," Kayaba stated as Michael's health his zero.
Michael shattered and Klein instantly raised his long forgotten revival item. The item shattered and Michael reformed, sighing in relief and equipping the shield the Skull Reaper had given him and his Queen's Knightsword.
"How did you...oh wait, the christmas update," Kayaba growled. "I forgot about that. But what are you going to do with that pathetic sword?"
"This," Michael grinned, leaping and spinning, drilling at Kayaba.
Kayaba raised the shield, blocking the ability. For a moment, it seemed that it was a stalemate. Then, Kayaba's Liberator shattered and Kayaba dove to the side, barely avoiding the attack. He stood, staring at his hands in shock before looking to Michael as Michael landed on his feet, grinning triumphantly.
"All yours Kirito," Michael grinned.
Kayaba spun toward Kirito as Kirito charged. Kayaba summoned his menu, equipping a pitch black shield and a blood red longsword just in time to block Kirito's swords with his shield.
"I'm not as defenseless as you thought," Kayaba snarled.
"However, you are now restricted to the same rules as the rest of us sword and shield users, meaning you have to switch between offense and defense," Michael stated. "And your shield and sword can now break from something other than itself."
Kirito shoved Kayaba back and began to slash at him rapidly. Kayaba cursed, barely fending off the blows, sparks flying everywhere and their feet kicking up dust. Finally, Kayaba spun, allowing Kirito to stagger past, giving Kayaba enough room to switch to offense, to which Kirito grinned triumphantly, swords glowing blue. Kayaba raised his sword to fight just as Kirito's Elucidator slashed it aside. Then, Kayaba realized he had lost. Kirito's swords began to tear through Kayaba as Kirito ran through Starburst Stream. Finally, the ability ended, blasting Kayaba back, barely any health left. That wasn't all though. His shield, sword, and chest plate shattered, leaving Kayaba in armored pants, gauntlets, a black tee-shirt, and boots.
"No," Kayaba breathed. "This can't be happening. It's not supposed to happen this way."
"Shame," Kirito grinned. "It's too bad that you relied so heavily on Holy Sword. You couldn't even beat Michael without it."
Kirito's Elucidator glowed blue and he streaked forward. Kayaba smiled in spite of himself, spreading his arms and accepting his fate. Kirito's sword split Kayaba in half and both haves shone then shattered.
"It's...it's over," Kirito breathed.
"On November seventh at two fifty five PM, the game has been cleared," the alert system announced. "Repeat, the game has been cleared."
Kirito looked around as players began to be enveloped in blue light, one at a time. He walked over to Asuna and knelt. However, just as Kirito opened his mouth to speak, Michael's vision went white.
Read and review. Part 1 complete, finally. Part two was the one I cared about. If you're still bothering to read this, thank you. I know it's not a great story, by any means. But it'll be better when he's in ALfeim and Gun Gale. I promise.