I do not own Sword Art Online or any of the characters.
Flee
"In Sword Art Online, the person controlling Death Gun killed dozens of people," Kirito said. "He slaughtered them for money and didn't care that they actually died."
"That's horrible," Sinon stated. "At least it's only one."
"Two," Michael corrected. "In SAO, Archon slaughtered for fun. In fact, he slaughtered so many, and so easily, that Laughing Coffin, the murder guild Death Gun was in, worked with us to kill him. But we failed. We couldn't even find him in the end."
Sinon stared at him in surprise then nodded. She picked up her rifle and they stood.
"We should follow the river," Sinon said. "It goes toward the city. I saw several players there in the last scan."
"He's not swimming," Michael said. "He can turn invisible. But you're right. He'll head toward the city."
Sinon nodded and they left, running along the river until they reached the outskirts of the ruined city in the center of the map. They slowed to a stop and sighed.
"So, do we have any suspects?" Michael asked.
"Jishu X and Sterben," Sinon said.
Michael thought for a moment then nodded.
"We'll just have ro kill both then," Michael nodded. "If both are here, I'll go after Sterben. He sounds cooler."
Sinon snorted and Michael grinned as Sinon's alarm went off again. She pulled out her map and opened it and they saw that only Jishu X was nearby.
"Looks like we have a target," Sinon said putting the item away.
They walked into the city and slowly progressed through it. Juat as they reached an intersection, a single red line appeared from a building to between Michael's eyes. He dove to the side, the bullet flashing past. Sinon and Kirito dove behind cover as well and Kirito looked out of cover, looking for the s iper. Michael fired one shot at the window and Sinon pulled out her pistol.
"You two go," Sinon said. "I'll cover you."
Michael nodded and sprinted out of cover with Kirito as Sinon opened fire. After about a minute, they broke into the building, sprinting up to the top floor and finding Jushi X, a female player and clearly not Death Gun, behind a sniper rifle. She sat up, firing an assault rifle that Michael didn't recognize at them. Both scattered and she followed Kirito only for Michael to put the rifle to her head, firing five shots, killing her, the barrier not effecting the shits do to a glitch regarding the range.
"So it does work," Michael grinned.
Then, he looked out into the street to see Sinon lying on the ground with a stun bullet sticking out of her arm and Death Gun over her.
"I don't fucking think so," Michael snarled, grabbing Jushi X's sniper rifle and aiming at Death Gun. "Get away from her."
He fired, the bullet streaking through the air and very nearly hitting Death Gun. The bullet grazed his arm, forcing him to not shoot Sinon and he fled to cover. Michael instantly leapt out the window, leaving the rifle which Kirito grabbed, firing at Death Gun when Death Gun stuck his head out. Michael sprinted over, hurling a grenade he had grabbed off of Jushi X. The grenade exploded and created a dust cloud, giving Michael enough cover to grab Sinon and sprint away. Kirito joined them in the road and they sprinted to the vehicles. Just as Kirito climbed onto one, Archon stepped out of a building. Michael swore, passing Sinon to Kirito.
"You sure?" Kirito asked.
"Get the fuck out of here," Michael growled, equipping and drawing his Photon Sword. "I'll hold them here. And Kirito, take care of her."
Kirito nodded then sped off on his ride. As he rode, Michael turned to Archon just as Death Gun appeared beside him.
"So, Sterben, is it?" Michael asked. "German for die, right? Now, the real question is, which Laughing Coffin were you?"
Death Gun chuckled, drawing his melee weapon as Archon turned and ran down a side street.
"Are you ready to die again?" Death Gun asked.
"Go to hell," Michael snarled. "I'm not letting you hurt Sinon. Even if I have to die."
Death Gun sprinted forward, stabbing at Michael rapidly but Michael drew his knife, using it with his sword to block almost all of Death Gun's blows. Then, he ducked under a spray of bullets from Archon that instead hit Death Gun, launching him backward, nearly killing him.
"Shit," Archon swore. "My bad. I'll handle him now though."
Death Gun stood, putting his weapon away and climbing onto a horse, speeding off. Archon opened fire at Michael and Michael began to spin his sword, slashing the bullets as he had seen Kirito doing. He was not nearly as good and numerous bullets slipped past, but he was doing well. Finally, he turned, sprinting into a side street and away from Archon. He skidded around another corner, the wall beside his head practically exploding. Then, he leapt onto a dumpster and over a low wall. As he did, the wall began to be peppered witb bullets too.
"Faster Michael," he growled to himself. "Have to get there."
He skidded around another corner, a bullet nearly shaving off his eyebrows as he did, then another. Finally, it came into view.
Gas station! Michael thought.
He sprinted into a building to his side and set up on the top floor, equipping the sniper Sinon had given him and looking through at the massive fuel tanker parked beside the station. Archon slowly walked toward the station, guns up, ready to shoot Michael as he attacked. Michael grinned. Archon had no idea Michael had a sniper rifle. Just as Archon stepped up beside a gas pump, Michael fired, hitting the tanker. It exploded into a massive fireball, casing the fuel below the station to also explode. Michael ducked down, plugging his ears against the noise.
When it was over, he opened his map but saw Archon was still alive, just fleeing.
"Bastard," Michael growled. "Fine. We'll settle it later."
He put the rifle away and left the building, getting on a three-wheeler of his own and speeding out of the city. After a few minutes, he finally found tire tracks and followed. They led him to a cave where the other three-wheeler was parked. As soon as Michael's feet hit the ground, Sinon's arms went around his neck.
"Sorry," Michael sighed. "I couldn't get either. Archon is a slippery bastard."
"So is Death Gun," Kirito stated. "We think we figured him out though. We think it's actually one player and then a friend in real life, sneaking into people's houses and killing them. They get the address from Death Gun watching people sign up for real life bonuses then use sincronized watches to create the illusion that the gun kills."
"Which could mean that any of us three has someone standing over us," Michael sighed.
"No," Kirito said. "You didn't put your address and neither did I. Plus, I'm in a hospital under guard."
"But Sinon did put in her address," Michael stated. "And she is alone and obviously a target. She can't wake up until after we kill Death Gun. They won't kill her if we can. And if she wakes up now, they might just so she can't tell anyone."
Kirito nodded in agreement.
"You need to cover whichever of us fights Death Gun with your rifle," Michael said as Sinon pulled back to look up at him. "You are not fighting him."
Sinon nodded him then buried her head in his chest again. He sighed, walking into the cave and sat down, Sinon sitting in his lap, cradled in his arms. He leaned his head forward, resting it on hers and closed his eyes, feeling her start to relax. As they sat there, he felt the world begin to slip away. Then, Kirito shook him, beinging him back from the edge of sleep.
"Can't have you being logged out," Kirito stated.
Michael nodded, sighing and glancing down at the now calm Sinon who was also about to drift off. Michael woke her and she wrappee her arms around him tighter in protest. Kirito smirked and returned to watching out of the cave.
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