Beater and the Black Cats of the Full Moon
Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online
Warning: I am still studying so please forgive me if there is too much grammar mistake. It will also be appreciated if you would help correct my grammar mistakes.
Chapter 5
Clash of the heroes
"Three people-No, one of them is faster and catching up! We have to run faster!"
"I am leading as fast as I can but these frogs-!"
Yuuki cursed under her breath and killed three frogs in one slash. She has no time to check if she delivered a clean kill. The three of them were dashing through the dungeon with Yuuki in the lead, clearing the path for them to advance. Asuna was behind pulling on Argo's hand to help her keep up with them.
Argo strained her ears and listened with all her senses. Being an Information Broker has made her maxed her [Detention] and [Listening] skills. While her detention skill was not good enough to tell her how many and where the unknown pursuers were, her listening skills and her sharp mind made her made out there were three pursuers running after them. One of them was slowly outrunning them and close to them.
"Twenty meters!" Argo shouted. "We won't outrun them at this rate, we have to face them at the next corner!"
"Yuuki, over there!"
Yuuki killed another frog in acknowledgement and made a mad sprint towards the corner closest to them. Within two seconds, the three covered a huge distance and leapt into the corner.
Corner they turned into led into another long path. They have run a long way that it would not be surprising if that path led to the end of the dungeon. Even though their destination might just be ahead of them, the three of them turned around and braced themselves for the pursuers after them.
It has only been nearly one minute ago when Argo detected and heard odd movement behind them of roughly twelve people behind them. The three of them unanimously agreed that this was not a good sign and has been running ever since.
Nine people have failed to keep up, two managed to match their pace and one was actually faster than them.
Asuna gripped her rapier in anxiety. She was nicknamed [The Flash] for her supreme speed and agility! Even though she was slowed down by the monsters in front of dragging Argo, no one should have been able to catch up. She was sure even Kirito would not be able to beat her in terms of speed.
Asuna tensed up. She was starting to hear the sound of footsteps. Her eyes widened and she immediately prepared her strongest skill, [Star Splash]. She was not surprised by the sound of the coming enemy. Even though the other two did not seem to notice, Asuna who bore the title of [The Flash] could immediately feel that something was wrong.
The sound of the footsteps was so soft that only when the pursuer was near the corner Asuna could hear him. The sound of his footsteps was the least of her worries.
The sound of footsteps was rapid, soft but rapid, meaning their pursuer actually softened the sound of his footsteps while charging at them. Whoever came out of the corner has to be a high level player like Asuna or if not higher.
The sound of footsteps reached the corner. Asuna held her breath, her rapier shining in purple, already threatening to be executed.
"Wait…" Argo muttered and held back Asuna's hand. The light on her rapier slowly faded.
"…He disappeared…?" Yuuki said, still doubting her own words.
There was no one before them. Argo could still detect the presence of the other two pursuers but the faster pursuer who was supposed to appear before them never appeared or even registered in her detection skill. The previous second she could swear that she could even feel someone behind the corner however then no one was there.
"… …Are we just paranoid?" Asuna managed to form a small smile. She was not taking in this situation well too.
She then lowered her rapier and sighed. They were probably thinking too much or this was part of a trap by the dungeon. She would not be surprised if the other two also never appeared before her. Who knows, all of this might just be one of the special traps by this dungeon to scar-
"ASUNA!"
Asuna snapped back when all of a sudden Yuuki roughly pushed her down. Asuna never had the chance to ask what happened when she fell just below the edges of a scythe.
[Sword skill: Embodiment of the Reaper]
[Sword skill: Mother's Rosario]
ooo
"Let. Us. Through. Now" Kirito worded his order. Those who were there and heard his words shivered under the sheer pressure and killing intend from those words. Those who knew of his legend as the Beater would have backed away or ran as fast as they could. The Army who were surrounding him was starting to break their formation when one by one they were retreating from blocking Kirito's path.
All except Kibaou who remained to stand in Kirito's way.
He has been ordered by PoH to not let anyone into the dungeon. Even if Kirito drew his sword at him, he would live. He knew fully well that despite his notorious legend as Beater, he would not be daring enough to kill him when he has the backing of the entire Army.
If he betrayed and failed PoH, he would not live. He knew who to cross and who to not.
"What foolishness!" Kibaou did his best to maintain his smuggling face. "Why would the Laughing Coffin even be here, in the Army's Headquarters? In the first place, there is no dungeon in our castle. This is the Army's territory and I will not let anyone trespass it when the head and second in command are not around!"
"I told you! We have report from the BoB that a new dungeon was just opened and the Laughing coffin has infiltrated it! You are going to let me pass or I will force my way in!" Kirito replied and pulled out his Elucidator and Dark Repulser in each hand without hesitation. There was no need for him to conceal his ultimate skill anymore when he has been exposed. It would also help to demoralize Kibaou from stepping in his way.
"There it is! That is the legendary new Unique skill, Dual blade!"
"I am outta here! There is no way that we can stand against him!"
"Kibaou! You should just-"
Even though Kibaou was glaring at Kirito, he could see from the side of his eyes that his men were losing morale and some were already running away. At this rate, Kirito only need to run past him to reach the dungeon. If he allowed this to happen, PoH would kill him for sure.
Why!? Why and how in the name of Kayaba did he got caught in this situation!?
"…I have no time for you -"
Kibaou gaped when Kirito simply ran towards and past him without even giving him another glance. He had ignored his existence completely, he has been discarded like an insect to be stepped or spared upon, a peddle to be kicked to the side of the road.
Then he remembered why all of this happened.
"Are you all really knights of the Aincrad Liberation Corps!?"
Kibaou's roar shook the entire area with the pressure of his words. Even Kirito stopped to glare back at him. However Kirito only stopped because he was frustrated with Kibaou wasting his time. He was too late and careless to notice that the other member of the Army who were running away did not stop because of pressure.
The name of Aincrad Liberation Corps shook in the minds of the members of the Army. One by one, those who were trying to run away started to turn towards Kibaou. Kibaou glared back at everyone single one of them and continued.
"All of you were the ones who were with me before we merged with [MMO Today]! All of us swore to be the leading guild to clear all the floors and emerge as victors! Even though we have changed to Aincrad Liberation Force, I know that those with me here are the knights who have followed me all the way from Aincrad Liberation Corps! What happened to your pride as knights? Are you going to cower before fear!? Are you going to betray the oath we made when we were in Aincrad Liberation Corps!?"
Kibaou passed Kirito and stood before him again. However this time he has his sword raised and he was serious.
There was no way that he was going to become a 'nobody' again. He was going to become unique! He was going to become someone strong and heroic! He wanted to become like-
"Kirito, do you remember Diabel!?"
"!"
Kirito staggered back, not because of fear of the memory but what Kibaou was going to say.
"Diabel is our glorious selfless leader of the 1st floor boss raid party! When he died because of you, Beater, I swore that I would continue his wish to end this game! Do you all remember him!? Do you all still remember why did we form the Aincrad Liberation Corps!?"
"For the selfless knight, Diabel and to inherit his dream to clear the game as fast as possible. I still remember that was what we swore when we made the Aincrad Liberation Corps."
A player said, standing beside Kibaou and brandishing his sword. Soon the others, those who were scared, those who tried to run away, one by one they came to Kibaou's side, holding their swords to stand against the Beater.
"For Diabel, the knight who first led us to victory!"
"To the Aincrad Liberation Corps!"
"That's right! We are the Aincrad Liberation Corps! We are not going to give in to the Beater who causes Diabel's death!"
A roar of chorus erupted from Kibaou's comrades. There were about fifteen of them. All of them have gathered beside Kibaou and formed a small wall between Kirito and the dungeon. It was only then Kirito realized, even after so long, he could recognize almost everyone here.
Those people were the very same who were with him and Diabel when they raided the 1st floor's boss room.
"For Diabel's dream! Let's go, Aincrad Liberation Corps!" Kiabou shouted his battle cry, immediately morale rose and the trampling of their charge shook the area.
"Death to Be-"
"So. You. all. Are. Onii-chan's. Enemies?"
[Sword skill: Lai]
It was instantaneous.
The battle cry that shook even the Black Iron Castle was cut off literally. While Kibaou does not feel pain or damage being inside an AREA, in the moment when someone passed him, Kibaou shivered.
A genuine killing intend. Without hatred like Kirito's or fear like PoH's, what he felt was simply an emotion to kill.
"Gu!" Kibaou grunted when he hit the ground. He was consciousness to know that he flew quite a distance from his ALC. Reminded of the killing intend just now, he quickly picked himself up.
He came face to face with a glowing violet katana.
"Shi-"
[Sword skill: Ukifune]
Kibaou never managed to finish his curse when the katana radiated into deeper violet. The very same violet smashed from below towards his chin, sending him flying upwards.
"Kibaou! You bit-"
[Sword skill: Impaler]
A fade of white flashed in the eyes of the ALC before one of their member got blown away. Their attention was soon diverted to the shadow that leapt over the white lancer and sprint past Kibaou and the katana user.
"I am counting on you." Kirito whispered when he passed Kiriko. He then continued onward to where his map told him where his guild mates were. Sinon shared a glance with her before she followed after Kirito into the dungeon. As much as she hated to let Kiriko handle ten players alone, she must go.
She has something she needs to settle.
"That Beater is getting away!" Kibaou shouted. "Don't let him-"
[Sword skill: Hiogi]
This time the purplish glowing katana darkened to a dark shade of crimson and executed its skill. The katana cut Kibaou upwards, down with a slash and completed with a powerful thrust that sent him back to his ALC mates.
"What are you all doing!?" Kibaou shouted as he was helped up. "She is just one girl, get her and go after the Beater! We are not going to let them do as they please in our territory!"
"Oou-!"
The ALC members started to shout their battle cry and charged towards the lone girl who stood in their path. The girl smirked, her radiating katana let out a scream to kill.
Her brother has just given her a favour! That was no way she was going to let him down.
The fastest to reach her was the first to fall. Kiriko leapt to the side, dodging the first's attack and then kicked the first and knocked him back to the second. She did not stop there. She went low and dodged a horizontal arc slash and punched the third in his chin, sending him upward. While she was only a girl, with the support from game's STR stats and her level given by Kirito, the guy flew meters far away.
"What are you-"
[Sword skill: Tsumujiguruma]
The katana changed to a radiating blue before Kiriko swung it at a horizontal arc 360 degrees, knocking back the fourth before her and the first and second who were trying to ambush her from behind.
"It's useless." Kiriko turned around, held her katana to her left side of her waist to activate her one of her strongest sword skill.
A Samurai, this was what common players called players with this skill. A simply one-hit kill that would end a fight with one slash, the ultimate move that made the Samurai a famous and fearful class known throughout the whole world.
Her feet went into position and she lowered herself according to system command. Her violet katana shone into silver light, there was nothing this katana could not cut anymore.
[Sword skill: Itto Ryodan 一刀両断] (Direct translation: One. Slash. Two. Half)
The skill was instantaneous. Unlike other skills which depend on combo of skill to continue to deliver damage, Itto Ryodan settled everything in one move. Kiriko appeared as a white blurr and she faded past Kibaou, who tried to chase after Kirito when she was fighting the other ALC. Kibaou's fate was decided when she reached the other side, her katana up high signalling the success of the skill. The skill ended as the katana returned to the invisible sheath beside her waist.
An invisible blow struck Kibaou and sent him flying before he crashed to a wall. A skill which only the highest of the katana users would know was demonstrated before them. An invisible attack that ended everything in one move, truly players who have mastered this skill deserved to have the title 'Samurai' in respect and fear for that move.
Kiriko turned towards the remaining ALC, her purplish black hair fluttering. She held her katana against them and declared a phrase she wanted to use ever since Sinon told her of a famous movie. One day, one way or another, she wanted Sinon to bring her to a cinema to let her watch that movie. Kiriko put on a mischievous grin and declared playfully.
"You shalt not pass!"
ooo
Left, head all the way straight until….now turn right!
Kirito slammed his heels and grabbed the corner, drifting his feet into the corner before he sprung into of a bullet. Asuna and Argo were in danger. The only way he has to reach them in time was to rely on his mind (Sachi) to tell him what to do.
"Oi! Are you sure we are going in the right way!?" Sinon asked.
"I don't know but I feel that I can trust myself." Kirito answered, his speed not slowing down in the slightest. "We have to prepare ourselves. The Laughing Coffin might have planned an amb-"
Kirito!
[Sword skill: Avanlanche]
"!"
There was no time to doubt the voice in his head, straining all of the STR or minimum acrobatic skills he has, he grabbed a solid hold on the rock on the wall and jumped, pulling himself using more of his STR than acrobatic skills. He was just in time before a figure leapt from another corner, slamming down a broad sword that should have ended his life.
[Sword skill: Meteor Strike]
Sinon's long crystal-like blue lance shone in whiteness and activated a skill before the ambusher. The ambusher cried in hear when the lance pierced through him six times before Sinon pulled the lance backwards, he thought the skill has ended.
A powerful thrust proved him wrong. It has the power of the previous six combined strike and pierced through his heart. He tried to swing his sword, bringing a mutual end to her.
"Damn yo-"
The sword was never raised. The ambusher only managed a curse before he shone and broke into crystals, slowing fading and to never return again.
Kirito stared at the disappeared ambusher and at Sinon. She did not even hesitate to use a skill on a real player. When he looked into her eyes, she glared back at him, as if answering,
'Those who kill are the ones who are ready to be killed'. If we clash with the Laughing Coffin head on one day, we will have to kill them to ensure our own survival.
Kirito! There are still more!
Kirito snapped around and glared into the path before him. One by one figures wearing hooded cloak emerged from their [Hiding] skill. He was careless. He was too concentrated in running that he never noticed his sixth sense [Detection] was screaming at him-
No, his detection was not working at all. It was not his fault he did not notice them…
These people have higher mastery of Hiding than his Detection, probably full mastery considering that they were the Laughing Coffin. It was pure luck that his mind (Sachi) screamed at him before the sword smashed down where he was.
Kirito pulled both of his swords out of his sheath and counted the players before him. Yamikaze said there were twelve Laughing Coffins who entered the dungeon, including PoH himself. Sinon has killed one, leaving eleven left.
There were only eight here, PoH was not in one of the eight.
"Where is PoH!?" Kirito shouted. The very fact that PoH was not before him was angered him enough to made him kill his way through.
"Off to kill your newest Guild member of course." One of the Laughing Coffin laughed. "I heard that you gotten yourself a cute girl as your new Guild member! I can't wait to see your face when you know that PoH killed her."
"You-"
"Oh no need to be so aggressive, do we?" Another Laughing Coffin mocked. "Our Boss specifically told us to let you pass if you are the one that catch up. You better be hurry, Mr Beater. Who knows, you might in time to see your previous girl one last time before she disappears!"
"… …I will come back and kill you."
"Oh, I am so afraid."
Kirito glared at him and then at the Laughing Coffins who stood to the side and made way for him. He has no time to lose. He did not bother to keep his swords and ran through the Laughing Coffins.
"Sorry both PoH says only Kirito can pass. You will have to stay here and entertain us." The same Laughing Coffin who mocked Kirito came and blocked Sinon's path.
"Let her through." Kirito voiced his words, not concealing his intend to kill if they do not comply.
However towards his threat, the same Laughing Coffin laughed frantically. Then from the cloak that covered him, he took out a long black rapier. He pointed at Kirito, his smirk could be seen hiding his hood.
"I believe to pass with you or to entertain us is her decision, isn't it?"
"What are you-"
"Go. Kirito." Sinon cut Kirito off before he finished.
Kirito looked at her, a face of confusion and anxiety in his face before he took a step back towards her. Sinon gritted his teeth in anger and screamed.
"I tell you to go! I won't forgive you if you stay here!"
Kirito froze. He could not understand why Sinon became so furious at him. It was one thing to tell him to save Asuna and Argo but it did not seem like it to him at all.
It seemed that he was intruding into her personal affairs.
Kirito… we have to go…
"…Chee." Kirito cursed and left, running the path that would lead him to Asuna, Argo and PoH himself.
When Kirito was finally out of sight, the Laughing Coffin with the black rapier spun and confronted Sinon. He took off his hood and smiled.
"Long time no see, Sinon."
"Spiegel!" Sinon screamed that name with disgust and hatred. "That rapier!"
"That's right, Sinon! This rapier is none other than Shino's rapier, Black Star!" Spiegel laughed and caressed the rapier. "This is the very same rapier that Shino used to kill a Laughing Coffin to save me! Even though it was obvious that she was so scared after she killed someone, she still tried her best to smile for me. That's why I took it from her before she became mine. Now that I have taken her life, she is mine forever."
"Say, Sinon. There are times that I am busy with the Laughing Coffin that I cannot accompany her. Surely you would not mind keeping her company, right?"
"Spiegel….you…why you…."
Sinon forced her throat to express her hatred when she was crying. Inside, different from the Sinon glaring at Spiegel, Asada Sinon was crying. The Shinkawa Kyouji she once loved was gone. What was before her was just a madman who held her beloved twin's rapier.
She hated this world. It has taken everything she treasured away from her. The peaceful life between Kyouji, Shino and her, her small little wish to hope that Kyouji would notice her crush on him and in the end Shino and Kyouji. This world has taken everything away from her.
Sinon gripped her Hecate and levelled it at Spiegel. Her eyes were empty, her mind was empty, and her world was empty. There was nothing inside Sinon anymore.
"I will kill you." Sinon said it plainly. It was a conclusion that her mind decided on a whim. She has nothing to lose and nothing to gain anymore.
She was left with only one choice.
Sinon stepped forward, then she charged.
"Spiegel!"
"That's the way, Sinon! Let's have fun like old times!"
[Sword skill: Shooting Star]
[Sword skill: Imperial Judgement]
Sinon's cry filled with hatred was mixed with Spiegel's frantic laughter. The lance and rapier clashed into each other, entertaining the other Laughing Coffin who grinned at the despair of the two children.
ooo
"Hm. I am surprised that you actually reacted fast enough to activate a sword skill. You deserve some praise, Mrs Absolute Sword."
"An invisible attack, this shows how cowardly you are…Mr Grim Reaper."
A hooded figure slowly materialized before the three girls. He was unusually tall and most noticeable of all, he was hanging an unusual weapon over his shoulder.
"A scythe… impossible… there is no such weapon for Sword Art Online!" Argo said. "The only known weapons are daggers, swords, katana, hammer, axe, rapier and lance only! There is no way that you can have a scythe, not to mention to wield one!"
The scythe hanging over the hooded figure was as long as a lance. The black shaft was curved and attached with a long blade like the crescent moon. The hooded figure holding the scythe seemed like the Grim Reaper himself.
"...From your clothes, you must be from the Laughing Coffin, aren't you?" Asuna remembered one of the warnings that Kirito would seldom give to her. One of it was to watch out for players with hooded cloaks. "Some grunt would not be able to chase and even catch up to us…Who are you?"
"Oh my." The Grim Reaper chuckled. "It is rude for me to not introduce myself before I attacked. My apologies."
"My name is PoH, Prince of Hell and also the leader of the red guild Laughing Coffin. I am also the third bearer of a Unique skill, Menace Scythe. A pleasure to meet you ladies."
"A bearer of a Unique skill!" Argo exclaimed. She could not believe what she was hearing. Half of her was in joy, she just received a big piece of information! The other saner half told her she probably would not make it out alive to tell the tale.
For Asuna, she was not happy in the least. Of all people, the third existing Unique skill's bearer is PoH, a red player. She had thought that if she could find and grab the third Unique skill's bearer into their guild, the Black Cats of the Full Moon would gain more fame with two Unique skill's bearer. All of her plans were reduced to dust.
"My name is Yuuki, fourth bearer of a Unique skill, Absolute Sword." Yuuki returned the formality. "Just now, you aimed to kill, didn't you? Why would you want to kill another fellow player?"
"It seems that you are misunderstanding something, Yuuki." PoH chuckled. "Asking why a red player is killing players is like asking if humans will die when they are killed in this world. I do not have any ulterior motive, my only intention here is to kill the three of you."
"…I do not have time for you." Yuuki prepared her stance. "I am running out of time so I will be ending your life here. It's three versus one, PoH. I believe you are clever enough to know that you are in a disadvantage position."
Yuuki stepped forward, threatening PoH to face three of them. PoH titled his head and laughed out loud.
"Then I guess it's fine when it's three on three, isn't it?"
"Let's do this! I am so dying to kill someone already!"
Two hooded figures emerged from the corner and stood by the sides of PoH. Asuna clicked her tongue. They have been in the dungeon for about more than fifty minutes already. If this continued on, the time limit for the quest would be reach and Yuuki would-
What would happen to Yuuki?
"Yuuki…" Asuna stared at the time in her visual. "We have about eight minutes left… What will happen if-"
"That won't happen." Argo interrupted. "I will take Johnny Black at the right, Asuna you take Red-Eyed XaXa, he is also a strong rapier user so do not underestimate him. Yuuki, you are the only one who can defeat PoH…"
"Got it, I am surprise that you recognized them, Argo." Yuuki said. "Do you know them?"
"I am an Information Broker." Argo proudly proclaimed herself. "You can rely on me to know everything about the game after you become a player. For now, let's do this!"
Argo said and left our side and headed away to the right. Although his mouth was covered by his hood, it was obvious that he was laughing. He followed Argo and went to the other side of the wall. He took out a long dagger and stared at Argo's armless with interest.
"Aren't you going to use any weapon?" Johnny asked, toying around his dagger with his fingers.
"For an Information Broker, there is no time for training sword skills!" Argo proudly declared. Asuna face palmed. "I think you should be more worried about yourself, Mr Poison user. It is suicidal to fight against an Information Broker who knows all about you."
"…Hehehe! Aren't you an interesting girl!?" Johnny laughed madly. "I will enjoy killing you."
"Bring it on!"
[Sword skill: Linear]
"Ku!"
Asuna subconsciously dodged the rapier that went towards her and snapped her attention back from Argo and Johnny Black to Red-Eyed XaXa. At the side Yuuki has already exchanged blows with PoH. While XaXa was in a plain cloak, his hand held a unique rapier that was bathed in the colour of red. One glance at it was enough to tell her that it was a strong weapon as compared to the nameless long rapier in her hand.
"Why did you ignore that opportunity to launch a surprise attack enough to kill me?" Asuna asked and she raised her rapier. Being spared by her enemy made her felt as if she was underestimated.
"Unlike Johnny and PoH, the reason I come here is to have a duel with you, Asuna the Flash." XaXa brought his rapier up. "While it is a pity that the Estoc Thorn Sword missed its chance to clash with the infamous Lambent Light, it will not change my mind. I come here to settle who is the strongest fencer, Asuna. Are you ready to face me?"
"Hm. I will show you that even without Lambent Light, I am the strongest fencer in Aincrad and I will not lose to the likes of you!"
"Good! That is what I want to hear!"
[Sword skill: Star Splash]
[Sword skill: Star Splash]
Asuna cursed her own mistake for using the same skill as the opponent at the same time. While her own hp was dropping down fast, she was confident that with her nameless rapier, it probably bearing cut down XaXa's hp to even a third quarter. She would have to rely on her own skill to secure her victory.
Immediately after the skill and cool down ended, Asuna went even closer to XaXa, surprising him who though she would fall back and regroup herself. XaXa subconsciously raised his rapier in time to prevent block a fatal hit to the heart. While it still struck him, he would live with half hp than all of it gone with his heart.
"Brilliant move but can you take this!?"
The instant Asuna leapt back to create some distant, XaXa closed in like a phantom. His rapier went at an invisible speed as he drew numerous afterimages of his thrusts towards her. Even though she has maxed her agility, she found herself breaking a sweat to avoid all of his continuous thrusts. His thrust was as fast as the skills with system assist but unlike sword skills, free handling of swords do not have end of combo and cool down time. Asuna lost count of how many thrusts she dodged after it reached fifteen.
Then she noticed and recognized the pattern of the rapier, it was-
"Star Splash!?" Asuna questioned. "How is it possible for you to copy and be as fast as the skill Star Splash!?"
The rapier finally slowed to a stop in mid-air and was slightly lowered. XaXa found himself smiling under his skull mask under the hood.
"Impressive. Truly impressive. You truly deserve the title of the Flash." XaXa praised. "No one has ever managed to escape my custom Star Splash before. However not only you have dodged all of them, you actually managed to see through the afterimages that it was Star Splash. No wonder some players called you the strongest fencer. However Asuna, if you do not think of a way to counter, you are going to die soon."
I have no time for this!
Asuna thought when she started focusing on dodging XaXa's custom Star Splash again. Fifty seven minutes has passed! If Yuuki and she did not make it to the end in time-
"Don't you know that it's suicidal for you to think about anything else!?"
"Why you!"
Asuna cursed when one of the thrust pierced her, cutting another small reign of her hp. Her mind was in conflict. She was running out of time and there was no way for her to break or counter XaXa's custom Star Splash. If this situation kept on, all of them would die.
Asuna's foot suddenly slipped on the rough surface. Asuna cursed. Even though she managed to maintain herself-
"What a blunder! This is the end!" Asuna cursed when XaXa pulled his rapier all the way back. Judging the light on his rapier, he was going to execute the real Star Splash. Due to the slip she made, she was unable to dodge and her hp would not be able to withstand another full blow of Star Splash.
[Sword skill: Star-
"Ha!"
"Wha-"
XaXa's sword skill and words were cut when he felt two swords making a cross slash at his back. The wounds were not deep but it was enough to send his hp to red zone. XaXa spun and leapt backwards to escape from a horizontal slash that would have ended his life.
"Kirito! You!" XaXa cursed. The player he wanted to kill was right before him! He developed his custom Star Splash all for the day to kill him! Yet he ambushed him, caught him defenceless, leaving him with almost no hp to fight against him anymore.
"Johnny, bring XaXa out of here."
"Wait! I can still-"
"Next time, Miss Information Broker!" Johnny waved goodbye as he retreated towards XaXa and took out a Corridor crystal.
"Johnny! Don't you dare-"
XaXa's words were ignored and left hanging as Johnny and XaXa were teleported out of the dungeon. While they were red players, they knew when to kill and when to quit.
"Asuna, Argo, we have not much time left! Let's go!"
Yuuki spun around, took hold of Asuna's hand and sprung down the path. Argo checked PoH, seeing that he has not moved and ran after them.
"I thought for sure you would have chased after them, PoH."
"Hm.I can always find a chance to kill them." PoH turned around and faced Kirito. "You, however, there is no greater opportunity than to settle our duel when we are alone."
"… …"
There was no need for anymore words to be spoken. The two have already decided long ago the move they would make when they met each other again.
PoH swung down his scythe resting on his shoulder and held it by his side. The blade of his scythe reflected the smirk he has on his covered face.
Kirito tightened his grip on his swords and went into his stance that he had trained to specially counter against PoH. He was not surprised by the scythe in his hand. Truthfully, he already has a hunch that PoH would be the next most ideal player and damnable player to receive the third Unique skill.
An invisible timer was set between them. Both stayed at their position, glaring at each other to see who would make the first move.
The invisible timer struck three. The scythe was lifted, in response the swords lowered for a skill.
The invisible timer struck two. Both players started to lightly sway their bodies with their instinct, preparing to dodge any blows that would come.
The invisible timer struck one. PoH raised his head, revealing a smirk as crescent as his blade.
The eyes of the bearer of the Menace Scythe and Dual Blade met.
Zero. The first clash of the Menace Scythe and the Dual Blade has begun.
A/N: This is Sekai here. Almost half a year has passed and I bring you the newest chapter of Beater of the Black Cats of the Full Moon! One of the reason why this work was delayed was because I was finishing up another fiction and I got stuck with the flow of this story. Soon I will update a character list that will give you information of different character's sword skill, special traits and more. Please look forward to it!
And please read and review~!