The Tri-Blade Alliance
Chapter 12: Slaughterhouse
A/N: I got some reviews asking me to add more KiriSuna moments. And I assure you, the next chapter will have KiriSuna moments. For now, please enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: We don't own SAO.
(x)
"In other news, one of the top members of Laughing Coffin was nearly assassinated yesterday. Why the job was never finished is beyond anybody. Could it be a message? Stay tuned for more details."
Heathcliff turned his robot off and turned to Shadow, a smile on his face. "An excellent way to send a message, my friend," he stated.
"Yeah," Shadow agreed. "Now they know that we mean business. We should wait for their next move."
"Yes, I suppose we should. We'll continue this later. You can show yourself out, I believe."
(x)
Shadow teleported outside of the base of the K.O.B. He was walking away when he heard someone call, "Shadow."
He turned around calmly to see the vice commander of the K.O.B walking up to him. "What do you want, Asuna?"
"The commander showed me the clip. I'm sorry. I thought that it was you who nearly killed Kirito."
"Why do you care?"
Asuna raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking me why I care that a player was nearly killed?"
Shadow crossed his arms. "No. I'm asking why you care that Kirito, of all players, was nearly killed. If it was Solar or any of the Tri-Bladers, then I'd understand. But for a solo player like Kirito? Why?"
"He's one of the top players on the front lines."
"So am I."
"Humble, much?" Asuna whispered under her breath. Shadow heard it, though. "If either one of you two are gone, we can kiss our chances of getting out of this game goodbye."
"You do care."
"Regardless, I'll be keeping a close eye on you."
"Won't Kirito get jealous if you're watching me instead of him?"
"Shut up." With that, the vice commander walked away.
Under his scarf, Shadow smirked and turned the other way. As he was walked into the forest to hunt for some items, ANY items, honestly, he was hit with something. He placed his hand on his neck, where he got hit, then stumbled forward. Oh shit, was his last thought before he hit the ground and fell unconscious due to the tranq dart.
(x)
"You sure you want to go?" his friend asked, following the player to the door. He looked back to see his two best friends.
"I have to," the player-to-leave responded. "Neither of you have any idea what I'm going through."
The male friend bit his lip. "Yeah, I'm sure we don't. But then, who's going to take your place?"
"I'm sure you two have it handled."
"How will we know when you come back?" the other player asked, sadness lacing her voice.
"Life's never a when situation," he told her. He put a hand on her head. "It's always an if situation." The female player blushed. He turned away while removing his hand from her head. He proceeded to open his friends list. He selected all of the players on the list, and unfriended them. He turned to the other two and, with a sad tone that broke their hearts, told them, "Don't come looking for me. Please." With that, he walked out the door, held up a crystal and said:
"Teleport: Town of Beginnings."
(x)
"I think you used too much poison," a voice faintly said.
Shadow woke up and groaned quietly. Without picking his head up, he could discern that he was no longer in the woods, but rather in a dimly lit room. He looked to the direction where the voice originated. His blood boiled when he saw the familiar tattered cloaks. Laughing Coffin.
At this point, Shadow picked himself up and faced the crowd.
"Nonsense," another player said. He pointed to the now standing mercenary. "He's awake."
"Where am I?" Shadow demanded.
"You're in one of our safe houses," the LC player said. He appeared to be the leader of the party, as he was wearing actual armor and was wielding a scythe instead of any of the short ranged weapons the guild was known for. "We brought you here because we," he continued, casually pulling up a chair and sitting in the reverse position, "have a proposition," he finished, motioning for Shadow to sit down. When Shadow still stood up, the group leader assured him, "We're all friends here. No one's gonna kill you without a just cause."
Finally, Shadow cautiously pulled up a chair and sat down. "I'm listening."
The leader smiled wider. "Great! Now then, here's our offer. Youㅡ"he pointed to Shadowㅡ"will join Laughing Coffin."
"And why would I do that?!"
"Because if you don't," he said while opening his menu to write a message, "then your friends will die."
"A guy like me doesn't have friends."
"Oh, really?" He held his hand out, and one of the other three members watching handed him a list. He casually scrolled through it, looking up to see Shadow's reaction. "Solar. Akira. Kirito." Shadow remained indifferent. "Is Asuna a friend?"
"Not at the moment."
"Then what about...Skye?" Shadow tensed, and the leader smiled widely. "Oh! So that's who you care about! Well, if you don't join us, they all bite the dust. Especially Skye. So, what do you say?"
"Go ahead."
The leaderㅡand everyone elseㅡblinked. "Um...what?"
"You heard me. Give the order. Because to me, those people are nothing more than business associates. Clients, if you will. Even if they die, there are more clients in this game."
Everyone was silent. "Damn," the leader said. "I expected you to be cold. I wasn't expecting a fucking blizzard to roll in here."
"I like to shatter expectations. Makes me feel good."
"Ah, well," the leader shrugged. "We gave you a choice." The leader stood up and drew his weapon. Shadow did as well, but he silently cursed when he grasped nothing but air. "Did you really think that we'd let you keep your sword?"
Shadow said nothing, and went into a martial arts stance instead. "I guess I'll test my luck with a scythe, then." This surprised the leader, as he honestly expected Shadow to give up. This distraction allowed Shadow to dash forward, grab the scythe and head butt the leader, stunning him momentarily. That was all he needed. During the time that the leader was stunned, Shadow swung his scythe, getting into the learning curve, and took the head off of one of the lackeys. Then, he threw the scythe, which was surprisingly light, and it lodged itself in the head of another lackey. Afterwards, he snapped the neck of the final lackey before teleporting in front of the group's leader. As the leader was finished recovering from the head butt, Shadow walked up calmly, making sure to grab the scythe from the shattering player. Shadow grabbed the leader and brutally cut off his arms from the shoulders. As the player was screaming in pain, Shadow grabbed him by his armor, and told the player, "Tell your leader that this safe house is mine, and to go fuck himself." With that, Shadow threw the leader to the door, and he scrambled out without a second thought. Shadow relaxed and stretched his muscles momentarily. Afterwards, he looked at his new scythe. "Reincarnation, huh? This weapon is dripping in irony." He viewed its durability, and cursed silently. He looked for his signature weapon, and found it amongst many, many other weapons. After re-equipping his sword and putting the scythe in his inventory, he looked at the mound of weapons. "I'm sure that these will come in handy." He left the building, and made sure to mark it on his map (a new feature that was recently added). "Floor 52: Apokolips. Gotta remember that." He then went to search for the one person who he knew could fix his new weapon.
(x)
Floor 48: Lindas
"Thank you, come again!" The blacksmith called to her most recent customer. She left satisfied with the service (no homo). The blacksmith was happily closing up shop, immensely satisfied with the amount of customers she had (again, nothing wrong here). She was about to close her shop for the day when she heard the door open. She smiled to herself. One more customer wouldn't hurt.
"Welcome to Lizbeth's Blacksmith ShoㅡAHH!" She screamed when she saw who her customer was.
"I have a weapon that needs repairing," Shadow calmly said, ignoring the blacksmith's reaction.
"You're h-h-him!" Liz stuttered while pointing a finger at the mercenary.
"I have a weapon that needs repairing," the mercenary repeated calmly.
"Why should I help you?! You're a killer!" Liz put her fists on her hips as she accused Shadow.
"I'm asking you because," Shadow pulled his hood and scarf down, with Liz gasping in shock in who it was, "you are the best in the Liz, after all." That confirmed it. There was only one person who had that little inside joke with her.
"You?! You're Shadow?!"
(x)
"You're such an idiot," Lizbeth said while laughing.
"And yet, I can still make you laugh," the other player said while smiling. They were in the fields, and had spent the day together. He was a member of a guild, and it was his day off. So he decided to spend it with Liz. "I heard about what happened," the man said, no longer smiling.
Liz had stopped laughing as well, and looked down sadly.
"It was my fault," she said miserably. "If I hadn't been so persistent, then they would still be alive."
"It wasn't your fault," the friend said reassuringly. "No one could have known that the room was a trap, least of all you or me. But hey, at least you got out alive. And if they were here, then they would not want you to mourn for them."
"True." Lizbeth wiped away the tears that were falling.
"And I heard you became quite the introvert. And I think I know why. You don't have to be scared. I'm here for youㅡwe all are. And if you ever need help, just remember: You have me on your friends list. Send me a message."
"Thanks," Liz said, smiling again. "You know," she said while looking at the sunset, "I've been thinking about becoming a blacksmith."
"Well, I'm sure you'd be the best in the Liz."
"Oh my god!" Lizbeth shouted, laughing out loud. "I knew you were going to say that!"
"You gave me an opening," he said, laughing as well. "What, was I not supposed to say it?"
Lizbeth sighed and laid down on the grass, with her friend following suit. She looked towards him and smiled.
Too bad he was taken.
S/N: Sorry for the shorter chapters, but at least we're updating faster.
A/N: Sorry for the sorry excuse for a cliffhanger, but at least it's getting somewhat interesting.
Anyways, Read and Review!