I used to believe heroes were destined to save everyone, that in their strength they spread only hope and freedom. But one life can only be saved when another is sacrificed. One life, in the sea of hundreds, must be condemned to death.

A hero does not receive rewards.

A hero pays the price.

"Archer," Saka said, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at the small camp of PK players ahead of her.

By her side Archer waited dutifully. His hands were bounded close to himself as he stared at his soon-to-be foes. He dressed in the familiar red cloak of the Knights of Blood but decided to wear more black than white.

His current superior, Saka, had long since understood his strength as a swordsman. Likewise he had understood her strength as his superior. She was indeed of a class worthy to lead him, as he provided the strength, she provided the ability. "How many do you count?"

Archer narrowed his gaze, his [Sight] skill being of a higher level than most players. He followed the players movements, eyeing them dangerously as they stalked off with smiles and laughs. He hated them, he hated them with a fiery passion. His ideals were torn, his blood ran cold, his eyes seethed in silent fury. But he stepped back, closed his eyes, and breathed.

"Archer," Saka said his name again.

"Yes Rin," He said the name quietly, so endearingly that it nearly bordered insanity.

"Go," the words rang clear, so soft and commanding. But Archer knew one simple fact from that command, the unspoken words of 'Stop them' instead of 'kill them'. That alone, in its most fundamental aspect, was what Archer had always longed for. To be what he had dreamed to be.

He vanished, traveling deeper into forest as he slashed at an unsuspecting player. He shrieked in alarm, piercing Archer's ears like a bull horn. His anger flared and he brought his other arm forward to slash at the man's arm, careful to not sever it completely. The player screamed and Archer ended it with an elbow to his face.

The other Laughing Coffin members raced forward, their surprise now overshadowed with anger at this intruder. Archer pulled his blade up, eyes glinting in foreign emotion as he met then with his blade.

Sparks flew, screams tore through the air as throat ran raw. Archer forced them back, each step met with undying resolution, each push found a player on the ground and with every swing Archer's blade rang true.

Cut the head, the body falls.

Sever the snake, the shadow bows.

Burn a light, the darkness part.

Sever the soul, no pain will come.

Cut the heart, the sword owns all.

Archer roared with a mighty voice, one filled with anger, resolution, and sorrow. He slashed upwards, a pixelated jagged cross piercing through the body of a sullen player who had resigned to his fate. He fell, his health barely left, and stared unblinkingly at Archer.

The Counter Guardian twitched, in his mind he knew this man needs to die. In his mind he knew, one life for another, this man did not deserve to live. He felt the system shine on his blade, reacting to the tightening of his muscled and his duty surging through his veins.

"Archer," Saka said behind him. He knew she could see his back tensing, he knew she could feel his body pressing for an attack. "Are you that kind of creature?" She asked. There was no disgust, only a cold demand.

Archer did not know what to say.

This man must die.

There was no doubting that fact.

But are you willing to take another life?

Slaughter a man as he lay undefended?

Be the Counter Guardian that you hate with a fiery passion?

Will you remain trapped in this binding contract?

Will you bow to Ayako and his sick twisted world.

Archer shook the thoughts aside. "Archer," Saka said through the silence, "round them up, the Patrolmen will come and deal with them."

Archer sighed, his conflicting emotions churning inside, one burned through experience and necessity while the other shining in ideals and dreams he had long abandoned. "Of course Rin," Archer said, his deep voice pressuring the small area, "You are indeed a worthy master." His small smile remained hidden from her eyes.

"I fear for the one you will date, you made me do all the work today," her huff was soft and Archer could hear her clothes rustle as she crossed her arms. He imagined her frowning, an embarrassed blush on her face at his proclamation.

Archer grinned.

Sever yourself, sever your body.

One life is taken, One life is saved.

Archer is a difficult character to write as well as Rin. With both their motivations skewered, and their talents as well ripped from them, indeed they are difficult characters. I think I'm just going to make this fic a small hobby as I focus on my main ones.

Idk really how to write Archer, the wiki barely helps and his different personalities on the three different routes is fairly confusing. Rin, however is easy to understand, and right now I'm using her as both a crutch and an anchor for his character.