The Fallen Hero
Disclaimer:I do not own SAO.
This chapter is a bit longer than the first one, have fun reading it.
P.S Some parts are very long and have little or no space in them
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Chapter 2:The Hero
Alice and Kirito's furious fight kept going, neither one were holding back. Kirito had the upper hand because he has alot of experience with swords,but Kirito's armor wasn't the greatest, which was just a uniform of the Swordsman Academy. this gave him a disadvantage, but his mobility is exceptional due to him bright lightweight. Alice was fast as well, she can swing her sword as fast as Kirito, her armor was strong and had alot of «Life» on it. The two kept parrying swords and soon got tired. Neither one is talking, even one mistake can cause death.
"Damn she's fast, it's hard to believe she was someone who became an Intregity Knight just 6 years ago. Her skills would take more than just 6 years to achieve ." Thought Kirito
The two then couldn't parry because of their exhaustion. Kirito used Sonic Leap to charge at Alice, he was about to deal the final blow, but then Alice leapt at the last second and she got a little scratch at her face. This was the perfect chance to slash Alice using the Norkia-Style, Lightning Slash, Kirito followed by using «Sonic Leap» again, but Alice barely parried Kirito's sword.
Kirito and Alice kept attacking each other,each using different sword skills , Kirito used Double Cleave while Alice used her sword to deflect the attack.
"I can't keep going like this forever, I have to do something..."Kirito couldn't think of a way to escape, his and Alice's life go down by the second they slash each other.
An idea struck Kirito and he spoke: "Relase recollection. Enhance Armament!". Kirito released a black surge of energy to Alice. It was a direct hit. Alice was pinned to the wall and became unconscious and fell to the ground. Kirito, on the other hand, was very exhausted. Kirito's sword «Life» greatly decreased. "It's over, Alice" Kirito walked to Alice and he spoke "System Call:Luminous Effect to Alice. Discharge" Alice's Life was increased. Kirito then walked up to the stairs to meet Eugeo once again.
Eugeo was then waiting on the 90th floor for Kirito, who had been in the 85th floor, fighting Alice. "I hope Kirito is alright..." Eugeo was slightly worried about Kirito but he did know something about him. It's that he is a strong swordsman. Eugeo stared at his sword, the sword that was found by Kirito, Alice, and himself. Eugeo remembered the fun times he and Kirito had when they were kids, when they cut down the Gigas Cedar, when they trained in the Sword Mastery Academy, but these fun days were over. Especially when he saw Alice as an Integrity Knight.
Eugeo suddenly heard footsteps coming from the 89th floor's staircase. Eugeo saw Kirito, barely standing up to get to the 90th floor. Kirito passed out infront of Eugeo. Eugeo ran to Kirito and checked his «Life» , he was relieved that he didn't take too much damage or fatal blows. Eugeo carried Kirito on his back until the 95th floor.
On the way to the 95th floor, Kirito woke up. Eugeo looked back at him and carefully got him on the floor.
"Kirito, what happened to Alice?"
"Eugeo, Alice is fine, I used my Enhanced Armament to take her down. I healed her after she was unconscious. Alice was too strong, I had to use my Enhanced Armament to end the fight as soon as possible."
Eugeo clenched his fists and shouted at Kirito. "Why?! Why would you use Enhanced Armament on Alice?! You... You could have killed her!" Kirito looked in Eugeo's blue eyes.
"I used it's power because I had to, she doesn't remember me at all so she didn't hold back. But that Alice is still the Alice we know, so I used half of the power. She's still our friend and we have to get her back."
Kirito replied to Eugeo's question.
Kirito stood up, took his sword and walked to the stairs, Eugeo held Kirito's shoulder to keep him up and gave back Cardinal's Knife. But someone was waiting there, in the 95th floor,and he was ready to take Kirito and Eugeo down.
After some time, Kirito and Eugeo finally arrived at the 95th floor,but they saw someone with iron-gray hair,tinged with blue, he also had dark yellow eyes,he also looked muscular even without his Integrity Knight armor on him.
"Who might you two be? The rebels?"
The man with his low-pitched voice called out to Kirito and Eugeo. Kirito and Eugeo unsheathed their swords and took on their stances.
"Well,if you are here, that means one of you have defeated Alice Synthesis Thirty, Correct?" Kirito nodded in response,
"Then I shall tell you my name. My name is Bercouli Synthesis One, the Integrity Knight Commander. So let me ask you a question, which one of you defeated Alice? I'm guessing the one with the black hair defeated her."
Kirito answered. "And what if I am the one who defeated her?" Bercouli unsheathed his sword and spoke
"Then you are my target, Enhance Armament!" Kirito was suddenly slashed, and his Life greatly decreased. Kirito became unconscious due to the strength of Bercouli and his exhausting fight against Alice. Eugeo looked at Kirito, who was falling to the floor.
Eugeo quickly looked back at Bercouli. "What did you do to Kirito!?" Eugeo asked in rage.
"I simply slashed him,using my Time-Piercing Sword's Enhanced Armament, I can slash my enemies in the future."(Time-Piercing Sword's skill is to "slash the future)
Eugeo pointed his sword at Bercouli, ready to attack the Integrity Knight Commander.
"You should prepare yourself, boy, I am not easily defeated and I won't hold back."
Eugeo used «Sonic Leap» to charge at Bercouli. With not much effort, Bercouli blocked the charge and attacked. Eugeo, dodged the attack, but was still slashed.
"I dodged your sword but how did it hit me?!"
"Don't you try to observe your opponent? I already told you, I slash the future."
"How the hell will I dodge his attacks?!" Eugeo was frustrated, he didn't know a way to block his sword. Eugeo was slashed left and right. He kept dodging, but it was always the same result.
"Wait,when he said slash the future...did he mean where I will stand in the future? If that's how it works, it's better than not trying..."
Eugeo parried Bercouli's sword and moved back and suddenly stopped.
"Have you given up? I was expecting more from you." Bercouli asked disappointingly.
"You got the wrong idea, I'm not giving up. I just have an idea!"
"Has this boy figured out already? I have no information about his abilities so I should tread carefully for now." Thought Bercouli
Eugeo used «Sonic Leap» again. Bercouli struggled blocking the attack. "His attacks were weaker awhile ago, how is it stronger now?"
Eugeo was able to slash Bercouli using Aincrad-Style «Horizontal Arc» and quickly jumped back. Bercouli was not affected, his body was as strong as iron.
"This is your attack? How pitiful." But Eugeo had not given up yet. He still had people to protect and to fight for.
Eugeo gripped his sword tighter. Eugeo dashed and used «Suigetsu», he didn't stop, he never would until he breaks the wall infront of him. He quickly used different sword skills. Rrom «Vertical» to «Lightning Fall», he tried everything to damage or do a fatal blow to Bercouli, but their strengths were different. Bercouli, the strongest swordsman of all against a boy who just trained a few years ago.
Things were looking hopeless, but ever since Kirito and Eugeo met, he would never give up. Eugeo was panting and panting, tired after using all the «Secret Moves» Kirito taught him. Bercouli, on the other hand, could see why Eugeo was so desperate to win. He wanted to protect his friends and the people he cares about.
"How do I beat this guy? He's on another level! I have no choice but to use my Enhanced Armament, or it will all be over."
Eugeo spoke "Enhance... Armament!"
Eugeo stabbed the sword to the ground and it turned into ice. Bercouli charged at Eugeo to prevent him from spreading more, but he was stopped. He looked at his feet, being covered in ice. But with pure strength he resisted the ice. Eugeo made his ice stronger and stronger, until Bercouli could finally not get away. Bercouli was being covered in ice. The ice covered everything but his neck and head.
"Tell me, where is the Highest Administrator." Eugeo demanded
"What makes you think that I will tell you? I have the pride of a master swordsman and I will not easily yield"
Eugeo chanted: "Bloom, Blue Rose." Blue Roses started to grow within the ice, and it started damaging Bercouli's «Life».
Suddenly, Eugeo felt a weak slash from his back and became paralyzed. He looked back and saw two young-looking girls.
"Bercouli-san, are you okay? Let us help you get out from that ice." Eugeo stared at the girls with an angry expression.
The two girls noticed Eugeo looking at them,
"Oh, we forgot to introduce ourselves, I'm Integrity Knight Fizel." The first girl said and the other girl spoke as well. "And I'm Integrity Knight, Linel."
"Here you go, Bercouli-san." The two girls giggled as they removed Bercouli from the ice. "Thank you, Fizel and Linel."
In unity, they both answered "No problem, Bercouli-san! But what should we do with the rebels?" Bercouli was thinking of a way to deal with the rebels. "If we can't keep them in low guarded cells, what can we do?... That boy in black clothing seems to be a good swordsman, worthy of the Integrity Knights, I've heard from the lower knights that he defeated Fanatio and Alice... I should ask the Highest Administrator about this."
Bercouli gave his orders to the two girls."Keep them as prisoners, call Eldrie to guard with you and wait until I give further orders."
Kirito, who was still unconscious, was carried with Eugeo to a highly guarded dungeon, guarded by Eldrie Synthesis Thirty-One and the two young Integrity Knights.
Kirito awoke, curious to where he was as it was a dark place, tried to move but couldn't. He looked around to see that his wrists and legs were strapped to the wall he was up against Kirito felt a sharp pain from his shoulder. "Must have been when I got slashed... It still hurts, even until now." Kirito saw a familiar figure next to him. It was Eugeo.
"Eugeo, you awake? Eugeo?"
"Yeah, I'm awake. But our weapons are gone, even Cardinal's Knife..." Eugeo whispered.
They heard footsteps from outside their cell, and the three Integrity Knights came in to check on them.
"I see you are awake, rebels." Eldrie glared at them. "You must have some guts to attack Alice-sama like that. Fortunately, she's in a good condition now. But you two are really starting to annoy the hell out of me. Both of you might even be executed. I'm just waiting for Commander Bercouli's orders."
But Eldrie was curious about his orders, "I wonder what his order will be? The amount of damage these two caused are big. Will it be execution? Let them go? Or just stay in the dungeon forever. Who knows?
Location: High Administrator's Floor
The Knight Commander, went to visit the Highest Administrator, Quinella.
As soon as Bercouli left the elevator, he was greeted by a grand-looking hallway with pillars. A large arched doorway was at the end of it. Everything was made out of marble and gold
A few minutes of walking lead Bercouli to the front of the large arched door.
"May I enter, Highest Administrator?"
There was no response but shortly after, the door opened.
"What is your reason of your presence here, Bercouli?" Asked the Highest Administrator Quinella
"I am sorry to interrupt, Highest Administrator, but I have a request."
"What is your request, Bercouli?"
"Highest Administrator, may I request someone to become one of us. He is one of the two rebels, but he was able to defeat Alice and Fanatio. He has potential to defeat even me and the other Integrity Knights if he was able to defeat those two in a single day. A swordsman of his calibur will surely help the Axiom Church progress."
Quinella was shocked to hear Bercouli speak of someone so highly, even as far as going to day that this person can defeat even him. "I shall think about your request, Bercouli. I will look further into this "person" you speak of. Do not do anything to the rebels until further orders from me. That is all."
"Thank you, Highest Administrator."
Bercouli politely bowed and left the room.
Location: Dungeon Room
Back in the dungeon room, Kirito was thinking of a plan to escape. "Should I use my Martial Arts technique? It will be too risky to make a loud escape and I don't know what floor I'm on. I should find a map when I escape." Eugeo noticed Kirito's thinking face.
"Kirito, you got a plan?"
"I'm working on it."
Kirito looked around to look for anything he can use to get out. He noticed that the straps were a bit loose. "This is it! I can escape with Eugeo and take down the guards as fast as possible without anyone noticing. "
Kirito wriggled his arms as hard as he can to get the straps loose. "Kirito, what are you doing?" Eugeo questioned Kirito's strange movements.
A few seconds later the straps on his arms were lose enough for him to slip through. Kirito quietly removed the other straps on his legs and was shortly free after that.
"Finally. That took a lot of effort." Kirito sighed.
"So that's what you were doing." Eugeo said, realizing Kirito's intent earlier.
Kirito moved over to Eugeo and got his straps undone.
"So what's our next move"
"Eugeo, when we get outta here, we knock those two out. Alright?"
"Are you sure that this will work?"
"Trust me on this."
Kirito looks around for anything he can use to open the dungeon's door. Kirito found a small object on the floor. Kirito went closer to inspect it. It looked like a pin of some sort.
"Eugeo, you know how to pick-lock, right?" Kirito asked.
"Yeah, I know how. You need it for your plan?" Eugeo was catching on to Kirito's plan.
Kirito walked over and gave the pin to Eugeo, "Well, we're gonna need these bars open."
Eugeo learned how to pick-lock when they were younger. He would use it for opening locked doors if he lost the keys to it. He would also help the villagers open their locked house if they lost their keys.
"Almost got it... There!" they slowly opened the rail door until they could both fit in it. They did not want to attract attention as much as possible. They both went to the hallway to the next room and saw two guards.
Kirito pointed the guard on the left. Meaning Eugeo would get the guard on the right. Kirito used his hand to give the signal, counting down the moment they will attack. Kirito gave the signal to attack and the two boys managed to take the guards out swiftly.
"Alright, we should find a map to know which floor we're on."
Eugeo looked around the dungeon and saw a table with their weapons. He walked closer and also saw a map. "Kirito, I think I found the map. It says we're on floor 85." Kirito nodded and the two left the dungeon to the floor's staircase.
Kirito still felt the pain from the slash and stopped. Eugeo looked back at him, wondering why he did, "Kirito, are you okay?" Kirito nodded and kept moving forward.
Kirito and Eugeo arrived at the 90th floor, where they saw Deusolbert with his «Conflagrant Flame Bow». "It seems you have both escaped from the safest place you were give. Get ready to fight, rebels, you were given a chance to stay alive. But you lost that chance when you left that place"
"Damn, such a bad time to find one of these guys," Kirito thought. The boys took their weapons and unsheathed it.
Location: High Administrator's Floor
Meanwhile, Quinella was thinking about the rebel Bercouli spoke about. She then heard a loud boom and the ground shook slightly. Curious, she opened a screen much like a «Stacia Window», but was showing a live battle of 2 boys against Deuosolbert. None of them caught her eye as masterswords men but she knew never to judge a book by it's cover.
Deusolbert attacked Kirito with his arrows, but Kirito used Aincrad-Style, «Seven-Deadly Sins» and took out the seven arrows shot from Deusolbert. Deusolbert fired 50 more at Kirito but it was still ineffective as he cut most of the arrows in half. "
Damn this kid, he's stronger than he looks. Let's turn it up a notch." Deusolbert shouted "Enhanced Armament!" His bow was engulfed in flames, but the bow itself was still capable of shooting arrows and was unaffected by the flames.
Deusolbert shot flaming arrows at Kirito, dealing more damage even when Kirito was able to slice it as the flames burnt him.
"I've got to help Kirito as well! Enhanced Armament!" Eugeo used his ice to cover cover for Kirito, but it was only for a few seconds until the ice melted. Eugeo had not completely mastered the Enhanced Armament, but he could still use it effectively.
Kirito was thinking of a plan of attack. "If he uses a bow, he won't be able to attack me while I'm close to him. Kirito used «Sonic Leap» right after the ice was melted. Kirito charged at Deuosolbert, but Deuosolbert countered by focusing the bow's flames to his fist and hit Kirito.
Kirito was caught off guard and was barely able to dodge. He still took minimum damage on his «Life». "He could do that with his bow?!" Kirito was covered again by Eugeo's Enhanced Armament right before he was hit with flaming arrows.
Kirito shouted "Enhance Armament!" he used all of his power at Deuosolbert, the black surge of energy coming for Deusolbert. But all of the heat energy was being focused on the front of the bow. The fire shaped a spear and he fired the arrow at Kirito's Enhanced Armament's energy,but it wasn't enough. The flame was blown away and Deusolbert was hit.
But it did half of the damage Kirito meant to inflict. The fire decreased the output of Kirito's Enhaced Armament and Deusolbert took less damage than he should have. But a figure was approaching, and fast. Deusolbert was caught flat footed and Kirito quickly used «Vertical», a quick sword skill and «Vorpal Strike» , a heavy-hitting sword skill. Deusolbert took significant damage and was no longer conscious.
Kirito was once again tired after using his Enhanced Armament and complex sword skills, much more exhausted than Eugeo who had been covering Kirito the whole time.
Eugeo ran to Kirito,"Kirito, are you sure you're okay?" Eugeo asked, concerned. Kirito was so exhausted he couldn't speak to Eugeo properly. Eugeo chanted "System Call:Luminous effect to Kirito" and Kirito's «Life» was increased and his exhaustion was lessening.
Quinella, who had been watching the whole time, was surprised that the boy in black defeated Deuosolbert.
"So what Bercouli told me about this rebel's potential is true... Certainly, this boy would be useful in the Axiom Church. He is strong but he can taught and trained to be stronger. He would certainly bring fear to the Dark Territory," she thought
Eugeo and Kirito stopped to rest at the 90th floor. Eugeo asked Kirito. "Kirito, do you remember who brought us to the Axiom Church? In a normal cell, before we broke out of it easily?" Kirito was thinking who it was. "I think it was this Integrity Knight called Fanatio..." Eugeo also started to remember the fight they had with her, they almost lost. But Kirito and Eugeo's strenth was strong enough to take down Fanatio, but it wasn't an easy fight. Eugeo had been injured after the battle, and Kirito and Eugeo's «Life» was brought down to 50% of their full «Life» until they healed themselves.
Kirito felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder and grunted. Eugeo always noticed that everytime there was a pain in Kirito's body, it's always the area that Bercouli slashed him.
"Kirito, you are definitely not okay."
"What are you talking about? I'm completly fine." But it was the exact opposite, everytime Kirito fights, or uses a «secret move», the pain in his left arm would just be sharper.
Eugeo glared at Kirito for lying about his conditions, "You're not gonna fight anymore, you need to rest, or else the pain would just get stronger."
"I'm gonna continue fighting... until I get rid of the Highest Administrator."
Eugeo grabbed Cardinal's dagger from the back of Kirito. "You're not going to fight again unless you get better. If you don't heal, you may never be able to fight again."
Kirito was annoyed, but it was the truth. He had to go with it or his enemy will be able to find his weakspot and damage Kirito alot. In a worst case scenario, he might even die.
"Fine, I won't fight unless it's important." Eugeo and Kirito heard footsteps from the staircase, the footsteps were getting closer and closer. The figure reached the top of the stairs and Eugeo saw a woman with blonde hair and a familiar face. "It's... It's... lt's Alice! This isn't good, Kirito and I just finished a tough battle! Kirito can barely move without getting hurt, so I'm gonna have to fight Alice alone." Eugeo grew worried for their future
"Good to know that both of you are still here, as Highest Administrator told me."
Eugeo wanted to avoid fighting as much as possible and was looking for other ways.
"Alice! It's me, Eugeo! Don't you remember me? We were friends when we were younger, but you were taken away by an Integrity Knight!
"I do not understand this nonsense you speak of" Alice didn't even hesitate with her words
"Don't you remember?! You gave us food when Kirito and I were cutting down the Gigas Tree! You helped me find this sword I'm holding right now!" Eugeo shouted at the top of his lungs, in hopes of making Alice remember."
"I will not give an ear to those who rebel against the church. " Alice spoke with absolution
"I wish to fight that boy in black as I have been ordered to do so"
"Then you're gonna have to get past me first!"
Alice nodded and unsheathed her Fragrant Olive Sword and chanted "Enhance Armament!" Small petals were struck into Eugeo, Eugeo couldn't see it because he did not notice or know the sword's enhanced armament. Kirito looked at Eugeo as he was about to be struck. "Eugeo!" Eugeo was barely standing, but he also activated his Enhanced Armament and stabbed his sword to the ground, making a wall of ice to stall Alice for awhile,the ice was being cracked, the petals were strong enough to pierce through the thick ice.
"Eugeo,let's switch..."
"But your injury..."
" I don't care! I want to be able to protect everyone! Even if I'm hurt, it's still worth saving people's lives!" Eugeo did not argue back and let Kirito on the battlefield with him.
Kirito chanted right before the ice shattered. "Enhance Armament!" Kirito felt another sharp pain on his left shoulder but kept going. Kirito released a black surge of energy to Alice, but was weaker than before, Alice easily countered it with her petals. Alice took aim, and the petals were aimed at Eugeo. Eugeo put up a wall of ice once more, but the petals were much, much stronger this time. "Gh...! I won't... be able... to hold it much longer...!"
The petals pierced the barrier and broke through. "I guess... this is the end of the line..." Eugeo closed his eyes as he accepted his fate...
But he didn't feel anything. He felt nothing. "Did I... die...?" Eugeo opened his eyes to see what had occurred. What had stopped his demise?
It was Kirito, barely standing. He had wounds all over him. He was using his as a support to keep himself up. But he could no longer stand. He had fallen to the ground shortly after.
Kirito had pushed Eugeo out of the way and was hit instead of him. He was lying there, on the floor. Lifeless. Eugeo ran to his fallen friend. As he got close, the boy lying down on the floor was trying to say something.
"Eugeo... Run..." Eugeo was in despair. His friend was on the verge of dying and he could not do anything.
"I can't just leave you here!" Tears were forming in Eugeo's eyes.
"Please... you must... Alice is too strong right now but you can come back stronger, much, much, stronger..." Kirito was running out of breath and could barely speak. Kirito grabbed something from his pocket and slowly gave it to Eugeo. It was one of the two knives that Cardinal gave the both of them to eliminate Quinella and restore order.
Eugeo turned to the stairs and ran as fast as he could, tears still in his eyes. Kirito was happy to know that he saved his best friend as he saw Eugeo ran. He closed his heavy eyes and blacked out. Alice did not pursue Eugeo as she had her own orders.
Alice saw the Black Swordsman on the floor, lying down. Remembering Quinella's orders to capture the swordsman, Alice carried Kirito on her back and was walking to the 100th floor.
Update: May 27, 2016
Sorry that the next chapter is not out yet, I am trying my best to fix and revise it! Thanks for reading my fanfic and have a good day.
Update: August 23, 2018
Boi, I gave up on this story but saw so many things I could improve so I did. I hope you enjoy it and I might edit the next chapter, but no promises. Have a good day.