Chapter Thirteen: Prince of Hell

Alice…Alice Synthesis Thirty…

Sinon's thoughts returned to that knight while she awaited the inevitable. Her relationship with Kirito has always been a fine line between romance and friendship, with a touch of unyielding competition, but no matter how strong those feelings were, or who initiated what sentiments, it was always quite clear camaraderie played a bigger role in their relationship.

Kirito the Swordsman was not forged anywhere but in Aincrad, and Sinon was well aware, as long as he remained that man, his heart belonged with Asuna the Flash. But here and now? Sinon asked herself quietly and logically. Kirito had lived here his entire life, more than what he had in Aincrad, and perhaps made more memories here than even in the Real World. That strong-willed, kind-hearted woman with a beauty that more than competed with herself came into his life when he was strong and mature, she could be…

Smirking, Sinon considered what impacts Alice would bring to Kirito and all the people around him.

Oh Kirito, after this, you just can't deny you have a type. And I can't wait until everyone's heard of this. And Asuna…good luck I suppose. From Aincrad to Alfheim to all that has happened in the Real World, Alice might just prove to be your greatest…rival.

A thunder rumbled as dark clouds congregated. Sinon – the Goddess Solus looked up to see the skies as far as she could being slowly swallowed by a thick amorphous layer. For a transient moment, the sea that was the heavens stirred and oscillated as the clouds crashed into one another in a giant whirlpool.

"Here he comes!"

If she did not know better, Sinon would have thought lightnings were being produced in the midst of that misty swirl. But the radiance of a lightning could only last so long. The glowing light she was seeing did not dissipate; instead, it grew and grew until its flaming shades had infested the clouds. It was like the very Earth had cracked open and the magma from the bowels of Hades was uncovered. Except this happened in the skies. Sinon was prepared, both physically and mentally, to unleash her Annihilation Ray as immediately as her foe appeared. For someone as experienced as she was, there should be no causes for trouble. Nor would something like seeing a squalid, viscous waterfall cascading down the clouds onto the exact spot Vecta had died shock her. But when a hand with five slender fingers wriggled its way out of that abhorrent liquid after the last drip had fallen, Sinon finally froze in horror.

Unlike a child being pushed into the world, this demon's birth would have killed his mother, for as mentioned, his two hands went first and tore the inky puddle open larger and larger until his head finally fit through.

The blond hair of his was the first spot in the area that reflected any light. Before Sinon could put any thought into his appearance, that figure pulled himself free from the pool and Sinon had the chance to look right into his eyes. Contravention. That was the only word Sinon could think of. The man rising from the liquid had blue sapphires for eyes. They ought to have reflected all light, and they did seem to do so at a glance. Yet, they were so perfectly blue they were like the ocean – dark and bottomless underneath. No light returned from his pupils. That man's eyes were full of life yet deprived thereof simultaneously.

Wait…why is he…

The sticky puddle underneath did not disappear into thin air as Sinon had anticipated, nor did it somehow return to the heavens. A sudden clamor sounded and the blackish clouds scattered instantly. The said puddle morphed into a queer thing with batwings, however, its body was flat and round like a saucer. It had four unmistakably red eyes and a serpent-like tail writhing in the air. It was not a thing. It was alive.

The blond-haired man stood atop the weird creature as it lifted him off the ground until he reached the same level as Sinon, no more than a hundred Mels away.

There's no doubt…I know him! Those eyes, that face…I know him!

Where? Sinon panicked as she stared into that man standing right before her. He was uniformed in a modern, military manner, yet equipped with a longsword on his back. He was emotionless, not a frown or a smile was on his face, and he was simply there.

Until his hands reached forwards and grasped the empty space. Then, there was the faintest hint of a sneer.

Air was choked out of Sinon's lung as that man squeezed. His hands suffocated the goddess despite never having touched her.

Her memories then came back with a vengeance.

"…Subtilizer…"

It was him. It was the only one in GGO apart from Kirito who had ever managed to defeat her.

But why was he here?

This question bounced about in Sinon's mind for what seemed like eternity. She tried desperately to gasp for air, or to tear those invisible hands away while her mind explored every possibility she could fathom.

Why?

It did not matter. What mattered was that the grip on her throat was suddenly let loose.

Sinon coughed violently. Either Subtilizer could not hold on to the attack for long, or he thought killing someone so easily was boring.

"You're Subtilizer!" Sinon shouted in the attempt to mask her fear.

"Alice escaped?" He questioned. "No matter. I'll catch up soon enough.

"If I remember correctly, I fought you in GGO, didn't I? Your name was…Sinon, correct? To think we'd meet here again. Hmm…your skills, your ethics…Are you perhaps like me? Sent over here to capture Alice, and deliver her to the Real World? If so, assuming there are more of you, then Alice must be heading back to World's End Altar one way or another. All I have to do is to wait for her there."

"And you?" Sinon replied, choosing not to reveal anything more, but she could no longer hide her trembles. "Why are you here?"

"Because it is inevitable, why else?" Subtilizer opened his arms dramatically, as if welcoming an old friend. "It is fate. It is the power of our souls that attract them to each other. This will tell us all kinds of things. Like whether or not one can also suck out the soul of another through an STL. And also, after not being able to taste it earlier, finding out how sweet your soul is."

Sinon's eyes widened.

"Your soul will be so sweet." That was what Subtilizer had told her.

In fear, she could hardly breathe, let alone calm her cold, shivering self.

Subtilizer's eyes flickered. The azure marbles gave way to the same swirling black Bercouli had seen whilst dueling the Dark God Vecta. Then, serpents spawned from Vecta's sword emerged from Subtilizer's own body before reaching Sinon. Her world was warped as her own person was drawn towards Subtilizer. Her hands were still on her divine bow but her strength was nowhere to be found. She squirmed a little. But even that voice was soon muffled…no, absorbed into Subtilizer's horrid, empty world.

Oh no…I have to resist, I have to fight…

But that will collapsed into a velleity as she was pulled ever closer to Subtilizer. Eventually, she was within his grasp and he snaked one arm around her slender waist and grabbed her left hand with his other.

"Sinon, have you ever considered the meaning of the name Subtilizer?"

Sinon could not comprehend. She was shaking like a lamp in his less than good willed embrace.

"It means one who sharpens, one who thins, one who chooses…" Sinon's eyes had lost their light at that point. "…and one who steals.

"I shall steal you, and your soul."

Subtilizer brushed the slightly unkempt hair on Sinon's face. There was simply nowhere for her to escape. He then brought his own lips to her pink, unresponsive ones, ready for the final approach.

No…please…don't steal it. It already belongs to someone else…

Splash!

Waves of pure silver flash exploded somewhere between them. The shock was enough to snap Sinon's consciousness back as it blew Subtilizer and his twisting serpents away, creating just enough distance between the two to ensure Sinon's temporary safety.

"This is…?"

Sinon whispered with astonishment as a small metallic object, about the size of a coin, was shivering. It hung on a necklace chain around Sinon and it stunned her.

It's Kirito's! But why is it here?!

It was the small piece of electrode that Kirito once had on his chest. Nearing the end of the Death Gun incident, Kirito had protected her by taking the attack of the poison gun. Kirito survived because he had forgotten to remove the electrode and the poison could not penetrate his skin. After he had left and had left it behind, Sinon kept that metallic piece around and fashioned it into a pendant and wore it all the time like a scapular necklace.

No one knew that secret. Not even Kirito or Asuna knew. And the RATH staff that helped her dived into Underworld certainly did not. So how did that symbol for protection appear here?

"Underworld is unlike any virtual world. It is more than a generated fantasy. It is literally a reality created via imagination and memories."

That was what Kirito had told her.

The pendant on her neck was something she treasured so much it manifested itself physically in Underworld thanks to her own emotions. In other words, it was an attestation of her devotion to Kirito.

"You saved me again, didn't you?"

Sinon pulled it closer for a gentle kiss before letting it fall back to her neck.

"Then I can do this."

Reinvigorated, Sinon's eyes shone brightly as she stared directly into Subtilizer's eyes with no more trepidation.

No…I don't need to fear him anymore!

She aimed her divine bow towards Subtilizer as he too focused once more at her. Her weapon glowing whiter and hotter while Sinon declared aloud:

"You're not a god or a devil! You are just a human!"

Then, Sinon let loose her grab and an incandescent arrow was catapulted straight at Subtilizer.

It bounced off. Subtilizer extended his left hand and blocked the arrow, but Sinon was not going to let it scare her. She stretched the bowstring again, imbuing within all her Incarnation and mustering a strength greater than she had ever, she then released it.

This time, the shot flew like a lightning and shockwaves were made while it moved forward.

Splash!

Hot blood spilled out of Subtilizer's hand as he attempted to block it. The arrow went through his hand and his face grimaced.

Sinon gave a smirk in response, feeling the confidence she had needed.

Subtilizer looked at his injured limp and let the bluish fiends around him poured into the cavity. Before seconds passed, they had healed him completely, as if the wound was never there. He tightened his hand into a fist as he glared at the victorious Goddess. He then unsheathed the longsword. Those fiends wrapped themselves around it and slowly, the blade transformed into a blackish, oscillating trident.

Both took aim as they readied themselves. Sinon smirked as the fiery sensation of a battle overtook her.

"Bring it on!"

Iskahn could not recall just how long he had been fighting. After Sheyta and he had confessed their love, they found just enough motivation to keep going. But that was already some time ago. His forces had been halved once more, leaving less than two hundred Pugilists in his command.

They formed a circle in the attempt to fight their enemies at every side. Sheyta's dragon was positioned inside the circular phalanx, for she had long been exhausted. Her guttural moaning seemed to reflect the Pugilists' fate.

The limping corpses neared. As they were motivated only to kill living things, they too formed a circular blockade, closing in one step at a time.

Iskahn looked at their imminent destruction without a shred of fear. After all, he was prepared. He gritted his teeth and was about to charge. A light touch on his hand temporarily distracted him. It was Sheyta's gauntleted one.

He turned towards her a bit surprised, but then reciprocated her feeling and held their hands together. It was not easy for him, as the bones within had long fractured. But he was grateful for the pain, for it reminded him of how true their love was. The two shared another moment. Iskahn and Sheyta both gave a smile, knowing full well what was to come.

Death shrieked again.

Sensing their distance closed, the Death Army roared with fury as they charged in.

"So this is it, huh?"

A viridescent light lit the skies suddenly, and before any could react, a figure descended into the undead circle and shattered all the corpses in its vicinity.

"Who's that?" Iskahn exclaimed in shock, he could vaguely make out it had certain green and golden colors, but he could not be sure for the vibrant shades shot out from that direction temporarily covered his sights.

"That's…"

Sheyta muttered too in disbelief. But she was not looking towards the mysterious figure which was hacking away the undead with furious prowess, but to the north.

Deafening war cries sounded as dust storms approached. Who could they be? Sheyta feared for a moment it could be enemy reinforcements, but they cried like angered, vengeful warriors rather than mindless corpses.

They had slightly more armors than the Pugilists and they had a distinctive rounded feature that only one race possessed.

They were Orcs.

A whole legion of them marched their way towards the Pugilists. Striking from the rear, the Orcs were able to break through the Death Army's circular blockade. In no time, they blitzed their way to reach Iskahn's surviving soldiers.

"Are you guys alright?" Lilpilin, the chief of the Orcs asked the moment he saw Sheyta and Iskahn.

"Why…I thought you were standing by on the Emperor's orders?" Iskahn questioned, not fully comprehending the situation.

"Fuck the Emperor."

Iskahn never would have expected to hear something like this. Even though he never knew Lilpilin all that well, he was not known to be the emotional outburst kind. And to utter an affront directed towards the Dark God no less…

Are you perhaps like me, having found what truly matters? What replaced Vecta in your heart, Lilpilin?

An explosion burst out near him, then innumerable limps and bowels spread out to reveal Leafa – the Goddess Terraria herself.

"Because we are comrades, aren't we?" the divine woman asked as she landed next to the Dark Forces' leaders.

"Lilpilin, I want you to withdraw with the Pugilists. I'll take care of this, all right?"

The Orc leader's face wrinkled in protest. "We'll fight with you! We can do this!"

"No! I don't want you to suffer any more casualties than you already have!" Leafa turned towards the undead confidently, as if shielding all the Pugilists and Orcs with her might alone. "I don't care how many of them there are, I won't let them win."

Asuna's sword whistled through the air while she destroyed another armored undead, albeit only barely.

It was not looking good for the Human Empire Army. Fearing the damage that could be dealt by enemies on high ground, Renly ordered the army to retreat out of the path in the middle of the ruins. Nevertheless, the Death Army, under PoH's tutelage, was able to catch up with the exhausted soldiers and soon they were again caught on all sides on the plain next to the ruins.

The cavalry had long been lost. The only tactic that was preventing, perhaps only delaying, their demise was a circular phalanx much like Iskahn's with the carriages in the middle.

There was no hope. One after another, the elite troops Bercouli had handpicked earlier fell. A common tactic the corpses utilized was to throw their numbers at any line their opponent might create, once a slight crack presented itself, they could spillover left and right, push through the disarrayed line and massacre the individual soldiers.

Crimson blanketed the ground as body after body lay down. The undead had absolutely no intention of showing mercy. Herself heavily surrounded, Asuna could only witness while the troops were slaughtered. Beheading, impaling and slashing right across a body; but a few of the scenes common during the battle. The advantage of wielding spears, which the Death Army somehow possessed, possibly an added feature during resurrections by the outside forces, was that they could always use them as projectiles. Serving as javelins, the spears struck the imperial army as if they were oversized arrows. Waves and waves of these flying weapons crashed into their much reduced foes and it was no wonder the soldiers became easy targets.

"Stop…" Asuna whimpered, scarcely holding her own, but she no longer had the strength to burst into a striking Valkyrie as before. The consecutive Terraforming Arts and the ceaseless violence had worn out her soul.

Renly too was backed to a corner. The thought of jumping up and swinging his swords all around him had crossed his mind, but he too suffered from exhaustion, not to mention the unarmed and wounded Tiese was seeking protection behind him. He was rendered immobile on the battlefield.

"Please stop!"

At last, Asuna's sword dropped and she lost all her will to fight. A bloody corpse was just about to swing its blade at the weakened goddess, but an instant before the strike was dealt, PoH's raucous voice was heard:

"STOP!"

And then it stopped. The undead froze like a statue. But right after it had sheathed its sword, it struck Asuna with its decaying hand with such force she was thrown backwards.

That was it. Asuna painfully pushed herself up and assessed the situation. No more resistance could be offered. The imperial army was simply too shattered to fight on, perhaps not even capable of mustering a suicidal charge. Of the original five or six hundreds, only around sixty were left, lying on the ground, accepting their sealed fate.

"Lay down your weapons and surrender." PoH demanded coldly as he finally appeared in front of the gathered undead. "Do that, and your lives will be spared."

"Ridiculous! Do you really think we'd be reluctant to die at this..." Liena yelled with sword in her hands.

"Do as he says!" Asuna ordered.

She turned towards her stunned friend and ordered with tears. "Please! Just live! No matter how humiliating it might be, please go on living!

"That's our…our only…"

Upon hearing this, Liena turned her face away in shame, but accepting reality, she threw her sword on the ground. More metallic sounds crashing onto the ground were then heard. Despite their averseness, anyone could see the battle was over. They had lost.

The Death Army remained eerily silent. No hurrahs and no cheering. They were not men, not warriors; the enemy capitulating meant nothing to them. All they desired was blood. The only thing stopping them from renewing an assault was PoH's magical leash on them.

"Yo. Long time no see, Flash."

PoH greeted sarcastically as he stepped forward, revealing his face in the process.

"PoH." Asuna responded spitefully.

"Oh…that name does bring back some memories. I'm glad you remember me."

Of course she did. Flash…PoH…all names that were once famous in Aincrad. No one could forget Asuna the Flash's glory. As the Vice Commander of the Knights of Blood, she was one of the pillars supporting the Assault Team. It would not be an overstatement to say Asuna was the shinning figure that had represented all the hopes existed in that land. PoH was a different story. He was the nails and the woods that the Laughing Coffin was made of. He was feared.

"Is this revenge? For the Assault Team wiping out Laughing Coffin?"

The man in the black poncho laughed. It was a low, hoarse snicker before exploding into an uncontrollable laughter.

"Are you a fucking idiot?" PoH glared down at her with a mixture of rage and amusement. "Let me tell you something. The one who tipped off your Assault Team about Laughing Coffin's hideout? That was me!"

"Why would you…" Asuna asked feebly as her eyes widened in disbelief. "Why…"

PoH stepped near her a little before squatting down casually. "Why? I wanted to make you guys murderers, that's why. The Assault Team, posing as heroes, acting all high and mighty on the front lines!"

"That's what you wanted? To force Kirito to murder someone?"

"Yes! Absolutely yes!" He stood up again, excitement filling his body. "You know, I was watching that battle from hiding. When Master Blackie snapped and killed two of them, I came this close to bursting out laughing and blowing my cover."

Asuna gritted her teeth, anger shining from her eyes. "Do you know how much Kirito agonized over that? How much he suffered?"

"He did? Oh…glad to hear it. But something doesn't sound right about that." PoH's eyes narrowed and continued with an icy tone. "If he actually regretted it, wouldn't he be too repulsed to ever wield a sword again? Wouldn't the guilt from the guys he killed be too much? He's in here too, right? I can practically feel him here. Don't try and deny it."

Asuna looked away.

"Well, in any case, I'll just have to ask him myself."

"Stop! Anything but that!"

Asuna wanted to protect him, she was going to stand up and try to defend Kirito. But a spearhead right next to her throat prevented her from moving one more inch.

"Alright, bring him out!" PoH yelled as he kicked the door to Kirito's carriage open.

Ronye shivered, the man before her looked more like a monster than anything she had seen in the Dark Territory. She did not move.

The entire carriage shook as said monster banged on it again. "You either bring him out now, or I'll have to kill every single one here slowly."

Water poured down from the girl's eyes, but she reluctantly obeyed his order.

Now, Kirito, who was still sitting motionlessly on his wheelchair, was defenseless as his old nemesis stood right in front of him.

PoH's face twisted in anticipation. "IT'S SHOWTIME!"

Sparks showered down from the skies as Sinon's blazing arrows intercepted Subtilizer's tridents. It did not make much sense to her that he could create infinite of those missiles merely by the dark serpents by his sides, but again, she refused to back down, or even be intimidated.

After three consecutive collisions, Sinon took aim again only to be just quick enough to witness a large trident hurled straight at her. Narrowly evading it, she flew upwards as speedily as her powers would allow and pulled the strings again.

Clang!

No use…without needing to pull the arrow and the string, he strikes much faster than I can…

The fourth collision was enough to make Sinon reassess her tactics. She placed five arrows on the bowstring simultaneously to generate a cluster effect. As she unleashed them, they were flung forward like a giant wave. The lightning accompanying seemed like the lips of said wave.

But they were met with a tsunami. Two gigantic tridents greeted them head on. Like the raging vomitus rising from the deep sea, Subtilizer's weapons consumed Sinon's arrows, dragging them down to the distant ground.

A third trident aimed straight at her. As always, Sinon flew upwards again, dodging the incoming threat before it could reach her. But something was wrong. Terribly wrong. With wide eyes, Sinon realized Subtilizer was standing exactly at the spot she was heading. The five collisions earlier were merely baits for him to study her movements.

Then there was no stopping. She was going way too hastily during her acceleration to the skies. And splash! Subtilizer's trident pierced through her abdomen.

Blood burst out of her wounds promptly as the reincarnated god retracted his weapon. The whole world was covered in flashes. Searing pain struck through her body and so fell the mighty Solus. She could barely open her eyes. Plummeting towards the Earth was a terrifying experience. Everything was in swirl and the blood loss just made it icy.

I'm sorry, Asuna…I'm sorry, Yui…I'm so sorry…

While she plunged from the heavens, another one of Subtilizer's weapon came, this time, no doubt having Sinon's heart as its target.

…Kirito…

Sounds of flesh cutting. Sounds of heavy panting. Sounds of suffering.

The confident façade Leafa gave her Dark Territory comrades earlier was fading away. The Goddess Terraria struggled as two swords and a whole spear were impaled onto her back. The injuries made her slow precisely when she could not afford to be slow. The monstrous bodies were trying to close in again.

Those wounds were probably fatal. Any other person suffering them would have lay dead a long time ago, but Leafa refused to yield. She cried out in anger, and in defiance. She stood again. She must have destroyed five thousand undead already. She must have exhausted so much power and so many sword skills already. But the waves kept renewing.

"Verdurous Anima!"

The goddess screamed again, activating yet another potent sword skill as her blade was covered in a green glow. It was like fireworks. Innumerable fell under the power as emerald shone through the whole battlefield.

Leafa's only wish at the moment was to have a second of rest. It was not granted. At least a couple of undead soldiers came rushing at her as soon as the green lights were gone.

A kick, a slash, multiple swings, she tried at utter best to keep the enemies at bay, but one careless mistake, signaled by a burning sensation, her left arm was ripped off. Tears and blood were flying everywhere. Against all her bodily compulsion to collapse, Leafa turned her attention to two more walking dead before striking them down.

She picked up her gory arm which had fallen onto the ground, pressed it back where it belonged and stamped heavily on the scarred earth. Greenish flash shot out and her wounds swiftly recovered. The weapons carved into her fell soundly at the same time.

It's like a curse. My unlimited regeneration ability…No matter how badly I'm wounded and how much pain I'm suffering, I can't fall.

But the agony remained. Even if the injuries healed, the pain only compounded. And she dropped onto her knees.

But if it were Big Brother…he would never fall from wounds like these.

She doubted her brother was physically much stronger than her. After all, she was the champion in martial arts, not him. Yet, Kirito had always been a source of inspiration. He was strong. He was strong because he had been through so much yet never gave up. He liberated Aincrad, he conquered the Yggdrasil, he was the winner in GGO and almost died in the Real World protecting Sinon. Any of these experiences could have killed him. But he lived, he lived and continued to fight. If she wanted be strong, who else can be a better inspiration.

Using her longsword as support, she stood again.

So…I won't fall either. I can cut all these monsters down myself, no problem.

She faced another gathered legion.

"Because I am Kirito's…I am the Black Swordsman's SISTER!"

Her sword swapped for a crimson blaze. She thrusted it forward so hard a gigantic spear of light materialized out of thin air and penetrated through the field. Explosion after explosion sprung up and countless was disintegrated.

Leafa coughed up blood. An attack so potent was no less deadly to its wielder. Before she could even stand straight, she heard a light hissing sound.

"AHHHH!"

She shrieked in pain as a javelin rammed through her left eye and came out the back of her head.

Blood tainted all.

Leafa pulled the weapon out despite it pouring even more pain into her, but she did not fall, she would not even entertain the idea of giving up. Stamping on the ground once more, green flashes healed her and she charged forward. Forward into the final legion.

The thunderous sounds may be the last Sinon would ever hear in this world. And then a great metallic clank which shook her body as Subtilizer's trident shattered her chest armor.

I guess this is it.

But then it stopped. The colossal trident was paused in its track just before it ripped Sinon apart. She looked towards her chest bewildered and saw sparks cascading as her protection pendant once more shivered midair. Subtilizer's weapon tried to break through, oscillating as if there was a wall made of Incarnation blocking its path. It was a tug of war between Kirito's will to protect and Subtilizer's desire to destroy.

Kirito won.

I won't give up!

Despite having lost her flight capabilities to her injuries, and despite now falling rapidly to the ground, Sinon aimed her divine bow at Subtilizer as soon as the trident dissipated.

This is not any weapon. This is the bow that conjured up the Annihilation Ray, this is the weapon I can pour all my imagination and Incarnation within. I'll never give up! I have to believe. In myself. In Kirito!

With that resolve, not just her bow, but her entire body shone brightly in the skies a shade of blue, a whirlpool of blinding azure gathered at the riser, glowing ever more radiant as Sinon targeted Subtilizer properly.

"FIRE!"

A luminous, bluish tornado was hurled towards the reincarnated god. Even just an instant before the holy power struck him, he still remained emotionless, simply glaring into the infinite blue.

The following impact produced a gargantuan explosion. The moment Sinon's blitz hit Subtilizer, a fireball spread throughout the heavens, overshadowing even the Dark Territory's own crimson sky. And as if synchronized, Sinon's descent finally halted as she hit the rocky ground painfully.

She let out a yelp of hurt, but immediately looked up. The explosion had been reduced to a sea of smoke. Sinon scanned through it as carefully as she could, and she saw a silhouette. The dispersing smoke was like the curtains of a stage, revealing the horrors behind.

Subtilizer did not survive unscathed. His left arm was blown away, his face was charred and blood could be seen dripping from his wrinkled lips; finally, a shred of emotion on his expression. It was pure hatred.

"All right…" Sinon declared as she tried to sit up on the ground. She could not fly. Possibly could not even walk. But she pulled her bow again nonetheless. "I'll face you as many times as it takes."

Subtilizer looked down at her from his hovering creature. His hatred turned into disdain. His gaze left her.

That queer bat-like creature flapped its wings and the direction changed. It carried Subtilizer off to the south, ready to face Alice when she must inevitably head there.

The divine bow was dropped with a large thud. Sinon sighed as she lay on her back, utterly spent. Her hand trailed to the pendant that was Kirito's protection.

"Kirito…"

"Hyaaaa!"

Leafa cried out as green light once more burst out from her sword.

Finally, the last of the undead fell. The whole battlefield was now littered with bowels and viscous, blackish blood. Leafa allowed her pain to surface and she dropped to her knees.

"I put up a good fight, didn't I, Brother?"

She could faintly hear Lilpilin, Iskahn and Sheyta rushing over, but her eyes threatened to close.

"Brother…"

Before PoH could come any nearer to Kirito, Ronye stepped forth and extended her arms, trying to protect her mentor's prone form. PoH did not even laugh as he knocked her to the ground.

Asuna caught the frail girl in her arms, but there was not much she could do either.

PoH inspected Kirito with curiosity. "Hmmm?" Kirito was silent. His entire form was weak and fragile. Without needing to touch him, PoH could tell the Black Swordsman was as good as dead. His empty right sleeve reflected his mind and he slumped against the back of the wheelchair.

PoH kicked the handicapped man twice at his feet.

Kirito did not respond.

"What is this?" PoH asked in confusion. "Hey, Blackie, wake up! You hear me, Black Swordsman?"

"Kirito kept trying to stand, over and over during the battle." Ronye whispered between sobs.

"Don't you get it?" Asuna demanded in tears. "He fought and fought and fought to the end, and now he's wounded! So leave him alone! Please just leave Kirito alone!"

"Hey, hey, hey! You're kidding! This isn't any fun at all!" PoH cursed as he talked straight in Kirito's face. "Hey! I said wake up!"

"Stand up! Good morning!" PoH said loudly as he kicked the wheelchair over.

As expected, Kirito tumbled on the harsh surface without the slightest reaction. Asuna and the rest screamed his name in horror, but PoH ignored the pleas and Kirito lay helplessly.

The man in the black poncho kicked Kirito over to see his face. "What the hell? So you're busted for real? The great hero is a vegetable now?"

Kirito's left hand still clung onto the Blue Rose Sword. PoH knelt down and took it by force. Unsheathing it, he let out a loud tsk in disappointment to see it already broken. He threw the scabbard callously to his back. Just as he was about to discard what was left, a guttural mumble caught his attention.

"You moved!" PoH said excitedly.

Kirito's left hand feebly moved up, trying to reach his brother's shattered weapon.

"What? You want this?"

PoH flapped the broken sword all about in front of Kirito's weak hand. Before he could touch it, PoH threw it couple Mels back the way he did the scabbard. He then grabbed Kirito's arm mercilessly and pulled him up.

"Come on, say something!" The erstwhile Laughing Coffin leader smacked Kirito across his cheeks.

Asuna stood up, unable to witness this humiliation any longer. She grabbed her sword, but just before she could charge, a large spear cut through her leg and she fell down with blood pouring out.

Meanwhile, PoH pulled out his giant cleaver, his signature murdering weapon back in Aincrad and brandished it before Kirito. The blade was placed just next to his neck.

"Hmmm…no." He said after some consideration. "This is no fun."

He threw Kirito's limp body to the ground as he closed his eyes. "Hmmm…yes…that's how we are going to do it."

His giant cleaver shone…no, it was not a shine, it was a cluster of pure darkness gathering around. The same cluster then grew exponentially until it expanded and rained down on all his undead soldiers.

The Death Army roared. They shrieked like wild animals caught in a trap. To Asuna and what was left of the Human Empire Army, their screech was like nails tearing across a blackboard. The humans covered their ears in horror as the shouting became increasingly torturous.

Then they silenced. So sudden it was, Asuna thought she had lost her hearing. Half of the Death Army then marched closer to the capitulated soldiers, forming a ring to ensure their continued capture. But it was the other half that surprised her.

They roared again, raising their weapons again; but they did not charge towards the Human Empire Army as would be expected. They charged at one another. The thousands of corpses now swung their blades, thrusted their spear at their fellow undead. Decaying intestines and muddy blood rushed out of their disfigured forms while some of them simply opted to tear their peers apart with bare hands.

PoH was laughing maniacally. He really could not stop his amusement. Turning back towards the listless Kirito, he squatted down and taunted by his ears.

"You know why I have these dead bodies killing each other? Hmm? I'll let you in on a little secret. These 'Darkened Fluctlight' as they call them, aren't entirely dead. You see, it takes a long time for their Fluctlights to really vanish. Before they are, they are in a limbo. Mind long lost, but life still continues somewhat. That's why they kill, you see. They want to hold their lives together. If they are hurt, their mindless souls are also hurt. Any pain inflicted upon them is as true as when they were alive. So you see, the longer you linger around here, enjoying your fucking nap, these poor, poor souls are going to be tortured even after they died. And that's on you, great hero."

Asuna nearly vomited from hearing the news.

So the undead we killed earlier…we were hurting people…

Kirito did not respond, but PoH simply laughed and continued. "Just you wait, Blackie. I'll wake you up soon enough. If you keep lying there in a daze, everyone is going to die. Everyone."

"Kirito…"

"Kirito…"

"Brother…"

Three voices escaped simultaneously as Asuna, Sinon and Leafa prayed. They did not know, but Higa's attempt to heal Kirito with their souls was well underway. Sparks were beginning show inside Kirito's mind, but he had yet to respond.

Author's notes

As promised (did I?) a new chapter just one week after the last. So yea, PoH's wild, and even more of him the next chapter. Now that we are well into the latter half of the story, the way the plot moves forward would probably shift even further away from the original, so you might want to make sure you're not too surprised. Also NICE - I posted on the ninth of June. In any case, leave a comment if you there's anything you wanna tell or ask me. I'll see you next time.

PS: Ayy, replying to Kashbaby, I literally just saw your comment the minute I logged in and posted this chapter. Very glad you love the story, it's appreciated!

Playlist:

"if she was here #2"
"death angel"
"she has to overcome her fear"
"the final war"
"got to win"
"vasago - his revenge"
"goodbye, again and again"
"shasta - night ver"
"Death Gun"