Chapter 12
February 13th, 2024
(2 months later)
With one last swing of my dagger, I sliced off the hobgoblin's hand, killing it. The battle victory screen appeared before me, telling me that I'd levelled up.
"Boom! Level 39!" I announced. "Look Shiraki! Did you see that?! Did ya?! Did ya?!" I bounced up and down excitedly.
"Very nice," he called out from under the tree he was resting at.
"I'm surprised you can even hunt on floor 47," Kikina puffed, out of breath. "The enemies are like, 8 levels above you."
"Well, if you hit something enough times, eventually it dies, no matter what level you're on. Even so, being on a higher level and having access to better equipment does make it a lot easier. Actually, what is the top floor that's been cleared again?"
"Floor 53." Shiraki replied.
"That high?!" Kikina gasped.
There was a meeting at the start of the year back on floor 1 where the KoB managed to encourage people to fight harder. I wasn't there, cause I was playing with Kikina, but from what I heard, it was Shiraki who came in and stole the spotlight. Now, people were clearing floors rapidly, usually within days of each other, but the downside was that I couldn't keep up. My days consisted of constant XP farming with Kikina and Shiraki on the lower floors, just so I had a chance to survive on the higher ones. Boss battles were out of the question for me for awhile. I simply wasn't strong enough.
"You two should take a break," he called. "You look exhausted.
Both Kikina and I moved over to sit under the tree. I sat right beside Shiraki, pushing my head up under his arm and resting on his shoulder.
"Jeez, you're like a cat," he chuckled, stroking my hair.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" I asked, a little annoyed.
"Because you just snuggle up to people without warning and expect some kind of attention, just like a cat."
"I wouldn't know. I'm allergic to cats. I've always wanted a kitty though."
"Can I ask why you rub up against me so much? I don't mind, but I'm curious. You've known Kikina and the others much longer than you've known me."
"Because I feel safe around you," I chuckled. "But one day, it'll be different, cause I'm gonna be super strong so I can help people and be a hero! Just like you!"
With a sigh, and a rather emotionless expression on his face, he said, "The last thing you want is to end up like me, and trust me. I'm no hero. I've done... I suppose it's about time I tell you. The reason why Rizea hated me, along with half of Aincrad. I-Huh?" he stopped. "A notification from Rizea? What could she want?"
He lifted me off of him and stood up to view the notification. I felt an inexplicable sense of sadness as he walked away. When he opened the message, a look of unease washed across his face.
"Is everything ok?" Kikina asked.
"Yeah. It's... It's fine. Don't worry about it."
I'd been leveling my sneaking a little bit, so I sneaked under his arm to view the message. I didn't get to read the whole thing, because he quickly closed it after noticing me, but I managed to see a few key words. Floor 40, massacred, Knights, one hour...and Laughing Coffin. It didn't take a genius to piece together the puzzle.
"Really, it's noth-"
"The Knights of the Bloodoath are taking the fight to Laughing Coffin and they want you to fight in their pointless little war where people are going to die for nothing. Stop me if I'm wrong," I scowled.
"They're camping safe zones again. They've killed 6 people this week."
"Who else is going?"
He sighed. "Everyone except you two. Raigen, Toru, Kuram, and the majority of the Knights of the Bloodoath, so Rizea and Remi."
Without much thought, I blurted out, "I'm going too."
Kikina's eyes widened. "What?!"
Shiraki's tone was firm. "Absolutely not!"
"You need all the help you can get!" I protested.
"I don't care! You aren't killing anyone! Not again!" he snapped back.
I had no intention of actually going with him. My goal was a simple one. Act stubborn enough that he'd have to stay back to make sure I didn't go. Childish, sure, but it'd worked in the past.
"And you are?!" I shot back, feeling a mix of anger and fear.
"Yes! Because I can accept the reality of it! Look, I don't have a choice," he said, his voice laden with a grim acceptance.
"You do! And so do I! I don't plan on killing anyone anyway. I'll just get their HP low. Maybe they'll surrender. I don't know," I insisted.
Shiraki shook his head. "Osaka, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you don't know what the FUCK you're talking about!"
"Language!" I berated him.
"This is Laughing Coffin! They aren't normal people! Half of those guys are suicidal as it is! When they see red, they just fight harder! Look, you aren't coming, alright?! That's final. Come on. Let's get back to Kuram's tavern. I need to get ready."
###
(A few minutes later)
Kikina looked at me with concern. "Osaka, are you sure about this? I really don't want to do this."
"It'll be fine. Just do it," I reassured her.
She zipped up the large bag, locking me inside. Just as she did, I heard the door open.
"Here. I packed you some things. A bunch of potions and food," Kikina said, holding out the bag to Shiraki.
He hesitated. "Thanks, but I've still got space in my inventory for that stuff."
"But do you have enough space to hold food for everyone after you're done? You're all gonna be exhausted," she reasoned.
"I suppose you're right," he conceded.
I felt the bag lift as he took it. "Now, make sure Osaka doesn't follow me, ok?"
"I'll try," Kikina replied, her voice wavering slightly.
###
(An hour later)
The inside of the bag was completely dark. I couldn't see what was going on without risking my cover, but I could hear voices coming from outside, giving me some insight into what was happening.
"Ok. Here looks like a good spot to rest. Everyone, take a knee. Get your strength back. Drink your potions," Rizea instructed.
"I don't like this place. Too many high-level monsters. We'll end up using our potions before even fighting Laughing Coffin," Kuram grumbled.
Raigen's voice was grim. "Then we'll all be fucked."
Rizea sighed. "If the intel is right, they should only be a little bit further in."
Toru sounded sceptical. "I still don't understand why your supreme leader couldn't be here."
Remi's tone was defensive. "Knight Commander Benjin doesn't deal in matters of PKing. That's VC Rizea's domain."
"Even so, have you ever even seen his HP dip into the red? He might as well be invincible. He should be here," Shiraki remarked, frustration creeping into his voice. "I suppose throwing lackies head-first into danger is the KoB's strong suit."
Remi shot back, "Get the fuck over yourself, Swordsman. Like you can talk about sacrifice."
Rizea cut in, trying to regain control. "Are we done bitching?"
"You got her swearing now? Yeesh," Shiraki teased.
Raigen chuckled. "I think that's the first time I've heard you swear."
Rizea sighed again. "Well, I try to avoid it, just like you, but when I get annoyed, sometimes words slip out. Also, spending so much time around Remi certainly doesn't help."
There was a rustling sound as Shiraki tossed the bag to the ground. "God, that was exhausting. Those Morbols were tough. Especially while trying to fight while holding this damn bag."
"Ouch!" I yelped as I hit the ground.
The room went silent for a moment, and I held my breath, fearing my cover was blown.
"Wait a minute. Was that... No. It couldn't be, right?" Raigen's voice was tinged with disbelief.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Shiraki groaned, opening the bag. Fresh air hit my face, and I awkwardly waved.
"Um... Hi."
Shiraki glared at me. "Out."
I climbed out of the bag, stretching my legs. The cave air was cold and rancid, like something had died in here. I looked around, seeing about 50 players, each with a mix of annoyance and fury on their faces.
"Why must you insist on making everything so difficult? Do you enjoy making me worry?" Shiraki demanded, frustration clear in his voice.
"I told you; I'm not going to just sit back and wait to see if you ever come back," I retorted.
Rizea's voice was soft but firm. "Osaka? What are you doing here? You shouldn't have come."
"That's what I said," Shiraki muttered, clearly exasperated.
"This is bad," Toru said under his breath.
"Then I guess you're going to need to take me back," I grinned.
But before anyone could respond, the soft sound of footsteps echoed through the cave, growing louder. We all froze, the reality of the situation settling in.
Rizea's voice was tense. "It's too late for that now. They're here. Damn. Someone must have let something slip."
The knights stepped out from behind the boulder, coming face to face with them. Laughing Coffin. The group of murderers. There were maybe 40 of them, all dressed in black ponchos with small black masks shaped like the tops of skulls covering their faces. Their eyes glowed a haunting blood-red colour, piercing through the pitch-black cave.
There was no banter. No whispers. No speech of any kind. Just pure, cold, dead silence.
Rizea asked, her voice steady, "I wish to converse before we engage in combat. Is there a leader I could possibly speak to?"
Once again, silence. Then one man stepped forward, dressed similarly to the rest, but his poncho had a hood, and his mask was wooden, covering his entire face rather than just a half mask.
"I am Xenith. We have no leaders here; however, I am the one who created a name for us to fall under," the man introduced himself.
"I am Rizea, Vice Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath," she replied, her tone formal.
"I know who you are, Needlepoint. I sent one of my people to spy on you. Till he was killed by one of yours," Xenith said, a dark amusement in his voice.
"Not before killing one of ours first and nearly killing another," Rizea countered, a hint of edge in her tone.
Xenith shrugged. "Ah. A fair exchange then. An eye for an eye, I suppose. However, if I recall correctly, our dear brother Saxon was killed by a young child. When I first heard, I thought it was nonsense. None of us had ever seen a small child in SAO, right until today." He shifted his gaze to me. "Hello there, girly." He waved mockingly.
I slowly slinked behind Raigen, trying to hide from his gaze.
Xenith laughed. "Hahaha! Don't worry. You won't be scared for long. We've all made a promise to kill you. We've killed all manner of people, but never a child. You'll be the first. Isn't that exciting?"
Raigen clenched his fists. "I swear, if you touch her—"
"Raigen. Calm yourself," Rizea interjected, trying to maintain control of the situation.
"Xenith!" Shiraki called out. "Remember me?!"
"Ah. The Hooded Swordman. Glad you could make it. How could I forget you? How many of our brothers and sisters have you slain, I wonder?"
"Not enough," he growled.
"Quiet!" Rizea snapped. "What will it take to stop this madness and put an end to these needless killings?"
"Stop? Why would we stop? We're only just beginning. The game isn't clear yet," Xenith said, a twisted smile on his lips.
Rizea's voice softened slightly, almost pleading. "Don't some of you have families? Something to live for?"
Xenith's smile faded. "That's why we do this. None of us have anything left. Gunter here is a divorced husband. His wife took his baby boy. Draxus was abandoned by his parents at birth. Kurediil used to run a successful business before he came here. He was on the verge of his first million dollars. There's no doubt that the company has gone under by now. We're all the outcasts of society. In Laughing Coffin, we are all welcome. The world hurt us. All we're doing is hurting it back."
"And where do you fit in the battered and broken category? Did you lose a wife too? Abandoned by your mother? Bullied as a child? What sorry excuse do you have for the way you are?" Rizea pressed, her eyes narrowing.
Xenith chuckled, a chilling sound in the quiet cave. "Me? None of the above, I'm afraid. I do it simply because I find watching the life drain from people's eyes... entertaining."
He began to laugh maniacally. I could definitely see where Saxon learned it from.
Rizea's expression hardened. "Are you sure you want this to end in violence?"
Xenith's laughter faded, replaced with cold determination. "Positive."
Rizea sighed, her voice tinged with regret. "It's a shame. I had hoped we could sort this peacefully, without the need for bloodshed."
Xenith sneered. "Listen, I am going to cut out your tongue and feed it to that guy with the hood. Then I am going to cut off the fingers, toes, arms, and legs of the little girl." He laughed and turned back to his group.
I couldn't stop shivering. The cold was one reason, but not the main one. Did they really want to kill me that badly? What did I ever do to them? I killed Saxon because he killed Raymon and was going to kill Raigen. Even Xenith just said that it was a fair exchange. Was I really just sport to them?
How could my plan have backfired so terribly?!
Once again, the cave fell silent. Nobody in Laughing Coffin moved, except to curl their lips into terrifying smiles. One member, who looked as if he was wearing a black bag on his head, used his thumb to perform a cutthroat gesture. The knights all got into defensive positions, drawing their swords. Shiraki raised his hood and drew his sword from his back.
Shiraki glanced at me, his voice low and stern. "I don't expect you to listen, but at least stay behind Raigen."
"I-I know what I'm doing," I said, drawing my dagger.
"For the last time, no, you don't," he retorted, his eyes never leaving the enemy.
I looked at both teams. There were about 40 members of Laughing Coffin and 40 Knights, but our team also had 10 other, non-KoB members who decided to assist. I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears, even more deafening than during my duel with Saxon, and far faster. I wasn't sure if it was the adrenaline or fear, but one of them was making me feel sick. So sick that I could almost throw up. I probably would have if it were possible in this game.
Rizea's voice rang out, clear and commanding. "Engage!"
The chaos of battle was overwhelming. My heart hammered in my chest, drowning out the clashing steel and the agonizing screams. A man rushed at me, and I instinctively dodged, trying to land a few quick strikes on his lower body. But this wasn't a duel; it was life or death. Every move had to be careful, precise. If I messed up, I'd be dead. If I went too far, he'd be dead. It was a dangerous dance, and I had to keep up until the end.
He was fast—too fast. His movements were sharp, aggressive, relentless and unpredictable. I was barely managing to stay ahead, my reactions stretched to their limits. As I dodged and countered, I couldn't help but glance around, catching glimpses of the brutality around me.
Remi was smashing someone's head into the ground with her shield, her face a mask of fury. Kuram swung his giant battle axe with devastating force, limbs flying in his wake. Raigen fought with a savage intensity, his katana flashing as he activated sword skill after sword skill. Even Shiraki, usually so composed, looked like he wanted to tear everyone apart. The cave had turned into a battleground.
In the midst of this chaos, I lost focus. The PKer cornered me. His blade flashed and slice my face. A pain exploded in my cheek. I cried out, stumbling back.
"Yes! Scream!" he taunted, his eyes gleaming with sadistic glee.
Desperation surged through me. I ducked under his legs and tried to counterattack with a
He grinned, seeing my struggle. "What's wrong, girly? Losing your nerve? HAHAHAHA!" He lunged at me, swinging his sword in a wide arc. I barely managed to parry, the impact sending a jolt of pain through my arms.
I was out of my depth. The duel with Saxon had been terrifying, but this was worse. There was no structure, no rules, just raw, chaotic violence. My vision blurred with tears, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I tried to steady myself, to focus, but my body refused to listen.
The PKer pressed his advantage, slashing at me with ruthless precision. Each time I barely dodged, his blade grazing my skin. My health was dropping rapidly, and I knew I couldn't keep this up. Panic clawed at me, threatening to overwhelm my senses.
I tried a desperate feint, pretending to stumble. He took the bait, lunging at me with a vicious grin. In that split second, I found an opening and struck. My dagger sliced through his armour, hitting him in the side. He staggered, but it wasn't enough. He recovered quickly, slashing at my chest. The pain was excruciating, my vision blurring as my HP dropped dangerously low.
I was on the verge of collapse. My movements were sluggish, my body screaming in protest. But I couldn't give up. Not here. Not now. Summoning every last ounce of strength, I charged at him, swinging my dagger wildly. He laughed, easily parrying my clumsy attacks.
"Pathetic," he sneered, raising his sword for the final blow.
In a last-ditch effort, I thrust my dagger upward with all my might. The blade pierced his neck, and his eyes widened in shock. He staggered back, clutching at the wound, and fell to his knees. His health plummeted into the red, but he kept fighting, his eyes burning with rage. I could barely stand, my vision swimming. But I had to finish this.
"S-Surrender!" I shouted, my voice cracking.
He looked up at me, a twisted smile on his face. "Ok! Ok. You win. I surrender." He raised his hands, but the malice in his eyes never faded.
I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But then he lunged, stabbing me repeatedly in the chest. Agony tore through me, and I screamed, flailing my dagger in a desperate attempt to defend myself. My vision darkened, my HP critically low. In a final, desperate act, I thrust my dagger forward, hitting him in the head. His eyes went wide, and he shattered into millions of crystals.
I stood there, trembling, trying to catch my breath. My chest burned, and my limbs felt like lead. This was worse than when I killed Saxon. Then, I had felt terrible, guilty. But now... I felt nothing. I couldn't afford to. Not in the middle of all this.
"Ghak! Bastard!" Raigen's shout broke through the haze.
"Uncle Raigen!" I cried out, forcing myself to move.
"I've got you!" Remi shouted, her voice fierce. She turned and smashed a PKer in the face with her shield, knocking him down. Raigen plunged his katana into the man's throat.
"Remi, on your six!" Toru called out.
Remi spun around, blocking an incoming attack. Toru rushed over, jabbing the assailant a few times. But then I saw it—a PKer rushing towards Toru from behind, holding a knight's shield.
"TORU, BEHIND YOU!" I screamed, my voice raw.
The PKer swung her sickle, severing Toru's right arm. He screamed, the sound piercing through the chaos. The PKer didn't stop, hacking at him until he was cut in half at the hip. His screams filled the air, even as his body disintegrated.
"Toru..." My voice broke, tears blurring my vision.
"Osaka! In front of you, dammit!" Shiraki's voice cut through the numbness, pulling me back to the battle in front of me.
###
(30 minutes later)
After the battle was over, Rizea needed Shiraki to head to the KoB headquarters and make a report, but Raigen and I went along with him. With my head hung low, the three of us entered the meeting room. Sitting in the centre chair of the table was the Knight Commander himself.
"Casualty report," he commanded.
"Y...Yes, sir," Rizea sighed. "We lost 21 of our knights, along with 3 of our assisting players, Knight Commander Benjin."
24 people? In a 30 minute battle? How was that even possible?
I looked over at Raigen, who was clenching his fists tightly, trying his best to hold back tears. He cared about Toru, and now... Instinctively, I grabbed his arm and hugged it, causing him to loosen up a little. A temporary solution, but better than him breaking down.
"And the enemy?" Benjin asked.
"28 slain. 8 fled. 4 were captured. Previously unknown members. Among the players who fled were Xenith, Kuro, Takana, Brutus, Mason, Gunther and Draxus. Many known members weren't present, so it's likely that we only made a dent in their forces."
"I see. So we still won the numbers game."
The worlds made my stomach turn. "Won?" I said quietly in disbelief.
Benjin glanced at me. "Pardon?"
"You won? You call THAT a win?!" I shouted, unable to contain my anger.
Benjin tilted his head and frowned. "I'm...sorry? I don't follow."
I watched as something in Shiraki snapped. "Oh, you don't follow?! 24 of your people died! 24 human lives ended, and that's just on your side! What? Just because we killed more of them, we're suddenly the fucking victors?! Bullshit!"
"How can you just dismiss that as a win?! 52 people died today! Don't you value human life?!" I added.
Benjin grinned, as if he found the entire thing amusing. "Oh, come now, child. Surely you of all people shouldn't get a say in this matter. A child couldn't possibly understand. I'm sure you were no doubt just a hindrance to the brave knights who-"
"I killed two people today!" I shouted, tears falling from my face. "All because I didn't want my friends to die! Don't tell me that I don't understand just because I'm a kid! If anyone doesn't understand, it's you! Did you forget that these are real people you're talking about?!"
Rizea stepped in, trying to remedy the situation. "I think what Knight Commander Benjin was trying to say was-"
"No! Don't defend him! He can defend himself," Shiraki snapped, his eyes blazing.
Raigen's voice was eerily calm, almost too calm. "My friend died today in that cave fighting your war, while you were sitting here in your meeting hall. My friend. Does that even mean anything to you? My friend."
Benjin's expression softened slightly. "I am sorry for your loss, but surely you can understand that certain sacrifices are necessary for the greater good."
What remained of Shiraki's composure completely shattered. "Sacrifices? Sacrifices?! You fucking son of a bitch! HE WAS A HUMAN BEING!" He lunged at Benjin, but Rizea quickly held him back. Shiraki screamed, flailing his arms, trying to claw at Benjin. "It was needless fucking slaughter, you asshole!"
He was like a rabid dog behind a fence, trying so hard to attack. Not that it would have done much if he could attack Benjin. We were in a safe zone.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Rizea shouted, struggling to hold Shiraki back. The room fell into a tense silence. Shiraki stopped flailing and started to breathe heavily, calming down a bit.
"Hear that, Raigen? This guy doesn't give a rat's ass that Toru died, as long as it was for his benefit," Shiraki said bitterly.
Raigen turned away, breaking from my grip. "I... Excuse me." He walked out the door, leaving an oppressive silence in his wake.
Shiraki glared at Benjin. "This isn't over, Benjin. Not by a long shot. Osaka, we're leaving." He stormed out of the room, not waiting for a response.
Shiraki stormed out of the meeting room, his footsteps echoing through the hallway. I followed him, feeling the weight of the confrontation still heavy in the air. As soon as we were out of earshot from the others, he turned on me, his eyes blazing with fury.
"And you," he glared at me. "Those two people you killed during the fight," he continued, his voice rising. "It's because you decided to come. You had no business being there! You put yourself and everyone else in danger. If you hadn't been there, maybe those two people wouldn't have died!"
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I forced them back. "I was just trying to help! I wanted to save you from fighting!"
"Help?!" Shiraki's voice was almost a shout now. "You're a kid, Osaka! You have no idea what you're doing out there! You think this is a game? This isn't some heroic adventure where everything turns out fine. People die here. Real people!"
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I looked down, unable to meet his fiery gaze. "I... I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask to be stuck in this nightmare."
"But you're here," he retorted, his tone harsh and unyielding. "And you have to live with the choices you make. You killed two people today. That blood is on your hands. Blame it on self-defence all you want, but if you'd listened to me and stayed back at the tavern, you wouldn't have needed to defend yourself. People were surrendering. If you hadn't come along, who knows. Maybe those two would still be alive. But I guess we'll never know, will me?"
I felt a sob rising in my throat, but I swallowed it down, refusing to let him see me break. "I... I'm sorry."
"Tell that to the people you murdered." Shiraki snapped. "Don't expect me to comfort you this time. You did this to yourself."
With that, he walked off, leaving me standing there, the weight of his words pressing down on me like a ton of bricks. I felt small and insignificant, the reality of the situation crashing over me like a tidal wave. I had made a mistake, a terrible, irreversible mistake.
I followed him, my mind racing. Why did I decide to come? As we walked away, I couldn't help but wonder—did Akihiko Kayaba know when he created SAO that groups like Laughing Coffin would pop up? Did he know that player killing would become a problem? If so, why did he go ahead anyway? And now, did any of it even matter anymore?