Chapter 80: Heathcliff's Confession
"Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!" "We did it! We succeeded!" "It's our victory!" "As expected of the Four Heavenly Kings!" "Waaah! We've super-evolved!"
Klein suddenly raised both arms and let out a meaningless scream, instantly lightening the previously tense atmosphere.
Laughter bubbled up intermittently among the crowd.
"Idiot!" Agil elbowed him in the side, "At a time like this, you should say 'We finally cleared it'!" "Ouch, ouch, ouch! You black-skinned uncle, you're too harsh!"
Deafening cheers echoed all around, but most of the praise still flowed toward Hachiman.
The center of attention, Hachiman, was flustered as he awkwardly caught Asuna, who had suddenly jumped on him in an embrace.
Seeing this, most people showed surprised expressions.
"Husband—!" Asuna hung around Hachiman's neck like a koala, her fair legs wrapped around his waist, and openly kissed his Adam's apple in front of everyone.
Only then did Hachiman realize many people didn't know their relationship.
Hachiman awkwardly supported his wife's hips, his ears red enough to bleed: "Get down… please…"
"Ah, sorry for not mentioning earlier, Asuna and I got married a few days ago."
Upon hearing this, about 30% of the crowd showed expressions of sudden understanding, while the rest mixed heartbreak with jealousy.
Asuna, however, flaunted it naturally to everyone: "See, everyone? This is how amazing my husband is!"
At this, some people groaned and held their foreheads, "Here we go again," while many others were stunned dumb. 1
"Hey Asuna, isn't it embarrassing to say that here?"
"But it's true." "All right, all right, we get it."
Hachiman gently stroked Asuna's hair with a tender expression, while Asuna still held him tightly without letting go.
This intimate scene suddenly woke everyone up, and the place exploded with voices:
"Damn! Showing off your love publicly!" "How could Miss Asuna do this…" "But I always thought they were a perfect match." "Me too!" "Let's all give our blessings to the newlyweds!" "That's right!" "Thank you, everyone!" "Um… thanks."
While thanking everyone and scanning the crowd, Hachiman's gaze passed over Heathcliff and noticed his HP had been halved.
He immediately whispered to Asuna:
"I'm going to Nezha's side. After you guide everyone back into position, try to trip up Heathcliff so he can't take his medicine."
"...Finally revealing the cards? Got it." 1
Hachiman deliberately raised his voice so Heathcliff could hear: "I'm going to check on Nezha first. He hasn't rested at all." "Okay~"
Approaching Nezha, Hachiman pretended to comfort him, shaking his shoulder and hand while secretly slipping him the paralysis recovery medicine.
While blocking Heathcliff's view, he quickly explained:
"Keep a natural expression and listen carefully: There will be an unexpected incident soon.
Use this item to launch your attack at the right moment.
No time to explain details, but you'll understand soon. Sorry." "Yes, understood."
Nezha nodded without hesitation.
The trust built over years showed clearly now.
"Really sorry. Rest first, and be sure to hold onto this item tightly." "Yes."
Returning, Hachiman switched places with Asuna and stood before Heathcliff.
"Sorry I couldn't let you rest in the second half." "No worries, the perfect result is enough."
After nodding respectfully, Hachiman suddenly shouted: "Hey~ Godefry!"
A burly man ran over and was instructed: "Go comfort the captain." "Oh! Captain, thank you for your hard work!"
Confirming Godefry had engaged Heathcliff, Hachiman dashed behind Agil and Klein, signaling Kirito.
The black-clad swordsman immediately charged with all his might!
"Ugh!"
Godefry was the first to notice something wrong.
Heathcliff turned at the sound, hurriedly raised his sword but was half a beat late.
Amid the clang of metal, everyone was shocked to see Kirito's sword tip at the captain's chest, and above him floated the words "IMMORTAL OBJECT."
"What are you doing to the captain, you brat!" "Wait, that mark…" "Immortal attribute… Captain?"
Heathcliff sighed deeply.
"..."
Under everyone's gaze, he calmly asked: "How did you notice, Kirito? I thought Hachiman would be the first to find out."
"You guessed right. Hachiman was the first to see through it. Heathcliff… no, Kayaba Akihiko!"
That name caused an uproar.
"The captain is Kayaba?!" "But just now it really showed the immortal attribute." "Could it be…" "Captain! Please tell us this isn't true!"
Faced with Godefry's last question, Heathcliff calmly said: "Though it was revealed earlier than expected… yes, I am Kayaba Akihiko."
Before the words finished, everyone suddenly went numb.
"Guh… what's happening?" "K…"
"Now that we can talk quietly, Hachiman, when did you find out?"
"When you used the system assist in front of me last time. Though I had my suspicions, that was when I was sure."
"…As expected. At that time, Kirito's attack was too fierce, so I used the system assist in desperation, thinking I could hide it from you." "Too bad your acting wasn't convincing."
"Just as expected. I planned to reveal my identity on the 95th floor, to face you all as the 100th-floor boss." "I knew you'd do that." "You even planned that far ahead? What a shame. Looks like I'll have to wait for you all on the 100th floor earlier than planned, but…"
He suddenly changed tone: "Leaving like this would be boring. I'll give you a gift—choose a representative to duel me. If you win, you clear the game."
"…We accept."
Kirito, Klein, and Agil stared in shock as the situation unfolded exactly according to Hachiman's script.
Asuna's expression remained calm, and no one questioned it at this moment.
"This time, Hachiman will fight?" "My fighting style has no chance of winning." "Then Kirito will fight again." "Just as I hoped. Kirito, it's up to you." "Ah."
"Now restore both sides' HP, remove paralysis, disable my immortal attribute, and enter full victory mode for the duel."
"Finally, we can settle this, Heathcliff." "This time we must decide a winner."
Kirito pointed his sword toward the sky as if sending his heartfelt words across Aincrad: "I fight bearing the will of all those trapped here! If you are the embodiment of this world, then break the system with everyone's thoughts!"
"Use willpower to surpass the system? Let me see it." "Here it comes!" "Ah!"
'Use willpower to surpass the system… we should be ready too.'
Hachiman whispered to Klein and Agil: "According to plan, use the paralysis medicine the moment we rush out. This is the last battle."
"Oh!" "Damn it!" "We must win!"
The signal sounded, and the fateful duel officially began!