Rumors travel at lightning speed. A casual remark slipped during a late-night chat can spread like wildfire, jumping from person to person until everyone has heard it.
As these rumors travel, they grow, gathering exaggerated details and layers of lies.
"The Blue Demon who crushed the 'Army' legion! The new 'Unique Skill' users who took him down alone! A hundred-hit combo of dual blades and dual spears!"
It had been only ten hours since we defeated the boss yesterday, yet newspapers with these bold headlines were already everywhere.
Ten hours might seem like a long time, but you would change your mind if you woke up to the horror of a mob of strangers surrounding your house, pounding on your door like demons. They say you can't put a lock on people's mouths, and they are right.
That day, I made a final decision: I would take all my secrets to the grave.
"It's still as cold as ever here."
I was back at the headquarters of the Knights of the Blood (KoB) in Granzam, the central city of the 55th Floor.
However, unlike my previous visit—which felt like a personal request from Asuna—this summons carried a tension that made my virtual stomach churn.
"Keep yourself together. If you show any opening or weakness, those foxes on the Council will tear you apart."
Alice spoke as she escorted—or rather, led—me to the headquarters. I straightened my back and took a deep breath to gather my courage. I had heard that the KoB Council members cared more about expanding the organization than actually clearing the floors. In that regard, they weren't much different from the Aincrad Liberation Force.
We passed the guards at the main gate—no one stopped me this time—and walked down the long corridor I had seen a few days ago. At the end, we took a different path from the one leading to the training ground where I had dueled Alice. She stopped before a massive door overlooking another long hallway.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes. Let's go."
Alice gave a subtle nod, knocked, and opened the door. The moment I stepped into the Knights of the Blood meeting room, a heavy, suffocating atmosphere hit me.
"Commander, I have brought him."
"Good work, Alice. And thank you, Mitsuki, for answering this sudden summons. I believe this is our first face-to-face meeting since the 50th floor, isn't it?"
"Not quite. We spoke briefly during the 67th-floor boss raid."
The man in the red robe sitting in the center of the Council was the guild leader, Heathcliff. He was the one who had summoned me.
"Ah, that's right. I greeted you when you were with Kirito."
Heathcliff gave a faint smile. If I had to describe him in one word, it would be "mysterious." He possessed a sharp eye for talent, a charisma that commanded loyalty, and unparalleled combat skills. He had every quality required of the leader of the strongest guild on the front lines, yet no one in Aincrad knew what truly went on in his mind.
"So, what do you want from me?"
I made it clear I wasn't there for small talk. Heathcliff cleared his throat and got straight to the point.
"I will be direct then. Mitsuki, I want you to join the Knights of the Blood."
I knew it would come to this.
"I believe I refused this offer before."
"The situation has changed. For a long time, I was the only one with a Unique Skill. Now that you and Kirito have surfaced as Unique Skill users—and the strongest players on the front lines—we cannot allow you to remain independent. we don't have the luxury of wasting such combat power. Even though we are called the strongest guild, our internal reality is difficult."
"Are you saying your current members aren't competent enough, and you want me to fill the gaps?"
Alice looked shocked by my dismissive tone. The Council members around me scowled in annoyance.
"Is that how it sounded to you?"
Heathcliff asked calmly.
"The Holy Dragon Alliance has more members than you, yet people say the Knights of the Blood are stronger because you choose quality over quantity. Isn't that how you see it, Heathcliff?"
"That is correct."
"But out of more than a hundred members in this guild, we only ever see about ten of them in boss battles. It's always the same faces. Not just in floor raids, but in missions and field bosses too. I've only seen three new faces in the recent floors. Regardless of their levels, isn't the real reason they lack the experience to face bosses?"
"You brat! Are you saying we are neglecting our duties?!"
One of the Council members shouted.
"And what about Asuna's bodyguard? That man didn't accompany us to clear the floor; he tried to force Asuna back to headquarters. To me, that seems like a waste of excellent players on trivial matters."
"The Vice-Commander has a sensitive and busy position! Do not compare her to drifters like you who wander around without a goal!"
"Then it's better for the guild not to have someone like me who wanders aimlessly. Excuse me."
I used the Council member's anger as an excuse to leave, but Heathcliff's voice stopped me.
"Wait a moment, please."
"I apologize for the rude words spoken just now. Unfortunately, it is a bitter truth that some members have grown complacent, relying on the guild's reputation—just like Kuradeel. But that is exactly why I want you to join us. I want you to teach our members using the experience and knowledge you have gained as a front-line fighter."
So, had he finally decided to change the guild's direction to focus on training? That was fine, but a problem remained.
"If I or Kirito join, we 'Beaters' will only sow seeds of discord. I bet at least one person sitting next to you asked if you had gone mad when you decided this."
My words hit home, and the Council fell silent. Regardless of Heathcliff's decision, moving forward without convincing the leadership would lead to resentment. If the guild ended up split, it would be a total failure.
"Heathcliff, if you can't convince these people on the Council, how do you expect to lead the whole guild? Do you really have a way to make every member accept us? Do you think they will shake hands with hated 'Beaters' and learn from them?"
Even if I joined the KoB, the chance of everyone becoming friends just because someone said so was nearly zero. Even though it had been a long time since the first floor was cleared, the prejudice against "Beaters"—players who combined beta-test experience with supposed cheating—remained strong. The reaction of Kuradeel and other members showed that the elite would never welcome us.
"Kirito and I are not trophies to decorate your guild, nor do we intend to be a PR stunt."
The discussion reached a dead end. My logical arguments for refusal had given me the upper hand.
"Excuse me. I would like everyone to leave the room. I want to speak with him alone."
Following Heathcliff's orders, the Council members reluctantly left. Alice closed the door, giving me a worried look. Only Heathcliff and I remained.
"My goodness, you observe your surroundings very closely. Your words earlier truly pained me as a leader."
"I heard from Alice and Asuna. Lately, you've left the guild management to your subordinates and only move during boss battles."
"That is true. Since I founded the Knights of the Blood, it has grown quite large. I must admit that I am no longer able to keep track of every detail. However, I do not intend to stop recruiting the strong. From now on, the battles will become more brutal and intense. I believe the front-line group needs to become 'one body' to face what is coming."
Because he emphasized the phrase "one body," I began to guess his goal.
"Do you intend to bring all the front-line players into your guild?"
"You could say that is my ultimate goal. Of course, I don't intend to dissolve existing guilds; I want to form alliances with the Holy Dragon Alliance and others."
So he started with me and Kirito because we were independent and easy to invite. The discovery of "Unique Skills" was clearly the catalyst for this move.
"Mitsuki. Since you and Kirito appeared as the second and third Unique Skill users after me, I see you as the symbols who will unite the front lines in the future. Have you heard the story of the 'Three Arrows' by Mori Motonari?"
It was the famous tale: one arrow is easy to break, but three together are unbreakable. It meant an individual is weak, but they are invincible when united. It was strange how well that description fit us now.
"But if one of those arrows is poisoned, the poison will spread to the rest. They say poison can sometimes be medicine, but to those who don't see it that way, it remains poison."
"Then prove them wrong."
Heathcliff's words, spoken quietly but with immense power, made me take a combat stance instinctively.
"If you call being a 'Beater' poison and refuse to work with others for that reason, then prove them wrong with your 'Dual Spears.' Prove to them that you and Kirito deserve acceptance despite being Beaters. Mitsuki, let us have a duel."
Heathcliff offered two conditions for this duel:
If he won, I would join the Knights of the Blood.
If I won, he would never ask again, and he would personally work to reduce the prejudice against Beaters in the community.
"Regardless of the outcome, the way people look at you will change. That is, of course, if you do not hold back. Don't you think it's a fair offer?"
I had proven my strength against Alice, but my opponent this time was the "Holy Sword" himself. I had seen his true power with my own eyes.
They say no spear can pierce Heathcliff's shield. He was a living legend who had stood alone for ten minutes during the 50th-floor boss battle when the raid party was on the verge of annihilation, giving them the time they needed to recover.
If I could defeat a man like that... and if he used his position as Commander to help, the hatred toward me and Kirito within the guild would certainly fade.
"Wait. If I win, the Knights of the Blood—the strongest guild—will be disgraced because their leader lost to a Beater. Are you okay with that?"
"I didn't found the guild just to be the strongest. I consider this a necessary price to bring you in. Furthermore, your confidence in winning before we even start is something I find... quite intriguing."
I felt his steel gaze piercing through me. That look... it was the look of someone enjoying himself. That deep-rooted "gamer" urge to prove one's strength—that desire usually directed at fighting the strongest in SAO—was he hiding it behind that calm face?
A rival had finally appeared after he had stood alone at the top as the only Unique Skill user. If Kirito and I were those people, then as a player, I had to accept the challenge and try to reach that peak.
Could I pierce the shield they called invincible? The thought set a fire in my chest.
"Fine. I accept this duel. I will defeat you and take your title of 'The Strongest,' so be ready."
Heathcliff gave a slight smile of satisfaction. As I turned to leave, he called out to me.
"This is not advice from a guild leader, but from someone older than you. Having a sense of responsibility is good, but do not exhaust yourself carrying the hatred of others on your shoulders. If you accept the fact that many players died because of you, you must also simply accept that many survived because of you."
"Are you trying to win me over emotionally so you can win without a fight?"
"No. I just don't want to see the heroes of the future break."
"Heroes, huh? Thanks for the advice. I'll keep it in mind."
When I stepped out of the meeting room, I found Alice waiting. Kirito and Asuna were with her; it seemed Kirito had received a similar summons. I felt a bit of pity for him, knowing he would receive the same offer and likely reach the same conclusion I did.
I said goodbye to Kirito and Asuna as they entered the room with the Council members, then told Alice everything that had happened.
"A duel with the Commander, huh..."
"I could have refused, but with those conditions, I couldn't."
I heard that Asuna intended to take a break from the guild to join Kirito on his adventures. If that happened, a rumor would spread that a Beater had kidnapped the beautiful Vice-Commander.
Knowing this, I had to win. If the leader of the strongest guild didn't personally take action to ease the hatred toward Beaters, Kirito's peaceful life would be in real danger.
"In that case, I will help you however I can."
"Help?"
"I cannot replicate the Commander's combat style to be your sparring partner, but I have seen his 'Holy Sword' skills far more than you. Knowing certain details in advance will make dealing with him a little easier."
I gratefully accepted Alice's offer and began stuffing my head with every possible detail about Heathcliff, preparing for the day of the duel.
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