Chapter 82: Death Duel

"L-leader... Is that... Is this true..?"

Asuna tried voicing out her words, but she could barely speak out properly as of the moment. Her dry and faint voice managed to reach Kayaba, but he ignored that and tilted his head to Kirito instead.

"Just for reference, how did you figure it out?"

"...Back in our duel, I thought that there's something wrong, because you simply couldn't have moved fast enough at that time."

"As expected. That was a mistake on my part. I got too overwhelmed of your speed that I ended up using the system's assistance past its limits." He laughed bitterly as he continued, "This was supposed to be revealed during the 95th floor, but I'm wrong this time."

He smiled as he stared at the players around him with a hint of authority; his eyes devoid of any empathy towards human emotions.

"That's right. I am Kayaba Akihiko, also the final boss who will be waiting for you at the top floor."

Everyone froze at this revelation. Their minds went blank, their eyes stared intently at the figure of the strongest player that led them up to here.

They continued denying reality, but alas, time wouldn't wait for them to recover.

"For the strongest player to become the final boss..." Kirito murmured with a low voice.

"Don't you think that this development is interesting? I originally thought of the huge waves that it'll bring in Aincrad, but never did I expect to get found out three quarters in the game." Kayaba replied in a matter-of-fact voice.

He then looked at a single direction, towards the group of seven strongest players to be exact. Kayaba then looked back at Kirito before speaking.

"I knew that you nine would be the greatest variable in this game, but I didn't expect for you to have such potential. Or... You all have suspected me since long ago."

A light chuckle escaped in Shiro's mouth as he said, "You've said that this is the most interesting scenario, right? Coincidentally, I share the same sentiments."

"A demon king being a hero's ally until the final battle... It's a uniqueand brutal twist, I must say." Kuroneko said while thinking about the next doujinshi (SFW) that she'll make.

As for Roman, he only had a profound look, as if saying that he's already guarded against traitors and as such, he can see through this ploy easily.

"I had expected that the two of you would act as the 'heroes' who would fight against me in the end. The <<Dual Blades>> is given to the player with the fastest reaction speed while <<Sword Dance>> has so much requirements that it's almost impossible to acquire, having added it purely on an off-chance basis. Though, it worked."

He continued, "I suppose this element of surprise is the essence of online RPGs..."

At this moment, one of the players who's frozen stood up slowly. He is Godfreed, one of the KoB's sub-leaders. His easy-going and kind eyes were nowhere to be seen; it is only filled with anger.

"You... Took our loyalty... Our hopes..! And for you to defile them!"

He lifted his axe as he went into an attacking position.

"For the brothers who died... You will pay for this!"

He charged straight at Kayaba and launched himself at him, but Kayaba's faster. With a swift finger gestures, he applied the "Paralysis" status to everyone in this room, save for Kirito.

Godfreed fell to the ground with a thud. Yellow electrical sparks appeared in his HP bar and him, indicating that the "Paralysis" status got inflicted on him.

The other frozen players also fell down to the ground, while Kirito managed to catch Asuna.

Even Shiro and the rest was affected by it, showing the might of Kayaba in this virtual world.

Here, he is god.

Kirito knelt down and propped Asuna's upper body in his arm. He then asked, "What are you planning to do with us? Kill us?"

"Of course not. I would never do something so unreasonable."

Kayaba shook his head and smiled.

"But since it all came down to this, I have no other choice. I will depart KoB, as well as the clearers whom I carefully cultivated to match the 90th floor, and wait for your arrival in the <<Ruby Palace>>. I believe that even with me gone, you would be able to clear the remaining floors."

Kayaba suddenly stopped talking and took a look at Shiro who knelt down. The latter felt his gaze and reciprocated it with his angry glare.

It is reasonable as he hated the feeling of being looked down upon.

He chuckled lightly at the sight of that and said, "I'll wait for you in the 100th floor. As for you..."

Kayaba turned his overwhelming gaze right back at Kirito.

"Kirito, since you've figured out my identity, I will give you an opportunity. A one-on-one duel. Of course, I will negate my immortal status."

"If I win?"

"If you win... the game would be cleared immediately, and everyone would be able to logged out. What do you say?"

That instant, Asuna began to squirm in Kirito's hands, trying to move desperately as she shook her head.

"No, Kirito-kun! He's only trying to get rid of you..! You... You have to back down!"

Logic dictates that this is the best course of action - that backing down would save his life right now. Even so...

'He... He trapped the mind of 10,000 people inside this game. Killed nearly 3,000. Now, he spews some crap like cultivating KoB from scratch..?'

Kirito then thought of the suffering that he saw all over the game. Most importantly, he remembered Asuna's tears and sobs every time she's having a break down.

Kayaba created a world that he enjoyed, but made Asuna's heart bleed profusely in turn.

'There's no way I would back down.'

He then looked at the one whom served as his mentor during the past few months.

Kirito thought that he's shady and that he's a psychopath at first, but he at least held his own morals inside the game. Not only that, he also owe him big when he helped both of them with Yui's situation.

Seeing this, Shiro smiled under his mask as he knew that things would play out like this. Heck, every chat member knew!

Even if they somehow delay this and try reaching the floors higher than the 75th, they knew that this is bound to happen. Just like PoH's case, Heathcliff's true identity would be revealed - it's only a matter of when.

Since they interfered with this world, this event was brought forward by an entire year.

"Do what you want." Shiro said out loud.

"Alright, let's settle this..."

"Shiro-san?!" Asuna was shocked by his reply as she thought that he'll stop Kirito from his suicidal move. The coupled stared at each other, one with a guilty look and one with a pleading look.

"You aren't planning on sacrificing yourself..?" She asked him.

"Of course not. I'll defeat him and put an end to this game."

"...I understand."

He laid her body down as he prepared to fight, only to be interrupted by two shouts.

"Kirito! Stop!"

"Kirito!"

He then looked at the source of those voices, Agil and Klein.

"Agil, thanks for supporting the warrior class up until now. You used up most of your savings just to give free help in the middle floors..."

Smiling at the big guy whose eyes are widened, he turned his gaze to his best friend, Klein.

"Klein... Thanks for your all your help. I'm sure that I owe you big, so wait for us to return to the real world to pay you back."

"..You said so! You said it! So... make sure you come back!"

"I definitely will."

Lastly, Kirito turned his gaze back at the girl that he love, the one who allowed him to say all the words buried deep within him and open up yet again.

To this, he could only mutter out an apology in his mind as he used the messaging function to Heathcliff.

Kirito: I have one thing to ask.

Kayaba is slightly intrigued that he would receive Kirito's private message at this time, but he soon replied.

Heathcliff: Go on.

Kirito: I don't have any intention of losing, but if I die... Can you prevent Asuna from committing suicide?

Heathcliff: Okay. I'll set it so that she won't be able to leave Selmburg.

With a peace of mind, Kirito took a proper stance against Kayaba.

Just as they were about to start fighting, someone shouted-

"Suppose that someone breaks free from this paralysis. Would your offer with Kirito apply, too?"

-it is Shiro.

"You sound quite confident with that."

"I have nothing to lose."

With an interested look, Kayaba thought for a while before replying, "Well then. You can also fight me if you manage to do so."

Shiro went silent after this, only closing his eyes to focus on something.

Meanwhile, the duel is about to start.

*****

A/N: In less than 5 chapters, the SAO arc would finally end! Just some more transitionary chapters before we advance in Terra once more! Of course, there's many other developments to be seen in the members' world. I won't spoil where, but he'll be mistaken as a ghost in one of them ;)

Anyways, here's the fact of the day~!

Fact #39: In Terra, there are god-like beings that walks on earth called Feranmuts. They are nigh immortal, and is completely immune towards oripathy. They also use different powers other than originum arts. Though they're immortal, they can be shattered into pieces, just like Sui (Nian, Dusk, Ling, and nine more). Though they're generalized as god-like beings, there's also some of them that can be considered as "Incarnations", with one of them being the member of Alive Until Sunset (Quick Recap: They're the uncorrupted sea gods who roamed the land using some avatars). This is also one of the basis on Surtr's backstory, as she only has a 1% cell assimilation, which made me think of her as a semi-Feranmut of sorts. Beware, my conjectures are non-canon, though her possessing 1% assimilation is canon.