-1729- Settle some old scores
"It's Showtime."
When these words reached Rozen's ears, his mind was jolted awake, and memories surged to the surface.
This phrase—how could Rozen not recognize it?
Not only did he recognize it, but he also knew that it was the signature line of a certain individual.
Though this event had taken place about a century ago, Rozen's brain, under the influence of Foreign Mana, had undergone constant sublimation, further reinforced by the Virtual Ether technique. Thus, even memories buried deep within his mind could be unearthed in their entirety if triggered.
And now, Rozen clearly remembered.
He recalled who in this world used to say this phrase frequently.
His name was PoH.
To be precise, that was his in-game name in SAO.
For the players of SAO, this name was as notorious as Rozen and Heathcliff.
At least, for those on the front lines of the clearing groups, it was.
That's because he was the leader of the red-name criminal guild Laughing Coffin, a genius in the art of short-sword combat. Wielding a massive short sword named Mate Chopper, he manipulated countless criminals in SAO, attempting to turn the game into a true death game where people could kill freely. He masterminded numerous criminal schemes and incitements behind the scenes, earning his reputation as a criminal mastermind.
Back in SAO, Rozen had clashed with this genius swordsman numerous times, consistently defeating him and eventually suppressing the threat of Laughing Coffin to the point of extinction. However, PoH himself managed to escape during one of Rozen's pursuits.
Afterward, this individual vanished without a trace, and Rozen gradually forgot about him.
But now, Rozen finally remembered this man, his name, and that iconic phrase.
And that phrase came from none other than the player before him, who looked like a grim reaper.
---
At this moment, Rozen's gaze changed.
It became as sharp as a blade.
He stared at the figure in front of him.
"So that's how it is..."
Rozen seemed to have understood something, and he spoke calmly.
"To think you'd dare appear before me again."
From the man's words and demeanor, Rozen could tell he was here for him.
Adding the phrase into the mix, how could Rozen not understand the situation?
"You must be one of Laughing Coffin's remnants."
In a detached tone, Rozen declared something that would leave all SAO players utterly shocked.
The figure said nothing in response, but his glowing red eyes flickered again.
The two locked eyes.
---
The atmosphere changed.
From heavy to horrifying.
A palpable tension filled the air, as if violence could erupt at any moment, emanating from Rozen and the grim reaper-like player. The surrounding players watching the scene instinctively held their breath.
Even Shinon and Spiegel were no exception.
"W-What's happening?"
Shinon couldn't take her eyes off Rozen, her breathing growing rapid.
The tension radiating from Rozen and the reaper-like player felt suffocating. It was as though Shinon could smell the metallic tang of blood in the air, making her face pale.
Unbidden, Shinon's mind wandered back to long-buried memories of her own nightmares.
Crimson stained her vision.
Her weapon weighed heavy in her hands.
A corpse lay before her.
Its wide-open eyes stared at her, drenched in thick blood flowing from its brow. They bore hatred and malice.
"Ugh...!"
Shinon's vision darkened, her chest tightened, and her heartbeat quickened. Unable to contain it, she let out a stifled cry, clutching her chest in agony.
"Are you okay, Shinon?"
Spiegel snapped out of his daze and hurried to support Shinon, his face filled with concern.
"I... I'm fine..."
Shinon shook her head vigorously, desperately trying to suppress the fear clawing its way from the depths of her heart. She struggled to push the nightmarish memories out of her mind, but her pale complexion and rapid heartbeat betrayed her efforts.
If this continued, the AmuSphere detecting her abnormal heart rate would forcibly disconnect her from GGO, ejecting her into the real world.
"I can't... let that happen..."
Shinon couldn't leave this world.
In this world, she was the battle-hardened sniper capable of defeating countless powerful enemies. But in the real world, she was merely a fragile, ordinary girl.
Returning would mean being consumed by her torment.
So, Shinon had to stay in this world—only then could she muster the strength to face her nightmare.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
Shinon focused on regulating her breathing, trying to calm her racing heart.
Even so, she kept her gaze fixed on Rozen, unable to look away from what was unfolding.
---
Meanwhile, Rozen and the uninvited remnant stood locked in a silent standoff.
One's eyes were calm.
The other's brimmed with murderous intent.
The atmosphere couldn't be described as merely hostile—it was one of life-or-death conflict, where only one could emerge alive.
Shinon was convinced that if these two met in the real world, they would undoubtedly fight to the death.
"What... are they..."
Shinon's face reflected her turbulent emotions.
The surrounding players felt the same. They exchanged uneasy glances as complex expressions spread across their faces.
The underground hall fell into an eerie silence. No one dared speak.
Eventually, the grim reaper-like figure turned around and left Rozen's sight without saying another word.
Rozen also remained silent, merely watching his departure.
His lips curled into a mocking smirk.
"So, even though I've forgotten about you, you've come looking for me."
Rozen chuckled.
"Now it's certain. Death Gun has indeed joined this BoB Tournament and has set his sights on me."
The grim reaper-like player in the black cloak wasn't just a Laughing Coffin remnant but Death Gun himself.
Rozen confirmed it without a doubt.
After all, the voice matched the audio file Kikuoka Seijirou had sent him perfectly.
In other words, the rumored Death Gun, capable of killing players in the game, was a former member of SAO's murder guild Laughing Coffin.
Despite SAO's clearance over a year ago, this individual had re-entered the virtual realm, continuing to murder through some unknown method.
And Rozen was his next target.
"Heh."
Rozen murmured to himself indifferently.
"Things are getting interesting."
Perhaps this time, Rozen could settle some old scores.