Player Killing Incident

--- Akira ---

I am no hero.

I know well this is what I've decided to stick with, and as such, there was no real reason for me to go out of my way to get rid of the Player Killing guilds that will form.

One could argue that they could become a problem in the near future, as I'd have to be more cautious about them rather than completely focus on clearing the Floors.

'But really, is there a need to make cheap excuses like that?'

The answer is no.

I don't plan to hide behind the so called 'convenience', because in the end, what I'm about to commit is a mass murder.

Justified or not, it does not matter.

There is no emotion behind that act by this point.

It's just my own stubborness in not allowing myself to treat this act as something I'm 'forced' to do.

I'm simply pissed off that such people are allowed to exist in the same world as me.

Nothing less, nothing more.

For that reason, I'll kill, and I'll keep on killing until I've erased all of them.

If there's someone who has a problem with that, then I'll kill them as well.

It's that simple.

I really wonder, though.

After knowing the person you've been partying with is someone who can commit a mass murder in cold blood, what will you think, Asuna?

Will you want to disband this party earlier than planned, or will you surprise me again?

I'm eager to know the answer.

--- ??? ---

"Recruiting newbies will be easy."

I also agreed with this.

After all, for those who truly enjoy the thrill of killing others, there's no way they won't fall for it.

It's not true that people killed in here will die in real life. It's all a plot by Akihiko Kayaba.

For the general people, that is what we disclosed.

As for the ones who truly enjoy murder, you can entice them by simply telling them all the murders will be pinned on Akihiko Kayaba, since he's the one who instigated this Death Game in the first place.

There is a saying adapted just to this game.

What happens in Sword Art Online remains in Sword Art Online.

As long as you make sure to clean your cursor back to green afterwards, you're free to do whatever you want.

The excitement generated by those statements is grander than you could imagine.

In fact, flocks of people had already been easily hooked on this, and expressed their will to join us.

But, if there was one mistake we did, was thinking even someone like the no. 1 in the game would join us...

That's what caused our downfall.

---

As the last of the new recruits filed into our homebase, a sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air.

We had managed to gather a sizable group of players, all eager to join our cause.

The fact that we weren't yet known as an orange guild to the public worked in our favor, as it allowed us to act behind the scenes rather easily.

However, among the sea of eager faces, there was one that stood out.

It was Haru, the current no. 1 player in Sword Art Online.

His presence was unexpected, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease. But I quickly brushed it off, attributing it to the natural surprise of having such a high-profile player express interest in joining our ranks.

As I began to explain in more detail to the new recruits, I could see the eagerness in their eyes.

'Those bastards...'

Well, all the better for us, I guess.

Just as I was about to wrap up my speech, our leader, PoH, made his grand entrance.

With a warm smile and a welcoming demeanor, he greeted each and every new member, making them feel right at home.

Of course, it was all a strategy to use them in the future.

But just as the atmosphere reached its peak...

"For a killer, you sure know how to act nice,"

A voice dripping with disdain was heard.

The room fell silent, and a wave of confusion washed over everyone present. I could see the gears turning in PoH's head as he tried to make sense of Haru's words. And then it hit me.

The one possibility that I had failed to consider until now.

He wasn't here to join us. He was here to...get rid of us.

Despite the sudden realization, I refused to let fear take hold.

After all, we had the numbers on our side.

With at least 15 people present, including our core members and the new recruits, it would be nearly impossible for him to take us all down. Right?

But even as I tried to reassure myself, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach.

To be this confident, could it be...

Had he called onto the other guilds...?

With his level of influence, it may be possible...

"PoH-san..."

As I glanced over, the gravity of our situation began to sink in. If Haru had called upon the other guilds, we would be vastly outnumbered and trapped.

But as we exchanged a look, I knew what needed to be done. I had to create confusion and possibly even sacrifice the players here to secure an escape for us.

But before I could even make a move, Haru shook his head, as if he could read our silent conversation. "It's useless," he said. "You won't be able to run away."

PoH, ever the calm and collected leader, decided to buy us some time. He confronted Haru.

"I congratulate you for having managed to figure out our plans like this, no. 1. But, was it really wise to come here alone? Even if your level is high, you shouldn't underestimate others"

As he clapped, PoH signaled for the core members to encircle Haru.

"Moreover, are you really sure about this? Do you know that Player Killing is no different from a real murder, right? Is a greenhouse flower like you ready to let the stains of blood taint its beauty?"

He was trying to make Haru hesitate, to question how precious a life could be for a normal person.

Seriously, having PoH as an enemy is scary...

The kid must be hesitating by now—

But before I could even finish my train of thought, Haru shifted into a stance, his spear glowing for an instant before it became a flash of movement.

In the blink of an eye, he had beheaded all of our core members, one-shotting them with ease.

'...He didn't hesitate at all!?'

The sight of it left me terrified on multiple levels.

That skill couldn't possible be a normal one.

Was he using an Unique Skill!?

But what was even scarier, is that he did not hesitate to behead a human being. The act was natural, like he had done such an action countless times.

Don't tell me...!

PoH looked equally shocked. But Haru simply shrugged, as if he had been swatting away flies. "What were you saying?"

...He was hiding his true nature.

How can someone be so good at masking it?

To his credit, PoH didn't let the surprise show on his face. Instead, he let out a low, menacing laugh. "I see, I see!" he said. "So you've killed hundreds, if not more. You're a monster just like us!"

Haru in response, grinned.

A wide, feral grin that sent a shiver down my spine. "Hundreds?" he chuckled.

"That's rookie numbers. I've killed more than twenty times that amount"

The absurdity of his words was almost too much to bear, but somehow, I knew deep down that they were true. My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed to the ground, feeling utterly hopeless.

The level difference between us was too great. Even players with levels ranging from 35 to 40 were being effortlessly slaughtered without even being spared a glance, and PoH was only level 45. It was clear that we stood no chance against this madman.

But PoH refused to show any fear. He drew his dagger from his inventory and grinned at Haru. "It's showtime," he said, before lunging at him.

The two of them clashed in a flurry of movement, but it was clear that Haru was toying with PoH.

Suddenly, PoH approached me.

...?

I was caught completely off guard, as PoH threw me at Haru, using me as a means to buy some time before escaping.

This bastard!!

But Haru didn't even bother to acknowledge me. Instead, he used a skill he hadn't shown before, [Burst Speed], in combination with what I suspected was an unique skill.

PoH's arm was cleanly cut away, and he was thrown all the way across the room, crashing into a wall, his HP bar now in the orange.

I was shocked by what had just happened, but I knew PoH was just like this. He could easily sacrifice anyone as long as he himself remained alive.

While those thoughts occupied my mind, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the scene. Haru approached PoH, pressing his foot onto his chest. "You're nothing more than living trash," he sneered.

But instead of killing him, Haru used his spear to remove PoH's other arm, making him powerless to act as long as the [Amputation] status effect would remain active.

"How does it feel to be in the same position as all the victims you've toyed with, huh?"

PoH didn't respond. Instead, he tried to spit at Haru, but he easily dodged it. "You're just a predictable fucker. Do you think I wouldn't know?" he said, before turning to look at me.

"Since your friend here threw you away so easily, it's time to get some revenge, right?"

I was stunned, unsure of what to do, as I realized by the time this situation had occurred, everyone aside from me and PoH... was dead.

But Haru's words echoed in my mind, and I knew that if I wanted to live, I had to listen to him. I raised my sword and approached PoH, my heart pounding in my chest.

Haru smirked as he watched me.

"Doing all this, do you think you're some kind of hero? You're just a bastard that is no different from me"

If the fact of killing people does not concern him, then is he someone with a hero complex?

It seems PoH had not given up on trying to toy with him yet.

"Me and you are similar, I won't deny that. The only thing separating me and trash like you is strength, which is absolute here."

I can't argue against that.

"Now, you will slowly see your life being taken away from you without a chance to even fight back. Seriously, it's a pity that in this game, the pain receptors are turned off. I would've loved to hear your screams of pain..."

From his words, there was one thing I realized.

This man was much more terrifying than PoH.

---

Author's Note:

This concludes the arc about the Player Killing Incident.

The rest will be left to imagination.