When a Monster Becomes a demon chapter 8

Tyler shut the door and walked out with a cocky smile on his face and his blood red coat on full display. Ooooh I am going to have SOOOOO much fun now! I feel so much lighter and just….happy. I have the cutest sister in Sakura, and the best friend a dude can ask for in Asuna. Fact she's a hot flaming red head's a nice bonus. He walked over to Gabol's restaurant and found the big man looking at the repair costs.

"Nice to see you're done eating the floor out big man."

Gabol jumped as Tyler's voice was heard behind him. He rounded and was backing away at the same time as he could only imagine the anger the Demon was in for his failure to defend his little Sister.

"Ah, Hey, I'm sorry-what the?"

Gabol was blown away by the HAPPY smile on Tyler's usually dour face as he walked up to him. He had a new fire in his brown eyes that Gabol found he had a hard time looking into and gulped as Tyler got with in arms reach.

"You good? Those bastards got a nasty drop on you back there."

Gabol just leaned on a wall, so heavy was his shock at the CONCERN for his wellbeing.

"Umm, I'm okay. I had a potion and was fine. Is Sakura okay?"

Tyler smiled on pure reflex.

"Lil Sis's fine. She got hit with a sleep dart but is fine now. Those bastards were from an imitator Laughing Coffin. Guess they wanted in on the Coffin filler gimmick. Pff. Idiots. That's MY job!"

He chuckled at his own joke as Gabol screwed up his courage.

"You okay, Gore? You seem…..HAPPIER."

Tyler smiled then, and Gabol recognized that light in his eyes.

"I had to do a little personal introspection Gabol. Me and me issues needed to have a little…chat. Asuna and Sakura don't deserve the pain a Monster brings to the table."

Here he grinned with his newfound fire and Gabol was outright SCARED by the intensity of his gaze.

"What they deserve is the safety only a DEMON gives. Wanna touch them? Pff you have to get past ME first. Try it I dare ya."

Gabol understood what happened then.

"I'm happy you found your reason Gore. We all have a reason for our strength. Mine is my wife back home."

"Lord HELP that lady! How much you have to…..ya know what? Not gonna finish that thought, since I got…aahhh. Not there not either. What the hell? You suck, what I'm saying."

Gabol could just HEAR his wife laughing at the unsaid jabs and sighed.

"Okay. I HATE you."

"was THAT what your hand said to ya? Oof, poor bastard."

Gabol just busted up laughing at that one.

"Ya got jokes too now? Oh shit. We're fucked!"

"eh. You look like that. Fucked up enough. Oh, you said FUCKED? Eh, when life's out for ya like it is with YOU? Same thing."

Gabol had to clap at that one.

"Damn! That one hurt! Okay tough guy, the guild?"

"A smoking crater. I got most of em but I bet there's one or two left running like chickens with their heads cut off. Laughing Coffin's still a thing but their not that stupid. Here."

Tyler paid for the damages.

"for the mess and Sakura. Some odd reason she likes this place. Not sure WHY exactly, since the owner's the kind that makes blind people throw up with that thing ya call a face."

Gabol just laughed it up.

"Okay, Gore. Get out before I pull me axe."

"Miss, I am SOOOO sorry your stuck with that guy. That's just pain. Later Gabol."

Tyler walked out as Gabol could almost here his wife laughing at the jokes and jabs.

"Goreleech found his soul again. We're all fucked. Dude was scary enough WITHOUT a reason to live. With one? God help us all."

Tyler walked into the hut and saw the girls talking to Kakashi and the other parents. They had yet to notice him and smiled. He snuck up behind the two girls as they talked about him and grabbed their shoulders.

"GOTCHYA!"

Poor Sakura screamed so loud the people in the room had to cover their ears! Asuna jumped INTO the damned screen as Tyler cracked up laughing from the prank as Kakashi busted up laughing, loving the new light in his eyes. Asuna was holding her chest as her breathing returned to normal as Sakura was coughing a little from her scare. Tyler was grinning like an idiot just heard the word penis. Asuna pulled her Rapier sheath and proceeded to beat the idiot half to death in a fury as Sakura laughed.

"he got us good!"

Tyler smiled as Asuna let up on her beating,

"Nice moves, Asuna."

She blushed at that and Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"Oh shit, Little Asuna. It seems he's grown bold too!"

Tyler vaulted over the couch to look at the screen.

"New Demon, new Heart. And I'm looking to make it a good one this time. I got Sakura and Asuna. Best kinda start to a new beginning. Now, we need to get back to work. We got asses to kick, sights to see, and legends to make. We'll get out of this game, and tear the real world a new asshole the only way the Heavenly Demons can."

Here his eyes went cold with a dark fire that even Kakashi shuddered at,

"And not even GOD can help those that try to endanger the lights I guard with my wings of blood. Ya been warned."

Sakura and Asuna were then aware of a new feeling around them in Tyler's presence. Where before he felt cold, standoffish and outright hateful, he now felt intense, determined, happy, and most of all? Warm. It felt like they were encased in a fog of darkness that they could see out, but NOTHING could touch them. Asuna suddenly wasn't afraid of him anymore. Now she just smiled.

"Like you can do all that without MY help. Right Tyler?"

He walked over and stood with the fiery red head.

"You're the second in command of this nuthouse. Like I'd go on without my favorite red headed badass."

Sakura was also on the same page as Asuna and came over too.

"Hey! Don't forget I'm here too! I'll just have to settle for the cute role since Asuna's too big to be cute."

Tyler just smiled.

"That's cause Asuna's pretty, Sakura. You cute. Ya got a few more years growing before you claim HER crown."

Asuna was blushing now and so was Sakura as Tyler complemented them again. The three friends placed their hands inside their little triangle. Tyler smiled.

"The monsters in this game are the other players. I am a Demon amongst them. They will NEVER hurt you so long as I draw breath. You will NEVER suffer like I did so long as I breathe."

Asuna was right there with him.

"I will never let another decide my life For ME! This is MY life to live! No one else's!"

Sakura also made a declaration.

"I am NOT weak! I am NOT a burden! I am NOT ALONE ANYMORE!"

Tyler led the yell.

"When the Heavenly Demons run into the fray get the fuck out the way! We own this game! We are a family of castaways. But. WE HAVE EACH OTHER AND FUCK THE REST!"

They threw their hands up.

"TO THE DEMONS!"

Kakashi and the other parents watched as the live feed was killed and the three gear up before racing with a new fire to clear the game and go home. He smiled proudly as Arthur, Asuna's father looked at the comatose boy between the two girls.

"He's a fine young man, Kakashi. He was able to reforge his soul on his own."

"He did indeed, Arthur. That's how Tyler is. It may take him a while, but there is not a force on this earth that can break his spirit. Not when it was already so badly destroyed to begin with. He's rebuilt it with his own hands and it has those two girls as his heart. Arthur."

He looked at the yakuza boss.

"Yes?"

The man looked at him gravely.

"When they get out, do NOT give him a reason to think you're a threat to those girls. That look in his eye when he made that warning? I have not seen a darkness like that in over forty years. That boy will not hesitate to hurt anyone that poses a threat to those girls."

Tyler and the girls landed back on the tenth floor and were racing along the floor towards a spot Tyler knew of from the beta.

"The spot has higher level monsters good for both Loot and EXP. I want us to go up three levels today. I THINK I may know where the boss is but need to check a few more spots."

Sakura was right beside him with Asuna on his left.

"What's the plan for the next few floors?"

Tyler smiled as he pulled a front flipping vault over a rock face.

"get out and explore. Floor eleven was a forested floor like the amazon. From what I was able to dig up on it during the beta the monsters range from large bugs to slimes to the usual variety."

Asuna frowned.

"I hate slimes. Make me feel dirty every time I see them."

"Why Asuna? Got a confession?"

Sakura busted up laughing as Asuna went red with rage at his jab.

"I AM going to murder you!"

"What? I loved that time I got reincarnated as a slime too. the hell you thinking of?"

Asuna was seen to go through ten different emotions in 6 seconds, murderous rage, utter pain, humiliation, more pain, more rage, and she finally settled on outraged anger.

"You BASTARD! I am going to deball you when I catch you!"

Tyler just ran faster as the angry red head gave chase.

"Save the fire for the monsters Asuna!"

Sakura was laughing hard at the teasing.

"What a cutely flirting couple!"

"Eep!"

"Wow, Asuna has a cute setting too."

"She does."

The poor red head just went silent as they came upon a set of large wandering trolls. Tyler's eyes lit up with his new fire as he drew his red sword and set it glowing with a two handed skill.

"Demon surge!"

He carved through ten the first ten trolls with a whirlwind attack as Asuna used her own skill,

"Dancer's Steps!"

She stabbed three monsters ten times in ten seconds as Sakura pulled her red bow,

"Pink punch!"

She dropped the last set and Tyler nodded.

"Nice kills. Fuck it. I know a place that boss might be hiding. We need to get off this floor. Crystals out. Jump to that outpost town near that mountain in the north. Cli."

They jumped and took off running through the stunned spectators as the Demons were seen in a hurry.

"What the?"

"The Demons?"

"They're running like a bat outta hell! What the hell happened?"

Tyler smiled as he spotted a freerunning challenge.

"Just a sec ladies. Be RIGHT back!"

He hit the start button and used a cart to launch up along a set of flag poles hand over hand like a monkey at breakneck speed to vault through a bell tower before leaping a large gap and sticking the landing.

"Annnnd safe! Time is…..ha! 34.5 seconds! I beat me record! Fuck yeah!"

He and the girls got a mass of EXP, droy, and speed potions before they took off running again as Asuna and Sakura looked at him,

"What was the point of that?"

"Yeah. We get more from a basic monster kill."

Tyler smiled.

"For kicks? What? We're here so might as well try to have SOME fun ya know."

Asuna and Sakura looked at each other bemused.

"Fun?"

"Him?"

"Have….FUN?"

"What the hell?"

Tyler smiled as they neared the dungeon he'd suspected.

"I'm not dead yet, you two. So, until I drop I'll live like I'm not gonna drop. What? You two forgot how to have fun?"

Asuna just smiled ruefully.

"You weren't big on screwing around, Gore."

Tyler smiled at Asuna.

"We got time, Asuna if ya wanna?"

Ohhh she went RED as a tomato! Sakura sniggered.

"She did say 'screw around' brother! I thought the same thing!"

Poor Asuna had steam coming off her from her embarrassment. Tyler patted her as they stopped outside the dungeon.

"There, there, pure little Asuna. You just need to learn how to say what you truly want. Like me for example. I want a hug Sakura!"

"Kay!"

He hugged his giggling little sister.

"See? It's easy."

Asuna just smiled sweetly as her head started throbbing.

"Oh, how wise Gore. How very wise indeed. You really want to know what I want?"

He smiled kindly.

"Sure Asuna. What's the fiery red head want?"

She added a hint of maliciousness to her sweet smile,

"I REEEEALLY want to hurt you."

She hit him so freaking hard he was launched into a wall! Tyler was laughing hard as Asuna calmed down from her rage moment.

"Enraged violence? Suddenly I like you a lot more Asuna. Also? WORTH IT."

Sakura was on the ground laughing hard as Asuna just held her head in pain.

"He went a hateful, toxic, meanspirited asshole, to an immature, warm hearted, jackass. Ohhh my poor soul!"

Tyler dusted himself off.

"I'd say batshit insane. Life's more fun when you're crazy. Plus get a dirty sense of humor and the fun never stops."

Sakura was nodding her pink haired head sagely.

"Hmm-hm! Look at Gore! He's insane and loves it!"

Asuna just rubbed her eyes.

"I'll settle for being normal thank you."

"Pff. Normie."

She became offended at that.

"Hey! I am NOT a…..oh well played you sneaky bastard."

She just sighed at his use of her secret otaku to tease her. He let them off the hook and drew his sword.

"This was the ONLY cave in the beta I did NOT explore. If the boss isn't here, we're looking for a needle in a haystack. Weapons up and get your flame on Asuna."

They nodded and took off running along the twisting corridors of the dungeon. This one being themed around a crypt and they carved through numerous skeletons in armor with one shot per. The things woefully weak compared to their levels and skills at using them. Tyler was out in front charging the monsters as Asuna mopped survivors with Sakura dropping idiots from afar. They dove deeply quickly and slowed as the monsters were getting stronger but not by enough to make a difference. Tyler smiled as he split one skeleton wearing a crown in half,

"Dragon's splitter."

They stopped for a quick regroup. Sakura was shaking her small head.

"These things suck."

Asuna was right there with her.

"Totally. These things suck."

Tyler smiled as a faint clash of metal was heard down a hall. He looked and smiled.

"Let's go make a statement. Move!"

He was off running in the direction and the girls were right beside him with smiles.

"Looking to show off?"

"Oh fuck yeah, Asuna."

The trio tore through the skeletons with ease as they rounded a corner to see the source of the metal ringing. There they found Lorg, Sven, and their friends in dire straits surrounded by a mass of the skeletons with their backs against the wall. Tyler's good humor died and he got angry.

"Demon's wave! Go!"

His long blade glowing Tyler gripped the hand and a half bastard sword in two hands as he smashed four of the undead aside with a single swing before spinning with the momentum to scythe another four as Asuna came in desperate to save their friends,

"Dancer's Wrath!"

She slashed with her long thin blade instead of stabbing and killed three in quick succession as Sakura fired her own attack.

"Pink attack!"

Her high powered shots punching straight through the skeletons in lines shattering four in a line. Tyler was in the center of the pack, and smiled with a wild light in his eyes,

"demon spiral!"

He spun a vicious circle that shattered the skeletons like pixeled snow before jumping backwards in a flip that placed himself between a stunned Lorg, Svenity, their friends, and the monsters. Tyler glanced over his shoulder as the monsters regrouped at them,

"You good?"

The blonde lady nodded dumbly at the CLEAR light in his eyes,

"You got here just in time. We didn't lose anyone thank god."

He smiled widely.

"Can't have Sakura's favorite blonde get smashed by just ANY boner, can we? Demon rush!"

He surged forward as Lorg just looked at her petite friend.

"Am I delusional. Or did he just flirt with me?"

Svenity just smiled.

"Look, Lorgy. His eyes. They're sparkling with life."

Lorg looked and saw the clear smile in the red coated boy's eyes as he and the two girls killed the last of the skeletons. Once the pixels stopped flying, Tyler walked over and sent a mass of high level healing potions to Lorg.

"Here. Put that well fucked ass o yours back together."

Svenity snorted as the gay guy in the crew gave an offended huffed.

"You wish."

"Sorry, not into dudes. Like you could handle this anyway."

The group just stopped at Tyler's teasing of a gay guy. The brown eyed boy ignored this as he took stock of the area they were in.

"We got five minutes before they come back. We need-what the?"

He noticed the group, including Asuna and Sakura, staring at him in utter shock. He looked behind him, as if expecting something to be there, and looked back confused.

"What?"

Lorg looked at Asuna.

"Who is that? And Where's Goreleech?"

Sakura smiled as she just went with it.

"He's right there, Lorgy. He got his soul back!"

Svenity walked over and looked him in the eyes. Tyler smiled.

"Ya got pretty eyes there, Svenity."

She smiled widely and hugged him.

"I'm so happy you found the will to reclaim your soul."

He hugged her tightly.

"I'm just mad it TOOK so freakin long. But whatever. It's back and you ALL, except him, fucked!"

The singled out guy just looked away.

"Kiss my rainbow ass."

"Dude if you shittin the rainbow you got issues. Should see a doctor."

Lorg snorted at that,

"Oh you got jokes ah?"

"I'm looking at YOU Lorg. Plenty of source material. Hey, ahh, quick question."

She was on the verge of murdering him,

"Yes? What is it?"

"Did that poor bastard that designed your face get arrested? Things a crime to get looked at with. Seriously, Lorg, how do mirrors handle the good looks?"

She went from murderous rage to half way between awe and fear at his smooth word play as Svenity FINALLY let him go to look at him.

"Damn dude. You got a player's soul."

"I AM a gamer. Plus, well, SOMEONE has to pretend to flirt with her. God knows no one else will."

Lorg busted up laughing.

"There's the salty jab I been missing!"

"Wow, you like it to be salty? Sounds painful. But hey I don't judge."

Lorg had a single vein bulge on her head as the other snorted.

"I do hope you were talking about food."

HE looked at her confused.

"I was. I was thinking of a bit of jerky for some odd reason. Why? The hell thinkin I meant?"

Lorg had a second vein bulge as she saw she was trapped by his jokes while the rest laughed. She smiled at him with a sweet maliciousness.

"You are SOOOO lucky you can't feel your dick in here, as I'd kick you so freakin hard."

"You forget? You already did."

She grinned.

"And I felt nothing there."

He winced.

"Yeesh. You poor lady! And you STILL let him? Have some standards!"

Her friends busted up laughing hard at that one, and so were Sakura and even Asuna as Lorg just screamed in a frustrated rage as she was caught AGAIN. Tyler just smiled.

"Hey Lorg."

She had a fury in her hazel eyes.

"WHAT?"

He grinned.

"Love you!"

The others busted up laughing as Lorg pulled a piece of metal from her inventory to BEAT the idiot half to death in a blind rage. She broke the thing over his body and was panting as her rage moment passed and he patted her on the head in a comforting manner.

"There, there Lorg. Nice to see you're good at beating things."

She looked at him with a twitching eyelid, on the verge of a full on black out rage. He smiled as he let her off the hook before she blew a fuse. He looked down the corridor.

"Okay, Lorg. You looking for the boss?"

She took a deep breath and looked down the passage.

"Yeah. Well. More out grinding. You?"

He looked at her with a serious expression.

"This was the ONLY cave I did not explore in the beta on this floor, Lorg. We have to get off this floor. I'm betting the boss is down here somewhere. So, we'll party up for this run. We find it I'll get Kirito and Gabol in on the hunt."

She smiled.

"You really DID change. Gore I met when the doors shut woulda just hogged the kill for himself."

HE smiled as he looked at Sakura and Asuna.

"I've got something to live for again, Lorg."

He looked at her with his new intense gaze,

"And they will NOT suffer like I did. Period."

Lorg was a little scared by the fire in his eyes, but nodded.

"I'm glad to hear it. Who's party leader?"

"I am. I've the best stats period. Plus I'm used to fighting outnumbered, outgunned and underequipped. Here, these are all junk weapons for us, but they'll suit your crew just fine."

He sent over a FULL resupply on everything from armor and weapons to healing supplies that Lorg just gaped at. Sakura and Asuna looked at each other shocked again.

"Wait. Kindness?"

"From Him?"

"GIVING our stuff away for free?"

Tyler shrugged.

"I look out for my friends. Period."

The got a smile from Lorg and Svenity.

"He's become human again."

"No. Just a Demon. I'll never be human like you are. So, I'll use the darkness in my soul to protect the light in yours."

That got a low whistle from the two women.

"That was a level of badass I aspire to be."

Tyler waited until they were geared up.

"Here's the party invite. We move fast so heads up. Lorg, I've got an idea for the rest of the floors. We'll kill the boss and we'll talk with Kirito and Gabol back at the hut. Let's move ladies and that."

"Fuck you man."

"Dude. Give it a rest."

They took off running and Lorg smiled.

"Move people. We're running with the Demons now!"

The party moved forward as Tyler slowed the pace to accommodate them a bit.

"If you run everywhere it builds stamina, sharp turns boost agility, and that in turn increases your overall combat effectiveness."

Lorg was keeping pace with the Demon.

"So, this idea?"

"After Lorg. I tell you now we'll lose focus. Eyes front! Sakura! Light em up!"

"Got em brother! Pink Death!"

A set of pink arrows slammed into a set of ten zombies and they shattered.

"Lorg follow my shadow, Svenity, you with Asuna, Sakura's on overwatch. Rest of you? Eh be useful somehow."

Lorg had her katana out and Svenity her spear as they slammed into a wall of rattling skeletons. Tyler dealing heavy shots for Lorg to get them kill as Asuna did the same. The three friends were softening the targets for the lower ranked players to get the kills and mass EXP. They tore through the skeletons and kept going. Lorg looked at Tyler.

"Loot?"

He smiled.

"When it's safe to do so. Right now it's just too risky."

She smiled.

"You're quite the leader you know that?"

"Glad you approve. Sakura!"

"Got em!"

The next mass of creatures were trashed and Svenity was amazed.

"We've just killed no less then thirty monsters in 15 minutes! The hell?"

Asuna snorted.

"Toots this is babysitting compared to our USUAL runs! Remember the turtle Saky?"

"That thing sucked!"

Tyler smiled as he explained.

"We found the Secret boss. The admantoise. Took the three of us FIVE hours to kill it."

The group was white faced as Lorg gulped.

"The Admantoise? That thing has killed over fifty people! It's a BANNED fight period now!"

Asuna sighed.

"Then consider this. That thing's a secret boss. On floor TEN. Out of a 150. Let that sink in."

They looked at her in horror.

"That was mere FODDER compared to the higher floor monsters?"

Tyler smiled darkly.

"You haven't seen anything yet."

The group slumped as that fact set in.

"Oi! Ya give up now then just kill yourselves. We'll go on and get out of this game and to hell with ANYTHING that gets in our way!"

The others smiled at that as they fell upon more skeletons which they shattered without issue. The party ran for a good while until they came upon a large set of doors. Tyler smiled as Lorg and her friends regained their breath.

"I'll take a look. Asuna. Sakura guard the brats."

"ugh."

"Agreed."

Tyler booted the door open to see inside the large chamber. He tilted his head as he saw the boss.

"Ooooh we are in for a FIGHT. Been a long time. DeathBringer."

The thing looking at them was a twenty five foot tall T-rex with a blade on the tail and a blade sail on the spine. Tyler smiled as he left the chamber just before it challenged him. He looked at the expectant group and smiled.

"That's DeathBringer's home. The SECOND boss I got to design. We are in for a fight."

The group had a collective gulp as Tyler pulled his messenger up and shot the location for the boss to Kirito and Gabol. Tyler smiled as he looked the party.

"That thing behaves exactly like a T-rex from the movies. It's got four weakpoints that are hard yet obvious. The legs, the eyes, the heart that can be reached either side of the torso, and the throat. That said it has a few batshit skills to throw us if we're not on our toes the entire fight. Plus a guaranteed one shot kill that's easy to dodge, but hard to see coming if you don't know what to look for. If that tail starts to stiffen up, get down flat. If it lowers it's head cover your ears, if it lowers it's front jump to the side, if the thing plants it's feet you HAVE to drop to the ground as it's about to unleash it's radial saw attack with that blade on it's back. If it touches you, BAM. Instakill. I made that thing to fuck with the cocky and reward the cautious."

They waited until the black coat clad Kirito and Gabol arrived. Tyler smiled as he fist bumped a mildly shocked Kirito.

"What up beater bro?"

The boy just sighed.

"You're not gonna let that go. Are you?"

Tyler chuckled.

"Hey. You picked the damned thing. Don't get mad at me. Okay. We're it. That thing's a boss I made so listen for the yells and try not to get fucked in the ass by Asuna's Rapier."

"Hey! Why me?"

"Political reasons."

She just glared at him as Kirito looked at Tyler closely.

"You okay? Ya seem like those guys that are about to jump off a bridge."

Tyler chuckled.

"I had some issues to work out. I'm fine now and ya know the trope. Finding my reason to live and all that bullshit. So ya know. BRACE. We set ladies?"

That got a snort as they nodded.

"Alright. Let's fuck em up."

Tyler invited Kirito and Gabol to the party for loot sharing and in they went. The giant rex roared a challenge as Tyler smiled.

"It's only right I get to be the FIRST to kill you."

The thing had 6 health bars as the fight got underway. Tyler ran forward as the beast lunged at him and he slid on his back,

"Demon throat cut!"

he stabbed the beast in the throat and it lost a visible chunk of it's first health bar as Kirito came in with his one handed sword to deliver his own heavy shot to the beast's side, dropping another chunk. Asuna came up and she too removed a visible chunk before Sakura's arrows hit the thing in the eyes.

"Pink Popper."

Gabol worked with Lorg's crew to hack at the legs as the beast lifted a foot.

"Shockwave! Crouch!"

They knelt as the ground rippled from the force of the impact. Tyler smiled as he saw the last ripple.

"Opening!"

They moved and he stabbed the beast in the side just above the arm, getting a bellow of pain as Kirito took the same shot from the other side. The thing lost two full health bars from the dual stab and then it planted it feet with authority.

"Get DOWN FLAT!"

They went prone as the beast did a most impossible thing for such a creature: it jumped into a flying disk as it curled up tail to nose to bounce around the room like a pinball with the other players looking at Tyler like he was insane. Tyler just shrugged.

"We're in a video game people. Logic has no place here. Floor thirty has a red slime that shots ice attacks and sings rock songs."

Kirito just sighed.

"The devs were on drugs."

"Ten bucks say acid."

That got a laugh from the other boy as the attack ended and the thing landed back on it's feet.

"Up an at em!"

The party surged up from the floor to continue the assault. Tyler and Kirito were once again in perfect sync since they're fighting styles were so similar whereas Tyler wielded the larger sword. The beast was shattered without issue with Tyler and Kirito sharing the final attack bonus again. The party cheered before heading to activate the portal which Tyler placed a toll of 65 droy on. Then he looked at the group.

"I got an idea for us. We'll head for my hut in Brictally. Nothing can touch or hear us there."

They nodded and made the jump, though Kirito was the most impressed by the place when he saw it.

"Dude. This was the cabin you designed right?"

Tyler sent him and Gabol a set of trunks as everyone made the change.

"House rule is swimwear only."

That got a laugh from them before they all sat at the kitchen table. Though Kirito had a hard time NOT looking at all the bikini clad girls around him. Lorg and Svenity saw this with their galpals and made it that much worse for the poor guy as they flaunted their goods shamelessly as Asuna just sighed.

"Really?"

Gabol was pointedly looking at the walls, ceiling, everywhere but the flirtatious ladies.

"Hey, Gabol. Wanna see something cool?"

The man looked at Tyler's voice on reflex, just to get a look at Lorg's tabled breasts, and his gaze shot back to the ceiling.

"You sonuvabitch! Are you trying to get me killed?"

Tyler and Lorg high fived on a well pulled prank.

"Nah. Just hurt."

Kirito was looking at his loot to distract himself. Tyler smiled as he sat beside Asuna.

"Okay. My idea."

Kirito closed his UI and looked at him, only for Asuna's VERY eye catching bikini to get his eye and the fiery red head frowned.

"Kirito?"

Now TERRIFIED at getting caught, he looked at Tyler.

"what's your idea?"

"Nice segway. You all join my guild and our hunts in the wilds."

Sakura and Asuna were just as shocked at the offer as the others. Tyler sighed.

"Look. We've BARELY cleared ten floors in close to 10 months. These being floors most have already seen the once. We're in uncharted territory as of that portal. After floor fifteen we're fighting blind. We HAVE to get stronger faster. Lorg and her party were almost killed by those skeletons in the dungeon. We have to team up for the following floors."

Kirito crossed his arms.

"I see your points. And I agree the floors will be getting a lot harder. Yet, I've never liked dealing with guilds as once they get too big that's when the problems start. Outta curiosity, who's the second in command?"

Tyler jabbed a thumb at Asuna.

"She is. She's the only one with ACTUAL guild experience. Me and Sakura were just a party. And since I was always a loner I never bothered with the guild shit in the beta. You're right with the problems the larger guild brings though."

Kirito looked at Asuna.

"How's his leadership? I've only got glimpses of it."

Asuna rubbed her head.

"Unflinchingly harsh. Make no mistake everyone. Guy will work you HARD. Me, him and Sakura killed the Admantoise. Head on."

That got a shocked blink from Kirito and Gabol.

"That thing's supposed to be next to impossible to kill!"

Kirito had a different take.

"You killed it? How long it take you?"

"About five hours."

The black haired boy shook his head in awe.

"Okay. That's just scary. Loot?"

Again Asuna answered.

"Filtered to him as he usually has the very best idea on the way to get the most from it."

He nodded.

"I remember hearing about his weirdly encyclopedic knowledge of everything in the game. Was always kinda scary. Okay. Grinding?"

"Sun up to whenever we feel like it. We don't stop Kirito. Sometimes we grind for weeks on end without rest as in his plan? The longer we can go at once, the less chance of getting caught by a strong enemy when exhausted."

Gabol sighed.

"There's an odd wisdom there. Okay, Asuna. If you have an issue with something, like for example a sword that is really high level but he wants to just sell it, but you want to keep it, how does it get resolved?"

Asuna sighed.

"If he's selling the sword, Gabol, then we really CAN'T keep it. Push it and he'll just walk away and leave you. In here we don't have the luxury of keepsakes. Sakura's wolf fur scarf is the ONLY time I have ever seen him relent on an under leveled item, and she had to threaten to leave HIM to keep it. And even then it was a fight. Goreleech has a plan. And it WILL work. Fact we've killed the things we have is proof enough of that. He'll train you like he trained US and by the time you're at his approved level of skill, there's not a creature or person in this game or our there that can hurt you."

Kirito looked at her now.

"His plan. How extensive is it?"

Asuna smiled.

"well, Kirito. His plan for the new floors is to treat every enemy we come across as a one hit kill, and every door we open like a damage trap. He has multiple plans for us and most times something we think was pointless has a massive reason behind it down the line. Look. He made this for me not too long ago."

She passed her Rapier over and Kirito nodded.

"I get it. I've seen how you all work in battle. Scary sync up."

Sakura perked up now.

"We work well together as we trust each other to know exactly what to do without direction. Big brother hits the hardest, Asuna the fastest and me the farthest. Put us together and not a thing can touch us. They get close Asuna's right there with that speed, they get too many, Big brother goes apeshit, they get too far I blast em."

Tyler smiled now.

"We sync up rather well Kirito. HOW many final attack bonuses have we shared?"

That got a smirk.

"Okay. Fair point. I know you all go to places I just can't alone. So, if I wanted to go my own way?"

Asuna smiled.

"Ya can take off any time ya want. We're running in Gore's crew because there's not a better one out there. He's saved our lives countless times, both in here and out there from in here."

The boy smiled.

"I'm in. be honest running with the Demons sounds like a helluva run."

Lorg sighed.

"I see your points Gore. I really do. Yet, even WITH your new soul, you're a little TOO hardcore for me."

"Sure Lorg. Why it's an offer. Though at boss fights we party up, okay?"

She grinned at that.

"Oh fuck yeah!"

Gabol smiled at that before looking at Tyler.

"I'm with Lorg on this one Gore. I'm not really cut out for the type of shit you do. I appreciate the offer, and we'll definitely party up at boss fights. I'm just not as outright insane as you four are."

Tyler smiled.

"That's fair. Not everyone can keep up with Asuna. I barely can and I work at it!"

"Hey! Mea-oh you just complemented me. Weird."

Sakura nodded sagely.

"SUPER weird."

The others just laughed at Asuna's bemused face as Tyler looked at Kirito.

"Okay. Let's talk gear."

Once Kirito was in the guild, Tyler looked over his Invey.

"Not bad blackball."

"Fuck off man."

"Coming from the beater boy?"

"Dude I hate this already."

"You're still rocking the cloak of midnight from floor 1?"

HE shrugged.

"I like black."

Tyler and Sakura looked at each other as Gabol rumbled.

"If you say it I'll hit you in the balls with my axe."

they looked at him curiously

"I was going to say I might have a better black coat, Gabol.

"Just what were you thinkin?"

The big man had a vein bulge at eh verbal trickery as Lorg patted him.

"He did it to me like five times in a row, Gabol. No. you cannot win."

The guy sighed.

"I can only imagine what my wife is going to say when I can hear her again."

Tyler and Asuna got evil grins as they looked at each other.

"How many?"

"two."

Gabol went pale.

"Don't you dare!"

They looked at him confused now.

"Don't what?"

"Ya know Gabol, context makes the world of difference."

The now scared big man looked at Asuna.

"For the sake of my life, please do not use that thing."

She tilted her head even more confused.

"What thing? Seriously, Gabol. We're getting some really weird vibes here."

"Me thinks Gaby's got a toy fear."

All eyes looked at Sakura as she got a drink from the fridge. Tyler and Asuna looked at each other concerned.

"I didn't teach her that.

"Me neither. Hey, Sakura, where'd you hear that?"

She looked over with a cute smile on her face.

"It was the setting on your Masseuse UI, Assy. Said for prefer-"

"Sakura! Not cool!"

Poor Asuna was red as a tomato again as Lorg and Svenity looked at each other knowingly. The two older ladies got up and took the now humiliated Asuna to another room for another in depth girls chat. Tyler looked at Kirito now.

"Oh. Fair warning? Sakura here likes to play setup."

That got a gulp from the boy in black as Gabol chuckled.

"Well. Before she sets me up I'll head back to my place. Thanks again for the offer Gore."

"Sure thing big man."

Lorg's party headed off as Lorg and Svenity had their chat with Asuna. Tyler gave Kirito and upgraded cloak of midnight coat and a better sword.

"So, why DO you run a one hand no shield?"

Kirito rubbed his hair.

"I like the versatility. You?"

Tyler shrugged.

"I'm more looking for my staffsword I ran in the beta. You remember that black and red blade I set that record with?"

That got a blink.

"Now I remember. That thing was freakin hardcore."

Tyler smiled as he looked at his inventory.

"I think I found it on-hello?"

He saw a new weapon from the DeathBringer battle. HE looked at the name.

"Oblivion and Oathkeeper? Ooooh FUCK yeah! Honey I'm home!"

He pulled it out and he was holding a large double bladed staff sword with a blood red blade on one end with a jet black on the other. Tyler passed Kirito his red sword and took the staffsword up.

"Okay. Now it's a game. Let's see if I member how to do this."

Sakura was watching wide eyed as Tyler walked to the wide open area and started spinning the blade in a slow spin with a smile on his face until his eyes went hard. The tempo exploded and all Sakura could see was blurred red and black lines as Tyler set the blade to howling from the speed and strength in the routines. Lorg came up with Asuna and Svenity to see what the loud whistling was, only to see Tyler twirling his new weapon nearly faster then they could see. Tyler smiled and he twisted his wrists which made the swords become two separate blades. He spun them independently for a few routines before connecting them again and spinning into a flourishing bow. The room just applauded the show as Kirito noticed something.

"Hey. You just dual wielded."

Tyler smiled.

"Not exactly. See this weapon has a special trick to it. Even when separate it still counts as ONE weapon. So outright dual wielding isn't an option. That said I CAN use the routines for dual wielding. AND the routines for onehanded weapons with the ones for the staffsword. This one was ALSO my own design. So, since I'm wielding my own creation, I get the master's bonus to attack speed. Oh. And this can be upgraded to floor 150. Sooo. My old friend has come home. Now I just need my coat and BAM. Badass the first edition."

He looked at Kirito.

"Alright. We got a new floor to ruin. Let's gear up."

They nodded and Lorg patted Asuna reassuringly.

"You want to chat message me."

The pretty red head smiled.

"Thanks Lorg."

Tyler and his revamped party teleported to the new floor as Kakashi sat back in the chair smiling widely.

"Tyler's gained a new resolve now."

Arthur was in agreement.

"He has indeed. But what about that shadow?"

Sakura's god mother chuckled.

"That left as soon as his soul was reforged. Now he has a light surrounded by thorns. If he lets you touch it, it's of a warmth the likes of which you've never known. But, try to scratch it and welcome to hell. That new boy. Kirito? He worries me."

Arthur had a different thought.

"He and Tyler are very much alike. Only Kirito seems to be the kinder. Be interesting to see how he handles Tyler's lessons."

Kakashi chuckled.

"He gets it. Kirito understands Tyler's points and even agrees to an extent. That said he'll more likely agree to disagree as he has his own way of living. And that is perfectly fine."

1 MONTH LATER.

"Yo good kill Kirito!"

"Pff, keep up slow bastard."

"Wow, Asuna. Salt much?"

"She's just mad she missed."

The giant skeleton the party was fighting shattered and the friends dropped panting. A full month had passed and Tyler, Asuna, and Sakura with the new addition of Kirito had made astounding progress on the floors. Clearing no fewer then five alone. Even Tyler had been utterly impressed by their progress as they'd just killed the fifteenth floor boss by themselves. Tyler smiled as he looked at the group.

"Drink up ladies. Kirito too."

"I'd smack ya if I wasn't too tired."

They laughed as they drank potions before heading up to activate the teleporter. The four person assault force were easily four floors ahead of everyone else, and their names were now spoken of in awed fear, as word of Gore's transformation from heartless Monster, to dark hearted Demon had become widespread with people even MORE scared now. Tyler twirled his staffsword lazily as they activated the teleporter, ands he set and 90 droy toll. Kirito shook his head chuckling.

"Nice flex."

Tyler laughed as they went into a local tavern for food.

"Way to make a point right?"

They got their food and was looking over loot as Asuna passed her latest massage from Lorg around.

"I guess the other players formed their own assault force. And get this? Their leader? Yuka from the Bloodoath. Says here their close to 3500 strong and numbers are growing daily."

Tyler chuckled as he dug into his pizza.

"By the time they reach this floor, we'll be five more floors up."

Sakura was happily munching as Kirito looked at Tyler,

"Hey Gore. Yuka hates you with a burning passion. Why is that?"

He chuckled.

"Ex-girlfriend IRL. Me being a toxic asshole that got obsessed with diving plus my playstyle just was more then she could handle."

HE nodded.

"That'll do it. We won't really have to worry much since we're out in the boondocks anyway."

Tyler smiled.

"That's half the reason I go out so far. Closer you get to the hubs, more idiots you gotta put up with."

The table all nodded at that wisdom when Tyler got a mass of +90s over his head and looked to see a large group of people striding out from the newly activated portal.

"Wow. That was faster then I thought."

They laughed as the new players all waited for the rest of their force to arrive. Asuna sighed as she saw the colors.

"Great. The NEW assault force. Let's go Tyler. We stay it'll just get ugly."

He sighed as well.

"Sure. We're done here anyway."

They party walked out and the players jumped at the sudden appearance of the party.

"It's the Heavenly Demons!"

Tyler snorted as he looked at the players gear.

"They've been here a year and have that kinda shit gear. Newbies."

That ruffled a few feathers, but Tyler ignored them as he looked at the three directions before them. North had a large mountain range in the distance beyond a thick forest, west had a roiling plains with a dark grey smudge on the horizon, and to the south was more plains. Sakura looked at the forest.

"Let's go to the forest big brother. I'm kinda tired of plains."

Tyler smiled.

"Sure."

Asuna and Kirito smiled at each other.

"It'll be a nice change Kirito.

"Yeah. Ready Asuna?"

Tyler and Sakura smiled as they saw how friendly the two had become, and Tyler was happy for her. Even if he still didn't have an answer for her place in his heart. If she falls for Kirito before I have my answer, good for her. Bastard'll be on my shitlist outta principle though. They were about to take off running,

"Well, looks like you found another soul to ruin with your bile, TYLER."

Tyler looked over his shoulder to see his ex-girlfriend Yuka approaching with her force. HE chuckled.

"Well, will you look what the cat dragged in? How's it hanging Yuka?"

The girl blinked as she saw the new light in his now smiling brown eyes.

"Wow. I guess the rumors of you growing a soul were true afterall. Wonder though, if it's just toxic as ever?"

HE chuckled.

"No more toxic then the girl that has a pathological need to be validated by everyone in the room. Seriously, though, WHY did I fall for you? Hmm. Musta been the boobs. Always loved a good rack!"

The boys in her party sniggered as Yuka smirked.

"I guess ya got jokes now. Well. Least my new man's got a dick to be proud of. Not that four inch thing ya got there!"

Tyler looked at his UI curiously.

"Really. Hmm, say's here 7.5. Not sure WHY you're blaring you new man's lack to your Ex though. I mean I'm right here since ya CLEARLY miss it."

Asuna and the other girls busted up laughing at that jab as Yuka had a vein bulge.

"At least he lasts. You blew your load in what? Ten minutes? He can last for hours on end."

Tyler shrugged.

"Like I said. I like boobs. I guess you're just a boring fuck if it takes him hours to get off on you."

That got a round of laughs as well and a look of respect from Kirito form his brazen declarations. Asuna and Sakura were just watching as Tyler destroyed his ex-girlfriend in a verbal boxing match. Yuka had another vein bulge on her forehead as Tyler got under her skin. She now spoke in a strained voice.

"At least he's considerate in bed. All you were ever concerned with was my boobs."

Tyler smiled widely.

"Like I keep saying Yuka. I like big guns. I mean, it WAS your trick. A slight pinch with a bit of thrust made you blow every time. Was always a fun one when you started squeaking like a mouse in heat. though to be fair? Ya were more rabbit since you were right back for more!"

The crowd was laughing at the imagery as Yuka grinned a malicious grin.

"At least he didn't let his sister and his mom's boyfriends rape him for kicks. How's that feel? Eh, DEMON?"

Kirito looked at Tyler in pitied horror and he shrugged.

"Like I said. I had issues. Plus my family sucked."

That got him a fist bump before Tyler looked at a smiling triumphantly Yuka.

"Hey, Yuka. I wonder. You DO remember who I was. Right?"

She was confused now.

"The fuck you talking about? Who you were?"

Tyler smiled.

"I was Yuta's older brother for a time. Remember?"

She was still confused.

"I remember. He was like a really clingy dog. What about it?"

Tyler's brown eyes now shown with a dark light.

"Well. I just thought you should know that dog didn't deserve what you made it do. To you. All those times. Yeeeah. I know about you, Yuka."

She went white in the face in horror as she now saw where he was going with the weird questions.

"I don't know what you mean."

Tyler's dark grin grew more sadistic, and everyone but his friends shuddered.

"I found this out after we broke up. But. About a month later, you were found with the family mastiff…..BALLS DEEP IN YOUR SNATCH. Oooh I remember that day well. Yuta came to me in a mild freak out over it as you got committed to that mental ward for a month. Didn't you ever find it odd how I wouldn't touch you after that? No matter WHAT you did?"

Yuka was shaking as her dark secret was thrown out for the world to hear of, and the others behind her started backing away. Tyler looked at his sickened friends.

"Let's get going."

He looked at Yuka.

"She needs a walk down memory lane. You should know better Yuka. I still remember what you did to your cousin."

She just stood there shaking as Tyler and the party took off running into the forest as Sakura ran beside him.

"Okay, Tyler. What. The. FUCK?"

He chuckled.

"Yuka got into some heavy drug use after her boyfriend after me dumped her for a blonde bimbo that was the better fuck. Guess she went insane for a while and yeah. They found her like that high as a kite on cocaine mixed with gunpowder. She spent a month in the looney bin for it."

They shuddered as Sakura asked the next question.

"What happened to the mastiff?"

Tyler smiled.

"Ole Brutus? Pff. He's still kickin around. We get out I'll introduce you two. He loves kids as he gets to feel like a pillow. Just be careful when he lays on you. Next thing you know you can't feel your legs."

That got a laugh as Sakura smiled.

"I like big dogs. They're fluffy!"

He patted her fondly.

"I'm a cat person myself. But you'll love Brutus."

Asuna looked at him a little shocked.

"You're a cat person?"

HE smiled.

"I am. Surprising?"

She chuckled.

"I'd had you pegged as a snake owner or a spider."

Tyler chuckled fondly.

"Nope. Cat lord."

Kirito smiled.

"You'll like my sister then. She loves cats."

Tyler looked at him.

"Really? And she's HOW old?"

He blinked.

"A year younger."

"I'll teach her a laser pen trick."

Kirito sighed.

"Somehow I feel like I am going to regret this."

They laughed as they came upon a new dungeon. Tyler smiled as he pulled his staffsword and twirled it to get the feel.

"Alright. Let's see what we got!"

They dove into the cave themed dungeon and the first monsters they came across were two legged deer with swords. Tyler snorted as he used a skill.

"Whirling hurricane!"

The twin blades glowed red and black as he spun through the air while rotating the blades with a ferocity that was intimidating to witness. The first four deer shattered and he was off with Kirito right beside him. His gear being a higher tier cloak of midnight and the blood sword Tyler had given him. He shattered the monsters nearly as fast as Tyler was but not as frequently. Asuna fell in with Kirito and the pair worked very well together. Asuna's Rapier complementing Kirito's one handed sword perfectly. Sakura was working in tandem with Tyler as usual. Her arrows dropping monsters as Tyler got his blades into them for the multikill. The friends dove deep hunting and grinding everything that dungeon had to grind for. The party came to a small safe zone and they took a break for lunch. Tyler smiled as he saw Asuna and Kirito sharing a meal at a distance from him and Sakura. The pink haired girl was resting her head on his lap as Asuna teased Kirito and vice versa. He munched as Sakura saw the pair enjoying each other's company.

"Seems like they got close quick."

He patted her hair, and she giggled.

"Asuna and Kirito are two sides of the same coin. He's strong and kind, she's fierce and strong. Watch, Sakura. They found theirs."

The pink clad girl looked at her brother.

"What about you?"

He smiled and looked back to see Kirito clearly on edge for a bad comment.

"Asuna and I are two different. Plus I get the feeling I'm a little TOO intense for her."

Sakura giggled as he rubbed her hair.

"I can see that. She's sweet and YOU'RE an asshole!"

"Okay you asked for it! C'mere cutie!"

"Eeeeeee! Help!"

Tyler punished the insolent girl with a round of tickle torture that made Asuna and Kirito smile as they watched the older boy playing with his sister. The fiery red head then looked at Kirito as he watched the two and then to Tyler with Sakura. Him? Or? Tyler had Sakura pinned after an intense ten minute struggle and she grumbled.

"Dammit. I nearly HAD you!"

He hugged her warmly.

"still the master!"

She just basked in the warm hug,

"Still an asshole. But ya give good hugs so FORGIVEN!"

"Wow, Sakura. You a little extortionist aren't ya? But you cute so I'll hug you."

She giggled hard at that and Kirito chuckled as he looked at Asuna.

"He reminds me more of a doting father then a brother."

Asuna smiled as she watched.

"They are all they have in life, Kirito. Even out of here? Watch. They'll be nearly as inseperable."

The black haired boy looked and chuckled.

"I guess."

Tyler sighed.

"Alright. Break's over."

The party got up and kept moving. Tyler leading the way with Kirito on his right flank, Asuna his left with Sakura in the rear. They ran hard, killing everything they came across. Until they found a set of double doors. Tyler frowned.

"Wait. Already? It can't be THAT easy? Guards up."

They nodded as he booted the doors open and looked inside the chamber. He looked at Kirito.

"What the hell? That's clearly the boss room. We JUST got here not even five hours ago!"

Kirito tightened his grip on his sword.

"maybe it's a troll? Like an easily found boss room,"

"That's is stupid hard. Yikes. That's not a cheery thought. Let's get a look."

The party walked in and the room lit up to reveal a massive bear that Tyler blinked at.

"Oh. Hello. Claw Bear. Yup. This is gonna suck."

The thing was thirteen feet tall at the shoulder and wore armor like a certain polar bear in a movie. Tyler sighed as the 8 health bars were seen.

"The heart will deal 5X damage. Other then that? Just another oversized teddy."

The party surged forward with Tyler leading as Sakura fired her arrows from a distance.

"Pink Prick!"

Tyler snorted and Asuna sighed as she readied a sword skill.

"Can you please FOCUS?"

"Barely."

They ALL groaned at that and Kirito had an expression of pain on his face as he slashed at the bear.

"Dude. That freakin HURT!"

Tyler laughed as he used the hurricane skill to unleash pain.

"I'm trying to avoid the truly unBEARable puns here!"

Asuna was openly wincing in agony as the health bars depleted.

"Why? Why did it have be a bear?"

Tyler smiled.

"It's a basic BEAR necessity for it to be bear!"

Sakura shot him with an arrow.

"I'll shove the next arrow so far up your ass big brother YOU will be shot from my bow."

"Love you too sis."

"Eep!"

The cute made everyone smile and temporarily forget their pun pain until it shattered with a four layer attack Tyler had taught them. Tyler spinning his staffsword, Kirito and Asuna stabbing with Sakura firing her arrows. The result was the bear shattering with all four sharing the final attack bonus. Tyler chuckled as he saw the loot.

"And that's how it's done."

"Hey. Gore?"

He looked over at Asuna's voice curiously.

"What's-oof!"

She hit him in the stomach with a warhammer they were going to sell and it lifted him off his feet from the force. Asuna then tapped it on her hand as he regained his breath.

"Next you tell puns like that I'll hit you in the balls. Okay?"

He smiled at her.

"Worth it!"

The three groaned in pain at that. Then Tyler got his wind back.

"Let's move. I'm thinking the next couple boss fights will be easy to find as a break from all the ridiculous grinding."

Kirito frowned.

"You thinking they used Levi's idea?"

The boy in red nodded.

"me thoughts exactly. We've blown through six floors within two weeks, Kirito. From my understanding of the game, that should just NOT be that easy. I'm thinking this is one of those sections of rapid progression until the sudden difficulty spike."

That got a groan.

"And in SaS? We're looking at an extreme jump."

"Yup. Only question will be just WHAT form will it take? Let's go find out."

they left and he set a toll of 95 droy on the portal before they made for the tavern as at become a habit. Kill a boss get a drink. They had a clean view of the portal as they enjoyed the food on floor 17. Tyler had the map sphere out and was looking at it with Kirito as Sakura and Asuna looked at mats. Tyler was downing a mug of ale when the mass of 95s appeared over his head and he sighed.

"Are those idiots WAITING for US to clear the floors for them?"

Asuna looked over and sighed.

"Looks like it. WE do the work, they get the credit."

Kirito snorted.

"Pf. Once the other players see the toll, they'll know the truth. Gore's the only one that does tolls in this game."

That got a smile as Tyler was mildly surprised to see Yuka still leading the force.

"Wow. Guess she's got a firmer stranglehold on her troops then I thought. Or she talked her way out of whatever."

Sakura was happily munching on her grilled cheese as they talked. Tyler noted the look of strained composure on Yuka's face and chuckled.

"Look. She's about to LOSE it. I guess they're talking behind her back. She knows it too. Yuka HATES it when people talk about her and she's not there to interject or hear it. I bet she goes off the deep end again."

Asuna looked at the girl as she gave an order which her troops followed. Albeit with derisive smirks and clear sniggers. The former guild second in command laughed.

"Oh they DON'T respect her at ALL. They're just following her orders as the force commander's looming behind her. Period. That's not a force anymore. Just a rabble barely held together. Watch, 50 droy says they crumble in a raid."

Sakura was still happily engrossed in her food as Tyler noticed a group of ragged cloaks exiting the portal.

"Laughing Coffin's here."

they tensed up as the three figures moved towards the tavern.

"Sakura. Switch with me."

Tyler took the outside spot as the three men walked in. Tyler had his staffsword on display as they approached him. He noted that one carried a massive cleaver, one a pair of daggers with a red eyed mask, and the other a dripping dagger. The Cleaver wielder was the one that addressed the Demon.

"Laughing Coffin has words for the Heavenly Demons."

Tyler grinned at the hooded man.

"Oh? This oughta be good."

The man sent a mass of droy over.

"We don't like unpaid debts. Those idiots in the pretender guild were getting in the way of business. Let that be a mere payment. And a show we do not want a conflict."

Tyler smiled widely.

"Never say no to free money. Oh. That cleaver. The Mate Chopper eh? Nifty. So you know? That was MY design. Sooo. Yeah. I wouldn't get any ideas with MY other weapon."

The man grinned at that.

"Nice threat kid. We're leaving."

The men left and teleported as Kirito looked at him in mild shock.

"WAS that your weapon too?"

Tyler laughed.

"Nope. THAT was Lark's trick. But he don't know that, do he?"

They laughed at the clear bluff that had sowed the seeds of nerves.

In the real world, Kakashi was laughing at the ploy.

"That's how you instill fear m'boy! Ha! Making the big scary assassin think he's wielding YOUR own weapon! Jesus kid that's a scary tactic!"

Arthur was confused.

"Forgive my ignorance, but why would that instill fear?"

The yakuza boss chuckled.

"If you just found out the weapon you've been depending on for as long as he has in a fight like that was created by the game's scariest person, and that same person TOLD you it was his weapon, how would you react?"

Arthur frowned.

"I'd have a harder time….trusting…it. Holy."

Kakashi chuckled again as he looked back at the screen.

"Tyler's just sown seeds of doubt in that man's mind over his weapon. That man will either disregard his words entirely or be on watch now in case Tyler comes to claim HIS weapon."

Tyler and the party left the tavern and were walking through the streets headed for the far west this time. The main hub for this floor being a more mystical place with stone homes, floating buildings and the occasional underground place. Tyler was lazily twirling his staffsword as they walked, noting Asuna and Kirito were right next to each other, and that Asuna had a slight blush on her face at the closeness. Good for her. Don't fuck this up, Kirito. Sakura had Tyler's hand as she happily skipped at his side, enjoying the easy day. Tyler glanced in a reflective window and saw Kirito was now holding Asuna's hand, and they both had happy smiles on their faces. Looks like those two won't need me and Sakura for much longer. Good for them. Tyler wasn't angry or even disappointed at Asuna's new choice. He still didn't have an answer, but the best fitting answer? Asuna's like my sister too. a very close sister. And my best friend. The friends found the exit to the main hub and were about to take off,

"HEY! Asshole!"

Yuka was heard screaming at them. She came up running with an angry expression and was ranting as she neared them.

"You sonuvabitch! I lost ALL MY RESPECT WITH MY-what the?"

She looked at Asuna and Kirito confused, and the pair followed her gaze to see they were still holding hands. Asuna blushed, but Kirito squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"It's okay, Asuna."

She smiled nervously.

"I'm just nervous, Kirito. I've never had a boyfriend before."

Yuka was mind blown by that declaration. Kirito smiled nervously as well.

"I've never had a girlfriend either. We'll figure it out."

Yuka looked at Tyler's VERY happy and proud smile in disbelief.

"I thought YOU were her boyfriend!"

Tyler chuckled.

"Asuna's more my sister then a potential lover. She's my best friend in this mess and means as much to me as Sakura. Seeing her with THAT guy just helped me put words to it."

He got a warm hug from the red head.

"Thanks for your help."

He stroked her red hair warmly.

"Any time, EVERY time."

Kirito smiled as well.

"So. The west huh?"

Asuna looked at her new boyfriend then to Sakura.

"I'm going with Kirito."

Sakura smiled widely and hugged her big sister.

"You better take good care of that jackass sis! He's useless without you!"

Kirito grabbed Tyler's hand.

"We'll still be in the guild. Just-"

Tyler patted his shoulder.

"I get it. Kinda. Justa…one thing."

He looked at him curiously.

"What?"

Tyler had him in a headlock.

"You on my shitlist outta principle! You BETTER take damn good care fo my sister or hell awaits you!"

Kirito was released with a spin to nearly face plant into Asuna's rack, making her blush and Tyler laugh.

"Have fun you two. And you ever need the Demon looming behind you, well. Ya know my name. Oh. Here. We don't really need these anymore."

He sent over the three mirrors and over HALF their mats and droy to the duo. Asuna smiled as she saw the mirrors.

"Thank you. We'll still be together when we get out."

Sakura was dry eyed as she'd seen exactly what Tyler had seen. Soon as Asuna and Kirito had started talking and running together the writing was on the wall she'd go with him and he'd break off from the Demon party. Yuka was speechless as Kirito and Asuna jumped to another place together, leaving Tyler and Sakura standing at the gate alone. She recovered quickly to walk over and look at him more closely.

"Who are you? You're not the Tyler I knew in the real world."

Tyler smiled kindly at her, and she was taken aback by the light in his eyes.

"I've reforged my soul Yuka. Before I had nothing truly precious to me. I thought you were, but you weren't. Still though. Was fun. Now? I have Sakura here."

He patted the happily smiling girl.

"She means the world to me. She's my little sister and she deserved a lot better then the Monster that Masquerades as a man. What she deserved was the Demon that Defends the light with it's own darkness."

He looked at the gaping girl with his intense gaze.

"I will NEVER allow her or Asuna to suffer like I did. I will never be human like the rest of you. And that's okay. Sometimes even angels need a Demon's wings to keep the true pain and evil from touching them."

Yuka then felt what Asuna and Sakura had felt in the hut. Tyler now radiated warmth, dark strength, confidence, and strength. She smiled as she no longer felt scared or in danger when near him.

"I'm sorry for throwing the rape thing in your face."

He chuckled.

"I'm sorry I HAD to use the dog thing. Let that be a warning."

She rubbed her hair ruefully.

"Fair enough. Your solution to a fire is a more powerful flame. Well. I'll get back to it. You two take care."

They said goodbye and Yuka ran off to her force as Sakura hugged her brother with tears in her blue eyes and he lifted her up for a hug. She looked at him sadly.

"Will Asuna be okay?"

He rubbed her hair as a few tears fell from his own brown eyes.

"She'll be just fine, Sakura. This is THEIR story after all. We're just here to make sure they make it. Kirito will protect her and they have us a mere message away."

She smiled and snuggled her brother.

"Yeah. They didn't need us. Asuna more needed someone to show her just how strong she was. Kirito's like you."

Tyler set his sister on the ground and they walked out through the gate into the wilds, hand in hand.

"Yup. That guy's a lighter version of me Sakura. Watch. This game will be cleared either by us or them."

Sakura smiled.

"We all know it'll be YOU Big brother. Kirito's the Black Swordsmen. YOU are the Demon. No comparison."

They smiled at the thought of their friends as they moved on with their adventure.

"Well. It seems Asuna learned all she needed to Arthur."

The fire haired father to Asuna had watched the entire thing with pride in his eyes as his daughter made her OWN choice.

"She learned how to stand up for herself. Tyler taught her the importance of inner strength and confidence. Now she's spreading her own wings."

Kakashi looked at the prone trio in the beds. At some point a nurse or doctor had the idea to put the hands of the two girls in Tyler's. Now the unconscious boy was grasping them tightly.

"Tyler has a way with those that need his strength. Once they no longer need it, however, he'll let them go and move on. Sakura clings to him like a lifeline because she needs him that desperately."

Tyler's mother just got up.

"He doesn't need me anymore. I'll go see if his sister is dead yet. Hell. He never needed me to begin with."

Sakura's godparents looked at their small charge.

"Sakura has the best big brother in that boy."