SAO:PoA - Chapter Nineteen

Part 1

Floor 50th, January 17th, 2024

PoH: “Enough of this. Time for you to die, Slayer of Cerdic.”

Galant grabbed the purple ribbon and tied it to his right wrist. He, then grabbed Leavatein, and put on the belt on his waist. He got up, and continued looking down.

Galant: “I just got one question. Why you do this?”

PoH: “Good question. To be certain, you are the first one to ask. The answer would be, as players would actually be killed by the mechanism of the NerveGear when a player's HP reaches 0, the designer of the mechanism, Kayaba Akihiko, would be the culprit of the murder, thus players have the right to kill other players and enjoy the game.”

Galant: “you speak piss and shit. The one that is killing is you, not anyone else. Yet, if you believe so I WILL NOT STOP! IF MY FRIENDS ARE GONE BECOUSE OF YOU, I SWEAR WILL TAKE REVENGE FOR THEIR DEATHS!”

Galant rushed to PoH with Balmung Blade directly to him and his shield on his other hand. He clashed to something, but then was forced back.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Xaxa: “you will never touch him. Not at least as I am here.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant “MOVE ASIDE! STARDUST SLASHER!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Xaxa: “ignorant shit!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Xaxa used his sword, and managed to reverse the attack to one of the walls of the cavern.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “As you wish!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant rushed and attacked Xaxa, who clashed sword with him. Galant then got to Xaxa’s back and clashed his shied to his back, the player killer tried to behead him, but Galant eluded and slashed his body. Xaxa was forced to fall back and was slashed in the back, and then he grabbed his arm, chained a hard elbow to his face and two him to the ground. Yet the player managed to get up.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Xaxa: “Poh!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">PoH: “Black, Tyrant, Annie, Whipper, Jotuhn, Kill him!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant kicked Xaxa, and moves towards Black, blocking his kick, hitting then in the knee with his elbow, and then a direct hit to the face with his left knee. A player with a drama mask, apparently named Tyrant, tried to attack Galant from the back, but he managed to see him, kicked him, and managed to get to his back, then delivered a hard hit to the back of his neck. The gigantic player named Jotuhn attacked Galant from the back one again but Galant back-kicked him, sending him plummeting towards the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kamui: “there is not time for me to this you better finish him quickly!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant slashed Annie in the chest, but Black came and slashed Galant at the chest, replaying the same move he had used. The giant grabbed Galant from the face, and get him near him, as soo whipper started to whip Galant with several of his whips, yet the ex-Royal Knight Leader managed  elbow Jotuhn right on the face, freeing himself. As other whip came towards him, he cut it with Stardust Slasher, yet Black came and tried to slice him with one of his knives, Brave Shield protected him from it, yet the impulse the thrust of the killer had given was more than enough to send Galant of his balance. Jotuhn quickly pushed him back, and Black used the moment to deflect the shield of Galant, and slash him with one of his dagger in the ribs area. He came for another but Galant parried the move with his sword. Suddenly he was pushed back, Xaxa grabbed from the head, lifted up, ending smashed to the ground. While he was getting up, Xaxa span on the ground with one of his feet, and kicked hard Galant directly on the face. As he got up Annie appeared right in front of him, and began punching his body as if he would be shot by multiple guns at the same time. Xaxa then elbowed him and ended his attack with a estoc with his sword with heavy momentum, sending Galant flying, and clashing with one of the walls of the cavern he felt looking at the opposite side where his enemies where.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">While still on the ground, Galant looked to his shield. It had just covered him for the pure strength of Xaxa attack, probably saving his life; it had a huge hole in the middle. Second latter, it shattered into polygons. That was the last memory he had of Dagonet. He had made the shield many months ago. He was now dead, and that shield in a way represented their friendship. He then looked towards the ribbon tied to his other wrist and reminded himself why he was doing all of this. For her. For her memory. So it did not fall into oblivion.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant got to he’s knees.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Xaxa: “Your are doing all of this just for her? Why you do not just behead yourself, it would be faster and with lesser pain than being toned apart by us. Surrender.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “Suck it. You will not stop just by her life. You will continue, I am also doing this for the players that remain alive, and those that have sacrificed their lives!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant grabbed from his back, two kunai knifes, and placed them as it would be a double-edged dagger on his left hand.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“I WILL TAKE YOU ALL ALONE!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant turned and first faced Jotuhn, and rapidly managed to cut of his right arm. He then approached Black and Tyrant, managing to stab the first one with his Kunai, yet he was stabbed at the shoulder by a poisoned knifed. Still, it did not stop him from kicking Tyrant with his right and then sap in the air kicking him with his other leg, while Black also span with him, ending with in the ground with Galant elbow piercing his stomach. The Slayer of Cerdic once again got up and attacked jotuhn, who managed to elude his technique, as Xaxa approached, Galant managed to use his back, spinning on it and getting near Annie who tied to fist him, yet Galant countered with a hard hit to her ribs, an exposed weak part with her guard, and by the power of the hit, sending towards Whipper, who tried to grabbed him with his whip, het Galant threw his kunai away and grabbed the whip, jumped with the wall and stabbed  him right at the chest, up to the cross-guard of Balmung, and finally head-butted Whipper removing his sword from his body. As Xaxa once again got near him, he grabbed two other kunai, exchanged some briefs blows with him, but finally, he sliced the killer left leg. He stabbed Xaxa at the belly, but when he was to kill him, Annie appeared and grabbed his neck, yet Galant managed to get her away of his body, and she ended at her left, he then fist her, and elbowed the two time at the face with his right hand. Black once again approached, trying to stab Galant with one of his poisonous daggers. Galant blocked the move, cut of his right arm. The daggers fell to the ground. He ended with a slash right to the chest with Stardust Slasher.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant saw right at his front, as Jotuhn was about to grab his sword sheathed at his right side. Galant threw Balmung to him; stabbing the giant right on the chest. Galant ran to him and grabbed one of the knives on his left hand, with his right. He stabbed Jotuhn right on the lower part of his neck, then passed his whole body to his back, while he placed his other dagger at the neck of the player and, as he fell back, he cut the throat of the player, by the end he decapitated Jotuhn. The body of the giant fell to the floor, and shattered into polygons. Galant grabbed the head and threw it to Kamui, as it shattered into polygons, and grabbed Leavatein.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant: “black death! You are next…ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">A huge blade of a dagger which was similar to a butcher knife pierced in Galant’s back, even a part of it came out from his chest. Galant dropped Leavatein to the ground. He was then lifted to the air as his HP decreased rapidly. He could do nothing but grab the weapon, screaming in pain.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">PoH: “You are so weak!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">PoH finally removed the dagger. The former Royal Knight could not be standing, on foot and fell as dead weight to the ground, with his consciousness almost lost, while looking towards the place where Sakura had died nearly minutes ago. A tear of sadness and disappointment with himself felt from his left eye to the ground. PoH was right, he was weak. He could not protect Guinevere, nor so could he kill the one that had caused her death. He tried to stand up yet he could not. He’s energies were done. He could not do anything.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Xaxa: “what now leader kill him! Once and for all!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Jonny Black: “Players are incoming through the cavern.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Xaxa: “Kill him. Now before they come!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">PoH: “I cannot.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Xaxa: “why?!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">PoH: “A normal player would have died do the attack I made to his back. Yet he did not. Somehow the damage decreases lower on him, and the Battle Healing skill is faster than it should be.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Xaxa: “then I will do it!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">PoH: “No! It’s a waste of time. It is an order, we are going.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">The player of Laughing Coffin gathered to Galant’s back, just the girl with long silver har come and gazed nearly to Galant still on the floor. The player managed to look upon her face, a thing he could not manage with any of them, except her due their hoods.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“Selene! We are going, with or without you!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Selene: “yes!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Teleport: Lindas!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">All the player teleported and disappeared, leaving nothing to follow them except the name, of the city.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant tried to get up, but he was quickly left without strength. He crawled to grab Leavatain from the ground and thanks to it, he managed to get up. He then grabbed Balmung and placed it on his back. He looked to the stone, and the sword was still struck on it. Why? Why would PoH leave it? He may have come there for getting the weapon. Yet Galant reminded the inscription on the stone. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">"Only the player that values friends and love more than his life can possess this sword." That was way. PoH, neither one of his comrades valued what the stone asked. Not as hi as his friends did.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Reminded of the word friends and love, recalled Galant of what he had just lost and fell on to his knees, as he heard sound of footsteps approaching. Galant once again cried, and bowed to no one, paused by grief and a heavy burden on his back. What class of leader was he? What kind of friend was he??What kind of boyfriend was he???

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">As the footsteps got nearer. He got up and managed to walk near the cavern’s corridor. Suddenly ten figures dressed with a black armor with gray markings, Galant noticed who they were just by the armor, members of Aincrad Liberation Force AKA, the Army, his “old friends”. Suddenly a more common face showed up, commanding their troops, Kibaou, his former leader.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“thought I would never see you again.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“So did i. What has happened here?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“What was left of my guild was killed by Laughing Coffin. Guinevere, Gawn, Percival and Bors. They are all dead. I am the only one left from my guild.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kibaou paused a moment and looked at him.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“So you, did not kill them…?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“What? I could never!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“That is not what your cursor says.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Galant then looked up, and noticed his cursor glowing orange, and never to be back to green.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“Seize him!

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">All the Army players grabbed Galant from his hands, arm, body and legs, avoiding him to move. Galant tried to get them off him, yet he was still too weak to fight them.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“What the??? No!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“This is what happened here. You made your men came here for the sword but it was all a trick. You became crazy, and killed every single one of your guild mates, one by one. At last you turned to your wife, and after you noticed he had cheated you with your good friend Lance, weeks ago, you beheaded her. I then found you here, and arrested you.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“No.. .Nooo!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“You are sentenced, to execution, in the arena.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“No. why are you doing this???!!!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“For what you did to me, that punch was out of place and you have sent Tetsu, one of my right hand men to PRISON!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“You lier!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“I once told you, that the shadow of the Army was vast. AND YOU ARE HERE TO DIE UNDER IT. TO THE ROAR OF THE CROWD!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Kibaou hit strongly Galant with the back of his sword making him unconscious. When he was losing it, Kibaou whispered to his ear

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">“Now with this story, and what you have made, you are and assassin, a coward. You deserve death. The Reaper, Pendragon Court, KoB, and any other guild eliminating players killers will search to you after. Better to end this fast, no? You will now be known Aincrad’s biggest criminal and assassin. Consider your death in the arena, a kindness.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Heavaltica","serif"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Part 2