Survive or Die

Author's POV

The attack of the monster still kept on coming killing more people but, the players didn't stop as well. Many were more than determined to finish this boss

"Everyone! Attack!" Chief Heathcliff ordered everyone as they all went in for the kill.

Finally, the monster's HP went completely down, killing the boss.

Everyone collapsed on the floor, panting like dogs.

"How many did we lose?" Klein dared to ask.

Kirito looked and only anger and sadness appeared before him."Fourteen died."

Everyone gasped with shock and dismay.

"We still have twenty five floors." Klein breathed, sword to his shoulder.

"Will we really be able to reach the top?"

No one dared to answer that question.

Kirito looked around only to be caught by Heathcliff.

Strangely, he was the only one not sitting down or even tired.

Then, it hit him.

Kirito grabbed his sword, getting up. "Kirito?.." Ava spoke.

No answer, not even a glance, he only dashed towards Heathcliff, attacking him.

Immortal Object.

"Kirito! What are you?!.." Ava cut herself off.

Immortal Object.

It reminded her all too well of Yui.

The one she couldn't save.

"I fucking knew it!" Ava hissed. "Commander, would you like to explain to everyone why that pops up on you forehead?"

"The game ensures that his HP never goes down, never letting it go to yellow." Kirito knew The Commander wasn't going to answer, he wanted the players to piece everything together.

Many people gasped.

"I always thought something was wrong, ever since I've arrived here." Kirito spoke. "Where does he hide? But I forgot a simple piece of psychology, something any kid knows, there's nothing even more boring than watching someone else play an RPG!Isn't that right, Kayaba Akihiko?"

More gasps filled the boss room.

"Would you be so kind and tell me how you figured it out?" He spoke, sending chills to many of the players in the boss room.

"The first time, I felt something was wrong during the duel. You were far too fast."

"I suspect as much." Kayaba agreed. "That was an unfortunate mistake. You overpowered me to the point I needed I engage the system. Yes, I am Kayaba Akihiko."

People were shocked.

The greatest guild leader was Kayaba all along?

"If I may add, I am the game's final boss, who would have awaited you at the top floor."

More people couldn't control there surprise and denial.

"That's pretty bad." Kirito added. "The strongest player betrays us and becomes the final boss?"

"Not a bad storyline, is it?" He smirked. "I always thought you or your girlfriend would be the one at the end. You're power exceeded to my expectations. This was always going to be the fun part."

"Our loyalty...Our hope..how dare you?!" One of Heathcliff's right hand men yelled out, attacking him with his sword only to be stopped by him by paralysis.

Ava, as well as everyone else, fell to the floor due to the paralysis.

"Kirito?.." She let out before he caught her.

"What are you going to do? Kill us all and cover it up?!" Kirito hissed at him.

"Of course not." He laughed. "I wouldn't do anything so unfair. I shall await you in the top floor in the Ruby Palace. Unless, you want to accept my offer if your reward of finding out who I really was."

"I shall give you the chance to fight me one-on-one. Defeat me, and you win the game!" Kayaba announced.

Everyone was in awe.

Defeat the game?

"Or Ava Moore can take your place instead, how about it?"

"Don't Kirito." Ava begged him. "For now, we should just fall back."

But he was having different thoughts.

All his memories of SAO flooded through him, reminding him of all the deaths,

Pain,

And suffering.

"Don't insult me." He let out making Ava's eyes widen.

"Let's finish this."

"Kirito!" She growled.

"I'm sorry," He spoke. "But I can't run away here."

"You better not die, do you hear me?"

She knew, but somehow still had hope.

"No, I'm going to win.I'm going to win and beat this game!" He smiled down at her.

"Alright, I believe in you, but that doesn't mean I agree with you doing this!" She was hurt, but Ava knew Kirito wasn't going to listen to her. As he lay her down gently, Ava only grew more desperate of wanting to leave this dungeon and everyone else along with her.

He took out his swords, getting himself ready for what was about to come.

"Kirito, don't!" Asuna cried out, watching as one of her best friends took such a dangerous task.

She knew the outcome.

It was going to be heartbreaking.

"Kirito!"

"Algi...thanks for helping all the players at the beginning of the game! Asuna, thank you for being a friend! Klein...I really am sorry for leaving you that day."

"Damn it Kirito!" Klein screamed. Tears streamed down his face as he tried to face Kirito."Don't apologize! I won't ever forgive you until you buy me a meal on the other side!"

"Got it. I'll see you on the other side." He smiled warmly towards him.

His attention turned towards Ava to give her a soft, sad smile.

"I'm sorry, but I have one request," Kirito asked, turning back to Kayaba.

"What is it?"

"I don't plan on losing but if I do die here, I want you to make sure Ava can't kill herself, just for a little while."

Ava's eyes widen in disbelief.

"Very well."

"Kirito!..No!I can't believe your doing this to me! You're so cruel! I hate you!" She cried."You can't do that!"

Kayaba turned himself into a mortal object and took out his sword.

"Kirito!" Ava screamed as tears poured out of her eyes.

How cruel love could be sometimes...

Kirito clutched his swords.

This wasn't a regular battle...

This was a battle to fight and kill!

He charged at his giving the first blow only for Kayaba to block it. Kayaba strikes and Kirito barely misses it only to attack again.

Kirito only thought about going faster and faster, that was the only way to defeat Kayaba, with his own power!

Kayaba put his shield up, blocking all of Kirito's attacks and moves but he kept on going, hoping he would break thought.

Smash!

Kirito's sword broke into two pieces, leaving him stunned.

"Farewell, Kirito." Kayaba smirked as he brought his sword up.

Kirito accepted it.

He was going to die.

But at least Ava got to live.

Or so he thought...

He had no idea the girl would jump in the way of Kayaba's slash.

Her HP...fell all the way down.

She turned to face him, with a smile on her face.

"I'm sorry Kirito. I seemed to have broken our promise."She laughed."You weren't gonna leave me so easily. Goodbye. I love-"

Gone.

Into a million pieces of crystals.

She was no longer in his arms.

He desperately tried to grab her.

He was shocked.

He didn't know if he should cry or get angry.

The love of his love just died.

He felt that it was all his fault.

"That was a surprise," Kayaba commented. "I guess these things happen sometimes."

That definitely got him pissed.

How dare he brush this off as an accident?!

His wife just died and Kayaba was going to pay!

But he felt so empty...

He wanted to fight, but with what fuel...

Kirito grabbed Ava's Katana and his sword and swung at Kayaba, half heartedly. Kayaba simply took a step back. Kayaba knocked Kirito's sword out of his hand, impaling him.

He wanted to fight back, but had no strength.

This was it.

It was over now.

Kirito, don't ever give up. I'll kick your ass if you do!

Her words seemed to hit him harder than ever before.

No...

There was still hope..

Not yet...

He clutched her sword, tighter.

Not yet.

He stabbed the sword into Kayaba.

Not yet!

He did it.

He thought to himself,

Is this good enough?

Yeah, it sure was.

Then he was gone.

Many people knew it too.

Two of the greatest players in the game had just passed away.

"As of 14:55, November 7, the game has been cleared."

He opened his eyes again to be greeted with clouds.

Was he...still alive?

"Kirito?.."

He gasped.

He never thought he would hear that voice again, he turned to find Ava Moore standing right in front of him.

"Sorry," He smiled. "I died too."

"Idiot.." She spoke smiling but containing herself.

Not holding it in anymore, she ran to him, embracing him and kissing him as well, one finally time.

"Where are we?"

They looked down to see the whole game of SAO being destroyed, including their home.

"Quite a view." They heard.

Kayaba.

"In ten minutes or so, everything in this world, will vanish."

"What about the people?"

"They all managed to log out the minute they could."

"What about the 4,000 who died?" Kirito asked.

"In every world, once you die, you're gone." Kayaba answered.

"Why...Why did you do this?" Ava asked.

"Why, huh? I forgot a long time ago.I wonder why..." He trailed off.

"Great answer." Ava huffed, under her breath.

"You know, I still believe that in some other world, a castle just for me truly exists. Where everyone is free."

"Yes, I hope it does." Kirito replied as Ava just nodded.

So that why he did it...

He had his own fairy tail dream he couldn't reach.

"Congratulations on winning the game," Kayaba spoke. "Kirito and Ava."

"Now than, I must be going." He said walking off.

"One heck of a After party if you ask me." Ava huffed, out loud this time making Kirito laugh.

"You never stop do you?"

"Nope."

"That's great. Stay the same." He said kissing her forehead once more.

But he knew it was almost time to go..

"Ava...this is goodbye.." Kirito sighed.

"Not it's not," She protest. "I hate goodbyes, because that means going away and going away means forgetting. I don't want to forget. I want to remember all the memories we have of this place, together."

"Alright then, then I guess this is 'see you later'?"

"Yeah, I like that." She agreed. "See you later Kirito."

"See you later Ava."

They kissed for a finally moment before dissolving from each other as the game ended.

Forever.

I love you.

Beep, beep, beep.

Was all he heard.

He opened his eyes hesitantly, blinding to the light.

He was alive?...

He took off his NerveGear with his fragile hands.

Ava.

He remembered.

He needed to find her.

He forced himself up using the pole near him.

"Ava.."He croaked out.

"Ava.."

He walked out of his room, step by step.

"Ava!.."