Survive or Die

Ava's POV

The centaur raised it's great-sword, staring straight at us taking it's stance before it let out of roar.

Let me tell you this before you judge.

It was terrifying, alright?

Don't judge me, your only allowed to judge me when that happens to you.Okay?

Okay.

Back to the story.

Wait, where were we?

Oh right, the part where we all ran for our lives!

Also the part where Lisa sings Crossing Field and that becomes everyone's new favorite song and bla bla bla...

Back to the story!

"That one's gonna be hard to beat."Asuna gasped as she tried to get some air.

"That's for sure."I agreed sitting down, chancing some air as well.

"It looks like it's wielding only a broadsword so it must have special attacks too."Kirito added also sitting down next to me.

"We'll have to bring a lot of forward players and make them switch a lot, also some shield users."I spoke, sighing realizing that is wasn't going to be an easy boss.

"Hey, how come you and Kirito don't use Shields?"She asked making my breath hitch."It's one of the biggest advantages of using a one-handed sword."She added.

"Well I never really needed one to began with.I do have my Katana."I remark playing with my hair.

"Kirito, what about you?I noticed you haven't used the one Liz made for you too."Asuna asked Kirito making him kinda nervous.

"What about you Asuna?"I ask her, trying to get her off of Kirito's back.

"I use a Rapier so a shield would only slow me down."She shot back.

She stared to stare intensely at Kirito making him pretty uncomfortable.

"Very fishy."She said."Whatever, it's bad manners to ask about someone skills."

I mentally sighed in relief.

God that would have been bad.I thought.

"We should all have late lunch."Asuna suggested as she went into her menu.

"D-Did you make it?"I asked.I wasn't going to lie, I was hungry and my stomach was begging for food.

"Yup.Handmade."She spoke giving both me and Kirito one and of course, for herself.

"How'd you get it this flavor Asuna?"Kirito asked.

"A year worth of studying and practice."She told us proudly.

"Cooking is the best."I agreed biting into my sandwich again.

"Definitely,"She nodded, doing the same.

Suddenly, we heard people enter the safe zone and instantly rose up.

"Man, I'm tired!"A male voice cried out.

"Finally!Let's sit down here and-"A man with red spiky hair said before stopping.His gaze was at Kirito.

"Oh Kirito!It's been too long!"He cheered as he made his way towards Kirito.

"Still alive and kicking, huh Klein?"

So this is Klein.I thought studying the man's features.He was older than me and Kirito that was for sure.

"I see your still not much for warm welcomes."He chuckled.His attention turned towards me and Asuna.

"What the hell is a solo player like you hanging out with girls for?"

"Well Ava's been with me for a while, since last time I saw you.Asuna here, is just joining us."Kirito explained as I let out an awkward smile.

"Hi, I'm Ava."I mumbled playing with my hair.

Jeez, I hate meeting new people.

"Asuna, Ava, you've probably seen him in a lot of boss battles but I'll still introduce you.This is Klein, from guild Fuurinkazan."

He turned toward Klein."This is Asuna, from the guild Knights of the Blood Oath.This is Ava, The Dark Angel.Solo Player."

He was silent.

"Hey say something,"Kirito remarked."You lagging or what?"He waved his hand in front of his face.

Klein suddenly put his arms to his sides and bowed."H-Hello G-Girls.I'm Klein.24.Single, and looking for a r-"

That earned him a punch to the stomach.

In surprise, Kirito was the one who punched him.Not me.

For once...

"Leader!"His guild cried in union, surrounding us.

"Aren't you Asuna?"

"Are you really Angel?"

"Hey!Move it!"

"I was here first!"

"Well they really aren't bad people despite how their leader might look."Kirito laughed nervously as he tried to hold off the guild of men.

"Boys!"I yelled getting the attention of all of them.

"That's better, now please, try to behave yourselves.You are in the presence of Vice-Commander of a very powerful guild and two unique solo players."I responded to their childish behavior.

"So cool!~"I hear and hide my face from the small smile appearing.

Kirito suddenly howled in pain."Hey!"

Klein glared at him."Payback."

"Klein!"

I could help but laugh at the scene.

Boys.I thought.

Apparently, Asuna found it hilarious too.We both laughed like idiots.

Klein took Kirito and huddled him up and started to ask questions.

Asuna decided to break it up.

"Hello~!I'm partying up with him for a little while!Nice to meet you!"

"And he's stuck with me forever, so I don't thinking I'm be leaving anytime soon."I joked.

"Kirito, you little..."

"Hey!Wait!"

Heavy footsteps got our attention as we all saw a guild coming towards us.

"Is that the front?"

"That's the giant guild that took over 1st floor.What are they doing here?"

"They've lost a lot of people while clearing floor 25,"Asuna added."They've gotten more focused on strengthening their guild than clearing the game so they stopped coming to the front lines."

The Army.I thought.

Not a front-type of a guild.

Information is something that I'm good at collecting.

Most of the time...

"At ease!"Someone commanded letting everyone tiredly fall to the floor.

One of the men, or I'm guessing leader, came this way.

"Hello.Have you people covered the area ahead?"He ask, getting right to the point.

"Yes,"Kirito replied."We've mapped the route to the boss room."

The leader let his hand out."Then, I want you to hand over your mapping data."

"What makes you think he'll give it to you that easily?"I cut in.

"Do you know how much trouble it is to map stuff out?"Klein remarked as well.

"We distribute information and resources equally to all players, maintaining order and fighting to free all players from this world as soon as possible!It your duty to cooperate with us!"He spoke to us as if we were part of his slave army.

"Talk about communism for the first part."I rolled my eyes.

"Look here!.."

"Why you!.."

"Calm down everyone."Kirito said."I was going to release the data to the public as soon as I got to town anyways.It's fine."

"Hey, your being way to soft Kirito!"Klein responded.

"I don't plan on making money or trade for anything from the data."Kirito answered, passing the map to The Army.

"Kirito.."I was about to say something but decided not too.

I have this bad feeling something's gonna happen.

"I appreciate your cooperation."The leader huffed and walked back to his group.

"If your thinking on taking on the boss, than I suggest you think twice!"I say.

"That is for me to decide."

This bastard!

"We just looked in the boss room!It's not so easy that you would be able to take it on with just a couple of players!"I look towards his so call 'Army.'

"Besides, your men look exhausted!"

"My men are not weaklings that would get tired over some simple exhaustion!"He argued back.

"I never said that."

Triggered.

"All of you, up to your feet!"He yelled earning groans and men struggling to get up to their feet.

They soon started to walk away.

"Will those guys be okay?"Klein asked, concerned.

"I doubt they'll really take on a boss without some sort of battle plan."Asuna replies.

"Who knows,"I sighed."I knew many people who were stupid enough to do that."

"Let's go take a look just in case."Kirito suggested.

He's really thoughtful.

-----TIME LAPSE-----

We all started to head the same direction they were headed for and so far, nothing grim has happened.

Thank god.

"It just the boss room up ahead, I bet they just took their items and left, right?"Klein thought.

"I really doubt it,"I say out loud."Their leader looked persistent."

Screams started to fill the dungeon.

Idiots!

"Ava!"

"Right!"Both me and Kirito ran towards the boss room.

"Hey!"

Ignoring Klein and Asuna, we kept on running and running.

"Those idiots!"I hollered in anger.

The boss room door was wide open.

"Hey!Are you alright?!"Kirito yelled inside.

No...

They all laid helpless on the ground, trying to help each other back up onto their feets.The blue-eyed demon boss didn't care, he still attacked them with all his power.

"What are you doing?!"Kirito screamed."Hurry up and use your teleport crystals!"

"We tried!They aren't working!"

Slash.

Another person gone.

"None of the rooms had that type of trap before!"I panicked.

No...

They have.

Hiroki...

Mao...

Naoko...

I don't want them to die the way you did!

Never do I want someone to die that way again!

Or an anyway suffer the way you did!

"We are the Liberation Front and we do not know the meaning of 'retreat'!"

Dumbass!

"Well you can start trying!Everyone out now!"I screamed, ordering them to get the heck out of there.

Asuna and Klein had mange to catch up.

"What's going on?"She asked as she gasped at the scene.

"Teleport crystals don't work,"Kirito informed them both."If we rush in and attack, we might be able to make an escape route.But.."He trailed off.

"Can't we do something for them?!"Klein panicked.

We can.We just choose not to because we're scared.We're selfish and cruel as well.

Or...we're not strong enough to do something.

Memories of their deaths started to flood into me.

Why must innocent people die in such cruel ways?

And why must another, watch.

"Everyone, Charge!"He ordered.His men loyally followed him into battle.

"Stop it!"Kirito begged.

The blue-eyed demon slashed at all of them with his sword, making it more chaos than it already was.

Please...make it stop!

Your fault...

The leader of the guild flew our way landing right at our feet.

"Hey!Hang in there!"I yelled running to his side.

"You'll be alright!"

His face armor broke revealing this shocked and terrified face.

I'm so sorry...

"Unbelievable."He mumbled before shattering into millions of crystals.

Another one dead.

A scream caught my attention.

The demon raised his sword ready to attack.

"No..."I mumbled."STOP IT!I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"I cried as I entered the battle field summoning my Shurikenjutsu unique skill.

The Sword Throwing Skill.

I summoned all my swords I had besides my Katana, aiming straight at the blue demon taking his attention away from the solider.

"AVA!"I hear but only ignore it.

I'm sorry Kirito..

But I can't watch as more and more people die in front of my eyes.

I let out a battle cry as I threw the sword straight for his battle, one after another.As soon as they hit him, losing his HP down by a lot, they disappear, coming right back to me.

Again and again.

I did the same attack.

Sure enough that got his attention, but I couldn't do the Shurikenjutsu skill anymore.He was closer, and that skill was only for long range attacks.I summoned my swords back and took out my Katana.

"Time to show you my other skill, you bastard!"I cried and ran, aiming towards him.

Clash!

Clash!

Clash!

Again and again.

I striked at him, only missing.

Crap!

I thought his was going to hit me, but Asuna blocked the shot but was knocked away from it's powerful attack.

"Asuna!"I cried out hoping she was okay.

But I couldn't focus on her forever, because the demon still attacked me.

After slashing a harmful blow on him, he punched me sending me fly backwards.

"AVA!"

Kirito...

My visón because blurry for a while only to come back to normal again.This time, Kirito was attack the demon at full force.

I have to help him...

But how..

"Ava!Help us with the guild members!"I hear Klein request.I instantly stand and run to help them remove all the players out of the boss room.

After getting couple out, I kept looking back at Kirito.

He was reserving blows like if they were nothing but know him, he knows how to hide this pretty well.

"I'm going to help!"I yelled leaving them in the dust.

"Kirito!"I screamed out.

Don't over do yourself!

Please!

Your everything I have right now!

The demon pushed his sword down on Kirito, over power him.

"Kirito!"I cried.

Kirito manage to block his attack but forcing him to dodge the next one.

He has no choice...

He had to use his unique skill...

Duel Blades.

Out of the dust, I see Kirito struggle with the monster.

"Ava!Asuna!"He called out to us."Give me 10 seconds!"

"Got it!"I said running at the demon at full speed slashing at it with my Katana.Again and again and again.

"Asuna, switch!"I ordered her.

She striked at it leaving the demon weakened.I switch with Asuna attacking it again.

"Ava, switch!"I hear Kirito yell and back up from the monster.

Kirito yells out a battle cry before pushing the demon's chin upwards from his second sword attack.

"What the!.."Asuna and Klein were both shocked.

Neither of them saw it coming.

Kirito again attack and blocked the demon's every move.

"Starburst Stream!"

Kirito...

Please calm down...

Your worrying me..

Attack after attack he wouldn't stop.He only went faster and faster not even bothering to block his attacks anymore.

"Kirito!"I yelled wanting to help him in some way.

If he keeps that up, he going to die!

Kirito didn't stop.Faster and faster he went, receiving blows from the demon.

Then, the demon caught one of his swords.

No!

Make it!

Don't kill him!

KIRITO!

At that moment, my voice failed me as I wanted to call out his name.

The last part seemed like a blur, Kirito seemed to be going the fastest I've ever seen him.

He stabbed at the demon making him explode into crystal.

I let out a smile.But that smile quickly turned into a worried look as I saw Kirito collapse.

"Kirito!"I cried running toward him.

I quickly took out all my potions and feed them to him.

"Kirito please!Wake up!"I begged, tears poured out of my eyes as I tried waking him up.

"Kirito, please!"

I suddenly see him start to stir. A gasp escapes my mouth as I see him open his eyes.

"Aw man!My head!"He groaned as he got up.He started to look around and notice the people around him.

"That was too close!How long was I out for?"He casually asked, I wiped the tears out of my eyes.

"Are you crying?.."

"Your an idiot and I hate you!"I cried out as I jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Oh jeez, don't hug me so hard.I'll lose the last of my HP."He joked.

Baka.

Baka.

Baka.

Baka.

Baka.

Baka!

I hear Klein coming from behind."The Army guild leader and a couple of guild players were the only ones lost."

"We haven't lost a player in a boss fight since floor 67."Kirito sighed.

"That wasn't a boss fight that was suicide!He was a damn fool for thinking he could beat the boss alone!"

There was a moment of silence before Klein started to talk again.

"You two aren't off the hook either, what the hell were those skills?"He asked.

Clearing seeing that I wasn't talking, Kirito answered for me."Ava has two unique skills called the Shurikenjutsu skill (a.k.a Throwing Sword Skill) and the Katana Skill.I have the unique skill called Duel Blades, allowing me to handle two swords at once."

"Damn.Those skills aren't even in the hand book.You two are pretty amazing."

"But no one else can find out, unless many people will get jealous and start to target us."

"Yup, totally got it buddy."He paused for a second."I see your character gets greater by more challenges so keep soldiering on Kirito."

"Easier said than done."Kirito sighed.

"Well, we'll be heading back.You coming?"

"Na.I think I'll rest here for a bit."

"Got it."He said."Hey Kirito?"

"Yeah?"

"You know how you went in there and risked your life for those army guys?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, you know, I'm glad you did.See ya!"He said and I heard his steps grow farther.

"Kirito you really had us all worried.Think you have to talk to someone first thought."I hear Asuna saw before she left leaving me and Kirito alone.

I was still crying and hugging Kirito and I didn't know how to stop.

I couldn't.

"What's wrong Ava?"

What the fuck do you mean what's wrong?!

"I was so scared.If you would have died, I wouldn't know what to do with myself."

"What are you talking about?"He laughed."You jumped in first, remember?"

"Don't act stupid Kirito,"I sniffed."Now I know how you felt like when I defeated a boss."

"Feels terrible, right?"

"The worst."I laughed.

"Hey, Ava?"

"Yes?"

"Do you wanna do something after this?You know like hang out?"

"Of course dummy."I smiled."Kirito?"

"Yes?"

"Could I sleep with you today?"

"Sure."

"Thanks."

-----TIME LAPSE-----

"Wow, they sure are making a huge deal out of this!"Ágil laughed at both of us making us feel worse than we already did.

"Jeez, tell me about it!We couldn't even go out together because people would crowd us!"Kirito sighed in annoyance.

"People also know where we live now, so now we'll has to move!"I sighed as well.

"Well you said it was gonna be a little secret and now everyone knows."Liz cut in as she laughed at us.

"Butt out Liz."I hissed only making her laugh more.

"Kirito!Ava!"We hear Asuna yell out as she ran up the stairs.

"We got a huge problem!"

-----TIME LAPSE-----

"I don't believe we actually all have meet before, Kirito.Ava."The commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath said.

"Well there was that conference on floor 66 where we talked a little bit there."Kirito responded.

"Yes that was a difficult battle, we might be the biggest guild but having a lot of numbers takes a toll on the guild.But here you are trying to take one of our best players."Chief Heathcliff glared at us while finishing that question.

"If she's that important, than maybe you should do a better job at picking her body guard."I huffed.

"You have my apologies for any trouble Kuradeel might have cause you.But you have to understand, we can't allow our second-in-command have to leave the guild just like that."

My hand turned into fist as this guy started to piss me off.

"If you want her, one of you will have to use their unique skill to defeat me in a battle, on the other hand, if you lose, you will be forced to join the guild."He spoke.

My eyes widen.

Join this guild?

I turned towards Kirito and nodded."Fine.If you want to settle this with swords that's fine with us."

"We'll have ourselves a duel then."I smirked ready for what was ahead.