"Hahahaha—…"
Instead of sadness or anger over his comrade's death, Morte burst into maniacal laughter, his voice echoing wildly in the catacombs.
"You killed Joe without hesitation! And here I thought you were some hero, hahaha… Turns out, you're no different from us—you're a killer!"
He accused with a crazed expression, as if he'd uncovered Charlie's darkest secret.
"Killing one person makes you a murderer, but kill hundreds or thousands, and you're hailed a hero. Don't lump me in with lowlife killers like you."
Having long abandoned his idealistic nature, Charlie never hesitated to kill those he deemed evil.
Honestly, he hadn't killed many humans—not even fifty. But he'd slain countless monsters, especially in the Floor 37 Colosseum. So, it wasn't wrong to say his hands were stained with blood.
"Oi oi oi, don't act all high and mighty." Morte sneered broadly. "Let me guess—you haven't just killed in this game, have you? You've got real-world killing experience."
"I'm stopping you here. Letting you live would only bring disaster to others."
Ignoring the other's sarcasm, Charlie took the initiative to attack.
"It's not clear who'll die between us!"
Facing someone who dispatched Joe so easily, Morte didn't dare be reckless. His crazed laughter vanished, replaced by a tense expression.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
His sword flashed in a frenzied series of slashes—upward, sideways, followed by quick thrusts, trying to hit his opponent. Each attack was full force, but all were in vain.
Charlie moved minimally, just enough to let Morte's blade slice through empty air.
*CLANG!* *CLING!* *CLANG!* *CLING!*
He stepped aside, leaned back, and occasionally parried with his palm, cloaked in a thin aura, deflecting Morte's sword.
Charlie didn't counter with the same speed he used against Fatal Scythe or Joe. He moved at a slower tempo, as if dancing a tango with death.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
Whenever Morte attacked and thought he found a real opening, Charlie shifted, leaving only emptiness. Then, unexpectedly, Charlie would land a light but precise counterattack.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
A low kick to the knee made Morte stagger, or a soft punch to the shoulder sent a jolt. The strikes weren't brutal, but each hit steadily chipped away at Morte's HP bar.
"You love watching others die, don't you?"
Charlie's voice was calm, as if they were having a casual chat, even as he dodged a slash aimed at his head.
"Does seeing life fade give you satisfaction?"
"…"
Morte didn't answer. He intensified his attacks, using every Sword Skill he knew—charging, spinning, thrusting. But Charlie was always a step ahead, or rather, a fraction of a second faster at reading Morte's intent.
"Since you love death so much, I'll let you feel it. Slowly but surely. Feel your life erode, as if time itself is the blade slicing you. That's fair, right?"
After saying that, Charlie launched an attack—a side kick to Morte's waist.
*BANG!*
Not too strong, just enough to send Morte stumbling back, his HP bar dropping again. He struggled to stand, breathing heavily, spitting on the ground, eyes blazing with hatred.
"Ptui! I'll kill you!"
Humiliated and enraged, Morte abandoned all defense, attacking Charlie blindly with wild, patternless slashes.
"Never mind, I've changed my mind. After all, I'm not like you, relishing others' despair in the face of death."
Charlie recalled Asuna watching from a distance.
(Sigh, I got carried away. How could I let a teenage girl like Asuna witness a killing scene? Even if SAO's death scenes aren't as gruesome as in the real world,) he thought, slightly regretting his impulsiveness.
"Die!!!"
Morte roared, his sword swinging wildly, but Charlie was done delaying. His Steel Sword appeared in his hand instantly, glinting with cold silver light.
*SWOOSH!*
One motion—a clean, swift vertical slash struck Morte square in the chest.
No scream, no resistance. The blade pierced through, and in a blink, Morte's HP bar emptied.
*BANG!*
Morte's form exploded into polygon shards, following Joe into nothingness.
The Laughing Coffin duo was now dead, erased from Aincrad and the real world.
After cleaning up the trash, Charlie calmly walked toward Asuna. He stopped in front of her, his Steel Sword already gone.
"Sorry, Asuna. I shouldn't have let you witness something so horrific. I… got a bit carried away."
"Seeing people like that, who deliberately harm and kill fellow players in this world, made me… lose my composure a little."
"…"
Silence.
A few seconds later, Asuna looked at Charlie with a complex expression. Her eyes traced the face of the man before her, trying to grasp the depth she'd just witnessed.
"I don't blame you, Charlie." Asuna said, her voice calm and sincere, without a trace of fear.
"From the stories you've told me, you live in a fantasy world of magic and swords, like Earth's medieval times. I can't equate the laws of this world with those of yours. So, I won't call you a murderer. Besides, you're the one protecting me."
Though shocked by Charlie's unflinching killing, Asuna wasn't afraid of him. After their time together, she knew he was a good person.
Moreover, after hearing Morte and Joe's conspiracy, Asuna felt no sadness for the killers' deaths.
"I see… The atmosphere here is stifling, not a place to linger. How about I help you find the Sly Shrewman that stole your rapier?"
"Alright, I'll leave it to you, Charlie."
This time, Asuna didn't refuse Charlie's offer.
There was no other choice.
Though not her first time seeing a player's death, Asuna could never get used to it. Morte and Joe's deaths, though deserved, were still emotionally draining.
With Charlie's help, they found the Sly Shrewman in ten minutes.
It was hiding behind a pile of rubble, but Six Eyes easily tracked it. Once spotted, Charlie swung his spiritual sword without hesitation, making the monster vanish and dropping Asuna's rapier to the ground.
Retrieving her rapier, Asuna left the labyrinth with Charlie, returning to town, leaving the dark ruins and bitter memories behind.