Chapter 11: Within Seconds
"Ha... Hahaha…"
The man holding the cleaver-sized sword engraved with the words Mate Chopper suddenly burst into a shrill, maniacal laugh. The unsettling sound echoed across the chamber, piercing into the ears of every player present.
"You self-proclaimed elites from the frontlines... and you—SAO's strongest player, worshipped like a god by low-level nobodies—the Black and Red Sword... Don't you realize one of your precious allies isn't here?"
Hikaru's brow twitched as he quickly turned around to scan the gathered group. His chest tightened.
"Asuna… she's not here."
Only now did it hit him. After teleporting to the 26th Floor, they'd gotten separated. In the rush of regrouping for the strike on Laughing Coffin, he hadn't noticed her absence.
"Damn it… I slipped up."
From the very beginning, Hikaru had always maintained a calm composure. But this time—panic clawed at his mind.
He grabbed Kirito by the shoulder, his voice low but heavy with urgency. "I'll leave the rest to you. If anyone resists… don't hesitate."
Kirito's eyes widened, but he gave a sharp nod. "Got it."
The moment Hikaru vanished beyond the towering black gate, PoH and his gang seized the opportunity to pull out their healing potions.
"Don't let them recover!" Kirito shouted.
The elite players surged forward. Blades clashed, spells ignited, and several red-named Laughing Coffin members were taken down before they could restore their HP.
— — —
Meanwhile, on the 26th Floor, Hikaru pulled out a glowing red crystal from his inventory. A holographic interface appeared, revealing Asuna's coordinates.
Without wasting a second, Hikaru dashed forward like a bolt of crimson lightning.
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Beneath a jagged cliff in a rocky desert region, three figures lay in the dust. Two were down—barely clinging to life.
All three wore the distinct crimson-white uniform of the Knights of the Blood Oath.
"Asuna… I was supposed to protect you to the end," muttered a man standing over them. His voice was strangely soft, almost mockingly gentle. "But this is a direct order from the Guild Master. Don't blame me, okay?"
He stepped forward with a twisted smile, drawing his blade with a chilling shing. His forearm bore a dark tattoo—the unmistakable sigil of Laughing Coffin.
Paralyzed and unable to move, Asuna lay helpless. Her eyes widened in horror at the symbol.
Even her hand couldn't reach the emergency crystal Hikaru had given her.
"And you…" Kuradeel glared down at one of the unconscious guards. "You've always been in the way... Just die already!"
With vicious strikes, Kuradeel cleaved down upon the man. The guard's HP bar dropped in chunks until his body burst into pixelated fragments.
Kuradeel let out a delighted laugh. "Hahaha… Now it's just you and me, Lady Asuna…"
He turned to her with a twisted expression. "If it weren't for the Guild Master's orders… I could've stayed by your side, protecting you like I always wanted…"
He raised his sword.
Asuna shut her eyes.
Is this how it ends? I didn't even get to thank him...
"Get away from her!!"
A thunderous voice ripped through the air.
In a flash of blue light, Hikaru appeared. His blood-red sword Bloodlust surged with energy.
He struck.
Kuradeel didn't even have time to scream.
The sword pierced through his chest with a flash. His HP bar vanished instantly.
Kuradeel's body shattered into data and disappeared with a burst of light.
"Asuna!"
Hikaru rushed over, catching her limp form in his arms. He pulled out an antidote potion and helped her drink it.
Asuna's paralysis began to fade. Her breathing returned, weak but steady.
"Hikaru…" Her voice trembled as she clung to him, tears spilling down her cheeks. "You really came… You came for me…"
"If you keep pressing on me like this," he gasped with a small grin, "I might actually suffocate. At least let me catch my breath after all that running."
She let out a tearful laugh and lightly punched his shoulder.
Then, she sat beside him, waiting until his breathing steadied.
A minute passed.
Hikaru finally stood and dusted himself off. He glanced at Asuna, still sitting on the ground, and extended a hand with a playful smile. "You know, you really seem to like sitting on the ground. Or are you just becoming one with nature?"
"You!" she glared at him, slapped his hand away, and stood up on her own with a huff.
After a moment of silence, Asuna softly said, "Thank you… For saving me."
"As a reward," she added with a small smirk, "I'll treat you to dinner."
"Just dinner?" Hikaru blinked. "I ran across half the floor for you and nearly had a heart attack. You think that's worth one meal?"
"…Fine, two meals."
"Still feels cheap."
"Two is more than enough!" Her cheeks flushed. "What about the battle?"
"Check your inbox."
Asuna tapped her menu, scanning the system messages. Her eyes paused on the report, then flicked back to Hikaru.
She gave a faint smile.
"…Alright. A promise is a promise. Let's eat."
"How about my place?" Hikaru offered casually. "It's a bit dusty, but the kitchen's fully stocked."
"…You bought a house?" Asuna looked genuinely surprised.
"Yeah. Why do you look so shocked?"
"I didn't even know solo players like you knew how to buy property…"
She crossed her arms, mildly annoyed—and a little impressed.
Hikaru scratched the back of his head, sheepishly.
"Hey, Miss Cloak, stop calling me a loner like it's some badge of shame."
"What did you just call me?!"
"Nothing."
"I heard that! You called me Miss Cloak, didn't you?!" she shouted, her voice rising. Memories of her first few months in SAO—back when she still wore that hooded cloak—flashed through her mind.
"Wait, wait, you're the one who told me that story in the first place!" Hikaru said, backing away.
Asuna narrowed her eyes.
She slowly drew her rapier. "You're running."
"…Yup."
"Don't you dare—Hikaru, you bastard! Get back here!!"
Hikaru sprinted away as Asuna took off after him, yelling in a mix of frustration and laughter.
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