Fatal Bullet (Various x Female Reader)

Chapter Forty-Five (Betrayal of Comrades)

        Kureha and I, along with Hikaru, stood before the dungeon Zeliska told us where Kirito and Asuna's copies had last been seen. We snuck out to hunt these enemies down, because I didn't want Kirito and Asuna to have to face anything from the past that might show up with these ArFA-sys units. Looking around, this dungeon was pretty well hidden.

"The devs hid it pretty well, I'll give them that." I state, Kureha nods looking around as well.

"Yeah, those Kirito and Asuna imposters that Zeliska told us about should be somewhere around here." Hikaru looks down, seemingly not happy about that information. To be honest, I'm not too stoked about it either.

"I can't believe they've got fakes too... Think they're gonna be weird copies like those of you and Itsuki?" He asks her. Kureha rapidly shakes her head.

"M-mine wasn't weird! That's just how I used to be! Though, it does get me thinking. It looks like Kirito's theory that the imposters are copies of veteran GGO players only was wrong, after all." Hikaru nods in agreement.

"Yeah, Kirito and Asuna just started playing GGO!" Kureha hums in thought.

"Were our initial ideas about how the copies appear wrong from the get-go? Or is there more to it?" She questions out loud. It's even got me thinking.

"What connects these new copies to the old ones? I wonder..." I trail off. We never found out any more information about Hikaru's copycat. Could that be connected somehow?

"Y'think maybe there's something different about Kirito and Asuna's copies?" I nod, showing that I think there might.

"Asuna and Kirito aren't like Kureha and Itsuki. They're new, and if our theory had been correct, they shouldn't have any copies. Yet, somehow they do. Just what is the cause behind these new ArFA-sys imposters?" Kureha glances back over at me.

"I think you're right, (Y/N). If Kirito's theory was correct, we wouldn't be here. So, somewhere along the line we missed something." Right.

"Anyways, we'll just have to check them out in person. Considering how strong the real ones are, I just hope we don't end up fighting them." Kureha has a concerned look on her face.

"Well, I kind of want to fight their copies. If anything, I wouldn't mind fighting my own copy if there is one. It'd be entertaining, I just hope nothing confidential gets leaked. Like my past or skills." Kureha gives me an annoyed glare.

"Of course you'd want to fight both Kirito and Asuna's copies and your own as well. That's something you'd literally do. Anyways, again, we should hurry up and get to finding those copies before Kirito and Asuna can." She pushes me into the dungeon, Hikaru following behind us. The layout for this dungeon was a bit tricky at first with the many gaps we had to jump across and lasers aimed our way that threatened to shoot us into said gaps. Eventually we came upon a large open area. I noted that there was a perch high up leading somewhere. It'd be a good spot to snipe an enemy, should any appear. Hikaru seemed to remember something, as it showed on his face.

"Oh yeah, why didn't you ask Kirito and Asuna for help, Kureha? The more the merrier for a big fight like that, right?" He asks her. Kureha looks down at the ground.

"Well, uh, I figured getting them directly involved would make us all stand out too much and cause more trouble than it's worth." She looks back at me. "Remember what happened after you found Hikaru? I was worried players would start more weird rumors or try to pick fights with us again if we brought them along." Weird rumors? I tilt my head, trying to recall what exactly was said back then. I shrug when nothing comes to mind. It's been awhile, after all and a lot has happened since my coming to GGO.