Railgun Online. Book 3, Phantom Bullet

Mystery of Death Gun

"So.." Mikoto said. "Before we go out and find Death Gun.. I think it's probably practical that we try to figure out how he's killing people.."

Sinon, who was sitting next to Mikoto with her head on Mikoto's shoulder, shrugged. "Well. I can't really think of any method he would be doing it. I mean, it's not like when you were in Sword Art Online.. the Amusphere has no way to harm anybody at all, too many safety features."

"Yeah, me, Kirito and our contact in the government pretty much agreed about this already." said Mikoto. "It's so safe, that I can't even hack the Amusphere with my esper abilities, which is saying something, since I've hacked into some pretty large super computers before."

"Well, a lot of VRMMOs run on a similar logging algorithm to the super computer Tree Diagram." said Sinon. "Or at least that's the theory. So hacking would naturally be over difficult. Well, you say that these Viros are pretty powerful right? Maybe Death Gun is a Viros? I mean it's not like they look similar to each other.. there's no way to tell what makes one.."

"Actually." said Mikoto. "There is a Viros who.. er... this is going to sound weird.. but he merged with me at one point.. when I was fighting the Number 4.."

"Meltdowner!?" said Sinon. "Wow I heard you two had sort of a grudge going, but I didn't know you two actually fought.."

"Three times." said Mikoto. "The 3rd time was when the whole Viros mergence thing happened.. very long story. Anyways, his name is Nox, and he's pretty annoying when he wants to be. It's him that gave me the data to recognize a Viros. Apparently they all have these extremely defining traits.

Mikoto held up a finger. "Firstly, they can only 'appear as human' in shape alone. Seyat has a human shape of course.. legs, a head, two arms.. but under that clothing he wears, his body is alien through and through. They can be humanoid, but they can't have the whole package like a human face, human skin.. the works.. as you saw with Congono, he's like a tree."

Mikoto held up a second finger. "Secondly, They all wear masks.. I know it sounds strange, every single Viros wears a mask that was created using their powers and stays on their face for their entire lives. Each mask may look unique, but they all have one."

Mikoto held up a third finger. "Thirdly, while they all have some sort of special supernatural power or ability like an Esper does, they prefer to use skill over that power. Seyat likes to use weapons he picks up from other cultures and establishments, and learn how to use them by analyzing build and layout of the weapon.. he then develops his own unique style to using the weapon."

"Like with that sniper rifle he uses." Sinon said. "Instead of using it the typical way, he actually developed a running and firing style with it.. a very unusual one.."

"Yeah, I bet you he took that gun from another player and learned how to use it in his own method just by gathering information on it through his ability to connect to the internet." said Mikoto. "According to Nox though.. each Viros has their own unique way of using skill in combat.. Seyat's style is taking weapons and integrating them.. however Congono's style is the weapons he's had for years. Those drums were created and engineered to hit a certain pitch every time you hit them in a very specific manner.. like a game controller giving a certain command every time you press a certain button.. he can manipulate sound through those drums.."

"Well, we covered that." said Sinon. "We know how they are with weapons.. but what are their actual supernatural powers? Besides.. er.. somehow slipping their bodies into the internet."

"Nox won't tell me.." said Mikoto. "But I know from Kirito who fought Seyat at some point, that Seyat can manipulate these weird blue flames he emits from under his cloak. At one point, the flames made a bunch of swords made of ice.. and that's all I know.. as for Congono.. I can only guess.."