SWORD ART ONLINE (SAO)

Chapter 11: The Battle to the death

 Kirito stood on the 47th floor, his mind still reeling from the recent events. Sasamaru's death weighed heavily on him, gnawing at his thoughts. The safe zones were supposed to be just that—safe. But Sasamaru had been killed inside an inn, a place where no harm was meant to come. The knife that ended his life was a mystery Kirito needed to solve.

He made his way to the 50th floor, where Tyfania, a skilled blacksmith and an old acquaintance, resided. Kirito found him at her forge, the rhythmic clanging of metal on metal echoing through the workshop.

"Kirito! It's been a while," Tyfania greeted him warmly, wiping sweat from his brow. "What brings you here?"

Kirito pulled out the knife, its blade still gleaming menacingly. "I need you to take a look at this."

Tyfania's eyes narrowed as he took the knife from him. He inspected it closely, his brows furrowing in concentration. "This isn't just any weapon," he finally said. "It's made from a rare item, one that bypasses the safety protocols in the safe zones. It's crafted specifically to kill, even where death shouldn't be possible."

Kirito clenched his fists, anger bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "So it was murder..."

Tyfania nodded, handing the knife back to him. "Be careful, Kirito. Whoever made this is dangerous."

Kirito thanked him and left, though his mind was far from at ease. He couldn't shake the feeling that something more sinister was at play. As he wandered through the market, purchasing healing potions, he bumped into Klein and his guild members.

"Klein," Kirito greeted him with a nod.

"Kirito! Good to see you, man," Klein grinned. "You look like you've seen better days. What's up?"

Before Kirito could respond, his menu pinged with an incoming message. It was from Keita: Silica left the guild. She feels guilty for Sasamaru's death. We're searching for her. Can you help?

Kirito sighed, his heart heavy. Klein, noticing the change in his expression, peered over his shoulder at the message.

"Need a hand?" Klein offered, concern in his voice.

Kirito shook his head. "Thanks, but I've got this. It's something I need to handle on my own."

Klein nodded understandingly. "Alright, just don't hesitate to call if you need backup."

Kirito bid Klein farewell and made his way to the 35th floor, his thoughts occupied with the missing Silica. He realized, with a pang of regret, that he hadn't added her as a friend, which made locating her all the more difficult. Instead, he tracked down Keita and the others, following their position on the map. As he moved through the dense forest, his senses heightened, aware of the danger that lurked around every corner.

Suddenly, the rustling of leaves caught his attention. He halted, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword. Emerging from the shadows were several members of the Titan's Hand, their eyes locked on a fleeing figure—Silica, with her pet Pina flying close behind.

"Kirito!" Silica cried out, panic lacing her voice as she spotted him. She darted toward him, seeking protection.

Kirito stepped in front of her, drawing his sword. "Get behind me, Silica."

The leader of the group, a tall woman with fiery red hair and a menacing smile, stepped forward. "So, you must be Kirito," she sneered. "The one who's been a thorn in our side."