New World, New Reality

#32: The Only Ones Left

HOME council Building

It's been a month since Shiro died. Everyone is preparing for another war. Shira became the new Commander. "Shira, we've captured some information about the death god. It is confirmed that it was the Game Master. The mark on our Guild Master disappeared. It's just that he's not yet awake", Akashi informed. "Thanks Akashi", Shira said while replicating some map. "Where are the rest?", Akashi asked. "Aika is at the orphanage house taking care of the children. Rin is working on his new skill. Fye is at the Guild's Zone. Aris and Akame are training some guilds", Shira answered.

"Sorry to bring this out. How are you planning to kill the boss? He's also in control of the game", Akashi asked. "Shiro always tells me, this game is not how we thought it was before. We just have to do things unconventionally", Shira answered. Akashi suddenly lost his balance and fell on the ground. Shira assisted him to get up. "Seems like my body is already on its limit", he chuckled. "We're going to finish this", Shira bit her lips. She opened a portal heading to the Zone-Grave of Fireflies.

Log Horizon Zone

Shira saw those whom they evacuated picking fruits at the garden. She also watched the kids playing hide and seek. They established a new orphanage at the Zone. Shira saw Aika making dolls at the veranda. She went to sit with her. "Shira. Good timing, Fye is creating a new pastry for the kids. Want to try?", Aika faked a smile. "Aika. You dont need to fake a smile in front of me. We all know that we are suffering", Shira patted her hair and Aika suddenly bursted into tears. "Honestly, I am starting to feel lost. Without Shiro here... I dont know how we are going to escape", Aika opened. "That hurts Aika. Dont worry, Shiro didnt waste his time teaching us the things to be done. I am actually done with my plan this morning. Actually, I am here to ask you a favor", Shira gave a weak smile.

That night, Shira called all the Guild Leaders and the Council for a meeting at HOME. Since the barrier is still strong, monsters are kept outside and the place is safe. But there is already a crack because of the death god's blow. "The only Agenda we have here to escape this place", Shira opened and sent a map to everyone. "Shiro spent his time mapping this place. Although the Game master is in control of the game, he cant change the setting that fast. We have to move faster than him", Shira added. "This map has a lot of grey areas", Esdeath noticed. "The plan is to go to those places and digged into the Guild Master's whereabouts", Akashi informed. "Hmmm. That's quite an intelligent thing to do Shira. You really learned a lot from him", Saruhiko looked at her. "Then all we can do is to.support you", he said and stood up. "I'll be sending you my army", Saruhiko said. "I'm not quitr confident in this but count me in", Todou, the strongest knight also agreed. "We are here to support you", Enomoto, the leader of the priest also stood up. "We are not going by guild this time, but with function. The first thing we have to do is to unify everyone. Esdeath, you are in charge of the elves. Akashi for the humans, Kanda for the assasins. Dont tease Akame too much. Enomoto for the priest, Todou for the knights. Saruhiko for the half-alv, Rin and Shery will be in charge for the Bard group. Fye will be the mage leader. Then, you have 2 weeks to train them", Shira commanded. "Why are we attacking two weeks from now?", Archer asked. "It was almost a year and a half  since the apocalypse dropped on us. Two weeks from now is the commemoration of the death of members of the Phantom. At least, I want to make it a memorable day or Shiro. We cannot allow the apocalypse to continue further", Shira informed and gave a weak smile.

The leaders of each races went to check on the members that they have. Saruhiko went near Shira. "Say, we're going to finish this game together. Shiro might not be here but I am", Saruhiko patted Shira's head. The lady broke Saruhiko's arms. "Stop doing that", Shira chuckled painfully. "I need to be strong Saruhiko", she gave a last glance then teleported back at home.

They had a reunion with the guild at the HOME's park.

Rin- Level 119
Aris- 135
Fye- 136
Aika- 98
Akame- 135

"What I am at the same level as Akame?!!", Aris whined. "Then, how about you, Shira?", Fye tried to check on her and they were all astonished.

Shira- XXX

"This means you are 5 levels ahead of us", Fye chuckled. They all took a picnic. "You made me the mage leader. You know I dont have such commanding voice such as yours", Fye sighed. "Thank you for making me one of the leaders", Rin bowed his head. "What are you doing? You deserve it", Shira rustled with his hair. "Akame, Kanda will be you leader so be careful", Shira teased. Aris looked at Shira and smiled. "You are really strong", Aris commented. Aika rendered a song with Rin. "How I miss these days", Shira accidentally said. "Lets make Master see that we are really strong and he will be happy", Akame grabbed on Shira's shoulder and assisted her to stand. "We have you anyways", she added. "Wah!! You are making me cry", Shira teased. The two of them ran against each other while the rest watches them while laughing.

Akashi and the Council are watching them from above. "They are strong", Esdeath commented. "Time to move as well. Until Reishi is awake, we also have to do our best", Akashi smiled. "By the way, Akashi. Dont you find it weird. Shiro didnt shatter like a glass", Esdeath recalled the report. "We werent there that's why we cannot verify", Akashi answered. "Anyone who disappears in thin air is still dead", Archer concluded.

After 3 days.

Shira woke up in the sound of people shouting outside the council's guild building. She took a peek and saw people with swords on their neck. "We are going to kill ourselves if you dont go with our request", they shouted. Shira went at the veranda where the Council are present. "Stop with your stupid act. If you die here, you really die in the real world", Kanda convinced them. "What is happening here?", Shira asked. "One of the guilds are requesting not to go into the raid to the boss", Archer explained. "Areh~ you want to die?", Shira had an evil smile. She went down and dragged everyone in a portal headed to a dungeon. They were surrounded by monsters. They equipped themselves and killed every monsters. The boss appeared. Shira swings her sword and instantly killed the boss. "If you want to die, then kill yourselves here", Shira said then opened another portal. The rest of the Council and even Log Horizon members came after them. "You really wanted us to die!!?? You are no different from the previous leaders!!!", they all shouted. "Shut up!!! Thats not the deal here. I cannot let you kill yourselves in front of them. In front of the Council who've seen more sacrifices just to save them even you!!! Do you know how painful it is to lose a life of someone whom you cherish so much?! And yet you are here threatening us to kill yourselves?! You can kill yourselves anytime, just not in front of those mighty warriors", Shira scolded them. The rebels started to cry and got down on their knees. "We deserve punishment. Sorry. We apologize", they said. "Your apology should not be to me. Look back and face those mighty warriors", Shira said then waited for them to apologize. "Shira... this dungeon", Akashi checked the map. "You just cleared the first grey area in the map", Shira smiled at the rebels. They were also astonshed how they were able to do it.

End of the chapter