Unending - a Sword Art Online Fanfic (being rewritten)

Chapter 11: The SandEater

Still here? Good because the fun is about to begin. Enjoy!

Kirito's POV:

Kirito and his friends were in a cave. On one end of the cave was a small door built into the wall, this is the door the guards threw Kirito and his friends into, and on the opposite side was the natural cave opening that was fitted with solid iron bars. Outside the bars was a view of a massive stadium. Kirito guessed that they were in one of the holding pens that might normally be reserved for some type of wild animal.

Kirito looked over the others in the cell with him. Of the men that had gone with him, only his friends, the other players, and about twenty survivors were left. There had been about sixty men when they had started out, now they were down to 32, counting him anyway. That wasn't that many, and who knew how many people would be left after whatever was planned for them.

Kirito thought back to the fight in the throne room. He still felt sorrow from John's death, btu what haunted him was John's last words. "Whatever happens, look after my family, please." Kirito didn't know how yet, but he would keep his promise, he just had survive his meeting with the SandEater.

Suddenly, the bars lifted with a creak and a groan of metal. Guards came into the cell from the small door and pushed everyone out. They all walked to the center of the arena and looked up at the stands, every one of them was packed with eagerly shouting people, all of whom were either praising Kirito and his friends, shouting out encourage to do well, or booing them and screaming for them to go and die.

King Azemar strode into view on a balcony that was aligned with the holding cell that Kirito had just been in. He raised his hand to silence the crowd, then addressed them, saying "My people, today is a glorious day for us by all accounts, however, there appear to have been those that thought otherwise. Here before you are those people, who, decided that violently attacking their new king was the way to solve their problems."

Kirito watched the king as he gave his speech, twisting events until they weren't even close to what happened. He knew that the king knew why he had come, and no doubt the fight he was going to have to survive was the king's way of getting rid of him. Kirito scowled up at the king.

"Now they will die, as traitors to their new king. Since they think themselves to be such tough warriors, their punishment will be the most gruesome and one-sided fight possible. They will face the SandEater!" The crowd went wild. Apparently the SandEater was a crowd favorite.

Kirito watched as a lone guard on horseback rode into a cave on the other side of the arena. It almost looked as if the arena had been built around it so it was included in the arena wall. The guard rode out again, his face full of fear and his horse neighing and running like the devil was chasing it. Kirito instantly knew why, as he watched a truly massive sandworm mouth opened wide shoot out of the cave mouth and snatch the guard, horse and all, into its mouth in one bite. Kirito had never seen a sandworm this big, and neither had everyone else in the arena.

The head slowly withdrew, only to pop up a minute later right in front of them. Kirito and his friends had been given their weapons when they were escorted outside. Kirito drew his two swords, readying himself for battle. He looked at the creature and saw it's health bar, the number made Kirito's stomach queasy: over 1,000,000 HP.

"We're screwed." Said Klein.

"Not helping." Said Kirito in an angry whisper.

King Azemar raised his hand one more time. "This is your opponent." He said. "Fight it, if you dare."

Kirito smirked and turned back to face the beast. He saw everyone else had drawn their weapons as well, they were ready.

Asuna's POV: