The Swordsman in Black

Chapter 20: Sword Skills

Kirito's p.o.v.

"Klein, I need to speak with you." I said to my friend. Klein looked at me, confused. "What is it, Kirito?" He asked. "Just follow me." I replied, turning and walking off. He followed me until we were alone.

"Okay. He is what I want to say." I began. "I want to tell them of the magic of the sword we learned form teacher twenty years ago." I said to him. He looked shocked. "You mean what teacher called Sword Skills?" He asked. "Yes, I want to show everyone." I replied. He nodded, "I can't stop you from doing so. But thank you for telling me." Came the reply.

So, later that afternoon, I called everyone ro the training grounds. "What is it, Kirito?" Asuna asked me when everyone arrived. "Twenty years ago, me, and Klein, trained under a man who called himself the teacher. He taught us a lot of things. What I am about to show you is the most powerful of his teachings. Sword Skills." I said.

I had everyone back away before drawing one of my swords. I pulled it back and went still for a second. The next thing people saw was the light the covered my blade. Crimson red in color, before I swung. Seven slashes, back to back, in just two seconds. Everyone's jaws dropped, they looked at me in complete shock.

I froze for a second, before lowering my arm. I then turned to everyone else. "That was a sword skill. The magic within a sword, is what teacher called it. A long combo that freezes you in place for a second or two and the very end. That was a high level, one handed, sword skill. I will now show you my favorite." I said with a smile as I drew my second blade.

I pulled them both back and they were covered in a brilliant blue light.
I then swung, and sixteen slashes, left then right, went back to back. "That was Starburst Stream."

"I will try to teach you guys some sword skills over then next five weeks before we storm the ruby palace to fight the Demon King. So lets get to practicing." I said, just as everyone ran down to me. "Klein, you're helping me teach, got it?" I shouted over to him. "Understood." He replied before walking over to me to help.

So, over the next five weeks, the fighters of the front lines learn the sword skills that I learn twenty years ago. Asuna was impressed with how fast everyone was picking these up. "So, are they ready?" She asked me. "Not as ready as I would like, but they will have to do." I said back to her.

"All thought, I am impressed with your sister. She was able to create her own sword skill. Mother's Rosario is what I believe she called it. Eleven hits for a one handed sword." I said to Asuna. "You should be proud of her." "I am." Asuna replied. "Alright! Training is over. Time to move out." I shouted to everyone.

Everyone put away their weapons and went to get ready for the raid. Me and Asuna went to find Heathcliff. I smiled when we found him playing with Yui. "He is taking to being a grandfather rather well." I told Asuna. "Yes, he is." She said with a smile. "Father." She said and he looked up. "Mama!" Yui said as she ran over and gave Asuna a hug. "Where's my hug?" I said with a fake frown. "Papa!" Was the reply I got before she hugged me.

"Heathcliff. We came to say that the five weeks are up and that we are preparing for the raid." I said to him. He nodded. "It is time to end this war." He replied. "Get all of the leaders and commanders and have them meet me at the war room." He order. We nodded in return.

Three hours later, and we had everyone there. Heathcliff began to speak. "We know nothing about the Demon King. His strengths or weaknesses. He is a complete mystery to us. I want you all ready for anything." He said.

I looked at Asuna. She mouthed, what are you thinking? I sighed and walked forward. Asuna's eye went wide when she found out what I was about to do, but she could not stop me.

"That is not true." I said, making all heads turn. Heathcliff knew what I was going to do. "I have information on the Demon King." "And how do you have that?" Kuradeel asked me. "Simple. Diablo Ragnarok, the Demon King, is my father." I said. This made everyone fall silent. "The Demon King is your father." Said Thinker, commander of the Aincrad Liberation Army. "How can we trust you?" Kibaou asked me. "How many times did I have the opportunity to betray you guys, but did not. How many times did I help with the rescue missions, instead of stalling them?" I asked him in return. That shut him up.

"Commander Heathcliff, Lady Asuna. How can we trust him!?" Kuradeel shouted. He noticed that we were unbelievably calm upon hearing this. "And how can you be so calm!?" Asuna looked at her father, who nodded. "Because Kuradeel, we already knew." She answered. The look on Kuradeel's face was priceless upon hearing that.

I then proceeded to tell them everything about I knew about my father. Five meters tall, black armor, a black sword about four meters tall, ten horns making a crown on his head. Someone joke that he could see the resemblance between us by the black we wore alone. I chuckled at that.

"This war will end, one way or another, after this battle. So, lets make this count. For the freedom of Aincrad! For the downfall of the Demon King!" I shouted, raising my blade. "For the freedom of Aincrad! For the downfall of the Demon King!" Everyone shouted in return, raising their own blades.