Sword Art Online: The Crystal Swordsman

Judge, Jury, and Executioner

I felt my adrenaline subside as the final collapse began to close. We had a short while before we had to move so we readied ourselves for the final fight. Once it neared, I helped calm everyones nerves.

"Alright. This is it. Let's take things nice and slow. Be ready and stay alert." I debriefed as the circle got closer to us.

"Slow? The final fight should be fast!" Kirito readied to grab his katana from his back.

"The fight will happen fast. But trust me, we want to take the approach slow." I turned around just in time to see the collapse beginning to consume the house behind us.

"Huh. I never got a close enough look at the collapse wall. It looks like... an oil spill." Asuna took a step forward to reach out to it but I grabbed her hand and stopped.

"Bad idea." I shook my head.

Asuna looked at me then back to the slowly moving collapse. She hesitated but eventually turned her back to it and returned to the group.

"This is the final fight of the game. Let's make it count." I lead the way out of the house as the collapse pushed us forward.

We made our way outside to the front driveway area of the house. I took care to scan my surroundings as we walked but the others didn't. Perhaps it was because they weren't experienced enough yet to understand the vigilance in this game.

"The circle is ending on the high ground ahead. Double time it." I ordered and began to sprint up the tall hill.

The others followed close behind as we all climbed up together. Once we neared the top I knelt lower to the grass, checking behind me to be sure the others did the same.

"Let's split up. You two sweep left as a group and I will be ready to draw their attention from the right." I whispered and gestured with two fingers to move.

I lead the way and kept sweeping right as the collapse continued to grow smaller. I found a good spot and dropped to one knee, scanning around until I found the figures of a crippled squad in front of me.

"Gotcha." I acquired my targets and began to line up a shot when I suddenly heard a clicking sound close to me.

Following that was the sound of the wind whistle and that's when it hit me. An explosion went off and I was blinded as well as deafened by the extremely loud bang. I suddenly began to lose my balance and my movement was hindered. I was extremely disoriented as my vision returned but I was left with a temporary afterimage of what I saw before the detonation. Even when I tried to focus on what was in front of me, I was seeing double. My senses were scrambled and I couldn't see or think straight. I could barely hear anything over the intense ringing in my ears. I was immobilized.

"Ahh, the capabilities of a military issue Concussion Grenade. Doesn't feel so good does it?" A player spoke thru a dark voice changer as he pushed the barrel of his weapon to my head.

On my one knee, I supported myself with my palm upon the ground in an attempt to stabilize myself and perhaps regain my senses.

"Kirito... Asuna... Where are you...?" I whispered under my breath.

At this point, I had to assume they were KIA.

"Turn and face your death honourably." The voice changer growled.

I slowly lifted my head up to face the player. That's when my jaw dropped open upon seeing who it was.

"It's...!" Sinon was about to say in my head.

"Consider this a blessing. For you shall die by the hands of the one and only..." He shouted with his pistol pointed in my face.

"DeathGun!" Him and Sinon shouted simultaneously.