Sword Art Online-Vol 5 Chapter 7.1

Chapter 7

There was a feeling of a little tingling in her right index finger, causing Sinon to frown. Rubbing her finger with her thumb with the intent to soothe the irritation did not do anything to remove the feeling.

She knew why though.

It was Kirito's fault. That rude, arrogant and very dense beginner. She used all of the strength in her body to clench her right hand.

This was normally impossible, and she half understood it in her head. Sinon was now in FullDive in the virtual world with the AmuSphere; no matter how hard she clasped her hand, her real body blood flow congestion or nerve pressure in reality would not be affected. All the sensations that occur in this world were from the result of electrical impulses directly sent to the brain by the machine with virtual signals.

――――But.

Right now, Sinon's right hand could still feel the warmth and pressure of when the light saber user had held her hand strongly, although it had been close to two hours ago.

Giving up trying to erase the feeling, Sinon returned her right hand to the anti-material sniper rifle. On the lightly set spring of the trigger, she gently placed her index finger there. The grip of her beloved gun «Hecate II» that had gone through so many battles with her was like an extension of her body, but that little tingling in her finger persisted.

Sinon was now hiding in a clump of small bushes on the edge of a high cliff waiting for a chance to snipe.

The stage was the «Wilderness at the Crossroads». The topography was characterized by a staggeringly dry central plateau where two straight roads crossed. The opponent's name was «Stinger». BoB selection F Block, Fifth battle; it was the first semi-finals, and it had been twelve minutes since the start.

If she wins this match, regardless of the results for her next match, she will obtain the rights to enter the BoB main tournament battle royale scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday night. But, being able to win up to this point, the enemy Stinger must also be fairly strong.

Although he had a name like that, he was not actually equipped with a portable surface-to-air missile launcher «Stinger». His main weapon should be the «FN • SCAR» carbine rifle, which alone was enough of a threat. He was also equipped with an ACOG scope for improved accuracy. So, should they get close enough to get a visual of each other, Sinon might not be able to win.

Fortunately, in this map, there were four blocks separated by roads; you had to go through the central crossroads to reach the others. When two players first appear on this map, they are placed a minimum of 500 meters apart; thus, it was impossible for them to be placed in the same block.

In other words, if Stinger wanted to get within range of Sinon to snipe with SCAR, even knowing that he would need to pass through the central crossroads, he must charge through; on the other hand, Sinon must succeed in attacking him while he was in the crossroads.

With only this option, Stinger would try to extend the time before he would charge, as a tactic to exhaust Sinon's concentration. Although this was the case, Sinon could not deny the possibility of him making a move early, so she had no choice but to stretch the limits of her nerves in concentration and continue to stare through her sights like this.

Now, labelled from A to O with the pre-selected knockouts divided in 15 blocks, more than half of the deciding matches had finished, so only about 10 other matches are currently ongoing at the same time. In the Standby Room, on the first floor lobby, or at a pub on the street, you could watch all the games live. Focused on Sinon and Stinger was an audience who should be feeling very bored right now. After all, from the start of the match until now, both sides had not fired a single bullet.

On the other side, simultaneously within the F District semi-finals, there was a battle that was without a doubt completely not boring; that battle was unfolding in a flashy way.

The reason was— over there, one of them was a close combat specialist with two machine guns, and the other was one who used an even shorter range weapon— the lightsaber user's battle.

Now she must not lose concentration. Although she understood that, her thoughts returned to that mysterious black-haired girl, no, boy.

The first battle took her about ten minutes, and when she returned to the Standby Room, the first person to meet her was Spiegel ―― Shinkawa Kyouji and his congregations. After exchanging simple greetings and a thank you, Sinon returned to her original box seat. The appearance of Kirito there gave her a slight shock. This can't be. She did not think that he would win and return earlier than herself. Hmm, you are a little capable. She walked towards him thinking of saying that— but then again, Sinon was surprised by another thing.

Before the match, Kirito was full of that easy going attitude, but now he sat hunched over on a bench holding his knees, his head lowered and slender shoulders trembling.

... ... He won though. Is a battle with a gun opponent that scary?

Thinking about that, Sinon unconsciously stretched out her right hand to knock on the shoulder wrapped up in the night camo pattern jacket.

Suddenly, Kirito's whole body shrunk in surprise, with an action that could only be described as cautiously, and he looked up.

Sinon knew that anyone who doesn't know him would think he was a female, with both a cute and clever face on the avatar ―― the look was like a glimpse from the depths of hell, filled with deep fear.

"......Why do you have such a face?"

Sinon unconsciously whispered, and hearing her words, Kirito blinked a few times and pulled his face into a stiff smile.

"Nothing's wrong," Kirito answered in a very weak voice, and Sinon asked if his first fight was that difficult. But, the young face hidden behind the long black hair leaked out weak breathing, and he did not answer anything else.

He was not an opponent that she should get involved with beyond that.

Kirito should have known that Sinon would have misunderstood his gender. But he deliberately did not clear the misunderstanding and let Sinon show him around the streets, help him go shopping, and finally bring him to the same changing room.

Of course, she had mistaken him for a girl, and it was her fault for not asking for his name card. Therefore, over half of Sinon's anger was directed at herself.

In the real world, ever since she was well used by her classmates, she should have made the decision in her heart to no longer depend on others and to make no friends. When confronted by a rare GGO female player who asked for directions, she had completely forgotten about her decision.

It was fun. When she brought him to the market to shop and rode behind the three wheeled buggy, Sinon realized that she gave an honest smile, something she had not done for a long time in GGO. That's right ―― Sinon was not really angry about Kirito being a male. When she was together with him, she was being extra defenseless, something she couldn't forgive herself for.

That's why, when she learnt that Kirito won through the first battle, she was truly happy.

To meet in the final battle with him, then smash his cute looks with the bullets of Hecate and become stronger than before encountering this guy. Although she had this in mind, that Kirito had been taken over with fear like he was a different person.

Sinon spoke almost subconsciously in a voice laced with anger.

"You've become like this with just one battle? Going to the finals is a dream within a dream. Get a hold of yourself... I... have to take back what you owe me."

She held her right hand in a fist and once again knocked on Kirito's shoulder.

That hand was suddenly covered by two white hands. He then pulled that hand strongly and tightly held it to his fatigued chest.

"Hey, Hey... What are you doing!?"

Sinon shouted on reaction and tried to pull her hand out, but she had never imagined Kirito's delicate body to have such high STR rating, as he continued to hold her hand.

His hands were as cold as ice, and Sinon felt that touching his hands even made her breath cold.

At this time, in Sinon's field of vision, there appeared a 'report sexual harassment' button. If she were to press it with her left hand or say "report," then Kirito's avatar would be delivered to the Gurokken prison area and, for a short period of time, would not be able to get out.

However, Sinon made no movement, and she also did not say anything.

Looking at his clenched hands and that slender body slightly shivering away, Sinon was struck by a strong sense of deja vu. She had seen a girl from somewhere, in that exact same posture before. Thinking further about it, she immediately noticed that was herself.

Not Sinon the sniper, but Asada Shino from the real world. It was just like the times when Shino lay curled up in bed from the memory filled with the stench of blood and gunpowder, crying for someone to save her.

Aware of that at this point in time, Sinon involuntarily relaxed her right hand.

"............Why are you............?"

She gently asked, but there was no answer. Even so, Sinon felt it.

Clinging onto her hands, that black haired avatar ―― no, inside that, the player whose face and name she doesn't know might be trapped in a similar darkness as Shino.

What happened, Sinon wanted to ask.

But before that, there was a faint light that enveloped Kirito's body, and then he disappeared. His next opponent had been set, so he was transferred to the site for his second battle.

With him like that, he probably would not be able to fight properly. Sinon determined that and gave a small sigh.

The one who lost will return to the Hall instead of the underground waiting area here. That's why, if Kirito lost, then today— or put it another way, she probably will not have a chance to meet him again.

Of course, that was not really a big deal. They were not even friends, but just happened to go in the same direction to the Government House. After today, she would forget his face and name.

While she told herself that, Sinon took her hand that remained in the air and put it on her chest.

—That was how it was supposed to be.

But beyond Sinon's wildest expectations, the second, third and even the fourth combat battle had been won by Kirito using just a lightsaber and a pistol.

While Sinon was waiting for her next match, she only had the chance to see his fight on the monitor once. His fighting style was like a 'Last Stand' or 'Banzai' attack with extremely suicidal tactics. Faced with the rapid-fire assault rifle of his AGI-based opponent, he used the small pistol FN Five-Seven, bought at Sinon's suggestion, as support fire in his frontal charge. He ignored the enemy bullets that hit his avatar's outer parts and only used his lightsaber to block the deadly ones, and with that, he closed the distance in the blink of an eye, then cut the enemy apart together with his rifle.

There was not a single person in the first and second BoB who fought this way. In the standby room, people were amazed and surprised, and Sinon could only watch with wide eyes.

With this momentum, Kirito could easily reach the finals of the F Block. However, against that kind of unreasonable opponent, how is she supposed to fight him?

After seeing Kirito's match, Sinon thought like that even as her semi-final match began, and part of her mind would not cease to consider the matter. At the same time, she could not stop thinking about the player called Kirito, himself.

When shopping together, he revealed a curious natural smile. When he was exposed as a male, Kirito waited for her to skin him alive for his cheeky attitude. Then, after his first battle, holding Sinon's hand, his weak body trembled. And – with his blue light blade, he cut up enemies relentlessly, with a ghost like appearance.

In the end, which is the real «Kirito»?

And why does she continue to think about these kind of things?

Realizing that she was irritated for no reason, Sinon lightly bit her lower lip while her right eye was against the high magnification scope. At this point—

A kilometer away, watching the road's intersection, she captured a large shadow speeding out from the mountain side.

Sinon automatically fine-tuned the Hecate. Wind was blowing from the left at 2.5m per second. Humidity was 5%. She placed the center of the faint reticule slightly above the shadow and waited for the Bullet Circle to shrink before pulling the trigger without hesitation.

*THUD*—

From the sights, the 50 caliber bullet flew through the air in a heat haze like tunnel. It drew a slight spiral track towards the bottom left and hit the upper part of the shadow.

"... ... There."

Sinon breathed out as she pulled the bolt of the Hecate back, emptying the cartridge shell and putting the next round of ammunition in the chamber.

The shadow that crumbled with a light sound was not the opponent Stinger. Instead, it was a lump of rock with a diameter of about one meter.

The next moment, flying out from the same place as the rock, an even larger silhouette came rushing out leaving a trail of dust behind.

A four-wheel armored vehicle— the «Humvee». Things such as vehicles are not items held by a player but are bonuses on specific points of the map. People who get there first can use them. It looked brand new, except for a small dent in front— Sinon instantly understood: the stone was deliberately knocked out by that car.

Stinger, who was supposed to be in the driver's seat, knew that Sinon's Hecate II was a bolt-action rifle and also knew that she would be aiming at the intersection that he must pass through.

So, he knocked that stone into the intersection with the Humvee to be shot, then while she prepared for the next shot, he planned to cross the intersection.

The idea was correct. In fact, the vehicle already reached the center of the intersection while she was pulling the bolt handle. She only has one more shot. Furthermore, she did not have time to aim carefully.

However, Sinon did not panic.

Stinger took away Sinon's largest advantage as a sniper, the «No Bullet Line First Shot». But in exchange, he also gave her important information. In Sinon's view, the trajectory path from her first shot was burnt in it. As long as she does not panic, she can make the second bullet fly the exact same path. If she used that, it would be possible for her to have a far higher accuracy hit than the first shot.

After making a slight adjustment to the gun body, Sinon pulled the trigger a second time. BOOM!

The 50 caliber bullet hit the side window of the driver`s seat and went right through the thick bullet proof glass easily.

The next moment, the vehicle made a big arc, went off the side of the road, and then crashed into the side of the mountain. From the front engine, flames erupted.

"... ... If you got off the car and ran, you might have seen the Bullet Line and be able to avoid it."

Sinon whispered as she chambered the third round. Keeping the scope on her right eye, she captured the burning Humvee in the reticule. No matter how many seconds she waited, Stinger did not appear. It looks like he died in the driver`s seat, but she maintained a firing position.

Once the evening air displayed "CONGRATULATIONS" in colored words, Sinon stood up from the bushes.

Game time, 19 minutes and 15 seconds. Semi-final cleared.

In this way, just as she had planned, she got a ticket to the BoB tournament. However, she showed no sign of victory, not even a smile. Her thoughts had been directed towards the upcoming preliminary F Block finals.

The mystery that was Kirito, no doubt, spent less time in his semi-final match. His opponent was armed with two SMGs. No matter how many bullets he shot, if he lets that lightsaber user get close, he will be showered by the instant death energy blade before Kirito's hp is all gone. Kirito, after all, with his amazing reaction speed, had the ability to «predict the trajectory prediction line». The best chance to stop him would be suppression fire from an M134 mini-gun, or other weapons like it.

Therefore, Sinon maintained a hold on Hecate, waiting motionlessly for the transfer to the next battleground.

After a few seconds, she did not return to the standby room, but flew directly to the final preparation area. The hexagonal surface of the window on the screen was marked by the opponent's name, and sure enough, the name there was [Kirito].

After the next transfer, she opened her eyes to see an elevated road extending out in a straight line, and the blood red sunset it went into.

The «Inter-Continental Highway» stage. Although the battlefield is the same size as the last one, about one kilometer squared, since you cannot get off the highway that goes from east to west, in fact, the battlefield is quite slender and simple.

However, there were numerous cars, trucks and even a helicopter wreckage, and there were cracks as the road went up and down, so from one side of the road, you could not see the other side.

Sinon took a quick look behind to confirm that she was in the eastern-most corner of the map. Then the opponent, Kirito, would be in the west extension of the road, at least 500 meters away.

She looked around, then soon ran up the road. Her destination was the large tour bus sitting across the road to the right front. From the semi-open back door into the bus's interior, and then up the stairs to the second level. She threw herself stomach down on the center of the floor, took Hecate II from her shoulder and opened its two legs. She aimed the gun muzzle at the panoramic window on the bus's front side, took up a sniping position, and flipped up the scope's front and back covers.

The sun is right in front of her. That means, no matter where she hid outside, the scope's lens reflection from the sunlight will have the danger of letting the enemy notice her. A sniper whose position is found out is easy to take care of.

But inside this bus, mirror coating on the glass outside will hide the scope's reflection. Also, with the height, she could see past most of the obstructions on the road.

Kirito should probably be closing in at high speed by moving from one obstacle to another. She did not think that she can hit that enemy with the Bullet Line. Her chance, is while he does not know her location, that first shot.

'- Hit him. I must.'

Carving that belief strongly into her heart, Sinon placed her right eye at the scope.

Why she wanted to win so much, she was not very clear, herself.

Indeed, Sinon was deceived by Kirito when he hid his gender as she showed him around and helped him buy equipment. Beyond that, he also saw her changing in the preparation room.

However, even saying so, it is nothing but this level of things. She had not lost any items, and only her avatar's underwear was seen. From the meeting on the street of Gurokken, to their separation at the standby room were only tens of minutes, it should not be difficult to forget.

But now, all the different battles she experienced in GGO were faded compared to how strongly she wanted to win against Kirito. Yes— even more than that fearsome minigun user, Behemoth. For someone who just arrived at GGO today, and furthermore against a lightsaber user that all gunners consider to be heretical, why would she go to such extents...

...No.

No, maybe, she had already understood the reason.

That is because, 'I no longer consider that guy as an «enemy» in my heart.' When that guy sat on the hard bench trembling as his cold hand held hers, she realized that a feeling that she could not name was born in her heart.

Compassion? No.

Pity? No.

Sympathy...? No, absolutely not.

'There is no one that can sympathize with me. There should not be a single person that bears the same painful darkness as me. I had been looking for such a person, but in the end, she was just constantly, constantly, constantly betrayed.'

The only thing that can save her, is her strength. Because she understood that, it's why she is here now.

She does not want to know Kirito's situation and does not need to know. As long as she mercilessly blows apart that avatar that confused her, he would be buried in her numerous kills thus far. Then she would forget.

That is all she needed to do.

Carefully but deliberately, Sinon set her mind and stared through the scope; her finger gripped the trigger.

So—

In the background of the crimson sunset, when a shadow appeared, in a flash, Sinon forgot her self control as a sniper and leaked out a sound.

"What..?"

The wind blew the long black hair, camouflage clothes wrapped the delicate body, and a light saber hung from the belt. No doubt, it was Kirito.

However, he was not running. And he did not seem to want to hide. He was right in the middle of the highway on the slightly raised center dividing line, walking with a sway. It was exactly the opposite of his previous match, a totally defenseless posture.

—Is he trying to say that, even without the Bullet Line, he could easily dodge my shot?

Thinking this, anger exploded inside her head as the crosshairs went to Kirito's head. Then, Sinon went to pull the trigger— just before that, she realized that her guess one second ago was wrong.

Kirito did not look in front. He just lowered his head down, with his body limb as if weakened, just mechanically dragging his feet forward. This was completely opposite to the "chased by ghosts" charge in his previous match, and it was a lethargic pace.

With him like that, dodging Sinon's shot was absolutely impossible. The Hecate II's bullet is shot out faster than the speed of sound, and it is too late by the time you hear the shot. And then with him looking down, of course he would not be able to see the muzzle flare.

That means— that is, Kirito did not want to avoid her shot from the start. He intended to deliberately get shot, and then lose to end the match. Once he obtained the right to enter the main tournament, whatever came after... his match with Sinon no longer mattered. That is what it means.

"...Don't, jok..."

Sinon's lips leaked out that raspy sound.

She put her finger on the trigger and applied force. The green Bullet Circle appeared, then centered on Kirito's lowered head and rapidly shrunk. The Circle's intense movement showed Sinon's chaotic heartbeat. But with only a weak breeze and a distance of only 400 meters, her shot would definitely hit.

Her index finger pushed down, and the trigger spring squeaked. And there she relaxed her finger. She pushed down again, trigger squeaked. Again relaxed.

"...Don't joke with me!!"

Her shout, was distorted like a child's crying sound.

At the same time, Sinon pulled the trigger. The 50 caliber rifle's roar filled the interior of the tour bus, and over half of the front glass filled with a white cloud then broke apart.

The bullet that came out flew through the crimson sunset in a straight line— it passed by Kirito's right cheek with over 50cm of space between them and hit the car far behind him. A fire pillar, and after that black smoke erupted.

From the pressure of the 12.7mm bullet flying by close to his head, Kirito lightly swayed. He stopped and looked up.

While Kirito looked like a girl on the surface, only a 'why did you miss?' questioning look appeared on Kirito's face. While staring at that face through the scope, Sinon pulled the bolt handle and fired again in one action.

This time, the bullet went over the top of Kirito's head and away behind him.

Reload. Pull the trigger. The third bullet hit the asphalt floor next to his black clothed right foot, leaving a big crater. Reload. Fire. Reload. Fire. Reload. Fire.

Six empty shells bounced around Sinon and disappeared after a little while.

Kirito was standing there, still unscathed, and through the scope, his eyes continued to look questioningly.

Sinon slowly stood up, her hands holding Hecate, and began to walk through the bus. She jumped out of what little remains of the front glass window onto the road and continued walking.

Tens of seconds later, when she closed to about 5 meters away from Kirito, she stopped.

Staring at the still standing black lightsaber user in the face, she breathed out.

"...Why?"

The meaning of this question, and the criticism mixed in it, seemed to reach Kirito. His black pupils shook, and again looked down at his feet.

Finally, he said without feeling, like an NPC.

"... My goal, is just to enter tomorrow's main tournament. I don't have a reason to fight beyond that."

Sinon had expected this answer. However, the feeling of 'that's why I cannot forgive' welled up in her chest, and once again, Sinon pushed out words.

"Then, you should have shot yourself with that gun right at the start of the match. Are you worried about ammo cost waste? Or do you want to give me a kill count, thinking that this way I would be satisified...!?"

To the head lowered Kirito, she took another step closer—

"Merely a VR game or merely one match, it's your choice if you feel that way! But don't force those values on me!!"

Sinon cried out in a trembling voice, and she also realized that she said something irrational.

To impose personal values ​​upon your opponent, then it's the same as what she had done. If she cannot forgive Kirito, then Sinon should have used the first round of ammunition to determine the match, and then forget about him afterwards. Instead she used 6 rounds of ammunition to threaten him, and beyond that she threw out her feelings at him face to face. On the other hand, the unreasonable one might be herself.

――However.

Even so, Sinon could not stop herself. The Hecate held in trembling hands, face distorted, and could not stop a drop of tear that leaked out of the edge of her eye.

With his back to the distant sun as it set, half of his body in shadow, Kirito's eyes were tightly closed, and his mouth was stiff.

Finally, the delicate avatar relaxed, with a weak, but with a hint of emotion, he said.

"...I too... A long time ago, I felt that I blamed someone like that..."

"..."

Kirito glanced at the silent Sinon, then he bowed his head down.

"...I'm so sorry. I was wrong. Although it is only a game, only a match, but I should still give it all I've got... otherwise, there is no meaning or qualification for me to live in this world. I, should have known that..."

There, he raised his head, the black eyes looked straight at Sinon, and the swordsman from a strange land said.

"Sinon, can you give me a chance to make it up to you? Right now, have a match with me."

From the unexpected words, Sinon momentarily forgot her anger and wrinkled her eyebrows.

"Right now, even if you say that..."

BoB's qualification and main tournament are encounter fights with unknown enemy starting locations. Since they met face to face like this without fighting, there should be no way to return to the beginning condition.

However, Kirito showed a slight smile, then pulled out the FN Five-Seven from the holster on his left waist. He used a hand gesture to stop Sinon, who was about to take position, and pulled the gun's slide once. He skillfully caught the ejected bullet in the air, then placed the pistol back into the holster.

While spinning the 5.7mm bullet with his left hand fingers, Kirito said.

"Your gun, it still has ammo, right?"

"...Yeah, only one shot left."

"Then, let's go with a duel style. Let's see... 10 meters away. You use your rifle, and I use my sword. I'll throw the bullet. When it hits the ground, we start the match. How about that?"

Surprised, or more like Sinon was stunned. Without noticing that her earlier anger had thinned, she moved her mouth.

"Look here... do you think that would even be a match? With just 10 meters apart, this Hecate's bullet will definitely hit. With my skill proficiency and stats supplement, combined with its stats, it's a sure hit distance in the system. You won't even have a chance to move your lightsaber. The result is no different from your suicide."

"We won't know till we try it."

After saying that with arrogance— Kirito's red lips showed a sharp smile.

At the moment she saw this expression, Sinon felt a jolt run through her back.

He was serious. This lightsaber user, really wanted to win against Sinon in a Western-style duel.

Indeed, the Hecate II had only one round of ammunition left in the magazine. So, he must dodge that somehow to win. He might be thinking like that, too naive. Against a sure hit and sure kill bullet, there should be no «somehow». Compared to the shopping mall «game to avoid the bullets» gunman's antique revolver, whether it is bullet speed, accuracy, or power, it is not on the same level.

But— if Kirito really did have «something», then.

I want to see it. No matter what.

The next moment, Sinon nodded and said:

"...Fine. I agree to use this approach for a showdown."

Then she turned away, took around ten steps east on the center dividing line, and then turned back to face the sun.

The distance between the two people, was just ten meters. She raised the Hecate that she was carrying, nestled the butt of a rifle against her right shoulder, and spread apart her feet in a standard shooting position.

In the real world, even the strongest person could not fire an anti-materiel rifle from a standing shooting position. But in GGO, as long as the physical abilities reach a sufficient value, it was no longer impossible. Of course, one cannot withstand the huge recoil and will fall back behind, but since she only has one bullet, this doesn't matter.

She pulled the bolt handle to place the last bullet into the chamber.

When she looked through the scope, even at the lowest magnification, Kirito's shape filled her view.

It was like the beauty of young girls, the weak and powerlessness a few minutes ago no longer existed. His obsidian like looks shone brightly, and a fearless smile on his lips.

Kirito closed the fingers on his hand that was holding the FN Five-Seven bullet and stretched that arm straight in front, as he pulled out the lightsaber on his right waist. He pressed the switch with his thumb, and it issued out a blue-white brilliant blade of energy.

Right now, the audience outside watching the F-Block final might be titling their head and wondering what those two people are doing. She did not care about that. A bullet versus a blade. With common sense, it's not a fighting match, but Sinon could really feel her tension going up.

—Sure enough, that guy has «something».

With such a direct feeling, Sinon slightly adjusted Hecate's aim.

On the other side of the reticule, Kirito spoke.

"...Then, let's start."

Then, he did not hesitate to flick the bullet into the air. The spinning bullet flew high. Light reflected by the setting sun made it shine like a ruby as it traveled into the air.

Kirito lowered his waist, placed his left foot in front and leaned half of his body forward, and the lightsaber on his right hand slanted down to the side. Even with his fingers that held the blade, there was not any feel of force; it was a relaxed posture. But even in such a stance, the delicate avatar sent out a pressure as if she was targeted at her heart by a rifle muzzle.

Sinon, as well, realized that her sensations sharply rose higher. The 5.7mm bullet moving in the air seemed very slow. Every other sound faded. She was only conscious of the existence of her body and the Hecate II. No, the distinction between those two also disappeared. The shooter and the gun had completely merged to become one, with only striking the target accurately with the bullet in mind.

From her view, the white reticule, and the green circle also disappeared.

In front of the silent swordsman in black, falling at a slow pace, was the bullet signal. Although the bullet crossed her scope and went out of sight, Sinon could feel its existence. It rolled and tumbled to the ground— The sharp bullet hit the asphalt— The game system determined the contact of the two objects, and issued an order to convey a sound effect through the AmuSphere— the signal released an electronic pulse, in Sinon's hearing—

*PING*.

At the instant of that small sound's echo, her right index finger pulled the trigger.

In the next few seconds, the phenomenon that occurred would be engraved into Sinon's accelerated consciousness with fresh color.

From the Hecate's large muzzle break came orange flames.

On the other side, the blue white lightning cut through the dusk darkness.

Shining like shooting stars, two small lights split to the left and right, flying far away.

Pushed by the anti-materiel rifle's huge recoil, while falling backwards, Sinon belatedly realized the meaning of the scene that she saw.

It was cut apart.

At the moment the bullet fell to the ground, Kirito's lightsaber slashed upwards, and cut the 50-caliber bullet that was supposed to be a fatal hit. The two shooting stars that Sinon saw, were fragments of the bullet that were cut by the high concentration energy blade, and flew past either side of Kirito behind him.

But— it should not be possible!

If he had guessed her bullet's path and swung the sword, then the result would be understandable. However, Sinon had not aimed at the avatar's center as she was supposed to, but instead, she aimed at Kirito's left leg.

Hecate is such a large-caliber gun that it has something called «impact damage» as additional damage. In this case of super-close range, even if only the wrist or foot were hit, the impact area attack will take the HP right to 0.

For Kirito who converted to GGO today, and with no knowledge about guns, he should not know about this. So, if he had guessed the bullet's path, he should certainly have only guarded the center of his body.

Even so, Kirito was able to accurately target the bullet that aimed for his left thigh with a flash of his lightsaber. That was not a gamble. Moreover, at this distance, this projectile velocity, Bullet Line assist would be useless. In the end why— How did he...?

Even overwhelmed by surprise for the moment, Sinon's hand did not stop. While she was pushed backwards, her left hand let go of the Hecate, then she reached instinctively for the MP7 at her waist.

However, he was faster than that.

Like lightning, Kirito dashed across the ten-meter gap between them and appeared in front of Sinon. The blade in his right hand hummed and dyed her view a brilliant blue.

She will be cut.

Even with that prediction, Sinon did not close her eyelids. Her open eyes saw, with a huge sunset for background, glossy black hair sway in arcs like a fan.

Then, everything stopped.

The Hecate in her right hand, and the MP7 in her left hand dangled as Sinon was deeply bended backward. However, no matter how long, she did not fall to the road. Kirito's left hand supporting her back was the reason.

And then in the swordsman's right hand was the lightsaber, held against Sinon's exposed and defenseless neck. Only the sound of the blade's plasma vibration hum, and the sound of the wind blowing afar could be heard.

With his left foot forward, Kirito was bent towards Sinon who was leaning back, just if they were enacting a scene in a dance as they were close together, and it remained paused for a while.

The dark pupils were right in front of her eyes. Until now, both in the real world and even in this virtual world, she had not allowed anyone to come this close to her. However, Sinon was not aware of this and asked in a whisper while peeking into Kirito's eyes.

"...How did you predict my aim?"

At the other end of the energy blade, he softly spoke;

"Even through the scope's lens, I saw your eye."

Eye. In other words— her line of sight.

He read the bullet's path by her line of sight, was what Kirito meant.

There was actually someone in this world who could do this. Sinon had never thought about this. A small tremble that was either terror or not travelled its way from her back to the top of her head.

So strong. Kirito's strength, had gone beyond the level of a VR game.

However, since this is the case— Why then, in the corner of the Standby Room, did he tremble so much? Why did those cold hands firmly hold on to Sinon's hand?

Sinon opened her mouth and a small voice asked.

"You are this strong. What are you afraid of?"

Then she saw the eyes of Kirito momentarily shake. After a brief silence, Kirito answered as if he was enduring something.

"This is not strength. Just skill."

At the moment she heard those words, Sinon forgot about the blade of light next to her throat and shook her head violently.

"Lies. You liar. If it was just technique, it would not be possible to cut Hecate's bullet. You should know. How did you become this strong? I... I want to know that, so..."

"Then let me ask you!"

Kirito suddenly interrupted her in a low voice, but with a blue flame like heat mixed in his voice.

"If that gun's bullet will really kill the real world player... And then, if you do not kill, either you, or someone important to you, will be killed. If that is the case, would YOU. PULL. THE. TRIGGER!?"

"...!"

Sinon forgot to breathe, and her eyes widened.

Does he know? she thought that for a moment. The mysterious visitor, did he know that Sinon's past was paint in darkness, and an incident happened?

'- No, wrong. It's not like that. Probably... this person as well, in the past...'

The left hand supporting Sinon's back became hard with tension, but soon relaxed. While his hair touched Sinon's forehead, Kirito shook his head and whispered;

"...I can no longer do that. That's why I am not strong. I... cut two people at that time, no, three people, and I do not even know their real names... I just closed my eyes, plugged my ears, and pretended to forget everything..."

Sinon did not understand what he meant.

However, she was sure of one thing. Inside Kirito, a darkness similar to Sinon's— a fear was hidden. And then probably, while he waited in the Standby Room, something happened. Something that made his supposedly buried darkness overflow.

Sinon's left hand let the MP7 fall onto the ground.

Her empty hand rose as if pulled by an invisible string, and closed near Kirito's cheek past the lightsaber blade.

Right before her fingers touched—

Unexpectedly, the usual carefree smile returned to Kirito's cheeks. His eyes still retained a painful light. Even so he shook his head, and said as if to interrupt Sinon's hand.

"—Well. It appears that I've won the match... Do you agree?"

"What...? Ah, that's..."

While she blinked as she was unable to switch her feelings, Kirito's face closed in and he whispered.

"Won't you resign? I don't like cutting a girl."

Hearing his very rude and cheeky words, Sinon finally realized her situation. In other words, she was restrained by a left hand on her back and a lightsaber at her throat, and while she was in an unmovable state in extremely close contact with Kirito, that miserable appearance— that scene, had been broadcast live to the Standby Room, Presidential Lobby, and all the pubs in Gurokken, such was the situation.

While conscious of the blood rushing to her face, Sinon spit out a retort from her clenched teeth.

"...I am thankful to have another chance to fight with you. In tomorrow's main tournament, absolutely stay alive till you encounter me."

And then she turned her face away, and loudly shouted, "I Resign!"

Match time: 18 minutes and 52 seconds.

F Group, Third Bullet of Bullets qualifying final ended.