Alpha, walked cautiously through the streets of Lindwurm, her keen senses alert for any signs of danger. With each step, she maintained a careful watch on her surroundings, her graceful movements betraying her cautious nature.
Upon reaching a quaint shop nestled in a corner, Alpha paused and peered through the window, assessing the interior before entering. Once inside, she scanned the room with a practised eye, ensuring that all was as it should be. Satisfied that the area was secure, she spoke softly, "Everything seems safe."
Suddenly, Epsilon materialized from the shadows, her presence stealthy and unexpected. She approached Alpha with a knowing smirk, remarking, "Assuming you came too fast, Lady Alpha, it seems you've accomplished your mission."
Alpha gracefully sank into the couch, her movements fluid and poised. With a serene smile, she nodded and softly replied, "Indeed."
Epsilon fixed her gaze on Alpha, her expression curious yet calculating. "So did he know anything?" she inquired, her tone tinged with intrigue.
Alpha's demeanour shifted slightly, her eyes reflecting a hint of solemnity as she recalled the encounter. "I approached Kirito carefully, questioning him about Shadow's true identity," she began, her voice measured. "He claimed to have no idea, and the manner in which he responded suggested that he had never truly considered it." She paused, her tone turning serious. "But appearances can be deceiving."
Epsilon nodded thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered Alpha's report. "Considering that Kirito and Shadow's normal identity as Cid are good friends, there's a clear possibility Kirito may know more than he lets on."
She paused, fixing her gaze on Alpha. "Kirito is a valuable ally, but if he acts clueless, he might be hiding more from us."
Alpha's expression remained composed as she responded, "I've always sought Lord Shadow's opinion on Kirito."
Curiosity flickered in Epsilon's eyes as she leaned in slightly, prompting Alpha to continue.
"He considers Kirito one of his most valuable assets," Alpha revealed, her tone unwavering. "Someone who supports him wholeheartedly and must be protected at all costs."
(Cid's brain was basically just a cash register when he dropped that line on Alpha, totally ignoring everything else except the digits Kirito was floating his way.)
"If Lord Shadow said so..." Epsilon's sentence trailed off as both of them suddenly felt a sense of dread creeping in, accompanied by the unmistakable release of immense power.
Without exchanging another word, they bolted out of the shop, their instincts urging them to flee. As they emerged onto the street, their eyes widened in horror at the sight of a large crimson-shaped clock dominating the entire sky.
"Where is that thing coming from?" Epsilon exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief and alarm.
Alpha's mind raced as she analyzed the situation. "It's centre... it's the grand arena where the Goddess's Trial is taking place," she stated, her tone urgent.
Realization dawned on Alpha's face as she continued, "Someone has just summoned a powerful spirit." The gravity of the situation settled over them like a heavy shroud, knowing that whatever was happening at the grand arena would have far-reaching consequences.
Inside the Grand Arena...
Kirito's expression hardened as he swiftly shifted into a defensive stance, his gaze fixed intently on the mysterious woman who had materialized before him. With a serious demeanour, he locked eyes with her and uttered, "So you finally decided to show up."
The woman met his gaze with a smirk, her demeanour confident and slightly amused. "I must thank you," she remarked, her voice laced with a hint of gratitude and mockery. "This wouldn't have happened without your help, my Knight."
Alexia, Beta, and Rose shot up from their seats, their faces a mixture of shock and terror as they beheld the immense crimson-shaped clock dominating the sky.
"Is that the spirit summoned by Kirito?" Beta whispered, her voice trembling with fear.
Rose gulped audibly, her eyes wide with fear. "I've never felt this kind of dread before," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alexia's hands shook as she gripped the railing in front of them, her mind reeling with disbelief. "That's definitely the spirit that answered Kirito's call," she said, her voice filled with certainty. "But who is she?"
The three of them exchanged troubled glances.
Alexia turned to Archbishop Nelson, her expression tense with urgency. "Do you have any idea who that woman is, Baldy?" she blurted out before quickly correcting herself, "I mean, Archbishop Nelson."
Nelson's gaze remained fixed on the unfolding events in the arena, his brow furrowed in deep concern. He swallowed nervously before responding, "I... I have no idea who that woman is."
His voice wavered slightly as he continued, "There are no ancient records to ever describe someone like her." Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Then Beta paused acting, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the chaotic scene unfolding before her. She took a deep breath, pushing aside her initial shock, and focused on understanding the situation.
"There must be some kind of anomaly," Beta thought to herself, furrowing her brow in concentration. "Kirito could never summon such a strong spirit on his own." She considered the possibilities.
"Perhaps the Cult might be involved in this too," she mused, her mind working through various scenarios.
As her gaze shifted back to the mysterious woman in the arena, Beta couldn't shake the feeling of unease. "I don't know who that woman is either," she admitted silently, her instincts telling her that this was unlike anything they had encountered before.
Although Beta would have assumed the woman had something to do with the Demon Diablos due to her immense power, something about her felt different. There was an aura of mystery and power surrounding her that Beta couldn't quite place, stirring a sense of apprehension deep within her.
Cid's eyes widened in surprise as he glanced towards the grand arena, his usual stoic demeanour momentarily breaking. "Well, well, well," he murmured to himself, a spark of intrigue lighting up his features. "Finally, something truly intriguing is happening."
Turning his attention to Kirito, Cid's expression softened momentarily before morphing into a smirk. "Poor Kirito," he remarked, his voice tinged with amusement. "But this... this is the Main Event."
Leaning back in his chair, Cid's smirk widened as he continued, "This is the part where the main villain makes its grand entrance in the story." He chuckled softly to himself, thoroughly entertained by the unfolding chaos in the arena.
"In normal circumstances," Cid began, his tone contemplative, "I'd relish this opportunity to swoop in as Shadow, lending a heroic hand to Kirito. But you see," he paused, crossing his arms with a wry grin, "that's a taboo."
His expression turned serious as he continued, "When the main villain makes their grand entrance, it's all about being cool, dark, and badass. Intervening would just spoil the show."
Cid's gaze drifted towards the mysterious woman in the arena, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And if she's the one who aided Kirito in the battles against me," he remarked, a note of respect evident in his voice, "she's far too much of a hassle to deal with directly."
With a resigned shrug, Cid leaned back in his chair, content to watch the chaos unfold from the sidelines, at least for now.
Kirito's voice rang out, cutting through the tension in the grand arena. "What is your name? And what do you want from me?" he demanded, his eyes fixed on the mysterious woman before him.
The woman let out a melodious laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she regarded Kirito. "Names are but mere labels, my Knight," she replied cryptically, her voice carrying an otherworldly quality. "You seek to grasp the concept of identity, yet you fail to understand its true nature."
"You humans cling to labels and names as if they define your existence," she remarked, her voice dripping with disdain. "But beings like me transcend such trivialities. We are beyond your comprehension, existing in realms far beyond your limited understanding."
Her gaze bore into Kirito's, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly wisdom. "Remember, Kirito Kuroha, names are but whispers in the wind, fleeting and inconsequential in the vast expanse of the universe."
The mysterious woman's laughter echoed through the grand arena, her eyes twinkling with an enigmatic glimmer. "But fear not, my Knight," she declared with a tantalizing smile. "Despite your ignorance, I shall bestow upon you a favour."
Her demeanour shifted as she continued, her voice carrying a weight of centuries past. "Throughout my existence, mortals have bestowed upon me many names," she revealed, her gaze piercing through Kirito's defences. "One of them... was Kurumi Tokisaki."
With a sudden flourish, a Flintlock pistol and a Musket materialized in each of her hands, their presence ominous yet alluring. "As for my intentions," she murmured, her voice tinged with a hint of mischief, "let's just say we have some... little problems to solve together."
Kirito narrowed his eyes at Kurumi, his grip tightening on his sword as he spoke with resolve, "That explains nothing." He pointed his blade directly at her, ready to defend himself against any threat.
Kurumi's smirk widened at his response, a glint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Then perhaps we should intertwine our talking with some action too," she replied smoothly, her tone dripping with mischief.
With a dramatic flourish, Kurumi assumed a poised stance, her gaze fixed on Kirito as she shouted, "Zakfiel!"
As the command left her lips, the huge crimson-shaped clock in the sky began to shine with an ominous light, casting an eerie glow over the arena.
Kurumi levelled her musket at Kirito, a sly smile playing on her lips as she taunted, "Shall we?" Her eyes gleamed with anticipation, eager for the confrontation to begin.
Kirito vanished from Kurumi's sight, utilizing his expert stealth techniques to reposition himself. However, before he could make his move, Kurumi's voice cut through the air with a mixture of amusement and reproach.
"Getting sneaky from the start isn't very honourable, my Knight," Kurumi chided, her tone playful yet tinged with a hint of warning.
In a flash, Kirito reappeared behind Kurumi, poised to strike. But to his astonishment, Kurumi acted with fast reflexes, swiftly turning to face him with a mischievous grin spreading across her lips.
Before Kirito could react, Kurumi pointed her pistol at her own head, causing him to freeze in confusion. "What are you..." Kirito began, his words trailing off as he struggled to comprehend her actions.
With a casual yet confident demeanour, Kurumi simply uttered, "Aleph," before pulling the trigger, sending a shockwave of disbelief coursing through Kirito's mind.
As Kurumi disappeared from Kirito's sight, he quickly scanned the area, trying to discern her whereabouts. But before he could make sense of the situation, he felt the chilling touch of cold metal pressing against the back of his head.
His muscles tensed as he realized Kurumi had outmanoeuvred him once again. "What now...?"
Kurumi's voice cut through the tense silence, teasing yet dangerous.
"Should I pull the trigger?" she taunted, her tone laced with amusement.
Kirito's grip tightened on his sword as he contemplated his next move. Without turning to face her, he swiftly caught the hilt of his sword in a reverse grip and lunged backwards in a lightning-fast motion, aiming for where he anticipated Kurumi to be.
But Kurumi was equally quick on her feet, gracefully dodging his attack with a fluid movement. The air crackled with tension as Kirito's blade sliced through empty space, narrowly missing its target.
Kurumi's laughter echoed through the arena as she evaded his strike effortlessly. "Oh, my Knight, always so eager to dance with danger," she remarked, her voice tinged with amusement.
With a fierce determination burning in his eyes, Kirito surged forward, his sword flashing in the dim light of the grand arena as he unleashed a flurry of rapid stabs towards Kurumi. Each strike was precise and calculated, aimed at exploiting any opening in her defences.
But Kurumi moved with a fluid grace that defied the laws of physics, effortlessly dodging each of Kirito's attacks with a nonchalant ease.
As Kirito struggled to keep up with Kurumi's evasive manoeuvres, she spoke with a playful yet taunting tone. "My Knight, do you remember the pain you endured before facing Shadow the last time?" she teased, her voice echoing in the cavernous arena.
Kirito's grip tightened on his sword, his expression hardening with resolve. "You made me go through hell," he growled, his voice laced with simmering anger.
But Kurumi merely smirked in response, her eyes gleaming with a knowing glint. "Efficiency, my Knight," she remarked cryptically, her tone dripping with amusement. "By witnessing many possible futures, you were able to overpower Shadow with ease."
Kirito's breath caught in his throat as a realization dawned upon him, his eyes widening in shock as he stared at Kurumi. "Don't tell me you're doing that right now," he uttered, his voice barely above a whisper, disbelief colouring his tone.
Kurumi's smirk widened into a knowing grin as she met Kirito's gaze, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "My dear Knight, I already know every possible outcome for this battle," she declared, her voice dripping with confidence.
A sense of dread washed over Kirito as he realized the extent of Kurumi's foresight, feeling like a helpless bird ensnared in her intricate web of schemes.
Kirito's movements grew sluggish as he felt the weight of defeat settling upon him like a suffocating cloak. "What... what the hell are you?" he muttered, his voice trembling with a mixture of frustration and disbelief.
Kurumi gracefully landed on the ground, her gaze fixed on Kirito with a serene yet enigmatic expression. "Don't get me wrong, my dear Knight," she replied, her voice soft yet filled with an underlying edge of certainty. "I have predicted every move you would make up until this very yoctosecond."
A sly grin spread across Kurumi's lips as she continued, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "And do you know why, Kazuto Kirigaya?" she asked, her tone teasing yet tinged with a hint of superiority. "Because I am the one who transfered you into this world."
As the battle rages on, a shocking revelation emerges, adding fuel to the already intense flames.
A Bit of Trauma:
After the intense battle with Kirito, Shadow, consumed by rage, vented his emotions by unleashing his destructive power on the largest clock tower in the Midgar capital, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.