The Hidden Player

Chapter 24: The End Of The World

"I will say this I predicted that Kirito would be the final one to battle me at the end, that is why I designed the Dual Sword skill" Heathcliff said. Heathcliff looked over to me "but then you showed up Shi, I had not expected that someone such as you would become the dagger of the people, killing all of the evil players who prayed on the innocent of this world, I needed to create a skill for you so I created the Sword of Eden skill" Heathcliff added.

I scoffed "well no shit Sherlock I'm full of surprises" I remarked. "Well I was suprised by the both of the growth that happened to the two of you it impressed me, I guess sudden turn of events like these are what makes RPGs fun" Heathcliff said. Is arrogance irritated me he thought that this was all a game. The hell he put us through to get this far.

At that moment one of the Knights of the Blood Oath tried to attack Heathcliff out of anger saying that he strung them along and played them for fools. However Kayaba quickly opened his own personal menu and paralyzed his attacker. He would then paralyze everyone else except for Kirito. However thanks to my special ring it didn't work on me I instead pretended to be paralyzed. "That won't work Shi I won't let you get the drop on me again" Heathcliff said.

I got up and joined Kirito "I had to try" I said. "Will you kill all of us to keep your identity a secret?" Kirito asked "yeah how much of a sore loser are you?" I asked. "No I will not kill you all, instead I will await you all in the ruby palace on the 100th floor" Heathcliff answered. "Since I am a fair person I will reward both you and Kirito for figuring out my identity" Heathcliff said. "If the two of you manage to beat me in a duel the game will be cleared and all of the remaining players will be set free" Heathcliff said.

Asuna and Miko pled for the two of us to deny the challenge and to fall back. I began to have flashbacks seeing all of those who died how I couldn't save them. Kirito and I look at each other "what do you say old pal?" I asked "this won't be like the beta" Kirito said I laughed "didn't I get higher than you in the beta?" I asked "yeah whatever" Kirito said. "Well gentlemen what do you say?" Heathcliff asked "we both except the duel" I answered "yeah we except" Kirito said.

Kirito apologized to Asuna for not running away I apologized as well to Miko saying that if there was a way to save her, Lis and Nilo now I was going to take it. Agil and Klein began to beg us to not fight as well. Kirito and I thanked Agil for helping players on the middle floors level up. We then apologized to Klein for leaving him that day the day this all began. Klein began to cry saying that he wouldn't forgive us until we bought him a drink in the real world. Kirito requested that if he were to die that Heathcliff would make sure that Asuna wouldn't kill herself. Heathcliff actually excepted I then asked him to not allow Miko to kill herself and to allow Lis and Nilo to have the help they would need if I died. Heathcliff also agreed to my request surprisingly enough.

Miko and Asuna began to cry telling us that it wasn't fair that we could die but not them. Heathcliff then lowered his health to match ours and removed his Immortal Object status. "You know sometimes I wish that my wishes didn't come true" I said as I equipped my tomahawk. Kirito elbowed me "come on Shi we need to take this seriously" he said. I sighed "I am I am, I just get like this when faced with a life threatening situation" I said.

Then and there the final battle began between Kirito and I against Heathcliff AKA Akihiko Kayaba. At the start it seemed like our speeds were evenly matched. We both knew that we couldn't use our special skills since Kayaba had designed them and programed the moves. We decided to use our own skills to fight him. My eyes glowed purple and I began to see Kayaba's moves more easily. "Assassin's Lie, what a shameful skill I can't believe I let you keep it" Heathcliff said.