The Revenge

The atmosphere was heavy in the Moonlight Black Cats' guild house. Kirito sat quietly, his mind replaying the horrific scenes from the night before. Tetsuo's death had hit them all hard. Silica and Sachi were tearful, while Keita tried to remain composed, though his clenched fists betrayed his emotions.

"We need to inform Klein and Asuna's guild," Keita finally said, breaking the silence. Kirito nodded, though his heart felt like a stone in his chest. They had to stay strong, despite the pain.

Later that morning, the news spread. Klein clenched his jaw, swearing under his breath. Asuna's expression was one of sorrow when she heard, and Shino, too, was deeply affected. She had come to respect Tetsuo, and the loss was personal.

"Johnny Black..." Kirito muttered. The name now held a chilling significance for all of them. It was a name that would forever be associated with the brutality they had witnessed. They all agreed on one thing: the Moonlight Black Cats needed protection. The Knights of the Blood immediately arranged security, with Asuna taking charge.

"For now, no one goes out alone," Asuna ordered. "We'll guard you until we find a way to deal with Laughing Coffin."

Back in his room, Kirito was restless. The images of Tetsuo's death plagued his mind. Suddenly, a message notification popped up. His heart sank when he saw the sender—Johnny Black.

"Come to the 74th floor," the message read. "If you do, we won't bother your guild anymore. Fail, and there won't be a second chance."

Kirito felt a cold determination settle over him. He quickly donned his armor and equipped his weapons. Looking around to ensure no one was watching, he opened his window and jumped out, landing softly on the ground below. He sneaks away to the Teleport gate. He then teleported to the 74th floor, his heart pounding with resolve.

The area was eerily quiet as Kirito approached the spot where Tetsuo had been killed. He was not alone for long. From the shadows emerged the members of Laughing Coffin, led by Poh. The sight of him ignited a fury in Kirito's heart. He saw his friend's murders. Kuradeel was also there with them. Kirito's anger rose as he remembered that Kuradeel trying to kill Shino. 

"Brave of you to come alone," Kuradeel sneered. The other members of Laughing Coffin chuckled darkly, their weapons ready.

A moment of silence. All of them are well aware of their business. None of them needed reasoning at all. Many evil eyes fell upon Kirito. Kirito is well aware that he is going to be killed here and he doesn't trust them to leave any one of his friends alone. So he wished to take done at least one of these enemies so that his friends wouldn't struggle more.

Kirito raised his hand. "Wait. Before you attack, I have a request. I'd rather die in battle than be tortured to death. Let the strongest among you fight me one-on-one."

The members of Laughing Coffin exchanged glances, confusion evident. Then, a tall figure stepped forward. It was Poh, the feared leader of the guild.

"I'll take you on," Poh declared with a twisted grin. "No one else interferes. Let's see if you're as tough as you think."

The battle began with a clash of steel. Poh was relentless, his strikes powerful and precise. Kirito parried and countered, but he could feel the weight of Poh's experience pressing down on him. Yet, he didn't back down. Every move Poh made was met with a fierce resistance from Kirito.

As the fight dragged on, Poh's amusement turned to genuine respect. Kirito was not just holding his ground—he was pushing Poh to his limits. Poh decided to up the stakes, channeling his dark elemental magic into his sword. Kirito was momentarily overwhelmed, but he refused to give in.

"I won't lose!" Kirito shouted, unleashing his dual-blade skill. His swords danced in a blur of motion, catching Poh off guard. The tide of the battle shifted as Kirito began to overwhelm the leader of Laughing Coffin.

The other members watched in shock as Poh, their unshakeable leader, struggled against Kirito. The fight became a blur of furious swordplay and raw elemental power. Poh used his dark magic, but Kirito countered with his own—lightning and fire surged through his blades as he charged for the final strike.

In a flash, they crossed each other. Silence fell as Poh's body began to disintegrate, split cleanly in two by Kirito's final blow. Poh's smile shattered at that moment. Kirito fell to his knees, utterly exhausted.

Kuradeel, seeing an opportunity, rushed at Kirito, sword raised. But before he could strike, an arrow whizzed passed Kirito and pierced through Kuradeel's forehead, sending him flying instantly. Kirito looked up in shock to see Shino, her bow still raised from a distant perch. Her shot had been perfect. It was a 200m shot that appeared like a machine gunshot. Kuradeel's mind went perfectly blank at that moment when Kuradeel's body disintegrated into data fragments. His face expressions before the death were so satisfying to watch. 

Just as Red-Eyed XaXa of Laughing Coffin prepared to execute Kirito, Asuna appeared, her rapier flashing as she intercepted the attack. In moments, the rest of the Moonlight Black Cats, Klein's guild, and the Knights of the Blood swarmed the area, joining the battle.

The ensuing fight was brutal and chaotic, with both sides fighting with everything they had. But Kirito and his allies were driven by a deep need for revenge. One by one, the members of Laughing Coffin fell, until none remained. Those who tried to flee were swiftly cut down.

As the dust settled, Kirito stood amidst the carnage, bloodied but victorious. He felt a deep sense of relief, but also a crushing guilt.

"I'm sorry... for causing you all so much trouble," Kirito said quietly to his comrades.

"We're just glad you're safe," Asuna replied with a gentle smile. Silica, who had followed Kirito from the guild house, explained how she had informed the others of his location.

They celebrated their hard-won victory in a nearby tavern. As the night wound down, Shino approached Kirito when he was alone.

"I'm sorry for how I treated you before," Shino said, her voice sincere. There was deep silence for some time. Kirito stared at her face for some time. Then Kirito smiled softly and forgave her, though he kept the secret of the video that could have changed everything.

Around the corner, Asuna was staring at Kirito. She saw how he fought his enemy. He compared Kirito with his past. She liked the way he stood up bravely for his friends. His growth made an impression on her. Asuna joined Shino and Kirito, praising Kirito for his bravery. Shino noticed the affectionate look Asuna gave him and felt a pang of jealousy. She quickly dragged Asuna away, giving Kirito a playful glare.

Kirito watched them leave, confusion written across his face. He couldn't help but smile at their antics. But as he turned to head home, memories of past rejections flooded his mind, leaving him feeling hollow and tired. He let out a deep sigh and walked back to his room, the weight of the day heavy on his shoulders. He changed his clothes and slowly laid down on the hot bathtub. He relaxed. then one thought got stuck in his mind again. He became a murderer again. But this time it was worth it. 

He closed his eyes and almost fell asleep. Then suddenly he was awakened by a message sound. He checks it. It was from Shino. She asks him whether they can meet up tomorrow. Kirito was little surprised. Then he typed "Yes, sure."