Jaymes

Llenn shudders as she continues to look at the cabin with her scope. "Sh-She wiped out all of them. Pito killed all six by herself."

Fuka's mouth drops like a dead weight. "No way!" Zeliska and Kureha hide their true feelings on the matter, if they're even stunned by the feet. I'm not surprised she did so; this is Pitohui we're talking about, and I have been on the receiving end before, but how did she do it? I guess she was watching me fling around a sword. But the one truly in fear is Llenn. We might have witnessed what happened, but she will have to face Pito alone. She will have to beat that monster.

"Master, scan incoming." We circle around Rei as what may just be the final scan of the tournament...

xxxxxxx

?

"This will probably be the final scan."

"Just four teams left, huh?"

"PM4's got this in the bag."

"Llenn's chances are just as good!"

"Did those T-S guys move to the rampart?"

"I get the sense they'll snipe from there and move again."

The masked figure watches as the scan shows the remaining four teams on the map. PM4, SHINC, and LF/Crimson Squad are centered in the middle, with T-S on the side. Crimson and T-S have the advantage, for neither team (to his knowledge of T-S) has lost a member or more than one. For some reason, Crimson and SHINC teamed up against PM4, something he did not expect. While he cannot speak for SHINC, he can speak for the six members of Crimson; they're being overly cautious.

"That makes me sick," the woman at a nearby table says. "If they were real men, they'd clash head-to-head! Other than M and Jaymes, the rest are women!"

She has a point, but he sees it from a different standpoint. Crimson Squad is not the ambusher type. Reckless and aggressive, sure, but never been one to wait and see once they have a target. Furthermore, the captain and vice-captain of the squad have never been ones for patience. What has changed over the last four months? It is interesting, to say the least.

The crowd is right, either Jaymes or Pitohui will take the win, but his money is on Jaymes. After all, in every tale he's read and watched, the hero and his comrades never fail.

xxxxxxx

Sinon, ALO

"Crimson, PM4, SHINC, and that T-S team." Klein leans back as he sips on a glass of juice. "Three teams at one spot. One of them is Jaymes'. One is the team of ladies. The other, a homicidal maniac."

Lisbeth clutches her fists. "Jaymes got this. They eliminate the group of brutes in panties, take out the maniac and her lapdog, then those armored bozos, we win!"

Philia chuckles. "That's one way to word it, huh? But why are they still hiding? They have the advantage, don't they?"

Agil nods. "That woman is crazy but skilled, yet no one handles a sword as Jaymes does. No offense to you guys and gals who also take the art of the sword."

Kirito sighs. "None taken... However, Sinon, you don't look like someone anticipating victory. As a matter of fact, you've been quiet ever since that woman was wounded. We know she's part of your squad, but I thought you'd be happy to see Jaymes' win."

Sinon sighs and shakes her head. "No, I am happy to see Crimson Squad is about to win. Despite the advantage, it's...the reason they're staying in place, why they and SHINC are not finishing off PM4 right now. They can't freely attack Pitohui because of its risk."

"Risk?"

"Mhm. Pitohui has declared that if she dies in the game, she will die in real life. When she nearly died earlier, that was why I was apprehensive. But I don't think it's just that keeping them in place. Jaymes and Kureha, as we all know, love to take the fight to the enemy, and the rest of the team is the same. The plan was to have Llenn fight Pitohui, thinking she was the only one who could convince Pito not to kill herself. But if Llenn is also hesitant on that, there's something else beyond Pito's skills that's making that team steady...the 'how', I believe."

"There's only one thing that makes Jaymes hesitant to attack another player," Philia analyzes, "and only once has he lowered that mentality down. That was in SAO, when we all wore NerveGears."

Silica gasps. "Is that even possible?"

"Not out of the realm of possibility," Kirito says.

Sinon leans forward, chin on her fingers as SHINC begins to charge the cabin. "Whatever the possibility is, if that's a consideration, Jaymes may be forced into a corner, but... He's not the hero in this story. Llenn is."

xxxxxxxx

Llenn

"Everyone," Llenn cries out in desperation, "B-Boss and her team are just charging in!"

"Oh," Fuka says in interest.

"That's suicidal! If we don't cooperate, we can take her down! A plan! We need a plan!"

"Then I'll go, too!" Fuka enthusiastically raises Rightony. "Just watch! We'll capture Pito alive, wrap her in a bamboo mat, and bring her here. Hehe!"

As Fuka runs out the thicket, Llenn calls out to her, but it falls on deaf ears. Feeling defeated, she turns to Jaymes and the rest of the team, the four of them staying in place. "Why are you four still here?"

Kureha clicks her tongue. "Actually...we're about to go. But don't worry, you got this. It's just Pitohui."

"Huh?"

Jaymes sighs and turns away from Llenn. "Llenn, the battle here comes between you and Pito. There's no reason for us to interfere anymore. If anything, she'll come to you. But I still want a chance to win this, after all, so we're leaving Fuka to you, and we're taking down T-S."

Llenn opens her mouth to speak against the plan, but finds no reason to do so. Jaymes is right, there's no reason for them to stay if Pito does come out. They did join to win the tournament, after all. They have their chance here and now...and so does she. "Fine. But, sir, after I beat Pito and you guys finish off T-S, you're paying my meal in the real world, got it!"

Kureha grins. "No problem for Jaymes. I'll add the entire team to that bet."

"Huh? Wait, Kureha!"

"Aw, Jaymes, look at Llenn. You're abandoning her and Fuka to chase your dreams. This is the least you can do. As for me and Zeliska, you're dragging two beautiful women to a firefight for your own gain. Now tell me if what I ask is fair or not. What do you say, Rei?"

Rei nods. "Fair is fair, Master."

Jaymes sighs and glares at the woods. "...FIne. But you better beat that devil, Llenn. Plan is still the same if you don't, that has not changed." Llenn nods, and the leader of Crimson Squad leads the rest deeper into the forest. Frustrated with the turn of events, Llenn takes a step forward, only to trip on her feet. Did... Did Fuka tie Llenn's left shoe to her discarded cannon?

"That idiot! Fuka! This... Dammit! This..."

"Calm down! Take your time untying them."

"Fuka! What are you thinking? Don't go alone!"

"Anyone who can undo that knot shall become the king of the world! Hahahaha! Hehehehe!"

"Did you tie a Gordian, Fuka?"

"Maybe we should have undone the knot before we left."

"No, Zeliska, no we shouldn't have."

xxxxxxxx

Pito

"Four Amazons are charging. Distance: 400. They're getting closer. Waiting on the leader's orders."

PIto chuckles as she acknowledges M's report while setting up her own sniper rifle. Looking through the scope, she catches sight of a lone Fukaziroh, the grenadier jogging along. "I've got one, too. Fukaziroh is gleefully approaching, rather boldy. But I don't see Llenn, Leader, or the rest of the team, you know? What do you think, former leader?"

"It's a desperate plan of attack. I can't tell what their intention is. It's like they're begging to be shot. But you say Fuka is the only one of Crimson out there? That's like her, but for Jaymes and Kureha to be hiding as well, that's...not them at all."

"Creepy, isn't it? I wonder if they have an ulterior motive."

"Still we should thin their ranks while we can."

"I guess that's all we can do! Then here are your orders. Wipe them out, without hesitation." Pito presses the trigger, her bullet ricocheting off Fuka's hard helmet, but it knocks the girl on the ground for a moment. Pito scoffs as she reloads her rifle. "It's not fair when they're so short! How are you doing?"

"I took one down."

"Well, then, finish them off."

xxxxxxx

Llenn

"Dammit!" Llenn's frustration turns to rage as Boss is shot down, eliminating SHINC from the game. Fuka is still in danger, she still hasn't undone the knot...Oh, she is making all six human members of Crimson Squad pay.

"Are you still at it, Alexander the Great? Like I said, anyone who can undo that knot shall become king of the world!"

Llenn groans as she takes her combat knife and starts to cut. "I got it!...Fuka?" The other girl suddenly yelps, then a moment of silence before yelping again. "Fuka! Fuka!"

"Pito shot my feet off. Damn. Hey, Chief, Zel, Rei, and Ms. Panties Up The Ass, how are things on your end?"

"We're still making our way to the other team. Oh, is Kureha Ms. Panties Up the A-"

"Don't you dare say it, Rei."

"Ahh. Oh, there goes my hand. I wish I could hand it to Pito, hehe! Why not kill me? Ow! Is she doing this on purpose? Ugh... L-Llenn, my partner, listen to me carefully. Looks like I can't go on."

Llenn pokes her out from behind the bushes. "It's because you charged in recklessly!"

"But I have no regrets or misgivings!

"You should!"

"I think this is better than sitting around hesitating like you were doing, Llenn! You even let the Arfa-Sys outshine you now! I did what I could. I bet Boss and them are satisfied, too."

"Dammit! I should've at least killed Pito right away when we didn't know about the NerveGear! We were positioned the farthest away, and then people got in the way. My ammo supply went down, and when we finally got to her team, she was as strong as a monster! As I tried to think of a strategy, everyone just did what they wanted and were eventually killed or went off to another team. And yet here I am, shaking, unable to do anything... Ahhh! Enough! I don't care what happens to Pito! I'm just gonna win this! I'm not gonna die! What do I care if Pito gets eliminated? Enough worrying about that! I don't have to stress about this crap! If I die, I die!"

"So what are you gonna do?"

"Kill!"

"Kill who?"

"Pito!"

"How?"

Llenn picks up her gun and runs out into the open towards the cabin. "Hell if I know! I don't know how I'm gonna do it, but I'm gonna shoot her to death! A knife would be okay, too! Any other way would be okay, too! But I'm gonna kill Pito!"

"Umm, Llenn... Master?"

"Llenn, kill that bitch."

"Yes, sir! Alright, let's go, P-chan! Let's murder Pito!"

xxxxxxxxx

Pito

"There," Pito excitedly exclaims as the form of Llenn appears in her scope.

"I see her, too. Llenn."

"Remember, she's mine! The rest of Crimson Squad is yours. If you kill her, I'll kill you... Wait, is she running away?" True enough, Llenn, has turned tail and begun to run in the opposite direction. "No way! I don't believe this! This is unbelievable!" Pito rises up and runs out the room. "Let's go after her! Come on!"

"What about Fuka?"

"We can finish her after!"

"But if she regains the use of her arms and legs...and the fact Jaymes and the others are still hiding..."

"Shut up." Pito swiftly kicks M in the gonads, causing him to drop to his knees.

"But how are we gonna catch Llenn when she's running at full speed?"

"I know! Llenn runs as fast as a car, right?"

"So?"

"So it's obvious!"

xxxxxxx

Llenn

So M and Pito took the bait and are coming after her? Excellent, and even more, they didn't execute Fukaziroh or try to figure out where Zeliska, Kureha, Rei, and Jaymes are. Oh, and they have one of the armored vehicles...and they're catching up fast.

Llenn runs up to the edge of a lake, then turns around and charges the vehicle with P-chan and her knife out. "Come and get me, Pitohui!" Though she can't hear the woman, seeing her cut the turret off the car and hold her photon sword out while standing in the car is frightening. Jaymes would get a kick out of this. However, Llenn does hope Pito didn't expect her to leap over the car.

M continues to drive as the car zooms over Llenn's prone form, causing Pito to call her out for it. So she did expect Llenn to jump...crazy bitch. Llenn responds with gunfire, distracting the swordswoman and her driver long enough to watch them drive into the lake. "It worked!" Or so Llenn thinks, because after reloading, she sees the car still mobile. The lake was shallow in depth, allowing M to maneuver it back onto land and charge towards Llenn.

Well, this time, she jumped.

Pito and M's faces are shocked as Llenn smirks and opens fire on the car's interior. As she lands, the car turns, and Pito pokes her upper body out of the gunner's chamber. "I missed?"

"And now, it's over." Llenn runs into the shallow lake, dodging Pito's gunfire until one catches her in the leg. She tumbles across the pool, laying on her back. Her health is low but not yet critical. Pito may be right; this could be the end.

"Llenn?"

"J-Jaymes?"

"I don't remember ordering you to lose."

"But..."

"Once upon a time, a dying girl told me to stand up and live and fight until my health reached zero. I am giving you the same order."

"Llenn, you can't give up!"

"You still have a chance!"

"You can do it, Llenn!"

"I'm on my way now! Llenn! If you're alive, answer me!"

Wait... Fuka? Llenn glances at the health bars, seeing Fuka's back in the white. Llenn raises her gun and shoots up in the air on single-burst, hoping Fukaziroh can hear it. She can see the car slowly creeping down to Llenn on her peripheral. "So, do you have any last words, Llenn? As a matter of fact, do tell that leader of ours that I'm coming after him next, wherever he is! No? Nothing? Then... Huh?" An explosion sends water flying between Llenn and the car. "What? Fukaziroh!" Pitohui turns her attention to Fukaziroh, who drives a car on her own and is charging towards M and Pito's. Fuka dodges the reversing vehicle and puts herself between Llenn and the enemy.

"Hey, girl! Y'all want a ride in my stylin' super-car?"

Llenn chuckles and takes Fuka's hand. "I'll get a ride."

"Don't think you're going home tonight."

"I don't care where we go, but step on it."

Fuka nods and steps on the pedal. "You got it! I wonder if this world has any love hotels? Maybe Chief and Ms. Pole Up The Ass knows, eh?"

"Fukaziroh!"

Fuka chuckles. "Sheesh, Jaymes, you must be so bad you got her screaming another person's name."

"You are going to kill me, Fuka. But good to see you're up, Llenn. We got visual on T-S, so we'll wait on the results of your fight before we take the fight to them."

Llenn nods. "Gotcha... Wait, Fuka, when did you get a license?"

"Oh, I sometimes play a driving game with another account."

"And you're in GGO all the time, so how in love with games are you?"

"It's paying off, right?"

"Y-Yeah. I'm sure that's how Jaymes is so good, too."

Fuka smiles and fires a grenade outside. "Quell the crushing of our captain, Llenn. You'll get your date soon enough!"

Llenn blushes but heeds Fuka's advice as she takes one of the grenade launchers. "Fuka, if I throw your grenades, will they explode?"

"Not unless you fire them."

"Aw." Two explosions rock the girls' car in succession. Pito must be throwing grenades herself. Llenn rises to the gunner's position and begins shooting at Pito. The other woman throws a grenade, which Llenn fires up and causes it to explode in the air. Pito drops back inside of the car as the other vehicle slows down. "I did it!"

"Llenn! Ahead of us!"

"Huh? What is that?"

Fuka shrugs at the sight of the large pillar of water. "Don't ask me!"

Llenn winces as some droplets land on her face. "It's hot! It's a geyser! Fuka, get us out of here!"

"I can't," Fuka screams as she does her best to avoid the erupting geysers, but that's not why she can't do so. "The gas is empty!"

Llenn turns to the other car, both vehicles side by side. "Well, in that case, ram them!" She holds her gun ready as Pito rises back out. As the cars bump into each other, Llenn and Pito leap out to the ground. Llenn heaves her gun up and sprints towards Pito. PIto takes the two pistols off her hip and fires, hitting Llenn in her left arm. Llenn fires back before Pito hits the rifle and exposes Llenn to two bullet lines. Llenn quickly holds her gun in front of her, protecting herself from the bullets until she gets close enough to Pito to jump and step on the woman's face. Pito tries to shoot back, but Llenn kicks the pistols away.

"All right," Pito says as she is grounded, her nose bleeding, her eyes on a frowning Llenn. "That's my Llenn! You're so irresistible! So irresistible... I wanna kill you!"