January 13, 2024. 9:53 p.m. — Tympoil, Floor 7

  Akari and Silver were in her room, seated across from each other at the small table. Akari had the map of Floor 45 open and was manipulating it with the same precision Veget used when planning party movements.

  —The Rocky Desert is already considered the most dangerous zone in the tower —she explained, focused. —The way the cliffs are laid out makes it a paradise for ambushes and a nightmare for anyone trying to cross it. Just in the last week, six parties have been attacked. Four confirmed deaths.

  Silver nodded.

  —That’s not many deaths, considering the number of assaults.

  Akari glanced at him at the cold remark.

  —Laughing Coffin is the most dangerous PK group, but they’re not the only ones. There are smaller bands that prefer to injure players and rob them. Even if they don’t kill them outright, they strip them of gear and survival items in wild zones. Some are lucky enough to run into another group and make it back alive. Others aren’t.

  She paused.

  —We won’t be able to bring justice to everyone who’s fallen… but we have to try.

  She looked at him with conviction. She meant every word.

  Silver held her gaze, and suddenly a thought pierced through him.

  —You’ve never told me exactly what happened.

  —What do you mean? —Akari asked, surprised.

  —With your party.

  She studied him for a long moment, as if searching for hidden intent in his expression.

  —If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine —he added.

  Akari shook her head.

  —No. You’ve told me so much about Yuiha. It’s only fair I tell you about them.

  She leaned back in her chair and let out a heavy breath, as though she needed to gather strength.

  —I met them on Floor 17. Before that, I’d drifted through different parties, but never stayed long. There was always some idiot who confused traveling together with shameless flirting. I guess that’s the downside of being pretty. —She smiled faintly, trying to lighten the memory.

  Silver listened with absolute focus.

  —I ran into them by chance. I’d already been trapped here for over six months, and I trusted my skills completely. I decided to explore the boss labyrinth, even though it had already been cleared, hoping to find hidden treasure.

  She looked toward the window. The moon hung motionless over Aincrad.

  —I found a chest in a room so narrow it felt like a hallway. I was so excited I didn’t question how absurdly easy it was to find. I opened it… and the entire room lit up with red flashes. Out of nowhere, a massive minotaur appeared, completely blocking the path. There was no way to dodge it. For an agility-based player like me, a confined space is a death trap.

  She pressed her hands to her chest.

  —I started screaming for help. I knew it was useless, but I couldn’t do anything else. The minotaur hit with brutal force. I tried to parry… and the impact knocked my sword from my hands. I thought I was going to die.

  She looked back at him. In her lavender eyes, there was more than sadness.

  —Then I heard someone shout. A player’s voice. I couldn’t make out what he said, but I saw a purple crystal fly over the monster. It landed behind me and opened a portal. Can you believe that? A Corridor Crystal. The most expensive item in the game… used to save a stranger he hadn’t even seen. What kind of idiot does that?

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Tears rolled down her cheeks, though she was still smiling.

  Silver felt his throat tighten. His mind screamed that it was exactly the kind of thing Yuiha would’ve done without hesitation.

  —I didn’t know where the corridor led. But anywhere was better than dying there. I stepped through… and appeared outside the trap. Three players were waiting. One came over and asked if I was okay. That’s when my strength gave out. I collapsed, crying, and he held me. He didn’t try to take advantage. His embrace was warm. Protective. He told me everything was okay.

  Akari wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

  —That’s how I joined their party. His name was Drownit. He used a one-handed sword but never got comfortable with a shield. The other two were Wallee, our tank, and Rondal, who wielded a two-handed axe. The three of them took care of me. For the first time, I felt safe.

  She adjusted her hair before continuing.

  —Drownit was always watching out for me. Made sure I had potions. Made sure I didn’t overextend. He never asked for anything in return. And I… —she swallowed—started to feel something for him. And I never got the chance to say it.

  She covered her face and broke down.

  —That day… we were coming back from a dungeon on Floor 29. We hadn’t found anything special, but it had been a good day. Rondal made us stop. He shouted for whoever was hiding to come out. Five players stepped from the trees, all wearing hoods. I thought they were just going to rob us… until I saw the biggest one. That massive knife.

  Silver went rigid.

  —It was PoH. The leader of Laughing Coffin. We knew instantly there wouldn’t be any negotiation. Wallee died fighting. Then one of them, Xaxa, the one with the mask, said if we fought each other, they’d let the winner live.

  Akari’s face shattered.

  —Rondal cursed at them. And then… Drownit stabbed him in the back. Mortally wounded him. Rondal looked at him, confused, while those monsters laughed and clapped.

  Her voice broke.

  —Drownit’s cursor turned orange. He walked toward me. I thought he was going to kill me. And I didn’t care. I owed him my life. I closed my eyes… and felt the sword I was still holding sink into something. I opened them… and saw he’d run himself through with my blade. Before he disappeared, he smiled. He told me he loved me. And I… I… I—

  She couldn’t finish. The sobs tore out of her, raw and uncontrollable, like something she’d held back for months and finally let collapse.

  Silver stood frozen for a second, his chest tight, struggling to breathe. Every word had struck too close. It wasn’t just the story.

  It was the pattern.

  The sacrifice.

  The choice.

  It was Yuiha all over again.

  He rose without thinking and walked around the table. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, carelessly, like he was afraid she might break if he loosened his grip. Akari clutched his clothes and buried her face in his chest, trembling.

  —He died because of me! —she cried, guilt shredding her voice.

  Silver tightened his embrace and shut his eyes.

  —No —he said firmly, almost desperately. —He didn’t die because of you. He chose. He chose to give you his life.

  Akari lifted her face, eyes red, searching for something she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear.

  —That doesn’t make it hurt less —she whispered.

  —No —Silver admitted. —But it makes it different.

  It makes it… worthy.

  He swallowed. His voice dropped lower.

  —I envy him a little.

  Akari stiffened.

  —Don’t say that…

  —I wish I’d had that chance —he continued, not looking at her. —I wish I’d been able to choose to stay. To die in her place.

  She shook her head hard and grabbed his shirt.

  —No —she pleaded. —You have no idea how glad I am you’re alive. That you’re here. With me.

  She slowly lifted her face. Her lips trembled. She closed her eyes and leaned in, seeking a kiss that promised warmth, refuge; something to fill the emptiness.

  But Silver straightened.

  He wasn’t harsh.

  He wasn’t cold.

  He was absolute.

  His height became a wall she couldn’t climb.

  Akari opened her eyes, startled. She lowered her gaze, embarrassed.

  —I’m sorry… —she murmured. —I just… I feel so alone.

  Silver took a deep breath. When he spoke, his voice did not shake.

  —You’re not alone.

  She looked up.

  —I’m here —he continued. —I’m staying. We’ll find them.

  His eyes burned. It wasn’t sorrow. It wasn’t comfort.

  It was something else.

  —We’re going to hunt those bastards down —he said. —And we’re going to make them pay for what they did.

  Akari studied him carefully. She saw something new in him. Something dark. Solid. Decided.

  —Do you promise? —she asked softly.

  Silver didn’t hesitate.

  —I promise.

  And in that moment, without either of them realizing it, the promise stopped being about justice…

  and began to look dangerously like a vow of war.