Floating above the lush earth lays the mythical castle Aincrad. From an outsider's perspective, one would find it a peaceful asylum from earthly troubles, a place of wonder. However, it was nothing more than a prison for the poor souls inside, a hellish test made by Akihiko Kayaba for an unknown purpose. A challenge more pressing than any other as over ten thousand souls do everything in their power to survive.
That goes no different than our current "player" Kazuto Kiritgiya, better known as Kirito to many. In a couple of days, he got set to fight in what may be his last battle with the Knights of the Blood Oath. While he knew the battle would cause casualties, that didn't stop him from trying to avoid him. The infamous Beater has been using every piece of data, rumors, and knowledge he could find for an edge. Which eventually led him to a somewhat familiar sight.
He almost thought he would never have to hear the Gleam Eyes again, but players have been reporting that a mysterious new boss had taken its place. This one is arguably far more formidable than the original, but with EXP and potential loot too great to pass up. He was already one of the strongest players in SAO, so if he could only grasp it, maybe he could protect his "family" a little longer.
After a long trek, the Black Swordsman finally arrived at the boss room, still as fearsome as before. Before entering, Kirito had a brief moment of hesitation, briefly regretting having Asuna not by his side. Yet that very same reason is why he decided to keep going with his sword Elucidator.
"She's doing her part in organizing the raid. I need to do mine."
With that, the young boy steeled himself as he entered the room. Instantly his surroundings changed, the light blue flames of the room dancing around his Blackwyrm coat. The various pillars gave the space a new ominous aura, making him feel boxed in. Which only made Kirito more confused at the "opponent" waiting for him. The rumors talked as if he was facing a monster twice the size of the Gleam Eyes. However, what was before him was a boy not much older than him. Decorated in a green checkered jacket and a black sword. Kirito felt a sense of unknown familiarity with the boy.
"Why do I feel like I've seen him before," Kirito quietly thought.
More curious than distressed, Kirito tried to reach toward him. However, before their hands met, the "boss" sprung to life, instantly backing away in clear distress.
"Who are you? Where am I? What were you doing?" he said, panicky.
Confusion overtook the two boys, gauging whether or not the other was a threat. While Kirito wondered at the familiar and almost human boss: Tanjiro Kamado, the other was seeing a very different site. Whether it had been through a dreaded blood demon art or Kayaba's programming, Tanjiro didn't see a player but a demon who stood amongst a crowd of corpses.
"Did you do this?"
Dozens of questions flooded Kirito's mind, so close to an answer but still failing. So instead, he started to ready his Elucidator sword. He may be "docile," but he was still a boss who could lead towards his death or forever trap him here.
"I don't know what you are talking about, but my name is Kirito. You're in a boss room, and I'm your opponent," he said.
However, most of the words fell on deaf ears for Tanjiro, who only heard venomous threats through a demonic tongue. One who, in his eyes, had slain dozens. So with his bloodstained hands still unclear to him, Tanjiro raised his sword. Amongst the crackling of blue flames, Kirito's heads-up display started to flare up, revealing the name and stats of his opponent. From there, Kirito finally figured out the puzzle.
Most of the Demon Slayer's achievements got lost to history. Instead, placing themselves as myth or legend passed my tongue. Most famous was that of the warrior with the sun earrings, who supposedly, As a beta tester, always heard about SAO's fascination with mythology, but seeing something so lifelike was awe-inducing.
However, that same feeling nearly killed him immediately as Tanjiro closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Sheer shock completely unbalanced Kirito as he panicky deflected several quick slashes while getting some minor cuts. Upon the umpteenth slash, though, Kirito started holding ground, using his strength stat to unleash a parry that buckled Tanjiro. Or so he thought as Tanjiro used the strike to get momentum for his next strike.
Water trails started to curl around the young boy, eventually forming a powerful stream focused through his glowing blue sword, intent on beheading Kirito. Instinctively he grew desperate, grasping onto his Dark Repulser blade and unsheathing it just enough to block the blow from being fatal. Still, the sheer power was mounting, throwing him into a nearby pillar. However, his mind was more shaken than his body as Kirito spiraled with strategies.
"This speed and technique, unlike anything I've ever seen before a boss. He doesn't even have obvious attack patterns with those water-like movements. So think Kirito- if he doesn't have a weakness-," he said tactically.
His trail of thoughts got interrupted by a descending Tanjiro, with more whipping water as he started to swirl like a buzzsaw. Kirito managed to roll away from the pillar-destroying slash, unfurling his second sword, and immediately blocking Tanjiro's next cut in the nick of time. As if answering his call, Kirito's dual blades started to glow with intense light, signifying a change in battle when he thought.
"Then I'll just make one!" he thinks while giving a passionate war cry.
Once again, the difference in strength got made as Kirito slammed into Tanjiro's Nichirin blade so hard his momentum stopped, thus leaving him wide open to barely dodge a wide upper slash that morphed into a low sweep. The demon slayer tried to jump back with his balance messed up, only to be greeted by the Black Swordsman's Sonic Leap.
Kirito lunged at Tanjiro with killing intent at speeds surpassing sound, forcing him to block instinctively. However, he had no leverage in midair, getting launched straight into the stonewall. A small crater formed off the impact alone, creating a thick smokescreen. Any normal man would've crumpled from the shock, but Tanjiro was never the type to give up.
"Worry about the pain later. Think about the opponent's monstrous strength later. All I need to do is win right here and now!"
Tanjiro pulled out another attack from his Water Breathing arsenal with mounting spirit. Like raindrops on a peaceful day, his footsteps started to pepper the walls giving Tanjiro increasing speed. Using his detection skill, though, Kirito kept up while preparing his next attack. He decisively stabbed his swords into the ground, using his monstrous strength to lift a stone slab. Along the way, Kirito was performing massive calculations.
"Don't lose track of him for even a second. I need to anticipate his next move, calculate the trajectory, and execute," he said coldly.
Now with "ammunition," Kirto got to work hacking into pieces until all that remained were medium-sized stones, which all got great usage as he sent them all throttling towards the Demon slayer. A long-range attack meant nothing to Tanjiro, combining his charge with a spinning motion to cut and dodge the projectiles with ease. In the back of his mind, he said.
"Still not good enough. I need to be even quicker," he said adamantly.
From Kirito's perspective, a set of whirlpools similar to a dam's started to swirl along the wall, turning Tanjiro into a near-incomprehensible blur. However, he still tracked him, adjusting his stance accordingly while his opponent stacked up to another technique.
"Just a little more, this has to be perfect,' both prodigies stated as soon enough, the battle shifted again.
Like a rumbling tidal wave, Tanjiro's swirling motions started to concentrate into a giant torrential dragon, signifying the peak of Tanjiro's Water Breathing peak. Kirito gave out a subtle gulp, bracing himself for an attack that felt like a force of nature. An attack that came all too soon like a rocked Tanjiro; jumped off the wall with enough force to crack it, sending the dragon flying towards him.
At that point, it was a battle between man vs nature as Kirito braved the torrential blast. Several marks ripped through the ground upon impact alone as Kirito's swords started to waver. He tried to fight it back, unleash a counter, anything that could work. But how can a person fight something that not even the mountains could defeat? So like everything else water touches, Kirito got swept away, instantly crashing into a nearby pillar so hard it nearly shattered to pieces.
Even with his sturdy defense, volumes of red light started to sprout from his body, forcing him to get stunned. Yet Kirito didn't dare despair. Everything was going according to plan after all. Once the smoke cleared, his predictions came to fruition. Earlier in the battle, Tanjiro had gone for the "beater's" neck, almost as if it was instinct for him, something he took into account. With the aid of both his sword and the leverage of the wall, Tanjiro's blade got stuck in stone before he could carry it through.
Leaving him utterly defenseless as Aincrad's greatest player in one solid motion, he unequipped his Elucidator to free it from its stone binding. Then he requipped it to slash straight into Tanjiro's abdomen. Even with his superhuman reflexes and speed, the hit was excruciating, forcing even more light red pixels to appear as the demon slayer kneeled while clutching his stomach.
His near-perfect Water Breathing immediately got disrupted, sapping Tanjiro's strength even more as Kirito freed himself fully while drinking a health potion. Now that Kirito had the upper hand again, he didn't dare waste any time as he dealt out one last dual-handed overhead swipe. Unfortunately for Kirito, his hastiness made him forget a principal rule to combat. If you cage an animal, you should prepare yourself when it shows its true fangs.
In a puff of orange flame, Tanjiro vanished. For a few seconds, Kririto was at a loss. Though not for long when he heard a sword pulled from the stone. When he turned around, Tanjiro wore a different expression. The kind village boy was long gone, replaced by the seasoned warrior that held a centuries-long legacy. The surrounding blue fire turned a bright orange, giving the battlefield a hellish hue. Burning wills overtook immensely weary frames as the grip of both opponent's swords became tight enough to whiten knuckles.
There wasn't caution, or even ration thought at this moment, separated from friends and foe. Only the overpowering will of young prodigies to survive in a world where men die young. The two opponents' blades started to glow orange and blue, painting the boss room in their respective auras. And when tension became unbreakable, the two boys gave out their last words.
"Hinokami Kagura: Dance"
"Starburst Stream."
With the speed of a bullet train, both fighters clashed violently, creating a shockwave louder than thunder. Dozens of slashes covered the boss room in seconds, causing flames and sparks to fly in a grand flurry. Skin started to singe and sizzle as tempered sabers reached their endpoints. The shear friction alone was enough to have their lungs screaming and bones quaking. Yet every limit was still surpassed as they kept going even further, shredding into their bodies. Still, they only got more intense and heated until every drop of stamina got burnt through. Leading towards one last desperate rally.
"Faster, I have to go even faster!" Tanjiro said.
"More, just need to go a little farther," Kirito said.
"I GOT TO PROTECT THOSE I HAVE LEFT," they both stated as the fire formed the faces of their dead comrades and family, respectively, knowing that one was about to join them.
From there, three cracked blades met with the force of a mighty storm. The warriors looked at their faces, portraying survival instinct unparalleled. Unfortunately, only one could make it out alive, and Kirito didn't account for everything. Realizing he was reaching the end, Tanjiro closed the distance, unleashing a powerful headbutt that interrupted the Black Swordsman enough to land the final blow! Tanjiro managed to break both of Kirito's swords, leaving the player with a sliced neck. He tried to push on, gain strength or speed. Yet he fell on his back.
And with his life fading right in front of him with no one around him. The hero of Aincrad turned back into the scared sixteen-year-old boy, the genius embracing his final moments far too soon. Each second felt like an eternity as Kirito's blood forced him into desperate calls for air. Fearful tears started to well up in his eyes as he tried to reach out to anyone to help him. Fortunately for him, someone did answer him, as Tanjiro's hand started to clasp around his.
Because despite their heated battle to the death, somehow, there was no hatred between the two. Only compassion as warm as the sun. Kirito saw Tanjiro's kind smile through his final breaths, filled with tears and remorse after realizing what he's done while saying.
"I'm sorry."
From anyone else, the line would've been humiliating or insincere. Yet it was more than enough for Kirito, he gave his superior a genuine smile. With both somewhat reassured, Kirito vanished into the ether. His shimmering cinders eventually rose above the fight that's weighed on him for so long.