Currently, Akiri is still comforting Sinon, holding her as she had slowly begin to calm down under his embrace.

After a few minutes, she seemed to have got herself together as she then looked at him and spoke up.

Sinon: Tell me what to do

Akiri: Defeat Death Gun. Then his partner will
disappear unable to do anything. That's the only way

Sinon: But even without his Black Star, he's pretty good. Didn't you see him dodge a shot from the Hecate at hundred meters? And I don't think we can hide like this forever. The other players will realize that we're hiding in this desert cave. At any second, we could be attacked with a grenade

Akiri: I see. I better get ready to go then

He was about to stand up, but Sinon grabbed his arm to stop him.

Sinon: We've been a pair this far. Let's fight together to the end

Akiri: No, it's too risky to get you involved. If he shoots you with that handgun...

Sinon: That thing's just an obsolete single action. Even if he shoots me, you can use your sword to deflect it easily, right?

Akiri looks into her eyes and sees her determination. He knew that look very well. He knew that she won't back down.

He then released a sigh and smiled at Sinon.

Akiri: Right. I won't let him hit you. But I still think it is better if he didn't see you

Sinon: But...

Akiri: Don't get me wrong, I'd be more than happy to accept your help. But you're a sniper, remember? You're best firing from long range

Sinon: That's true

Akiri: During the next scan, I'll show up on the map alone and draw out Death Gun. He'll probably hide far away and try to shoot me with his sniper rifle. We'll use his shot to find his location and shoot him

Sinon: You're going to be a decoy?

Akiri: Yeah, that's the plan

Sinon: Fine... Well, do that. But just be sure you don't get killed by his first shot

Sinon then playfully pinched his side and he just smiled at her.

Akiri: I promised you, didn't I? If l were to die, it'll be by your bullet and your bullet alone. I plan to keep that promise. As long as I can find where he's shooting from, I can move out the way of the bullet

Sinon: Right

Akiri then suddenly leans close to Sinon's face and she started to blush a little.

Sinon: W-what is it...?

Akiri: What is that thing above us?

Sinon looked up and saw a blue holographic circle above them and she let out a sigh.

Sinon: Crap... I should have paid more attention...

Akiri: Why, what is it?

Sinon: The live broadcast camera. Normally it only focuses on battles, but there aren't many players left so, it came here

Akiri: That's not good. Do you think it picked up on our conversation?

Sinon: It's okay. It won't pick up voices unless you yell. Why not wave? Or is there someone you don't want seeing this?

Akiri: Not really. But what about you? They see us like this they might assume that we're... you know... a couple...

Sinon then started to blush and she looked away to hide it.

Sinon: I don't care... If they think you're my boyfriend, then maybe all the guys will finally stop hitting on me. I'm getting tired of it...

Akiri: Wow, humblebrag

She frowns and hits his side with her elbow and she saw the camera then disappear.

Sinon: It's gone. But it's nearly time. There are two minutes until the next satellite scan. I'll stay here, and you'll go outside and check your terminal, right?

Akiri: Actually, now that I think about it...

Sinon: What now? There's no time to change the plan.

Akiri: No, the plan stays as is. Not that. I was just thinking that in the end, Death Gun's true name... or his character name is "Sterben"

Sinon: Oh, I see. I guess so. What does it mean, I wonder?

Akiri: I do know it's a German word. But, I'll be sure to ask him before I beat him. I'll be right back

Akiri then went to walk outside.

Sinon: Be careful

Akiri: When am I not?

As he said that, he tripped on a rock on the ground and almost fell.

Akiri: Come on! I did not see that!

She chuckles and as she watched him walk away, she couldn't help but blush at him.

Sinon: ...

(Timeskip)

Akiri: (thoughts) No one is nearby, huh?

Akiri is now seen standing right outside of the entrance of the cave they are hiding in. He is looking closely at the scan terminal map, looking for the remaining players.

Akiri: (thoughts) There are six left, including Me, Sinon and Death Gun, who doesn't show up

He then looked at the map and saw the two
players had killed each other.

Akiri: (thoughts) That's four left...

He looked at the player count and saw that 24 out of 30 players are eliminated.

Akiri: (thoughts) At the start, there were thirty people. Two survivors... twenty-four killed. Adding Sinon and Death Gun comes to twenty-eight. Pale Rider makes twenty-nine. We're missing one more player...

He kept searching the map, however, he still couldn't find the missing player. With a sigh, he then closed his terminal.

Akiri: (thoughts) Did Death Gun take someone else out? No, whoever's working with him is standing by near Sinon's house... Unless I'm missing something...

Akiri then walked back into the cave. As he entered, he saw Sinon modifying her sniper scope and she noticed him approaching her.

Sinon: Well?

Akiri: There should be five left. Me, you, Dark Wind, Death Gun who doesn't appear on the screen, and one other... They could be hiding in a cave like we are

Sinon: Just five left... But it's been an hour and forty minutes. Considering the last match ended in just two hours, we're basically matching the pace. It's strange that no one came to chuck a grenade in here

Akiri: Yeah. Death Gun is still looking for us, so he's probably taking out anyone he saw with his rifle

Sinon: Then he's sure to get the "max kills" award. Anyway, the problem is Dark Wind. You're the only player who showed up on his terminal. He'll definitely come for you

Akiri: Shouldn't be a problem for me. I'll take him out, then we can go after Death Gun

Sinon: I don't think it'll be that easy. Last time, he came in second place

Akiri: Really?

Sinon nodded her head.

Sinon: He's a typical agility build, kinda like you. He's called the Run-Gun Demon. He uses an ultra-lightweight machine gun, the Calico M900A

Akiri: Then that's gonna be a problem. If he could keep up with me, it wouldn't be as easy to take him out as I thought

Sinon: Yeah. Last time, he lost to Zexceed's rare gun and armour and came in second, but some people say he's the better player

Akiri: So that means I'm going up against one of the best players on the Japanese GGO server. Even if I beat him, it wouldn't be without wasting a significant amount of time

Sinon nodded again.

Sinon: Listen... If your guess is right, right now, I'm the only person Death Gun can kill. Because his partner needs to be near my home. In other words, that means Dark Wind can't be killed by Death Gun. So, I kind of hate to say this, but couldn't we use him as a decoy?

Akiri: Yeah, I'm basically in favour. But there's something that's bothering me. I counted all the survivors and defeated players and it only added up to twenty-eight. Even if one is Pale Rider, that doesn't explain the other

Sinon: Are you saying Death Gun killed someone else after that? That's impossible. His partner should be after me, shouldn't he?

Akiri: Hear me out and think about it. There were only thirty minutes between him shooting Pale Rider and trying to shoot you

He explained.

Akiri: In other words, Pale Rider's house must be in the same prefecture as yours, and under thirty minutes away. Isn't that too much of a coincidence?

Sinon: But it's only a possibility

Akiri: We don't know for sure that Death Gun only has one partner. If there's more than one, one might be waiting for you, while another goes for someone else. In other words, it's possible that Dark Wind is also Death Gun's target

Sinon: N-no... You're telling me that three or more are involved in something so terrifying?

Akiri: If I remember correctly, at least ten Laughing Coffin members survived. I doubt that every single one of them is involved, but we have no evidence that there's only one other person

Sinon: Why... Why is it so important for them to be player killers? They were finally released from that death game, so why...?

Akiri released a sigh.

Akiri: Probably the same reason that I try to be a swordsman and you try to be a sniper

Sinon: I called them player killers, but I take that back. In this game, there are many who PK. I was in a squadron like that. But PKs have their own pride and resolve. Killing someone with poison while they're full diving isn't PKing. It's just a cowardly crime. It's murder... Which means we can't lose to people like that!

A smile grew on his face, hearing that.

Akiri: You're right. We can't let them get away with this anymore. I'll defeat Death Gun on this battlefield, and make him and his partners pay for their crimes. This has to end...

He looks down to the ground as he then thought back to what he did. The people he himself had murdered.

Akiri: (thoughts) This ends... For all of us...

Sinon: I'll handle Dark Wind. I won't let Death Gun kill him

Akiri looks up at Sinon.

Sinon: He's strong. Even you won't be able to take him out in one hit. While you're fighting him, Death Gun will go after you

Akiri: Yeah, but...

Sinon: You said it too, right? I'm a sniper. If you act as my spotter and tell me the enemy's location, I'll handle Dark Wind and Death Gun

He then let out a sigh.

Akiri: Right. Then I'll leave the sniping to you

He said with a nod before looking out the cave.

Akiri: They must be getting close. Let's get into position

Akiri then walked over to Sinon and held out his hand and she smiled and did the same.

Sinon: Good luck out there, partner

He gave her a nod. The two of them then fist-bumped and smiled at each other.

Akiri: Let's do this

The two walked out of the cave, full of dedication and motivation. They both are set on one goal, to put a stop to Death Gun's murders once and for all.

(Timeskip)

Akiri had driven the buggy to the middle of the desert while Sinon had gotten on top of a worn-down tower with her sniper ready. Looking through her night vision scope, she spotted Akiri standing completely still, the wind blowing on his coat.

Sinon: (thoughts) Dark Wind is coming from the west, so Death Gun is going to open fire, it'll probably be from the east

Sinon kept searching the area with her scope while adjusting it.

Sinon: (thoughts) If Akiri takes a hit in his heart or head, it's almost certain death. Death Gun will shoot while he's invisible with his cape. But you... You were able to cut even my bullet. I know you can dodge it... You can, right Akiri?

She recalls their duel during the qualifiers. She remembers how shocked she was, seeing him cut her bullet in half.

Sinon: (thoughts) My job is to take out Dark Wind immediately. If I miss, Akiri will be killed. And after that, Death Gun will kill me. My life depends on this one shot. Just like back then... Hecate II, please... I'm weak. Lend me your power. Give me the power to stand and start walking again...!

Back down with Akiri, he had closed his eyes shut, trying to concentrate on his surroundings to find where Death Gun is.

He then heard rapid footsteps coming from the southwest, someone was running towards him.

Akiri: (thoughts) The southwest... That's Dark Wind... Sinon will handle him. I know she will. I just need to find Death Gun...

Back with Sinon, she had spotted Dark Wind running across the desert and she is now tracking him with her scope.

Sinon: (thoughts) He's fast. What do I do? Try to predict his movements and lead him, or fire at his feet, deliberately missing my first shot, and finish him off when he panics? No... When he has Akiri in his sights, Dark Wind will stop to aim. I'll wait until then. I'll endure this. So you need to as, well. Akiri, believe in me!

Back with Akiri, he continued to hear Dark Wind get closer to him, but he ignored the oncoming threat, fully trusting and knowing that Sinon will take him out when she is ready and he continued to look for Death Gun.

Akiri: (thoughts) Concentrate... Feel his killing intent... It's the same as that day...

Akiri continued to drown out all other sounds. The beating of his heart and his own breaths, the howling of the wind and the shifting of the sands below his feet. He concentrated on locating Death Gun, feeling for his presence.

The boy continued to focus. He then felt something. He opened his eyes and he swiftly turned around to see a red glint of light from a distance.

His eyes widened and he quickly moved out of the way of a bullet as the projectile narrowly misses his head and hits the tower behind him, causing parts of it to fall and crash to the ground.

Akiri: Found you!

His eyes narrowed as he took out his photon sword and started to run towards where the shot came from.

Akiri: (thoughts) Sinon, I'll leave Dark Wind to you

As he is running, he then saw a bullet line aimed straight at him and he quickly activated his photon sword and blocked the shot.

As Akiri went to rush down Death Gun, Sinon saw that Dark Wind had stopped to take cover and she used this opportunity to fire a shot towards him. Her bullet hits the target, shooting him through the chest, finally eliminating the player.

She didn't waste any time and chambered another round into her rifle and aimed at the direction Akiri was.

Sinon: Akiri!

Sinon saw him running towards Death Gun as he continued to block incoming shots and she looked ahead to see the masked man proning near a small cave.

Sinon: There he is!

Sinon then aimed at Death Gun. However, Death Gun had noticed the bullet line and he quickly aimed at her as well. As they adjusted their aim, they both pulled the trigger at the same time, their bullets grazed the other as they passed by their path.

The projectiles hit, Death Gun's shot destroyed Sinon's sniper scope.

However, Sinon had managed to hit Death Gun's rifle, destroying it completely into pieces and rendering it useless.

Sinon: (thoughts) It's up to you now, Akiri

Akiri was still running towards Death Gun when he saw Sinon's shot destroy his rifle.

Akiri: (thoughts) You did it, Sinon. I'll take care of the rest!

As he was running, he noticed that Death Gun was starting to slowly pull something out of a black metal sheath.

Akiri: I got you now!

He shouted as he lunges towards Death Gun with his blade held in front of him, going for a thrust attack.

However, just before his blade is about to make contact, Death Gun had quickly got out of the way and dodged his strike.

Akiri: (thoughts) What...?

He could only watch as Death Gun went around him and stabbed him in the shoulder with the weapon he pulled from the sheath.

Akiri: (thoughts) How is he so fast...?

Akiri quickly recovered and got into a defensive stance, holding his photon sword up in front of him with his other hand clutching his stab wound.

Akiri: (thoughts) No... He's not faster... I was just slower...

Death Gun: I told you that I'd kill you... Now it's time to make due on that promise. It's showtime, Akiri

They stared at each other with narrowed eyes, both gripping their weapons tightly as they prepared for their battle. The final showdown.