3rd PoV

A monster got split open from waist to head with a familiar looking short sword as every other player stares at it.

Kibaou: Oi oi... Is that guy really a normal person?

Player 2: Only a slayer would do that...

Player 3: How brutal...

Kirito looks at Vagabond and whispers to him.

Kirito: Hey... Maybe you should tone down the way you slay monsters?

Vagabond: This is how I fight. They want to questions it? So be it. I want efficiency. I want quick kills.

Vagabond sheathed his Shoto as he walks away.

Player 1: Hey... He's been using 1 arm after all this time. Is something wrong with him or he's just showing off?

Player 4: I'm sure there's something wrong with his arm. I mean... He does look like a nice person. No way right?

Player 5: Wait... I've seen him the newspaper before! He lost an arm in an accident in real life!

Kibaou: Eh? Won't a player like him will drag us down? He'll cause us a lot of trouble to continue on.

Vagabond ignores what the players said to him because he knew he can do a better job than all of them combined. He continues walking, following Diabel from behind. Kirito caught up to him from behind and tap his shoulder before starting to speak to him.

Kirito: Umm... Don't take their words to heart senpai. They're just insensitive, that's all.

Vagabond: You think those kind of words would work on me? I'll show them. What an ex-Pride of Japan can do in a game like this.

Asuna: You seem worried, Y/N.

Vagabond: Who wouldn't? No matter how strong a person is, they'll always feel fear first before a fight. They just tend to hide it. That's all.

Asuna: ... Do you think that... We will fail fighting against Illfang?

Vagabond: We'll see how everything goes. I can't be too confident. Even during my time competing. I'm always not confident of myself. Words such as "I will win." doesn't suit me. What if I lost? It will be a shame. I hold high of my pride.

Asuna: No wonder most interviews you just say "I did my best" or "I gave my all".

Vagabond: Yup. But this time. Is different. I can't go predicting and give an answer. What if all of us are wiped out? This ain't a game anymore. This is a battle of life and death. Anyway. We are back ups and all we do is kill the Kobolds, right?

Kirito: Yup.

Vagabond: Then we'll be doing Book of Fire.

Asuna: Book of Fire?

Kirito: Book of Fire. One of the chapters in Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings. Book of Fire mostly focus on fighting.

Asuna: I see. As expected of the previous Kendo Champion.

Vagabond: Hai hai. Enough with those. Get your weapons ready. You guys. Chase them around. Force them to awkward positions. Group them together. It's easier to kill them like that.

Asuna: Won't it be dangerous if they grouped up?

Kirito: It's alright. The one doing the killing will be Vagabond himself.

Vagabond: Try to disarm them as soon as possible at the same time. I'll weaken them so that they're easier to kill. Can't have me hogging all the EXP and stuff now, can we?

Kirito: So. We chase them to group up, disarm them at the same time, then switch. Senpai goes in to weaken them, then kill.

Asuna: What is switch again?

Vagabond: Like what it sounds like and what it means. You guys group them, disarm them, fallback, and I go in. If you can't disarm all, leave it be. They'll be afraid when their numbers fall. Understand?

Kirito&Asuna: Got it.

Vagabond: Good.

Asuna PoV

He seems like an entirely different person when he fights.

Kirito: Wondering what happened to him?

Asuna: Yeah. Is something wrong?

Kirito: It's normal. That's his battle mode. He's always like that a week before competition and during the competition itself.

Asuna: I see.

3rd PoV

Diabel: Listen up everyone! I've only got one thing to say to all of you! Let's win this! Come on!

Everyone roared as they get their weapons ready. But him. He casually unsheathes his Daito, holding it at his right arm as he walks in. Everyone felt it. The intent. The aura. The bloodlust. Like a hungry beast who haven't ate for days finally sets out for a hunt. There the man stood out out of the entire group of players. There stood Vagabond. The Kobolds start their attack.

Diabel: Commencing attack! Squad A and C attack from the front! Squad B! Break up and flank from both sides! Fall back when it attacks! Squad D take place any of the injured place while letting them heal! Squad E and F! Take care of the minions!

Player 1 Squad E: Got it-

2 figures dashes past them as they give the Kobolds weak hits like a poke or a kick to taunt them. Their taunting succeeded as a group of Kobolds chases Kirito and Asuna. Another group of Kobolds didn't notice as both players lured the 1st group to collide with the 2nd group of Kobolds. Squad E stare in shock of the process. Then with quick attacks, Kirito and Asuna disarms them by knocking away their weapons, they leave the armored Kobolds for later as they continue disarming. Asuna didn't notice an Armored Kobold about to hit her with it's club from behind was saved by Vagabond who grabs it's neck and throws it to the jumbled Kobolds that have a hard time getting up.

Vagabond: I'll handle it from here.

He says as he rushes in, pivoting his foot to dodge and attack from a Kobold before retaliating with a slash to it's Achilles Tendon. Another Kobold jumped at him from behind but is met with Vagabond's blade which he changed it into a reversed grip, killed by getting stabbed at it's neck. Vagabond throw his Daito at one of the Kobold that's about to kill a player, slicing both of it's wrists at the process. He draws out his Shoto before rushing in, weakening them one by one by slashing parts of their body. Achilles Tendon, wrist, calf, triceps, shoulders. It's like the players are witnessing a blood thirsty man slayer from the Edo Period, cutting down and army of men one by one. After some time, all they is Vagabond sheathing his Shoto as he stood in the middle of a sea of Kobolds that are struggling to get up while drinking a bit of HP potion. Some, lifeless. His health bar, which barely dwindled was back to full.

Vagabond: What are you waiting for? Don't want your EXP?

The players snap out of their trance before killing the weaken Kobolds along with Kirito and Asuna.

Squad E: Is-Is he even human?!

Vagabond walks towards his Daito before picking up and sheathing it. As he sheathes it, a figure ran past him in great speed. He turned to look to see Kirito running towards Diabel. He looks up to see Illfang switched weapons, but it's not a scimitar... It's a Nodachi.

Vagabond: ?! Diabel! Fall back!

Diabel was sent flying back by Illfang's attack. Kirito is trying to heal Diabel by giving him a HP potion. Vagabond stared at the scene. He looks at Illfang as his left arm starts to spark with electricity. Players near him saw it and watches the scene unfold. His left arm. For the past 2 months. Have moved again.

Vagabond PoV

Kirin. The ability to make and use electricity. You know this don't you Kayaba? That I would try something by stimulating my left arm using electricity. Like how Victor Frankenstein did. You. Are you looking down at me... Kayaba?! I charge towards Illfang, holding the Daito in my right and Shoto in my left. Ah. How long has it been? How long has it been since I do this? I'm soon joined by Kirito and Asuna. Illfang does a downward slash at me.

Vagabond: Asuna! To the left!

She did as told as I use the back of my Daito to block, letting the curved back of the sword to redirect the attack to the floor instead. Kirito and Asuna took this chance to attack Illfang, sending a flurry of attacks as it until they're backhanded away by Illfang. Kirito quickly got up after getting caught by Agil and rushed in again. Illfang sends a punch at me, but I pivot my right foot to go around his attack, slashing it's wrist at the same time. It pull back and roared in pain as he does a horizontal cut with it's Nodachi. Noticing Kirito closing in, I decided to let him have the final blow. I parry the horizontal slash by using both of my sword to do an upward slash, hitting the side of the Nodachi to prevent my Daito from breaking, giving Kirito an open chance for him to deal the final blow.

Vagabond: DO IT!!!

Kirito roars as he finishes Illfang with a horizontal slash, slicing it in half as it's body disappears. I pant as I slump down, sitting on the ground.

Vagabond: Heh. That fucker did it...

Asuna: Good job Kirito!

He smiles as he equips his new item, probably from the boss drop. Everyone cheered for his victory until Kibaou cut the party short.

Kibaou: Stop cheering! You let Diabel died you fucker!

Vagabond: Kibaou. Stop. I'm sure there's a reason for him to do that.

Kibaou: Don't give me that shit! You could've saved him sooner only if you have killed those Kobolds faster! You have a special ability didn't you?!

Vagabond: So what if I did? Yes. I'm the handicapped player Kayaba chooses to help? Why? Jealous? If I have another mindset, I would've kill every single person here who have witnessed it. Back to topic. If you wanna blame Kirito so much, why don't you save Diabel yourself? Aren't you The Great Kibaou? The player of just? The player who wants to help the ones left out? Come on. Say it.

Everyone went silent.

Kirito: Don't waste your time with them senpai. They're just bad at what they're doing that's all. Remember how they are? Whenever they're bad at something, they blame it at the Beta-Testers remember? Speaking of which, I am a Beta-Tester. I knew Illfang have a Nodachi instead of a Scimitar. Just that Diabel himself got greedy and went for the kill. I did have him a potion. Just that he's stupid enough to not drink it. Why don't you curse him too? He's also a Beta-Tester. So why am I the only one getting the treatment?

Soon, every player got their attention drawn towards Kirito. All the hate was thrown at him. Why? Why do you do this Kazuto? Just what can you gain from this?

Kirito: Sheesh. Would all of you keep quiet? Senpai. Join me. You're the most efficient one among all the players here. Even Asuna herself. What I seek for is efficiency. With both of us, we can clear everything without these inefficient players' help.

Asuna: Ikeda...

Vagabond: Sorry, but I'll have to decline your offer. Why would I follow someone who have a target painted on his back? Won't that endanger myself? If you want, go find someone else.

I said as I get up, walking past the players and Kirito, making my way up the stairs.

Vagabond: What I want is to get out of the game alive. I'll even sacrifice anyone close to me just to do it. So, maybe it's better if you go find someone else.

Kirito: ... Fine by me.

Asuna: V-Vagabond! Where are you going?!

Vagabond: What? The EXP won't up itself. I'm going to the next floor to grind of course.

I answered and I walk up the stairs with Kirito slowly making his way behind. As soon as we got away from the players as far as possible, we stopped.

Kirito: This is the most I can do. You want to find out what the 9 is, don't you?

Vagabond: This is almost too perfect. Thank you for taking their attention away.

Kirito: It's alright. I'm just doing what I have to.

Vagabond: Won't you have a huge target painted as your back?

Kirito: I know that of course. But I'll get stronger. Til no one can get me.

Vagabond: Good to know.

Kirito: By the way... Is what you said true? Using the close ones to you as sacrifice?

Vagabond: ... We now live in a game where the strongest survives. If I have to do it, I'll do it. But don't be like me Kirito. Save anyone. As many as you can in this game. The players here have a future. No matter how much of a scum they are. Even if you have to sacrifice your secret to do so. Like what I did with Kirin. Not like I'm able to save Diabel anyway.

I said as I show my left hand, covered with bits of sparks as I undo Kirin.

Kirito: What if I don't?

Vagabond: Then I can't say much. But as far as I know. You'll feel guilty for the rest of your life. You'll suffer, remembering what you did. That's how life works. If you're a scum, then it probably won't bother you much. So. Which one are you? The man that can feel regret, or the scum? That depends on you.

I said as I walk up towards the stairs, wishing I'll be able to know what's the message Kayaba gave.

Kayaba PoV

I watch from a screen as Vagabond can be seen going up the stairs.

Kayaba: He made his way to the second floor. It's about time, captain.

I said to a shadowy figure who just simply walks away and out of the room.

Kayaba: I hope you like the presents that's coming your way, Y/N Ikeda.

To Be Continued

Author: I'm pretty much brain dead at this point for the beater stuff whatever. I'm on a vacation in China. And it's cold af. Maybe the cold is getting my brain. Who knows. Or maybe I'm just bad at writing. Anyway, thanks for reading this. And no glossary since it's just Daito and Shoto in the end (explained in 1st Chapter).