The hard soles of leather boots struck the red brick road, producing crisp tap tap sounds. Kai didn't appear to be moving fast, but with each step he took, the ground would lightly tremble beneath him, and his figure would flash forward five or six meters in an instant. Another step, and again, like a ghost, he advanced another five or six meters. In just a few breaths, he had already left the riverbank far behind.
From Hill of Memories all the way to the leveling zone just outside the main street, the entire path was paved with coarse red bricks. On either side of the road, wildflower fields were in full bloom. SAO's massive resource database constructed a highly realistic floral aroma that permeated the air of the entire 47th floor.
With one hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword, Kai accelerated his pace as he scanned his surroundings with a frown. During the earlier skirmish with Titan's Hand's nine red-named players, the overwhelming ease of a high-level player slaughtering noobs had made him let his guard down slightly—allowing the spiky-haired guy who eavesdropped last night to escape.
Although, based on that guy's character and strength, Kai didn't believe he posed any real threat… as the saying goes: It's not the thief you catch that's dangerous, but the one still lurking.
There were still over six months before SAO would be cleared according to the original timeline. If he let him go now, who knew what sort of trouble he might cause later?
Besides, mercy wasn't something that everyone deserved.
Especially for someone like Kai—who had hacked and slashed his way out of dungeons, burying a million monsters under his sword—he didn't mind adding one more soul to the bloodstains on his blade.
…
It was early spring, just after noon. The sunlight was bright but not scorching, carrying a gentle warmth.
Bathed in that radiant light, the sea of flowers across the 47th floor looked especially vibrant.
Dressed in black, Kai moved forward with a light and graceful pace. His figure flickered along the path like a phantom. The flapping of his coat stirred up a breeze laced with floral fragrance, and behind him trailed a killing intent that sent chills down the spine.
From the leveling area back toward Floria, Kai gradually quickened his pace until, finally, just before reaching the metal archway marking the entrance to the safe zone, he caught up with the last survivor of the Titan's Hand guild.
But even after catching up, he didn't immediately make his move.
He stopped walking, settled his stance, rested his left hand lightly on the hilt of his sword, and narrowed his eyes slightly.
At the end of the red brick road, beneath the enormous metal archway—woven from slender, silver-white bars—connecting to the clean main street, the spiky-haired man had been subdued and pinned to the ground by a black-coated boy wielding a dark longsword.
"Well, well, look who it is…"
Narrowing his eyes at the black-clad swordsman waiting by the arch, Kai let out a soft whistle and raised a hand to point at the spiky-haired man.
"What a coincidence, Kirito-kun… I've got a lot to catch up on with you, but could I trouble you to hand that guy over to me first?"
As he spoke, Kai's gaze remained calm and still as a deep pool. Kirito, recalling the aurora-like slash that once tore open the night sky, involuntarily gulped. Every muscle in his body tensed up. After taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he slowly opened his mouth.
"You… know this guy, Mr. Kai?"
"Know him…?" Kai's lips curled into a mocking smile, then he shook his head. "I don't know him personally. We only met for the first time last night. But if you mean do I know who he is… sure I do. He's a member of the criminal guild Titan's Hand, right?"
"Alright, since Mr. Kai already knows, that makes things easier."
Nodding in agreement, Kirito continued, "Actually, I left the frontlines today mainly because of the guild Titan's Hand. Ten days ago, on the 38th floor, they attacked a small guild called Silver Banner. All four members died, and only the guild leader managed to escape. Every day since, he's been at the teleport plaza crying and begging for someone to avenge him. I took on his request to arrest the members of Titan's Hand and send them to prison."
As he explained, Kirito glanced at the spiky-haired man pinned to the ground, eyes filled with hatred. Then he turned to Kai and asked, "I heard Titan's Hand was on the 47th floor. I waited at the entrance to the field area and only managed to catch this guy. Did you see anyone else suspicious while leveling?"
"Yes."
Kai nodded. "All the members of Titan's Hand, ten in total including their guild leader Rosalia, I saw them all—except him."
"And they…"
Before Kirito could finish, Kai casually said, "I killed them."
No hiding, no hesitation. Just the plain truth.
Because there was no need to hide it.
"K-Killed them?"
Kirito blinked in shock, stunned for a moment before he realized what Kai had just said—ten lives, all taken by him.
Why…
Why was he so calm?
Even though this is a game, death here is real. How could he stay so calm after killing ten people?
Only now did Kirito notice that the player tag above the man in black wasn't green—it was blood red, as if soaked in gore.
"What was the reason? Why did you kill them?"
"Their guild leader, that woman Rosalia, bullied a friend of mine. I warned her twice, but she didn't listen. So, I made sure they could never do anything bad again."
"Just for that?"
Kirito's eyes widened.
Even the man who lost four guildmates didn't ask for blood, only that they be jailed.
But Kai warned them twice and then went straight to murder?
No… something's wrong…
To Kirito, it was incomprehensible. How could anyone talk about killing like it was as casual as eating?
Has SAO really turned normal people into murderers in just one year?
As Kirito stared at him in disbelief, Kai pointed at the spiky-haired man on the ground. "So, will you hand him over now?"
"What… what are you going to do to him?"
"What else? Kill him. You think I'd send him to jail? Please, I'm not playing house."
"Mmfff!!"
The man on the ground, still paralyzed, glared with wide eyes and groaned, darting looks toward Kirito, desperately hoping he'd stay true to his word and bring him to prison instead—because losing freedom is better than losing your life.
And Kirito didn't disappoint. The moment he heard Kai's words, he stepped forward and blocked the man, hand on his sword hilt, ready to draw.
"Tsk tsk…"
Amused, Kai smirked. "You really want to try me?"
"Mr. Kai, please don't force me…"
Kirito gripped his sword, hands trembling for the first time since entering the game more than a year ago.
A few months ago, on the 35th floor, Kai had casually killed a boss, Nicholas the Renegade, right in front of him. Even now, at level 78, Kirito still didn't believe he could block that strike.
But he couldn't step aside and watch someone be killed before his eyes.
"So righteous, huh…"
After locking eyes with Kirito for a moment, Kai's smile faded, replaced by cold indifference.
"But Kirito-kun, remember this…"
As he spoke, he drew his sword and suddenly vanished, a black blur darting through the air. In an instant, he appeared in front of Kirito, sword flashing blue as it slashed forward like lightning.
An intense chill rushed toward Kirito. In the next moment, Kai was gone.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
When Kirito regained his senses, a black figure with a sword stood behind him.
Bang—
Kirito turned and saw the spiky-haired man shatter into light particles.
Such a fast sword!
Not like before, where the strike tore through the night like thunder. This was a sword of pure speed—a sword of execution. In one swift move, Kai had redefined what it meant to be powerful.
He bypassed Kirito and instantly killed the last member of Titan's Hand, then calmly sheathed his sword and took out a soft purple flower.
[Bellflower's Whisper]: Special item. Changes player status for 10×10 days (1/1)
He crushed the stem gently, and the flower disappeared into particles. The red marker above his head returned to green.
Satisfied with his green name, Kai turned to Kirito, who hadn't even drawn his sword.
"Justice belongs to the strong. If you can't even draw your sword on me, what gives you the right to talk about justice?"
He turned and walked into the safe zone's archway.
"Kirito-kun, you've got a long way to go. When you can really fight me, then come talk about justice."
As the dark figure walked away, Kirito suddenly called out, "You're the GM, aren't you? Or should I call you Kayaba Akihiko?"
Kai paused, smiling wryly at the unexpected remark.
Then, without turning back, he waved a hand and walked off toward the main district.
"Don't overthink it. Time will give you answers, Kirito-kun…"