"Shana-san, everything is clear on this end. How's your status?"
"I've pinpointed her location. Now, about the plan..."
Shana laid out his strategy to the group. A brief silence followed.
"Are you serious?" Yamikaze whispered.
"Is that... even possible? Shana, can you really pull that off?" Tarako asked, leaning in.
"If you're asking if it's physically possible within the game's parameters—yes. I can do it."
"Alright. Count me in," Tarako said instantly.
"Whoa, Tarako, wait," Yamikaze interjected. "Why are you going this far for him?"
Tarako looked Yamikaze straight in the eye. "Because I owe Shana a debt."
"A debt? Since when did I lend you anything?" Shana asked.
"It's not my debt. It's my best friend's. He's alive because you saved his life. His debt is my debt. Consider that my final word on the matter."
Shana frowned, trying to recall. "The only guys I've really dealt with in GGO are Zexceed, Dyne, Ginrou... none of them fit."
"It's got nothing to do with those guys. I can't give you the details, but it didn't happen in GGO."
"Wait... was it in the real world?"
"You could say that. Or not," Tarako said cryptically.
A realization seemed to spark in Shana's mind. He looked at Tarako with a new intensity. "Was this about two years ago?"
"Yeah."
"I probably wouldn't remember his name even if you told me, but if that's the case... I understand."
"That's all I needed to hear," Tarako grunted.
Ikoma nodded solemnly, knowing exactly what they were talking about. Yamikaze, however, let out a low whistle.
"Alright, I'm in too. This plan sounds insane, and I want a front-row seat!"
"Yamikaze, you don't owe me anything," Shana pointed out. "Are you sure?"
Yamikaze gave him a sharp, knowing grin. "I didn't understand the half of what you and Tarako just said, but I can read between the lines. Fact: Shana saved lives in the past. Fact: He saved so many people he doesn't even remember their names."
"When you put it like that, it makes me sound like a terrible person," Shana joked weakly.
"Only until you hear the rest," Yamikaze countered. "Everyone knows what happened two years ago. SAO was cleared. Six thousand people came home. There are three names that everyone in the survivor circles whispers: The Flash, The Black Swordsman, and the Silver Shadow. I won't ask which one you are, Shana. The fact that you're one of them is enough for me. You have my respect."
Tarako stared at Yamikaze in shock. "Damn, Yamikaze... you caught on fast."
"Tarako, shut up! You just confirmed his theory!" Yamikaze laughed.
"It's fine," Shana sighed. "You two are putting your lives—and your reputations—on the line for me. My identity is a small thing in exchange. I am Hachiman. Silver Shadow Hachiman. Since you're helping me, Yamikaze, you deserve to know the truth."
Yamikaze looked genuinely touched. "Hah! I knew it. I'm pretty sharp, aren't I?"
"Yeah. To reach that conclusion with such little evidence... you're good."
"Actually, he was a little off on one detail," Tarako added. "My friend wasn't just saved when the game was cleared. A bit before that, he was cornered by Pks in the middle floors. You and a girl named Asuna stepped in and saved him. So, technically, you saved his life twice."
"I see..." Shana murmured.
"And for the record," Shana added, looking at Ikoma, "one of those times was only possible because of Ikoma."
"Wait, really?" Tarako asked.
"Yeah. It's always bothered me that Ikoma's name never made it into the rumors. He was one of the heroes who stood with us in the final battle to end the death game."
"Whoa..."
"Seriously?"
Ikoma scratched his head, blushing. "Shana-san, please... I didn't do that much..."
"Quit being so modest," Shana barked. "You were there."
Shana looked at the two GGO veterans. "So? We have two 'heroes' on the team. Still think we can lose, no matter how reckless the plan?"
"Hah! Not a chance!" Tarako shouted.
"We're winning this. Absolutely," Yamikaze agreed.
"Then let's synchronize. Timing is everything."
The four men did a quick final check, adjusted their chronometers, and moved into their respective positions.
Inside the building, Rosalia felt the world shudder. A massive THOOM vibrated through the concrete floors.
(Was that... a grenade? But I heard something else too...)
With her vision gone, Rosalia's hearing had become hypersensitive. She heard the frantic thud of boots entering the room.
"Shana's here! He's attacking!"
(Shana... you really came...)
"He's actually here? What was that explosion?" another voice asked.
"Someone tossed a grenade into the lobby—the two guards are down. Two hostiles breached the entrance and they're trading fire on the second-floor stairwell right now!"
(Two people... I wonder who they are?)
"Should we go down and help?"
"I don't know... wait, I'm getting a transmission... damn. Understood." The player sounded panicked.
"What is it?"
"They broke through the second floor! Their armor is top-tier—our rounds are just bouncing off them!"
(The armor Ikoma made... it really is working!)
"This is bad!"
"Calm down. We've still got them pinned at the third floor. So we just—"
A high-pitched Vwoom—a sound Rosalia recognized from the training room—cut through the air, followed by a choked scream.
"Wh-what was—Gah!"
"Where did you come from?! You—Argh!"
(What? What's happening?!)
Two more Vwoom sounds echoed, and then, a heavy, absolute silence fell over the room.
(Is everyone gone? No... I can feel someone still here. Is it an enemy? Did they have a falling out? Or is it an ally? No, I can't assume... Hachiman...)
Rosalia felt a surge of terror, her breath hitching in a borderline panic. Then, a hand touched her cheek—gently, with a warmth she knew.
The gag was removed from her mouth. She whispered, her voice trembling, "W-who is it?"
"It's me."
It was the voice she had wanted to hear more than anything in the world—and the voice she had most dreaded hearing in this place.
"You... you really came."
"'Really came'? That's my line," Shana said softly. "You were actually hoping I'd stay away, weren't you? Stop thinking such stupid things and just let me save you."
Shana began inspecting the wounds on her limbs.
"...What did they do to you? They cut your tendons so you couldn't move? Those bastards... binding you wasn't enough? I won't forgive this. I won't let a single one of them walk away. Hang on, Kitten. I'm taking the blindfold off."
"Wait... no, don't look..."
Shana ignored her, gently pulling the cloth away. He saw the jagged, horizontal slashes across her eyes. In that instant, the air in the room felt like it froze. Rosalia couldn't see him, but she felt the temperature of his presence shift into something cold and terrifying.
Shana didn't say a word. He simply pulled her head against his chest and held her.
Suddenly, Rosalia felt a drop of water hit her cheek.
(Wait... is Shana crying? If he's crying for me... I'm... I'm actually a little happy.)
"When did they do this to you?" he whispered into her hair.
"About... an hour ago, I think."
"I see. The 'Bleed' timer is almost up. We'll wait for your sight and movement to recover."
Shana went silent. Below them, the sounds of intense combat continued to roar. Rosalia wanted to ask who was fighting for her, but suddenly, her vision flickered back to life. Her eyes had regenerated.
She looked up, blinking. Shana was there. And he was, indeed, crying.
(Shana... you really are... I'm happy, but seeing you like this... it hurts. I'm so angry at myself for making you cry.)
"...Kitten? Can you see me?"
"Y-yeah."
"Your legs and hands look okay now too. Try to stand up."
Rosalia rose to her feet. The game's regeneration system had fully restored her mobility.
"Can you move?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"Good."
Suddenly, Shana pulled her into a crushing embrace. Rosalia wanted to melt into it, but the memory of his tears kept her heart heavy.
"I'm sorry," Shana whispered.
"No... it's my fault for getting caught..."
"That doesn't matter. You're the victim here."
"But—"
"No. You did nothing wrong. Understand?"
"...Yes." Rosalia could only nod against the sheer intensity of his voice.
Shana pulled back and looked her in the eye. The tears were gone now, replaced by a gaze of focused steel.
"W-what is it?" she asked.
"Nothing. I was just thinking... you have beautiful eyes. Just like in the real world. I shouldn't say this now, but back in SAO... you had a look in your eyes that I hated. You're a completely different person now. You have the eyes of someone a million times better."
Rosalia's heart did a somersault. (I'm... I'm so happy...)
Even in the middle of a war zone, his words felt like a benediction.
"Tarako and Yamikaze are holding the lower floors. We're going down to meet them."
"Tarako-san and Yamikaze-san... they really kept their word. But Shana, how did you get up here without passing them?"
"Look outside," he said.
Rosalia looked out the window. Embedded in the concrete wall was a massive, harpoon-like bolt with a thick wire rope trailing down into the darkness.
"Did you... climb up that?"
"Yeah. Ikoma fitted the Humvee with a multipurpose launcher. I had him fire a wire-line up here. He timed it with a grenade blast at the front door to hide the sound of the impact."
"So those two explosions I heard... that was you."
"You heard them?"
"Yeah. I was focusing on sound since I couldn't see. But Shana... if that rope is there, can't we just slide down and leave?"
"No," Shana said, his voice dropping an octave. "I'm not satisfied with just an escape. Every single person in this building is going to be deleted."
The depth of the rage in his eyes silenced her.
"Let's go, Kitten."
"...Alright."
Shana drew his two black blades—AR and AL.
"So that was the sound I heard earlier."
"I didn't expect to field-test these so soon. Stay close to me, Rosalia."
"Always!"
Shana paused for a second at her enthusiastic response, then turned and headed for the stairs. He stopped in front of the first room on the floor below.
"There are several hostiles inside. Stand back, Rosalia."
(He switched back to calling me 'Rosalia.' He's in combat mode...)
She did as he asked. Shana didn't head for the door. Instead, he pointed the tip of AR at the concrete wall.
(Wait, the wall?)
Shana thrust the blade straight through the concrete. A scream erupted from the other side.
(He can sense them through the walls...)
Every time Shana thrust or slashed, a fresh scream echoed. He systematically carved through the wall until a massive hole opened up. Rosalia winced, imagining a gore-splattered room, but the players had already shattered into digital fragments.
(He's... terrifyingly cool...)
Shana continued his relentless descent, using the Radiant Blades to strike through cover. When enemies weren't behind walls, he blitzed into the rooms, a whirlwind of black light that cut down anyone in his path. The kidnappers, who had never expected a flank from above, were slaughtered before they could even draw their weapons.
(This is the power of the Radiant Blade... it really does cut everything. In a tight space like this, Shana is a god of death.)
They reached the floor where Tarako and Yamikaze were fighting. Rosalia stumbled slightly; her legs felt momentarily weak. Shana noticed immediately.
"Rosalia? You okay?"
"I'm sorry... my legs are still a bit shaky. I can't put full power into them yet."
"I see. Stay here for a moment. Once I clear this floor, I'm carrying you the rest of the way."
Shana turned toward the next wall and thrust AR through the concrete once again.
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