Klein had experience running a guild. His previous guild had been small, almost forgotten by the other guilds even when it had existed. That was why it was so impressive that it didn't fall apart as members went larger, more stable, guilds. Granted the core of the guild had been close friends of Klein, but when your life is on the line friendship isn't enough most times.
The only reason the guild fell was because of the attempt on an unknown boss. The only reason Klein had survived was because a random mob had managing to put paralysis on him before reaching the boss's gates. The status effect inexplicably had resisted the antidote given to him after that fight. Instead it had given a cool down timer which said it would take two hours to wear off.
His previous experience was one of the deciding factors of making him Asuna's second-in-command. As predicted he remained a goof when not on duty, but when on he was military perfection as he gave orders with authority. Liz ribbed him often about it during his off hours to everyone's amusement.
That good choice was valuable in the weeks after defeating Kirito's double. Asuna's psyche was splintered as she tried to come to grips with what she had done. In that time she didn't say a word. The only outward sign she hadn't gone comatose was her tears that would flow freely every once in a while, and in her violent and restless sleep.
Her condition was mostly hidden, the senior members afraid it would shake the rest of the guild's confidence. The victory had done exactly as Asuna had hoped. The Knights of the Broken Oath had doubled already.
The discovery of the violent bloody nature of the final floors had given Klein another option. It wasn't one he was entirely pleased with: a deal with the devils known as Laughing Coffin. In exchange for their assistance in clearing the floors they would be pardoned from their imprisonment. Of the one-hundred and thirty-six members captured forty-seven accepted the deal without a second thought.
Naturally the rest of the guild was not happy with this arrangement. Laughing Coffin was not permitted to join the Knights, and their names were documented so their movements could be watched. Three of the highest ranking members of the Knights were assigned to keep an eye on them as well.
Within the first week the deal had proven a great success. The murder guild thought the blood a wonderful addition, almost as good as actually killing a player. Klein worried they might get tired of NPC's and turned on them.
The deal was necessary however. The new dynamic had proven too much for most of the guild. Where Laughing Coffin enjoyed the hunt and kill, the average player found fear, shock, and disgust. That they were NPC's didn't matter. It was real. The blood was real, the screams were real, and their death throes were real. They didn't disappear after they died. Their bodies remained, littering the battlefield. Unless removed their bodies would begin to rot, smelling and attracting vermin and bugs.
No, it was not the same as before. The only escape was to return to the lower levels.
Carrying oil and flint to burn the bodies was required now of the guild members. If not available for some reason the bodies were to be buried. SAO had its first burial site now. The boss room, already a mausoleum, was made into a true one.
Among the artisans a new item skill had become available: A coffin. Some were of stone, others of traditional wood or metal. Then there was the glass sarcophagus, enchanted to keep the body perfectly preserved for observation. That last had not been used yet. Even if seeing a loved one was welcomed, with their wounds their body could never be made presentable again.
Kirito's sarcophagus was still there with a new lid constructed. In life he was a symbol of might, an aspiration for other warriors to become, not that he would ever see himself that way. In death he was what a warrior on the front lines should aspire to become: selfless and willing to put it all on the line for the benefit of everyone still trapped in the death game. Though it didn't contain his body his sarcophagus was left as a symbol of that was often paid homage to by both warrior and non-combatants alike.
Laughing Coffin was sent out to scout and find the safe city that each floor contained. The mobs were dangerous and there were no safe paths on this floor. The Knights and other guilds stayed back. The fought the weaker monsters near the entrance in an attempt to become accustomed to the gore. Some couldn't, retreating to the lower floors and not seen again.
Keeping Laughing Coffin on the floor was simple enough. There was no city to use a gate to teleport with, and they didn't have any teleport cubes. There only way out was past the defense force sitting at the previous dungeon's exit. Klein and the other leaders were coming to the conclusion there may not be a safe city to find, only the dungeon to the next level.
One week after reaching the floor Klein ordered the trees near the entrance cleared for a one-hundred-yard radius. The trees were used to build a wall as defense. If no safe harbor was to be found they would make one.
When it was finished no more deaths occurred. In four more weeks no town was discovered and all hope of finding one was abandoned in favor of finding the next dungeon.
After seven weeks Silica sat next to an unresponsive Asuna. There had been a few warriors who had been soldiers outside the game. They tried their best to bring her back. The last, a sniper she found out, told her, "she'll come back to you when she's ready, and not a moment sooner. Stay with her and keep talking. It will help to have a friend with her."
During the year Asuna isolated herself from the world she had avoided her friend, unable to face the memories despite the guilt the avoidance caused. In the town one floor down such memories didn't surface and allowed Silica to remain at her side, simply talking; hoping it would comfort her friend like the soldier had said. Pina often laid on Asuna's bed, snuggling up while Asuna slept. It seemed to help with her nightmares.
Klein had forbidden her to come to the front lines. From what she had heard she understood. She wasn't sure how she would handle the apparent reality of killing something. She didn't want to find out.
Here at least she could help. She had tried feeding Asuna several times, but realized it was impossible. She was reassured by Liz that her friend didn't need to eat. That only left talking to her, and being a friend.
She brushed out her hair regularly, like she was that day. "You should see the small village Klein is having built," she was saying. "It isn't as good as the towns on previous floors since building skills aren't included in the system. It's being built by good old fashioned knowhow. There were a couple of people who were construction workers IRL who are making sure nothing is going to fall down."
Silica didn't expect a reply. She hadn't gotten one before, so why now? She hoped the random conversations helped though.
Kirito thought of her as a sister, and she tried to think of him as a brother. It didn't work well, but like Liz she knew a lost cause. She was happy to get any love at all and accepted her status in his heart. At least he had Asuna while he lived. She made him happy which was enough. She never found it in her heart to be jealous of their relationship. Unlike Liz she knew even if Asuna had not been there she wouldn't have had a chance.
Now she could help, and it made her happy.
"Liz told me this morning that about half of the front lines forces have adapted to the new environment," she continued.
"How?" came the unexpected question.
The brush stopped half way down her friends red hair. "Asuna?"
"How did they adapt to the blood?" her friend elaborated.
Realizing the hairbrush was still in Asuna's hair she sat next to her on the bed Asuna had not moved from. Silica was happy that her friend was saying anything, but disturbed by the dead sound of her voice. "I don't know. I know a lot didn't. They returned to the lower floors."
Again with that dead sounding voice Asuna said, "I need to go. I need to understand how they dealt with this..." She sounded like she had more to say but lacked the words to express it.
Was bringing her to the front lines a good idea? Silica wasn't sure. She decided she needed to get advice from her friends. Bringing up her friends list she sent a message to both Klein and Liz for their advice. Klein was in the middle something, but he wouldn't elaborate on what. Liz gave an automatic reply that she would be there.
A few minutes later she was there, having used a teleport crystal to return to the nearest town, this one. Liz didn't waste time with words. She threw herself into Asuna, hugging her with unrestrained joy. Asuna didn't return the hug. She hadn't said another word since expressing her desire to go to the front lines, and she hadn't moved.
"Oh thank god. Don't scare me like that!" the blacksmith finally said, ignoring the fact Asuna hadn't moved.
Her voice remaining dead, Asuna spoke again. "How can you handle the killing?"
Liz's eyes, joyous only a moment earlier, became haunted. "You don't 'handle' the killing. If you handle it without emotion you're no better than Laughing Coffin." She paused, trying to compose herself on the subject, but failing. "Some of us are drinking a lot to forget. Most of us are simply pushing through as best we can. We talk to each other about it and try to hold each other up. We remind each other the monsters aren't real. It's all we can do."
"I can remember Kirito's blood on me so vividly." Emotion was starting to creep into her voice. The beginnings of hysterics were edging their way in. "I can't stop thinking about it. How can I forget Liz? How?"
The tears were starting. It wasn't the first time, but before they were unrecognized, as if only her subconscious was aware of them. Now they were forcing their way out in a way she had to recognize. They were the tears she needed to spill to begin the healing.
Silica joined Liz in hugging their friend, trying to supply the comfort she needed.
"I wish I knew," Liz said honestly.
With those final words Asuna's tears changed to sobbing. Not long after they built to heart rending screams as she expressed the pain and anger she had held onto for so long.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
