The Survival Logs || Sword Art Online Fanfic

PK Pandemonia Arc: Chapter 83 - Witch Hunt

25 February 2024

Katalysis, 43rd Floor

POV: Rakuno

I felt like I had to meet Tori by myself. I just had to.

Well, she wouldn't want anyone else to interfere with the meet-up. Besides, I bet Zena's got other stuff on his mind to investigate on. He wouldn't wanna waste his time on this.

I wouldn't want to trouble him with what I was about to potentially face later on.

I stopped in front of the giant arena's entrance. It was a meeting place that Tori had suggested, and it was one that blatantly pierced me with suspicions all over.

But I agreed to it, despite me wishing that I wouldn't have to come to this place often.

The vacant space in the giant arena sent little shivers down my spine, as I remembered the atrocities that happened there, done by the very same player who I was about to meet.

It's definitely not the best predicament, but surprisingly, she wasn't really that bad. Even though I had to get close to the Council leader at Zena's request, she was insanely easy to talk to. For a player who doesn't hesitate to kill other players without a single shred of mercy, she acted like she was merely hanging out with friends, which gave me pretty, pretty weird vibes.

I didn't know whether I should be really concerned about my relationship with her. What I did know, however, was that I could never turn my back on it.

Tori had just exited an alleyway leading to the Gladorium arena. Given the open space between the arena and the buildings that surround it, it was easy to spot her, but I was anticipating her arrival so much so that I almost spun around while turning to her.

With her usual smile, Tori stopped about 5 metres away from me, her ever-lasting confidence already taking hold of the atmosphere around us.

"I'm sure you have an idea of why I called you here."

She spoke in her usual tone. Maybe the nightly environment, with the yellowish lights shining on only some parts of the ground was the reason, but I was trying to sqiunt my eyes to get a good look at her.

"The Gladorium....."

Somehow, I had a feeling this particular meeting with the Council leader was going to change things. Not for her, but for me. Something's going to happen, and I don't think I would like it.

Was I perhaps.....fearing for the worse that Tori could do to me?

"You remembered my invitation," Tori clapped a few times. "So yeah, you'll be in the next Gladorium. For that, we'll need a few preparations."

She snapped her fingers, and a bunch of Council members emerged from the darkness of the alleyways, all fixated on me.

"I thought you said you're meeting me alone." I reached for the handle of my katana, Taiyoubimaru. I was seriously hoping that Tori would have been truly alone.

But I should have expected her to do the opposite instead, even if I was mentally preparing myself to deal with a party of players. After all, bringing Council members with her was her habit, and I was simply just wishing that she might have forgotten to do that in this meeting.

Even then, I would have completely no solution to deal with the situation of dealing with her, let alone her bodyguards.

"Relax, relax.....," Tori raised her right hand above her head. "We won't have to get rough if you agree to what I'm about to propose to you."

"I know what you're going to say," I frowned. "The Gladorium needs its next victims."

I expected Tori to refute my claim, but her brief silence had only made the atmosphere much more unsettling.