The Survival Logs || Sword Art Online Fanfic

PK Pandemonia Arc: Chapter 100 - Taking the Iron Stand

2 March 2024

Black Iron Castle, 1st Floor

POV: Rakuno

I've never really stepped foot into the Black Iron Castle before.

I didn't see the need to. The things that other players have said about the place were never positive.

Their reviews were right. It really was just like the rumours. Cold, black, ominous. The kind of place that you'd hear your own crisp footsteps while walking.

The castle itself was actually just a giant room. Pillars lined up on both sides. A patch of light was located in the center, the only source of lighting among the black walls.

I looked up as I strolled through the chamber. The opening in the ceiling seems to be constructed. Maybe the designers should have just closed the ceiling up and placed lamps instead. But then again, who would come here at night anyway?

At the end of the castle stood the only ever reason anyone would visit this place: a giant board made out of the same material as the Black Iron Castle. From a distance, it looked simple enough to serve no purpose, but it wasn't my first time here.

I stopped in front of the structure known bluntly as the Iron Board, and looked up at the names of players--spaced out equally from each other--written in rows from one end to the other. The Iron Board was only higher than me by a head, having enough height to fit 5 rows of names.

5 rows of 2000 names each, in fact. All 10000 of them arranged in alphabetical order from the far left side of the board to the far right.

Some of the names were striked off; a line being drawn over the name, which indicated that the player with that name had died, or rather, had their HP reduced to 0. There hadn't been anyone who was revived with their name already striked off, and by now, there have been no hope that any of them would come back from their apparent 'deaths'.

Like any other player, I'd already accepted the fact that dying here results in death in the real world. Looking at the Iron Board proved this, even though deep down, I wished it wasn't like this.

I turned right, moving along the names. I was at the center of the Iron Board, where names starting with 'M' were. Going further down the alphabet, I arrived at the section of names starting with 'T'.

It took a while to find that name. I didn't have to confirm the death of the player of that name, but I wanted to. Because it was the only part of her left in this world.

The name of 'Tori' was written in the row that was at my eye level. Sure enough, it was striked off cleanly with a fairly thick line. I stood staring at it, while reaching to touch it gently.

She didn't have to die. She really didn't.

Even though she was my enemy, it didn't feel right to see her dead. I didn't even think I want to see her as an enemy, back when I was held captive by her in Katalysis.

"You done mourning?"

I snapped back out of my trance, turning to see Zenalyth standing right beside me. Maybe I was too into thinking about Tori's death, that I hadn't heard his footsteps.

".....Just a bit more." I replied softly.

He turned to glance at Tori's name, giving a little sigh. "I really would've liked to have a duel with her....."

The spear user turned to the entrance of the Black Iron Castle. "They should be here any minute now."

My hand touching Tori's name curled into a fist. "She didn't deserve this."