Sorry for the delay of Part 6. I've been really busy as of late, but to make up for it as well as PArt 5's shortness, I've made this chapter much longer. Enjoy Part 6, the Arena battle with Team Bordeaux.

Disclaimer: The characters and settings depicted in this story are the intellectual property of .hack Conglomerate.

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Fwoosh!

Haseo spun around just in time to watch as a black streak impaled Alkaid. His eyes widened as he stared at the lifeless expression on his partner's face as her eyes slowly closed. Small data particles began to appear around the twinblade's body as her data began to break down.

Haseo quickly turned to his other partner, but just as he began to form Atoli's name in his mouth, she instantly fell to Haseo's side. Haseo looked towards his infected opponent who merely grinned devilishly at the black pc. Suddenly, the sounds of the crowd, which had all but quieted in the background, began to pick up and a familiar voice called out to him.

"Haseo!"

Both Atoli and Alkaid stared worriedly at Haseo as he opened his eyes. A dream? He thought to himself until he heard the cackle of Bordeaux. The scenes from before flashed in his mind and Haseo gritted his teeth, fueled with a ferocity he hadn't felt since his PKK days.

"What's the matter, Haseo? You're looking pretty small from where I'm standing. What happened? Did you shrink with fear at the thought of the beating you're about to get? Grein! Negimaru! Let's go!"

The cocky Alkaid was surprised by Haseo, who hadn't waited for her usual "Ready, Haseo" Atoli noticed it was well as they followed after. The look in his eyes was enough to send chills down both their spines.

Grein led the trio, followed by Negimaru and finally Bordeaux, almost as if in formation. The twinblade and the blade brandier broke from behind the large edge punisher as he and Haseo collided. The power of Grein's massive blade was almost intimidating, but Haseo used that power against him to get an upper hand. Immediately dropping all resistance against Grein's blade, Haseo dodged and hit him from the back with a sonic wave, sending him flying into the battle fence.

Scanning his surrounding, Haseo spied Negimaru as he started to engage Alkaid in a battle of speed, and Atoli casting stat buffers on her teammates. Bordeaux casually began walking towards the green harvest cleric who cast protection spells on herself and tried to keep her distance.

Surprisingly, Negimaru was able to stand up to the ex-arena empress, but such a feat was only short lived. As the two twin blades locked dual swords, Alkaid's eyes widened as a large curved blade seemingly appeared out of nowhere and wrapped around his skinny neck. The adept rogue spun around, swinging the large scythe and after two revolutions, flung Negimaru at the tanned female. Upon connecting, both went plowing into the battle fence, but were able to recover quickly as Haseo positioned himself in the center of the battlefield.

Bordeaux sneered at her opponent and soon charged towards the former Terror of Death. Haseo readied himself to counter her attack. Suddenly, the tan red head was grinning again as she drew closer to Haseo. As he began to draw his scythe back, someone darted past him. Alkaid. Haseo could tell she was a putting her twin blade stats to full use so he had only one option. Damn it, he told himself as he quickly activated his skill trigger.

"HEAVENLY WHEEL!"

The black PC's body became covered in gold as he zipped past Alkaid and straight into the tainted blade of Bordeaux.

"HENGEKI! DISASTER SWORD!"

As quickly as he had come to the enemy leader, she had dispatched him to the other side of the field, crashing into the battle fence. A fourth of his health vanished as he struggled to get to his feet. His body felt numb with brief moments of shock coming over his body. The maniacal laugh of Bordeaux could be heard echoing around the arena, ringing in Haseo's ears.

You're all mine, Bordeaux thought to herself as she made a b-line for the paralyzed adept rogue. Haseo's eyes tightly closed as he anticipated her next attack.

"TRI-STRIKE!"

A golden streak ran across the field as Alkaid activated a skill trigger of her own. Three powerful slashes sent the aggressive Bordeaux sliding roughly across the ground. Haseo opened his eyes, looking up at Alkaid's glowing back protecting him.

"Haseo!" Atoli exclaimed as she sent him a recovery spell. Grein tried to interfere, but Alkaid held him off as Negimaru headed towards Haseo, who stood on the ready. With a great leap, Negimaru positioned himself high above the black armored character and descended upon him in a spiraling motion as Bordeaux again took the head on approach.

Haseo could feel his anger growing. He was mad at himself for allowing this scenario, but more so mad that these idiots keep getting in his way and how they had become a serious threat to his friends. If I make them disappear…, he thought to himself.

Looking over his shoulder, Grein saw the gang up on Haseo and broke off his struggle with Alkaid, who quickly overtook him, running circles around the big slow character.

"VAK DOM!"

Atoli invoked as the sky above Bordeaux appeared to open up, raining down bright red flames upon her, forcing her to the ground. Negimaru stared, shocked as Haseo spun his scythe over his head, watching as the veggie-headed twinblade came closer and closer. His hands stopped as the scythe pointed to the sky, to Negimaru who tried his best to brace for impact. Bouncing off the arched blade, he was able to land near his team leader who was struggling to get up.

Switching to his edge punisher weapon, Haseo charged towards the AIDA-infected enemy at full speed. Bordeaux noticed him and turned in such a way towards him, that it felt like time itself was crawling to a halt. Her grin grew bigger as she lunged at the approaching Haseo.

Their clash was very reminiscent of their first encounter in a moonlit desert. Haseo had the same look in his eyes from back then, something the tan blade brandier hadn't seen since. The same grin appeared on his face as back then as he remembered as well and told himself that nothing's changed.

Bordeaux detested Haseo for the humiliation of that day, and her grin soon faded to a deep scowl that stretched across her face. She could feel her blade being forced down, so she quickly withdrew as a great roar erupted above the Terror of Death. Grein descended upon Haseo, who reacted with a charge attack. As the large man went flying backwards some feet away, Atoli cast speed enhancing magic on the party. Haseo decided to switch to twin blades and dashed after the enemy leader, who was double teaming Alkaid with Negimaru.

The images from before and Ovan's words raced through his mind more and more as he got closer and then, it was quiet. Like the silence following a gunshot, everything cleared in mind and all he could see was the future, a future he determined at that moment.

"SWORD DANCE!"

Alkaid staved off her attackers and confronted Negimaru as Haseo went after Bordeaux, Grein following closely behind. Haseo, tracking Grein, slowed down and darted at him. Countering the massive blade of Grein, Haseo exhibited the incredible speed of his dual swords as he evaded the slow strikes of the Edge Punisher and devastated him with a barrage of swords strikes that he was unable to keep up with. Grein fell there and his character became like a ghost, fixed in place.

Bordeaux thrust her curvy sword at Haseo, who easily countered, spinning behind and delivered an "x" cut to her back. She stumbled forward, met by Haseo's knee. Her eyes widened as she looked into the glowing eyes of her adversary. Haseo drew his broadsword out, lifting Bordeaux up under her chin. An orange halo outlined Haseo's body as he prepared to strike.

"NO! DON'T!"

Atoli's voice resounded in Haseo's mind. As Alkaid wondered what qualms Atoli had with defeating their opponents, the glow soon dissipated and he looked calmer. Bordeaux, who remained frozen in place appeared to be relieved. Its just like he told me…, she thought, letting out a sigh. But Haseo's face instantly changed to an even worse expression.

Haseo began savagely striking his grounded enemy, The agony audibly experienced was unlike one who was losing at a game, but of one in real agony. Negimaru was unable to break off his fight with the persistent Alkaid and could only watch as his leader's health plummeted.

Just as Haseo prepared the final blow, Bordeaux let out such a terrible scream that Haseo was knocked back. The sharp, whip-like tentacles on her back sprang to life, sprawling about, extending and contracting. The black splotches on her body began to spread as Haseo's teammates stared on in disbelief. Black dots erupted from her left shoulder as she stood to her feet.

"Pretty good, little Haseo. Pretty good, but it's still not enough. You can't keep me down anymore. I won't allow that humiliation…EVER AGAIN!!"

The ground shook as the lively black tentacles rushed towards Haseo's party. Alkaid stood at the ready as Haseo switched to his flick reaper weapon again, unleashing a sonic wave to deflect the tentacles. Bordeaux's grin only grew more distorted as she turned towards her remaining party member who wasn't quite sure what was happening.

Her arm stretched out across the field to him as the dots grew larger behind the AIDA infected player. With a scream, Negimaru was drawn into the black void, vanishing from view as Bordeaux's body began to vanish. The very ground Haseo stood on was gone as he again ventured into avatar space. Haseo looked around, searching for whatever warped form the AIDA would take on.

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Preview for Part 7: After the events of the arena battle, Haseo loses confidence in his ability to protect his friends and decides to follow the path of destruction. Hurtful words are exchanged between Haseo and Alkaid as they part ways, leaving Atoli all alone. Tragedy strikes again, but this time the fingers are pointed at Haseo, who has gone missing, despite being logged in. What will Alkaid do when she finds Haseo?