(3:28 am)

'A palace next to a lake filled with high leveled monsters in a beginner area with no prerequisite stuff required. No matter how you look at it, it's suspicious.' Nexus slowly descends to the ground after flying for what seems to be forever. He lets out a massive yawn in irritation while glaring at the palace. The time that he's awake is making it all the more irritating for him as well. He opens up the menu while looking at the time with a frown. "Hey, Yui. You sure you're okay with all of this? You're an A.I. and all but you're still a child in the end. Got to make sure that you'll be okay when your mom and dad log on."

"Do not worry about it. Since they weren't on today, I actually decided to sleep early once I saw what you're doing. Don't worry. I'll be there to support you all the way, Uncle!" Yui exclaims appearing out of his coat's pocket with a smile and a thumbs up.

"Forums state that this tower stays here for only an hour. Hopefully, all of those levels and Liz's upgrades are enough to speed through this. Previous scouting shows that it has a pretty straightforward loadout. Alright. Night 1. The first weapon is mine."

Facing Oneself

By: NexusMHX

Chapter 9: The Stronghold

"You know… Thinking about it. I don't think going in there, guns blazing is going to work exactly." Nexus comments looking through a small cliff with the multiple enemies patrolling the docking area. He looks from side to side, hoping to find something to help him in this situation. He looks up at the tower, frowning a little as well. There was no way that he was going to get in through the palace in that way.

"How about sneaking your way through? If fighting all of them is going to take too long, maybe avoiding a confrontation is the way to go." Yui states looking at the surrounding area. The area around the two is rather high and raggy, while also the area being quite dark.

"I would have assumed that the terrain and lighting wouldn't exactly work… I thought those types of hazards were only detrimental to players." Nexus said retreating a little back into the corner so he could have a more straightforward conversation with Yui.

"Technology has really come a long way from the types of games you used to play, Uncle! There hasn't been any special artificial intelligence in these types of games until recently. Take a look at me!" Yui said with a bit of pride behind that statement. Nexus couldn't really help but chuckle at the statement as he uses his index finger to slowly pat Yui's head. "That tickles with your finger!"

"Ah, sorry. You were acting like a little goober that I couldn't help myself. Alright then." Nexus readies his one-handed sword before peeking over the cliff. Thanks to his Cait Sith abilities, he's able to see a good amount of the landscape. Yui flies back into his pocket before leaping over the cliff, slowly descending down while not making too much noise. He swiftly creeps past a few of the monsters with relative ease.

After a good few minutes, he makes his way behind a small arch that led to the bridge towards the entrance of the castle. Unfortunately for Nexus, the area was somewhat lit which meant that he wasn't going to be able to pass by undetected. He turns around to see that the monsters surrounding the area wouldn't be in range to hear a quick clash were to happen. He readies his sword while gritting his teeth. He jumps out before rushing over to the monster, leaping into the air before ramming into it while stabbing it in the shoulder, hoping to cut off its arm.

Surprisingly enough, the monster yelps out in pain as it stumbles a few steps backward from the sudden and painful strike. Almost as if it was a real living being as it tries to shake Nexus off. The monster flings Nexus away from it as he goes through his menu to switch his weapon. His sword disappears from the monster's shoulder before a two-handed broadsword appears in both of his hands. He lets out a small sigh as he lays it out in front of him with both of his hands gripped on the handle. A small smile formed on his face, almost as if the time of when his childhood had come to light. It never really occurred to him at this moment as a bright yellow engulfs the blade.

Nexus shifts into a position holding the sword with his right hand. He remembered the days it took to replicate it. Straight from a game that had come out a few years prior. Without the work of the system to guide him in his troubles, he constantly researched ways to work out everything in this. He had made multiple Original Sword Skills, but this was one step towards something that he could be proud of. Replicating one specific skill is a step closer to the goal he has placed on himself. But for now, this would work.

"Clim-Cross Slash." Nexus slowly said to himself. He readies into a position with the monster patiently waiting for Nexus to strike. A few seconds pass as Nexus grips the broadsword and immediately thrusts into the stomach area of the monster. The monster lets out a yelp in pain as Nexus jumps up, dragging the blade throughout the monster. With a flick of the wrist, the blade that had left a massive cut in the monster's body comes down on the other side of the body while Nexus drags it down. He immediately drags his sword out before dealing five swift slices, making a symbol with the bright light of his sword.

Not wasting any time, Nexus moves past the monster as it explodes into multiple particles in the sky. The boy readies his sword, looking around to make sure that he was alone. Once he was sure, he walked through the hall while examining the design of the walls and furniture. The aesthetic seemed like it was too high tech for the world that ALO took place in, yet some pieces of furniture would scream styles of art that would be found during the ages of the Renaissance.

After walking through a few rooms, hallways, a few chests with obscure items and maps, flights of stairs, Nexus lets out a sigh as he mostly uses his broadsword. Despite everything, he has to rush through the last few sections of the castle while running. However, going by one of the maps that Nexus found he made it to the top floor of the castle. Looking at the time, he decides to take a break and fully grasp the area in which he's in.

"Does any of this look right to you, Yui?" Nexus spins around to fully grasp everything around him. Yui had left the pocket once again to take a good look at the surroundings on Nexus' head. She immediately frowns at everything that she sees.

"None of these matches with anything that you would see inside this type of dungeon that you all have seen. Some of these things match with little parts of SAO." Yui said, catching Nexus' attention. She looks around a little more. "It's actually a bit distinctive of the administration areas."

"Like the console? What exactly does that mean?!" Nexus exclaims before reaching a door. He peeks through it, revealing the main room with a minotaur, standing in front of a flight of stairs to a door that looked bigger than any of the doors. He closes it to get the proper heading of all of it from Yui. "So what are you saying from all of this?"

"I'm saying that the details of this place doesn't match the game we're in. Technically speaking, this was programmed by someone not on the development team for ALO." Yui said, forcing Nexus to think a little at what the girl said.

"What are you thinking? Some kind of masterful hacker, is bypassing multiple levels of stuff, to do what? PK people like back in SAO?" Nexus asks looking back at the multiple incidents that had taken place. Able to bypass regulations of cities, to injuring people in real life by in-game weapons. Points do lead to some kind of hacker, but the main problem that came to Nexus was, "Why would someone do that?"

"I have no reason. However, I'm detecting a player-like figure on the other side of that massive door. I would be cautious before proceeding. You still have 15 minutes left." Yui warns with Nexus nodding a little. He readies his broadsword before making his way into the room. This time, the small pixie floats near Nexus' head, possibly because she was getting tired of being in the pocket constantly. The minotaur roars out before jumping in front of Nexus, with a mace in its hand.

Nexus gets into a fighting position, before noticing as he clashes his weapon with the monster's. He felt the impact of the monster's strength being pushed him back but it felt strange. It was to be the last monster inside the dungeon before the boss, and yet it felt easy to him. Too easy as a matter of fact. The monster was about the same level as all of the monsters he faced as he drags his sword closer to him, in order to stagger the monster long enough to get in a few quick slices.

Despite his somewhat heavy weapon, Nexus felt fast enough on his feet to be able to outmaneuver the foe enough to spin around them before more precise and powerful strikes. His sword glows a dark orange as he slices the leg area of the monster before spinning around to hit a higher portion of the body. This goes on multiple times before back spinning into the area, straight into the body of the minotaur with ease. It explodes into pixels right in front of him as he walks up the flight of stairs.

Nexus, not wanting to waste any time, kicks open the door to reveal a small room that looks like a small library/office of a king. Sitting on the chair of the room, Nexoo sat by himself with a small smile. He slowly claps by the fact as he laughs a little.

"Quite an entrance," Nexoo comments as he stands up from his seat. He slowly walks around the desk towards Nexus who simply glares at his copy in front of him. "And what's with that look?"

"It's just interesting to me, that's all. I get to kick your ass once again, Nexoo." Nexus exclaims with a slight chuckle while ready to draw his sword at any time.

"Don't call me that. I am not going by that name. I have a more fitting name in my head that I'll be addressed as. Raidriar. That sounds like a fitting name for me." Raidriar said with a serious expression. He looks through the window to see the land in front of him. "I rule this land now. Under the one who has everything under the palm of his hand."

"Who is it then? This so-called "God" that you are proclaiming to serve under. Surely he must have a name." Nexus said, trying to pry something out of his copy. Raidriar simply chuckles as he turns around to Nexus.

"His name? That's a particular one. He never actually told us his name. So we simply call him, the Worker. However, you will not live long enough to tell that to your friends. Your little pixie friend is of no exception." Raidriar states, looking over at Yui who was hiding behind Nexus' head. She immediately jumps back in fear from the words behind Raidriar's voice. "With the power of an Infinity Blade. You will not live to see another day."

"An Infinity Blade?" Nexus comments to himself while taking a small step backward. Raidriar extends his hand out, with a glowing and electronic almost formation, a futuristic black broadsword, weirdly shaped forms in his hand. "Yui. Get out of here. Warn the others if you can. I'll stay here, to make sure that this one doesn't get you."

"W-What?! You can't do that Uncle! That's the same weapon that was used on Klein and Agil. Something bad could happen to you!" Yui exclaims with Nexus taking the weapon out in front of him.

"I know… But even still. If something happens to me, you have to do something. Now go! I won't say it again!" Nexus shouts towards Yui with a somewhat concerned and rushed tone. He didn't want to see Yui in the state that he was in as she rushes away, hoping to at least spread the news to Strea at the very least. His hands started to feel shaky, his grip on his sword felt weak. Fear. The lingering demon inside of him started to come up once again. His vision itself felt a little foggy as he tries to look at Raidriar.

"Scared? I could understand the feeling. After all, this isn't a game. What would you SAO players call this situation that you're in at this very moment? Ah, that's right. It's "survival"!" Raidriar exclaims swinging his sword out towards Nexus. The boy has barely any time to react as he lifts his sword up to block the strike. The blow knocks him back into a wall with Raidriar giving a disappointed look. "I didn't think that revenge was going to be SO EASY. We were on equal levels last time. I thought a little stat boost was going to be all I need to kill you. But to see you like this. It feels disappointing and yet satisfying at the same time."

Nexus didn't respond. He couldn't respond at all to what Raidriar said. He couldn't even think of what to say. Even after some bit of time, the memories of Aincrad was burnt into his mind. It haunted him to the extent that he couldn't process anything. His heartbeat started to rise up, he's drenched in sweat. Raidriar strikes him again, almost with pure instinct Nexus' hands move to use the broadsword to block the strike, breaking through the door as he falls down the flight of stairs.

"Don't even bother of trying to delay until the time is over. I as a matter of fact was the one who can control the time limit." Raidriar said with a smug expression as he slowly goes down each step. He leaps into the air, piercing Nexus' shoulder while he still laid on the ground. "I had to see you again. So I planned something suspicious in such an obscure date that only you would take the bait for. And here we are. Come on. Say something. Don't go all silent on me. Or were you always this weak?"

Nexus doesn't even have any way to react. The only thing he could do is silently grasp the situation that he's in. He can feel the pain in his shoulder, like some kind of reaction sparked in him.

"They say that when you're about to die, your mind would go back through all of your memories in your past. Just to find some way of living. At first, I believed it would be because of the fact that living through all the happy moments of your life, to give your life and sad and yet joyful ending. However, I want to live. This feeling has always been there. On numerous occasions, I've seen these images. Yet somehow, there's only one image that always seems to be the one that sparks me to move on forward."

"Hey! I know that you like to sleep and all, but come on! We're together at least. The time that we're together is limited. So… can't we at least enjoy the time we have together? That way, we can make more memories like today! So wake up, you silly moron. I know you can hear me!"

"Yeah. I'm a moron."

Nexus slowly starts to twitch a little, causing Raidriar to react by pulling his blade away and jumps back a little. It gives Nexus enough time to bring himself back to his knees. He leans on his sword before pulling himself up as uses both of his hands in front of him. He gives a small smile as his sword glows a red color out in front of him.

"I am weak. I became the pawn of the man that made a death trap. Despite my weakness… Actually. It was my weakness that made it my strength. I want to spend my life with her!" Nexus starts to glow an aura around him as he pulls his blade closer to his chest.

"How could your weakness be the thing that strives you so much?! Your weakness will obliterate you on this path! You're a foolish weakling after all!" Raidriar exclaims, clashing blades with Nexus with a fierce shockwave surrounding them.

"I know that I am a fool! I know that I can't change what might happen! I know for a fact that I will struggle to the point that I'll go insane. But right now, it's not today! You called me a foolish weakling. You're a copy of that fool. So I won't die here!" Nexus exclaims as he tries to overpower Raidriar.

"Be quiet! You aren't someone who can call me out on that. After all, you are someone who is so conflicted in your head. Besides that one memory, you would forget everything except for that one! Selfish, arrogant, you expecting everything to go right. I despise it." Raidriar slides his blade, stunning Nexus a little as he slices the chest area. Nexus could feel the pain from it. He grits his teeth, gripping his blade as his sword glows once again.

"Everything that you said is right. The one thing that you think can strip me of the very fundamentals of my life, you will not be able to take it away. No one can take that away!" Nexus spins his sword over his head, the aura around him disappears. He tightens his grip on his sword, looking at Raidriar. "Ascension."

'Ascension is a one-handed sword skill though… How could he replicate the movements like that with a two-handed sword?' Raidriar gathers energy into his sword as he readies his sword skill. A blue light engulfs with energy, closely watching his opponent. The two charges towards each other, Raidriar goes for a lower to upper slash while Nexus charges in with a stab before Raidriar's skill could connect. "What?!"

"Once again. I win." Nexus twists his whole body with three spinning horizontal slashes before thrusting his sword straight in the middle of Raidriar's body. Raidriar takes a moment to process what exactly just happened, and what is about to him. Once he fully realizes, Nexus drags his sword up, cutting him in half with a leap.

"D-Damn you." Raidriar explodes into pixels as his blade drops to the ground in front of Nexus. He picks up the weapon in front of him, slowly examining the item in front of him as a notification appears in his inventory. He takes a look at it with a frown on his face.

Received the Infinity Cleaver

A few moments passed as Nexus takes the moment to relax. He still felt an immense amount of pain in his body as he takes a few months to breathe. He didn't stay for long, despite being victorious. He takes out a teleportation crystal preparing to teleport when suddenly the castle disappears around him as he starts falling from the sky.

"Oh. So this is how I die?" Nexus comments as he falls from the sky.

"That was the worst joke I have ever made." Goro slowly opens his eyes before coughing in pain. The minute that he slowly puts the Amusphere over his head, a slap plops him to the wall. The teenager takes a minute to process what the hell just happened before slowly looking over to see Shino sitting on the chair next to him with Akane and Shinzo behind her. "Shino?! What are you doing here?!"

"Are you some damaged in the head from what just happened or are you just plain stupid!?" Shino exclaims with a furious expression written all over her face. She grabs the collar of Goro's shirt and brings him closer. "I get a call from Asuna in four in the morning with a desperate voice saying to rush on over because of a message that she got from Yui saying that your whole god damn life is in danger! So take a guess as to why I'm here!"

"I-I see…" Goro manages to get out before wincing a little in pain grabbing his shoulder and chest areas in pain. Shino realizes the predicament that Goro is in as she lets go, still looking pissed as hell from the whole situation.

"Big brother… Why did you do something like that? You worried everyone, including Big Sis Yuuki." Akane said with a worried expression on her face.

"This should have been something that you should have explained to the rest of the group because I don't know. Something bad could have happened to you? What the hell were you even doing exactly?!" Shinzo exclaims whole he folds his arms with a serious expression with one hand gripping on his phone.

"I found a suspicious rumor on Reddit. It matched a location that Terrovax gave to us. With the location only being available for a certain time of the day, it had to seem like something that had to do with the things he mentioned. Knowing that it was during this time, I didn't want to have anyone suffer for what could have happened so I did it myself. I was going to tell all of you later." Goro explains, before letting out a nasty cough in pain. He slowly stands up, stumbling a little as Shino grabs a hold of him.

"You really are a dumbass. We would have helped you with this type of thing. But for now, we need to get you to a hospital." Shino grunts as she helps Goro walk outside with Shinzo following.

"Get some sleep Akane. He'll be alright." Shinzo states before picking up the phone. "He's fine. He is on his way soon. Make sure he's in the right care."

Wassup my homies! This is NexusMHX here with another chapter of Facing Oneself! Just to let you, this does not mean that this series is coming back in full time. This is something that I will write on the side when I start having ideas for these sorts of things. So take this chapter with a grain of salt as who knows when the next chapter will be. But I hope this chapter kinda shows how much growth I'm having as a writer. I compare my writing constantly to the stuff that I've written in the past to now. And I can fully say, there's a definite improvement. But for now, this is NexusMHX signing off! If you enjoyed it, please make sure to follow/favorite/comment for more content! Stay Classy!