Scene 1:

A lizard shoots up into the air at high speed, then crashes down to the ground with even more force. Its muscles tear apart, bones crack, skin rips open, and blood begins to pour out.

Kirito:
“Sand Art!”
(The enemy gets trapped in the sand. The more it tries to escape, the deeper it sinks.)

Scene 2:
Sand begins to swirl around the lizard from all directions, trying to trap it. The more the lizard struggles to break free, the stronger and denser the sand becomes. Eventually, the lizard is completely buried and suffocates to death.

Kirito:
“Golden Yama…!”
(This skill traps the enemy in a horrifying illusion for a few seconds. It then absorbs their blood and aura before triggering two internal blasts — one in the brain and one in the heart.)

Scene 3:
The last lizard tries to escape, running at full speed. Suddenly, it collapses to the ground and doesn’t move for a few seconds. Then it starts screaming as it gradually loses its strength. In a short time, it can’t even stand. Suddenly, its head explodes, followed by its chest. It collapses and dies.

Kirito:
“Never ever touch my wife!!”

Scene 4:
Kirito rushes to Mari’s side.

Kirito:
“Heal!”
(A basic healing skill. It cannot cure poison but reduces its effects by 30%.)

Scene 5:
Mari is still in a critical state. Blood is coming out of her mouth, and her eyes are slowly closing. She collapses.

Kirito:
“I won’t let anything happen to you! I have to hurry!”

Scene 6:
Kirito lifts Mari in his arms and starts running toward the school with incredible speed. Within minutes, he reaches the healing room at school where teachers begin treating Mari.

Kirito:
“Sir, will Mari be alright?!”

Teacher:
“Yes, no need to worry. She just needs a few days of rest. She’s too weak to even walk right now, so let her rest here for a while.”

Kirito:
“Phew… alright. Then I’ll stay here with her.”

Teacher:
“Ah… I’m sorry to say this, but the Principal has summoned you.”

Kirito:
“The Principal? Why?”

Teacher:
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s a mission only meant for you.”

Kirito:
“But I need to stay with Mari! She needs me now more than ever. I can’t leave!”

Teacher:
“Yes, but the mission is important. If it weren’t, why would the Principal call only you?”

Kirito:
“…Alright! But please take care of Mari until I return.”

Teacher:
“Of course.”

Scene 7:
Kirito heads to the Principal’s room and knocks on the door.

Yuka:
“Yes, come in.”

Scene 8:
Kirito enters the room.

Ruka:
“Ah, Kirito. We were waiting for you. Please sit down.”

Kirito (sitting):
“Sir Arena told me you had an important mission for me.”

Yuka:
“Yes, that’s right.”

Kirito:
“Can I do it after a few days?”

Yuka:
“You can, but the sooner it's completed, the better.”

Kirito:
“Ugh… Fine. What’s the mission?”

Scene 9:
Yuka takes out a map and places it on the table.

Yuka:
“See this mountain? A Monster King lives there. This mountain is isolated, surrounded by a massive lake. If we don’t deal with it now, a large-scale war could break out soon.”

Kirito:
“But I’ve never even heard of a Monster King!”

Yuka:
“They’re extremely rare and powerful. If we don’t eliminate them in time, they can trigger a world-scale war.”

Kirito:
“Alright, but if they’re so powerful, why send only me? Aren’t there stronger students or even an army?”

Yuka:
“Huh? Ah… because it’s an order! Yes, it’s a direct order from your father. He wants only you to handle this.”

Kirito:
“Me, alone?”

Yuka:
“Yes. He probably wants to test your strength. If you are to rule two kingdoms one day, he needs to know you’re ready.”

Kirito:
“Alright then. When do I leave?”

Yuka:
“Right now.”

Scene 10:
Kirito leaves the room and flies at high speed toward the mountain.

Kirito (thinking):
“I must finish this mission quickly… so I can return to Mari.”

Scene 11:
Kirito reaches the mountain, but it’s just a dense forest.

Kirito:
“Hmm? There’s nothing here… Maybe the Principal had wrong info. I’ll head back and confirm.”

Meanwhile, back at the school’s healing room:
Mari is resting. The Principal Yuka and the teacher who was healing Mari are there too.

Yuka:
“Now that Kirito’s gone, we’re free.”

Arena:
“But what if he finds out?”

Yuka:
“Don’t worry. He barely survived the five lizards I sent. At worst, he’ll come back angry and damage school property. We’ll just say Mari didn’t fully recover and the poison relapsed... and she died. Now, hurry up.”

Arena:
“Yes, sir.”

Scene 12:
Arena unsheathes his sword and places it on Mari’s neck.

Scene 13:
Kirito returns to the school and walks into the Principal’s room.

Kirito:
“Huh? No one’s here… Fine. I’ll go to Mari. I’ll talk to them later.”

Scene 14:
Kirito approaches Mari’s room.

Scene 15:
Arena has placed the sword on Mari’s neck — and just then…

Arena slashes Mari’s neck.

[Chapter 9 – End]