Sinon instinctively checked the watch on her left hand. It's now 8.40pm. There's still 5 minutes before the third "Satellite Scan", and in this situation, things just feel extremely long.

The mysterious mantle in her scope gave a deathly presence as he strapped the L115 on his right shoulder. Sinon widened her eyes to see if there was any tag or affiliated squadron, but there wasn't anything out of the ordinary other than the muzzle and the dark-grey hood. As Sinon watched on, the tattered mantle seemed to glide as he walked towards the Pale Rider who fell onto the floor.

Pale Rider, who was able to take down Dyne seemingly without a scratch, was a player who did give off a strong presence. Sinon never heard of his name before, but in the north mainland that was far away, he should be famous like that "Behemoth" who used that minigun. However, when seeing both of them like this, the existence of the tattered mantle was more shocking. When she got her Hecate for the first time, Sinon once took down a large boss monster-like monster alone, and the tattered mantle gave Sinon the chills that was larger that monster-no, it gave more chills than that monster.

But as she realized the ability of the tattered mantle, Sinon had a question she just couldn't understand.

Even though he had such a rare gun and highly-skilled sniper technique, why did he use a stun bullet instead of real bullets? Pale Rider was lightly equipped, so a .338 Laqua should have a chance to kill him if it was the head or the heart. However, this tactic is understandable if he wanted to numb someone before sniping someone more accurately. However, the tattered mantle player showed up from the forest away shooting the first stun bullet and walked towards Pale Rider which had lots of HP, revealing his own position. Wouldn't that highly difficult snipe be completely meaningless.

The anxiety that came with being unable to predict the enemy's intent made Sinon bite her lips.

Speaking of which, Kirito, who was beside her, went quiet. Even though Sinon wanted to check the situation with him, she hesitated over whether she should turn her eyes away from the tattered mantle, and could only look through the scope of the Hecate.

The tattered mantle guy moved in front of Pale Rider and reached his right hand into the hood while carrying the L115. Is he going to finish off with his support weapon? Sinon thought. Even a mini-assault rifle can wear Pale Rider's HP to zero at such a close range- "...Eh..."

But Sinon again lets out a shocked voice.

What the mantle took out was a handgun. As the shadows caused by the sunset were too great and that it was immediately covered by the body, Sinon couldn't tell what sort of gun it was, but the silhouette was enough to indicate that it was an ordinary automatic pistol.

A shot from a handgun wouldn't cause less damage than an assault rifle, but even after pressing the trigger for consecutive times, it couldn't fire automatically, and will need lots of time before it can deplete an enemy's HP. Right now, Pale Rider was lying on the floor, and was about to recover from his numbness. Once he could move, he'll definitely fire the shotgun in his right hand. At that time, the one who would be dead would be this tattered mantle.

Even so, this mysterious player was just standing there, waiting for the night wind to blow his Gille mantle. There wasn't any sense of anxiety or wavering in him. He continued to point his right hand at Pale Rider, who was lying on the floor, and then raised his hand out from the mantle. That hand wasn't holding anything. It's unknown what the mantle guy was about to do as he placed his left finger on the forehead of his hood. Then, he moved to the chest, and finally, left and right.

This action was the so-called Cross-sign-was he planning to pray for an enemy who's about to be dead? But he shouldn't have much time left to this this. Does he think that he could dodge the shotgun at such a close distance? Or rather, was he a cocky person who just got lucky in getting a rare gun...?

The unnecessary questions made Sinon bite her lips anxiously. Suddenly, a soft voice came in to her left ear.

"...Hurry up and fire, Sinon."

It was Kirito's voice. This short sentence had a sense of urgency she never felt before. Sinon couldn't help but ask, "Eh? Shoot who?"

"Shoot that mantle guy!! Please, just shoot! Shoot before that guy takes action!!"

That abnormally anxious voice actually caused Sinon to exert force on her right index finger which was on the trigger of the Hecate. Sinon would normally grumble about it, but right now, she aimed her crosshair on the back of that mantle. She predicted the wind direction and humidity through the surrounding dust effect and slightly adjusted her angle. As she exerted force on the finger that's on the trigger, the green bullet trajectory immediately covered the enemy.

Logically, Sinon should wait for the winner to be decided between both of them. If she attacked the mantle down, the Pale Rider will recover from his numbness and definitely escape into the bushes on the left, and Sinon wouldn't have the chance to snipe him.

But even after knowing that, Sinon didn't release the strength that's exerted on the finger. For some reason, she had a feeling that she had to hit no matter what. She stopped her breathing, letting the imaginary cold air stop in her chest. That icy feeling could make her heart calm down. *Bekun*...*bekun*...just when the reticle shrank and the pulse moved as it gathered in a small circle- A gunshot.

The large muzzled brake let out a large flame that looked like a fire dragon.

There was only 300m between her and the target, so she couldn't miss. Sinon could even see an illusion where that avatar had a large hole there.

-However, In fact, the moment Sinon squeezed the trigger, the upper body of the mantle player bent backwards like a phantom that didn't materialize. The sure-kill bullet grazed past his chest and opened a huge hole further away.

"Wha..."

Sinon was unable to say anything and had a uncertain feeling. She found that he turned his head towards her location, and faced her from deep under the mantle. That heinous face did give a smile, and Sinon subconsciously gasped.

"Tha...that guy, he knew that we were here...right from the beginning..."

"How is it possible...! He never looked at us once before!"

On hearing Kirito's similarly shocked voice, Sinon shook her head slightly and said, "It's impossible to dodge this without seeing the bullet line. In other words, he started noticing me from a certain time and checked through the system..."

As she said this, her right hand automatically loaded the next round into the Hecate. Sinon again got ready to snipe, but started to hesitate. Facing this enemy who had such a response speed, there's a 99% chance that this bullet line will be dodged. She could fire all the 4 bullets in her magazine, but if she used them all, it'll be easy for the enemy to counterattack. What should I do...what should I do.

The mantle guy brought his body back forward as if he saw Sinon's short hesitation.

He again lined the automatic pistol in his right hand at Pale Rider, and flicked the hammer with his thumb. His left hand was supporting beside the grip, and then he calmly squeezed the trigger.

A flash appeared. After a few seconds, Sinon could hear a dry gunshot in her ears.

"Ahh...!"

Kirito groaned, seemingly afraid of something.

Of course, the bullet hit the center of Pale Rider. It was a physical damage, but anyone in this world wouldn't be dead from a 9mm bullet round immediately no matter which part he's hit in. Also, Pale Rider should have at least 90% of his HP. But for some reason, the mantle guy stopped attacking. He just kept his hands on his gun and stood there. He knew that Sinon was aiming at him, but never had the intention to look for cover. He probably had the belief that he could dodge any bullet.

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds- At that moment, the stun bullet effect that immobilized Pale Rider finally vanished.

The guy who was dressed in the blue and white camouflage suit then jumped up and quickly raised that AR17 shotgun with breathtaking speed and placed it at the chest of the mantle guy. That was definitely zero distance, and all the pellets could enter the heart of the mantle guy. Its power was different from a handgun, and the mantle guy could be killed in one hit.

Sinon and Kirito, that was laying beside her, and the audience in the entire GGO world and real world who were watching this live telecast should be watching this with their eyes widened.

The counterattack gunshot-was never heard.

What replaced it was the slight sound of a heavy object landing. It was the AR17 in Pale Rider's right hand dropping on the deep tea-colored sandy ground.

Then, Pale Rider knelt down like his joints were destroyed like a puppet and tilted right slowly before lying completely on the floor.

From Sinon's position, she could see the lips under the helmet of Pale Rider. He opened his mouth, seemingly making a silent cry and also looked like he was desperately gasping for air.

He suddenly raised his left hand in a rather weak motion, grabbing the center of his chest. And at the next moment- The body that was wearing blue and white camouflage seemed to be surrounded by light that looked like static and suddenly disappeared.

Finally, what was left of him was a little line of light displaying [DISCONNECTION], but soon it faded into the sunset and disappeared. "...What, was that?"

A few seconds later, Sinon finally managed to say these words.

The mantle player merely fired a handgun at Pale Rider. At this moment, Pale Rider should have some HP left. Then, Pale Rider was released from his stunned state and got ready to fight back with the shotgun. But just when he was about to fire, the circuits went faulty unfortunately, kicking him out from the game.

If there was a need to explain what just happened before her eyes, this would be the most logical explanation.

But how did it end up disconnected with such perfect timing? And, more than being lucky, that mantle guy who nearly got a huge reversal seemed to know that this disconnection would happen. No, rather than that- It felt like he was able to kick Pale Rider out from the game through his own will.

That was impossible. It's impossible to interference with other players network connection from within the game.

However, the mantle guy didn't seem to be shocked by Pale Rider's disappearance at all as he merely kept his left hand back into the mantle. Then, he again raised the handgun in his right hand and pointed it to a certain point. Sinon immediately knew what that was. That was the video camera that was showing the live broadcast of the tournament. The tournament set up a light-colored thing in the sky to show the player that he was being filmed. In other words, that was a declaration of victory to all the audience. However, what was he declaring? Just now, the battle he had with pale Rider was a forfeit because of a network failure, so it wasn't a manner that's worth bragging. Or-was the disappearance just now the real victory to the mantle guy? In other words...

"That guy...can disconnect the other players from the server...?"

Sinon muttered with a hoarse voice.

And beside her, Kirito seemed to be daydreaming as he answered, "Wrong...that's not it. It's not just an ordinary power."

"What's ordinary? That's a huge problem! How can he use such a cheating method? What is the operating company Zasukaa doing..."

"WRONG!"

Kirito suddenly grabbed Sinon's left shoulder tightly. Sinon wanted to shake him off instinctively, but the following words made the girl freeze.

"That guy didn't kick the player out from the server. He killed him. That Pale Rider just now...that real life player controlling Pale Rider is dead!!"

"...You..."

What are you saying?

Sinon was about to say that, but what Kirito said next made Sinon swallow her words again.

"So I'm right. That guy...that guy's "Death gun"-"Death Gun"!"

Sinon heard of this name before. After the vague knowledge floated up from deep within her memories of knowledge, she then said.

"...Death...Gun. Is it about that weird rumor...? That someone shot the winner of the last tournament "Zekushiido", and "Usujio Tarako" who got a high ranking position, in a pub on the streets and the plaza, and they never logged in again afterwards..."

"That's right..."

Kirito nodded his head and then looked at Sinon's face. Those large and black eyes had a strong impact and fear in them that Sinon had never seen before. Also, he was shaking because of a certain feeling.

"I felt...that it wasn't possible. Yesterday, while waiting at the dome, I met him and still continued to deny this possibility. But I have no need to doubt it anymore...that guy really used a certain way to kill players in the real world. In fact, the corpses of "Zekushiido" and "Usujio Tarako" were discovered recently..."

-How did you know about this? Who are you? What's your relationship with that mantle guy...?

Before she was shocked by the fact that "Death Gun" really existed. Sinon's heart was already confused by this person called Kirito, and this made her really unable to catch what was going on.

Of course, Sinon still couldn't believe this honestly. Killing someone in the real world from a game? That's too far-fetched...and wouldn't this be paradoxical? If things inside the game affected the lives in the real world, that wouldn't be a game anymore. However, on seeing Kirito give a serious expression, voice and gaze that didn't look like what a virtual avatar could make, she just felt that she couldn't laugh this off. Who-who exactly in the world are you...

Sinon's mind was all confused and could only remain silent. At this moment, Kirito, who maintained a sharp gaze as he continued, finally managed to turn his eyes away from her to the metal bridge, and Sinon looked over too as if she was led by him.

The mysterious mantle guy who made Pale Rider "log out" put the handgun that was aimed at the camera down and turned to look at Dyne who was in the south. Dyne, who had the [dead] tag on his abdomen, was still logged in, but unable to talk, and unable to make any expression, so nobody could tell what sort of thoughts he had about the strange battle that went on beside him.

The mantle guy placed his handgun back into the holster, strapped up his L115 back on his shoulder with a shyari sound, and started walking to Dyne. Was he going to attack this "corpse" of Dyne? Sinon couldn't help but gasp on thinking about this, and Kirito seemed to be thinking the same thing as his slender body twitched slightly, looking like he was about to rush out from the woods.

But perhaps Dyne-was lucky as the mantle guy didn't take out his automatic pistol, but walked past Dyne and moved onto the metal bridge. He didn't cross it, but disappeared behind the thick big pillar like how he appeared. He should be walking on the slightly shallow river. Though they couldn't see him now, that position can only lead him north or south down the river. If she start to move now, she would definitely see him again-...

"...Still hasn't appeared yet..."

Kirito muttered. Sinon still nodded her head. Even after 10 seconds, the mantle guy hasn't showed up. This means that he was still hiding in the shadows behind the bridge. It seemed like he was wary about Sinon's sniper rifle.

At this moment, a slightly ringing vibration could be felt from the left wrist, and Sinon then checked her watch. 8.44pm 50 seconds. There was 10 seconds left before the 3rd "Satellite Scanner". Sinon pulled the device out from her waist pouch and watched the screen.

"Kirito, watch the bridge. I'll use this chance to check that guy's name."

"Got it."

On hearing his immediate reply, Sinon waited for the map to refresh itself. There's still 3 seconds...2, 1, the scan started. The spy satellite of the galactic war age flew through the sky, and scanned through the entire surface without letting a single spot slip by. Its electronic eye could easily read through mini cover. There was no other way to hide except by hiding in a cave or swimming into the water like Kirito.

*PaPaPaPaa*.... After a few beats, new flashing lights appeared on the screen. Lion King Richie was still camping on the peak of the hill far south. He wouldn't be able to get down the hill before the tournament ends.

About 800m north of him, the two blinking spots hiding between the forest and the hills were Kirito and Sinon. To the players who were far away from them, they would definitely think that they were fighting at close range. They shouldn't be able to expect that they were pushed side by side, hiding in the bushes. Of course, Sinon was praying that the other players wouldn't know that.

And 200m north, there was a rather light glow, showing Dyne, who was dead. A little north, and it would be Pale Rider's light spot, but the map didn't show it. And at the east side of Dyne, the light spot of that mantle guy under the bridge was- "Eh... Not-not there?"

Sinon said with surprise as she stared hard at the high definition screen.

But no matter how she continued to look, the surroundings of the metal bridge only showed Dyne's light spot. The mantle guy had already moved somewhere else. But if he moved up the river, she should be able to notice it. Sinon then panicked as she wondered what was going on, but immediately started thinking again.

There was only one possibility she could think of. He used the same method as Kirito and swam underwater to avoid the satellite scanner. In that case, that means...

"...There's a chance."

On hearing Sinon mutter, Kirito frowned. Sinon glanced at him and then quickly explained the entire situation.

"That mantle guy didn't appear on the screen, so he's definitely hiding at the bottom of the river. In that case, he should have removed all his equipment. Even if he wants to get up the river, it'll take at least 10 seconds for him to summon his window and fully equip himself. We just need to attack him..."

"What if it's just a handgun? He should be able to move if he's carrying such light arms, right?"

Before she even finished, Kirito raised the same doubt. Sinon could only reply reluctantly, "I've never tried this before, but if the STR and VIT values are high enough, it should be...but even so, we should be able to overpower someone with a handgun easily..."

"NO!"

Kirito suddenly stopped suppressing his voice and shouted, forcefully grabbing Sinon's left hand.

"You just saw it, right? That guy's black handgun made Pale Rider disappear! It may be real death if you're hit!"

Sinon couldn't look away from the glowing black eyes of Kirito. She forced herself not to look away, shook her head, and answered, "...But I still can't believe that there will be real death resulting from being shot in a game....Uun, or rather, if this were real, that mantle guy could kill anyone on his own will, right? How is that possible...I really can't believe it. How can such a person exist in GGO...in a VRMMO..."

That's right. Even in the wilderness of "Gun Gale Online", where killing intent was everywhere, it was still "a kind world" to Sinon/Shino.

This world didn't have any real evil intent or killing intent. The reason why they replaced communication with bullets and smoke was simply because they wanted to surpass their peers, to be stronger than anyone else. In this world, no matter how much they shot or how many bullets they take, they wouldn't lose a single drop of blood. Also, they would definitely not feel any pain, injury or any real damages. Thus, even though they would feel remorse over losing a battle, they wouldn't behold any grudges with the enemy. Like the tough battle before. Sinon's entire left leg was blown away by the minigun of that Behemoth, and the Behemoth was shot through by Sinon's Hecate. But after that battle, Sinon was just left with self-confidence, reflection and the respect to that strong Behemoth. She believed that the Behemoth would feel the same about her.

It's because of that that Sinon decided on this GGO world, a cushioning mechanism that protected her from that weak her in the real world and that terrifying memory. She believed that if she continued to fight here, the confidence she built in the virtual world would one day surpass that grudge that anguished her so much in the real world.

There couldn't be any real malice in a VRMMO, or else it wouldn't be a virtual world. Wouldn't it become the dark reality Sinon always feared and was running from...

"I...really couldn't believe that there was really a VRMMO player who would really kill someone besides PKing."