Several months later, Kazuto is recruited by Kikuoka to investigate a serial killer known as Death Gun, a "player" in the game Gun Gale Online. GGO players are being killed by him in the game, which has led to their deaths in the real world. Kirito enters GGO and meets Sinon, who believes he's a girl due to his avatar, but she later discovers his true gender. Despite so, she continues to help Kirito prepare for the next Bullet of Bullets, which is where Death Gun is subjected to appear. However when the two first meet, Kirito discovers that Death Gun is a former member of Laughing Coffin. The BoB began, and Kirito learns of Sinon's past. After most of the other players have been taken out, Kirito and Sinon team-up to devise a plan to take down Death Gun. Kirito deduces Death Gun's method of killing and faces him in a battle, winning. He warns Sinon to be careful as he logs out. Once he did so, he rushed over to Shino Asada's (Sinon's real life identity) house and saves her from the Death Gun killer on the reality side, Kyoji Shinkawa. The two reconvene with Kikuoka, who then also discover that there was one last person in the Death Gun group... Atsushi Kanomoto, otherwise known as Johnny Black, and the last known surviving member of Laughing Coffin.
