Crossover Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Moon Online: Hollow Fragment ❯ The Hollow Area and the Mysterious Strea ( Chapter 2 )

Well, here we are in the second chapter of this ‘alternate version’ of my Sailor Moon/Sword Art Online crossover story and you must be asking about the part where the Sailor Scouts explain how they and Darien managed to get into Sword Art Online, right? Well, if you read the original story completely, you would read that Ami mentioned the plan for the Sailor Scouts and Darien to enter the world of SAO, but Usagi’s/Sailor Moon’s and Kirito’s victory over Kayaba and getting all of the players released stop that plan in its tracks. I think that this story answers the question: What if they had a chance to do just that?

I DO NOT OWN Sailor Moon, Sword Art Online, Accel World, Digimon series, One Piece, Final Fantasy, and anything/anyone that comes from these and other stories that end up in this fanfiction! Sailor Moon is owned/licensed by Naoko Takeuchi and its various studios and publishers and Sword Art Online is owned/licensed by ASCII Media Works, A-1 Pictures Inc., and its various directors/publishers including Reki Kawahara and Tomohiko Itô!

Warning: This story contains intense violence, blood, possible gore, death, mild to explicit suggestive themes, including mind-control and brainwashing, mild to explicit bad language, and mature adult themes/situations!

Second Warning: Some to a lot of OOC (Out of Character) actions and mannerisms in this whole story!

Sailor Moon Online: Hollow Fragment

Chapter 2: The Hollow Area and the Mysterious Strea

November 7, 2024, Sword Art Online, Unknown Area

Within the virtual world of Sword Art Online, we find ourselves within a vast area filled with grasslands, forests, mountains, and whatnot found in SAO, but it is completely unlike any floor of the floating castle of Aincard in which a young teen girl appears in the area.

The teen girl looks to be mid to late teens with short, dandelion hair, blue eyes, and her outfit consists of a blue hooded cloak, blue tube-top with silver armored bikini-top over the tube-top which only goes down half-way of her waist, black shorts that only goes up to her navel leaving some mid-drift, with a blue half-skirt connected to the right side of the black shorts, red armored arm guard that protects her right backhand up to her to elbows, her left hand is covered in a blue sleeve, brown fingerless gloves cover hands, she has a pouch attached to her left thigh, black knee-high shocks, and brown boots.

The teen girl asks, as she looks around, “What’s going on?” Just then there is a bright flash forcing the teen to cover her eyes and she hears a pair of voice yelp and a ‘thud’ is heard in which when she is able to look, she sees two more teenagers picks themselves off the ground.

The first teen is a male who looks to be around 17 year of age with wild spiky red hair, brown eyes, he has a flame designed jacket with a black fluffy collar, tight fitting fingerless fighting gloves, tight fitting dark blue jeans with silver armored kneepads, and black combat boots with armored toes. Strapped to his waist, there is a pair of swords.

The second teen looks to be a female of the age as the male with short brown hair and brown eyes, and she has a pink version of Asuna’s SAO outfit in which all of the areas that are white on Asuna’s outfit is blue on this young lady’s outfit in which there is a symbol that means ‘light’ instead of crosses where there are crosses on Asuna’s outfit. Strapped to this young female’s waist is a sheath for a rapier with a pink handle and a pearly white blade.

The male says, rubbing his head, “That was unpleasant.”

The female says, rubbing her head, “No kidding, Dai-kun.” The two newcomers then take notice of the dandelion haired teen girl looking at them and she asks, surprised, “Hello?”

The dandelion haired female asks, a bit nervously, “Who are you?”

The male says, with a bit of nervous expression, “Well, I’m Dai and this lovely lady with me is Akari.”

The female says, with a sigh, “Dai-kun, geez.”

The male, Dai, responds, “Come on, Kari-chan. She asked a question and I gave her an answer.”

The female, Akari, asks the dandelion haired female, “Excuse me, are we in a VRMMO?”

The dandelion haired female asks, surprised, “How can you not know where we are?”

Dai responds, nervously, “We’re kind of new here.”

The dandelion haired female says, shocked, “Impossible! No one should be able to enter SAO from the outside.”

Dai and Akari gasp in shock and Akari asks, stunned, “SAO? You mean Sword Art Online? This is Sword Art Online, the infamous death game?”

The dandelion haired female responds, “Yes, while this is an area that I haven’t seen before, I know that this is SAO.”

The two of them look around and Dai thinks in his mind, “I can’t believe it! We’ve actually made it inside Sword Art Online! That means my sister, Ken, and the others are here!”

Akari thinks in her mind, “Tai…”

The dandelion haired female asks, “Are you… Are you really from the outside?”

Dai and Akari gain slight nervous looks and Akari tell her, “It is a bit of a story…”

The dandelion haired female says, “Philia.”

Akari says, with a kind smile, “Nice to meet you, Philia-san.” The dandelion haired female, Philia, gives a confused look, but then there is a glow in front of her in which everyone looks and gasps to see another version of Philia right in front of her.

Dai asks, “What the heck?!”

Philia asks, “What is this?” When the ‘other Philia’ looks at Philia, she reacts in confusion and fear and draws a short sword/dagger that has a straight edge and a jagged edge and charges in.

Akari yells out, “Philia-san, wait!” However, it is too late and the scene cuts out in which we hear the sounds of metal hitting virtual ‘flesh’.

Narration (Usagi’s POV)

“Around three weeks have passed since my friends, the other Sailor Scouts, and my beloved Darien-kun… I mean Mamoru-kun, arrived on Sword Art Online. It is kind of hard to keep calling them by their avatar names which are the names that they look in ALO. Anyway, Ami is known as Mizuno, Mina is Minako, Raye is Hino, Lita is Makoto, Hotaru is Tomoe, Amara is Haruka, Michelle is Michiru, Trista is Setsuna, and like I said before, Darien-kun is Mamoru-kun in here. But then again, the others are hard pressed to call me by my avatar name, Usagi. However, it was refreshing to hear my original name again after so long. After going by and hearing my avatar name for two long years, I had almost forgotten my real name. That’s a scary thought! But then again, it is a common problem for SAO players like myself since we know that death is permanent and many try not to talk about the real world out of the fear that talking about IRL, player talk for ‘In the Real World’, who would increase the danger of us dying since subconscious we would be more ‘accepting’ of the falseness of this world which would weaken our guard and get us killed.

For me, it is a different story since I could talk and think about the real world without the thought of that happen. Hey, when you have faced death against real life monsters even in different ‘realities’ and in my case, died at least once, it doesn’t matter if the danger is ‘real’ or ‘virtual’, the danger is there and you have to take it seriously or you are going to die with, in my case, many more people will suffer if you fall. For once, my experience as Sailor Moon really came in handy though I wished it would have come in handy when I wasn’t in a ‘death game’!

Anyway, the girls and Mamoru-kun have adapted real well to SAO. I was afraid at first that despite them having played ALO, which seems to be based on programming, technology, and ‘techniques’ used on Sword Art Online, there are some key differences including the fact that you can log out of ALO and dying in ALO doesn’t mean that you do in real life for one thing. Plus, ALO has magic while SAO doesn’t have magic, but ALO doesn’t have sword skills while SAO does. However, their experience as Sailor Soldiers and Tuxedo Mask, in Mamoru-kun’s case, have done well to help them in SAO as it did in ALO and due to ALO and SAO being similar, their skill points are similar to the ones in SAO as well as many of the stats as well, so, they were easily transferred into their current avatars, here, in which Mizuno-chan also used a program to give them levels based on how hard and long that they played in ALO which translated into levels that rivaled plenty of the assault team level players! And boy, did they show that they were just as good as they are!

Mizuno uses a rapier like Asuna, but while she is good and graceful, Asuna isn’t known as ‘The Lightning Flash’ for nothing, Minako is a beast tamer in which SAO seems to have accepted her silver dragon partner which seems to have similar abilities to Pina, Silica’s Feathered Dragon, through the silver dragon can use a little damage with a breath attack, in which Mina proves to be an excellent dagger and whip user, Raye was mainly an archer in ALO, but she used curved blades and kitanas in ALO too which she uses now, Makoto used a lot of martial arts in which she has a perfected Martial Arts skill in which she uses that a lot, Hotaru’s scythe is classified as a spear, Haruka also uses curved swords, however, her Space Sword can be considered a curved blade sword after all, Michiru uses a trident, which is also like a spear, Setsuna proves to be good with spears, axes, and maces, and Mamoru-kun… one handed swords of course. Personally, I’m relieved that they have adapted well enough into SAO.

Anyway, with my friends and prince, here, Kirito said that I should form a guild with my friends and Mamoru-kun and it surprised me! You may ask: Why wouldn’t I want to form a guild with my best girlfriends and the love of my life? Well, remember, I was a solo player for two years, which is unusual for me since I’m the kind of girl that’s friendly and makes friends easily because I saw the best in people, but that was before SAO. It is stupid, but I am a living reminder of the man that sealed us in this nightmarish prison of death. And while the majority of players support me since they believe that I’m a victim like them, it is still feels ‘awkward’ teaming up with a family member of that madman that trapped us in this death game. Yeah, I know! Stupid, but it is the way that we, humans, are. Anyway, I didn’t want to cause any more pain and discomfort that Kayaba already caused us, so, I remained a solo player while working with the assault team and working closely with the few precious friends in SAO like Kirito and Asuna for example. After two years of this, it kind of feels weird to be in a guild much less to be the guild leader! However, I was still concerned from my friends’ and Mamoru-kun’s safety, so, I formed the ‘Planetary Senshi’ with them. Pyro told me that name a bit too obvious name, but then again, when I ‘exposed’ myself to the boss raid group, they are going to put two and two together anyway. *nervous sweat drop* Man, she is never going to let me live this down!

But another surprise is that Leafa, Silica, and Sinon also decide to join my new guild which shocked everyone! For Silica, it is obvious that she cares about Kirito and me as ‘big siblings’ through I would have to dare say that Silica may have a bit of a crush on Kirito, but then again, what girl wouldn’t gain a bit of crush for a guy that just saved from a horrible death? With Leafa, Kirito’s younger step-sister and cousin, I think that she wants to learn more about her brother, but not cause Kirito any discomfort. When I’m with Leafa, I get this ‘weird feeling’ that I have this ‘connection’ to her or something. It is similar to this ‘big sister’ feeling that I have with Kirito. And Leafa feels the same way and we get along great! Sinon… Well, she is another story. Her memory is still foggy, but something about how the girls and Mamoru-kun got to SAO may be ‘sparking’ something in her, but she is one cool customer. She is calm and collected and not easy to set off unlike Pyro, here. Anyway, to protect her and help, we decided to allow her into our new guild in which now have over a dozen members!

When the word got out that the ‘White Valkyrie’ has formed her own guild, the news went like a ragging wildfire between the members of the assault team players, many of whom have gathered here in Arc Sofia. Before the girls and Mamoru-kun arrived, I had thought about putting on my hood again, however, Kirito pointed out that since my face has been exposed to the boss raid team that battled the Skull Reaper, it is kind of pointless now and I had agreed on that point. The girls and Mamoru-kun were shocked to learn that I was so famous and even more so that I was kind of a ‘girl of mystery’ here in SAO since it was totally unlike me! Well, the two years of SAO had changed me and I was kind of afraid that the girls and Mamoru-kun wouldn’t be able to accept my ‘changes’. However, it is a fear that was short lived. In their minds, I was still Serena Tsukino, but they were concerned for my ‘health’ after learning a good deal of my ‘life’ in SAO and it wasn’t pretty which is really being really nice in description of the netherworld of a nightmare that I have experienced for over two long years!

Mamoru was also shocked that around the first night that he was in SAO, I went to his room in Agil’s inn and shop and stored my clothing away leaving me in my bra and panties in which I told him that I want to sleep with him until we get home! Needless to say that he was shocked beyond belief! Don’t blame him through. My actions were kind of unlike me, but he understood why I did this. For two long years, I had been away from him, his touch, his lips, and yes, I know, this isn’t his real body! It is a virtual replica of his real-life body which is back IRL, but Mamoru’s real self, Darien, is in that body now and in that virtual body, his warmth and his love. When we slept together and no, there was no ‘bed side love’ involved, other than the few happy moments with Asuna, Kirito, Lisbeth, and my other few precious friends in SAO, I felt truly happy for a long time. My love is by my side once more and I was tempted to ask and agree to marry him in-game, but no, we can do that in the real world when we get home together. And we will truly be husband and wife. For now, being in-game ‘lovers’ is good enough for me and I’m happy that I have been reunited with the man that I loved in two life-times.

However, the happiness is soured in the fact that the game is unstable thanks to someone tampering with it trying to draw our minds out of the game and into another server, most likely similar to this one, but we don’t get is why would someone want to risk tampering with the servers and risk our lives? What we do know is that a lot of emotional energy stored in the game, a lot of that negative, was unleashed and the game has become unstable which means getting out as fast as possible is our top priority right now! Even more so when the girls told me the situation in the real world with remnants of the Negaverse, known as the Dark Agency, the group that Mina fought as Sailor V for a year before I became Sailor Moon, is back and stronger than ever in which they are causing chaos in the real world! When I became trapped in Sword Art Online, they sensed that Earth’s defenses are weakened since without me, the Silver Crystal is mainly useless! They were warned by a new Sailor Scout, Sailor Nebula, about an all-out attack by the Dark Agency to start in the near future. Sailor Nebula is holding the line while the others focus on getting me out of here, but she can’t hold out forever! Oh, man! What a mess! Now, I really need to get out of here and get my body, which is probably pretty weak by now, back to full strength and fast! Hey, I don’t like to fight, but I don’t want the world to end either!

Anyway, things are taking a turn when one day, Kirito and I headed off into the dungeon of floor seventy-six to see if we can find any clues to the location of the boss which we haven’t found in a month since we were mainly recovering from the ‘fallout’ of Kirito’s and my battle with Heathcliff AKA Kayaba with the moral of the assault team along with the moral and reputation of the Knights of the Blood Oath suffering a nasty hit in which Asuna had to take command and get it back on its feet. Right now, Kirito and I were looking through the dungeon when we got engulfed by a bright light that was a teleportation effect…”

December 7, 2024, Sword Art Online, Unknown Area

Within the mysterious ‘realm’ that’s within the world of Sword Art Online, Philia, with her hood over her face to cover her head and facial features, somewhat, is running through the woods and looking behind her as if someone or something is chasing her. Just then Kirito and Usagi teleport in front of her and before they could say or do anything, they look to see Philia running towards them in which she looks to see them only to trip over a rock, slams into Usagi, and knock both of them backwards and to the ground.

Usagi yelps, “That’s going to leave a mark! I’m glad that I reset the pain absorber.” She then hears a hears a sword getting draw and she yelps to see Philia, with her dagger drawn, heading right for her, but Kirito intercepts her with his Elucidator and when he sees Philia’s cursor, she notices that it is orange for a criminal player.

Kirito thinks in his mind, “Is she an orange player?”

By this time, Usagi has leapt to her feet and she thinks, also seeing the orange cursor, “Her cursor is orange! Is she a criminal player?!” Kirito attacks with his sword while Philia counters with the jagged edge of her dagger.

Philia asks, her eyes widen, “Who are you?”

Kirito responds, seriously, “I should be asking that question!” Just then something lands nearby causing a large explosion of dust and dirt and when the dirt and dust clear, Usagi and Kirito gasp in shock and horror as the boss of Floor 75, The Skull Reaper, is right in front of them. Kirito yells out, shocked, “It’s…The Skill Reaper?!”

Usagi wails out, flabbergasted, “Kirito, what’s the boss of floor seventy-five doing here?! You already defeated it!”

Kirito says, “I don’t know, Usagi! This isn’t good!”

Usagi draws her Lunar Excelsior and she asks, nervously, “You think?!”

Philia says, “I think that it is somehow scattered. I’ll just have to do it.”

Kirito shouts out, “Hey you over there! Are there other monsters like this around here?!”

Usagi tells Kirito, nervously, “Kirito, I don’t think that this is the time to ask!”

Philia responds, coolly, “I don’t intend to speak to rascals like you guys.”

Usagi replies, “You guys?! Whoa! Whoa! I think that there has been some kind of mistake! And right now, we are all in danger! This monster is dangerous! He is a boss level monster!”

Just then the ‘Skull Reaper’ moves in to attack Philia when she was distracted and Kirito shouts out, “Look out!” Kirito then quickly pushes the girl out of the way, blocks the attack, and gets out of the way of another attack.

Philia asks, confused, “Why did you…?”

Kirito thinks in his mind, “I managed to stop it and get out of the way because it seems to be weaker than it was at floor seventy-five.”

Usagi yells out, “Kirito, this Skull Reaper is weaker than the one you fought on floor seventy-five!”

Kirito responds, “I know, Usagi! However, I don’t think that it is a foe that we can beat easily.”

Usagi says, with a nervous tone and nod, “Yeah, I got that.”

Just then a pair of voices, one male and one female, shout out in unison, “Philia!” Just then Dai and Akari, both of whom have red hooded cloaks that cover their facial features, leap out of the woods in which Dai slashes the face of the ‘Skull Reaper’ while Akari hits hard with her rapier causing the monster to get knocked down.

Usagi says, stunned, “Wow. They’re strong.” Kirito nods his head in agreement and wonders who they are as Dai and Akari run over to Philia.

Philia says, “Dai… Akari…”

Akari asks, “Are you okay, Philia?”

Dai asks, seeing Kirito and Usagi, “Hey, who are you?”

Usagi says, nervously, “Well…” But then a roar is heard and everyone looks to see the ‘Skull Reaper’ get back up to its blade-like feet.

Dai yells out, with a snarl, “Damn! We don’t have time! We need to take out this freak now!” Dai asks Kirito and Usagi, “Can you guys fight?”

Usagi asks, curiously and confused at the same time, “Isn’t that our question?”

Kirito asks Philia, “Are these friends of yours?”

Philia asks, coolly, “Why should I tell you anything?”

Kirito says, “This isn’t the time! Right now, we need to fight this thing to survive!”

The ‘Skull Reaper’ then attacks, again, and Akari shouts out, “Look out!” Dai, Akari, and Usagi leap out of the way in which Kirito blocks the attack to allow Philia to get out of the way before he leaps away himself.

Philia asks, “Why are you covering for me? You know that I slash you in the back?”

Kirito says, “You want to survive as much as I do.”

Akari tells Philia, “Philia, he and this girl don’t seem to be like the others! Right now, we need to cooperate to survive.”

Philia responds, with a nod, “Okay, Akari, I’ll cooperate for now.”

Usagi thinks in her mind, “What does she mean by ‘like the others’? Well, can’t think about it now!”

Kirito says, “Usagi, duel weld!”

Usagi responds, with a nod, “Right, Kirito!” Kirito takes out a Dark Repulser and Usagi thinks, while she uses her menu to materialize an Elucidator, “It is a good thing that I gave Kirito the Dark Repulser that I created for my fight with Heathcliff or he might not be here not when Liz heard that he destroyed her masterpiece that she gave him.” Both of them duel weld two swords which surprise Dai, Akari, and Philia, but they focus on the monster in front of them in which Dai, Akari, Philia, and Usagi circle around to surround the ‘Skull Reaper’ while Kirito faces it from the front. Kirito slashes it in the face while Usagi does the same with one of its legs attacking with a Double Circular, a two strike Duel Blade that attacks swiftly, in which she is able to perform a Cross Block, a Duel Welding defensive skill, when it attacks with another its blade-like legs.

Akari shouts out, “Over Radiation!” Akari then strikes with ten hit Rapier Skill on its body and the Skull Reaper roars out in annoyance causing it to attempt to attack Akari with its tail, but Dai easily blocks the attack with a Rage Spike One-Hand Sword Skill.

Dai yells out, irritated tone, “I don’t think so, skull freak!” Dai then hits hard with a Horizontal One-Handed Sword Skill and the ‘Skull Reaper’ strikes back with spin attack which hits everyone pretty well.

Usagi says, with a winch, “Oh, man! It might be weaker, but it is no pushover.” Usagi thinks in her mind, nervously, “And it is just plain creepy!”

Kirito says, “I know, Usagi! Everyone, keep an eye on your HP and keep potions and emergency healing crystal at ready!”

Usagi says, with a nod, “Right!” Usagi then notices an attack on Akari and she yells out, “To your left!” Akari quickly then whips out a golden version of Captain America’s shield on her left arm and wrist and blocks another of the monster’s scythe-like legs.

Kirito thinks in his mind, “A shield? I thought that users of the rapier don’t use shields since it interferes with their blades.” However, despite the usual ‘problems’ that using a shield with a rapier type sword, Akari doesn’t seem to be slowed down or encumbered in the least, but then Akari’s shield starts to glow mysteriously.

Akari yells out, with a strong tone, “Shield Hammer!” Akari then throws her shield, which spins like a top, into the face of ‘Skull Reaper’ which doesn’t do much damage, but ‘Skull Reaper’ is stunned for the moment while the shield goes back to Akari’s arm and wrist.

Kirito and Usagi are shocked and Usagi thinks, stunned, “A shield throwing skill?!”

Akari tells Dai, “Now, Dai!” Dai then puts his sword, another Elucidator, under his cloak and uses his player menu to bring out a huge sword that looks exactly like Cloud Strike’s Buster Blade from Final Fantasy VII in which it glows.

Dai says, “You got it, Kari-chan! Omni-Slash!” Dai attacks and slashes the ‘Skull Reaper’ in fifteen random areas of his body causing massive damage.

Usagi asks, in a shocked tone of voice, “What kind of two handed Sword Skill is that?”

Kirito says, stunned, “I don’t know, Usagi! I’ve never seen such a skill before!”

Philia shouts out, “Tri-Pierce!” Philia then hits the monster with three thrust attack Dagger Sword Skill in which it gives what sounds like a roar of pain. Shortly thereafter, it leaps back and prepares for some kind of leap away.

Kirito yells out, with a serious tone, “Get back!” The ‘Skull Reaper’ then leaps forward and does a powerful slash causing a small shockwave, but everyone manages to leap away in time.

Usagi says, “I’ve got it, Kirito!” Usagi thinks in her mind, nervously, “At least, I hope so.” Usagi then hits the ‘Skull Reaper’ in the face with Vorpal Strike, a powerful One Handed Sword Skill.

Kirito says, “Good work, Usagi! Leave the rest to me! Crimson Splash!” Kirito then hits eight hit Duel Blade Sword Skill and that’s what’s needed to end the ‘Skull Reaper’ in which it shatters into data polygons.

Usagi gives a big sigh of relief and she says, “We did it.”

Kirito says, “Yeah.”

Philia says, “Skull Reaper, huh? I have never seen that monster before.”

Usagi says, “It is a boss monster that appeared on the seventh-fifth floor of Aincard. I didn’t fight it myself, but I saw what happened. Don’t ask me how because it is a real long story.”

Philia asks, “What’s a boss monster doing here?”

Kirito says, “Who knows? However, this version was weaker than the one that one that appeared on floor seventy-five. If this one was just as strong, we wouldn’t have stood a chance despite all of us being strong players.”

Usagi says, solemnly, “Yeah. The original was real strong that it took a huge boss raid party to take him out and even then it took fourteen lives in which ten more people died before that when they were scouting the room.”

Akari says, horrified, “That’s… horrible.”

Kirito says, putting his swords on his back, “Anyway, I don’t want to fight anymore and I’m sorry if we did anything wrong.”

Philia asks, “Are you really not one of them?”

Usagi asks, “Them? What do you mean by them?”

Dai and Akari look at each other and Akari says, “What our friend means is we have seen other players in this area.”
Kirito asks, “You have?”

Dai says, “Yeah, but there is something… wrong about them.”

Usagi asks, “Wrong? What do you mean wrong?”

Akari responds, “We can’t put it into words. If you see ‘them’, you will know.”

Usagi says, with a shrug, “Okay, if you say so.”

Philia asks Usagi and Kirito, “Have you seen my cursor?”

Kirito says, with a nod, “It’s orange.”

Philia asks, “Why are you talking to me normally then?”

Kirito says, rubbing his head, “I am a bit concerned, but I don’t worry about it too much since you don’t seem like a regular ‘criminal player’.”

Usagi asks, “Does it have to do with those ‘strange players’?”

Dai and Akari look at Philia, she nods, and Philia says, coolly, “Yes. I killed one of them.”

Akari says, “What our friend is saying is that one of the strange players was about to attack her and out of fear, she killed that player.”

Kirito says, with a nod of understand, “I see. Since the ‘strange player’ didn’t strike yet, this player didn’t become an orange player and was still a green player.”

Akari says, with a nod, “That’s right.”

Philia says, “That’s how it is. It is best that you don’t get involved with me.”

Usagi says, pointing to Dai and Akari, “What about them? Their cursors are green, so, I don’t think that you are a bad person.”

Philia says, “They are associates that I work well together with.”

Dai says, annoyed, “Thanks a lot, Philia.”

Philia says, “Anyway, we should go.”

Kirito says, “Wait! Hold on!”

Philia asks, “What do you want? Didn’t I tell you that it isn’t best to get involved with me?”

Usagi says, with a nod, “We know, but we need to know about… this place. This place doesn’t look like any floor on Aincard.”

Philia responds, “I don’t know. I got sent here one month ago. I can barely survive, so, I can’t find out much.”

Akari says, with a nod of agreement, “This place is brutal. It takes everything that we have just to survive here.”

Usagi asks, “A month ago? Is this some kind of anti-crystal area?” Usagi and Kirito inspect their items and look over their crystals in which they find them to be fine.

Kirito says, “Our crystals seem to be fine.”

Philia says, “I don’t know about this place, but I know that items and messages still work like normal.”

Kirito says, “If you don’t have any teleport crystals, I could give you some.”

Philia says, “It’s okay.”

Usagi asks, curiously, “Why?”

Just then a monotone female voice rings out, “Access restriction of the Hollow Area is cancelled.”

Usagi yells out, nervously, “What was that?”

There is a glow and Philia says, “Your… Your hand… The pattern on it…” Usagi and Kirito look at their hands and they gasp to see a strange glowing pattern on their hands.

Usagi asks, “What is this?”

Kirito asks, looking at Usagi, “You, too, Usagi?”

When Usagi sees the same pattern on Kirito’s hand, Usagi gasps in shock and Dai says, “Hey, you’ve got one too!”

Usagi asks, “You, too?”

Akari says, “Yes, but ours are different.” Dai then displays a strange pattern that means ‘miracles’ and Akari has a pattern on her right hand that means ‘light’.

Kirito asks, “Does this have to do with the access restriction message just now?”

Usagi says, “Got me, Kirito. Nothing about this place makes sense and it makes my head hurt.”

Philia asks, curiously, “Who are you?”

Usagi responds, “A couple of players that are really confused right now.”

Dai says, with a sly tone, “No kidding.”

Akari gently jabs Davis and she says, “Dai-kun…”

Philia asks, “Can you show me your hand?”

Usagi and Kirito show the palms containing the strange pattern and Usagi asks, “You mean these?”

Philia says, “As I thought, it is the same…”

Usagi asks, “The same?”

Akari says, “We’ve seen this pattern before! There is a place where that same pattern is.”

Kirito says, “Let’s check it out. We might find some clues and figure out what’s going on here.”

Usagi asks, “Could you take us there?”

Philia says, “I don’t mind, but how can you trust an orange…No, a red player like me.”

Kirito says, “While I am concerned about the orange cursor, from what your ‘associates’ told me, you didn’t have much of a choice and you don’t seem like a PK type of person. And you did aid us in the fight against that Skull Reaper.”

Philia says, “That’s true…”

Kirito says, “It shows me that I can trust you.” Kirito asks, “I’m Kirito and you are?”

Philia responds, “Philia.”

Usagi says, “Nice to meet you, Philia-san. I’m Usagi.” Usagi asks Dai and Akari, “And may I have your names?”

Akari says, “I’m Akari.”

Dai says, “And I’m Dai, Akari’s awesome boyfriend.”

Akari says, with a giggle, “Oh, geez, Dai-kun.”

Kirito says, “It is nice to meet you all.”

Philia gives a brief smile and she says, in her cool tone again, “You, both, seem quite soft-hearted people and quite dumb too.”

Usagi says, annoyed, “That’s a nice way to talk about the people that saved your life, Philia-san.”

Kirito says, “Well, Usagi-chan and I are good at judging people.”

Philia says, “So, should I be honored about that? I’ll guild you to that area, so, let’s go.”

Akari thinks in her mind, concerned, “Philia…” Soon after, Philia points out where they are going and they start to head off in which they encounter plenty of monsters along the way in which they easily take care of them without too much trouble.

Along the way, Usagi asks Kirito, “Can you get any information?”

Kirito responds, shaking his head, “Not a thing, Usagi.”

Usagi asks, “Do any of you know about this floor?”

Dai says, “All we know is that this place is called the ‘Hollow Area’ in which we just heard in that announcement, but other than that, not a blasted thing.”

Akari asks, “How did you get here?”

Usagi responds, “Well, Kirito and I were exploring one part of the dungeon of floor seventy-six while our friends explore another area. Then some weird light engulfs us and the next thing, we were here when we ran into Philia-san.”

Kirito says, “Quite literally since she ran right into Usagi.”

Usagi says, “Thanks a lot, Kirito.”

Philia says, “It is the same as us, but the only difference is that pattern on your hands.”

Kirito asks, “You don’t have it?”

Philia says, “No, I don’t. We had never seen any player around here with a pattern on their hand.”

Usagi asks, “You mean those players that you consider ‘strange’?”

Dai says, “That’s them all right. When you see them, you’ll get what we mean.”

Kirito says, with a nod, “Okay.”

Usagi asks, “Where are we going?”

Akari then points to a sphere that seems to be shooting a beam to the ground and she asks, “Do you see that?”

Usagi asks, “That freaky sphere?”

Kirito asks, “Have you entered it?”

Philia responds, “No one of us have, but Dai’s and Akari’s own patterns seem to react to it, however, they didn’t open it. What we think is the entrance has the same pattern on your hands.”

Kirito says, “I think that the pattern appeared on our hands due to the defeat of that Skull Reaper.”

Usagi asks, “But why just us and not Philia?”

Philia says, “Maybe it is the skill that you, two, have. You are both strong players.”

Kirito says, “I never heard of a skill that could do that.”

Just then female voice calls out, “The prescribed time has passed. The aptitude test will now begin.”

Usagi says, shocked, “Test? Oh, man! I don’t do well with tests!”

Kirito asks, “What did that voice mean? Prescribed time? Aptitude test?”

Dai says, “Don’t look at me. I try to stay away from tests!”

Kirito asks, with a confused tone, “The voice said…Aptitude test?”

Philia says, with a nod, “I heard it too.”

Kirito says, “I don’t know what’s going on, but it sounds interesting.”

Usagi says, with a smirk, “You would, Kirito.”

Kirito says, “If we pass through here, it could mean that we have passed the test.”

Akari says, “You guess is as good as mine, Kirito-san.”

Philia says, “You are pretty positive at a time like this.”

Kirito asks, “You think that we can avoid some kind of test at time like that?”

Usagi says, nervously, “When you put it that way… No.”

Kirito says, with a smirk, “It makes me feel excited in an unknown field like this.”

Dai says, with a grin, “Yeah, I know how you feel, bro.”

Philia says, in a level of voice that only Akari and Usagi here, “I guess that I was wrong, you aren’t soft-hearted, you are just much as a baka as Dai is.”

Kirito asks, “You say something, Philia-san?”

Philia responds, coolly, “Nothing.” Dai and Kirito shrug and Akari and Usagi giggle at this while making sure that Kirito and Dai don’t hear them.

Kirito says, “I just wish that I had some kind of information.” Kirito asks, “Philia-san, do you have any map data for this area as well as monsters, traps, and abnormal status?”

Philia says, annoyed, “I’ve got it, but don’t ask for so much at once! I’ll get confused!”

Dai says, “Yeah, dude.” Dai, Akari, and Philia give as much data as they can to Kirito and Usagi in which they continue on and they easily defeat the monsters that they face through they saw a few high-level ones in which Usagi and Kirito use their throwing skills to lure some of the weaker ones around to clear paths to get by the higher level ones unnoticed. Soon enough, they reach an enemy known as ‘Muscle Bull Horn’ with more than one health bar, but not as many as a boss monster.

Usagi says, “He seems stronger than a typical monster.”

Kirito says, “Yeah, but not as strong as a boss monster.”

Dai says, with a grin, “That only means that we can kick its butt to me.”

Akari says, “Easy cowboy.”

Kirito says, “It might be a sub-boss monster, but we can’t underestimate it.”

Usagi says, with a nod, “Kirito is right.”

Dai says, “Well, it doesn’t look like there is any way that we are going to sneak up on him.” Dai then takes off, Akari sighs and goes after him, and Philia, Usagi, and Kirito follow them after that. Dai says, “Cross-Slash!” Dai then uses his Buster Sword-like blade to hit Muscle Bull Horn hard and stunned it for a moment in which Akari strikes hard with session of ten Linear at once.

Usagi thinks in her mind, “Wow! They are very good!” Philia attacks with a Fad Edge, a four hit Dagger Sword Skill, in which Usagi comes in with a Double Circular Duel Blade Sword Skill attack with Kirito hitting hard with a Horizontal Square, a four strike One Handed Sword Skill, but Muscle Bull Horn has managed to recover from its stun and prepares to strike when Akari takes out her shield again.

Akari says, “Shield Saw!” Akari’s shield then glow and starts to spin like a top in which she throws it in which the Muscle Bull Horn roars as Akari’s shield drills into it like a saw as it is slashed three times before Akari’s shield returns to her wrist.

Usagi, by this time, has used her player menu to trade her Elucidator for a rapier similar to Asuna’s Lambent Light expect it has a pink handle and a golden blade, says, shocked, “Wow! What a skill!”

Kirito says, with a nod, “I’ll say.” However, the monster prepares to attack again, but Usagi uses her rapier to strike with Quadruple Pain, a four strike Rapier Sword Skill that can immobilize the target in which the Muscle Bull Horn is again stunned.

Dai says, with a grin, “Nice!”

Kirito says, “Now, Philia-san!”

Philia says, “Rapid Bite!” Philia then unleashes a two thrust Dagger Sword Skill in which she strikes twice in a rapid fashion.

Kirito then says, “Depth Impact!” Kirito then uses a five hit Duel Blade Sword Skill strike to end it and the monster turns into data polygons soon after.

Dai says, “That takes care of that.”

Usagi says, “Yeah, we did well, but you need to be careful.”

Dai says, “Yeah, I know. This place is no joke. You die here and you are a real goner.”

Akari says, “Dai-kun knows this and so do I, but Dai-kun is a real fighter.”

Kirito says, “We understand, but please be careful. Usagi can’t stand other players dying and I don’t want any more comrades to die.”

Dai says, “Sorry, dude.” Dai thinks in his mind, “Through it might be hard in my and Akari’s case since we don’t have a life outside of this kind of world.”

Kirito nods his head in understand and Kirito asks Usagi, “You still can’t use other Sword Skills with just your regular swords?”

Usagi responds, shaking her head, “Nope. My Mimic Skill is still messed up as ever. I’m regaining points, but I’m not back to the point where I can perform all Sword Skills with just my own swords alone yet. I need to switch weapons still.”

Kirito says, with a nod, “I see.”

Akari asks, “Mimic?”

Usagi says, nervously, “It’s known as a ‘Unique Skill’, a Sword Skill that’s excusive to only one player and I’m the only one that has it.”

Philia asks, “Based on the name, does it mean that you can copy all other Sword Skills?”

Usagi says, with a nod, “Yeah. And in fact, it also allows me to perform other Sword Skills even if they are like Rapier Sword Skills, Two-Handed Sword Skills, or Mace Skills with just the weapons that I have in my hands even if they are regular swords to perform Axe Sword Skills.”

Dai says, with a whistle, “Wow! That’s a powerful skill!”

Usagi says, nervously, “Yeah. It is the same as Kirito’s Duel Welding Sword Skill which is the ability to use two swords at the same time. They are known as ‘Unique Skills’. However, my Mimic Skill will only allow using all other Sword Skills with just the weapons that I weld only when it is at a real high level and I’m not at that point again.”

Akari asks, “Again?”

Kirito says, “It is a long story.”

Just then the female voice calls out, “Clear has been confirmed. The approval phase will now end.”

Kirito asks, “Approval phase?”
Usagi asks, confused, “I thought that it said that it was an aptitude test or something. What’s going on?”

Kirito says, “I don’t know. I have some theories, but I don’t have solid evidence to back them up, so, we need to gather more information.”

Philia says, “I see.”

Kirito asks, curiously, “You have an unsatisfied look on your face. Is something wrong?”

Akari says, “We’ve been investigating this place for a long time and we have next to nothing on what this place really is.”

Dai says, “Yeah, it’s annoying.”

Philia says, “And it seems like you have been here only a few hours and you are solving the problem which is unsettling me.”

Usagi says, nervously, “I don’t think that we have solved anything, Philia-san.”

Philia says, with a sigh, “This is so disgraceful for a treasure hunter’s name.”

Kirito asks, “Treasure hunter?”

Philia says, “Self-proclaimed, Kirito-san. There are no job classes in SAO. Instead of fighting monsters and clearing quests, I go into dungeons to find treasure chests. It suits me better. Many of those treasures are vital for survival. So, it is why I’ve become a treasure hunter.”

Kirito asks, “I see, but isn’t it dangerous to do things solo?”

Usagi says, with a smirk, “That’s calling the kettle black from the ‘legendary solo player’ known as the ‘Black Swordsman’, Kirito.”

Kirito says, nervously, “Yeah, you’re right, Usagi.” Kirito asks Philia, “Since you do those things, have you made sure that you developed your search skills and trap countermeasure abilities?”

Philia says, with a nod, “Of course.” Philia says, “Anyway, the teleport device is up ahead.”

Usagi says, “Please lead the way, Philia-san.” Soon after, the group continues on until they reach a stone with the same pattern as on Usagi’s and Kirito’s hands.

Kirito says, “The same pattern.”

Philia says, “There is no mistake. I think that this is the entrance to that sphere.”

Usagi asks, “But how do we open it?” Just then the pattern on the stone starts to glow along with Usagi’s and Kirito’s hands and she says, drolly, “Me and my big mouth.”

Akari says, “We have no idea what’s inside of that sphere.”

Usagi says, “Well, I think that we are going to find out, Akari-san.”

Philia says, “I think that the secret of this ‘Hollow Area’ might be ahead.”

Kirito says, “You might be right, Philia-san.”

Philia asks, “Can I come too?”

Usagi says, with a shrug, “I don’t see why not.”

Kirito says, with a smile, “Sure, Philia-san. Let’s go together.”

Philia says, “Yeah.” Soon after, Kirito, Usagi, Dai, Akari, and Philia vanish in a blue light and then they find themselves within some kind of high-tech lab with various screens with a control panel in which a screen in front of the control panel looks like it has something in the shape of Aincard on it.

Usagi asks, “Is this the inside of the sphere?”

Akari says, “Maybe.”

Philia asks, “Are we in a safe area?”

Kirito says, “It seems that way or the guardian isn’t here yet.”

Usagi says, “This is getting really weird even for SAO.”

Kirito says, “Yes, but we can search safely.”

Usagi says, with a sigh of relief, “That’s good.”

Dai asks, pointing to the control panel, “What’s that?” The group goes over to it and Kirito tries typing on the keyboard on the control panel.

Kirito says, “None of this is making sense. I’m getting words like ‘Implement’ and ‘Element’.”

Usagi asks, confused, “Implement Element?”

Kirito says, “All I can make out is that this place is called the ‘Control Area’.

Just then the female voice is heard again saying, “Access confirmed: Unlocking teleport object to control area.”

Philia then goes over to what looks like a stone slab on the ground and she says, “Hey! Come over here!”

The others assemble around Philia and Akari asks, “What is it, Philia?”

Philia says, “I think that this is a teleport gate, but it looks different.”

Usagi says, with a nod, “Yeah.”

Kirito says, nodding his head, “But now, we can get out of here.”

Philia says, in a monotone voice, “Get out of here… Great…”

Usagi asks, concerned, “Is something wrong?”

Philia asks, “Do I look that way?”

Kirito asks, “Aren’t you coming?”

Dai and Akari look at each other and Philia says, “I can’t go back with you. So, it is a goodbye for now. It was a lot of fun.”

Usagi says, a bit nervously, “Okay.”

Kirito says, with a slight nervous smile, “I got it. We’ll head back.”

Dai tells Philia, “But all of us will return Philia.”

Akari says, “See you soon, Philia.”

Kirito says, “I’m interested in this ‘Hollow Area’, so I’ll be back.”

Usagi says, “Speak for yourself, Kirito.”

Kirito says, with a smile, “It is unusual to see a boss monster, suffice to say a weaker one, wandering around and other monsters that I have never seen before. I’m very curious about this place.”

Usagi says, with a sigh, “You would be, Kirito.”

Kirito says, “I think that it would be interesting to see if we can find powerful new weapons or new skills.”

Dai says, “Man, dude, I know how you feel. You are really a gamer at heart, dude.”

Philia says, with a smile, “I know how you feel. If you can come here, give me a message. I’ll be here.”

Kirito asks, “Without the pattern, can we pass through this Control Area again?”

Dai says, “Since you are the ones that opened it, I don’t see why not.”

Akari says, “Dai-kun is right.”

Philia says, “I agree.”

Kirito says, “Okay, got it. We’ll contact you again when we come.”

Philia says, “I’ll wait without much expectation.”

Kirito says, with a nervous smile, “Anyway, see you. Be careful.” Soon after, Kirito, Usagi, Dai, and Akari vanish in a bright flash and Philia remains there for a moment.

Philia says, “I’ll see you again.” Philia then goes onto the teleport pad and she says, “Teleport.”

After a bright flash, she is still there and a female voice says, “System error. You cannot teleport from the ‘Hollow Area’.”

Philia asks, “What’s wrong with me?”

December 7, 2024, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

Inside of Arc Sofia during the evening hours, we are ourselves in the area containing the teleport pad as Kirito and Usagi with Dai and Akari behind them appear.

Kirito says, “We’re back in Arc Sofia.”

Usagi says, “Thanks goodness.”

They look at the teleport gate and Kirito says, “It looks like we can go back to the Hollow Area.”

Dai and Akari think in their minds at the same time, “That’s good.”

Akari asks, “So, where are we?”

Usagi responds, “This is the seventh-six floor of Aincard. This is the main town here: Arc Sofia.”

Dai asks, “Seventy-six floor, huh?”

Kirito says, “You haven’t been here, yet.”

Dai says, a bit nervously, “Yeah. We’ve been on the lower floors until one month ago when we went into the Hollow Area where we met Philia.”

Kirito gets a bit suspicious due to Dai’s tone of voice and he says, “Well, you seem to be on par with the assault team.”

Akari asks, “Assault team?”

Usagi asks, confused, “You haven’t heard of the players that go on the front lines and conquer the castle?”

Akari responds, a bit nervously, “Dai and I have been just trying to survive like many other players and we have been busy so much that we rarely hear anything. Unlike many other players, we tend to be out of the fields a lot.”

Usagi says, “Oh, okay.” Kirito is a bit more suspicious, but he decides to let it go, for now.

Kirito says, “The Hollow Area.”

Usagi says, “It isn’t like anything I’ve seen on Aincard.”

Kirito asks, “Are you sure that you don’t know anything?”

Usagi says, “I never heard of anything like this during development when I was younger and I visited Argus, Kirito.” Usagi says, curiously, “But it does seem familiar to me.”

Dai asks, “Wait! You went to Argus?”

Usagi becomes nervous and Kirito says, with a sigh, “Yes, she has. You might have heard of her. Usagi is…Kayaba’s niece.”

Dai and Akari gasp and Akari yells out, “Kayaba’s niece?!”

Dai asks, stunned, “You are related to the guy that trapped e-all of us in here?!”

Usagi says, with a sigh, “Yes, I am. I’m ashamed to say that Kayaba is my uncle, but I never thought that he could be capable of something like this until this nightmare started.”

Kirito says, “Before SAO, Kayaba was like a second father and she didn’t suspect a thing. She thought that Sword Art Online was going to be a wonderful new frontier in gaming and entertainment, but all she got was a grand betrayal of her dream and beliefs by Kayaba in which he trapped her in here. He didn’t even stop her from getting the game and leaving her trapped here like the rest of us.”

Akari says, “That… That’s terrible.”

Kirito and Usagi give curious looks and Kirito asks, “Surely you heard something about her?”

Dai and Akari become nervous, their nervousness can’t be seen since faces are covered by hoods, and Dai says, “Of course! But all you hear is all those rumors and in here, you can’t believe everything that you hear or you’re toast, dude!” Kirito and Usagi know that Dai is right about that, but something felt ‘off’ to Kirito and Usagi. However, before they can go any deeper, they hear footsteps coming close to them.

Just then a familiar female voice shouts out, “There are you, Meatball Head!” Everyone then looks to see Leafa, Silica, Hino, and Makoto running towards them.

Leafa yells out, “Kirito! Usagi-chan!”

Silica says, “Kirito! Usagi-chan!”

Leafa says, “Thank goodness. You are both okay.”

Hino yells out, “What’s the big idea of disappearing like that Meatball Head? You had us all worried!”

Usagi asks, “Huh?”

Hino responds, “Don’t ‘huh’ us! You and Kirito just seemed to vanish off the map!”

Usagi asks, surprised, “We did?”

Makoto says, “Yeah! All of us were in a panic since we couldn’t contact you or anything!”

Kirito says, “You can check the Monument of Life to make sure that we aren’t dead…”

Usagi tells Kirito, “Um, Kirito, we can’t get back to the first floor, remember?”

Kirito responds, nervously, “Oh, yeah. Right.”

More footsteps are heard and a familiar female voice shouts out, “Kirito-kun! Usagi-chan!” Everyone then looks to see Asuna and Yui running up.

Kirito thinks in his mind, nervously, “Just as I thought. Here comes Asuna.”

Asuna asks, concerned, “Are you okay?”

Kirito says, nervously, “We’re okay, Asuna-chan. Please calm down.”

Asuna says, “I’m so glad. I was so worried that I went looking everywhere. And you didn’t contact anyone for such a long time…”

Kirito says, “I’m all right, Asuna. Usagi was with me.”

Asuna says, “You and Usagi-chan were gone all day! We’re in a panic! Everyone sent messages!”

Usagi says, nervously, “Oops.”

Asuna says, concerned, “Kirito-kun, you are such a baka.”

As Asuna starts to shed tears, Kirito says, “Come on, Asuna. Please don’t cry.”

Yui says, sternly, “Daddy, you and Auntie Usagi shouldn’t worry mommy so much! It is daddy’s and Auntie Usagi’s fault that mommy was about to cry! She did her best not to and Uncle Mamoru was also in a near panic too! You worried them so much!”

Kirito and Usagi say in unison, nervously, “Sorry…”

Yui says, “Daddy should apologize to mommy! Auntie Usagi too! And Auntie Usagi should apologize to Uncle Mamoru for worrying him so much!”

Usagi says, nervously, “Yes, ma’am!”

Kirito says, solemnly, “I’m sorry, Asuna. We’ll explain everything.”

Asuna asks, “Really?”

Kirito says, “Of course. Let’s go back to the inn.”

Makoto says, with a smirk, “The great ‘White Valkyrie’ has been talked down by a little girl.”

Hino says, with a smile, “I should take a picture.”

Usagi yells out, annoyed, “You are such a meanie, Pyro!”

Dai and Akari, both of whom were hidden behind Usagi and Kirito, come out into the open and Akari asks, “Are these friends of yours?”

Makoto asks, “Who are they?”

Usagi says, nervously, “Well…”

Dai says, “The name is Dai and this is my girl, Akari.” Dai tells Kirito and Usagi, “Anyway, we are exhausted, you know? So, we’ll leave the explaining to you! Later, bro!” Dai grabs Akari and they race off before anyone could say or do anything.

Kirito yells out, a bit nervous in his expression, “Wait!”

However, they are gone and Hino asks Usagi, crossing her arms in front of her, “Well, Meatball Head?”

Usagi thinks in her mind, drolly, “Thanks a lot, Dai-san.” Usagi says, with a sigh, “We’ll explain in the inn.”

Hino says, sternly, “You had better.”

Usagi thinks in her mind, drolly, “This is going to be a long night.”

Asuna then hugs Kirito and he says, nervously, “Asuna, we are in the middle of town.”

Yui yells out, sternly, “Daddy!”

Kirito responds, nervously, “Right, Yui-chan! Let’s head back!” Soon enough, the group heads back in which they arrive inside of the inn where Mamoru upon seeing Usagi puts her in a loving embrace.

Mamoru asks, concerned, “Are you okay?”
Usagi pulls away and she responds, nervously, “I’m okay, sweetie! I’m just fine!”

Tomoe tells Usagi, “You had us all very worried when you disappeared, hime.”

Sinon says, “Like I said, they were wandering around and would be back in no time.”

Kirito says, “No, we weren’t wandering around, Sinon…”

Sinon says, “Asuna, Mamoru, and everyone worry too much.”

Hino asks, “How can we not worry when Meatball Head attracts trouble like bees to a flower?”

Usagi yells out, annoyed, “Hey, I don’t attract trouble!” Usagi says, nervously, “At least, I don’t mean to.”

Lisbeth says, with a smile, “Anyway, they are back, so, you don’t need to cry, Asuna.” Lisbeth then says, with a deadly glare, “Kirito… Usagi… I hope that you said your apologies to your loved ones.”

Usagi says, nervously, “Yes! Yes! We already did that!”

Kirito nods his head hastily and Lisbeth says, annoyed, “Geez, you two just went somewhere and got all of us so worried about you two.”

Usagi yells out, “Hey, Liz! It wasn’t like we wanted to be unexpectedly teleported into a mysterious new area called the Hollow Area!”

There are surprised looks and Haruka asks, “Hollow Area?”

Usagi says, with a nod, “That’s right. One instant, Kirito and I were exploring one part of the maze area and then we were forcibly teleported to this mysterious new place called the Hollow Area.”

The others are surprised and Lisbeth asks, “Huh? Can such a thing happen?”

Usagi says, nervously, “It has happened to us before…On day one of this nightmare.”

Lisbeth says, nervously, “Oh, yeah.”

Sinon asks, “Teleport enforcement? Was it something like what happened to me or Leafa?”

Kirito responds, “No, this new area seems to be a part of SAO. We can be sure about that.”

Usagi says, “But it is a part that we have never seen before. I don’t think that it is part of any floor… at least one that we have seen before anyway.”

Kirito says, with a nod, “It is like a hidden area.”

Sinon asks, “Is there such a thing in this world?”

Kirito says, nodding his head, “It is different from the regular floors of Aincard.”

Michiru asks, “And it is called the ‘Hollow Area’?”

Usagi says, with a nod, “That’s what we know, Michiru. It is a real tough area too. It has high level monsters and it is real pain to get through.”

Silica says, “A high level area…”

Kirito says, “I’m hoping that we can get rare items and strong equipment. I’m hoping to explore more of the Hollow Area more.”

Usagi says, with a smile, “You would be that way, Kirito.”

Asuna asks, curiously, “But could there be such an area that we didn’t know about until now?” Asuna asks Yui, “Yui-chan, do you know anything?”

Yui responds, “Well, there are areas of Aincard not open to regular players due to some circumstances, but they were locked at the start of the game, so, they shouldn’t be accessible by anyone.”

Kirito asks, “So, there shouldn’t be any way for players to enter those areas?”

Yui replies, with a nod, “Yes, but the Cardinal System is unstable now, so, I can’t say that it is impossible.”

Setsuna says, “Yui-chan has a point. The operating system of SAO is currently ‘in flux’, so, it could mean that restricted area that regular players shouldn’t be able to get to might be opened.”

Usagi asks, “But how did Kirito and I just get teleported in there?”

Mizuno says, “We can’t be certain Usagi.”

Asuna says, with a smile, “At least we have an idea of what this ‘Hollow Area’ is.” Asuna tells Yui, “Thanks, Yui-chan.”

Yui says, with a sigh, “No, I wish that I could know the present condition of the operating system.”

Minako says, “Hey, don’t worry about it! At least we got an idea of what we are dealing with!”

Kirito says, “Minako is right, Yui-chan. The information is good enough.”

Yui says, with a smile, “If it helps daddy, then I’m happy.”

Lisbeth asks, “Do you think that it is possible that there might be new materials in that area?”

Yui says, with a nod, “Yes, I believe that it is very possible.”

The others are pretty excited about the idea of going into that ‘mysterious area’ and Asuna asks, “Hold on! All of you are planning to go there?”

Kirito says, “Easy, Asuna. I was able to come back.”

Asuna says to Kirito, a suspicious expression on her face, “Something is holding me back…”

Kirito tells Asuna, “If we get powerful and rare items and equipment, it will make assault up to the final floor faster and easier. And we need to get out of here as soon as possible.”

Asuna says, with a smile, “Yes, we do. Then I’ll go too. I can’t let Kirito-kun go alone.”

Kirito says, taking a deep breath, “And along with Dai and Akari, Usagi and I know someone else there.”

Asuna asks, with a suspicious glare, “By any chance…?”

Leafa, Lisbeth, Silica, Sinon, and Yui look at Kirito, suspiciously, and Usagi thinks, nervously, “Here we go.”

Yui asks, “Daddy is this person that you are speaking of…?”

Sinon says, finishing for Yui, “… Is this person a girl by any chance?”

Kirito responds, nervously, “Yes. Her name is Philia, but…”

Asuna says, with an accusing tone, “See?!”

Sinon says, “Not only did he just wander around, but he also flirt with a girl.”

Kirito yells out, “No! No! That’s not flirting! Usagi, please tell them!”

Usagi gives a look that says ‘Are you kidding me?’ and Sinon asks, coolly, “How was it? Let me guess: ‘I want to help you’. It is something like that right?”

Kirito gives a nervous look and Asuna says, with a pout-like expression and greatly annoyed tone, “Kirito-kun, just when I was crying my eyes out and searching frantically for you, you went out with a girl!”

Kirito yells out, in a panic, “No! No! Hold on! That was an accident! We were teleported there and then Philia-san slammed into Usagi, literally, in which we had to fight together with her friends, Dai and Akari, when a Skull Reaper appeared!”

Usagi tells Asuna, nervously, “That’s exactly what happened Asuna! It just dropped down in front of us and while it was weaker, it was no pushover, trust me! It scared me nearly to death! We had to work together with Philia-san, Dai-san, and Akari-san in order to defeat it!”

Makoto asks, “Dai? Akari? You mean those two cloaked figures with you, two, when you came back that we saw leave?”

Usagi says, with a nod, “Yeah, they are friends of Philia-san.”

Hino tells Makoto, “They did just say that those were their names.”

Makoto says, nervously, “Oh, yeah.”

Leafa asks, “Are they strong?”

Usagi says, with a nod, “Yeah, Leafa. They were really strong and they had Sword Skills that we had never seen before. Akari had Sword Skills which involved turning her shield into a weapon!”

There are surprised looks and Asuna asks, shocked, “A shield as a weapon?” Kirito and Asuna then explained about what Akari did in the Hollow Area.

When they were done, Lisbeth asks, shocked, “You are kidding me? She has a Sword Skill that allows her to use her shield as a weapon? Is there such a skill?”

Kirito says, “Remember, Heathcliff… Kayaba mentioned that Usagi’s Mimic Sword Skill was a skill that he locked away since he felt that no one met the requirement to use it and the system that runs SAO gave her the skill since it felt that she met the requirement.”

Sinon says, “So, it is possible that there are other powerful Sword Skills that were locked away that weren’t normally meant to be given to players.”

Kirito says, “I believe so. I think that Kayaba also has other Unique Skills locked away until their requirements are fulfilled and given to players.”

Silica says, “Oh, wow…”

Asuna says, “Well, I think that we have been through enough today, so, I think that it is time to take a rest.”

Kirito asks, curiously, “Why?”

Asuna says, “You fought a Skull Reaper, didn’t you? Just rest for today or I will make you.”

Usagi says, “Asuna’s right, Kirito. It may have been weaker, but it was a real pain to defeat even with Philia’s, Dai’s, and Akari’s help. Not to mention that I’m completely freaked out about this. Let’s take a break.”

Kirito tells Usagi, “But we’ve recovered our health, Usagi…”

Yui yells out, sternly, “Daddy! Just stay with mommy please!”

Kirito responds, nervously, “Okay. Let’s do it tomorrow.”

Usagi says, with a sigh of relief, “Finally! A good idea! I’m so pooped!”

Makoto says, “You should be after what you went through girl!”

Usagi says, “Sorry to worry all of you.”

Hino says, “While it couldn’t be helped, you should be sorry, Meatball Head.”

Usagi says, nervously, “I can’t win with you, Pyro.” The others can’t help to smile at Kirito’s and Usagi’s ‘embarrassment’ at their situation.

December 8, 2024, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

The following day, Usagi and Mamoru are coming out in which they see Kirito standing in front of the main counter talking with Agil.

Agil tells them, with a smile, “Good morning, love birds.”

Usagi says, with a smile, “Good morning, Agil. Morning, Kirito.”

Kirito says, “Morning, Usagi.”

Mamoru asks, “What’s happening?”

Agil says, “Talking about what happened to Kirito and Usagi yesterday.”

Usagi says, “Oh, the Hollow Area.”

Agil says, “And the two players that you brought here. From what I know, there aren’t any players known as Dai and Akari.”

Mamoru asks, “Really?”

Usagi asks, “Wait! Are you saying that they aren’t players?”

Kirito says, “What Agil is implying that they may be like your friends, Leafa, and Sinon, Usagi.”

Mamoru says, “What you are saying that they may have come here from the outside when the SAO servers became unstable due to the ‘tampering’.”

Kirito says, “It makes sense since they didn’t seem to know much about SAO and especially about Usagi. Remember, by this time, Usagi is well-known as SAO through much of the time that we have been here, very few knew her name. She has only been known as the ‘White Valkyrie’.”

Usagi says, “Well, I did think that it was weird that they didn’t know about me.”

Just then Klein runs into the room and he yells out, “Hey, Kirito!”

Kirito tells Klein, “What’s wrong, Klein? That was quick!”

Klein responds, “That wasn’t quick! There wasn’t anywhere called the Hollow Area for teleporting!”

Usagi asks, stunned, “Wait a minute! Kirito activated that portal just yesterday! And he double checked it!”

Klein says, “Oh, Usagi! If you doubt me, just follow me!” Soon after, Kirito, Usagi, and Mamoru came to the teleport gate where Klein tried to teleport to the Hollow Area Control Area, but while there is a glow to show that the teleport gate activates, nothing happened.

Usagi says, “That’s weird.”

Kirito says, “You’re right, Usagi.” Kirito says, “I want to test something.”

Usagi asks, curiously and a bit concerned, “What are you going to do Kirito?”

Kirito gets onto the teleport gate and he says, “Teleport: Hollow Area Control Area!” Kirito then vanishes in a sphere of blue light causing Usagi to gasp, but shortly thereafter, he returns in the same blue light.

Usagi asks, “Did it work?”

Kirito says, with a nod, “Yes, I went there just fine.” Kirito steps down and he says, “Usagi, you test it too.”

Usagi says, with a nod, “Okay.”

Mamoru tells her, “Be careful.”

Usagi says, with a warm smile, “I will.” When she gets onto the teleport gate, she says, “Teleport: Hollow Area Control Area!” Usagi vanishes in a sphere of blue light and she finds herself in the Hollow Area Control Area in which she says, scratching her head, “Okay, I don’t get it. Why are Kirito and I the only ones that can come here? Wait! We had that weird pattern on our hands.” Usagi looks around and she says, “Philia-san isn’t here. Guess she went exploring. I hope that she is okay.” Usagi says, “Teleport: Arc Sofia!” Usagi then returns to Arc Sofia in the same blue light of teleportation where Mamoru, Kirito, and Klein are waiting for him.

Kirito asks, “How was it?”

Usagi says, with a shrug, “Got there just fine.” Usagi asks, “Do you think that it is that strange pattern that appeared on our hands after we defeated that weakened Skull Reaper?”

Kirito says, “I really don’t know, Usagi.”

Mamoru says, “I’m going to make sure that it is just you two.”

Usagi tells him, “Please be safe.”

Mamoru kisses Usagi on the forehead and he says, “I will.” Mamoru attempts to go to the Hollow Area, but he is as successful as Klein as he is covered in the teleporting glow, but he remains as where he is and he says, as he steps down from the teleport gate, “It seems like only Kirito and Usagi can go to the Hollow Area.”

Klein says, “It seems so.”

Usagi asks, “What is up with that?”

Kirito says, “I think that we should start experimenting.”

Usagi says, “Okay, but let’s be careful about it.”

Kirito says, with a nod, “Right, Usagi.” Soon enough, the four of them then start to experiment about how Kirito and Usagi can bring more people with them to the Hollow Area in which Dai and Akari, still wearing their hooded cloaks with their hoods up, watch them for a while before they leave. Later on, they return to Agil’s inn/shop where Agil is there to greet them.

Agil says, “You have been out for a while since it is quite late.”

Klein says, “Other than Usagi and Kirito, other players can’t teleport to the Hollow Area.”

Mamoru says, “However, we haven’t seen if the two people that came from the Hollow Area, Dai and Akari, could or could not go to the Hollow Area and back as they pleased.”

Kirito says, “And only one person can with each of us at a time. Usagi and I each tried with both Klein and Mamoru in the same party, but it looks like that we can only take one person with us at a time.”

Agil says, “Only one person for battle… That’s tough.”

Usagi says, “No kidding, Agil.”

Kirito says, “I’m not sure. Philia-san had Dai and Akari and I can’t help to be concerned since they are now here in Arc Sofia, but each of them are quite strong players with Dai having those strange Two-Handed Sword Skills that we had never seen and Akari using that strange skill involving using a shield as a weapon. The only thing close to that is Heathcliff’s… Kayaba’s Divine Blade Skill, but that didn’t involve using the shield as weapon like she did. It was more like using as a battering ram in which her skill seemed to turn the shield into a saw.”

Klein says, “We had better not open this to the public.”

Agil says, “It will only bring trouble.”

Usagi says, getting nervous, “Then we had better find Mina-chan. She tends to be quite the ‘gossip’.”

Usagi, Kirito, and Mamoru then head out to find Minako, so, the Hollow Area can be kept secret and Klein says, “Oh, man! Kirito is always getting the good stuff.” Outside, Kirito, Mamoru, and Usagi are walking along when Usagi and Kirito stop right in their tracks.

Mamoru was about to say something when Kirito and Usagi motion for him to stay quiet and Kirito whispers, “Do you sense that?”

Usagi whispers back, “My Search Skill is going wild, Kirito.”

Kirito says, in a whisper, “Keep walking as if you didn’t find anything.” Usagi wraps her arms around Mamoru’s right arm and they keep walking along.

Mamoru asks, in a whisper, “Did your Search Skill activate?”

Usagi nods her head and she replies, in a whisper, “Yes, but we can’t pinpoint where it is coming from.”

Kirito says, in a whisper, “Whoever this is, they have a very high Hiding Skill.”

Mamoru says, in a whisper and his eyes widening, “It might be very high since both of you practically mastered that skill of yours.”

As they continue along, Usagi whispers, “We are being watched, Mamoru-kun. Whoever it is, they are following us.” They continue to walk along in Arc Sofia and they stop when they can’t sense anymore in which Usagi looks at Kirito.

Kirito whispers, “I can’t feel it anymore either, but I don’t think that ‘presence’ is gone.”

Mamoru whispers, “Since we are inside of safe area, we have no fear of getting killed since you can’t be killed in a safe area since all players are protected.”

Usagi nods her head and she whispers, “But it doesn’t mean that they won’t wait for us to be outside of the safe area and then make their move.”

Kirito says, in a whisper, “Usagi’s right, Mamoru. And I don’t like being spied upon.”

Usagi asks, in a whisper, “What are we going to do?”

Kirito says, “I’m going to see if I came make this person come out. Usagi, I need for you to check with me to get an idea on their position.”

Usagi nods her head and both of them use their Search Skills in which Usagi says, in a whisper, “Near the café.”

Kirito responds, in a whisper, “I agree.” Kirito then shouts out, “Okay, we know that you are there! I don’t know what you are after, but I will listen to what you will say if you want something!”

Mamoru tells Kirito, “We have no idea that will work.”

Kirito says, “I know, but we’ll see.”

Just then a female voice from behind them says, “Oh, so you noticed!” Kirito, Usagi, and Mamoru then their attention to the source of the voice to see a gorgeous young lady come out into the open and stand right in front of them.

This young lady has lavender hair which goes down to the base of her neck with two long strands on either side of her head which go down to the top of her chest area, red-violet eyes that could be mistaken for pink eyes in the right light/shade, a lilac-color, strapless dress with a black piece of fabric going across the breasts and down to her stomach, below an intricate coat. This coat is made up of violet and plum shaded components, reaching as far down as the hem of her dress but also leaving some areas open which expose the dress below. Above that she wears a collar of the same violet of her coat, outlined in lavender with a red jewel securing the collar in place. Her legs are covered by plum stockings that go up to cover most of her thighs and violet high-heeled ankle high boots.

The young lady then says in the female voice heard earlier, “Hello!”

Kirito says, with a plain tone, “We haven’t met before.”

The young lady responds, “Yes, this is the first time! My name is Strea! It is nice to meet you!” The young lady, who calls herself, Strea, gives a very cheerful smile that seems to show innocence and gentleness.

Usagi thinks in her mind, looking over Strea, “Strea, huh? I have to say that despite her choice of dress, she looks very innocent and gentle, but somehow, she has a Hiding Skill that not even Kirito or I could pierce through.” Usagi then looks at Mamoru and she can see that he is looking at her intently which starts to annoy her, but Usagi then can see that his eyes contain a very serious look which means that he is thinking on the same lines as her.

Strea asks, seeing Kirito’s serious look at her, “What’s with that scary face?”

Kirito asks Strea, “Strea, what’s your intention in following us?”

Strea says, “Well, Kirito and Usagi are famous and I became interesting, so, I followed to observe them.”

Mamoru raises an eyebrow at this answer and Kirito says, plainly, “You are quite skillful yourself.”

Strea says, “Oh, you noticed? I’m quite strong too. Even so, it is just as I thought.”

Kirito asks, curiously, “Just as you thought?”

Strea says, with a smile, “Kirito is cuter with a closer look.”

Kirito and Usagi ask in unison, “Huh?” Strea then surprises everyone as she hugs Kirito close to her chest.

Kirito yells out, flabbergasted, “Hey! Wait a minute! This isn’t right!”

Usagi shouts out, really annoyed, “What do you think that you are doing?!”

Mamoru covers his eyes with right hand as he closes them and Strea shouts out, “But it is cute! It makes me feel doing it.”

Usagi says, annoyed, “Hey! Stop that!”

Usagi then pries Strea off and Strea says, with a carefree tone, “You feel left out? Okay!” Strea then hugs Usagi and she yelps from the intense hug which borders on the level of bone crushing.

Usagi thinks in her mind, “Yipe! This girl must have high strength stats! If this was real life, she would be breaking my ribs!”

Kirito says, “Hey, Strea! Please let go of Usagi!”

Strea responds, her carefree smile not leaving her, “Okay, Kirito! You said that you would listen to my request!”

Kirito says, nervously, “Okay! But please stop hugging Usagi, please.” Strea then releases Usagi from her hug and Usagi takes a gasp of breathe.

Mamoru, who watched Strea hug his beloved princess, asks, concerned tone in his voice, “Are you okay?”

Usagi responds, with a nod, “I’m glad that I’m in a safe zone or I think that I might have lost a few points from that. Who is she?”

Kirito responds, “I have no idea, but something tells me that we are going to find out.” As the mysterious Strea leads them to a café, they are going to find out that it may not be as easy as they think.

And that’s the chapter, everyone! Now, since this story is based on the video game ‘Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment’, there is going to be a lot of it in this story, however, since there is so much in this game, I may not be able to use everything in the game for this story, but it will follow the Hollow Fragment storyline as best as possible based on my ideas. Please read and review and tell me what you think! Later and best wishes, Crossover Fans!