Crossover Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Moon Online: Hollow Fragment ❯ Poker, Boss Fights, and Surprise Reunions ( Chapter 4 )

Well, we have arrived on the next chapter of this story and I would like to add from my precious commentary to say that I also plan plenty of humor and romance mixed in with the action, adventure, drama, and more that my original Sailor Moon Online, what this fanfiction is based upon along with the video game ‘Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment’. I’m hoping that I can make this story exciting for everyone through I’m sure that I can’t please everyone. Anyway, on with the show!

 

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 Itō!

 

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 4: Poker, Boss Fights, and Surprise Reunions

 

December 9, 2025, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

 

Inside of Agil’s inn/shop within Arc Sofia, there is a lot of activity in there, but it isn’t surprising since the news came out that the boss chamber of this floor has finally been found one month since the battle against the Skull Reaper. Much of the day has been in preparing for the boss raid to come and gathering information on the boss since they can’t search the boss rooms anymore since like the Skull Reaper, the instant that you enter the room, you are trapped in there and the doors will only open again unless you or the boss are destroyed.

 

Usagi, Mamoru, and Kirito are coming into the main area of the inn/shop and Yui says, greeting them, “Good afternoon, daddy! Aunt Usagi!”

 

Kirito tells her, “Good afternoon to you, Yui.”

 

Usagi says, “Wow. There is a lot of stuff happening today.”

 

Mamoru says, “Well, it isn’t surprising since you know what we are doing today.”

 

Usagi tells Mamoru, “Yes. And it has gotten me concerned. Mamoru-kun, you and the girls haven’t faced a boss monster before.”

 

Mamoru says, “If we are going help, we are going to need to learn.”

 

Kirito tells Mamoru, “You have to remember that boss monsters aren’t like the others that we have faced. We need huge raid groups for a reason and even then, we lose people.”

 

Mamoru tells Usagi, “We’ll be all right. I promise.”

 

Usagi says, with a smile, “I know.”

 

Kirito asks Yui, “There seems to be a lot more going on than preparing for the boss. What are they doing?”

 

Yui responds, “The customers are sitting inside and playing cards. The atmosphere is quite heated, daddy.”

 

Kirito asks, “Cards? Oh, you mean poker?”

 

Yui asks, curiously, “Poker?”

 

Kirito responds, “It’s a card game where you pair up five cards and count up the score.”

 

Yui asks, “Has daddy played before?”

 

Kirito says, “Yes, an online version.”

 

Agil comes over and he says, “Kirito, you want to play a game. Be my guest.”

 

Kirito says, “Yeah, it might a nice way to relax before what we have to do today and I can show Yui what the game is about.” Kirito asks Mamoru, “Do you know how to play?”

 

Mamoru says, with a smile, “I had plenty of help from our friends back home, Kirito.”

 

Just then Strea comes over and she says, excitedly, “Huh? Another poker game? I’m in!”

 

Usagi and Kirito give surprised looks and Usagi asks, “Strea? Where did you come from?”

 

Agil says, “Oh, sure! I say: The more people, the more fun.”

 

Strea asks, “What’s the prize for the winner?”

 

Agil says, “Oh, yes. I forgot about that. May I should treat the winner to whatever dish in the shop.”

 

Usagi says, licking her lips, “Sounds pretty good to me, Agil.”

 

Strea says, with a pout, “Sounds boring to me.”

 

Usagi asks, shocked, “How can you say that Strea?”

 

Agil says, “Don’t be mean. What do you want then?”

 

Kirito says, “Well, normally…”

 

Just then Asuna and the others come over and she says, “No gambling with money, Kirito-kun.”

 

Agil says, “I heard a no.”

 

Kirito says, “Good point. Let’s try to avoid a possible argument.” Kirito asks Yui, “Well, what kind of prize does Yui want?”

 

Yui says, “The award? Well, I would be happy to have daddy and Auntie Usagi for the whole day.”

 

Usagi asks, surprised, “Huh?”

 

Mamoru tells Usagi, with a smile, “You can’t blame the girl for thinking you as part of her family.”

 

Usagi says, with a sigh and smile, “I guess not.”

 

Strea says, with a smile, “That’s nice! Then the award is settled!”

 

Usagi and Kirito say in unison, “Huh?”

 

Lisbeth says, with a smile, “I heard you. I’m most certainly in.”

 

Leafa says, with a smile, “Me too! I want to join in the game!”

 

Silica says, “And me too!”

 

Usagi asks, shocked, “Silica-chan!”

 

Minako says, with a sly grin, “Same here! I would like to have the two famous players of SAO to do whatever I want for a day!”

 

Usagi yells out, annoyed, “Hey! Minako-chan!”

 

Hino says, with a smile, “Sounds like fun. I’m in.”

 

Usagi asks, “What the heck Pyro?!”

 

Klein says, “Since everyone is joining, I will too!”

 

Usagi asks, stunned, “Seriously, Klein?”

 

Michiru tells Mamoru, “In order to protect your girlfriend and her best friend, you must join as her knight and prince of course.”

Mamoru says, nervously, “O-Of course, but only to make sure that they aren’t taken advantage of.”

 

Sinon says, “I’m interested too so I’m in as well.”

 

Haruka says, with a smile, “Sounds like fun.”

 

Agil says, “So, it is settled. The winner gets Usagi and Kirito monopolized for the day.”

 

Usagi and Kirito yelp and Usagi yells out, annoyed, “We didn’t agree to this!”

 

Agil says, ignoring Usagi, “Since we have so many people, we are going to use special rules. Let’s apply the rules of Texas hold up, one of the most popular casino games.”

 

Usagi asks, “Texas hold up?”

 

Kirito says, “Let me explain, Usagi.” Mamoru and Kirito explain the rules of Texas hold up poker and how it works in which Usagi nods her head.

 

Agil says, “You are out when you run out of chips. The player with the most chips is the winner. If you don’t want to go on, just say ‘fold’ and if you want to call, just say ‘call’. Say ‘raise’ if you want to raise. Everyone has got the rules down? Okay, let’s get started.” Usagi and Kirito look at each other, nod their heads, and Asuna joins in for various reasons. The game is under way and they play hand after hand.

 

During one hand, Lisbeth says, “My turn, huh? Well, I’m pretty much the winner, no? What fun is this then? Okay, I bet all of my chips! All-in!”

 

Strea says, with a smile, “Call!”

 

Lisbeth asks, surprised, “Call?”

 

Strea says, with a giggle, “Of course.”

 

Agil says, “Showdown. Show your cards please.” When they show their cards, Strea is the winner with a straight.

 

Lisbeth shouts out, stunned, “A straight?!”

 

Strea says, with a grin, “What a pity! Three kings are so big. But no winner is ever certain and failure is always evident.”

Lisbeth says, annoyed, “Damn it!” With another hand, Usagi beats Minako and Hino, who are flabbergasted.

 

Hino yells out, “A royal straight?! How lucky can be a Meatball Head get?”

 

Usagi says, with a grin, “Lucky is part of the game after all.”

 

Minako says, with a pout, “Oh, man. I thought that I could get a chance at cute Black Swordsman.”

 

Usagi yells out, annoyed, “Not with me around Mina-chan.”

 

Asuna says, with a glare, “Same here.”

 

Minako says, nervously, “Right.” During the next round, Leafa’s turn is up.

 

Leafa says, “There are less chips and everyone is a bit passive! Now, we have a winner! I bet!”

 

Kirito asks, with a smile, “Are you sure, Leafa?”

 

Leafa responds, “Why not? It is Kirito who should be careful. You should fold now.”

 

Usagi says, with a smile, “I think that you should Leafa-chan.”

 

Leafa asks, “Why is that?”

Kirito says, “I call.”

 

Leafa asks, “What?” When the cards are shown, Kirito wins and Leafa yells out, “Three jacks? But how?”

 

Kirito says, “It is pretty easy to tell if Leafa is bluffing or not. We’re family, so, it’s natural.”

 

Leafa says, “Darn it. I hate it since I wanted to win so badly.” During the next set of hands, Usagi is going against Klein.

 

Klein says, “I don’t want to pick on a friend especially a pretty one like you, Usagi, but this game is mine.”

 

Usagi asks, with a smile, “Are you sure?”

 

Klein responds, with a nod, “I’m so sure that I’m all in.”

 

Usagi responds, “Raise.”

 

Klein asks, stunned, “Huh?!” When the hand is shown, Usagi is shown to be the winner of that hand.

 

Makoto asks, shocked, “How did she do that?”

 

Usagi responds, “When you play against Argo, you tend to learn quite a few tricks.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “That’s for sure, Usagi.”

Klein says, annoyed, “Oh, man!” With the next hand, it is Asuna against Sinon.

 

Asuna thinks about this long and hard and she says, “Okay, all in.”

 

Sinon says, with a smile, “Call.”

 

Asuna asks, surprised, “Call?”

 

When the cards are revealed, Sinon says, “Club flush, I win.”

 

Asuna asks, disappointed, “How can that be?”

 

Strea says, “So, this leaves Sinon, Usagi, Kirito, and I! Hurry up and bring out the winner!” All of them play the final hand and Strea says, “This is the best hand ever! I’m all-in!”

 

Sinon says, “Call.”

 

Usagi says, “Call.”

 

Kirito says, “Call.” The cards are turned over and Strea has three kings.

 

Strea says, excitedly, “I have three kings!”

 

Kirito says, with a sigh, “I have a full house of kings and tens. That was close.”

 

Strea asks, shocked, “A full house? A hand like that at this moment?” Strea says, with a sigh, “Kirito is really good, but I don’t think that I have lost.”

 

Kirito asks, “So, what do you have?”

 

Usagi responds, “Nothing much really. I fold.”

 

Sinon says, “Fold.”

 

Asuna says, excitedly, “Kirito, you won!”

 

Yui says, “That’s my daddy! Amazing!”

 

Lisbeth says, “Kirito is winner. Then there is no prize.”

 

Strea says, excitedly, “Then let’s play again!”

 

Kirito says, nervously, “Okay, let’s calm down here everyone.”

 

Minako says, “Hey, you won! It means that you have you and Usagi all to yourself!”

 

Kirito says, “I’m going to let Usagi go for the day.”

 

Usagi says, with a smile, “Thanks, Kirito.”

 

Kirito says, “However, I do want to see your cards.”

 

Usagi asks, a bit nervously, “What’s to see?”

 

Hino asks Usagi, suspiciously, “Did you really lose, Usagi?”

 

Usagi responds, “Yeah. I lost and Kirito won.”

 

Agil says, “Let’s split here, shall we? That was fun. Thank you, everyone!” With the game over, everyone starts to go away and Kirito is tempted to look at Usagi’s and Sinon’s cards, but decides to leave it at he won and Usagi and Sinon quit.

 

Lisbeth then says, “Anyway, Kirito, we need to talk.”

 

Kirito asks, “What is it?” Leafa and Silica start to glare at Kirito making him and Usagi a bit nervous.

 

Silica says, “Kirito, I have a question. What’s up with that Strea character?”

 

Mizuno says, “I must say that I am curious about her.”

 

Hino says, “Yeah. I thought no one could be more ‘bubbly’ that Meatball Head and Mina-chan, but she really takes the cake and swallows it whole.”

 

Leafa says, “It felt that she was close to Kirito.”

 

Usagi says, “Whoa! Whoa! You have got it all wrong!”

Lisbeth says, “Then Kirito had better explain who that person was.”

 

Kirito says, “I think that there has been a major misunderstanding and we need to clarify it now.”

 

Usagi says, drolly, “No kidding, Kirito.”

 

Lisbeth says, “So how Kirito seduced the girl will become clear.”

 

Usagi yells out, annoyed, “Liz!”

 

Kirito shouts out, annoyed and nervous, “Don’t say something like that! Please just listen before you open your mouth with something like that, Liz!” Soon after, Kirito, Usagi, and Mamoru explain on how they meet Strea and what happened up to the point that they had gotten back to Agil’s inn/shop that day.

 

Asuna asks, “Kirito and Usagi couldn’t find her even with their Search Skills?”

 

Makoto asks, “Is it that really shocking?”

 

Asuna says, “Usagi-chan and Kirito-kun have the best Search Skills of all the players of SAO even after the glitch, Mako-chan. It would have to take a Hiding Skill of very highly ability even mastery in order to make them unable to keep their Search Skill from completely tracking them.”

 

Lisbeth asks, “But why would she be following Kirito around?”

 

Kirito says, “I don’t really know. We tried to ask many times, but she skillfully dodged our questions.”

 

Mamoru says, “We had tried to follow her, but she found us out.”

 

Usagi says, “All we know is that she lives alone at an inn in one of the back streets of the city.”

 

Leafa asks, “Did Kirito ask her directly wherever she lived alone or not?”

 

Usagi responds, in a bit of a nervous tone, “Leafa, Kirito didn’t do anything. We were trying to investigate her.”

 

Yui says, “She is amazing that she can be a step ahead of daddy and Auntie Usagi.”

 

Mamoru says, “That’s something that we can’t ignore.”

 

Haruka asks, “You think that she could be trouble?”

 

Usagi says, with a shrug, “I don’t think so. I mean…Well, look at her!”

 

Hino says, “It could be an act.”

 

Usagi says, “I really don’t know, Pyro. She seemed too…carefree.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “Usagi is right. Strea doesn’t have any hostility to Usagi and me.”

 

Lisbeth says, with a smirk, “Rather, she seems to have ‘other feelings’ for you.”

 

Kirito says, with a sigh, “Well, I can’t argue about that.”

 

Lisbeth asks, “What do you think Asuna?”

Asuna says, “Well, I understand the relationship between Kirito-kun and Strea. And Usagi-chan and Mamoru were with him too. I trust Kirito-kun and I also trust Usagi-chan.” Asuna asks, “But what’s the reason for her to come into contact with Kirito-kun?”

 

Mamoru says, “Well, we can’t be sure that it is just Kirito.”

 

Kirito says, “Yes, Mamoru-san is right.”

 

Lisbeth says, with a smirk, “But we can’t be sure that it isn’t.” Asuna and Usagi glare at her and Lisbeth says, “Just kidding! Just kidding!” Lisbeth asks, with a sly smile on her lips, “However, I can say that it can’t be said that it wasn’t love at first sight, right?’

 

Asuna yells out, annoyed tone in her voice “Liz!”

 

Lisbeth giggles and Michiru whispers to Haruka, “I can see why our princess compared Lisbeth to both Hino and Mina-chan.”

 

Haruka says, in a whisper, “Which is quite disturbing for me.”

 

Kirito says, “I know that Usagi and I have to be careful since we don’t know Strea’s true identity, but I don’t think that there is any need to worry about me.”

 

Lisbeth says, with a sigh, “You are such an idiot, Kirito. Asuna is worried for another reason.”

 

Asuna blushes and she says, “Anyway, you have to be careful, Kirito-kun.”

 

Usagi tells Asuna, “Asuna, you are such a poor liar.”

 

Asuna says, with a major blush, “Usagi-chan!”

 

Lisbeth says, with a grin, “Usagi-chan has a point, Asuna.” Asuna glares at both Lisbeth and Usagi in which they have sly grins on their lips.

 

Mamoru asks, “Anyway, shouldn’t we also talk about the boss?”

 

Hino says, “That’s a good point.”

 

Asuna says, “One of the members of my guild are already recruiting players from the various assault team members, solo players and guilds, for the upcoming boss fight ever since we and the Digital Knights found the boss’ room yesterday.”

 

Minako asks, “Do we have enough information?”

 

Asuna says, with a nod, “We have gathered as much information as we can and it is going to be part of the topic of the meeting.”

 

Makoto says, with a smile, “Well, you can count us in!”

 

Asuna says, “Are you sure? You are Usagi’s friends and your abilities are very good, but this is going to be your first boss fight.”

 

Tomoe says, “If we want to help get Usagi back home to all of us and everyone else that’s waiting for her, we are going to need to assist you as best as we can.”

 

Usagi says, “You have already helped us a lot, girls. I don’t doubt you and all and you are in a ‘different situation’ as we are, but I can’t help to be worried about you since you are using technology similar to what’s keeping us trapped here.”

 

Makoto tells Usagi, “Look, girl, we are going to help you like it or not.”

 

Minako says, “And remember, all of us have been in life or death situations in ‘other worlds’ before.”

 

Mamoru says, “I’m not going to stand back and hope and pray that you come back alive to me.”

 

Kirito tells Usagi, “I don’t think that your friends are just going to sit back and wait.”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “Yeah, I know.”

 

Asuna says, with a nod, “Thank you, everyone. We will be assembling together for our boss raid meeting soon.”

 

Usagi tells Sinon, “Sinon, can you wait in town until we return from the boss battle?”

 

Sinon doesn’t say a word and she then says, “You are the leader of our guild, so, I will do what you say.”

 

Usagi says, with a smile, “Thank you, Sinon.”

 

Minako tells Silica, “You, too, Silica-chan. You aren’t ready for a boss fight yet.”

 

Silica says, “But I want to help Kirito and Usagi-chan!”

 

Usagi tells Silica, “You will help us by staying safe, okay?”

 

Silica says, with a solemn nod, “Okay, Usagi-chan.” Later on, in the main square of Arc Sofia, Asuna is with a large crowd of players including the Sailor Scouts, Mamoru, Kirito, and the Digital Knights for good examples of the players assembled together.

 

Asuna says, “Thank you for coming everyone. As you know, yesterday, I, along with members of the assault team, have found the entrance to the boss chamber. We have already set the Corridor Crystal and today, we are challenging the boss in order to move on. It has been a hectic month, I can understand with all that happened, but it shows that we need to get out of the game as fast as possible.” The other players nod their heads and Asuna says, “As you know, we can’t go into the boss’ chamber to gather intelligence anymore since, like the boss of the previous floor, the door seals itself and the doors won’t open until either the players are killed or the boss is defeated. However, we learned that by defeating special ‘field bosses’, we can get information on the boss.”

 

One player asks, “Lady Asuna, how can we be sure that the information is reliable.”

 

Kirito says, “Well, the information comes from an NPC for one thing and with you-know-who, he is a madman, but he has some kind of twisted honor. When I had exposed him, he could have killed all of us to keep his secret or left us all there and escaped to the top of Aincard, but since I had exposed him, he felt that I deserved some kind of reward, so, he gave me a chance to defeat him though I’m not sure what kind of chance that I had since he knew my Duel Welding ability so well since he created the Sword Skill. However, the point is, he gives us a chance to complete the game and get out of here. He has some kind of twisted sense of honor.”

 

Usagi then says, adding in, “Plus, we can’t gather intelligence by recon missions anymore since we can’t enter the boss’ chamber unless we meant to defeat the boss. So, we can only be thankful for the information that we can get and hope for the best, everyone.”

 

The other players nod their heads in agreement with Kirito and Usagi and Asuna says, “Thank you, Usagi. And you, too, Kirito-kun.” Asuna tells the players, “They are right. We have to make do with what information that we can get and plan according as well as hope for the best. Now, refer to your screens for your copy of the information that we have gathered.” All of the players bring up their screens and they look at the information on the boss that they could get. Asuna says, “The boss is named ‘The Ghastly Gaze’ and it uses its tentacles to attack as well as using its large eye to perform stun effects. Based on the information, it is weak against thrust attacks like those of my rapier or a spear, so, players that use thrusting type weapons are going to be the most important in this fight. We can dodge the tentacle attacks if we time it right and we are also going to have to attempt to seal the stun effect of its eye.”

 

Taichi says to his guild, “No kidding. It is going to be a headache.”

 

Miyako says, with a winch, “I always hate the monsters with the tentacles. They remind me of bad hentai.” For a good time, the players discussed battle plans and what they are going to do.

 

When they were done, Asuna says, “Okay, I think that everyone knows what the plan is. Please form multiple parties and then we can challenge the boss in this formation.” Soon after, the players start to form their parties of mainly half-a-dozen players, which is the maximum of players in the same player in SAO, based on if they belong to the same guild and other ‘factors’.

 

Minako tells Usagi, Kirito, and Asuna, “Hey, you three! Maybe you should form a party of your own!”

 

The three named players look at Minako and Kirito asks, “Us? Together?”

 

Minako says, pointing to Mamoru, “Well, with our bunny’s ‘mate’ since I’m sure that he wants to remain by the side of his girlfriend and all, but you, three, are the ‘command structure of this attack force. I think that you should form a party to be like ‘command party’ to lead this small ‘army’.”

 

Kirito says, “I wouldn’t exactly call it an army. And right now, the only ‘army’ that we know was Aincard Liberation Force.”

 

Usagi says, “Don’t remind me, Kirito.” Usagi asks, “What happened to them anyway?”

 

Kirito says, with a smile, “Asuna and I had managed to remain in contact with Thinker and Yulier and found that they had managed to get rid of ‘unsavory elements’ in the ALF in which they have reorganized into the Aincard Protection Force. Since you are trapped on the upper floors, they have taken the job of protecting the other players when the rest of us finish the game.”

 

Asuna says, “They are working with the other players in the lower floors and they are protecting them as best as they can based on what you have done in these past two years, Usagi-chan. Thinker and Yulier feel that you were a major inspiration.”

 

Makoto says, with a smile, “That’s no surprise.”

 

Mizuno says, with a smile, “She always seems to bring out the best in people.”

 

Usagi says, with a blush, “Geez, girls.”

 

Kirito says, with a grin, “I never thought that I see the mighty ‘White Valkyrie’ blush.”

 

Usagi tells Kirito, with a smirk, “Oh, really? How about I tell Liz about how that Dark Repulser that you hold isn’t the one that she made for you?”

 

Kirito yelps and he asks, nervously, “You wouldn’t?”

 

Usagi retorts, with a sly smirk, “Would I?” Kirito swallows a lot of air and Asuna giggles at her in-game husband’s nervousness. Anyway, Kirito, Asuna, Mamoru, Usagi, and Leafa join together in the same party while the Sailor Scouts divide into two parties of four with the Inner Sailor Scouts in one party with the Outer Sailor Scouts in the other.

 

When the parties are formed, Kirito tells Leafa, “I still think that you shouldn’t come along, Leafa.”

 

Leafa tells Kirito, “Hey, Kirito, I’m a big girl.”

 

Kirito says, “But you have no experience against a boss monster.”

 

Asuna tells Kirito, “I know that you are worried for your sister, Kirito-kun, but she is with us and she has shown to be a strong player.”

 

Leafa says, with a smile, “I’m not same little girl that you knew!”

 

Kirito responds, “Well, I can’t help to think about you as that little girl.”

 

Usagi says, with a nod of understanding, “All of us have been here a long time, Kirito. We have missed plenty in those that we left behind back in the ‘real world’.” Usagi thinks in her mind, solemnly, “Including two years of high school life of my friends. Sammy has probably gotten into high school by now and Hotaru has become a high school girl.”

 

Mamoru says, with a smile, “One day, all of you will be able to go back and do the things that you did before.” Usagi smiles warmly as the massive boss raid group assemble into their parties and when they are done with their preparations, Kirito activates the Corridor Crystal and all of them head off through the portal to the boss’ room in the dungeon area of this floor where we see Dai and Akari, still having their cloaks on, in the massive group of players.

 

December 9, 2025, Floor 76, Dungeon

 

Within the dungeon of Floor 76, the boss raid party is assembled in front of the door leading into the boss’ chamber with Asuna at the head of the group.

 

Asuna says, “Everyone, I have only one thing to say: Win and go back alive!” Soon after, they open the doors to the boss’ chamber and everyone enters inside where they find a monster that’s a massive single eye with multiple tentacles that have mouths filled with razor sharp teeth at the end of each tentacle before them. Using their ‘identification ability’, they can see the monster is called ‘The Ghastly Gaze’ signify that it is a boss monster with the word ‘the’ in its name.

 

Miyako says, disgusted, “Major gross out!”

 

Yamato says, “This isn’t the time, Miyako!”

 

Kirito yells out, “Everyone, spread out and get in formation!” Immediately, the players get into the formation that they had formed in their battle plan in which they immediately start their attack on Ghastly Gaze in which the information proved accurate as thrusting attacks proved more effective than other attacks as well as they cut off the tentacles to limit its attack, however, the tentacles grew back in good order. When a player becomes low on health, he quickly switches out with another player in order to use potions to refill their health and other players helped players that get hit by a stun/paralyzing effect. During this whole battle, Kirito, Asuna, and Usagi help direct the other players and assist whenever they can with Mamoru and Leafa assisting them as best as possible.

 

During one point where Makoto and Minako were refilling their health, Minako says, “We’re doing it!”

 

Makoto says, with a nod, “Yeah! And look at those three! They are incredible!”

 

Minako says, “Well, they have two years of experience.”

Makoto says, “That’s the kind of thing that we are worried about, Mina-chan.” Minako nods her head as she and Makoto prepare to rejoin the fight and the boss battles goes well for everyone until a good portion of the boss monster’s multiple health bars run out.

 

Kirito notices something and he yells out, “Asuna! Usagi!”

 

Asuna says, with a nod, “I noticed it too!”

 

Usagi yells out, “It’s about to change tactics!”

 

Asuna shouts out, “It’s changing attack patterns! Look out everyone!” A good portion of the players get out of the way as Ghastly Gaze unleashes a wave attack on all of the players around him in which those players that didn’t get out of the way are knocked backwards and/or down to the ground leaving a good number of them suffering paralyzing effects.

 

Usagi says, concerned, “Oh no! Some of the players got hit with a stun effect!”

 

Asuna yells out, “Reform your formations and help those players quick!” The players immediately response to try to follow Asuna’s command, but the boss monster has his gaze upon on Taichi, Sam, and Miyako, who got hit and they are suffering from a stun.

 

When the Ghastly Gaze attacks them, Takashi shouts out, concerned, “Look out!”

 

Just then a female voice shouts out, concerned, “Tai!”

 

The Digital Knight gasp at that voice and Taichi thinks in his mind, stunned, “I know that voice!” Soon after, Akari appears in front of Taichi, Sam, and Miyako in which the destruction of Akari’s cloak seems to show that she is hit, but it is revealed that she is just fine and she catches the tentacle on her shield to reveal her entire features to everyone in which the Digital Knights are stunned to see her.

 

(Sword Art Online music ‘Swordland’ starts)

 

They think in unison, stunned, “Kari?!” Akari then pushes back the tentacle, drops her shield, and spins her rapier in a circle causing it to glow.

 

Akari shouts out, with a strong tone as she prepares to attack, “Linear Barrage!” Akari then thrusts her rapier so fast and so many times that it looks like that it becomes close to four dozen rapiers in which the Ghastly Gaze is hit with an incredible 30 hit combo with such force that it is sent into the wall, hard!

 

The other players are shocked and Usagi says, stunned, “No way!”

 

Asuna says, “It looks like Linear!”

 

Kirito says, “But a lot more advanced, Asuna.”

 

Akari yells out, with a strong tone, “Dai-kun, do it now!”

 

The Digital Knights are stunned and Takashi thinks in his mind, stunned, “Dai-kun?” Soon after, Dai removes his cloak to reveal his features in which we can see him wearing a flame designed armored chest plate in place of his jacket where there are eight one-handed swords, including an Elucidator and one Dark Repulser as well, attached to the back of this armor like wings. He then grabs the swords in which he has four in one hand and four more in the other causing all of them to glow at once.

 

Dai yells out, with a strong tone, “Take this you floating eyesore! Omni-Slash Mark Six!” Dai then throws all of the swords, expect for one, in which the swords surround Ghastly Gaze and with incredible speed, Dai slashes the monster with one sword, takes another sword, leaving the previous one in the same area, does another ‘moving slash’ against the monster, takes another sword from another area, and repeats the same process until he has perform a 27 hit combo leaving the other players shocked and stunned.

 

Leafa says, shocked, “No way!” However, Dai isn’t done in which he manages to get two swords into his hands while the rest clatter to the ground and before a massive post motion delay can hit him, Dai then performs a Vertical Square with one sword and then with the other sword, he performs a Uppercut One-Handed Sword Skill strike as well.

 

Kirito says, amazed, “A Skill Connect!”

 

Usagi asks, confused, “A Skill Connect?” Dai then performs a Sonic Leap One-Handed Sword Skill and Ghastly Gaze has only few tiny bits of health, but Dai grunts as he is hit by a post motion delay. However, before the boss monster can even attempt another attack, Akari leaps in and impales the monster in the center of its massive eye with her rapier causing it to lose the last of its health points and it shatters into hundreds of data polygons ending the battle.

 

(Sword Art Online music ‘Swordland’ ends)

 

With the end of the battle, a huge sign that says ‘Congratulations’ and all of the players cheer as they know that they have won the battle and survived in which small screens appear to show what experience and money that they have gained.

 

Tomoe says, “We did it.”

 

Michiru says, with a smile, “And no one has died at all.”

 

Usagi thinks in her mind, with a sigh of relief, “Thank goodness.”

&n bsp;

Asuna says, “It is good that no one died.”

 

Kirito says, pointing to Dai and Akari, “And we have them to thank.”

 

Leafa asks, “But who are they?”

 

Kirito says, “I think that it is time to find out.” While Akari looks on her screen to show that she had gained the ‘Final Attack Bonus Item’, Dai returns all of his swords, expect for his Elucidator and Dark Repulser, into his equipment section of his player menu while strapping the two said swords to his back.

 

Akari tells Dai, “We did it, Dai-kun.”

 

Dai tells Akari, “That overgrown eyeball wasn’t that tough, Kari-chan.”

 

Akari asks Dai, with a sly smile, “Seriously, Dai-kun?”

 

Dai responds, a bit nervously, “Compared to those guys in the Hollow Area.” Just then they hear someone clearing their throat and the two of them turn to see Kirito, Asuna, Leafa, Mamoru, and the Sailor Senshi in front of them.

 

Kirito says, “Good work, Dai. And you, too, Akari.”

 

Dai rubs his head nervously and Akari says, nervously, “Thanks, Kirito-san.”

 

Just then Taichi’s voice calls out, “Kari?”

 

Everyone looks to see the Digital Knights coming towards them and Akari says, nervously, “Hi, Tai.”

 

Usagi asks, surprised, “Hold on! You know her, Taichi-san?”

Taichi yells out, “She is my little sister!”

 

There are gasps and Makoto asks, shocked, “Sister?”

 

Takashi says, with a nod, “That’s right. That girl is Kari Kamiya, Taichi’s sister back in the real world. The guy with her is Davis Motomiya, a very good friend of ours and Sam’s best real world friend.”

 

Sam asks, shocked to see his best real world friend here, “What are you doing here?”

 

Dai responds, rubbing his head, “What do you think?”

 

Miyako yells out, “Are you crazy?! This is a death game! You could really get killed here!”

 

Dai replies, nervously, “Nice to see you, too.”

 

Takashi asks, “How did you get here?”

Akari responds, nervously, “It is a bit of a long story.”

 

Junpier was looking ready to leap out and hug Davis, but then Kirito says, “A bit of a story that we can tell. However, we should do that back in town. Right now, we have to go up to the next floor and activate the teleport gate.”

 

Asuna says, with a nod, “Good idea, Kirito-kun.”

 

Mamoru says, “I agree.” Usagi nods her head in agreement and soon enough, the players head out of the boss’ chamber in order to head to the next floor of Aincard.

 

December 9, 2025, Floor 77, Liberia

 

Right now, we find ourselves on the next floor where in the middle of a wall town/city where it is full of medieval buildings where the area containing the teleport gate for the floor is on a small floating island in the center of the town. On the floating island, Kirito is looking over the town.

 

Kirito says, “This is the main town of this floor. It is a pretty big town.”

 

Just then a familiar male voice says, “Hey, Kirito!” Kirito then looks to see Agil, who was part of the raid group, Asuna, Leafa, Usagi, and Mamoru walking towards him. Agil says, “I’ve just finished the activation.”

 

Kirito asks, “There were no problems?”

 

Usagi responds, shaking her head, “No, Kirito. The activation happened normally.”

 

Kirito says, “Well, it seems like everything else seems to be running as usual.”

 

Mamoru says, “Well, we can’t assume anything at this point.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “I agree.”

 

Usagi says, with a yawn, “Man! I need to rest! That fight was tough!”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “Yeah, let’s head back to Arc Sofia.”

 

Asuna says, “Good idea.” Soon after, the group prepares to head back to the floor below them to get some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

 

December 9, 2025, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

 

Returning to Arc Sofia, Kirito and Asuna teleport in as Lisbeth, Leafa, Silica, Sinon, the Sailor Scouts, and Mamoru were waiting for them.

 

Asuna tells Kirito, “Great job on the boss fight, Kirito-kun.”

Kirito says, “You and Usagi also did great too, Asuna-chan.”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “Thank you, Kirito-kun. Anyway, we should get back and rest to explore the next floor tomorrow. Hopefully, we can start moving at a faster pace.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “Same here.”

 

As the two of them rejoin the others, Lisbeth says, with a smile, “Welcome back, love birds. Anyway, Leafa told us about those two that you got from that Hollow Area.”

 

Kirito says, “It seems like they are friends and family of members of the Digital Knights.”

 

Tomoe asks, “How did they get here?”

 

Mamoru says, “That’s a good question.”

 

Kirito says, “And it is only a question that Dai and Akari can answer.”

 

Asuna asks, “Where are they now?”

 

Usagi says, “They said that they are going to stay at Agil’s inn and the Digital Knights are returning to the guild headquarters that they managed to get.”

 

Silica asks, “So, Akari-san is the sister to Taichi-san?”

 

Kirito says, “That’s what Taichi said Silica.”

 

Lisbeth asks, “How did they get here?”

 

Kirito says, “We don’t have an answer on how they got on Sword Art Online much less an area known as the Hollow Area.”

 

Haruka says, “It might explain those combos that they used.”

 

Setsuna says, “Most likely, an area like that might have abilities that you haven’t seen within the game before.”

 

Kirito says, “Remember, Usagi’s Mimic Sword Skill is a prototype sword skill that Kayaba had sealed away since he felt that no one would meet the requirement, but the system that runs Sword Art Online believed that Usagi filled the requirement: The player with the infinite potential.”

 

Asuna tells Kirito, “But I never saw a combo like that before or armor that allows you to carry swords like the way that we saw Dai-san carrying his swords.”

 

Kirito says, “Me neither. It could be part of another ‘prototype sword skill’ that was sealed by Kayaba and released by the system. In fact, with the system in its unstable state, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that items and skills that aren’t normally able to be used will be out for use.”

 

Mamoru says, “That’s a good theory.”

 

Haruka says, “Well, we are going to find out tomorrow.” The others nod their heads in agreement and they head off for Agil’s inn and shop to rest up and prepare for the next day.

 

December 10, 2025, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

 

Inside of Agil’s inn/shop in Arc Sofia, the Digital Knights are with Kirito, Asuna, Lisbeth, Silica, Sinon, Leafa, Mamoru, Usagi, and the Sailor Senshi in which they are assembled in front of Dai and Akari, who have lost their cloaks and revealing their ‘looks’ to everyone now. The Digital Knights then explain their ‘connection’ to Dai and Akari, who is known as Davis Motomiya and Kari Kamiya in real life, and a bit of their ‘real life selves’ despite it being taboo on SAO.

 

Asuna asks, “So, Akari is actually Taichi’s real life sister and Dai is Juniper’s real life brother?”

 

Juniper says, with a nod, “Yep! This is my little squirt!”

 

Dai says, drolly, “Nice to see you, too, Jun.”

 

Sam asks Kirito, “And you found them with another player in a place known as the Hollow Area?”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “Yeah. A few days ago, Kirito and I were teleported into that unknown area where we literally bumped into a female player, Philia, where we had to fight a weakened version of the Skull Reaper where Dai and Akari helped us.”

 

Kirito says, looking at Dai and Akari, “Akari used a Shield Throwing Skill which turned her shield into a spinning saw and Dai used a powerful Two-Handed Sword Skill combo that I had never seen before.”

 

Takashi says, with a whistle, “Whoa! Those are some skills!”

 

Taichi says, “It still doesn’t explain what you are doing here and how.” Dai gives a nervous look and Akari gives a somewhat solemn look.

 

Junpier asks, concerned, “Bro?”

 

Akari says, solemnly, “After this whole nightmare started, things…got pretty bad for us. Our families and our friends were shocked and horrified beyond belief. Our mom cried at your bedside, Tai.”

 

Yamato says, solemnly, “Mom must be broken up.”

 

Dai says, “Both your mom and dad. They were in near collapse after what happened and they got into a few drunken ‘one-night tiffs’ with each other if you get what I mean.”

 

Takashi says, with a blush, “I get you bro.”

 

Akari says, “They seemed to manage to hold together barely when we last saw them.”

 

Taichi asks, curiously, “When you last saw them?”

 

Akari says, with a sigh, “For the two of us, Tai, school got worse… much worse. They used yours and Jun’s absence to make things worse for the two of us.”

 

Miyako says, with a sneer, “I should have known.”

 

Akari says, with a solemn tone, “But one day, it got really bad. A group of jerks had us surrounded and one of them took out a fake gun that he made to look like a real gun to scare us. We panicked when we saw the gun and we…we…”

 

Dai says, with a sigh, “We suffered an ‘episode’ and I snapped.”

 

Hino asks, curiously and concerned, “Snapped?”

 

Sam says, “We’ll explain in a minute.”

 

Akari says, “By the time that I regained at least some focus, Dai-kun had nearly beaten the jerk that tried to scare us to death literally.”

 

There are looks of shock and Takashi says, with a nervous smile, “It couldn’t have been that bad.”

 

Dai responds, solemnly, “Broken nose, broke all of his teeth, dislocated his jaw, broke three ribs, and made him unable to have children.”

 

There are a lot of gasps of shock and Makoto yells out, stunned, “Whoa!”

 

Takashi says, nervously, “Forget what I said.”

 

Miyako says, putting her hands to her forehead, “Oh, geez.”

 

Mizuno asks, “By episode, do you mean Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?”

 

Everyone looks at Mizuno and Sam says, with a sigh, “That’s exactly what it is. When the two of them were around thirteen, around four years ago, I think, the two of them suffered a very traumatic episode.”

 

Miyako says, with a solemn tone, “I was there. It was in my family’s shop back in IRL when a group of yakuza things came in for what seemed like a robbery, but the police think that they were going to make it look like a robbery and then turn it into a massacre in some kind of land grab scheme or something.”

 

Dai’s and Akari’s arms were shaking and unknown to everyone else, Sinon’s eyes were widening at those words, and Usagi says, concerned, “Maybe we should get into this later.”

 

Taichi says, “I agree. Let’s find out how they got here.”

 

Junpier asks Dai, “What happened bro?”

 

Akari replies, with a solemn tone, “After that, the principle, who was very understand since he suffered something similar, felt that what happened to you and the worsening situation at school might become too much for us. He felt that we were recovering somewhat, but he felt that ‘episode’ shattered those efforts wide open. He was afraid for us and our health. He advised our families that we should be sent far away to start a new life where no one knew what happened to us. He was looking out for our health, but we didn’t want to leave our friends and especially our family that were trapped in this ‘death game’.”

 

Dai says, “I argued with my parents, but they were firm in their choice. Kari-chan and I couldn’t take it so we… ran away.”

 

There are gasps and Taichi yells out, “You what?”

 

Akari says, with a nod, “We did, Tai. Dai and I took our stuff and after begging Veemon and Gatomon to help us, we took off. Dai didn’t like to run away, but he didn’t want to be forced into a new life in place that he didn’t know, people that he didn’t know, and the only comfort that we had other than each other. I felt the same away as Dai-kun and I was the one that suggested running away in the first place. We left and we found ourselves in a facility run by Digidestined.”

 

Miyako asks, “A facility run by Digidestined?”

 

Dai says, with a nod, “Yeah. And they were awesome dudes and chicks. Plenty had awesome ‘connections’ with well-to-do people. They created facilities for ‘displaced’ and orphan Digidestined and their Digimon partners. We told them our story and a few of them weren’t happy that we are ‘runaways’, but they completely understood our situation completely. However, they wanted to talk to us to convince us to return home one day.”

 

Taichi says, “No kidding, Davis!”

 

Takashi says, “I thought you, two, were getting better, but I guess that we should have known better and made sure that you were okay.”

 

Dai says, with a sigh, “Not your fault, TC. I was cocky kid that I thought that I could handle anything.”

 

Takashi says, “Well, you can’t be blame to be confident about anything. You saved the world once for MaloMyotismon.”

 

Sam tells everyone else, “You can see why we are used to fighting in a ‘digital world’.”

 

Hino says, “The whole world was shocked when the whole stuff about ‘Digimon’, the ‘Digital World’, and such came out.”

 

Kirito asks, “What happened next?”

 

Akari says, “Well, these people worked on a lot of things in order to better mankind as well as the lives of the orphan Digidestined that they had in their care including advanced medical technology thanks to help from Datamon that a few of them had as Digimon partners. They created a group of advanced ‘healing chambers’ based on a technology known as Medicuboid.

 

Mizuno asks, “Medicuboid?”

 

The Digital Knights, Dai, and Akari look at Mizuno and Sam asks, “You know about this?” The others look at each other and soon enough, Mamoru and the Sailor Scouts, minus Usagi, explain, while leaving the part of their ‘other identities’ a secret, about how they got into the game and the Medicuboid.

 

When they are done, Miyako asks, “Whoa! Is that a bit dangerous?”

 

Minako says, with a smile, “Mizuno designed a lot of the safety features found on the new Amusphere into the pods that we are using to be here and our bodies are like in a form of suspended animation.”

 

Takashi tells Minako, “Wow, Minako. Your friend must be really smart.”

 

Mizuno says, with a smile, “Thank you, but Kayaba is a rare genius that even I can’t defeat his technology. I understood how a good portion of the NervGear worked, but not enough to figure out a way to take off without killing anyone. I also attempted to figure out a way to defeat the program of this game that causes the NervGear to release the safeties and kill the user when he or she dies in this game.”

 

Setsuna says, “The programming of the game is advanced, so, even our genius was hard pressed.”

 

Taichi says, “Not surprising. Mad genius can be insane, but they are still geniuses. At least it is good to know that the people on the outside are doing their best to get us out of here.”

 

Yamato says, with a nod, “Yeah. However, it looks like that we are going to have to play Kayaba’s game in order to free ourselves.”

 

Sam asks Dai and Akari, “So, they had Medicuboids too?”

 

Akari says, “Yep. They actually got the plans for them and their Datamon helped them reconstruct them in which they made them into special ‘healing chambers’ that can allow them to heal even brain damage victims. They download the minds of the seriously injured patients into their virtual world that they set up while the chambers do their work on ‘repairing the damage’ as long as it isn’t lethal through they can repair damage to wounds that would normally be lethal to a person.”

 

Dai says, “But with all of the fuss on this, the ‘SAO Incident’, they decide to keep this technology a secret. However, there were some assholes that knew and wanted this technology for their own greedy purposes. We learned that not all of the new Digidestined that came out after MaloMyotismon were as good as we are. This ‘new batch’ had some ‘bad eggs’ and a group of them wanted that tech. They launched an attack on the facility.”

 

There are gasps and Akari says, “It was a horrible battle. At one point, the orphanage came under attack and there were innocent kids and their Digimon partners inside. While ExVeemon and Angewomon fought off the enemy Digimon, we went in there and got their Digimon out, but then there was an explosion and the whole thing collapsed in which…everything went blank.

 

Dai says, “The next thing that we knew, we found ourselves inside of a virtual world hidden deep in cyberspace.”

 

Asuna asks, “A hidden world?”

 

Akari says, with a nod, “That’s right, Asuna-san. There was a living and breathing virtual world on the net. It is called Rainbow Garden and it is highly based on online gaming especially MMO games.”

 

There are amazed looks and Silica says, “Incredible.”

 

Akari says, “When we realized where we were, we believed that we were found by our friends in the facility and we were gravely injured. They brought us to the hospital, which must have survived intact, and connected us to the Medicuboids that they had, but when we Full-Dive, we didn’t go into their virtual mainframe, we were flung into that world. We created new identities for ourselves, Dai for Davis and Akari for me, and we bounced all over the ‘cyber universe’ in which we also entered into Alfheim Online.”

 

Leafa asks, “You were a part of Alfheim Online?”

 

Dai says, with a smirk, “Yep! I played a Salamander and Akari was an Undine! We lived in Alne a lot since we didn’t want to be apart.”

 

Akari says, with a nod, “All Dai and I had were each other.”

 

Taichi asks, “How long?”

 

Dai and Akari look at each other and Akari responds, “Over a year, Tai.”

 

There are gasps and Miyako yells out, stunned, “Over a year?!”

 

Dai says, with a grin, “It hasn’t been all that bad. It really rocked to play ALO as long as we wanted.”

 

Lisbeth asks, curiously, “How did you get here?”

 

Akari says, “Well, about a month ago, we were walking about Rainbow Gardens when there was a strange ‘bug’ in which we went over to investigate and the instant that we got there, we were swallowed by some kind of blue light and the next instant, we were in the Hollow Area with Philia. We were shocked to find that we had actually gotten into Sword Art Online, but we had hoped that we could find Tai and the others in here. However, it wasn’t exactly easy since we were in an area that wasn’t normally part of the game.”

 

Dai says, “And the players that we saw there were…just plain weird. Something about them seemed off and we knew it.”

 

Usagi asks, “And one of those ‘strange players’ attacked her, forcing her to kill that player, and caused her to get her orange cursor?”

 

Akari says, with a nod, “That’s right. She was really scared and confused in which we were her only friends through she didn’t like to admit it. One day, we were attacked and we got separated.”

 

Kirito says, “When Usagi and I teleported into the Hollow Area where we ran into Philia-san.”

 

Usagi says, rubbing her head, “Literally.”

 

Akari says, “And the rest that you know.”

 

Kirito asks, “And what about those Sword Skills?”

 

Dai says, “We picked up a few things during the month before we met you, dude. We found a few quests in which one of them was ‘Supreme Defense of the Protector’ or something in which Kari got her ‘Shield Blade’ Skill which allows her to shield as a weapon and she got another skill.” Dai says, scratching his head, “It’s supposed to maximize her defense and offensive abilities, I think.”

 

There are plenty of wide eyes from that remark and Akari says, “It’s called Divine Blade, Dai-kun.”

 

There are gasps in shock and Kirito, Asuna, and Usagi yell out in unison, “Divine Blade?!”

 

Dai asks, “You know about it?”

 

Taichi says, “That’s the Unique Sword Skill of Heathcliff!”

 

Kirito says, “Also known as Akihiko Kayaba.”

 

There are gasps and Dai yells out, “What the heck?! Kari has got the ability of the nut that trapped Tai, my sister, and the others in this ‘death game’?”

 

Asuna says, with a nod, “If what you say is true, then yes. Divine Blade is the commander’s… I mean Heathcliff’s Unique Sword Skill.”

 

Usagi says, “And Heathcliff is the SAO avatar of my uncle, Akihiko Kayaba.”

 

Dai asks, “He traps you in here and he then plays this ‘death game’ with you?”

 

Hino says, “He plays the strongest players and close to the end, he becomes the big boss at the end.”

 

Dai says, with a snort, “That sounds cliché to me.”

 

Usagi says, with a sigh, “Kayaba has had a ‘thing’ for the theatrical.”

 

Kirito says, “However, he had the system give him ‘immortality’, namely his health couldn’t go beyond the green zone, in which he planned to ‘betray’ us around the ninety-five floor, but he made a mistake of using the system in a duel with me to force me into the Knights of the Blood Oath. Usagi recognized it and soon enough, I had figured out his identity. I exposed him and tried to fight him to win our freedom, but Usagi took over and she struck him down.”

 

Asuna says, “However, the game wouldn’t stop and then it started to suffer those ‘bugs’ which seems to be behind two of you coming here.”

 

Haruka says, “And it is the reason that we need to complete this game as soon as possible.”

 

Dai says, “Well, you can count us in. There is no way that I’m going to let my sister get her brain turned into mush. Mom and dad must be hysterical after Kari and I left.”

 

Junpier says, with a glare, “That’s right, squirt. And when we get home, you are so going to get it.”

 

Akari says, with a sigh, “I’m not sure if we can get home. We don’t know what happened to our bodies after the explosion and collapse. For all we know, our minds were transferred into cyberspace just before our bodies…”

 

Taichi tells Akari, “Don’t you dare say that Kari!” Everyone looks at Taichi and he says, “I refuse to believe that! I won’t believe that I’m talking to the ‘digital ghost’ of my little sister and one of my best friends!”

 

Mizuno says, with a nod, “Taichi-san has a point. Even with the Medicuboid, you have to have a living breathing body to have your consciousness in a virtual avatar and thus, exist in this world through I can’t be sure of the rules of this mysterious ‘cyber world’ that you came from just recently.”

 

Takashi asks, “Yeah! Didn’t you say that those Medicuboid were hooked up to medical devices that could ‘repair’ damage that would ordinarily kill a person?”

 

Akari says, with a nod, “They did, but they never had a chance to test it.”

 

Minako says, “Well, it doesn’t mean that it didn’t work! And you being here could be proof that it is!”

 

Taichi says, “Well, I’m going to assume that it did work and you aren’t just ‘digitized’. So, I’m not going to let you do anything that would endanger your lives in here.”

 

Miyako says, “No joke! I’m not going to assume that I’m talking to the ‘ghost’ of my best friend and by the looks of it, her boyfriend.”

 

Dai and Akari blush and Takashi says, with a grin, “Not surprising since you called him ‘Dai-kun’ a lot, Kari.”

 

Sam tells Dai, “Anyway, it’s good to see you, again.”

 

Dai says, with a grin, “Same here, bro.” Dai and Sam give each other a ‘fist bump’ and they smile at seeing each other’s best friend again.

 

Sinon asks, plainly, “So, what will you do?”

 

Akari says, “I guess that we’ll stay here for the time being.”

 

Miyako asks, surprised, “You don’t want to join our guild?”

 

Dai says, “Kari and I are used to working with each other and I feel that the two of us will do fine together. It’s nothing personal.”

 

Miyako says, with a sly smile, “Okay, but we’ll let you figure out how to remove the moral code in the game for your ‘special nights’ on your own.”

 

Dai and Akari blush majorly and Taichi shouts out, “Hey, Miyako!” Taichi tells Dai, with a serious tone, “Now, none of ‘that’ Davis!”

 

Miyako asks, with a sly smirk, “What makes you think that they didn’t already?”

 

Dai and Akari blush even more with plenty of blushing form the others and Akari shouts out, “Hey!”

 

Taichi yells out, shocked, “Hold on! You didn’t?”

 

Dai tells Miyako, with an annoyed tone and expression, “You really can’t stop making trouble for me, don’t you?”

 

Miyako says, with a grin, “We may be friends, Davis, but it doesn’t mean that I still don’t want to push your buttons or embarrass Kari. It’s what best girlfriends do for each other.”

 

Akari tells Miyako, “Do you really want me to reply to that?”

 

Miyako gives a winch and she says, “Ouch.”

 

Takashi says, with a smile, “Anyway, it’s good to see you, two, again.”

 

Akari says, “It is. We’ve missed you, guys, a lot.”

 

Sinon then walks away and Asuna asks, “Is anything wrong, Sinon?”

 

Sinon responds, coolly, “I’m okay, Asuna.” Sinon then heads off upstairs and when she is out of sight, she leans against the wall and she is breathing heavily in which she says, lowly, “That story…I know it…I heard about it before…”

 

Back with the rest of the group, Asuna thinks in her mind, “I wonder what’s wrong with Sinon.”

 

Kirito is also having similar thoughts and he then asks Dai, “What about that combo that you used?”

 

Dai says, “Oh, that? It came from my Sword Emperor Sword Skill.”

 

There are surprised looks and Usagi asks, stunned, “Sword Emperor?”

 

Asuna asks Usagi, “Did you ever hear of it, Usagi?”

 

Usagi responds, shaking her head, “No. I haven’t at all.”

 

Kirito says, “It doesn’t mean that Kayaba didn’t develop it and seal it away like your Mimic Sword Skill, Usagi.”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “Good point, Kirito.”

 

Tomoe asks, “What does it do?”

 

Dai says, “Well, it allows me to perform any and all skills that use swords even if they are Extra Skills.”

 

Usagi asks, “Is that how you used the Duel Welding Sword Skill combo in dungeon against that Lizardman?”

 

Akari asks, surprised, “You were there?”

 

Kirito asks, “You didn’t sense us?”

 

Dai says, nervously, “We didn’t have our Search Skills activated at the time. During the fight with the real strong Lizardman, we switched out our Search Skills for other skills that we needed and switched it back when we returned to town.”

 

Akari says, “Anyway, we found a strange temple within the Hollow Area which had statues of people welding two swords and people dressed like paladins with large shields with swords inside of them. On the walls, they had descriptions on how the Duel Welding Skill combos worked and it is where I got my Divine Blade from.”

 

Leafa asks, “A hidden temple?”

 

Lisbeth says, “It sounds like you can gain a lot of powerful skills there.”

 

Dai says, “Not anymore. The temple collapsed after we were done there.”

 

Makoto says, with a sigh, “That’s a bummer.”

 

Setsuna says, “It doesn’t mean that there isn’t stuff that we could use to get through this game faster.”

 

Usagi says, “Setsuna has a good point.”

 

Akari says, with a nod, “Dai, Philia, and I barely explored the Hollow Area and we didn’t exactly have the time.”

 

Dai says, “Yeah, we were too busy fighting for our lives and keeping each other safe. That place is filled with strong monsters.”

 

Usagi says, “No kidding.”

Akari says, “I hope that Philia will be okay.”

 

Dai tells Akari, “Hey, she is a tough girl! She’ll be fine!”

 

December 10, 2025, Hollow Area

 

Within the Hollow Area, we find said female ‘treasure hunter’ looking up towards the sphere that contains the Hollow Area Control Area.

 

Philia says, “Dai…Akari…I hope that you have gotten there safely. I keep wondering if I belong there.” Philia then walks away and heads off to make sure that she stays safe from monster attacks, not noticing that some distance away, a ‘dark figure’ is watching her.

 

And that’s the chapter, everyone! Personally, I doubt that you were surprised by Dai’s and Akari’s ‘true identities’ and anyway, what happened does play a role in the main storyline, but you are going to have to read the sequel to Sailor Moon Online to figure out what. I think that I said it before, but the romances in the story are going to be Kirito/Asuna, Serena/Darien AKA Usagi/Mamoru, Dai/Akari AKA Davis/Kari, Yamato/Junpier AKA Matt/Jun, Sam/Miyako AKA Ken/Yolei, and Takashi/Minako AKA TK/Mina. And there will be more romances, but you are going to have to read and find out what they are! Tell me what you think and no flames, please! Later and best wishes, Crossover Fans!