Crossover Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Moon Online: Hollow Fragment ❯ Typical Day of Adventuring ( Chapter 23 )

Well, we have really come far and the final climax is coming ever so closer and closer. If you had read my original Sailor Moon Online fanfiction, I think that you’ll have an idea on what’s coming up in the grand finale, however, this is the only clue that you are going to get, folks. I can’t give everything before the end of the story, right? Anyway, keep your eyes on the chapter, everyone!

 

I DO NOT OWN Sailor Moon, Sword Art Online, Accel World, Digimon series, Yu-Gi-Oh R/GX/5Ds/Zexal/Arc-V, Kingdom Hearts, One Piece, Final Fantasy, Rave Master, Code Lyoko, Transformers, 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 23: Typical Day of Adventuring

 

January 10, 2025, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

 

Within Agil’s shop/inn, Kirito is walking in when Strea runs up to him.

 

Strea says, excitedly, “Here you are, Kirito!”

 

Kirito says, “Oh, you’re here, Strea.”

 

Strea says, excitedly, “Yep! I’m here to see you, Kirito! Now, come quickly! I have a present to give you!”

 

Kirito asks, “Present?”

 

Strea says, with a nod, “That’s right! Ta-da!” Strea then goes through her menu and materialize a large tray with a large slab of meat on it.

 

Kirito says, shocked, “That’s…!!”

 

Soon, the others were coming around and Lisbeth asks, stunned, “What? Is that Hidden Bison Meat?!”

 

Miyako says, shocked, “No way! That’s a rare food item!”

 

Yui says, with a nod, “That’s correct, Miyako-san. In fact, Hidden Bison Meat is an S-level food item.”

 

Yamato says, amazed, “Wow! That’s a complete portion too!”

 

Strea says, excitedly, “Praise me!”

 

Kirito says, “You are good, Strea.”

 

Strea says, with a smile, “And now, I’ll give Kirito a big treat!”

 

Agil asks, “Hold on! Is that whole piece for Kirito alone?”

 

Strea says, with a nod, “Yep! I think that Kirito can handle such an amount!”

 

Kirito says, nervously, “No! No! That’s impossible.”

 

Hino says, looking at Usagi, “Maybe for you, but a certain Meatball Head might consider this just a snack.”

 

Usagi yells out, annoyed, “Hey, Pyro!”

 

Lisbeth asks, “Hey, how good is your cooking skill?”

 

Strea responds, confused, “Cooking skill? I don’t have it.”

 

Klein says, “No cooking skill? Maybe you should leave this to the super chefs here. Usagi, Makoto, and Asuna all have a complete cooking skill each.”

 

Kirito says, “That’s right, Strea. Without a good cooking skill, you can’t cook good food, here, in SAO. It is for the best to leave it to them.”

 

Strea says, with a chipper smile, “Okay, if it is what Kirito says, then I’m fine with it.”

 

Haruka says, dead panning, “She agreed with him so easily.”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “Well, it is an S-level food item. You don’t come across these too often.”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “No joke, Asuna.”

 

Kirito asks, “So, could you, Usagi, and Makoto cook us a great feast?”

 

Makoto says, with a grin, “No problem, Kirito!”

 

Usagi says, with a smile, “I would be glad to help.”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “Great! With the three of us together, we can create a great meal!”

 

Agil says, glaring at Kirito, “I seem to remember about the ragout rabbit incident…”

 

Kirito asks, nervously, “You really aren’t going to let that go, huh?”

 

Usagi tells Kirito, with a sly smirk, “I told you that was cold, Kirito.”

 

Kirito tells Agil, nervously, “Okay, I will make sure that you get to enjoy the food too!”

 

Agil says, with a smile, “Great! I will make sure to do that!”

 

Silica says, “If it is okay, I would like to make sure if there is enough food to work with.”

 

Makoto says, with a smile, “Sure! I would love to help you!”

 

Lisbeth says, “Since that’s the case, maybe I could help.”

 

Usagi says, with a smile, “Sure, Liz. Let me help you in that regard.”

 

Hino says, “Normally, I would be nervous taking lessons from Meatball Head, but this is SAO not Juuban.”

 

Usagi glares at Hino and Yui tells Asuna, “I would like to cook something too, mommy.”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “Okay, Yui-chan! Let’s make daddy something good!”

 

Yui says, with a smile, “Okay!” Soon after, Leafa and Strea also step up to help in the cooking.

 

Minako asks Sinon, “What about you, Sinon?”

 

Sinon responds, plainly, “What about me? Do you expect me to cook too?”

 

Mizuno says, nervously, “No, Sinon…”

 

Kirito says, a bit nervously, “We were just wondering if you wanted to join in, that’s all.”

 

Sinon says, with a smile, “I know. Since it is a good food item, I don’t see why not.” Sinon says, with a glare, “However, you’ll have to eat what I make.”

 

Kirito says, nervously, “Yes, ma’am.”

 

Strea then says, excitedly, “Let’s have a contest to see who makes the best food!”

 

Lisbeth says, “Then Asuna will be the winner then, but then again, Usagi and Makoto aren’t slackers.”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “To make things fair, the three of us will also help and supervise you.”

 

Lisbeth says, with a smile, “Then Asuna, Usagi, and Mako will make sure that they taste good! Then let’s have the contest and Kirito will be the judge for the food!”

 

Kirito asks, stunned, “Huh? I have to be the judge?!”

 

Lisbeth says, with a smile, “Yes, please!”

 

Dai says, with a grin, “It seems like you are the official taste taster for this contest, bro! Don’t worry, we’re the safe area!”

 

Kirito says, annoyed, “Thanks a lot, Dai.” After a few minutes, the food is done in which Lisbeth made a green pepper steak with Usagi’s help, Yui made some hamburgers with Asuna’s help, Sinon made some roast beef with help from Makoto, Usagi, and Asuna, Silica made meat and potato stew with Usagi’s help, Leafa made a beef bowl, and Strea…Well, let’s not go there. Asuna made Milanese cutlet with salad and tomato sauce, Usagi made ribs with matching sauce, and Makoto made dinner-like steak with best sauces to match as well. Soon enough, the food items were assembled into a massive feast and everyone is assembled for the feast.

 

Klein says, “Oh, wow! This is great! I want to eat so fast that I’ve become impatient now.”

 

Makoto says, “Slow down, cowboy.”

 

Agil says, “Come on, Kirito! Let’s eat!”

 

Kirito asks, “Huh? Why are you waiting for me?”

 

Klein says, “Great! Let’s eat! I want to eat so much meat that I won’t have to eat anything else for the rest of my life!”

 

Haruka says, “You know that this food only takes away the feeling of hunger and when you get back, you are going to need to eat a ton of food to regain the weight that you have lost and build up a lot of muscle.”

 

Klein says, annoyed, “You have to ruin such an incredible moment!” Soon enough, the group starts to enjoy the large feast and as they eat, they also talk and enjoy each other’s company in which it reminds Usagi the times that she spent with the Sailor Scouts and Mamoru back at home which causes a few tears in her eyes.

 

Mamoru asks, concerned, “What’s wrong?”

 

Usagi says, wiping her tears away, “Sorry, it is just that this reminds me all of the times that I spent with the girls and you back home.”

 

Tomoe says, “We spent a lot of time together, hime.”

 

Hino says, “Not for the past two years.”

 

Usagi says, with a weak smile, “Yeah. It has been a hard life, if you can call living in SAO a ‘life’, in which there has been so much that has happened, it has been hard to remember good times like this and that with so few around here…”

 

Mamoru tells Usagi, with a warm smile, “Once we are home, you will be able to enjoy these kinds of times a lot more often.”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “I know.”

 

Asuna says, with a warm smile, “We, all, will someday.” They continue on and enjoy the feast especially Usagi, but not because of the very tasty food, despite her enjoying it A LOT, however, it is good feeling that she is getting being with her friends and comrades which is a feeling that she never had felt in two very long years. Later on, Usagi and Kirito are in Kirito’s room and discussing plans for the next floor when they hear a knock on the door.

 

Kirito asks, “Yes?”

 

Strea’s voice responds, solemnly, “It’s me. May I come in Kirito?”

 

Kirito and Usagi look at each other at sound of Strea’s voice, which is unusual for someone like her as far as they knew, and Kirito responds, “Sure, Strea.” When Strea comes into the room, she has a solemn look on her face, concerning Kirito and Usagi, and Kirito asks, “What’s wrong, Strea?”

 

Strea says, “I’ve been a bit uncomfortable that I can’t sleep…”

 

Usagi asks, “Nightmares?”

 

Strea says, with a sigh, “I’m not sure.”

 

Kirito says, “Come on in and sit down.” Strea nods her head as she comes into the room and sits down on the bed in which Usagi and Kirito sit by her.

 

Usagi asks, “Are you okay now?”

 

Strea responds, plainly, “Yes, so-so.”

 

Usagi thinks in her mind, concerned, “This is so completely unlike Strea…At least for as long as Kirito and I along with everyone else knew her.”

 

Kirito asks Strea, “Are you sure that the food you ate was okay?”

 

Usagi asks Kirito, with a glare, “And what could have happened to the food that Mako-chan, Asuna, and I had made?”

 

Kirito gets a nervous reaction from that and Strea says, “Sorry to make you and Usagi-chan worry, but maybe it is my own problem…”

 

Kirito asks, “Is it related to that headache?”

 

Strea responds, plainly, “Maybe…” Strea then says, “Sometimes I feel like that there is someone else in my head and when that person is having a headache, my head will hurt too in which a lot of things will run through my head.”

 

Kirito asks, curiously, “A lot of things?”

 

Strea says, with a nod, “Yeah, a lot of things, but I really don’t understand what these things are and what they mean. They seem to be important things like things that I have forgotten, but if I remember those things, I won’t be myself anymore.”

 

Usagi asks, confused, “Not be yourself?”

 

Strea says, nodding her head, “Yes, it makes me so scared…”

 

Kirito tells Strea, “It is going to be okay.”

 

Usagi says, with a kind smile, “Kirito is right. You are an important friend, Strea. And I may kind of understand how you feel. I’ve changed so much since being trapped in here that I feel afraid that I won’t truly be the same person that my friends and my love remember in the real world: My real world self.”

 

Kirito tells Strea, “But deep down, she is still the person that they knew. You are going to be you and you are our friend to everyone. That won’t change.”

 

Strea says, with a giggle, “Kirito…Usagi…Everyone, thank you.” Strea gives a yawn and she says, “Talking with you and Usagi has made me sleepy, Kirito. I hope that you won’t mind me sleeping here.”

 

Kirito says, nervously, “Well…”

 

Strea responds, with a smile, “I’ve already decided to sleep here. Good night…” Strea then lies down and falls asleep in which Kirito groans at this while Usagi giggles at the whole situation.

 

Usagi says, “It seems like she is back to normal.”

 

Kirito tells Usagi, “Normal for her, Usagi.”

 

Usagi tells Kirito, “However, what she said has got me concerned.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “Same here, Usagi.”

 

Usagi says, getting to her feet, “Look, I’ll inform Mamoru-kun and Asuna about the whole situation and we should keep an eye on her. I’ve just got this weird feeling.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “I feel the same way.” Soon after, Usagi heads out of the room to talk with Mamoru and Asuna to inform them of the whole situation while Kirito looks at Strea with concern and wonder for many reasons.

 

January 11, 2025, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

 

In the morning hours, Usagi, sleeping in one of the chairs in the room, and Kirito, lying down on the floor, wake up and Kirito stretches while Usagi looks over at the bed in which she yelps out causing Kirito to look at her.

 

Usagi says, surprised, “Strea is gone!” Kirito gives a look of surprise and looks at the bed to see that Strea is gone.

 

Just then there is a knock at the door and Asuna’s voice booms, “Kirito-kun, it’s me.”

 

Before Usagi and Kirito can say anything, Asuna enters the room and Kirito says, nervously, “Asuna, Strea isn’t here…”

 

Asuna responds, with a smile, “Strea headed back for her home in Arc Sofia just a while ago.”

 

Usagi and Kirito are surprised and Usagi responds, “She did?”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “Yep! She said that I shouldn’t bother you two until you wake up and that you should tell us when you wake up.”

 

Usagi says, “That girl is good.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “She really knows how to leave undetected.”

 

Asuna says, with a teasing tone, “Argo might be interested to know that two greatest players in SAO have been ‘outmaneuvered’ by a ‘bubbly girl’.”

 

Kirito and Usagi blush in embarrassment and Usagi says, “Very funny, Asuna.”

 

Kirito and Usagi get to their feet and Kirito says, “Still I am worried about her.”

 

Asuna says, with a nod, “Based on what Usagi told me, I am worried about her too. Maybe you and Usagi-chan should keep an eye on her, Kirito-kun.”

 

Kirito asks Asuna, “Are you sure?”

 

Asuna says, with a nod, “I have to admit that Strea has become a good friend. She is a strange person.” Asuna then says, with a smile while looking Usagi, “However, we have plenty of friends that wouldn’t be considered ‘normal’.”

 

Usagi gives a glare at Asuna and Kirito says, with a smirk, “You may have a point, Asuna.” Usagi gives a pout-like expression and Kirito says, with a smile, “And that’s a good thing, Usagi.”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “You are the best friend that we had around here.”

 

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

 

Kirito says, “Anyway, I think that Asuna is right and we should watch Strea.”

 

Usagi asks, “Should we invite her into a party for the exploration of the next floor?”

 

Asuna and Kirito nod their heads in agreement and Kirito says, with a smile, “Good idea, Usagi.” The three of them then leave Kirito’s room in order to find Strea and invite her to join a party with Kirito and Usagi to explore the next floor.

 

January 11, 2025, Floor 88, Field

 

In the fields outside of the main town of Floor 88, which is tropical marsh type field, there is party consisting of Strea, Usagi, Kirito, Mamoru, Dai, and Akari looking at the field before them.

 

Kirito says, “It is a humid field this time.”

 

Akari says, “Man. The feel of this floor is like a real tropical marsh.”

 

Dai says, “For a mad genius, he really got the feel right.”

 

Mamoru says, with a plain tone, “Yes, it is. Such incredible genius…and he wasted it.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “I agree, Mamoru.”

 

Usagi asks Strea, “Are you feeling okay, Strea?”

 

Strea says, with a cheery smile on her features, “Yep! Thank you for inviting me into your party!”

 

Kirito says, “It is no problem, Strea.”

 

Usagi tells Strea, “We’re just glad that you are okay, Strea.”

 

Strea says, with a smile, “Thanks to you and Kirito, Usagi-chan!”

 

Akari says, “Anyway, we should get going.” The others nod their heads in agreement and they head off into the field where they confront plant/fly trap style monsters in which they stop to take on four crab-like Field Bosses known as Rogue Brothers. Soon after, the group finds themselves at a lakeside with a land mass that contains the entrance possibly to the next dungeon, but the bridge linking the area that our group is at and the possible dungeon entrance seems to be destroyed.

 

Dai says, “Oh, great.”

 

Akari says, “You took the words right out of my mouth, Dai-kun.”

 

Mamoru says, “The bridge is destroyed, but there seem to be massive pads that could create a path.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “I believe you are right, Mamoru.” The group then uses the pads to get across the gap to what seems like the entrance to the dungeon, but when they go through the arched doorway, they find themselves within a manmade structure where there is a stone tablet in front of a barrier seal with a door.

 

Usagi says, “A barrier in front of door and there is a tablet in front of it? I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

 

Akari says, “You aren’t the only one, Usagi.”

 

Strea says, with a smile, “Come on, everyone!”

 

Dai says, amazed, “She is certainly happy.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “No kidding, Dai.”

 

The group goes over to the stone tablet and Mamoru says, “The tablet says: ‘The dragon that this land was sealed using the power of two crystals. Although the passage was discounted, it brought peace to the people’.”

 

Kirito says, “It must mean that in order to move on, we need to break the seal.”

 

Usagi says, plainly, “And then slay the dragon.”

 

Kirito says, “It seems that way, Usagi.”

 

Dai says, looking around, “There are two doors and that means that we need to take out the crystals one at a time.”

 

Akari says, “I’m not surprised that it isn’t simple, Dai-kun.”

 

Usagi asks, “So, which one do we take?”

 

Strea responds, “Moe!”

 

The others ask in unison, “Moe?”

 

Strea says, pointing at the doors, “Like this!” She then points back and forth between the doors before stopping at one and she says, with a smile, “That’s Moe!”

 

Dai says, “I don’t think that anyone has any better ideas.”

 

Kirito says, shaking his head, “Not really, Dai.” The group then ventures on through the door and they go through what seems like dungeon-like maze until they managed to find a switch to locked door from earlier and use it to open the door.

 

Usagi asks, “Why didn’t we use our Keyblades?”

 

Mamoru says, “While this isn’t the Hollow Area, we can’t be sure that anything else was altered to prevent the use of the Keyblade.”

 

Kirito says, “Namely in the form of ‘booby traps’ like the one that we experienced in the Hollow Area. For now, Usagi, let’s play this game as we have been given…for the moment.”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “Right.” Strea gives a confused look at what they meant, but she just shrugs as they continue on through an open passage where they find a room with another door and a Field Boss type golem monster known as Seal Guard Golem.

 

Dai says, “Oh, boy. He must some kind of guardian for that seal crystal that tablet spoke about.”

 

Akari says, with a serious tone, “And here he comes!” Seal Guard Golem charges in for the attack, but the group splits up into teams of two with Kirito and Strea together, Dai and Akari, and Usagi and Mamoru in which they face the golem monster together. Despite it being more powerful than a regular golem monster, the attack patterns were similar to a regular golem monster and their victory was quick. The door opens where the group finds a crystal inside.

 

Mamoru says, “That must be the crystal.”

 

Usagi asks, curiously, “How do we deactivate it?”

 

Dai says, “In games like this, don’t you destroy that crystal? I mean, they are part of quests in other games.”

 

Kirito says, drawing one of his new Keyblades, “Good point, Dai.” Kirito then slash at the crystal with the Keyblade and it shatters to pieces.”

 

Usagi says, amazed, “It broke!”

 

Kirito says, “One down and one to go.”

 

Akari says, “Most likely, there is another guardian and then we have to fight the dragon itself.”

 

Strea says, with a smile, “With Kirito and Usagi, it is going to be easy!”

 

Usagi tells Strea, “Wish I had that kind of confidences, Strea.” The group then ventures out of this ‘maze area’ through the doorway containing the sealed doorway to the dragon and into another maze area where they do the same thing again in which they face the Field Boss monster for this area, Seal Guard Knight, a large armored monster. The armored knight monster proved to be tough, but Kirito and Usagi used their Duel Wielding to block the attacks while the others struck home with their attacks allowing the victory to be quick and swift. When they were done, they entered the room containing a crystal similar to the other room.

 

Mamoru says, “That’s it.”

 

Kirito says, drawing his Keyblade, “I’ve got it.” Kirito then uses his Keyblade to shatter the crystal and it vanishes into hundreds of data polygons.

 

Strea says, excitedly, “We did it!”

 

Dai says, “Don’t celebrate just yet, Strea.”

 

Akari says, “We still have the dragon to deal with.” The others nod their heads in agreement and return to the first room where the seal locking the door is gone.

 

Mamoru says, “The seal is gone, but now, we have to face the dragon.”

 

Kirito asks, “Ready, everyone?”

 

Strea says, with a nod, “Yep!”

 

Usagi says, with a plain tone, “I’m ready as I will ever be, Kirito.” The group ventures into the room where they find a large zombie dragon monster in front of them.

 

Dai says, “Whoa! That guy must have been here a long time! He is just bones!”

 

Akari says, “Creepy.”

 

Usagi says, “You said it, Akari.”

 

Mamoru says, “We need to do it like we did with the golem guardian.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “Split up and take it on in that manner.” Soon after, the group splits into three teams of two, the same teams that fought against the Seal Guard Golem, and fight against the dragon Field Boss monster, Necro Dragon, in which Usagi struck hard and fast with Starburst Stream, the classic 16 hit Duel Wielding Sword Skill combo, and Mamoru holds off the dragon as it tries to counter when Usagi is in her ‘cool down period’. This gives an open to Dai and Akari and they strike the side of Necro Dragon and giving it significant damage.

 

When the dragon turns to face Dai and Akari, Dai says, “Okay, go for it!”

 

Strea says, with a nod, “Right-o!”

 

“Calamity Disaster!”

 

Strea then slams Necro Dragon with a half-a-dozen hits from her strongest Two-Handed Sword Skill combo and Necro Dragon suffers enough damage that it loses the last of its HP and turns into multiple data polygons.

 

When the battle is done, Akari says, “We did it.”

 

Strea says, excitedly, “We sure did, Akari-chan!”

 

Mamoru says, pointing to a door ahead of them, “There is a door and that’s where we got to go.”

 

Kirito says, “Agreed, Mamoru.”

 

Dai asks, with a sly smirk, “Well, what are we waiting for?” Soon after, the group ventures on and they go through a pass where they take on a Field Boss monster where they managed to get information on the floor boss monster, but they focus continuing on where they find themselves within the main dungeon of the floor where they start to explore and fight mainly knight and strong dragon type monsters. They, soon, reach a familiar hallway in front of them.

 

Akari says, “This is oddly familiar.”

 

Kirito says, “This must be the way to the boss’ chamber.”

 

Mamoru asks Usagi, with a curious tone, “Is he right?”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “I feel the same way, love.”

 

Dai says, “There is only one way to find out, folks.” The group ventures forward into the hallway and they find themselves in front of very familiar set of doors.

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “This is it.”

 

Strea says, “We found it, Kirito.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “Now, we need to set this place as the destination for the Corridor Crystal and then return to Arc Sofia.”

 

Mamoru says, “Hopefully, with the information on the boss that we could gather.”

 

Usagi says, “I’ll take care of the rest.” Usagi then sets this area as the destination for the Corridor Crystal and she says, “It is a good thing that we’ve been only plenty of quests and finding plenty of these in our ventures including to the Hollow Area.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “It has, Usagi. We don’t need to venture into the dungeon again in order to get to the boss’ room once more and allow our raid parities to be at full strength.”

 

Usagi says, “We are going to need it with the anti-crystal traps in the boss’ rooms and us being locked in until the boss is defeated.”

 

Kirito says, nodding his head, “I know, Usagi. However, we have been getting better lately and gaining more powerful abilities, but we can’t get overconfident. And we don’t know what’s waiting for us on the final floor.”

 

Usagi asks Kirito, “What do you mean Kirito?”

 

Kirito says, “Let’s just say that I’m getting the feeling that there is still more to SAO than what Kayaba lead us to believe, Usagi. I feel that what he said is completely true, but the thing, he didn’t tell us the WHOLE truth, Usagi. We already know that there are secrets about him.”

 

Usagi nods her head, knowing what Kirito means, Strea asks, curiously, “What do you mean Kirito?”

 

Kirito says, with a smile, “A story for another time.” Strea gives a confused look, but she nods in understanding in which they use a teleport crystal to return to Arc Sofia.

 

January 11, 2025, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

 

It is evening time in Arc Sofia and we find Usagi and Kirito walking through the area containing the teleport gate.

 

Usagi says, “It has been a long day and night, Kirito.”

 

Kirito says, “We have an idea about the boss and we should be able to take it on.”

 

Usagi says, “However, I don’t like since this monster, ‘The Rebellion Eyes’, sounds similar to THAT monster.”

 

Kirito says, “Most likely, it is more powerful version of Gleameyes, Usagi. However, unlike that time, we have a full raid party and we have a plan.”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “True, Kirito.”

 

Kirito asks, pointing in one direction, “Usagi, there is someone coming. Who do you think it is?” When Usagi looks in that direction, they see Philia running around.

 

Philia says, concerned, “It has to work this time!”

 

As she runs off, Usagi asks, “It’s Philia, Kirito! What’s going on with her?”

 

Kirito responds, “I don’t know. She looks to be in a panic.”

 

A short time later on, Philia returns and she says, “I’m back again. I don’t get what’s going on.”

 

Usagi tells Kirito, “She looks like she is in trouble.”

 

Kirito says, “Let’s find out, Usagi.”

 

Usagi and Kirito go over to Philia and Usagi says, “Hey, Philia!”

 

When Philia looks at Usagi and Kirito, she says, surprised, “Kirito! Usagi!”

 

Kirito asks, “What’s going on?”

 

Philia says, “Well, I’m in a quest with a time limit, but when I try, I’m sent back to the start.”

 

Usagi asks, “You are sent back to the start before the quest even starts in a way?”

 

Kirito says, “Tell us about the quest.”

 

Philia says, “Well, I have to steal a decorated goddess statue from an earl named Kelther…”

 

Kirito asks, curiously, “Steal? Is that a good idea, Philia?”

 

Philia responds, “Let me finish, Kirito. The statue was actually stolen from another place and the quest’s goal is to get the statue back.”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “Oh, something like the movies! It is kind of like those movies where the hero has to get back an important treasure taken away by an evil treasure collect, more like a thief, and bring back the treasure where it belongs.”

 

Kirito says, with a smile, “It sounds perfect for a treasure hunter.”

 

Philia says, with a smile, “The earl’s place is usually guarded and it is hard to get into normally, but there is a party tonight and I could get in.”

 

Kirito asks, “So, where are you stuck?”

 

Philia says, with a shrug, “I’m not sure, Kirito. I’ve got the invitations and everything, but when I get to the place, it says ‘Pass Denied’. I don’t get why.”

 

Kirito asks Philia, “Philia, is the person a rich guy?”

 

Philia responds, with a nod, “His setting seems to be a guy who earns all types of money in ‘questionable ways’, so, he should be rich.”

 

Kirito says, “Then it might be possible for a person to get in alone. In the movies, they always have a partner.”

 

Usagi says, with a nod, “You’re right, Kirito. The hero or heroine always has a partner when going into those kinds of places in order to get back the stolen treasure. It makes the people think that they are real ‘party goes’ and don’t pay them much mind.”

 

Philia says, nodding her head, “I think that you are right, Usagi. That means that I need a partner.”

 

Kirito says, “I guess that I’m coming along then.”

 

Philia asks, surprised, “Really? I’m flattered, but are you sure?”

 

Kirito says, with a smile, “You are running out of time, right? Anyway, it seems like fun, so, I’m in.”

 

Philia says, with a smile, “Thank you, Kirito! Let’s go!”

 

Usagi says, “Not without me, you aren’t. And don’t worry yourself, I already have a partner. However, I think that we need to get something.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “If you are thinking what I think that you are thinking, I agree, Usagi.”

 

Philia asks, curiously, “Where do you want to go?”

 

Usagi says, with a smile, “It’s a surprise, Philia.” Later on, Philia and Kirito along with Usagi and Mamoru are in front of the mansion as the guards let them through.

 

Mamoru says, “Well, I have to say that was easy.”

 

Kirito asks Philia, “Do you where the statue is, Philia?”

 

Philia says, “Yes, I do. It is put in the guest room as a decoration.”

 

Kirito says, “Then that’s where we need to go.”

 

The group ventures to the room and Philia asks, “Well, Kirito?”

 

Kirito and Usagi use their Search Skill and Usagi says, “Nothing, Kirito.”

 

Kirito says, nodding his head, “Completely clear, Philia.”

 

Philia says, “Okay, I’m going to open the door.” Philia, using her skills, unlocks the door and all four of them go into the guest room.

 

As they look around, Kirito asks, “Did you find it, Philia?”

 

Philia looks around and she says, “Yes! It is in the very back! I’ll get the treasure!”

 

Philia rushes over to the statue, Usagi shouts out, “Hold on, Philia! You should make sure to use your trap disablement skills!”

 

Philia asks, taking the statue, “What? Why?”

 

Just then a loud alarm is set off and Usagi says, nervously, “That’s why, Philia.”

 

Philia says, nervously, “I didn’t expect traps beneath the pedestal.”

 

Kirito says, “Oh, boy. I hear footsteps coming.”

 

Usagi asks, nervously, “Now what?”

 

Mamoru says, opening the window, “Let’s go!”

 

Kirito says, “No, wait!” When everyone looks at Kirito, he says, “Leave the window open, but hide in there!” Kirito and Philia along with Usagi and Mamoru go into compact closets and shortly afterwards, the NPC guards in which they thought that the alarm scared and they left out of the window.

 

When they are gone, the group comes out of their hiding places and Kirito says, “Good, they are gone.”

 

Usagi asks, seeing Philia blushing, “Philia, anything wrong?”

 

Philia responds, “N-No, nothing.”

 

Mamoru tells Kirito, “Quick thinking, Kirito.”

 

Usagi says, stretching herself, “Quick, but not exactly comfortable.”

 

Mamoru says, “They are going to be more cautious.”

 

Kirito says, “Then it is time for these then.” Soon after, Kirito and Usagi materialize a formal dress for Philia while there is a formal suit for Mamoru.

 

Philia asks, amazed, “A dress?”

 

Usagi says, “We thought that since this is a formal party, we are going to need these. However, when they just let us in, I didn’t think that we need this, but now, we are going to need these things.”

 

Mamoru says, with a smile, “Good thinking, love. We can blend in with the NPC party goers.”

 

Kirito says, giving the dress to Philia, “Okay, get dressed quick.”

 

Philia says, with a smile, “Right!”

 

Usagi says, with a stern tone, “Hold it! You and Mamoru turn around Kirito and don’t argue with me, mister!”

 

Kirito says, nervously, “Okay! Okay!” Kirito and Mamoru turn around as Usagi and Philia use their equipment menus to switch out of their clothes and into their dresses while Mamoru and Kirito put on the formal suits. Later on, they are walking through the mansion with Philia wearing a dark blue formal dress that tightly hugs her frame while Usagi is wearing a silvery-white version that does the same in which they go into a room with NPC guests and join the formal dance going on with Mamoru dancing with Usagi while Philia is dancing with Kirito.

 

Usagi tells Mamoru, “Sorry if I’m two left feet, Mamoru-kun.”

 

Mamoru says, with a sly smile, “Actually, you are better in here than in real life, Meatball Head.”

 

Usagi says, with a pout, “Thanks a lot, Mamoru.”

 

Mamoru says, “This feels so familiar.”

 

Usagi says, “Yeah. It feels like THAT day…”

 

Mamoru says, “However, I don’t plan for the ending of THAT day to repeat again.”

 

Usagi says, “I know, my love. This feels like a dream. I never thought that I would be in this situation.”

 

Mamoru says, with a smile, “Let’s enjoy this while we can.” Usagi nods her head in agreement and she can’t help to enjoying dancing as nuzzles herself against Mamoru as she dances in which she can’t help to crave the day that she can do this for real back in the real world. Elsewhere within Arc Sofia, there is a resting Leafa and she is shuffling in bed like she is having a nightmare or something. Within her ‘dream’, Leafa is wandering around until she finds herself in front of the Moon Palace.

 

Leafa asks, “What is this place? And why…Why do I feel that I know this place?” Leafa then looks up and gasps to see Aincrad floating above her and she asks, stunned, “Why is that here?” She then yelps as the Moon Kingdom is engulfed in flames and before her eyes, she watches the end of the Silver Millennium with the Negaverse attack and Leafa asks, stunned, “What? What’s going on?”

 

Just then a male voice says, “His insane selfishness will recreate this horrible tragedy that he started so long ago.” Leafa whips around to see a young man with blue hair with long bangs and blue eyes with this person wearing a bronze armor set on his chest, shoulders, arms, and shins with the clothing under the armor being blue in color, too. He has a large sword attached to his waist and a shield attached to his back.

 

Leafa asks, “Who are you?”

 

The man tells Leafa, “One that has fallen to selfishness of that fucking madman in this life. I didn’t know how deep his sins gone until I left this world.”

 

Leafa asks, shocked, “Left this world?”

 

The man nods his head and he says, with a weak smile, “However, I’m also someone that forced your brother, Kirito, into a great burden to make sure that the players united against that man and return to the life that he had stolen from all of us, Leafa.”

 

Leafa asks, “Wait! You know my brother?”

 

The man responds, “He is a great hero and I can’t thank him enough for what he has done. He took on the hatred of the other players to ensure that his fellow beta testers would live. Personally, I’m shocked that he didn’t break. He really doesn’t look much to look at, but he is a strong person than he looks.” The man tells Leafa, “However, Leafa, the one that will end SAO are you.”

 

Leafa asks, confused, “Me? I just got here! How can I…?”

 

The man replies, interrupting, “You have a greater ‘connection’ to SAO than you realize. In fact, you are the first victim of SAO since it started long before this wretched ‘death game’ came to being.”

 

Leafa responds, “Hold up! You aren’t making any sense! What do you mean that I’m the first victim of SAO? And what do you mean that it started before it really began?”

 

The man tells Leafa, “You have to awaken, Leafa. Remember who you really are. As far back as you remember, didn’t you always feel that you weren’t part of your family even though it was an actual fact that you are your mother’s, Midori’s, daughter in blood? And that something or someone in SAO has been calling out to your very being? That you are being called to battle?”

 

Leafa asks, shocked, “H-How do you know that?”

 

The man tells Leafa, with a smile, “Being dead does have its advantages, Leafa-san. You have been one of the greatest victims of SAO in which the only other one was the daughter that he betrayed.”

 

Leafa asks, “Daughter that who betrayed?” Leafa then remembers about what she found out earlier and Leafa asks, shocked, “You mean Kayaba?”

 

The man tells Leafa, “No joke, Leafa-san. When you think about him, doesn’t your blood boil? Like he betrayed you like he betrayed Usagi?”

 

Leafa asks, stunned, “How do you know that?”

 

The man tells Leafa, “I beg you, Leafa. I beg you to end this miserable story and write the final chapter of SAO. You have to awaken who you are and end him before his actions end the hopes, dreams, and lives like he did mine and the other players that died because of his wretched death game. The game that forced your brother to take on a terrible burden of hatred and give Kirito and Usagi plenty of unending suffering! You are the only one that can! End SAO, Leafa-san!” As the man starts to fade away, Leafa tries to rush over to him.

 

Leafa shouts out, in a pleading tone, “Wait! What do you mean? What do you mean that I’m the only one?” However, Leafa is engulfed in light and she wakes up to find herself in her bedroom in Agil’s inn and shop. Leafa looks around and she says, lowly, “Whoa. I didn’t think that you could dream in VR, but then again, when you go to sleep in ALO, you activate the ‘sleep mode’ that logs you out of ALO. In here, you can’t log out until the game is finished. But that dream…I’m not sure it was a dream. It felt too real, but then again, a lot of this world feels all too real too. If that wasn’t just a dream, what did that person mean? How was I one of the victims before it even began? And how did he know things that I have never even told Kazuto about?” Leafa leaps out of bed and looks out of the window of her room into the vast virtual world that she is in and she can’t help to wonder if there is more to SAO than she knows about.

 

January 12, 2025, Floor 88, Dungeon

 

Right now, we find a group of the assault team players fighting against what looks like a dark blue-black version of the floor boss of Floor 74, The Gleameyes, but unlike the glowing blue eyes of that boss, this version has sinister red eyes like a true fiend monster with a dark red version of Gleameyes’ weapon. This boss monster, known as The Rebellion Eyes, is fighting against the raid party sent against them and in this raid party, there is Kirito, Usagi, Asuna, Leafa, Strea, Mamoru, Dai, and many others due to boss monster being weakest against slash type attacks which includes One-Handed and Duel Wielding Sword Skills for example.

 

Rebellion Eyes starts to rear back and Kirito shouts out, “Look out, everyone! It’s a breath attack!” The players quickly then dodge a powerful breath attack from Rebellion Eyes and Dai moves in for the assault with Starburst Stream, the classic 16 hit Duel Wielding Sword Skill combo, causing a good amount of damage and causing the boss monster to stumble.

 

Usagi says, “Good work, Dai!”

 

Leafa says, “It’s time to switch!”

 

Strea says, excitedly, “Leave it to me!”

 

“Calamity Disaster!”

&nbs p;

Strea then lashes out with a half-a-dozen from her strongest Two-Handed Sword Skill combo and hits the boss monster, hard, in which he tries to strike back, but Akari and Takashi blocks the massive sword, however, they are strained to hold it back until Usagi and Asuna use Rapier Sword Skills to deflect the massive cleaver upwards and into the ceiling.

 

Akari says, with a smile, “Thanks!”

 

Asuna says, with a nod, “No problem!”

 

Strea says, with a smile, “That was great teamwork!”

 

Usagi says, “Thanks, Strea, but we are far from done.”

 

“San Ge!”

 

Klein then comes in with a 5 hit Katana Sword Skill combo and slams the monster with a bleeding effect as well, but then Rebellion Eyes then unexpectedly strikes back with a shockwave attack that throws everyone down to the ground.

 

Dai says, with a groan, “That was a surprise.” The floor boss then lashes out against Hino and Haruka, but they manage to deflect the sword away from them, however, the sheer power of the boss monster throws them both away and into the ground.

 

Usagi says, shocked, “Pyro! Haruka!”

 

Haruka says, with a grunt, “We’re all right.”

 

Hino says, “Speak for yourself. It is a good thing that the Pain Absorbers work in here.”

 

Just then the voice of the man that Leafa saw in her dream calls out in her mind, “Leafa-san…”

 

Leafa thinks in her mind, looking around, “Huh?”

 

T he man’s voice says, “I told you that you can save them. Let me help you.”

 

Just then new information fills Leafa’s mind and she thinks in her mind, “I don’t know what’s going on, but I…I know what I have to do.” Soon after, the image of a mysterious Sailor Scout fills her mind and a confidences and strength that she never felt before in which she goes over to Strea.

 

Kirito asks, surprised, “Leafa?”

 

Leafa tells Strea, with a serious tone, “Strea, I need for you to keep that big lug’s sword off me for a few seconds! Can you do that?”

 

Strea says, with a nod, “Okay!”

 

Strea and Leafa charge in for the attack and Asuna shouts out, “Strea-chan! Leafa-chan! What are you doing?” The boss monster turns its attention to them and Strea manages to block the swiping blow from Rebellion Eyes in which Leafa gracefully leaps onto the sword and her body glows as she prepares a powerful assault.

 

“Shadow Explosion!”

  ;

Leafa then strikes Rebellion Eyes with a massive 7 hit One-Handed Sword Skill combo attack, which was more like an assault, giving massive damage to the boss monster in which it roars as it shatters into hundreds of data polygons which shocks everyone. But as soon as the words ‘Congratulations’ appears, many of the players celebrate another victory against a floor boss without a single fatality.

 

Hino says, shocked, “No way!”

 

Haruka says, “That was new.”

 

Kirito says, going over to Leafa, “Sugu!”

 

When Leafa faces the others, Asuna asks, shocked, “How did you perform that move?”

 

Leafa responds, nervously confused, “Actually…I have no idea.”

 

Plenty of the others say in unison, shocked, “Huh?”

 

Klein says, stunned, “No way! You performed that attack that I have never seen before and you don’t know how!”

 

Dai says, “Actually, I know that attack.”

 

When the others look at Dai, Takashi asks, “You know that attack?”

 

Akari says in reply, “That’s the ‘secret ultimate attack’ for One-Handed Sword Skill set: Shadow Explosion. It is the same kind of attack that’s like Dai’s Nebularaid Empress.”

&nbs p;

There are gasps of shock and Usagi asks, “How did you learn that move?”

 

Leafa responds, nervously, “I really…don’t know.”

 

The others are surprised by this and Kirito says, “We can talk about this when we are back in Arc Sofia.”

 

Asuna tells Strea, “Nice work, Strea.”

 

Strea says, with a smile, “Thank you, Asuna.” After the raid party regroup and recover from the battle with the floor boss monster, they venture through the door to the next floor in order to activate the teleport gate in the next town while Leafa can’t help to wonder how she knew that attack much less performed it.

 

January 12, 2025, SAO, Unknown area

 

Within the unknown area of Aincrad/SAO, there is a screen showing Leafa as she walks with the others into the next floor and a figure looking at her.

 

The figure says, in a familiar male voice, “Her awakening has begun and the final countdown has started. Soon, my dear, your time…Our time will be at hand and we can finally settle the ‘issues’ that we have left and write the final chapter of the Silver Millennium.”

 

January 12, 2025, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

 

At the teleport gate area of Arc Sofia, Usagi and Kirito are walking around until they see Strea standing by herself and looking quite solemn.

 

Strea says, “Oh, Kirito…Usagi…”

 

Usagi says, curiously, “Hey, Strea, what’s wrong?”

 

Strea responds, “Hey, Kirito, do you and Usagi someplace where my mood can change? A place to make me feel good and fresh…”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “Sure, follow us…” Soon after, Kirito and Usagi take Strea to an area overlooking water with an island and what looks like a mid to late morning sun.

 

Strea says, amazed, “Oh, wow. This place is wonderful.”

 

Usagi asks Strea, “Are you feeling better, Strea?”

 

Strea says, with a smile, “Yeah.”

 

Kirito asks Strea, “So, what’s wrong?”

 

Strea asks, with a sigh, “Can I ask you something?”

 

Usagi asks, “What’s up?”

 

Strea says, “You and Kirito are aiming to clear this game.”

 

Kirito says, “Of course.”

 

Strea tells Kirito, “Why do you want to leave? You have got a lovely wife and wonderful and exciting places to explore, right?”

 

Usagi thinks in her mind, surprised, “Why wouldn’t any player want to leave? Man, this game must have messed up Strea more than I thought.”

 

Kirito says, “While that’s true, all of us, including me, want to return to our ‘original world’. We have friends and family that are waiting for us and miss us so much.”

Usagi says, with a plain tone, “And we miss them too. Personally, Strea, this world has caused me nothing, but pain and heartache.”

 

Strea asks, “Haven’t there been good times too?”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “Yes, but they have been few and far between. This place is also a living representation of that person that betrayed her after she gave him the love of a daughter to a father.” Kirito tells Strea, “Don’t you want to clear the game too, Strea?”

 

Strea says, “If the game is cleared, I won’t be able to see Kirito, Usagi, and the others anymore.”

 

Usagi tells Strea, “What are you saying Strea? We can find each other in the real world.”

 

Kirito says, with a smile, “That’s right, Strea. We can still be friends.”

 

Strea says, plainly and looking a bit solemn, “Yeah, but I…” Usagi and Kirito give confused look and Strea says, with a kind smile, “Never mind. Anyway, let’s enjoy the scenery.” However, Usagi and Kirito can’t help to be concerned about Strea, but they decide not to go into it for the time being.

 

January 14, 2025, Floor 89, Dungeon

 

Today, we are deep within the main dungeon of Floor 89 and actually, in fact, we are in the boss room of Floor 89 where a large boss raid party, which includes our heroes and heroines, are fighting the floor boss monster of Floor 89: The Murdering Fang, a huge Cerberus type monster. In the lead of this fight are mace users since this boss monster is most vulnerable to blunt style attacks which are used by ones with Mace Sword Skills which includes Akari and Lisbeth. At this time, Murdering Fang bites down on Usagi’s sword and she can’t get it to let go.

 

Usagi shouts out, “Hey, let go of my sword, you three headed freak!”

 

“Silent Blow!”

 

Usagi uses her Keyblade to perform a one hit Mace Sword Skill right down on the head of Murdering Fang causing it to let go of her sword causing her to yelp as she is thrown back due to her yanking at her sword with all of her might.

 

“Trinity Arts!”

 

“Mjolnir Hammer!”

 

Akari and Lisbeth attack the boss monster with a 3 hit and then a 4 hit Mace Sword Skill combos in quick session causing significant damage while Mamoru checks on Usagi as she struggles to regain her senses. While the boss monster focuses its attention on the two that hit him, Dai comes in with The Eclipse, one of the strongest Duel Wielding Sword Skill combos, in which he inflicts 27 hits on the monster from behind causing significant damage to him.

 

Dai says, “Gotcha, you overgrown alley dog!” However, the boss monster performs a spin attack that knocks Dai down to the ground, hard, and knocks a good portion of his HP away.

Akari says, concerned, “Dai-kun!” The boss monster tries to spin around and attack Dai, but the Digital Knights help keeping him safe.

 

Miyako says, with a sigh, “Same old Davis!”

 

Takashi says, with a grin, “He wouldn’t be Davis if he didn’t do things like this, Miyako.”

 

Sam says, “And he knows that we have got his back always.” Soon after, the boss monster then does another spin attack and hits a group of players with a breath attack which hits them with a paralyzing effect.

 

Kirito says, “They’re paralyzed!”

 

Akari says, getting in-between the frozen players and the boss monster, “I’ll protect them! Someone get them out of there!”

 

Other players immediately get over to the paralyzed players to get them away from immediate danger and Asuna says, “I’ll help!” Before the boss monster could react, Asuna hits it with her Quadruple Pain, the 4 hit Rapier Sword Skill combo that also causes the monster to get temporary paralyzed.

 

Kirito says, with a smile, “Nice, Asuna!”

 

Asuna responds, with a nod, “Thanks, Kirito-kun!”

 

Lisbeth says, with a smile, “You can be ‘lovely-dovey’ when this is all over!”

 

“Variable Blow!”

 

Lisbeth then strikes the boss monster with the strongest Mace Sword Skill in her inventory, which is an 8 hit combo, while Kirito adds in Starburst Stream, the classic 16 hit Duel Wielding Sword Skill combo, which proved to be what was needed as the boss monster shatters into hundreds of data polygons soon afterwards. When the ‘Congratulations’ sign appears near the ceiling of the boss chamber, there are cheers all around.

 

Junpier says, excitedly, “We did it!”

 

Yamato says, with a nod, “You know it, sweetie!”

 

Taichi says, with a grin, “We just made it to floor ninety! Ten more floors and we’re free!”

 

Asuna says, “Great job, everyone!”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “I agree. It was a tough fight, but we did it.”

Lisbeth says, with a smirk, “What did you expect? Anyway, let’s get going and activate the teleport gate.”

 

Usagi says, nodding her head in agreement, “Right, Liz.” After the boss raid group recover from the battle with the boss, they head off through the doors in order to get to the next floor and activate the teleport gate.

 

January 14, 2025, Floor 90, Yuyolunos

 

In the main town of Floor 90, Yuyolunos, we find Lisbeth coming out of the area containing the teleport gate and facing the others.

 

Lisbeth says, with a smile, “I’m done with the activation. This floor is ready to be accessed by the others.”

 

Asuna says, with a smile, “Good job, Liz.”

 

Usagi says, with a smile, “We’ve made to the ninetieth floor.”

 

Kirito says, nodding his head, “Yeah. We have just ten more floors to go.”

 

Dai says, with a sigh of relief, “Man! This is rough!”

 

Taichi tells Dai, “Personally, I’m glad that you and Kari weren’t here for the first seventy-five floors, Davis.”

 

Miyako says, drolly, “Don’t remind us.”

 

Yamato says, with a smile, “Let’s not focus on the past, everyone. We have made it to the ninetieth floor! We’re almost there!”

 

Takashi says, with a nod, “True, bro, but we have still got a way to go.”

 

Sam says, nodding his head, “Takashi is right. We have ten more floors to get up to.”

 

Junpier says, with a smile, “Well, let’s not ruin it for the rest of the players.”

 

Kirito says, with a nod, “Junpier, we can’t discourage them. With our success, the other players have gained more hope and courage and they are gaining more strength from it. As long as the players remain united and strong, they will survive and they will reach home when we finish the final floor and the final boss.”

 

Asuna says, nodding her head in agreement, “Kirito-kun is right. We need to remain strong and united in order to allow all of the survivors to return home safely.”

 

Usagi says, “We should get back to Arc Sofia. It has been a long day.” The others nod their heads in agreement with Usagi and they prepare to use the teleport gate to return back to Arc Sofia.

 

January 14, 2025, Floor 76, Arc Sofia

 

On the meanwhile, within the alleyways of Arc Sofia, Alberich and his group are waiting around for someone.

 

One of his associates asks Alberich, “Sure, how can we be sure that they will arrive?”

 

Alberich responds, “Patience, my friend.”

 

Alberich’s associate says, “But boss, we can’t be sure…”

 

Alberich retorts, interrupting, “That we can’t trust our associate and you are right. Don’t trust this ‘friend’.” Alberich’s associates nod their heads and then they hear footsteps in which they look to see a group of figures. Alberich says, “Ah, you have arrived.”

 

One of the figure says, in a male voice, “So, you are the guy that mysterious person talked about? You don’t look that tough!”

 

Alberich responds, “Looks can be deceiving my friend.” Alberich then fiddles with a menu and the group of figures yelps as they collapse to the ground.

 

Another one of the figures asks, “What is this?”

 

Alberich responds, with a sly smirk, “You are now paralyzed.”

 

The first figure asks, “But how? Who are you?”

 

Alberich responds, with a sinister smile, “Me? I’m the supervisor of SAO.”

 

The first figure says, “You have got to be mad! That fucking nutjob, Kayaba, is the only GM in this world!”

 

Alberich responds, with a wicked smile, “And yet, I have frozen you and put you in my mercy. I could kill you now.” Alberich then pushes buttons on his strange menu and the group of figures can move again. Alberich says, “However, we have a common enemy: The Black Swordsman and the White Valkyrie.”

 

The first figure shouts out, angrily, “That wretched Beater and Kayaba’s princesses?! What do you know about them?”

 

Alberich responds, with a sly smirk, “I know that you lost leadership of the Aincrad Liberation Army, which you help created, because of them. I could give you the power to get your revenge.”

 

The first figure responds, “I don’t know…”

 

Alberich tells the figure, “If I could easily paralyze you, I could also raise your level and stats to levels far beyond that ‘beater’ and you can crush him. So, what do you say?” The group of figures looks at each other and the first figure that spoke walks forward to reveal that he is none other than Kibaou, the former co-head of the Aincrad Liberation Force and known to despise both Kirito and Usagi.

 

Kibaou tells Alberich, with a wicked smirk, “I say that you have got my interest, pal.”

 

Alberich says, with a smile, “I think that we should start our planning right away.”

 

Kibaou says, with a smirk, “You got that right, buddy! The name is Kibaou and as you said, I was one of the top dogs of the Aincrad Liberation Army, an organization that I help create, until that wretched beater and Kayaba’s princess stole it from me and forced me on the run.”

 

Alberich says, with a sly smile, “Let just say that I’ve been ‘insulted’ by that swordsman and I would personally love to see the look of horror in that little wench’s eyes before she shatters into pieces.”

 

Kibaou asks, “History?”

 

Alberich says, with a sly smile, “Something against her uncle actually and she is just part of my revenge against him.”

 

Kibaou says, with a wicked grin, “Doesn’t matter to me as long as I get payback against that beater and her.”

 

Alberich says, with a wicked smile, “I believe that we can come to an agreement on that.”

 

Kibaou says, with a grin, “Like I said: You got that right, pal.” Kibaou and Alberich then shake hands as their ‘sinister alliance’ starts to take shape.

 

January 14, 2025, SAO, Unknown area

 

Returning to the unknown area, there is a screen showing Kibaou and Alberich shaking hands and a figure is watching them.

 

The figure says, in a familiar male voice, “Such a fool. He doesn’t know that he is just a pawn and he is being manipulated by his base desire for revenge. I’m not surprised from a simple mind as his. However, it is surprising that you would be fooled so easily, Sugou. But then again, you always did let your ego get the better of you as well as your jealous of me. You allowed it to help them manipulate you in creating the instability in SAO and creating the events that led to this. I had originally planned to face her outside of this place, but the future is like concrete: It is never certain until it completely hardens like stone. Let us see how their manipulations of you end up. Destiny and fate are formed by many things and that includes the choices that we make. We will see how your choices form the future.”

 

January 14, 2025, Chiyoda Hospital

 

Within the Saitama Prefecture, we find ourselves within one of the hospitals and inside one of their rooms, there is a young teen girl of around 15 years of age with short black hair and she is lying one of many special gel bed used for coma and long term bedridden patients with a blanket covering her form while there is a NervGear covering her hair and head. Her name is Suguha Kirigaya, the real life ‘persona’ of Leafa and younger adopted sister/cousin to Kazuto Kirigaya, who is known as Kirito in SAO and is part of the reason that Suguha took the NervGear from a friend in Akiba that somehow kept it hidden from the government and authorities for two years and went into SAO despite the danger to her life. As she lays there in the bed that’s in the same hospital her own brother is also in, there is a grey cat with a silver crescent moon on her forehead that’s watching Suguha’s motionless form.

 

The cat says, in a female voice, “I was too late. I should have made my move earlier, but I wasn’t sure if she was the one. However, I am sure now since HE manipulated events to get her into SAO. After the pain and misery that he put her through because of his betrayal, HE is going to make my princess suffer even more and he is also making her sister suffer alongside her. I don’t understand you at all. All this in order to awaken her and I know that when she regains her memories, it will led to nothing, but pain and rage within her. Is this because of that power that my princess was blessed and cursed to have, Heathcliff? Your obsession with it costing my princess everything and even after all these centuries, you can’t let it go?! However, I am also concerned about the manipulations that have happened and what Nebula and Neo Moon have found out concern me greatly. There is more to this than meets the eye and I fear that SAO is just the beginning of something bigger.” As the mysterious cat looks at the motionless form of Suguha, connected to IV wires and such to keep her alive as her mind is trapped with the world of SAO like her brother, she can’t help to wonder about the future ahead.

 

And that’s the chapter, everyone! There seems to be a lot of intrigue and ‘stuff’ happening behind the scenes and events are accelerating. We are getting to close to the grand climax of this story, but don’t think that it will happen in the instant, everyone! You are going to have to read on and find out what happened, folks! Later and best wishes, Crossover Fans!